Chapter 20 Miss Collard
Miss Collard
Present Day
“She broke the compulsion?” I ask, frowning down at my notes before glancing up at him for the first time in hours.
The shock factor of his story wore off the moment he mentioned the music box that had cast a spell over humans. I hung on every word. If this story gets published anywhere, our government will have a lot to answer for.
That was Danni’s wish, wasn’t it? To blow it all wide open so people would know the truth?
I hadn’t missed how his eyes glazed over whenever he spoke about her.
“She did.” Now, his eyes harden at the memory.
“But—how is that possible?” As I speak, the sun peeks through the window, casting a warm orange glow into the room. My eyes snap towards it and then back to him.
My hand finally takes a rest from the ferocious note taking.
My joints ache from sitting hunched over the desk all night, and tightness dances along the muscles in my fingers.
But I don’t want to leave. I want to hear the rest of the story, even though I know that will be impossible with the sun rising.
Any moment now, he will leave for the safety of the shadows. I try to hide my disappointment.
“It wasn’t without effort. She damn near liquified her own brain. But Danni was never the type to do things by half. She was all or nothing.”
Was.
A strange ache settles over my chest before he continues, “I should have done better to protect her from Egor, but I couldn’t see much past the power of the bond. It was an oversight I’ll never forget.”
The sun continues its climb into the sky. I glance at him nervously as the rays begin to stretch towards him.
“You’re worried about me?” Knox asks.
His question catches me off guard. “I… um… I thought you said vampires burn in the sun? That the inbetween is—” I rifle through the pages of notes I’ve taken until I find the exact words, “—your own personal purgatory, in that sense?”
Knox grins, but there’s no humor behind it. The sunlight finally reaches his pale hand that remains steadfast on the table. I hold my breath, waiting for him to turn to dust, but it never comes.
“I think we’re done for the day, Miss Collard. We’ll continue tomorrow. For now, go home, rest, and eat. I’ll find you again.”
I scoff at his command. “No way! I find out you’re the most unreliable narrator I’ve ever met, and you expect me to just pack up my things and go open the flower shop today? No way in hell!” I fold my arms across my chest, holding his gaze.
His crimson eyes flicker in amusement as they rake over me. I instantly regret being so bold in front of him. This guy could literally kill me without blinking.
“Humans need nutrition. And rest. You’re no use to me half-dead.”
It isn’t a lie, but I doubt I’ll be able to do anything until I hear the rest. Then again, my sister will be wondering where I am if I don’t open the shop today.
“Fine. I’ll wait for you to find me.” I rise from my seat, my head swimming with questions as I gather up the papers of notes I’ve taken. Knox’s hand slams down on top of the parchment, making me jump out of my skin.
“I’ll hold on to these. Should you try and tell anyone what happened here tonight, I’ll kill you. Do you understand?” His threat hangs in the air between us, and when his eyes meet mine again, they’re filled with pain.
I manage a nod and hesitantly release my grip on the papers.
“Until next time.” I avoid his intense scrutiny, bolting for the door before he changes his mind and kills me anyway.
A shadow haunts me the entire way back to the apartment that I share with my sister in Hillsview.
A cold chill settles over my skin despite the warm summer morning.
I walk through the town in a daze, not paying much attention to the workers opening up their own stores for the day.
My mind feels full and foggy, and with each step across the hot pavement, my legs grow heavier.
Perhaps I won’t be opening the flower shop today after all.
I climb the stairs to the top floor of our apartment building. My muscles scream in protest. I don’t even get two steps into the apartment before my sister’s high-pitched voice assaults my ears.
“Where have you been? I’ve been looking everywhere for you! I almost called the cops to come drag you out of whatever dive bar you were stuck in!”
Claire searches my face in concern as she comes to a stop a few feet away from me, her tight blonde ponytail pulling her haughty features higher than humanly possible.
Despite sharing parents, we look nothing alike.
Claire is tall and thin with blue eyes and golden blonde hair, whereas I’m short and mid-sized with emerald green eyes and dark hair.
Claire got all the ethereal genes, and I got child-birthing hips.
“I’m sorry. I was writing, lost track of time.” Heaviness weighs down my eyelids and I shuffle over the hardwood floor towards my room, ready to collapse into the sheets. Claire stiffens.
“You were writing?” she asks, surprised.
“Yes, now can I please go to bed? I’m exhausted.”
Claire’s bony hand clasps tightly around my wrist as she spins me back around. I guess that expensive gym membership is paying off.
“What are you—” Claire crouches down so our faces are level, her eyes searching my own as if there is something to gain inside of them.
“You’re being weird, Claire. Can I just go to bed, please?”
She finally releases me and stands to her full height. “Yes. Ahem. Sorry. I haven’t slept, either. Too busy worrying about you.”
Why is she so nervous?
“Okay… I’m going to bed now. I’m not opening the shop today.”
“At least get some nutrients in you before you pass out on me,” Claire’s voice calls after me. I turn and find her holding out one of her famous smoothies in a diamante pink cup for me to take. My throat feels like sandpaper when I see it. I give her a smile and take it. “Thank you.”
Claire looks at me like I’m about to shatter into a thousand tiny pieces. “Drink up and get some rest. The shop can wait.” She smiles as she steps forward and tucks a stray hair behind my ear. “I’m glad you’re writing again.”
The whole interaction is odd, but Claire can be a little overprotective at times.
I take a sip and smile at her in appreciation before I wander lazily into my room and throw myself down on top of the sheets.
I don’t even bother to get undressed. I just lay there, looking up at the pale, powder blue ceiling, sipping my drink before sleep finally takes me.
I dream of monsters.
Fire and wrinkled sheets.
Steel thorns with a mind of their own.
Crimson eyes glaring back at me through the darkness.
When I wake, it’s dark outside again. I slept the entire day away. Shit. I scramble out of bed and head for the kitchen. It isn’t until I’m pouring coffee into my favorite mug that last night comes flooding back.
The mug shatters into a million pieces around my bare feet and scalding water drips down the white cupboard underneath the countertop.
Vampires are real.
Brain fog begins to cast a storm cloud over my racing thoughts. I take a step back, and a piece of the porcelain slashes the underside of my foot.
“You’re bleeding.”
I whirl on the spot, slamming my feet into some more of the broken china.
There he is. In my living room, looking young yet timeless in a black hoodie and jeans.
“What the fuck? How did you get in here?” I clasp my hand over my chest to steady my racing heart.
“There’s already a spot reserved in hell for me. What’s a little breaking and entering?” His gaze roams across the furniture and the air feels like it’s been sucked out of the room.
“My sister will be home soon,” I threaten.
“I’ve seen to it that she will not disturb us for the rest of the night.” When his glistening garnets finally turn to me, his pupils are blown wide, making them look black.
“You… you what?” I clutch the edge of the counter while blood pools between my toes.
“I didn’t enter your world alone. And before you start, she’s safe. I wouldn’t do anything to harm her, unless you really piss me off. Now please, see to your wounds so we may continue.” There is an odd urgency to his tone that he didn’t have last night. It unnerves me. I gulp.
“What’s the rush?” I ask as my nails bite into the cold marble.
Thoughts of Claire being at some bar with a bunch of vampires makes me want to throw up.
“Observant little thing, aren’t you?” Knox’s teeth flash white as he sneers.
I find myself wanting to roll my eyes at him. “Sometimes. I’ll go and change, then we can continue.”
I try not to slip on my blood as I pad my way to the shower inside my room. Once the door is closed, I steady my breathing. I can’t believe he’s here.
In my apartment.
***
I shower and get dressed quicker than I usually would.
If tonight is anything like last night, I need to be comfortable.
So sweatpants are of course the best option.
When I emerge from my bedroom, the broken china has been cleared and the floor looks like new.
Knox stands at the window with his hands behind his back, gazing out on the town below.
More parchment and the same quill from last night has been placed on the couch, and a cup of steaming coffee sits on the small side table nearby. I try not to think about how fast he can move as I sit down and pick up the mug.
I tentatively sniff. I like my coffee sweeter than most, but however he made it, I’ll drink it. I don’t want to give this guy any reason to have me as his next meal. I’m surprised when I take a sip that it’s exactly how I like it.
Has he been watching me? Stalking my order at the local coffee house?
A shiver runs down my spine.
“So, what happened after you took her back to her room?” I ask, grabbing my instruments and putting thoughts of the vampire stalker to the back of my mind. Knox stays where he is, looking out into the darkness outside.
“Chaos. For there was only one type of person who had ever managed to do it before… Egor’s mate.”