24 | Times Like This

Seaside, California October 15, 2012

Celesta

SO far, this night has been a blast. I was now obsessed with black milk tea and Zach was obsessed with the best ice cream place on Earth. Despite being stalked and Zach taking ten minutes to go to the bathroom, tonight wasn't bad.

We were just about to leave Cold Stone, I needed to text Lily and let her know I was about to be coming over. I'm surprised my father hasn't called or even stalked us as well. Maybe my mother got him to chill for once.

I pulled my phone out and sent a message to Lily. I hope she still wasn't with Scott; I did not like her being near him, especially alone. I know he wouldn't intentionally harm her, but I still couldn't shake that distrust I had of him.

It was getting pretty late though this place stayed open until midnight. My father's demand of being at Lily's at ten sharp was— fruitless. It was getting past eleven.

Zach had eaten so much ice cream I was concerned for his well-being but given the fact that he had a much higher metabolism being what he was, he could probably eat the entire inventory Cold Stone had.

"Well, I have had one hell of a night!" Zach exclaimed as he finally returned from the bathroom. He had been gone for ten damn minutes.

"Yes, one we will have to do again soon," I replied and hooked my hand with his as we walked out the door.

The street was oddly vacant of cars except for a few and Zach's truck. As he was opening the door for me, he looked toward the alley beside Cold Stone and another store.

"Zach...?" I trailed off, looking in the same direction as him.

Zach released my hand and stalked forward a few steps. I watched him, confused. Did he sense something out there?

"Stay here," he commanded without looking at me before he ran to the alleyway.

Yeah, no. I was not staying here.

I bolted after him, though he was much faster than I was.

"Zach—" I called out again but stopped.

I realized that he was not alone in that dark alleyway. The only light source was a poorly lit streetlight from the other end of the alley.

Down the alley were two males and a female. She was cowering against the brick building as the two men cornered her, their faces contorted into sinister grins. And Zach, you wouldn't call him a dork if you saw the way he charged at them, claws raised.

I stopped frozen in my tracks, gawking as Zach grabbed one of them and flung him against the other building. The other male, now focused on Zach forgot about the woman. She seemed to take the hint that it was time to run and she came barreling toward me like a frightened hen.

Her face was hysterical as she started to scream. I intercepted her before she could run past me and knowing that we would draw attention, needed to get her to shut the hell up. Without thinking, I waved my hand across her face, forcing her to sleep.

Once I laid her on the ground, I saw Zach fending both of the males off. But I had this sick feeling that Zach wouldn't last much longer against them. They weren't human. They were both vampires, their fangs barred at Zach's own glowing blue eyes and extended canines.

Running like a mad woman, I called my magic to surge forward, and flicking my wrist; I sent one of them flying against a wall.

I didn't need to get too close to them. I may know how to fight but I knew I was no match for a vampire's strength. Cynthia's words of that night came flashing through my mind, how a young witch was no match against even newly turned vampires. And how I so bravely said having my friends right there with me was enough.

Let's hope I was right.

Zach got the upper hand on the other, and just as I was about to send the other one into the wall, the other recovered from my attack.

It happened in a blink of an eye. I felt one grab my arm and throw me backward. I cried out in pain as I landed on my side. I saw Zach turn to me in the corner of my eye. Only a moment of distraction caused Zach to get taken down.

I didn't see him get back up.

My eyes were locked on the vampire now stalking toward me, his eyes nothing but black pits and fangs barred out.

This wasn't like Seana who just planned to evade and trade insults with me. This one intended to take my life right here and now. A fear I always kept on a tight leash sprung to the forefront of my mind.

My lungs felt like the air in them had been seized, my heartbeat racing as the feeling of needles started to creep from my hands to my arms.

I couldn't even feel my magic anymore. I had become the thing I feared most, a helpless little girl. And I was going to die.

I felt like I was in a tunnel suddenly, time slowed to a crawl. Two figures seemingly came down from the sky and landed where Zach was on the ground, the other male looming over him. The one stalking toward me, getting closer and closer.

I slammed my eyes closed, waiting for death to take me.

But it never came. Whoever came from above took the vampire looming over Zach down, a shout so piercing it made me reopen my eyes. It came from that male. The one looming above me turned and watched as the other vampire fell.

But it took only a second for him to focus back on me and strike like a snake. But before he reached me something else came down on him and fast. A flash of metal and the horrifying sound of it meeting his flesh.

Blood went everywhere. All over the ground and me.

A scream deep within me came, so much so that it made my ears want to bleed.

The vampire's headless body collapsed right in front of me. I scooted away from it, my body shaking so much that I couldn't even get up.

There stood Scott, his face cold and expressionless as he eyed the body. He didn't even seem phased by having just beheaded someone. He held a katana, dark blood dripping from its blade.

A voice broke through the dead silence. "Jesus Christ Scott!" I heard Lily shrill. "You didn't need to chop someone's fucking head off!"

I finally pried my eyes from the dead vampire to her. Lily was on her knees beside Zach who wasn't moving still. The other vampire was not far from them, he was dead.

Scott looked from my frightened form over to Lily, "Well what else would you have me do?" he scoffed. He bent down in front of me, his expression now softening. "Are you okay?" he asked.

I widened my eyes at him, "Y-You just—"

"He was about to kill you, don't think for a second he would have hesitated," Scott muttered.

Still gaping at him, all I could do was nod. Finally finding the strength to talk, I asked, "Is Zach okay?"

Scott looked back over to Lily and Zach. "The kid is fine, he just got knocked out."

Lily said something back over to him, but I couldn't make out what she said. I could feel blood pumping in my ears, my heart still racing. Scott went over to where Lily was, the two of them talking in hushed voices.

But I felt two hands come out of the dark and grab onto my arms gently. I jumped, startled. Looking up it was Lily, her expression sad as she slowly pulled me onto my feet. The side I fell on was aching but other than that I was fine.

And the fact that I had a full-blown panic attack. That didn't help anyone.

"Cel, everything is going to be alright," Lily assured, not letting go of me.

I said nothing as we walked over to Zach. Scott was walking around the carnage, the woman I had put to sleep was still unconscious.

I saw what knocked Zach out. He had taken a bad blow to his head, evident by the blood in his hair. But I could see he was breathing alright. He would wake up soon.

I felt disgusted with myself, he had gotten injured because of me. But if I hadn't followed him, what would have happened then? Could he have killed them alone? Or would we all be in a much different situation? I didn't want to know the answer to that.

What I did know was that I wanted to get out of this alley.

"Well, tonight was a disaster," Lily muttered.

I heard a dark chuckle from Scott.

"How did you even find us?" I asked.

"We were already out looking for Maggie, but I heard screaming, so Lily and I came back here," Scott replied.

"Back?" I remarked.

"Yeah, we might have crashed your date, sorry!" Lily squeaked.

I just stared ahead blankly. Scott and Lily crashing the date were the least of my worries. "Well, I did see you guys at Panda Express."

"Oh, I meant here, Zach helped us get a scent to find Maggie. Though that didn't work..." Lily trailed off.

Scott just stared at us. "How did you two even get involved in this?"

"Zach heard them," I explained. "He wasn't just going to let those men kill that woman."

"Well, he should have known that he couldn't take them alone," Scott hissed. "He could have ended up dead! The kid can never make rational decisions."

"Rational decisions?" I remarked. "I saw the way you drove earlier; you drive like a maniac!"

Lily sighed and let my arm go as she stood up. "Can you two not argue right now? We need to clean this mess up."

I rolled my eyes and started rolling Zach over onto his back. Scott said something under his breath and walked over to the woman.

"Woah looks like we missed out on the fun," I heard a voice sigh from above.

All three of us snapped our heads up. It was fucking Isabel.

"I see you killed my toys, I guess I'll just have to make more of them," Isabel purred, then jumped from the roof and landed in front of Lily. Scott was in between them in a split second, the bloodied katana raised at Isabel.

"No, I don't think you will," he snarled at her. "Unless you decide to stop turning random people and killing, I might decide to not kill you."

"You're hilarious, you think that ridiculous sword will stop me?" Isabel snickered.

"Yes, it stopped your little fucking toys," Scott spat back. "Those were human lives, Isabel. Not playthings to screw around with."

Lily stepped around Scott, but his other arm shot out in front of her. "Why are you doing this Isabel?" Lily retorted.

"Because it's fun," Isabel chuckled. "Maybe I will turn Brandon next just to spite you, it will be fun to have him join us."

I felt anger surging through me, along with my magic. I rose to my feet, my hardening gaze aimed right at Isabel.

She glanced over to me, "Finally, you aren't cowering like a frightened girl anymore, I saw—"

I didn't even let her finish her sentence, I raised my hand and started frying her brain.

"And I am tired of your annoying voice," I hissed.

Scott stalked over to Isabel intending to kill her. I wanted to do it myself.

I saw something mold out from the darkness of the alley; Isabel had not been alone. Whatever it was grabbed ahold of Lily. It was Seana, and she had Lily in her grasp, her hands edging close to her neck.

Scott stopped and faced Seana, his face murderous.

Isabel was still crying out in pain as I continued to fry her brain.

"I'd advise you to stop your assault on my progeny," Seana murmured, running a sharp nail across Lily's neck as a warning.

Despite having that bitch so close to her, Lily didn't even seem to care that her life was at stake.

"If you are going to keep threatening us, why don't you just do it then?" Lily jeered aloud.

A flash of panic shot across Scott's face, but it was gone in the same second. I reluctantly stopped frying Isabel's brain; she fell onto the ground groaning. I wasn't going to risk Lily's life, even if Seana was bluffing.

Seana eyed Isabel, disappointment was evident on her face, but she still didn't let go of Lily. Seana motioned her head at Scott who still held that katana firmly. Then he let it drop to the ground.

"You know, it's a shame you have taken the initiative to hunt your kind," Seana sneered. "You used to be fun."

"Some people change Seana," Scott seethed.

Seana glanced at Lily's neck absentmindedly, "You've let your humanity cloud your judgment."

Then Seana released Lily roughly, sending her almost flying into Scott. He quickly grabbed her and wrapped his arms around her. I couldn't mistake the way his face looked in those moments as Lily clung to him. He looked more shaken up than she was.

Realizing we were still in this creepy alleyway surrounded by dead people and evil bitches, Scott turned to me, his eyes alert. I took that as an indication to pull Lily over to where Zach and I were.

I sunk back to the ground in front of Zach, though Lily was not having it as I forced her to stay with me.

Seana was too busy however helping her evil spawn onto her feet.

Scott grabbed the katana back up from the ground and stood in front of us protectively, his body tensing. Lily took something off from her belt, I just now realized she had a belt full of stakes on. She handed one to me and pulled one out for herself.

"I will make you a deal, I'll let your werewolf live and leave you all to your boring lives," Seana bargained. "If you leave my progeny and me alone. I will also see to it that the Kaiser boy will be left alone as well. And keep this one in line."

Isabel's eyes narrowed. "But you said—"

"What I say now is that you will stop being reckless," Seana commanded, shutting her up.

Lily got up and stood beside Scott, her fists clenched. "Where is Maggie?" she demanded.

Seana chuckled. "She is no longer your concern Ms. Rezza. My darling new progeny is resting, she has had a very eventful evening."

Lily started to stalk toward Seana and Isabel, but Scott stopped her again. She glanced up at him, her eyes angry.

I swear those two just have conversations with their stares.

Seana took this as the opportunity to get the hell out of there. She and Isabel vanished off into the night, leaving us.

I pried my eyes away from them to see Zach's eyes flash open. He immediately started rubbing his head as he sat up.

"What the fuck?" he groaned, still rubbing his head. He stared ahead at the scene before him. Then he saw a head detached from its body. A shudder went through me before I looked away.

"You missed a lot here buddy," Scott remarked.

"No shit I did," Zach snarled. He glanced at me, seeing that I was covered in blood. "Jesus, are you okay? Man, I thought I had them dammit."

"I'm fine. Everything is fine," I assured. "These two saved us, if they hadn't come, we both would be dead."

A silence went over all of us on what to do next. Perhaps get the fuck home?

A door burst open into the alley suddenly making all of us snap our attention to it.

"What the hell are you stupid teenagers doing out here?!" an old woman shouted, stepping out of the backdoor of Cold Stone. It was the owner of the place.

She paused, her eyes nearly bulging out as she took in the sight of Scott's warpath.

"Oh, my—" she wasn't even able to finish her sentence. She just fainted on the spot.

"Get them home, I'll take care of this mess," Scott instructed Zach, a sigh escaping him.

THE drive to Lily's house was awkward and silent. Zach had his hands gripped to the steering wheel of his truck in frustration. He was angry at himself for getting his ass kicked. He wasn't the only one who was wallowing in self-hatred.

I was mad that I let myself get to that point where I was nothing more than a sitting duck. Lily was in the backseat, that ridiculous katana across her lap. I had used my shirt to wipe the excess blood off it before she sheathed it, my shirt was ruined anyway. Luckily, I also wore a tank top tonight.

When we got to her house, Zach kissed me goodnight and he left without saying much else. I just hoped he knew that this was not his fault.

I realized that despite having magic, I was just like any other human. Weak. The mere thought of it angered me. What good was magic if I was too scared to use it when I needed it?

Lily and I walked side by side up to the front door. It flung open to reveal Lily's anxious parents.

"Lillian what the hell happened?!" Laura exclaimed.

"I'll explain in detail in the morning, right now I just want to go to bed," Lily sighed.

"And I need a shower," I added.

"May I ask why you have my katana?" Samuel asked, his eyes wide.

"Scott used it to chop someone's head off," Lily deadpanned, acting like seeing someone's head sliced off didn't bother her.

"Well, at least it still has some use," Samuel mused, but then raised an eyebrow in confusion. "Wait why did Scott have my katana?"

Lily handed the katana to her father without answering him in walked past him.

He just glanced at me with wide eyes as I shrugged my shoulders, smiling apologetically at him.

His wife just sighed and led Samuel away as he kept asking Laura why Scott had anything to do with this situation.

Once we got to Lily's room, I instantly went to the shower and cleaned all the blood that stained my skin. I saw it go down the drain, the sight of it made me sick.

Once I got out of the shower and into some pajamas, I finally felt a bit better.

Lily was already in bed, scrolling through her phone. I got in beside her and adjusted my pillows.

Putting her phone down on her nightstand, Lily asked, "Do you want to talk about it?"

"Like what? That the fact that I completely froze like a helpless nitwit?" I spat.

"You don't always have to be that fearless person, Celesta. There are times when you can't be that perfect version of yourself. Especially after seeing something like that—"

"No, it is times like this where I need to be at the top of my game, not act like some coward who couldn't defend herself!" I remarked angrily.

"You are not a coward," Lily interjected.

"Well, I sure acted like one tonight," I hissed to myself.

"Celly?" Lily asked, I felt her scoot closer to me on the bed.

"Yeah?" I mumbled at her.

"At the end of the day despite what you may think right now," Lily smiled and wrapped an arm around me. "Never forget you are still a badass bitch."

I couldn't help but start laughing, Lily joining in.

"Wait," I paused and turned to face her. "How the hell are you not freaking out still?"

"I did freak out, did you forget?" Lily mused.

I just sat there in silence, the images of tonight flashing back.

I didn't forget, but Lily was always the one to be petrified of everything long after it occurred. Maybe she was the one becoming fearless. I think someone has brought that out of her.

But if I saw them chop someone's head off with a katana, I might not want to be near them for a while. Then again, my father did shit like that.

I didn't want to ask her this but given the fact that Lily and I never got to talk about it between us, it was time now.

Lily glanced over at me; my continued silence now seemed to worry her. "Cel, are you okay?"

"I am, I just want to ask you," I began. "Do you like Scott? Scratch that—do you love him?"

Seeing the two of them tonight when Seana was threatening Lily's life, who could deny that the two of them had something between one another?

Lily's eyes nearly boggled out of her head. "What?! No! I don't like him, or that other word! I mean I might like him but that's beside the point."

"Lily, please just be honest with me," I stressed.

Lily just shook her head. "I don't, okay? Besides, we talked earlier, and it is clear he doesn't feel that way. And I'm okay with that."

One look into her now glassy eyes told me the opposite. It almost looked like she was about to start crying.

"I'm sorry I shouldn't have said anything, I just—" I stopped, trying to word myself carefully before I made her start bawling. "You know I don't like him, and I just worry about you, that is all. But you shouldn't give a rat's ass what I think, if you love him then you do. I'll just have to deal with it."

I felt a ball form in my throat. Lily just stared blankly at me, but then those tears started coming out.

"Oh, Cel I don't know why I feel like this!" she cried. "I know why it would never work between us, but I can't stop how I feel, I hate it! I just hate it!"

I quickly pulled her into a tight hug and rested my head on her shoulder. Her body shook as she sobbed uncontrollably.

Nice going brain.

"Lillian it's going to be okay," I consoled.

Lily loosened her way out of the hug. "I know, I just need to focus on other things. Not be a lovesick fool," she mumbled. "I need something to occupy my mind."

"Well, don't forget about the homecoming dance coming up, that is something to look forward to!" I giggled, trying to lighten the dreary ass mood I put her in.

"Oh my God, I forgot all about that!" Lily exclaimed.

How could she forget that? Though with everything going on lately, it would've slipped from my mind too.

"Well, you are head of the decorating committee, so you better get on that," I chuckled.

Lily grinned at me suddenly. "Yes, and all of you get to help me!" she chirped.

I sighed. I hated decorating.

After we spent most of the night chatting away about our problems and life, we finally drifted off to sleep. Dreams flashed through my mind; ones I wish I would just forget so I wouldn't live in a constant fear of the future.