When We Were Still Human by Vaughn Foster (best ereader for textbooks .txt) 📕

grab a blue vial from beneath the bar. “It’s like this: if I live selflessly, put others first, and everyone else does it too, life goes pretty smoothly. You should talk to the king about it when you get back to the castle.”

Val tensed, then checked over her shoulder in anticipation of an armed battalion. There wasn’t one, but even still, the comment had her unnerved. “How did you know I was staying there?”

This only spurred another round of laughter from the barista. “Well, you’re not an angel. If you weren’t here to see the king, then you wouldn’t be here. Outsiders can’t pass the wards. And if they do, they have to deal with the Hosts.”

“True.” He made a valid point. Val hadn’t necessarily tried to fit in. But now, with her grey clothes, pale skin, and stargazed meandering, she realized she must have stuck out like a sore thumb.

“Here,” he said, handing her a glass. “This place must be overwhelming for a mirage. I promise, you’ll get used to it soon enough.”

“Thanks.” Sarcasm lacquered her voice. She hesitated, then tacked on an “I’m sure,” a bit softer this time. He seemed like a nice guy, overall. It wasn’t his fault she was trapped, lost, and cursed. Val forced her mouth to return his smile, then took her drink to an open table.

“Yeah… I’m sure.” Val sighed, swirling her straw in attempt to gauge what exactly was in the glass. A melted rainbow was her first guess. Each of the seven colors were fierce and glowing, yet complemented the others in the unearthly concoction.

Not finding any visual hints, she closed her eyes and took a sip.

Oh my God, Val! Come on, you have to do another shot!

No! I’ve already done like five!

Even number! We’ll be real nurses in two months! When’s the next time we’ll get to drink like this?!

 

Val shoved the drink back, and blinked. That was… She had completely forgotten about that day. She moved to get up but was just as soon pulled into another memory.

Happy 14th birthday, Val! Come on, blow out the candles!

Oh my god! Grandpa, you flew all the way from Toronto?

Of course. I wouldn’t miss it for the world!

 

Val tried to fight whatever drug spiked through her system. She couldn’t think about these things right now. She needed to focus, needed to—

Valerie Stevens, you are the most incredible woman I have ever met. I love you more than life itself and I want to spend the rest of my life with you.

Jas—

I know you’re busy with school now, that’s why I’m not proposing. But I want you to know that, ring or no ring, I’m not going anywhere.

Jason… I love you.

I love you too.

Tears burned down Val’s face. She shoved away the glass and pushed herself back in her seat. She pressed harder into the metal, hoping it would swallow her; hoping that the drink was actually poison that would put all of this to an end. That first memory was the night she’d passed her penultimate exam of nursing school. Her friends had dragged her to one of the local college bars and celebrated until two in the morning. Then her family… Jason...

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She hadn’t thought about that life in over a year. Now, all the buried feelings were dragged naked to the surface.

A cold hand rested itself over her shaking fist and the shock flung her back to reality.

“Those drinks are meant to summon your happiest memories.” Vladimir stood beside her and offered a soft smile. “Poor guy probably wasn’t thinking it’d only make your day worse.”

“I thought vampires couldn’t do sunlight,” Val mumbled, not bothering to argue against his company.

He didn’t wait for an invitation to sit. “A curse of my grandfather’s,” he said, pulling up a chair. “One I have...evolved out of.”

“Whatever.” She turned away and placed her head in her arms. “I’m not going back with you.”

He reached out to touch her, but she slapped his hand away. His face became riddled with confusion, and she countered with a cold glare.

“What part of ‘no’ don’t you get?”

Before he could open his mouth, fear, adrenaline, and probably whatever was in the rainbow drink, surged forth. Val pushed the table over and vaulted the patio railing.

Five minutes later, Vladimir was nowhere in sight. Even still, Val continued to wind through golden streets and alleyways. It was a stupid plan, she was well aware of that. She had no idea where she was going or how long until she even reached the city border. But the planning part didn’t matter. That bestial instinct had slid into the driver’s seat. A clawed foot pressed on the gas and Val found her body driven faster.

She rounded a corner and nearly barreled into a group of women. Val dodged at the last minute by kicking off the nearest wall and sailing over. She swore again, but this time a somber realization broke through the frenzy. Her speed wouldn’t have been possible if she was still human.

Val skidded to a stop, forcing herself—her thinking, careful, rational self—back to the surface. She flexed her fingers and counted to ten, eyes clenched shut. When she was positive that she was in control, she opened them. A gigantic lake stretched before her with the opposite shore only a green streak. Angels lounged on all sides, under umbrellas or spread out on blankets. Some ate, some laughed; no one seemed to notice her. Or perhaps, they just didn’t care enough to make a spectacle.

Something hit the back of her leg and she jumped back, raising her arm to strike. She looked down, and blinked, confused at the sight of a little girl holding a glass