Chapter 11 - Perception
I squared my shoulders and tossed my hair just before Demetri pulled open one of the great wooden doors that led to his masters. I was anxious and trying to hide the fact, but I couldn't fool him. He smiled at my failed attempt at bravado.
"You have nothing to fear. I am here." He reminded me as he squeezed my hand.
I just nodded and followed him through the door. One look around had me gasping and focusing on the floor. I ignored the look I felt Demetri was giving me and allowed him pull my ever more reluctant body further from the exit and to the middle of the round room. I glanced up and around for the second to make certain I had not been seeing things and my new eyes were not playing tricks on me.
I had just walked straight into hell.
The faces I saw were terrifying. More so then I would have ever thought possible for real life. There was very little in each visage that even appeared remotely human. Yet, as I looked closer – I couldn't help the terrible fascination, I could see the mask of normalcy that ineffectively hid from me what the creatures truly were. Almost without exception, every face had the appearance of a monster.
"Ah, this must be Sarah." I heard a voice call out brightly. "She is as beautiful as your thoughts led me to believe, Demetri."
I chanced a glance at the speaker and immediately wished I hadn't. His face was by far the worst yet. I didn't fear his clouded ruby eyes; I had grown used to similar eyes long ago. Under his calm façade, I saw his true self, one that reeked of power and greed and a ruthlessness that caused me to look away from him in near panicked horror. I saw there was nothing he wouldn't do -- no one he wouldn't hurt to get exactly what he wanted.
"Please," I begged Demetri. "Let me go back?"
He was startled as he looked down at me and confused. At least he looked the same, eyes darkening to deep crimson in concern and pale skin gleaming with a faint golden sheen.
"Is she shy?" The same voice asked.
"She is new, master." Demetri said politely, not taking his eyes off mine, "And, with the change, is overwhelmed." I could hear the anxiety roughening his husky voice.
"That is understandable, but perhaps she would let me see what upsets her so."
My head whipped up at the words and I saw the nightmare gliding towards me, almost floating, his hand outstretched, his true face twisting in greed. He wanted what even my mate did not have; access to my innermost thoughts so that he could use them to his advantage, even to my and Demetri's total destruction.
I met Demetri's eyes in a panic. Did he not realize what his master was? He gave an infinitesimal shake of his head and his eyes pled with me not to do what he could see I was preparing to do. Yet, I could not help my violent reaction as the creature reached out to touch me.
Instantly, I recoiled back into Demetri and had he not been there to catch and steady me, I would have continued running blindly until I had nowhere else to go. I dimly heard the shocked gasps at my seemingly outrageous behavior. I ignored them intent only on evading the unwelcome touch of a devil. Demetri held me firm; peering into my eyes, trying to divine what would cause me to act so out of character. His strong, familiar hands and innate calm helped. I gulped and tried to rally my last reserves of sanity.
I had to -- for him.
Turning, I smiled in what I hoped was a placating manner. I met the eyes of the creature and managed to keep my face smooth and my eyes blank. Though, my traitorous knees trembled violently under my skirt and I fervently hoped no one would notice and that I would not fall.
"I am truly sorry, but I find that I can't bear to be touched just now."
The specter smiled politely but it didn't reach his eyes and I knew he didn't completely believe me. His true self grew harder and greedier, the light in its red eyes, more excited. He knew I was hiding something, something that he wanted even more than my thoughts. I knew that by not allowing him to touch me, I was postponing this moment for another time and the day would come when I would have to allow the inevitable or be forced.
As I watched him, I knew who he was. He was Aro. Demetri had told me about him and I knew that he could read my thoughts, not just what I was thinking at the moment, but every thought I had ever had. There was a lot I didn't want him to see but most of all I didn't think he would like it much to see what I saw. Who, no matter if they are or not, desires to see themself as a monster? Not knowing the consequences of allowing him access to my distorted sight, I couldn't let him touch me.
I heard Demetri speaking to Aro, his voice carefully respectful, smoothing the situation. I resolved then that I would never call him master; never afford him my trust and allegiance. No one, who was what he was, deserved anything of the sort. I would feign respect, for Demetri's sake and no one else.
"I will take Sarah back to our room, master, if that is acceptable."
The creature's mask smiled, his true face twisted into an unpleasant grimace, "That will be fine. She needs to feed and rest after so much excitement." He looked down on me, with what I knew he believed to be the fond expression of a kindly grandfather. It made me sick.
As Demetri turned to lead me from the hall, I caught sight of the vampire, Felix. He had no mask and overlying visage, he needed none. They were one and the same; he did not hide himself as others did. He openly leered at me not bothering to hide his lust, even after receiving a warning growl from Demetri. I didn't have to see anything else to know what type of creature he was. Lechery oozed from him like a foul stench. I couldn't repress a warning of my own – one he only grinned at.
In our room I sank into the chair and covered my face with my hands. I wanted nothing else but to forget what I had seen. Demetri knelt in front of me and pulled my hands away from my face.
"What happened, Sarah?" he asked softly.
"I'm so sorry, so sorry, Demetri, but … I … I can't tell you."
He dropped my hands. It hurt him – hurt both of us, that refusal, but I knew that if I told him, Aro would be able to read it in his thoughts. I had no doubt he would try it the very instant he next saw Demetri.
Demetri's jaw tightened, "Why not?" he demanded.
I took a shaky breath and couldn't help rocking a bit. The fear was too fresh, "Please, I will tell you, just not today. Please, trust me." He searched my eyes for a moment and when he found I would not budge on my resolve he stood up.
"You need to feed," He was abrupt as he changed the subject. "Your eyes are too dark."
Now that I was away from the great round hall and the nightmares it held, I could feel the burn that had been growing all day. It was a physical pain, but nothing compared to the horror I had felt upon seeing Aro.
"Demetri," There was a plea in my voice for him to understand.
His body stiffened and he refused to look at me, "What you did was very foolish, Sarah. You called unwanted attention to yourself."
His words made me feel like a wayward child and I felt a flash of betrayal and anger. I jumped to my feet, "You think this was my fault? That I went in there thinking to act that way? You don't know anything." My tone was scornful and hurt.
Demetri met my anger head on, his voice unbelievably harsh, yet his eyes were gentle, "Then tell me."
I relaxed. He was taunting me on purpose. He hoped to get me angry enough that I would slip and tell him what had caused me to act the way I had. I took a deep breath and forced myself to calm down.
"Tell me something before we hunt."
He sighed in defeat at the realization that I was not going to play his game, "What?"
"Did you have the ability to track people in your mind while you were still human?"
He blinked in confusion, wondering where the question came from, "Not exactly. I had a knack for finding lost things, but it wasn't until I had been changed that I could track a person's mind."
I nodded. Something was forming in my head, but I wasn't sure what it was. It would need more time percolating before I was sure.
"Come with me," Demetri was quiet.
I reached for his hand, "I will tell you. Just give me some time."
He nodded, "I'm sorry if I hurt you."
I smiled, "I think I know why you did it, so it's all right. I acted unexpectedly; you have every right to be frustrated."
"It is not frustration. It is concern, but let us forget it for now. You are thirsty and must feed. I trust you to explain all this to me, when you are ready."
I rose up on tiptoe and kissed him. How could I not? He was understanding and patient and loved me, then I followed him from the room out into the dark night.
The breeze that caressed my face was warm and sweet. Something delicious wafted on it and I closed my eyes as I dragged a deep breath into my lungs, searching my mind for knowledge of the exquisite scent. I glanced up at Demetri in question. He was looking down at me with a speculative expression on his handsome face.
"What is that?" I breathed. My breathing sped up in anticipation and my hands and feet tingled with excitement.
"That is human blood. We are close to the village."
My face fell and he smiled at me, "Are you sure you don't want to sample it?"
I glared at him and fought the burn as venom pooled in my mouth. It was painful and nearly impossible to ignore the primitive longing I felt to turn into the wind and track down that alluring scent. I could almost see myself indulging in it, bathing in it, glutting myself until I was fully sated. I turned so that the wind did not blow in my face.
"I think I'll pass."
I heard the deep rumble of laughter from Demetri and he tightened his grip on my hand to make sure I kept my self-imposed promise. He didn't want me to have to face my guilt, "This way then, little self-deceiver."
His pace quickened until he was in an all out run that was faster then anything I had ever seen. Amazed, I easily kept pace with him. It was exhilarating to feel the strength of the wind against my skin and I flew along the dark ground. I don't think my feet touched the ground once, I ran so fast.
I glanced at Demetri and he grinned at me when I dropped his hand, crouching lower as I increased my speed, daring him to catch me. The trees grew into one pale rushing blur as I found myself pulling away from him to run alone in the cool moon-lit night.
Then it hit me like a living wall -- the scent of something warm. I instinctively adjusted my course and in that instant, the woman was replaced by something wild and free.
I heard the strong beat of a heart. The scent changed into something almost spicy as it sensed the predator and its heartbeat picked up, spreading adrenaline through the fleeing body. I heard the pounding of hoofed feet as the deer tried to elude me. But my eyes were too quick and my feet too nimble. It was over before it had really begun.
Never had anything tasted so wonderful as that first rush of hot, pulsing blood. It burst into my mouth and flowed down my throat smooth as the finest liquor, cooling the burn, sating the thirst I really hadn't known I was feeling.
I saw my mate come to a graceful stop at the edge of the clearing and raised my head to greet him. I shoved back from the almost drained deer, indicating that I was willing to share my kill with him -- but only him. I saw the moon glint off his white teeth as he smiled and shook his head. I grinned in reply and returned to finish my meal.
When I was finished I rose and moved to meet him as I languorously licked the blood from my hands. I was splattered with it, but didn't care. I was still caught up in the taste of it. I cocked my head to the side and held out one red hand to him. He caught it and without looking away from me licked a cold line from palm to fingertip.
I purred at the feeling and felt warmth spread through my veins like fire. I leaned closer and pressed my lips to his, running my tongue over his smooth lips, before turning and bounding away. I heard his frustrated growl and the sound of his heavier footsteps as he gave chase. I laughed and didn't try too hard to evade him.
I was brought down by a magnificent tackle, but thanks to my mate's awesome strength, he twisted in the air and I landed on top of him, cushioned by his hard body. He grinned and growled playfully at me before crushing his mouth to mine.
I pulled him tight against me and exulted in the cold strength he exuded. I shivered as he rolled, pressing me to the ground with his weight and ran his lips down my neck and across my collarbone. My hands undid the buttons of his shirt easily and pushed the fabric from his broad shoulders and I lightly ran my fingers down his muscular back. It seemed he grew more magnificent with each passing moment and I couldn't wait for eternity.
Never had I felt so alive, my whole frame shook and throbbed as we each took and gave. Our breath sobbed in the dark night in gratitude for what we had been given and we reveled in one another.
We didn't return to the castle until the sky was beginning to lighten overhead. I was the woman again as I stood watching the sun break over the hills. It was so beautiful it nearly sang. I turned and held out my hand for Demetri. The early light reflected off his pale chest causing a subtle glimmer. He smiled at me and I read the love that was in his eyes. Mine spoke of the same. We turned as one and made our way back home, hand in hand.
