Haunted by the Immortals

Chapter 8

Cami

He paused. "Do you think Stefan will ever find someone? I mean someone who he really likes?"

I gave a small shrug. "I don't know, Nat, I really don't. But seriously, if that guy doesn't get a hold of himself soon, he's never going to find a girl." I paused. "Hey, what if Rhoda has a sister?"

His laugh was full. "Yeah, there's an idea. What about that girl you were talking about in Oregon? The girl who was flirting with your vamp asshole."

"Who," I blurted. "Lacey? You've got to be kidding me?" He raised his eyebrows. "Okay, I guess you're not then. But she lives back in Oregon, how can Stefan..."

"I know, I guess it couldn't work. But I really thought...damn, I seriously thought they could work. They seemed so like each other."

"I get it." I snuggled my head under his chin and wrapped an arm around his chest. We lay in silence the rest of the evening just listening to each other's breathing. It was nice.

I woke up to have the sun blaring down on me. It was morning. Damn, damn, damn. Next to me Nat stirred and moaned. I smiled and pushed a strand out of his face to see his sleeping eyes. He was gorgeous. And as much as I wanted to stay in bed with him, I couldn't. I smiled at him whilst trying my hardest to slide out of the sheets without waking him. Nat groaned and his eyes started to flutter, I ran for the shower.

The shower was cold against my skin. The small specks of water added up into a huge ice-cold bucket thrown on top of me, even when the water was as hot as hell. I massaged my hair with shampoo as quickly as I could, not wanting to stay in the water a moment longer. And when I stepped out, in a long towel gown, which came down to my shins, warm air welcoming my skin; Nat stepped halfway through the door, dividing his half body. He wore the same jeans as yesterday and nothing on his chest. Bare...Toned...Muscular.

"Come on sleepy head. How long do I have to wait?" He quirked his eyebrows and added, with a touch of melodrama, "Stefan's downstairs, deciding Rhoda's fate. He wants us to help."

I shook my head. "Never thought I'd have to choose someone else's fate for them," I shook my head again. "It's not me."

"I know. Me either. Oh, I brought you something." He fished something out of his jean pocket and leant it to me. It was black, solid, an l-shape – a gun.

I furrowed my eyebrows. "What's this for?"

He hesitated, then after a second, turned away. "I don't know. Just...promise me you'll use it when The Vampire comes."

(The Vampire was a nickname for Francois Nat had started to use.) I didn't know what to say to him. I nodded when he turned back to face me, searching my wide eyes for an answer. "Yes. I will. I promise."

He nodded sincerely. "Good." He hooked a thumb in one of his belt loops and said, "How are you, Camilla?"

"Did you just call me Camilla?"

"Thought I would give it a try," he smiled. "Not good?"

"Hmm..." I thought, "Maybe on special occasions only. It reminds me of the past and I don't..." I choked on the words.

"Hey. Hey, Sshh, you're safe here." He came closer and wrapped me in a hug and kissed my cheek. "I'm safe, we're both safe. I promise I'm not going to lose you. And I promise I'll do whatever it takes for you to forget your past. All of it, okay?"

I couldn't speak, so I just nodded. "Good. I love you, Teddy Bear."

I broke away and looked up at him. "Where did you hear that from?"