by Nicole Marie
I knelt down beside him on the stone ledge and placed my hand on his shoulder. I then smiled down at him and shrugged as he looked up at me with those bright, ice blue eyes of his. He looked concerned, but more importantly, he looked afraid.
I focused on his energy and his mind and tried to understand what he was feeling. He was holding up some sort of mental block, preventing me from recognizing his emotions as I once could, but I pushed through as hard as I could and managed to finally break the barrier.
My body was consumed with an overwhelming guilt, laced lightly with a desperate need at the same time.
Charlie, I’m so sorry.
I traced my fingers along his collarbone and up his neck and then along his jawline. “This isn’t your fault, Erik.”
He closed his eyes as pleasure coursed through both of our minds as my finger traced his skin. I traced along his cheekbone around his eyes, then across his forehead and down the other side. Goosebumps rose on my arm, not from the cold, but from the shared sensation I felt in my mind that flooded in through Erik’s body. For just a moment, the pain was pushed away and replaced by the pleasure of my touch.
My body relaxed as I finally understood the effect I had on him. I then placed both hands on either side of his face and traced his cheekbones with my thumbs as I stared down at his peaceful face. His eyes were closed as he allowed me to feel my way over his body.
He looked so surreal, as if carved from stone. His skin was smooth and frigid to the touch, but there was a softness to it at the same time. I traced his lips with my finger and a soft moan emitted from his mouth. I couldn’t help but smile at the all too human reaction, and wondered if I had judged him too prematurely. I sighed out loud as I realized I had probably judged his entire race prematurely.
I’d been so consumed with my hatred for all vampires, mostly through my training from work back in Chicago, that I never really considered them to be an extension of the human race. At one time, every vampire was once human. I guessed I just imagined that once they turned, they lost all trace of humanity. But by looking at Erik’s gentle face, and the reaction his body was demonstrating after my light touch, I suspected there was more human in him than I had initially understood.
“I want to help you,” I whispered to him.
He opened his eyes and looked up at me and all I could see was pain.
“Charlie,” he whispered. His voice was ragged and hoarse, but gentle at the same time. “I don’t want to hurt you.”
I smiled at him and nodded. “I know. But we have to try, right?”
Erik stared up at me in silence as our eyes were locked together for a long moment. The early morning sun shone delicately in the window far above us, and I finally pulled my eyes away to look up at the opening near the ceiling. The room must’ve been at least five stories tall, and the window just above ground level. I wondered absently about the logistics of the space: if this had been built exactly for this purpose, or he had stumbled upon such an interesting piece of architecture by happenstance?
Erik extended his arm up to my face and held my cheek in his hand. An overwhelming pain coursed to my body as I could feel his own pain shared between us. At the exertion, I nearly collapsed forward and had to place my hand against his chest to hold myself up.
“Stop hurting yourself,” I said.
Erik smiled for the first time since I’d met him. I had never seen him smile, and I realized then just how absolutely beautiful he was. His eyes were bright as crystal, but his lashes were black and matched his hair, which had grown disheveled in his current state. His cheekbones were gaunt, probably due to the starvation, but it gave him a stern, yet incredibly sexy appearance. His lips were full and pale, and his smile was enough to nearly knock me off my feet. It was a good thing I was sitting down, or else I didn’t know how I would’ve swooned, being weak at the knees like a fucking pathetic schoolgirl.
At that exact moment, I completely forgot about James and was consumed with Erik’s touch. Where I had previously enjoyed the comforts of the hot, primal nature of my relationship with James, this was so foreign and different and new. James and I had never decided to be exclusive, not that that was even an issue to be worrying about right now. But I knew enough not to be feel guilty for being here with Erik.
James would understand since he was a caring person and would want me to do anything to protect a friend. At least, I hoped he would understand. I knew vampires and shifters were ancient enemies, but James would support me. He was a kind and understanding person, and I knew he would support anything I did.
“Let’s give this a try, shall we?”
Erik slowly moved his arms down and took my hands in his and he held it firmly as he looked up at me, his body frozen and his eyes fearful.
“Charlie, if at any time you feel the same reaction as you did with Alexandra’s blood, you need to tell me. We will stop, and that will be the end of it.”
I nodded my agreement and smiled back at him. “I know you don’t want to hurt me,” I said to him. “But as much as I want to help, I’ll admit I am nervous. Let’s get this over with, okay?”
Yes, but first. You must eat.
As if on cue, Victor came into the room. “This way, Miss Rose.”
I looked up at him curiously and then back down Erik who closed his eyes and simply continued to smile. “Go with him, Charlie. I’ll be here when you come back.”
I couldn’t help but laugh and I pushed myself up to join Victor on the other side of the room. He led me down the long hallway, but in the other direction this time. I followed in silence, wondering exactly where he was taking me.
After a few minutes of silent walking, we came to a large doorway at the end of the hall and he knocked twice. A small voice sounded on the other side, bidding us entry.
Victor opened the door, but stepped back to let me go through first. I stepped through the threshold and was surprised at what I saw. The room was bright, and light flooded in through clerestory windows along the ceiling, likely through some sort of light well system.
Whereas the rest of the building was cold and hard, this was soft and light. There were beds and cushions and long tables covered in soft table cloths. I turned back to Victor with my eyebrow raised, but he simply bowed and smiled to me.
“I may not enter. This is for the living. I’ll come back for you shortly. There is food in the fridge, so please, help yourself.”
He then turned and closed the door and I was left alone in the large room.
At least, I thought it was alone. I stood there looking around curiously for a few minutes before I heard a soft cough from the far side of the room. When my eyes finally adjusted to the bright light, I saw Alexandra laying on a far couch below a window, her legs kicked up over the armrest and her one elbow behind her head casually. She looked at me with her eyebrow raised, but her expression was still angry. I knew that girl didn’t like me, but what the fuck was I going to do about it?
“Err, hi,” I said awkwardly to her. I raised my hand and then dropped it while offering a half smile. “Alexandra, right?”
The woman rolled her eyes at me and then reached for a book she had been reading. I turned away from her towards the other side of the room where Victor had motioned, and saw a row of refrigerators and a small makeshift kitchen. If I was going to be donating blood, I knew I had to eat. My stomach rumbled at the thought of food and I realized I hadn’t eaten anything for a while. I walked over to the fridge and opened it and nearly gasped when I saw what was inside.
“Is that blood?” I blurted out loudly. I turned back to Alexandra who grunted on the far side of the room.
“None of your business, Charlie,” She pretty much spat my name out and then continued to read her book, ignoring me.
I closed the refrigerator door and opened the next one and was relieved when I saw an assortment of fruit and cheese. I reached in and grabbed an apple and then took a seat at the long wooden table in the centre of the room.
> I bit into the fruit as I took in my surroundings. Long white and gold drapes hung from the walls, and a crystal chandelier hung from the wooden ceiling beams over the table. The room was exquisite, with traces of gold and silver scattered about. Large ornate frames with portraits and mirrors alike were hung on the walls, and I couldn’t help but feel like I was in some sort of palace.
“Do you live here?” I asked Alexandra. She didn’t answer, and then it was my turn to roll my eyes. Obviously, the girl had issues.
I took another bite of the juicy apple and continued to look around the room. Finally, after a few long awkward few minutes of silence, footsteps came from the far hallway. Three young men came through, and I recognized the one dark skinned man from earlier. He looked friendlier, this time, and walked over to sit next to me in the table. He leaned on his elbow and gazed at me curiously but said nothing. It was an extremely awkward gesture, but I tried my best to smile sweetly to him. “Hi, I’m Charlie.”
The man frowned at me and continued to stare. “I know who you are.”
I stared at him back, not wanting to be the one to break eye contact in this strange demonstration of power. I wasn’t going to appear to be weak, especially to the other humans. I took a bite of my apple and continued to stare at him, and after another long minute he then laughed at me and leaned back in his chair.
“I’m just joshing with you. My name’s Reginald. You can call me Reggie.”
He extended his hand and I shook it. He then pushed himself up off the chair and went to take a seat on a nearby couch, leaning back casually as he watched me with curious eyes. “So, you can fix what you fucked up for us?”
I nearly choked on my apple, but then realized he wasn’t joking. I nodded and offered a half shrugged. “You do realize I didn’t intend for any of this to happen, right?”
Alexandra laughed bitterly from the other side of the room and then waved her hand in the air as she got off the couch and left down the hall.
I watched her leave and then turned back to Reggie.
“Ignore her,” he said. “She’s had a thing for Erik for the past hundred years. She’s just jealous, that’s all.”
“Jealous of what?” I asked him.
Reginald raised his eyebrow, but then laughed at me. “You’re not serious, are you?”
I shrugged and then he looked at me and tilted his head. “The Master has never taken a liking to anybody. The closest he’s gotten to finding a mate was when he turned a dying young girl a century ago rather than simply killing her for food, like his people so often did.”
“Oh?” I asked. I wasn’t too sure how to respond.
“Yep. But, as always, he just ignored her afterwards, no matter how desperately she tried to cling to her master.”
I listened intently, eager to find out more about Erik and his vampires, and the people who devoted themselves to him.
“Why are you here? Why give up your life to serve the vampires?” This was the first time I had ever really spoken with a human servant. Things were different in America, and they were old fashioned in their practice here, it seemed. This was the stuff of movies.
Reggie frowned at me and sat in silence for a moment. “This has been the best gift I’ve ever received. I was dying of what we then called consumption about a hundred forty years ago, and one of Erik’s vampires turned me as a way to save my life. I would’ve died if it weren’t for them.”
I shook my head in disbelief. “But you’re a servant, aren’t you? I think I would rather die than live eternally as someone else’s slave.”
“You don’t actually understand any of this, do you?”
It was my turn to frown. “No, I guess I don’t.”
“Erik and his coven saved our lives. We were all dying, slow painful deaths, and they converted us,” he explained. “None of it was against our will. In fact, I begged and begged before they agreed. We owe them our lives.”
His words confused me more than I cared to admit. “You were given a choice?” I finally asked.
Reggie nodded. “We all were. He wouldn’t do this to anyone without their full consent. Surely, you understand that.”
I shook my head. “No, I don’t. I’ve heard endless stories about murder and destruction. Everything I’ve been led to believe has been surrounding the atrocities the vampires have caused.”
“There’s always more to the story, Charlie,” he responded coolly.
I nodded. “I guess you’re right.” My mind raced as I came to terms with the knowledge that maybe all vampires weren’t evil beings, after all. Not that it had stopped me from wanting to help, given the strange circumstance I was in. But it made this whole thing seem a little bit easier.
At least, this was all based on whether I could trust him. And I wasn’t sure yet if I could.
Before I could ask any more questions, another knock came at the door. “Miss Rose? Are you ready?”
I took a last bite of my apple and swallowed hard. I stared at the door as I felt my face grow white and my skin grow clammy.
This was it, I thought to myself.
“You know, being one of us ain’t so bad, kid.” Reggie said softly to me. “This whole thing might be easier if you just let them convert you.”
I glared angrily at him and crossed my arms. “That’s not an option. Don’t even fucking go there,” I snapped at him. “I’m here to help Erik, but not at the sacrifice of my own bloody life.”
Reggie held his hands up in surrender and shrugged. “Just a suggestion.”
I took a deep breath and closed my eyes and let it out slowly as I counted to ten, trying my best to remain calm.
Another knock came from the other side of the door again, this time more loudly. “I’m afraid we don’t have much time, Miss Rose.”
“Coming,” I called as I nervously fidgeted with the bag in my pocket. I closed my eyes just then and took another deep breath.
I could feel Erik in my mind, and he felt stronger, somehow. But I knew it was an illusion. One’s mind can only last so long as his body.
I clenched the bag in my pocket as I stood and walked through the door without so much as a glance back at Reginald. Victor opened the door for me as I stepped through, and I focused on the echo of my footsteps as I made my way towards Erik.
Well, fuck. Here goes nothing.
9
I followed Victor down the long hallway.
I’d walked this hall numerous times already, yet it seemed to grow longer now. He led me back the way we had came, but passed the room with the small window where Erik lay. I looked back at the room as we passed, but held my silence. My heart thumped wildly in my chest and my mind was racing a mile a minute, and even if I had tried to ask Victor what where we were going, I had a feeling no words would come.
He led me back into the large open room with fireplace. I paused in the doorway as I took in the scene before me.
The fire roared to life, casting flickering shadows across the entire room. Erik had been lying on the hard floor in front of the hearth, the number of other vampires and humans inside I didn’t recognize stood clustered around, all looking hopeful.
They all stared at me as I stepped through the room, and I couldn’t control my heartbeat. By the way their eyes bored into my chest and back up to meet my gaze, I knew that they could hear it, too
I slowly walked into the room and took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. I was getting really good at controlling my breathing. I walked up to Erik and knelt next to him as I placed a hand on his chest. He looked up at me and smiled the faintest smile, but I could feel in my mind his gratitude towards me.
We sat there for a few moments staring at each other, and then I suddenly grew nervous. More nervous than I’d ever been before.
I looked up at the people surrounding us, and my heart began to race again. “You think you guys to give us some privacy?”
Nobody moved as some of their expressions grew angry. But once Erik nodded, they all immediate
ly turned to leave.
All, except Victor. Victor stood still and crossed his arms. “You need someone here in case something goes wrong.” I looked back and forth between him and Erik, and watched as Erik nodded his agreement.
“Oh, no,” I said exasperated. “No one else can be in the room when this shit goes down. It’s bad enough I have to give blood, but I don’t think I can do it with people watching.”
I stared angrily up at Victor, but he held his gaze and crossed his arms once more. “I’m here more for the Master. Not for you, Miss Rose.”
Well, that shut me up.
I looked imploringly into Erik’s eyes. Finally, he glanced back up to Victor and motioned for him to leave.
Victor looked concerned but bowed. “I’ll be just on the other side of the door. If I discover a chance of anything happening that will need my attention, I’ll be here in a heartbeat.” He gave me a smug expression as he said that last word, but he then turned and marched out of the room into the hallway.
Finally, when we are completely alone, I turned all of my attention to Erik. “In order for me to do this, we need ground rules.”
Erik looked up at me, amused. Of course, Charlie. You name the terms.
“First of all,” I said extending my index finger in front of him. “I say when and how and how much. If I say stop, we stop. Got it?”
Charlie, what do you think this is? Go only so far as you're comfortable, and no farther. If you want to stop, you stop.
I nodded and then took the kit out of my pocket and placed it on the ground in front of me.
I stared down at the needle and rubber tubing and the other strange looking plastic bag things. I’d drawn my own blood many times before while undercover, as a necessary precaution against certain things. It was never an issue then, but, then again, back then our blood was being sent back to the lab for testing. It wasn’t going to go feed a vampire.
A shiver crept up my spine just then as I wondered what the hell I would do once I’d bagged my blood. I don’t think I wanted to be the one to feed him. But what the hell was I going to do? Dump the bag of blood down his throat?