I felt her pulse beating through my coat, and her blood smelled nearly irresistible. But the stone had skipped four times, so I bent down to kiss her.
Callie and I spent all day together, and then I slept at the lake again. When I arrived home the following day at dusk, I found a pile of clothes, including the black trousers and gray coat Id modeled for Lexi, on the floor outside my room. On top of the pile was a note, written in block handwriting.
Follow your heart. You're lucky you still have one.
I scooped the bundle up into my arms, touched, relieved, and a little bit sad all at once.
I changed into a blue chambray shirt and white trousers and slicked my hair back in the mirror. I looked like any young man preparing for a rendezvous with a pretty girl. I just wished it were that simple.
I crept down the stairs, waiting for someone to jump out of the shadows to stop me--to tell me my plan would never work. But I made it all the way down and then through the kitchen and out the backdoor without that happening.
Once outside, I walked the two miles to Laurel Street with my hands in my pockets, whistling the strains of "God Save the South. " I paused to pick a white magnolia from a bush in front of a peach-colored mansion at the bottom of Callies street.
"Stefan!" an urgent whisper came from behind the tree at the bottom of the Gallagher driveway.
Callie stepped into view. Her hair was loose and flowing down her back, and she was wearing a white nightdress trimmed in eyelet lace, just like the first time Id seen her, except that this time she was standing close enough to me that I could see that although she was wearing a heavy gray woolen shawl, she wasnt wearing a petticoat. I turned away, suddenly shy.
"Stefan," Callie murmured, brushing my arm with her fingers. "Are you ready?"
"Yes," I said. I took the flower and tucked it behind her ear.
She smiled. "Youre such a gentleman. "
"And youre beautiful," I responded, reaching out to push a strand of hair behind her ear. Her tresses were as soft as rose petals and smelled of honey. I wanted to stay there forever, watching her breath form puffs of air in front of me.
"Callie " I began, when the bells of a distant church chimed suddenly into the frosty air. Twelve bells. Midnight. The witching hour.
"Its time," Callie said. "Jaspers shift lasts until twelve thirty, but I can tell him youre there to relieve him early. That will buy us some time. Once the second guard shows up, youll be long gone. But we have to hurry. " She sounded very sure of herself, but her trembling lip gave away her emotions. I wanted to throw my arms around her, tuck her into bed, and whisper "sweet dreams" in her ear. But I, a vampire, was relying on this child to protect me.
Callie knit her fingers together as if in silent prayer. Then she nodded and gave me a wan smile. "Dont be scared," she said, pressing her palm into mine. But I could feel her heart thumping at a gallop from the pulse points in her palm.
She led me through the iron gates and around the gravel driveway, and opened a nondescript door on the side of the house.
"Be quiet," Callie commanded, as my eyes adjusted to the dark. Unlike the rest of the house, with its polished marble and gleaming oak, this entrance was strictly utilitarian, designed for servants to have easy access to the storage space in the attic without disturbing the residents of the house. A steep staircase, made of unfinished walnut beams, loomed in front of us. Callie cocked her head, listening for something. I followed suit, although my thoughts were buzzing too loudly for me to hear specific words.
Suddenly, I heard a scraping sound from the floor above us. Callie glanced at me; shed heard it as well.
"Jasper," Callie explained. "We should go up. " She walked up the rickety steps, as I followed quickly behind her. Once we got to the cracked, whitewashed door, she knocked--two quick raps followed by a pause, then a longer one.
A lock clicked, and then we heard the scratch of metal against metal as Jasper undid the bolt. Finally, he opened the door, wedging his body next to the edge so we couldnt see inside.
"Well, well, well. Callie and the man who staked the vampire, then ran for his life. To what do we owe the pleasure?" Jasper leered. I shifted uncomfortably, trying to get a glimpse inside the room.
"Hello, Jasper," Callie said, brushing past him and motioning for me to follow. In the darkness, I could just make out a sizable cage in the corner. A large, unmoving lump lay inside. "Father needs you in the study. Stefan will take over until the next shift arrives. "
"Meet Jasper in the study?" a loud voice boomed. "But Im right here. "
I froze. Gallagher.
Callies father was perched at a rickety table behind the door, a hand of cards laid out in front of him. In the center of the table, a single candle flickered.
"Oh, Father. " Callie giggled. The sound felt forced, out of place. "I must have been confused. I know youd wanted to play cards tonight, and I suppose I thought youd be more comfortable in the study or " she began, her voice wavering. She licked her lips and sat down at the table across from Gallagher.
"Youre kind to think of me, girl," Gallagher said gruffly.
"Mr. Gallagher," I said, bowing slightly. "I was told to report for duty, but perhaps Im mistaken?" The confusion wasnt hard to feign. Callie had sworn her father would be out of the house.
"Is that right, Jasper?" Gallagher asked.