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  “He’s like Mr. Hamilton, and he bit my mom without her or the Council’s approval.”

  My mouth drops open just as the bell for class to start rings. Ian hurries to get to his desk as the stragglers rush in. If my powers weren’t screwed up from the Angelica, which I’ve tried to remove, and evidently it cannot be done, I would’ve worked on stopping time, so we could talk for a few more minutes. Instead, I’m stuck having to sit through class as my mind races through a hundred questions I want to ask.

  Chapter Twelve

  How I make it through class is anyone’s guess. I cannot remember the last time I had anxious lightning pulsing from my toes to my fingertips. I usually only feel this way if I’m around a strong energy force. Just being curious doesn’t have this effect on me.

  I should be concerned about whatever is wrong with me to care that much about some details a human has, but I am more interested in those details. My life has been borderline soap opera at times, but nothing as juicy as what I’m imagining has played out in Ian’s life. And to think, I thought he had no idea how rough life could be.

  He’s been screwed by the Council even more than I have. From what I’ve heard, they don’t tend to like bloodsuckers creating more bloodsuckers without permission. I’ve never heard of someone going to jail for the without permission part, but I’m guessing converting someone who didn’t want it makes a difference.

  As I hinted before, bloodsuckers originated from an enchanter’s curse, but that doesn’t mean it’s impossible to make more on their own. I believe it’s a little more than just biting someone.

  My mind finally gets a chance to stop thinking of possibilities and get answers with the buzz of the last bell. I’ve been running right from class to get home as soon as possible, but today I watch the other students hurry out the door. If Ian made a move, I would’ve followed suit, but he hasn’t moved a muscle.

  I don’t know what Mr. Hamilton usually does after class, but he also hasn’t moved. One of the female students squawking at him sort of makes that impossible. She’s human, so I don’t hesitate to grab my stuff and move over to start pressing Ian for more information.

  “So, you get to know about Fae because your parents are bloodsuckers?”

  For the first time, his eyes narrow at me. I may not have mentioned, but I guess not everyone likes the term bloodsucker. Some go with the evidently less effective nightwalker. It’s a stupid classification since it’s been eons since a bloodsucker was restricted by the sun.

  “I guess you could say that.”

  He’s gathering his books and shoving them all in his backpack. The thing has seen better days, with the navy fabric only appearing the dark bold color in a few patchy places.

  “Clearly, he was turned after you were born, since…”

  My voice trails as I try to come up with a nicer way to say his parents’ species. I’m obviously not usually that considerate, but I want answers.

  “Since I exist. I’m aware the fang-inclined can’t have kids.”

  Hmm. Fang-inclined. I think I can live with that. It’s kind of broad, but if he prefers it, it’s better than any romanticized version.

  “Yeah, well, as far as I know, part of the curse is a little fertility issue. That’s not saying I’ve been misled all my life, but I like to think that isn’t something someone would lie to me about.”

  A slight smile appears on his face. It’s a happy change from the hesitant and confused looks I’ve seen.

  What am I saying? I shouldn’t be swayed at all from whatever emotions are playing in Ian’s head. Yet, for some odd reason, today I have a microscopic bit of empathy.

  “My mom was hoping to have at least another kid someday, so you can imagine why she was pissed when he bit her.”

  “Exactly how long ago was that?”

  I know he mentioned the trial happened the same day as my last, but that doesn’t mean the crime coincided. The Council isn’t known for being prompt.

  “Three years. I’d just started high school and found out that basically all my nightmares were true.”

  I bite my lip, trying to figure out if I can answer my next question about how long his dad had been a bloodsucker before that without asking. It’s not logical. I know that, but my mind is a mysterious place that likes to think it has all the answers.

  Darting my eyes to the teacher, who is still distracted, I lean in closer to Ian. I like to give myself at least a two-foot bubble around me, but Mr. Teacher is already a little skittish when I’m around. The nearness and a mostly pathetic attempt of putting up a cone of silence around Ian and I is all I have going for me. They really need to get rid of that Angelica, so I can have a private conversation.

  “All of your nightmares? You sure ran head first into talking to me, and I’ve been told I’m worse than even the scariest fang-inclined.”

  A muffled scoff from the front of the room has me looking that way again. I’m speaking quietly enough, for once, that the human probably doesn’t hear me, but Mr. Hamilton apparently thought my words were funny.

  “Yeah right,” Ian says, bringing my attention back to him. “You’ve been in front of the Council so many times, and they haven’t locked you up, so you’re obviously not that bad.”

  He obviously doesn’t have enough experience in my world to see that has no correlation to how scary a person is. Just because the Council doesn’t know what to do with me, and my mom is convincing when she tells them it won’t happen again, doesn’t mean I’m not one of the scariest monsters roaming the planet.

  “Remind me to tell you some stories later.”

  I don’t know if we’ll ever get to the point where I’m sharing my escapades over the last two hundred years with a human, but I want him to question the reality he thinks he’s in. Maybe it will get him to leave me alone, even if he is turning out to be a little interesting.

  He shrugs and puts his backpack on. I know Ophelia is probably waiting outside for me, and since I haven’t appeared yet, I’m guessing it will only be another minute before she comes storming in the building, trying to figure out what I’ve blown up this time.

  “Anyway, we’re talking about your dad, not me. When was he turned?”

  A deep sigh makes me wonder if I pushed too hard. I mentally roll my eyes at the thought of using my words being too hard. Usually, if I want information, I don’t ask nicely.

  “When I was three. Look, I don’t mind telling you the whole story, but I prefer not to do it here.”

  His eyes look away from me to the front of the room. I follow them and see Mr. Hamilton is now alone with a blank look on his face.

  I’m not sure why Ian doesn’t want to talk in front of him. I highly doubt it’s anything Mr. Hamilton doesn’t know, but he won’t get any complaints from me if our talk needs to be away from the bloodsucker.

  “You have a place in mind?”

  I briefly ponder the idea of inviting him to my house, but I cannot get the words out of my mouth. I’m just not the invitation-giving type. Plus, it would set a precedent that I liked having company. I’d hate for people to just start dropping by to see how I’m doing.

  “I’m guessing you probably won’t want to come over for an interrogation by my mom, so we could head down to the creek. I like to go there sometimes when I need to think,” he says.

  The idea of hanging out by a creek isn’t exactly what comes to mind when I think about having a private conversation, which Ian seems to want. Of course, maybe the rest of the town finds the idea of gathering at the ol’ fishing hole as horrid as I do. I don’t even know if there are fish in the creek, but I’m shaping a down-home country kind of visual in my head.

  “My house isn’t an option either, so I’m going to have to defer to you.”

  Those words escaping my lips seem like some kind of victory. I hate deferring anything, but I haven’t exactly gotten out in the town to offer another option.

  I’m not sure if the slight twinkle I see in his eyes is saying he
knows that he won something or if he’s just happy I agreed. He’s seemed to not be a fan of the subject I want to continue, so I think I have to go with the former.

  “Great, let’s get our stuff from our lockers. Do you have to check in with your mom, since you’re a couple centuries old?”

  He’s pushed his way around me and is leading us out of the room when he asks. It’s probably for the best he misses the eye roll and annoyance that spreads across my face. Sadly, Mr. Hamilton doesn’t, and I don’t particularly like the smile that spreads across his face.

  “I don’t have to check in, but she’s outside waiting, so I suppose I should tell her she can take off.” The thought of her heading home reminds me of a rule I haven’t had to think about for a while. “Hey, this creek you’re talking about isn’t more than five miles away, is it?”

  The town itself isn’t five miles wide in any direction, but that doesn’t mean Ian has ideas of taking me to the outskirts somewhere. As much as I would love to be out of the town, I don’t really like the zap that happens when my tether to Ophelia is tested.

  “That seems kind of specific.”

  He’s already at his locker switching the books in his bag. I don’t have to stop by mine since my backpack has every book from every class and manages to weigh only two pounds. Thankfully, Angelica doesn’t mess with charmed objects and my designer Koki bag works magic. Koki is a famous enchanter designer, by the way. I’m guessing you didn’t know that. Cool bag aside, we’re on our way outside.

  “Yeah, well, I like to be specific. For a reason I don’t want to get in to right now, I need to sort of stay within a five-mile radius of my house.”

  I don’t think Ian understands how much I want to hear his story. Since I don’t understand it myself, there’s no chance I’d be able to articulate it. My only goal is to not get shocked in the process of hearing it. That seems like a mild goal in my book.

  “I guess we’re in luck then, because the spot I’m thinking about is only like a mile away. I was planning on walking, if that’s okay with you.”

  He comes to a stop just outside the school. It’s clear by the slight hesitance, bordering on fear, in his eyes that he is unhinged by the sly smile I know has taken over my face. I don’t bother giving him a hint of what I’m thinking as I walk down the steps. He doesn’t think I’m a scary monster, but I have a feeling he’s going to reconsider that idea.

  Chapter Thirteen

  “That was amazing! Can we do it again?”

  So much for my idea of scaring the kid. Ian’s words and wide eyes tell me teleporting from a block away from the school to the nearest fresh water source I could find, without telling him it was going to happen, didn’t have the effect I was going for.

  I guess I should have considered that he wasn’t wired like the other people I’ve done that to. I remember doing the same thing to a human girl who was bothering me back in 1870. I still laugh recalling her screaming “witch” as she ran as fast as she could to get away from me.

  “What’s so funny?”

  Ian’s question takes me out of my happy place. It’s probably for the best. As funny as my memory is, I sort of miss the old days, and spending too long thinking about them leaves me a little melancholy.

  “Nothing you need to worry about. So, are we in the right place?”

  I look around and affirm I did indeed land us next to a creek. The water noisily hitting against the rocks making up the bed of the creek has me thinking more of a babbling brook, but I’ve never been big on labeling bodies of water.

  “Pretty close, but how did you do that? We weren’t even touching.”

  For knowing about Fae, he clearly doesn’t know about the best species of Fae. I don’t want to blow his mind with a good description of exactly what I can do, at least not before he finishes dishing on his dad.

  “Maybe someday I’ll show you what a nightmare I can be. For now, can we talk here, or do we have to move?”

  My quick perusal of the area says there isn’t anyone else around, but he might know about a pixie bed or something. Those little buggers can be a nuisance and like to sneak up on you.

  “I still don’t believe for a second you’re a nightmare like all the werewolves and vampires that I heard about as a kid. None of the shapeshifters or fang-inclined people I’ve met are even that bad.”

  I may have to reconsider the sheltered life idea. There are some nasty people out there from both of those factions, but I guess the same can be said about humans in general. In two hundred years, I must have run in to a few more than he has.

  “The Council meeting you brought up was my fifth one and I was cursed by another enchanter to forever be in this stupid body. Maybe you shouldn’t be giving me the benefit of the doubt.”

  His head cocks to the side as I speak. I can’t believe the teleporting didn’t even make his head spin. I don’t take people along for the ride often, but it never fails that if they aren’t warned, chunks tend to fly out of their mouth as soon as we land. They have never scream they want to do it again.

  “I want to come back to that statement later, but let’s finish your line of questions. I wouldn’t want you to have to go back to the Council because you turned me into a frog.”

  A little something wicked passes through his eyes as they darken for the briefest second. I have to smile. He shouldn’t be giving me ideas, but I think a part of him likes playing with fire. That has to be why he’s been trying to hang out with me.

  I normally wouldn’t care. That kind of thing is why I’ve had a guy try to follow me when we moved in the middle of the night. Humans don’t generally understand what they’re playing with. Ian seems to think he has an idea, but eventually, I know I’m going to show him differently.

  He starts walking in the direction I’m already facing, so I follow. I’ve been doing that just a little too much today. As we walked out of school, with him leading the way, we didn’t even make it a few steps before we ran into Ophelia, who gave me this weird knowing look. I didn’t bother saying a word to her before I flashed us away. Hopefully, she dealt with anyone seeing us who shouldn’t have. I’ll probably get a lecture about it later, but that’s beside the point.

  I’ve never liked following anyone around. I would say I prefer to lead, but I’ve never been much of a leader either. I like to keep to myself.

  You’d think with that line of thinking, I wouldn’t always be getting in trouble, but I somehow manage. I guess that’s my true gift. I don’t recommend it.

  “You do a lot of internal thinking, don’t you?”

  Ian must feel me stutter to a stop at the question. Was he just reading my mind? Everyone has fun little mind rambles, right? I never thought I was alone in that concept.

  “Relax,” he says, not even bothering to stop. “I was just thinking about how I sometimes look over in class and you’re staring at the front, but it seems like you’re not seeing what’s there.”

  Oh. Okay. I guess that makes it a legitimate ask.

  “When you get as old as I am, you have a lot to think about.”

  It sounds like a good enough excuse. And back to my point, I’m sure I’m not the only one who does that.

  “If you were human, I’d never say this, but it kind of goes without saying that I’ll never be as old as you.”

  I had started walking again, but I stop. At this rate, we’re never going to get to his secret spot.

  “Last I checked, fang-inclined people can live a few hundred years as long as they don’t piss someone off.”

  His parents are both bloodsuckers, so it seems to me that it’s only a matter of time before one of them get permission to change him. His dad might not even wait from the sounds of things.

  “Last I checked, I’m not fang-inclined.”

  I hurry to catch up. He hasn’t gotten far in front of me, but he’s about to turn around a tree. I don’t want him to magically disappear on me, which I figure has a high probability.

  It’s not
like I can’t find my own way home. I just think since he was seen leaving with me, it’s probably good that he doesn’t vanish.

  My mouth is open to comment about his current condition and how easily it could change, but the view around a slight bend in the trees takes my breath away. You must understand that as an enchanter, I have a decent appreciation for nature. It’s just something in our blood.

  Over the years, people have destroyed the land I once ran my bare feet through. These days, there is so much discarded garbage that even as someone who can’t get sick from normal illness, I want to get a tetanus shot.

  What’s in front of me is one of only two faery mounds I’ve seen in my life. It’s been over a hundred years since I saw the last one, and as far as I know, it was destroyed like every other piece of beautiful land.

  That makes it even harder to believe the slight mound covered in moss and verbena somehow still exists. I didn’t even know there were faeries in the U.S.

  “I knew you’d like it. I stumbled across it not long after I found out about my dad.”

  Somehow Ian has managed to get behind me. I’m a little ashamed to admit I jump in surprise. I try to cover it by taking in the rest of the clearing. My entire face scrunches up as I realize I walked three feet towards the mound without even noticing. The last I remember, I had barely gotten by the trees at the opening of the clearing.

  “They say that faery mounds appear when people need a little magic in their life.”

  I’m dazed, and the tone of my voice reflects that. I hear myself and immediately think robot.

  “I heard that rumor after I did some research. I suppose it’s right. I feel so much peace when I come here. It’s like when I’m here, the rest of the world just disappears.”

  He’s still behind me, so I can’t see the wonder on his face that I hear in his voice. I take a deep breath and inhale the pungent lemon scent of the verbena. It’s strong but relaxing instead of wake-you-straight-up.

  “You should be careful about that,” I warn. “If you get sucked in, the world might disappear.”