Between Rubies and Opals

The next afternoon, the Lewandowksi’s black limousine drove to Governor Wasilewski’s Mansion in Telstrofe Estate.

Erin glanced up at the magnificent stone mansion from the window of the limousine and frowned slightly. Dropping her gaze, she glanced over at her mother, looking much too excited for her own good.

“This is so exciting,” Cassandra happily sang and flashed Erin a smile. “Oh, do look a bit more excited, my dear.”

“Excited? How am I supposed to be-” Erin scowled.

“Erina…” Nikolai hissed and Erin snapped her mouth shut. “Not a word.”

“Since when did you become so bossy?” Erin muttered.

“Since you started behaving like such a bite-let,” Nikolai scowled at her.

“Erina,” Cassandra said, her tone sharp, and Erin looked over at her mother. “I do not want to obliterate your entire vocabulary, so I will appreciate it if you could keep your inappropriate comments to yourself when we meet with Lukas’s parents. Could you please not make a fool of us, and yourself, and act as you are expected to?”

Erin glanced over at her father and bit her lip slightly. She took a deep breath and nodded slowly. “I will act as I am excepted to.”

“Good,” Cassandra said with a satisfied nod. “And please show a bit more affection towards Lukas. He is your future husband after all.”

“Whatever you say, mother,” Erin said and glanced back out the window again.

The limo was slowly making its way up the long paved driveway of the mansion and Erin felt sick to her stomach.

“I don’t feel so well,” she whispered.

“Are you alright, Erin?” Her father, who had been quiet throughout the whole journey, leaned forward and placed his hand on her knee.

“She is fine,” Nikolai muttered.

The limo came to a stop and the door closest to Erin opened.

“Come on, Erina.” Her mother’s voice was snippy and Erin shifted forward, climbing out of the limo.

She looked up at the mansion and a million memories flashed through her mind. Memories of her and Lukas from decades ago that still seemed to haunt her. She closed her eyes for a brief second, vanquishing those memories from her mental view and shook her head.

The large wooden doors opened and the governor and his wife came into view, looking as excited as her mother was. They had bright smiles on their faces as they slowly descended the stone steps and Cassandra squealed in delight. Erin rolled her eyes, and Nikolai pushed her forward.

“Touch me again and you’re dead,” she muttered to him.

“Don’t tempt me,” he muttered in return, his lips barely moving.

“Cassandra, Arjen! It is so nice to see you!” Lukas’s mother, Donna greeted her parents.

“Yes, indeed!” Cassandra answered and motioned to Nikolai and Erin. “You remember our son, Nikolai?”

“Yes, of course. Nice to have you at the mansion again, Nikolai. It’s been a while.” Lukas’s father, Marcus nodded at Nikolai, and Nikolai returned the gesture.

Donna and Marcus turned and Erin felt their eyes on her. She took a deep breath, and started making her way up the steps with an uncomfortable, yet visible smile on her face.

“Erina! How are you, my dear?” Donna asked and as soon as Erin reached the top of the stairs where they were all standing, Donna put her arms around Erin, and hugged her tight. “It’s so wonderful to see you!”

“I am well, thank you, Governess,” Erin said with a smile. “Thank you for inviting us to your home.”

“Why so formal, Erina?” Donna giggled and touched her cheek lightly. “I swear, you become more beautiful every time I see you! Look at those eyes, and those cheekbones.”

Erin smiled shyly and nodded in gratitude. “Thank you for the kind words, Governess.”

“Erina,” Marcus said and walked up to her.

Erin looked up at him, a tall man with a strong jaw, and fiery hazel eyes. Lukas was definitely in the same gene pool as his father, inheriting only his charm from his mother.

“Governor Wasilewski,” she nodded and bowed her head slightly.

“My, we are formal today,” Marcus chuckled.

“You can just call him dad, if you want.”

Erin didn’t even have to bother turning around to know Lukas had arrived and she gave the governor a slight smile.

“Lukas, so good of you to join us,” Donna said and raised an eyebrow at him. “Why don’t we all head to the living area, so we can discuss the wonderful news?”

A few minutes later, everyone was comfortably seated in the living area, sipping on glasses of very expensive AB-negative. Everyone except Erin, of course. Not only did she despise the taste, she also wasn’t feeling very well.

Lukas, who was inconveniently sitting next to her, looked at her full, untouched glass, and glanced at her. “Is there something wrong with your drink, Erina?” he whispered to her.

Erin looked up at him slowly, while the elders were deep in conversation about the details of the wedding, and frowned. “No, nothing is wrong.”

“Then why have you not touched it?”

“You’re forcing me to drink now?” she whispered to him with an irritated tone. “We’re not even married yet and already you are dishing out orders.”

“You’ll feel better.”

“I highly doubt that.”

“Will you just drink it?”

“I don’t want to.”

“Oh how sweet.” Erin and Lukas both looked up suddenly, and saw that both her parents, and his, were looking happily at them.

“They make such an attractive couple,” Cassandra said to Marcus.

“Indeed, they will produce even more attractive bite-lets,” Marcus agreed. “They will do our families proud.”

Erin’s eyes widened slightly at the thought of having to procreate with Lukas and she felt nauseous. “I don’t feel very well.”

“Are you ill, Erina?” Lukas asked her and grabbed the glass from the table in front of her. “Here, this will help.”

Erin looked at the glass for a second and shook her head slightly. “No…”

“You will feel better,” Lukas insisted. “Trust me.”

She raised a wary eyebrow at him, but for the sake of holding up appearances, she took the glass from him, and took a large sip. As she swallowed it down, she realized that it was not the usual soothing sensation in her throat. Instead the nausea became even worse and she stood up from the sofa.

“I’m going to be sick…” she uttered in disgust, covering her mouth with both her hands and rushed out of the room.

“Excuse me,” Lukas pardoned himself and rushed after her.

Donna and Arjen stood up, but Markus shrugged, urging them to sit down again. “She’ll be fine. She probably just wanted to be alone with Lukas.”

Erin stopped at the end of the long hallway, her one hand still covering her mouth, and she leaned against the marble pillar.

“Erina?”

“Get away from me,” she mumbled.

“I beg your pardon?”

She dropped her hand and frowned at him. “I said get away from me.”

“You do realize that resisting will only make things worse.” He walked closer to her with a smug grin.

“For who, you or me?”

“We both know the answer to that question.”

“The only reason I’m doing this, is to save Sam’s life.”

Lukas let out a laugh and Erin glared at him.

“That’s not what he told me.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Erin asked.

“Your brother is a crafty one,” Lukas chuckled again, and put his hands on his hips.

“We all know that.” Erin crossed her arms and narrowed her eyes at him. “What’s your point?”

“Just like you, Alex also received a little death threat.”

“That he’ll kill her if she doesn’t do exactly what he tells her to?” Erin asked.

“Not exactly.”

“Then what?”

“If she doesn’t do as she’s told, he’ll kill you.”

“You’re lying,” Erin said, narrowing her eyes at him again.

“Go ahead, ask him.”

“He’ll never admit that. I know my brother.”

“Then you’ll also know that he doesn’t always keep his promises.”

“But he promised me that he wouldn’t touch Sam, if I agreed to marry you.”

“I’m pretty sure he’ll keep his promise, as long as you keep yours,” Lukas pouted.

“Well, I’m still here, aren’t I?”

“For now.”

She shook her head and scowled at him. “You make me sick.”

“You were sick long before I told you that.” Lukas raised an eyebrow and walked over to her.

“Stay away from me,” Erin warned, holding her hand defensively in front of her.

“Erin, stop being so dramatic,” Lukas smirked, still coming closer.

“I mean it,” she warned again, but he ignored her.

Within an instant, Lukas was covered in blood as Erin vomited all over him. In fact, there was blood everywhere. On the floor, against the wall behind Lukas, but most of it was all over him. He let out an infuriated growl and hastily moved away from her. “Was that absolutely necessary?”

“I told you to stay away from me.” She wiped her mouth and looked at him.

“That’s true, and I still ignored your warning. Serves me right actually.” Lukas nodded, wiping his hands on his pants.

Erin looked at him, covered in blood and chuckled softly.

“Did I hear a laugh?” he asked and looked at her.

“Well, you do look ridiculous,” she answered and cocked her head at him.

“I haven’t heard you laugh in a very long time,” he smiled at her.

“We should get you cleaned up,” she said, breaking the awkward silence. “If I remember correctly, there’s a bathroom right up there?” she motioned to a side corridor.

“You have a good memory.” Lukas nodded as he stepped out of the puddle of blood and followed Erin towards the bathroom. He looked back at the blood on the floor and shivered.

“What?”

“Now I know not to pour you an AB-negative. As in ever,” he answered.

“I think that is the smartest thing you’ve ever said.”

“Ever?” He stopped by the bathroom door and motioned for her to go inside first.

“Yeah.”

She walked to the basin, but eyes Lukas’ shirt with narrowed eyes. “Actually, I think it would be easier just to get a new shirt.”

“You think?” He raised a mischievous eyebrow at her and smirked.

“Don’t get cocky with me.”

“Oh, I intend on getting very cocky with you.” He winked at her and moved closer to her.

“Do you want me to vomit on you again?” she asked, and he backed away from her quickly.

“There should be a clean shirt in the cupboard up there.” She pointed to the linen cupboard with a frown.

“You still remember,” Lukas said as he unbuttoned his blood-soaked shirt.

“It’s kind of hard to forget. I spent many years here.”

“Do you remember how I used to chase you around these halls, and you would hide in the library behind the classics?”

“Yes, you took so long to find me, I started to read. Once I almost got through an entire novel,” Erin nodded.

“In my defense, you were a fast reader,” Lukas smiled at her.

“I still am.” As a smile formed on her lips, she broke their gaze and reached for the door. “I’ll wait outside.”

“If you’re too overwhelmed at the thought of me half-dressed-”

“Please, don’t flatter yourself,” Erin scowled and closed the bathroom door in his face, before he could say anything else.

Erin leaned with her back against the wall and sighed miserably. There was a strange feeling in the pit of her stomach and she placed her hands against her stomach.

“It’s okay,” she whispered. “Everything will be fine.”

The door suddenly opened and Lukas looked at her, slightly worried. “Are you alright?”

Erin looked over at him, shifting her hands to her hips. “Yes, I’m fine.”

“Are you sure?”

Erin frowned as she thought she saw a hint of concern in his face, but knew she was clearly imagining it.

“Yes,” she answered simply. “We should get back.”

“Erina?”

“Lukas.” She tilted her head at him.

“I have never truly apologized for what happened with Alex.”

Erin held up her hands and shook her head. “You don’t have to-”

“Please, I need to say this.”

“Alright,” Erin nodded.

“Up until recently, I had not known how wrong it was of me, and how much I hurt you. I never meant for it to happen, and I am truly sorry,” Lukas said and took her hand, pressing it against his chest. “You are very important to me, even after all this time. I will never hurt you again.”

Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Donna and Cassandra standing at the far end of the hallway, with smiles plastered all over their faces, their eyes sparkling with delight.

Erin smiled slightly and looked at Lukas. “I would have probably believed you more if you didn’t say all those things because our mothers are standing on the other side of this hallway.”

“You are so much more perceptive than I thought you were.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment,” Erin smiled sarcastically. “And if you try to kiss me right now, I’ll rip your throat out and feed it to the ravens at the cemetery.”

“You wouldn’t want to show resistance, would you?”

“One kiss, on the forehead.”

“The mouth.”

“The forehead. Take it, or leave it,” Erin pouted.

“Fine,” Lukas grinned and touched her cheek, gently pulling her close.

“What are you doing?” she muttered.

“Hush.” He pressed his lips against her forehead for a few seconds and felt her hand on his arm, just below his shoulder. As he pulled away, he looked into her green eyes, and frowned.

She raised an eyebrow and moved away abruptly. “Okay, that’s enough. They’re gone now.”

“That was nice.”

“Hope you enjoyed it, because that was the last time you’re ever going to do that again.” Erin pushed past him and walked swiftly down the hallway.

Gowan removed his guitar case from the trunk of his car and slammed the trunk shut. Tonight had been a lonely night at Dragona’s without Sam, and Lee. Lee loved that place. They had been there nearly every night, and Gowan’s jaw clenched as he thought of how much he missed that pup. As he walked across the gravel road, leading up the Morton Manor, the gravel crunched under his shoes. Halfway there, he stopped abruptly and turned around.

“Whoever is out there, you better stop hiding in the shadows like a coward and show yourself,” he called out into the darkness.

There were a few seconds of silence until a blonde figure stepped out of the shadows and Gowan frowned.

“Alex?”

“Hey Gowan.” Alex walked up to him, and looked around her nervously. She looked troubled, sad even, but Gowan was still on his guard.

“What are you doing here?”

“Where’s Sam?” Alex asked, her voice slightly hushed.

“What’s it to you?” he asked and narrowed his eyes.

“I need to talk to him,” she said and dug her hands into the back pockets of her black pants.

“He’s not here. He left.”

“Where did he go?” Alex asked again.

“It doesn’t matter.”

Alex hesitated for a few seconds and raked one hand through her hair. “Will he be back?”

“No,” Gowan said and shook his head. “He teleported himself somewhere and I don’t know where he is.”

“He teleports.” Alex looked stunned.

“Why exactly are you here, Alex? Shouldn’t you be off conspiring with Nikolai?” Gowan asked, crossing his arms, lightning bolts of silver flashing in his dark eyes.

“I never conspired with him, you have to believe me. That’s why I’m here. To fix everything that I have done wrong.”

“Haven’t you done enough already?” He frowned and turned away from her.

“I was just trying to protect her, you know. Nikolai was going to kill her if I didn’t do as he said.”

“I’m not the one you should be telling all these things to.”

“I know.” Alex dropped her gaze and stared at her feet. “She thinks I betrayed her, and sold her out to her family.”

“Did you?”

“I would never do that.”

“Well, the only way for you to let her trust you again, is by telling her the truth.”

“She won’t believe me.”

“You know why Erin was still friends with you, after that shit you pulled with her ex-boyfriend?”

“No.”

“Because she believes that people can change. She believes in giving people second chances and she believes in you. She knows you’re better than that. You’re the sister she never had, and she loves you, regardless of everything that has happened.”

Alex’s eyes welled up with tears and she shook her head. “But I failed her, so many times.”

“Well here’s your chance to redeem yourself. Go talk to her.”

“I’ve tried that already. She won’t listen to me, she totally hates me.”

“No, she doesn’t. She misses you.”

“She does?”

“She does. Now, go and talk to her. Even if you have to force her to listen. We all know how stubborn she is, especially now.”

“What do you mean?”

“You don’t know, do you?”

“Know what?”

“Erin’s not what you think she is. She’s a hybrid.”

“What? That’s impossible.”

“Think about it, Alex. Her moods, the way she reacts with the rubies, her crying. The way she smells, her clumsiness. Her feelings towards the wolves.”

“Oh fuck. My best friend is a vampwolf?”

“Yes, if that’s what you want to call her,” Gowan chuckled and crossed his arms.

“Why do you say that she’s more stubborn now? She’s been a hybrid her whole life.”

“Alex-”

“Tell me.”

“You can’t tell this to anyone.”

“My lips are sealed.”

“Erin’s pregnant.”

“It’s Sam’s, right?”

“Of course,” Gowan exclaimed.

“I’m just checking,” Alex held her hands up in defense.

There was a moment of silence as Gowan allowed Alex to absorb all the new information about Erin.

“That’s why she smells strange.” Alex’s eyes widened and looked at Gowan. “What do we do?”

“You want to help?” Gowan raised a skeptical eyebrow at her.

“Of course!” she exclaimed. “Anything for Erin.”

“Good, I was hoping you’d say that,” Gowan nodded, satisfied with her answer. “Come with me.”

Gowan motioned to her as he walked up the steps of Morton Manor, but Alex didn’t move. Gowan turned towards her and frowned. “Are you coming or what?”

“Is it safe?”

“Trust me, Alex.” Gowan said, his tone relaxed and comforting.

Trusting.

Alex hesitated for a brief second and shrugged. “Oh fuck it,” she muttered and followed Gowan into the wolf manor.