Revelations

chapter twenty two

I awoke to drops of water falling on my face. I blinked and looked up and saw Jo looking down on me. She was sitting on me flicking water in my face.

"Oh so you're not dead then." She laughed, that was a laugh I loved to hear! And missed! She hugged me hard.

"Gracie I missed you heaps!"

I giggled, of course I have missed her loads too. "I've missed you too. Where are the others?"

She started tickling me. He he! I've missed my Jo.

I haven't seen her properly for a few weeks now, she's either been away, or with Pierre. Things have obviously been getting serious between them. Jo's Dad doesn't like it though. It's been great having him around, acting the father figure. He is lovely,

"We all got back a few hours ago!"

I smiled. "What about Leighton?"

She looked worried. "No, babe! They had to stay out there another week. Lots going on." I was gutted to say the least. I was meant to be flying out with Leighton on Tuesday to see my parents.

Yeah, we speak everyday but It's not the same. Right sod it, I'll have to go myself. I know Jo knew I was sad, she hugged me.

"It's ok babe, he will be back soon. I promise. Now get dressed. Joshua's making your favourite." She giggled and left the room.

I got up, took some clothes and underwear out the wardrobe and went and washed all my worries away. Everything was ok. Nothing's wrong. Why has he not even called me? All sorts of things were going through my mind, but deep down things felt a little strange.

The aromas coming from the kitchen were tantalising my taste buds. I knew what it was before I even stepped in the kitchen. Waffles! Mmm, I was starving.

I walked into the kitchen and they all swarmed around me with hugs and kisses, it was as if they had been away forever, when in fact it was only a few days, but I hugged them all back.

I love this family. They mean as much to me as my own parents do. Now I felt complete again. Taylor came for a hug last. I looked at him. "What do you want a hug for? You've been here all the time, silly. I giggled. He was a crazy nut.

I picked up the empty plastic bottle next to me and launched it at Taylor. He ducked and did that cheeky grin. He was telling everyone about our night at the works do. How bored I was that I drank a whole bottle of bubbly to myself. Everyone was in stitches. I felt so embarrassed

I hid my face, but Taylor went on to say that if he didn't have to drive us back he would also have been off his face.

I looked up and saw him smiling at me, and instantly felt better. I sat down at the table with everyone eating waffles with maple syrup. They were giggling and chatting and discussing the ball.

I rolled my eyes. Not another boring thing to go to. I thought to myself as I walked over to the sink to help wash up. Jo came up behind me and made me jump.

"Fancy going into town for a bit? Me, you, Fealan and Joshua. Maybe watch a film or go for a drink, do some shopping?"

I nodded "Yeah you owe me some of your time."

"You're right, I do. I'm sorry, but you do know you're the most important thing to me."

Hmm I had to think about that. The last few weeks on my own has been lonely and boring, but I guess that's also how she feels about me and Leighton too.

"Yeah right, whatever you say." Then I smiled. She slapped my arm. God dammit, I swear Jo flipping forgets I'm human sometimes, but she cracks me up.

I jumped around her waist and got her in a headlock. We loved playing rough, she was walking around the kitchen in stitches trying to get me off, then I let go of the head lock and hugged her around her neck. It was so good to have my mate back.

Town was as always über busy. Well, I'm not surprised really. It was coming to the end of the holidays, people were with their kids buying new uniforms and accessories. As we headed inside a cafe Fealan went up to order whilst we grabbed a table. Minutes later he returns to the table with our drinks. I was gobsmacked. The hot chocolate cups were humongous. Never in my life had I seen a cup so big. There was cream, marshmallows and chocolate flakes. I thought I had died and gone to heaven.

I sipped it slowly savouring the sweet chocolate taste and they all laughed. Jo showed me her pocket mirror and, well, lets just say I was covered in cream. She wiped it with her tissue.

"There ya go, hon. We really can't take you anywhere, can we?" I stuck my tongue out and did a raspberry. That was it, we were all bawling. I laughed so much I almost wet myself. It had been ages since we all spent time together,

It was like the old days, me, Jo, Joshua and Fealan against the world. Then there were six, and everything changed. It was the moment I realised not all vampires were nice.

One came on either side of me dragging a chair with them, and sat between Jo and I. I felt something sharp against my ribs. I looked down to see claws digging into my side,

"Hello, pretty women! We hear there's something special about you." He was looking straight at me. "And our boss would like to see you to have a private word"

I shook my head and tried to pull away until I felt one very sharp nail pierce my skin. I felt the blood instantly, and he licked his lips

"Would you like all these poor innocent people in here made an example of to show you what I will do to you, if you don't come now?" I looked at Jo and the others. It seemed like they were frozen to the spot.

Then I heard Jo's voice in my head.

"Do as they say Gracie. We'll be right behind you. I promise. Don't be scared." But I was scared. I was petrified.

I was losing a lot of blood now, but nevertheless I got up and walked out of Costa, mouthing the words to everyone as I walked past them, "Help!" They didn't look at me. They were oblivious to what was going on.

A little walk down the road they pushed me into a van, the smell inside was rotten like rotting meat. When I finally got in, something hit me over the head and everything went black.