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A Love Not Forgotten
Chapter Two: Introductions
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"If life were a river, would
it's course carry me back to you?"
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My dreams are haunted every dawn by remembrance of past nightmares, and yet one does not have to be in sleep to have a nightmare. I lived through one's tortures, my screams are still encased deep within my mind, and the sights within my mind's eye. Neither, are escapable, both must be embraced. However, it does not matter whether you grimace during that embrace, or smile warmly. When my worst nightmare came true, I embraced it with emotions I thought were long dead, and with those I knew were there all at once. I lost much that day, too much......... I'm getting far too ahead of myself, for there were many days before that, that tragic and fateful one. Many glorious and beautiful days, spent holding the one I loved, and still love close.
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*~Flashback~*
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I awoke startled, feeling something coil slowly around my waist. My eyes remained closed as I struggled feebly to regain my exhausted body. Despite my efforts to recover my body, the creature coiled tighter and tighter about my waist. Then I opened my eyes, shook my head, and almost laughed for the first time in ages. The woman, had her arms wrapped tightly around my waist as her head snuggled closely to the 'warmth' of my chest. Though as I examined her position, I failed to see my own arms wrapped about her. But when I did....
My body jumped, as my mind reeled, and her body almost tumbled off of mine. I shook my head again, my eyes wide with surprise as she snuggled back into her 'rightful' place upon my chest. Even though that seems so unlike me now. I cringed as she touched a more tender area, and I sighed in defeat. She didn't seem to be going anywhere, so why should I? If only she knew then what she was getting into....would she of changed her mind? Would mine have changed if I knew.......would the same sacrifice had to have been made?
I glanced down upon her again, taking note that the gashes near her temple had stopped their bleeding. It had taken all the will I could muster to keep my starved body from supping, the sweet essence of lifeblood that seeped from her wounds. Even as I lay there with her upon me, I still contemplated draining her. Even though I knew I couldn't go through with the act. In the end however I dismissed it, and my stomach reprimanded me for it with a long, loud animal like growl which was amplified by both the silence, and the echoing effects of the cavern.
I looked down at the woman again, fascinated that she snuggled so close, in a sworn enemy's embrace. I almost liked her presence on my chest......almost. My hand moved towards her face to remove a single matted auburn strand from her features. I'd never felt a feeling towards someone, or rather a need like this one. I felt tranquil, and in awe at the same time, and all at once that moment was shattered. Or rather began. The woman glanced up at me, and in for an instant we both lay there paralyzed, and in shock. I couldn't gather my emotions to their neutral state, nor could my mouth close. I resembled a fish out of water. The woman was first, to regain her composure and react.
I felt the slap from her hand, swift and stinging against my undead skin. I gathered my composure again, a glare replacing the shock in my eyes as I reached for the woman's throat. I heard her squeal in displeasure as I lifted her from her feet. As soon as I'd gotten her to where I had wanted her, she lashed out again and kicked me in the chest. Enraged, that a woman would and could do this to me, I leapt to my feet and slowly backed her into a corner.
"Wh......where am I?" She managed to stutter out. I shot her another glare, and pinned her up against the wall.
"You don't ask the questions here, I do." Alas, I was a different person then, far different. I looked into her eyes, not only could I see the fear, I could almost taste it upon my tongue. She had already crossed me twice, and I wasn't about to let her off easily. But what she didn't know was that I was just as afraid. Her body began to shake as I got closer, I plastered a false look of control on my features. However, she caught me off guard when she glared at me and questioned me again.
"Where am I?" This time her tone held one of authority, of one that must be respected. I returned her question with a haughty sneer. My arrogance is boundless.
"You are in the Teregmont Forest, you can leave if you like, but I don't recommend it if you value your life." I stated it plainly, as if I didn't care either way, but in truth I didn't want to see her leave........for my curiosity's sake.
The thoughts in my mind, and my speech both contradicted and embraced each other, throwing me deep into confusion. Had I ever resided in that state of mind before, I may of not been afraid, but these new feelings, contradicted the old, though the new were few. Half of my mind told me to end the mortal's life, but the other half welcomed the idea of letting her live. I per say didn't know which half of my mind to believe, for all I could gather were more questions from the small facts. Few facts indeed. Though one question rang the loudest in my torn, and confused mind. Why don't I feed from her? One less damn mortal to worry about. After many feeble attempts of trying to side with reason, and trying to figure out which half of my mind actually was thinking in reason, I decided to let impulse do the thinking. If and when I felt I should kill her I would.
I watched the maid as she lay in the corner, her skin pressed up against the smooth, cold cavern wall, faint traces of tears coming down her cheeks, she looked entirely hopeless and lost, and I could relate. After all how does one feel after being changed into something foreign and new? She stretched my shirt as far as it would go to cover her body, seeking a precious warmth, she couldn't name or find. It wasn't the warmth of a fire she wanted then, but the warmth only another could offer. Then she spoke, a ghost of a whisper wafting up to my ears.
"Please tell me who you are." She looked up at me helpless, still looking for some comfort; another being's comfort, something I didn't think I could provide. Her tone as she spoke was soft and yet, sounded like one who was struggling to keep one's life from becoming destroyed. Truly something I didn't know how to fix.
"I am the vampire Kain." I watched as realization dawned on her face, and as she sought to huddle deeper into the corner she sat in. I could once again taste the fear that radiated from her. Clearly, she had never thought a vampire could have a shred of humanity.
"If you are a vampire then why haven't you killed me?" The hesitance in her voice made me want to laugh, humans certainly had stereotyped us.
"My, so paranoid, your name milady and I will tell." I used calm even tones in hope to soothe her before she fell into hysterics.....if she did I most certainly would kill her. For there is nothing worse than a shrieking woman to a vampire's ears.
"My name is Angela." 'Twas quite a suiting name for one with the voice of an angel. I paused for a moment, gathering and sealing the new fact, that would help to sate my curiosity's thirst. However, the 'angel' jarred my thoughts as she spoke again.
"Aren't you going to tell me?" She asked as if I knew what she spoke of.
"Tell, you what?" My thin brows raised, in question.
"Why you saved me?" My, how good she was at making me feel like an imbecile.
"To be truthful I don't know." Even better than the last time. She edged farther away from me then; as if one could get farther away than she was now. I softened the harsh glare I was using on her for the duration of our previous words, hoping to calm her.
"Tell your tale." Soon my curiosity would be sated. I almost shook with anticipation.
"I'm afraid you'll harm me if I told you." She backed away, her back against the cavern wall.
"Why? I have already spared you thus far and I intend to do you no harm. What are you afraid of?" I extended my arms outward to show that I meant no harm, but she still moved away.
"If you find out what I am you'll surely kill me." Her voice contained more fear this time, seemingly to accent how she began to shudder against the opposite cavern wall.
"If I promise you no harm will you tell me?" I questioned hoping to strike a bargain.
"I am unsure of your honesty but, I will tell you." She hesitated for a moment and I grew impatient.
"Out with the tale. Come now I only bite my meals and I assure you that you're not a meal suit for me." I gestured towards her ragged form and she shot me a look that would've killed me had not I already been.
"Fine." She said curtly. "I will begin with what I am; a Sarafan priestess."
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*~ End Flashback ~*
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From that day forward my unlife changed drastically. I no longer cared for only myself but another, seemingly more important being. As my journey with her went further towards it's conclusion, I loved her more than I ever had. Which made losing her the hardest thing I'd ever went through...still go through. I miss the way she'd hum as she brushed her long auburn locks....I miss so much more. If I had one wish to make, and one wish only, it would be that she were back by my side.
*~Chapter Notes ~*
Well if you noticed the italics throughout this chapter, those were the 'future' Kain's thoughts in the story. I know this seems just a bunch of mush right now, but eventually, (within the point I left off with the original) you'll need to bust out the tissues. Well I think that's all I need to add, however the next chapter will be late in coming. Thanks for all of the reviews. ;) Makes me glad that people still like the fic. Well farewell until the next chapter.