The Town of Anton

Chapter Four

I couldn't sleep. My thoughts were scattered. Everything in the world wasn't as normal as it seemed. I stayed up wishing there was another explanation for my dream about Deacon. But nothing came to mind. All I could think about was vampires.

I told myself to keep quiet. I didn't want to scare him off when he arrived. But I couldn't act scared either, or he'll smell it from miles away. It was terrible to think about him being a monster, but all the clues led me here. I couldn't just deny it or pretend not to care.

Seven o'clock approached quicker than I had thought. He stood at the entrance with a smile on his face as he said, "I'm here for the world's greatest coffee."

That's not the only thing you're here for, I thought.

He didn't move one inch from the entrance. And according to the research I stayed up all night doing, vampires had to be invited in. But I couldn't do it. I couldn't let him in.

"So?" He continued, "How about that coffee?"

I couldn't keep him waiting and regretted my decision. "Come in."

He took a step over the threshold and walked inside. He didn't try to kill me, which was a good thing. And his face didn't change, so I was on the safe side at the moment.

"You have such a wonderful home."

"Thank you," I said, walking with him to the kitchen.

"I never got a name," he replied.

"Saige."

He said nothing after, just let out a small smile. Silence filled the room. I started the coffee and waited with him. We awkwardly sat there with nothing to say or do until he asked, "Why are you so tense?"

I froze. And standing there, I almost thought about running. But in my dream, the running part didn't get me anywhere.

"You're shaking like a leaf." He moved towards me. But I stepped back, only making him move closer and closer. "Why are you scared of me?"

Should I tell him? Would it make me feel better if he knew? I couldn't decide. He was just so gorgeous that sometimes I had no control over my emotions. He looked so hot, but he felt so cold with his hands on my bare skin.

"Why are you so cold?" I snapped, pulling my arm from his grasp. "Why didn't you just enter my house without being invited in? Or better yet, why did you appear out of nowhere at the grocery store?"

"You know, don't you?" He said, sounding sad about it.

"About being a vampire, yeah. I had a dream that you-" I almost spilled the fact that I dreamt about him touching me. But who knew I would become attracted to a vampire?

"You dreamt about me?"

I continued and said, "I dreamt about you killing me."

"But I would never," he continued, "I mean...I could never hurt you."

I felt the urge to ask. "But are you tempted?"

"Not exactly..." He stopped before the conversation got awkward.

The thoughts of kissing him appeared in my mind once more. But doing that would only lead to other things; things I wasn't ready for. And that was the moment I stepped away from the steam of temptation long enough to get our coffee.

"There's no need to fear me." I remembered him saying at the pond. Only now did I realize that he was trying to tell me all along.

I blurted out. "Why am I special?"

...

My heart felt sensationally cold as my mind became empty. Almost nothing seemed real to me anymore. I used to be a kid, a friend, a student, a daughter. But as I sat across from an existing vampire, I knew those were just distant memories I would never return to.

"I can't tell you that," he answered.

Deacon somehow knew he would fill me with rage, because after being denied, I wanted to punch him in the face rather than make out with it.

"But I deserve to know who I am."

"And you'll know soon."

I couldn't wait any longer. Four years and I was already dying to know the truth. It was just something I needed to know more than anything. I couldn't just sit here and wait for a sign to appear telling me who or what I am. I needed to know right now.

I went over to the sink to put our coffee mugs in the drain. But as soon as I looked back, he was already gone. And like many other things, he was a vampire with social issues.

As much as I tried to forget him, I couldn't. And rereading the letter my mom wrote me only caused so many painful memories to blow in.

I couldn't see through the lines. Every sentence made no sense. The letter revealed nothing but long blanks and more questions. I stopped reading the letter out of weariness, threw it across my bedroom floor, and fell back against my pillow with anger.

And then something happened.

My eyes widened with surprise.

The letter began to float. It started dancing in the air, moving around in circles as sparkles materialized. It was almost too good to be true.

Looking at the many twinkles and glints, I was fascinated by the sight. The letter floated towards me and perched on my lap. The sparkles vanished as the letter opened itself to reveal words at the bottom in small, bold letters.

I gasped in disbelief. My protectors were...