A Guardian's Salvation

by Stein Willard

“I really hope this is worth it. What do we hope to find there? A couple of models in skimpy clothing? That won’t sell well.” The man with the flashlight mumbled.

  “You forget about Jessica Milroy, the horny photographer,” the other man mumbled and blew out a cloud of smoke. At the mention of Jessica’s name, Clarissa’s ears perked. “The StarMaker was voted the newsmaker of the year last year when her long-time partner dumped her. Heard her girlfriend walked in on her giving it to a young model in their bed. Kinky, don’t you think?”

  The other men laughed and Clarissa felt her anger rising slowly. They were callously making money off of Jessica’s heartache.

  “She hasn’t been seen with anyone for the past year and some say she’s still trying to get her ex back.”

  “That woman was born horny and one of these days she’ll surely be caught with her hand stuck in the cookie jar. Mark my words. What else is there to do on a remote location with a dozen beautiful, sexy girls than to explore the talent?”

  The man with the flashlight chuckled. “You’re right. People would love to know what she’s been up to since her breakup.” He pointed the flashlight in front of him. “Let’s keep moving guys. This place gives me the creeps.”

  They slowly moved on, and Clarissa silently began to stalk them. They were trespassing and that made them fair game. She would later filter through the information she’d overheard about Jessica.

  †

  Jessica groggily lifted her head before throwing it back with a sigh. The soft rustling underneath her head made her sit up quickly and look around. The stables? What was she doing in …?

  Then it all rushed back and a small smile formed on her face. Her mystery woman showed up again and they literally had a roll in the hay. She lifted the jacket and her smile widened. Yep, she was stark naked and her body ached in places she didn’t even know she had muscles. She glanced at the space next to her. Where did Rissa disappear to? She quickly got dressed and left the stables. If she were really lucky she would reach her room without running into anyone. Using the shadows, she crept through the garden, around the patio and into the castle. The hallway was empty and, with a sigh, she walked to her door.

  She’d barely touched her doorknob, when the door opposite her room opened and Greta stepped out. The model was dressed in the skimpiest nightdress Jessica had ever seen. The redhead stood with one hand pressed against the doorframe and the other placed over her heart, a coy smile on her lips.

  “I feel so embarrassed to admit it, but Howie’s been telling us all these ghost stories about this place, at dinner, and I can’t seem to sleep. I’m really scared.” She looked behind her fearfully. “Would you mind if I visited with you for a while, please?”

  Jessica stared at the skimpy nightdress. She should’ve known that Greta was not going to give up easily. She had obviously heard about Jessica’s escapades with the models and wanted to make the list, too. Jessica slowly looked down the corridor and then back at Greta. This time there was a predatory look in Greta’s eyes.

  “I promise to slip out discreetly later.” Even her voice sounded more seductive now and Jessica looked down the corridor again. She didn’t want to sound like an ogre and tell the girl to get over herself and go to her room, but she also didn’t want to put herself in a situation from where rumors could later originate.

  She pushed her fingers through her hair and then it struck her. They could sit outside and talk for a while, the cool night air was sure to cool the model’s ardor.

  “I was just going to get a jacket and go sit outside. If you like, you can join me,” she said pleasantly and almost laughed at the sour expression that came over Greta’s beautiful face.

  “Isn’t it too cold outside? The cold chased us in earlier.” She came closer and picked something from the photographer’s hair, holding it up.

  When Jessica saw the piece of straw, she smiled innocently into Greta’s frowning eyes.

  “I was checking out the stables earlier. There are some spectacular animals here.” She stepped away from Greta. “As I said, I was going to sit outside for a while. Feel free to join me.” She opened her door and was just about to close it behind her when Greta forced her way into the room. From the determined look on her face, Jessica knew that the girl had reached her quota of rejection for the night and was probably going to lash out at her. Instead, Greta pushed the door closed behind her and jumped on her.

  †

  With an angry growl, Clarissa raised her head from where it was buried in the man’s neck, her lips stained with his blood. Greta! Does the woman have no shame? She felt her beast roaring in jealousy at the thought of another woman touching what was hers. But first, she needed to clean up the scene.

  She had ambushed the men a few minutes ago and had taken a little blood from each of them. Staring into their eyes, she wiped their memories. With a quick snap of her fingers, all three slumped against the tree and slid down into sitting positions, snoring softly.

  Clarissa took three quick steps and took to the sky in the form of a white owl. She soared over the treetops and increased her speed until the castle came into view. In a dark, shadowed part of the garden, she shifted back to human form and dissolved immediately afterward. She made a quick stop in the kitchen, before making her way to Jessica’s bedroom.

  Outside the photographer’s room, she took a few minutes to gather herself and to bring her anger under control. The sight that greeted her eyes when she pushed the door open made her bristle with fresh anger.

  Greta was astride Jessica, her hands holding Jessica’s head steady while she was kissing her. Clarissa’s initial reaction was to grab the woman by the neck and throw her across the room, but a violent reaction such as that would only rouse Jessica’s suspicions.

  Instead, she slammed the bottle of wine on the dressing table and dumped the rest of the food items on the floor. The sound of the bottle hitting the wooden surface made the two women on the bed jerk away from each other. The look of guilty panic that flashed over Jessica’s face puzzled Clarissa. Greta, on the other hand, wore a smug look on her face, as she slowly climbed off Jessica to come and stand before Clarissa.

  Clenching her jaws, Clarissa prevented her fangs from slipping out. She stared at the woman for a while before pointing to the door.

  “Leave.” Her eyes stared right through the girl, into her mind. The girl was ridiculously easy to read. She had planned this. After leaving the two of them earlier, she had called her paparazzi friends and had set up this little scene; convinced that her friends were already at the castle, ready to photograph her little love scene with Jessica. The girl’s continued smugness, grated on Clarissa’s nerves. Renewed anger made her plant a hallucination in Greta’s mind of a vicious, bloodthirsty wolf chasing her through the dark, dense forest surrounding the castle. Greta’s eyes widened and her face turned ashen, as she glanced around before running out of the room.

  Jessica surged to her feet. “What the hell?”

  The illusion would disappear after a few minutes, leaving Greta with the solemn resolve to never, ever touch drugs again. She deserved it, Clarissa thought maliciously.

  She walked over to the door and slammed it shut. When she turned, it was to find Jessica staring at her with the same stricken look on her face as when she entered a few minutes ago.

  “I didn’t think you would come back. Where did you disappear to?” Jessica asked softly and Clarissa could detect the guilt she was trying to hide. Why did she feel guilty when it wasn’t her fault?

  “I heard your stomach growl while you were sleeping and had gone to find you something to eat, for when you woke up. But I was not expecting to find you gone from the stables and in bed with another woman.” She reached for the bottle and started to uncork it, her brown eyes resting on Jessica who was fidgeting with her hands.

  “She ambushed me. I didn’t invite her in, nor did I kiss her back.” There was defiance in the husky voice, but still the guilt lingered and it puzzled
Clarissa further. She poured two glasses of wine and bent down to pick up the cheese and grapes she’d brought with her.

  “I believe you, but why do you appear so guilty?” She handed a glass to Jessica, who was now sitting on the bed. Jessica took a long sip, then another, until she tipped the glass and drained it. Pulling a face, she handed the empty glass back to Clarissa. Just when she had given up on getting an answer, Jessica lifted her head.

  “I lost the woman I love because she found me in bed with another woman.” There was no bitterness as she said it, just deep, heart wrenching despair. Clarissa held out a piece of cheese and Jessica took it and started to nibble on it. When she looked up, she saw the pain in the grey eyes. “When you came in earlier I just relived the moment and I guess I still feel guilty almost a year later.” She popped the last piece of cheese in her mouth and reached for her refilled glass of wine. “Can we talk about something else, please?” Clarissa nodded and took a sip of her wine. She saw Jessica look up with a quizzical look on her face. “By the way, what did you do to Greta to make her act funny and then run out of the room?”

  Shrugging, she took another sip from her glass and frowned.

  “Her pupils looked dilated to me. Maybe she used something before ambushing you. She did act funny, now that you mention it.” As she was talking, her brown eyes were carefully studying Jessica over the brim of the glass. Yes, you did notice she was acting weird when she tried to seduce you. She planted the thought in Jessica’s mind and saw realization dawn in the grey eyes. She felt slightly guilty for the blatant manipulation of Jessica’s mind but it needed doing, she quickly justified her action.

  “She never struck me as a girl who would use drugs, but then, one never knows.” The grey eyes, in turn, studied her. “Why are you standing so far from me?”

  Clarissa came to sit next to her on the bed, but still didn’t touch her. There was something she had to ask her, even if she was terrified of the answer. She took a sip from her glass again and placed the half-empty glass on the nightstand. She could feel Jessica’s eyes on her, as she prepared herself mentally for what she was about to ask.

  “Why are you sleeping with me if you are in love with another woman?”

  Jessica stiffened, the action causing the hand that held the wine glass to jerk. A few drops of wine spilled onto her hand.

  “What … Why …” She took a deep breath. “Why are you asking me that?”

  Clarissa shrugged, portraying a picture of cool nonchalance, but inside, she felt as if her heart was going to bang right out of her chest.

  “Why not? We are both unattached and having such a wonderful time together. What if by some strange twist of fate, we were to fall in love?”

  This time Clarissa saw Jessica’s hand starting to shake. It was so bad that she had to reach over and take the glass from Jessica’s hand to avoid further spillage. The grey eyes lifted and Clarissa read the answer in the grey depths. Her heart came to a screeching halt.

  “We should never allow that to happen. I … I don’t think I’m capable of ever loving another woman.” The stricken look was back. “As you said before, we are both unattached and are having a nice time. Why spoil it with something as complicated as … as love or whatever emotions go with it?”

  †

  Jessica was trying to be as gentle as she could be, but knew she was failing when she saw a wounded look cross the brown eyes, briefly. Is it already too late? she wondered. Did Rissa already cross the line? Why else would she have that possessive look on her face when she chased Greta from the room? Oh hell, what to do if it is the case? Love was definitely not an emotion she thought she was going to explore again anytime soon. She reached out her hand and placed it on Rissa’s arm.

  “I hope you understand what I’m trying to say.”

  Clarissa’s eyes were unreadable as they looked back at her and Jessica felt a chasm opening up between them. Clarissa slowly came to her feet, walked over to wine bottle and refilled her glass.

  “I am afraid it might be too late.” The brown eyes were dark. “I have never approached anyone for sex before. I just felt a strange attraction to you and thought that one night together would cure me of my curiosity. But when I rose today, I thought about you and knew that I had to see you again.” She took a gulp from her glass and Jessica was surprised to see the usually unflappable woman’s hand tremble slightly. “I wanted to kill Greta for having put her hands on you. Also, when you confessed your love for another woman just now, it made me realize that maybe I unwittingly might have broken the unspoken rules of our liaison.” She drained the glass and placed it gently on the dressing table before walking to the door. “I need to go now, goodbye.” With long strides she walked over to the door and slipped out of the room without a backward glance.

  Jessica was still sitting on the bed staring at the door a few seconds after it had closed behind Rissa.

  What to do now?

  She raked her fingers through her hair and exhaled loudly. As much as she liked Rissa and they were good together, she still wasn’t ready to commit. Especially not while she was still hurting inside. Her only regret was that she had hurt Rissa. The woman didn’t deserve it. After the breakup, she had tried desperately to win Gabriella back. When it became clear that it wasn’t going to happen, for a moment, she considered falling back on the only other crutch she had, sex. After trying, twice, to make love to another woman and failing woefully, she had begun to distance herself from the glaring eye of the media and their scathing reports. During her time of self-imposed seclusion, she had come to the conclusion that she needed to learn to forgive. She had to learn to forgive herself. But first, she had to find a way to like herself again. She needed to prove to herself and to Gabriella, that she was more than the sex-crazed womanizer the press made her out to be. For eleven months, she had managed to stick to her decision. Until last night, when she found some inexplicable emotion in the arms of a mysterious stranger. The wounded look she had seen in Rissa’s eyes flashed before her again and Jessica’s eyes shot full of tears. She hadn’t felt alive in a very long time, but she’d found a spark of her old self, actually a much better version of her old self, in Rissa’s arms. A lone tear coursed down her cheek.

  “Please, forgive me, Rissa,” she murmured softly. “It was never my intention to hurt you.” More tears fell and for a long while she sat ramrod straight on the bed, allowing the tears to cleanse her from the inside out. She finally wiped her eyes and walked over to where the wine bottle stood.

  Grabbing it by the neck, she brought it to her lips and drank deeply.

  †

  It felt good to feel the wind blowing through her hair as she sped through the darkness. After she left Jessica’s room, she had streaked through the forest. Dawn was approaching fast, but that was the least of her problems. All she wanted was to run and run until the dull ache in her chest disappeared and the bitter taste of rejection had washed from her mouth.

  She intersected through the trees at dizzying speeds. When she eventually came to a stop, she blinked and was surprised to find that she was crying. Reaching up to touch her cheek, she stared at the red stains on her fingertips. She grimaced at the sight.

  With the typical arrogance of her species, she’d ridiculed Trinity for falling in love with a human, never thinking that she would ever find herself in the same boat. Not that she loved Jessica; maybe not yet, but she was starting to think of Angel Eyes as hers. She fell to her knees and pushed her hands into the soggy earth. Her experience with Jessica had strengthened her resolve.

  She was ready now.

  Clarissa looked up at the tombstones before her and a small smile tugged at her lips. She was looking forward to her reunion with her parents and eager to leave this wretched life behind. She scanned the horizon. Only a few more hours and she would be free. She bowed her head and felt more tears accumulating on her cheeks. What was the purpose of having lived for 400 years? She had achieved nothing, except for the fortune tha
t Tristan had hidden deep in the ground, underneath the dungeon. She’d discovered it purely by accident when she was digging a lair for herself. Tristan had counted on living a very long, destructive life, judging from the size of the treasure.

  The wind suddenly turned and with it came a scent that made her jerk to her feet, her hackles raised. She scanned the area intently. The shadows around her shifted and a dark shape formed.

  “What are you doing here?” Clarissa growled.

  The shadow stepped forward and she tensed, ready for battle.

  “I have sensed your turmoil and am here to help.”

  “I do not need your help. Now leave me.” She needed no help doing what she’d set out to do. The newcomer’s eyes didn’t leave her for a second.

  “I just want to talk then.”

  “And I am not in a mood to talk to you, or anyone, for that matter.”

  The dark head cocked to the side.

  “I will not let you go through with it, you know.”

  Clarissa felt her fangs extend and she crouched into a battle position? Her hands morphed into claws.

  “You can try.”

  The challenge didn’t go unnoticed and the newcomer took another step forward. With a simple flick of the hand, Clarissa felt a paralyzing clutch that rendered her whole body immobile. She tried to shake off the restriction, but the hold was too strong.

  “I apologize for having to do that, but I do not want to engage in battle. You are an exceptional being and you could be a great asset to our cause.”

  “Who says I want to be part of your cause?” She tried to lift her hand using every ounce of her supernatural strength, but the invisible, vice-like grip didn’t budge.

  “You are what you are for a reason.” The newcomer glided forward. “You did not succumb to the lure of bloodlust when held captive and showed great restraint even tonight when you hunted the three men in the forest. You are truly exceptional, Clarissa. Allow me to help you unlock your true potential.”