Ancient Blood: The Fallen

by Renea Taylor

  The silky feel of his chest beneath my palms added to my heightened awareness, and bending forward, I licked at the salty sweat that had beaded upon his chest, rolling the moisture around on its tip as I absorbed his essence, feeling my breathing catch and hold as he worked further and deeper within me, every stroke a symphony of movement as our bodies danced together in tune to a shared beat, even as my body cried out for its release.

  Yet he allowed it no mercy, allowed it no quenching of its arousal, for he stilled within me, slightly banking the rioting desire, so that after a few seconds, I was capable of taking more, for as my mind and body cooled, he began again to instruct, to teach, to take me to that fine edge of insanity, as his body quivered in its own need, while our hands and lips flowed across each others bodies. Touching and acquainting one another with likes and dislikes until finally, with body jerking and cock pulsing, he grasped my waist as he jammed deeply inside with his climax, as at the same time I flew over the edge into my own.

  Slowly coming back to earth, I heard a small, emotion filled sound escape from between Dante’s lips as he uttered words that sounded as if they were spoken in some ancient, long forgotten language. Then, avoiding my eyes, he lifted me off his lap and gently sat me back onto the bench seat beside him, before turning to face the front of the truck, he stared out through the windshield. Then after a few seconds, he gripped the door handle of the driver’s door and pushed it open. Still without a word, he tugged me from the seat, as grabbing my clothes from the floorboard, he shoved them into my hands, then with both of us as naked as when we came into this world, he drug me to the porch, where pulling me close, he softly kissed the top of my head, before sucking in a harsh breath that somehow sounded tortured, he pushed me away and turned his back to me, practically running to his truck, where slamming the driver’s door shut behind him , he took off as if he'd just danced with the devil.

  The next morning I found my nerves stretched to their limit, as I was uncertain of what I was going to say to Dante when I saw him.

  However, it was an uncertainty I needn’t have had, for he didn’t appear that morning, or the next, nor for that matter, the one after that. In fact, it would turn out to be six, long tortures months before I was to see him again.

  Chapter 5

  Present day, 2010

  Several hours had passed since my sojourn into the past, and I now had my head buried inside my washer. I was wrestling with a sock that had gotten wrapped around the bottom of the spindle, and after quite a lot of tugging, and a few hearty cuss words, the sock finally let loose, causing me to let out a yelp as my head banged against the tub of the washer at its sudden release.

  Rubbing at the tender spot, I glared at the offending sock, almost tempted to toss the damn thing in the trash. However, as it was still in good condition, I stuffed back the inclination and threw it in the dryer with its mate, then slamming the dryer door shut, I set the timer and started it to drying before I shoved the soiled sheets and a few towels into the washer, and started it to running as well.

  Six hours, several cups of coffee, a brand new start on a painting, and supporting a huge, pounding headache, I came up for air after finishing the last stroke of my paintbrush. Stretching my neck, I began to rock my head from side to side, working to ease the stiffness of tight muscles, then finally turning, I began to make my way to my bedroom, where I started my preparations for my night out with Arreon.

  * * *

  Forty-five minutes later however, as I stood outside a popular nightclub, waving a flier I'd found in front of my face, trying in vain to cool the stifling summer evening as we waited in line, I thought that the two of us, as well as everyone else standing with us must be out of our fucking minds.

  Jesus, what sane person would be out in this heat in the pursuit of entertainment!

  I was considering asking Arreon about just skipping the club, when the line finally began to move, freeing us of the inferno outside to enter within the air-conditioned interior.

  I let out a relieved sigh at the blast of frigid air that slammed into my overheated flesh, as glancing around, I debated about fighting the crowd waiting to enter the woman's restroom.

  However, after only a few minutes of hesitation, I decided that the fight was definitely a necessity, as my bladder was setting up quite a whining fest, and tugging on Arreon’s arm, I relayed my intentions, then shooed him off with a waving motion, muttering for him to go find the others.

  The wait for the restroom didn't take nearly as long as I'd expected, and I was soon working my way back through the crowd towards the bar, where I found myself standing in another line to get close enough to tell the bartender what I needed.

  After an interminable amount of time, I received my drink, and turning began the arduous task of making my way back through the mass of bodies when a beefy, greasy, long haired man stepped before me, barring any further movement as he leered down in my direction.

  I tried to politely step around him, but he seemed unwilling to get the hint that I wasn't interested, for he once again blocked my path, an eerie laugh rumbling within his massive chest.

  Belatedly I realized things were going to turn nasty in a hurry if I didn't acknowledge him in some manner, and finally asked, “do I…uh…know you?”

  The man heard me, I knew he had, yet he continued to stand before me, leering down at me before finally murmuring “no…but sweet thing I intend for you to.”

  I felt a sensation of unease skate through my stomach as I breathed, “I'm…I'm here with friends…” but my words choked to a stop as the man suddenly reached out and gripped my arm, prepared it seemed, to force me to follow.

  However, I found myself being saved from having to utter the blood-curling scream that had throttled up within me, preparing for lift off, as hearing a low growl, I saw an arm flash out and grasp the man's wrist.

  I watched the muscles within the arm flex in their use of giving a warning squeeze to my assailants arm, as a voice snarled, “it would be in your best interest about now, that you remove that hand if you intend to keep it.”

  Shaking off my protector’s grip, the man before me muttered something low beneath his breath. Then loosening his hold on my arm, he tossed an angry glance at the man standing behind me, before returning his beady eyes in my direction he drawled, “see ya around doll face” then turning, he hurried off, burying himself within the crowd.

  I’d already begun vocalizing my gratitude as I turned towards my rescuer, however my words stuttered to a stop, shock rocketing through my system as I stared at the back of the quickly departing figure, anger and confusion swamping through me, for the set of shoulders on the tall athletic figure were all too familiar.

  Breaking into a run, I called out Dante’s name, and found myself rudely shoving and pushing at those in my way as I tried to catch up with his quickly departing figure.

  However, an ugly sound of frustration escaped from between my lips as I found myself tangled within a particularly resistant cluster, loosing sight of Dante as his frame vanished within the crowd.

  * * *

  Giving up, as doubt had quickly replaced any confidence my savior was actually Dante, for I'd been unable any trace of him within the club, I began looking for Arreon instead, and locating him sitting among our friends at one of the nearby tables.

  I worked my way around, and through the crowd, until I came abreast of where Arreon and the others sat hunched together, conversation animatedly floating between them.

  All except Arreon that was, for at some point during my approach, he'd become aware of my presence and sat gazing pensively at my overly pale features, his own pulled into a frown, then standing, he pulled out a chair, gesturing for me to have a seat next to him.

  Plopping down in the chair, I gave a startled jerk when he dropped his hands on my shoulders and leaned forward murmuring, “what’s up Keer…?”

  Suddenly I felt myself deflate, tears smarting within my eyes at the childhood nickname.<
br />
  I tried to shake the anger within me before whispering, “I…uh…”

  Then shaking my head in confusion, my throat suddenly tight with the battery of emotions that were swamping me, I continued, “I just…” finally giving up on trying to form words that made sense, I muttered, “it's nothing…”

  However, I knew immediately by the look on Arreon's face, and the speculation shining clearly in his gunmetal gray eyes, that I'd done little to soothe his curiosity, in fact, if anything, I'd only added fuel to his concern.

  As if realizing I wasn’t going to say anything further though, he shrugged, shook his head, shot another worried glance in my direction, and then finally re-seated himself.

  Conversation continued to flow around the table, and I tried to pay attention, however found I was unable to concentrate on anything that was being said, for my thoughts took precedence over everything else, and my mind wondered, spread over such a vast area that I was startled into an involuntary squawk when Arreon leaned over and hissed, “are you sure you're okay?”

  Flushing beneath the onslaught of eyes that were turned in my direction, I stuttered, “I'm fine…just a little…distracted I guess.”

  Arreon said nothing further as he leaned back in his chair, and with arms crossed against his middle, his chair tipped back on two legs, he continued to gaze in my direction, an action of which I tried to ignore.

  However, I found his penetrating gaze disconcerting, and silently uttered a relieved breath when he became sidetracked by the sound of chairs being scraped back as our friends got up to dance.

  Against my will, I found myself being drug towards the dance floor as well, and at first protested quite loudly and expressively, as I wasn't in the mood to dance, but soon caved, for the music thrumming through the large speakers wound its way through me, forcing within me a desire to move.

  I found, as well for the moment, my mind was wiped of everything but the music’s rhythm, and I swayed with abandonment, loosing myself in a world of sensation.

  No sooner had the song came to an end, than another began, yet I didn't feel its pull, didn't feel the invitation to loose myself in its rhythm, for it was obliterated by another sense altogether.

  Someone was watching me, and as my eyes circled the nearby area they widened, coming to a stop on the man propped against a wall.

  His arms were crossed in front of his broad chest, his sapphire eyes burning with an inner flame as they gazed in my direction, focused and unwavering before they were quickly masked, as a small, yet familiar grin began curving up the edges of Dante's lips.

  The edges of my own lips curled as well, as I took a step in his direction.

  I was unaware of anyone or anything around me as I advanced towards Dante, so lost in the tunnel vision of my quest that a startled yelp escaped from between my lips, and I jerked away from the hand that landed on my shoulder, gazing in bewilderment at the face of the woman who swam into focus before me, as she in turn, startled by my reaction, jumped back swearing loudly and shrieked, “what the hell Kira!”

  As I stared at the face of Heather McClure, one of the few real friends I had, I felt guilt wash over me, for it was all I could do not to push her aside and continue my pursuit of Dante.

  However, not wanting to insult her with such rudeness, I muttered, “nothing…I mean…”

  Then, with a shrug I fell silent as, finding I was unable to stop myself, I allowed my eyes to swing past her towards where I’d last seen the object of my obsession, only to find myself ready to toss something, as the space where he had stood, now contained a different person! Well fuck!

  Chapter 6

  Three hours later found Arreon and I making our way through the nearly deserted parking lot, and with a glance around, I noted that only one, or two others besides us were venturing out of the club to go home, or elsewhere for the night.

  As we reached Arreon's pickup, he pulled open the passenger door, helping me inside, then went around and climbed in behind the steering wheel on the drivers side, slamming the door shut behind him he turned in my direction, penning me beneath his gaze as he muttered, “okay out with it, what the hell’s wrong with you?”

  Over the past half year, we’d had few discussions about Dante's leaving, I was however, very much aware of how his leaving had hurt Arreon, and not sure of even where to begin, as I suspected just how he was going to react, I drew a deep breath before whispering, “you think it's possible Dante might be back?”

  Silence overwhelmed the interior of the truck before Arreon finally hissed sarcastically, “should I fucking care if he is?”

  Then jerking around, he started the pickup, and placing it in reverse backed out of the parking space where, with one swift move, he shoved the gearshift into drive and shot out onto the street.

  Wincing in agitation, I wondered why I hadn’t just kept my mouth shut, for I couldn't say with absolute certainty that Dante was back, and now the inside of the truck was practically shimmering in the unseen waves of the rage Arreon was nearly boiling within.

  A contained fury so volatile it was almost a living, breathing entity as he made his way to the highway, then spent several miles jockeying for position on the busy exchange before nearing our exit.

  Roughly stabbing at the blinker with his left hand, he flipped the signal on to indicate his intentions on taking the upcoming exit, letting rip another vulgar curse as the maniac that rode our butt practically forced Arreon to take the off ramp at a much faster pace than the posted speed limit.

  Another unflattering curse ripped from his lips as the tail-gating driver never slowed, intent it seemed on either causing him to have an accident, or create one elsewhere as he whipped out from behind us into the next lane at the last minute, blaring his horn the whole time.

  A few streets and turns later found Arreon’s pickup bouncing down the quickly deteriorating drive of my small cottage, the huge potholes on its dirt surface causing the truck to shutter and shake, as it nearly jarred our teeth from our heads and a few vile words to slip from Arreon’s mouth.

  Finally pulling up in front of a porch that ran the length of the cottage, he shut down the engine with a harsh twist of his wrist. The very action portraying the anger still bubbling just below the surface before he roared, “this is fucking ridiculous…since you won’t move back to the farm, at least let me help you with the damn drive” then gesturing towards the cottage he stated, “and that deteriorating piece of shit too!”

  Shaking my head, I pushed open the door of the pickup, very much aware that Arreon was deliberately avoiding any conversation about Dante, and climbed out, pushing it shut with my hip before hurrying around to the driver’s side as Arreon made to open his.

  Leaning against the door so he couldn't get it open, I poked my head through the space left by the rolled down window and murmured, “Arreon, we go through this every time, and you know I always say no! I need this, I need to do it on my own…”

  Leaning forward, I placed my lips against his cheek in a light kiss of goodnight before, breaking the contact between us, I pulled my head back out of the open space, and with as genuine a smile as I could manage, I whispered, “I'll see you tomorrow, okay?” then turning, I made my way onto the porch, and opening the door I stood in it's frame as I waved in his direction, signaling the evening was at an end, and disrupting any further argument he could toss up about the state of my living conditions.

  After he'd backed out, and began barreling his way back down the drive, I turned and entered the cottage, kicking the door shut behind me before stilling, as the sensation washed through me that someone else was in the room with me.

  Within the count of a heartbeat, I quickly considered the merits of turning and fleeing back outside or staying where I was, and testing the waters of uncertainty, then within the count of that same heartbeat, I made my decision.

  I wasn't running from whatever it was, this was my home dammit and nothing was going to push me out of it! Drawing a deep b
reath, I cast my eyes about, a small shiver rippling down my back for the sensation was so strong, I fully expected to see someone peering at me from out of the shadows.

  Completing the tour of the room, I inhaled another shuddering breath, for though I’d found nothing that would have caused the initial alarm bells that had gone off within my head, I still felt uncomfortable within the walls of my own home.

  Since there was really nothing more I could do to reassure myself, I did the next best thing, as ignoring the sensation was impossible, and opening my mouth I uttered, “this is my house, and who or whatever you are, you are welcome to be here, as long as you no longer scare me, if you can't keep from doing that, I demand you leave” then acting as if nothing was out of the ordinary by me talking to the walls, I continued into the room where I kicked off my shoes, letting out a small puff of relieved breath as the sensation finally began to subside, before finally disappearing all together.

  Even so, I found I was still a little on edge as I padded my way into the kitchen, and set about preparing a grilled cheese sandwich and warming a bowl of soup, comfort food, for I didn’t feel my stomach could handle much more than that, as the disquieting feeling was still bouncing around inside me, making me slightly nauseous.

  When my meal was ready, I carried it into the living room, and after sitting it down on the coffee table, I settled onto the couch and tucked my feet beneath me.

  Picking up the bowl, I began dipping the grilled sandwich in the soup, abstractedly eating my supper, unhappily aware that I was intently listening and watching for anything out of the ordinary, and wondering if I hadn't made a huge mistake by not moving back to the Ranch.

  * * *

  The next morning came much too soon, and I climbed out of bed, weary and exhausted, my outlook on the day already sour.

  Another storm had moved through during the night, and I'd not slept well thanks to the intense bolts of lightening that lit up the room, accompanied by loud claps of thunder that caused the cottage to shudder beneath their violence.