Unraveling Soren by Marisa Maichel (books under 200 pages txt) 📕

says in my ear. I grabbed my shoes and purse and went out to my car. I got in, and he waved at me as I turned the ignition and put it in reverse. I waved back at him, and he blew me kisses.

I wiped at my eyes, and then started to drive down the gravel road...until I saw the blinding light.

I slammed on the brakes and immediately covered my eyes. Then the burning started. I'd seen what had happened to Mitra before she died. This was how she died. Then I heard a gunshot, and scream, and my door was yanked open and I was suddenly swept into Reese's arms. He covered me with kisses and sniffed me all over. I knew he was checking for injuries.

"Is she hurt?" Marina's voice rang out, and she ran to me. She took me into her arms, and did the same thing as Reese, checked me for injuries and then smothered me with motherly love.

"WHERE IS IT?"

Soren's yelling scared me, and I burrowed myself into my adopted mother's arms.

"It's all right, my little one," she cooed. She hissed, and I realized she and Reese were hissing at each other. They'd had this argument before. The one over who got to hold me.

"Who shot at it?" I asked.

"I don't know," Reese answered. "I was focused on you."

"I love you, Reese."

"I love you more than you'll ever imagine, Sarah Harper."

I looked up, and saw a frightening sight. Soren was searching around, foaming at the mouth, sniffing and putting his ear to the ground to look for the...being, that tried to kill me and killed Mitra. Soren is the bravest being I know, and to see him devastated over Mitra had broken my heart.

I really needed to eat something. Some chocolate, with nuts mixed in. Marina carried me back inside the house and placed me on the couch. Mordecai had bought a new couch after Mitra died. I liked this couch better. It was the color of concrete, but it was stylish and comfortable.

Reese started fixing some tea for me, and he offered me exactly what I wanted-a big Hershey's bar with ground almonds.

"You read my mind," I said, taking the chocolate bar and the tea.

"Anything for you," he replied. He moved my feet off the couch and sat beside me. One of the cats, Belle I think, sat on my lap and curled up. I opened the chocolate wrapper and set the tea on the coffee table in front of me. I stroked her grey fur and bit into the chocolate.

When I was little, I was the type of girl who loved going places like Justice and read girly magazines and loved shopping. Of course, I still read magazines and love shopping. Now that my mother's debt has been paid off, I feel no constraints. I do feel guilty that I couldn't pay it off myself-I had to have Marina and Alexander's help-but I am glad it's over with.

But I'd give up the freedom to have Daddy back at least. He understood me. He supported and loved me. When I was raped by Michael Nales, my mother wanted to brush it under the rug, so to speak. Daddy would have beaten the shit out of Nales, possibly even killed him.

Reese actually did kill Nales-actually, Mordecai killed Michael after Reese asked him to. I've been let down by the people in my life. My dad died, my mother was an alcoholic, I was raped by a boy I liked, Reese didn't tell me he was a vampire, Marina killed my mother, and now my sister's run away.

It was all too much for me. I broke down. Lately, I'd been crying a lot. I used to never cry, not even when it mattered. I was so overwhelmed by all the recent drama and death and destruction, I would break down at any time. I was really craving one of Grandma's famous blintzes, but not even she would talk to me anymore, as she was furious with me for choosing the "man-eating bloodsuckers".

Sometimes I wanted to curl up and fall into a dreamless sleep, and never wake up. But if I did that, I would never see Reese, or Sabine, or my new parents.

Reese pulled me into his chest, and I buried my face in his stomach, and let the tears fall. I suddenly knew what I needed. I needed my other grandmother, the one who gave me my wings. Literally, it was her that made me a quarter fairy. I wanted to go to France, to see my cousins and Grandpa and my aunts and uncles and the farm.

"I want to go to France," I said.

"You just went two months ago," Reese said.

"She needs a break, space," Marina explained. She got down on her knees to my level. "Is that what you want, my baby? To see your family?"

I nodded. She sighed.

"Fine. But you mustn't go yet, you must finish your senior year. I think the best time to go would be in June. What do you think, Alexander?"

"Hold on-" Reese started, but Alexander held his hand up.

"I have a suggestion," he said. "She goes to France for the summer, along with Sabine, if we can find her. What are your thoughts, Sarah?"

"I like that idea," I told him.

Reese

I didn't like it. I didn't like it one bit. Go to France without me? Where she could be mugged, assaulted, or even murdered? Of course, she'd have her family, and the farm. I took a deep breath.

"Fine," I said. "You can go."

"Was there ever any doubt?" she quipped.

"Yes," I said, grinding my teeth together. "I don't like it. What if you meet some Parisian male with long wavy hair and a cocky demeanor?"

"Don't be stereotypical," she said, smacking my arm.

Louis came over then, looking very pale.

"Reese," he said. "There's been another death. This one is...well...I don't know how to put it..."

"Spit it out, boy," Alexander snapped. Louis glared at Alexander, who glared back, and then he finally said what was on his mind.

"Evan is...he's dead."

Stunned...shocked...disbelief, all coursed through me.

"Are you sure?" I asked.

He nodded. "Reid Lockhart called me personally. Apparently, he found Evan with his head cut off and his heart torn from his chest." He winced, realizing he'd revealed too much information.

"Oh, Reese," Sarah said, her eyes shining. "I can't imagine...."

"Son of a bitch," I cursed. Then I stood up and punched the wall, breaking through the plaster and wood. Sarah yelped and ran to Mother, who hissed at me. I hissed back. I sat down and clutched my head. He was dead. He was really dead.

I spent the night curled up, clutching my chest, which now had a gaping hole in it. I was in shock, and when the shock slowly wore off, I was just depressed. I'd done this. I'd set him up with Reid, which was a mistake in of itself, because their relationship was toxic. I stayed curled up where I'd fallen to the floor in a heap of agony inside my stepfather's house.

The way I'd treated him, both while and after we dated...now he was gone, and I couldn't fix it.

I dreamed. I dreamed about Evan.

I opened my eyes. I was standing on a cloud, staring around at the multiple clouds and the blue sky. Then I saw him. Evan. He was looking at me with a sort of sad half-smile.

"Hello, Reese," he said.

"Gods," I said. "Evan, I'm so sorry. This is my fault. I'm-"

He put a finger to my lips.

"Don't be sorry," he said. "I'm glad my life is over. It was filled with pain. My parents didn't like me because I'm gay, you didn't like me because you liked Sarah, and Reid enjoyed insulting and belittling me. I'm glad it's all over."

I started crying. "Evan, we're all devastated. I'm so sorry. I should have treated you better. If I'd known about any of it, I wouldn't have....I'm sorry..."

"At least I have news," he said. "I saw my killer."

"Who?" I demanded.

He smiled evilly. "You'll have to find out for yourself. That's part of the deal. It's how I will be able to move on."

"Damn it, tell me!"

"I can't!" His eyes filled with tears. "I still love you, Reese, I always will, but you didn't love me. I can't deal with it anymore. Goodbye, and I hope you have a good life."

The dream ended. I burst into tears first, and then I screamed. I punched the wall again, then grabbed a piece of art and threw it across the room. Then I felt someone's arms around my waist. I kicked and shouted, wanting to be let go.

"It's all right, boy," Alexander said soothingly. I fell limp in his arms.

"It's all my fault," I said.

"Don't be ridiculous. Your father got the news, and he said you can stay the rest of the night here. I will make a potion for dreamless sleep. But first, you must calm down."

He took me to my bedroom in their house, and he told me to stay there, he'd be right back. He came back a few minutes later with a spicy-smelling brown drink. I forced it down, and then fell asleep in seconds.

I awoke to Mother sponging my forehead, and Sarah holding my hand.

I shifted, and then realized someone had undressed me, probably Alexander. I groaned and shifted again.

"He's awake," Mother said. Selena came in with a glass full of freshly warmed blood. Type A positive.

"It's my fault," I repeated.

"No," all three women protested.

"School's going to be a nightmare," I said.

"Anyone who knows you will know it wasn't your fault," Sarah said. "Everyone else doesn't matter. Your friends: Amara, Ari, Mason, Duke, and Noah, they will all know what happened between you and Evan."

"Only Ari does," I corrected her. I sighed audibly. "It's my fault."

"Reese, it is not your fault," Selena argued. "Whoever killed Evan is to blame. My guess is he's the same guy who killed all those other people."

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The day of prom was a nightmare for me. Sarah was gone most of the day, getting her hair, nails, and makeup done by professionals. She had chosen a midnight-blue dress with gold and silver stars all over it. It was a beautiful dress, with rouching on the side and a filmy fabric. She had also chosen scarily high gold stilettos that, if I were female, I would not have been able to walk in.

When she finally emerged from her room half an hour before we were supposed to leave, she looked beautiful in her dress and makeup. Her hair was curled elaborately and pinned in a high updo that left her neck bare. She wore gold and silver chains around her neck, and the ring I'd given her. She wore the stilettos and a thin gold bracelet.

Her tiny waist and succulent hips and breasts were accentuated with the tailoring of the dress. I wished she'd shown more leg-I loved her muscular legs. My stomach flipped as she smiled weakly at me. Her lips had been painted a cherry red and her eyes were surrounded by blue eyeshadow and black eyeliner and mascara. The inner corners of her eyes had been brightened with white highlighter.

All the blue looked amazing with her dark skin and hair, and the blue brightened and brought out the green of her eyes. Honestly, they looked more blue tonight than green. Sparkly stuff had been brushed along her shoulders and chest.

She took my arm.

"You look handsome," she said.

"Yeah, right," I scoffed. She punched my arm, then winced. Although I did look better than I usually did. My black hair had been combed and tied back into a short ponytail. I wore a black tuxedo and with a black bowtie and a white shirt and black jacket and pants. I was even wearing cologne and eyeliner.

"Is it true that you used to wear earrings?" Sarah asked.

"One earring," I corrected. "I stopped wearing it a couple years