Page 18 of Midnight Whispers
A few years later, I felt the moment he died. The pain that shot through me was unlike anything I had experienced since I had been made. I fell to my knees and clung on to my chest, as if my own heart was being removed from my body.
I always knew it was Cedar who killed him, even though he and his coven covered it up. Randomly I would check in on them, keeping tabs as the time went on. The number of vampires he was creating regularly was ridiculous and unnecessary. I stopped checking just a few years ago and at that point he was at thirteen; not including the original coven of himself, Markus, or Antoinette, who now goes by Annie.
That number also doesn’t include the vampires who chose to leave and seek refuge elsewhere.
Lillia’s friend, Flora, drives quickly back to their cottage, not being slowed by the rain. The girl is reckless, and it doesn’t take a genius to realize she was the muscle of the friendship. You can see the love they have for one another. I’m grateful that Lillia has someone who loved her the way her friend seemed to. Arriving shortly after they did, I spent a few minutes surveying the woods around the house for any signs of Cedar.
“Do you want to watch a movie?” Lillia’s voice projects through the house.
“Yeah!” Flora yells back. “I’ll pop the popcorn if you want to pick something out! I’m just going to change quickly.”
I sneak in through one of the windows and enter a room which is dark except for string lights draped across the top of the wall. The room has two walls lined with bookshelves that are practically full, much like the shelves in her bedroom. I look at my options while listening to the hum of the microwave, kernels popping, and the opening credits to the movie of choice.
The book I end up choosing is something that caught my eye based on the cover, which was simple in design but fluorescent in color. Even though I much prefer the classics, I do love to enjoy the modern-day options from time to time. I find a spot to sit on an oversized chair, basically a small couch really, and open the book. I’m careful not to snap the spine like I tend to do by habit.
I get about halfway into the book when I hear Lillia yawn and say, “That was a good movie! Did you like it?”
“Lil. We’ve watchedTwilightbasically every month since we were teenagers and saw it in theaters, and you still ask me if I like it every single time,” Flora laughs.
“Just checking!” The kernels roll around in a glass bowl as she moves off the couch.
“It’s still one of my favorites. Next movie night, we must binge them.”
“But let’s skipEclipse. That one the worst.”
“I mean you're not wrong. Did they not think we’d notice the recasting of Victoria?” Flora scoffs.
I make a mental note to either ask Asher if he’s seen these movies or make time to watch them myself. As I listen closely, I hear them cleaning up the remnants of their movie night. The floors inthe older homes are loud and creak as they walk around the living room and kitchen. Their footsteps are easy to tell apart; Lillia’s are soft and easy while Flora walks with more strength. Flora’s footsteps get closer to me before stopping, I’m assuming at her door.
“Love you Lil. I’m going to bed.”
“Love you most, Flo. Do you want to go to the beach tomorrow?”
“Sure! Picnic?”
“Absolutely.”
The door opens and closes, and Lillia begins to turn off the lights throughout the cottage before walking down the hallway toward her room. I open the book back up to my page and finish reading while Lillia falls asleep. It doesn’t take long for the sound of her breathing to flow into the room.
Gently, I close the book and replace it on the shelf. The door squeaks as I open it, but nobody stirs. Entering her room, I immediately go to the window and look out the front of her house. There’s a silhouette of a man in the distance, just outside of the gated boundary. I know that it’s Cedar, but he has his hood pulled down covering his face. I don’t know if it’s the pull I feel toward her or the protectiveness that consumes me, but realization hits me that I would do whatever it takes, kill whoever it takes, to ensure her safety.
I stare out the window and in a quick motion, the figure is gone. My feet don’t budge as I survey the perimeter of the area, scanning the street and sides for any movement. Lillia moves to adjust herself and get comfortable, a small whimper leaving her lips. I turn to look at her; the moonlight shines in through the blinds and illuminates her face. Her brow is furrowed, the whimpers turning into low pleads. Whatever her dream was before, it’s quickly turning into a nightmare.
My instincts echo in my head, demanding I go to her as shegets twisted up in her sheets. I turn back to the window and try to push my desire away. She thrashes once more, the wordnoescaping her full lips.
”Fuck.” I sigh and cross the room, sitting on the edge of the bed. I run my hair through the strands of hair and push them off her face, curling them behind her ear. Scooping her up and into my arms, I settle on the bed beside her. She curls into me, nuzzling into my chest. I hold my breath and halt my movements as she gets comfortable.
Lillia’s breathing returns to its normal pace, her heartbeat following shortly after.
The possible scenarios of what she was her dreams consist of passed through my mind. Curiosity of what darkness plagues her thoughts so frequently that it haunts her dreams goes through my mind. I want nothing more than to shield her from every demon that exists in her mind.
Shortly after I wrap her in my arms, she drifts off into a restful sleep and I remain still, obsessively looking over every detail on her face. From the freckles that scatter her nose and cheeks to the smile lines that frame her mouth, I want to know every detail as if it were my own. I’ve studied them enough that I know them well, but I can’t stop. I’m quickly becoming addicted to everything about her.
I lose track of time and before I know it the sun is shining into the room, giving me my cue to leave. How she never woke while I held her, I don’t know. But I don’t care enough to question it. I got to hold her, to soothe her.
Carefully, I pull my arm from under her neck and ease my way off the bed. I am full of reluctance to leave her, to leave this moment, but I know finding a strange man in your bedroom isn’t the way you want to wake up.
The house is quiet as I sneak my way out and into thewoods behind it, looking around the perimeter one more time before taking my leave back to the manor.