Unraveling Sarah Cresley by Marisa Maichel (best summer books .txt) 📕

not need magic or makeup. I felt sorry for her. Her group of friends went down a dark path, and became consumed with power. Power that did not belong to them.

Of course, I knew Sarah wasn't perfect. She herself had told me that. But she was perfect to me. My beloved. I looked over at Mason, and realized he was fighting tears.

"What kind of witch is Scarlett?" I asked.

"Her element is fire," Mason told me. "Jordan's is air. " He crossed his arms over his chest. "This is all my fault. I showed Jordan those spells. I'm slowly realizing that neither of them are worth pining over. Later on, I showed Scarlett simple tricks and cleansing rituals. I showed her how to absolve guilt and take control of people. I did not realize how much it would backfire. When my father found out, he was not happy with me. I disappointed him. I feel like a terrible son, a terrible friend, and I'm not worthy of being anyone's lover."

"Sarah got hurt," I said.

"I know, and I'm sorry. I know how much you like her."

"You have no idea how much she means to me."

"I think I do. You love her like I once loved Scarlett. I once thought, what would a vampire know about love?" I looked at him in astonishment.

"How long have you known?"

"Since freshman year. My mother told me about specific features of the royal vampire family. I know that your grandfather is Eilief, current king of the vampires. I know that you have an uncle named Soren, a cousin named Louis, and your father's name is Mordecai. I also know that you used to have an aunt named Alga, although I'm not sure exactly how she's related to you."

"Alga died many years ago," I told him. "She was my uncle's wife and my cousin's mother." I raised an eyebrow. "And what about inviting me over? Was that a ploy?"

"It was," Mason admitted. "Scarlett wanted me to get to know you, since you had helped Sarah. I'm sorry, Reese. I really do want to be your friend." I looked at him in disgust.

"You are the worst person ever," I said, turning around and walking away. I started up the Astro, looking over at Mason. He got into his own car, biting his lip. I thought, he's not bad looking. He's the type of guy I might date if he were into guys. You idiot, you're with Sarah now. Focus on her.

~~~~~~~~

Calm is not to be around a vampire prince for long. When I got home, I heard kissing. Slightly curious, I went over to the living room, where the kissing was coming from. When my eyes locked on Ariella and Uncle Soren wrapped around each other, shirtless, I nearly screamed. Instead of screaming, though, I let out a small noise of shock. Uncle Soren looked up and growled. When he saw me, he got off of my best friend.

"Reese! It's not what it looks like!" He immediately put his shirt back on. Ariella sat up, looking embarassed and ashamed.

"Wh-what the hell?!" I cried out.

"I should go," Ariella said. Uncle Soren grabbed her hand.

"Call me later," he said. I frowned and started going upstairs. "Reese, wait!" My uncle caught up with me, still fumbling with his shirt buttons.

"Uncle Soren, she's sixteen!" I retorted.

"The legal age for consent in this state. I asked her if she liked me, and she said yes."

"She has a boyfriend!"

"That is false. She did not get back with him."

"They're crazy about each other!"

"Reese, I love her. I've never felt this way about anyone, not even Alga."

I looked at him in disgust and walked away, furious. I slammed the bedroom door in his face. I started dialing my father's cell phone number.

"Reese," Uncle Soren said through the door. "You're not calling your father, are you?"

"What else am I supposed to do?" I snapped.

"How about we work out a deal? I give you ten million dollars for your silence." I paused. That was a lot of money. Plus the money could be used to help Sarah.

"Hello?" I realized I'd hit the green button, and my father had answered. "Hello? Reese?" I hung up.

I opened the door and faced Uncle Soren.

"I accept," I said. He surprisingly embraced me.

"Thank you, my boy."

As he wrote out a check, I pretended to be reading social media news stories. Actually, I was thinking about Ariella. Why would she do this to me? Did she plan on telling me? Did she know what we were? I doubted it. Uncle Soren may fall in love too easily, but he's not stupid. I took the check as he handed it to me and went back out to the car to put it in my savings account.

As soon as I finished depositing the check, I went back home. Father was sitting on the porch, smoking.

"Reese, did you try to call me?" he asked.

"It was accidental," I said. He raised an eyebrow.

"Reese, I thought we had discussed being honest with each other. Give me your hand." I reluctantly gave him my hand and he closed his eyes. Seconds after, he opened his eyes again and ran into the house.

"YOU BRIBED MY SON?!" Father was so infuriated that he had Uncle Soren by the neck.

"I...needed...his...silence," Uncle Soren struggled to speak.

"Shut up! Get the hell out!"

"Father, please," I said. He looked at me, and his eyes were red. I let out a squeak of surprise and fear. Not only were his eyes red, his pupils were slitted, kind of like a cat's. His eyes slowly softened when he saw how frightened I was. He walked toward me, and I instinctively backed away. He whimpered. Uncle Soren tried to move, and my father punched him in the stomach.

"Father, it wasn't his fault," I protested desperately. He looked at me, and his eyes were yellow again, although his pupils were still slits.

"Reese," he said, "This man had relations with an underage girl. Your best friend. He bribed you to stay silent."

"Please don't kill him," I begged. "I should not have introduced them yet."

"Don't be silly. You're not to blame. I won't kill him yet, only because you asked me not to." He slowly released Uncle Soren. My uncle fell to the ground, clutching his stomach.

"I think you rearranged my guts," my uncle said.

"Good. You deserve it."

"You're right; I should not have bribed Reese. I'll let him keep the money, I do not want it back."

"Damn straight."

Grandfather ran into the room.

"Which one of you tried to kill the other?" he asked, voice frantic. He looked at me.

"Father wants to kill Uncle Soren because...well..."

"He almost had sex with Ariella!" Father cried. Grandfather looked at my uncle.

"Is this true?"

"Father...Mordecai...I'm in love with her. Even Alga did not have the amount of love I feel for Ari."

"Only I can call her that," I growled.

"Get over it, Reese. Lots of people call her Ari, not just you."

I frowned and went up to my bedroom. I heard them arguing all night.

I was awakened when my father came in and wrapped himself around me.

"I'm glad you called, sweet," he said.

"Father, my life is messed up. I almost wish I'd never been born."

"Don't say that! Be glad you were born, and I'm glad you're mine. If Alexander thinks he can break us apart, he's got another thing coming."

"You're still concerned about him?"

"I'm more than concerned. I'm worried. I'm afraid he'll take you away from me, and I won't be able to save you."

"You want to be my hero?"

"I remember when I was your hero. You admired me. I was your helper, your father, your superhero."

"You're still my father."

"I'll always be your biological father. I won't always be your hero, and that irritates me."

~~~~~~~~~

I had decided that I must see a Seer. I needed to see one, because I needed to know if I was in a fruitless relationship. If my love for Sarah would lead nowhere.

I browsed the bookstore near a psychic's store, nervous. I eventually chose a few books and paid for them. Okay, I walked out with a lot of books. I went next door to a music store and bought a few CDs there. I eventually forced myself to go into the psychic's store.

Crystals and other gems were displayed in glass cases. Fairy dust was held in vials and set into necklaces. I thought, I'm a royal fool.

"Hello." I looked over and saw a tall woman who reminded me of a butterfly. She was smiling with big red lips and large blue eyes. She wore a thin cotton green skirt that covered everything down to the floor, an orange tank top, and a purple cardigan. Her blond hair was curled and pinned back with clips.

"How can Madame Indigo help you?" When she spoke, it was like bells chiming.

"I-I need to know something," I blathered.

"Of course. What is it you need to know?" Madame Indigo asked.

"I need to know if I'm fighting for nothing," I said. She took my hand and led me to a small table. She sat down and gestured for me to sit across from her. She took my hands in hers and closed her eyes.

"Your name is Reese Emerson," she began. "You are...I don't believe it...you're royalty. You...my goddess...you're a vampire!" Her eyes opened and she flung me away, looking terrified.

"If I wanted to bite you, I would have already done so," I said, half-lying.

"That's true. My apologies. Please, give me your hand again." I gave her my hands again. "Your father's name is Mordecai Shane Emerson. Your uncle's name is Soren Tobias Emerson. You also have a cousin named Louis whose middle name is also your uncle's middle name. Your grandfather's name is Eilief. He took the name Emerson because his father's name was Emery. You have a mother named Marina. She left your father because he tricked her with a love potion.

"Your father loves and adores you, Reese. You're very lucky to have him as your father. But today you're not here about family, you're here about Sarah. Your love for her is as boundless as the universe. Or at least it will be, if you choose each other. Every person in the world has at least two possible soulmates. Yours happen to be Sarah Cresley and Evan Byrd."

I wanted to laugh.

"Is something the matter?" Madame Indigo asked me.

"Evan's a thorn in my side," I said. "He's a huge pain in the neck, even when he was human." She smiled.

"It seems you've already chosen your soulmate, then. Just so you know, his other potential soulmate is also a male vampire with a R name. Reid Lockhart. Your father will invite him to your family's annual Holiday Ball. They will meet there this winter and then he'll be off your back and out of your hair." I grinned at the thought.

"There is one problem, though," Madame Indigo continued. "You may have to fight for her. Sarah is unusual, because she has four possible soulmates. One of them happens to be you. Your rivals will also fight valiantly for her. One of them is a wizard named Glen Crow."

"You're exaggerating," I said.

"No, I am not. I'm confused. Am I bisexual because I have both male and female soulmates?"

"No, you have male and female soulmates because you're bisexual. Sexuality is complicated, and asking questions like that will only confuse you more."

"Whatever. Does Sarah know about us?"

"I will have to see her before I know that."

"Hang on," I said. I had a cold feeling in the pit of my stomach. "You can tell how my father feels about me, yet you don't know how Sarah feels?"

"Your relationship with your father is less complicated and more knowledgable. You love each other like a father and son should. You care for each other deeply. Your father once told you that he would never forgive himself if anything were to happen to you, and he meant it. My knowledge is subjective, Reese." I blinked.

"Okay, I think I'm done here," I said. "How much do I owe