The intruder continues to stand there, and I am too afraid to peek through the blanket to see who it is. Maybe this is the third vampire that hadn’t said anything and maybe he isn’t really into hurting a woman. One could only hope. I speak softly and my voice is pitiful without much effort to appeal to his mercy, “Please…I don’t…” I pause. I don’t want to die, is what I want to say, but can’t push the words out. Dread takes over everything, as I feel the little resolve I have left diminishing inside of me. There really is nothing I can do against a vampire. I don’t have a stake, holy water, a cross but it wouldn’t have mattered because I have no idea if those are even objects that kill vampires or if it is all made up. I feel more than see the intruder’s mass step closer to me as it becomes an outstanding presence in the small space and I brace for them to rip my cover from me by gripping the blanket even harder, but the intruder crouches down, and picks me up with the blanket still encasing me. I am about to start kicking and screaming, but the intruder sits back down in the closet with me in their lap. What?
After a few seconds of realizing this “person” isn’t going to do anything, I gently open a small flap of the blanket to look at who it is and see Rhoan staring down at me with deep pools of empathetic, sad eyes. I open my mouth to ask what happened and he shakes his head, then wraps his big arms around me in a hug. “It’s ok.” He pauses and takes a deep breath, “they are gone and won’t come back.” Did he kill them? I feel a bit of anxiety rise, but it is immediately replaced as I rationalize that Rhoan is on my side. Relief finally sets in and I can now feel all the muscles that had been tensed up, ease. This man is much bigger now that I am being held by him. His heartbeat is that of a bass drum and yet it is so comforting; Rhoan is also very warm. The heat is equivalent to being close to the fireplace in the living room and having a blanket wrapped around me while in a sleeping bag on a cold winter night. My heavy breathing has made it humid under the blanket and I fight to free my head. Rhoan pulls slightly at the blanket as he realizes I am trying to get out.
“Are you ok?”
I nod and wipe at my eyes where I can feel the remnants of my tears, “How did you know?”
“I heard your scream and the destruction they were inflicting on the house.” He moves his head closer to my face. “I’m sorry it took me some time to come. I can’t fight three vamps off all at once. I had to do it one at a time.”
He is sorry for not coming sooner? I am glad he came at all! “You have no reason to apologize. I’m just glad you came.” I twist my head to come face-to-face with Rhoan, “Thank you.” This has to be the sincerest thank you I have ever given, and I hope it came across that way as well. I can never thank him enough.
Rhoan looks to have caught his breath, and slowly exhales. His eyes start swirling that gold color just like at the bar . I have to avert my eyes to not stare deep into them and when I look down at his chest, I discover he isn’t wearing a shirt and my ovaries do a small flip seeing his muscular chest plus the outline of abs. Geez. I almost die and I can be easily sated just by looking at a man’s body. I quickly turn my head and feel my cheeks get hot.
The hardiest laugh explodes from Rhoan, a cross between what I imagine Santa and a lumberjack would sound like if they were drinking together. I go to scoot off his lap, but he holds me there, cue butterflies in the stomach. “Not sure if you want to go out there just yet. Just sit here for a bit and calm yourself.” If my heart could jump out of my chest it would have, instead I slightly jump in his lap at an unintentional scene my brain came up with. Time to change the topic.
With my face turned away, I think that since we would be spending a bit of time in here, now would be better than any to ask questions, “Where is Arik and Falon?”
“Arik is running his bar, and Falon tagged along in hopes to find our fourth neighbor. He can disappear for days and randomly shows up out of the blue.”
“Why is Falon looking for him?”
“We need to keep him updated on what is going on, and him and Falon will be helping you.”
“Helping with? And why should he be updated?”
Rhoan thinks before speaking this time, “Falon told us that he met you at his place of work, and when he touched you there was a spark. Is that right?” He avoids my last question, duly noted.
I wasn’t going to press for the information just yet, so I thought back to the meeting and recall the shock I felt, “It felt as if it were a windy day and static passed through our hands.”
“Well, he was trying to figure out what you were, and your magic intermingled with his. It also kick started yours.” I whip my head quickly to his face and must have had a confused look on my face because Rhoan pauses and has to rephrase what he said, “meaning…your magic has surfaced.”
I can feel my eyes get wide, excitement and curiosity fill my brain. “So, I’m going to be a witch?” I say with a little too much excitement. My mind goes to the Harry Potter movies, it is probably an inaccurate assumption, but it is a nice thought that I might be able to fly on a broom.
Rhoan can hear the excitement in my voice and has a quizzical expression, “I’m not sure what you are going to be. If you had just druid blood then sort of, since druids are different from witches, but you are part of something else.”
There is a long pause between us as I think about the mystery blood. I hesitated before asking my next question and I let it trail off, “Were you living here when she died...my grandma?” My question definitely catches him off guard and causes him to have a surly expression.
“We all lived here. It was a … devastating day to say the least. Owen changed after that and turned his focus to the woods.”
“I hope she didn’t feel any pain.” Grandma had died from a seizure in the car and crashed into the wall of the canyon, at least that is what grandpa told me.
We were still for a bit before I broke the silence, “Could you tell me what you are?” I place my hand on his left pectoral and feel him flex it under my hands, but I am getting ready to push off in hopes he would maybe show me.
Rhoan gives a deep sigh and scratches his head, “You do seem a lot calmer and accepting…” I positioned myself off his lap and kneel in front of him with my legs tucked under me since I wasn’t wearing any shorts, just underwear and a t-shirt. “I’m a Were, to be exact a Were Bear.” Care Bear. I smile at my own thought and have to restrain a giggle. Rhoan looks confused, “I wasn’t expecting you to smile when I told you. It is a little off putting.” He leans his head forward getting closer to me.
I can’t help but laugh, I am making the big scary Were Bear uncomfortable. His expression at my laugh is priceless. So many questions flutter through my head after that. Ceasing my laughter, I place my hands on my knees and lean forward to show my focus, then just make the word vomit, “How old are you? Do you even age? What kind of bear do you turn into? Are there others like you here? How many are here? Does-” Rhoan puts a hand over my mouth to shut me up and I can see him swallow hard. My eager questions have roused me to get too close, so I sit back on my legs. Rhoan lets a shallow breath out.
“You sure are taking this a lot better than you did when learning about Arik.” He crosses his arms over his chest and his pex slightly raises up while his biceps get bigger. “I am technically 30 in human years, but Were’s do not age fast. I’m a pure blood Were, so I can turn whenever I want, my form is a Kodiak Bear, but I have been told that when I turn into a bear, I am much bigger than the real deal.” He takes a deep breath and continues, “Estes Park is a supernatural hub, so it is made up of mostly things like us. Bear’s do not roam in packs, so I am the only one here in the vicinity, but there are more elsewhere in Colorado. But…” Rhoan looks at me carefully, “You are the only hybrid I have ever heard of with druid blood.”
My head sinks a little, not in sadness but in thought. “So, I’m rare?”
“Very much so, I don’t mean this to be cruel, but you shouldn’t exist.” That surprises me, but what isn’t surprising me these days. “Druids do not intermingle with other supernaturals. Your grandma was good at concealing what she was because even Arik couldn’t tell. Last night, the Were’s smelled your druid blood, but the other half threw them off.”
“What if the other blood is from my mom’s side of the family?”
“It isn’t. Your grandpa checked that out before you and your siblings were even born. It is from Owen’s wife that your blood comes from… it is just odd how it skipped your dad, brothers and sister though.” Rhoan hesitates.
“How old is Arik?”
Rhoan shakes his head, “Can’t say, if you want to know more about the others you need to ask them.”
Hmm, confidentiality between supernatural people, who knew. I straighten my legs in front of me, my hands run down the shirt making sure it lays flat, and I catch Rhoan following my hands. This man is becoming way too focused on my actions, which could lead to something else I wasn’t ready for. I try getting out of the closet instead by maneuvering my legs in a way that is as “lady-like” as possible and doesn’t expose my underwear, but I’m sure I flash him once or twice since when I turn around his eyes show a gleam of excitement and swirling gold.
This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.
“You’re not going to stay there all night, are you?” My voice is shaky.
He hunches in the closet while making his way out of the cramped space, “Arik will make the announcement tonight, but for now, if you don’t mind,” he now stands outside the doorway in his massive glory, “You are not staying alone.” His voice is a growl with a hint of authority, and I knew he wouldn’t take no for an answer.
“Can you stay in the living room at least?” My eyes dart to the floor to avoid gawking at Rhoan’s body. Placing one of his big hands on the wall behind me he leans in a bit, “is that what you really want?” Too close, too close! My hormones are a mess and it takes all my will power to turn away from him. Walking into the master bedroom I am met with shattered glass, but before I can take a step on it Rhoan grabs my arm to stop me. The sliding glass door in the master bedroom is pretty much gone. That is what all the crashing was. What about the rest of the house?! The excited hormones are gone in an instant and worry washes over me. The front door! I struggle out of Rhoan’s grasp before he sees that I’m facing the closet and realeases me. Walking carefully, I walk back into the closet area and grab the boots that are on the top shelf. Sliding them on I make a mad dash through the house with Rhoan close on my heels. I pass the guest bedroom where the windows were safe; the living room bay window is gone, and I can see shards of glass on the kitchen floor. I walk to the front door and see that they didn’t touch it. Grandpa’s beautiful front door is intact. I stretch my hand out and touch the door gingerly. Thank God. But how am I going to pay for all of this to get fixed…I have some money but that was supposed to last me until my first paycheck.
“I didn’t get here in time to stop all the damage, sorry again.” Rhoan walks up right next to me and touches the door as well, “this door is important?”
“It is, to me. Thank you again.” Patting the door, I walk to each of the rooms until coming back to the master bedroom. I sit on the edge of the bed looking out where the vampires had stood before, then run a hand from my face up to my hair line and grasping at my hair tightly. “How do I fix this…” I say to myself as Rhoan walks into the room.
“You ARE in the presence of the CEO for Colorado’s biggest construction company, Allistar Steel.” Looking up at Rhaon he stands proudly over the shattered glass of the sliding door in his pajama bottoms, and a grin that could be used for a campaign poster. The confidence he shows is more than enough to give me a bit of hope.
“Seriously?” Sitting up straighter I continue to make an offer, “I have some money saved up-”
“No, that won’t be necessary.” Rhoan closes the gap between us, but continues to stand. I don’t like owing people, and I still didn’t know these neighbors all that well. Sure, they seem nice enough, but being in debt to someone that you don’t know spells disaster.
“I appreciate the offer, but I will pay for it. In full.” I try stating this in an authoritative voice, but that is hard to pull off when you look like me.
“Look,” Rhoan’s expression is serious and squares off to me, then runs one of his hands through his thick dark chocolate hair. “We’ve been helping one another here for over a hundred years. We take care of one another here.” That first part caught my attention.
“Wait, what? Over a hundred years?”
His expression is nonchalant as if it is part of the norm. “Yes. My grandfather and father have lived in that house since the treaty was made.” He nods off to the direction of the house that sits to the left of where we were.
“Hold up!” I shoot straight up from the bed and am inches from his chest looking up at him. He must have been shocked by the sudden movement because his eyes got wider at the action. “Treaty? Generation of family living in your home. What about the other neighbors? How long have they lived here for?”
I can tell my questions are making him uncomfortable because this very large man is backing up from a small woman.
“I would feel a lot better if you spoke to the others about themselves. I can tell you all that you want to know about my family and I, but I don’t meddle in the affairs of the other races.” He creates distance between us after he says his piece.
“Then…I want to have a meeting.”
“A meeting?”
“Yes. I don’t know what is going on here and too much is happening too fast. I want answers.”
Rhoan turns his back to me looking out the once sliding glass doors to the river. The tension in his body is apparent as he takes a deep breath and lets out a loud sigh.
“Ok. I will talk to the others. Tomorrow after sunset. But all I can do is extend the invite, it doesn’t mean they will listen.”
My heart does a little skip knowing that things are going to get settled, it is just a comforting thought. Maybe I can be a part of the solution instead of the damsel that was at the bar the other night.
“For now though,” he turns to face me again, “you need somewhere to stay until this mess gets dealt with and you’re not doing it tonight.” His face is stern and his voice deepens.
“I was going to tape up the holes with some trash bags and just sleep in the living room by the furnace.”
“You’re kidding right…” He looks at me in disbelief and I give him a confused look. I didn’t see the problem with that, it would be just like camping and I am certain that after whatever he did outside no one else was going to come that night to bother me. “You’re not kidding…” Rhoan places a hand on his face, fingers slowly pinching the bridge of his nose and then looks at me intensely. His manner becomes fierce as he approaches me, I back up until the back of my knees hit the edge of the bed forcing me to sit down, but he keeps coming. I scoot back getting a little panicky at the sudden change of attitude. He walks around the bed and lifts me up into his arms in a princess fashion and proceeds to the hallway.
“What are you doing?!”
“You’re nuts if you think that is going to work.” He walked into the living room making his way to the front door, “One, it is the middle of October. The temperature is dropping, and all your ventilation is gone thanks to the vandalism. Two,” he is out the door now walking down the pathway to the front yard, “Arik is NOW making the announcement about you to the supe community, which means word won’t officially get out until tomorrow night.” Rhoan now makes his way down the gravel walking to his home.
“And where exactly do you think you’re taking me?”
“You are sleeping with me.” In a matter-o-factly tone.
I squirm in his hold, “Just wait one minute. I am not sleeping with you!” I push off him getting ready to touch the ground, “besides, earlier you said I could stay!”
“I am keeping an eye on you until things are settled, no if-and-or-but’s. I didn’t say anything about you staying there, I said you weren’t going to be alone tonight. I was originally going to have you stay in Falon’s place, but...” He trails off not giving an explanation, but with a simple movement he repositions me and flings me over his shoulder, making it extremely difficult to maneuver. Being only able to see the backside of him I see him take out his phone in his side pocket of his pajama bottoms. “Hey. Some vamps just made a move on Everly. She’s staying with me. Can you do something about the house until I get some workers on it? She’s being-“I chose this moment to elbow him where my dad told me there is a soft spot on a person’s back. I must have gotten the aim right because he groaned, “a persistent pain. It’s nothing. I’m going to guard her tonight. Alright.” Rhoan flexes the shoulder I am being draped over while all the while I am still trying to get down. This could be very sexy if it were the right time, but I wasn’t a girl that got swept away so easily. He puts his phone back in his pocket. “You know…” We make it down the path and we are coming up to his door, “that wasn’t very nice and,” he pushes through the front door, “I don’t mind the squirming. I’m getting a nice view.” I can feel my face getting hot. I had forgotten my current attire in the turn of events.
“Put me down!” I can see gorgeous, deep red wooden floors that are polished, and he begins making his way up a staircase. I am momentarily stunned by the grand entrance we are leaving behind with the iron hand rails and a chandelier made of the roots of a tree. It isn’t until we get to a bedroom that Rhoan finally puts me down, but on the bed. My cheeks are warm with embarrassment and frustration towards this man.
“Rhoan, I appreciate you helping me with the vampires, but I can’t leave the house.” I say in a flat voice as I try to calm my emotions.
He crosses his arms once again and blocks the door, “it is late. Arik will work on what he can, and you will be safe here. Rest.”
“I can’t just rest, so much has unraveled in a mere hour. I can be helpful and do something.”
“Everly...just let us help you. This is a lot for any one person.”
Have you ever gotten so mad that your throat feels like it is on fire? That’s what mine was. The frustration of not being heard was immense. “I understand you are trying to help me, but let me help myself too!”
Rhoan’s expression becomes soft. “I get it. It is something you have control over and something that you know. You won’t feel so helpless, but as of right now it isn’t safe.” I can’t look him in the eyes because he is right. He just nailed how I felt in a sentence. I can feel his body loom over my slumped head, then I feel his breath on my ear. “You stay here tonight.” I grab my ear quickly where I felt his warm breath on it and back up a bit in shock. The sexiest smile touches his lips as he softly chuckles at me. How can he change the atmosphere so quickly?! “I will sleep down stairs, you stay here tonight,” he states as he gestures to the room. Without another word, Rhoan leaves me in his room.
I wait a few moments before I scooch off the bed and tip-toe to the door, then place my ear on it to hear for receding footsteps. I don’t hear anything and I carefully open the door.
“Don’t make me stay up there with you…” Rhoan’s booming voice echoes up the stairs.
Well shit. I guess I have no other choice. I close the door without answering and take an accepting breath. Glancing around the dimly lit room I become aware of certain pieces that my grandpa had worked on. The dressers had his fractal burnings engraved in the wood and the engravings were filled with a bioluminescent material. I checked the dresser for his stamp and sure enough, in the top drawer under Rhoan’s socks is the wood stamp of my grandpa. This is the idea I pitched to him a year ago. I gently touch the wood feeling the smooth, cool surface on my fingertips. A small bit of pride swells in my chest knowing that he actually made this on my recommendation. I wonder why he never said anything to me about it? I pull my gaze away and see many of the pieces in the room are made by my grandpa: the mirror, the wood trims, bed frame, dressers, and stands. This felt more like home than the newly done master bedroom at the house. My eyes go back to the bed and I can see the fluffiest, black duvet cover with dark red sheets peeking out on top of the black pillows. I take off my boots before I crawl across the bed and lift the covers to tuck myself in with little hesitation. The bed engulfs me while the duvet cover feels as if I am sleeping with a cloud. ‘Perfect bed and blankets’ is the last thought that runs through my head before I fall asleep.