~ Happy Reading My Angels! ~

With the night enveloping the sky and the air frosting my breaths into small milky clouds, Jasper and I crouched in a cluster of leaves as we stared at the house we would soon be intruding. It was an old cabin in the woods, large and grand as fairy lights decorated it and party music thumped and echoed from within. Jasper's hand was placed lightly on my back, his eyes intense as he focused on the emotions pulsing inside that house. I watched him with wide and innocent eyes, curious eyes, as my hand gently caressed his tense arm.

"There's ten humans and three vampires." He whispered, his voice low and deep as he sniffed the air and his fingers knotted in the grass and yanked at it. "Their blood is young, fresh and intoxicated with alcohol…my guess is college students." His eyes slid towards mine, tactics and strategies swimming inside them as I was suddenly introduced to a new side of him. He suddenly looked so cold, so focused and stern as if all softness had been buried deep within – all weaknesses. "Do you have any combat skills?" He asked and I couldn't help but roll my eyes slightly at the question and blow my hair out of my eyes with a gentle puff.

I shifted my body in the crisp leaves, positioning myself to sit on my legs. "Why yes, I do. I…well you see…there's something I have not told you…" I began, adverting my gaze as I allowed my features to fall into a shy demure.

"And what is that?" He asked, guilt nipping at my heart for the concern that seemed to lace his words.

"Well I…" Looking up into his eyes, a small playful smile pulled at my lips. "I'm a secret spy for the government and know five different forms of martial arts." I bit my lip as I smiled, my tongue slightly poking out as I couldn't stifle with my laughter. "Of course, I don't have any combat skills, silly! I can barely defend myself from a fly or pigeon. But in my defence…pigeons are pure evil." Jasper quirked an eyebrow at my sudden playful rambling. The truth was… I felt nervous, and I suppose when that happened, when my adrenaline spiked and pushed against my skin…I turned into a rambling mess. "I mean…can't you see it in their eyes? They are simply plotting world domination and those little head bobs…that's just them trying to get the crick out of their necks because they had been thinking and plotting too hard during the hours we were asleep that they've become all stiff." I shivered to prove my point, pulling a face of repulsion as slowly Jasper's face cracked just the slightest and a smile pulled at the corners of his lips. His eyes seemed to smile with amusement, seemed to glow lightly in the dark as he released a single puff of laughter and shook his head.

"For someone who claims to love animals, you are quite the oddity darlin." He mused quietly.

"I suppose so, but that's a good thing, isn't it?" I asked him gently, my fingertips feather-soft caressing his arm in small soothing patterns…feeling each one of his scars as their sharp outlines teased my imagination of how they happened to stain his skin. "Because whoever fell in love with the ordinary?" I could feel Jasper's eyes swim inside mine, feel him slowly crack open as the ghost of who he was before the sunset came leaking from him and into me. I watched as his eyes floated down to my hand, watched as he followed each of my fingers movements against his flesh. He seemed mesmerised, as if in that one sweet and succulent moment...everything else faded away and there was just us...that single dance of fingertips against flesh. His eyes softened, yet a hard glimmer painted over them when he looked up to meet my fragile face.

"Do you want me to go over the plan once more?" He asked, his voice void of tenderness as some solider-like aura pinched at his throat and eyes.

"No," I whispered softly, keeping my voice light. "It's all clear and ready to go in my mind." I tapped a finger against my temple and offered a childish grin.

Yet all he did was incline his head in approval - that hard-exterior back in place as he stood up in one graceful motion and extended a hand down to me. I carefully placed my tiny one in his, feeling the roughness of his flesh sizzle against mine as his fingers encircled my hand and squeezed. His grip was tight, purposeful and warrior-like as he pulled me to my feet.

"I'll see you inside." I told him softly with a smile. "I'll be playing the damsel in distress all dressed in yellow." I pinched the sides of my dress and pulled them out as I gave a playful and nervous curtsy. "Surely you won't be able to miss me." The last notes of my words fell into a distant whisper. All those memories of the day before, of the day we were still in... despite the sweet blooming pink mist that caressed their edges...those memories seemed so far away, as if they belonged to another life. And perhaps they did. A fantasy.

"Don't be afraid of me when we are in there." He said suddenly, his voice strong and deep as his hand tightened around mine. He took a step towards me, my neck tilting back so my eyes would not leave his. And as if he could see my nervousness, as if he could hear it - his voice softened as the ghost of the man who had kissed and held me returned. "Don't be afraid."

I bit my lip as I smiled up at him, trying to coax my bravery to paint my features and stuttering heartbeat. "I'm not." I replied lightly, yet he shook his head.

"Liar." He replied. He pulled me closer towards him - our chests brushing lightly as his eyes seemed to darken in this dangerous protective glare. His hand holding mine travelled to grasp my wrist, his fingers pressing against where my pulse jerked my veins outwards. "I can feel your adrenaline, the quickening pace of your pulse." His voice was deep, low as if a growl rumbled deep inside him yet did not escape. "I may appear like a monster in there, but know I won't let anything happen to you." His words were strong and determined, threatening and I believed him with my whole heart. Yet a part of me was afraid, afraid to see this new side to him, afraid to see what he was, is and can do with those scarred hands that are stained with so much history and bloodshed.

I licked my lips softly, allowing my eyes to hold onto that innocence he fell in love with, that crafted my heart and soul as I stared up into his eyes. Going up on my tiptoes, I brushed my lips against his cheek. My body leaned into his, my warmth and light seeping to his skin through that one, dainty kiss. His skin was so cold, so clenched as if he was frightened to break this crust that had coated his skin and stripped him of all weaknesses. Falling back down onto the palms of my feet, I allowed my fingers to run through his hair, to savour that touch of soft honey locks. I could feel my heartbeat race within me, feel it harden as my adrenaline soared within me.

"I love you, my darling enigma." I whispered, "Now show me the history that crafted your warrior heart." And before he could reply, before his lips could even part...I turned towards the house and was about to break out into a run towards it. Yet he grasped my arm, his grip tight as he pulled me towards him with a force that was dangerous and wicked. I gasped lightly, my lips parting in surprise as my eyes widened. He looked so much like a predator in that moment, so much like a monster who was fighting behind those eyes to get out of its cage…yet what type of monster? I was not sure…he had been restraining himself so much…both in his vampire nature and I suppose in other ways too…I could feel him fight whatever it was that he was trying to contain…feel him tighten his grip on me before finally saying…

"I won't let anything happen to you." His words were tight and strong…restrained as our chests brushed one another and he titled his neck to the side – regarding me deeply and fully, completely. Yet he did not let me go, did not break his stare as he bent down this lips eyes that had an almost lustful pinch to them. I licked my lips, my breath hiccupping my chest as I waited to see what he would do. He seemed to be so lost in thought, so lost in me as his lips came so close to mine. Yet he did not dare touch mine with his and as if he had been stung by something electric, he pulled away and gave me a shall shove forward. "I'll see you inside."

I watched curiously as he turned away from me, waiting for me to go…I contemplated going up to talk to him, to try and unravel whatever was going on through his head…but there wasn't enough time…not enough time…

And so, I ran, my long hair flying behind me like the ocean's midnight waves, and the imprint of Jasper's hand on my arm...that ever-present force, pushing me forward... into that house of broken dreams and wild nightmares.


The wind seemed to bite at my skin, seemed to nip at my heart as my fingers grazed the cool window of the wooden house. A soft light illuminated the room through the frosted glass, and I couldn't help but shiver in my light-yellow dress…yellow…how distant that color and all that it represented now seemed. I licked my lips, allowing my eyes to mist over as I tried to steady my breathing. I could feel the wind in my hair, feel it snake through and around each strand as it's touch teased my shoulders and cheeks. I had to wait…wait until I heard that soft click that would announce his presence.

I began to count…softly…silently…. My fingers slid down the glass window, it's cool touch pinching my fingertips.

Click.

I opened my eyes, widening them as I peeped through the window and saw Jasper enter the house as a deadly, warrior prince. I knew that was my signal to move…yet the way he looked, the new glint in his eyes…I couldn't. Darkness radiated off him as he stalked through the room, conversing with the other vampires as if they were but ants he would soon squash. I could taste his too calm beastly nature, feel those blackened shadows caress my skin.

My breath hitched in my throat as I saw a wicked snarl pull at his lips, as I saw his facial features contort into some evil thing…I took a step back, surprised at the effected this had on me…surprised at how evil and dark he now seemed. But no, I had to remember that this wasn't him, that this was an act…except it wasn't. This part of him, it may be for show now…but it was still in him, that darkness…I knew it still lingered by how it took over him completely and truly…by how it seemed to paint his features beforehand. I could feel a hesitant uncertainty towards him pulse within me…yet I could not move. Couldn't as he walked around that room with his hands knotted behind his back and a smirk gracing his lips. My fingers grasped the hem of my yellow dress, twiddled the fabric in a nervous gesture as I tried to gain my courage. I wasn't afraid of him, or what he could do…I was afraid of the terrors that he must have experienced for him to become like this. And suddenly…I felt my heart reach out to him, reach out to the other vampires within as I could no longer see them as monsters, but simply creatures who needed saving. Jasper had never known tenderness until we met…and perhaps it was the same for them too…perhaps they were simply lost souls, lost in this addictive bloodshed that drowned out their fears and pain and made them forget… I wasn't sure if I was blinded by my own naivety…but it was all I had, all I could hold on to in order to give me an extra boost of strength.

And so, I took in another deep breath, walked towards the back door and opened it. It made no sound as the wood released itself from the hinges – and neither did I as I took my first steps into the house. I remained hidden, silent and agile as I moved along the small corridor that led to the open space where the vampires and cowering students were. I could see them, yet they couldn't see me…at least the vampires couldn't. I slunk down the wall into a crouching position and slowly crawled to where the wall ended. My eyes widened as I saw the students…as I saw them huddled together on the floor, shaking and quivering as they hid behind each other and all that they could.

I knew what I had to do…what I was to become to sneak them out…and so I closed my eyes and listened to what the vampires and Jasper spoke about…waiting…

I could see the twisted expression on Jasper's face against the backs of my eyelids and the way he looked…my heart suddenly escaped from my chest and scampered off into the room where the three vampires marked their pray. If I could save them…if I could…I began to change the plan slightly in my head. These vampires were going to die…but maybe…just maybe I could change that, change them. I knew what I was going to do was foolish, but a part of me did not care, apart of me couldn't resist that urge and magnetic pull.

Standing up, I managed to catch the eyes of some of the students. They stared back at me with wide and helpless expressions, fearful and scared as their desperation flooded me. I raised my fingers to my lips and gestured for them to remain quiet. For from what I knew about vampire's hearing…even if they made the slightest moves…despite Jasper's distraction, they would know…

"I don't suppose you have any healers amongst your…collection?" I heard Jasper snarl as he asked the vampires…

"Healers?" One of the vampires said. "I haven't seen one of those for decades. Tricky little things, aren't they?"

"What business do you have searching for a healer?" Another vampire asked Jasper, his voice seeming older and more mature than the other who had previously spoken.

"Because they offer the purest source to optimising our strength and power. They are the most precious weapon that any vampire could have…their own personal healer…and the taste of their blood…" I could hear Jasper get lost in the words he spoke, hear him become intoxicated by his own confession as if he were truly lusting after it…craving it. "It makes mortal blood taste like that from a gutter rat."

"You're making me hungry…maybe we should feast. I'd offer for you to join us but I'm afraid all we have is as you say, gutter rats." The older vampire sneered, somewhat embarrassed by Jasper's remark.

Knowing what was coming, I took a deep breath and uncurled myself from the floor.

Jasper clicked his tongue. "So, you can assure me that you do not have a healer in your presence?"

"Well…yea," the younger vampire said casually, impatience lacing his words.

"Liar." The word slithered out of Jasper's tongue like some venomous snake. I could feel the tension thicken in the house, feel it stick to my skin as a pause that was too heavy pulled at everyone's skin and hair. "I can smell her."

I felt the air in my throat catch and become too thick to swallow. "Smell her?" The third vampire spoke with deep confusion and caution as if he too could feel the shift, as if suddenly the room had become colder, too cold.

"Do you really think I'd come here if I didn't smell a healer? I warned you not to lie to me." I could hear Jasper pace, hear him mark his territory as he approached the vampires without a fear or hesitant care. "Tell your pet to come out of hiding." He said impatiently.

"I…we don't have a healer here." The young vampire replied, fear lacing his words. I could almost imagine how he would look, his eyes darting around the room in hopes of help as he must have known that although there was three of them and one of Jasper, that he could easily defeat them without difficulty. It was his command, his confidence and presence that made their immortal and beastly hearts quake.

"Is that so?" Jasper asked. "Smell the air." He commanded. "Smell passed that mortal rot and nigh time lust…smell her and only her…that immortal princess of sunlight and daisies and all that is pure and innocent." I felt myself melt at his words, felt myself wish that I was but a mere shadow, a mere ghost that had no form or body… "Can't you taste her?" I gasped, my feet loosening a creak from the floorboards as suddenly…with the wood betraying my presence, a vampire moved at lightning speed to stand right in front of me.

"Dear god…" The vampire exhaled in front of me, as I took in his form. He was tall, strong and young. His eyes a deep red and his face framed with dark brown locks. I could feel the irritation build under my skin as he examined me, as he pressed his chest against mine and buried his nose in my hair as if he were intoxicated by me…by what I stood for. I squeezed my eyes shut at the action, tried to remain stiff as I felt his hand entwine in my hair and yank my head to the side exposing my neck. I tried to soften my features, tried to look fearful as I played the act of the helpless healer in distress. But as the vampire continued to feel me, to take me in…I could feel my temper flare slightly…yet he did not seem to be smelling me.

"Are you not smelling me?" I suddenly asked, my voice filled with innocent curiosity. I cursed myself silently at my inability to keep my mouth closed. Yet I was so curious as to why he had not smelt me yet buried himself against my body.

The vampire pulled back, his eyes narrow as they flicked from my neck to my eyes.

"Don't tempt me." He murmured. "Because if you do…it'll be the end of you." The hair on my neck rose at the implication of his words. I could feel my heart beat irregularly…the coldness in his voice, that menacing thread…what had happened to him for him to become this way? I breathed, my chest expanded and it brushed his chest and caused him to press himself against me. "I said…don't tempt me." He hissed. I looked up, seeing him close his eyes as his fingers returned to my hair before suddenly a low growl rumbled from his throat and he grabbed a handful of my hair and yanked me into the room.

He threw me towards the floor, yet before the wood collided into me – strong and familiar arms caught me, encircled my waist as I was yanked upwards and into a solid chest. My back was pressed against it, a hand cupped underneath my chin and against my neck. Jasper…I knew his touch, knew the outline of his body against mine. His nose pressed against my cheek as he smelt me, as he breathed me in and his thumb stroked my skin in soothing motions – as if to state his claim on me in front of the others.

"Liars." He whispered against my skin, his eyes darting between the three vampires as he kept one arm around my waist and the other on my neck. The room went silent, became thick and heavy as I felt the eyes of both the dead and alive on us. "Pity too." He mused in a bored tone as he moved the hand from my waist to stroke a knuckle down my ribs. Every nerve in my body narrowed in on that touch. "You might have been good little soldiers if given the chance." He clicked his tongue, dragging his eyes from the three vampires to me. His eyes ran over me and as he played his role… a part of me couldn't help but wonder if it wasn't all for show as his eyes glazed a bit.

"Chance? Why wouldn't we get a chance?" One of the vampires asked, his voice pinched with both annoyance and worry.

Jasper's lips curled upwards as he leaned in and bit my earlobe, pulling at it lightly as a low rumble sounded from his throat. I was not frightened by him, not of the role he had asked me to play or of what he was doing. My own blood sang at the power that thrummed from him, at the sheer might of him as he pulled away and looked into me with eyes that I had not seen before. They were darker, filled with shimmering lust and danger. The knuckles that had been running up and down my ribs slid up and grazed the underside of my breast. I became wide-eyed, my breath warm as in that moment…it was as if time had slowed down, and for just one moment…did we dare look past the facades we wore and into the souls that our hearts craved to burry ourselves in. We had done our parts…had played our roles, and now…a brief flicker of love licked the walls of his solider eyes, a ghost of what once was…and with a small incline of his chin, his eyes lazily slide to the vampires.

"Because you're about to die." And with that, he pushed me forwards the students and made his attack.

I ran towards the students on shaky legs, silently cursing Jasper for what he had done to me…the effect it had caused yet…what I had seen in his eyes…it seemed as if it weren't him, as if something new had taken over…something different and more powerful…something or someone from a past I had not been a part of. I shook those thoughts away as I ran towards the students, my arms outstretched as I grabbed their hands and pulled them to their feet.

"Come on, come, come, come!" I quickly told them – rushing them out through the backdoor of the house. I made sure that they were all out, touching each of their backs as I counted them and told them to run as fast as they could, to not look back. The last student was just out the door when rough hands grabbed my shoulders and threw me against the wall. I gasped at the impact, my pupils dilating at the sight of the young vampire. I tried to remember that he was just a broken soul lost in bloodshed and lust…but as he looked at me, as I saw the evil in his eyes…no…there was no saving him.

"It's just you and me girlie." He hissed.

"Is it?" I asked, feeling my adrenaline pump within me and flood my lungs. I quirked an eyebrow. "Because last time I checked there was me, you, your two vampire buddies and oh lookie…the fella who's kicking your friends butts." I said with a smile and pointed behind his shoulder to where Jasper was locked in a heated battle with the two larger vampires.

"What?" The vampire turned to look, and just as he did – I grabbed a fallen piece of wood from the floor and placed in behind my back. The vampire turned back and I shrugged lightly.

"Really, I know you're a vampire but I think you need to have your eyes checked." I told him sweetly, the wood heavy in my hands as I tightened my grip on it.

"My eyes are just fine." He growled annoyed.

"Oh?" I asked, furrowing my eyebrows. "Then I suppose you see this coming." And with one smooth motion, I revealed the stake I had been holding and dove it straight into his chest. My muscles tightened and strained as I forced it into where his heart would have rested. Yet when I released it, when the ghost of a prideful smile began to blossom on my lips…I realized one very important thing – he had not turned to ash like they did in the movies. "Uh oh." I confessed, my smile falling as I backed up against the wall. Jasper hadn't told me how to kill a vampire, we had rushed into this, or more I had… "Did I miss?" I asked quietly, offering an embarrassed smile as I raised my hands to my mouth. No, I couldn't have…it was placed perfectly where the heart would have rested.

"Stakes don't kill us." The vampire said rolling his eyes. "That's a myth."

"Oh." I felt my heart become heavy in my chest, felt my lips separate as I silently wished the floor would open up and swallow me as it's prisoner. "I suppose I was mythtaken." I said in a small voice with a feeble smile. "Yikies." I murmured under my breath

"Any other theories you'd like to test out?" The vampire asked, his amusement all too clear on his face. He was not impatient to kill me…and I suppose that was the one advantage my attempt had given me.

"I don't suppose you have any holy water or crosses, do you?" I asked, my eyes looking around the room in hopes of finding my second plan. Yet the room was barren of potential weapons…all weapons except for…

"No, but you know what I do have?" He didn't wait for my response. "This." And before I knew it, his hands grabbed for me and tossed me across the room. My body slammed into the wall, dropping like a doll on the floor as the wood cut into my skin and ripped me open. I groaned at the pain, at the feeling of splitting bones and my healers blood awakening with an effervescent start. I could feel my blood fizz and pop within me, feel it mend my internal injuries as my adrenaline pushed me up into a crouching position. The vampire was before me in a second, crouched down to my level as his head titled to the side. "How does that feel?" He asked sinisterly, his lips curving upwards as I stared up at him through my messy hair.

"You forget something." I told him, feeling my healing powers bloom and blossom and dance within me…drown me whole as it pumped through all four chambers of my heart.

"And what's that?" He asked, his lips twitching ever so slightly.

"I'm a healer…you can't hurt me. Yet I can hurt you." I raised my cut palm and outstretched it towards his face. He instantly backed away, tearing his face and nose away from my blood as I willingly offered it to him. "Don't you want it?" I asked him teasingly, for I knew that for him to gain the benefits of my blood, for him to gain the strength and not accidentally turn himself into a human or drain me whole and become imprisoned in a mortal body…he would need self-control. And that was something he did not have. "I'm not afraid of you, but something tells me that you are frightened of me." My voice became soft, soft and delicate as the world folded in around us…shuttled out everything but him and I as he dared to look me in the eyes.

He swallowed tightly, but what he swallowed…I did not know. I knew I was right in my assumption, could see it in his eyes…it was why he asked me not to tempt him. Not because it would be my undoing, but because it would be his.

"What happened to you?" I asked, feeling my heart press against my ribcage as it tried to help him, tried to reach and graze any stray grain of good within him. His eyes seemed to darken at my words, seemed to laugh at them.

"I became what I was born to be." He told me, his voice raw and true and dark. "I was a murder before I was turned, a demon trapped in mortal form. I was only set free once I was turned. I should frighten you."

I licked my lips, my eyes never leaving his as I left my heart stop it's reach towards him. "I'm sorry." I whispered. For I knew now for certain that there was no saving him…even if I tried to turn him into a human…he was too far gone, and I couldn't help but wonder, from what he said – if he was ever truly here and apart of the complex beauty it meant to be human. "I'm so sorry." And before he could pull away, I rested my bloody palm against his cheek and gave him a tender touch. The vampire did not pull away, he leaned into it, savouring it…but not for the reasons that I wished. He was not savouring it because he wished to change, because he wished to fall into this world of love and friendship, no…was doing so because of the blood that coated it. It was teasing him, scratching his throat as he turned his head and buried his nose against it. I watched as his shoulders rose and fell, as his mouth opened as his sharp fangs hit the light. He was in pain, trying so hard to resist…and in that moment, I knew I was torturing him.

I pulled my hand away, seeing his eyes show a small sign of gratitude at that gesture. But we were still left here…and I knew he wanted me dead, and he was not afraid to become creative. I looked over his shoulder…to where Jasper fought. He had taken down one of his Vampires and my lips parted in shock as I saw how he had done it. The vampire was in pieces…his skin like broken porcelain. That was how a vampire was killed, they were broken apart – shattered.

My eyes drifted back to the vampire in front of me, and I could tell whatever we had just shared was gone. His jaw was tight, and I felt my hands clench. I may not be strong, I may not be experienced in martial arts…but I was immortal…I was a healer, and by goodness…was he in trouble.

We lunged at each other simultaneously, my legs wrapping around his neck as he stood and clawed at my back. I swung down and around, repositioning myself so I was on his shoulders. I then grasped his head and began to twist with all my might. My teeth grind as I heard him scream, as he threw himself and I against the wall and floor – trying to get me off him. But I was a dancer, and I knew how to hang on. My legs squeezed around his neck, as I twisted with all my might. I could feel my muscles scream at me, feel my blood scream and trash inside me…giving me the strength, giving me whatever I needed until…I could hear him break, hear him…my lips parted and soon I was screaming, screaming to rid him of his head to…I suddenly felt myself falling, felt all resistance snap as I rolled to the floor with his head in my hands.

I shivered at what I had just done, unsure if I should be proud of myself or completely ashamed and fearful of what lurked within me to do such a thing. Yet the moment I saw the head in my hands, the moment I looked into his dead eyes…a childish squeal escaped my lips as my hands threw the head towards the fire. I rubbed my hands against my dress, trying to clean them of what I had just done, of what I had…I looked towards where his body lay…headless…I could feel myself change inside, as if my blood was burning along with his head. My bones felt too heavy, my heart and lungs…I could feel beads of sweat run down my skin, feel my body tremble and…fire…whipping my brow with the back of my hand, I walked towards his body and picked up his arms and began to drag him towards the fire. And as I did so, I was blinded. Blinded by memories of what the vampires had done to Fitz, of what they had done to my parent, species and Jasper. They pounded in my head, crashing against my skull as it broke from within.

As soon as the fire touched his body, I let go. My skin burn with his, yet as the fire spread down his body, it snatched onto the wooden floorboards and spread around the house, engulfing us. I gasped, stumbling back as I looked around me with wide eyes. They landed on Jasper, who across the room had just made his final kill. He looked so calm as he looked at me in return, as his hair clung to his face and shielded his eyes. They were so dark, almost a blackened red as he looked past the flames and misted heat to me. It was just me and him left, me and this person who I no longer recognized. And I was glad, glad that I couldn't see my Jasper inside those eyes, because after what I had done, I knew I was not the same girl he had seen before we entered this house. Not in this very moment as my blood burned, boiled and fizzed with too many things to understand it.

I felt myself shut out my memories, felt myself forget about everything but this stranger as he stalked towards me with such confidence, grace and predatory purpose. We had both lost control to something else, both had to become something different to be able to survive to save others. And it was then that I realised it was our raw selves. We were no longer tethered to anything, blinded by our immortal DNA…and as he stopped in front of me, as he titled his head downwards and allowed his hands to graze my cheeks – I was not sorry for it.

"Will it ever stop?" He asked, more to himself than me. His voice sounded different, so captured by his Texan roots and solider-like strength as he mused. His finger stroked my cheek, sliding down my jaw, neck and rested against that spot in-between my neck and shoulder. "Wanting you – of every hour, of every dead breath. I don't think I can stand it. I can't promise you anything, not now…except I ask you to promise me one thing...don't reject me, don't be afraid. Like you said, you are my equal and I...I'm no longer drowning in your healer purity and sunshine. I'm in awe of it, I crave it. So promise me."

I knew in that moment what he was asking me, what he was and had shown me as he fought and looked at me now. He had shown me his heart, both the dark and the light…and in this moment, he was standing as a product of both, not fighting the pull of either one.

"I promise." I said, and I meant it truly. For we all had that darkness in us…and today I had shown mine. I was not afraid of his, and I wasn't afraid of mine.

And so, as his lips crashed down against mine, we lost ourselves in this kaleidoscopic whirlwind of both the dark and light…not caring what side we fell victim as the house flared around us and burnt away everything but us.


~ Until next time, all my love, Lisette Sage ~