House of Night by PC Cast and Kristin Cast

Blood Fated by Cassaundra Carrillo

My story or what once was book 1

Chapter 1

We were sitting in the waiting room of the Barcelona airport waiting for our next connecting flight back to the U.S. Our first flight originated in Armenia where my mother and father just adopted a thirteen month old baby boy. I can see his somber sleepy face cradled between my mothers arm and chest. This will be my parents fourth adopted child well to get technical third. I was the first almost seventeen years ago to the day I came in to their lives as a new born. Lillian and Craig are technicaly my foster parents. Lillian tried for so long to adopt me but my mysterious past and lack of release papers from my birth parents prevented the actual adoption. I have two younger siblings Kyle who is a year younger than I, he’s the athletic one. Adianna is seven years younger and until now she has been the baby of the family. Adianna has always been the little social bee and is more than ready to shed her title as baby of the family. Though the new baby doesn’t officially have a name yet, Lillian and Craig are leaning toward Isacc.

“Dad, can you pass me my bag?”

Craig passed my bag over without so much as taking his gaze off of Lillian and the baby. Fumbling through the front pocket I pulled out my I-pod. Placing the ear pieces in I turned on my library. Surely I will have listened to every seven hundred and ninety six songs in my library before we get home. Leaning back in the chair I gazed around at all the passers by. The flight attendants here had a very stylish fashionable uniform compared to the dull ones in America. These attendants made it seem like a glamorous job. There were many different looking people here I tried eagerly to guess where they were from based on their ethnic appearances. Italy, Russia possibly Germany, definitely Paris. Almost as if in slow motion everything blurred with only his face in focus. Sleek jet black hair olive tinged skin, thick bushy eyebrows, a bit of razor stubble outlined his jaw, soft succulent lips smiled around his pearly white teeth. A dark freckle on his left cheek didn’t obscure his face rather it enhanced his beauty. His long dark eye lashes hid his deep brown eyes. Wow! Abercrombie and Fitch model in the raw! Probably the most gorgeous looking guy in the world and I had no idea where he was from. There was another man with him that I could see now. The other man looked slightly older and almost nearly as perfect looking in a George Clooney sort of way. There was a girl who followed slightly behind them same fare skin color only her hair was a waist length long strait silky smooth red and caramel brown combination. They must be some European models.

I kept my gaze on the first guy and watched as they checked in to my surprise, on our flight. A smile crept over my face, I hoped I had a good view of him on the plane I wouldn’t mind the ridiculously long flight if I could spend it staring at him. Reluctantly I pried my gaze away to notice others around me staring at the trio.

“Hey dad, is that all right if I go to the restroom?”

“You and your mother can go, I’m sure she needs a break.” My father motioned to my mother and gently eased the napping baby into his arms. My mother picked up her purse and walked with me. My father was being very protective at the moment very paternal I think the baby brought this about. Never the less my father didn’t like letting us out of his sights in foreign countries.

After using the toilet thingy, I walked to the counter and pulled out a brush from my back pack, and began running it through my long brunette strands. My hair had a slight wave in it from my hair being tied up in a pony tail. Typically ponytails were perfect when traveling but for some reason I wanted to style my hair. My mother emerged a few minutes later and washed her hands beside me.

“What’s the occasion Eveilia?” She smiled watching as I fussed over my hair.

“Mom we are in Europe, it is almost a law to look your best.”

“Oh, I see. Well it’s a good thing you are naturally beautiful.”

I know I am not bad looking but also not beautiful. Somehow I fell right into the middle, and blended well into the background.

“Your just saying that because you have to.” I retorted.

Lillian opened up her purse and applied some eye shadow lip liner and gloss and a hint of mascara on me.

“Is that better?” She asked.

Looking in the mirror I answered. “Yes.”

Sitting back down next to my father he announced that the plane was scheduled to leave in thirty minutes. I turned to look out the windows to see the jet parked at the terminal now. I wrapped my headphones around my I-pod and placed it back in my pocket.

My father was talking to my mother and I heard her argue.

“Let Eveilia take that seat, she’s a big girl, she’ll be fine we’ll all be on the same plane.”

My father turned to me. “We are going to be separated on this flight, the single seat is a window seat, if you want it if not you can sit with your mother a few rows up.”

“I’ll take the window, you two should sit together.” Sensing his hesitance I reassured him. “I have my music I prefer being alone besides if there’s a problem we could always switch seats later right?” That seemed to do the trick, he handed me my ticket.

The plane began boarding a minute later. I gathered up mine and my mothers bags as we went to stand in line. A warm feeling settled over me and the pit of my stomach grew heavy. Suddenly I felt uneasy as if chills were tracing their way down my arms. Turning my head slightly I glanced over and from the corner of my eyes I could see him and his other two companions standing behind us less than a foot away.

As we boarded the plane I stopped a few aisles up from mine to help my mother and father get situated. Trying to put my mothers bags in the over head I dropped her toiletry zip bag. Leaning over to pick it up some one had caught it and was handing it back to me, reaching for it I followed the strangers hand up to his face. Recognizing the guy from earlier. Embarrassed I could feel my cheeks flush.

“Thank you.” I managed to get out in a rather calm voice with out a stutter. The guy smiled back.

I placed her bag in the compartment and walked two rows back and found my seat opposite my parents. Making my way over to the window I sat down and placed my bag under the seat as necessary. The redish brunette hair girl sat next to me and I heard the boy’s accent.

“Claire, I believe you and I must have accidentally switched tickets.”

“No. We did not.” The girl stated coolly.

The boy eyed the girl intently. “Yes we did.”

The man with them intervened, “Collin leave your sister be.”

The boy sighed and walked back to sit behind us. Damn it! I was hoping to have a view of him. I turned to look down at the tar mat and the workers below. Another woman in her mid forties very business like sat in the aisle seat. Soon we were up in the air and given permission to retrieve our bags from under the seat. Placing my ear pieces on again I set my music on a play list and leaned back gazing at the raising sun. We would be following the sun today. On our way here it was all darkness very boring. Until city lights appeared that is.

About six songs into the trip the girl jerked up and turned up in her seat and looked angry. Turning down the volume I eavesdropped. The girls voice was thick with a Scottish? Maybe Irish accent and very high pitched voice.

“Father! You always give him what he wants.”

The woman on the aisle seat looked a little perturbed and pretentious. If she was so much better then the rest of us then why the hell was she traveling in coach. I knew too many people like her at my school, I defiantly didn’t care for those sorts. The pretty girl stood up and scooted her way out into the aisle. Turning my music back up I leaned my head against the cold window and closed my eyes. Wrapping my arms across my stomach I tried to warm my self while I got lost in the music. Warmth instantly replenished my body when I felt the girl sit back down.

Waking up I yawned and blinked a few times, my neck was stiff and sore I tried effortlessly to stretch the pain away. There was an unfamiliar brown leather jacket with a distinct smell of rain and freshly cut grass, draped over me. I turned to see the one they called Collin sitting next to me. He smiled and said something I couldn’t make out over the music. I turned my head away and wiped my eyes quickly and pulled out my earphones in one fast motion.

“Did you sleep well?” The boy stared at me waiting for an answer.

“Not really my neck is in excruciating pain. How long have I been asleep?”

“Couple hours.”

“Where did Claire go?” The words came out as if we’d all known each other previously. Collin picked up on that as well.

“She wanted to change seats.” There was a slight hint of sarcasm in his voice. “One minute.”

Collin turned back to the lady on his other side and laid down a hand of cards onto her tray, “Gin.”

“Would you like to play another round or perhaps a new game.” The woman smiled flirtatiously.

“I think I need a break, perhaps later.” Collin said very pleasantly before turning back to me. Collin reached his hand over the back of his seat and simply said, “Pillow.”

There was something alluring about him, sure he was good looking and all but that wasn’t it. I had been around good looking guys before and well nervousness usually set in. Collin radiated a warmth and I felt surprisingly comfortable around him. I watched as he placed the pillow against my arm rest.

“Turn and lean against this.” His voice was very sure of himself and for some strange reason so was I.

With my back to him I stared out the tiny window and felt his hand running through my hair pulling it out away from my back and running his finger down through the probably tangled strands. The motion was very soothing I closed my eyes to take in every bit of this moment. Collin brushed my hair over my left shoulder, his fingers brushed against my neck picking up loose strands. I felt my body stiffen at the skin to skin contact.

“Relax.” His voice was insistent.

As if under some spell I could not object to anything he said. His warm hands caressed my neck then gently put a little pressure as they rubbed back and fourth. After some time his warm fingers began moving in circular motions and my head dropped forward. My favorite was when his hands cradled the sides of my neck and he ran is thumbs up and down behind my ears. His hands cradled my jaw and I could feel the tips of his fingers near the edges of my mouth. My neck already felt a hundred times better and he could have stopped but I was reluctant to say anything in fear that he would stop touching me. There was nothing sexual about it, I felt like I was meditating very calm and relaxing. His Caress was not seductive as it was caring.

“Eve!” Jerking my head I looked up to look at my father. “Why don’t you keep your mother company for me.”
How embarrassing how could Craig do this to me. I heard my mother laughing a few rows up ahead and heard her telling stories about me when I was younger.

“It sounds like she is having fun, if you would like me to go interrupt her good time then fine.” I turned to sit back into my seat. “Dad, this is Collin, Collin this is my father Craig.” Collin stretched out his hand but my father refused to shake it. I have never seen Craig be so rude he is always very formal calm and collected. Only once ever did he loose his temper with me. That’s another story for another time. Instead my attention was on my father.

“You keep your hands off my daughter or so help me.”

The man behind us stood up. “Is there a problem here, that is my son your talking to. My name is Declan.” Declan raised his hand and Craig shook it, “It’s Craig and I would appreciate it if your son would refrain from pawing at my under aged, daughter.”

The woman sitting between the commotion smiled to herself as if happy to hear the under aged description of me. Collin stood up.

“I am only seventeen and I was simply relieving the pain in her neck, I will stop I assure you there were no alternate intentions.” Taking my lead Collin continued. “Perhaps you would prefer if I leave your precious daughter in excruciating pain. I do how ever prefer myself to be a gentle men and come to the aid of a woman in need. It will not happen again you have my word.”

Now everyone’s attention was on the three men standing up and I just wanted to fade away. I heard my mother’s voice calling.

“Craig stop making a spectacle, and come sit down.”

With that said everyone took their seats again.

“I’m sorry about that, we just adopted a baby boy into our family and his paternal instincts are in over drive lately. He’s usually a distant dad you know?”

Collin looked at me questioningly, “what is a distant dad?’

“You know the ones that leave to work before you wake up and return home just before you go to bed. They are always away on business trips they do their best to be around but their work is always in the way.”

“Oh. But he seems to love you very much. He is a good father, is he not?”

Not sure if that was a question I answered anyways. “Of course, besides my mother makes up for it.”

I thought back to all the times it felt like Lillian was a single parent. Lillian worked from home and around our schedules. Lillian never missed any of my art exhibits, or Adianna’s dance recitals, nor did she ever miss any of Kyle’s football games. Lillian was a super mom, she did it all, no matter what she always put her family first. Craig on the other hand put Lillian first, then work then us kids. We never resented him for it, it was just his way. I will admit that I was often jealous how he would take out parts of his days to make it to all of Kyle’s home games, but never anything else. This was going to be my last year and he had never seen one of my show cases.

“So your really seventeen?” I asked in an effort to change the subject.

“Yes, and you are what age?”

“I’ll be seventeen next week.” I smiled.

All of a sudden the plane jerked around, and woke two babies one of which was Isaac the two babies cried. The flight attendants walked around asking everyone to sit back down and fasten their seat belts. The pilot came on the intercom to make an announcement.

“This is your pilot speaking. Folks we have just hit a bit of turbulence, we ask that you remain seated for the time being. Thank you. What the hell!”

Some how I don’t think he meant to say that over the intercom. In an instant my window went pitch black Collin leaned over my shoulder to look out there was nothing to see.

“Is it a storm?” I heard a voice ask from the distance. One of the attendants entered the cockpit.
The plane began to jerk back and forth more violently now, there were faint whimpers from children, mothers consoling. The other two attendants, stood in the aisles.

“Please place your carryon luggage under your seats and fasten your trays, until we are clear of this storm.”

A bright blue flash of light came from my window and I looked over just as the plane dropped a bit. We were hit, the light hit the plane that was obvious as we tilted sideways. More people were growing panicked and I fumbled with my seat belt. The strap was stuck and it wouldn’t loosen enough to get around my waist.

“It’s stuck I can’t get it!”

Collin reached around me and I saw his muscles flex under his shirt as he struggled with the belt. The plane jerked again.

“Get up!” He said and pulled me down into his seat and quickly fastened the belt around me. Looking over to his father I heard him ask. “Can we?”

“No, it is too dangerous there are no openings, just ride it out.” I heard Declan say.

The plane jerked and Collin fell into the empty seat beside me. A bright flash came from the other side of the plane and instantly we felt and heard the engine stop simultaneously. A woman’s voice came over the intercom.

“Please relax, this is a large storm we have a back up and can still safely fly out of this.
We are going to turn around and land as soon as we can.” A man’s voice came from the background. “What is it? It came out of no where?”

The plane shook again and wobbled in the air. The lights flickered and the over head masks dropped down. Everything was happening in slow motion as I watched. The masks seemed to dance swaying back and forth bouncing in sync. Every so often a hand would reach up and pull one out of my vision. I saw my mother stand up with a mask on her face. Lillian’s red curly hair bounced and flowed through the air as she turned to check on me. I stared into her panicked eyes, as I felt Collin placing my mask over my mouth. In a trance I watched her eyes on me as Craig tried to pull her back down into her seat. In a bright blue flash she was gone along with the front right side of the plane.

“Mooooom!” I yelled screamed trying to lung forward after her only to get caught by my seat belt and Collin’s arm holding me back. Suddenly I was brought back to the moment everything was moving alarmingly fast now. The pressure was intense ripping the seats from their foundation. Collin pulled my head into his chest shielding my eyes as I watched that row of passengers getting sucked out over and over in my mind. The screams were background noise in my ears now. Collin held me tighter and I could almost swear I felt him unbuckling my seat belt moments before I felt the air sucking us in. I know I should have been more scared but somehow I felt safe pressed up against Collin. The only horror I felt was watching my mothers eyes and then seeing her disappear in an instant. I felt the air rushing all around us I felt the spinning of our bodies , nausea setting in. Now all I had left to do is wait till our death. Would it be collision with land or water. Either way we were dead on impact. At least I can say I died in the arms of a gorgeous man. This is usually the point in my dream where I wake up. Wake up. I told myself but no this wasn’t a dream I wasn’t waking up!

Twirling I fought hard to breath without getting sick. Some how breathing was not a problem from this altitude. I looked up into Collin’s eyes, I’m not sure if he seen me or not His eyes were deep in thought or concentration I am not sure which. My eyes rolled back into my head and saw nothing but darkness. Suddenly everything was still.

Blood Fated are registered tradmarks of CSP Inc. copyright © 2009 CSP inc.
11:03 AM

I froze like a deer and headlights when Craig yelled at Eve when Collin was massaging her. I felt like i got caught stealing a cookie from the cookie jar. I was so IN the story my stomach dropped when Lillian disappeared and was all watery eyed throughout the last few passages.