| Chapter 22 Brian crouched in the closet, behind some old boxes. He could feel Tracy getting closer, and hoped he was blocking himself well enough that she wouldn't find him. They had been doing this all afternoon. Playing hide and seek. At first she found him right off, each time. But as the day went on, he was getting the hang of blocking himself, and it took her longer to locate him. He felt her inside the room, and closed his eyes, concentrating. The closet door opened and she stepped in, glancing around. Brian looked up, just able to see her through a crack in the boxes. Tracy looked around, moved some boxes on the other side of the closet, then turned to leave. "You're getting good at this," she muttered on her way out of the room. Brian smiled watching her go. He'd done it. She was standing not three feet from him and didn't find him. Where are you Brian? I give up, he heard inside his head. Third bedroom closet, he answered. He could feel her getting closer again. I was just in there, she told him. I know, he smiled. She walked into the closet, still not able to feel him. "Ok, so where are you?" she asked. He stood up with a smile on his face. "Very impressive," she said, as he moved out from behind the boxes to join her. "I thought so," he laughed, "Wanna do it again?" "No, I've got something else in mind," she said, a grin on her face. Brian stared at her, "Um, I don't like that look." She laughed, taking his hand, "Come on." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Howie sat with Jennifer in one of the many Vegas shows. It was a hilarious comedian that also did magic. He stared over at her, enjoying watching her just as much as watching the show. He loved the way her eyes sparkled when she laughed, and the little smile on her face was adorable. She glanced over and caught him staring. She reached over and took his hand in hers, then focused her attention back on the stage. Howie interlaced their fingers, his heart skipping a beat. Her touch sent shock waves through him, and he loved it. As the show came to a close, he could look at nothing but the beauty by his side. She captivated him like no one else, and she completed him. This had to be love right? Nothing else felt this way. The show ended and the audience got up to leave. She stood up, "That was great." He nodded, following her out of the theater. She smiled at him, "And just how would you know? You didn't watch." "I did too," he protested. "No my dear, you where watching me," she laughed, her cheeks flushing. Howie looked down at his feet for a moment, then back at her, "Ok well yeah, I was watching you. Can you blame me?" She giggled as they walked out onto the street and headed down the strip towards their hotel. "The nights are so pretty here," she observed, looking at all the neon that surrounded them. "Yeah, but I like the stars just as well," he said. "True, nothing beats a cloudless night with billions of stars in the sky," she sighed. Howie stopped walking, "I know one thing that does." "What's that?" she asked, searching his face. He smiled, "You." Before she knew it, he was kissing her lips. Jennifer wrapped her arms around his neck and returned the kiss. So far their kisses had been gentle and innocent. This one was much more. It was deep and passionate. She could feel her entire body tingle as his tongue searched her mouth. It'd been ages since she'd felt these feelings, and they where overwhelming her. She moaned into his mouth, pulling him tighter. Howie finally broke the kiss, needing air. He hugged her tight. Jennifer rested her head on his shoulder, trying to regain some of her composure. She ran her tongue along her teeth and felt her fangs. Inwardly she cursed herself for losing control like that. Howie started to pull away, but she held him tight. She needed a minute to calm down. "Are you alright?" he asked, rubbing her back. "Yes, I just .... um got a little light headed," she said, slowly looking up at him. He looked at her with concern, "What's wrong?" She shook her head, "Nothing. Everything is wonderful." "You're sure?" he asked, as she took his hand and they began walking again. "I'm sure Howie, I'm fine," she laughed. "What are you laughing about?" he asked. "I was just wondering if every woman you kiss has that same reaction," she giggled. Howie blushed, "Only you baby, only you." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Raven stood on her balcony, overlooking the city. The night was warm, muggy, but she didn't care. She looked over the lights, wondering where he was. She could feel him, and it grew stronger every day, but she couldn't pin point him. The others had left for Vegas, but he had stayed. And so Raven stayed, to be close to him. She grinned, the look of pure evil on her face as she did so, "Soon you will be with me," she spoke to the night air, "But until then, why don't we play a little," she laughed. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Tracy, please don't make me do this," Brian begged. "Honey, you have to learn," she coaxed, pulling on his hands. Brian pulled back, "I don't have to learn this, I'll deal without it." She shook her head, "No, you have to learn it. Come on, I'll go with you." Brian was shaking in his shoes by now, his eyes wide with fear, "I don't wanna." She took another step towards the railing, pulling him with her, "I know you don't, but this something you can't get out of." Brian glanced over the railing, his heart jumping clean out of his throat and landing on the floor somewhere. They were on the fifth floor of the house, and Tracy wanted him to jump over the railing with her. Was she nuts? Nancy stood on the first floor, looking up at them. "No, I can't do this," he protested. Tracy climbed over the railing, "Come on Brian, you can't get hurt." He glared at her. "Well not much," she smiled, "Besides, if you do, you'll heal. See nothing to lose." "You won't let go?" he asked, chewing on his bottom lip. She smiled at him. At that moment he looked so much like a child, learning how to ride a bike and making their parent promise not to let go. "I promise. I'm with ya all the way to the bottom," she said. Brian glanced down again, taking a small step closer. Tracy sat on the railing, waiting for him to get up the courage to even try it. After a few minutes she sighed, "Honey, I'm not getting any younger here." Brian smiled, "Sorry." She stared into his blue eyes, "I know it's scarey. But this is something you need to overcome. This ability can save your life, it has mine more times than I can count." Brian sighed, moving to the railing and slowly climbing over. He was shaking so badly, he thought he might fall before Tracy had a hold of him. She took his hand in hers. "W-what do I do?" he asked, fighting to breathe normally. "First, take a deep breath and calm down," she said, "Then you step off. Think in your mind that you're on a elevator, and it's slowly taking you to the bottom." Brian nodded, taking several deep breaths, his eyes closed. "O-ok, I'm r-ready," he croaked. "Open your eyes," she told him. He did, noticing they had stepped off the edge and where slowly descending to the first floor. "Keep your concentration," she warned, feeling him start to lose control. Brian tried, he really did, but seeing the floor coming at him like that just freaked him out. He lost what little hold he had, and started to plummet. Tracy held on to him and eased them down to the floor, landing softly. "Very good Mr. Brian," Nancy praised. Brian glared at her, "I screwed up." "But you did very well for your first time," she said. "She's right," Tracy said, "You did. But I think maybe we need to start a little closer to the ground. At least until you feel confident in your ability." Brian watched as she looked around. "Go up to the second floor, and try it from there," she told him. Brian looked up. It was still a long way up, at least to him. "By myself?" he asked. "Yes, by yourself. I'm right here and if something happens I'll catch you," she said. He stared at her for a moment. He had no doubt that she could catch him. She could mop the floor with him if she wanted to, but he still didn't want to do this. She gently pushed him toward the stairs, "Go on." Reluctantly he climbed the stairs, reaching the second floor and walking over to stand above her. "Remember what I told you, and you'll be fine," she said, smiling up at him. He smiled back, a nervous smile, as he climbed over the railing. "I can't believe I'm freaking doing this," he muttered, as he stood on the edge. He closed his eyes, concentrating. Where are you my love? Brian jerked his head up, wanting to know where that came from. In doing so, he lost his balance and fell. "Brian!" Nancy yelled, as Tracy tried to catch him. She slowed his fall, but only a little. The fall was to short for her to fully stop him. He hit the hardwood floor hard, slamming the back of his head into it, and knocking the breath out of himself. Tracy and Nancy where at his side in an instant. "Brian, are you alright?" Tracy asked. He blinked at her a moment, his vision a little fuzzy, while he tried to breath normally again. "I thought .... you were gonna catch me?" he said, holding his head. "I'm sorry," she said, "You didn't say you where going yet. What happened?" Brian sat up with the girls help, still holding the back of his head. The room was spinning now, making him nauseous. "Nancy, go get him a glass of water please," Tracy instructed. "Yes ma'am," Nancy said, hurrying into the kitchen. "I heard her," Brian said after Nancy left. "Heard who?" Tracy asked. "Raven. I know it was her. I heard her in my head," he said, looking up at her with fear in his eyes. "What did she say?" she asked. "She wanted to know where I was," he answered. Tracy sighed, helping him to his feet. He swayed, "Oh God, my head hurts." Nancy returned with two glasses. One of water, the other of the drink. "Come on, let's let you lay down," Tracy said, helping him to his room. Once there, Nancy gave him the water first, then the drink. "What's this for? We ate already," he asked. "It will help you heal faster," Tracy explained. Brian took it and drank most of it. He wasn't going to argue with something that would take away the pounding in his head. When he was finished, Nancy took the glasses and left the room. Brian lay back in bed, "Tracy, what am I gonna do? Can she find me?" She looked at him, reaching up and brushing a few curls from his forehead, "No, she can't find you yet. We still have a little while before that, but she can feel you. And if she can feel you, she can talk to you." "I don't wanna talk to her," he said. "Don't. Try to ignore her as best you can," she advised, "If you speak to her, It'll only encourage her to talk more." He nodded. Soon my love, soon we'll be together again. Brian cringed, squeezing Tracy's hand, "Make her shut up," he begged. Tracy stared at him, compassion on her face, "I wish I could honey. Close your eyes, and let me put you to sleep. I'll wake you in a while, after you've had time to heal, and we can start again." "Oh yippee," Brian said, sarcastically, but with a smile. "Come on, once your asleep, she can't bother you," she urged. Brian nodded, closing his eyes and letting Tracy into his mind. She spoke calming words to him, urging him to sleep. After a few minutes, he was out. Tracy sat with him for a while, then moved out to the balcony. She looked at the city lights in the distance, "Where are you, you bitch? You better stay hidden, cause if I find you .... I swear I'll rip your heart out," she said through gritted teeth. Chapter 23 |