Taken (Page 20)

As the group entered the theater, they took their seats in the back row. They opened up their 3D glasses and started taking pictures with their cell phone cameras.

“I’m posting this to Facebook!” Jen said as she began pressing buttons on her iPhone.

“Tag me!” said Emily.

“Me, too,” said Taryn.

“I’m tagging everyone, don’t worry!” Jen said.

As the lights dimmed and the previews began, Rachel could feel Rob’s arm wrap around her shoulders. He held a soda in his other hand, sipping it casually with a straw. Rachel felt a little awkward about the situation, but didn’t push him off. Rob was acting as if nothing had happened between them, as he put his other hand on her leg. The movie began and Rob’s hand was slowly moving up her thigh.

She didn’t know what to do. She felt that it was too much, too soon, but at the same time, she was afraid that if she pushed his hand away, things might be over between them. She closed her eyes and breathed deep, wishing that Benji were here to take her away from all of this.

Chapter Twelve

Benji sped down Route 22 on his motorcycle, the cool fall breezes rushing through his hair. It was getting dark out and the road was becoming desolate. All he could think about was Rachel. He knew that he had to see her one more time before he left for his ancestral home at Lyndvia Castle.

He was worried, though, because he hadn’t heard from Rachel since he’d told her his secret. He didn’t know how she felt about him now and that scared him. He wanted desperately for Rachel to be with him and to share his passions with him, but all he could think about was the look on her face after he told her he was a vampire. She looked at him as though she’d never seen him before, like he was a stranger. He felt a complete shift in Rachel that night. He felt like she went from complete and utter passion to sheer fear and hatred. He didn’t know what to make of it.

Benji hadn’t called her since that night because he wanted to give her some time to cool off. He figured she needed time to think about things and let everything settle down. He was worried about how she would react to him now. His biggest fear was that she’d want nothing to do with him anymore. The thought of that ate him up inside.

As he came to a stoplight on the outskirts of town, he pulled out his cell phone and wrote her a text. He hadn’t texted her in days and hoped she hadn’t blocked his number.

Hey, Rachel. I need to see you. Where are you?

He waited for her response, but nothing came.

A few minutes went by and he felt a buzzing noise. He slowed down his bike and opened his phone.

Rachel: Hi! I’m at the movies with friends. Where are you?

Benji: I’m on my way. I’ll text you when I get there.

Benji shut his phone and headed towards the movies. He knew he had nothing to lose by reaching out to see the love of his life one more time before he left.

As he was turning left in the intersection, he heard a loud horn blaring in his ears and saw a pickup truck swerving into his lane. He quickly turned his bike and floored it. He missed a major collision by millimeters.

As he made his final turn into the movie theater, he pulled out his phone and texted Rachel. He couldn’t wait for her to come out and see him. He could feel his body getting colder and colder with each minute that passed. His nerves were growing as he watched and waited for Rachel to come through the double doors of the theater. He had visions of their reunion being like something out of a movie where Rachel would run to him fast and then jump into his arms and they would live happily ever after.

A moment later, he did see Rachel, but she was not running. She was walking slowly, with a pensive look on her face. Benji didn’t know what to make of it. He waited for her to get closer, so as not to draw attention to himself by screaming her name. He noticed that she looked especially beautiful tonight, which made him wonder who she was at the movies with. He hoped it wasn’t a date. He didn’t even want to let his mind go there.

“Hi,” Benji said as she came closer.

He waited for her to respond, but she didn’t. She just looked at him as if she wanted him to explain himself.

“How have you been? I missed you?” Benji said, going out on a limb.

He saw Rachel let out a smile and then say, “I’m OK, it’s been a pretty crazy couple of days here since the fight.”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, I should warn you the police are after you. They’ve been questioning everyone at school about you. I think they’re on to you. You better be careful.”

“I guess they would be,” Benji replied calmly. “Things like this have happened before and I always manage to out\smart them.” He let out a laugh and then checked his phone. “I only have a few minutes until I have to leave.”

“What do you mean leave? Where are you going?” Rachel asked.

“I’m going back to my castle. I need to get back to my ancestral home to reflect and recharge. It’s been a while since I’ve been back, and given the way things are going here, I could use some time at home.”

“Wait a minute. Castle? What on earth are you talking about?”

“Did you not hear me the other night when I told you I lived in a castle?”

Benji stopped speaking and waited for Rachel to say something. She looked him up and down and then said, “I did, but I didn’t believe you.”

“Take my hand,” Benji said as he held his hand out for Rachel to grab. “Please.”

She hesitated, then reached out and touched him. A surge of energy ran through his body, which he could not deny. His big eyes stared deeply into her soul and all he could think about was what she would taste like. He wanted to taste her blood, but he controlled his urge. He’d never hurt Rachel. Never.

He couldn’t believe he had gotten himself into this situation in the first place. He knew never to trust a human, let alone fall in love with one. He knew he was making the right choice by going back home for a while. He would miss Rachel, but he couldn’t bear to put her in any danger. He squeezed her hand and said, “Do you feel me? I’m not like you.”

Rachel shook her head and then quickly let go of his hand. He wished so desperately he could read her mind. Normally, he could read people’s minds. But in her case, he couldn’t. He just couldn’t tell what she was thinking. Why did she have to be so difficult to read?

“You’re freezing,” Rachel said with a quiver. “Why are you so cold?”