"Katie. Katie, wake up." I opened my eyes to Dustin's beautiful face staring down at me. "We're here." He eased me out of the car.
I looked around, sleep clouding my vision. A two-story log cabin loomed in front of me. A soft yellow glow emanated from the windows, making it look like a story book picture.
"Come on. Let's get inside." I let him lead me to the door of the cabin. It opened before we reached the porch.
"Dustin?" a voice called out.
"Yah, it's us."Â He stopped for a moment, letting me go ahead of him.
A taller version of Dani stood in the doorway. "This must be Katie."
Dustin paused to hug his sister. "Yah. Katie, this is my sister Brandy."
She smiled and let us walk past. "Hi." I had no idea what to say to her. All I could think in the back of my head was, she was also a vampire. A vampire! It caused my head to start pounding again.
Dustin turned, his eyes sharp. "Are you okay?"
"My head hurts," I replied. "Can you feel it?"
He moved next to me and took my hand. "I told you, I can feel everything you feel right now. It's part of the Link."
Brandy looked concerned. "Dustin, can I talk to you alone? Katie, make yourself comfortable. You're safe here."
I wandered over to the couch and sat down, looking around the large sitting room. The cabin was spacious and comfortable, but it almost looked like a magazine advertisement for rustic furniture, too perfect and clean.
A moment later, I heard hushed voices in my head. I jumped up and looked around, startled. Brandy and Dustin were still in the other room.
Bits and pieces of their conversation were swirling around in my head. How could I hear them? What if Dustin had been lying? What if I was a vampire now? I had super human hearing and super human healing ability. My heart began to hammer in my chest. This was too much.
"Katie?" I heard Dustin rush in from the other room. "What's wrong?"
I started to feel faint. "I could hear you," I struggled to breathe. "You said I wasn't a vampire, but how come I can I hear you?" Panic began to take over my mind and body, raising my voice to a frightened shriek.
Dustin crossed the room and pulled me into his arms. "Come sit down with me. Your pulse is racing."
I let him lead me to the couch and cuddle me close. "Sometimes, when you get healed like you were, you can temporarily take on some of our more prominent characteristics. One of them is enhanced hearing, but I promise you aren't a vampire."
Brandy watched us from across the room, concern etched on her beautiful face. "Dustin-," she began.
"Brandy, can we do this later? Katie needs me right now."
She let out a sigh. "Okay."
He pulled me closer and spread a fleece blanket over our legs. "Everything will be alright. We'll stay here for a few weeks and then, after Dani and I lay the ground work for your return, you can go back to campus."
I looked up into his eyes. "Dustin, how long have you been a vampire?"
He stared down at me for a moment. "Well," he began, "we're what are called Eternals. We're vampires by our own choice. Our parents were turned about a hundred and fifty years ago. Brandy and Brian were 21 and Dani and I were 18. Our parents decided to change us, so they wouldn't have to go through the pain of watching us age and die before them. So, I guess I would be about one hundred and sixty-eight years old."
"Oh, my god. What was it like? Being turned?" I questioned, shocked. "Especially by your own parents?" I thought back to all the vampire movies I had seen and felt sick inside.
Dustin paused to think for a moment. "I guess it's better than being turned against your will. We were turned willingly, by people who loved us. There was pain, I won't lie, but it was much better than it could have been."
"Dustin," Brandy's voice held a hint of warning, "maybe you should wait until Brian gets here before you say anything else."
"Does it really matter?" Dustin shot her an angry look. "I healed her Brandy! I put her in danger and she almost died. This is all my fault. There's no point in hiding anything now. The more she knows, the more careful she can be." He turned back to me. "You should probably rest. Let's get you settled in upstairs."
He led me up the stairs, his arm around my shoulders. "Here we go." He opened the door to one of the bedrooms. It held a queen-sized bed and dresser. There was a lamp illuminated on the nightstand next to the bed. "Do you feel like sleeping?" He pulled down the covers on the bed.
I nodded. "I'm tired." He eased me down onto the bed. I grabbed his hand when he reached over to turn out the light. "Please don't leave me. I'm scared." He was the only thing keeping me from completely losing it.
He gazed down at me with sympathy. "I understand. Scooch over and I'll stay with you until you fall asleep." I moved over, welcoming his warm arms around me.
"Dustin?"Â I laid my head on his chest.
"Yes?"
"Please promise that you won't leave me."
"I promise. I'll stay with you the whole time until you are ready to go back to school."
My eyes were heavy. "No, I mean never leave me. Ever."
He sighed and pressed his lips to my forehead. "I promise. You're in this mess because of me. We'll get through all of this together."
I snuggled into him and closed my eyes, as sleep claimed me immediately.
Author's Note: Poor Katie! No wonder she's exhausted. Her life has just done a complete 180! Tell me what you think!! Don't forget to vote for your favorite chapters!! Luvs as always!! AMð