by Sara K
"I took care of him, ensured he would never hurt anyone again." He said solemnly.
"But…"
"No but's." he placed his finger on her lips to silence her. "If I do not take care of you, you will develop hypothermia, I cannot have that." Of course, she wanted to protest but he did not give her the chance, immediately he gathered her into his arms, and Clara felt the heat in his arms nevertheless her body trembled against his as he carried her home; finally, he had her in his arms again.
Chapter 8: The Distrust
“Your continuous disobedient makes me furious, Clara I offered you my protection and a home. Was that not convenient for you? That you decided to leave from the safety this house provided, in order to escape me. I could have lost you, Clara." Michael paused and allowed his features to relax, because she was staring at him forlornly, like she had done for the past two days. He had allowed her to heal, often leaving her alone in her room and keeping a real close eye on her. It was only when he would force her to a deep sleep that he would go out hunting. She had rarely spoken to him about her ordeal and mentally cut herself off from him.
From across the living room, she stared at him and he was certain she wouldn’t answer.
"Protection." She gave a little laugh. "You really expect me to feel safe with you, when you haven’t even been honest with me right from the beginning."
Michael frowned, puzzled. "I do not know what you mean, except I told you what you needed to know. There are other things that you do not need to know yet."
"So you admit it then, that you weren't completely honest with me from the start. What are you hiding?" She crossed her arms across her chest.
"Like I said, now is not the time to discuss it."
"You don’t tell me what happened to that Barry or what happened to Brett." Clara stopped. "You murdered them."
Michael was surprised that she discovered the cause of their deaths. "Why are you so plagued by their deaths? They merely paid for their sins; both were bad men, who had ruined several lives. Do you not think I was aware of what was going on in their minds?" he watched her little face that fell instantly; she looked down to the floor, her hair falling around her shielding her face from his scrutiny.
"They didn’t deserve to die, Michael." There was sorrow in her low voice as she protested. "And you killed them because of what they did to me. I read the papers and Brett was killed even the police couldn’t find a logical reason for his death. They believe the horse tapped him on the head. How ridiculous is that?"
Michael narrowed his gaze. "You are a very compassionate person, Clara even I could not find it in me to forgive those who hurt you. I possess an animal characteristic and I must kill, I am often a hunter of the un-dead, I have killed many in my time, but to see some human threatening you is beyond what I could stand."
A flash of worry crossed her face and she glanced around nervously. "You lied to me, Michael. You said you were the protector of the innocent." She reminded him.
Michael laughed harshly. “Those two men were not innocent, Clara. Vampires who threaten the human race must be destroyed that is our purpose. I have never killed humans before.” The admittance shocked him. Was he so near the edge that he was losing control? Had the tainted blood started to transform him into a blood-sucking creature?
Clara turned away from him, sickened. "So it was my fault that they are dead, if I wasn’t with them you wouldn’t have been so angry."
Michael crossed the room towards her. "Do not think like that, they signed their death warrant when they chose to hurt you. No male from our race will ever tolerate it. Our first priority is to protect our women because they are precious to us." Clara looked up, her eyes scanning his face. In a way, she believed what he said.
"So there are others who kill too." She bit her lip, agitated. "Vampires don’t exist, Michael except in gothic stories to frighten children."
Michael reached out and stroked her cheek, his touch sent heat all over her body. "Vampires are the oldest creatures alive, humans do not believe in them; to them vampires are just mythical creatures that can be played around with. However, vampires live all over the United States, Italy, and New Zealand. They take human blood and often convert their victims into the creature of the night."
His fingers trailed along her bottom lip. "It is only when a human poses a threat to our people or the one we love that we decide to eliminate them, otherwise humans are safe from us. A while back, my friend Justin killed three human men because they kidnapped his lover Cassandra and experimented on her. The same group also slaughtered her parents when she was very young. Just like me, Justin did everything to protect Cassandra. We often do things that are necessary to us." Michael lifted her chin, tilting her head so he could look into his eyes. There he found fear and uncertainty. "Do you understand, sweetheart. I will never hurt you, only those who plan to take you away from me."
Clara didn’t know what to say, she believed the story he told her but was still curious. "Is Cassandra a human?"
"Yes, she is. They are married and are both very happy." He smiled at her. "Perhaps you would like to meet her." Michael was glad that Cassie was closer to them, he really believed that if the two women met and formed a friendship it would put Clara at ease and make her realise that she wasn’t the only one in this position.
Clara frowned, uncertainly and took a step back. "I don’t know; can she do special things like me?"
Michael laughed softly. "Cassie has premonitions, sometimes or feelings of dread; she can always anticipate when something bad is approaching."
Before Clara could answer his lips were on hers, hot, hard, and ever so sweet. She had never been kissed like this before. Time evaporated and she felt nothing but the hot desire of his kisses. She felt the darkness arising in him, threatening to consume him if he didn't take her now. His kisses became rough then tender as his tongue explored her mouth, she moaned beneath him, his hands holding her head in his palm. She gave a cry of alarm and struggled to pull away from his seduction, the situation was serious as much as she enjoyed what was happen, the other part of her protested to what was happening. Her wounds went deep and severe, memories never fade from her mind, and the thoughts still lingered somewhere inside her. Which was why she needed him to stop? Another desperate protest from her suffocating mouth, as his hands slid down her body, she shivered with fright, tears streaming down her face.
She couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think. She could hardly see the room from behind the tears and wooziness that overwhelmed her. There was neither air nor oxygen as his mouth refused to leave hers, as he devoured in the deepest depth of her mouth, finding the pleasure and delight it offered. A unique experience he had never felt before.
Michael felt the protests in her mouth, her body quivering beneath his uncontrollably. He smelt her fear and mixed with so many emotions he could not decipher. His lips left her mouth, and she gasped for air, his mouth moved down her neck, his hands held her waist to him, allowing her to feel the hard length of his body that ached for her. He was melting in the pleasure of her body, the feminine joy it offered, his lips trailed down her throat, resting at her beating pulse, his lips licked over the flesh delicately. He would not take her blood, as tempting as it was; he felt her hands pushing against him arms wildly. Michael circled his hand around her throat, his lips returned to her throat, teasing and licking. Something wet dipped on his hand, he glanced up to see her tears rolling onto his hands, her face wet, and her lips swollen and red.
"Stop, please, Michael." She sobbed silently, barely getting the words out. He didn’t remove his hand from around her throat. She couldn’t swallow, or breathe. There was a huge lump in her throat; weakly she lifted her hand pushing his hands away from her. She crawled over and stood up numbly, rubbing her back from where he had pressed her down. Clara ran a hand through her hair, her face betraying her nervousness and fear.
"I need to be alone." She announced softly, her voice trembling a little; she looked awa
y from him, at anything but his face. "Please."
"I would never have hurt you, Clara. I love you more than my life; I would give everything up for your happiness. I need you to accept me, Sweetheart. I want you to know that I will keep you safe and never allow anyone to harm you."
"I don’t want to hear it, it doesn’t sound real." She took a deep breath and wiped her face using the back of her hand.
Michael closed the space between them, his face hard and deadpan. "Oh, but it is. You belong with me, and I will have you soon in your own time, because you will come to me, sweetheart. If I were to move every mountain to have you I would." The sincerity of his words clenched her heart, she realised that he was not mocking her, or scaring her but simply speaking his mind. She had felt the darkness in him, the fierce need, and determination of taking her, making her his own. It scared her as much as it scared her to be in his home.
"It won't work between us, Michael. I am not what you need. I'm the wrong woman for you, and what if you become fed up with me. What then."
Michael shook his head. "I will forever be committed to you. We have a strong bond that will last for eternity."
Clara did not know what to feel, or make of what he was saying. "I'm terrible at commitments, I can't do this, I can't give you what you want, Michael. I'm sorry." She frowned, one of panic and fright. She knew deep down she could never give herself to anyone else, she could never give anyone her heart that was so full of pain. She could never allow anyone in her mind, but unfortunately, Michael was already in her mind, he knew so much about her that no one ever could. He knew ten years of her life, her memories of happiness and sadness, and all events that occurred within ten years he had known them within a short period. He knew every detail of her life, page after page, one detail from another. She was ashamed that she could not have a normal life, ashamed and hurt in a way for him breaking her defences.
Michael fluttered silently in her mind; his presence in her mind was unfeeling. He was aware of her thoughts, her feelings. "You do not need to give me anything, Clara. But your unconditional love that can break the curse and free me.” His hypnotic eyes locked to hers, allowing his words to sink into her mind, where he mentally implanted them.
Clara froze at his words, her eyes wide, and her mouth dry. His words had hit deep, especially the last sentence. She saw tears shimmering in his eyes, she had never seen him cry, she had seen all emotions, but this broke her heart.
She struggled to blink back tears, keeping her voice steady she said. "I'm sorry, Michael. I'm sorry for everything." Clara turned and hurried up the stairs. She was full of self-hatred and shame for hurting him like this, he deserved better not someone who broke his heart and offered him nothing. In the last couple of days she had grown close to him, she believed him when he said he loved her, she believed everything he said. She did not think he lied to her about everything; her heart ached for him as she collapsed on her bed, squeezing her eyes tightly shut in case she forced her power out and destroyed the room.
Clara squeezed her eyes shut for a long time, as if it would take away her worries and pain. She felt a huge burden on her shoulders, pain pierced her heart, her eyelids fluttered open, and she cried in pain, whilst her head felt heavy and close to shattering. Placing both hands over her face, Clara wept for everything she lost and everything she could never have, she wept for her past, present and the future.
Chapter 9: The Dilemma
The sharp claws raked his arm just as a wooden arrow emerged in his hand with one quick movement Michael jammed the arrow into the heart of the oncoming vampire. He strolled amongst the dust to greet the oncoming crowd of the un-dead bounty hunters all thirsty for his blood. With certain determination Michael stood tall and chanted an ancient spell, pointing to the earth he created a white 360 degrees circle around himself, the vampires kept coming eager to enter the circle and destroy him. Suddenly blue lightening sparks transformed into large arrows before drifting through the air at the speed of light and targeting the vampires at the centre of the chest. Each one shrieked as the lightening arrows pierced their skins ripping their hearts from their bodies and eradicating them.
Michael opened his eyes and lowered his hands gently as the surge of power subsided, the electrical current was thrilling, and exhilarating as it flowed through his veins and targeted the earth. With a deep breath Michael glanced around at the open surrounding, he was standing in an open field in the south of Havenport 800 yards from the nearest neighbourhood. He had come on patrol to hunt for Shea’s minions, he had to keep the people of Havenport safe. According to the daily newspaper twenty-five people were deemed missing or dead leaving little trace of their whereabouts. Michael knew what had become of the unfortunate that law enforcement officers did not. Vampires were sweeping the town and it was his job to protect them from the lethal threat before the population started to rapidly decrease. He had killed two mortals who posed a threat to Clara and he had done so with ease and venom. He did not regret his actions; he only regretted the distrustful and fearful look on Clara’s face. She had seen him for the monster he really was or would soon be.
A piercing feminine laughter rang loud in his ears, Michael turned towards the sound. To find Shea, her long red cloak embraced her, her red flamed hair flowed to her hips. She oozed power and destruction. Shea approached Michael slowly and with elegance like a woman who had all the time in the world. Michael stood motionless, unmoving staring with hatred at the woman who cursed him to eternity.
“You are not hard to find.” Her voice echoed in the silent evening air. “I can smell your stench and your destruction of my vampires.” Shea said in disgust.
Michael tightened his fists. “Perhaps you should have not sent them. Their fate was inevitable.”
“You are doomed to fail, Michael the great one, you cannot save everyone not even your precious mortals” She grinned flashing her yellow teeth in the moonlight.
“Leave now, Shea.” Michael said determinedly. “Or face the consequences. You cannot win.”
Shea laughed, “You cannot either. It would be so easy to destroy you, but then the venom in your blood will convert you and soon you will be mine.”
Michael took a dangerous step forward. “You want war, I’ll give you war. It ends tonight.”
Shea laughed and waved her long fingernails in the air behind her. “Choose, Immortal One, where does your fight lie.”
Michael followed her gesture to see that far ahead thick grey smoke rose swiftly into the night sky; he heard screams and smelt smoke. His senses informed him that the neighbourhood was on fire.
“You did this.” He accused severely.
“What can I say? I enjoy destruction.” With a blink of an eye Shea dissolved. Michael started to follow her when the screams far ahead ceased him in his track. The people needed him.
A sudden pain gripped his heart; he stumbled over in agony as if his heart was torn apart. Panic and fear overwhelmed him, chocking him.
He knew what was wrong; he knew what had gone wrong. "Clara." He whispered her name on his tongue, letting her images fill his mind and cloud his judgement. It could not be. He gasped as another bolt of pain tore through him, his vision blurred only for a second. He had taken her blood; it was her blood that flowed through him.
Torn between ending the fight with Shea, dealing with the current crisis and saving Clara, Michael closed his eyes and floated across the sky hurriedly, hoping that he wasn’t late. Everything depended on his speed.
Chapter 10: The FEAR
The familiar scent of blood filled the air, he smelt it before he even materialised in the room. His heart pounded with worry, he detected no attack, especially not vampire related. His dark eyes darted to the bed, the covers were thrown back, he rushed towards the adjoining bathroom, and the smell of blood clogged his nostrils as he threw open the door and froze, horrified at the sight.
Clara lay on the floor, the white gown on her was soaked with dark blood that oozed from her a
rm and her wrists, and there was a huge puddle of blood on the bathroom floor. The mirror was cracked into little pieces. Michael knelt beside her, grief-stricken. "No, Clara No. Please sweetheart." He quickly gathered her lifeless body in his arms, her head resting on his lap. Her face was pale. Colourless. Her eyelids closed; there was blood on her face that trickled down her forehead. His heart pounded with worry and fear for her, he could not believe what had happened. She lay like a dead corpse in his arms.
“Open your eyes." His voice shook with emotion. He ran his hand over her face; his fingers traced the outline of her soft lips. The ones he had kissed so passionately, he would have gone further and made love to her if she had not been frightened earlier. He couldn’t lose her, the thought terrified him. He couldn’t lose her to herself, he loved her. He would give up this life, for her. He would not carry on without her. Suddenly he felt the beast within him rising for the challenge, threatening to bring him to the dark side. With much effort, he kept the beast at bay. Clara needed him. She was all that mattered in this life. If he gave her his venomous blood, it may save her but dire consequences would follow.
"Clara, wake up. Please. I need you. I love you." he touched his trembling lips to hers, they were warm, and the smell of her blood was too much, that it was tempting. He kissed her softly, his hands trailed down her neck, resting at her pulse. He gasped, relieved that he felt the flutter of her life. Her pulse was weak and temporary. He cried out loudly, cursing himself. He had never anticipated this one scene. Her blood surrounded him, more leaked from her cut wrists and arm. Michael reached for the towels and tied them around the wounds. She had not answered him, her face was pale, her body still and lifeless. He would not let her go into the next world.