82 Finding The Blood Castle 2 (1/2)

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”Tonight is the execution of the queen's lover, Marcos. He will die and she will be forced to watch…”

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Simon Pov

”Bye mom!” he shouted into the phone and pressed the end button before she could argue more. He wondered if he could have her committed for her major overreactions. Sure he hadn't been home in a while but he'd been sending texts to let her know he was safe. Too bad she didn't see it that way. She assumed he'd been kidnapped and the criminal had been sending her the messages. Sometimes his mother could be a real pain.

Simon noticed for the first time everyone was gone and he was alone next to the ugly van.

Where'd everyone go ?

He wasn't wondering long because Lily came stomping up from the beach. The scowl on her face was an indicator that she was mad, however when she looked up and saw him watching her the frown faded and she smiled.

”What's up Simon? Finally done with your mom?” she asked in her usual Lily way. Before waiting on his reply she plopped on the ground next to the van and stuck and piece of gum in her mouth.

Simon didn't get her. Not at all. She'd barely known any of them yet she was always so relaxed, happy even. It didn't make sense to him. Glancing around one more time, he decided to take a seat next to Lily and find out more about her.

”Can I ask you something?” he said tentatively. Lily nodded and offered him a stick of gum which he declined. ”What's the deal with you? I mean why are you here? Really?” he didn't know if his words offended her but there was no other way to put it.

What they were doing was dangerous and he understood why everyone else was here, except Bobby and her. Lily looked thoughtful for a moment, then shrugged and blew a bubble. Simon continued to stare at her and she finally turned to face him with a much more serious expression.

”Ana saved my life, I'm sure you know that. But what you don't know is how depressed I was until that night. I've never fit in Simon. Never had any friends that I didn't pay for or any boyfriends that liked me for, well… me. The one thing I did have was my mother. She was my best friend; my everything. Always there and always smiling. Until the cancer took her away from me forever right after my high school graduation last year. I was alone. My father became distant and started dating women half his age. Next thing I know he's getting married every three months to some new greedy bimbo and treating me like I'm a bill that he has to pay every week. That night in the alley I knew those men would kill me and a part of me wanted it because I was so tired of being me. But then Ana came. She had this fierce look in her eyes and she took out those men like nothing. But that wasn't what I saw when I looked at her. I saw a fighter. A girl that didn't run from problems but instead faced them! Seeing her gave me some of my dimming light back. In that moment I knew I had to be a part of her life because she had just given me mine back in more than one way. My mother used to say ”any problem besides death can be solved, so smile your alive!” That's what I'm embracing now! The happy spirit of my mom and the fighter strength of Ana. Besides, I've never had real friends before and I was hoping that one day, maybe just maybe you guys would consider me as a real part of your group.” Lily finished with large hopeful glassy eyes.

Simon was at a loss for words. Never had he imagined that she'd been through so much. He felt bad for her. But now he understood what Ana meant when she had told him Lily belonged with them, because she did. Lily was more like Ana than he realized at first because of her quirky ways.

However understanding why she acted the way she did made him look at her in a new light. Lily was strong and more courageous than he believed even he was. Other than her reaction in the tunnel she had been handling all this chaos the best and he respected her for that.

”Well I can't speak for everyone, but I already consider you a friend” Simon replied honestly and kindly

”Awesome Sauce!” Lily screamed and punched him in the chest. Simon winced. ”Ooh sorry, crap I thought that's what friends do. Well at least in the movies” she added. Simon rubbed the spot on his chest. The girl had quite a punch.

”Let's agree not to punch anymore” Simon joked

”Cool. So since we are friends now it's only within my right to ask when are you going to make a move on Marie?” Lily asked wiggling her eyebrows suggestively. Simon just gaped. He had no clue how she knew he was into Marie. ”Oh come on! Don't look at me like that! It's painfully obvious you two are gaga for each other” Lily added with an exaggerated eye roll and pop of her gum.

He had to give it to her, she was a great observer. But that didn't mean she was right. Well not completely anyway. It was true the more time he spent around Marie the harder he fell for her. But he was bad when it came to girls. And the possibility of rejection frightened him more than getting a low score on the SATs. It was sad, but true. He'd thought about asking Marie on a date when this was all over but even the thoughts made his palms sweaty and his heart race. Boy he needed some help with this.

Lily watched him expectantly waiting on his reply. He wanted to but when he opened his mouth, nothing came out. What did happen was the sweaty palms. Simon started wiping them on his faded jeans while he thought what to say. Gee he really needed Ana's help for this, she always knew how to make him feel at ease.

Luckily he didn't have to answer Lily because the sound of arguing drifted over him. Glancing up he saw Seb, Bobby and the lovely Marie bounding up the beach heading right towards them. Saved by the bell! Or yelling in this case. Sy couldn't make out what they were fighting about but judging Seb's angered face he knew Bobby was surely the problem…

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Seb Pov

Seb never wanted to strangle someone who wasn't a vampire. But this kid Bobby was pushing his patience. They had spent the last hour searching one side of the beach for any sign of vampires. Unfortunately this became a nearly impossible task with Bobby constantly talking. ”When do I become a vampire?” ”Are vampires allergic to garlic?” ”Is Ana single?” That last question almost caused Bobby his head. Lucky for him Marie stepped in and prevented Seb from causing the boy harm. For now…

Not finding anything Seb decided it was time to come back and check on the others before scouting the other side of the beach.

”I take it the two of you aren't vampires?” Bobby annoyingly asked. They were walking up the beach toward the van and this time Marie huffed in frustration by the boy.

”No, we are human just like you. And if you knew anything about vampires you wouldn't be so eager to become one” she bit out through clenched teeth. Seb smiled a little. Finally someone else was feeling his aggravation for Bobby.

”Why? Can they not see their reflection?” Bobby gulped fearfully. As if not being able to see his face in the mirror was the most terrifying thing in the world.

”Ugh! If you don't shut up I will personally shut you up. And trust me when I say you won't like it” Marie threatened. Bobby wanted to say more but thought better of it. Good boy.

At the van, Lily and Simon were slumped on the ground. Sy stood when they neared but Lily just kept popping her gum and playing on her phone.

”Hey!” Simon said a little too eagerly and high pitched. Then he realized his mistake and a flush crept up his cheeks. From the ground Lily chuckled.