Royally Cursed, page 13
part #2 of Vampire Princess Series
I plopped down on the porch swing and pulled out my phone, swinging in the warm afternoon air.
I’d missed a few calls and texts.
I smiled, reading what Dylan had wrote.
Hey Champ, how are you feeling? I’m gonna talk to Kah today. Wish me luck.
P.S. I’ll take you swimming any day.
I smiled and texted him back.
Be careful. Tell her I love her and please don’t put any curses on me. I just got over the last one.
It was less than a heartbeat before he wrote back.
I won’t let anyone hurt you ever again.
“Sophie. Focus on your training, not your phone.”
I looked up and smiled innocently.
“Did you make out?”
He exhaled noisily, sounding exasperated. So that was a no.
“Sophie…”
I sighed, standing up and sliding my phone into my pocket.
“Fine. Let’s go.”
Back in the dining room, he frowned at the bowl of water.
“What are you thinking?”
“Perhaps you could create something… autonomous.”
“Autonamous?”
“Something that could operate on its own, without your constant attention.”
I brightened, then deflated almost immediately.
“What is it?”
“I made something once. In the bath.”
“What?”
I bit my lip.
“My father. He… spoke to me. But it didn’t last.”
“How long?”
“What?”
Caleb’s voice was urgent.
“How long did it last?”
“A minute. Less, I think.”
Caleb was silent, staring at me. Finally, he cleared his throat.
“I see. Well perhaps now with the addition of Fae blood, you will be able to manage something that lasts longer than a moment. Perhaps you could even create something that could fight.”
He turned to go and I stood.
“Where are you going?”
He wouldn’t look at me as he answered.
“I need to do some research. I’m afraid…”
“Afraid of what?”
When he looked at me, I could see the pain in his eyes. Raw and unfiltered. I felt a shock go through me at his words.
“I’m afraid you’ve made Bernard human again.”
“But that means he could…”
“Yes, Sasha. That would make him far easier to kill.”
“We have to send him away! Protect him somehow!”
“Do you really think he would leave you? Leave us?”
I knew the answer to that. Bernard would never leave us to face this battle alone, even if he was human again. It was a hard ’no.’
I sank into my chair, suddenly unable to muster the strength to move.
Chapter 27
I shifted into reverse, forcing myself to go slow. I could have done this at top speed, but I was playing the part of a normal teenage girl. Most of whom were probably pretty nervous during their driver’s test.
The wheel turned smoothly underneath my hands, cutting in and then evening out in a perfect example of parallel parking. He thought it was perfect too. I was acing this. He was so pleased I almost expected a fist bump.
“Flawless.”
I smiled to myself, awaiting the next instruction from the DMV official in the passenger seat beside me. I knew I was killing it. My excellent vamp reflexes made this sort of thing a breeze.
“Pull out into traffic.”
I checked my mirror, glancing in front of me and then back again as I eased out. I reminded myself that it was like cheerleading, or running in public. I had to control my speed. Humans were careful or reckless. I was neither. I was precise, but I had to appear to be careful. Otherwise I stood out like a sore thumb.
My reflexes were so good that I probably could have flown an airplane without lessons. All I had to do was read a manual. But this was more than that. It was a teenage rite of passage, and I wanted to experience it.
Plus, it was a really good cover.
If I really wanted to be convincing, I’d flunk the test, but I wasn’t willing to do that. As it was, I made sure to stop a little too short at a stop sign. I didn’t want to be too perfect.
The guy rocked forward in his seat.
“Easy.”
“Sorry.”
“Okay, let’s head back. Turn right here.”
I flipped my signal and slowed down, checking the rear-view mirror as I turned into the Department of Motor Vehicle’s parking lot.
“You may park.”
I pulled into a spot near where we’d started and put the car into park.
“That’s it?”
The middle-aged instructor smiled at me, nodding. His emotions were funny. He was proud of me, even though we’d never met before. He was relieved. And impatient to get to his lunch break.
I had the sense that these driver’s tests didn’t always go this well.
“That’s it.”
“So, did I pass?”
“We are not supposed to tell you that.”
But he gave me a small nod anyway and I grinned.
“Thank you.”
“Thank you. I had three disastrous appointments already this morning.”
“Hope the afternoon is better.”
He gave me a long-suffering look.
“Me too.”
I laughed as the instructor got out. I leaned out the window, looking around for my guardian.
Bernard was leaning against a post in front of the building, lifting his face to the sun. He had on sunglasses, but I was pretty sure that was just because he thought they looked good.
His cheeks were pink and he was smiling.
Actually, he was practically glowing.
So far, nothing bad had happened from the light I’d poured into the vamp. Bernard was still immortal as far as we knew. He was still a Vampire. But now, he was more like me.
He could eat solid food and walk in the sun.
And he was freaking psyched about it.
“How did you do?”
“What do you think?”
“Rock star status?”
“You know it.”
“Alright, Sophie. Where should we go next?”
“I’m supposed to train this afternoon.”
“Sure, but we could go shopping first. You deserve a little celebration.” He climbed into the passenger seat. “No one has to know how long the test took.”
By no one, of course, he meant Caleb. I giggled and turned the engine back on.
“Besides, I think I need some new clothes. More blues, to set off my eyes. The sunlight really brings them out.”
“Trying to drive him crazy?”
Bernard shrugged but his lips twitched.
“I’ll take that as a yes. Let’s go.”
* * *
It was almost three o’clock by the time we pulled up the long drive to our house. I knew we were probably going to get in trouble. There was no way we could hide the eight bags of clothing and shoes we’d bought.
I’d even got a few more swimsuits. One bikini and a few more athletic one pieces so I could night swim at the waterfall once in a while.
We were giddy as we climbed the porch stairs. Bernard and I carried our loot to the second floor where he had a ‘bedroom’ that he never slept in. He did keep his clothing up there though.
I dropped my bags, sitting on the bed to watch him unpack.
“Happy?”
I nodded. And I was. It was crazy after all this time to feel so… normal.
“You know, I think I might start sleeping up here.”
“What will Caleb say about that?”
“What will Caleb say about what?”
The voice from the hallway made us both turn and stare at Caleb. His face looked thunderous.
“Oh, since the sun doesn’t bother me anymore, I thought I could sleep up here, let you have the basement all to yourself.”
“Really.”
“Yes, really.”
I cringed, deciding to excuse myself.
“That’s my cue… pardon me.”
I tiptoed past Caleb and into my bedroom. He just raised an eyebrow at me. He wasn’t mad about the shopping or the time off from training. He was mad that Bernard was different from him now. That Bernard wanted to sleep so far away.
I made a face at him, closing the door to give them some privacy.
Not that that did a thing to muffle their voices.
They were arguing. As predicted, Caleb was angrier about Bernard’s transformation than anything. I had a crazy feeling that he was having a hard time seeing Bernard so happy.
Not that he didn’t want him to be happy. I knew he wanted the best for Bernard. He just didn’t want him to be happy without him.
The shouting escalated as I started putting my new things away, trying to distract myself. Bernard’s voice was booming as he threw everything back into Caleb’s face.
His indifference. His lack of feeling. His refusal to return Bernard’s love.
It was good to hear Bernard standing up for himself but I was starting to get worried that things would come to blows. And I kind of felt bad for Caleb, even though it was all his fault.
And then it became absolutely silent. No sounds. No voices. My eyes widened and I jumped as someone hit the wall. Hard.
The whole house seemed to shake.
I ran down the hallway, sure I was going to have to stop them from destroying each other. But they weren’t destroying each other.
They were kissing.
Caleb had Bernard pinned against the wall, his hands braced on either side of him. Caleb was the much older, and as a result, stronger vamp. But Bernard was not trapped. He was kissing him back with all the passion that had been suppressed for centuries.
Oh yeah, it was an epic, waves crashing on the shore kind of kiss.
I backed away slowly, a huge grin on my face. I grabbed my phone and ran loudly down the stairs.
“Going for a walk!” I was so happy I wanted to jump in the air and shout. “A long walk!”
I headed out, choosing one of the deer paths that led into the woods.
Chapter 28
“Someone is here.”
I lifted my head from the dining room table. I was resting from hours and hours of learning to control water. It wasn’t a waste of time though. I was gaining control rapidly. I’d also learned that if I summoned fire in between exercises, my abilities grew sharper.
I didn’t like summoning fire indoors, because it was dangerous to the vamps around me. But now that my control had improved, it was relatively safe. Plus, it did something. Pushed me ahead, broadening my skill set.
Using the opposing elements put me in balance, I supposed.
I had yet to summon daylight again. Not after what had happened to Maxim. I was going to have to practice that as well though. Sooner or later, it had to be part of my training.
Caleb wasn’t pushing me to try that though. In fact, he wasn’t really pushing anything. He’d been quiet all day — ever since the kiss incident.
They had been downstairs when I came back from my walk, taking a quick shower to wash the forest away. I loved the woods. I tried not to harm the woods or its inhabitants in any way. I loved that the woods couldn’t harm me.
For example, I was extremely grateful that Vampires couldn’t get Lyme disease. Or become bear food. I was pretty sure I couldn’t even get poison ivy.
But as much as I enjoyed my nature walks, I didn’t want to smell like leaf mold for the rest of the night.
Bernard was cooking and Caleb was pouring over his books, trying to find an answer to Bernard’s transformation no doubt.
They said nothing about what had happened. But I knew things were different. The tension was gone. Even Caleb looked relaxed.
The cute little cottage felt like a completely new place altogether.
I’d spent a little time with my pets while Bernard made dinner. The creatures didn’t seem to require food at all, but they were so ecstatic to see me it was almost laughable. Spidey crawled up my legs while Centi ran in circles around my feet, his head nearly touching his back legs, he was so long.
Yeah, they were puppies, for sure.
“I don’t recognize the car.”
Bernard's voice was wary, as we always were when an unfamiliar vehicle appeared. I raced towards the front of the house, only to have Caleb give me a warning look.
“Why must you always run towards danger?”
“Possible danger, you mean.”
“You know what I meant, Sophie.”
There was no heat in his tone. He wasn’t angry. I wondered if loving Bernard and being afraid of acting on it had made him a sourpuss all these years.
Then again it could be the massive burden of salvaging our kingdom. Or the stress of raising a freak of nature, or super-nature, like me. A freak who had to save Vampirekind and mankind in one epic battle we were not certain to win.
You know, just a weeee bit of pressure.
We relaxed as the familiar vamp climbed out and smiled at us. It was Maxim in the driveway, leaning nonchalantly against a gorgeous, brand new, black BMW convertible.
I ain’t gonna lie. He looked good.
“I hear you passed your driver’s test, Princess.”
“I did.”
He smiled wider.
“Congratulations.”
That’s when I noticed the red bow pressed against the hood. Maxim smiled and held up the keys.
Oh no, he didn’t.
He moved swiftly, his body a blur, until he stood before me. He held the keys out towards me.
“Want to go for a drive?”
I nearly reached for the keys but Caleb cleared his throat meaningfully. I sent him a pleading look but he just crossed his arms.
“Her license won’t be available for a week, Maxim. It comes in the mail.”
“I don’t care much for human rules.”
I stared at the car, then back at Maxim.
“You shouldn’t have.”
He shrugged, looking like a movie star. A movie star trying to get the girl.
“But I did.”
I sighed.
“Don’t you like it?”
“No. I freaking love it. But I can’t take a gift like this.”
He smiled lazily.
“Why not? I can afford it. Think of it as a… tribute to my sovereign.”
I rolled my eyes.
“Give me a break.”
“You need a car, don’t you?”
“This is a little flashy for a high school Senior.”
He frowned, staring at the car.
“It’s understated and elegant. Besides, I can’t take it back. I glamoured the sales lady.”
I had to laugh.
“You did not!”
“Well, I didn’t want to leave a paper trail.”
“I guess I could… borrow it for a while?”
He smirked.
“Perfect. Now, I just have to collect my ride. Are you sure you don’t want to come with me? It’s a lovely night to drive with the top down.”
Bernard stepped forward. “I’ll drive you to get your bike, Maxim.”
Maxim looked at me, pretending to be devastated. I would have said he had puppy dog eyes, but there was nothing puppy-ish about him.
No, Maxim was all wolf.
I went inside and started rifling through the fridge. I was still hungry. No surprise there.
“Sophie.”
Caleb stood behind me.
“Hmm hmm?”
“Are you alright? I hope we didn’t unsettle you.”
I grabbed a pint of ice cream from the freezer and looked at him.
“Huh?”
“Bernard and I…”
I laughed so hard that I had to rest my hands on my knees.
“I’ve been waiting almost my whole life for you two to get it together.”
Caleb looked surprised. Then he scowled. Then he smiled ruefully.
“Apparently I was the last to know exactly what was best for me.”
“You might be a thousand years old, but you are still a man.”
“What does that mean exactly?”
I grinned cheekily.
“Men can be kind of dumb about love.”
“You are too young to know about romance.”
“I’m a girl. We’re born knowing.”
I patted his shoulder, deciding to skip the bowl and just grabbed a spoon instead. This pint had my name all over it. I would conquer it alone. I padded out to the living room and plopped down on the couch.
“Want to watch Buffy?”
He followed me in, arching an elegant brow.
“No. You should continue training. We haven’t worked with weapons in weeks and—”
“Buffy and ice cream are training.”
“How so?”
I was bluffing so I stuffed a huge bite of ice cream into my mouth. He watched me, faintly amused. I was trying to buy time while I thought of something to say. My cheeks were still puffed out with creamy goodness when I finally came up with a good answer.
“Tactical training. And… unff, learning to tolerate pain.”
“Pain?”
“Massive brain freeze.”
“I see.” He gave up, heading back to his study. “Enjoy your show.”
When Bernard and Maxim came back I was onto a bowl of hot popcorn and halfway through the next episode. I didn't care that it was undignified. I was binging tonight.
Food and TV.
Bernard grabbed a fistful of popcorn and took one of the chairs. The look on his face when he ate his first kernel of popcorn was laughable. But the real triumph of the night was making a new convert.
Maxim had never seen Buffy before.
By the end of the night, he was hooked.
Chapter 29
