He held a fistful of my hair and pulled it back so my neck was bared.
"Ahh…." He breathed against my skin, putrid breath fanning across it. "The sweet blood f my loved Patricia. You look just like her, you know?"
A low yet menacing growl emerged from across the room. I struggled to look over to him, yet part of me wished that what I was about to see wasn't true.
Solomon was tied to a chair. Amazingly it held him still and the faint smell of burning sizzled around him. The chains must have opal incrusted into them, I grimly realized. He was growling at my captor even though his own hair and face were spotted and drenched with blood. There were rips and tears in his shirt, and where I could see his skin I saw bruises and gashes so deep a regular human would be dead by this point.
A sickening snap brought me back to reality and a second later blinding pain made me scream. My action gained a chuckle from the evil vampire pulling at what had been my arm—now broken in two. A snarl was accompanied by chains rattling as Solomon attempted to break free only to have his shoulders, wrists and ankles thoroughly burned.
I attempted a smile directed at Solomon which made him frown and thrash about again. My arm hurt so much that I had to fight the black shroud which threatened to send me to the deep sleep of oblivion.
"Now now," he chided, "We can't have you falling asleep, my little Erika." The vampire proceeded to pull at my other shoulder, effectively snapping it out of place.
I screamed even louder and poor Solomon tried to break free yet again. But, like before, he failed. The effects of the birthstone on him were like scalding water thrown upon your bare arm.
"What did we ever do to you?" I spat out and glowered at the vampire who was now pulling my hair again.
He laughed a hollow sound with no humor to it and whispered in my ear. "My dear, it was the wench of a great-grandmother you have that managed to get away from me. She had the sweetest blood, even sweeter than a witches' own. Not one woman had even been able to deny me, not one but her. And now, after I have killed you, I'll be done with my revenge." He let go of my hair and I fell to the floor, biting my lip to hold back a shriek as I fell on my broken arm. I could now see the bone that splintered out of my arm.
Holding back the urge to vomit, I looked up to where my mother laid next to my sister, no blood or bruises on them. They were laid out on my bed so that it would seem they were merely sleeping. But I knew the truth. I comforted myself with the fact that he hadn't tortured them. I glanced back at Solomon and met his worried gaze. Even when he was tied to the computer chair with the heavy chains he looked strong—stronger than I was anyways. I crawled over to him and he kept his gaze on our enemy as he whispered instructions to me.
After much difficulty I undid the chains that held him back.
He kissed my forehead lightly, as I had I bruise on there too, and then turned to the opposing vampire. He glowered at him while I leaned against the wall. I watched, not even attempting to make my eyes keep up with their movements as Solomon leaped at him and they went through the wall.
I gasped and a pair of tears came to my eyes when after a brief moment, the hostile vampire held Solomon's neck in between his stony fingers and walked back into the room.
"Solomon…" I croaked and realized that my throat hurt, something I hadn't previously realized due to the pain that shot up my arms. He struggled against the iron grip as the other vampire laughed, the horrid sound chilling me to my bones.
"I came in for revenge and even got a Van Kendrick to kill." He looked at Solomon with his poisonous red eyes and Solomon growled, holding his gaze without a trace of fear. "I wonder if it's true..." he mused, "that drinking one of the true Van Kendrick's blood will bring forth unknown powers."
His lip curled back over his fangs and I feebly stood up. "No, don't hurt him! You came for me, right? Then just take my blood and get it over with." I hoarsely exclaimed, earning a furious stare from Solomon and an interested gaze from his opponent. Solomon took this opportunity to punch him and he crashed back through the wall.
Solomon chased after him and I collapsed back onto the ground. For some reason, the tears wouldn't come. Only one flowed down at the sight of my mother and sister. I must be in shock, I silently mused.
After what seemed to be another hour of grunts and growls, Solomon was thrown back into my room. But there was something horribly wrong, I noticed.
I could only see his silhouette. He was crouched over, his right elbow resting on his right knee and his hand was resting on his left shoulder. He turned away from me, cursed then stood and straightened up. He let his arm fall to his side and I gasped when I saw he didn't have his left arm anymore.
Suppressing a scream as I noticed that all of his face was covered in blood I glanced back at the enemy. "Just who the hell are you?" I hissed the words, the acid in them surprising even me. Although we were on two opposing sides of the room, I could feel the embracing presence of Solomon next to me and that gave me the courage. I glanced back at Solomon and saw fire in his clear emerald eyes. I knew we'd get through this.
"His name is Nolan Molotov." A voice announced and the vampire, apparently named Nolan, gasped. The voice was familiar but I was too tired to try and recognize it. Solomon came closer to me as two shadows came from my window and approached Nolan. They enveloped him and the shorter of the two threw him out the window.
The two shared a quick conversation, and even though it appeared to be almost-joking, I could still hear the anger in the deeper voice of the two. Silently, I shuddered.
Solomon kneeled next to me and quietly wrapped his arm around me. I don't know what was going to happen now, but at least he's next to me. I sobbed and wrapped my arms around him.
"Solomon You can still walk, right?" The tall shadow turned out to be James Van Kendrick, Solomon's father. He approached us but paused momentarily since I winced. I didn't mean to do that but I couldn't help it, he seemed so much like Nolan in the dark. Solomon tightened his grip around my shoulders and nodded up at his father.
"Yes, I'll take her home." He replied and stood up with me cradled in his arm; Solomon then jumped out the window and extended his wings, flying up above the clouds.
A small recap of the last few hours might be in order; since I absolutely can't remember the flight to Solomon's house. In less than two hours I had a perfect night out with Solomon, Enjoyed a flight home in his arms; and lost my mother and sister. Overall it has been the worst day of my life.
When we arrived at his house, Jacqueline was waiting for us. For the first time ever she didn't say anything bad or insulting to Solomon.
"It's okay, you can let go now," Solomon softly whispered and I realized with a sort of detachment that I held an iron grip on his shirt. Slowly, and almost reluctantly, I let go and Solomon passed me into Jacqueline's arms. Shortly after, I found myself in a large bed with Jacqueline and Samantha on either side of me. Mildly, I listened to their conversation. I had a couple of skull fractures, a shoulder out of its socket, a broken arm and other random, less important, injuries.
Slowly, I slipped out of consciousness.