Out of My Grave

by Stephanie O'Hanlon

  He turned away from me. “Yes, the American. He is very protective of you. Has more of a standing with you than MacMurphy did. I am sure you have seen the pathetic thing pining for you around the dance floor.”

  “A standing? No one has a standing with me, he just cares for me, loves me, something you cannot even begin to understand. And, yes, I saw Dale. Why must you treat him as such? Then again, I do not understand why anyone would want to bother with you and your dealings.”

  He walked up and grabbed my hand, looking to the ring Vincent had given me. “What a lovely ring, my lady. An engagement ring?” His grip tightened around my hand. “That mouth of yours is going to get you into trouble, Annalee, you cannot seem to have a nice conversation anymore.”

  I ripped my hand away from him. “Why would I want one with you? You are nothing but a slimy sadistic snake!”

  The palm of his hand struck the side of my face sending my head flying back, my body falling into the desk harshly. My cheek pulsed and burned as I put my hand over it, my eyes filling with tears from the pain.

  He began to walk towards me angrily, his hands out to me. I tried to push away but he pushed back, wrestling me against the wall, hitting me again as I tried to struggle free from his grip.

  “Has the Yank made his way between your legs? We shall see!” I felt his hand moving up my bare leg under my gown.

  “Get off me.” I began to cry, my anger growing as well as my fear. If I yelled would anyone hear me?

  “This has been a long time coming, Annalee. I will have you as I said I would.” He leaned down to try to kiss me, but I continued to struggle against him. I was getting ready to scream when he was suddenly ripped off of me. I turned to see Vincent pushing Sean up against the wall by the door, making it shake.

  Peter and Deirdre stood in the doorway, many of the guests gathering around to see what the commotion was about.

  Vincent had his fangs bared, his fists full with Sean’s suit, pushing him hard against the wall. I could tell he was going to rip him apart.

  I quickly ran over to him, pulling on his arm. “Vincent, no.”

  His hand moved up to Sean’s throat, squeezing on it hard. “She is mine!”

  “Vincent, please.” I shouted again.

  He paused for a moment. “If you ever so much as look at her again, I will make sure you experience a pain you would only think is possible in your worst nightmares! I should kill you!”

  I pulled at his arm, surprised at how easily he let Sean go, turning his body towards me, though he kept his eyes on Sean, who fell to the floor, coughing from the air entering his lungs.

  I grabbed hold of Vincent’s frock coat by the collar, pulling his body against mine. “Vincent, please. Hold me.”

  Sean turned to us, pointing. “You saw him. He attacked me. Fetch the authorities,” he demanded. “Those missing girls, we all know it was him!”

  Peter shook his head as he held Deirdre close to him. “Sean, I do not think anyone will speak for you.”

  I looked up at Vincent. “Hold me, please?”

  It was the only thing I could think of that would turn him away from Sean, catch his attention. He did as I asked, holding me close. I could feel him trying to turn away from me, but I quickly grabbed hold of his face, putting my forehead against his.

  “I am all right. I am fine, see? Don’t.”

  He was still trying to pull away from me, trying to follow Sean who disappeared into the crowd gathered outside of the room. Peter and Deirdre walked forward to try and comfort us.

  “He hurt you. He touched you,” Vincent said, keeping his voice low.

  “I am fine. Vincent look, I am fine, please? Don’t. It is not worth it.”

  His eyes came to mine seriously, his voice still quiet. “He was touching you, he tried to…”

  I brushed my thumb against his cheek. “You were here in time. He did not do anything. I am fine. Please? Just hold me. That is what I need right now, your arms around me.”

  He looked over my face and nodded, his arms wrapping around my waist.

  I sighed, pulling his lips towards mine, kissing him reassuringly, though it hurt to do so. My entire face hurt, as did my whole body with a burning throbbing pain throughout it.

  Deirdre walked towards us. “Are you all right? What happened?”

  Peter looked at Vincent. “Are you all right? You look as if you are about to rip his throat out.”

  Vincent put his head on my shoulder nestling into my neck, holding my body close to him.

  “I am fine. I really am,” I said.

  Tears began to build as my eyes came to Deirdre, a lump formed in my throat, the familiar feeling of vomit returning as I tried to suppress it.

  “I am so sorry, Deirdre,” I sobbed.

  She shook her head. “No, I am the one who is to apologize! I should have known Sean was up to something when he wanted to throw this charade for us.”

  I felt Vincent’s grip around my waist strengthen.

  My eyes bounced around to the mass of people who Peter was ushering away from the door.

  I turned to Deirdre. “I’m so sorry, I just—”

  I began to cry, tears slipping down my face. I could see everyone crowded in the entrance to the small room, staring at me, whispers starting. I turned my head into Vincent’s shoulder, shielding my face. I could feel him shake under me, beyond angered.

  “I am taking her home,” he snarled as grabbed hold of me, pulling me up into his arms.

  I began to shake as I buried my head into his chest. I didn’t want anyone to know I was crying, but worse, I didn’t want them to stare at me, see them staring at me.

  I could feel Vincent taking long strides, angrily telling people to get out of his way.

  Deirdre ran behind us, Peter in tow. I could hear her sniffling, obviously she was crying also. I didn’t know if it was because her night was ruined or the events that had ruined it. Perhaps it was because her friend was crying?

  Vincent got into the carriage with me, pulling me into his lap as I buried my face into his chest. Deirdre placed my things on the seat beside us. Vincent’s voice a little gentler towards her, he said, “Thank you. I will send you word when we arrive home.”

  The door closed and the horses started off.

  “We are on our way. I am taking you home.” He let his head rest against mine, holding me close to him.

  “I do not want to go to my home. I want to go to yours.”

  He shook his head. “No darling, we need to take you to your home. We need to inform your father—”

  I looked up to him panicked. “No! You cannot tell him! You cannot!” I began to sob, burying my forehead against his chest.

  It finally hit me what had happened. Sean had actually taken that step I was so sure he never would take. Why was I so sure? I didn’t even know. It was enough to make me think such a nightmare would not occur.

  Vincent put his hand on my face, holding on to me. “I have to. We have to.” He pulled my face towards his. “After I get you to your bedchamber and deal with your father, I will be up there with you. I am never letting you out of my sight again.”

  I began to cry harder, feeling completely ill and weak. The lump in my throat stayed firm, my stomach churned and I retched as I sobbed, Vincent keeping a tight hold on me.

  The carriage stopped and Vincent carried me into my home. I was still crying, still had my head buried into his chest as he began to make his way up the stairs, my father and Bess yelling behind him.

  “What is going on? What is wrong?” Bess’ voice was filled with worry as she tried to grab at me.

  “What happened?” My father’s voice boomed through the hallway as Vincent silently carried me into my bedchamber, placing me on my bed.

  He kissed me reassuringly. I knew he would be back. He wouldn’t be gone for long. He turned to Bess. “I leave her in your care. Doctor Harding, a word?”

  “I hope it is more than just one,” my father said, extremel
y angry.

  I sat silently as Bess began to clean me up. I listened carefully, Vincent and my father not venturing any farther then behind my closed door.

  “I leave my daughter in your hands—”

  “I had already threatened Mister Pertrew, I was not expecting—”

  “I trust you with my daughter even though you have a dark cloud hanging around your presence, trusting you will keep her safe and you cannot even seem to do that!”

  “Sir, I tried to! I made it to her in time! Before that bastard touched her!”

  “As you have touched her! I know you have already infected her!”

  “I love her! That is entirely different!”

  “So it is true!”

  I suddenly heard another familiar voice…Dale’s.

  “Doctor Harding, how is she? What happened?”

  “And where the hell were you? You also…I entrusted you with my daughter, my only child, the only thing in this world I have left! I asked you to watch them! A lot of bloody good that did!”

  Vincent’s voice sounded so far away. “Watch us? I assure you sir, I have been nothing but honorable to your daughter, yet you chose to spy on us? With this man, who could barely hold his own while Mister Pertrew was threatening her daily?”

  I remembered all the things Sean had said. I had honestly never thought it would go as far as it had…he actually tried to rape me. I could feel his hand moving up my leg, the smack of his palm hitting my face. It all started over again, my eyes filling with tears and my stomach churning.

  “I love her as well, you know!” Dale’s voice annoyingly rang out.

  “A bunch of good that does! The two of you spout how much you love her, yet neither of you was there to stop—”

  “I stopped it! And if not for Annalee’s request, I would gladly have ripped his throat out for hurting her as he did!”

  “I do not want either of you seeing her again, neither of you are to even think of her! I have had enough!”

  I quickly ran from Bess from behind the changing screen, my nightgown swaying as I burst through the door.

  “Annalee, come back! No!”

  I ignored Bess’ cry as I jumped into Vincent’s arms, holding onto him, crying out. “No! You won’t take him away from me!”

  Vincent’s voice was lower than the others were, yet it was loudest in my ears, overpowering them. “You should be resting. Please, darling, I promise I am not going anywhere.”

  I felt Bess’ hands around my waist trying to pull me away from him but I kept my hands clasped around him, screaming as loud as I could. “No! You cannot! You will not!”

  Everyone began to shout around me. I could feel Vincent shaking under me. He was furious—things were out of control. He again swept his arm under my legs, pulling me up into his arms. Even through all the commotion, I loved being cradled in his arms, loved how close I was to him. He brought me back into my bedchamber, setting me in my bed, running his hand over my hair, his lips right up against my ear.

  “I will be back.”

  That’s all he had to tell me. I relaxed as I nodded, lying back in the bed. I closed my eyes as I felt his lips against my forehead, then I watched as he walked out of the room, all three waiting for him and beginning to yell at him in the hallway.

  I didn’t concentrate on the yelling. I decided to ignore it. I felt myself drift into a sleep, tears still falling down my cheeks.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Finding the End, the Answer

  I awoke to find Vincent lying beside me in my bed to my right, sitting up, propped up by a few pillows. My eyes came to his.

  He softly whispered, “Well, hello.” His eyes moved over my face, which still ached and burned. He put his hand out and gently stroked my cheek, barely even grazing my skin. “You have quite the bruise.”

  I quickly clawed my way up to him, laying my head on his chest, wrapping my arms around him tightly.

  “Are you feeling any better?” He wrapped his arms around me, pulling me close into him, his voice still lowered.

  I closed my eyes and shook my head, keeping my cheek against his violet waistcoat. I sat silently for a few moments before I spoke. “We are not to see each other anymore, are we?”

  He kept silent.

  “I will take that as a yes.”

  He kept his eyes across the room. “Your father was quite angered I was not near to you. I was not…paying attention, as he said. Mister MacMurphy also will not be around you. Your father also told him to stay away. I think at this point he is going to send you to a convent away from all men.”

  “He is wrong. How can he possibly blame you for any of this?” I grabbed hold of the material of his blouse and pulled myself into him more, taking a deep breath of his cologne.

  He shook his head. “No, he is right. I knew you should not have ventured off alone, especially after he said he was going to check on the other guests. I knew he was lying. I thought he took my threat seriously, just as seriously as I meant it. He apparently thinks me not capable of following through.”

  I swallowed hard, feeling the burning behind my eyes.

  “Then when I heard your heart speed up and I could smell your fear reeking its way throughout the entire room, I knew something was wrong. If my heart could beat I am sure it would have stopped then.”

  I felt his arms tighten around me. It was beginning to be uncomfortable, but I wasn’t going to say anything. I wanted to stay caged in his arms, protected, safe.

  “I am not going to leave you alone again. They will never pry you away.” His voice went dark, yet I found myself comforted.

  I sat there in his arms, trying to fight the tears in my eyes. He would be listening very carefully. The minute Bess or my father awoke, if they stepped close to the room, he would be gone.

  I didn’t sleep much. I just thought about the situation. I loved Vincent, more than I loved anything or anyone in the entire world. Isn’t that what life is about? About being happy, finding someone you love and being with them? Is it wrong that I never cared about the consequences for such things?

  Getting old was not something I gave much thought to. That night I did. I thought long and hard, did I want to grow old? Have children? Be normal? Or would I rather be in love for all eternity, never age, feed upon those who walked around me? I may be insane, but the second option seemed more comforting, more familiar to me. It seemed the safer option.

  When I awoke, Bess was shaking my shoulder gently.

  “Wakey, wakey,” she said, keeping her voice low and smiling warmly.

  I quickly scanned for Vincent, the side of the bed he was on being cold and empty.

  “How do you feel this morning?” She sat down beside me, running her hand over my forehead and through my hair, carefully avoiding my cheek, which Vincent had said, was bruised.

  I felt tears well up in my eyes as I turned my head away from her. I looked to the corner of my room to see a dark shadow sitting in it.

  “I heard the arguments. I am surprised you were able to sleep through them.” She stroked my hair off my shoulder to my pillow.

  I kept my eyes on the corner tiredly. “It is easy to shut the world out.”

  I remembered when I used to do it while I daydreamed. How safe I was within them. Now I was in the real world and there were no daydreams to keep me safe.

  “I heard your father and his stand against your Mister Moor, against Vincent,” she said softly. “Are you going to stop seeing him?”

  I continued to angrily look to the corner. “You know the answer to that.”

  She frowned. “Do you want to stay in bed today? Or shall I get your gown ready?”

  I kept my face turned away from her, watching the corner of the room. “I have no reason to leave this bed.”

  She nodded, giving a frown of disappointment as she got up and walked to the door. “I will come and check on you every once in a while.”

  She turned and walked out, closing the door behind her, Higgins’
tale bouncing against the frame as he ran out after her. I hadn’t even noticed him in the room.

  I kept my eyes on the shadowy corner, watching it. I felt the side of the bed weigh down and I turned my head quickly to see Vincent sitting where Bess was only moments before.

  I instantly began crying, hugging him closely as I sat up frantically in the bed.

  “You were staring at that corner like it was going to come alive.” He smiled.

  I laughed lightly while wiping a tear away. “I thought you were in it.”

  He smirked. “We vampires have other more conventional ways. I simply hid behind your changing screen.” He pointed behind him towards the screen, his nails catching the sunlight and shining brightly.

  I laughed again. “Oh.”

  “How are you this morning? You were offhand with your response to Bess.”

  He looked down to my hand, the ring still on it firmly. It occurred to me that neither Bess nor my father questioned it, only Sean had noticed.

  His eyes came back to my face, again stroking where the obvious bruise was, wincing slightly as he examined it.

  I shook my head. “I don’t want to talk about it. I would like to forget the entire night. You didn’t—”

  “Go off and kill Mister Pertrew? No, I did not. I have been here the entire time. I have not left your side for a moment. Though, it did cross my mind,” he said, smiling wickedly.

  I frowned. “I wish you had done away with him. Though, I suppose that would only make things worse. You, my father and Dale would be the contenders to the authorities.”

  He laughed lightly. “Mister MacMurphy? Kill? That is a real laugh, darling. He would not be able to crush an ant. If he did it would be because he fell on it.”

  I smiled tiredly. “That is not nice.”

  “Your father, I think could do the job. He was quite angry last night. I do not know what angered him more, that Mister Pertrew advanced on you as he did or that you were only being comforted by me.” He brought my hand up to his lips and kissed the back of it.