Dracian Legacy (2 page)

A year and a half later…

“Bobcats are gonna eat shit when we wipe our asses with them on our turf Friday night,” Dean argued with his butt-buddy Landon. He leaned back in his chair and extended his legs lazily, without a care in the world.

Dean, Landon, Pey, and I had been friends since first grade. We went to the same school, lived close to each other, and enjoyed doing the same things.

“Evidence, D. Show me some evidence,” Landon challenged.

Landon Crew and my best friend Peyton Addison had been dating since we started high school. That same year, Dean dumped me as his best friend for his groupies. Why me, specifically? I had no freaking idea. But if I had one guess, I would say it had something to do with his newfound fame as a ninth grade varsity quarterback, which was totally unheard of in the history of Rocky Hills High.

“Their quarterback broke his collarbone during a brawl back in July.” Dean ticked off each point, finger-by-finger. “They lost to the Windsor Eagles last year, by over sixteen points. Then there’s me as the quarterback for the Knights.” He smirked at his last comment. “With me, the dreamy, lovable, sexy ladies’ man, on our team, there’s no way we can lose. We’re going undefeated this year, baby.”

“Shit, there goes our chance at winning.” Pey laughed. “A cocky quarterback that’s hopelessly in love with himself. We’ll be lucky if you don’t stop every two seconds to check yourself out.”

“Hey, I can’t help I’m
that
irresistible.” He shot me a flirty smile.

I looked to Pey, who gave me a
for real?
look, making me laugh.

Dean was not in
love
with himself. He was beyond stalker-obsessed.

“You’re a man-whore, Dean. Man. Whore,” Pey drawled.

Oh no, not this conversation again.

“I’ve got plenty of love and I don’t object to sharing.” Dean shrugged and threw fries at Pey.

“The only thing you’re sharing is horizontal surface. And cooties.” Pey scoffed.

Dean coughed. “Hypocrite.”

Pey had that don’t-compare-me-to-you-man-whore look on her face. This situation was spiraling out of control. I looked to Landon for help and he shrugged, laughing.

“Besides, just because you can’t call dibs on this yummy white-chocola—”

“Hey, who got the cheesecake?” I asked. A ‘mmm’
escaped my lips as I closed my eyes, savoring the smooth texture in my mouth.

“Dean,” Landon said casually.

I stopped mid-chew, mentally cursing the gods that invented such a succulent dessert. The last thing I wanted was to owe Dean, especially since I knew he would use it as ammunition against me.

The bell above the door chimed as a group of teenagers entered the café, bringing with them the warm August air, and took a seat in the booth diagonal to us. My favorite song, “Dance with Me” by Nouvelle Vague, started playing when
he
walked in, talking on the phone, catching my undivided attention.

Pey murmured something in my ear and giggled. I waved her off and continued to gawk at him shamelessly.

His brown hair fell partway over his forehead, shadowing those electrifying blue eyes. He was dressed in midnight black and dark, heavy boots. His tall, lean frame slid into the booth next to his friends. There was something familiar about him, but I couldn’t quite put my finger on it.

Then those penetrating eyes gazed into mine and a delicious smile appeared on his full lips. I sucked in a deep breath, feeling the full effect coil deep in the core of my existence.

Ah hell, this was bad. Double-chocolate-chips-to-my-hips kinda bad.

“Hey, Pernell, I’ve been meaning to tell you. You should ask for a reimbursement,” Dean said.

I arched my brow, bringing my attention back to our table.

“Looks like that cosmetic procedure didn’t work on you after all.” He had that stupid smirk on his face.

I had the sudden urge to touch his cheek using groundbreaking force.
Argh!
He was like splinters under my nails.

“I can make a few changes to your body without any procedure… Wanna see?” I challenged him.

“Burn.” Landon placed his hand over his O-shaped mouth while the other pointed at Dean’s face.

“Oh!” Dean’s eyes lit up in surprise, his smirk dissolving into an infuriating sardonic smile. “I can think of other things you can do… involving your body and mine.” He winked at me.

My jaw dropped, taking a one-way trip to hell. Landon’s and Pey’s eyes turned into perfect round globes, shocked. Dean never, I mean, never ever flirted with me.

“Don’t make me gag. I’d prefer to jump off a hundred-story building straight onto a knife. However, I could arrange a meeting between my fist and your mouth.”

We shot out of our seats at precisely the same moment, ready for a showdown.

“You know, Pernell…” He came really close to my face and looked directly into my eyes.

A strange sensation stirred inside me; something itched to reach him.

Attraction. Hate. Annoyance. Attraction.

Damn him.

“You look super cute when you get all worked up. If it weren’t for that razor-sharp tongue of yours, I’d
suck
that cuteness right out of you.” His gaze dropped to my trembling lips as he inched closer, licking his own.

I was too shocked for words. He gave me his most arrogant smile and pulled back. He sat back down slowly, like he was trying to make a point, and took a bite of my half-eaten cheesecake. I swallowed the lump that formed in my throat.

I wanted to smack him. Heck, I wanted to punch him in the face and say,
Ha, in your dreams, buddy.
I considered it for a moment.

Instead, I paid for my portion of the meal, including the cheesecake, and walked out, giving one last glance to the brown-haired, blue-eyed stranger who was laughing with his friends.

“Ren, come on,” Pey called after me. “Shit, you’re such an ass, Dean,” I heard her say.

My phone buzzed.

Pey: Let me drive you home.

Me: I’m okay. Headed to see my parents.

Pey: K. Call if you need anything. G’nite, lovely.

I never once felt like I was talking to my dead parents. It felt real, like they were here listening, watching, and comforting me. I knelt at their tombstone and noticed a fresh bouquet of gardenias. Since they were my mom’s favorite and not many knew that fact, I reasoned my brother must have stopped by.

“Hi, Momma. Hi, Daddy.”

A cold breeze seemed to pass through me. I wrapped my arms around my knees, pulling them to my chest.

“I miss you guys. A lot. Sorry I don’t visit often.” I paused, taking a deep breath. “Everyone’s telling me I need to let go of this… talking to you instead of people. People who are alive.”

I looked around the empty cemetery, noting the sky full of stars and the bright, full moon, not a cloud in sight. I sat there talking to them for about a half-hour, telling them about my life—school, friends, Joshua, and my hobbies: running and designing on Photoshop.

I got up, patting my hands on my butt, brushing off any earthly residue from my white shorts.

“It’s getting late. I’ll come back soon.” I put my hand on their tombstone. “I really miss you guys and I hope someday—”

“Ren.”

I jumped, surprised at the eerie voice.

“W-who’s there?”

Two foggy figures stood before me.
No. How could it be?
My parents. Their mystic shapes solidified. I let out a stifled sob and my hand clamped over my mouth.

“Ren, it’s okay. We…”
My mom looked at my dad for support. My voice was still lost.

“We just wanted you to know how proud we are… You’ve been so brave.”

I looked at Mom, then Dad, and then back to Mom. I reached my hand out to touch them. They both moved forward, wrapping their arms around me and engulfing me in their warmth. Familiarity rushed through my mind. My body went limp and my legs buckled underneath me. I fell to the ground in their embrace.

“How…?”

“Listen, darling girl. I wish we had more time, but we’re taking a risk as it is. Keep this on you always. It will protect you, keep you safe,”
she said, lifting the amulet around my neck, which was previously hidden beneath my shirt.

“Safe? Safe from what, Mom?” A shiver rose up my spine as another cold breeze rushed around my body.

My mom glanced over her shoulder to the empty, dark cemetery. She turned to my dad, tugging at his arm, her voice dropping into a whisper as her eyes widened, terrified.

“Jim, they found us
.
We have to leave.”
She turned to me, cupping her hand over my cheek tenderly, and smiled with her lips pressed together.
“Ren, know that we love you. You’ve made us very proud. Be safe. You and your brother can protect each other. We love you, darling. Good-bye, Ren.”

They faded from my arms. My stomach clenched painfully. I’d lost them all over again.

“Mom… Dad… Please don’t…” I choked. The last trace of my parents’ smiles disappeared into thin air. “Don’t leave me again. Please. I love you.”

I couldn’t stop crying. My throat felt tight, like thick fog constricted my windpipes. I didn’t know if I just had the mother of all hallucinations or if it was real. I wanted it to be real—desperately.

CHAPTER TWO

An hour and a half later I got to my feet, plugging in my iPod ear buds. As I exited the cemetery, I heard the revving sound of a motorbike over my favorite song. I couldn’t tell from which direction the roaring boomed.

Before I knew it, I was more confused than a fish in a dry pond. I screamed when my body connected with the rear fender of the bike and I hit the asphalt butt first. I jerked my head up in time to see the rider tailspin to a stop in front of me.

I bit the inside of my cheek as sharp tingles spread up my left arm. Warm blood dripped down my forearms and knees. Using my good hand and the strength of my legs, I pushed up, only to lose my balance and fall back. I blew my hair out of my face, frustrated, as I lay on the asphalt, cursing the damned lunatic rider.

I never really liked bikers anyway. They were a snotty bunch of gangster wannabes. Well, that and they scared the shit out of me.

A pair of heavy black boots appeared along with an extended hand.

“No thanks.” I waved it away.

The stranger retracted his hand, placing it into his front pants pocket. I tried to get up again, this time using both hands. I winced as the sharp pain intensified and spread across my ribs. I huffed and puffed like an angry dragon. My eyes traveled upward to the newly offered aid.

I placed my hand into the open palm. “Fine.”

I never believed any of those sappy romantic movies when the hero’s first touch ignites a lightning revelation in the heroine. Well, that hadn’t changed.

Much.

Ah, hell, who was I kidding?

Wow.

When the skin of our hands touched, I gasped at the electricity that flew between us. I imagined my hair flying away from my face, flowers showering over us, and lightning striking somewhere close by.

Dramatic much? Get a grip, Ren!

I awkwardly stumbled backward to keep distance between us, finally looking at his face.

It was
him.
From the café.

Ah, holy hell!

“May I?” he asked, and like a good zombie I absently extended my arm toward him.

His height was intimidating so close to my body. His black attire blended into the obsidian night. A glimmer of his striking baby blues caught my eyes. He studied over my features like he was searching for something. My heart jumped and my knees trembled under my weight. It was getting harder to breathe. I’d never been so mesmerized or captivated or drawn to any guy in my life. Heck, I’d been avoiding guys like the plague.

He. Was. Different.

He seemed to be as taken by me as I was by him. I saw the range of emotions swirl in his irises. Hope. Happiness. Admiration. Desire. Fear. Sadness. Finally, composure. He stared into my eyes and my cheeks flared with heat and uneasiness crept inside me.