Sacrifice in Blood

Chapter 28: Ghosts

After I reassured Tatiana I felt fine and told Talon I was planning on telling Ava everything, I got into my car and started to drive to Ava's.

Talon hadn't wanted to leave my side, neither of us wanted to after that kiss, but I had assured him it would be better if he wasn't around when I dropped the bomb on Ava. I needed some time with my best friend.

I hugged Talon as I left. Whether it was the near death experience, him saving me, me drinking his blood, the kiss, or all of the above, I definitely felt closer to him and knew there was something more than friendship between us. There was no going back. We cared for each other, despite our races being sworn enemies.

I tried to push thoughts of Talon out of my head as I wondered how I would begin to explain everything to Ava.

*

As I arrived back at Ava's, she was standing out the front, waiting on the porch for me, a worried look plastered on her face. I took a deep breath and stepped outside. Ava ran up to me and pulled me into a hug.

"Leina, are you ok? I- I just heard about Lucy-she's dead!" Ava started and then we were both crying. I held her tightly until I suggested we both go inside.

As we sat down on Ava's couch, I dove in. I recounted everything that had happened last night.

"Oh my- Lucy- that's horrific" Ava cried, her hand shaking. "But why did Talon- he's the vampire that helped you escape the camp, yes?- Suddenly show up? How did he know where you were?" she said, confused.

"I'm so sorry Ava, but I haven't been completely honest with you. Talon and I, we're blood-bound. We didn't mean for it to happen but it did, and now we're kind of stuck with each other. He showed up that night when we went to the bar for drinks and well I've been meeting up with him after work and he's been helping me practice to defend myself from vampires and us being blood-bound means we can sense each other so it's actually why he knew I was in trouble last night and saved me. Again." I said, my words coming out in a rush. I held my breath as Ava processed everything I had said.

"Leina, but...why didn't you just tell me? I knew something was up. You're a terrible liar, you know. I knew you'd tell me when you were ready but..." Ava said slowly.

"I wasn't sure how you'd take it. He is meant to be our enemy, after all. And now I'm bound to him for life. I'm not even sure if such a thing is allowed between witches and vampires" I said, worried.

"Leina. I couldn't care less. If he's saved you as many times as you've said, I want to thank him myself." Ava said, hugging me. I let out a sigh of relief, and a weight on my chest lifted. I hadn't realised just how much the secret had been weighing on me until now.

And well since we were sharing:

"Oh and I may have kissed him earlier today." I said pulling out of the hug to run my fingers through my hair, biting my lip nervously to see her reaction.

"Ok, now I really want to meet him!" Ava said laughing. I laughed too and it was like we were normal young women, discussing guys and girl problems, not supernatural creatures, council's and death. Maybe everything would be ok.

***

The funeral for Lucy was held that friday. In the brief moments I had seen Talon these last couple days, he had told me Alistair had disposed of Lance's body to prevent questions about why he had been burned alive and decapitated, in case anyone drew the connection to the supernatural world.

But without Lance, a gory crime scene was left. Talon and Alistair had stopped by to do some of their own reconnaissance, making sure the crime scene was clean of my blood and using compulsion on the human police to prevent anyone linking me or them to the murder.