Chapter 29: Twenty Nine

Blinding light from the rising sun was peeking through my window. He had been so open with me lately, I was hoping that even today he’d let his walls down. I dressed in dark baggy jeans and a grey tank top.

When I went downstairs for breakfast, Janice was leaving, she said she wouldn’t be home tonight — I was early, I realised I couldn’t wait to see Bradley’s face. I threw down some coco pops straight from the carton; I didn’t bother with a bowl or milk and then hurried out the door.

Hopefully the storm won’t hit until later on tonight. I wasn’t looking forward to it.

It was strangely sunny; the air was arid and hot. The excruciating heat bit nastily against my bare arms, neck and face. I’d walk to school today slowly. It was such a beautiful day out. I couldn't wait to get to the comforting shelter of my classroom. As I walked down the street, a car slowed to match my pace; a navy convertible. It was the kind of car you only saw in car magazines. My heart pounded, heaved, and then picked up again in double time when I saw my favourite person in the whole world – Bradley Carter.

He leaned over to the passenger side and opened the door, without stopping the car, I saw with great horror that he wasn’t even looking at the road as his right hand steered the steering wheel.

"Princess, I’d like you to honour me with your presence this fine morning." he said hesitantly. There was humour in his voice as he stared at my stunned face.

He was hesitant. He didn’t think I’d accept his offer. A part of him was hoping I wouldn’t. I smiled.

"Why thank you," I said. This was an opportunity I wouldn’t miss. I couldn’t stand the heat much longer.

He stopped the car but didn’t switch off the engine. As I stepped into the shelter of the car, he was suddenly outside the passenger door, closing it.

"What were you thinking walking all the way to school? I thought I’d asked you to be careful." His voice was cautious. He was clad in a simple pair of jeans and a white t-shirt. The fabric hugged his perfectly muscular chest and arms.

"Well I was being careful, I wore sunscreen" I mused.

"I’m sure you did." he challenged in such a low voice that I was sure he hadn’t meant for me to hear.

We drove through the busy streets in a blur. People would stop and stare as we passed. I wasn’t sure if they were staring at the car or the torturously beautiful man next to me. I had enough reason to think it was both.

I felt awkward. I didn’t belong in this scenery – beautiful man, expensive car. I didn’t want to say something stupid; I waited for him to speak.

He turned to stare at me, frowning. “What, no complaining about my driving today?”

"This seems like a good way to die" I said.

"This is not how I envisioned killing you. I can assure you... It doesn’t involve my car." He looked like he was joking, but I couldn’t be sure.

I grimaced. "You want to kill me?"

"No, that's the problem. I want to keep you alive for as long as I shall live." He paused thoroughly. “I’m not saying I’m not tempted… sometimes.”

I frowned.

"What are you thinking?

"I’m just wondering how you do it, draining someone off their life essence.”

"I would only need to touch you.”

"Is that why you always wear gloves?" I asked. “Are you avoiding accidently touching someone and killing them?”

He was silent for a long moment; I wondered what he was thinking. His face was void of any emotion as we waited for the red light to turn green.

“As much as I don’t want to be a monster, no.” he smiled attentively. “I started wearing gloves after the first day I bumped into you.”

"I see.” I said, almost whispering.

“No, not like that,” He said in a low voice. “You see, I didn’t know you were my life-mate until that moment.”

I was confused, “Life-mate?”

He sighed. “You know how humans say you first meet your first love and then you meet your truelove?”

I nodded.

“Well, when demons are born half of their heart and soul is embodied in someone else, their life-mate. The bond is triggered only when you’ve touched, smelled and heard your life-mate’s voice. You can’t resist it because eventually you’d die and that’s beside the point, everything about your life mate invites you in.” he shook his head. “Once you meet them you feel complete. Mates are toxic to each other. Obsessive. You can't ignore your mate no matter how hard you try. Things start to make sense. When we love its forever. We can't exactly stay away from our life-mates. It's a kind of love one can't possibly deny. And besides you don't feel good when your partner is not close, falling in love is a natural thing, a physical need. The invisible string pulling life-mates together is dangerous. Some who tried to ignore it ended up sick. A life-mate is an essential part of you you can't survive without."

“Oh.”

“That’s not the reaction I was expecting.”

“Really?"

“You shouldn’t be so calm. You scare me.”

“I shouldn’t."

“I just told you you’re stuck with me for the rest of your life and you’re acting as naturally as if I just told you my favourite sitcom.”

“You have a favourite sitcom?”

“You see.” He pointed at me accusingly. “That’s unnatural.”

“Maybe that’s because there’s no one else I’d rather be stuck with.” I was embarrassed to be saying this aloud.

"Oh," he breathed.

"What did you mean when you said it would physically hurt me if you stayed away, back at the party?"

"It usually becomes uncomfortable for life-mates who haven’t completed their mating bond to stay away from each other but seeing as you’re human it would be painful for you."

I frowned.

“I’d tried leaving once, in the middle of the night, you’d begged unconsciously for me to stay, said you couldn’t take the pain.” He cringed at the memory. “For me my heart aches. It’s going to get worse unless we complete the mating.”

“The mating?”

“It’s not an option though.”

I waited for him to speak.

“I can’t be with you like that.” He shook his head and the frustration was back in his eyes again, his face scrunched up in a frightened glare.

“You don’t want me?" my voice cracked at the edges. I could feel the small fragile stems of my heart breaking. The sound was as quiet as the flow of the river. I glanced out of the window to hide my face from him. Of course he wouldn't want me. I was probably the ugliest girl he'd ever seen, I wasn't an immortal like him, and I wasn't perfect like Rebecca. He would always have to protect me. He would have to be careful with me. I knew if he had a choice he would've chosen someone of his calibre.

“I’ve never wanted anything so badly.” He said through clenched teeth. “I’m more afraid of losing control if I were to be with you like that.”

I sighed as we parked the car. If only I could stop time and relive this moment all over again. If only I could believe him. What could he possibly see in me? How can I not embarrass him? How can he bare to look past my average looks?