Sophie’s
green eyes darted back and forth between Giovanni and Christopher like a ball
on a ping pong table. The tension between the two was thick like molasses.
Things were happening so fast. Her life was rapidly changing, turning upside
down like a turbo charged rollercoaster, only this ride had no end in sight. It
was only a couple of hours ago that she was a normal woman getting ready to go
back to college, and now she was at a nightclub where a handsome blond man
accosted her, pulled out of the relative safety of the club to the street where
he called a tall, dark, handsome man a vamp, as in vampire she assumed, and
then asked for her help. It was quite obvious the two didn't like each other
and if she went along with all the fiction she'd read about the supernaturals
she should run far away from the vampire and cling to the angel, but she felt
the opposite reaction. She wanted to run to the vampire and tune out the
angel's request for help. Unfortunately, she was a caregiver and had a hard
time turning away from people in need, even those that gave her negative vibes.
They
both stood in silence staring at her while she tried to come to terms with what
was going on. Like
that was going to happen anytime soon. But
she had to admit she was taking things a lot easier than she ever imagined she
would. She couldn't help imagining a scenario like this happening when she was
younger and going through her paranormal addiction stage, but
that was for kids, right?
First things
first, “what can I do to help?” her mother was right, she hated being
labeled a caregiver, but she couldn't avoid her desire to take care of people
in need, it was a curse and a blessing all rolled up in one tasty little
tablet. A pill she had a hard time swallowing, but did anyway. Always putting
the needs of others before her own, before her own safety.
“Your
mother, Regina
“Her father
is also a guardian, a witch of the dead.” Giovanni offered. “Perhaps she takes
after him?” He was insanely handsome, and the dark stare he was giving her was
intoxicating. She pushed down her instinct to move closer to him. His vibe
screamed protection. She had always heeded vibes and now she was beginning to
understand they may be more than simple intuition.
Giovanni’s
voice was elegant with a touch of Old English lilt. It was like smooth silk
caressing her skin when he spoke. She shivered. If his voice could have that
effect on her what would his touch or kiss do? Get
it together, Sophie, someone needs your help!
“My mother
was a doctor, true. But I haven’t even started school. Maybe you need a
hospital.” She offered this as a way of holding onto the thin thread of sanity
that held her reality together.
Giovanni
chuckled, which irked Sophie because it pulled her into his hypnotic spell
while she tried to keep her distance. There was something terribly familiar
about him. It was like he was her fantasy come to life. It upset her idea of
reality, and now her fantasy was laughing at her? “What about needing a
doctor do you find so funny?”
“I’m
thinking he’s looking for a more supernatural form of healer.” Giovanni stated
simply as his chuckle died on his lips, but the smile stayed in place, reaching
his stormy grey eyes and causing a tidal wave of conflicting emotions in
Sophie. His straight forwardness was refreshing, but snapped that thin thread
of reality with little resistance. He wasn’t helping her stay sane, he was
driving her toward insanity. He was the living embodiment of her fantasy
supernatural lover. Maybe all of this was a dream?
“Right,
because that makes logical sense in a world where magic exists.” She worried
the keys in her hand. Maybe if she played along with the dream she'd find a way
to wake up and join the living. “I’m sorry to disappoint you, Christopher, but
I don’t have any powers.”
“But you’re
a Clarke.” The hope seemed to leave his face and was replaced by desperation.
“Your family is renowned for their abilities, have been for centuries. I was
sure you’d be able to help.”
Well now,
that was an interesting piece of family history. She had no idea her family was
such a powerful player in this reality. On some strange level it made sense. If
this was a dream she would be the strongest player. “No, as Mr. Mancuso pointed
out…”
“Please, my
friends call me Gio.” Giovanni interjected and took a step closer toward her.
Sophie took
a deep breath and counted to ten. She hated being interrupted and the closer he
got to her the more heated her body became with... desire? “As Mr. Mancuso
pointed out, I’m also a Waters.” Gio tried to repress a laugh behind a cough
and his hand. Bastard! She
decided to ignore him, or at least try.
“Without a
healer my sister is sure to die.” Christopher placed his forehead in his hands,
he looked so devastated and Sophie felt her heart melt. Even if he was a
figment of her imagination, a fantasy she'd concocted in her mind, she needed
to find a way to help him. It was what she did. She helped people.
Besides,
she’d seen too much death lately. No more, not if she had anything to say about
it. She knew she was going to regret this, sighed heavily and offered, “I might
know someone who can help you.”
The hope was
back in his blue eyes and Sophie couldn’t help but smile at the excitement he
showed. She motioned a thumb over her shoulder, “get in and I’ll take you to Chelsea
He rushed
over to the passenger seat and hopped into the car after she unlocked the door.
Sophie climbed in the driver’s seat just as Giovanni climbed into the back
seat, behind Christopher. His actions and nasty glares toward the nephilim
deepened her suspicion these two guys didn’t like each other very much. Sophie
frowned as his smiling reflection appeared in her rear view mirror. It was more
of a smirk. The left corner of his mouth rose in a sexy way creating a dimple
in his cheek. She felt herself wonder what it would be like to kiss those
rugged lips. “I don’t remember inviting you.” Her tone was harsher than
intended. Especially since some part of her was thankful he was creating more
reasons to be in her general vicinity. Not that she was in his
league, but if this was a dream he'd do as her love interest.
“Your father
happens to be a … friend of mine. I don’t think he’d like you getting into a
car with a strange nephilim without some form of protection.” He clicked the
seat belt over his waist and sat back, making the decision for all of them.
“I’m offering to be your protector.”
His words
brought a shiver to her spine. A protector, it sounded so romantic, in a
strange way. What
girl doesn’t wish for a handsome knight in shining armor to protect them from
danger, deep down? Vampire. Nephilim. She rolled the words
over her tongue silently. What happened to
my stable reality?
“I don’t think he’d like the idea of me riding
around with a strange vampire either.” Sophie stated this coldly. She couldn’t
let him know he was getting to her. She
found the ego on this handsome vampire frustrating, but she also found his
presence comforting. It was such an odd feeling. It was like she recognized him
from some far away dream. Maybe she'd seen him in passing before and his dark
handsome looks were so stunning she locked his image somewhere in her mind for
future use. Maybe, but she doubted it. She'd never been to Giovanni's nightclub
or even had the desire to go before tonight.
And even
tonight she stopped only because the neon sign was beckoning her to come in for
a reprieve from her depressing drive. It was like coming in out of a storm only
to walk into a violent tornado. The club was far from her usual haunts and she
was sure she'd never go back to the place. She'd have to find another way of
seeing Giovanni.
“I could
dispose of him for you, but that would probably start a nasty war.” Christopher
offered, his gruff voice breaking into her thoughts like the moonlight broke
through the clouds on a dark night lighting the way.
A knight to
her right and a dark vampire behind her, it was something from a romantic love
story. Her imagination was working overtime creating this fantasy. She’d heard
stories of the self-proclaimed Mancuso prince. He acted with authority and
family support, his very name struck a chord of fear in people. Mystery was too
small to house royalty, but if it did. The Mancuso family was it. Wealthy,
charitable, and mysterious. He and his family put fear in his enemies’ hearts
and passion in his followers. Which made it odd when Sophie noticed a look of
fear slide behind Giovanni’s magnetic eyes for a brief moment. He was supposed
to be the terrifying, larger-than-life Mancuso! What made Christopher so
intimidating?
“Well, we
wouldn’t want to start a war. He can come.” She turned the keys in the ignition
and pulled out of the parking lot. “Can I ask you a question?” curiosity
getting the better of her, her father always warned her that her cat-like
curiosity would put her in danger someday. She didn’t have nine lives like the
furry felines. Copyright @2014 Jami Brumfield
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