by Sara K
"Are you ok, Michael?" Cassie asked again. She was so used to seeing him like this, so distant, powerful filled with strength and coldness. She hoped Clara would make it easier for him and perhaps she would see the bright, relaxed sight of him time and time again. Now with him standing in her living room, she couldn’t find the right words to describe him. He looked lonely, fed up even angry. Definitely angry because she saw those lines around his mouth combined with the way he stood.
Michael refused to answer her directly however he did relax his posture since he didn’t want to worry Cassie with his appearance. "What do you feel?" He asked abruptly.
It took Cassie few seconds to realise what he was asking her. She closed her eyes "Something's not right, she's closer. The attack on your house was a warning." Her voice dropped rapidly as she saw the look in his eyes. "Bitch is toying with us."
"A vampire was lurking around the house. I took care of him. Shea is sending her minions ahead as a warning that she is coming."
Cassie nearly gasped. Her fingers tightened around the mug. "She doesn’t want to surprise us by turning up out of the blue, but wants us to be prepared. Why."
"So she can have the last victory. She sends vampires to warn us, she wants us prepared because she believes she will win. By us preparing and loosing she has the last triumph."
"She has everything planned." Cassie said thoughtfully. "She's found us and now she’s playing with us."
"Finding us will be her downfall. The battle starts Cassie. She will not win." There was such determination in his voice.
"Don’t do anything stupid. Use your head."
"I do not intend to be reckless."
Cassie reached for the remote and shut off the TV. "Yeah, well just think about Clara. What would she do if you sacrifice yourself and let the stupid vampiress win?" She said gently.
Clara hearing her name Michael felt something tug at his heart. Love. Emotion. Devotion. He felt her presence in his heart and mind; she lived with him, breathed with him. She was his air. If something was ever to happen to him, what would become of her? The thought disturbed him. She didn’t love him; hence he believed it would be easier for her to cope. He was already facing the darkness; if he lost himself he would take Shea with him, along with her minions. Once he was gone Clara could live her life again, she would be released from his control. Free to live in with the mortals and rebuild her life. The biggest question he pondered was would she forget him, or long to desperately be with him that she would go to extreme measures to…
"Earth to Michael." Cassie's voice interrupted his thoughts brought him back to the present. "Where were you?" she asked.
"Right here." he replied, pushing the thoughts aside for time being.
"Sit down and stop looming around like a lost soul."
Michael smiled at Cassie's sense of humour. "How did Clara seem to you today?” He asked her.
"Ok, where is she now."
"Asleep."
A loud gasp escaped her throat. "You left her on her own, with vampires circling your house."
"And Justin left you alone with vampires in the area because…"
Cassie lifted her hands in surrender. "Ok, ok. I get your point. Back to Clara. She's very sweet, you know."
Michael smiled at the thought. She was definitely sweet, from the richness of her blood to the sweetness of her skin.
"I don’t just mean that because she's yours" Cassie continued. "She's pretty, too. She looks so young." Cassie stared at Michael. "You better be gentle with her Michael because already I like her a lot. Otherwise you'd have me to answer to." Cassie winked at him and Michael laughed. "The feeling between the two is mutual. Clara likes you too, something which is very rare for her to do."
"Yeah, at the diner she was nervous about seeing me. But later on she was fine."
"She is very fragile, Cassie. She needs friends." Michael revealed.
"Sure. I'm not going anywhere. I think she seemed happy at the mall with me. I think you should let her out more."
"I will make decisions where it regards her health and well-being." Michael said, severely. "I cannot allow her to wander around during daylight. She cannot stay out of trouble. When I sent her through the tunnel to protect her I specifically told her not to touch the walls. She disobeyed me."
"Just once in a while, won't hurt." Cassie argued. "Don’t be too harsh on her before you lose her. It's not as easy as pie to fit into your world."
"You seem to have managed." Michael asked.
Cassie narrowed her eyes at him. "I was like her once, until Justin found me. I don’t regret it at all except maybe his over possessive attitude."
"Justin likes being in control."
"Oh, yeah but over the years I've learnt to take control." She gave him a wicked grin.
"He only wishes to protect you." Michael stated.
"And I can protect myself." Cassie replied. She stood up, stretching her arms over her head to relieve the ache in her muscles.
“You know to preserve the species we have to protect what’s left."
"I know, but sometimes you just don’t take into account our feelings. And I'm sure Clara will agree with me."
Michael crossed his arms over his chest. "What you are saying, Cassie is that Justin and I should allow our women to be independent, to be allowed to go anywhere without protection."
Cassie grinned. "You've finally caught on."
"We cannot allow that. You know we cannot lose our women or our race will be extinct." Michael reminded himself Cassie was thinking with her human mind.
"I know that, gosh Michael. I feel as though I've been transported to the 18 century. What I'm saying is we should be able to make decisions not swept away and locked up as though we’re completely defenceless. That's what irritates me." she said.
Michael shook his head in disbelieve. "When it comes to war our women should not be involved. Justin agrees to that also. We cannot allow ourselves to weak because our minds are engaged and preoccupied with the safety of our women."
"We do like to help once in a while." Cassie said.
"I do not think you are in any position to argue with Justin now, especially with the child." Michael pointed out gently.
With the mention of the baby, Cassie looked worried. Michael saw the lines of strain on her face. Protectively her hand rested on her stomach. For once she was dumbfounded. "If I lose the baby, we'll both be able to cope. But if I lost Justin in a battle…then." She met his gaze. “I don’t think I can live with that."
Michael nodded in empathy. "How is the child?" He asked. He didn’t want to think about loss or the past, the anguish cries, the bloodshed.
"I don’t know." Cassie said defeated. "I can't even go to a doctor. It feels as though the baby is growing too fast. And I'm just so worried…" she lowered herself on the couch, feeling the nauseous overtake her.
Michael stepped forward. "Are you alright."
Cassie glanced up at him, her eyes stricken with fear. "I don’t know, except I don’t want to be pregnant and worried about the type of child growing inside me…"
Before Michael could speak, Justin appeared in the room. Deducing from the fact that there was blood and scratches on his face and neck Michael knew he was attacked by vampires. Justin wrapped his arm around Cassie's waist. "Cassie, what is it." Immediately she turned to face him and froze.
"You're hurt." She said weakly reaching to wipe the blood on his face. Justin turned her hand away. "Leave it, I will clean up. What is going on here." he looked at Michael for an explanation.
Cassie signed. "We'll talk about it later. Let's get you cleaned up." Leaving the two men she went to find the first aid.
"They keep coming back." Justin said simply.
Michael nodded. "I am aware of it. A vampire was lurking outside my home. I believe there are more."
"There have been several reports of missing people in the newspapers." Justin announced. “The fairground was also attacked tonight. People are
scared, Michael.”
Michael suddenly came alert. "You believe Shea is using these kidnap victims."
"Killing them and converting them to vampires to expand her army. Markus has called upon Team 10 they should arrive tomorrow night to assist us. On my way over I came across four human bodies. I destroyed them as best as I could."
"She must be stopped. We cannot clean the town after her. It puts us at risk."
"Do not hunt her alone, Michael." Justin warned.
Michael's eyes flashed fire. "I will do what I think is right to protect my family. I cannot guarantee I will stop the killings and enjoy it but I can remove the threat."
"It is not wise for you to take the hunt and kill." Justin suggested.
"The darkness grows in me. It is possible this mission may bring my destruction or my salvation. I am too close, Justin. The light grows weaker yet I will not go until the threat is removed." There was such authority that Justin didn’t even blink, too consumed by the words.
"There is hope." Justin said sadly. "That hope is Clara."
Michael felt the emotions over cloud him. Drowning him. "She does not accept me."
"Nevertheless she is your salvation. Keep that in mind and do not give up so easily, Michael."
"It may be too late."
"It is never late, my friend. Where there is light, there is hope."
"Promise me to take care of Clara." Michael said deadpan. "I want to leave knowing she will not be alone or unhappy in this world. She must not suffer the way I have."
Justin met Michael's gaze "Only you can do that, Michael. It is only you who can bring about happiness for her. If you leave Clara will be lost forever."
Chapter 17: The ILLUSIONS
In her dream, she was running as fast as the wind, running from something untouchable, something invincible. Her chest ached from running, her legs felt numb and weak. Please just a little bit longer she thought to herself.
Voices surrounded her, called to her. Voices whispered and caressed her skin calling to her to follow them. It was tempting but she ignored the whisperings, the alluring voices that emerged from the dense trees circling her. She didn’t dare look back. She couldn’t give up now. She had to get away from the bizarre world she had been sucked into.
Suddenly her body gave out and she saw herself fall like a leaf to the wet ground. She noticed that it had started to rain. The raindrops touched her skin and she shivered. Glancing down she found herself bare. Horrified and confused she struggled to get away. If only her legs worked. If only there was more energy in her. She was so weak. Cold. Afraid.
She covered her face with her hands. Wake up, wake up she thought. She wanted to escape the dream, the horrifying images that surrounded her, the constant whispers and callings that were emitted from the trees. She wanted to be back in the warm bed with love surrounding her.
There is no such thing as love, she told herself for the zillionth time.
The rain drizzled down increasing its speed and she shivered again, but this time Clara opened her eyes and saw herself in an unfamiliar place, on a cold ground on a dark, wet night. Clara gave a small cry and stumbled again, feeling the cold ground beneath her bare skin. She couldn’t remember how she got here. It had to be a dream; she would wake up any minute in her bed.
But she never work up. She realised that she was living the dream. She really was naked and wet. Where were her clothes? She remembered wearing a nightgown and falling asleep in her bed. She wondered if she was sleepwalking. Terrified of the situation Clara struggled to sit up. She was so cold. Lifting her head, she glanced at the surroundings; behind her was a huge two storey white brick house, it looked familiar. She had seen it during the daylight. A memory of her living in it came to her mind. It was Michael's house and she lived there. She hadn’t lost her memory, she found herself to be confused and terrified.
A distressing thought came to her mind. Where was Michael? Had he deserted her? Why didn’t he come for her like had done so many times before? Didn’t he want her anymore? Was this his way of discarding her, by throwing her out without any clothes, with no place to go?
Clara found herself crying, sobbing until her body shook and shivered. Michael, Michael where are you she reached for him in her mind. Calling his name in anguish, hoping he would hear her just one more time.
She tried to move her leg, but it hurt. A bruise from where she had fallen. Clara dragged herself to the courtyard stairs and laid her head on the ground, tears trickled down her cheeks. Michael, I need you please
A howling sound made her lift her head. She listened closely hearing the sound again. But this time it was closer. She squinted into the darkness hearing little steps approaching her. Fear crept into her, choked her until she cried out. She didn’t want to wait for what was approaching her. She needed to run again because running would make her untouchable from the impending darkness and from the creatures that lurked in the shadows. Clara lifted her legs but the weakness in them brought her to the ground slamming the air out of her lungs.
Clara peered again into the darkness her heart stopped beating when a big white wolf appeared in front of her. Clara opened her mouth to scream, but no sound came out. Her eyes remained glued to the wolf, the creature stepped a little closer and howled softly as if meaning no harm. The wolf seeing her drag herself away from him stopped in its tracks and shook his head.
Clara couldn’t look away from the dazzling, bright green eyes. In shock she stared waiting. Any minute know the wolf will attack her, she knew it. In her position she couldn’t run, but be paralysed with intense trepidation. Her heart stopped beating, her mouth went dry. Michael, help me she screamed the command in her mind. He didn’t want her anymore; the realisation hit her like a sharp knife in the heart. Then she started crying and burrowed her face against the cold ground.
The wolf purred softly and stepped closer. She was shivering, her face hidden by her hair. Her body stretched out, her arms circled around her waist. Clara rocked herself back and forward. Please wake up and let this be a bad dream she pleaded with her inner conscious. Soft fur tickled against her inner leg, she shrieked when she saw the wolf nuzzling her leg. Clara struggled to bring her legs up but the wolf held her down. God, he would eat her slowly. The wolf was playing with its prey. Clara stopped breathing, her mouth went dry instantly as the wolf stepped closer to her, and with his head, he nuzzled against her inner thigh.
"Please, go away." she whispered, pushing the head away from her legs. When the wolf stepped back, Clara desperately crawled away, with her hands feeling the ground she crawled on. The wolf was behind her. Clara crawled faster and found herself falling onto a lower ground. She landed with a thud. The wolf watching her fall gave a moan and jumped after her.
The fall wasn’t very high and she escaped with only bruises on her back from where she landed. Opening her eyes, she stared into the green eyes of the wolf. She frowned and waited for the attack. It never came, the wolf regarded her from above whilst she lay on the ground with a light drizzle over her. Closing her eyes, she ignored the wolf looming over her and concentrated on breathing. She shivered again and the wolf lowered itself over her. The heavy weight pressed her down.
"Get off me." she cried, thrashing her arms to remove the wolf that was licking her skin with his tongue, creating a feeling of revulsion in her. She knocked her fists along the wolf's side, knocking it off balance. Desperate to get away, she rolled on her side. And then she was falling along a deep slope, which knocked the air out of her. With her fingers Clara tried to grasp on to something. Anything solid. Too keep her balance.
Her body rolled down the slope, through the whole in the wall. In the last minute she grasped with both hands for anything solid as her legs dangled over the edge. Clara let out a cry as the reality hit her hard. She was going to fall from the height and probably land many feet down on the ground. It wasn’t something she was keen on doing. Neither was falling from above the best way she wanted to die.
&n
bsp; Clara grasped the cold ground with her hands, feeling her legs dangle in the air. "Help…help." She cried, wide-eyed. Her mind drifted off to the wolf, wishing it would come to her rescue. Her prayer was answered when the she saw the wolf from several metres from above, pacing restlessly perhaps wondering how to help her. The wolf howled loudly, piercing the night. Clara’s cries echoed through the dark night emerging with that of the wolf.
"Help me." she said weakly to the wolf, which had lowered his head and offered her his paw. She was grateful but the wolf was above her and could not reach her. The wolf extended his paw, and edged forward, a little more and she feared the wolf would go over the edge with her.
"No. Stay back." She told the wolf, which made little sounds.
Her hands ached from holding too long and balancing her weight, she had no idea how high she was but glancing down it was deep, the area surrounded by trees and vegetation. Her heart beat severely; her entire body ached and felt sore and cold. She knew this was the end for her; no person was able to hold on without anyone pulling them up. As much as she tried she was unable to pull herself up.
Clara gasped for breath and eyed the wolf that looked sorrowfully down at her. It could do nothing to help her. With another cry pain shot up her left arm causing her to release her hold. She had an urge to let go and risk falling. Her arms and body were already aching, her chest tightened painfully making breathing impossible. Michael, Michael hurry I can’t hold any longer.
The wolf let out another howl and Clara released the grip at the same time she saw the wolf transform. She screamed and closed her eyes and saw herself fall into the dark abyss.
Hold on, my love the words were uttered in her mind, every word caressed her, gave her strength. Shocked, her eyes flew open in bewilderment. Huge arms gripped her under her armpits, fingers stroked gently over the skin. Clara opened her eyes to find Michael pulling her up. His arms were around her upper body, although she couldn’t see his eyes, they seemed to glow brightly in the dark. Clara shuddered as he gently pulled her up, careful not to allow her body to rub against the rough edges.