Part 9 (2/2)
”Can we talk?” I asked.
Eli stepped aside, gesturing for me to enter his house.
”Are you sure?” I glanced around nervously.
”It doesn't matter. Lucian already has us.”
His lips pursed into a pa.s.sive line. His beautiful bright eyes were bleak and he hunched slightly. I stepped into his house cautiously; I couldn't shake the forbidding feeling. I was expecting Mr Aleksandrov or Lucian to jump out at me and scream 'busted,' but of course, nothing happened. As soon as I stepped in, I was in the living room. It was so elegant and modern. Not what I had expected at all. Eli struck me as the kind of decorator that would have animal heads on the wall, not pretty landscapes.
The floors were wooden and s.h.i.+ny, the walls were white. The dark pleather couches that were perfectly s.p.a.ced made the room less sterile and cold. A red-brown Persian rug covered most of the floor. I was reminded of my mother's cabin; Eli's home had a similar layout. It had an open living style, except his room and the bathroom were hidden behind wooden doors.
”You have a beautiful home.”
”Thank you.” He smiled but the smile didn't reach his eyes.
He waltzed over to the bar separating the living room from the kitchen. I admired paintings of an unknown countryside adorning his wall.
”Vidzeme.”
”Hmm?”
”The paintings. They're of the countryside in Vidzeme, Latvia.”
”Beautiful,” I whispered.
I had no idea Eli enjoyed paintings or the countryside, and then it dawned on me. I knew nothing about Eli. His likes, dislikes, favorite music, or favorite foods.
”You're of legal age, so I suppose I should ask you if you would like a drink?” Eli held up a bottle of wine. Even though I'd promised myself I wouldn't drink again, I nodded my head anyway. I needed something to take the edge off. Eli would be in a lot of trouble with the school if they knew I was in his house or that he was offering me alcohol, but I a.s.sumed he didn't really care at this point.
I sat down on the couch and Eli handed me my drink. He sat on the couch opposite me. He was still in his 'on-duty' uniform and I flushed at the s.e.xiness of it all.
”I didn't pick you as the drinking type.”
He smiled a genuine smile this time and I relaxed. ”I was quite the drinker a few years back, but I've changed. I do appreciate a good gla.s.s of wine every now and then, though.”
Eli ran his finger across his bottom lip as he eyed me curiously. I sat my wine gla.s.s down on the smooth dark wood of the coffee table and adjusted myself in my seat. I bit my tongue against the flood of questions that rose in my throat. It was a good time to get the answers I sought, but I was feeling a little off by Eli's mood. He seemed down about our situation, I imagine.
”Mr Aleksandrov knows?” I asked.
Eli nodded and took a sip of his wine. I a.s.sumed as much.
”Does he have a plan?”
”Somewhat. It's still in the early stages.”
”Eli, are you okay? You still have a chance to get out of this. I won't be upset. This is my fault.”
”This isn't about me,” he replied, leaning forward in his chair. ”This is about you. I couldn't care less if it was me that was chosen to kill vampires. I do that all the time. I'm angry that Lucian would come for you when he has your -”
Eli cut his words off by slamming down what was left of the wine in his gla.s.s. He rose to his feet and drifted back over to the bar. I got up and followed him. I took a hold of the wine bottle as he began to pour it, taking it from his grasp.
”You don't need this. Talk to me.”
”If I tell you, will you promise to let me help you?”
”Yes.”
”No matter what?”
”Yes.”
I had no idea what I was promising, but if it helped Eli, then I was willing to honor any promise I made. He took me by the hand and brought me back to the couches. We sat down next to each other.
”Where to begin?” He sighed.
”Let's start with the real story. Why wasn't Hank able to turn me?”
”It wasn't a charm.”
That much I gathered.
”Your father is a Heelian.”
I had no idea what that even meant. Surely he didn't mean another species? ”Heelian?”
”They're kind of like us. They're against vampires, but a long time ago, they disappeared. Most of them were killed by vampires but the rest ... exploded.”
”Exploded?”
”The thing about Heelians is that they're easily aggravated. When they get too angry, it's like an overload for their system.” Eli mimicked an explosion with his hands. ”And most of the time it's unstoppable.”
The couch creaked as Eli tilted his body towards me. I inhaled his scent, taking a moment to relax myself. Being overwhelmed is never a good feeling for me.
”Your father came across your mother when she was staying on the outside of the safety border and they fell in love. Vampires came for him, but he and your mother escaped.”
Guilt struck my chest as I recalled Eli's dad was the one who suffered for it. I dropped my eyes from Eli's face to my lap. I couldn't bring myself to look him in the eyes.
”Heelians can harness the power of the sun.”
My gaze met his again. That didn't make sense. How can someone harness the power of the sun? ”Is that what stopped Hank from turning me? The sun?”
Eli nodded his head. ”The sun runs through your blood, it counteracts the venom- to an extent.”
”So my dad and I are the only ones left?”
<script>