I wasn’t sure why but, the feeling was comforting. Until the hand reached my face, the feeling was like broken glass brushing against my skin. There were ruff patches along the fingers and sharp nails that dug into my skin each time the hand made a it’s way across my cheek. Each time hurting more than the last.
I gasped in pain as I shot up into a sit, someone had shut off the light. I couldn’t see an inch in front of my face.
From beside me I heard a light chuckle, one I didn’t recall. It was harsh and rough like the speaker needed to clear their throat and deep.....dark almost.
“I’m glad your finally awake....You just don’t understand how much I’ve missed you. You know I’ve always loved you like a sister. don’t you?”
I flinched away, what was he, She? Talking about? I felt the need to scream at the top of my lungs, for help.....Anyone’s help.......Derek’s help.
“Oh no that wouldn’t be a good idea.”
She, he...It most of noticed my panic.
I felt the sharpness of the person's hand glide across my lips as to motion from them to stay sealed. As if it were an omen, I behaved, there all to swift movements made it clear that they meant business.
I heard a light chuckle become closer and closer to my ear. Until I felt rough lips by my ear.
“Your a dead woman you realize that don’t you? I’ve come here to kill you.”
Somehow, the way the words were whispered, made me want to beg for death, it was obvious that would be the easiest way out.....
I inhaled deeply, I’m a dead woman...... I played their word’s over in my head a few times not really liking the sound of them. They didn’t play back right, they didn’t sound meaningful like the ones stated aloud. I didn’t believe them. I felt my body tense, waiting for the first blow; expecting to feel the same sharp feeling as before....Only tens times worse as the person’s intention switched.
A roar of bubbly laughter broke the silence and I flinched away as their hand once again glided across my lips. The gesture felt wrong....Almost like their fingers were feeding my skin bugs. Tiny anger ones that wanted to pull apart me.
“Don’t be afraid. I was only messing with you!”
I couldn’t find the strength to believe their words, something inside of me was nagging that the second part was a lie. I didn’t trust this intruder.....Their entire presence screamed ’I’m dangerous.
The laughter cleared and the atmosphere became very serious.
“I’ve actually came to ask for your help.....You do know who I am, correct?”
I squinted my eyes in the voice’s direction, I still couldn’t see anything. Gathering up all the strength I could I mumbled, too afraid to speak loudly,
“I can’t see you.”
As if I had a reason to be embarrassed I turned away. I heard a shocked ’Oh’ before my intruder decided to answer my words, the ones I was sure they hadn’t heard.
“Oh....I was wondering...You smell like a vampire.....They haven’t changed you yet?”
I frowned, THERE WAS STILL THE MATER OF THAT. I was still human and wanted badly to remain that way. No matter what.
A little light bulb flickered in my head. Could this person help me? If they were able to get in....They should be able to get out. Right? I built my voice up and made a dangerous request....Which could lead to my death rather than my escape.
“I’ll help you if you’ll help me.”
“And in what way?”
Again I pulled the words out of my throat, to where they were flowing out in little clumps.
“If you can get me out of this place.....”
She began to chuckle more, the sound was dry and cracking a little every few seconds.
It didn’t help the way I felt, her laughter cut deep. I was a dead woman, wasn’t I ?
“That’s impossible! Ha! My spell is barely holding up to keep this conversation private. And let me tell you it’s in no way easy to keep things from vampires....”
“Tell me about.....” I wanted to laugh aloud at the idea of trying to keep a secret from Cynthia, let alone Derek, but it’s the horrid fear that held me in a state of paralyze.
“So....You will help me won‘t you?”
I wasn’t sure how to answer that, I wasn’t sure who I was talking to...or what they expected from me.
It must have been written on my face.
“For god’s sake you still haven’t figured it out?! I swear, guessing things could be harder for you than math......”
MATH........Messing with you......
I held my hand out to her face to see if it was really there.
“Megan?”
It couldn’t have been.....Megan was...Dead....Wasn’t she?
She grabbed my hand and placed it to her cheek.
“Yes.”
I felt my fingers across the ridged surface of her face, taking in the stabbing feeling.....Counting each bump that connected the lines across her face. Scars.
“What happen?”
It was hard to pull my attention off the odd little bumps that painted her features.
“Oh.....That....Do you remember that night...At the fair?”
Of course I did, it was only a few days ago. Why would I forget, that was the only reason I was in hell. The only reason I was sentenced to love an evil leech....A freaking hot vampire.
I shuddered, pushing the last thought out of the way.
“Yes.”
I shut my eyes....She had survived the attack, and so had I. Only I escaped without a single scratch, she hadn’t been so lucky.
“My mother had to work for hours to put me back together. She used a lot of energy and magic.....”
Oh, poor Megan.....What? Magic.....
“Wait did you say..... Magic?”
“Yes, my mother is a witch. A sick one at that now. She used more than half of her life force to bring me back...That’s what I need your help with.”
Her voice sounded annoyed like the was the most obvious thing in the world....And in a way it was. If vampires existed, why shouldn’t witches?
“How can I help?”
I felt the need to hide and runaway, but my heart tugged and I couldn’t.
“Give her your life.”
I inhaled and began to gag. No! I knew there was something wrong....
“NO!!”
I began to cry, death.....Why couldn’t leave me alone?
“It doesn’t matter what your choice is.....Ha ha. Because you don’t have one.”
I shuddered and stumbled back away from her trying to get away. She was going to kill me.
“Ha ha. I’m sorry Ryain I really am. Don’t worry I won’t kill you all at once....A little here and there.....I WANT you to fall in love first, so that you can feel how I felt. I lost everything right in front of you! You didn’t even bother lifting a finger, instead you ran off to be a prince’s lap dog! Ha ha This is what you get for being selfish!”
I recoiled from her words.....I wanted to help her, I couldn’t.....I felt a swift hand crush against my cheek. A little blood splattered across my face over my lips and to the other side of my face.
Then like a steel rod slamming through my chest, she pushed me down into the bed. It felt like someone had destroyed all my bones above my stomach.. Her hand stayed there, and I heard her mumble a few words I couldn’t understand.
Suddenly my body seemed to be ripping through a tunnel. As fast as it had happened it ended. The tunnel threw me back out and I landed, but not in Cynthia’s bed.
I was in a cave a large one that echoed when I began to stand up. The tunnel was pitch black and moist, like a limestone cave.
I began to spin around looking for some kind of life.....Anything.
A growling sound directed me to my left. I heard the growling grow louder.....and as the sound became closer I became more aware of what the creature was.
It wore a pitch black cloak and was hunched to where it’s arms were almost touching the ground.
“Here, kitty, kitty....Come out come out where ever you are.”
I jumped the voice sounded stretched out and the words drug along slowly as the creature came closer.
Hot breathe blew into my eyes and my nose. Causing them to sting and burn like acid had been slung into them.
“Don’t be afraid....It’ll only hurt a little.”
I felt long claws rub down my arm, and up to my face. I was trembling now from the sheer terror.
Then another clawed hand slashed across my face. I screamed out in pain.
“Do...” The voice began to change to a softer tone, Megan’s voice....
“You want to die?”
Finally it felt like I was being ripped in half, right down the middle. The creature was tearing me apart....Then it was over.
The real world began to sink in. A painful world.
It felt like my head was being banged in with a sludge hammer.
I began to hear voices, lots of them. Was I going insane?
Then one stood out among the rest.
Why was she outside? With her sickness progressing at the rate it is, I’ll be lucky to heal her back to a stable state. Why wasn’t anyone watching her?”
Though I’d only heard it once before, I knew it was the mage‘s.
Would.....No I shouldn’t think about it. The fear began to sink in, I was going to die wasn’t I?
“She’s coming to.” This was Derek. His voice sounded annoyed and...Somehow still concerned.
My terror began to set in, I shuddered......She’s going to catch me.
“Who’s going to catch you Ryain?”
I felt Derek’s warm, comforting hand brush gently across my face. even if his hand in no way felt like hers I pulled away from it.
My eyes flashed opened. He was sitting next to me. He took a glace towards me and sensed my fear, he moved away a little giving me space.
I wasn’t scared of him though........ .He smiled a little...hearing my thoughts.
It didn’t matter why fight destiny when your going to die in the end anyways?
“Your not going to die. I promise.” He reached towards my face again. I didn’t pull away this time. I needed the comfort more than anything. I needed to feel safe......
I laid there silent....unsure what to say.......
It was Cynthia who broke the silence.
“We caught her Ryain.....”
I pulled myself up sluggishly, wanting to hear the story behind this. Was I really safe?
“Yes you are. She was......Draining your life force, killing you, Wasn’t she? We caught her in the garden, crying and rocking back and forth, screaming ‘I didn’t mean to‘ I had her sent to the cellar, where a few guards are watching her. Derek thought....We should kill her....But I wanted to wait to see what dad says......”
“Don’t kill her!”
Derek looked at me like I was losing my mind. I began to lose my breathe, yelling wasn’t a good thing to attempt.
As soon as I was sure, sound would come out, I began to explain myself.
“She’s my.....Best friend!”
Derek snickered.
“Some best friend......”
“No you don’t understand! It’s her mother! She’s dying and....Megan...She...She needed my help!”
A twisted look spread across his face.
“ARE YOU SAYING YOU LET HER DO THIS!?”
I flinched at his words.
“Calm down Derek. Your scaring her!”
I inhaled, trying to relax.
“No. I didn’t...But....”
“Then why should I let her live???”
His voice was softer this time, though his anger was still apparent.
“Because....Cynthia...Said she...Didn’t mean to...”
“Oh so are you saying that she...What accidentally took some of your life...When she “Desperately needed it? That makes lovely sense.”
I grabbed at his shirt with what little strength I had and buried my face in his chest.
“Don’t hurt her please!”
I began to sob. He couldn’t, no!
He hesitantly placed a hand on my back, and slowly ran it up and down trying to comfort me.
“Don’t cry please. I want hurt her.”
Even though I heard him, I couldn’t seem to make the tear stop. How long had I been holding them back?
I tried to pull myself together. I was making myself look weak.
“And?” Derek challenged.
I laughed hysterically. Now of all times.....I felt like.....dying......I felt already dead...And now of all times....I...The words began to boil up to my throat and without hesitance I whispered three little words I’d never regret.
“I love you.”