Immortal Love Book #1. Awakening

7. "Vampires all around us"

Later that night I took a long thoughtful bath that helped me deal with what had just happened. I felt so conflicted about Dennis; one part of me hated him for pushing me away and for being so irresistible, but there was the other part of me that couldn't help but want him, completely, all the time, and that thought it was kind of sweet of him to want to protect me like that. I didn't know which part to listen to. All I knew was that I was still mad at him for throwing me out of his house after kissing me, and I didn't see that changing anytime soon.

At about 11.00 pm I went to bed and I started what had become a habit at that point; staring at the ceiling above me. Dennis took up an important part of my mind, bot a more important one was taken by the horrible images I had seen. And not just that day, but all my life. The recent events had brought up a lot of memories I'd tried to keep hidden.

I was five years old when I when down to the basement of our house to get my snow shovel, and I found my father lying dead on the floor. It was -naturally- the most horrific thing I'd seen, and it still haunted me to that day. I'd managed to keep the memory and the images on the back of my head for the last four years, but it was nearly impossible anymore when I was surrounded by so much death.

The images came in flashes to my head without me being able to stop them. My dad, Lyla, Jenna. Blood and death everywhere. I could barely breathe, and I even thought I was having a panic attack at a certain point, but I ruled it out. I got up to get some water from the kitchen and the sound of my phone startled me. I picked it up.

"Stella?" it was a manly voice I recognized. Harry.

"Yes?" I said in the middle of a yawn.

"How are you?" it seemed like a silly question to ask someone that had found a dead body earlier. "I know it's a stupid question, but I just wanted to make sure you were okay." what was it with people wanting to make sure I was okay?

"I'm as good as I can be." I answered honestly. "How are you?" I thought he could be a bit more affected by Jenna's death than me, after all he knew Jenna much better than me, and for much longer.

"The same." his voice sounded sad and tired. "I still can't believe it. I mean, this is Santa Mon, nobody gets murdered here, specially not with such..." he took a short pause, like he was trying to come up with a good word. "... violence."

"I know. It's horrible." he made a sound with his throat, agreeing.

"Yeah, I don't think I'll even be able to sleep tonight." I knew that feeling.

"Yeah, me neither." I sighed.

"Well, the paper will be closed probably throughout the whole week while they investigate. So, you don't have to come." I didn't know how to feel about that. "Oh, and Jenna's funeral will be tomorrow at noon, in case you want to come." I didn't.

"I'll stop by if I can."

"Okay, well. If there's anything you need, just call me." Harry was so nice it made me feel like a bad person just by existing.

"Yeah, you too."

We said goodbye to each other and then we hanged up. I went back to bed as soon as the call stopped and stared at the ceiling for about an hour before I could conciliate sleep.

The next couple of days went by just because that's what time does, it passes. I didn't do much, other than eat, sleep and take showers just because I had to. My mother, Carl and Sophie didn't know how to help me get better, and that made me feel even worse, because it made them feel helpless, and I could feel it too. Harry had stopped by a couple of times, just to talk to my mother and to make sure I was okay. Merissa had too, and so had Luca. The only person in my life that hadn't made an appearance was the one that took the most space in my mind; Dennis.