From Gods (Descendant Prophecies Book 1)(41)

Slowly, Mason inched his way closer and closer to her lips. She couldn't  believe he was finally going to kiss her. Her whole body ignited with  heat and want. When his lips touched hers, instinctively she pressed  both hands on his chest. "Stop." Remembering Remus, she became really  scared and protective. "What if something bad happens to you?" She'd  ruined the moment, but she didn't care. His life was more important than  a kiss. Though she knew it was swallowing her blood that had killed  Remus, she couldn't take the risk.

"How many times must I tell you? I guess I'm going to have to show you."  Without warning, he dove in and planted his lips on hers. His kiss was  soft and perfect, and much more than she'd imagined it would be. Though  it didn't last very long, it left Skylar wanting more, sinking deeper  into the mattress, swallowed up in his succulent kiss.

When he pulled away, he fell onto his side of the bed. With both of his  hands on his neck, he made gagging sounds as if he were choking.

Skylar was horrified. "Mason? Mason!" she called out, sitting up and placing her hands on his arms.

Mason stopped and pulled her in. Her legs swung over his hips and her  body pressed to his chest as he embraced her tightly. "Just kidding. I  was joking. See? I'm fine." It was his way of apologizing for being a  prick.

"Ugh . . . jerk!" Skylar tried to pull away, but she couldn't budge from  his hold. She was mad, but she couldn't stop giggling from his sense of  humor. For a second, she remained still, enjoying her position,  enjoying this tender moment as they exchanged an undeniably passionate  gaze. In his arms, she found comfort. In his arms, she was just a normal  girl being held by a normal guy.

"You got me," Skylar said when Mason released her.

"Now go to sleep. It's almost time to get up." Mason became distant again, turning his back to her.

With her eyes on his back, she wanted to reach out and touch him, to help him forget his pain.

"Don't stare at me," he mumbled.

"I'm not staring," Skylar said, recalling when he had said those words the last time, making her laugh.

"Oh, yes you are," he chuckled lightly. "I can feel your stare."

Skylar giggled and shook her head. "Fine, you got me again." She'd made a  small dent in his wall tonight and slowly she would try her best to  chip it away. Holding on to their first kiss, not knowing if it meant  something to him or not, she fell asleep peacefully.



         

     



 

When Skylar opened her eyes, she knew it was late. She turned to Mason, but he was already out of bed, out of sight.

There was a note on his pillow:



Sky,

Lunch on the table. Taking care of business. Manager out sick at Bella Amore.

Till then,

Mason



It was already lunchtime? Skylar got out of bed and saw the clothes  Mason had washed and dried for her. He was so thoughtful that way. She  changed, ate, called home to her mom, got into her car, and headed back  to her dorm.

On her way, she got a text from Kayla. She and Nick had made up and  things were back to normal. Kayla had decided to attend the local state  college. She would commute from home and continue to help her mom at the  diner. Though they texted often, with school schedules and Kayla  working, it would be difficult at times.





A week had passed. Disappointingly, Skylar had not heard from Mason, not  even a text or a phone call. Wanting to take a break from studying, she  texted Kayla.



Hey, what you doing?

Trying to study.

Miss you.

Miss you too. Hope you can visit soon.

I will. Things are crazy. I have an exam tomorrow.

Have you seen Mason lately?

No. It's been a week. I'm not counting on it.

I'm sorry.

No worries. Till then.



Skylar couldn't believe she'd used Mason's words "till then." Maybe his  wall was too thick. Maybe it was hopeless. Not wanting to think of him,  she poured herself into her studies. After an hour she picked up her  phone, hoping she'd missed a text or had a missed call from him-nothing.  She thought about calling, but lost her nerve. Placing the phone back  down on the table, she dove right back into her studies. Then a few  minutes later, she was startled by the vibrating phone and picked it up.  She was so excited to see it was a text from Mason she could hardly  contain herself.



Hi, Echo.

With a beaming smile, Skylar texted back: Hi.

What are you doing?

Studying.

Good. You're home. Are you alone?

No. Roommate.

Remember, stay around humans. Don't go anywhere by yourself and always  bring your phone. If you don't return my text then I'll know something  is wrong.

Okay. Stay near humans and not aliens.

Haha. You made me laugh.

Is it even possible to get a laugh from you? Just kidding.

Haha. I miss that.

Miss what?

Thinking of you. Till then.

Miss what?



He didn't answer and Skylar knew he'd done that on purpose. After the  text, it was difficult to study again, especially because he had said he  was thinking of her. A part of her felt guilty. She'd lied to Mason  about her roommate being home. Since there had been no signs of vultures  or other strange occurrences, she figured things were back to normal.

Not wanting to worry him, she hadn't told him the truth. Though she  thought about texting him back and letting him know she was alone,  hoping he would spend time with her, she knew better. He was busy with  work and she didn't want to bother him.

Her phone vibrated again. Surprisingly, it was her roommate. Emily had  never texted her before, even though Skylar had given her the cell phone  number.



I need help. I'm at the bio lab. Can you come now?

Room #?

Biology building, first floor, room 110.

I'm coming.



No questions asked, Skylar grabbed a sweater, placed her cell phone in  her pocket with her keys, and walked out onto campus grounds. It was  just after eight. The night sky was merciless and the cold breeze stung  her face. She walked quickly, passing the dimly lit parking lot. Seeing a  couple making out in a car, she looked away, but somehow it gave her  comfort that humans were around.

Farther along, the campus got darker since there weren't many late-night  classes. Hardly ever going out this late, she hadn't realized how fast  fall had crept in. Crossing her arms, she hugged herself tighter for  warmth. When she passed by the small café, she knew she was almost  there.

The campus was huge, but during the day it didn't seem so big. Perhaps  it was the anxiety building in her. The darkness made the beautiful  campus look gloomy, and she was almost positive she saw two pairs of  small yellow lights following her as if they were watching her every  move.

Finally, the biology building was in her sight. She just needed to cross  a path and she would be home free, but the path was so dreadfully dark  that she didn't know if she could do it.

Out of the blue, Skylar jolted straight up. With a huff, she took out  her cell phone and turned off the vibration mode, but kept it on silent.  It was another text from Emily.



Where are you?

I'm almost there.

Hurry!

What's so urgent?



There was no response.

Having a sudden idea, Skylar used her phone to shine a light along the  path. It wasn't as dark anymore. In no time, she was through the double  glass doors. Being inside, she was grateful to be out of the cold breeze  and with plenty of light she was able to put her cell phone in her back  pocket.         

     



 

The floor squeaked under her feet from her sneakers making contact with  the shiny laminate, and for several feet that was all she heard. Looking  at the door numbers, she knew she was almost there. Room 107, 108, 109.  Finally, Room 110.

Skylar pulled the door open, expecting to see a room full of students  wearing white lab coats and experimenting with test tubes or hovering  over microscopes, but that wasn't the case. In fact, Emily was the only  student there. She stood all the way in the back, behind a lab counter,  looking terrified. Trembling, she continued to stand there staring at  Skylar, shaking her head as if to tell her something. Then tears flowed  down her cheeks.

"Emily, are you okay?" Skylar started toward her, realizing someone else  might have texted her from Emily's phone. She looked too distraught to  have been texting. Whatever the reason, Skylar was glad she had come to  her rescue.

Just before she reached her, the door she had just entered made a loud  slamming noise and then she heard a click. Skylar instantly realized who  was behind this and terror crept up her back. Though she had known  Alena would come for her, she didn't think it would be this soon. She  was glad Mason wasn't around. She wouldn't want to put him or his  family's lives in danger too.

"Hello, Skylar," Alena said, looking pleased. "It's so nice to see you."  Her lips slowly curved up wickedly. "You probably didn't expect to see  me so soon, but you see, I have an agenda to follow."

Without hesitation, Skylar took several steps toward Emily, holding her  hand to calm her down. Emily was trembling so much she didn't know if  she would be able to get her to do what she wanted her to do when the  time came-namely run. "I knew you were coming. Let her go. She is  nothing to you."