“How can you help me?”
“My blood, Aydin,” I say, exasperated. “Are you being purposely obtuse?”
“You’re not an option.”
“Why not?”
“I can’t.” Aydin refuses to look at me, but the walls of the room become charged.
A disgusted sound comes from my throat. “You have broken every vampire rule I know of and then probably some I don’t. You have betrayed your father. Gave me your blood, and then, as if that wasn’t enough, you stole me from the oldest vampire in the world. After he marked me. I say whats one more?”
He is laughing. I love his laugh. But he turns away, refusing my offer.
“It’s a leash around my neck, like it calls to him.” That, I know, will get a response.
His eyes move to my neck, his face twists in rage and he looks scary, almost demented. “You can really feel it?”
“Yes,” I say, quietly.
“You are not supposed too.”
“Let me help you,” I plead, desperate. I hate the idea of being chained to someone. I'm not supposed to feel it, just like I'm not supposed to feel him. If I have to carry around marks and feel their teeth, Aydin’s at least will be welcome. Maybe. “I want you to.”
“That is a very manipulative statement.”
“I prefer the word, persuasive.”
Aydin’s shoulders shake as he laughs, quietly. He unfolds himself from the chair and moves forward. I feel his hunger grow, it is monstrous and fills the entire space. That was easier than I thought it was going to be. By a lot and my pulse starts to race. Ludari had hurt me. He had made sure I felt every inch of his teeth, maybe even made it worse than it was.
“I’ll kill you.” Aydin starts to pace the room, both hands run rough through his hair. “I’ve not had human blood in too long.”
“No you won’t.” My words make him stop. I have lost my damn mind.
Aydin stands still and looks at me for a while. I don't know what he is thinking, though at this moment, I really wish I could. There are things I want to tell him. I want ... no need... to do something to help him. He has given me too much. I want his touch and his power. I trust him, completely. He has no idea what he has done to me. I am bound to him and he doesn't even know it. But I sit mute, my voice stolen.
His face changes, his eyes soften and he settles down on my little nest. The steel gray of his eyes catches mine, forcing me still. Aydin reaches out and takes my wrist in his hand, his touch is soft and tender. Aydin turns my arm exposing the thin veins under the skin, his thumb brushes over them. My arm is small and fragile in his massive hand. My heart beats faster, my breaths quicken, and my hands start to tremble
“You’re scared,” Aydin says, quietly.
“Yes.” My heart pounds, thumping in my ears. How can he be so calm? I am leaning over a ledge, my feet barely keeping me grounded. The pull of him threatens to throw me over.
“Then why are you offering yourself to me?” His eyes never leave mine.
“I offer for selfish reasons,” I swallow. “The marks are for protection.”
“Among other things.” His voice is breathy, a small laugh.
“I prefer these marks belong to you.” My breaths are shallow, my voice shakes. I am scared, and nothing can hide it.
“Do you know what you offer, Charlotte?”
I nod, terrified to say the words, their meaning too heavy. I am placing my life, my trust in his hands. He has proven that he will do anything to protect me. I know what I offer. His marks will bind me to him, and in his world, I will be his alone. But, he will be mine as well.
“Say it out loud.”
My mouth opens, but I can’t get the words out. I swallow. “Yes. I know what I offer.”
Aydin smiles and I see it; a flash of possessiveness that makes my stomach clench. “I don’t want to hurt you,” Aydin says, and it is gone. So fast, I question if it was there.
“You won’t hurt me.”
His eyes cloud and close, he takes long breaths trying to calm himself, trying to keep control. My eyes focus on his lips, they part and sharp, mean teeth are exposed. Long and hard, just as I knew they would be. His tongue glides over the tips before he speaks.
“Do you want me to calm you?” I can't take my eyes from his month. His teeth look cruel, glistening in the flicker of the oil lamp. Deadly.
“No,” I say, my voice shaking and pull my wrist from him, settling closer so that our legs touch. Mesmerized, I reach with a trembling hand and press the tip of my finger into one elongated tooth. Somewhere I am terrified. Somewhere I feel drawn to him. “They are big.”
The laugh that comes from him is quiet, a rush of air that gives him away. It tingles over my skin, claiming me. I straighten and pull my hair back exposing my neck, the pulse throbs. His eyes darken, wild, but he keeps it caged. I wonder how long he has wanted this.
Aydin brings me closer so that our foreheads touch. My eyes close and I can smell the charged, spicy scent of him. My entire body starts to shake. He brushes his cheek against mine, his hand caressing my face, pulling me closer. Soft lips brush my skin, deliberate small kisses over my eyes, my brows. Touching my nose and cheeks. My throat swells and I swallow hard past the lump, fighting the pressure in my chest. His mouth moves to my neck and presses against the pulse, first soft then harder, with need. His teeth graze my flesh, a light scrape. My breath sucks in.
“Are you sure?” His mouth moves against my neck, a quiet plead.
“Yes,” I say, breathlessly. My fingers dig into his forearms, my pulse races as pressure builds inside me.
The first tinge of pain hits me hard and I gasp. It is white hot, a lit match to the skin. Fear starts to take over and I clutch at him, holding on. The slow burn sinks deeper. Warmth spills out, slowly, smooth over my neck and collar bone. His tongue touches, cool over the heat of my skin. Hot air rushes from him, releasing a soft moan in my ear.
Aydin’s fingers weave in my hair, soothing, bringing me even closer. His teeth sink deeper, a hard burn that just barely doesn’t hurt. His mouth pulls, his want dragging up from my core and toward him. My blood burns neon red, rushing to the surface. My breaths burst out, hard and fast. Everything fades, nothing exists in the black space behind my eyes. Nothing, but his hands in my hair, the smell of his skin, and the faint pain of his mouth against my neck.
I moan, this deep desperate sound. I twist, and he almost lets go, but I grip his hair and keep him pressed to me. He is coming unhinged, charging the air around us. His mouth pulls ... taking ... possessing. I press harder, groaning and force his teeth deeper. Aydin grips my hair, yanking my head back. I cry out as his mouth pulls harder. A cool hand moves under my shirt, around my waist, pulling me into his lap.
There is only faint sucking sounds, his breaths heavy, filling my head. Images flash behind my eyes; moist, full lips, soft, pale skin, stark blue eyes. Erotic pictures. A flash of thighs and the hollow of a neck, the skin pulsing.
I groan loud, pulling at his clothes, slipping my hands in his shirt. His skin is cool and my fingers dig into his chest. I clench my teeth, moving my hands down, tugging the button of his pants. Every suck of his mouth draws up from between my legs, pulling at this terrible ache in me. I need him, deep and hard. It builds higher ... climbing ... Painful, and oh so exquisite.
He breaks away and I’m thrown back. I gasp for air, my vision clouded and my heart racing. Aydin’s lips gleam with my blood. His hands tremble as he pierces the tips of his fingers and leans forward, rubbing them to my neck, sealing the puncture marks. The burning stops but the air is filled with lightning, my body absorbing the shocks.
Aydin stands, his breaths heavy, and leaves. I hear the lock clasp on his cell door, keeping me out, or maybe, him in. I have caught my breath. I am back in control, but I can still feel it. Velvet kisses that stroke my neck. Soft and sweet. My body has been cleansed, a blanket of warmth draped over me.
-----------
The water in the wo
oden bath is cold. I sit, my knees to my chest, completely numb. The thin cloth in my hands is stained bright red as I pull it away. My hands tremble slightly as I stare at the pink water dripping from it. Everything around me is in slow motion, surreal, like I am looking through the eyes of someone else.
There is a lot more blood than I thought there was going to be. My breaths are shallow and tears sting behind my eyes. Whatever happened in the cavern was nothing like I have experienced before. It seems like we should be cuddling, or talking, anything, after that. I shouldn’t be left alone, crying in awe over what had passed between us. Aydin was not cruel, he was loving and passionate. My eyes close, remembering, and my pulse throbs deep in between my legs. There is no distinguishing if the crazed desire I had felt was my own or if it belonged to him. Maybe it was both of ours.
His scent is all over me, making my stomach twist. I rub soap over my skin, feeling the mark. The skin is smooth, like Aydin’s teeth had never touched me. But I can feel them, and in a strange way it is comforting. I keep conjuring up the images of what we had done. Is that what the experience was supposed to feel like? Wild and lustful? My face heats remembering my reaction. That was certainly no kiss. No kiss has ever felt so sensual and possessive.
It is unclear if he shared the erotic images with me. The crystal blue eyes, the lips and skin. Pictures of me. It feels like I have stolen them from him and maybe I have, they were too personal. I rub my face and stand.
The distant dripping water and my breathing are the only sounds when I return to the cavern. There is a drop of blood, my blood, on the satin blanket on my little bed. I gather everything up and take it back to my cell. I can’t stay in there, not after what just happened. I don’t know how I am going to face him again.
Sleep won’t come, I feel energized and edgy. It’s going to be a long time before my mind will settle long enough to rest. My eyes press closed. Aydin, I worry, will regret this. He’s so cold and collected, only allowing small glimpses of who he really is. What we just shared, was far more intimate than any encounter I’ve ever had. I wonder if he lies in his cell, replaying the same images. Part of me hopes he is.
----------
When I wake, I drag myself to the mouth of the cave. Where bodies had been cast into the sea, their souls forever lost on the rocks below. My limbs are weak. Aydin had taken a lot of blood. Hopefully enough to heal him. I sit down putting the oil lamp behind me, away from the opening, and watch the sunset. I can’t see the burning ball, just the faint colors as it settles out of view. I stare out at the sea. I haven’t realized how much I missed it. The threat of violence beneath the calm waters, the slightest provocation stirs the waves, and they will crash and destroy everything in their path. Just like Aydin.
Pure energy fills the cave opening. My head is light and my pulse races. Aydin is awake. I breathe deep, trying to adjust to the new sensation. This is different. It is calm and serene, but somehow intense and consuming. He is everywhere, tingling over my skin, filling my nose with his smell. Do his marks make me feel his presence eve more? The idea of having to live with this is unnerving. I could barely handle being around him before.
“Are you feeling alright?” Aydin asks from behind me. The sound of his soft voice spreads a blush over my chest and cheeks. Oh no, this is terrible. So much worse than I thought it was going to be. I can’t turn to look at him. If I do, he will see the horror in my wide eyes, and wildly beating heart. He already feels it.
“I’m fine.” I place my hand where his mouth had been. The skin heats and pulls toward him. I stand, finally mustering enough courage to face him. I’m stuck here after all, until further notice. I turn and stop, frozen in place. My hand flies to my mouth and I back up to the cave wall to steady myself.
Sweet mother of Hades.
Aydin stands before me, but like I have never imagined, a massive, formidable presence. This burned skin is gone, replaced by vibrant, healthy flesh. It glows in the low light, its olive tone glistening in the flicker of the oil lamp. The shirt he wears is a cool gray matching the platinum of his eyes. The sleeves are rolled up over his large forearms, thin black hairs cover the thick muscles. The buttons are undone revealing his chest, the skin smooth and carved with thick slabs of muscle. His entire body is made of it, created from years of fighting for survival in a bloody ring. The legs of his pants form around his thighs, showing every muscle and hard curve. Gone are the gaunt bones, his cheeks are soft. His face is sensual, beautiful and kind. His clear gray eyes are warm and calm, holding something; a flicker. Pride. He has been restored. Freed of his failures.
“Aydin?” I ask, just to make sure he’s real. He is glorious, hideous, a beautiful, deadly creature. Aydin pulls me to him and I almost pull back. The air around us is heavy, I suck it in, absorbing his strength. I can imagine how men had quivered at his feet, how Ashur had seen in him a beast.
Aydin brushes his fingers, lightly, over my neck, the skin heating under his touch. My entire body pulls toward him, a magnetic force, drawing me in, wanting. He has removed the mark that bound me to evil and replaced it with his own. No one can touch me. Aydin has made sure of it. His deep marks will keep the monsters at bay, binding me to him. He brushes the hair from my face, leaning down to kiss the tip of my nose, his cool breath falls over me in a rush and my breath catches in my throat.
Aydin smiles. His smile. The one I know he saves just for me. “Hello, Miss Charlotte.”
Spring/Summer 2015
In
the
Shadow
of
Monsters
The Guardian
Book II
Fanny Lee Savage
Acknowledgments
The idea for this novel came to me long ago. What started as a simple story of a woman who finds her true love in France, grew into a complex tale, filled with colorful characters and places. I have always loved mythology, history and how it bleeds together, painting pictures of the people who walked before us. It is this love, that created this book and the characters in it.
Thank you, to my sister Rachel. For trying to convince me, repeatedly, that I really could write, and that you weren’t lying. To my beta readers: Kendra, for re-teaching me proper grammar, laughing when I hoped readers would, and for pointing out my silly errors. Barbara, thank you for your amazing feedback and for believing this story. Jade, a big thank you for all your commentary, helping me with proper French, and for loving Aydin and his story as much as I do.
A huge thank you to my daughter. She put up with a boring summer-break, eating fast food and frozen dinners while I sat at the computer, typing words she wasn’t allowed to read, and for thinking I am clever, not crazy, from all the times she caught me talking to myself.
Thank you to my mom, for being excited for me when I embarked on this crazy journey, and for encouraging me to continue.
Last, I am indebted to my husband. He listened to every bit of information I discovered (thanks to Wikipedia, who, by the way, is a very reliable source) about vampires, gladiators, Sumerian gods, the origins of man, Roman emperors and the daily lives of people who lived then, how they spoke and what curse words they used.... The list of info dumps he endured is endless, and he listened patiently, to every one. Thank you for putting up with my vague descriptions, for pointing out my mistakes and giving me the idea that Charlotte needed to be a hotel maid. Thank you for holding me up and keeping me sane when I thought I would fall over the edge of reason.
Thank you all for believing in me when I doubted myself.
About the Author
Fanny Lee Savage was born in Florida where she became enchanted by its diverse culture and rich history. She spent most of her early childhood living in the central part of the state before her family moved to Colorado.
Some of her hobbies include: Photography, drawing, digital art and 3D model making.
Fanny now resides in Florida with her husband of eleven years, their ten year old daughter, collection of five cats an
d a dog. She devotes herself to her family and spends her free time writing down all the stories that fill her head.
For more information about this book and the author, visit her website: fannyleesavage.com
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