Chapter 11: Not Afraid of Hell

Ezra:

I staggered down a paved path through a park, gasping and coughing as the sun rose to it's mid day position. I couldn't take much more of this. After spending so much time in my shadow form yesterday, I was too weak to resist the power of the sun. It was making me feel awful. I felt weak and disoriented, like I couldn't get enough breath. My vision was dimming around the edges. Unconsciousness wasn't too far away. Calling upon my last reserve of strength, I urged myself towards the public restrooms building. I could see a pay phone just outside it, right next to some drinking fountains. I moved as quickly as I could and nearly collapsed once I reached the phone. Holding onto the metal enclosure with my other hand to keep me upright, I dialed the number of some old comrades and waited impatiently as the phone ringed in my ear. I never thought that I would ever call this number again after I went out on my own. I wasn't even sure if they would help me.

"Hello?" Answered a smooth feminine voice.

"Christine?" I croaked, breathing heavily.

"Ezra? What's wrong? Why do you sound like that?" She asked.

"Listen. I'm stuck in the park about six miles from your house. I'm too weak to go much further. Can you come pick me up?" I grunted into the phone as a wave a pain rolled through me. This wasn't good. If she didn't hurry I was going to be dead by the time she got here.

"Of course." She said. "But Ezra, what are you doing out there? Why aren't you at your house?"

"The V.V.P.A's after me. My house isn't safe. Please." I rasped. "Hurry. I can't take much more of this. I'll be waiting in the men's bathroom for you."

"Okay, Ezra. Hold tight. I'll be there as soon as I can." She said and hung up the phone.

I dropped the phone and staggered the rest of the way into the men's bathroom, finally falling flat on my face on the dirty tiled floor.

"Ezra? Ezra? Are you alright?" Asked a woman's slightly French accented voice. Christine?

I blinked out of the comforting darkness of unconsciousness to look into the angelic face of a strawberry blond woman, her red eyes wide with worry. "Christine." I breathe her name.

"Thank God!" She sighed, relived that I came back from the brink. She pressed her wrist to my lips and encourages me to taste her flesh. "Drink. You'll feel better."

With a weak hiss, I parted my dry lips and sank my teeth into her flesh. Her skin gave way under my sharp canines and I drew blood. I closed my lips around the wound and lapped at the bites, my saliva going to work to increase the blood flow. As I drank, I looked up at Christine's eyes, watching them become misty with pleasure. I vaguely remembered a time when that expression had fallen over my own face, back when I had tasted Stella's blood for the first time. When I closed my eyes I could still feel her softness under my fingertips, smell the sweat on her skin, and hear her moans of pain and labored breath. Oh god! How I missed her! Those weeks with her was the best time of my life. It was the only time I could remember that I didn't feel the emptiness of loneliness nipping at the back of my mind. Perhaps I had been abusive towards her, but it was the only way I knew how to keep her with me. All the women I had ever been with had always left me or refused me. I loved Stella too much to let her go.

Vampire blood is more potent than humans'. It gives us much more of a boost. Even so, Christine's blood still seemed to turn to ashes in my mouth and I got no pleasure, no release from taking my fill of her. Will I ever be able to slate my thirst? Or will it go on like this forever? Will I always be left unsatisfied without my Stella? What a miserable eternity that would be, to never taste her again. I had to get her back. I had to or I would simply die of starvation. With a groan, I released her and let my head fall back into her lap.

Even though her inadequate blood still left me thirsting, it did give me some energy. Enough at least to stand and stagger back to her car. She drove me back to the town house where she and her master lived together and supported my exhausted body with a arm slung over her neck as she helped me inside. Then she sat me down on the living room couch and bowed her head respectively at the being sitting in the plush chair across from me.

"What is he doing here?" Asked Christine's master in an irritated voice.

"I'm sorry for the intrusion, Marybeth. Ezra is being pursued by the V.V.P.A and he needed a place to rest for a while. He's been in the sun for too long. He was nearly dead when I found him." Christine explained. To many it would be an odd sight, seeing this mature and gorgeous Vampire woman act so submissive towards her master. For you see, her master looked much younger than her. In fact, she was just a child of ten years when she was turned. However, she is more ancient than any other Vampire I have met in the past hundred years or so I have been one myself.

Marybeth was a beautiful little girl. Her red hair was coiled in perfect ringlets. She wore only the most femininely frilly of dresses, making her look even more like a porcelain doll. I watched as her lovely face twisted with anger. Her brows narrowed over her eyes and she hissed at Christine. "Idiot!" At once, Christine's hand suddenly shot up and she struck herself across the face, knocking herself back. "Have you lost your senses?" She demanded, as Christine looked up at her in fear. "The conformists will track him back to us, you fool! Whatever he has done, he deserves what will come to him! Whatever death they deem worthy! It's his own fault!" She bared her fangs at me. "I want him gone, Christine! He made his choice long ago! He deserves no sympathy from me!" With that, she twirled way on her heel and ran up a staircase to her bedroom, slamming the door shut behind her.

Christine groaned as she fell back into the couch beside me. "I'm sorry. I thought she would be more understanding than that. I didn't know she was still this angry at you."

"It's fine." I replied. "I didn't expect her to want to help me. I'll be gone as soon as the sun goes down a little. I just need to get my strength back up."

"What did you do, Ezra?" Asked Christine, nibbling at her bottom lip worriedly. "Why are the conformists after you?"

"I've done nothing wrong." I answered, leaning forward and resting my elbows on my knees. "I simply fell in love with a girl they don't want me to have." I shifted my eyes to her. "Adam Wilder was the one who took her away from me."

Her eyes widened in shock. "Adam?" I watched as her eyes glazed over as she remembered a far away time.

I nodded. Frowning, I ran my hands through my hair in frustration. "I don't know what I'm going to do, but I know I have to get Stella back from him somehow. No other blood will satisfy me now…not even yours, Christine. I have to have Stella…even if it kills me. She's mine." I grit my teeth. "I won't let those hypocrites have her."

"You are certain that it was Adam?" She asked, her eyes still wide.

I nodded. "I'm certain. I've…had a run in with him before."

I watched her as she fumbled around in her jeans' pocket and brought out a crumpled piece of paper. "I…um…looked him up a couple of months ago after I heard that he was living around here, working for the V.V.P.A. I never called him though. I tried a couple of times, but I kept chickening out." She giggled bitterly. "I don't want to hurt him more than I already have. I doubt I'll ever be brave enough to speak to him again." She handed the paper to me. "You might as well take it."

I took it from her and looked at the number. The paper had been folded and unfolded over and over again, it was nearly tearing apart. "Why are you giving me this?" I asked.

"If Adam is in charge of your girl's case then there's a chance that she's been put under his care and is staying with him at his house. It's worth a look at least." She explained.

My lips stretched widely in triumph. I wrapped my arms around Christine and hugged her as tightly as possible. She had no idea how great her simple gift was to me. She'd given me life itself!

"Don't call that number on the house phone, Ezra. She handed me her cell phone out of her pocket. "Use this. It has a blocked number. They won't be able to track it."

"Thank you so much, Christine!." I thanked her and with renewed energy, I rushed into the kitchen to make the call, hoping and praying that she would be the one to answer. Oh, just hearing her voice would send me over the moon. I quickly dialed the number and fidgeted nervously as I listened to the rings.

Stella:

I didn't wake up until lunchtime. I sat up and ran my hand through my tangled hair. My cheeks reddened at the realization that I over slept. Wild was going to think I was a bum. I sighed as I swung my legs over the edge of the bed. My eyes drifted over to the photographs on the nightstand. I reached over and picked one of them up. It looked like it had been taken at an office Christmas party. Wild was standing in the back, with his arms crossed over his chest, looking very serious. Skulls was holding Candy bridal style. She was kissing his cheek while she held a bit of mistletoe over his head. Slim was wearing a Santa Clause hat and was standing with his hands in his pockets just behind Skulls. Icy was standing beside Wild, resting a manicured hand on his shoulder. In front of them all, was a handsome man with long blond hair pulled away from his face. There was an eerie inhumanness in his eyes, evident even in the photograph. I had no idea who this man could be. I hadn't met him yet. I sat the photo back down and another caught my eye. It wasn't a photo, but a sketch of a woman done with charcoal. She had a heart shaped face. Cute dimples formed at the corner of her lips. Her eyes were large and bright. Dark hair fell in luxurious waves off the side of her shoulder. Her lips formed a happy, contented smile as she looked over her shoulder at someone. The picture looked as if the artist were viewing the woman from the back. She seemed to be naked, but all that you could see was her bare back. The charcoal lines slowly faded away the further down they went, completely disappearing at the small of her back. My cheeks flushed as I pondered who this woman could be. An old girlfriend maybe? I sat it back down, hurriedly.

There was a knock at the door and Wild peeked his head inside. His short blond hair was disheveled. He hadn't slicked it back yet. He was buttoning up his shirt and the handle of a toothbrush stuck out of his mouth. "Stella, I have to go to the office to take care of some paper work. Will you be okay here for a couple of hours? It shouldn't take me long." He said, his speech a little garbled due to the toothpaste foam in his mouth.

I nodded. "Sure. I'll be okay."

He reached into his pocket and threw me a cell phone. "My number is on speed dial. If you need me to come back, just call me and I'll get here as soon as possible."

"Okay." I said and smiled graciously. He swooped back out and shut the door. I waited for a few minutes and finally heard the front door close. I grabbed my discarded jeans off of the floor and pulled them on beneath the dress shirt I had slept in, before exiting the room. I walked into the kitchen and scoured the cabinets and refrigerator for something edible. Wild really needed to go grocery shopping. He really didn't have much food here. Thankfully, I did find some skim milk and some Cheerios. It's not my favorite cereal, I usually go for something with much more sugar, but it was food and I was starving. I poured me a bowl and sat down at the kitchen counter to devour my humble meal.

I had only taken three bites when the phone hanging on the wall began to ring loudly. I stared at it a moment, debating whether or not I should answer it. I thought it may be an important call for Wild, so I answered it.

"Hello." I said into the phone. "Adam Wilder's Residence."

The person on the other end let out a pleased sigh. "Hey, Stella." He greeted, sending chills down my spine. "Oh, baby, I miss you so much. It's good to hear your voice again."

"E-Ezra?" I squeaked, gasping for breath. My chest suddenly felt very tight.

"You found out my name huh?" He chuckled. "That's fine. I like hearing you say my name. Say it again, baby." He breathed huskily.

"H-How did you get this number?" I demanded, nervously.

"Come now, sweetheart. You didn't think that I'd find out where you are? They can't keep us apart for long. I promise you, I'll come get you soon and take you home." He said, the shier madness of his mind evident in every word.

"No!" I cried, my breathing increasing. Panic was sending me into hyperventilation.

"Okay then, we'll travel world, then. You'd like that, right? You've always wanted to go to Europe. When you were a little girl you used to dream of seeing everything the world had to offer. I can give you that, Stella. I'll take you anywhere you want to go, give you anything you ask for." He whispered almost sweetly. "All I'm asking for in return is that you love me like I love you. That's all."

"Go to Hell you sick freak!" I screamed.

He was quiet for a moment then he replied in a deeper voice. " I've already been there, baby. I'm not afraid of Hell. Protest all you want, but I won't let you deny me, Stella. If you won't give yourself to me willingly. I'll take you by force. I've done it before and I'll do it again, but this time I won't stop at just your blood. I'll take all of you. You're mine, Stella and you always will be. There's no escaping true love. "

There was a click as Ezra hung up the phone, ending the call.

I screamed and grasped at my chest, screaming and wailing as I ran down the hall to the bathroom. I turned on the hot water, letting the steam fill the room. I sat on the toilet and breathed in the steam in an effort to calm my breathing. I took out the phone Ezra had given me and speed dialed him.

"Stella?" He answered.

"He knows!" I screamed into the phone. "He knows where I am! He called the apartment! He's going to get me! Wild! Please! Help me! Please!" I wailed.

"I'm coming!" He assured me. "Stay on the phone, Stella."

He kept me talking until he could get back to the apartment. Then he rushed me back to headquarters.

I sat quietly in Wild's office, breathing in and out of a paper bag while the team scurried around. Candy was sitting beside me, whispering kind, reassuring words. Wild and Skulls were gathered around Slim at the desk, while he clicked away at his computer.

"It's no use." Said Slim finally, the phone he used is blocked. I can't trace it."

"You're sure it was Shade?" Asked Wild, looking over his shoulder at me.

I pulled the bag away from my face. "I'm sure. I'll never forget that voice, so long as I live."

"What should we do?" Skulls asked Wild.

"I don't know." Wild shook his head and touched his pressed lips with his fingers in deep thought. "I wasn't expecting him to find her so quickly."

"I say you should take her to Chief. He'll be sure to have a plan." Said Icy.

With that the team led me through the halls of headquarters and into Chief's office.

The blond man from the photo I had seen earlier was sitting at the desk with his feet propped up on it. "I figured you'd be bringing her to me. I heard what happened." He shifted his eyes from me to Wild. "I'm just as surprised as you are that it only took a couple of days for him to find her. It actually makes me very nervous. I believe that he may not be working alone and that these…friends of his are the ones that helped him find her. I think you know who I'm referring to, Wild They were once friends of yours as well."

Wild's brows knit together. "No." He groaned. "Please, tell me it's not them."

"We've been doing a little research on Ezra Shade. It turns out that he ran with Marybeth and Christine for a few years after you left them in Paris."

"Damn it!" Wild cursed, tugging at his hair in frustration.

"Who is Marybeth and Christine?" I asked Wild.

He didn't reply, so Chief answered for him. "They're Wild's old coven. Christine is Wild's master, the one who turned him."

As Chief explained the connection, Wild's face twisted in anguish.

"Wild, I suggest that you keep Miss Rossi under very close watch. Bring her here when you are working and take her back to your apartment when you are not. You are not to leave her alone under any circumstances. While you are attending to business here, I suggest that she listen in on Slim's fledgling classes. Skulls, I'd like you to teach her some self defense. Oh, and give her a gun. I have a feeling she may need it some day. It's clear that Shade's not going to just forget about her. He'll be sure to come for her and when he does, she needs to be prepared, as do you all."