NEWBORN: Book One of the Newborn Trilogy (29 page)

Grasping her cello, Kiri finds a bow and
begins playing music. It’s elegant and deep, the notes rising to
the ceiling of the room and filling my ears with grace and my heart
with the beauty of solace.

“What is it?” I ask.

“Corelli – 12 Concerti Grossi, Op. 6. No 8 in
G Minor II,” she answers, “my favorite of his. I love Baroque
music, don’t you?”

No idea. So I say, “It’s nice, Kiri.”

Finishing the short piece, Kiri puts her bow
away. “Thanks. I put off learning it for years and years. I was
terrified I would screw it up. I think it turned out okay after
all,” she says, her eyes grazing the curving wood of her cello.
“I’m glad I put it off. I wanted to have competence first.”

“Understandable,” Gabriel says. “It’s the
same with me when I’m trying something new. Whenever I’m about to
perform a – err – never mind,” he finishes, his sentence coming to
a halting death.

Kiri’s eyebrows nearly disappear into her
head. She looks at me, appearing too delighted for words to
describe. “Can I speak to you in the hall, Nora? I want to tell you
something before I leave.”

Straightening my hair with my fingers, I eye
her casually. “If you must!”

“
We
must,” Kiri corrects.

Staring her down, I stand up. “Excuse us,
Gabriel.”

He gestures to the door. “Be my guest.”

Kiri and I look daggers at each other as we
go into the hall, closing the door firmly behind us. So long as
Gabriel doesn’t use magic to hear us. When we’re safely down the
hall, I turn on Kiri.

“What is it?” I say more angrily than I meant
to. “You think he’s gay, don’t you?”

Kiri looks alarmed. “I –”

“
You
,” I interrupt her, “need to hone
your technique! I hoped your procedure would be more exacting than
asking if he’s into theater! Geez, Kiri, I know the robes are a bit
much but come on now!”

Kiri gestures for silence. “You didn’t let me
finish! The answer is no! I don’t think he’s gay!” Her expression
is worried and slightly sick, as though her words are twisting her
inside. “It’s something else!”

I narrow my eyes at her. “What?”

“I – I think he may be dangerous,” Kiri
informs me, her voice a squeak. “Something isn’t right with him – I
can tell, but I can’t describe it. There’s a quality – an air
that’s troublesome. Maybe he’s cursed.”

Damn, she’s pretty close. But I can’t let her
know that. “You’re crazy,” I tell her. “What can be wrong with
him?”

She shakes her head, her hand twisting her
bobbed hair anxiously. “I can’t describe it. But I think it’s a
problem. It’s my hunch, Nora – I think you should take it. I’m good
at telling these things most of the time.”

I can’t resist. “Oh,” I say, “like when you
said he’s gay?”

“
Most
of the time,” she repeats, her
lips quirking up in a smile. “Can’t a girl be wrong sometimes?” she
asks.

I decide to ignore this. “We’ll see,” I tell
her. “We’ll see who’s right this time! You lost the first round as
far as I’m concerned. I’m sticking with him, Kiri. Because I like
him. I like him a lot!”

Okay, I admit it – I’m going a bit overboard
with my confidence in Gabriel right now. Kiri has a point.
Gabriel’s bloodlust and passion around the subject of mass murder
is alarming. Err – want the truth? The truth is I’m worried he’s
listening to our conversation somehow. I don’t know how but
somehow. So I’m trying to stay complimentary and shit. Better safe
than sorry. Or dead.

“I’m serious, Nora,” Kiri says, her worried
face returning. “I’m scared for you. Is he staying over
tonight?”

Oh geez! “I hadn’t considered the idea,” I
lie to her face. There’s no way my nose isn’t growing. I totally
considered it.

Predictably, Kiri sees through me. “Be
careful,” she warns. “I wouldn’t want to share a room with him at
night. I don’t know, Nora… the way he stares at you. It’s like he’s
planning your murder!”

“I know,” I say without thinking, “Those
eyes! Aren’t they gorgeous? I could eat them!” Kiri takes a step
backward. She’s looking at me like I’m crazy. “I didn’t mean that
literally!” I explain to her, backtracking. “Seriously, I didn’t!”
Geez, are we really having this discussion? When did I become a
cannibal?

“Look,” Kiri begins, her tone that of a nurse
talking to a hospice patient, “I
know
he’s pretty, Nora.
Very,
very
pretty,” she adds as an afterthought, her eyes
dislodged from mine. “But what’s the price? You can’t know it yet.
Neither can I, but I have a
bad
feeling about him. Please
consider giving him up.”

What is he? An addiction? He kind of is,
actually. I think I’d go through withdrawal if I went a week
without seeing those sparkling, turquoise eyes. Fuck I’m fucked. “I
can’t,” I explain, trying to sound resigned rather than delighting
in my refusal. “I simply can’t, Kiri. I
like
him.”

“Do you love him?”

Fuck!

I knew this was coming. Did nothing to stop
it. Geez, my answer is so confused. Do I
love
Gabriel?
Sometimes I think I do and sometimes I’m not quite there yet. He’s
such a presence in my life now, such a captivating intoxicant. Yet
sometimes he freaks me out. I do
like
him. But love?

“Almost,” I say, finding the middle ground.
“I know I can. Any day now,” I say hurriedly, trying to lighten the
mood. I fail. I’m too aware Gabriel could be listening. “It’s
complicated, Kiri,” I continue, “I definitely like him.
Love
is a big word for a girl who’s never been in it.”

Kiri is staring at me. This is one of the
rare times I can’t tell what she’s thinking. “I have to go,” she
says. “My parents are expecting me for dinner.
Remember
,
Nora – I warned you today. This isn’t about anything besides your
safety. Something tells me it won’t just be your heart ripped
out!”

Passing me in the hall, she goes back into
our dorm. I stand in place for a moment, shock freezing my muscles.
Or is it fear? No – it’s shock. How can she say such mean things?
It is jealously? Or genuine, loving concern for my wellbeing? I
can’t begin to tell. Turning, I follow her into our room.

“Goodbye, Gabriel,” Kiri says sweetly,
tugging her sweater from the back of her chair. “It was nice
meeting you and everything. Be nice to Nora,” she says
suggestively. “And stay warm!”

“Oh, we will,” my wizard friend answers.

Was he listening? I can’t tell. I’m beginning
to seriously worry about the idea. Gabriel wouldn’t share what he’d
heard. He’d internalize it and be mad at me later like any other
guy. But I want to know now!

Standing, Gabriel reaches for the cello case.
“Can I help you out?”

“Yes, please!” Kiri says, grabbing up her
duffle bags. “Bye, Nora. Have a good time! I’ll be back Sunday
night.”

I nod receptively. “Cool. See you then.” I
can’t keep the cold from my voice.

Luckily I don’t have to. For Gabriel and Kiri
are gone, out the door and down the flight of stairs to the parking
lot. Leave it to Kiri to call a guy dangerous and then accept his
offer for help.
I
wasn’t going to offer. Couldn’t bring
myself to. That girl has serious nerve criticizing my dating
habits!

Five minutes later Gabriel is back.

“What did she say?” I ask him as soon as he’s
through the door. “Did she tell you anything? Tell me,
Gabriel!”

He looks confused, replying “Why? Should she
have?”

I’m trying to look nonchalant. “No,” I lie
through my teeth. “Anyway, she decided you’re not gay!”

A slight smile playing about his mouth,
Gabriel sits opposite me on Kiri’s newly vacated bed, his arms
suspending his body as he leans back. “Then how come you look so
worried?” he asks, furrowing his brow.

Fucking shitballs!
What do I say
now?

The question is whether I can confide in him.
Can I tell him what she told me? Would that destroy everything? Is
not
telling him a cowardly act or a selfless one? I have no
answers. That, as usual, is the real problem.

“It’s nothing,” I say.

Turquoise eyes glisten. “You’re biting your
lip, Nora.”

Oh fuck!

He caught me. Bizarrely, I feel hungry.
Hunger pangs are nearly nonexistent in my life now, except at
strange, random times. I’ve not eaten in over a month. It’s all so
strange. I can’t explain it.

Releasing my lip, I stare across the room at
Gabriel.

Fuck he’s handsome!
says my alter
ego.

It’s nice we agree for once
, I
reply.

Windswept blond hair is a mess above marble
skin and turquoise eyes. What a palette before me. Tangerine robes
seem to bring out everything. All of his insane gloriousness. A
taste of heaven.

“Now the issue of my sexuality is settled,”
Gabriel begins menacingly, “I’d like to act on my newly reacquired
heterosexual rights! If you will do me the honor, Ms. Saynt-Rae, I
will do you!”

Stowing my grin with sufficient difficulty, I
swipe my hair behind my ear. “Can’t you just say ‘let’s fuck’ like
a normal person?”

I mean this as a joke.

Without missing a beat, turquoise eyes settle
on my soul. “Let’s fuck!”

“Come here.”

I can’t control myself. Without supplying
voluntary action, I stand and go to him. Sit on Kiri’s bed beside
him. Whoa – those turquoise eyes are luminous. My hand travels
across the bedspread to his.

“You know,” I begin hesitantly, “I’ve never
done this before.”

His eyes never leave mine. “I know,” he
says.

“That doesn’t bother you?”

He shakes his head. “Not at all.”

“Well, it should,” I tell him. “What if
you’re
terrible? How would you feel if my first time sucked
because of you?” I shouldn’t be asking this. It’ll kill the mood.
For some reason I almost want to dissuade him. It’s a way of making
sure he’s the one – seeing if he can survive my doubts. Call me
crazy.

“I
can’t
be terrible,” he says with a
finality bordering on arrogance.

“What if –”

“For the record,” he interrupts, smile slow
and easy, “I wouldn’t care if I ruined your first time. But I know
that won’t be the case. Stop worrying.”

Oh Gabriel, you romantic you!

I can’t go back. I’m too taken by him. By the
blond of his hair and the turquoise of his eyes and the marble of
his skin. And yes! By the same arrogance I detest! Judge me all you
want but I find it kind of hot. He’s so full of it. Drenched in the
stuff like me in my perfume right now.

Breaking eye contact, Gabriel looks down at
my hand where his thumb is caressing my knuckles. “You have nothing
to worry about,” he tells me. “We won’t even need a condom. See,
when wizards –”

“No condom!” I gasp, hearing nothing else.
“What do you mean ‘no condom’? I’m out, Gabriel! I’m not getting
pregnant!” Breathing hard, my head is spinning around his words. No
condom! Who does he think he is?

Turquoise eyes close. “You didn’t let me
finish,” he says, voice remaining calm despite my outburst. “When
wizards and witches have sex we don’t need one. We have a useful
little charm. It’s performed right beforehand and forestalls any –
any pregnancies,” he finishes, looking uncomfortable.

“Oh, a charm,” I repeat, my voice high and
girlish. “That’ll do the trick!”

He looks at me deadpan. “It will,
actually.”

“It better!” I growl. “It fucking better,
Gabriel!”

Our romance is off to a good start, wouldn’t
you say? The problem is I put off thinking about this moment. Well,
I have
thought
about it. But you know – I’ve managed
not
to think about the part where it’s my first time. Where
I’m a virgin. I’ve managed to push that away. Till now. Till I
heard myself say it aloud.

“Someone doesn’t want a baby,” Gabriel says,
grinning at me. “Don’t think you’ll make a good mother?”

Don’t think I’ll make a good mother! That’s
it! The last straw! Fury is boiling up. “Fuck you, Gabriel!” I
yell, pulling my hand from his. “Fuck you and your wizardry and all
your fucking anti-vampire shit! I’m done!”

Soon as I’m standing he pulls me back to him.
Next thing I know my lips are soaking in the bliss of his kiss.
Sweet in my mouth, like cinnamon and sugar. Why can’t he be this
sweet always? Closing my eyes, I gather every taste to me. Every
sensation. Oh how glorious, oh the swirling perfection!

When I open my eyes, I’m blazing in a bath of
turquoise. “That had nothing to do with me,” Gabriel remarks.
“You’re nervous, Nora.
Relax
– you know me. Better than
anybody. It will be fine. It’s going to be more than fine. It’s
going to be the best thing that ever happened to you. Relax!”

I try. But it’s so hard. I bet he can feel my
heartbeat. I’m going haywire in there. Whether that’s nervousness
or the residue of his kiss I can’t know. Taking several deep
breaths, I calm my heart.

“Sorry. I – I didn’t mean that.”

Swiping his blond hair to the side of his
forehead, Gabriel leans back on the bed. “I know you didn’t,” he
responds, his eyes searching mine. “Fascinating to hear all the
same. Extremely fascinating.”

Fucking shit!
Time to change the
subject.

“Kiss me!” I order.

He doesn’t need telling twice. Leaning in,
Gabriel envelopes me in his lips. They are so good to me. Inside
him I fall away and forget about pain and confusion. Wrapping my
tongue around his, I play with him furiously. Parts of my body are
growing hot. Oh geez! I’m a goner. At least I know it.

Gabriel’s right hand finds its way under the
back of my shirt. Coming up, it massages my sides before popping my
bra expertly. Too expertly. Not a good sign. He doesn’t stop
kissing me, his free hand curled around the back of my head and
massaging my neck with his thumb. He reaches under my shirt and
pulls my bra away, tossing it to the floor. How expendable he finds
my wardrobe.