Thanx to everyone whose reviewed - it's much appreciated. Espeicially to The Cat, Waterangel, Starwisher, Me(whoeva u are lol) who have kept reviewing all the way and to Becks. Sorry for putting u thru all that eye strain but it's a feeling I know!! Thanx again guys. ;)
Chapter Twenty
Blake was standing outside her room when she felt a kind of presence in the corner of her mind. She paused what she was doing, which wasn't much really. She was just about to change and go to bed.
She closed her eyes momentarily. Yep, it was still there. Frowning, a little worried and confused, she opened a door that led out onto the balcony.
A fresh wave of night air flooded her senses and she allowed herself a small smile. The stars twinkled above her and the moon was still, a suspended crescent against the pitch-dark sky.
She peered out into the night and frowned again as her eyes settled on a figure standing still and silent on the footpath opposite elder Thierry's mansion.
The figure was familiar.
She squinted and recognized the dangerously casual posture of her soulmate. Curtis Redfern stood watching her intently as the breeze lifted her raven hair from her shoulders.
It was the first time he had allowed their mind link to reveal his presence to her. Even from a distance, he could see her green blue eyes widen and her full lips part in surprise and shock.
A flood of emotions swamped her. What was he doing here? What did he want? Her next questions were called to a halt as she sensed his thoughts curl around her mind gently.
So Blake, how have you been? He sent, smiling slightly.
It had been a long time and just the feel of his thoughts made her still, as if she wanted to remember the feeling and imprint it upon her own mind permanently. She paused before answering. It was typical Curtis fashion to ask her a question like that after six months of silence on his behalf.
She wanted to reply that it had been hell, that she hadn't been sure if she could survive without his presence in her life. But she didn't.
I'm still alive, she shrugged, trying her hardest to imitate his flippant attitude.
Yeah, me too, he replied. Hunter's dead you know.
I know.
She didn't know what to say or how to act. She didn't know what he wanted from her.
Finally, after a tense silence he spoke again. I've left the Night World. And it's kinda cold out here.
Cold? Vampires didn't feel the cold. But she didn't say that aloud. She could see that the guy was waiting for an invitation to come inside. She knew she should have really refused, or at least questioned him further but she had heard the honesty in his voice.
She left the balcony and returned to her room. As she was walking down the stairs of the mansion, quietly so no one asleep would wake, she took a breath and tried to calm herself.
She opened the front door a fraction and still saw him standing patiently, as if he had all the time in the world. She could almost feel him roll his eyes but he refrained himself. He knew he was treading a thin line.
She pulled the door open fully and watched as he slowly walked towards her. The balanced and graceful walk that she had grown familiar to in their time together and that she had taken for granted. Her eyes were trained on him as he approached until he stood almost a metre before her.
"Did you miss me?" he asked in a silky voice. His midnight eyes probed her own, searching for a response and trying to see what was she was thinking.
She shrugged. "Like I miss chocolate," she replied with a regretful smile. "I know it's bad for me but it's just so damn good."
Curtis smiled at that. Being compared to chocolate was a good sign. He stepped forward suddenly and was reassured when she didn't move away. He gripped her wrist lightly and gently, in a caress of sorts. The link between them strengthened and they fell into one another's minds again. Only this time he didn't mind at all.
He saw that she was tired and weary and that she had missed him. But not nearly as much as he had missed her. His smiled was soft and gently, full of love and apology.
I'm back for good, he sent to her. And it looks like I've become a Daybreaker as well.
He felt her joy surround him, a sparkling haze of white light shone inside her mind. It was the last thing she had expected. He found a mental image of him trying to drag her away from the mansion and leading her back into the Night World with him. He saw that she would have allowed herself to go with him, just to be with him.
He knew then that he really did love her. If she was willing to abandon Daybreak and her beliefs just for him, he knew that she loved him back and that was all he needed.
He pulled her towards him and their lips met in a prolonged and passionate kiss. They were both lost in a state of euphoria when Curtis heard a loud and angry yell come from behind Blake.
He pulled away and blinked, trying to clear his mind and take his eyes away from the raven haired girl that stood before him. Over her shoulder, he saw John Quinn advancing towards them.
The other boy's eyes were lit up furiously and his walk was aggressive. Curtis saw the look of fury in his eyes and almost grinned. Some things didn't change.
Curtis' midnight eyes shifted again. This time to Ash Redfern who had clamped a strong hand on Quinn's shoulder and was pulling him back roughly. The ever-changing eyes of his old friend met his, yellow and questioning, a raised eyebrow of inquiry completing the expression.
"I take it your with Daybreak now," Ash drawled, a smile lighting his features.
Curtis rolled his eyes and nodded, wrapping an arm around Blake's waist, just to make sure she didn't leave his side ever again.
"Permanently." He replied with a tired grin.
Ash's hand dropped from Quinn's shoulder. The other boy was watching Curtis suspiciously through narrowed eyes and though he was no longer moving, he stance was ready for anything.
Curtis looked down at Blake and winked at her, a feeling of happiness filling him as she returned his smile. He looked back at Quinn. "Such lack of trust at such a young age," he shook his head ruefully. "The youth of today hey Ash?"
His friend snorted.
Quinn's eyes didn't change until Curtis raised a hand, revealing a slim file that had gone unnoticed until then. He held it up for Quinn, gesturing him to take it. When the boy finally did, Curtis stepped back next to Blake again.
"It's the file on the fourth Wild Power. It's all we know and that's not much, but it's a start."
Quinn's eyes were wide as he flicked through the papers. When he looked up again, his eyes were slightly less wary. "I'd better get this to Thierry," he said carefully. "And don't think I won't be watching you, Redfern," he added before spinning on his heel and retreating down the hall.
Ash's eyes followed his fellow Daybreaker. "Nice to see you again, Curtis," he grinned. "But you know that. I'll leave you guys alone," he added with a concealed smile.
Once Ash's retreating silence had echoed down the hall and fallen to silence, Curtis looked down at his love and soulmate again.
So Blake, how have you been? He asked again, this time with a voice filled with concern as he traced the circles under her steely eyes.
She met his own directly and smiled. Like shit run over twice, but I think I'll be okay now.
He smiled and leaned down once again to claim her lips. Six months was a long time and they had a lot of catching up to do.
THE END