After we fed Lora and put her to bed, Steven and I plopped down on the couch to watch TV. After three episodes of some stupid reality show I stopped paying attention.
"You know we should probably go to sleep. We are leaving tomorrow, you know." I shifted so I was facing him instead of the TV,
"You're right" I stood up and stretched," goodnight Steven." He yawned and stood up too.
"Goodnight Evie, my love." He turned to go to his room, but stopped after a few steps. Turning around he rushed over to me and kissed me full on the lips. After a moment he pulled back and looked down at my face.
"Wow." He turned red.
"You're welcome?" I smiled and pulled away, walking backwards to see him a little bit longer. Steven stood there until I got to my door. We waved and then he disappeared into his room. I sighed dreamily as I closed my door. That was unexpected. Adam was still face first in the pillows and I was pretty sure he was asleep. I grabbed my pajamas from my bag and went in the bathroom to change. When I came out I shoved Adam over and climbed under the blankets. It was quiet and I fell asleep faster than I had in a long time. And of course I was woken up not to long after that.
"Evelyn? Why are you in my bed? Ian is not going to like this." I yawned and sat up, Adam was on the other side of the bed looking equally tired.
"You idiot, this is my bed. We are in the hotel." I got up and pulled the drapes away from the window, wincing as the bright light hit my eyes. He shuffled over to his duffel bag and pulled out a sweatshirt. He put it on and started for the door,
"I'd dress warmly if I were you. If you need to you can take a bottle, make sure you don't take the ones with alcohol." Adam said casually.
"Alcohol? Really, Adam." He didn't reply, just walked out and shut the door. I grabbed my bag and rifled through it, looking for the warmest clothes I had. I settled on a fluffy red sweater and an older pair of skinny jeans. After changing in the bathroom, and cleaning up, I took a bottle of blood and gulped it down. No telling when I would get another one again. I stole some hotel shampoo and soap, which I stashed in the bottom of my bags. I carried them down the hall into the front room. Ian and Adam were on the couch watching Sponge bob with Lora. I set my bags near the door with everyone else's and joined them, putting Lora on my lap. She smiled at me,
"Ian did my hair for me. Isn't it pretty?" I nodded and tugged on one of her pigtails.
"Sure is kiddo." Eventually Ben, Charlotte, Phillip, and Steven came in with their bags.
"Time to go mates" Steven took one of my bags so I could hold Lora's hand, (she insisted). We walked behind everyone because Lora kept stopping to show the hotel staff her brand new sparkly back pack. They all ohed and ahed until she was satisfied. By the time we got to the lobby everyone was gone except for Ben.
"They went to grab Phillip's car. You guys will have to ride with me." He started for the door, Lora ran up to him and held his hand. Steven grabbed mine,
"Would it help if I held your hand?"
"Help what?" We walked out of the hotel behind Ben and Lora. He shrugged,
"To be honest I just wanted to hold your hand. I would fancy that very much so." I squeezed his hand.
"I think I would fancy that too." Ben stopped in front of a dark blue Ford and we stopped holding hands so we could climb into it.
"I call shotgun!" Steven exclaimed. Ben shrugged and helped put Lora in a purple car seat. When we were all buckled he pulled out a map and handed it to Steven,
"Do you mind being my navigator?"
"I'd be delighted to navigate you to...."
"Lone Wolf Island." Steven nodded,
"Right, but mate, don't you think that it's name is a little dodgy?" Ben narrowed his eyes, but remained silent. He started the truck and we all sat in silence while he pulled out. I heard the map crinkle as Steven searched for the location of the Island. " Right, I found it. Now turn left here. Say old chap, mind if we stop soon to get some breakfast?" Ben grumbled something under his breath as we pulled in to a diner. Ben turned around to look at us,
"Want anything?" I shook my head. Lora perked up,
"I want some strawberry pancakes with that fluffy stuff on top." He nodded and left with an order of hash browns and another set of strawberry pancakes for Steven. When he came back he thrust a Styrofoam container towards Lora and an identical one to Steven.
"Everybody satisfied?" He buckled up and started the truck, "good." Lora happily dug into her pancakes, silently munching on heaven. I leaned back in my seat and addressed Ben,
"All set for our little camping trip?" Ben glanced in the rear view mirror,
"As ready as we can be. I sent Phillip to get some groceries last night" he drummed his fingers on the steering wheel, "We'll have time to figure out a plan to group some Blood wolves into our clan."
"Not just Blood wolves."
"What?"
"I want to help the other Scarlet Children too." I sat up.
"Yes, but... Evelyn you are so frustrating sometimes. We can only allow some others. What we need to focus on is the Blood wolves." I nodded in agreement and he smiled at me, "Thank you for not arguing with me." Steven turned the radio on to a European pop station and started to sing along. Lora giggled at his silliness,
"That's the song you were singing last night." He stopped singing.
"I sang that after you were in bed." Steven turned around and eyed her, "You were in bed right?" Lora smiled slyly,
"No. I wanted to get a glass of water."
"Why didn't you ask someone?" Ben asked, eyes now on the road.
"I couldn't. Evelyn and Steven were smoochin' in the hallway. I didn't want to inner'rupt them." The car suddenly swerved sharply, Ben quickly steered it back.
"You kissed Steven?!"
"I was as gobsmacked as you are mate."
"Shut up! No one knows what you're stupid little British gibber jabber means!" Steven glared at him,
"You my dear old chap, are just jealous that Evie kissed me and not you."
"No, as a matter of fact I happen to be dating someone." His face was red and he sounded embarrassed. Well this was awkward.
"Another important fact," Steven said smugly, "happens to be our destination."
"What about it?"
"We just passed the exit."
YOU ARE READING
The Scarlet Daughter
Vampire"...Benjamin be polite and at least pretend to like Evelyn." I tried to mask my giggles with a serious case of coughs, but Ben gave me a look. Oh well, it's not like he could get any more angry with me. But instead of yelling at me he just grabbed m...
