Shadows of Love
Love's Beginning
The night broke dark and clear. The storms of late evening left the world
shimmering in the moonlight, as if it knew that love was about to be born anew.
He'd found her lying on a beach, near death and picked her up without a single
thought otherwise. He just knew he couldn't leave her there. Her soft groans
tore at his heart as he carried her back to the nest. Ignoring the curious looks
from his nest mates he took this tiny, fragile human back to his room and laid
her gently on his bed.
Without hesitation he tore into his own wrist and pressed it to her lips,
forcing the blood into her even as she lay unconscious. He would do anything in
his power to keep her alive.
He sat by her side for days, never leaving except for the short time it took to
feed. During those times he left her with a member of the nest he trusted with
his own undeath. He feared she'd wake and he'd not be there. He made sure his
feeding was quick so he could rush home to her.
As he watched her heal, he begged silently to a God he'd never had use for to
let her live. He'd just awoken for the night when her eyes opened and focused on
him. He could feel the gaze and turned to face her, captivated by the beautiful
blue eyes that scanned his face. He expected fear or anger for him bringing her
here. He was surprised to see the smile play across her lips and light up her
eyes.
Her voice was barely above a whisper when she asked his name.
“Draven,” he answered with a smile.
Her smile grew bigger and she whispered, “I'm Sun. Where am I?”
“My house, love.” He knew he needed to explain how she'd come to be here but he
wasn't sure if she even remembered what led to her being on that stretch of
beach.
“Did you find me?” Her voice broke slightly and he scanned her eyes to see if
the fear had set in yet.
“Yes, on the beach. You were hurt and I couldn't leave you there.”
She took a deep breath and nodded. “My father was angry.”
His growl reverberated through the room and she watched him pace in silence. She
could sense the anger building in him and yet she still felt safe.
He turned back to her, eyes dark with rage. “How old are you love?”
“Fif..Fifteen,” she stuttered, fear that he'd send her home overtaking her
senses. She tried to get up but was held back by the pain of the broken bones
her father had inflicted.
He watched her with curiosity and admiration that she had such strength and
presence of mind to wish to run from him. In the same breath his heart was
breaking at the very thought of never seeing her smile again. Speeding over to
the bed, he sat next to her and brushed the hair from her bruised face.
“You're safe here. He can't find you and I'll never let him harm you again,
love.” His smile was meant to offer comfort but to her it offered freedom.
He was her salvation, her chance to escape the horror of her life. Her body
reacted to his closeness with feelings she'd never had before. Feelings she
couldn't explain. All she knew was that if it were at all possible, she loved
this man who'd saved her life and was offering her freedom.
Draven watched Sun's face closely as the emotions played across it. He saw the
anger, the fear and the love all shine in her eyes. Eyes he found himself lost
in. He pushed his desires to the side and gathered his courage to tell her what
he was, hoping it wouldn't send her running.
“There is something I must tell you, love. Something that could change how you
feel about my offer of protection.”
She shook her head and shifted on the bed, a moan of pain escaping her lips.
“Nothing can change my gratitude.”
Draven stood and crossed the room, turning his back to her to avoid seeing the
hatred in her eyes when he told her the truth.
“I'm not what you think. I'm not human.”
She waited for him to turn back towards her and after several moments of silence
he remained still. “You're vampire?”
Shock took hold of him and he turned to face her. “How did you know?”
Locking eyes with him, she smiled through the pain. “My mother,” she hesitated
before continuing, “left us for a vampire. I studied them even though Dad hates
your kind. I wanted to know if they're real.”
He stood dead still watching her. “But how did you know I was vampire?”
“Your hands are cold.” She shrugged and looked up at him with eyes that belied
her youth. This woman/child had seen things in her life no one ever should and
his heart ached to teach her that love didn't need to hurt.
“I can heal you, love. In fact, I've begun the process of doing so.” He paused
and crossed the room to sit next to her once more. Taking her hand in his, he
spoke softly. “I fed you my blood. If I hadn't you would've surely died. If you
drink more, you'll heal quickly but there are side effects.”
She listened in silence, her heart pounding in her chest at the touch of his
hand. Her body craving his touch.
“If you drink from me again we'll bond more. You'll be drawn to me physically
and have dreams about me. You'll heal without my blood, but it will take much
longer.” He waited for her to speak. Silence filling the room for what seemed
hours but in reality was mere minutes.
She thought of her options and closed her eyes before answering him. “Heal me
please.”
The smile took hold before he could stop it. He couldn't stop the joy that
spread through him when her words were spoken. He brought his wrist to his lips
and tore into the flesh, pressing it to her lips once more.
She drank hungrily, holding tight to his arm, her eyes locked on his. She felt
the pull to him as she drank. Her body, her mind, and her very soul screamed to
belong to him in every way possible.
For two nights he held her close to him as his blood worked it's magic. He
refused to let her feed again explaining that the third time of blood exchange
bonded her fully to him and he didn't want it to be done as a healing.
For two nights she loved him silently as her body healed and became
stronger. The night she woke fully healed she feared he'd send her home. She
watched him sleep, whispering, “I love you.”
She knew it was the only time she could tell him such a silly thing. She was far
too young for him to love. She was just a child. Wiping the tears from her eyes
she prayed that he'd never send her away.
As the sun set he stirred and opened his eyes to find her curled next to him.
His arm wrapped around her, pulling her closer. He kissed her forehead, fighting
the desire to make her his in every way. He reminded himself that she was young
and innocent. He held tight to his belief that she deserved better than a
vampire as her first lover.
When she opened her eyes and smiled up at him, he knew he was lost. He was in
love with this woman.
TO BE CONTINUED.......