END ROADS

CHAPTER 13: MAGIC, BETRAYAL AND SECRETS

The door was knocked when I was busy perusing the endless pages.
“Coming” I called back still confused. I hid the book behind me before entering the room. There must be a reason why Dermot hid the book.
“Yeah? Someone called me” I said nervously
“You were taking too long in the bathroom, anyway we are done here. Look after him, we will be back at dusk to see how he is doing” Ari said picking the tray.
“You trust me with him? I thought you guys were staying” I asked to buy time so I can drop the book and kick it under the bed.
“He trusts you, that is what matters… and by the way, I don’t know what has happened to the meal they take. If you know what I mean, if you don’t mind you can be feeding him!” Ari said uncertainly.
“Why me? You could do it you are also human” I complained.
“Am feeding the others, and he needs way more than normal. Besides I think he trust’s you and Steel is not an easy guy to deal with, he has warned every human against the idea of feeding Grey” she looked uncomfortable with what she was saying.
“Why, Grey is very ill and he needs something more than attention” I complained wearily
“Because he said, he is the only one who can feed from you, that is what Steel does. Using your own words against you. You can always give that to him, because you care the most about him. He knows that and I think I trust you to care for him. Be there for him Becky, I will appreciate it” she was enticing me into something I was not so sure about, yet I had the heart to agree to it.
“Okay, I will do as you say”
“Thank you, Becky” I nodded.
“Thanks for being a kind human despite where you come from” Sandy added with a genuine smile.
I nodded and they walked out together. I sat beside the bed and inspected the area Grey had been injured, it was a scar remaining. I touched it, he winced his breath rugged then he spoke.
“Becky…are you okay?” he was straining to speak
“Am fine, but you are the one hurting” I said sadly.
“It is good, that you are safe…” he shifted and groaned “this hurts so much, I was attacked by the three strongest vampires among seven in this coven. I might not make it”
“Please don’t say that” I begged tears spilling from my eyes, he peaked at me and smiled.
“You are crying for a vampire that tortured you, that is a little funny don’t you think?” I didn’t see the joke in his words, I just saw how much he was straining.
“People change, it doesn’t matter. I just want you to get well, I no longer care if I will get killed in the end. It hurts to see you like this”
“I will get well then if you got such determination. Do me a favour then” he proposed opening his eyes slightly
“Go ahead then” he beckoned me to move closer so he could whisper
“Don’t let anyone else come in here except Ari and Sandy. Keep all of them off. Tell them am in the worst condition that I can’t talk or move.”
“Why? And how?”
“Just do it, just hold my hand and concentrate on what you want done.  The energy will flow through me to you easily I won’t have to strain my energy. It will do, I can also feel Dermot’s energy in here. You will succeed” he inhaled deeply “Now I will go to sleep”
“I will get you a drink” I rushed to the table, took a glass sliced my hand with Grey’s pen knife and filled the glass. I tore a piece of the towel and sealed the wound. When I turned to give him the glass, he was watching me.
“You didn’t have to do that”
“Steel is using your words against you, I will prove him wrong” I helped him sit up.
“Why are you being nice to me?” he asked
“Because I like you!” I froze my cheeks turning tomato red, now I could not look at him in the eye.
He smiled at himself “Am sure that was to remain in your head”
I could not control my heart beat “come on drink and go to bed” I held the glass for him. He drunk it all while his eyes were fixed on my face. When he was done, I shot to my feet ready to let him rest. He held my wrist and said “Give me a goodnight kiss my secret admirer”
I rolled my eyes at him “You are crazy”
“About you…maybe” it was a lie and I knew it. He was just teasing me. I kissed his forehead and pat his hair.
“I will sleep then stingy girl” he said closing his eyes.
I got dressed quickly waiting for Grey to fall asleep, when he did I took the spell book and began thinking. How was I possibly going to find out what was written in the book? Was it braille? I touched it, instead of feeling bumps on it, there were depressions instead. It could mean something. I searched the study table at the end of the room and found a carbon paper. I rubbed it on the front page. Two words came into view. SPELL BOOK!
That was smart, I congratulated myself on trying and ending up smart. I did the same on four pages but nothing happened. Frustrated I ran my fingers across the edge of the book thinking of another method to use. My finger came into contact with a sharp edge slicing my finger. Some blood smeared on the pages. The blood disappeared into the page a dark thread of smoke came from it covering the book completely. When the smoke disappeared the book was filled with writings. It was written in French, and I studied French in school, so it was my good luck. I pushed the double seated sofa next to the bed, sat cross legged on it and began following the instructions on how to activate the magic of the spell book. I repeated five times but nothing happened. I began feeling sleepy and rested my head on the arm of the sofa. I was drawing into sleep when I felt a soft breeze through my hair and bare skin. I quickly sat up and opened the book. The pages were filled up with writings. I wanted to jump up in victory but recalled all this was my little secret. I began seeking matters concerning healing. When I found it I began activating the magic power immediately. I could feel its power rushing through my body, through my arms then it was lingering on the tips of my fingers. I touched Grey’s hand, he frowned…please don’t wake up boy I begged mentally. He didn’t, it rushed through his body towards every joint. When I thought it was enough, I sealed it and closed the book. His pale skin gained its tarn colour and the pink silvery scar was gone. I congratulated myself. I was about to lay down and sleep when I recalled Grey asking me to seal the room. I used the spell book to do it. A clear wall surrounded the room. I was having fun with this book, everything simple and easy. I hid it under the cushion before I went to sleep.


I heard voices in my sleep, someone calling me urgently with despair and pain. I could not resist the urge to get out of the sofa and go to rescue him. I shot to my feet, took a few steps and stretched my hand to remove the white veil hiding him away. My hand was grabbed tightly, I opened my eyes quickly to find Grey’s eyes fixed on me. They were cold and annoyed.
“Stop the hunt and go to bed” he said huskily releasing my hand.
I nodded still confused and lay back on the sofa. I recalled the last time the same voice called, I ended up in Grey’s room and today I was reaching out for him. I couldn’t understand and I did not strive to. I just went to sleep.


When every vampire was awake, Ari and Sandy came over to see him. I had to slice my hand again to give him his meal and bandage it again. Sandy tried to heal it but it was clear no other vampire could succeed to use his or her power on me except Grey. It was strange, but I didn’t strive to understand there was much I couldn’t understand already. As soon as Ari and Sandy left, Addy, Jayden and Steel with some other vampires were standing at the door.
“Can we come in?” Steel asked with mockery
“Why ask suit yourselves” I was risking not sure if the spell worked.
He tried to get in but he was thrown back only to be caught by other vampires.
“There is a spell that is keeping us away” Steel said
“She is human, she can’t cast spells” Addy said.
“Don’t forget she broke Dermot’s spell and released Reni” Jayden confirmed.
“That doesn’t mean she can cast spells too” Addy was bitter.
“Then it must be someone else. Of course not Sandy, she can’t resist our power, she is too young. Not Grey either, he is too weak!”
“Sure, he is in a very bad condition, he can’t breathe or even move. He is likely to die soon” I confirmed to them.
“My brother!” Addy tensed.
“Go grieve somewhere else” I sneered “you barely gave a damn when you were hitting him”
“How dare you” she was shaking with rage
“Come on and hit me the way you did before” she tried to come in but she was thrown back. I laughed hysterically.
“That was funny, you can keep entertaining me some other time, for now…goodbye” I shut the door. They cursed their hearts out then left. I was about to walk back to Grey when a note was slipped under the door.
I work for Grey, all this is pretence for his own good
Jayden.
I threw the note in the bin and went ahead to have my breakfast.
For the day, I spent it trying as many healing spells as I could. Strength restoration, nerve relaxers and muscle relaxing spells. When I was done, I fed Grey again then for the remaining time, I read books about vampires’ history. How to fight one, the content of their fangs. It was determined by their mental goal. Some vampires were clawed and some were not. Some vampires go rogue and become a threat to human beings. Vampires barely died out of illness because they have a very strong immune system. Lastly vampires were sensitive to bright and direct light. No wonder their rooms were always dimly lit.



For days, I took care of Grey, I could not stop the sleep walking thing though. I always found myself reaching for him, then he will wake up and tell me very hurtful things. I will go back to my sofa and force myself to sleep. I used the spelling book each day, trying all the best to restore his energy. It did him good, he regained his energy quickly. On my side, I had a billion scars on my hands and so were the bandages. When the scars were too many that I had no other area to make a cut, I had to entice him to drink from my neck. I was left with a lot of sore fang marks that were sore and painful. I had to put on pull necks to cover them. The three fellows who were responsible for Grey’s condition tried a billion times to enter the room, but they failed miserably. Finally they gave up, everything was fine though but days were flying and the more I stayed next to Grey, the more the embers of wanting or the normal life coming shimmered down. My hopes were dying down and the urge of wanting to play the piano rose in me. I couldn’t, I had a bad feeling about it since I began getting involved with the spell book. I lay down most of the time when the urge rose in me. I played with my fingers, with Grey’s hair which I enjoyed and thought I would never stop. One thing I liked about vampires, is that they could be so protective, they lived long and strived to keep their promises. All this habit of reading vampire literature was promoting me to stop the cry baby habit and gain my confidence. Change my attitude towards vampires coz it was pretty clear, leaving Vines coven wouldn’t be so easy, and if so it wouldn’t be any time soon. On the evening of the eleventh day when Ari came over to see Grey, I made my request.
“Ari, I would like to ask you for something”
“And, what is that?” she paused gathering the dishes.
“I think am tired of living like ‘a nobody’, crying and hoping so much of leaving this place. I have to survive now and strive to remain alive no matter how strong or dangerous vampires are. Find me a weapon, a bow and arrow maybe. A different attire…leather, not dresses. Am fine with pants…please” I hoped I hadn’t raised any suspicion.
“Okay, I will try” she left without saying much.
Ari didn’t show up for two days, on the third day she showed up with a suitcase, bow and arrow.
“I got you what you needed, and please be careful. Those things were in the store probably they belonged to a vampire that died. It might contain some magic power in it” she warned
“Thank you, and I promise, I will be careful”
She smiled and went out. I tried one pair of the clothes and I liked what I saw, minus the fang marks and cuts. I tied my hair in a ponytail swirled around with satisfaction. I went to Grey’s side watched him sleeping peacefully.
Wake up soon Grey, I need to hear you speak again. I might change my attitude towards everything, but I don’t think I can change anything towards you. I will never ever want to leave you.