Eternally Dark

chapter 8: going home

“How’d you do that?” James asked, retaking my hand. It was getting harder to fight against myself, I was losing the war and the part that wanted him was winning.

“Do what?”

“The way you stood up to Nathanael, I don’t think anyones ever done that before,”

“Yeah well I’m just trying to add to my list of never done before,” I said, sarcastically “Honestly, I just-” Within me the part that still hated him one a battle. I pulled my hand from his,

“How do we get out?” I asked, speeding back up again.

We stayed in silence as James led the way out, eventually we came to a massive hole in the wall where a door was supposed to be. Instead it was just empty darkness. James didn’t slow down; he just walked straight through into the hole, and pulled me with. I expected to fall or be stuck within the dark, but we’d come out on the porch of my parents house. James looked different, his eyes were now a dark green and he was dressed in the clothes one would expect someone my age to be wearing and so was I. My shoulder was better and so were my wrists and ankles. I was about to ask how we’d gotten here when the front door opened to reveal my very worried mother.

“Beth!” She called, pulling into a suffocating hug. “Who is he?” She whispered in my ear, then let go and took a step back.

“Mum this is James,” She nodded, James stuck his hand out for her to shake.

“How do you know my daughter?” She asked, James dropped his hand back down. Don’t say my boyfriend, don't say my boyfriend.

“I’m just a friend of hers,” He said,

“Uh-hu,” Still watching James, mum moved aside and gestured for us to come inside. “Beth, your father is in the kitchen. Why don’t you help him with dinner? I’d like to talk to your friend,” s**t! I didn’t say anything, just followed the too-empty hall and entered the kitchen. Immediately the air changed to the smell of various spices. In the middle of it was dad, he was chopping onions, He looked up when I walked in. He put down the knife and hurried over to me.

“You’re home!” He cupped my face in his hands and kissed my forehead. Dad was never really a hugger, only on special occasions.

“Hey dad, mind if I help?” His smile grew, I didn’t need any more confirmation than that. I took over his job cutting the onions as he moved on to other things related to dinner.

“Where have you been?” He asked after a moment, You can’t tell him ‘with a vampire, locked up in a dungeon’ I settled on

“I was staying with a friend,” He gave me a look that said he knew that wasn’t the whole of the story, he sighed.

“Honey, you don’t have to lie to me. I’m here, when you’re ready tell me the truth,” That was typical dad, he’d never push unless he felt he had to. The kitchen door opened and James walked in taking up the place next to me. He took a knife from the rack and diced an onion perfectly within a second. I let him do the rest of the onions and started on the rest of the vegetables.

“Whos this?” Dad asked, he was using the tone he reserved for when he was going to push a subject.

“I’m James sir. Nice to meet you,” He didn’t offer a hand this time, he just continued to chop. “I’m friends with your daughter,” Dad looked him up and down.

“What kind of friend?” I felt my cheeks heat up,

“Dad!”

“Were you with him?” I didn’t answer and neither did James, “Elizabeth, answer me. Were you with this boy?” He was yelling now,

“Sir,” Dad's attention flicked to James, “Please don’t raise your voice. Yes your daughter was with me, but not in the way you are thinking. I can assure you I’m not that kind of person,” He’d stopped chopping now, but hadn’t looked up. James left the kitchen. Dad gave me a look that said we'd talk later. I left the kitchen and followed James, I grabbed his hand and led him to my room.

“What did you say to my mum?” I asked, closing the door behind us,

“I told her that if she wanted to know about me she would have to ask you,”

“Why would you do that? This isn’t something for me to decide about!” I realised that I was still holding his hand and let go.

“Do you want them to know?” He asked, I shook my head. “Then they won't. We’ll figure it out,” Within me I lost a battle and found myself hugging James. A knock on the door snapped me out of it and I pulled away from him. I opened the door, to see both mum and dad standing there. They both looked impossible worried,

“Can we please talk to you,” Mum said, neither of them waited for an answer, they both walked in and sat on the edge of the bed. I left the door -open- and sat on the small blue couch on the other side of the room. James walked over and sat next to me.

“James, can you please give us a moment,” Mum asked. James nodded, stood and left the room, closing the door behind him.

“Honey, you left, didn’t call or text for four days. We were so worried, and now you show back up with this boy,” Dad said, “Where were you?” I stayed quiet not knowing what to say.

“Beth,” Mum pleaded, “Please talk to us,” I can’t! I wanted to tell them everything and run into their arms but I couldn’t. This wasn’t my secret to share.

“Just trust me, please,” I managed to hold back from crying, but barely “James needs a place to stay for a couple of day, he helped me so I offered,”

“Alright,” They’re giving up? I was confused because normally the lecture would have gone on way longer. I didn’t question it though. They both put on smiles, walked over, kissed my forehead and left the room. James came back in and retook his spot next to me.

“I’m sorry,” He said, moving hair from my face,

“For?” Oh god what did he do?

“You were so-” I cut him of,

“James what did you do?” He sighed,

“I helped them except the situation,” It took me a moment to understand what he was saying,

“You messed with their heads?” I wanted to yell, but I knew if I did they'd come running back in. He nodded, looking both guilty and sad,

“I’m sorry,” He repeated. I lost a battle within. I swept hair from his face this time, making him look up from his hands. My heart danced within my chest,

“You were trying to help,” I gave him a small smile, which he returned. “Just don’t mess with my head,” I told him. That made his smile grow and become genuwin.

“Never,” He whispered to me. At that moment I wanted nothing more than to kiss him, No you don’t! This is just the weird vampire voodoo connection! Part of my mind screamed, a few moments too late. He lent in and I found myself kissing him. Part of me was screaming with complete joy, and the other with utter horror. When the kiss ended I felt hot and happy, I wanted to kiss him again and never let it end. At that moment there was no war within me, it was only the connection between us. James was about to say something, when I pulled him in and kissed him again.

“Dinner!” Dad called, pulling us apart. My face felt hot, I was breathless and my heart was racing within my chest. I blinked and the war started up again, even more violent and hard fought then before. I took a deep breath, and stood from the couch. James’ eyes followed me, He waited a second before standing himself.

“I know this is hard for you,” He said, taking both my hands in his, “Take your time with it, I’ll be here waiting when you're ready,” He kissed my forehead, let go of my hands and we walked out into the dinning room. There were five places set at the table, two on one side and three on the other. Mum and dad sat next to each other, on the side with only two settings. Across from mum sat Lieya -My Nineteen year old, older sister,-

“Finally!” She said, seeing me walk in, “Who’s this?” She asked, noticing James behind me. She hadn’t said it in the way mum and dad had, but more in the ‘Is he your boyfriend?’ way. Lieya had a way of asking one question with a completely different one that only I had ever been able to pick up on.

“This is James, he's a friend,” I said, she rolled her eyes telling me she thought there was more to it. I took the spot next to her, and James sat next to me. In the middle of the table sat a pot full of soup.

“Take what you want,” Mum told James, while she ladled soup into her own bowl. Once she was done she gave the ladle to James who filled his bowl. I wolfed down my first bowl, releasing just how hungry I was. The second bowl I ate at a more sensible rate. Dinner was eaten in silence, which was unusual for my family. I could feel that Lieya was overflowing with questions she wanted to ask but she kept quiet.

After dinner, mum and dad declared they were going to the store, which meant they were going to be talking about something. No doubtably James. The moment they left Lieya asked,

“So, how do you two know each other?”I looked at James not knowing how to answer. “Oh come on, you can tell me,” We were all sitting in the lounge room, the TV was turned off and there was no way to avoid her questions easily. I turned to face James and whispered to him,

“I want to tell her,”

“You sure?” He whispered back, throwing a glance past me at Lieya.

“I need some to know, and if we don’t tell her she’ll start making assumptions,” James nodded,

“Its entirely up to you,”

“Thank you,” I turned back around to face Leiya, who gave me a small worried smile.

“Should I be worried?” She asked, awkwardly.

“No,” I half lied, “Just don’t freak,” She gave me a hesitant nod, I took a deep breath and started, not much carrying how terribly I told the story.

“It started during the storm, I was headed home when something, someone, began to chase me. I tripped over a ditch and got knocked out. James brought me back to his place,” I took another deep breath. “He chained me up in the basement, dungeon thing,” Lieya was staring at James full of hate and rage, just from that small part of the story. This isn’t going to go well. I thought to myself.

“Just hear her out,” James told her, she nodded ever so slightly and I continued.

“He kept me there for a few days, before finding a way to get me back out. In order to do that he had to bring me in further to his life, his world,” That got me a weird look from Lieya, “He brought me to a party that his people were having, where I met a lady named Maria. She told me what was going on, and what their world is,” I looked to James, blinked and we were both back the way we had been when we'd left the clan. The bruises, cuts and marks were back on my wrists and ankles, and his eyes were back to being blood red. We were both wearing the expensive party clothes we’d worn. Lieya gasped, and I looked back at her.

“What’s happening?” She asked, eyes fixed on James.

“It turned out to be a lot more complicated than him kidnaping me. James is a-” I couldn’t finish my sentence, as Lieya grabbed me and pulled me to my feet, moving me behind her. She began backing up pushing me backwards with her. I slipped around her and put myself in between her and James.

“Lieya, it’s okay,” I mentioned for James to come over to me and he did ever so slowly, ending up standing next to me. “It gets even more complicated from there. Lieya he won’t hurt you though,”

“How do you know that?” She asked, sounding panicked.

“Because it would hurt her,” James said,

“Why would you care about that? You locked her in a dungeon!” She yelled at him, and tried to get me to move away from him.

“Lieya, you know how in all those books you read the vampires end up falling in love once. They don’t get to choose who or when it just happens and it’s fate and for life,” James said,

“How do you know what she reads?” I asked,

“The bookshelf in the corner, And the one that’s halfway read next to where she was sitting,”

“Elizabeth!” Lieya called,

“Right, sorry,” James said, “In all those books, it just happens, and they can’t live without each other,” She shook her head. “That’s sort of what’s happened to me and your sister,”

“No, they are just books, and she always ends up dead or one of them,” I hadn’t thought about that, she was looking at me now, “Elizabeth, are you in love with him?” Her voice had gone all soft and caring, as if my answer would change how she was reacting.

“A part of me does yeah, it's pulled towards him, wants to trust him and needs him, but the other part wants to hate him and run. It’s like a war being fought within me, with each side winning and losing battles. Like bursts of affection and trust or hate and fear,” I realised that I’d started crying, and wiped away my tears. Lieya pulled me into a hug, tight, safe and comforting. When I pulled back James pulled me into one of his own. I felt myself shaking being held by him. It made me feel small and vulnerable but still I stayed in his arms. After a minute or two I let the embrace end. We were both back in the regular clothes with my ankles and wrists appearing to once again be healed.

“Okay, recap! James is a vampire,” James nodded, “And you two are in love?”

“Not exactly,” Lieya gave me a strange look “We’re pulled together by some weird vampire bond,”

“But you’re not a vampire?” I shook my head. “Okay, I can work with that. James,”

“Yeah?”

“You hurt my sister in any way and I will hunt you and kill you,” The look in her eyes told me she was being dead serious.

“I promise you I have no intention to hurt her,” Lieya nodded and hugged him. That surprised me and clearly James too.

The noise of a car coming up the driveway filled the lounge room.

“Lieya, you can’t tell mum and dad,” She smiled,

“I won’t,” The front door slammed shut and within seconds both mum and dad were in the lounge room. Dad took his spot in the old leather armchair and mum sat on the far end of the lounge. They were both looking at me,

“Elizabeth,” Dad started, God, he called me by my name! “Me and your mother have had a discussion and we have decided that it’s okay for your friend to stay here for as long as he needs. With one condition, your door stays open at all times, the only exception is, if you’re changing,” That’s fair. Wait, that means he’ll be sleeping in my room! I didn’t quite like that idea but part of me was giddy with the news. I smiled at my parents and left to get the spare mattress and some sheets. James followed after me. I handed him the sheets from out of the linen cupboard. We then moved back into my room, he placed the sheets on my bed and helped pull the mattress out from underneath.

“Elizabeth,” James said, taking hold of both my shoulders, “What's wrong?”

“Nothing, I’m fine,” I mumbled, moving out of his hold. I set the mattress onto its side and draped the fitted sheet over it before pulling it tight and hooking it over the other side. I let the mattress fall back flat onto the floor and tucked the sheet and quilt onto it and threw a spare pillow at its head. I turned to leave but James caught me and pulled me into a hug.

“Talk to me,” I tried to pull away but he held me in place, “Please,”

“There’s nothing to talk about,” I tried to pull away again, but still he didn’t let go. “Let go,”

“Is this about our kiss?”

“No,” He lent back just far enough to be able to see my face.

“Then what is it?” Honestly, I didn’t quite know, I was scared mainly. James pulled me back in and this time I let myself relax against him. We stood like that for a while, and I felt entirely safe in his arms. Again there was no war, only our connection.

When I finally tried to step back -again-, James let me. Taking a step back himself. I felt better now, not as scared. Though the hug had ended the war didn’t start back up, but it wasn’t like before we'd met. Then that moment ended and the war was back. James gave me a small smile, that told me he cared, and I returned the smile with one of my own.

“Better?” He asked, flopping down on my bed. I moved over and sat down next to him.

“Yes,” I admitted. He sat up slightly, reached out and pulled me back down with him. I lost a battle. I rolled onto my side to face him, my head resting on his arm. He copied and moved onto his side.

“Talk to me,” He whispered, again moving hair from my face and behind my ear.

“About?” I whispered back,

“What’s wrong?” I waited a second before answering.

“I’m scared. I want to trust you and be near you and at the sametime I’m afraid of you and want to run as far away as I can get,” He looked a little hurt, but ultimately understanding.

“I know, my mind’s conflicted too,” That surprised me, he was so caring towards me and seemed to know exactly how he felt. He was so set on keeping me safe and close by.

“What are your conflictions?” I asked, slightly worried about what the answer would be.

“On one hand I want to be near you, protect you and care about you. On the other hand I have to fight off my own instincts. I have to be careful not to hurt you, change my speed and strength around you. Learn to be around humans, and hide specific parts of me,” He’s suffering with this more than I am. I felt guilty, I’d paid no mind to how this was affecting him. I must have shown my guilt as he added in,

“You’re taking in a whole new world you didn’t know existed, along with our bond. I don’t have to fight myself on how I feel towards you. I know I care about you, and I would do the impossible to earn that from you,” My heart was dancing in my chest, at that declaration. It wasn’t just a part of me but all of me that fell for him at that moment. Even if it wouldn’t last. I lent forward pushing our foreheads together, wanting to kiss him again but was unsure if he wanted to kiss me again. I knew that sounded childish, but what he’d said made me question if he was okay with it. Almost immediately after our heads met James moved the rest of the way and kissed me, long, hard and sweet. He pulled back, leaving us both gasping for air. He looked worried and unsure,

“I’m sorry, ” He said between breaths. He pulled his arm from beneath my head and rolled onto his back. He’s sorry? Did he not want to kiss me? Oh, he thinks I didn’t want to kiss him.

“Why?” I asked, wanting to hear it from him.

“I kissed you,” I moved up onto my elbow,

“You didn’t apologise the first time,” He turned his head to look at me,

“You didn’t give me time,” He said, smiling once again, “I did try though,” I rolled my eyes,

“Still don’t get why you apologised,” I lent down and kissed him again. “Want me to say sorry?” I whispered to him once the kiss ended. Our foreheads stayed pressed together.

“No,” He whispered back, and kissed me again. I pulled away this time, and flopped back down next to him. I stared up at the ceiling, trying to slow my breathing. For the first time I was sad to have lost a battle within. James thread his fingers through mine,

“You okay?” He asked, doing a better job at breathing normally than I was. I gave him a small nod, in response. I pulled my hand from his and slid off the bed. James sat up, but stayed where he was. I walked over to the desk in the corner of the room and sat in the chair. I pulled out a piece of paper and pencil, and set them down on the desk.

“What you doing?” James asked, swinging his legs back and forth. I didn’t answer and instead began to draw, throwing James the occasional glance to know exactly how a particular feature looked.

“So,” James drew out the word, “You draw?” I shrugged,