shadows - lashton

Chapter 22

*Luke's P.O.V*

I nodded and followed Ashton out of the back exit that lead into the alley, with little idea as to what was happening. Was it really Calum? How did Ashton know him? Why does he want to see us? So many questions, so few answers.

"Where are we goi-"

"To talk to Calum."

I frowned. "Why?"

"Because I want answers."

As soon as he had mentioned Calum, I was fearful of what Ashton may have been told. Calum's telepathic abilities made him more powerful than most, and all I could do was hope that he had kept his mouth - or mind - shut.

Ashton and I watched as Calum stepped out from the shadows, and I couldn't help but feel very weak and small. He was the vampire who had bitten me, after all, he had that sort of an effect on me. "I was doubting whether you'd show."

"What do you want?" I swallowed nervously, moving so that my body shielded Ashton's. However, he pushed me slightly to the side and began walking, almost hypnotised, towards Calum.

"This is about what I want," Ashton spoke slowly. "I want the truth, I deserve at least that."

"I promise I'm not hiding anything from you. Please, can we just go?"

Ashton remained still, staring at me, a sense of hurt and betrayal evident in his eyes. Calum just chuckled. "You didn't really think you could keep it from him forever did you?"

What was I supposed to do now? Could Calum really have told him?

I tried to laugh genuinely, turning to Ashton. "C'mon Ashton, don't be stupid. Vampires aren't real, everyone knows that."

He looked down. "I didn't say anything about vampires, Luke."

Ashton knew. My deepest, darkest secret was no longer a secret. The one thing I had tried so hard to protect him from was knowledge, knowledge of the existence of monsters, murder machines even. Vampires were supposed to stay hidden from the human eye, for their sakes and ours, and I had broken the number one rule. And if I was found, the punishment would be death.

"Asht-"

"Calum's right," Ashton interrupted, "did you really think you could hide this forever? The suspicion was always there, all I needed was the confirmation. And here it is."

"Pleas-"

"Don't try and defend yourself, Luke, it all makes sense now. Your entire life changed overnight, a change that no one could possibly explain - it was like you'd lost your humanity. I was stupid to think otherwise."

I couldn't speak. I tried to, I really did, but it didn't come out as words, just muffled sounds. Calum grinned and suddenly appeared behind me.

Ashton had looked slightly fazed by how Calum had used his vampire speed, moving from beside him to behind me faster than light. But he stayed silent, staring sadly at me with a combination of disappointment and fear.

When Calum had finally stopped taunting me, he headed back over to Ashton. I flinched instinctively when he grabbed his arm, but my boyfriend barely seemed to notice.

I could hear Calum mumble "I can give you proof," into Ashton's ear, but he shook his head in response. Of course he didn't need proof, it was obvious that he had no trouble believing the ugly truth.

The alley was consumed by a strange silence before Ashton decided to speak up again. "All those times you sat alone at lunch, not eating, I felt sorry for you. But all that time you were staring at our classmates - our friends - as if they were the food," he spat, clearly disgusted. It crushed me.

"Stop lying to yourself, when were they ever our friends? In their eyes I was a screw up, someone whose only purpose was to be mocked and kicked. You know what that's like."

"You're a vampire, Luke!" Ashton raised his voice, too overwhelmed by the circumstances to consider anything else. "Do you really think I'm going to feel sorry for you?"

I scoffed, hurtling my closed fist at the alley wall. The pain was bad, but the adrenaline in my veins quickly made me forget. "I don't want to be like this, I never did. I'd give anything to be able to go out in the sunshine again, to be able to look at people I care about and not want to hurt them. I want to be normal, and you make me feel like I am."

His face softened upon hearing the last part, looking at me with an expression which could have been either pity or hatred. Not that I wanted either.

"You know what," I sighed, "just leave, Ashton. Go find Michael or whatever your friends name is, and forget about me. Forget that I ever existed. You'd be so much better off."

I expected him to agree and walk away, but much to my surprise he stepped towards me and wrapped his arms around my waist, snuggling his head into my neck.

"I don't care, Luke," he mumbled, "I'm just sad that you felt like you couldn't tell me. I mean, I'm not completely okay with the whole 'vampire' thing, but I guess that's pretty normal," he said, chuckling lightly. He pulled away and bit his lip. "And I still love you. Nothing will ever change that."

I nodded and smiled. Of course I was happy he accepted me, but there was still so much he didn't know. Like the consequences of him finding out, or how the vampire council could any minute put their plan to destroy the human and vampiric race into action.

Yes, I had forgotten about that, and the mental reminder made Calum, who I didn't realise was still standing there, tense considerably. Of course it would, he could read my thoughts.

"It's you?" Calum asked, seeming honestly surprised. "You're the chosen one? And they're coming now?"

Ashton backed away slightly and hid behind me, while I tried to explain things to Calum. I sighed. "Yes, it's me, but I've only just found out. The diary has been in my possession for a while, but I thought it was just a coincidence. And now this 'evil uprising' is supposed to kick off and I don't have any idea how to stop it."

He nodded and thought about what I had just told him. "Well we certainly need to do something. Gather the others, find the council, then we might stand a chance."

I undoubtedly agreed, pleased that the one person I thought wouldn't care did indeed care. I knew we had to start with the vampire night club, that was the easiest place to find people who would be willing to help us out.

Taking Ashton's hand, we followed Calum out of the alley and away from the restaurant.

We suddenly didn't want dessert anymore.

~~~~~~~

A/n: here's a warning just in case any of you really don't want to read it, Malum will happen. It's a last minute decision and Lashton is still the main ship, but I think it will make the story a little more interesting :)

I just want to say a special thank you to all of you that comment, they honestly make my day

Thanks xx