Chapter 9 Nora Blackwell: Rise Of The Dead Walker

I cried into her arm until I fell asleep. I didn’t know I had that many tears left. Nightmares were filled with blood, crying, and pleading for mercy with my brother, among everything, crying and asking what I would become.

I jolted awake in the middle of the night. The room may have been dark, but I wasn't alone. Elian was curled up beside me, her hand on my hand, holding mine. I could feel the ghost in my room and in the hall outside. No one was in the hall, but there was someone at the gate. I wonder what they were waiting for, and the ghost walked forward. I saw it was Arthur.

“What do you want?” my ghost asked aloud.

“I need to speak with your master,” he replied, looking right into the ghost eyes as if he knew I was watching.

“Why?” the ghost asked. It was so weird that the ghost was responding like it knew what I wanted, but maybe it did. They did act on my plea to help the Elian family.

“Please,” was all he said.

“She will be here shortly,” the ghost stated, which caught me off guard. They didn’t even wait for my reply. Why?

“We know you mind,” the ghost replied to me, which freaked me out.

I got up, dressed quickly, and then headed out. The human hall was still brightly lit, and the castle behind the gate was dark, but I could see Arthur waiting for me.

“What do you want?” I asked, waving my hand at the ghost, telling them they could leave, and they listened, drifting away.

“You’re really adjusting to your powers.” Arthur smiled a wicked smile.

“Is that all you wanted?” I asked.

“I wanted to thank you for taking those people in South America. They been a problem for a very long time. They were harming and trafficking humans and supernatural beings.” Arthur explained.

“How did you know it was me?” I asked my voice in almost a whisper.

“I had some people watching them when everything happened.”

“That could be anyone.”

“My dear sweet dead walker, no one can control a ghost but you,” he smiled, which felt like a punch to the gut, and as if on cue, one of my ghosts brought me a soda can to drink. I thanked them, to which they bowed, then walked away. I grinned sheepishly, opened my drink, and took a sip.

“You saved some of the people, so I am in debt to you.”

“I don’t need that.”

“No, but it still stands,” he replied with a weak grin to which i nodded, unsure of what to do. We stood there in silence, something buzzing between us.

“That’s not the only thing still on the table. My other offer stands, too,” he smiled with a grin to which I rolled my eyes, walking away.

“If you need anyone to talk to about killing another life, I’m always here for you. You have no idea what you've done for the supernatural world,” he stated, which made me freeze, but I couldn’t look back at him.

“Thank you,” I replied in a small voice.

“I won’t lie. It doesn’t get any easier, but it's a necessity,” he assured. I couldn’t help it, but I started crying. I killed someone’s brother and son. I keep putting Liam’s face on that boy from last night. If something like that ever happened to him, I would end whoever did that.

I felt arms wrapping around me, and again I bawled. After a few hours, I became someone I would never recognize. Someone I would cross the street to avoid. I wish I could see my mom and dad, and they would tell me it was all a bad dream. I want Ethan and my friends to come laughing it off, saying it was all a joke.

“It’s ok,” a comforting voice said. I should have looked to see who it was, but I just leaned into them, wishing I wasn’t hurting this much. They held me tighter to them, and I grasped onto them even more.

“Thank you.” I whimpered, pulling away to realize it was Arthur who was holding me, and I moved away quickly.

“It’s ok.” He smiled sadly, closing the distance between us and rubbing my arm. I didn’t step away.

“I feel like I can’t stop crying.”

“Sometimes it’s better to let it out.”

“Maybe.”

“You want to talk about it?”

“What’s there to talk about. My family, friends, and boyfriend all betrayed me within a few hours and sent me to a place they knew nothing about.” I laughed bitterly, the anger rising in me again. I didn’t meet his eyes, but I could feel that I summoned a few more ghosts.

“It’s awful for everyone to turn on you like that. Did they hear your side before they decided?” he asked, still rubbing my arm.

“Of course not. I tried to tell Ethan I didn’t, but he already made up his mind by the time he talked to me.” I sighed.

“That’s their loss,” he replied, and I met his eyes. They were such beautiful red. He started to lean down to me, and his breath smelled of mint. I froze as he wrapped his arms around me.

“Those people who threw you away don’t deserve you,” he stated, holding me tight to his body. I started to tear up.

I didn’t know what to say, so I put my face against his chest. For being a vampire, he was warm and soft.

“I wondered where you went. I guess I shouldn’t have been worried.” Elain yawned, making me jump, and tried to push him away, but his strong arms held me.

“Maybe you should. She’s in the arms of a bloodsucker,” he grinned, nipping my neck, then finally let me go, laughing playfully.

“She's a grown woman and can sleep with whoever she wants,” Elain stated flatly, heading toward the coffee.

“It’s not like that!” I yelled after her.

“Not yet!” Arthur added, and I swung at him, but he caught my arm.

“I know what I have in my hands, unlike your previous humans in your life,” he grinned, kissing my hand, then let it go. I didn't know what to say, so I stuck my tongue out at him, then followed after Elain while he laughed.