I'm Not A Savior

Three days have passed since I asked Tess and Matt to stay in town, and we haven’t seen Carmina. There hasn’t even a missing person report on any of the news channels. This was a strange sign out of Carmina. Either she’s not bothering on hunting people and using familiars, or she’s living on animal blood like I have been since I was turned. Either way, something is brewing and it won’t end well for any of us.

Kenzie is still on my mind every waking moment of the day. I dream of her every night, but the dreams I have of her vary in detail. I’ll dream of her being her normal human self before I watch as she ages before my eyes. Then there’s another one of her still human where I’m forced to watch Carmina kill her.

But there was a third dream that repeated itself more often in my sleep. It’s of Kenzie, but it’s nothing like the others. She’s in a meadow with a small child in her arms. The child looks like her and I, which is strange since I have no idea if I could actually father a kid. But then I see her look up and Kenzie has eyes of a vampire, her natural eye color with a faint glow behind them. I can see the scar on her neck where the one that sired her bit into her to start the process. I was puzzled by the child being there, but then I saw that the child’s eyes were glowing faintly as well, but I heard a heartbeat in my ears.

Whatever my dreams may be, I need to figure out what they’re trying to tell me. The only kind of people that can decode a dream is a witch, and I haven’t met any in the last couple decades. The last witch I met was killed by Carmina, all because the witch was trying to find a cure for me so I can be free of my immortal curse.

With the homecoming happening at the school, I’ve been kept busy from my worries over Carmina and trying to keep Kenzie safe from her and myself. I was picked to sponsor the senior class’s float for the parade. All that entailed was for me to supervise the seniors during their free period when they got the chance to work on the float. Surprisingly, Kenzie was roped into helping by one of my other students, Taylor Jardine. I guess Taylor was nice enough to befriend Kenzie since she was new to the school. But I sensed something about her, something familiar.
--- It was time for the parade before the football game. Being the supervisor of the senior float project, I was given the privilege to pull the float off the hitch of my car. I am so glad I didn’t let Tess talk me into a sedan, because my SUV made me more comfortable pulling the float.
And speaking of Tess, since she was so much younger than me when she turned, she and I got her enrolled into the high school so she could help me keep an eye on Kenzie and the other students. Tess was also around Kenzie’s age when I turned her so she was put into the senior class with her and she hacked into the class schedules to give herself all the same classes as Kenzie.

“They did a good job on the float, Alex,” Tess commented while she and I rode along the parade route. Kenzie and Tay had come along too, but were out on the float with a couple of guys that helped with the float.

“Yeah they did,” I smirked knowing I was able to see Kenzie more thanks to her helping out on the float.

“And what’s even better is that you didn’t have an issue with your control,” Matt added from the back seat.

“Thanks Mr. Optimist,” I replied sarcastically.
“He has a point Alex,” Tess added, “You are getting way better around her. In no time you’ll be able to quit your job to look after her.”

“I don’t know Tess,” I was having second thoughts, “I could just wait until she graduated and then quit. Then it won’t be so off.”

“Let’s play it by ear,” she reasoned, “We have to see how Carmina will play her cards as the year continues.”
--- “Mr. Gaskarth,” I heard a voice call as I was looking over some homework I had to grade.

“Yes,” I looked to find Taylor standing over my desk, “Oh hi Taylor, what can I do for you?”

“We need to talk,” she spoke plainly, “And not about class.”

“What do you mean,” I asked her.

“I know what you are,” she replied, “I can sense it about you.”

“Taylor,” I looked at her dead in the eye, “Explain it to me, and keep it quiet.”

“I know you’re a vampire,” she whispered, “But from what I can tell you aren’t a violent one that has no control over his thirst like others can.”

“How do you know,” I wanted to know. I was so careful to cover up my true nature from society, sticking to the shadows as best as I could.

“I’m a witch, Mr. Gaskarth,” she replied, “and from how tense you’ve been since the first week of school, something has been hounding you and I want to help.”

“No,” I told her, “You’re too young. And you’re most like not experienced enough with your magic to help me.”

“I’ve been trained since I could walk,” she replied, determined to not let me pass her up, “Now let me help.”

“Alright fine,” I gave in, I needed all the help I could get, “But you have to make me a promise.”

“What’s that,” she asked.

“You have to call me Alex after school hours,” I told her, “And help protect Kenzie.”

“Why her,” she didn’t have a clue.

“Because there’s something about her that has me drawn to her,” I told her, “I’m having different dreams about her. This is something that has never happened to me.”

“Alex,” she looked down at my desk before looking back up at me, “You’re in love. It’s a Romeo and Juliet thing.”

“That can’t happen,” I protested, “Vampires can’t love.”

“Oh yes they can,” she replied, “That’s how the first witches came along. Alex, it’s nothing to worry about. You just happen to still have your humanity.”

“I’m worried about her,” I sighed and rubbed my temples, “So what should we do first, Taylor?”

“I’ll buddy up to her, try to get her to have sleepovers with as often as possible or to just be together after school,” Taylor offered.

“That could work,” I agreed, “I can schedule a group project for the rest of the semester for you to work on with her. I’ll assign the partners so you two can stick together.”

“That sounds like a plan,” she agreed to my half of the plan, “But one more thing.”

“What’s that,” I was puzzled.

“Call me Tay from now on,” she replied, “Taylor is way too formal for my taste, old man.”

“Tay, just go to class,” I told her, “We can talk more after school let’s out. You’ll need to meet Tessa and Matt too.”

Notes

A new addition to team Alex has arrived. :)