EMBER IN DARKNESS Chapter 12 (Desire)

My eyes felt heavy under his gaze.
The dryness of my throat made it so hard to speak, more to say, harder to think of the next word.
Come closer, my mind dictated him.
Every inch of me wants to touch him. Does he feel the same way?
I shook my head to shut the emerging thoughts out and faced away from River.
“Go to sleep.” He brushed his cheek with his hand and walked away.
Stunned and still wondering what happened, I stood there until I heard the door close.
Did I really think of those things?
“I am such a virgin.” I mumbled.
Gasp!
A set of fingers clasped around my mouth from behind.
“Meet me at the gym three thirty in the afternoon tomorrow.” It’s Spade. His fingers slid off my cheeks to my shoulders, and he held me for a moment.
Tears slowly crept down my eyes, too overwhelmed to hug him back. “Yes.” I replied.
When I turned around, he was gone but still left a smile painted on my face. Finally, I can be with him.
I jumped to bed and didn’t mind closing the terrace door.
My brother will be waiting for me tomorrow.
“Who was that?” A suspicious tone called from outside.
“Goodnight, River.” I smiled to myself and snuggled myself to sleep.
Beep! Beep! Beep!
Oh, wow…Another day; I wonder what’s in store for me.
My morning rituals went on; this time, I chose a sleeveless gold top, a dark cotton mini-skirt and beige doll shoes, wore everything and presented it to the mirror.
Nice.
“Breakfast, mademoiselle.“ The French maid yelled.
I smiled at her and ran to the dining room.
When I arrived, Dr. Burke isn’t there.
“Where is Dr. Burke?” I asked River, who is chewing on fillet.
“He went first.” He glanced down. “Your skirt’s too short.”
Since when did I allow him to comment on what I wear?
“Uh-huh, it’s the perfect length. Did I ever tell you that I never let anyone influence the way I dress?” I brushed my skirt and sat beside him. A bowl of strawberries and cream stood before me. Greedily, I took the huge container and dug my way down.
Even Spade can’t make me wear jeans. I wear what I want to wear since it’s my body, I flaunt my assets-not hide them.
“You’re an easy prospect for rapists.” He hissed.
I rolled my eyes at him and went back to my breakfast. Rapists are psychos overloaded with self-pity who need to get laid; from my point of view, anyone can become a rapist if they choose to. Self control and morality is the only way to stop or avoid being one.
The way I dress could attract people who like it but it’s not enough to make them that desperate or obsessed.
“Let’s walk to school.” I requested. I’m going to prove that clothing alone won’t spark that much interest.
He nodded. I hastily ate the last berry from the bowl and grabbed the cream-colored hand bag I had with me earlier.
“Let’s go.” We still have an hour before class starts and we might just need forty-five minutes for it. Traffic’s impenetrable at this hour anyway.
He wore black jeans and a snug, wheat-colored shirt, brown converse sneakers and a white scarf. Maybe he doesn’t trust me when I say I won’t read the seal on his nape, but he has other scriptures on his chest.
After the long walk out of the front yard, we strolled down the sidewalk. I stared straight ahead, feeling stares shooting at our direction.
“Every guy is looking at you.” River muttered. As if I didn’t notice it.
“Let them stare.” I raised my chin and continued walking.
“Hot stuff.” A guy remarked while passing by,
Two guys standing on the bus stuff gave me dirty looks and grinned. Gross.
“Hi.” A blond-haired guy crept in front of me.
“Can I help you?” I scrunched my face in disgust.
“I would love to-“he stepped closer. Double gross.
Out of nowhere, a hand draped over my shoulder.
The blonde looked up at River and walked away.
Everybody who stared at me earlier now turned their heads and began to do other things.
“You could be an obsession if people feel that way towards you.” He whispered. “I wouldn’t blame them if they think they should have you.”
Is that a good thing or bad thing? He blurts out words without warning. It’s shocking and mind blowing. People can’t just assume something right away, it needs time and he needs to know people well before he could say such things. The words came out of his tongue with utmost carelessness.
“You’re really weird.” I replied.
He called on a cab and opened the door for me, giving one last glare at the guys who stalked us before he closed the door.
“I almost forgot to tell you.” My face glowed with excitement. “Spade and I are okay now-we’ll meet at three thirty, after classes.”
He reacted as if I told him that I broke his favorite toy, River’s face clouded with disapproval, different from what I’ve expected.
A little disappointed, I gazed outside.
No traffic?
We arrived at school fifteen minutes early and it is amazingly clutter-free at this time in the morning because there’s no cootie girl group in spandex outfits, buzzing anywhere near our classroom corridor, plus, everybody didn’t arrive until the exact time class starts.
The atmosphere in here seems to have lightened up a bit, maybe it’s because Neon’s not around yet.
Wrong.
He’s on his chair, staring into space. It’s a real inconvenience to have your ex-boyfriend in your class, and have a snobbish rock as a companion.
Pulling on his hair and shirt didn’t get his attention and I’ve been waiting for him to at least flash a glance in my direction but no, he remained absorbed in the lectures in our three subjects.
Shade and I both remained quiet. I avoided looking, turning or peeking at his direction though I wanted to ask why their group was waiting on us yesterday. I hope it doesn’t happen again.
The lunch break bell rang and sent a shockwave all throughout the school. I guess were not the only ones who have a horrible teacher like Ms. Fames at this time.
I twitched my lips as she marched out of class and left us with another inconsiderate task-a report on our school’s history, the founders and faculty from start to present-to think that this school is almost a hundred years old. On the bright side, she gave us the day after tomorrow to finish it.
“Stop being so childish.” River muttered when my fingers pinched on a tiny group of hair.
“Prick.” I mumbled releasing the strands of ebony. How can I stop picking on him if he’s acting like he has been having PMS all morning? I know he hates Ms. Fames but he has no right to bring it all out on me.
Two more subjects after lunch and after that, I’ll be seeing Spade.
The hours rolled by, unnoticed. Our lunch was made up mainly of fruits and veggies. I love fruits; I can live on it alone. Neon and his crew sat behind River and I. They remained a little quiet than usual, giving more density in the atmosphere than usual, as if they’re just watching me.
They are vampires. Maybe they’re thinking of what my blood would taste like. My scent will drive them off-what more with the taste?
Maybe if I rub garlic all over my body, they will stay a dozen feet away from me.
“I’m a genius.” I chuckled goofily, not realizing that I was looking at River, lest making me appear like an idiot.
I will never forget the look on his face when he reacted to that.
First period after lunch is Literature. Our teacher gave a lecture, after which, asked us to write a five-sentence essay about happiness or give five things that would describe happiness for us.
My paper had: strawberries, shopping, family, World of Warcraft, I would’ve written River but that would be weird, so I wrote blueberry cheesecake as the fifth thing.
I wish I knew what River wrote. Unluckily, I didn’t have a chance to take a peek because every time I try to, he’d look at me like a greedy wolf defending its food.
The last period came. P.E. class. We all proceeded to the locker rooms to change into shorts and sleeveless jerseys, then, to the gym. Our practicum is basketball. I hate the sport and the odds were in my favor. I was given the least irritating task: scoreboard.
I of course, did my job well. The numbers on the whiteboard are nicely written and there’s no single erasure.
For the last fifteen minutes before dismissal, I excused myself for a bathroom break-I really needed one.
“Thank God.” I muttered upon seeing that all stalls are unoccupied. There are usually a lot of seniors crowding in here at this time and it’s pretty hard to hold it in for ten minutes.
As soon as I sat on the bowl, somebody knocked on the door.
Unbelievable. Whoever it is can just come in and look for a comfortable stall-on the other hand, if that’s a guy knocking, shouldn’t he be going to the other restroom?
“Coming!” I pulled my shorts up and washed my hands. The nerve. After drying my hands, I pulled the door open.
“You can co-“ River stood outside, arms crossed on his chest. “-what are you doing here? You do realize that this is the girls’ bathroom, right?” Or is he not familiar with the female sign?
“I’m sorry about this.” He sighed and snatched my arm.
What is it this time?
He dragged me away, and, without another word, threw me inside a closet. I quickly got up, despite a painful feeling somewhere on my leg and banged my hand on the thick door.
“River! Let me out!” he is so absurd! I pounded hard, a little scared.
I stopped when he spoke from outside. “Keep quiet and listen to me. Spade is not your real brother.”
“That’s not a reason, let me out right now! I want to hear it from Spade.” I gritted my teeth, feeling infuriated with his nonsense when it’s not the time to do so. “Is anybody there?! Help me out!” I continued hitting the door with my hands and feet to make enough noise.
“Calm down. I will let you out when I’m sure that Spade is safe to be around with. Keep quiet as long as you’re in there.” He assured.
When Spade doesn’t see me in front of the gym when three thirty strikes, he’ll check the whole place anyway. “Don’t hurt him.” I threatened.
My lips trembled a little. In an attempt to calm myself down, I sat on the dusty floor and played with a brush and a small can of gold paint which I got from the shelves and used the walls as my drawing canvas.
A few minutes passed, then, I heard footsteps outside.
“Where’s my sister?” Spade’s voice echoed among the walls. I immediately stood up and was about to scream, when I heard another voice.
“You heard him, River. Where’s Lily?” Neon parroted.
Spade is with Neon? He hated him before…how could he be with him?
“I sent her home because I knew bloodsuckers would be here.” River responded, a sharp threat in his tone.
A chorus of growls and hisses sent my heart pounding against my chest.
“Why would you surrender your own sister to these vampires, Spade?” River asked.
My heart thundered and waited for him to answer.
“She was adopted-technically, we’re not related.” Spade proclaimed flawlessly, without a bit of hesitation. He spoke the words like it was a long-kept secret that he so wanted to share with everyone.
I was crumbled to bits. He can’t be serious.
My knees shuddered and I felt every pain inside me weigh a million times heavier.
That’s not true.
All of a sudden, a loud, rustling sound from outside almost sent my back to the corner of the small space where all the mops are. There were grunts, and several thuds on the door.
What is going on out there?! I looked for a small hole or slit around the door to find out, but there was none. The only slit is the space between the door and the floor-that won’t help much; I barely had enough space to stretch my legs when I was sitting but I still gave it a try.
An extremely deafening hit on the door sent me back up. I want to open this door so bad. There’s something wrong.
I froze when a path of blood trickled inside and covered my hands over my mouth to keep from screaming.
“He’s a demon!” One of them exclaimed. “Get out of here!” The trail of footsteps sailed away until it finally disappeared.
I gasped when another sound on the door was made-the door’s beginning to open.
“River!” I horrifically stared at his beaten form, leaning against the wall beside the closet door.
He spat blood and bled a lot-cuts covered his arms and neck. Two bite marks swelled on his arm, letting out extremely dark blood.
Almost absentmindedly, I grabbed tore the towel in my pocket and tied one strip around his wrists to stop the bleeding and another to wipe the blood off his skin, just in case there are damaged veins or arteries. His cuts are deep, as if claws were used to make them.
“I’m so sorry.” I choked out. I feel responsible for this.
“Take me inside.” He weakly responded. I gently pulled him up and let him sit slowly on the floor and managed to kneel myself beside him.
“Read the first three words you see on my chest.” He ordered.