Just Say The Word

Chapter 2

Xander

I watched the young girl in the backseat as she smiled and giggled to herself. She must be very excited to meet her future husband. This realization angered me and I didn’t know why which angered me more. It was a good thing I didn’t have to hear complaints and weeping for the next five days. I really didn’t need to ask if she was being forced to do this, she was clearly a willing participant. Even so, my rule was set no matter what. I took a deep breath trying to control the emotions running wild inside of me.

I looked in the rearview mirror waiting for her to meet my gaze again before speaking. Her excited hazel eyes met mine.

“My name is Xander, I’ll be transporting you personally to Alaska, it’ll take us roughly five days to get there. If at any point you need me to stop please do not hesitate to let me know.” My eyes fastened on her lips waiting for her to respond.

“My name is Adira, thank you”, she said sweetly.

“Tell me something Adira, were you held at the mansion against your will?”, I asked glancing at the beach on my left. A strangled sound came from the backseat followed by a burst of coughing. I pulled the car to the side of the road and slammed on the brakes. My body was moving faster than my mind as I climbed over the armrest and cupped Adira’s cheek with one hand while patting her back with the other.

“Are you okay? Did you take anything? Are you trying to kill yourself?”, I fired off questions not waiting for her first response.

“No! I um I choked on my spit”, she said leaning away from me. I tried my hardest to hold back a smile but she scolded me.

I released her leaning away as well. Adira’s eyes shifted to something behind me and her face lit up with joy.

“Can I see the water?”, She asked eagerly

“You want to see the water?”, I asked confused.

“Yes please”, she said her eyes swinging back to me. My stomach flipped and tingles shot through me. I cleared my throat before replying.

“ Uhh sure”.

She squealed and went for the handle when it didn't open she looked at me again.

“I'll have to let you out from the outside hold on”, I climbed back over the armrest and out of the car. As I walked around to open the door I thought about the possibility of her trying to get away. Even if she did I knew I'd be able to catch her with no problem, and the joy on her face was worth the risk.

Why? Why was it worth the risk? Why was Adira worth the risk?

I opened the door and she quickly jumped out running past me. I caught up to her and grabbed her hand right as she was about to run across the street. Her head shot up to look at me.

“Be careful there could be cars”, I said before leading her across the street. A giggle escaped her lips as she clung to the railing. This had to be the happiest I'd ever seen anyone. There were so many beaches in Maine but she watched the waves as if it was her first time seeing them. Her gaze met mine and those beautiful hazel eyes shone with unshed tears. I was overtaken by the urge to hold her,

Hold her? Why did I want to hold her? I didn’t rush her sightseeing I somehow knew she needed this moment. If she enjoyed watching the beach I couldn’t imagine how she’d react to the sand between her toes and water against her skin. We listened to the beach sounds hand in hand for a little while longer before heading back to the car.

We drove for two hours before I stopped to get Adira a hamburger meal which she devoured as if it were a luxury meal. I checked in with the vampire team in Alaska and received no reply which was normal. I drove until the sun disappeared and pulled into the first hotel I saw. Adira fell asleep an hour ago so I ran inside to check in quickly. I grabbed our bags from the trunk before waking Adira. We received strange glances from the staff and other visitors it was Adira’s outdated dress bringing all this attention. We made our way to the room I got on the fifth floor. I slide the card and pushed the door open.

I sat the bags on the couch and watched Adira practically run to the large window pressing her hands against the glass. I was lucky they had a room available with two beds.

“The bathroom is right in there,” I said sitting on the edge of the bed closest to the door. She turned and nodded her head at me before grabbing her bag and rushing into the bathroom. I waited until I heard the shower turn on before I pulled out my cell phone and dialed Justin’s number he answered on the first ring.

“X, how are things?”, he asked.

“Strange actually, Adira appears to be excited about meeting her future husband, but that doesn’t make sense given the information about him. Is there anything else you can tell me about this vampire?” I asked.

“Adira huh, that’s a pretty name tell me does she have a pretty face to match it?”, he asked jokingly. For some reason, I didn’t find it funny. Anger pulsed through me as I thought about anyone looking at Adira in that way.

“Let me know if you find anything else”’ I said before hanging up the phone.

If there were a hundred emotions they were all running through me now but the number one emotion was confusion. I grabbed the remote and turned the television on I wasn’t big on shows or movies but it was better than silence. I don’t know how long I was stuck inside my thoughts before the shower cut off and the door opened revealing an angel in a cloud of steam.

Adira’s wet curly hair fell past her waist her pajama set was so tempting. Her shorts could pass for male boxers, her shirt was cut dangerously low revealing a wonderful view of her cleavage. Her lips parted and her sweet aroma filled my nostrils. I stood quickly and turned to grab some sweats from my bag. I have never been so out of control, I felt my canines extend and willed them to retreat. I heard each step she took towards her bed, I prayed she was well covered.

“The remote is over there feel free to change the channel, if you need me scream”, I said before rushing to the bathroom and closing the door behind me. I closed my eyes ragging with the storm rolling through me. Something is off. This is just a regular human girl she is nobody to me, she is a job, she is...MINE.

The possessive thought rattled in my head on a loop. Mine, mine mine mine.

Adira

Cruse Sarah for these ridiculous clothes! She couldn’t have had much faith in me escaping seeing as these clothes should only be worn for my husband. I hid further underneath the covers as I watched Xander make his way to the bathroom in ridged steps. The door shut and I felt my cheeks burn thinking of the lustful way his eyes ran over my body. The sensation between my legs was still throbbing. Everything about this man was different. I prepared myself for harsh treatment, not this.

He’d been nothing but nice to me since I’ve been in his care. Then there was that question he asked. Was I being held against my will? This all had to be a test, he must be working with the housemaster or my future vampire fiancé. If that was true then why was he acting so strange with me? Watching me, touching me with kindness it was all so out of place. I needed to escape but I didn’t see a window in the bathroom and we were on the fifth floor.

I didn’t know what to do and most importantly where would I go? I felt myself panicking and closed my eyes. Sarah was right, I didn’t know anything about this world those movies and books failed me now. I’m in a hotel room with a stranger! I should be fighting and running and trying to get away! My heart felt like it was going to burst. I couldn’t focus, I’m going to die.

Strong hands shook me.

“Adira, what is it?”, the amount of concern in his voice caused my eyes to pop open.

Xander was blurry as he sat on the bed in front of me. His touch caused a calmness to wash over me.

“Are you okay?” He asked extending his hand to my face. His fingers wiped away the tears I hadn’t known were forming.

“Yes..just a little overwhelmed I guess”, I said looking away. Now that I was seeing clearly I need to get far away from this bare-chested man. His eyebrows pinched together as he dropped his hand from my face.

“It can be overwhelming marrying a man you’ve never met. You aren’t the first to take on this responsibility..is this what you want to do?”, NO!

“I don’t know”, I replied not knowing where he was going with this.

“Are you being forced to do this?”, he asked softly.

“Aren’t all arranged marriages forced?”, I asked avoiding his question.

“Technically, yes but there’s a difference between agreeing with your family to go through with this, and not agreeing”, he replied. His hair was pushed back away from his perfect face, his brown eyes searched mine.

I swallowed feeling more nervous than I had ever been. This had to be a test, he was testing me.

“Yes I suppose that makes a difference”, I whispered sitting up in bed.

“So which one is it Adira”, he asked.

“I am a willing participant”, I said. It was a lie but I probably just saved my life. I didn’t know who to trust I couldn’t trust anyone and how could he help me. For all I knew he was in on all this.

“Is that the truth?”, he asked as he stood, my eyes went to his perfectly carved abs. A warmth spread through me as I pictured my hands running down his chest. Why did he have to be so attractive?

“Yes it is, why are you so concerned?”, I asked.

“It's my job to be concerned about the welfare of my passengers”, he replied taking a seat on the edge of his bed.

“So this is what you do for a living then?”, I asked missing the closeness of him.

“Yes, it’s what I’ve been doing most of my life”, he said before biting his lip.

“Most of your life you can’t be over thirty”, I said laughing. He could be like Sarah aging gracefully but I doubted that was the case.

“I’m twenty-seven” he simply replied looking away from me.

“I knew it,” I said willingly those brown eyes to return to me. “You must have started when you were two,” I said jokingly.

“Something like that”, he responded to me.

“Family business?” I asked.

“No. Tell me about your family.” He said throwing me off.

“Umm...I don’t...I mean my family is nice enough”, I said stumbling over my words. His eyebrows quirked.

“Nice enough to marry you off for power, land, or political gain?”, he asked in a serious tone.

“It’s not like that” I resorted.

“It’s not? Then what is it?” he asked visibly angry now. Why did he care? Wasn’t it his job just to get to me there?

“It’s complicated,” I said trying to focus my eyes anywhere but where he was standing.

“Oh right it’s always complicated” he mumbled.

“Why do you do the job if you're so against it?” I asked allowing my anger to rise.

“Well, it’s a job and as long as no one is getting hurt I don’t dislike it. I’ve delivered missing children, runaway teens, and more.” His tone was softer now.

“And if they are being harmed?” I asked my curiosity getting the best of me.

“I intervene”. He said simply.

“What do you mean by that?”, could he help me, or was this some sick twisted trick.

“I provide protection and the resources needed to get away from whatever is harming them”, I could feel his gaze on me but I couldn’t meet his eye. How much of this was true? Could it be this easy? No, it couldn’t be.

“That’s very thoughtful of you,” I said keeping my eyes on the large window.

He didn’t respond but I heard some rustling and realized he was getting into his bed. I guess the conversation was over but I missed his voice. I thought of ways to get him talking again but they all ended with me sounding like a fool.

“Is there anything else to eat or drink?” I asked.

“I'm sorry, I didn't think to ask I'm usually more polite than that, what do you have a taste for I'll order room service,” he said reaching for the phone between us.

“Maybe another hamburger, ” that hamburger from earlier was to die for. I loved how greasy it was. The housemaster never allowed the kitchen staff to feed me anything that wasn’t baked. His attempt to keep me healthy for my future husband.

“Okay, anything else?” He asked.

“Oh! Vanilla ice cream!” I shouted before clamping my hands over my mouth.

Xander burst into the most beautiful laughter I had ever heard. His eyes held mine and I began to laugh as well. I sounded like a child but I was going to take advantage of this newfound freedom. No matter how short-lived it would be.

Xander ordered the food and it was brought to the room quickly. I couldn’t help the moans that escaped my lips as I tasted the vanilla ice cream for the first time. Xander watched me with amusement but I didn’t care I was human. I needed to eat it was a requirement for basic survival and then it hit me as I was about to eat another spoonful. Xander hadn’t eaten anything all day. The only people, no creatures, I knew that didn’t have to consume food were vampires. My spine stiffened as I tried not to give myself away. Xander was a vampire! He had to be, or he just wasn't hungry? No. He was a vampire. I was certain now.

“Is everything okay?” He asked moving to the edge of the bed. I had to think fast.

“I just remembered I left something very important in the car,” I said trying to keep my voice even. “Is it too much to ask for you to go get it?”. I focused my eyes on the bowl of melting ice cream as I waited for his response.

“Sure” was all he said before rising, I heard keys clanking together before the hotel door opened and closed. I jumped out of bed and went to my bag pulling out a pair of jeans and a long sleeve shirt. I slid the sneakers Sarah packed me onto my feet and zipped my bag shut. I looked around the room for anything that could be helpful and my eyes landed on his bag. I looked back at the door before quickly grabbing his bag. There wasn’t anything worth taking inside, I was expecting a gun or some other type of weapon, but when you were a vampire your strength was all one needed.

My heart was pounding as I pulled my bag with me to the door. I looked out the peephole and saw nothing but the room across from this one. I took a deep breath before turning to survey the room again. There had to be something in here I could use to protect myself. My eyes landed on the chair pushed against the wall, it was wood but I didn’t know if the movies were accurate. Did a wooden stake kill a vampire? As I thought about harming Xander a sick feeling shot through my stomach. I didn’t have much time I knew that this vampire had to be working with the vampire in Alaska. Vampires always worked together.

I didn’t have many encounters with the vampires at the mansion I just knew the housemaster was one and he had many working for him. I remember a few humans trying to escape they were hunted down effortlessly by the vampires working for the housemaster. Sarah told me they were capable of walking in the daylight and could draw a human to them. Which explained my strong attraction to Xander. Sarah witnessed the vampires drinking from each other, but it was forbidden to touch any of the humans inside the mansion. We belonged to his highest-paying bidders after all. They had to get their meals elsewhere.

I rushed to the wooden chair and tilted it forward. I brought my foot down hard on its back legs it took a couple of kicks before one of the legs broke. I picked the pitiful excuse for a stake up and ran back to the door. I needed to leave before he got back. Another sour feeling filled my body as I thought about leaving Xander. This had to be some vampire spell placed on me. I peeked out the peephole one more time before opening the door slowly.

I looked through the small crack for a few seconds before thrusting the door open and stepping out. I had only taken five steps before I was tossed over Xander’s shoulder. It was so sudden that I forgot to scream. This was it, this was how I died, I thought of the beautiful beach I got to view as Xander stalked back into the hotel room.