CHAPTER 4 - I MISSED YOU

If my heart could still beat, it would be pounding right now. Hundreds of questions are circulating through my mind. What if he isn't pleased to see me? What if he hates me? What if he doesn't even remember me? The last one, as stupid as it is, scares me the most.

In front of us stands a large wooden cabin. It's rustic and extremely far away from any kind of civilisation. I guess that's what the leader of this coven wanted. From what I've heard, this group has caused a particular disturbance in Seattle. Large oak trees surround the cabin, enclosing it in a sort of cocoon. The sky is getting mildly lighter.

"Diego, you go in first. Act normal and leave Fred to me," Bree says in a hushed voice. "We can't let anyone see Maia," Diego replies. Bree nods in agreement. "I'm going to try and talk to Fred. I'll see if he can sneak out. He can keep himself hidden using his 'gift'." Bree seems disgusted by the word. A sudden worry creeps over me. "Bree, what if you can't get him out? Or what if he gets caught?" Bree's face softens and she puts her hand on my arm. "If I can't get him out, you will have to wait until tomorrow night. I'm sorry, but it's the way it has to be. Our coven is afraid of the sun. Riley, our leader, lied to us. He said the sun wasn't safe. We know the truth, but nobody else does."

This made sense; why Bree and Diego had been so eager to get back to the cabin. They had to keep up the pretence. They know things they shouldn't. I am surprised they trusted me this much to be honest. For all they know, I could be involved with this Riley and could turn them in.

"Good luck, Bree," Diego says. He stoops down and kisses Bree on the lips, just a quick peck but I still feel awkward watching. He smiles at me, "You be careful, and don't go getting yourself into any trouble." He turns and runs toward the cabin door. Bree sighs; I can feel she is worried. They love each other, but I think neither of them has told the other. It's just a feeling at the moment, nothing more.

"Ok," Bree says, "Showtime!" She gestures for me to move closer. "There's a tree a few metres to our left, a great tall oak. Climb it and wait there. If nothing happens after an hour, then you know you will have to wait until night. Stay out of sight." She begins to walk away. Before she reaches the cabin, she turns back and whispers, "It will be fine." I smile reassuringly back. I know she is being genuinely nice, but I can feel the unease drifting over her like a cloud. This is dangerous for her, as much it is to me. Why are they helping me?

I am sitting in the top branches of the oak Bree directed me to. I am concealed by a few branches, just in case. My nerves are building. Less than ten metres from where I sit in the cabin. Fred is in there somewhere. He's just out of reach.

A flicker of movement down below panics me. I can only see the top of his head, but I know it isn't Fred. This is a man, another vampire; I can tell from his deep, graceful strides and general physique. He is making his way toward the cabin. It's getting lighter outside, so this can't be a newborn. This vampire has short, dirty blonde hair. Maybe it's the Riley that Bree told me about? If Riley is back, then how will Fred get out? But Fred's clever, and I believe in Bree. I'm not sure why, considering how long we've known each other, but I trust her. It's Diego I'm not sure about it.

Riley has reached the cabin now and is entering.

Half an hour later, after what feels like forever, I hear a rustle of leaves below me. I find myself shifting into a fighting stance. I'm scanning the branches below, raking them with my eyes for any shift that isn't caused by the wind.

Suddenly, a face appears among the leaves. I slide back on my branch, trying to maintain balance.

It's him. It's Fred.

His eyes are wide and glowing red. His face is snowy white and his jawline is angular; but underneath all the changes that becoming a vampire has made, I can still see that it's him. He still has the same softness around his eyes. He is balanced on a branch just below my feet.

All of a sudden, he pulls himself up and hops onto my branch. It sways a little under our weight, but I feel no stress from him. He hasn't taken his eyes from me or me from him.

Fred puts his hands on either side of my face, taking in every inch with his analytical gaze. This is very much his way. I feel a wave of longing erupt from his, as he ducks his head and pulls me into a kiss. I reach my arms up and wrap them around his neck. He laces his fingers in my hair as we kiss, playing with the little fly-away strands. Fred pulls me closer to his body, as if he doesn't want to ever let go, and our kisses become deeper and more desperate. Vampire kissing isn't the same as human kissing. Vampire's lips are like stone, human lips are soft. There is more aggression, more passion, between vampires. We don't have the concern of hurting each other.

Fred pulls away from me. Though I don't want it to stop, I know we have to talk. He takes both my hands in his and lifts his head to look me in the eyes. His blonde wavy hair is messy and stops just below his ears. He must have cut it, because when I saw him last, his hair rested on his shoulders, though up in a bun most of the time.

Staring at me, Fred smiles. That hasn't changed. Despite his vampire's lips, his smile is still soft and gentle. It's a smile that makes me want to forget everything that happened between us and start afresh.

"I missed you," he whispered.

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