Disclaimer: Highlander does not belong to me or any of the series' ideas and characters. I just do this for fun and not to make money, so please don't sue me!
Author's note: Thanks so much for the reviews: K'Hal the V, DumbOldDork, and Lady Cinnibar. I really appreciate the support. Here's chapter 6 finally. Sorry it took so long. But to make up for it, it's an extra long one. So enjoy! ^_^
Chapter Six
Sarah's words froze Richie right where he stood. Questions after questions tumbled within his mind as he fought to stay in control.
"W-what are you talking about?" he asked a bit shakily.
Sarah's only answer was to reach for the dagger in her boot and promptly threw the weapon with deadly accuracy. Richie stumbled backwards as he stared in disbelief at the dagger embedded in his chest. He lifted bewildered eyes towards Sarah before darkness claimed him.
Sarah watched Richie fall to the ground and instantly regretted her action. She knelt by his still form and with a shaky hand reached for the hilt of the dagger. She pulled it out and stared at the blood covering his body. Fear seized her as an eerie sense of déjà vu came upon her. She felt for a pulse, but found none.
"Idiot," she said to herself. "Of course, there won't be a pulse. You killed him."
Panic rose within her. What if I jumped to the wrong conclusion?, she thought. What if he's just a normal person and I've really killed him? No … no, he's an immortal, right? Yeah, that's right. He'll wake up and live again.
'What if he doesn't?' asked an inner voice.
"Oh God, no. It won't … It just can't happen again," she cried out in anguish and tried to shut out the memories as Nathan's image replaced Richie's bloody form.
******
England, 1797
Sarah looked out into the night as she stood by the parlor window. A smile touched her lips. He should be here in a few minutes.
"How long do you intend to keep up this pretense?"
Sarah turned around at the spoken question and faced the man who walked into the room. He was tall and dark. A gentleman in his late forties, but with the carriage of a young man. He was elegantly dressed in a burgundy velvet coat that rounded off in to two tails at the back. It was paired with beige breeches and a high collar waistcoat decorated with an intricately knotted cravat.
A dark brow rose mockingly at Sarah's annoyed look. "The boy may be gullible enough to believe your excuse of being photosensitive to light. But you cannot forever hide from him the fact that you're a vampire." He paused before sarcastically adding, "He's bound to notice a few things. A fang or two perhaps?"
Sarah glared at him. "I will do as I please, Edmund."
Edmund's mocking expression was replaced by irritation. "Oh, give it up Sarah!. It's been almost a century. Don't you think it's about time you leave such foolishness behind. Our kind do not waste time in such useless relationships."
"I love him!" she shouted.
"And will he still love you when he realizes he had fallen for a vampire!" he yelled back.
"I didn't ask to be a vampire." Her voice laced with barely controlled anger.
Edmund's face softened. "You were dying. What else was I suppose to do?" He sighed and walked over to the window. "It doesn't matter anyway. We'll be leaving the country soon. It's time to move on. We've stayed here long enough and people in the village are starting to get suspicious. It's only a matter of time until they catch on."
"No," Sarah protested. "I won't leave him."
Edmund whirled around and roared, "He's a pathetic mortal! He's merely food and an inconvenience that could be easily disposed of."
She heard the threat in his voice. Sarah slowly walked up to him, her cold eyes boring into his. "Lay one finger on him and I swear I will tear you apart," she said in a deadly whisper.
Their silent battle was interrupted as a servant announced the presence of a gentleman caller. Sarah quickly plastered on a smile and turned to welcome the visitor.
"Nathan," she cheerfully called out as a blond young man entered the room. He was dressed in a simpler version of Edmund's attire. His coat was a dark green and his breeches were a shade darker than the older man.
Nathan Stanton walked up to Sarah and smiled in appreciation as he took in her image. She was wearing an empire-waisted muslin gown with long fitted sleeves that puffed around the shoulders. Her hair was piled high in a series of braids and curls.
He lifted her left hand to his lips as he reached her side. "You look lovely this evening," he said.
Edmund rolled his eyes towards the ceiling and walked away from the couple.
"Uh … Good evening, Sir," Nathan belatedly said to the other man a bit sheepishly.
Edmund glanced back with a brief nod at the younger man. "Stanton." He continued to walk out of the room all the while saying over his shoulder, "Well, I'll leave you children alone. I trust you'll keep my daughter safe on this little outing of yours tonight?"
"Y-yes, Sir," he answered, confused at the man's mocking tone.
"Goodnight then."
A few hours later, Sarah and Nathan happily walked by the lake. All was quiet and the moon shone brightly down on them. Nathan took this opportunity to ask Sarah what had been on his mind the whole day.
"Sarah," he said nervously. He stopped walking and turned Sarah to face him. "I know this is quite sudden, but I can't wait." He paused before hurriedly saying, "I just want to know … will you be my wife?"
Sarah closed her eyes. She knew this was coming. She just did not expect it to hurt this much. I should be happy, she thought. It's suppose to be a wonderful thing when a man asked a woman to marry him. But, no, for her it felt like she was being torn apart.
"Nathan, please, let's not ruin what we have," she said as she lifted sad eyes to him.
"B-but I thought you love me."
"I do … I do. I want to be with you always. It's just that … There are things about me you do not know."
"Like what? Tell me!" he demanded desperately. "I wish to understand why marriage between us will ruin everything! We've declared our love for each other, Sarah. Isn't it only natural that we spend our lives together?"
"I know … I want to …" Everything inside her screamed for her to just tell him the truth. He loves you. He'll accept who you are.
"Nathan I …" Sarah stopped as three drunken men stumbled out of the bushes laughing at each other. They stopped when they realized they were not alone. One of the men recognized Sarah and pointed at her.
"You," he drawled out. "You're the daughter of that Stanbrooke fellow. A weird bunch you are. Never coming out in daylight. Makes someone wonder what you might be hiding."
"Gentlemen," Nathan firmly said as he stepped in front of Sarah. "I suggest you move along now. We don't want any trouble."
"Ah, you be the lad that's courtin' this strange girl, here?" drawled out another man. "You be careful now. Horrible things has been happening in this neck of the woods. Everything points to the Stanbrooke place. Your sweetheart there could be part of it all."
"You dare to insinuate that this girl is responsible for all those crimes! Leave now, before I give you the thrashing you deserve."
"Oooh, I believe the boy just threatened us, men," the third man replied with a laugh.
"Nobody, threatens Angus Macfee," the second man said menacingly. "Harry, Doyle, perhaps we should teach the boy to respect his elders."
"Stay back, Sarah," Nathan warned as the three men advanced on the couple.
Angus charged first with swinging fist. Nathan easily blocked the punch with his arm and connected his right fist with the man's jaw. Harry and Doyle quickly double teamed their lone opponent and Nathan soon found himself being backed up towards the lake.
Sarah, standing some distance away, felt torn between helping Nathan fight and keeping her secret. A groan from the ground caught her attention. She looked down and saw Angus struggling to his feet She focused the swirling rage inside her on the man and headed towards him. Nathan was busy with the two other men and will not see what she does.
"Since you're so fascinated about the Stanbrooke household, why don't I satisfy your curiosity," With a snarl, Sarah bared her fangs.
"Y-you're a v-vampire," stuttered Angus in fear.
Sarah barely controlled her strength as she struck Angus with a backhand that threw him at least fifteen feet away from her. She continued towards him, but stopped when the smell of blood reached her senses. She whirled around and saw Nathan drop to his knees, hand clutching his bloody midriff. Harry and Doyle wasted no time in running away. Angus, seeing his friends leave, followed suit after them.
"No!" Sarah screamed and ran to Nathan's side. She cradled him as he fell to his side. Tears welled up in her eyes. "Nathan … hang on, Nathan. We'll get you help, just hang on." She placed her hand over the wound to stop the bleeding, but more blood just flowed out.
"Sarah," Nathan whispered. He lifted his fingers to her cheek and with his last breath haltingly said, "Sarah, I …. I love …you."
His eyes slowly closed and his hand fell away, leaving a trail of blood on her cheek.
"No … no, Nathan don't go!" she cried out in anguish.
Sarah threw her head back and howled in fury. She stood up and stretched out her senses to locate the three men. When she detected their whereabouts, Sarah growled and with an uncanny speed sprinted after Nathan's killers.
The men were crossing over a short bridge when they suddenly stopped and stared at Sarah as she stood waiting on the other side. The vampire sneered in satisfaction as fear leaped into their eyes.
"You will pay dearly for that." Without hesitation, Sarah unleashed her fury on her preys.
Later that morning, the villagers found three bloodied and torn bodies on the bridge. And somewhere on the outskirts of the village stood the unmarked grave of a lost love.
