Drawn

The next morning Ana practically leapt out of bed. She was eager to see Constantine again now that her mother knew who he was, it'd be easier for her to understand. She walked down the stairs and sat at the table, where her mother was laying down some fruit.

"Good morning Mama," Ana chimed.

"Good morning sweetheart," Sara smiled. She hadn't slept the night before. All she could think about was the feel of Constantine's cool fingers on her skin and the way his eyes pierced right through her. She felt a familiar flush return to her cheeks and before she could smile her mind reminded her of why she should stay away from him.

Vampires take what they want. They don't have regard for human life. She sat down across from Ana smiling as her daughter ate her fruit. For all you know Sarafina, he could be working for them. Her mind flashed back to the images of the three black cloaked red eyed beings that ruined her life.

Oh Mercutio, you know that no matter how far you run, we can find you and your children's sweet blood. Long jet Black hair framed the almost translucent skin of the man who had ordered the slaughter of her family, his milky red eyes glinted with a hint of hunger as he focused on her.

"Mother?" Ana chimed, Sara snapped out of her memory looking back at Anastasia, "Is something wrong?"

"No love, I was just thinking it's about time you wash up…" She hesitated, "Constantine will be here soon."

"Really?" Ana beamed, Sara couldn't help but smile back at her.

"Yes, now go on now," Anastasia bounded up the steps to go take a bath. Sara climbed up after her.

"Don't wet your hair, it'll freeze outside!" She hollered.

"Yes Mother," Ana called back.

Suddenly a hum echoed in Sara's head and she knew Constantine was on his way. She waited pacing back and forth in front of the fireplace, trying to figure out how to speak to him without acting a fool.

Before Constantine could knock the door flew open, revealing Sara's face. He chuckled, "For a moment I thought I'd find Anastasia on the other side of this door," Sara felt a flush on her cheeks.

"Sorry. I just…" Just what? Wanted to see him? A vampire? No. I was just...concerned.

He noticed the conflict in her eyes and tried to not sound disappointed. "It's quite alright," He listened to Ana's heartbeat upstairs, her light footsteps as she walked over to what he presumed to be her room. He stared at Sarafina watching her made him feel at ease. Her heart was fluttering almost as much as Ana's except...she's….nervous.

"She's quite excited," Sara observed, trying to break the silence that had come over the room.

"Yes, she always gets like that it's fascinating," He replied, tearing his eyes away from her.

"How long have you––" She stopped, "Since you've come to town have you been…"

"I met her on the second day I was here," He smiled remembering the red cloak and the wonder on her face.

"I see," Sara still felt uneasy, she didn't know how to deal with the conflict in her heart. She couldn't stop craving his touch and she also couldn't wipe the black cloaked figures from her memory.

"I make you uneasy," Constantine observed staring at her shocked expression.

"No!" She lowered her voice, "No...it's just...Anastasia is my entire world––"

"And you don't want some bloodthirsty monster clinging to her?" He smirked.

"No, no! Of course that's not it...I just…" She sighed, "It's difficult."

"Hmm," Constantine leaned against a wall and stared at her, tilting his head.

"What?" She felt nervous again.

"I'm just learning a lot from you," Constantine replied, smirking at the now confused woman.

"Meaning what exactly?" She asked, her eyes turning cautious. He marveled at how easy it was for her expression to change from nervous to cautious and calculating.

"Meaning that, as you have so openly pointed out. I'm a vampire," She waited for him to continue, "Therefore, my knowledge of humans is limited. But, by watching you and Ana I've come to learn that human relationships can vary in a plethora of ways," His eyes glinted with a hint of mischief as he continued, "I was only used to the romantic relationships," He chuckled while Sara grew flustered. His expression softened, "You both have taught me a lot about the bonds of family."

"You act as though you've never been human," Sara couldn't help but smile at his softened expression.

Constantine looked off into the distance, "Well," He sighed at the blurred memories, "It's been quite some time since I've considered myself that."

"I see."

They both became silent. Sara shuddered at the cold that had crept in through the window and before she could move, Constantine had grabbed a blanket from one of the chairs and wrapped it around her. His arms froze on her elbows as he looked down at her. Sara stared up at him once again taken aback by his kindness. He looked back at her and despite the bright red of his eyes, she only saw a softness there. Not a menacing thirst like the one she'd known before. She smiled at him and he smiled back unable to hold himself back. His right hand moved up and caressed her cheek as he moved closer. Sara couldn't control the way she felt drawn to him, she stepped forward so that they were only a breath away from one another. She wanted him to close the distance, much to her surprise. Constantine shut his eyes trying to regain control of himself. Her scent was so sweet and Sara herself was irresistible. He didn't want to hurt her. You're leaving. Not now but eventually. What could he possibly give her other than grief?

I'm not human. Though right now I wish more than anything else that I was.

Sara noted how Constantine's features began to look worried, she reached up her warm hand and pressed to his cold cheek, "Constantine," she said softly willing him to look at her.

Her voice was so beautiful, he couldn't hold back. "Sara," he whispered opening his eyes.

She flushed at the sound of her name on his lips smooth like the night before, just like velvet.

"I–"

"Mama!" Ana hollered bounding down the steps. The two jumped back so fast it left them both surprised.

"Yes love?"

"I'm ready now right?"

"Seems so."

"Constantine, let's go!" Ana jumped onto his leg as he chuckled.

"Of course Little One," She moved off of him and skipped out the door, pulling him by the arm. He glanced back and found the hint of a smile on her mother's face. He winked at her and chuckled at her shocked expression.

When Constantine and Anastasia left, Sara sat on a chair and tried to calm herself down. Vampires are trouble. And yet, she couldn't stop thinking about Constantine, about how cool his hands felt against her skin, about the way his hair felt so soft to touch.

Constantine ran with Ana briefly trying to get the image of Sara saying his name out of his mind. Something about the woman captivated him.

"Constantine!" Ana groaned, tugging his collar, snapping him out of his trance.

"Sorry Little One," He said, stopping and setting her down.

"I thought you weren't going to stop," She chuckled dusting off some snow from her hair. "Is something wrong?" She tilted her head trying to read his now caring expression.

"Nothing at all child," He smiled down at her.

The two went to sit by a tree, Constantine had unconsciously taken them significantly farther from town than Ana was used to but she didn't mind it. Constantine sat first and Ana plopped herself down between his legs. He chuckled stroking her hair, he had gone hunting more often so her scent, while still tempting, didn't bother him as much. He flicked his wrist and cat and bunny manifested themselves before her. While they were made of ice Anastasia never seemed to mind touching them. He leaned back against the tree as Ana sat playing with the two ice animals and began to think about Sarafina.

"Anastasia," Constantine said softly.

"Hmm?" She got up and ran in circles the bunny and cat close behind her.

"What was your father like?"

Ana had stopped running and laid down on the ground staring at the sky. Constantine had never asked about her father before, she was curious about his curiosity. "Papa was nice, he tried to visit a lot and always brought me gifts."

"He visited you?"

"Mama and I weren't allowed to go outside a lot," She got up and began to sculpt something out of snow.

"Why not?"

"Because...well both mama and papa said it wasn't very safe outside. People in town didn't like us."

"Oh?" Why would a town dislike Ana and her mother? They're both beautiful, envy?

"People didn't know I was papa's daughter, so he and Mama went out at night to work on finding vampires," She slowly sculpted a tower of snow while the bunny and cat watched her.

"Finding vampires?" So they were hunters.

"Papa said vampires were bad, he and my big brother hunted them with other men from church. But, Mama knows where vampires are."

"What do you mean?"

"She's like me, she can find them with her gift." Ana knocked down her snow tower and went to sit on Constantine.

"You can find vampires?" Anastasia had never mentioned it to him before.

"No...well I don't know. Mama says that I'm too little." Hmm so she'll develop more gifts as she grows…

"But your mother can?"

"Yes, she used to go out with papa at night to go find them," Was that how she met him?

"Did your mother look for vampires before that?"

"I don't know...Mama doesn't like to talk about her past," Ana chimed, "not even papa knew that stuff."

"Were they close? Your parents," He clenched his jaw, suddenly angry. Why do you care so much? It's not important, she's not yours.

"Papa loved us very much, even though he didn't visit often," Ana chimed again.

"So your mother was in love with him," Constantine said trying to hold back the venom in his voice.

"I don't...think so…" Ana said leaning back against him. "What does it mean? To be in love," Constantine sighed, suddenly calm.

It dawned on him once again that Anastasia was merely a child, "To be in love means…" How could he possibly explain it to her. "It means that you'd do anything for the person you love, you always want to be with them...even when you're upset at them," He paused images of Sara flashing in his mind.

"So that means I'm in love with you right?"

He chuckled, "I believe the love you harbor for me is like that of a friend, not so much a lover," Ana stared at him puzzled.

"What's the difference?"

"A lover is someone you have a romantic interest in...it's something I hope you don't find until much much later," Constantine knew he wasn't the girl's father but the idea of a boy with his hands all over an older Anastasia made his throat burn with venom. Explaining this is quite difficult. I don't want to give her any ideas.

"Hmm...I don't think Mama and Papa were lovers...I don't really understand it but, Mama and Papa were friends...like you and me," She thought for a moment, "They didn't kiss or hold hands like other parents did in town," For a moment, relief washed over the vampire because Sara and Ana's father, at least according to Ana, didn't seem to be involved. But then, how did Anastasia come about...there had to have been some interest. "Why are you curious about Mama and Papa?" Constantine froze, caught.

"It's not often that you see a child without their father," He said quickly covering up his own vested interest in her mother.

"Hmm…"

"Do you miss him?"

"Papa was nice to me he always brought me little gifts from town...I didn't see him a lot..." Ana leaned back against Constantine and stared up at him.

"I see," He thought for a moment.

"But, Mama said that he loved me very much, he told me too...I just," She grew quieter, "I didn't like being hidden away but,…I do miss seeing him, very much."

She speaks of being hidden again, was she really not allowed anywhere?

"Ana...were you ever allowed to be outside?"

The girl remained quiet for a short time, embarrassed to admit information about her past.

"No...no I wasn't," She said so quiet only a vampire could hear her.

"Was your mother?"

"She didn't like to leave me alone, sometimes even with Papa," She said softly, almost as if she felt guilty.

He was shocked, internally furious that this beautiful child was kept prisoner. Why would her mother let this happen? He was angry at the unfairness of it all, he knew that her mother only wanted the best for Ana but, to deny her of the outside world, was that reasonable?

"It's not Mommy's fault, or your fault," Constantine snapped out of his thoughts and noticed that Ana was facing him. She placed her small hands on his cheeks cold from the snow. "I'm okay!" He recognized the maturity in her eyes that he knew so well. It amazed him, the way this child understood so much about the world and those around her.

He held her small hands and placed his forehead against hers. You definitely cannot let any harm befall this child, he told himself.

She's not yours. A voice whispered in the back of his mind. His mind flashed to the image of her mother, her blue eyes, the small blush of her cheeks. A hunger rose within him. A greed he didn't know was possible.

I want them both.

"Constantine?" Ana chimed, snapping him out of his trance, "You're eyes are turning red...well dark red."

"Sorry love," He quickly calmed himself down, pulling away from her.

"Are you thirsty?" She said leaning in closer. If I was, it'd be dangerous for you to lean closer to me.

"No, I just got a little lost in my own thoughts just now," He smiled at her. Ana liked when Constantine smiled, his red eyes seemed warm, they were kind.

Constantine got up and lifted her with him, her tiny legs dangling off of his arms she wrapped her small arms around his neck her gold curls cascading along his chest. She leaned her head in the crook of his neck. He began to walk not uttering a word. The cat and bunny faded into dust.

"I remember the first time I went outside with Mama, the sun was bright and warm," Constantine continued to walk at a human pace, she tugged his sleeve indicating that she wanted to walk beside him. He set her down, and she held his hand. "The town looked busier than this one. There were so many people and horses on the streets. I always watched from my window, other children walking with their families and playing," she grew quiet, "I made a mistake...I let go of Mama's hand to look at some flowers. When I turned to show her...she was gone. No one helped me, everyone was scary." Constantine had to bite back a snarl, he could only imagine the fear in Ana's eyes. "There was a man that I bumped into right before Mama found me, I was crying. He had a cross on his neck like papa," She squeezed Constantine's hand, "He wasn't a good man."

"What did he do to you?" Constantine choked out trying not to scare Ana.

"He looked at me and said that my eyes were pretty," She chimed, "Then, Mama found me. But, he stared at us as we walked away and Mama nearly ran with me back to our home. She was shaking. Later, Papa came to visit and they were arguing, months later we left and Papa died."

"Alright now that's enough," Constantine picked her up and held her close. "I won't let anything happen to you." She hugged him, wanting to believe that maybe bad men wouldn't try to take her, like her father had said. That was the first time Ana had ever opened up about her past to Constantine. She never touched on these things since the time that they first met. He could only decipher that she was starting to grow afraid of losing her happiness again.

How could you be so irresponsible with her?

Me? Irresponsible? You don't even spend time with her! If it was up to me I'd have run far away from this godforsaken town the moment she was born!

Anastasia is my daughter, I wasn't going to just let you take her away!

No! Ana is my daughter Maxwell. She may have your blood but she's mine! You can't even publicly claim her!

Enough! Sarafina, don't forget who has accommodated you all this time.

I never asked you for that! You forced me to stay, you've kept me here like some prisoner. Ana deserves better, she deserves a life that offers more than this!

What can you giver her Sara? A life on the run? How long until someone discovers you?

You know NOTHING, about my past.

But I know what your future has the potential to look like.

Oh so for Ana it's a gift from your precious God but for me, it's a curse from the devil. You know nothing Maxwell! Absolutely nothing I have the potential to tear this town to pieces if it means keeping my child safe. You're still ashamed and you shouldn't be.

I said no such thing!

But you imply it! You hide us, both of us! You're starting to doubt your beliefs, I'm happy for that Maxwell I am. But you're still ingrained in your old ways. I have helped you hunt. I have helped you always without hesitation. Maxwell, if you keep us here… Anastasia will share a fate similar to Carlisle. They will try to rip her away from us and I cannot allow it. I have held back, I have bit my tongue when listening to your rules. But I refuse to back down, on the fact that your church is dangerous! This town is dangerous for people like us Maxwell. For me and for Anastasia!

She will not be harmed, she's well guarded. You are well guarded.

But for how long? Are you willing to lose another child for the sake of your pride? She has everything of mine but her hair shares a close resemblance to yours and Carlisle's. It's not difficult to put the pieces together!

Last I checked Sara you were the one lying in an alley filthy and starved.

And last I checked, you were the one who sought comfort in a younger woman who had nothing left!

I've tried to make up for that everyday since Sarafina.

I'm not angry at that. I'm angry that you're holding me prisoner and refusing to hear what I'm telling you. Ana and I...we're different. There are more that would hunt us. If your church causes an uproar it can direct unwanted red eyes in our direction.

You can protect yourself from vampires Sara I've seen you do it before.

But from humans? Especially if they accuse me? You know there's no combatting that. Joshua was the one who saw her, don't you understand?

What of it?

Joshua is the one who tried to…

"Anastasia...Anastasia?" Constantine shook her awake. "We're back at your home now," He smiled as her eyes fluttered open. She smiled softly back at him. He slowly set her down and they walked hand and hand to the door.

Constantine could hear Sara inside. He had to bite back anger, it's not her fault. He knew that, she wanted what was best for Ana. He also knew that he was drawn to her in a way that he couldn't explain. This pull wouldn't allow him to hurt her. You're more frustrated with the fact that you didn't find them sooner, angry that you couldn't stop their suffering.

Ana knocked on the door and he heard Sara slowly walk over, her heartbeat quickening. His throat burned, he was impatient, he wanted to see her.

Sara was nervous, he's here. She was still so conflicted, how can I be drawn to the very thing I vowed to stay away from. Sara opened the door and tied to remain calm. Constantine sucked in an unnecessary breath. He was still not used to her beauty, she was more beautiful than any other immortal he'd ever met.

"Mama!" Ana hugged her mother's leg and Sara beamed down at her. Constantine couldn't help but smile at her.

"Hello darling!" She ruffled her hair, "Why don't you go wash up and change?"

"Okay! Is Constantine staying?" She looked back at him, Constantine stared at her trying to read what she wanted him to say.

"Actually Anastasia...I'm going to need to run a few errands tonight," He chuckled as the girl immediately went from excited to sullen.

"I'll bring you some pastries in the afternoon," He glanced at Sara who nodded slightly. He saw a glimmer of disappointment in her eyes but decided maybe it was because he was coming back tomorrow.

He waited until Ana and Sara went inside before turning to run away but then he heard at barely a whisper. "Stay," He froze, thinking he misheard but when he turned she was leaning against the doorway, her hair cascading down her eyes glinting with a hint of mischief. "A joke," she mouthed to him.

He smirked, secretly disappointed and intrigued. In a movement so swift that she didn't even had time to blink, he was a breath away from her, his hand on the door. "Vexing woman," He sighed. It was Sara's turn to freeze. She wasn't expecting or prepared for him to be so close to her. She felt her face flush, again astonished by his beauty. "Best not tease a predator." His eyes bore into hers and before she could open her mouth he was gone in the blink of an eye.

What are you trying to accomplish Sara? She silently berated herself but couldn't keep the smile off of her face.

"Mother!" Ana called. Sara still felt Constantine close by she turned and gently closed the door to go feed her daughter and try to figure out why she couldn't keep Constantine out of her mind.

Sara awoke sensing a chill in the air. She walked outside gently shutting the door.

"Sara," She froze, it was a voice she knew well...a voice that couldn't possibly be heard...not anymore… "I told you to live. This seems more like a waste of life," She heard the voice chuckle, just like it sounded back then.

"You're not real," She hissed under her breath.

"Sara. Vampires slaughtered our family," A second voice from the past chimed. Her heart ached, Not real. It's not real.

"We protected you!" They yelled. "Died for you!"

Stop. Please.

"Sarafina." No. She turned around and saw their faces. The faces of her dead brothers and behind them… the blood red eyes of those who killed them. "Sarafina!"

"No!" She cried as they reached for her. Stop it!

"Such a pity," The head of the trio tsked. Brothers, you may do what you wish. The fangs came for her throat and she screamed.

"Sara! Sara! Stop it," She felt cool hands on her arms. Her eyes burst open. Constantine's red eyes bore into hers, concern lining his features. She was gasping for air sweat covering her body.

"What are you––"

"You were crying… then screaming in your sleep."

"Ana?"

"I moved her downstairs she's sleeping soundly," He looked at the ground.

"You moved her!"

"It was right before you started flailing like some sort of fish out of water," He huffed.

"What right did you have? To touch my child," She spat.

It took all that Constantine had to keep himself from growling.

While he was guilty of lurking around their home that night, he spared Ana a wound from her mother's flailing. He hated his nature, the part of himself that Sarafina could never trust. He especially hated how much he craved her approval. "While she is your child, she is still someone I will protect. It doesn't matter who I must protect her from."

The two glared at each other. It was Sara who broke into a smile, then laughed. Constantine grew more confused as the woman kept laughing, her features coming to life. His anger slowly dissipated as he watched her. He grew mesmerized by the way her face lit up, her curls bouncing as she laughed, her white teeth almost blinding. Her blue eyes had changed from blazing to a light hue that made it hard to tear his gaze away.

Sarafina continued to laugh. He's a vampire. A blood-sucking leech. A member of the same species that murdered my family. Yet, I can't...I can't stop this attraction. All she could think about was how soft his hair was and how much Ana adored him. He's beautiful,

"What is so amusing?" Constantine said as calmly as possible.

Sara tried to hold back her laughter, "I just...I can't…" she continued to laugh. It will never work Sarafina. You know it, just as I do, she could hear the voice of her father. Suddenly, tears began to form and fall from her eyes. Her laughter morphed into tearful whimpers. Constantine sat next to her and before he could move to wipe her tears she began to sob against his chest. He was momentarily taken aback. His throat ached but he didn't care. She's so close...so warm. He wrapped his arms around her and stroked her hair.

How could he be so gentle? If he's truly a monster...why hasn't he tried to hurt me?

It only made her heart ache.

If only I could protect her from whatever she's running from. Constantine continued to hold her. His hunger for her increased. He could hear her heartbeat. Despite her tears it was calmly thudding against her chest.

She pulled back and looked up at him. He looked down at her.

It was in that moment that Sara realized that there was no point fighting anything anymore. Just be.

She moved up and before her lips could meet his, Constantine's crashed against hers.

The kiss awoke a hunger within the both of them and suddenly they were sharing the same breaths. Constantine growled and struggled to control himself. She tasted so sweet. He felt drunk off of the taste of her skin alone. She pulled him down into the bed with her and he groaned.

Sara had never been this forward but he was gorgeous, mesmerizing and although he was a vampire somehow, he was warm.

The kiss continued growing more passionate. His lips trailed down her face and froze on her neck. He could feel the blood pumping through her arteries, he was holding his unnecessary breath but the scent, her scent still radiated into his nose. His throat burned his tongue flicked over her skin causing his entire body to feel supercharged. He grabbed her arms and pinned them over her head. He forced himself not to bite her and went back to her lips.

Sara knew this was a risk. She knew that her blood called to him but it just felt so good. She felt something deep inside her. A hunger she couldn't stop. She wanted more.

Far from the fragile woman who had just cried in his arms Sara tugged at his shirt. When it was off she let out a moan as he ran his hands along her body he gripped her thigh, being mindful to not harm her. He was so beautiful. It was as though he was sculpted by the finest craftsman and his touch lit her body on fire. Her hands roamed down his chest. Her lower half pressed against his and he groaned.

Constantine pulled away momentarily trying to stay in control of himself. He was panting. Although breathing was unnecessary for him. He felt he needed it. His throat ached and the way her hands felt on his skin and her body fit so rightly with his made his mind explode. He wanted more.

When he looked up at Sara he noticed that her eyes had changed from a soft blue to blazing. The beautiful and vibrant hue lured him to her. She unbuttoned her dress. Constantine growled.

"Sara," He was losing his mind. She was too beautiful, she smelled too good.

"Please," She begged.

It sent Constantine over he leaned in kissing her harder their tongues dancing. Her hands tangled in his hair and his were roaming along her body. Her heartbeat flooded his ears. He trailed his lips down again but this time when he got to her neck, he bared his fangs.

"Constantine," Sara moaned begging him to continue. She hadn't seen that his eyes changed from red to black, that his fangs were mere breaths away from her veins. Her eyes were closed, her body on fire. Begging to be touched.

He froze a breath away from her neck. Her voice snapped him out of his hunger and he pulled away.

"I can't control it…" He kissed her one last time and in whoosh of air fled the house and went hunting.

Sara lay back panting. She had done it...crossed the line and given into her feelings. She waited for the guilt...the conflict to surface...but it never did. All she felt was supercharged and hungry for more. Her body was still vibrating where his hands touched her. Sara had only been with three men before. Two in her past and Ana's father. None of them felt quite like that.

I've really fallen pretty far from grace at this point, she thought to herself and still, she wanted more. She was drawn and he was drawing her in.

It's over for me. Constantine thought remembering the taste of her lips wanting more and more.