Crave (2 page)

I defiantly took a longer swig, trying to imagine what life would have been like had I never met Grayson. 

My eyes focused on a figure standing against a store front in the distance. I lit a cigarette and continued on knowing I could use it as a weapon if necessary, although it would do little to stop one of the vamps.  As I got closer, I recognized the guy who had caught my eye earlier. He had chestnut brown hair, in need of trim, and deep chocolate colored eyes flanked by thick lashes. He could have stepped off of the cover of a magazine, not the typical guy hanging around on the streets in Seven Valleys, Pennsylvania. It is a small town filled with mostly farmers with Pennsylvania Dutch roots.

I glanced subtly at him, smiling as I passed. He grinned back and pushed off the wall, trailing closely behind me. The warm alcohol sloshed in my belly, giving me liquid courage. I turned around, walking backward as I looked him over. The scruff on his face must have been at least three days old, but he wore it well, enhancing his rugged, tough exterior.

“Help you with somethin’?”  I asked with a wry smile. The alcohol coursed through my veins, lowering my inhibitions. I wanted to forget, just not with the guy who reflected his broken heart in his eyes every time I looked at him.

“Perhaps a drink?” He asked raising an eyebrow and glancing at my beer. My eyes drifted down over his plain white T-shirt and over his dark wash jeans.

“Afraid I already finished this one off.” I held the bottle up and shook it as I stumbled over my own feet, trying to keep myself steady. He lurched forward and wrapped his arms around my waist, catching me before I tumbled to the ground and died from humiliation.

“Careful, sweetheart. I think you may have reached your limit.” He laughed deeply causing his hard chest to vibrate under my hand. “Let me help you.” He took my bottle and tossed it into a nearby trash can before taking my cigarette and flicking it into the street, orange embers scattering off against the asphalt. “That’s a nasty habit. Isn’t life dangerous enough? You want me to walk with you?”

“I don’t even know you.” I pushed against his chest as he scoffed in amusement, his lips twisting up into a devilish grin that settled two deep dimples into his cheeks.

“So get to know me.” He smiled playfully as I raked my teeth over my lower lip, wanting to leave my self-loathing behind, even if only for a night.

“It’s still a free country, I guess.” I gestured with my head as I began to walk, the mystery guy by my side. “What’s your name?”

“Elijah Malakai. Yours?”

“Eva Morgan.”

“Eva? That means
life
doesn’t it?”

“Um… yeah. How did you know that?”

“I’m more than just a pretty face,” he quipped, shaking his head before running his fingers through his short messy hair. “Where’s your place?” he asked as he glanced at the old buildings. The last thing I wanted to do was to sit in my apartment alone and who knew if I’d ever see this guy again.

“Actually, I don’t feel like going in yet. You mind hanging out with me a little longer?”

His eyes had traveled down my body before the corner of his mouth twitched. “Come on. I know where we can go.”

Turning down Cherry Street, we crossed over onto the old railroad tracks, toward the creek. The smell of honeysuckle was thick in the air as he led me to an open patch of grass next to the water, surrounded by oak trees.

“What are we doing here? It’s not safe in the woods,” I asked, not sure which blurry image of him to focus on.  I laid back on the grass, staring up at the stars through the branches. He sat down beside me and put his head on the ground next to mine.

“What are you worried about? You think the undead are just lingering in the trees, eating baby bunnies or something? They’re out there, with the people, their
food
. This is where I come to get away from all of that.”

“It’s… nice. Very peaceful.” I glanced around nervously but I knew being next to a hunter was the safest place I could be, even if they did tend to be quick tempered.

“I haven’t been to the creek for years.”

“You can come out here anytime. Just don’t tell anyone about our spot.” He glanced over at me and winked sending the butterflies in my stomach into a frenzy.

“It’ll be our secret.” I was grinning so big my cheeks hurt. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d let my guard down. It felt good to be an ordinary girl again.

I rolled over to my side, propping myself up on my elbow so I could look at him.

“How old are you?”

“I’m twenty-two, but I feel sixty,” he joked.

“Well, I’m only nineteen. I’m second guessing being out here alone with an old man. What if we got attacked? I can’t carry you on my back if you break a hip.”

“Oh, I think I can protect you from the stray cows and corn mazes you may get lost in around here.” He laughed, but it was forced. We both knew that the times of small town living and leaving your door unlocked had passed us by. “So tell me,
Eva,”
he said my name as if it were a curse, “What did you want to be when you grew up?”

I frowned in the darkness, not liking to think of
what could have been
. “I don’t know,” I shrugged, blowing off his question.

“Oh, come on. You must have dreamed of being something when you were a little girl. A veterinarian… a princess perhaps?”

I laughed because I was never that type of girl. “I wanted to be a figure skater.”

He chuckled but I didn’t take offense. I knew it wasn’t the answer he was expecting.

“I wanted to be a doctor,” his laughter faded as he cleared his throat, the past apparently as painful for him.

“Nobel job… saving lives.”

“Would have been,” he shrugged.

“You’re a hunter.” It wasn’t a question but I wanted to understand how he went from wanting to save people, to killing them.
They’re not people anymore
I reminded myself.

“I do what I have to do,” he said nonchalantly as he shrugged. We all did what we had to do, but most didn’t take pride in the fact we were now forced to fight, forced to kill. Regardless of the vampires animalistic behavior, they looked very much like us and killing one of them got to you, changing you forever. The line between murder and self-preservation had blurred. There was no right and wrong, only kill or be killed.

I relaxed back onto the grass, the heaviness of the conversation fading my buzz into the background of my mind.  We laid in silence for a few minutes watching the branches blow in the wind, the rustle of the leaves blending with the soft rush of water.  I searched for the right words to make what he’d done okay, but my mind faltered.

“You really shouldn’t be walking alone at night, you know. It’s not safe.” His tone was serious and I knew he probably heard Grayson yelling at me from his window. The whole damn town probably heard him.

“Well, I’m not alone
now
, am I?”

“Who said you’re safe with me?” His eyebrow had risen before he let out a quiet laugh, sending butterflies scattering in a frenzy inside of my stomach once again.

I sucked in a ragged breath trying to contain my nerves as my heart raced from the closeness of his body. “What brings you to Seven Valleys?” I asked, searching for the conversation to break the awkward silence as my heart hammered in my chest.

“I have a cousin who lives down Green Valley Road. I came to stay with him for the summer. Nice change of scenery.” His gaze drifted down my legs before meeting mine again.

“Most of us from here spend our lives trying to get out of this place and you came here on purpose?” I sat up, wiping the dirt and grass from my palms as he did the same.

“It’s not so bad. I’m here with you, aren’t I?”

I looked down at the ground between us, trying to hide the blush I could feel creeping over my skin even though the darkness would hide my embarrassment. Placing his fingers under my chin, he slowly lifted my face upward. Our eyes locked as he leaned in closer to me, his mouth nearly touching mine as his minty breath fanned over my face. All of the fear, the trepidation faded into the background like the soft hum of music vibrating through my soul.

Tilting his head, he gently brushed his lips against mine causing my body to shiver. My eyes fell closed as I let my lips part, granting him access to deepen our kiss. His hand slid to the back of my head, his fingers becoming entangled in my hair.

I wanted to forget everything and enjoy myself, if even for a fleeting moment. I pressed my hands against his muscular chest, sliding my fingers down over the hard ridges of his stomach as they flexed and pulled beneath my touch. His mouth broke away from mine, leaving me breathless and confused.

“What’s wrong?” I wrapped my arms around my chest, feeling self-conscious and wondering if my breath stank or if I had drooled on him in my momentary lapse in judgment.

“Shh,” he whispered pressing his finger to my lips. Over the sound of the leaves rustling in the wind, there was the faint echo of someone yelling. I leaned forward trying to decipher the message when I realized the voice belonged to Grayson.

“
Shit
. That’s just Grayson. He must have stopped by my house and got scared I wasn’t home or something.”

Standing up, he held out his hand for me and I slipped my fingers into his, letting him pull me effortlessly to my feet. I brushed the dirt from my bottom, upset that our time had been cut short. 

“Your boyfriend?” Elijah questioned, his eyes narrowing like it was all my idea to bring him out here to make out and now he’d end up in a fight. Grayson wasn’t that type of guy. A guilt trip was more of his style.

“No. Just someone from my past,” I stammered, not wanting to go into the details of my failing love life with a virtual stranger. “I should go before he wakes up the entire town,” I said. “Thanks for... everything,” I added, trying to suppress my smile, my lips still tingling from his kiss.

“My pleasure.” He grinned as I walked by him and into the clearing.

“I’m here,” I yelled as Grayson’s head snapped in my direction and smiled with relief. I forced myself to smile back, although I wasn’t very happy about the interruption.

“Where have you been?” he asked as he approached me.

“Around.” I looked down at my shoes, not wanting to look him in the eye. “I needed to clear my head.”

“Next time you wanna get wasted and wander off, maybe you could give someone a heads up.” His voice was filled with irritation, but I knew it was out of concern.

“Didn’t think I had to,” I shot back with a glare and walked passed him toward the tracks. He trailed behind me without saying a word. As we made our way onto Cherry Street, behind the local store, he quickened his step to get by my side.

“Not everything in my life is your concern, ya know. We broke up a
long
time ago,” I said coldly as the thought of those other girls crossed my mind. He pushed out a hard breath and grabbed my arm, forcing me to look at him.

“I know you’re mad about Marcus, and at me… and the whole fucking world for that matter, but you can’t cut yourself off from everyone.” He turned and stalked off angrily. I trudged after him, shouting at his back with fire in my veins.

“Who said I’m alone? Who told you I don’t have someone? You’re not the only one who can move on, you know.” It was a low blow. Deep down we both knew our relationship had failed because I couldn’t cope with losing my brother, but it didn’t make this any easier. He swung around and glared at me. I immediately regretted what I had said.

“Well, then I hope he doesn’t mind putting up with your shit because I’m done,” He walked away from me again, and this time, I didn’t follow. I sank down wrapping my arms around my knees and let the tears flow down my cheeks, exhausted and overwhelmed. I wiped them away with my arm and stood up to head home. A hand grabbed my shoulder and I swung around, gasping. The thought of my gun I had forgotten at home crossed my mind and I silently cursed myself for being so stupid.

“Oh, Elijah. I didn’t hear you coming,” I startled as I stood back up. I hated showing anyone how vulnerable I truly was. He took his hand and gently wiped my cheek with the pad of his thumb.  I looked down at my feet, embarrassed that he may have overheard the argument.

“Did that guy hurt you?”  His eyes narrowed and the muscles of his angular jaw worked beneath his stubbled flesh. I could feel the difference between him and a pacifist like Grayson and an involuntary shiver racked my spine.

“No, no, I’ve done all this to myself,” I responded, my voice loaded with self-pity.

The corner of his mouth raised slightly in amusement, “It’s not the end of the world,” he cooed as he leaned in and kissed my cheek where my tears had been. His words were so absurd because we had been on the precipice of the end for a few years now and it was only a matter of time before humanity was lost. But he was right that my childish spat with a former boyfriend meant nothing in the grand scheme of things. None of it really mattered anymore. Rules and morals were things for people who were afraid to face tomorrow with a guilty conscience. Tomorrow was no longer promised.