Between Rubies and Opals

Sam waited by the iron gate of the entrance to Specter Hill and scanned the people walking along the stone walkway, looking for Erin. He was nervous and he didn’t understand why. It had been a while since someone made him nervous that way. Not even Selena made his blood pump in his veins the way they were pumping right now. A few minutes went passed and he kicked the ground in front of him. He looked up and noticed her immediately. Her dark burgundy hair shone brilliantly and she looked beautiful, wearing dark pants and a light grey hooded jacket with – hopefully fake – fur around the collar. She flashed him a smile and wrapped her arms around herself.

“Hey,” Sam smiled and felt his heart thumping in his chest. “You’re here.”

“Of course. I would never say no to a walk in the rain at dusk.”

“And the company had nothing to do with it?” Sam asked, almost hurt.

“I didn’t say that. I’m here, aren’t I?”

“Good point.” Sam looked over his shoulder at a vendor with freshly brewed coffee and looked back at Erin. “Coffee?”

“No, thank you. I had a drink at home.”

“Okay then.” Sam nodded and the two of them walked over to the vendor. “Coffee, black, please sir.”

“Coming right up, mate.” The vendor nodded and quickly prepared a cup of coffee, and handed it to Sam. Sam paid the man and turned to Erin. “Where to next?”

“I don’t know. Lead the way.”

“You’re brave.”

“And why is that?”

“Entrusting me to lead the way,” Sam smirked at her.

“It doesn’t happen very often,” Erin shrugged slightly.

“And why is that?”

“The usual. All men are dogs, been burnt once too many, trying to recuperate,” Erin nodded.

“Haven’t we all?” Sam frowned and remembered those words, spoken by Madame Pelt only hours ago. He took a sip from his cup and looked at the impending sunset.

“You’ve got one of those stories as well?” Erin asked.

“More than one, actually.”

“I’ll tell you what,” Erin said and he looked at her. “I won’t ask you about yours, if you don’t ask about mine.”

“Deal,” Sam nodded. “You want to watch the sunset with me?”

“I couldn’t think of anything I’d want more right now.”

The two of them sat down on a nearby bench overlooking the suburbs and Erin sat back, with a satisfied smile.

“It’s so beautiful. This completely takes my breath away.”

“I’ve never heard anyone say that about an Algharakhian sunset before,” Sam frowned at her.

“Really?” Erin exclaimed. “Never?”

“Never.”

“You need to hang out with more people then,” Erin frowned. “Sunsets are so beautiful,” she sighed happily, as she motioned to the red sky.

“It prepares us for the night. My favorite time of the day.”

“Really?” Erin asked and Sam nodded. “Mine too.”

There were a few moments of silence, but not uncomfortable in any way. Erin looked over at Sam, staring out into the distance. “You know, it might not be the sunset that takes my breath away after all.”

“I knew it was too good to be true,” Sam chuckled. “Then what was it?”

“Maybe it’s just you, sitting here next to me that makes me forget to breath,” Erin said slowly and looked over at Sam.

Sam looked over at her and a slow smile crept across his mouth. “There’s something about you. I just can’t place it.”

“In which way?”

“I don’t know. There’s just something about you that attracts me. I’ve never felt this kind of pull towards someone before.” Sam shifted his body so that he could see more of Erin and he felt his cheeks burn slightly. “That sounded very forward.”

“Maybe you are the brave one.” Erin looked at him, her green eyes glowing red from the reflecting sunset. Her face had that same red glow and she looked beautiful to Sam.

“I don’t know about that.”

“Why?”

“Well, you’ve met me at a strange time in my life.”

“Same here.” Erin gave him a reassuring smile. “You have no idea how true that is with me.”

“You know that feeling of not being good enough, regardless how hard you try?”

“Yes, I do actually. My mother makes me feel like that.” Erin nodded and sighed miserably, her tone filled with irritation and displeasure. “It’s been like that all my life. Every day is a struggle, but there’s a light at the end of the tunnel, luckily.”

“How?”

“I moved into my own apartment last week,” Erin said proudly, but frowned. “I mean, they own the property as well, but at least I’m out of the family manor.”

“The Manor. Your folks must be loaded to live in a manor, and own an apartment. They must be running a sideline business in illegal organ trade or something.”

“Illegal organ trading? Seriously?” Erin tilted her head coyly at Sam. “That’s the first thing that springs to mind?”

“Either that, or your parents made a deal with the devil.”

“Whoa, you sound like a politician,” Erin scowled and when Sam burst out laughing, she frowned at him. “What?”

“You don’t know who my father is, do you?”

“Should I know?”

“Do you watch television?”

“A little.”

“You know Senator Frank Morton?”

“I know of him, yes.”

“That’s my dad.”

“You’re kidding,” Erin exclaimed, and Sam shook his head.

“Nope, it’s true.”

“Whoa. I would totally vote for him.”

“Seriously?”

“Oh yes. He’s such a noble guy, fighting for what he believes in. Not judging. Believing that all races are equal. Algharakh needs people like him around on a permanent basis. This city really needs to get its ass into gear,” Erin sighed.

“You sound like his campaign manager.”

“Shut up.” Erin playfully nudged him with her arm. “What he’s trying to do is admirable.”

“I just think it’s a fight he’s going to lose.”

“Why would you say that?”

“Because it’s the truth.”

“That’s exactly the kind of thinking that made Algharakh the way it is right now,” Erin frowned.

“Are you sure you don’t work for my father?” Sam narrowed his eyes.

“I’m serious, Sam.” Erin shook her head and closed her eyes for a second. “If everyone has that mindset, nothing will ever change.”

“I know, but those damn vamps are such assholes.”

“They’re not perfect. No race is, but I don’t condone their behavior, and I definitely don’t agree with the way Algharakh is being run.”

“They’re a bunch of dead-beat, blood drinking parasites that think they own the damn place,” Sam said in disdain. “Especially that damn governor.”

“Whoa, you really hate them, don’t you?” Erin’s eyebrows shot up, but she kept her cool. She didn’t want to get too defensive, or Sam might just figure out she was a vamp herself.

“Hate is a bit strong,” Sam frowned and sat back on the bench. “I don’t hate all of them though. Some of them are probably decent, but not the so-called elite ones, like the counts that think they’re high and mighty because they have a fancy title. Big deal. Titles don’t mean anything.”

“You’re quite the opinionated one.”

“I do my best,” Sam grinned at her smugly.

Erin let out a soft laugh and looked at the sunset again. She could feel Sam’s eyes on her and she turned her head, meeting his gaze. “I like your eyes.”

“Pretty, aren’t they?” Sam fluttered his eyelashes and Erin laughed, covering her mouth with her hands.

“The prettiest I’ve seen since ever,” she whispered.

“Can I ask you something?” Sam whispered.

“Of course.”

“Without sounding really forward?”

“I don’t think that’s possible.”

Sam chuckled and looked at Erin’s hands on her lap, before returning to her face. “I’d like to see you again.”

“And why is that?”

“Because I have had this feeling in the pit of my stomach since I saw you this morning. I couldn’t stop thinking about you.”

“I couldn’t stop thinking about you either,” Erin smiled at him.

A soft howling sound in the distance made Erin look out at the horizon and she checked her watch. “I should really go.”

“It’s not that late, is it?”

“No, but I had a bit of a disagreement with Lex earlier and I just wanted to check if she was okay,” Erin answered, a small smile on her lips. “I wouldn’t want her to think that I’ve been kidnapped or anything either. I didn’t exactly tell her where I was going.”

“Oh, right,” Sam nodded. “Would it be okay if I walked you to your car?”

“That would be nice,” Erin nodded and they stood up from the bench and walked back through the park.

“So, is everything okay?”

“With?”

“You and Alex.”

“Oh, right. Yeah, we’ll be fine. We always are. She’s just a bit superficial and I hate that. I don’t approve of some of her behavior and she doesn’t approve of some of mine.”

“Sounds like me and Gowan.”

“With friends like those, who needs enemies, right?” Erin chuckled, digging her hands into the front pockets of her jacket.

“Absolutely. He’s just very…” Sam hesitated, searching for the right word. “Protective.”

“Right. They’re just looking out for us, because they care about us and don’t want us to get hurt again?”

Sam looked at Erin in slight surprise and laughed. “Don’t tell me you’re a mind-reader too?”

“I wish. Then I would understand everyone a whole lot more than I do, including Lex and my family,” Erin said with a laugh.

“Same here.”

“The only special skill I have is falling on my face.” Erin pulled a sad face.

“I don’t believe that is true. You’ve managed to stay on your feet this whole time.” Sam shook his head and Erin let out a modest laugh.

As they approached the outside parking lot, Sam glanced over at the white sports car parked the closest to them and whistled softly. “Wonder whose car this is?”

“That would be mine.” Erin took her keys out of her pocket and as she pressed the button, her car’s headlights flashed.

Sam stopped abruptly and looked at Erin in disbelief, his jaw dropped. “You’re kidding.”

“Rich daddy, remember.”

“Right, I remember.” Sam nodded and opened the door for her. “So what does he do?”

“He’s retired. He reckons he’s worked enough in his lifetime, now he’s enjoying the fruits of his labor,” Erin replied, trying to be as vague as she could be without leaving Sam empty-handed. She wasn’t lying after all.

“Lucky him,” Sam nodded. “And lucky you.”

“I’m pretty content, but material things don’t really matter that much to me. As long as I am happy, and the people I care about are happy.”

“Has anyone ever told you that you’re such an idealist?”

“Lex tells me that all the time, but not in a constructive way.” Erin placed her hands on the top of the car door and looked at Sam, who had a frown on his face. “She’s a bit of a racist, and we constantly fight about the way she talks about the other race. She doesn’t understand how I can be so forgiving and open-minded.”

“That’s because you’re one of a kind, Erin.”

“I also hear that a lot.”

“I meant it in the best way imaginable.” Sam leaned in closer to her.

“I know.” Erin smiled slightly and felt everything move in slow motion again. Sam’s closeness was overwhelming and her knees started giving way under her.

Sam leaned in some more and their lips touched briefly. Erin could taste the sweetness of the coffee, as well as the earthy taste of his lips. She tried with all her might not to lose control, as she felt the usual tingling in her fangs. She had never been this close to a wolf before in her whole life, and the thought of it both terrified her, and excited her. There was however, something comforting about Sam. His demeanor made her feel safe, at ease, and the muscles in her whole body relaxed. As she exhaled, she felt him move away and she opened her eyes.

His eyes were a bright blue, even in the dim light. Feeling an overwhelming calmness wash over her, she took a step forward, but her feet failed her. Luckily Sam’s reaction was as quick as her sudden need to fall to the ground and he grabbed hold of her waist. She froze for a second, before bursting out into laughter.

“So much for your perfect track record,” he chuckled as she straightened herself out, and he let go of her waist.

“That track record was broken centuries ago,” she laughed and shook her head. “Sorry about that.”

“It’s no problem. Lucky for you, I was here to catch you.”

“Yeah, lucky for me.” Erin raised an eyebrow at him, and chuckled again.

“What are you doing tomorrow?” he asked, suddenly serious.

“Well…” Erin’s voice trailed as she got lost in the deep blue of Sam’s eyes.

“I know this great place down by the docks. They serve the best lunch ever.”

“I’ll let you know.”

“That sounds good,” Sam nodded.

“I had a really nice time watching the sunset with you,” Erin whispered.

“There was a sunset?” Sam acted surprised. “All I could see was you.”

Erin felt her cheeks heat up - for the first time in her life - and she giggled softly. “You’re sweet.”

“I know.”

“And incredibly modest,” Erin laughed and Sam joined in her laughter.

“Drive safe.”

“Should I call you when I get home?”

“If you want to.”

Erin smiled at him and climbed into her car. “I’ll speak to you soon.”

“Real soon.”

Erin gave him a nod as she closed the door and he watched as she drove away into the night. He breathed a sigh of contentment and started making his way back to his father’s house, whistling a happy tune. Something he hasn’t done in a very long time.

His phone buzzed in his pocket a few minutes later and he answered quickly.

“Bad news,” Erin’s voice sounded over the speaker.

“Oh yeah?”

“I just checked my phone. Apparently I’m having lunch with my parents tomorrow. My mother insisted on it, so I can’t cancel.”

“One of those moms?”

“You have no idea. Demanding doesn’t even come close to fully describe my mother. It doesn’t even help to argue, or show any resistance with her.”

“She sounds charming,” Sam chuckled as he kicked the gravel with the front of his shoes and walked up the long driveway of Morton Manor.

“Why don’t we go for drinks in Fanador Avenue tomorrow night? There are lots of nice little places there,” Erin suggested.

“That sounds good.”

“Okay, great. I’ll speak to you tomorrow.”

“That’s perfect.”

“Sleep tight.”

“Oh, I will.”

Gowan’s sneakers creaked on the wooden floors of the foyer of Morton Manor, and he looked around him. He made his way towards the cigar lounge and found Frank standing by the fireplace, spinning the wooden globe with his index finger.

“Senator Morton.”

Frank turned around and smiled happily at Gowan. “Gowan, so nice to see you. What are you still doing up and about this time of the night?”

Gowan looked over at the grandfather clock on his right and pouted slightly. It was a few minutes past ten, and Sam still was not home.

“Is Sam home yet?”

“No, but that’s not unusual for Sam. Although, he’s normally with you...”

“I worry for his safety, sir.”

“And why is that?”

“He is…” Gowan stuttered.

“Spit it out, boy.”

“He is on a date with a vamp, sir.”

“A date?”

“With a vamp, sir.”

“But a date nonetheless?”

“Yes, sir,” Gowan confirmed, looking puzzled.

“Is this not a good thing, Gowan?”

“I don’t mind him going on a date, sir. It is the vamp that he is with that makes me uneasy,” Gowan said and crossed his arms. “Sam is in a fragile emotional state at the moment, and-”

“And nothing,” Frank frowned. “Even with his momentary lapses of judgment, which are in a large part no thanks to you, Gowan, my son is a responsible boy. He knows what is right and wrong and won’t do anything that doesn’t sit right with him.”

“I know, sir, but with all due respect, those vamps are cunning and dangerous.”

“I bet they say the same thing about us,” Frank said with a crooked smiled and crossed his arms. “As his friend, you should be happy for him.”

“I do not understand why you are so relaxed about this, sir.”

“Sam is free to date whoever he wants to, and as long as this girl…” Frank frowned abruptly. “It is a girl, right?”

“Yes, sir. I’ve met her.”

“And, is she at least something to look at?”

“Very much, sir,” Gowan nodded. “For a vamp, she is beautiful.”

“Good boy, Sam,” Frank smiled proudly and turned to Gowan. “As long as this girl does not toy with him, and makes him happy, it doesn’t matter what race she is.”

“Really, sir?”

“Of course.”

At that moment, the front door opened and both Gowan and Frank looked over at the door, as Sam walked into the foyer.

“Sam, come over here.” Frank motioned towards Sam.

“Good evening, dad.” Sam flashed his father a wide smile and spotted Gowan as he entered the lounge. “Hey Gow. What’s up, buddy?”

“Buddy?” Gowan frowned and shot a brief look towards Frank before turning his attention back to Sam. “Where the hell have you been? I was trying to reach you for hours.”

“I was busy,” Sam grinned.

“I hear you’re dating a vamp girl,” Frank blurted out.

Sam looked at Gowan in disbelief and smacked him with the back of his hand against the head. “She’s not a vamp, alright?”

“There’s no shame in dating the other race, Sammy,” Frank smirked at him. “I’m all for it, actually.”

“It wasn’t a date, okay. We just went for a walk, and watched the sunset,” Sam frowned.

“Is that what you kids call it these days?” Frank whispered to Gowan and Gowan shrugged, crossing his arms. “Did she at least show you her fangs?”

“Dad!” Sam exclaimed, and shook his head in disbelief. “She’s not a vamp.”

“Then what is she?” Gowan asked.

“She’s perfect.” Sam looked at his father and smiled dreamily. “Completely perfect.”

“Oh good, a perfect vamp,” Gowan said, rolling his eyes.

“Would you stop that?” Sam growled at Gowan.

“I’m not doing anything, Sam. I just think that you don’t realize exactly what you’re getting yourself into.”

“Come on, Gowan. I’ve been a wolf my whole life, I can tell the difference between us and them,” Sam said with a frown as Gowan walked over to the bookcase on the opposite wall.

“Are you sure about that, Sammy?” Gowan raised an eyebrow at him and pulled a leather-bound book from the shelf.

“Stop patronizing me,” Sam scowled. “Erin is not a vamp.”

“Ha,” Gowan snorted as he paged through the book for a few seconds and walked towards Sam, holding it out to him. “Look.”

Sam took it from him reluctantly and stared at the picture on the page. “No way.”

“Her father is Count Lewandowksi and she’s a vamp,” Gowan said.

“Lewandowski, I recognize that name,” Frank mumbled as he crossed his arms.

“Yes, sir. You should,” Gowan nodded.

Sam felt his whole world crashing in on him. How could she be a vamp? She didn’t smell like them, she didn’t even look like them. He had met and known so many vamps, he knew the way they smelled, the way they spoke, the way they behaved, and Erin gave him no indication that she was one of them. She smelled like passion fruit, vanilla, and orchids, which was not the usual cold, icy stench of the vamps. She was clumsy and natural, not stiff and frozen. She had a fire in her eyes that he had only seen in wolves, never in vamps.

“Sam…”

Sam looked up at Gowan and shook his head. “No, there must be some mistake.”

“I’m sorry Sam, I tried to tell you.”

“Lewandowski…” Sam muttered and glanced at the picture again. Suddenly he frowned and brought the book closer, noticing something.

“What is it, Sam?”

“It’s him.”

“Who?” Frank asked.

Gowan walked over to Sam and looked at the picture again. “Yes, that’s him.”

“Who?” Frank asked impatiently.

“Nikolai,” Gowan said in a hushed voice and Sam’s eyes started swirling like whirlpools.

“That goddamn son of a vamp-whore,” Sam muttered through his teeth and a strong wind filled the room, causing a nearby window to fly open.

“Easy, Sam.”

Gowan stepped away from his friend, but it was no use. The wind grew stronger and books started blowing from the bookshelves, pages flying everywhere.

“Sam! Control yourself!”

There was a powerful surge that pulsated through the room, and Sam vanished into thin air. The wind abruptly died down, and Frank and Gowan looked at one another.

“I wished that he had stopped doing that,” Frank sighed. “It was hard keeping track of him when he was a pup.”

“He shouldn’t be too long, sir. He cools down relatively quickly.” Gowan knelt down and picked the scattered books up from the floor.

“What makes you think that?” Frank asked, taking a stack of books from Gowan and placed them on the desk in front of him.

“Because it snows where he goes.” Gowan pointed out the window.

Frank nodded in acknowledgement and rested his hands on the stack of books next to him, looking out the window, at the dark snow covered peaks of Telstrofe Mountain in the far distance. “Since when?”

“For the last two weeks.”

“Well, at least we know where he is.”

Erin glided into the house, and she was surprised - and relieved - to see that Alex was at home. Alex was playing chess with an invisible opponent, and Erin could see that she was fighting a losing battle, as her mind was clearly not on the game.

“The hardest battles we fight are with ourselves, Lex.” Erin placed her jacket on the couch and walked over to Alex, who was sitting on the fur carpet.

“You’re still here.”

“Where else would I be?”

“I don’t know, out, I guess.”

“Where were you?”

“Just out.” Erin knelt down and looked at Alex.

“Oh my god, you stink.” Alex pulled her nose up and looked at Erin.

“What?” Erin frowned, trying to smell herself. “I don’t smell anything.”

“Well, be glad. You should go take a bath, or go soak yourself in some acid for an hour. Rather make that a whole day, just to be safe.”

“It can’t be that bad.”

“What have you been doing? Rolling around on the wet grass at the park?”

“As opposed to rolling around a different guy’s bed every night?” Erin scoffed.

“Would you prefer I brought them here?”

“Don’t you dare! I might just murder you, for real.”

“Stop changing the subject. Where were you?”

“Nowhere,” Erin shrugged.

“We’ve been friends for almost 200 years, and you’re still a horrible liar.”

“I’m not lying.”

“And I’m the Duchess of Algharakh.”

“You’re being a royal pain in the ass, your highness.”

“And I’ll quit being a pain, if you just tell me where you were.”

Erin hesitated for a few seconds and looked at the ground in front of her, fiddling nervously with her fingers. “I was at the Specter Hill, with Sam.”

“Oh yes. You were with the wolf! Right! How could I forget? I’m glad to see that you made it out alive. He didn’t bite you or anything, did he?”

“You’re such a bitch.”

“Whatever, I’m just looking out for you.”

“You know, I actually came back early because I wanted to make sure everything was okay between us, but clearly I wasted my time.”

“Erin, I don’t want to fight with you.”

“Then don’t, Lex. I like spending time with him.”

“If your mother finds out-”

“She won’t find out, unless you happened to mention something to her about it.” Erin looked suspiciously at Lex.

“Why would I do that? I avoid your mother more than you do,” Alex frowned, pouting her lips. “She called when you were gone.”

“I know, she left like ten messages.”

“It must be frustrating for her not to be able to find you. Seeing as she’s been doing it your whole life.”

“Just call her The Mistress of Control.” Erin shook her head in disapproval and looked at Alex.

“What?”

“She invited you and me to lunch tomorrow afternoon.”

“There is absolutely no way.” Alex jumped up from the couch and walked passed Erin.

“Niko will be there too.”

Alex stopped abruptly and looked at Erin for a second or two. “Drowned rat…”

Erin raised her eyebrows expectantly at Alex. “Will you be joining us?”

“Fine!” Alex threw her hands up in the air and retreated down the hallway. She looked over her shoulder and pointed at Erin. “Good job changing the subject by distracting me by mentioning your brother’s name.”

“You’re welcome!” Erin called out and crossed her arms. “I’ll tell my mother you’re coming too!”

“Good night, Erin!” Alex called out, angrily.

“Night Lex.”

Erin cringed as she heard Alex’s door slam shut and she sat down on the sofa again. She was dreading lunch with her parents and did not feel like going. It would be the usual mindless chatter about renovations to the manor, or another lavish party that her mother is planning for her father’s former ‘business associates’ and their prude wives, or about Fool Moon and how much the wolves disgust them. Erin didn’t want to hear anything bad about the wolves. Not after the wonderful time she spent with Sam.

“They have no idea what the wolves are really like,” she whispered to herself and heard Alex’s hushed footsteps coming down the hallway.

“Did you tell him?”

“That you hate his guts?” Erin turned around slowly and crossed her arms, mirroring Alex’s stance.

“You didn’t tell him, did you?” Alex whispered.

“The topic never came up,” Erin shrugged nonchalantly, dropping her arms to her sides.

“Erin…”

“He thinks that I’m one of them.”

“Well, you certainly smell like them!” Alex wrinkled her nose with a frown.

“Everything will be fine, don’t worry.”

“Um, what if he wants you to go to Fool Moon with him, or asks you to go running with him in the Lycandor woods? What if he bleeds in front of you? What then, genius? Did you ever think about that?”

“I’ve got it all worked out. You don’t have to worry,” Erin tried to reassure Alex, but she could see that it wasn’t working.

“I don’t like where this is going.”

“You don’t have to like it. It’s my life.” Erin ran her fingers through her hair. She was beginning to become very irritated with Alex.

“I know it’s your life, but I’m not so sure that he’s the right one for you.”

“How would you know who the right one is for me?” Erin asked.

“I know you, Erin. I’ve known you for a long time and honestly, I don’t think that Sam is right for you.”

“Because he’s a wolf,” Erin stated and when Alex hesitated, she let out a bitter laugh. “That’s what I thought.”

“Erin, how do you think your parents, especially your mother, is going to feel about you dating a wolf? And what about your brother? He’ll rip Sam to shreds before you even get the chance to introduce him properly.”

“I know how my family feels about wolves, Alex, you don’t need to remind me.”

“Maybe you should stop thinking about yourself for a second and think about the repercussions of your actions.”

“Oh my god! Look who’s talking about the repercussions of their actions,” Erin exclaimed angrily, her fangs protruding from her top lip.

“We’re not talking about me right now, Erin. We’re talking about you!” Alex exclaimed. “Just think about-”

“Holy shit, Alex! Just let it go! If I needed a lecture, I’d move back into my parents’ house. I don’t need this from you!”

“Don’t be a bitch to me, Erin, because then I’d have to be a bitch back, and I am so much better at it than you.” Alex frowned and marched back down the hallway and into her room.

“Holy hell…” Erin frowned and let out a growl as she purposely knocked over the lamp next to her out of frustration.