CHAPTER THREE
Cerri sipped her drink, musing at the taste. She then realized it was doing nothing for her. If anything, it was making her ill. Now that was a dirty trick. She was an exception among her own kind when it came to the blood drinking besides Purgi. So either the Elders were attempting to make her play by the same rules as everyone else or wean her off of what they deemed a horrible habit.
"What are you then?"
"It's hard to explain, really. I guess I'm a vampire, but I also have powers that a normal vampire doesn't. I'm a vampiric sorcerer." He chuckled at her ruefully when she stared at him, waving his hand so her glass levitated away to the table.
For a long while, she didn't say anything and then finally just stood up. Glancing at the fire, Cerri watched the flames a moment before facing him. "May I leave now?" She asked, a frown gracing her lips when she swayed. "What WAS that whiskey stuff? I feel like I am not connected to anything." She had to lean against a table for support, finally moving so she was sitting on it. Her eyes drifted shut, a smile on her lips. "It feels odd."
"It feels like you're numb." His voice came from behind, massive hands lifting her by the underarms. A moment later her feet were once again on the floor. "You are safe here. I won't harm you and I won't allow anything else to harm you. You're not like others and there is nothing out there for you. You have a deadline I assume?"
"A time limit you mean? I have a month. A month and then I can go home." Cerri smiled dreamily at the thought. "A month then I am free of this wretched body. It is heavy and clumsy. I despise it." She was used to her willowy, lean body. Not this breathing sack of flesh.
He didn't reply to that, just turned his gaze out the window, watching as lightening flashed in the distance. "A storm…" He said, speaking the words with a loving caress, moving to stand at the window. "How I love them so…"
She looked over his head, her eyes widening at the streaks of light shooting across the sky. "It's very pretty, what is it?" A shriek escaped her lips when thunder boomed, hands clamping over her ears. "What is THAT?"
He couldn't help but start laughing at her, shaking his head. "That was thunder and the light is called lightening. The liquid coming down is rain." Was the patient albeit humorous reply. He uncovered her ears just as another boom rocked the foundation of the house, sighing when she jumped again. "It won't hurt you. We're safe in here. Though if you were to venture outside, you might be struck." He laughed at the terrified expression on the Pixie's face.
"It hurts my ears." Cerri whispered, wincing again. Thunder cracked, there was no other word for it. She raised a hand to her ear, under her hair and frowned when she seen blood. "Does it always do that?" She demanded, covering her ears again, this time to protect them.
He didn't even get a chance to answer. She just shrieked and whirled away from him, her purple hair flying all over the place.
"I hate it here!"
Reaching out to stop her from swirling, he sighed. "It's just a storm, nothing more. Come and sit, I'll make you something to relax your nerves. No more whiskey, I promise."
Nodding, she sat down on the couch and folded her long legs under her body. Cerri toyed with a hole in her pants, finally accepting the drink he held out to her. Remembering the whiskey, she took a cautious sip and smiled, swallowing it down. It was like Bloodwyne though not as thick and a bit lighter in taste. This she could handle.
"What's your name?" He asked suddenly, not remembering her ever saying it.
"Cerriwyn Astreila Gwendolene Arya Celestra. Though I'm just called Cerri on account of how young I am." She made a face. "You have yet to tell me your name." Cerri stared at him expectantly, then reached out to touch his gloved hands. "What are these?"
"Fingerless gloves." He wanted to pull away from her but froze, rather enjoying her touch. "My given name is Mark but I don't like being called that. You may call me Undertaker or simply 'Taker. Or don't call me anything at all."
"Undertaker… 'Taker…" She tried them both out then shook her head. "Nameless one you are then." Standing up, Cerri drained the glass before gently setting it down. "I am tired. Goodnight." The next second she was gone, moving faster then a normal person though still dreadfully slow for her liking.
Once in the relative safety of her bedroom, she eyed the black nightgown laid out and shook her head. Instead she just peeled off her clothes and padded over to the window to watch the lightening. The thunder was now more bearable since it was moving away.
"It will not harm you." Mark- 'Taker- repeated from behind, watching mildly curious as she jumped. His eyes raked in her human form. She hated her body but he found it… captivating to put it politely. "You are beautiful." He breathed. "Though I do wonder what you look like in your true form."
"My true form? I have a tail, fangs and wings." She replied awkwardly, stepping behind the drapes to cover herself. "I look much different from this. I have three forms I can take on." Cerri watched as he lifted the nightgown, arching an eyebrow in her direction. "I do not like black though I see you surround yourself in it. Why is that?" She lifted herself onto the windowsill to escape the cold floor only to drop back down.
Better cold feet then a cold bottom.
'Taker stroked his goatee in though, his eyes fastened on her. "Because my life is shrouded in darkness so I surround myself in it as well. I live in complete darkness, don't you?"
