Chapter 4

Armed with the knowledge that I was on the road to a quick recovery Dr. Marie Rhett exited the room instructing me to get some rest. By this time, my head was throbbing relentlessly and my entire body felt as if it had very recently been a wrestler’s punching bag or better yet, Sultan’s. It had been awhile since I’d felt this way, the last time was four years ago when I had tried to avenge my grandfather’s death;

//FLASHBACK\\

After spotting my grandfather’s lifeless body slumped against the dining room wall, I’d teleported over to the predator and had barely taken a swipe at him when I found myself flying through the air and then crashing against the opposite wall. It had taken the beast just one hit to incapacitate me to such a degree that I was bedridden for days, suffering from six fractured ribs and a broken thumb.

//END OF FLASHBACK\\

Releasing a pent up breath I turned spotting a small movement from the corner of my eye, I had forgotten about my little grumpy friend. I hadn’t fed him, or was it her? since yesterday morning. Tira had purchased it for me two weeks ago and I named it Bobby. Bobby was neutral right? Grabbing a bottle from a nearby table I scattered some pellets into the aquarium and watched Bobby slowly make its way over to treat.

Stooping so that I was at an eye level with the turtle, I pressed my hand to my aching temple and watched its slow progress then letting out an exasperated sigh, I reached into its glass prison and snatched it up, depositing it right before the pile of food, if not for my help, the pathetic creature would  have probably died of starvation, considering the length of  time it had taken to take a few steps.

I glared at the animal, it hadn’t even taken one bite. The ungrateful creature was trying to provoke me! But I knew I was just letting my aches and pains get the better of me. Rubbing by forehead, I hobbled over to my warn comfy bed and in minutes I was asleep.

 I woke the next morning feeling infinitesimally better, my head ache was now nothing but a dull, easily ignored throb and my wrist wasn’t as painful as the day before. I looked down at my hand, turning it this way and that to inspect the cast; I’d never worn one before. At that moment my door creaked open and Sultan’s head popped in;

“Hey, mom said I should give you this” he withdrew a small white bottle from behind the door and threw it at me. I started to stretch out my right hand before I remembered the injury and quickly switched to my left, snatching the bottle from the air. It was a bottle of non-drowsy pain medication with instructions to take one pill twice a day or whenever needed, after meals.

“How you feeling?”

“I feel great”

Sultan released a pent up breath and placed his hand dramatically over his heart, “Great, because we were all wondering if you were up for helping with dinner?”

I grinned, “Yea sure, I’ll be down in a sec”

He disappeared from view, closing the door behind him

“ He’s gonna do it!” I heard Sultan announce downstairs, then I heard sighs of relief.

            It was Sunday, which entailed Sunday dinner with the family so everyone came early to play their part in preparing dinner. It was also a chance for us to see Gabe and Analise who no longer resided with us.

When I went to Jamaica last year to visit my aunt Sheba and her twin daughters Cleo and Patra, her boyfriend Pete had taught me the many ways of  preparing pork. Armed with this knowledge, I went as far as to make roasted pork and broad beans one Sunday, it was a hit and now everyone’s favorite Sunday meal. Every other Sunday I prepared different kinds, which would explain Sultan’s anxiety over me helping with dinner today.

I shook my head, deciding to do brown stew pork today, I’d never done it before, but like the rest, I was sure it would be a success, after all, cooking was second nature to me. An assortment of smells greeted me when I entered the chaotic kitchen seventeen minutes later, from natural spices to mouth watering cookie dough.

Tira stood at the counter stirring cake mix in a large wooden bowl, with Sultan standing next to her trying to sneak some of the gooey treat. Mr. Bently, Tira’s dad, stood over an empty bowl, a cook book pushed up to his face, eyes narrowed.

“Honey, it’s only toss salad, what do you need a book for?!” his wife inquired dragging the book out of his hand. I couldn’t help smiling at that and before I could make a move, a piercing squeal of laughter went up as Tira’s four year old brother Donald ran through the kitchen being chased by an exasperated Daniel; she was trying unsuccessfully, to retrieve a jar of mayonnaise from him, not that it would do much good when she got it back since half its contents already coated the cream floor tiles. Donald was now running directly toward me, I sidestepped him and he ran into the dining room, face alight with mischief.

“Jace!” Daniel shrieked.

“What?” I asked feigning ignorance as she pushed pass me. Who was I to ruin a kid’s fun?

My mom stood at the stove stirring gravy, My dad at the kitchen sink peeling potatoes and humming to himself, trying to drown out the noise, I guessed with Neil beside him shelling the corn,  I noticed a bowl of  uncooked rice perched precariously on the edge of the sink next to his  right elbow but before I could warn him his hand accidentally hit the bowl and the rice scattered into the sink, most of it going down the wide drain.

“Shit!” Neil exclaimed lounging for the spilled rice, trying to save as much as he could.

“Cornelius Rhett!” my mom shouted, glaring at him from where she stood.. I pressed my hand to my now throbbing head. maybe I should have stayed in bed after all .

Feeling a cool chill drifting around the room, I looked around to see Gabe opening  the refrigerator  to remove a huge un-baked turkey. He probably felt my gaze on him for he looked around and our eyes met, his gaze apologetic, mine angry. I wasn’t ready to forgive him, my head ached too much and it was his fault.

           “ Here” I looked down to see my mother depositing a pan filled to the brim with ten pounds of raw, chopped, unseasoned pork into my uninjured hand.

“Eat something, take the pill and get started on that pork.” She instructed, then turned to the sink to berate Neil over the spilled rice. I turned to the  only unused space on the wide island and began the welcome task of seasoning the pork.

xxxx

Pristine sauntered down the stairs that evening with a heavy heart, the weight hadn't seemed to change in years. Sighing, she dumped herself onto the hard wooden chair, releasing a pent up breath, she uncovered the plate of warm food the cook had prepared  and immediately started to pick at it, as usual she had no appetite. Looking across the room and out the window she gazed at the mystical stars dotting the black vault. She experienced the cool wisp of the breeze as it carressed her upturned face.

The only sounds that could be heard were the howling of the trees as they fought the wind and the sounds of the animals as they watched the night. It was Sunday and once again she was dining alone, her father  was gone for the weekend and left three people there, Grad, Gain and Shura, three werewolves who would be guarding her until her father returned in two days. She sighed, saddened by the prospect of spending yet another day alone.

...In her minds eye she saw a crowd of cheerful zealous people entering her house, she heard laughter, the clinking of glasses, the whoosh of dresses as women waltzed about and the sweet melodious music as it drifted around the room wrapping everyone in its warm embrace.

She heard the shrill of laughter as each was filled with a sense of contentment and saw the warm faces aglow with love. There were hugs ans smiles in abundance. Pristine closed her eyes and watched the merry company of children running about. Across the room stood french polished tables and domestic furniture decorated  in all shades of red and green, upon which there were succulent fruits and food galore.

As her dancing eyes continued to witness the beauty before her, something caught and held her gaze. It was a man, the most wildly handsome guy she’d ever seen was seated on her oversized couch. He appeared utterly relaxed though she knew he was anything but, beneath his indolent pose something dynamic radiated from him like rays from the sun. Their eyes met, he rose from his seat and started towards her….

            She was immediately dragged from her trance when she heard a knock at the door, she wiped away the tears which had been silently cascading down her cheeks. When she  swung the door open, she saw before her a magnificent sight, standing in her doorway was a tall well toned man, with dark short cropped hair, his hands behind his back and feet apart.

She was mesmorized, he looked down at her flushed face and smiled, flashing his teeth, she was so captivated by his face that it took her a while to notice the the two long canines protruding from his ruby red gums. Her  eyes widened in fright and she took an involuntary step backwards. Behind him lay three dead werewolves.

“Hello Pristine”, his highly accented voice enveloped her in fear. The vampire took a step forward, his eyes drifting over her body, then lounged and a piercing scream ripped through the silent night.

xxxx

                                    AUTHOR'S NOTES

HEY GUYS..YES YES I KNOW IT'S SHORT, I KNOW, BUT I PLAN TO UPLOAD CHAPTER FIVE TONIGHT..I ACTUALLY FINISHED WRITING IT  IT'S JUST THAT I PLAN TO ADJUST IT A BIT SO PLEASE BE PATIENT :)...aLSO YOU SHOULD PROLLY KNOW THAT WHEN I FIRST WROTE THIS CHAPTER IT WAS REALLY REALLY LONG BECASUE I HAD DESCRIBED THE KITCHEN SCENE IN MORE DETAIL BUT I DECIDED THAT SCENE WASN'T IMPORTANT ENOUGH FOR IT TO BE SO LONG SO I CUT IT IN HALF ...IF U GUYS WANNA READ THE LONGER VERSION (which contains waay more people, more talking and laughing and fun ) THEN JUST LEAVE IT IN THE COMMENTS BELOW AND I'LL UPLOAD IT ON MY PAGE> AS ALWAYS I HOPE U ENJOY, COMMENT, VOTE, FAN...( doing these thing can really motivate a person to write more :)) LOVE YOU ALLLLL AND THANKS FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT\(^_^)/ -DoUbLe.A

unedited.