Chapter 4 The cemetry

The road is no longer visible, but a dirt track that leads us deep into the forest.

My confusion grows. I know there are only trees and darkness here. Ares leaps over the small fence and lands in a place I had never expected to be at the cemetery.

What the hell?! What the hell? What's he up to? Oh no. Oh no!

He is a vampire and comes here to decide whether to kill or not to murder his next victim. He may have brought me to this place because he knew I was following him.

No, no, no, no, I can't die a virgin.

I hesitated and hopped over the fence. I can't imagine that I'm going to follow him into the graveyard. This place is definitely spooky.

The cloudy sky and lightning flashes make me feel as if I am in a horror film.

As the fool I am, i continue to follow him as he weaves his way through the graves. I thought he might be going to see someone, but I don't remember any deaths in Ares's family. In a small village, everyone knows each other. Ares is faster than me and I try to keep up, while maintaining a safe distance. We walk into a mausoleum area, which is a small house for the dead. Ares turns the corner and I follow him. But when I turn the corner, Ares is gone.

Shit.

While remaining calm, I crossed the small path between mausoleums but did not see him. My heart is pounding in my chest as I take a big swallow. I am startled by a flash of lightning, followed by a rumble. It was a bad idea. What was I doing if I followed him to the cemetary? I turned around. I turn around.

It's my reward for being curious. I deserve it. My poor heart is about to collapse after another flash of lightning and another crash of the thunder. When I pass a crypt, I hear strange sounds.

Shit, shit, shit.

I won't stay to see who or what is it. I rush, almost running. But because I am clumsy, I trip and fall on my hands and knees. When I feel it, I sit on my thighs and shake my hands. I can feel something or someone behind me. The shadow of a silhouette falls on the path before me.

I screamed so loudly that my throat burned. I quickly get up and turn around to pray in defense, and then I see the man.

Ares.

"Excuse me," he questioned me, "but we both know you're lying."

"Of course not." My hands flutter back onto my lap as I reply, "Not likely."

As soon as he stands up, I felt helpless sitting so I too rose. We finally faced each other directly, and my breathing became rapid and irregular.

Why am I being followed?

"I don't understand what you are talking about." I dripped my lips.

Ares approaches me and I back away until my back hits a mausoleum. He presses his hand against the wall near my head, which caused me to jump slightly. "I don't have time for these silly games.

Answer me. My breathing is out of sync. "I don't really understand what you mean; I just came here to visit someone."

"Liar." He's too close for my poor heart's health. Nonetheless, this is a free town and I can walk wherever I choose."

Ares grasps my chin with his hand and forces me to raise my head, forcing my gaze upward towards him. His warm touch warms my cold skin as I stop breathing - his wet hair sticks to his pale, perfect face while his lips shimmer - I had only ever seen him from a distance; having him so close is too much for me.

"Do you think I don't know about your childish fixation on me?" he inquires.

My cheeks start burning with embarrassment as I attempt to lower my eyes, but he gently holds my chin in place.

"Let me go," I demanded as I removed his hand, yet his presence disarmed me and his persistence made things more uncomfortable than before.

"Don't leave until you answer me," he declares, with an air of conviction in his voice.

"I don't understand," I answered back, trying to block out his heat that seeped through his body and heated my own further.

"Let's refresh your memory," he suggests, and I don't approve of where he's leading us with this.

"Raquel, it seems you have been watching me closely for quite some time.

"Your desktop background contains an image stolen from my Facebook, while your Wi-Fi password includes my name!"

I swallow.

Ares's words made my stomach drop. He could possibly know about my crush.

After all, he had access to my computer and knew everything. To say I felt mortified is an understatement; this added another level of shame and embarrassment to my situation.

He exudes such confidence, as though in full control of the situation.

His expression conveyed a sense of mockery and superiority; he took pleasure in cornering and humiliating me like this. He expected that I'd simply deny what had just been said, put down my head, and let him laugh at my embarrassment.

So this thought jolted me out of my self-conscious state. A defiant side of me emerged when I felt cornered - Mom says I get it from my father - as an attempt at defense; Mom believes this trait came from him too. This now becomes a challenge, almost a game, with Ares getting no satisfaction; instead I wanted to prove him wrong by showing that everything he thought he knew about me was mere lies, that I wasn't easily intimidated, that Ares wasn't right about me and that everything he thought he knew was pure lies; so, instead, I raised my gaze and looked directly into those infinite blue eyes with confidence and held out my arms out.

"Yes, I do have a crush on you."

I underestimated his reaction and was taken aback when his cockiness instantly vanished into pure confusion and took a step back, looking startled.

"Why are you so surprised, pretty boy?" I ask half-heartedly.

Raquel Mendoza had left him speechless with her incredible beauty, leaving him speechless for good.

Ares gradually recovers and starts rubbing his hand along his jaw as though to take in all that has transpired.

"That was quite unexpected.

"I know. I can't seem to shake this stupid smile caused by feeling in control of a situation.

"And may I ask why you have such an overwhelming attraction to me?" he asks, tilting his head sideways.

"That should be obvious!" I exclaim incredulously. "Because I like you!" "No. Because I like you!" "Well that makes more sense now."

Ares' eyes seemed ready to pop out of his head. "Since when have you become so aggressive and direct?" he demanded of Ares.

As soon as I was cornered and had every intent of humiliating me, my thoughts quickly drifted to how long this had been going on: "Since always."

Ares laughs to himself. "At first I thought you were just another quiet, introverted girl playing innocent, but apparently I've been proven wrong; you are quite captivating and interesting.

"Hm?" I snort. "You shouldn't compare me with any other girl; I am by far the most fascinating one you've met!"

"From what I can see, you seem to possess good self-esteem.

"That's right." Ares approaches me once more and this time I don't shy away. "And what does this captivating lady want from me?" I ask incredulously.

"Can't you figure it out?"

Ares laughed aloud as his voice resonated across the mausoleums. "I'm amazed how well you know me; of course I can figure it out; just tell me so!" "Wow. So much has been revealed!" he concluded with a gentle nod of his head before looking around at his surroundings again. "Wait, don't tell me! Say something else!"

"Now is your turn to guess my desires. " "Now I think we've discussed enough; let me leave it up to you to guess my wants and desires."

Ares leans forward until our faces are only inches apart; being this close still impacts me deeply and I swallow thickly in response. "Do you want to come see my room?" "Absolutely." "Want me to show it."

"No thank you. No. No," I responded forcefully and shaked my head in response.

Ares frowns. "What do you want then?"

"My goal is quite simple," I tell him casually, "and that is for you to fall in love with me."

Ares laughs again. I don't understand what amuses him so, as I wasn't kidding around; nonetheless, his laughter fills my ears and fills me with happiness. Once finished laughing he looks up at me with bemusement before giving a shrugged nod of agreement and leaving with another bemused look on his face.

"Why would I fall for someone like that? You don't even fit my mold!"

"Let's see about that," I responded with a wink and smile, adding, "And even though my determination may seem strong."

"I can see him. He turns around and walks back towards the headstone where he had been sitting before.

Attempting to defuse our tension, I speak: "Why have you come here?"