Between Rubies and Opals

The next morning, Sam was in the kitchen, preparing some breakfast, not being able to get Erin out of his mind.

“How was your date last night?” Vikki said suddenly next to Sam, grabbing a piece of tomato from the plate in front of him.

“It was great,” Sam smiled at her.

“Great? Is that all I’m getting?” Vikki frowned as she chewed on the piece of tomato.

“She’s amazing?” Sam raised his eyebrows.

“Better.” She rolled her eyes and turned to Sam. “Did she like it?”

“She loved it. Thanks Vik.”

“I knew she would,” she said with an excited smile. “So when do I get to meet her? Oh, you should bring her around to the house Friday night. We’re all going to Dragona’s.”

“I don’t know, Vik.”

“Just ask her,” Vikki whined and crossed her arms. “Please?”

“Do you really think that she would want to hang out with a bunch of wolves all night?”

“Well, she spent last night with you, didn’t she?” Vikki raised an eyebrow at him.

“Yeah, but-”

“But nothing,” she exclaimed, and shoved her hand into Sam’s front pocket.

“Hey, take it easy,” Sam squirmed.

Vikki pulled his phone out of his pants pocket and held it out to him. “Call her.”

“Okay, fine,” Sam took the phone from her and held it against his ear. “Call Erin.”

“Show-off,” Vikki muttered and turned away from Sam with a smirk.

“Erin, hello.”

“Hey, you.”

“Hey, how are you?”

“I’m good, and you?”

“Much better now. What are you up to?”

“Just hanging around at home, with Vik. You?”

“I was just headed over to the manor to fetch Alex. Her car is busted. Again.”

“You vamps and your cars. What is it with vamps and speeding?”

“Hey, again don’t generalize.”

“Listen, are you busy Friday night?” Sam asked and Vikki pulled a face at him.

“No, I’m not actually.”

“Well, a bunch of us are going over to Dragona’s. There’s karaoke.”

“Karaoke sounds like fun. Do I get to hear you sing?”

“That is debatable.”

Erin laughed and he smiled at the sound of her laughing.

“Will it be okay though? For me to go there?”

“Oh, everyone knows about you already,” Sam said.

“Oh really?”

“Don’t sound so scared.”

“I’m not. Your friends are brave, wanting to hang out with a vamp.”

Sam let out an amused laugh and shook his head. “I think they’ll be okay.”

“Okay, good.”

Vikki shook her head enthusiastically and pointed down to the ground. “Tell her to come here, we want to meet her,” she mouthed.

Sam smirked and gave her a nod. “My family wants to meet you, so we’ll meet up at the manor.”

“Your father’s manor?”

“Is that okay?”

“Yes, of course. Do I need to, uhm, bring anything?”

“No, that’s not necessary,” Sam chuckled.

“Okay, so at about six?”

“I think five will be better. We like to get there early, or all the good seats will be gone.”

“Okay.”

“Good, so that’s settled then.”

“I will see you before then, won’t I?”

“Of course, I can’t go without you for too long,” Sam said.

“Aw.” Vikki’s shoulders drooped and she had a dreamy smile on her face.

“Neither can I.”

“I’ll talk to you later. Have fun at the castle.”

“It’s not a castle, it’s a manor.”

“Same thing.”

“Okay, bye smart-ass.”

“Bye,” Sam said with a smile and lowered his phone.

“Oh my god, you guys are so cute!” Vikki cooed, clasping her hands together.

“Gowan is not going to like this,” Sam frowned.

“Not going to like what?” Gowan asked suddenly and Sam looked at him with wide eyes and pursed lips. Gowan narrowed his eyes slightly and frowned at Sam. “What’s going on?”

“Sam’s invited Erin to come with us to karaoke,” Vikki answered eventually, with a bright smile.

“You what?” Gowan frowned.

“What’s the big deal?” Vikki asked.

“The big deal is, she’s a vamp!”

“And?”

“They’re dangerous!”

“They’re like us, Gow. They’re only dangerous if you give them a reason to be,” Sam interjected.

“No, they’re dangerous, period.”

“She’s still coming, no matter what you say,” Sam lowered the tone of his voice.

“Sam loves her,” Vikki blurted out. “And so do I.”

“What?”

“I heard her talking, she sounds great, and she makes Sammy smile, like for real smiling. Not those fake ones that everyone knows he’s so good at,” Vikki grinned at Sam, and he pulled a face at her.

“This is ridiculous,” Gowan muttered.

“You’re the one that’s acting ridiculous! Your best friend found someone that makes him happy, and all you can do is bitch and moan about-” Vikki exclaimed, but Sam motioned to her that she should stop. She snapped her mouth shut and crossed her arms.

“Gow, I understand why you feel the way you do, but please trust me on this. She’s different, and she’s important to me.”

Gowan looked at his friend for a few second, reluctant to agree. He ran his fingers through his black hair and shook his head.

“Gow?” Sam asked.

“Okay, fine,” Gowan caved and looked over at Vikki and Sam. “She can come, but if she tries anything-”

“She won’t, I promise you that.”

Gowan looked at Sam, and gave him a slight nod. “Okay.”

Erin opened the front doors of the manor and looked around her. She heard voices in the ballroom and rolled her eyes. Nikolai had a few friends over, but she was not in the mood for them. As she walked towards the library, where her father usually was, she recognized Alex, Tempest and Scarlet’s voices as well.

Of course, Alex was only here for Nikolai, but she needed a wing-woman or two, to avoid looking too desperate and eager for Nikolai’s attention.

Erin let out an amused laugh and shook her head, as she walked up the steps leading up to the library.

“Dad? Are you in here?” Erin frowned as she reached for the door of the library. She opened the door and stopped dead in her tracks as she stared into the dark eyes of someone she’d rather forget altogether.

“Good afternoon, Erina.”

Lukas Wasilewski flashed a bright smile, his white teeth sparkling in the light and she was frozen on the spot. He still looked exactly the same as the last time she saw him. His dark hair was still perfectly styled, his dark sideburns shaped to accentuate his strong jaw, his eyes, flickering gray and green, and the dimple on his chin.

“What the Hell are you doing here?” Erin stared blankly at him, her jaw dropped.

“I’m visiting Nikolai and wanted to get something from the library,” Lukas answered nonchalantly, holding a book in his hand. A book she knew all too well.

“I see you’re still on the classics,” she muttered with a frown, not knowing what to say.

“No matter how many times I have read this, it never gets old,” he answered with a smirk. “You look beautiful, Erina.”

Erin suddenly snapped out of her retarded vamp state and shook her head in disapproval at herself. “Does my dad know you’re here?”

“He does.”

“And you’re still alive?”

“Your father is not as tough as you think.”

“Don’t let him hear you say that.”

“Erina, I have been-”

He paused as the door opened and Erin looked over her shoulder as her mother walked into the room. “Mother?”

“Lukas, here you are!” Cassandra smiled and placed her hand on Lucas’s shoulder. “Erina, you remember Lukas, don’t you?”

“Of course I remember him. We dated for four decades.”

“Oh yes, of course you did.”

“He also cheated on me, with my best friend!” Erin exclaimed.

“But yet you are still friends with her, are you not?” Lukas smirked at her.

“Mother, what is he doing here?” Erin shrieked in frustration.

“Where are your manners, Erina?” Cassandra frowned at her daughter and shook her head in disapproval.

“My manners?”

“I think what Erina is trying to say, is-”

“You do not speak on my behalf,” Erin scowled at Lukas and took a few steps away from the door. “I can’t believe you came here, after everything.”

“Can Erin and I speak in private, Countess Lewandowski?” Lukas flashed Cassandra an apologetic smile.

“Of course. We will be in the ballroom when you are finished,” she answered and swiftly left the room.

“Erina-”

“I have nothing to say to you, Lukas.” Erin shook her head and crossed her arms.

“Well, all I can say is that you are even more beautiful than I remember,” Lukas said to her.

“Yet you slept with my best friend.”

“That was decades ago, Erina.”

“It doesn’t matter. You proved to me that you were not to be trusted and nothing has changed.”

“My feelings for you haven’t changed either.” Lukas walked closer to her. “I want to be with you again, Erina.”

“What? Why?”

“Because I miss you, I miss what we had,” Lukas frowned, his eyes glowing slightly.

“And what exactly was that?”

“Please give me another chance. Things will be different this time.”

“No, don’t be ridiculous!”

“Please, Erina, don’t make me beg.”

“You can beg all you want, the answer is no and will remain that way until the end of my existence,” Erin said, shaking her head in disbelief. “I can’t believe you have the audacity to show your face here.”

“Erina, please-”

“No, Lukas. I’m moving forward with my life, and the only direction I’ll be going in with you, is backwards.”

“I still love you.”

“The only person you love, and have ever loved, is yourself.” Erin backed away and shook her head. “I’m seeing someone actually and I’m really happy with him. He doesn’t lie to me like you did.”

“You’re seeing someone?”

Erin froze and closed her eyes briefly, cursing herself in the confines of her mind. She turned around slowly and looked into the surprised face of her mother. “I thought you were in the ballroom, mother?”

“I forgot my shawl,” Cassandra shrugged.

“Of course you did,” Erin sighed.

“Come to the ballroom, Erina, then you can tell us about this boy that you are seeing.” She held out her hand towards Erin and wiggled her fingers. Erin sighed and turned away from Lukas, taking her mother’s hand.

As her mother semi-dragged her back to the ballroom, she could feel Lukas’ eyes on her the whole time. Why did she have to open her big mouth, why didn’t she just tell him to fuck off and leave? Maybe she wanted to tell everyone about Sam, and how happy she had been for the last week.

They entered the ballroom and Erin smiled when she saw her father sitting on his wingback chair, laughing with Nikolai. Alex and Scarlet were talking with Lionel and Matthias, two of Nikolai’s best friends.

“Look who finally decided to join us,” Nikolai smirked at Erin and she pulled a face at him.

“Everyone, Erina has news,” Cassandra announced.

“Mother…” Erin growled incredulously.

“News?”

“What kind of news?” Tempest asked.

Everyone seemed to be asking questions all at once, except Alex. Erin shot a brief glance at Alex and bit her lower lip, Alex responded by widening her eyes, clearly knowing what was going down. Erin opened her mouth to start, but hesitated for a second.

“Go on, Erina.”

All eyes were on her, and she felt a strange sensation in her stomach. “Well, I…”

“Enunciate, Erina,” Cassandra frowned.

Erin took a deep breath, not that it was necessary, but she did it whenever she became nervous.

“Erina is seeing someone.” Lukas came to her unbidden salvation, and she glared at him for a split second.

“Oh please, Lukas. Get fucking real,” Tempest frowned.

“Language, Tempest,” Cassandra scolded angrily. “A lady does not speak such profanities in public.”

“This is hardly public domain, Mother,” Erin muttered.

“So you got sacked, Lukas,” Lionel smirked and Matthias burst out laughing. “Again.”

Nikolai however, stood up slowly and walked over to Erin with his jaw clenched. “You’re seeing someone?”

“Yes,” Erin nodded with an uncomfortable smile.

“Who’s the lucky boy?” her father asked.

“Do we know him?” Nikolai asked.

“No, I doubt it,” Erin stuttered.

“You should bring him for dinner tomorrow evening, so we can all meet him,” Lukas suggested and Erin glared at him once again.

“That is a wonderful idea,” Cassandra beamed.

“Erin?” Arjen asked as he stood up and walked over to her.

“Yes, daddy?”

“Does that sound like a good idea?” Arjen asked.

“I’m sure he would love to meet everyone, but we’ve already made plans with his family,” Erin answered, with a slight stutter.

“Oh, that’s a pity,” Lukas smirked.

Erin narrowed her eyes and they flashed momentarily.

“You can always bring him along to your birthday party, Erin,” Scarlet smiled at her. “Then he can meet all of us.”

“Better idea!” Cassandra clasped her hands together excitedly.

“Yes, bring your new boyfriend,” Lukas glared at her. “So we can all meet him.”

Erin knew that was the worst idea ever, Sam in a manor full of vamps. What a catastrophe! Of course she couldn’t decline, so she just nodded.

“Yeah, okay,” she smiled slightly, but her father could see there was something wrong. She looked at her wristwatch and relief crashed over her. “I have to go.”

“Already?” Cassandra frowned.

“But you only just got here,” Nikolai said and tilted his head at Erin.

“I’m sorry, everyone, but I need to be somewhere. I will make up for it, I promise.” Erin walked to the door, but her mother got there before her.

“Erina-” her mother warned, her voice strained and vicious.

“I’m leaving Mother. I have somewhere I need to be.”

“Cassandra…” Arjen stepped in front of his daughter and crossed his arms. “Let her go where she needs to be.”

Countess Lewandowski’s face paled – more than usual – and Erin nodded gratefully at her father. As she hurried down the long hallway of the manor, she silently sent a ”thanks dad…” to her father.

I just hope you know exactly what you’re getting yourself into, Erin, her father silently answered her.

As she ran reached her car, she heard Alex behind her.

“Erin!”

Erin turned around with a sigh and fiddled with her car keys. “What is it, Lex?”

“Is everything okay?”

“Yes, everything is fine.”

“You should really stop doing that.”

“I know,” Erin nodded. “What am I going to do?”

“Let’s go talk about it over a drink,” Alex said, placing her hand on Erin’s shoulder.

“I am kind of thirsty,” Erin said with a nod.

“I know. I can see it in your eyes, as well as the anger you feel towards Lukas,” Alex said with a frown.

“I can’t believe he has the nerve to show his face here again. After all this time, after everything he did-”

“You shouldn’t let him get to you like that.”

“How am I supposed to do that? I’ve been avoiding him for the last forty years, and then he pitches up out of the blue, wanting to reconcile?”

“He does?” Alex was shocked.

“Yes, he apparently still loves me,” Erin scowled and rolled her eyes.

“Did he say that?”

“Straight out.”

“Oh my hell,” Alex whispered. “What are you going to do?”

“Nothing. I don’t feel anything for him anymore,” Erin shrugged.

“Because you’re in love with Sam,” Alex nodded.

“A little bit, yeah,” Erin admitted.

“You’re family’s going to be ecstatic,” Alex said sarcastically.

“Shut up,” Erin rolled her eyes and smacked Alex on the arm. “Come on, let’s go for that drink.”