Coleen: Forever (Waking Forever Series Book 5) Read online

  I couldn’t stand to see you so sad, friend. I’ve taken care of the boy. Turn your human so she’ll forget him.

  “What’s wrong?” Isla sat up on the sofa. “You look like you’re going to be sick.”

  Coleen looked up and tried to smile casually. “Just a message from Claudio. He left today, and was thanking me for the hospitality.”

  Isla lifted her head up, her eyes narrowed. “Don’t lie.”

  Jesus, how does she do that? Coleen dropped the phone back into her purse. “It’s nothing.”

  Isla got up, and walked toward Coleen’s purse. “I thought we agreed none of this would work unless we were totally honest with each other.”

  Coleen could have easily reached her purse before Isla. She could have retrieved her phone and continued the lie, but she stood frozen in place. Claudio’s message, and all it implied, suddenly filled her with a repressive sadness.

  “Oh god!” Isla stared at the phone, tears instantly streaming down her cheeks. She thrust the phone up, holding it less than an inch from Coleen’s face. “What’s he talking about?!” Coleen reached for the phone, but Isla jerked it back. “Tell me!”

  “He’s taken Julian, or –” Coleen couldn’t say the words.

  “Or?!” Isla threw the phone at Coleen. “Or?!”

  Coleen let the phone strike her left shoulder, and continued to stand perfectly still as she tried to control her own rage at Claudio. “Or he’s killed him.” She frowned. “Cory is probably dead.”

  A cry escaped Isla. “You call him! You find out exactly what’s happened!” Isla’s voice became horse as she shouted the command. “Now, Coleen!”

  Coleen bent down and picked the phone up. She dialed Claudio’s number. “Please don’t speak. Don’t make a sound. If he knows you’re with me, or that you’re still a human, he won’t talk about Julian.” Isla collapsed in the chair, her eyes swollen from crying.

  “Coleen, I’m surprised to hear from you. I thought you would be busy turning Isla.”

  Centuries of lying and feigning indifference kept Coleen’s tone casual as she spoke. “Your message surprised me, and I want to thank you for solving my problem.”

  She turned her back to Isla, unable to bear the intensity of her stare. “I want to ensure Julian is dead before I turn her. I know you had considered mentoring him, and turning him later.”

  “I had considered that, but didn’t know what I would do with him in the meantime.”

  Coleen closed her eyes, tears forming. “And the babysitter?”

  “Dead.”

  “I wish you hadn’t done that, friend.” Coleen was beginning to allow the anger to be evident as she spoke. She was going to dole it out in portions, and then she was going to find Claudio and end him.

  “After our talk –”

  “You know my rule about children.”

  There was a long pause. “I do, and that’s why I still have the boy – alive.”

  Coleen exhaled. “Why did you just lie to me?”

  Claudio chuckled. “I thought if you believed he was dead it would make what you need to do easier, but I don’t want you pissed at me.”

  “I’m going to turn Isla, but then I want to see Julian and you at my house.” Coleen waited. Claudio’s response would determine how complicated the situation was going to get. If she had to hunt him down, that could take weeks, and afford Claudio too many opportunities to harm Julian.

  “Sounds fine to me. When?”

  “I’ll turn Isla, and lock her down here – so two hours?” Coleen turned around to see Isla standing directly behind her. No longer crying, she looked furious, and Coleen was scared of what she might do.

  “See you then.” Claudio hung up.

  “Julian is alive, and I will get him back from Claudio shortly.” Coleen spoke quickly, hoping the news of her brother being alive would soothe Isla.

  “He murdered Cory?”

  “Yes.” Coleen looked down. “I’m sorry.”

  “What did you say to him that made him think this is what you wanted?” Isla took a step forward, her posture aggressive as she glared at Coleen.

  “I didn’t tell him to do any of this. He doesn’t think like I do about these things, and truly thought he was doing me a favor.” Coleen reached for Isla, who took a step back.

  “Get my brother back.” Isla turned her back to Coleen. “Then we need to call the police about Cory.”

  Coleen wanted to tell Isla that was impossible. The situation with Cory would be addressed, but it would involve Coleen disposing of her body discreetly, or ensuring that Claudio already had. “Okay.”

  Coleen picked up her purse, and though she knew it was pointless, had to speak in her defense. “Isla, this isn’t my fault. I had no way of knowing Claudio would do this. In fact, when we talked and he had mentioned Julian, I forbade him to get involved.”

  Isla glared at Coleen, but then her expression softened. “I can’t think about that right now. I just need you to get my brother back.”

  Coleen reached for Isla, and this time she stepped into Coleen’s embrace. “I will, and he’s going to be fine. Claudio knows how I feel about killing children, and he wouldn’t dare risk making an enemy out of me.”

  Isla stepped back. “Okay.”

  Coleen found little comfort in Isla’s response, and worried she was humoring her to ensure she would get Julian back. “I know this all but ensures we won’t ever be together again.”

  Isla’s eyes shot up, her silence all but confirming Coleen’s suspicions. “I care for Julian, and I’m getting him back regardless of what happens with you and me.”

  Isla nodded. “Thank you.” Coleen glanced at the wall clock. “I need to wait for awhile. Turning a human isn’t instant; so if I arrive too soon he’ll know it’s a farce.”

  “We’ll sit in the living room.” Isla glanced down at her legs. “Let me go put some shorts on.” She left the room, and Coleen sat down in the chair.

  It was unfortunate that Coleen’s hearing allowed her to detect sound nearly a mile away. Isla quietly crying in her bedroom was something Coleen could have gone an eternity without hearing.

  ***

  Coleen pulled up to her house, and turned the Mercedes’ engine off. She could hear the television in the den was on, and the steady beat of Julian’s heart. He’s playing video games.

  Entering through the kitchen, Coleen tilted her head up slightly, and caught Claudio’s scent coming from the garden. Before confronting her friend, she walked through the house, and into the den.

  “Coleen!” Julian jumped up and flung himself at Coleen.

  Coleen could not have imagined the relief that washed over her. She lifted Julian up, and held him tightly to her.

  “Coleen, I can’t breathe.” Julian squirmed.

  Coleen put Julian down. “Sorry, it’s just been awhile since we’ve seen each other.”

  Julian grinned and looked past Coleen. “Where’s Isla?”

  Coleen crouched down. “She’s at home. She wasn’t feeling well.”

  Julian nodded. “Claud said Cory was sick too, and that’s why I had to stay with him.”

  Coleen took Julian’s hand in hers. “That’s right.” She heard Claudio’s footsteps in the garden, and knew he was coming back in the house. She pulled her car keys out of her pocket. “Julian, why don’t you go start the car, and wait for me there.”

  Julian’s eyes lit up. “Really?”

  Coleen nodded. “Absolutely, and if you promise to stay in the car, I’ll even let you drive it down to the gate.”

  Julian snatched the keys from Coleen. “Awesome!” He bolted from the room.

  A split second later, and Coleen had navigated through the house. She met Claudio at the door to the garden.

  “Friend.” Claudio smiled. “I thought I heard you.”

  Coleen nodded. “Let’s talk in the garden.”

  “Of course.”

  Coleen felt confident Claudio didn’t suspect the fate t
hat awaited him, and the longer she could keep him off the defensive the better.

  “How’s Isla?” Claudio sat down in one of the wrought iron chairs encircling a small fire pit.

  Coleen sat across from him, and leaning back, crossed her legs. “She’s wrapped up in five yards of silver right now, but she should be ready to go in the next day or two.”

  Claudio nodded. “You didn’t turn her, did you?”

  Coleen’s expression remained neutral as she spoke. “What makes you think that?”

  “The scent of human blood on you is faint. Along with the smell of sex that’s coming off of you, I would guess you had a little snack while fucking the human.” A smug grin had formed on Claudio’s lips. “Otherwise, if you had drained her, you would reek of citrus and her very lovely floral scent.” He ran his tongue across his elongated incisor. “She does smell yummy.”

  Coleen refused to play her friend’s game, and the posturing he was taking now was exactly what she had been trying to avoid ever since he showed up on her doorstep.

  Coleen threw up her arms, and shrugged. “You’ve got me. I haven’t turned her yet.” She smiled. “I had never fucked a human before, and since you seem to have such a good time with it, I assumed it was something worth trying.”

  Claudio laughed. “They really are one stop shopping.”

  “Out of curiosity, what did you do with the babysitter’s body?” Coleen needed to know if the damage control would be confined to getting rid of Claudio’s body, or whether she would be making a second stop.

  “I buried her in some park on the Southside of town. No worries.” Claudio stretched his legs out in front of him.

  “I want you to leave, Claudio.” She glanced in the direction of the house. “Empty handed.” Coleen was growing tired of this game, and by directly challenging Claudio she knew she had just moved things ahead exponentially.

  “I’ll take them both.” Claudio’s blue eyes shimmered in the darkness. “You’ve clearly lost the stomach for such things.”

  With a single lunge, Coleen closed the ten feet between Claudio and her. She barely registered her friend flinching as she grabbed him by his hair, and pulled him up out of his chair.

  She then thrust her fist into the small of Claudio’s back. His steel-like skin gave way as Coleen drove through muscle and bone. Locating his spine, she swiftly pulled back, and severed the cord.

  Claudio collapsed to his knees. He wasn’t in pain, but his legs were unresponsive. “You bitch!” He spat the words at Coleen.

  Coleen placed her hands on either of Claudio’s shoulders, and pulling backwards, forced both of his arms to dislocate from his sockets. Confident Claudio could no longer attack her, Coleen squatted on her haunches in front of him.

  “You’ve struck a nerve, old friend.” She glanced at the man’s shoulders. “We don’t have long before you’re able to take a swing at me, so let me get straight to it.” She stood, and looking down at Claudio, smiled. “You’re going to leave San Antonio, and maybe I’ll forgive your assertions and poor judgement. Maybe I’ll even let you return again in ten years.”

  Coleen had no intentions of letting Claudio go, but she was biding time until she could bring herself to end a man she had known for five hundred years. If she were honest with herself, she hoped he would say or do something that would unring his death toll.

  “Or what?” Claudio twisted his neck to the right, trying to lift his shoulders to hurry the healing of his arms.

  “Or I’m going to end you.” Coleen crouched down again, and grabbing Claudio by the hair, twisted his head so he was forced to look at her. “Which is a shame, because I don’t think you’re the villain in this story, Claudio. But I do think you’re the asshole.”

  A slow laugh began to come from Claudio. “Coleen, Coleen. You’ve broken so many of your own rules with this human, how can you expect me to follow them?”

  Coleen grabbed her friend by the throat, and flipped him onto his back. Her eyes filled with tears, as she looked down at him. “I fear an apology would be lost on you.” With a single strike of her hand, Coleen ripped Claudio’s trachea and esophagus out of the front of his throat. Placing her knee in the center of his chest, Coleen twisted his head to the right, and then pulling up, severed it completely.

  Tossing Claudio’s detached head onto the fire pit, Coleen bent over and pressed the gaslight button. The pit lit up, and within minutes Coleen’s friend was gone. Coleen looked down, and saw her hands were covered in blood. Claudio’s mangled body was lying prone in the middle of her garden.

  Coleen lifted the corpse up and over her shoulder. Walking to the farthest corner of the garden, Coleen dropped the body to the ground. Checking to ensure she wasn’t about to dig through a sprinkler line, Coleen took a shovel from the small tool shed, and in five minutes had dug a hole that was over six feet deep.

  Lifting Claudio up, she dropped him into the hole. Coleen retrieved the remnants of her friend’s head from the fire pit, and tossed it into the grave. She quickly filled it in, and leveled the ground around it. Fearing Julian would grow impatient and find her, Coleen rushed to the master bathroom. She stripped off her clothes, and carefully washed the dirt and blood off her hands and face.

  Dressed again, Coleen looked at herself in the bathroom mirror. She had ended another vampire for the sake of two humans. A vampire she considered a friend, and now she could only think about getting Julian back to Isla safe. This is no time for an existential crisis.

  A moment later, and Coleen was standing next to her car. Julian sat in the driver’s seat, the satellite radio blaring as he jerked the leather steering wheel back and forth. Coleen tapped on the window, and the boy jumped before rolling the window down.

  “Are you ready to drive to the gate?” Coleen reached for Julian, and gently rubbed his shoulder. She needed to feel that he was safe as much as see it.

  “Yes!” Julian gushed.

  Coleen walked around to the passenger side, and got in. “Okay, move the seat up. The buttons are on the door panel.”

  Julian moved the seat up as far as it would go, and still had to scoot to the end of the plush leather seat so his feet could reach the pedals.

  Coleen turned the radio off before walking Julian through the rest of the mechanics of getting the car in drive, and backing it out of the garage. Once at the gate, Coleen pressed the access button near the rear view mirror.

  “Okay, put the car in park.” Coleen opened the door. “You did excellent.” She looked down at Julian, and suddenly felt how much she was going to miss seeing him and knowing him. “Are you sure you haven’t done this before?”

  Julian giggled. “Never.”

  “You’re a natural.” Coleen got out and walked around the car. Julian hopped out, and practically sprinted to the passenger’s side.

  “Thanks! That was fun.” Julian fastened his seatbelt.

  Coleen nodded as she navigated the car out of her neighborhood. She imagined the years stretched out in front of her. She would wonder often how Julian was growing up, if he had found a love, if he was happy.

  Coleen would of course go on, because that’s what you do when you had forever to contend with. She knew, though, that this small child’s absence would leave a huge hole in her life, that for all of her grace and agility she would often find herself falling into.

  ***

  “Julian!” Isla rushed through the front door, and pulled her brother to her.

  “What? Why are you crying?” Julian’s words were muffled against Isla’s chest.

  Isla held Julian by the upper arms, and looked him up and down. “Are you okay?”

  Julian looked confused. “I’m fine. Are you okay?”

  Isla laughed. “Yes. I’m fine.” She finally released the boy. “Why don’t you go in and get ready for bed.”

  Julian turned and flung his arms around Coleen’s waist. “Thanks for letting me drive.” He disappeared into the house, slamming the front door behind him.
r />   “You let him drive?” Isla’s tone was a mixture of disbelief and amusement.

  “To the end of my driveway.” Coleen began walking back to her car. “Claudio is dead.” She opened her car door. “I’m sorry, but he had already buried Cory, and I don’t know where exactly.” Coleen paused. “Please handle that however you see fit.”

  She managed a weak smile as she looked at Isla for what she knew would be the last time. “I trust your judgement.”

  Coleen was surprised that the words were true. She wasn’t just saying them to ease her separation from Isla, or try to convince her that she deserved another chance. Coleen knew the moment Isla read Claudio’s text that they would never be together again.

  “Thank you for getting Julian back. I know you cared for Claudio.” Isla took several tentative steps forward.

  Coleen leaned on the frame of the door. “My son was murdered by the same vampire that turned me.” Her voice caught as she spoke. “Though my turning left me with a fondness for the man, I could not forget my son, and the life he would never have.”

  A single blood tinged tear rolled down Coleen’s cheek. “I couldn’t save my boy, but I’m glad I could save yours.”

  Coleen got in her car, unable to prolong the inevitable parting one more second. As she drove out of Isla’s neighborhood, her otherwise perfect vision was clouded by the steady torrent of tears streaming from her eyes.

  She was grieving for the loss of Claudio, but more than that, she was already miserably aware of Isla’s absence.

  This will pass. This will pass. Coleen repeated the words over and over as she drove toward her house. She hoped one day she might believe them.

  Once she arrived home, Coleen sat in her car in the driveway for nearly a half hour, unable to move. She knew she had been foolish to believe that Isla and she would survive the divergences of their own lives. She had dared to hope, and that had made her better.

  Now, alone, and at the end of this brief moment in her existence, Coleen could no longer feel the life she had wanted to share with Isla.