Chapter 11

I was in a chamber completely isolated from the world. It was dark all around me except for the trickle of light igniting a brightness. I heard a deep breathing and saw a figure deep in the darkness hunched over. She looked over and I found that it was Ashley. Her naked figure was barely visible in the night. I saw her, but it wasn't her. There was a hunger in her eyes and her canines were long and hungering for me.

I called to her and when she looked at me she ran quickly before a chain around her neck caught her in mid air pulling her back like a dog on a leash. She snapped at me not seeing me and it frightened me. There was a velvety laugh and from somewhere unknown a blonde woman with bright blue eyes emerged.

She walked over to Ashley lovingly stroking her hair and staring at me without saying a word. The blonde undid the chain keeping Ashley at bay and stepped back to watch the scene unfold. Ashley's freedom led to a small smile and she ran towards me mouth opened wide.

I screamed loudly waking up from this nightmare and Ashley ran into the room to see what was wrong. Seeing her awoke the fear and I screamed louder crawling away from her.

"Shh, Spencer shh. It's okay." She whispered. I let her come closer and felt her hand gently trace my face where the heat blared on my skin. After a few moments I calmed down and lay down to sleep again. She sat up to walk out and I loosely wrapped my hand around her wrist.

"Please stay, Ashley I'm scared." She seemed hesitant, but eventually she sat down on the bed sitting up straight and a little uncomfortable. I ignored her and kept my grip on her wrist. Her position eventually tired her and she laid down next to me. I rolled over keeping her wrist with mine so that she was forced to roll over with me. Snuggling up against her I kissed her wrist and cradled it between my own. It was almost completely cozy until I realized something.

"Ashley?"

"Hmm."

"You aren't breathing."

"Oh, sorry." With that her chest rhythmically fell up and down helping me drift off to sleep, nightmare free.

I woke up early and to my disappointment she wasn't there. I called to her and she didn't answer the last few tumultuous nights and dreams provoked fear and I ran around the strange house calling and calling before collapsing on the floor and crying. Soon I heard an engine pull up to the house and shut off.

I didn't dare get up and when the front door opened and Ashley walked through it was all I could do to not start crying again. She quickly walked towards me with that graceful walk that I had never seen anyone compete with and picked me up before bringing me back into the bed and laying me down.

She shushed me and wrapped her arms around my shoulders letting her comfort flow through me. We rocked like that for a while before I finally spoke.

"You were gone and I… I didn't know what happened to you. I was so scared." I continued crying.

"Shh, Spencer it's alright I'm here now. I'm not leaving."

"If I lost you I don't know what I'd do." I continued mumbling. My tears eventually trickled down to heavy heaves and all the while she merely stayed with me. She crawled behind me and sat down so that her legs were encasing me while she stroked my hair and hummed lullabies to me.

I felt her lay her head on my shoulder and smelled that sweet smelling jasmine that she always seemed to emanate. She kissed the side of my head and involuntarily I sighed letting the stress go away.

She kissed me again and again all the while I sat not moving simply absorbing all of the love she wrapped me up in. Feeling her hands around me made me want something so much that I couldn't even think it, couldn't even ask for it.

"You know I would never hurt you right Spence?" She spoke quietly as if knowing every thought roving through my mind. I nodded gently and she squeezed harder.

"Why can't things just stay perfect like this forever?" I whispered.

"I don't know." She answered back. "Close your eyes?" she asked and I complied. I felt the weight behind me shift while I relaxed my legs, laying them out in front of me. It was black and the only way I knew she was still in the room was her scent which now lingered sweetly in front of me.

She made no sounds, no motion, but the breeze from the neighboring window lightly blew her curly hair around my face tickling my cheeks. I smiled and unexpectedly I felt her fingers, light as air, tracing along my jaw line. She moved up using the back of her hand against my forehead and cheeks. Not being able to see enhanced every touch and my heart quickened. Her hand paused as she heard, but she continued again.

Her finger started tracing the outline of my lips I started to realize what I wanted. She retracted her hand. I tried not to show it, but I felt empty at the loss. Before I could open my eyes I felt her lips on mine, soft and yielding firmly pressing into me. As if instinctively I responded back and the sparks lit up igniting the blackness. She dropped down slowly until she was straddling my legs, her hands now gently holding my face.

Suddenly her body tensed and she released me crawling away from me shielding her face from mine.

"I'm sorry Spencer, I know you aren't like that, but… I just can't control myself around you." My mind was a blur of confusion and heaviness. Instantly I heard my voice repeat all of the things I wanted in a person, all of the things that Ashley had become to me. She was now sitting away from me with her knees tucked up into her chest. She was my everything. Dismissing the consequences I slowly made my way over to her and taking the initiative, I hesitantly held her cheeks and kissed her softly. She responded and began kissing with a bit more intensity.

I felt her tongue tease my lips and letting her in I marveled at the feeling that she wasn't shoving her tongue down my mouth like the guys I dated had. Instead it was a gentle exploration that left me feeling a little breathless. She invited me to do the same to her and I complied. My tongue moved up her teeth and when I felt her fang I jumped back hitting my head on a bed post.

"Ow!" I replied rubbing my head. I smiled weakly at Ashley who looked a little shaken, but then smiled in return. She easily lifted me and dragged into her lap while she pulled the hair out of my face. Her fingers bumped into my newly developed bruise and I yipped a little before she bent down and kissed it again.

I leaned back sighing. We sat quietly while she stoked my hair and I silently waited for the lighting bolts to strike, for the priest to just walk in, but nothing happened.

"Are you regretting this?" Ashley asked. Her arms clasped around my waist.

"No." I said confidently "I think I could actually get used to this."

"Good because you fit perfectly." Before she could respond I turned around laying a quick kiss on her lips and as her eyes slowly fluttered open I noticed that they were the bright blue that had been showing so often. My mind put the puzzle pieces together.

"Blue is the color when you like somebody." I smiled. "I figured out your secret." She smiled in return.

"I still have many different colors… and secrets." With that she licked along my ear lobe and shivers ran straight through my body.

"Ashley?" I asked pleading with her. Whether it was for her to stop or continue I do not know. Every caress and touch was this strange experience igniting my skin almost to the point of burning. She sat up while I lay panting heavily. Looking deeply into my eyes she smiled.

"Don't worry we can go slowly." She said.

"Okay" I choked. She laid her hand on top of mine. Her fingers loosely traced the soft under pads of my own hand. My heart thumped again.

"Can you hear that?" I asked.

"Mmm Hmm." She nodded.

"It's hard to be around me. Isn't it. I said dreading being wanted only as food.

"Sometimes, but now that I can do this." She said while kissing me quickly. "things are much easier.

"So it doesn't matter that I'm human?"

"Shhh. Don't worry about everything else. Just enjoy being here right now with me."

"It's hard." She laughed and hugged me. Our beautiful moment was ruined when my stomach growled loudly and we laughed again.

"Here come with me." She said while connecting our pinky fingers and dragging me out of the room.

"Alright wait here." She stopped me in the lobby and ran out into the car. She came back with a few bags. She laid them out in front of me and started carefully pulling out different articles of clothing.

"All for you." She stated simply.

"No way!" I shouted excitedly to my surprise. Everything was in my size and looked very comfortable. I paused and looked up at my brunette angel dressed in a black v-neck, tight leather pants and knee length black boots which were soft to the touch.

"Ashley, I don't want you to think I'm not grateful because really I am, but um… can I try something of yours." Thankfully she didn't seem put off at all. She pondered my request for a second.

"Hmm you in my clothes. Sounds pretty hot. How about we get you fed and then see how things turn out." She sashayed into the kitchen to cook up something delicious and I sat on one of the couches in the family room to think about what had happened.

It was a rollercoaster. Everything had built up slowly and painfully with the pressure building and building until I was teetering on the edge. My only choice was to either follow the down hill track set out before me or fall off completely.

And yet for all the confusion and all the stifled wonderful fantasies I had had since the first day I met her it was still remarkably easy to fall into her arms. And that kiss. It was pure fire flowing through my lips. Why hadn't any boy ever made me feel this way? Floating on air would surpass the consequences for as long as she would keep me. Smiling with all of the butterflies and uncertainty welling up I followed her.