by Sara K
Michael felt the heaviness of her words. Clara placed her fingers over his lips; her eyes found his, pleading." Don't say anything, Michael. Please don't. I'm so tired. Just hold me, Michael. Just hold me."
Chapter 14: The Freedom
“How was it last night?" Cassie asked the next morning as she parked her car in the empty parking bay.
Clara leaned her head back against the headrest and let out a deep sigh "Apart from being terrified I'd say I was fine." She didn’t want to mention the nightmares she experienced, or the fact that Michael stayed with her until morning. She had woken up alone this morning, remembering every little detail last night. They hadn’t done anything, but she was sure he wanted to. She felt embarrassed and needy with wanting him to stay with her last night. And then there was that awful nightmare she had, which by now were slipping from her mind.
Cassie chuckled, killed the engine and squinted at the morning sun. "Sorry. Too much information not so good on the brain,” The smiled faded. "We need to be careful here. Shea can transform into a friendly face and greet us like long lost friend. The bitch has tremendous power. The face manipulation one sucks big time.” Cassie huffed with exasperation and exited the car.
"Do you want to go to the mall first or get some breakfast?"
Clara lightened up. "I think we should do things in order." She said grinning. "Breakfast first, and then we'll shop until we drop."
Cassie laughed in agreement. "You're right. It's not every day Justin lets me wander out in the daylight. So now that I'm out with you I intend to enjoy every moment of it."
After finding a café, both women settled with a coffee, doughnuts and toast. They talked casually like two best friends just meeting up for a chitchat. When they had finished they went to the mall. Clara looked around, unfamiliar with the place. "I've never been here before."
"Neither have I." Cassie said stepping on the escalator of the top floor. "It's a nice place. . I wouldn't mind coming here every week."
Cassie and Clara made their way to the clothes department. For several hours, they tried on clothes, dresses, shoes. They roamed the isles, chatted like two best friends from high school, uncaring about the world. Clara became so absorbed with Cassie's company that she started to like the other woman even more than yesterday. When they became tired, they decided to buy their favourite outfits and grab something to eat on the way home. After paying for their purchases they were about to leave when Cassie grabbed Clara’s’ hand.
"That guy over there.” She gestured with her eyes. “The Harry Styles lookalike, he’s been staring at you ever since we came here." Cassie lowered her voice, pulling Clara closer to her.
“Who’s Harry Styles?” Clara asked confused. “Prince of England.”
Cassie’s eyes widened. “OMG, he’s the sweet guy in the One Direction pop boy band. I can’t believe you do not know who he is?” Cassie shook her head in disbelieve and waved her hand casually. “The Prince of England is Harry somebody.”
Clara shrugged. "That guy works here, stocking shelves. I don’t think he’s your pop idol. Besides we're leaving anyway." Clara’s gaze swept around quickly and casually. She didn’t want the Harry Styles look alike thinking that they were talking about him. By now the guy was looking in their direction again, he smiled when Clara looked his way. Boy she was in trouble.
"Ok." Cassie blew out a breath. "Let's get out while we can."
"Huh."
Too late.
The guy was heading their way. Clara ducked her head. Cassie fiddled with the huge bags, pretending to view her purchases.
"Hello ladies."
Clara glanced up slowly at the male voice. The boy had dark brown eyes and a adorable grin. He was a real cutie worst of all he was staring at her. Quickly Clara touched Cassie's arm to save her. As if understanding the touch, Cassie put on her biggest, brightest smile. "Can we help you?"
The guy smiled. "Well actually I'm Dean." His gazed flickered to Clara ignoring Cassie. "You seem like a sweet girl, if you're not seeing anyone… I'd like to take you out sometime."
He was asking her for a date Clara’s mouth hung open, she realised that she had been holding her breath since Dean came over to them. She stared at him. He was skinny, an average normal person. She was least interested in him. Suddenly a vision of Michael clouded her mind, a sharp contrast between the two men. She frowned wondering why Michael had to pop in her mind at this moment, when she hadn't thought about him for hours. Maybe because he was the most handsome, dangerous, sexy man she ever came across. The one who loved her. Who wanted to spend eternity with her? With those dark eyes, dark hair, muscular body he was a man to die for. Yet he had chosen her because she was his, the other part of his soul as he simply put it, believing she would understand in a heartbeat.
In another lifetime, she would easily have accepted the offer. She would have delightfully gone on a real date. A free spirit. A happy woman. She was none of those things now. She was far from a happy woman who saw the world and its people in a positive light. A pang of regret filled her heart; if she was a normal girl she would have taken the offer immediately. She would let a guy take her to the movies. Introduce her to his friends. Go out partying.
Beside her Cassie tensed .Was she thinking the same thing? Both of their lives had changed dramatically. She remembered that Cassie was in her situation not long ago. The woman understood.
"I… I."
Fortunately, Cassie jumped to her rescue. "She's seeing someone." Cassie added quickly.
Dean didn’t look disappointed. With a smile, he said. "If there's any chance. I'll give you my number."
"No! No!" Cassie exclaimed waving her hand at Dean. "My friend's in a strong relationship. There's not a chance on this earth she'll reconsider your offer."
This time Dean looked dejected. Clara actually felt sorry for him. She was surprised when he recovered quickly and looked at Cassie with interest, this time. Mentally, Clara rolled her eyes. Two minutes ago, Dean paid no attention to Cassie, now she figured he wanted a date with her. She felt sorry for him all over again.
"What about you. Surely you haven’t got an excuse." He said with a nervous laugh.
He was in for a bigger disappointment when Cassie held up her hand and flashed him her ring. "I'm a married woman."
Clara tried not to laugh. Dean looked embarrassed. "Well, sorry. I …" He looked around his face reddening with embarrassment.
Clara gave him a sympathetic smile. "Sorry."
Cassie took her hand and led her away. "Gosh, that was awkward for him." She giggled.
Clara gave her a big hug. "Thank you for saving me, I owe you big time. I was so shocked I didn’t know what to say."
Cassie laughed." I saw your expression. Poor guy. I think he really liked you."
Clara tried not to flush. "Maybe. I've never been on a date. And I'm not exactly comfortable around people."
Cassie turned to stare at her, unsmiling." You couldn’t have gone out with him. You know that. Don't you"
"Yeah. I didn’t find him interesting. The strange thing was when he asked me out. Michael's face flashed into my mind."
Cassie patted her arm." That's because he's the one for you. If he had seen that he certainly would have scared the guy way. Trust me." They walked out the front entrance towards the car. "For your own good I wouldn't mention what happened to Michael."
"Why."
"He'll get very jealous. You’re made for each other. Trust me when I say he won't look at another woman or fancy having her the way he wants you." Cassie shrugged her shoulder. "I don’t think he ever looked at another woman for hundreds of years. He only feels those emotions with you, even if both of you lived to be a hundred he'll never want anyone else. And neither will you."
"Wouldn’t he tire of me?"
Cassie chuckled. "When you're made for each other. It's impossible. I never look at another man and want him the way I want Justin. Michael wants only you. The passion and the love will grow o
ver time. It never fades. Each day you'll go insane with wanting. Trust me."
"Is that how it's like with you and Justin?"
Cassie blushed, her face reddening a little. "Oh, yeah. Back to the jealously bit. If they ever saw you laughing with another man, you're in trouble. They want their women safe, with them all the time."
"Isn't that being too dominative?"
"It is, you can argue with Michael over that one. Anyway when you're dating a normal guy, you're never quite sure what will happen. How he will treat you. And there's always the issue that after you're married, he might catch the eye of another chick. It's all painful."
"You sound as though you're happy with this."
"I am. There's only one person who is my life. My air. I want that for you too."
Clara managed a weak smile. "Thanks."
"It's not just about sex. It's about loving, commitment. It's about the heart, soul, body and mind. Not just the body. They form bonds for life."
Clara shook her head. "I'm trying to understand that part."
Cassie tried a different tactic. "If I was normal young woman, my life would be different. I might find a nice man, only to find later he's already married. A heartache. I could be in a relationship; two years on I get dumped. I have a boyfriend, who I love deeply. I decide to marry him because I love him more than my previous, idiotic boyfriends…" Cassie paused. "Are you following me?"
Clara nodded. She knew exactly what Cassie meant.
"So, I get married. For the first four or five years, we're very happy together. The best couple in the world. He gives me two children. After that things aren’t the same. Two years onwards, he starts drinking heavily, beats me up. I live with the abuse for the children's sake. I see him with another woman. I know he's having an affair. I feel betrayed and hurt. A year later, he files for a divorce and we battle for custody that puts our two children through hell." Cassie's eyes were filled with pain as she made up the story. "What do you make of it?"
"Absolutely depressing." She said quietly.
"The real world is full of crap."
"I know."
"Do you understand?"
Of course she did. "Yeah."
"You know what." Cassie said after a while. "Let’s call it a day. I'm so tired I just wanna lie down."
Cassie looked pale and tired. Clara felt guilty of not mentioning they should go home earlier. "You're right. You shouldn’t be on your feet for too long. Besides we don’t want someone else to approach us asking for a date."
"I certainly don't want to break another man's heart." Cassie said amusingly. "It would be on my conscience forever."
Chapter 15: The ATTACK
Clara walked down the spiral staircase into the main hall; she made her way to the large windows that were concealed by large satin curtains. With one quick movement she pulled the curtains aside to see that the windows were boarded up. What was wrong with him? Didn’t he realise she needed fresh air. The air was almost stuffy and moist. His home was large and like a fortress. She wondered why he was living in a family sized home. A small farmhouse or apartment in the city would suit him just fine, small and cosy enough for one person, not too large to feel overwhelmed by the space.
Clara made her way into the supersized modern kitchen. The cupboards were cream gloss, the floor made of granite stone. He had modern and expensive tastes, Clara thought. She wondered what he did for a living. How did an Immortal afford this place? Surely the High Council will not fund the bill. Clara opened the cupboards to find them stacked with food, she smiled to herself. He had brought every variety of food possible. Taking out some crisps, a bar of Galaxy and a can of diet coke she propped herself on the high-rise stool at the counter.
“I see you’ve made yourself at home.” Came the ever so familiar voice behind her.
Without glancing at him she said. “Do I have a choice, Michael? It seems my opinions don’t matter anymore.”
“You know that’s not true.”
“I guess after speaking with Cassie it gave me little comfort of your ways. It doesn’t explain why you’re living in a house for a dozen. A house that has no air vents, no air conditioning. How do you suppose fresh air will get in?”
"The windows are sealed to keep trespassers out…"
"What about now." She cut in. "Can't you open them for me."
Michael shook his head, deadpan. "No, it is for your protection."
Clara froze for a second, her green eyes searching his face. "You think, I'll jump out of one." She let out tense laugh. Closing her eyes, she created a mental wall in her mind to keep him from intruding. She never wanted him to read her thoughts. She knew the answer alongside the question. When he didn’t answer it became apparent to her. She looked away, hurt. Obviously he didn’t want the suicidal manic running away whilst he was asleep.
With much effort she forced herself to look at him with cold emotions. "You don't trust me. Do you." she challenged. Her eyes welled but she blinked to clear the tears. She would never cry in front of him.
"Clara, that is not…"
"You're a hypocrite" she shouted angrily. "You want to bind me to you, but you don’t trust me. You want my love, yet you don’t trust me. You keep the doors and windows sealed so I don’t run away, because you don’t trust me. You want me, but don’t trust me and if it wasn’t for Justin and Cassie, you probably wouldn’t have let me go out today. You want to control me, control what I do. I bet you'd rather I stay in the house every single day, when you wake up you want to take me to bed, without me protesting. Am I too difficult to deal with?" She glared at him. "Well, guess what Michael. I won't let you control me, and you're certainly not taking me to bed. And every time you're dying to sleep with me, just remember that you don't trust me?" She hated that fact that he remained without moving, did nothing ever shake the man. Did he have to always look so calm?
"I will never take chances with your life; neither would I allow you to take chances with your life so carelessly." The dark eyes bore into hers, nearly hypnotising her.
"My life's not for you to control." She snapped tiredly. "And I don’t blame you for not trusting me. It's not as if I didn’t give you a reason to trust me." She looked away in shame. "I understand." she said in a little voice. Several times, she had proven to be untrustworthy; she did not even want to think about those times. She looked down at her arm, that hadn’t completely healed from the deep marks and scratches. Hell, she didn’t quite trust herself.
Michael followed her gaze to her arm, something dark welled inside him needing him to take control. He swallowed the need down; if he took her, she would despise him. He caught her hand and brought it to his chest. "Don't touch me.," she snapped, taking her hand back. "Go away and leave me alone."
“Clara, I….” A deep thundering sound cut him off. His senses became alert. The sound of gunfire and fire clouded his senses. A large fireball smashed into the west wing of the mansion sending bricks cluttering across the courtyard. His house was under attack. But it couldn’t be the spells he had woven meant to keep vampires out. How was this possible?
“What’s happening?” Clara asked frightened as she glanced worriedly at the cracks in the ceiling above.
Michael grabbed hold of both her hands. “We are under attack. There are bats circling the house breathing out fire. You must leave now.” He hurried her up the spiral staircase at the same time sent a summon to Justin and Markus via telepathic communication.
“I’m not leaving without you.” Clara tried to break free but his grip was too strong.
“We are under attack, Clara. You must go to safety.”
They were on the second floor now; Michael paused in the long hallway and placed his hand on the wall. Clara watched in fascination as he closed his eyes and uttered symbolic words, which she did not understand. It must be magic, she thought. All of a sudden, a gust of wind blew towards them nearly knocking her to the ground. She watched in awe as Michael’s hand sunk into the concrete wall an
d a shimmering light emerged giving way to an oak brown door. He yanked it open. “This is a secret tunnel. Go through it and you will be safe. It extends two miles, Clara. Wait for me on the other end.”
Stuck for words Clara muttered, “But how…” she peered through and saw utter darkness.
“When you step over the threshold light will emerge guiding you to the end stop.” He advised as he gently pushed her forward. “I have to protect what’s left of the house. Just remember do not touch the walls otherwise the safeguards will collapse leaving you exposed. On your path, the magic will create illusions, ignore them, and carry on walking. Do not give into the temptation, Clara. Understood.”
Clara nodded uncertainly against Michael as he placed a swift kiss on her forehead. Then with a deep breath, she stepped over the threshold.
Michael watched as the shimmering light disappeared and the doorway converted to its original form. A rumbling noise outside shook his house; Michael swore under his breath and dissolved to fight the battle like a warrior.
Chapter 16: The PLAN
Cassie wrapped her hands around the warm mug of coffee, as Michael emerged into her living room like a haunted ghost with unfinished business.
“It is polite to knock, you know.”
Michael glanced around the room finding nothing threatening seeing only Cassie sitting on the couch with the TV on mute. He saw no sign of Justin. On his way over Michael had countered a vampire, lurking near his half-destroyed house waiting to attack. He had been furious and destroyed the creature within seconds. To a have a dead one near his home, meant one thing. Shea and her minions were closer than they originally thought.