Dark

by Erika Phillips

  "I promise, I will never leave you," she smiled at him. "No matter how much you piss me off, or even if you say stupid things again."

  Christian smiled back at her; a feeling of happiness surged through him knowing that she wanted him as much as he wanted her. A four-hundred-year-old prophecy predicted their destiny, but until this moment, Christian did not truly believe he could ever be happy with his circumstance. Now, he could not imagine spending eternity with anyone else. The chemistry between them was magnetic and he felt that something greater than the two of them was at work here.

  Christian lay back down, his arm bent back underneath his head. Jazmine lay her head down into the nook of his chest and arm. Christian closed his eyes, his body relaxed, his mind drifting off to sleep. Jazmine could not sleep with all the emotions she had running through her. She struggled with thoughts of Thane and Christian.

  Jazmine felt guilt over the feelings she was having towards Christian. She thought that maybe in some way she was dishonoring Thane and the love they had had. For her, sex was just that, sex. She had never been emotionally attached to anyone other than Thane, until Christian.

  Thane had always told her that their union was destined, and she believed him. He spoke of a world where they would one day rule as king and queen of all vampires. That it had been prophesied since the dawn of time.

  But now, she was confused. If that was true, then why did she feel this way for Christian? Also, what was that other warlock talking about? He had also mentioned something about a prophecy that had to do with her. She could not figure out how she could be so crucial to one person, let alone to her race or the race of others. Her becoming a vampire had been a fluke, or so she thought. Yet, some small piece of her knew she would soon learn everything. Only she was not sure she wanted to know the truth.

  Jazmine listened to the slow, deep breathing of Christian as he slept. His face appeared relaxed and was somehow softer, the hard lines of his face eased. He must be having a good dream as his mouth would occasionally curve up into a slight grin. Jazmine thought she could never get tired of watching him sleep.

  As she stared at him, her eyelids grew heavier and she slowly drifted off into sleep herself. Slumber overtook her body and she found herself slipping into a dream that felt very real. In the vision, she was looking on as a crowd of people had all gathered to see something spectacular. The group cheered and yelled excitedly. Jazmine could not see what was causing all the commotion, but whatever it was, the crowd loved it.

  Jazmine tried to push her way through the people to see what was going on. As she came closer to the edge, she could hear their cheers rise sounding more like a chant than just random noises. Jazmine stood there listening, trying to make out what they were saying. She was about to the edge of the crowd and saw a large opening in the middle, two people sat upon a set of thrones.

  Jazmine rubbed her eyes in disbelief. There, seated in the middle, was Christian and herself. The crowd chanted, "All hail, King Christian and Queen Jazmine."

  Over and over she heard their names being called, the crowd grew bigger and bigger as more people joined. But when Jazmine looked at them, she noticed something odd. She saw vampires she had not seen in years, also she saw Celeste and Shane amid the crowd. They were all bowing and cheering.

  Jazmine tried to wake herself from this dream when something deep down within her told her this was not a dream. This was a premonition of her future with Christian. It was never Thane and her that would rule one day. The realization of this woke her from her restless sleep.

  When she opened her eyes, she saw that Christian was no longer asleep. Jazmine just stared at him, she knew he had been in her head and had seen everything. He also made no attempt to tell her what she saw was not real. Instead, he just lay there motionless saying nothing.

  "I don't understand," Jazmine started looking into Christian's eyes.

  "I'll tell you whatever you want to know," Christian replied not wanting to freak her out.

  Jazmine had hoped that he would tell her that she was just having a bad dream and that none of it was real. But this was not the case, and for a moment she was not sure she was ready to hear anything. Then, she knew that she had seen a glimpse of the future and she wanted to know what the hell was happening and why all these people had been celebrating Christian and her.

  "So, what I just saw is our future?" she asked skeptically.

  "Well, it's one possible future. But we all have free will, so one choice or a different action could change everything," he explained.

  "Is this the prophecy that you and the other warlock mentioned several nights ago?" she asked already knowing the answer.

  "Yes, it is," he responded with no hesitation.

  "Is this the future you want? Me at your side, ruling with you?" she asked not sure if she wanted him to say yes or no.

  "I do. This has been my path for the last four hundred years. I want peace among all supernatural races, and I believe this is the way to achieve it. Others may not agree, and they'll stop at nothing to prevent this future," he told her with an intense look.

  Jazmine thought on this for a minute and then a thought struck her. "Did Thane know of this prophecy?" she asked hoping to hear Christian say no. If he said yes, she knew than she was just a pawn in his game for power.

  Christian thought about lying for a split second, then decided she needed to know the truth and could make her own inferences from there. "Yes, he knew. He didn’t want it to come to fruition. Thane wanted to rule all vampires and this prophecy would mean that would never happen," Christian held her eye contact as he spoke.

  Jazmine looked away first as she felt a single tear slip down her cheek. At that moment, her heart hardened. The last small shred of love she felt for Thane was gone. Christian saw the torment in her eyes as she weighed his response.

  "Jazmine, I do believe he loved you in his own way," he tried to reassure her though he was not sure why. Christian only knew he hated to see the pain in her eyes and would do anything to take it away. Even if the pain was because of another man.

  "Don't defend him. He doesn’t deserve it," she replied and got up from the bed. Jazmine stood naked in the room. Christian gazed upon her perfectly molded form. She looked like a regal queen; her head held high, her body stiff and sure of itself.

  Jazmine walked over to her closet to throw on a pair of jeans and a sweatshirt. She pulled her hair up into a bun on top of her head. "If what I saw is truly my destiny then I will resign myself to it fulfilling it. I’m ready to continue my training. I’ll see you in the library in twenty minutes," she retorted and abruptly walked out of the room.

  Chapter Ten

  While she waited for Christian to arrive, Jazmine went back to the shelf and found the book that had piqued her interest earlier. Something inside of her told her all her answers were to be found within this book, as long as she wasn't afraid to learn the truth. Jazmine instantly found it and pulled it off the shelf.

  The binding looked rather used and ragged. The edges were curved where they should have been pointed. The cover was worn from many hands touching it. She flipped through the pages skimming it for a hint of information about herself or Christian. Nothing jumped out at her as she flipped through page after page.

  Christian walked in the room as she continued to rummage through the pages. "Reading anything interesting?" he asked not attempting to try and take the book from her. He wanted her to find out everything. She needed to know the truth and he felt the truth was easier to handle when you discovered it for yourself. He, on the other hand, had not had that luxury.

  The moment his mother had been taken away from him a man came to the home. He did not even knock but walked right in and sat at the table. He told Christian his name was Shane and he was there to take care of him. He had said they needed to leave quickly though as the monster that took his mother was on his way there to kill him. Shane explained that he would keep him safe and that he needed to come with him stra
ight away.

  Christian’s mother was burned at the stake that day. Shane had smuggled Christian out of his house and they had almost made it out of the town when Christian saw the townsmen march his mother to the center of the village. He wiggled and squirmed, breaking free of Shane’s grip. Christian dodged through the crowd and came upon the stake where is mother was tied up.

  Around the base was a bundle of wood and kindle piled high. Christian watched his mother make no effort to break free or even scream. She stood motionless, stoic. The image of his mother, so proud, seared into his brain. She was not scared to die and she made sure everyone there saw that.

  Just then he felt someone grab him from behind. Shane pulled him out of the crowd and away before he could see them light his mother on fire. Even at his young age, he knew what was happening and he swore to avenge her death. Years later he would get the opportunity to fulfill that promise.

  From that day forward, Shane took care of him and watched over him as he grew into a man. Shane told him everything. He never minced words and Christian grew up knowing his existence was meant for something greater than himself--he was meant to rule. And one day, he would meet the vampire that would rule alongside him. That was the piece he struggled with the most. To rule with a monster, in his mind, was an unfathomable fate. For years he struggled with this notion, sure he would find a way to rule by himself, but the moment he saw Jazmine something changed. But he knew the significance of the prophecy was more important than his hatred for vampires.

  What he never expected was to fall in love with a vampire. The moment he laid eyes on Jazmine that day in the council room, he felt a passion like no other. He could not understand how he could feel this way towards someone he had never met before. It was like his soul was drawn to her. He could not explain it, but he needed to have her right then and there.

  He also understood that she knew nothing of her destiny. The lies Thane had told her were an attempt to change the course of events. Christian also didn't want others to tell her things she was not ready to hear or believe. She needed to discover the truth on her own and in her own time. She needed to reconcile the guilt she had for loving a man other than Thane. Even if he did deceive her, the love they had shared was real and Christian knew that Thane had truly cared for Jazmine.

  Jazmine closed the book and placed it down on a table next to her. She was not ready to learn the prophecy that was to be her future. Jazmine needed to focus on the present first.

  "The answers you seek are in there," he reassured her. "When you are ready to read it, I'll not keep it from you. Some of it will be hard to read, but I think you should know it all before we move forward."

  "No, I want to move forward now. Luciana is still hunting me, and I need to be ready. I can feel her getting closer every day and it will not be long until she is here. When she comes, I'll go to her and fight," she stated firmly in her stance.

  "You no longer have to fight alone. You're my queen and I'll fight by your side--" he tried to reassure her, but Jazmine stopped him.

  "This is my fight," Jazmine commanded back. "I began this, and I'll end it."

  Christian knew it was futile to argue with her. She was stubborn and she felt she had to prove herself worthy of him in some way. He conceded, "Okay, but if it looks like you'll lose, I'll step in and you can't stop me. I'll not let you die. I’ve waited over four hundred years for you and I'll not lose you now."

  Jazmine knew she could not persuade him, so she said no more. She turned her attention back to the reason they had come here this evening. "So, where do we start tonight?" she asked not wanting to talk about Luciana anymore.

  "Well, I'd like you to continue where we left off the other day," he began and guided her back over to the couch to sit.

  They spent the better part of the night practicing her skills. By the time they had finished Jazmine was mentally exhausted, but she had felt more successful and Christian seemed rather pleased with her efforts. Christian could tell she needed nourishment after the long hours of work, he was hungry too and suggested they go get something to eat.

  They walked to the kitchen together. Christian made himself a sandwich, while Jazmine found her nightly supply of blood. It was tangy and sweet, and she drank hungrily. Christian watched her through lowered lids as she devoured the substance. "Hungry?" he asked and chuckled at her seductively.

  "Yes, but for something other than this," she smiled back at him, a look of lust in her eyes.

  Christian didn't need any coaxing. He wanted her again as much as she wanted him. He could not harness the desire that consumed him whenever she was around. He felt like a horny teenager every time they were together. Christian sauntered over to the table where she sat. He immediately picked her up and placed her on the table. His desire was so urgent he had not thought of taking her back to the bedroom. He wanted her here and now. Also, the thought of someone walking in on them excited him even more.

  Christian unzipped his pants and pulled them down, his cock was hard with desire. He just needed to bury himself inside of her. He unzipped her pants and yanked them off. Christian pulled her panties to the side and thrust urgently inside of her. She was prepped for him and he slid in with ease. Christian pumped her harder than he ever had before.

  Jazmine relished the feel of him pounding her over and over. She held onto the edge of the table to brace her body. It didn't take long for the euphoric waves of ecstasy to build in Jazmine. Their lovemaking was fast and hard, which was how she liked it. Christian thrust into her one last time and they both cried out as the orgasm rushed through their bodies. She sat there, panting and sated.

  Christian withdrew himself and pulled up his pants. Now that his appetite for food and Jazmine had been met, he wanted to go rest. He helped her off the table and they walked hand in hand back to their rooms. Christian opened the door to her bedroom and followed her in. They both undressed and went to lay down to get some rest, for tomorrow would be another long day of training.

  Chapter Eleven

  Jazmine tossed and turned all night. She had visions of Luciana and other vampires lurking in the woods around the compound. She watched Luciana, hiding from her view, as the Lamia searched. Luciana knew she was close but just could not place where Jazmine was. Jazmine knew she only had a day or two at most before Luciana discovered her hiding place. She no longer had the luxury of time. She needed to be ready, as war with Luciana was upon her.

  Jazmine awoke in a cold sweat. Her body shivered, worried about the future. She was not sure she was ready to embrace what she saw in her vision, but she also was not ready to die. Soon she would be forced to decide. If she defeated Luciana, she either had to stay with Christian or leave forever. She was not sure that either choice was really hers to make.

  Jazmine walked into the bathroom and splashed cold water on her face. She took a few moments to collect her thoughts before waking Christian. She needed to tell him that Luciana was near, even though she had a gut feeling he already knew.

  When she walked back into the room, Christian was sitting up in bed. His chest bare and his hard muscles inviting. Jazmine shook all inappropriate thoughts from her mind. She needed to focus, and Christian did not make that an easy task. Every time he touched her or looked at her, a bolt of electricity shot through her body and wreaked havoc on her ability to concentrate.

  "I saw Luciana, she is close," Jazmine blurted out.

  "I know, I saw her too," Christian stated with indifference. "She is strong, but you are stronger. You have to believe in yourself." Christian pulled the sheet off his body and got out of bed. He stood in front of her, his naked body glorious to view.

  Jazmine had to control the desire to pounce on him. She turned around to not further distract herself. "I will meet you in the library. We have two days tops," she called out as she reached for the door to exit the room.

  Christian arrived in the library a few minutes after she had. They got straight to work. Christian was relentless. He ha
d her practice over and over. This time he was not as forgiving. He criticized her more than usual and pushed her harder than he ever had. Jazmine left the library feeling defeated and hopeless. She thought she had done well, but after the comments Christian made, she was no longer sure.

  When she left the library, she went straight back to her room. She began to change her clothes when she noticed something odd on her nightstand. A flash of gold caught her attention. She cautiously walked over. The moment she saw the trinket her heart fell. It was Thane's ring. She would have recognized it anywhere.

  Jazmine searched all over the room, making sure that the person who left it was not there waiting to attack. When she felt the room was clear, she walked back to the nightstand and picked up the ring. She rolled it around in the palm of her hand. The ring felt cold and heavy. Her finger traced along the edges and grooves. Flipping it over she read the inscription inside.

  "Per sempre nel mio cuore," she read out loud. Forever in my heart. This was the ring that she had given Thane many years ago. Who could have found this? Her stomach felt sick. If this was Luciana, she was playing a cruel joke on her. Not only was she letting Jazmine know she had found her, but she also was toying with her. Perhaps Luciana had left this to let her know she could attack her at any time now.

  Jazmine understood that everything would come to a head, and either she or Luciana would come out victorious. Jazmine realized that at this moment Christian did not know Luciana had found her, and she was not going to let him know. If he found out he would follow her to the fight, and she did not want that. No matter what, she had to go alone. She would not risk his life around the other vampires.

  If they caught him alone, they would tear him to shreds. She could never bare losing him like she lost Thane. Jazmine placed the ring in her pocket and got ready to try and sleep. This would be her last night to rest. Tomorrow she would fight.