He brushes his windblown hair away from his face and leans against the wall. As I get closer, he slowly runs his gaze up the full length of my body, and a half-grin tugs at the corner of his mouth. A light flutter of chills races down my spine, but not like when I first saw him. These are more of the 'excited chills' variety.

"Wanna play hooky? I got us off campus pa.s.ses for the rest of the afternoon," he says coyly.

"How'd you do that? And why?" I ask, not unhappily. School is still utter torture and such a complete waste of time. Some days I manage to get through okay, but other days are nearly intolerable. Today is one of those days. I need a distraction. I need something to skip my brain out of repeat, out of dwelling on Kieron...of replaying every moment we ever shared together... every word he ever said to me.

Tristan shrugs and flashes a charming smile. "Why ask why? We're free. Just go with it."

I laugh and nod my head. "Just let me say bye to Corrine real quick."

I choose to ignore the questioning disapproval in her eyes when I tell her I'm taking off with Tristan. Things have been kinda weird between us lately, and I don't want problems. She's still my friend. Other than Tristan, my only friend...I certainly don't want to lose her. But right now Tristan gives me something that she can't. Something I need.

Escape.

After a quick stop at our lockers, Tristan and I head for the parking lot. The air is cool but the sun is shining through the wispy layers of clouds. I can't wait for winter to be over-spring cannot come soon enough. Then I can graduate, and I'll be free from this prison once and for all.

Just thinking about something as innocent as hating school makes me think of Kieron. Like the expression "all roads lead to Rome", all my thoughts go back to him. I remember how he'd confided to me how much it hurt him to be in school. Physically hurt him, not just mentally like it does me. Since Dove Creek High School resides on sacred grounds, anytime Kieron crossed its boundaries he told me it felt like he was being stung all over by hundreds of bees. The only way he could tone it down some was to project a strong mental shield around himself. Strangely enough, the side effect of this was that everyone became more attracted to him, as if they were being sucked in by his powerful, protective force. I'd been immune to some extent, but apparently not enough. Not an hour pa.s.ses that I don't think of him, no matter how hard I try. Why would someone who willingly subjected himself to physical pain just to be with me, leave and never come back? It just doesn't make any sense.

"What's wrong?" Tristan asks as he opens the car door for me.

I fake a smile. "Nothing."

"You're thinking about him, aren't you?" he asks softly as he settles in beside me.

I shrug and look out the window. Tristan pushes a b.u.t.ton and the top of the car retracts, noiselessly tucking itself in the trunk. I feel better already. Normally I don't much like being inside a car. I blame it on Lucky-she hates them with a pa.s.sion. But riding along with Tristan, the top down, my hair blowing in the breeze...I feel free.

Once we hit the highway heading out of town, I remember my earlier plan to go to the cemetery and read from Kieron's poetry book. But now, I brush aside any guilt I had about spending so much time with Tristan. Maybe this is how it's supposed to be. Maybe I should just be with a nice, normal boy like Tristan, not a demon bounty hunter who had once planned to kill me.

The wind rushes around me as the Jag sails down the open road, and my long hair whips my face. Without thinking, I pull it back in a high ponytail and start twisting it into a makeshift bun.

Tristan glances over at me and does a double take. He automatically reaches his hand over. "Whoa, that's a cool tat. Didn't know you had one-"

I quickly jerk away before his hand reaches me, frantically letting my hair fall back down and clasping my fingers tight around the back of my neck. What was I thinking? How could I be so stupid? If Tristan had actually touched my Mark...felt how hotly it burned compared to the rest of my skin...

He laughs at my hostile reaction. "What's wrong? Don't you like it?"

"I hate it." I grit my teeth and look away.

"Well, I think it looked pretty cool, from what I saw. I've never seen a design like that before. And the color was so bright and fresh looking...did you just get it?"

I roll my eyes, knowing he can't see me. The Mark of my sire, branded at my birth. But it's not like I can just come out and tell him that. "Yeah. I was drunk a few months ago and got it on a dare. Really stupid. I'm hoping to have it removed soon."

"Well, I like it. And it's not very conspicuous, hidden beneath your hair like that. I'd keep it if I were you. "

I don't say anything and stare straight ahead, my hair flying in every direction. With a deep sigh, I pull it back again and twist it up in a high knot on my head. He's already seen it; the damage has already been done. As long as he never actually touches it, I should be fine.

I catch his eyes smiling at me, and my stomach does that annoying jumpy thing that until now had only happened when I was with Kieron. I know, more than anything, it's important that Tristan never touches me on my neck...or anywhere, for that matter. I know it's important he never gets too close to me, physically or emotionally.

But I can't help hoping he will.

Chapter 8. Liora.

Suddenly, Tristan takes a surprising turn.

"Wait...we're going back to the mines?" I exclaim.

"Yep."

I close my eyes, thinking how Tatiana will tear me a new one when I get home. I should tell Tristan to take me back, but I'm a little embarra.s.sed to tell him I'm not allowed to go there. Besides, my curiosity is aroused.

"Why do you want to go there?"

"You'll see." His face is stoic as he stares straight ahead. He cuts off the main road to Flintridge and down a narrower, lesser-used path. The sporty convertible bounces over the b.u.mpy road, and dust flies everywhere. I cover my mouth with my hand and try not to cough.

"What're you doing? This isn't the way!"

Tristan glances over at me and smirks. "I'm sure the main route is still blocked off. This is a service entrance... we can sneak in from the side. It's a strategy I'm quite fond of..."

"Huh?"

He glances around but doesn't say anything, just drums his fingers on the steering wheel. Yellow patches of weeds spot the acres of surrounding dirt as the blackened mountain looms closer, but other than a few wooden structures and an abandoned Chevy pick-up truck, the road ahead is clear. Soon we're climbing up the backside of the mine hill.

"What do you mean you're fond of a sneaky strategy?" I ask again. I like Tristan and I trust him. But he's kinda weirding me out right now.

"If you want to get to something that's difficult to reach, sometimes the indirect approach is best. If attention is focused in one direction, come at it from another." He turns to me and grins, raising an eyebrow. "Strike where they aren't expecting it," he adds cryptically.

I continue to stare at him. Finally he chuckles softly and rests his hand on my knee. "Relax. I just figured it's best to come this way and avoid the ha.s.sle. Everyone is focused on the front part of the mine. That's why we're going in the back. Don't worry; it'll be fine. Promise."

"Who says I'm worried?" I ask with false bravado. But the truth is, I am worried. Worried about what Tatiana will do when she realizes I've disobeyed her. And I'm even more concerned about why Tristan would want to come here in the first place.

We soon reach a small clearing at the top of the hill, and Tristan brings the car to a halt. He parks, and we get out. As he walks over to me, I glance at his face, handsome despite its imperfection. Nervous excitement flushes through me.

"So, mind telling me what exactly it is we're doing here?" I ask. He takes me by the arm and ushers me toward an old set of train tracks leading directly into the side of the barren mountain. Up ahead is an overturned wooden cart used to ferry the men in and out of the mine. Various tools and lunch boxes lie scattered, as if they'd been abandoned in a hurry and without a second thought. We're totally alone.

"Come on, I'll show you," he urges and reaches for my hand. Together we enter a wide, carved out tunnel. It's cold and dark, but Tristan finds a panel and turns on some overhead lights. They're not bright, but it's enough to see.

"Have you been here before?" I ask. He seems to know his way around.

"Actually, yeah. So don't worry. We'll be fine."

I feel better. Being with Tristan has a way of making me feel safe...like nothing bad can happen. And it's sorta exciting, sneaking inside an abandoned mine when I should be sitting in Trig, bored out of my skull.

"How far are we gonna go? I ask, as he takes us deeper and deeper inside. Strange humming noises are coming from the walls, and for the first time in my life I wonder if I might be a little claustrophobic.

"Not much longer," he says. He kicks at a piece of black rock on the ground and leans over to grab it. He holds the shiny lump in his hand and holds it up for inspection. "Isn't it amazing that something that looks so insignificant controls so much of our lives, without our even realizing it?"

"It's a lump of coal. Big whoop."

"It's energy," Tristan corrects me. "It's power." He places it in my palm.

"It's gross." I give it back and wipe my charred hands on my jeans. Fortunately they're black, so the smudge doesn't show.

"You know this part of the country is special, don't you?" he asks, tossing the coal aside.

"How so?"

"Well, most of the mining in this region is done in West Virginia...but this place here...it's unique." He pauses and glances around. Along the b.u.t.tressed wall is a row of low, wooden benches. He motions for us to sit.

"Did we really ditch school today so you can give me a lesson on mining?" I tease. "If we wanted cheap thrills, we could've just hung out at the DMV."

"I have a secret to tell you," he says, lowering his voice as we sit down.

"Okay," I whisper, mimicking his serious tone. I like this feeling of being so close to him, with nothing between us.

Tristan takes a deep breath and stares straight ahead. "People have been using coal as a source of energy dating back to the caveman days. Here in Virginia, the first coal mining operations began in the mid 1700's..."

"Wow. I promise I'll never tell anyone," I whisper dramatically and make a locking key gesture on my lips.

He looks at me and rolls his eyes. "That's not the secret, silly."

"Well, spill it..."

"The secret is, it wasn't always coal they were mining for. Some people have been searching for something else...something far more precious and powerful than any source of energy known to man. It was found in small quant.i.ties a long time ago, and only recently have scientists begun to discover its great powers. A stone the size of a golf ball could provide power to the entire country for a year."

"Really? That's...crazy. But what does that have to do with-"

Tristan turns to me and grasps my hands, his eyes fixed on mine like a laser. "Liora...what happened here yesterday...with the men. I think they found it."

He pulls his hands away and rises to his feet. I stare at his back, uncertain. "So...are we here on some sort of treasure hunt? You think they found this precious stone, and you want to get it for yourself or something?"

He shakes his head slowly, still staring at the wall across from the cave's opening "No, I don't want to get it myself. That's the mistake others have made. The fatal mistake." He turns and locks his gaze on me again.

I stand up and throw my hands in the air. "Then what are we doing here? Did you bring me here to scare me or something? Or are you just trying to show off your knowledge of super-secret rocks? I mean, really...it's only slightly more s.e.xy than taking me to your tree house to show off your stamp collection." The words are out of my mouth before I can stop them. But I don't care. I'm way creeped out and totally over this little expedition. I turn to leave.

"Liora, wait. Don't go," Tristan commands.

"I don't like it here. I want you to take me home now." I put my hands on my hips.

Tristan takes two long strides toward me and places a gentle hand on my shoulder. "Just give me a few more minutes, please? There's more I need to tell you. Then I'll take you back. Promise."

I look at his kind smile and easy eyes and feel myself relaxing. Being here isn't all that bad, I suppose. And actually, Tristan's story is pretty intriguing. I'd like to see where he's going with this. I nod and he takes my hand, leading me back to the little bench.

"My parents are archeologists, and they've travelled the world looking for this legendary material. They were fortunate not only to have actually seen it, but to be able to study it first-hand. Most people can't do that."

"Why?" My single word seems to echo off the chamber's walls.

He mouth falls into a grimace. "Well, because, it has a funny habit of turning any regular human being who touches it into ash."

I don't move a muscle. I want to run, but my mind flashes back to the time I tried to escape Kieron, and what an epic disaster that turned out to be. So I just stare at Tristan, not breathing, waiting for him to say something...anything.

"Liora," he says quietly, reaching for my hand again. "Do not be afraid. It's okay."

"Why are you telling me this?" I whisper.

"Because I know you can handle it," he answers with a knowing look. "You know exactly what type of rock I'm talking about, don't you?"

"No. Why are you saying this?" My faltering voice lacks conviction.

"You know why."

"I want to go home."

"Don't be afraid, Liora," he repeats, and stares deep into my eyes. "I won't hurt you. Your secret is safe with me."

"I don't know what you're talking about." I turn my body away, but Tristan places his arms over my shoulders and angles me back to him.

"Sure you don't. See that small pile of dirt over there? Do me a favor-walk over there and tell me what you see."

My mind feels numb as I obey him, slowly rising to my feet and taking several steps to the mound of displaced earth. "I see dirt. And some gla.s.sy looking diamonds. Cool! Isn't that what makes diamonds? Coal? I didn't know we had diamonds in this part of-"

"Bring me one of them." His voice is low and commanding.

I let out a sigh and pick up the biggest piece. It's beautiful...the whitest, brightest diamond I've ever seen. Maybe this will satisfy him and we can leave. I make my way back and offer him the glowing jewel. Tristan stares at me, wide eyed, mouth agape. Then he shakes his head. "Throw it away."

Frustrated and angry, I turn and hurl it as hard and as far as I can. "What kind of game are you playing?!" I yell.

"I just wanted to make sure."

"Make sure of what?"

"That you are one of them. One of the special beings on this planet who can touch these stones without turning into dust. We know about your kind. At least, a few of us do."

Suddenly I feel dizzy. And sick. I drop my head. "How did you know" I ask hoa.r.s.ely. My mouth feels filled with cotton.

"I've always known what you are," he says, standing up. He's so close to me, his cool breath tickles my cheek.

"You're not afraid?" I whisper, raising my eyes to meet his.

"Not in the least," he replies. Gently cupping my chin in his hand, he lowers his mouth onto mine.