7.
~ I sensed a strange pang of guilt for having sex with Arthur. I had never felt that way after sex before. I had always felt giddy and happy after a night of fierce lovemaking. Perhaps I felt bad because I knew I was meant to be with Josh and not the vampire.
I went to the market and was relived to see Josh there at his fruit stand. I watched him work for a few moments. Watching his sinewy arms move as he picked up crates and loaded a truck. My heart and body wanting to go to him. Needing to go to him.
"Handsome, that one is." Eames hissed in my ear.
I didn't even jump as the werewolf came up behind me and purred in my ear. Eames rested his hands on my hips and almost spooned behind me. The werewolf's body relaxed and casual against me as we looked almost like lovers.
"I thought you said you were going to kill him? He seems fine to me." I said as a challenge.
"For now." Eames said casually. His breath tickling my ear, and I cringed.
Eames seemed proud of himself. His wolf eyes raking down my body.
"Just give me the boy, Beautiful. Give me the boy, and I'll leave you alone." He said in a deep, throaty growl. His nose nuzzling in my hair. His strong, rock like arms wrapping around me as I kept my gaze on Josh.
My consort had no chance against this beast. Eames could control his ability to change. He could become a wild animal at any moment and tear the poor human to sherds.
As if reading my mind, Eames chuckled darkly.
"Your consort won't survive me. Give me the boy and you can go to him. You can have a litter of fat, squalling puppies, and all without fear of me." He cooed in my ear.
I felt the magic pull into me. It was so much weaker now that I was seeing Josh. Now that I was afraid for him. Now that the wolf was at my door.
Whatever power Arthur had helped me rebuild last night was gone. I couldn't fight him.
I didn't have to.
With supernatural force, Eames was pulled off me. I felt a cold shadow pass into the ally and didn't look. Like Lot's wife, I knew I couldn't look.
I knew Arthur had followed me. The vampire had risked sunlight and followed me here to protect me from the werewolf's attack.
I heard the savage fight behind me as the humans didn't seem to notice us at all. The nature of our existence was one that we could conceal from the humans. They didn't look at the ally where Eames was growling wildly and Arthur was silent and deadly.
I knew when the vampire needed my help. I casually turned away from the market and went into the ally where my vampire had our mutual enemy in a head lock. Eames' eyes were wild and dangerous looking as Arthur held him back.
The ally shaded and the Vampire careful not to fall into the bright path of sunlight.
I felt the magic pull and I didn't hesitate to unleash it.
The werewolf was dead in a flash of brilliant, blue light. My magic suddenly strong again from being around Arthur. My hands hurt from the force of my spell crashing over Eames. My fingertips numb as I knew my spell was lethal. I watched in self satisfied apathy as his body crumbling to the ground.
Arthur was panting. The memory of needing to breath still strong within the vampire.
"Cobb has been killed." The vampire said not looking at me. His eyes on the dead werewolf at our feet.
~ "I had a feeling you would be back." Josh said as I appeared out of the ally. I knew I must have looked shaken. Josh's eyes landed on me and I was in his capable arms in a second.
"What happened? What's wrong?" He asked brushing my long hair off my face.
"I'm fine." I said as I couldn't stop shaking. "A friend of mine just died is all." I said.
~ Josh and I talked for a long time. It felt so natural and easy with him. I gave no more thought to Arthur or even Eames and the children as my consort tried to comfort me on my loss.
"I'll have to go back to America." I told him. "My friend had two young children and they have no one else."
"I see." Josh said sadly.
"Josh, I understand if you don't want to be with me." I whispered. His fingers wrapping around my long hair. "With two young children."
"Ariadne." He sighed. "I can't not be with you." He said with a warm smile that made my heart beat faster.
The human pulled me into his lap. I breathed deeply the smell of apples and salt air. The smell of lumber yards and summer grass. My giggling little girls so clear in my mind I could hear them.
"Moment I saw you, I knew I had to be with you." Josh whispered.
~ I felt light as air as I went to my apartment. Despite the sad news of Cobb, I knew Josh would be safe now that I had killed Eames. I knew Josh loved me and our life together could now begin.
The vampire was waiting for me in my apartment. I could once more feel his eyes on me even though he was hidden.
"Did Eames kill Cobb?" I asked what looked like an empty space.
No answer.
I shook my head.
"Josh wants to go back to America with me. He wants us to get married. He says it's crazy, but he wants to be with me." I told the vampire even though I wasn't exactly sure where he was.
"James and Phillipa?" Arthur asked from his hiding place.
"Josh came from a big family. He wants them if it means he'll have me." I told the room.
"So, you are going to be with the carpenter? With the human?" Arthur asked.
I sighed.
"Of course." I said bitterly.
Arthur emerged from the shadows. His face pulled into a menacing scowl. He said nothing but I knew what he was thinking.
"It's what you wanted right? For me to take the children?" I asked.
"It's what I wanted." Arthur breathed sadly.
He kept his dark eyes on me. Accusing me.
"Last night didn't mean anything, Arthur." I told him angrily.
"I think we both know that's not true." He hissed back.
"Arthur." I started to say and then, like a coward, lost my nerve.
"Saito and I will bring the children to you in the morning. You can take them back to your Coven." The vampire growled.
"Arthur, wait." I said. I didn't want him to leave. I didn't want to be without him.
"That human weakens you. I can keep you strong." Arthur whispered.
I stepped back. Surely he wasn't suggesting...
"Stay with me." Arthur said. "We have a better chance of keeping the children safe if we're together. Their will always be others out to get to James. We can protect him better.
I didn't try to stop Arthur's advancements on me. I didn't want to.
As natural and easy as breathing. I was in his arms. His deep voice pleading for me to stay with him. For me to cast Josh aside and stay with him. To be a mother to the children and have him be their father.
I surrendered to my vampire then. His careful hands undressing me as I was helpless before him.
~ Sorry it has taken so long to update my story. I have been under a lot of stress both at work and some personal medical stuff to.
After over 8 years at nursing, I've decided to leave it. I'm not sure what I'll do now, but it's no longer the rewarding career for me it once was.
In "The Girl who Dance on my Feet" it was very autobiographical for me. The reason Ariadne became a nurse were the same reasons I did. But, this field has always been stressful and I can no longer take any joy in it.