Treasured Secrets (Coveted Saga #1) (The Coveted Saga) Read online

  "Sorry, my bad." Then he turned and walked away quickly. It was as if Tallis had said something else, but he never spoke.

  I found that incredibly odd - per the usual around him. The bell rang, warning us to go to class. McKee walked up and pulled me away from Tallis. I looked back to see Mr. Mysterious was already gone.

  McKee pulled me into calculus just in time. I couldn't stop thinking about all the weird things that had happened in the past couple days. Ever since I had gotten to Grayford, things had all been... screwed up.

  It was certainly different than my old village. Everything there made perfect sense, but here, nothing seemed to. I was starting to feel like a jumbled up jigsaw puzzle with missing pieces, unable to see the entire picture.

  I just kept feeling like there was something I was missing, but I was completely oblivious as to what it might be.

  Tallis and I had several laughs during economics class while discussing our project. He seemed to be over whatever it truly was that had upset him the day before. Elaina had watched us the entire time. I could feel her eyes burning through me all throughout class.

  It had been raining fiercely outside, but I could hear it starting to slack up. As we entered gym class, we were told boys and girls would be sharing the gym again. The last time that had happened, things had gotten heated between Tallis and McKee.

  I could see out of the corner of my eye that Elaina and her pack of hyenas were approaching me while I was stretching.

  Before they reached me, McKee ran up to me with a smile on his face. "Hey, Aria. I know that it is last-minute, but I was going to see if you wanted to maybe go out this weekend. I know a great restaurant in Salem. It's a bit of a drive, but I swear it's worth it."

  He kind of caught me off guard. I stuttered for a moment as I frantically tried to think of a reason not to go out with him without hurting his feelings. "I… uh … I-"

  Fortunately, the coach interrupted us with a severely scolding tone. "McKee! Get over here. Get in line. You haven't climbed the rope yet. This isn't a time to play with the girls."

  McKee rolled his eyes, and then he winked at me. He jogged off quickly toward the coach. As soon as he was gone, Tallis was beside me. He almost startled me when he spoke to me in a quiet and concerned tone.

  "Are you going to say yes or no?"

  I jumped a little. "You have got to stop sneaking up on me like that. I'm going to die of a heart attack in high school if you don't."

  He smirked slightly, but it wasn't his usual carefree grin. It was forced. It seemed as though he was upset about something.

  "Sorry, but you didn't answer my question. Are you going to yes? Personally, I don't think you should. Obviously it's your choice though."

  I almost wanted to smile. I stifled it very respectably though.

  Be cool, Aria, I told myself. I could hear the words coming out of my mouth, but they took on a life of their own.

  "I was actually going to ask you about that."

  Oh crap. So not what I meant to say.

  He cocked his head to the side after hearing my response. His tone was confused and almost comical. "Why exactly were you going to ask me?"

  I could feel my nervousness as I twitched around uncomfortably. I had no idea what I was doing. I'd never been asked out by a guy or asked a guy out in my life. Now I was doing both in the same day - or attempting to.

  I wanted to stop, spare myself the humiliation sure to ensue, but my lips kept moving on their own. The words flowed out of my unfiltered mouth without my permission.

  "I was thinking that maybe you and I could do something this weekend, and then I could tell him I already have plans."

  He smirked slightly and put his head down shyly while replying. "Ah."

  That was all he said. That was the worst answer I could have gotten. Ah? Really? Sheesh.

  I felt like an even bigger idiot than I thought possible.

  Of course he doesn't want to go out with me. He doesn't date girls in high school. I'm so stupid.

  I started fumbling around for the right words, keeping my trembling eyes pointed at the floor. I couldn't think of anything that would help me recover.

  "Well, not like a date. It would be more of a non-date, hang out thing, or whatever."

  Just kill me now. Please.

  I could hear the incredibly idiotic things coming out of my mouth, but again, I could not stop them. The lock was off my lips and some mischievous little pixie had run off with the key. I was mortified by my awkward and horrible babbling.

  He laughed at me lightly. "So what exactly did you have in mind for our non-date, hang out thing, or whatever?"

  Great. Now he's making fun of me.

  His mockery carried no subtlety. I could feel my cheeks burning red as I tried to think of anything that didn't sound completely moronic. "I don't know... The movies, or dinner or... something."

  He smirked again as he looked at the floor and then back up to meet my eyes. "That doesn't sound like a non-date, hang out thing. That sounds like a date."

  I could feel my whole body burning with utter humiliation now. I kept trying to find a way to dig myself back out of my hole. But that was a near impossible feat, since I felt as though I had already dug to China.

  I could hear the anxiety coming through loud and clear when I spoke. "Yeah, it does." I was just ready to run and hide. "I'm sorry. It was stupid to ask. I'll leave you alone." And drop out of school to become a recluse.

  I quickly turned away from him and scoured for any hiding place I could dive in.

  He grabbed my hand before I could walk off. It nearly took my breath. I couldn't understand how such a small touch from him could burn so deep within me. It was all I could do not to just grab him and kiss him, especially when he touched me.

  Physical contact with him always made this amazing fire within me blaze uncontrollably.

  This time when he spoke, it wasn't teasing or mocking in the least. It was the same smoldering tone I had heard him use before, and it sent those delightful chills throughout me again. "I know a drive-in a couple of miles from your house. They usually play some pretty good movies. There's a diner not too far away. My treat, of course." Then he winked at me as a very cocky grin spread across his face.

  It was all I could do just to be able to stand in an upright position at that moment. Of course now I was still unsure if it was a date or not. Even though I was blushing and trying not to giggle like, well... a schoolgirl, I was able to reply somewhat respectably.

  "Sounds great," I muttered, an unstoppable lilt to my voice.

  He slid his hand up my arm as he slowly backed away. "I better get back over there with the rest the guys, but we’ll sort out the details later," he said, leaving me burning with fever.

  His touch could melt a glacier.

  I was afraid if I said anything else I would burst out giggling and make a bigger idiot out of myself than what I already had. So instead, I just nodded and waved in agreement.

  My smile faded quickly when Elaina finally seized her opportunity to approach me, her arms crossed in front of her. Her minion squad was right behind her, ready to surround their prey.

  Elaina started giggling with her hyenas as they circled me. "So, Aria. How many guys have you slept with these first couple weeks? I think it's kind of pathetic, personally, to throw yourself at so many guys."

  I could see Tallis and McKee staring in my direction. Tallis's eyes narrowed as Elaina relished my humiliation.

  I was both livid and mortified.

  "I haven't slept with anybody. And I'm not throwing myself at anyone either."

  Elaina whispered almost threateningly to me. "Here's the deal. You're new here, so everyone wants to pet the new puppy... for now. But the truth is, you're absolutely nothing, and soon everyone else will see that, too."

  She offered a fake smile to the coach when he looked our way, pausing her venomous threat and acting as though we were just two girls chatting about makeup. The second his atte
ntion veered, she returned to be the devil behind the mask.

  "Stay out of my way, or life will be so much harder for you while you're here. I don't play nice. Find someone besides Tallis to play house with, or I swear you will dread every moment you have to come here for the rest of your high school experience. Got it?"

  She rammed her shoulder into mine as she barged by to try and intimidate me even more. I could feel the tears welling up in my eyes. I couldn't let everyone see me cry. Things were embarrassing enough as it was.

  I couldn't let Elaina have my crying as icing on the sadistic cake she just served in front of everyone.

  I ran out of the gym, completely devastated. Everyone had heard our confrontation, including Tallis. I could hear him talking to her as I propped up against the wall outside the gym.

  Pity laced his tone as he scolded her. "Elaina, there's absolutely nothing you say that ever means anything to anybody. Leave Aria alone, and I mean it."

  I heard some people laughing, poking fun of the bully Barbie. I decided to make a mad dash to the parking lot before anyone saw me.

  Tallis chased me down before I could escape. His hands ran up my arms in a comforting way, though I felt all the pathetic pity rolling over his skin. It was so embarrassing for him to see me this way. I couldn't even enjoy his touch because of the reason he was offering it.

  "Aria, are you okay? I can give you a ride if you need me to."

  As much as I wanted to be with him, I didn't want him seeing me like this. "Thanks, but I'll be fine. I'll see you tomorrow."

  Then I walked away as quickly as I could. I could feel him still watching me, so I was trying to hold back the tears which were begging to pour out after my ghastly humiliation.

  I'd never encountered somebody so ruthless as Elaina. Still wearing my gym clothes, I hopped in my car.

  I didn't care if I got in trouble or not. I couldn't stay there with everyone feeling sorry for me. I'm sure there were plenty of people laughing, too. The most embarrassing part was that Tallis felt sorry for me.

  I pulled out of the school parking lot and stepped on the gas. It was the first time I ever felt like I had to run away from something. Little did I know, it was only the beginning.

  Chapter 5

  Fantasy meets Reality

  What happens when the reality you knew was actually the fantasy all along?

  After driving around aimlessly for twenty minutes, I started feeling like someone was watching me, possibly following me. I looked in my rearview mirror and saw a blue car. I decided to test my theory and turned down a random road that was off to the side. The car pursued me - turning down the same road.

  "Calm down, Aria. It may just be a coincidence," I mumbled aloud.

  I looked around, frantically trying to devise a plan. I saw an old dirt road on the side. I slammed on my brakes and turned just as I got to it. I could feel my car fishtailing, but I quickly regained control.

  The blue car squealed when it braked as I had, and then it continued to follow me. I sped up, and my eyes darted from the road to the mirror in rapid repetition. I was familiar with dirt-road driving. That was all we had in Haluali - narrow dirt trails.

  The car tried keeping up with me, but I took a sharp turn to the right. When they tried to do the same, they cut the wheel wrong and the car flipped into the air. It rolled into the pasture beside the dirt road and landed it on its top.

  I gasped as I saw the chase ending in the mirror. I slowed down, watching carefully to see if they were alive or dead. As soon as I saw movement, I breathed out in relief.

  I wanted to check on them, or at the very least find out who was tailing me. I was too scared though. It made me flash back to the conversation Iris and I had shared. She seemed worried, even asked me if I had felt threatened. I didn't at the time. But now, I wondered if there was something I needed to know.

  Who would follow me and why?

  I sped back up, letting the blue car vanish from sight before I could identify my chasers. I was hoping the road wouldn't dead-end. It was a long, winding path that seemed to go on forever. There was a small cluster of trees not far away.

  "Some woods. Thank God," I said in relief.

  I definitely needed a sanctuary now. I couldn't go home while I was shaking and terrified. I would worry everyone.

  I parked way off the road so no one would see my car. I started walking, holding my sketchbook to my chest. I found a rock resting next to a small trickling creek. It seemed peaceful, and I definitely needed a calm retreat.

  Should I tell Iris about this?

  I decided it would be best to hide out in the covered area until I knew for certain the blue car people were gone.

  My feet crunched against the leaves that had fallen from the old, dry trees. I took a deep breath, still trying to calm my nerves. I wanted to try and sketch the small creek, which paled in comparison to the magnificent waterfall I had once sketched, but I couldn't find the will to do so. There was something else on my mind, so I started sketching the one thing that did inspire me.

  I was content for the moment in my accidental hideaway, but as I finished my sketch, I heard something. It started as a slight rattling of the leaves, but then it became more defined.

  I could hear something running - something that seemed to be moving unbelievably fast. It had to be an animal. Judging by the speed and incredibly loud crunching, it was a big animal.

  I couldn't help but think of how everyone cautioned people about all the poisonous and dangerous animals in the jungle surrounding Haluali. I had never once come across any fatal creature. Now, here I was in Massachusetts, and something large and fast was coming right toward me with such unbelievable acceleration that it seemed almost impossible. I hate irony.

  Even if I ran as fast as I could, I'd never get away, so I stayed still, praying it didn't sense or smell me.

  Finally, the mystery creature came into view. To my astonishment, it was a person that had been racing toward me with such unnatural velocity. A man with short blonde hair approached me slower than he had raced in.

  He was young, early twenties maybe, with an odd facial expression. Then I got sick at my stomach when I thought of the car that had chased me earlier. Maybe he was tied to them in some way - or he was one of them. I found my mind racing for answers as to why anyone would have such interest in me.

  I tried to think of any other reason he could be here with me right now unless he intended me harm, but nothing came to mind, so I went with playing dumb. I took a deep breath, trying to steady my nerves before speaking.

  "Hello. Is this your land?" My voice cracked slightly and the lump in my throat began growing. I found it almost impossible to breathe when my chest suddenly felt like there was a heavy mass pressing down on it.

  He said nothing. He just looked at me so strangely, like he was confused and excited at the same time. His head was cocked to the side, and his mouth ever so slightly turned up in the corners, edging itself into a bone-chilling, ominous grin.

  His brow was furrowed, which scrunched the spot in the middle of his eyes. His eyes shifted from side to side, as if he was looking for someone or something. He just continued to move toward me slowly, while still scouring our surroundings in a cautious fashion.

  I stood up from the rock - shakily - and tucked my sketchbook in the back of my pants as I started moving backwards, ready to run. I could hear my voice crackle much worse this time while I spoke.

  "I'm sorry if I disturbed you. I was just looking for a quiet place to go. I'll just be leaving now." I turned around slowly, planning to sprint to my car.

  Perhaps I exaggerated his speed. It's not possible a man raced in here as quickly as I thought he had. With the large gap between us, I thought I had a chance to outrun him. But, as I got my body turned around, I released a bloodcurdling scream.

  He was suddenly in front of me. As quickly as I had turned around, he had gone from a few hundred feet behind me to being directly in front of me.

&n
bsp; Impossible.

  He had a thick lock of my dark hair clasped between his index finger and thumb, rubbing the hair between his fingers. His stench was horrific. I'd never smelled something so foul. It reminded me of the way the man at the coffee shop smelled, but ever so much worse. His eyes glared at me as he raised his other hand to my face, gingerly touching my lips.

  "Why would you leave, when I only just got here?" His voice was so eerie. He was so lanky and pale.

  I was frozen in horror as his black eyes stared into mine. He lowered his nose to my lips and sniffed me.

  "Aahhh," he said through an exhaled breath of elation.

  He acted like he was getting high... on me. His hands moved to be forcefully holding the sides of my cheeks. As fear consumed me, my tears spilled free, ravaging my cheeks with a merciless flow.

  His eerie voice spoke in a terrifyingly calm tone. "Don't worry, little witch. This will be over quickly. I promise." He licked his lips as he moved in a step, bringing his mouth closer to mine. "You smell strong. You must have a powerful bloodline. You smell stronger than anyone I've ever had. Mmm. This will be so good."

  He glared at me so excitedly as more tears flooded my face. "You'll give me just what I've been needing."

  In that next second, I felt my body getting weaker. I felt like the life was literally being sucked out of me. His mouth was close, almost touching mine, but not quite. I looked up at the tops of the trees, focusing all my attention on them as they swayed in the wind, oblivious to the depravity going on below. I didn't want the last thing I ever saw to be this monster draining the life from me.

  I couldn't believe I was really going to die, and I didn't even know what he was doing. I grew up in one of the most dangerous places in the world, and I was going to die in one of the safest. The irony of it all made it even more tragic.

  Just when I accepted the fact my fate was sealed, I heard something. It was fast, large, and charging toward us. The only thing I could think of was that this guy, or this thing, had a partner who was going to join him in this… whatever it was killing me.