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

"Hey," he said. "What's up?"

"I'd like you to meet my new friend Reed Lockhart," I told him.

"Sure, why not?" He followed me over to where Reed was standing. Reed's eyes widened and his jaw dropped when he saw Evan. As for my ex-boyfriend, well, he gaped at Reed.

"Reed, this is Evan Byrd. Evan, this is Reed Lockhart," I said.

"Nice to meet you, Reed," Evan purred.

"You as well," Reed replied. I excused myself again.

I found Sarah sitting in a corner, resting.

"Hey, you," I said.

"Hey," she said. "I swear, Glen's going to be the death of me." I tensed at her words.

"Why? What has he done?"

"He's just so rough with me. I get the feeling that he's the kind of guy who doesn't take no for an answer. I wish I could take these heels off."

"There's a balcony right out there," I said, pointing toward it. "Would you like to go outside?"

"In a few minutes. I still need to talk to a couple of people."

Another half an hour passed, though, and she was still mingling. We danced to "Earth Angel", and then Glen stole her away for "Never Gonna Give You Up" by Rick Astley. Louis noticed his friend dancing with my girl. He glanced over at me. Finally, he approached Glen and Sarah.

"What are you doing?" he asked Glen.

"We're dancing," Glen told him, holding my girl close. Sarah looked grateful to see Louis.

"Whatever. Sarah, my father wants you to meet a friend of his. Let her go, Glen." Glen looked furious, and he looked like he would never let Sarah go, but she managed to wriggle herself away from him. Louis took her by the hand and led her over to me.

We danced again to "Passion" by Utada Hikaru, and then I led her over to the balcony. The song ended, and "A Time For Us" by Barratt Waugh began playing.

"This is a pretty song," she said, sitting on a bench.

"Yes, it is," I said, leaning forward to kiss her. Our lips met, and a fire went through my veins. I'd never been so in love with anybody than I was at that moment with Sarah.

"Well, isn't this a pretty sight?" FUCK! I jumped up into a defensive position. The dark-haired vampire in front of us had a lascivious smile on his face, and his teeth gleamed. He looked around at Sarah. "She looks tasty, and I don't just mean her blood." Okay, that was it!

I jumped onto him, and he punched me hard in the stomach. I doubled over, and he grabbed me in a headlock. I kicked the back of his knee, and he went down. I grabbed his head, and he twisted my arm and turned me around. He kicked the back my of my leg, and I fell over. I grabbed his arm and flipped him over. He retailated by punching me in the jaw. I aimed a punch at his nose, but he caught my fist and flipped me over.

He grabbed my head to tear it off. Then Uncle Soren appeared seemingly out of nowhere and jumped onto his back and tore his head off in one fluid motion. Sarah screamed. Father and Grandfather relieved my enemy of his limbs so he could not put himself back together.

I turned back to Sarah. She was shivering in her dress.

"Y-you're a vampire! You're all vampires!" Then she stood up and took off, likely going to her own room. Sarah....

"Reese, look at me," Uncle Soren said. "You've got some blood on your temple and on your mouth. Are you in any pain?"

"No," I said. "I'm not." Except for my pride. And possibly my relationship with Sarah. Father checked me over next. "Father, can I go to bed?" He nodded.

"You may. But say good night to your relatives first."

After hugs and kisses all around, including a huge kiss from Mother, I went upstairs to my bedroom and took my clothes off. Then I locked the door and cried. I cried harder than I'd ever cried before. I was about to lose the best thing to ever happen to me.

~~~~~~~~~~

I didn't get up the next morning for a long time. Finally, Father came into my room.

"Sarah said she wants to go home," he said. "So we've set up the jet. She leaves tonight."

"Does she like me still?"

"I can't answer that, because I do not know the answer. It's up to her."

I pulled my knees up to my chest. Father sat beside me.

"I'm so sorry, Reese."

"I should have told her sooner."

"Is there still a chance?"

"I don't think so. It's over." The realization broke my heart. Father rubbed my back and kissed my temple. I winced as pain shot through the side of my head. Father noticed.

"Sorry, Reese. When do you want to go home?"

"Please, don't put me on the same plane with her." He nodded and mumbled the words "as you wish".

He left my room. The moment he left, I dug out my laptop and started searching social media. She hadn't unfriended me. She had not announced our relationship on Facebook, and I saw no reason to, so that was not a worry. I picked up my phone and sent her a text message saying good morning. She didn't reply back. I called her. I heard her cell phone ringing, but she didn't pick up.

"Reese," Louis said, coming into my room. "Don't freak out. We have a problem."

"What's that?"

"Sarah's missing." I froze. "Reese?" My cousin came over to me and yanked a strand of hair out of my head. "I'm secretly a zombie. I had sex with Ari-nevermind. Is anybody home? Come on, Reese, this isn't funny. Wake up."

Then I awoke out of my trance. "WHAT THE HELL DO YOU MEAN SHE'S MISSING?!"

"We've looked all over for her. All we could find was her suitcase half-packed and her cell phone. We searched the grounds, and we're having Spencer and Toby search the woods. Janna and Dimitri looked all around and even in the pond, but there's no sign of her. We lost her scent about four miles down the road. I've never met a human that smelled so much like gardenias."

My heart would have been pounding if it could beat. I grabbed my keys and my phone and got up.

"Whoa, there, tough guy," Louis said. "I'm under strict orders from Uncle Mordecai to keep you from doing anything irrational."

"Why didn't he tell me?"

"We didn't know she was missing then!"

Just then, my mother came barreling into my room. "Reese! Thank God!" She squeezed me. "I heard that Sarah was missing! No one can find her!"

That did it. I started flitting out, only to be grabbed by Father and Grandfather.

"Reese, calm down!" Father said. He pulled me up to him and stroked my hair. "Everything's going to be all right, little one. I promise you, we'll find her."

"Speaking of promises, has anyone seen Alexander?" Louis asked, jutting out his hip. Father tensed.

"I haven't seen or heard him," he confessed. "Although, mostly, I've been purposely avoiding him."

"I haven't seen him, either," Grandfather said, petting me. "Louis, ask your father if he's seen him. If he hasn't, we'll send some people out to look for him as well."

"Why?" Father asked.

"Why what, Mordecai?"

"Why look for him? He's a pain in the neck to everyone here."

"True, but he is family, and he is Marina's true soulmate."

"And did you contact Kieran?"

"Alexander's son?" I asked.

"Yes, love, Kieran is the name of Alexander's half-human son. I actually like him, because he hates Alexander as much as I do."

"That's sad."

"It's Alexander, son."

"Hush, Mordecai," Grandfather broke in. "You're only confusing the boy. And the last time I spoke to him was to invite him to yesterday's ball. He didn't show up, as usual."

"He never shows up if there's a chance that Alexander will be there. I remember that he went the last twenty balls."

"How come I've never met him?" I asked.

"Your father insisted on keeping you apart so that you would not learn about Alexander."

I glared at my father.

"Don't give me that look. It's not my fault everyone's missing!"

"Don't be melodramatic, Mordecai. Reese, quit it with that glare. Soren, any news?"

"Yes," my uncle said. "I have good news and bad news. The good news is, we found Sarah's scent again. The bad news is, her scent is intermingled with Alexander's. We think he took her to you-know-where."

Father and Grandfather shared a look that I couldn't describe. It was a mixture of fear, anger, and despair.

"What is this place?" I demanded.

"Hush, Reese," Father said. "You'll stay here with Louis."

"Like hell I will!"

"Watch your mouth!"

"Father, she's my true soulmate! I can't live without her!"

"And I can't live without you! Please, stay here. I promise I'll bring her back."

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ten minutes later, all of us were heading to this mysterious place. We decided to take a car. I couldn't help but let a few tears escape. Father noticed, and did his best to comfort me. I fell asleep a few times. Each time was wracked with horrifying dreams that would terrify the best horror writers in the world. Once, Father woke me up before my dream was over. He said that I'd been whimpering in my sleep. I buried my face in his chest and cried.

Finally, he picked me up and rocked me, lulling me to sleep again. What felt like hours later, I woke up to the feeling of a tongue in my hair.

"Wake up, little one. We're here." I opened my eyes and stared.

It looked like a warehouse.

I looked up at Father. He was staring at the place with rapt attention.

"Stay in the car," he said.

"No way."

"Excuse me?"

"Father, she's my mate! I have to see if she's all right!"

"Oh, very well. But stay close to me."

I stepped out of the car first. Father followed after me. Uncle Soren and Grandfather came out of the other side of the car, and Louis stepped out of the driver's side.

"Dad," my cousin said, "Is this what I think it is?"

"It is, son." My uncle's voice was gloomy, and I detected fear.

"What is this place?" I asked. No one answered. Uncle Soren stepped forward, and kicked down the wooden door. The door broke into a million tiny pieces. Inside was dark and a bit damp. I could smell black mold. Uncle Soren stepped inside first, followed closely by Grandfather and Louis. Father went in next, and I stayed right behind him.

"You're here." It was Alexander's voice that spoke.

"Alexander!" Father hissed.

"Where is she?!" I demanded of the voice.

"She is here. I have not harmed her, only frighened her a bit." A light turned on to reveal Sarah strapped to a chair, a burlap sack around her head. I rushed forward and took off the sack. Louis started working on her bonds, while I tore the duct tape off her mouth.

"It's a trap!" she cried. And then I felt a whoosh. Grandfather, Uncle Soren, and Father formed a protective circle around us.

"Show yourself!" Uncle Soren shouted out into the darkness. Sarah, now completely free, held onto me.

"What more do you want?" Father asked. Alexander stepped forward out of the shadows.

"I want the boy."

"Reese? You can't have him."

"You saw Marina, what more do you want?" Louis asked.

"She rejected me. Broke my heart all over again. Give me Reese. He was supposed to be mine, anyway."

"Go fuck yourself."

"I have been doing that, for many years. I'll offer you one last chance for deliverance. Give me the boy, and we'll all walk away happy."

"No, we won't," Father said. "I wo-"

"Silence, Mordecai." That command came from Grandfather. "Alexander, we can reach a compromise. I'll give you the receipt for the shipping empire, the blood banks, anything."

"I already have billions of money, most of which is hidden away. Give me the boy." When no one said anything, he attacked. He hit Grandfather over the head, and he picked up Uncle Soren and threw him out of the building. I heard my uncle land with a thud, and knew he was out cold. Next, Alexander grabbed Louis and tossed him out as