Chapter 2 – Saved

It only lasted a second before he was pulled off of me by someone, making me collapse to the ground in heap.

Pain was all I could feel. My head throbbed, my neck ached something fierce and there were other aches and pains I couldn't pin point. I whimpered at the burning sensation and pealed open my eyes to see what was going on around me. My eyes automatically locked on the form of my attacker, he was trying to get around a man, hissing viciously, but the man would not move to let him by. His eyes were pitch black making me shudder and gasp.

The man charged, fangs barred ready to tear through the opposing man. Then the strangest thing happened, making me question if my head was on straight after having it knocked against the wall. The man who saved me basically flicked my attacker away like he was a bug and he went flying. My eyes tried to follow, but they were blurred by tears and pain.

"Astrid?" The man asked as he crouched next to me, eyes roaming over me.

I flinched and closed my eyes tightly. Pain was drowning me, suffocating every thought. A cold hand was placed on my fore head and I leaned into it with a sigh. When had it gotten so hot? I just realised that I was too warm and that sweat was collecting on my fore head and the back of my neck. My breathing picked up. "Hurts." I whimpered.

"Shh, I know." The man said in a lighter voice, not as deep as my attackers, and with a slight British accent. He brushed my hair away from my face. "You'll be alright."

"Who?" I murmured as the darkness of sleep willed me to pass out.

"My name is Henry Sturges." He sighed as he felt around my head for the injury we both knew was there. "I was a friend of your late mother."

My heart seized at the mention of my mom and I inhaled sharply at the onslaught of memories until Henry poked the spot on my head where it hit the wall, making me hiss in pain. "Hurts."

"I'm sorry." Henry said as he moved to cradle the back of my neck and slipped his other arm under my knees. He picked me up with no problem and cradled me to his chest. "I'm sorry I didn't stop them. I'm sorry I wasn't here."

I shuddered in his arms as the heat left me and then brought on a chill. It was so sudden that it left me limp and confused, before it started to get hot again. I must have made some noise because Henry was hushing me again. The last thing I saw before the world went dark was a set of beautiful copper eyes looking at me with concern.

I woke up because I was jostled slightly. A soft cushion was under me, but I was too hot to truly appreciate it, nothing was feeling comfortable at this point. I tried to move, to get away from the heat, but my whole body exploded in pain. I gasped as my eyes shot open, but not seeing. Nausea rose against me and bile forced itself up my throat and I leaned over the side of my cushion, which turned out to be a ridiculously soft bed, as a bucket was shoved under my face and I promptly threw up all the contents of my stomach and then some.

Dry heaves wracked my body next followed by coughing. My head spun making it impossible to see what was going on or who was at my side. A hand on my shoulder guided me back to a laying position and something cold touched my burning fore head and neck. I shivered and my breath hitched as I fought off my tears.

"Shh… Its ok Astrid, you've got a concussion. It'll pass." A familiar voice said.

I squinted my eyes, it felt like every part of me was on fire. "Too hot." I heard the voice hum in agreement before something cold and wet was placed on my fore head.

"That should help with the fever for now. You'll feel better soon Astrid."

My eyelids started to droop, but I didn't want to sleep at all. They closed and I forced them open again. "N-no." I murmured.

"Go to sleep Astrid, you'll feel better when you wake up."

"P-please no." I whimpered quietly.

"Why are you fighting your body's natural healer?" The voice asked and something brushed my freshly fallen tears away. "Why do you fight sleep?"

I winced as I thought about it. "N-nightmares. F-fire." I whispered.

There was a sigh that was full of sorrow and someone held my hand in a gentle hold. "Sleep Astrid, I'll keep you safe."

The pull was too great and I couldn't help, but do as I was told and drifted off to sleep. The sound of a musical voice in my ear.

Sleeping, for me, usually involves dreaming. Of fire and death. Watching as my house collapses in on itself and on my mother. Not being able to do anything to stop it. Being held back as my mother died. Having the darkness consuming me for a long time. No one could save me.

It was the same dream all the time. Just like now.

The fire consumed the house and I could see my mother through the open door, in the middle of the house, not moving to run away. I tried to run forward, but something was holding me back. I called out to her and thrashed in hopes of throwing off what was holding me back. Suddenly the house collapsed in on itself, burying my mother. I screamed at the top of my lungs and thrashed twice as hard, trying to break free and when I couldn't I just stopped. I went limp and cried as my heart broke over and over. It was the end all over again and I couldn't do anything to stop it.

Suddenly there was warmth on my left shoulder and what felt like fingers running along my jaw. I whimpered and kept crying, what was the point anymore? I don't want to fight anymore.

The warmth moved from my shoulder to cradle my face. "Astrid." A voice whispered to me.

"N-no. No more." I whimpered.

"It's time to wake up Astrid."

I was shaking so hard that I thought my bones were going to shatter. The images kept flying in front of my eyes and I could almost smell the smoke and feel the heat of the fired on my skin. Warmth engulfed me.

"Astrid." The voice called out again.

My eyes snapped open and I gasped, trying to pull air into my lungs. "Deep breaths Astrid." My eyes started to focus and I could see lovely copper eyes staring at me. "There you go."

I realised that I in fact had slowed my breathing. "Henry?" I breathed.

He smiled slightly, but it was gone in a flash. "So you do remember who I am."

"What?" I asked in pure confusion.

Then it all came rushing back to me.

I had been attacked and that guy… bit me. "Oh my! Oh my! Jesus!" My hand went up to the right side of my neck and sure enough there were two small, circler scabs that were extremely tender. "That guy bit me!" I gasped as I remembered the pain.

Henry smirked. "You are right, he did bite you."

My mind was reeling. I could remember ridiculous strength and black as night eyes. My mouth whispered only one word. "Vampire."