Survivor - By Kaye Draper Page 0,66
The bartender was staring at me though, so I sat up and pretended to be an adult.
Growing bored, and knowing that I wouldn’t be missed, I slipped off my barstool and headed toward the back door. I knew that if I left, the conversation would probably turn to me and all my oddities. I still wasn’t right, and I knew Peter was worried. Leah had dismissed his concerns last time I overheard them talking about me, saying only, “She will be what she will be- and there is nothing you can do to change that.” After that, I decided not to eavesdrop. I didn’t want to know how damaged I was.
All of the sudden I was tired of socializing. The thrill was starting to wear off. I just wanted to go home, where there weren’t so many reminders that I was just a baby- and an underdeveloped one at that. Some fresh air sounded like a very good idea. A vampire was lounging in the shadows on a tacky red couch, a pretty blonde clinging to him like a second skin. As I passed, I recognized Haine and gave him a little wave. I wasn’t surprised to see him off in the corner. For some reason, most of the coven avoided him- or at least weren’t as comfortable around him. I thought it odd myself. He was one of my favorite people.
I pushed open the heavy metal door at the back exit and took a breath of cool night air. There was a chill there, but not enough to bother me. The change in temperature felt good after the warm, stuffy bar. It looked like the employees took their breaks out here. There was a little flowerbed and a wooden park bench next to a cigarette butt disposal. They must employ some humans, I mused. Vampires would never smoke. The smell of smoke is absolutely repellant when your nose is as sensitive as a hound’s.
I sat on the bench and scuffed my feet. There was a little gravel footpath that struck out toward the riverbank, but I wouldn’t leave the area alone. Peter was right- not that I would ever admit it to his face- I still needed supervision. My instincts still weren’t one hundred percent under my control. I was leaning back, looking at the bright stars, when the door opened and Haine drifted out to join me on my bench.
“Whatever is troubling you, I don’t think the answer is up there.” His voice was warm and gentle, but I knew better than to voice my worries after his warning last time.
“Maybe not, but it’s more fun to stare at the stars than sit around listening to Peter and Leah babble on about politics.”
He snorted. “I can only imagine.” Standing, he started down the little footpath. “Would you like to come for a walk? I’ll chaperone you.”
I wasn’t sure how old Haine was, but he was powerful. I knew he was perfectly capable of controlling me if I went off the deep end and tried to eat a jogger. “I’d love to.”
We strolled along the path, listening to the last of the frogs singing for all they were worth. It wouldn’t be long before it was too cold for them. Then the water would be hushed with snow and covered with chunks of ice. I smiled at the thought that I would actually be able to enjoy winter this year, rather than being stuck in my wheelchair, confined to paved paths. Maybe I could convince Peter to take me sledding or ice-skating.
My mind wandered for a while before I realized that Haine was being very quiet. “Is there something on your mind?” I didn’t want to pry, but it was unusual to see the lighthearted man so thoughtful.
He sighed. “Melody, do you trust me?” His question caught me off guard, and I slowed to a stop, looking out at the river.
“Of course I do, Haine,” I said hesitantly. “But when you ask questions like that, I start to wonder…”
He laughed, and I could see his warm smile in the thin moonlight. “My master was a very ancient vampire.” I was surprised at the change of topic, but curiosity made me keep quiet. “As he aged, he began to isolate himself from the world. He became a venomous creature, hiding in the dark.”
I leaned against the trunk of a big willow tree and regarded him in a new light. He was old. I was beginning to add centuries to my