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hapter Fourteen

For the next few weeks, I went back and forth between Jasper and Damien. Jasper really did want this, even though he would become a monster. He kept asking me if I would still love him when he’s different. My answer was always the same. Yes.

Damien had to tell me all of his secrets so that I could pass them on to Jasper. By the time they had everything figured out, my father was going away again. I was extremely exhausted.

My father was leaving during the night that Friday and we planned to have Damien come over when Bailey went to sleep. You could literally taste the anticipation in the air. Jasper was so distracted; he started changing the temperature in the house during the day. One minute it was hot, the next it was freezing cold. I had to take my sweatshirt off, only to put it back on two seconds later.

I couldn’t concentrate on my homework once the sun went down. Jasper didn’t come in my room at first that night. I walked over to my bed and sat down with a sorrowful sigh. Tonight could be one of my last nights with Jasper, and he was no where to be found.

I know I could call him, but, maybe he’s preparing himself. I don’t know how this stuff works.

I could feel my hands getting shaky as I tried to focus on breathing. I closed my eyes and started counting.

Behind me, in the smallest movement I almost missed, someone shifted. I gasped and turned around. “Oh.”

There he was, looking like the angel that I knew he wasn’t. His blond hair was curly that day instead of his normal straight hair. His eyes were darker like his pupils were dilated.

He smiled as he took in my expression. “Hey, Damien,” I sighed.

“Genna,” he said, suddenly serious. “I can’t go through with this.”

My heart skipped a beat, which I think he heard. His lips twitched into a grin. “Would you let me finish!” He smirked. “My uncle, Sebastian, however is willing to help out. He is much older than I am and is willing to take in a new companion. Basically, Jasper will be taking my place.”

He shifted on the bed again so that he was sitting cross-legged. He was fingering my purple faded comforter. “I am old enough now to go out on me own. I shouldn’t have any problems. This little birdie is leaving the nest, after I graduate of course.”

“Naturally,” I agreed.

I laid across the foot of the bed and sighed. He seemed so casual with everything. He automatically shrugged this off as if it happens all the time, as if this was the natural order of things in his life. It didn’t make much sense to me, his world. There was so much I didn’t know, and was too scared to ask.

Things like: Does he kill humans for food? How do you turn another? Does it hurt? Do you sleep at night—since he’s obviously out during the day—Do vampires have enemies? Do they have hypnotic powers?

I cringed away from those questions and came back to reality. During my little daze, Jasper had appeared, but was talking with Damien quietly.

They hadn’t even noticed I was there.

Jasper was pacing back and forth in front of my bed. He had one hand under his chin. His brown hair was all messy, like he just woke up. His eyebrows furrowed together casting a shadow over his eyes. He looked deep in thought.

Damien had moved to the edge of my bed. He didn’t seem as comfortable as he did before. He watched Jasper. His expression was part awe and part expecting. My guess was that he was expecting Jasper to attack him. Damien’s eyes were wide as they watched Jasper.

“Does he know everything?” Jasper asked. His voice was harsh and he spoke between clenched teeth.

Damien didn’t move as he spoke. “Sebastian knows every detail. He wasn’t happy of course, but he hardly ever is.” He almost smirked at the thought of his uncle’s unhappiness.

“Nigel,” Jasper snapped. I jumped at the name surprised. To me, he is Damien. “This may not end with rainbows and butterflies. Nothing like this has ever happened before.”

Jasper stopped in front of Damien and inclined his body towards him.

They were still oblivious of my presence and I felt left out. I shifted my legs. They didn’t notice.

“I know that, Jazz. Sebastian has seen a lot more of the world than I have. He will know what to do.” He paused for a moment before starting again. “This is new to us but he has been preparing all night. This will go down without a hitch. There is nothing to worry about,” he said with confidence.

Jasper’s eyes flickered to mine. They were dark that day, cold. However, when he looked at me his expression softened. Then I was looking at air. He had disappeared. My heart raced in panic as I scanned my room for him.

I sighed with relief when his arms, cool as they were, wrapped around me from behind. He softly kissed my neck, oblivious to our small audience.

I glanced up at Damien. He was staring at us with his lips turned to a frown. “She isn’t Sue,” he said in a stern voice.

I froze. The last few weeks I had completely forgotten how the love of my life could be so fickle. I had forgotten about my great aunt, Sue.

I flashed back to the second time we met in his sitting room. How he wrapped his arms around me, and how it felt so right. Except now, I felt like the rebound girl. I wasn’t his first love; he still loved Sue until I came along. I took her place.

Jasper ran his nose along the line of my neck and I shivered awkwardly. “Nigel, could you give us a moment?” Jasper said into my neck. I knew Damien heard.

He scoffed and headed for the window. When he stepped onto the ledge, I jumped to my feet. “Stop!” I screamed, but he was already gone. I sprinted to the window and looked down. There as no mangled body on my front lawn.

I turned back to my bed where I left Jasper. He stared at me; his face seemed peaceful and sweet. Like all of our problems left when Damien jumped out the window.