nice to have something to keep my mind off things.”
“Let me know if you find anything?”
“Of course.” She smiled before burying her nose back in a book.
Arrick pulled me close to him, circling his arm around me as we walked out of the library and into the open hallway. “I’ve been worried about you,” he whispered, planting a kiss on top of my head. “Tell me what’s troubling you so much.”
I sighed, both enjoying his closeness and thinking about everything that was stressing me out. “The question is; what isn’t troubling me. I feel like I’ve been caught in a whirlwind. There are moments when I think everything is going to be okay, and then moments when I feel like all hope is lost.”
“How do you feel right now?” he asked, opening a door that exited toward the gardens.
“I don’t know. A little bit of both I guess.”
“It’s all right to be scared. You don’t have to be brave all the time. That’s what I’m here for. I’m here so you don’t have to be afraid of anything.”
“I know.” I leaned closer against him, lifting my hand to my shoulder to lock our fingers together. I let him lead me past the gardens and down the twisting path that led to the beach.
“Your father tells me you’ve locked up the stones?” he said, trying to sound casual but I could feel how badly he wanted to know the answer.
“Yes,” I replied, contritely.
“And if I know you as well, as I think I do, you aren’t too happy about that.” I could hear the smile in his voice.
“Not at all. But I understood the point he was trying to make. I don’t want to be the one to make anyone more afraid then they already are. I will admit that the stones are dangerous, but only in the wrong hands,” I said, as if I were pleading my case to him.
“You’re very right, but there’s also a stigma here. Those stones represent everything these people fear and it will be hard for them to accept any other viewpoint.”
“If they could just feel what I do, then they’d know the truth.”
“And maybe someday they will.” He steadied my hand as he guided me further down the rocky embankment.
“Do you believe me?” I questioned, hopefully. If there were anyone in this world who should know I was telling the truth, it was him.
“Claire…” he released my hand, brushing the stray strands of hair from my face. “I believe that you believe.”
“Huh? What’s that supposed to mean?” I steadied my feet as the path gave way to soft sand.
“It means that I believe you have a connection with those stones that no one else could ever understand, but…”
“But?” I bit my lip, staring into his eyes, praying he wouldn’t tell me I was bat-shit crazy.
“But, I still believe they’re dangerous.” I moaned angrily at his words. “Listen to me, Claire,” he ordered, latching onto my chin and forcing my face toward his. “I believe they are dangerous, not you. Do you understand?”
“Yes, but…” I forced my chin out of his grip.
“But, nothing, Claire! It’s my duty to protect you, and I don’t want anything that can harm you anywhere near you. Don’t you get it?”
“Get what?” I cried out. Didn’t anybody trust that I knew what I was doing? The stones wouldn’t harm anyone as long as they were with me. They were just as much a victim as everyone else, if not more so. There were souls trapped inside them, being tortured for all eternity. I refused to turn my back on them. Not for anyone, or anything.
“If something ever happened to you… it would kill me, Claire.” A fiery mix of rage and fear flooded his eyes. “You’ve come so close…” his hands cupped my face, pulling me to his waiting lips. His kisses were frantic and filled with passion as his hands dipped down my back, squeezing me closer toward him.
“Nothing is going to happen to me,” I breathed into his neck as he held me. I didn’t entirely believe my words, but no matter what, I had to stay optimistic. With Arrick by my side, my loved ones safe, and vampires banding together we stood a chance. A good chance.
“Come on!” Arrick pulled away from me and began bounding his way toward the crashing waves.
“What are you doing?” I called after him before following his footsteps through the sand. I stopped just as the icy water lapped at my feet,