Many apologies, some how this chapter got lost in the documents file so I am adding it here for you. Please forgive me. Love Jules xx
Chapter Ninety Seven
Darius
When I heard her voice I couldn't believe it was really her, out of the blue after so many years of silence. I had no idea why she was with the Whitlocks or who had released her from her own private hell and at this moment I couldn't give a fuck, she was there waiting for me and I would see her and hold her again very soon, it was a miracle.
I pushed the car to its very limit not caring if the engine blew up so long as it got me to Sara. Luckily I never met a cop because if he'd tried to pull me over I would have killed him without a moment's hesitation. Nothing or no one was getting between me and my mate, it was as simple as that.
As I got close I started to wonder if she would still be there or if she had changed her mind, run away from me so I rang Peter's cell phone.
"Yeah?"
"Is she still there?"
I was curt but he seemed to understand why,
"Yeah she's still here, don't sweat Darius she's not going anywhere. How far out are you?"
"About an hour, can I speak to her?"
"Sorry she and Charlotte went shopping or at least Char went and she persuaded SAra to go with her. Once she knew the humans couldn't really see the sc…...hey sorry man that was a stupid thing to say."
"Is that what it's all about? Her scars? Did she really think they would make any difference to the way I felt about her?"
"I think it was more how she felt about herself actually."
"What happened? How did you get through to her?"
"That was all Charlotte's doing not mine, you owe her big time my friend."
As I saw the motel sign ahead I slowed suddenly very nervous. Would I appear changed to her? I was inside I knew, harder, more bitter, and less forgiving but I would never feel any differently towards her. Pulling in I looked around and sampled the air. I could smell cooking from the cafe next door to the motel and the exhaust gasses of the passing cars but under those smells was a scent that still had me trembling, Sara was very close.
Suddenly a door opened and I saw a female silhouetted by the light shining from behind her in the room and I recognised my mate. Uncaring if I were seen by humans or not I raced across the parking lot and pulled her into my arms covering her face with kisses as I repeated her name over and over again.
"Sara, Sara, God I never thought I would hold you in my arms again. Oh baby, I missed you so much."
She didn't say anything and held herself a little stiffly in my embrace but I just held on for a while then took a step back and smiled at her stroking one scarred cheek,
"You're even more beautiful than I remember."
"You only see what you want to see Dar."
"True, I see my mate, my beautiful mate finally looking at me again. Please darling promise me you'll stay with me, I couldn't go through all that again."
She was shaking with emotion and I gathered her into my arms and walked into the room kicking the door shut with my foot. We were alone for which I was thankful and I sat down on the bed still holding her tight then slowly allowed her to push far enough away to look up into my face and I saw her love for me in her eyes although I knew she was still frightened.
I stroked one scarred cheek then kissed the ridges there,
"Baby, nothing could ever make me love you less. You are still my beautiful mate and I still don't know how I struck it so lucky."
"Tell me how he died."
I stiffened, she was asking about Caius and I couldn't withhold the truth from her, she deserved to know everything. Holding her close once more and speaking very quietly I explained everything, from finding The Majors double to the final showdown then I waited for her reaction.
"I'd like to shake their hands, your friends who finally sent Caius where he belonged. I feel such relief knowing he's no longer walking this earth and preying on young women."
"Yes, you're safe now. Sara, I'm so sorry, it was all my fault. I'd heard rumours about Caius but I still insisted on taking you there. You are so beautiful he couldn't possibly resist you so you see if anyone is to blame its me. I spent years hoping I could ask you for your forgiveness and not knowing if I would ever get it. Can you forgive me?"
She put a slender finger under my chin and lifted my bowed head to gaze into my eyes,
"I never blamed you Dar and you've suffered as much as me. You don't need my forgiveness. I love you"
If I had been able to cry tears of relief would have flowed down my cheeks at her words but instead bent to kiss hers but she turned her face so our lips met and suddenly I felt all the bitterness and tension leave my body. I was relaxed for the first time in centuries.
Feeling her soft body against mine desire started to build but I knew that would have to wait, Sara needed to feel secure, safe once more in the arms of a man. She must have understood because she leaned close and whispered in my ear,
"They didn't touch me like that Dar, Sulpicia heard my screams and came with her companions before the men could do more than rip my clothes but please don't tell anyone, especially not Charlotte."
"Why especially her?"
"Because she told me her story, very much like mine except she never had a saviour to step in and I don't want her to be upset or embarrassed for telling me."
"I wont but even if something had happened it wouldn't make any difference to me."
"For a long time I felt it had, I lived the attack over and over and each time I was alone with no one to save me. I almost had myself believing it until Charlotte reached me."
"Well you're safe now and back where you belong. Would you really like to meet my friends?"
She nodded smiling wearily,
"Yes I would."
"Then I think that can be arranged my love."
When Peter and Charlotte came back they knocked on the door discreetly before entering and both smiled to see Sara and I locked in each other's arms.
"Well it looks like another good man bites the dust! Roped and hogtied by a woman. Glad to see you two worked things out."
Putting Sara down very gently in the chair I stretched my hand out to him,
"I owe you friend"
He grinned mischievously,
"Yeah you do and don't worry, I'll think of a payment later. Glad to be of service but Char's the one you should really be thanking."
I turned to her and gave her a hug,
"Thank you Charlotte, I'll never be able to repay you for this."
"Seeing you and Sara together is payment enough Darius."
"No, no, no, Char. Don't let him off that lightly, I'm still thinking of what I want as a pay off."
She turned and slapped his chest,
"Any more from you and it won't be pay coming off now shut up."
Peter and Char were ready to leave but I thought Sara might be more comfortable with others around for a while, give her time to get used to the new world she found herself in and to me wanting her just as much as I had ever done.
"Well, I guess there'll be an extra guest for the wedding."
Sara looked at me questioningly,
"He means The Major and Bella, Jay and Alice Cullen too."
"Cullen? Anything to do with Carlisle Cullen?"
We told her all about Carlisle's experimental coven and she nodded,
"I'm glad he found someone, he always seemed so very lonely to me."
"He's a fucking basket case Sara that's why but I have to admit they all did pretty well in the battle. Especially as he's a pacifist vegetarian."
"He's still on the animal blood diet? Good for him. As for being a pacifist I think you read him all wrong Peter. I've seen Carlisle fight for what he believes and he was good."
"And just what the fuck was it he believed in so strongly that he fought for it? Bunny rights? Emancipation for Bambi?"
She laughed,
"Not quite. He saved Sulpicia's life when Aro was away. An assassin attempted to kill her and Carlisle stepped between them, he killed the assassin."
"Really? See he never chooses the right side, he could have gotten rid of Aro years ago letting his mate die and saved us a lot of trouble."
Char slapped him again and he subsided while I remembered that day only too vividly and wondered how Carlisle had gone from that to mild mannered doctor of humans.