Ashes

It was taking a toll on her, beating her down. She was tired all the time, but she had not backed down. She couldn’t.

“You look beautiful.”

Dani stood in Cassie’s doorway, a bowl of popcorn in her arms as she leaned against the door frame. Cassie managed a wan smile for her. She wasn’t feeling beautiful, and although she should have been excited for the dance. She was not.

“Thank you.”

Dani smiled at her as she came into the room, dropping the bowl onto Cassie’s bureau. She had been a little unsettled when she had first moved into the house, but over the past couple of weeks she had relaxed, and was far more at home. Cassie had started to look at her like a little sister, grateful for her company during those few hours when Devon was away hunting, and Chris returned home to watch over his mother.

She was also glad for Dani’s unwavering friendship, a friendship that had been given easily, and with no conditions. “Just giving you a warning, Lily already has the camera set up and ready to go.”

Cassie laughed softly as she smoothed the front of her deep violet dress. It was strapless, clinging to her upper body before flowing out gently to her knees. When she’d seen it, she had known instantly that she had to have it. And she did not regret it for a moment, even if it was a little more daring than she would normally like.

She didn’t know how Devon was going to react to the dress. She hoped that he liked it, but she didn’t wish to test the boundaries of his control. She simply wanted to feel normal again tonight, to be a normal teenage girl for once, even if she didn’t think it was possible.

“You don’t think it’s a little too much, or actually less?” she asked worriedly.

Dani chuckled softly. “I think it’s perfect, and you’re wearing waaaaay more clothing then most of the other girls will be. Don’t worry about it.”

Cassie nodded, but she still couldn’t shake the uncomfortable feeling that had settled over her. “Yeah, but they’re not dating vampire’s,” she muttered.

Dani laughed as she shook back her dark hair. The blood red tips had been replaced with white blond ones. “Nope, they all just wish they were dating him,” Dani told her. Cassie snorted softly, twisting her hair up into a loose knot that rested against the nape of her neck. “It will be fine; the dress really isn’t that revealing Cass.”

She nodded, not feeling as reassured as Dani wanted, but deciding not to stress about it anymore. It was too late; she had already wearing the dress and Devon would be here any minute. The second the thought crossed her mind, the doorbell rang. Cassie’s hand fluttered nervously up to the pearls at her neck. They were her grandmother’s, her mother had worn them on her wedding day and they would one day be Cassie’s. A wave of sadness washed over her, for a brief moment she wished that her parents were here. She loved her grandmother dearly, and would never trade a moment of her life with her, but every once in awhile she wished that her parents had also been around to watch her grow up, to also be a part of her life.

With a soft sigh, she pushed the melancholy thoughts aside; there was no place for them tonight. Tonight was about her friends, Devon, and this dance. Tonight was for fun, and she was going to have it for a change. Taking strength from the pearls, Cassie grabbed her pea coat from her bed and draped it over her arm. She listened as her grandmother let Devon, Melissa, and Chris in. “I wish you could come,” she said as she turned back to Dani.

The younger girl studied her carefully for a moment. “I don’t, I’m glad I’m too young. It’s not exactly my thing.”

“Mine either,” Cassie admitted softly. “Not anymore anyway.”

“Are you ok?”

Forcing a smile, Cassie nodded. “I’m fine.”

“Well come on then, you don’t want to keep them waiting.”

Dani grabbed her bowl of popcorn, fairly bouncing as she led the way down the hall. Cassie realized that the popcorn had not been made for a movie, but this was Dani’s show. Shaking her head, she fought back a chuckle as Dani darted down the stairs. Cassie made her way slowly down, turning the corner into the living room.

Her breath froze in her lungs as she caught sight of Devon standing by the mantle. His hair had been brushed back from the hard plains of his face. The finely tailored sports coat he wore clung to his hard, broad shoulders. He looked magnificent, strong, powerful, and oh so handsome that he made her heart ache. Need tore through her, along with the overwhelming urge to touch him, to feel him, to never part from him again.

He stiffened when he saw her, his eyes flashed fiercely in the light; hunger blossomed in their brilliant emerald depths. His mouth parted slightly as his gaze raked slowly over her, causing heat to burn through her. An inner quaking took root in her, shaking through muscle and bone. Her mouth went dry, her heart hammered with its fierce desire for him.

His gaze slowly returned to hers, burning with a fire the likes of which she had never seen before. Cassie’s tremors intensified, leaving her weak kneed. No, the dress had not been a good idea at all. But then, she felt she could be wearing a sack and he would still look at her like she was a treat that he wanted to devour.

He moved slowly toward her, his movements reminding her of an animal stalking its prey. She didn’t know if she was more frightened to be his prey, or excited to be it. Stopping before her, his gaze slowly perused her once more. Cassie shivered, her breath exploded from her as he took hold of her hand, his touch seared into her skin, burned its way into every molecule of her body as she was branded by him for the rest of her life.

She would always remember the way that he felt against her, the delicious way that he made her feel. She would never forget how perfect his skin was, how right and true it was. Even if she couldn’t have him forever, she would have the memories, and the feeling, for she could recall it all in an instant.

He bent low over her hand, his eyes never leaving hers as he placed a gentle kiss upon her. Cassie’s mouth parted, her pulse pounded rapidly in her temples as liquid lava pooled through her. His head bent over her hand, his lips pressed so gently against her skin was the most debonair, sweetest thing she had ever seen.

He kept hold of her hand as he stood slowly. “You look exquisite,” he whispered.

Heat flooded Cassie’s face; she looked away from him, unable to take the overwhelming sensations beating against her. Her body was a tumult of emotions and feelings that were crashing wildly against each other. His hand tightened upon hers, the gentle stroking of his thumb did nothing to ease the chaos clamoring through her.