Light Casts The Shadow Away

I slept a dreamlessly for once in my life. Although accompanying that luxury I woke up absurdly early, it isn't even light out yet. It was difficult to stay in unconsciousness when I didn't have Peter's arms wrapped around me. I feel that I'm forever changed by him; it seems I ache for him when I don't feel his touch and am not in his presence. My eyes wish to only see his sexy form and my fingers wish to only to feel him.

Snap out of it girl! Concentrate, Sophie's in trouble remember her you sister…your own flesh and blood…ring a bell? I shook my head slightly and emerged from under the warm blankets on the bed. I placed my feet on the hardwood floor and it was a shock touching my warm feet to the freezing floor. I turned on the lamp on the bedside table. I pushed my bangs from my face and held my hand in my hair for a moment – nervous habit.

Poor Sophie. This is all my fault I have to make this right what ever it takes.

I heaved myself from leaning against the bed and walked to the bathroom joined to the guest room I am staying in. I turned on the hot water and stepped in not bothering to close the door to the bathroom. I washed my hair thoroughly with my chocolate shampoo and conditioner. I massaged it into my scalp trying to relax myself enough for what I'm about to do today and then I lathered my skin with my strawberry swirl body wash. After all the muscles in my back were somewhat unknotted I stepped out of the shower and grabbed a maroon towel wrapping it around myself.

I took my brush from my bag and went to took into the vanity mirror when I saw him. "Ah!" I gasped my hand flying to my throat – I'm glad my other hand had a good grip on my towel – if I had anything left to be scared out of I would be. He chuckled softly from where he sat comfortable on my already made bed…I didn't do that and I certainly know he didn't, Peter's not that type of guy.

"Scared of me?" He asked flashing his sexy white grin. A small smile formed on my lips, "No you just gave me a fright is all." I said. A fright? What am I back in England now? Jeez, wait what's up with my accent…you've got to be kidding me I thought I ditched that stuffy English accent five freaking years ago. I guess in times of stress its sneaking back up on me.

"When did you get here?" I asked curiously and that damn accent is still evident in my voice this is fucking terrific. "I got here a few moments ago." He said and smiled. "What's with the sudden English accent, Eve, I've come accustomed to your sexy little American accent, although, the English accent proves to make you even more appealing." He told me and I rolled my eyes. "Well thank you, good sir." I said curtsying slightly.

"Now, Mr. Harker will you excuse me for a moment while I get dressed?" I asked as I gathered my black lingerie, a black long sleeved fitted see-through mesh shirt, my sexy leather fitted rocker chick vest, and a short black and red plaid pleaded skirt. He grinned evilly, "I've already seen it all Miss Somers," he said looking over my petite form. I stepped behind a changing screen and promptly removed the maroon towel and slipped on my lingerie and then everything else except my vest just yet. I stepped from behind the screen and dropped the towel on the bathroom floor I could feel Peters eyes on me as I made my way to my brush.

"What," I asked finally as I ran my brush through my long brunette hair. "Wearing that isn't much better than wearing nothing." He told me and I just shrugged and flashed him a sparkling smile. I ran my fingers through my hair with my curl enhancing hair product and was done with my hair in less than five minutes and it was equal to its normal perfection the waterfall of brown curls ran all the way to the small of my back. I put on my black eyeliner and eye shadow and then put on my skin tight vest fitting perfectly to the curve of my torso and my bust. The lace of my bra was slightly exposed through my see-through shirt.

I clipped the buckle to my black suede vintage boots that reach to just below my knees and then walked over to Peter. He pulled me on the bed and into his chest and wrapped his arms around my waist. "Must you always look so tempting?" He said running hand over the creamy exposed skin of my thigh. I shivered a bit and he chuckled softly. "That would be a yes." I answered flirtatiously and turned and kissed his jaw and got up from him. I reached for my blood red cell phone and his strong hand stopped me. "What are you doing, Eve?" He asked. "Don't worry about it." I said and snatched the phone and started calling for a cab, or taxi, or whatever the hell they call it here.

I paced the room when someone finally answered in Romanian. "A putut I a face pe plac la have un automobil la Thorn Hill înăuntru douăzeci?" I said 'could I please have an car at Thorn Hill in twenty minutes' to the person in Romanian it's easier than trying to tell him in English since he's obviously fluent in Romanian. He told me it wasn't a problem, "Mulţumesc," I thanked the man and snapped my phone shut. I'm about to get this over with, the only problem is that my boyfriend is also fluent in Romanian since he was born here.

"What the hell, Eve?" He said walking over to me. I didn't make eye contact, "I'm doing what I have to do, Pete, just let me do this alone." He grabbed my arms and shook me, "Evie, look at me, dammit look at me," he demanded but I couldn't oblige. "I'm going Eve; I'm not leaving you alone with him. There is no way on hell, Eve, and you know this isn't a game. He could hurt you and your sister do you want that?" He asked. "Pete, just wait for me here, please," I begged. Protecting him is so hard. He's just as stubborn as me and this is turning into a battle of wills.

I shrugged away from Peter and turned my back to him. "I'm good at surviving," I said aloud then I thought 'if I don't what's the big deal you'll find love again, you're handsome and charming there are millions of girls out there that would love to be with you Pete. I'm just one out those millions. There's nothing special about me just some really, really good genes and there are still girls that are much more beautiful than me.'

I looked at myself in the mirror trying to ignore Peter's brooding and ran a hand over my bare neck. I feel so weird without any jewelry. I sighed and then heard a horn blare out front. Dawn is finally breaking as I walked across the room and Peter grabbed my arm and pulled me in for a kiss, it had defiance in it and conflict and made me want him so bad. I broke away and didn't look back as I ran down the stair. "Where are you going?" Aunt Coraline asked. "I'm going to get my sister." I said and walked out the front door

I opened the back door of the car and it took off. But to my annoyance it moved painfully slow, I'm pretty sure a snail will be us to Henry's house. This is just my luck! Dammit!

Before I could get pissed off to the point that I would take off this old man's head he pulled into a driveway to an old gothic house and would have been beautiful in it's spooky glory, however, this is the place where the vampire kidnapped my seven year old sister lives – you can't get much worse than that – which sucks out all my admiration of the should be glorious property.

I got out of the shiny black car and slammed the door behind me with a little more force than necessary. I heard the car's tire's squealing with the extremely sudden movement from trying to back out of the driveway as quickly as possible. I smiled grimly – coward. I walked up the driveway, the sun shielded behind the thick black clouds empowering me – I can do this – I'm not his and I will never be, too bad he's too deluded to see that. It would have saved him some pain because I'm willing to do what ever it takes to save Sophie, taking Henry's head off might just be something that happens. I may be mortal but I'm a force to be reckoned with.

I walked up the steps of his veranda and the door opened all by itself – ooo, I'm scared now – Henry's gonna have to do better than that. I stepped into the large room and the door slammed behind me and then a soft light was let on the room and I saw Henry – the bastard – and my little sister by his side in an adorable red 1800s inspired satin dress. "Sophie," I whispered and she looked up hope leaking into her eyes and she made a move to run to me but Henry's hand halted her approach.

"Keep your hands off of her!" I screamed. He looked amused – asshole he is he's enjoying every moment of my vulnerability – he let Sophie go and sauntered in my direction. "Keep you hands off me as well." I commanded and he smiled and it made my stomach turn. He leaned in but only to whisper in my ear, "you've been deflowered, since the last time I've seen you my dear." I felt his breath on my neck, and then he leaned away and took in my outfit that screams anything but innocent. He moved so quickly and pulled me to him and one quick hard thrust of his arm, he was past being gentle with me. He no longer has patience with me resisting his advances.

"I can smell him on you," he said revolted. "Well I am his." I said defiantly, Peter is the only man I belong to for one reason only because I wish to be his and in that I belong to no other. "No, you're mine!" He growled. A smile formed on my lips, "In your warped standards," I told him trying to push him away but he's too strong. "The only way I belong to someone is if I wish it. And there is no way in hell I would ever want you." I spoke and conviction rang in my voice. "Oh, by my dear, you are mine whether you like it or not and I will take you as my own, Evelyn Somers and there isn't a damn thing you can do about it." I heard a smile in his voice.

"At least let my sister go," I said not in defeat but to put my Henry mutilation into action. I heard a smile form as he sighed dreamily taking in the scent of my hair, "Did you honestly think I would let either of you go?" He asked but it was obviously rhetorical. That's it! I kneed him in the groin and like any man – vampire or not – he fell to the ground in pain from my hard blow. "Sophie, run and hide." I said and she scampered off as fast as a three-foot seven-year-old could down a dark hallway.

I kicked Henry in the stomach and he groaned. Good. He deserves this. I searched the room going through drawers and anything that might hold anything that could be remotely harmful to a vampire when I felt a strong hand on my waist and then thrust me across the room. I was in a need of oxygen yet it couldn't seem to enter my lungs. "Sophie looks so like you Evelyn. Every thing except those blue eyes, she is such an adorable little girl just like you once were and now you're a beautiful woman and you're mine forever, Evelyn and you have no choice in the matter."

I coughed in an effort to get air into my lung and it opened up the passages a bit before Henry grabbed hold of my neck and drew me up from the cold floor with it. I wanted to tell him he's fucking insane if he thinks I'll ever be his and forever would never happen and if he thinks he will ever so much as touch my sister I'll rip him to pieces. He looked me straight in the eyes and yet I didn't show fear I wasn't genuinely afraid he has to do better than this.

"Why don't you find someone who's more willing and fucking wants a bastard like you?" I asked struggling for breath. "Because I want you," he said matter-of-factly. "Fuck you," I replied. His hand tightened slightly and lifted my feet off the floor, "you shouldn't speak like that Evelyn. The profanity doesn't suit you." He said and tightened his grip on my throat and I began to claw at his had with both my hands I could no longer breathe and I was desperate to get air. That was when I fainted.

The next thing I knew I felt someone stroking my cheek, but I flinched away before I opened my eyes. "its okay, Eve," he soothed. I would know that voice anywhere – Peter. I drew my lids back and my angel has once again come to my rescue and this time my sister's rescue as well. He was carrying a very frightened seven-year-old she had her face buried in the crook of his neck. He beautiful curly brunette hair hanging down her back of her satin dress.

"Where's Henry?" I asked and Sophie shivered at the sound of his name. "You'll never see him again." He promised, but how can he promise such a thing, but even despite that thought I believed every word coming through is angel's lips. He offered me his hand and pulled me too my feet, I feel a little bit light headed but I'm sure that will pass. He held onto my hand tightly and led me to the Porsche and opened the door for me and handed over Sophie and she huddled in my lap. Silent, this girl is never silent. She must really be terrified. I stroked her hair and held her. "It's alright, Soph," I soothed. Peter sped expertly through the streets and up to my Aunt Coraline's.

Peter took Sophie once more, so I didn't have to carry her. It's not like I would have struggled with her weight she doesn't weigh more than fifty-five pounds, but he's just being a gentleman. We walked into the house without knocking and Aunt Coraline watched as we walked in with a very frightened Sophie. She looked saddened at the sight of he niece's form in a near fetal position pressed against Peter's chest. We brought her up to my room and put her under the thick, warm, comforting blankets and she relaxed a bit. I kissed her forehead and she drifted to a peaceful sleep.

Peter and I left the room and went downstairs to my aunt's sitting room and sank unto her comfortable sofa. "What would you have done without me?" Peter said playfully but the look in his eyes was completely serious. "You're always my hero." I said and smiled. He then looked at me seriously, "Eve, what were you thinking going off to meet a homicidal vampire. Do you have a death wish or something? It was extremely stupid Eve." He reprimanded me. I looked at him in shock, "You knew?" I asked in awe. He rolled his eyes, "Vampires are a Romanian legend. I never thought I'd actually meet another one, but I saw the signs and the look on your face when you heard his voice coming from behind you in your house that night. The way you were acting at school. Henry got under your skin didn't he?" He told me. "You could say that." I said.

"Eve, you're my light that is forever burning," He said pulling me into him and kissing my lips gently. "And you're the one that cast away that murderous shadow that was lurking in the light when it should have been banished to a deep dark abyss never to hurt another person again," I said – just banishing him to the dark isn't good enough because I favor the dark over the light – kissing his lips more rough, but I've always been that type of girl. "You're my knight in shining black armor, good sir." I said kissing him again and he chuckled.

He suddenly broke away from our sweet embrace, "I have to go," he said abruptly although he sounded a bit irritated about it. "Pete," I protested but he interrupted my whining, "I'll be back soon my love." He said taking my chin in his hand and drawing my lips up to kiss his. It was short and sweet and no where near satisfying. Although I could kiss him for hours and still want more.

He sauntered to the door and before he closed it behind him he called, "I love you, Eve," over his shoulder. Something is up…I can feel it. My aunt bustled into the room the moment Peter stepped out like it was planned as to not interrupt us. "Evie, I have a dress for you, darling." She said. "For what," I inquired and she said, "You'll soon find out, sweetheart." She led me into another spare room on the second floor and I saw the most beautiful dress my eyes have ever been blessed to see. It will be a pleasure to wear that, masterpiece and for Peter – the love of my life – that makes it even sweeter. But what is the occasion.

I'm proud to say my longest chapter EVER! And the worst cliff hanger. --laughs evilly-- I can't help this it was how the chapter was meant to be and it helps me set up for the next chapter which I will write upon my coming home from New Hampshire. I love you all fair reviewers...I am forever in your debt for making me feel so good about this story and not deleting it seven chapters ago. brunette-in-black