Now, I know that the first paragraph is probably the least believable-- please tell me if you have any alternate suggestions.
Chapter 5
Nikias felt that ache in his shoulders once more. And although he had been ignoring the pain and enduring, he finally gave into his body's wishes and landed on the ground.
He could just imagine Dawn massaging his shoulders, as she always did. He was half tempted to return back.
But he mustn't. He must carry on.
He thrust his hands into his pockets. When did his life become so complicated? An easy enough question - the day he was changed marked a day of absolute confusion. But had recent activities made it worse?
It had been two years, now, since Nikias had heard the distress call from his good friend Dominik, in Russia.
Dominik had had been riding a bus when Nikias slid next to him after a hard flight over Russia. The two had sat in silence for a while, as Russian chatter proceeded around them.
Across the street, another bus - this one smaller, but going at a much greater speed, suddenly swerved; it had lost control on the icy road.
With a jerk, the two buses collided with each other.
Women and children screamed everywhere; many were enveloped in the folded metal. Nikias and Dominik were on the other side, but the soon found danger there, also.
The engine had been his during the impact. Nikias sensed the explosion before it actually happened.
Acting on an impulse, he grabbed the man beside him - Dominik - and ran out the back of the bus, just as it was engulfed in flames.
They quickly became friends over Nikias' stay in Russia. Nikias had been there when Dominik's family doctor announced that his wife - Anya - was pregnant. He was also there when Anya tragically died just a week after giving birth.
Nikias left soon afterwards, after promising to Dominik he would return.
He never did.
Nikias soon met Dawn after, and their chase for Victoria began shortly. How was he to get to Russia through all that?
Yet, somehow, Dominik had managed to track him down - through telegraph.
"IN DANGER STOP IN HIDING STOP PLEASE HELP US STOP"
True to his word, Dominik was no where to be found, as his friend was soon to know.
Nikias spent his time with Dawn from the distress call searching for Dominik and his child as well as Victoria.
In the past weeks, however, he had found another note, regarding the Russian.
"I hate to inform you that Dominik has passed on…He has requested in his will for you to be the guardian of his child… Please contact…"
He had to leave, and take care of this. One, how did that get a hold of him? He naively thought of ways anyone could have gotten this to him by coincidence.
Two, guardian of the child? Nikias knew that Erik, Anya's son, must be close to sixteen by now; how was he - a nomad vampire - to take care of a teenager? Physically, Nikias was only twenty. Would Erik seem not the least perturbed if he found that his father gave him to someone not older than himself? Would he not suspect anything?
Satisfied with his rest, he got ready to take flight again, when he heard the sound of his name being called.
No, just go away… he silently pleaded.
"Nikias, please wait! I'm sorry! Stop!" Against his will, his feet stopped on their won, obeying Dawn.
She finally caught up to him, her hands stopping herself lightly on the small of Nikias' back. He trembled at the touch of her.
She spun him around to face her, and put her hands on his chest. The shivers of pleasure continued.
"I'm sorry, Nikias. Please, please come back." Her voice was tight and controlled the closest thing she had to crying. "I can't live without you." Her hands had shakily traveled up to his neck.
His voice had a mind of its own, and even it didn't think. "I need you, Dawn." What was he doing? He need to finish business, as well as keep her out of harm's way, Part of his mind battled. The other part - much larger - fought back angrily. It's Dawn, you can't refuse her. The very core of your existence revolves around her! She's strong, she can help you.
Nikias grabbed her hands and brought all the way to his face. "No, I'm sorry, Dawn." And he closed the gap between them, as their lips met.
I'm sorry, Edward, you must be stronger than me, I couldn't do it… He mentally called.