Ash slipped silently from bed, it was still early and he knew Mare would remain asleep for some time. He had a quick mission to do for Circle Daybreak and he had to do it, this was the life he chose for her and he had to do it for her sake. He took one last look at the sleeping Mare, her dark hair splayed across the creamy pillow. He slid out the door and disappeared into the darkness of the early morning.
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Walking through the quietened alleys in the waning darkness Ash searched stealthily for his target. It wasn't a hard job really, even a monkey could do it, but Ash was as good as they came.
"Ash" a voice called from a small darkened corner
Turning towards the voice Ash watched as a thin envelope was slid towards him.
"Don't worry about me, I can handle myself. Just help her please, I could stand if anything happened to her."
Ash knew the feeling so well. Daybreak was on a mission to protect the Soulmate couples, this one turned out to be harder than it looked as both halves were separated and hidden but now Ash had what they needed. It was the information that Gillian needed so later today her team could help protect this girl, Gisele while her soulmate Andrew remain running.
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Ash returned to the house near midday expecting to find Mare hanging around downstairs as she waited for his return. Upon enter the house though Ash found no one had seen Mare all day and evidently she hadn't even left the room yet. Taking the stairs Ash hurried up to his room expecting to find the room as he left it with Mare still sound asleep. When he opened the door he found the room as he'd left it, save for the missing Mare and the glittering of blood that lead to the bathroom. Following the trail of blood into the bathroom Ash found Mare huddled in the farthest corner wrapped in a soft pink towel, her hair still damp and her arms pulled up to her chest.
"Mare?" Ash whispered stride over to where she was huddled
He tried to pull her into his arms, but she flinched at his touch and pulled away. Ash moved to crouch in front of her looking deeply into her eyes that were glistening with tears while snail trails of tears ran along her face.
"It's ok Mare I'm here now" he whispered pulling her into his arms, this time she obeyed.
She rested her head lightly of his chest as he wrapped his arms safely around her small frame. It was then that he noticed the red, watery swirls that were snaking down her arms. Pulling her arms away from her chest he saw two twin cuts deep within the skin of her wrist, the blood snaking it's way out and down her arms.
"Oh, Mare, sweetie" Ash whispered tenderly as he kiss her forehead lightly. "Please talk to me, tell me what's wrong, what really happened?"
Looking up she saw how much he truly care about her, how much he wanted to keep her safe from the things that were hurting her right now and protect her so they'd never hurt her again.
"I knew him Ash" she whispered "I trusted him but then he hurt me. It was late, but it's only a small town so it didn't matter. He caught me and threw me hard to the ground before pinning me down and stifling my scream with his strong hand. He was so strong Ash it was unreal. He was a vampire all that time and I didn't know, I knew him since I was little and all time he was one of them. But he wasn't like you, he was much worse, he hurt me Ash and I didn't know what to do. You were away redeeming yourself for a past of bad decisions and I didn't know what to do"
"It's ok" Ash whispered pulling her close
Fresh tears were beginning to fall as she fell sobbing into his shoulder. Holding her close he let her cry, rubbing her back soothingly until the tears subsided and sleep pulled her into it's tight embrace.
"I trusted him, Ash" she whispered "I trusted Nick" were her last words before she disappeared into the dream world in her mind.