I stood in my room; I began to have several flashes at the thought of opening new doors, and where they would lead bothered me. I needed to find somewhere or someplace where I would fit in.
I couldn't simply forget about the Tellis coven, and I knew their search for me wouldn't end until they had my head.
I sighed as I reached my bed and collapsed on top of it. The bed had already been pulled back for me, and on top, there was a nightgown all laid out.
The thoughtfulness behind this was the kindest I'd experienced in a long time as I ran my fingers over the soft material of the nightgown.
As I changed for bed and slipped into the nightgown that flowed freely down my body, almost touching the floor, I felt the gradual pull of fatigue start to build.
The bed looked inviting for my suddenly tired body and mind. The day had been long and incredibly eventful, but I had made new friends, and in time, I hoped that I could return and still be welcome.
My thoughts were suddenly interrupted by the voices of my hosts, who had returned to the study. I listened, shocked as to whether or not they cared that I could hear them. I was still the centre of their conversation.
"I say if she doesn't want to stay with us, why bother to waste our efforts and force her? What she's running from, and how she wants to go about it, let her do it on her own, the way she has asked," Alejandra said, trying to convince everyone to leave me alone.
I wondered if she knew the whole story, how she would feel and what she would say. More than likely, she would have tried to kick me out of the house herself, which probably would have led to a fight. Although I am stronger, I could still die and get seriously injured because I was still half-human.
"We can't turn our backs on someone of our kind that needs our help. We helped you and Bobby when you first came here, right?" Melody argued back.
"That was different. We were willing to talk and told you everything we could so you could protect us," Alejandra snarled.
The deep rumbling of Melody's and Alejandra's snarling echoed through the house, making me shiver and dive further under the duvet for protection from the chill it had caused on top of my skin.
"That's enough. We will help Nessy all we can," Charles shouted. "In the meantime, it would be wiser for us to think of some way to keep her here," Charles bellowed.
"You're right," Melody muttered quietly. Her footsteps fell lightly as I heard her cross the room.
"She can hear us. I can sense it," Rowan added.
His voice sounded deep and husky, as if he hadn't spoken much and needed airing.
"You're right; she can. Well, I hope she heard us. We want to help, and we are not her enemies in any way," Charles said, despite Alejandra's reservations.
The more I listened to their conversation, the heavier my eyes seemed to get, and I felt the lids closing. I struggled not to fall into the unconscious world of "the sleep" my body still craved because my mind was again caught in the traumatic chain of events that had occurred that day.
As I contemplated my next move, new fears, doubts, trust, lies, questions, death, and even a tiny glimmer of romance loomed that day. As my body relaxed, I began to feel the relief that sleep brought with it, and being half-human forced me to submit to its physical and mental ease, and in no time, I was fast asleep.
Within minutes of falling asleep, I revisited a time and place I longed to escape and forget in my dreams. I remember it clearly: that night walking under the stars with Hervidor, how he made me laugh and smile, the complete happiness I'd felt when I was human, and my parents' smile as they watched me dance in his arms all night. Then my mind crept to the darkest hour of my life, the moment when his teeth sunk into my flesh. I'd screamed, but he muffled my scream with his hand. The pain had gotten worse. The tearing and searing of my skin and the smell of my blood irritated my digestive system as I tasted the bile rising to my throat and into my mouth. Hervidor was powerful and extremely strong; I was helpless as I struggled in vain to free myself.
My body froze from the shock of the horror I was experiencing. The burning sensation started from my neck and travelled through my body, touching every nerve, muscle, and bone. My breathing was laboured and slow. My eyes fluttered closed. My body felt limp and drained. I opened my mouth to scream, but there was silence. I was panic-stricken and terrified. Then, I noticed a shadow standing in the darkness, veiled by the trees hanging over various garden parts. I extended my hand to the shadowy figure, only to realise that it was only a figment of my imagination, or so I thought. As the mysterious figure became a bit clearer, the outline was that of a man, but he hadn't come to help me; he had simply stood there and watched me writhing in pain.
"Shh . . . darling, I am here," the voice said, and although it sounded distant, it felt comforting. It seemed surreal, and I was confused and unsure if those words came from the mouth of the shadowy figure who had watched me twist and squirm in pain. The soft voice echoed once again, sounding so much like Hervidor. I was now beyond disbelief—Hervidor had become Charles. I was being drawn closer, and my emotions gave rise to the hidden feelings for Charles. Somehow, my past and present began to intertwine, and as much as I tried to separate one from the other, my mind refused to allow it. I fought tirelessly as the arms that gripped me wouldn't budge. My mind screamed from the pain and agony. I didn't know what was happening to me, and before long, I collapsed.
"Shush now, you're safe. I'm here. I'm sorry. I'm sorry," the voice kept on repeating. "It's okay now. The pain has stopped; I'm here," the voice continued, his arms crushing me against his firm chest and making me shiver from the sudden depths of coldness that had suddenly been forced upon me.
He inched closer to me, and I felt the warmth of a blanket drawn up around me. And I snuggled underneath it as he held me in his arms.
"Sleep now. Tomorrow is a new day that will bring something new," the masculine voice reassures me.
I drifted off into the world of dreams, snuggled tightly against the unknown, but a comforting stranger held me close through my darkest of thoughts. My nightmare had started to invade my sleep since I was turned, and for tonight, I felt the comfort seeping through me from this person's arms.
I woke from my nightmare momentarily, unsure of what had taken place.
The terrible memories of my past lingered and festered like an open wound, suppressing the beautiful memories I held dear of my parents. It didn't take long before I fell asleep again; only this time, I could see and hear their smiles and laughter. Their happiness filled my dream and mind as I remembered how they loved and cared for me.
Their adoration of Hervidor had shone through, as they had allowed him to court me and take me out in his horse and carriage unattended by my maid. He had been trusted to care for the Earls' only child, the daughter set to inherit a fortune that would make any man fall to his knees and beg me to marry them. The human part of me still needed these dreams to remind me who I was and what I had become.
The night seemed long as I had finally settled into the arms that had held me tightly. My mind drifted in and out of the sleep I craved the day before until the sun started filtering through my room's curtains, shining its light onto my face. My closed eyelids warmed from the sun's rays, causing me to stir.
The arms that had held me tightly had left; there was no one to wake up to who would smile at me and wish me a good morning. It was bizarre and strange as I thought about Charles. Was he the mysterious man in my dreams? Indeed, he was capable of such things. My lonely, solitary existence had begun again as I rose to face a new day and new challenges.
Moreover, I had to decide whether I would stay with Charles's coven or enter back into the world, which was still a mystery to me.
I slowly opened my eyes and looked around. The room had been prepared with fresh clothes at the bed's end. It was apparent someone had been there while I slept and had carefully thought about my needs.
There was a definite difference in the clothes left for me and what I wore, making me smile. I realised the world had evolved from the one I knew as a human.
My old dresses would have seemed Victorian compared to those before me on the bed.
Their colours were amazingly bright, and as I knelt over them and touched them gently, the fabric seemed soft and slid through my fingers, their silkiness making me smile with appreciation.
The dress chosen was pale blue with matching sandals, ready and prepared for the warm day ahead. As I dressed carefully, sliding the dress onto my skin and feeling the smoothness, my shapely figure fitted it perfectly. The sandals were a perfect fit, as well. My hair was smooth and flawless, as was my skin; the ivory paleness shone from beneath my dark hair that hung down my back. I whirled around and faced the mirror in the bedroom; I felt like I was the essence of beauty as I admired myself in my new dress.
"Nessy, Charles would like to speak with you in his study. He wants you to join him as soon as you can," Alejandra said bitterly through clenched teeth.
"I'll be there as soon as I can," I answered, smiling at the cruel indifference she seemed to have for me.
The cuts and bruises that were on my body had disappeared. This was another vampire trait, where no pain was ever felt except when you're bitten for the first time, and your cuts evaporate as if they had never happened.
I thought I looked good enough to join Charles, although I couldn't fathom why it bothered me. I left my bedroom and walked down the same corridors towards the study. I could have easily ended up somewhere else in such a large mansion. Still, I remembered exactly where the study was as I walked past the never-ending corridors. I wondered what was behind the many closed doors and their mysteries.
"Hi, Charles. You wanted to see me?" I asked as I entered the study.
Charles stood with his back facing me, looking out the window, lost in his thoughts. His head was slightly bowed, and his demeanour appeared unsettled as he stood there. Upon hearing my voice, another vampire trait quickly took over, as he turned around in a flash, seemingly as if he hadn't moved at all.
"Yes. Please sit. We have some things we need to talk about," he said, as he gestured towards the chair and held it there, gesturing to me to sit.
"Do we? We must be quick, as I have to leave soon," I replied.
"Hmm . . . So it seems. Are you ready to tell me why you're leaving us so soon?" he asked calmly as he sat behind his desk.
"No. You know I won't. Is there a reason or purpose as to why I am here? Summoning me is not the best thing you could do. I am not as young as the others here, and I don't take kindly to being summoned," I said as Charles continued to observe me from the other side of the desk.
"So it would seem. If it seems I summoned you, that was not the case. I had an interesting talk with Hera this morning. He came to bring a message to you; naturally, you were sleeping, so I offered to pass it on. Scarlet is dead. It would seem she was caught by some villagers trying to hunt their son. The family would like to find the lady in the red dress who returned their son to their home unharmed. Does this ring any bells to you so far? Or shall I continue?" Charles asked as he watched me intently, his expression cold, and I could see a slight hint of anger.
"I have nothing to say. And are you sure that Scarlet is dead?" I asked with some trepidation.
"So why do you ask about Scarlet? Does she have anything to do with you?" he asked,
"No, why would she? I was just asking," I responded, lying. It was the only way to protect other people from the horror they would face if I were found hiding amongst them.
"We can hide you here. You have nothing to worry about. You will be safe. Why don't you tell me the truth?" he suddenly asked angrily as he slammed his fist on the table, causing it to crack.
The strength of vampires was genuinely marvellous in itself. As mature and old as I was in terms of vampire years, I shuddered at the force and anger he displayed. His strength would be no match for me should I try to fight him.
"There is nothing more to say. I will be leaving now. Is there anything else?" I said as I stood up and faced him.
"One more thing," Charles said as he appeared before me.
"And what is that?" I asked. He quickly embraced me without saying another word, pulling me close as our lips touched.
My response was surprising. My body reacted without me even thinking about what was happening. The kiss was soft and sensual. I had never felt anything like it. My legs felt like jelly as the sweetness from his kiss started to wake up my body, mind and dead, frozen heart. I felt caught in his web of infatuation when he abruptly stopped and released me, making me stumble backwards and wonder why I had responded the way I did.
"If nothing else, I want you to think about this kiss while you're on your way—more than anything else, I want you to stay with me. Let me protect you and show you how living with our kind can be a good experience. Please, Nessy," Charles pleaded.
As I stood looking at Charles and the gentleness that appeared in his eyes, I wanted so much to stay with him, if only to find out where a kiss like the one he had given to me would lead. My lips still tingled, and I knew then that I couldn't endanger him.
Although I had only known him for a short period, one day, I felt something for him that was distracting and confusing.
"No, Charles, we cannot be together. I have to leave. Goodbye, Charles. Stay safe, and until we meet again, think only of the kiss we shared," I said softly as I whirled around and used the speed I had been given as a vampire and ran from the room.
The tears that had crept into my eyes had fallen softly down my cheeks. Being half-human and half-vampire allowed me to cry and feel emotions whenever I least expected them, which confused me and made me feel weak.
I ran back to my room to change clothes, as I suddenly felt restricted and uncomfortable in the dress. It wasn't the ideal thing to be wearing, knowing Hervidor was on my trail. Moreover, he wasn't far away, and his scent was in the air.
The smell became unbearable and made me wish I was far away, maybe in another world, if possible. Hervidor's scent had begun to gradually cloud my senses since I had entered Charles' study; I knew he was not too far away.
I stripped off the dress and threw it into a heap on the duvet. I threw my shoes angrily and frustrated, knowing I could not stay with Charles and his coven. I wanted to be with him. Perhaps he was the mate I needed to spend the rest of my life with.
"You know you're next in line to rule our kind with Hervidor? Why won't you admit to me that you are running from him? They will not rest until you are returned to rule at his side," Charles followed me to my room.
His eyes were filled with compassion as I stood half-naked in only my underwear. His eyes glued to my half-naked body; he seemed unsure whether to stay or to leave.
"I hardly think that to stand and stare at me half-naked is going to be of much help right now. I already know what my place will be if Hervidor catches me. My plan is for him not to," I snapped. "I will keep running, even if I have to do it until I'm dead. However, if the day comes when someone should take Hervidor's life, my vampire existence will end, and I shall become human once more. But I will not return to rule. I would rather kill myself right now, in your house," I said as anger started to build inside of me.
"Listen to me, get dressed and come back downstairs. There is a way around this. Don't run; you can't run far enough."
"Fine!" I snapped as I hurriedly grabbed my clothes and quickly put them on while hiding my body from his view.
He suddenly turned and walked away from me, his shoes making a loud noise as he stomped back downstairs.
"Charles, what's going on?" I heard Blake ask.
"We need a meeting now. Get everyone together," Charles ordered. "Nessy will be down in a minute. There is something we all need to do if we are going to survive the Tellis clan coming here," Charles shouted with anger, lacing every word.
I jumped slightly at the sound of a door slamming downstairs.
I stood before my mirror; all the happiness and security had now vanished into thin air. The closeness that Charles and I shared last night in my dream and our kiss became a distant memory.
Danger loomed on the horizon, and Charles and his coven were badly outnumbered as the tension inside the great house grew. A growl at the window and a constant tapping drew my attention. As I glanced at the window, I saw Heracio, who had climbed up and demanded entrance. His vast Gulon body balanced expertly on the tree outside, the grey fur looking soft and delicate, like the most fantastic cotton wool. However, I could only imagine as I had never felt his Gulon fur.
"Hera, what are you doing here?" I gasped as I opened the window and allowed him to enter.
I quickly crossed to the bedroom door and closed it. Although the other vampires could most certainly smell the presence of the Gulons, and the conversation was definitely not private, it didn't seem to concern Heracio.
"I know they can hear us; come with me. I'll take you to safety. We are all united to protect you; no one will know which way you've gone," he promised as he took his human form.
He had always supported me, was always there in my darkest hour, and was my nearest and dearest friend, one that Hervidor hadn't managed to prize away from me. He had already taken so much; with Scarlet gone, he wanted to take away my newly found freedom.
"What happened to Scarlet?" I asked.
"The boy you returned told his parents everything. They then started a manhunt for the vampire who tried to take away their only son. They want to meet you, though. They know what you are, but they also know you're different and want to help you in any way they can," Hera responded as he looked over my bedroom.
"You know that's not something I can do. I can't allow them to meet me. Is the boy all right?"
"He's fine, thanks to you. Luckily, he never turned, and it was only because of you," he answered. "Hervidor is closer than we expected, so we have to leave now, Nessy. Come on," Hera urged as he walked over to the window.
I watched Hera change to his Gulon form once again. I'm the only one privileged enough to see him in his human way; everyone else sees him as a Gulon. He told me that I was a unique, kind and compassionate vampire, and he hoped that one day I would return to my human form.
I climbed on Hera's back and gripped his fur in my hands, allowing the softness to spread between my fingers, and suddenly heard the sound of feet running through the house in my direction. I swung my head back to look to see Charles come crashing into the bedroom.
Seeing me on Hera's back as my protector and a dearest friend fled with me, he had an anguished look. Hera's only concern was my safety and to get me as far away from Hervidor and the Tellis. I needed to protect the coven that had welcomed me. Charles looked hurt, and I knew he was sad by my abrupt departure without so much as a goodbye.
"Faster, Hera, Charles is following us," I urged as I heard him running directly behind us.
"I'm doing my best. Did you put on weight since we last met?" Hera asked as he complained about the weight on his back, making me grin at his teasing.
"No, why would I do such a thing to you? Don't tell me you have become unfit, Hera?" I teased as he moved with such tremendous speed.
The fields and hills were passing us by at an incredible rate. It was exhilarating and a breathtaking view, and although I could run just as fast with Charles close at our heels, it was better this way so that I wasn't tempted to stop.
"Nessy, wait!" Charles shouted, but we paid him no attention as we carried on.
We ignored Charles and continued our path away from the danger waiting for us. After some time, I turned and looked behind me, and Charles was nowhere to be seen. He had given up.
The only sounds were Hera's paws as they pounded towards an unknown place. Only then did I realise he hadn't told me where he was taking me?
The smell of the Tellis coven had begun to draw closer. It was an intense and overpowering smell. As the smell of fresh blood filled the air, we made our way across the hills.