The Chronicles of Koa: Netherworld (15 page)

Koa almost laughed at the memory. It was ironic that as a human, her mother had been allergic to cats. Raven had found the kitten hiding under her bed in a small shoebox, and made Koa get rid of it.

Koa leaned against the door and closed it. She watched Ian. She felt a little motherly love for him now.

Her mind was set. She would bring him home, and she would have a real family again.

Her smile returned when she realized that she had just made herself an eternal companion. She didn’t need Halston anymore. Koa sighed and fought tears. If only that were true.

K
oa was ready to move on from the disappointment of losing her place in Halston’s crew. She waited in eagerness for Ian to shower and change and they checked out of the Wryn Castle. Now, they would both need charges. Lexi would set up a meeting for them to pick their new charges the next night.

Koa could wait at least a week to feed, but Ian was now a full vampire and would need to drink blood each night. Koa wasn’t sure she liked the idea that they would have to be apart each night. She didn’t really like the thought of him spending time away from her with a young beauty.

Koa shook her head as she drove Ian’s car. She was already being possessive. Ian wasn’t her pet anymore. Koa frowned. Now she knew how Halston felt about her spending just one night with a young attractive human.

She drove as quickly as she could, but Ian had an old piece of junk that barely got over
50
mph. She wanted to make it to her home before the sun rose and make preparations in the cellar for Ian’s living quarters. Koa already had tons of ideas for a lovely space just for him.

She was surprised by how excited she was to bring him home. She was excited to be able to train and teach someone else for a change. Now, Koa would pass along everything her father, and Halston, had taught her over the years. She imagined Ian just soaking up the information like a sponge. She could tell that he would probably be a better vampire than she was.

Ian was full of energy just like a hyper child. She could only imagine just how much energy he’d have after his first full feeding. She wondered what special skill he’d acquire. Netherworld vamps were born with special skills, and sometimes even the New World vampires would inherit a small measure of such skills.

Koa grinned. Her imagination went wild. She was excited to find out if Ian would be so lucky as to have a skill. Koa and Halston sometimes talked about her ability to fly, and that perhaps she had inherited it from her father. Koa wondered if that was her skill, or if it was something else.

“Can we stop and grab some of my things from my flat?”

Koa gave him a sideling glance. “You have a flat now?”

He nodded. “Yeah, that money you put in my account let me leave the hostels and find a roommate. This kid named Robert. He’s from the states, too, and we get along all right.”

Koa shrugged. “Do you really need anything? I was going to buy you new stuff. New clothes and shoes. Whatever you’d like.”

Ian laughed. “Um, ok. Is there something wrong with my clothes?”

Koa glanced at what he was wearing. Jeans that were torn at the bottom from dragging beneath his shoes and an old Super Mario t-shirt. She cleared her throat and looked away. “No, that’s not what I meant.”

“I think you want me to be your new toy.”

Koa blushed.

Ian put a hand on hers. He gave her a sweet smile. “I don’t mind. Honestly. I kind of like that you have an interest in me, even if you want to change me a bit.” His smile widened. “It’ll be like Beauty and the Geek and you can give me the whole makeover deal.”

Koa laughed. “What’s that?”

Ian shrugged. “Just some cheesy show that used to come on back home.”

“I guess that does sound like fun.” Koa’s mind raced with ideas. Hair-cuts, and a new wardrobe. Koa was afraid that she’d create a monster…a vampire that the women couldn’t resist. It was an intriguing thought. She’d always wanted to do something like this. She felt giddy.

Ian nodded. “It does.” He looked out the window and became quiet for a while. Koa glanced over at him. She wished she knew what he was thinking.

“Are you all right?” Koa asked softly. She had known him long enough to genuinely care about him…and now…he was linked to her by blood.

He nodded, but kept looking out into the darkness of the countryside. They passed mountains and thick forests on either side. “I just forgot something is all.”

Koa noticed the sadness in his voice. He looked at her with those large, puppy dog eyes that made her want to just hug him. “What is it?”

“I won’t ever see the sun again, will I?”

Koa took a deep breath. Her eyes went up to the sky. She felt ashamed that she was able to walk in the sun and she had just stolen that privilege from Ian. She gave a regretful look and shook her head.

Ian shrugged, but Koa could tell that it was still bothering him. He was being nice, to not make her self-conscious. “I guess that isn’t too awful. I could be dead, right?”

Koa paled.

He made a face. “I’m sorry. That came out wrong. I don’t blame you. I promise.”

Koa put both hands on the steering wheel and focused on the road. Her brows furrowed. He should blame her. He was right. She’d nearly killed him. Halston had always warned her. She winced. “No. I’m the one that should be sorry. I’ve been reckless lately. I lost my self-control.”

He tucked a hair behind her ear and Koa gave a half-smile. He was too sweet. He didn’t know that he was only making her feel guiltier.

“I think I always wanted this. There’s been enough death in my life already. Death scares me.”

Koa nodded. She’d seen too much death in her short life as well. “Me too.”

“I just realized that I took the sun for granted.”

Koa realized just how much she had taken from him.

They drove the rest of the time in silence. Ian finally fell asleep and Koa hated to wake him when she pulled into the driveway of the cottage.

Koa watched him sleep for a moment and saw the sky start to brighten. She quickly got out of the car and ran around to his side. She opened the door and gave Ian a shove.

“Come on, let’s get you inside.”

He groggily nodded and took her hand. She pulled him along to the front door. Koa was surprised to find that Raven was waiting for her at the door.

Koa took a deep breath. Raven looked really confused when she saw Ian but she didn't question her when they came inside. She seemed to be happy just to have her daughter return.

Ian stepped inside and looked around in awe. He seemed to wait timidly beside the door, holding his backpack and looking around into the darkness of the cottage. Koa smiled and took Ian’s hand in hers, much like Halston did when they were together. She knew the power such a gesture held.

Ian’s hand was no longer warm like Halston’s. It was cold.

She hid a frown and led him inside. She would have to get used to all of the changes Ian would undergo. She rubbed his back for encouragement.

Raven looked him up and down. “And who are you?”

Ian jumped when he noticed the black cat waiting in the shadows. He looked at Raven in surprise, and he gave Koa a wide-eyed look. “The cat talks?” He shook his head in bewilderment. A smile came to his lips. “Remarkable.”

Koa laughed to herself. She smiled at her mother, hoping she’d see Ian’s charm, his childlike innocence.

Raven didn't look amused. She merely stared at the young man, assessing him.

Koa cleared her throat. She whispered close to his ear, remembering how vehement Raven got when she mentioned their secret, even when they were alone at home. “Well, Raven is…special. Ian, meet Raven.” She pointed down to the cat.

Ian was speechless.

“Well.” Ian scratched his temple as he examined the black cat before him. “I always knew you were different, Koa. I always thought you were enchanted and so forth, but I can’t say that I expected this.” He gave a half-smile as if he still didn’t believe it. “Wow.” He knelt down and rubbed Raven on the head. “Nice to meet you...Raven.”

Raven blinked at him. Koa could tell that she didn’t approve.

Koa sighed. “She’s not really a cat, Ian.” She lowered her voice again. “She’s my mother…”

Raven shook her head and licked her paw.

Ian’s eyebrows furrowed in confusion. “What?”

Koa waved her arms. “There’s a whole curse and everything, but I don’t really want to discuss the details right this instant. We have an eternity to go over such things.”

Koa pulled Ian along towards the staircase that led to the guestrooms on the second level. She looked over her shoulder at Raven. “And, Raven, I'll explain everything to you in just a moment. Please don't be angry.”

She led the way to the staircase that led to the cellar.

Koa heard Ian’s footsteps stop, and she turned around. “What’s wrong?”

She was a little disappointed that she couldn't give him one of the grand guestrooms of her father's manor and that she only had a cellar to offer him. She could see reluctance on his face. “What’s wrong?”

Ian shrugged. “Nothing. I’m fine.” He squinted as he looked down the staircase.

She could tell that you didn't like the idea but he didn't want to seem ungrateful. Koa sighed. “It's not what you think. I'm going to make it lovely for you. I will have a decorator in here tomorrow and she'll make it into the grandest one bedroom apartment you've ever lived in.”

Ian looked a little nervous. “I didn't mean anything. I’m really very appreciative. I just…don't really like cellars.”

Koa lifted a brow.

“You see, in every horror movie I ever saw when I was a little boy, the cellar or the basement was always where the monsters lived.” Ian’s shoulders slumped. “I guess I'm the monster now.”

Koa’s lips parted. She didn’t know how to respond to that. The comment was heartbreaking when she thought about it. She shook it out of her head. She couldn't bear to feel any guiltier than she already did.

She nodded. “I understand. Just take a look. It’s not what you are imagining.”

Ian grinned as he looked from the cellar to Koa. “This is a pretty old house. You sure there aren’t any ghosts here?”

Koa shook her head and chuckled. “I can assure you, there aren’t any ghosts.” Koa was surprised to learn of Ian’s fears. She felt drawn closer to him. She had her own fears. After everything she had been through, she was still afraid of the dark. Koa wanted to protect Ian from such fears.