CHAPTER FOUR - LEDA

THWACK!

That was a good one, I was proud I’d got up early just for that jab. THWACK, THWACK, THWACK. Dr Vanum’s potential diagnosis yesterday had thrown me, so after a restless night, I’d decided to haul my butt to the gym. I might be exhausted, but throwing one punch at a time, picturing His face on the bag...it was good therapy. 

My phone alarm started going and I paused. I hadn’t realised I’d been here so long. But if I wanted to be at work on time, then I better wrap up now. I collected my things and headed to the changing rooms for a shower. 

I hated changing room showers, why can’t you just turn them on then off? None of this stopping part way through and suffering the cold blast at the start of every fresh stream. I shuddered as I soaped myself up and prepared myself for the arctic rush. Once done, I wrapped myself in my huge towel, grateful I’d brought the fluffiest one with me. I slipped on my towelling slippers – no one wants whatever is on this floor. 

I exited the gym in record time, on a high from the endorphins I barely registered the whisky-gold eyes that lit up when they saw me. I tried to ignore him, but his Chelsea boots fell in step beside me. 

“Hello again” he smiled. 

I sighed “Hello. Do you always go this far out of your way to get an apology?”

“An apology? Oh! No, no, that’s all right. I think everything is still in working order” He smiled, those eyes swirling once again with amber and honey. Those eyes were addictive alone, let alone paired with his floppy golden locks, thick brows, plush looking lips and strong – if a little pointy – jaw. I found myself getting hot under the collar all over again. It’s not natural for a man to have this kind of hold over someone. 

“Then why are you here? Stalkers don’t tend to approach their victims”

He paused momentarily “I’m not stalking you!” he seemed shocked, I wasn’t entirely sure why. 

“So you just happened to be in the same place I was, twice in as many days?”

“I took note of your car registration...I knew you’d be here...” he trailed off.

“Sounds stalkerish to me”

He looked sheepish, and reached up to rub the back of his head. I’m sure such a move shouldn’t be attractive, but I seem to have lost any and all control over my hormones here, like an overexcited teenager. 

“I just – I really need your help. I need to explain so many things, so you know why I need your help”

“I told you – I'm busy.” I was getting irritated now. Just another guy who doesn’t know how to take ‘No’ for an answer. 

“Listen, I know this is going to sound crazy - “

“So un-crazy it. I don’t have time for games, you’re going to make me late!”

“I’m a vampire!”

I stared at him. Stunned. What. The. Fuck. Kind of Kool-Aid has this guy been drinking?! I couldn’t help the nervous laugh that bubbled up my throat from deep in my stomach. “HA!” I looked at him, steadily “Are you crazy, or do you think I’m a special kind of stupid?!”

“Listen - I know – can we go somewhere, where I can fill you in on the details?”

“I don’t want details! Find someone else who’s stupid enough to fall for this shit. Or better yet, don’t!”

Whisky Eyes took a deep breath and tilted his face to the sky. “This is why I wanted to go somewhere quiet, so you could ask any questions you might have”

“What makes you think I want to ask questions? What makes you think I want to know any of this?!”

“People are dying! You’re the only one who can help!”

“People die every day, the only difference is that no one tries to make me feel culpable, or guilty about it!”

“Not like this. This...horror...it...” He shook his head, as if he no longer wanted the image in his head “Please! You’re the Chosen One!”

I stared at him, once again stunned. Had I walked out of the gym and into some kind of modern-day Narnia?! 

“Nope.” I smiled at him, hoping to convey my sarcasm. He gritted his teeth in frustration. 

“You’re about twenty years too late! Chosen ones are always teenagers. Probably because they can afford to just skip a few days of school; they still live with their parents, don’t have bills to pay” I waved my hand in the air in a swirling motion, indicating there were several other reasons.

Suddenly I started feeling a bit choked up. My mother had always told me I was destined for something special. And my father had had her committed for her troubles. She couldn’t possibly have been right...could she? I shook my head forcefully. The woman had pushed me out of a boat, insisting I could walk on water, she was definitely crazy! So why does this guy strike me as entirely sane? When what he’s saying is impossible. 

“What do I call you?” Whisky Eyes suddenly interrupted my reverie. 

“Sorry?”

“I’m asking for your help. It seems strange to ask someone for help when I don’t even know their name?”

“I -” I breathed out deeply. I suppose I could just give him my name...it’s just a word...the heaviest word. The start of all my trauma. 

“Adelaide” I cringed and inwardly cursed my mother for damning me with such a name.

He smiled, white teeth gleaming and those whisky eyes glowed. He really is quite beautiful. 

“Ok Adelaide – “ 

This time I barely contained my shudder. “Leda”

“I’m sorry?”

“Call me Leda”

“You – your name isn’t Adelaide?” Great, now he looks like a puppy I’ve snatched a toy from. Those whisky eyes are gonna be the death of me. 

“It is but even someone as attractive as you can’t make that monstrosity sound good” I stopped myself. What am I saying? I want this guy to leave me alone, don’t I? 

He smirked, then quickly tried to hide it “It means noble” his voice was husky but not even he could change my mind about Adelaide and my mother’s delusions of grandeur. 

I rolled my eyes. “Then it couldn’t be less appropriate. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m really running late” I hurried away from him for the second time in two days. It was just, this time, I really wasn’t sure I wanted to.