Part 7

     Worrin was wearing black dress pants and a red dress shirt. His black hair was pulled back in a tight ponytail. He looked very business-like, as if he was about to go to a board meeting.

     He smiled at me as he entered the room. “Hello, Rose. Dress nicely, the police will be here shortly.” “The police?” I asked. “Why would they be coming here?”

     Worrin went to the wardrobe and started looking through the dresses hanging there. “You and your parents were reported missing Monday, after you had been here two days. You have been missing for a week now and your parents' bodies were found on Wednesday.” He pulled out a pale blue sun dress and held it up to me. “What do you think of this one? I think the color would go well with your complexion.”

     “My parents were found?” I asked. I paid no attention to the dress. “How do you know?”

     “When you didn't go to school Monday, a teacher got worried and asked around your neighborhood. When they realized that you had not come home from your trip to the mountains they called the police. Search dogs found your parents and I had my lawyer call in yesterday when I saw the report on the news .They know you are here and alive and well and the detectives leading the case are coming to make sure you are alright.” He took my hands in his and I looked into his dark eyes. “I'll pay for your parents to be buried if you wish. You can live her with me if you want. If you would rather go live with some relative you can. You are eighteen and you are not my prisoner. What do you want, Rose? Whatever it is, I can make it happen.”

     I thought for a moment. I had no other family except an aunt I've only met twice. I remembered what Sofia said earlier. Werewolves and vampires mated for life and I was Worrin's mate. I couldn't leave him and I didn't really want to. Finally, I asked, “Can my pets stay here, too?”

     Worrin's face was dominated by a huge grin and he swept me up in a hug. He spun me around and we both laughed happily. He gently set me on my feet and kept my hands in his so I wouldn't fall.

     “Well, can they?” I asked with a smile.

     “Of course.” he pulled me closer and lightly kissed my lips. “What you wish I will grant.”

     I remember what Sofia said again. I didn't think, I just said, “I wish you would stop ignoring your vampire feeding habits and drink my blood already.”

     Worrin went completely still. His eyes were blank and his grip on my hands tightened as if he was trying to control himself. I thought for a minute that I had said something wrong. “I can't, my sweet,” he said in a low voice filled with restraint. “I would put you in danger.”

     “Danger?” I asked, impatient. “Sofia said you could loss control of yourself after a few days. What kind of danger would I be in then?”

     Shock filled his eyes. “What all did Sofia tell you?”

     “She told me about your brothers, a little about your clan, about your new diet, and that you're an incubus.”

     “She told you I'm an incubus?”

     “Well,” I say slowly, “she told me about your brothers and I guessed. She confirmed.”

     His smile dazzled me. “My clever sweet.” He leaned in and covered my lips with his.

     A sharp knock interrupted us.

     “Worrin, the cops are here,” a male voice called. “They're in your study.”

     “We're coming, Tyler,” Worrin said. I heard heavy footsteps move away from the door. “I think you should wear the pale blue dress. What do you think?” He handed me the dress.

     I smiled at him. “I like that one.” I took the dress and went into the bathroom attached to my room.

 

* * *

 

     Worrin's study was a large room. Two of the walls were entirely covered in bookshelves backed with books all colors and sizes. One wall was floor-to-ceiling windows that doubled as doors tat lead out onto a porch. Reading lamps,end tables, armchairs and a few sofas were scattered over deep red and brown rugs. Two men in black suits were seated near the window.

     As we entered the two men stood. One was tall, but not as tall as Worrin, with red-orange hair and bright blue eyes. The other was as tall as his partner's shoulder and had blond hair and blue eyes. They wore no ties and the short one had his collar unbuttoned.

     “Mr. Masters?” asked the short one as he held out his hand.

     "Please, call me Worrin.” He took the hand and shook it firmly. “I'm glad you could come.”

     “It's no trouble,” said the red-haired one as he shook Worrin's hand. “Especially using your helicopter. It was very kind of you to offer it's use to us.”

     "It is very hard to get to this remote spot. No one was using it anyway.” Worrin took my hand and pulled me forward. “You are here, however, to see Miss Greenwood. Please sit.”

     After the detectives were in their chairs and Worrin and I were settled in on a sofa, they turned their attention on me. I didn't know I was fussing with my braided hair until Worrin took my hand in his.

     “I'm Detective Bob Magus,” said the red-haired man. “This is Detective Mike Johnson. You are Miss Rose Sunshine Greenwood?”

     I nodded. “Yes.”

     “Could you tell us what happened to our parents?” Johnson asked.

     “My mom, Gwen, was leaning against a tree, looking at out map. She had been trying to learn how to use a campus. Dad and I were studying some plant or something. The tree....” I stopped and took a deep breath. I missed my coldness dearly. I wasn't used to having emotions to control. “It was growing on the edge of a gorge. The tree fell and so did Mom.” I took another deep breath and closed my eyes. “Dad tried to save her. They both went over the edge.” My voice cracked and I stopped talking. Worrin pulled me into his arms and I buried my face in his neck. His scent and nearness calmed my raging emotions.

     “How did you find your way here?” asked Magus kindly. I looked at Worrin, worried. What would I tell them about us? They wouldn't understand.

     “We've been friends for years,” Worrin explained. “She lives at the foot of the mountain and she likes ti hike a lot. She's only a year or two younger than me. She knew I lived up here and found her way here shortly after dark.”

     “Ah,” Johnson said. “You are eighteen, aren't you, Miss Greenwood?”

     I pulled away from Worrin a bit and nodded. “Yes, as of last week.” How much school do you have left?” Magus asked.

     “Um, a week. I've already passed all my classes and graduation is next weekend, I think.”

     “Do you have a job?” Magus asked.

     I shook my head. “No. I babysit sometimes, but I don't work at a restaurant or anything.”

     “Your parent didn't have life insurance, but they did have a will.” The taller detective pulled a large envelope out of his coat and handed it to me.

     In the envelope were some legal documents and a smaller envelope. I put the documents in Worrin's outstretched hand and looked over the plain white envelope. I opened it and found a letter to me from my mother, Gwen.

 

My Dearest Rose,

                   I am sorry we had to leave you alone. We only wanted the very best for you. We love you with all our hearts. Don't be sad, honey. We are in a better place now. Have faith, my daughter. Your fate will be reveled to you soon. Your life will be better now, my dear one. Be careful around a set of triplets. Remember that Mother Earth protects all her followers.

                                Live well,

                                 Gwen

 

     The letter was so strange. It sounded as if my mother knew they were going to die. There was no way she could have known. Who did she mean by triplets? Had she somehow known about Worrin's brothers? Why was she going all hippy in her goodbye letter? What did she mean by fate?

     “Gwen and Andrew Greenwood left everything to Rose,”Worrin said. His vice pulled me from my confused thoughts and back into the study. “Not that that is a surprise. They left her their house and a small fortune. They must have been saving up for years. They also want the decision of Rose's future left up to her.” Worrin met her eyes. “What do you want, Rose?”

     I looked in his eyes and remembered his words earlier. What I wished he would grant. Finally, I said, “I want to stay here.”

     “You'll have to finish school,” the short man reminded me.

     “She can use my helicopter to get there and back,” Worrin offered. The detectives nodded and stood.

     “Now that that's settled,” Magus said, “we'll go now.”

     Worrin shook their hands and, after telling me he'd be right back, lead the men to the front door.

     I settled down on the sofa again and reread my mother's letter. I was thinking over what she could been trying to tell me when I glanced out the window.

     Standing in front of me on the other side of the glass was a man. All I saw were his glowing red eyes and sharp, white, snarling teeth. His menace leaked into the room and I knew he wanted me dead.

     I screamed as darkness dominated my vision.

Author's Note

Enjoy!!

Reviews

[A.r. Bazian]

keep going!
i'm waiting!
i loved it!
great chain of events!
in short... i loved it!

[Moalix]

Are you trying to kill me? That is definately a HUGE cliffhanger! Oh and why did you rate this mature? Can't wait for more!

[Brie]

AH! Great chapter! I love it! it is kinda strange that the letter was written like they knew they were gonna die, and all of the "fate" and "triplet" stuff... whoo!
And come on now, you cant just leave us with this massive cliffhanger. i want more!!
-Brie