Hi everyone!
Thank you so so much for all your reviews and feedback - there are over 100! I cannot express how thankful I am for them!
So sorry about my late update - I got a job over christmas and worked loads of overtime so I ended up working almost everyday. I didn't have a lot of energy and the stuff I wrote was really bad - I didn't want to give you guys something half-assed.
This chapter is a lot shorter because I ended up splitting it in half but I'm hoping to give you another update later tonight!
Rated M: Swearing, violence, gore, drug mention, references to stalker behaviour.
As always, constructive criticism is welcome!
Enjoy!
Chapter Twelve
One month. It had been one month since I had received those photos. It had been one month since my relationship with Godric had disintegrated into a pile of ash.
"Truck Twelve. Squad Five. Ambulance Twenty. Multiple vehicle accident. W Court Street, US-167, US-84."
The loud, blaring voice of the emergency call dragged me from my thoughts, startling me. Jesse caught my reaction and grinned, poking me teasingly in the stomach.
"Off in your own world there, Mill?" He joked, striding over to our truck and passing me my gear.
I stuck my tongue out at him, swapping my boots for a more fireproof pair. "Yeah, it was a world without you and, let me tell you, it was beautiful."
Jesse clutched his heart dramatically and we both clambered up onto the truck, bickering with each other. I pushed all thoughts of Godric, of vampires, of threats to my well-being from my mind and instead focused on the job. It was a desperately needed reprieve.
The only time I wasn't anxious and living in crippling fear and paranoia was when we were on call. Every minute of every day for the past month, I had been looking over my shoulder, peering into the shadowy corners of rooms, sleeping with a knife by my bed. It felt like there were unseen eyes on me at all times, watching me, waiting, ready to strike when I am at my most vulnerable, when I let my guard down, so I never did. Even in my sleep I was haunted by these ghosts, these phantoms; the people watching me.
I was constantly tense and frustrated, snapping at people over stupid stuff and crying at minor inconveniences. I was sure that most of the Firehouse thought I was pregnant or suffering some kind of mental break. The only reason I could even sleep at night was because Leanna kept guard, spending all her evenings watching over me with a silent determination. My friendship with Leanna was the only positive thing that had come out of this whole mess and I clung to it like it was my only lifeline, because it was.
I didn't understand why Leanna was protecting me with such ferocity but I wasn't about to question it in fear of driving her away. At first I figured it was because she felt she owed me after I saved her life but now I liked to think it was because we were genuine friends. The threats we now both faced had bound us together.
Sometimes, however, sometimes Leanna drove me mad. For the first week after opening that letter she had refused to leave my side. Even going as far as to follow me into the bathroom. The only reason she had stopped was because I had threatened to rescind her invitation into my home. I still couldn't leave the house without her and the only alone time I got was when I was travelling to and from work. It was driving me mad but I knew it was because she cared so I always let it go.
I had a feeling, however, that she wasn't telling me something, something important. Every time I asked her why she was so protective of me she would get this haunted look in her eye and change the subject. I never pushed for an answer, sensing that whatever it was, she would tell me in her own time.
I was dragged from my musings about Leanna when our truck pulled up at the accident. Immediately, we all started assessing the situation, deciding within seconds the most dangerous areas and who on the scene needed urgent attention. Jesse and I were sent to a car in the centre of the wreckage with a dazed and confused family trapped inside. We nodded to each other and got to work, gathering the tools we would need to pry the doors open or off their hinges if they were too damaged to open.
Jesse was clueless about everything going on. I hadn't told him, or anyone, for that matter, about the trouble I was in. I knew that if I told even just one person, word would spread and the entirety of Bon Temps would know within thirty minutes. I couldn't let anyone be at risk because of me. There was nothing they could do against a bunch of vengeful vampires intent on murder and they would only get hurt if they tried to help. Jesse would be the worst and I could just see him getting killed in an attempt to help me.
Jesse had been spending so much time with his new girlfriend that he was almost never at home. I would have been resentful and jealous if it didn't keep him away from the house and out of danger. I could only feel relief that he was so distracted by his romantic affairs that he didn't notice my strange behaviour. It was odd though; Jesse had never prioritised his romantic relationships over his friendships before - maybe he really was in love this time?
We quickly and efficiently rescued the family from the car and moved onto the next one, a blue van driven by a moustached middle-aged man. My heart was beating rapidly from the exertion and the adrenaline, all I could think about was the rescue, the job, saving the next victim. It was the only time I felt free from all my burdens – civilian lives mattered more than my own and the only thing I had to worry about was how to help them. It was like a drug, the only time my mind was free from the torment of my stalkers and I wanted to shoot up on that feeling all the time.
The rescue took a long time but was mostly uneventful – our Firehouse was fast and efficient, moving from one vehicle to another without hesitation. From what we could puzzle out at the scene, the driver of a small truck had been speeding down the highway, subsequently lost control of his vehicle and swerved, crashing into all the other vehicles that had been in a close proximity to it. In total, there had been eighteen victims and, miraculously, only two deaths – the driver and a frail elderly woman who had been in the car closest to the truck when it had crashed.
By the time our shift ended, I was exhausted and wanted nothing more than to curl up in bed with a mug of hot tea and a good book but that was far from the nightmare I was preparing myself to face.
Last night, Leanna had snapped.
"We cannot live like this!" She had exclaimed, interrupting an episode of 'Say Yes to the Dress', which, surprisingly, she found oddly addictive. In the way that men yell and heckle at sports games on television, Leanna yelled at reality TV. Her addiction had started with 'Keeping Up with the Kardashians' and had since spread to encompass almost every trashy series available, 'Say Yes to the Dress' being her favourite.
"Um, what?" I had asked, clueless, still trying to watch the TV out the corner of my eye.
"We cannot continue to live in this state of sustained fear and paranoia. Look at us, Milia! We spend our nights on the edge of our seats because," she glanced at the television, "because Helen can't find the perfect sweetheart neckline. This needs to end, now!"
I sighed deeply. "You think I don't know that? What exactly can we do? You have already tried hunting them and it got us no where."
Leanna snarled, angry at her failure. "So we lure them out. Tomorrow. I will set a trap and we will end this ridiculous affair once and for all."
I had needled her for more information about what she was actually going to do but she clammed up, telling me it was safer for me if I didn't know more. I had shouted, screamed, cried and begged but she didn't tell me anything. I wanted to help, not sit back like some damsel in distress while she put her life on the line. I thought she was being reckless and stupid – driven by frustration and anger into acting too hastily but she wouldn't listen to me.
What if something went wrong and they killed her? What if I had been there and could have done something to stop it? If she died I might never know what happened to her – she could quite simply vanish from my life forever.
As soon as my shift ended, I sprinted to the locker room, changing my clothes at the speed of light. Everyone was giving me strange looks but all I could think about was Leanna. Leanna, lying in a pool of her own blood, or some shallow grave. Leanna, staring sightlessly at the night sky. I was terrified.
Finally, Chief had had enough. "Kent," he barked, "see me my in my office."
I ignored him, still manically shoving my clothes back into my bag. I had half an hour until the sun set. It took me seventeen minutes to drive from the Firehouse to my home, which meant I could stay for another ten minutes. If I rushed off now, looking the way I do, Chief would definitely be concerned and would very likely follow me home, potentially putting him in the centre of danger. This meant I had no choice but to talk to him; I would have to convince that I'm fine within my ten minute window.
I followed him into his office, noting that he still hadn't found the time to completely unpack everything, boxes littered the far left corner and it still looked sparse and blank. Chief sat behind his huge wooden desk, massaging his temples with his hands. He waved his hand at a chair opposite him, wordlessly telling me to sit down.
I flung myself into the seat, holding myself tightly, shoulders tense. I could feel sweat start to pool on the back of my neck and drip down my shirt, despite the air conditioning. I wanted to crawl out of my own skin but I had to sit calmly and act normally when everything inside of me was screaming at me to run back home.
"Milia," Chief began softly, "I'm not going to tell you off. I asked you here as someone who cares deeply for you and wants to know what is wrong and how I can help."
I swallowed thickly but didn't speak, maintaining my unblinking stare at the grey carpet.
I heard him sigh. "Amelia, I know you think of me as a father-like figure and I hope you know that I see you as a daughter also. It's not just me who is concerned. Did you know your brothers came to see me the other day to ask about you? They said you have been avoiding their calls. Don't even get me started on your mother. Something is wrong and has been for a few weeks now. Don't shut out the people who love you and want to help. Do not suffer in silence."
I felt tears well up in my eyes and had to choke back a sob, finally looking up to meet his eyes. What could I say? I didn't want to lie to him, it hurt to lie to the people I cared about but I couldn't exactly tell him the truth either. I settled for a half-truth.
"I'm just being silly. There was a… guy, back in Dallas and I thought he cared about me, liked me, even, I sure liked him a lot. But it turns out that he had been lying to me the entire time and manipulating me. I guess he hurt me more than I thought he did. I'm avoiding everyone because I'm embarrassed. You all say I'm too trusting and I didn't want to prove you right." I let out a few very real tears. I was crying for myself and for Leanna, for what she was probably going to endure later that night as I sat there lying to what was basically my own father. God, this whole thing was a mess.
He looked shocked and uncomfortable but bless him, tried to offer support. "I see. Right. Ok. That is… unfortunate. I hope that you feel better soon. I also hope you know that you deserve far better than that and anyone would be very luckily to have you."
I gave him a watery, but genuine, smile and stood up, awkwardly waving as I booked it out the door. My hands shook as I reached my car and unlocked it, sliding into the driver's seat and starting the engine in less than a second. I broke every speed law on the way home, gunning the engine so that I arrived in half the time it usually took.
The sun was beginning to set as I pulled up, setting the sky ablaze in a myriad of beautiful pinks, purples and oranges that I was too panicked to appreciate. I sprinted onto the porch and rushed inside, relieved to see that Leanna had yet to wake up. Breathing a sigh of relief, I sank to my knees, taking a moment to collect myself. I still had time to convince her not to go.
The door to the guest room slammed open, hitting the wall with a violent thud as a blur raced towards me. We had blacked out the windows in the spare room so Leanna could stay with me, just in case there was an emergency. She stopped suddenly in front of me and I flinched back in surprise.
"You're not supposed to be here," she hissed, gripping my shoulders tightly. "You were supposed to stay at the Firehouse, you foolish girl."
"You're insane if you think I'm going to let you face this alone." My voice was steady and calm as I stared unwaveringly into her eyes.
Leanna's glare softened. Leaning forward, she gently placed a small kiss on the top of my head. "You don't have a choice."
My brow furrowed in confusion and my eyes darted to hers, seeking answers. Too late I remembered that vampires could use glamour and a cloud descended over my mind, it was fluffy and gentle, like the sky on a lazy summer's day but at the edges of my mind I could feel the small crackles of lightning that Leanna was keeping hidden from me. By the time it cleared, Leanna was gone and I was sitting in the living room, staring at a blank television. I don't know what had pulled me out of the glamour, all I knew was that a small, whispering voice had crept through it like smoke, suffocating it and clearing my mind. I should have been scared, concerned by this new development but all I could think about was Leanna - she had gone off to face her old nest alone.
"Fuck," I sighed.
I really didn't want to be that idiot, you know the one – that person in horror movies who goes to investigate the strange noise. The moron who buys the haunted house; the idiot who goes to confront a zombie horde with only a small knife and yet, there I was, draping silver jewellery all over my body, preparing to do the one thing I had been told not to do. I didn't give myself much time to think things through, to second-guess myself, otherwise I would have chickened out. Instead, I swiftly started stuffing my pockets with the wooden stakes Leanna had given me as a safety precaution.
A month ago, I knew absolutely nothing about vampires, now I knew multiple ways to defend myself against them. The silver jewellery and stakes had all come from Leanna but the silver nitrate had been my idea. Silver nitrate has a lot of medical uses and sometimes came in the form of a spray, which I had been lucky enough to get my hands on. I sprayed it liberally all over my body, coating myself from head to toe in it but making sure to avoid my eyes, mouth and nose. It would stain my skin and I would look ridiculous for a few days, assuming I lived to see tomorrow, but it would act as fairly decent barrier between my skin and fangs. I wasn't stupid enough think it would act as some kind of force field but hopefully it would buy me enough time to stake any vampires attacking me, assuming I wasn't facing off more than one.
I took a deep breath, squared my shoulders and walked out the front door with my head held high. Striding fearlessly onto the front porch, I found… nothing. Well. That was rather anti-climatic.
I peered cautiously around the house, heart pounding in my ears to a loud beat that turned my fear, adrenaline and anticipation into a dangerous yet enticing song. Nothing. There was still nothing. I mentally kicked myself for thinking it would be that easy.
It was pitch black now. The night was both moonless and cloudy, offering no reprieve from the all-consuming darkness that surrounded me. The house emitted an eerie glow, an almost non-existent beacon compared to the night that cast menacing shadows in every direction. I felt like a small island in a never-ending vacuum.
Swallowing back my fear, I took a few nervous steps out into the ocean of shadows and, when nothing attacked me, started walking more confidently. I picked a random direction and set off, hoping that somehow I found Leanna. Knowing my luck, and how much the universe liked to mess with me, I was sure I would walk into trouble whether I wanted to or not, and where there was trouble, there was Leanna.
It was hard not to flinch after every step I took; I was constantly expecting a blow or a bite or a cold iron grip. The beat of terror my heart was pounding to became a melody as the noises of the night added to it. Every creaking tree branch, every snapped twig, every rustle of the leaves added to my fear until it was a symphony and the forest was its orchestra. I had never realised just how isolated our house was until that moment.
I walked for what felt like hours but in reality was probably only a half hour. I walked until I could no longer see my house or the streetlights, until there was no more light at all. The glow from my phone, now a substitute flash light, was almost blinding in the fathomless depths of the night. I just wanted to find to Leanna and go.
Snap.
A twig cracked to my left. I froze. It was probably an animal.
Crack.
A branch snapped off a tree to my right. I whimpered.
Scratch.
What sounded like nails being dragged against bark whispered behind me. Then, all was silent.
"Hello," a voice greeted from the darkness. I jumped and turned to escape but ran into what felt like a hard chest and stumbled back.
"Why are you being so polite to it? Disgusting, weak creatures don't deserve such respect," the chest said.
"Manners are important – the backbone of civilisation, William, you would do well to remember that."
My head whipped wildly from side to side as I shone my phone around, trying to see my new companions but they stayed well hidden in the shadows.
"Who cares? You two talk too much, let's just kill the bitch and show her severed head to Leanna. That whore deserves everything she gets, defying the King like that... It's treason!" Another voice spoke, sounding whiny and bored.
"Patience. Young vampires - always so eager. My dear, we have all of eternity." It was the first voice, the quietest and obviously most powerful.
The whiny one sighed and William spoke up again, sounding disdainful. "You underestimate Leanna. Go help Jillian, we don't need you here."
The young one moaned but I heard the small puff of air as they sped away.
"He needs to work on his stealth. Go help him, William; Leanna will undoubtedly tear him apart first without you there. I will deal with the human."
And then I was left alone with the soft voice.
A loud cackle echoed around me, reverberating through my ears and down my spine as a pair of glowing blue eyes appeared right in front of me. I screamed and stumbled backwards; adrenaline shooting through my veins as I instinctively raised my hands to protect myself. It felt like I was going to go into cardiac arrest my heart was beating so fast, my body was tingling from the adrenaline as my focus narrowed down to only those two monstrous eyes.
I heard the eyes laugh again, a high, grating noise, filled with mockery and delight, and then a hand gripped the forearm that I had lifted as a shield. The eyes hissed and I felt the hand swiftly let go as what could only be a vampire touched the silver nitrate. Sensing that this would be the only opportunity I would get to save myself, I slipped a wooden stake into my hand and channelled all the energy buzzing through me into slashing forward with the dagger, intending to stab my assailant through the heart. God, I was stupid.
The dagger plunged through the night in a wide arc and I flew forward, putting all my weight behind the attack only to be met with dead air. The eyes blinked into existence to my left and that high-pitched cackle pierced my eardrums again, this time screeching with fury and contempt.
"That was very stupid but very brave. I think we're going to have a lot of fun together."
The adrenaline that had been flooding my system left me all at once, replaced instead with stone cold dread. If I had been terrified before, it was nothing compared to this.
"I think you need redefine your idea of fun." If I was going to die, I was going to die with a smartass retort on my lips.
The eyes seemed to grow larger in their fury and time seemed to stop for a moment. Then they fractured my arm. I grunted in agony but did not scream – I had broken a bone many times before that.
"Oh, a human that thinks they are strong. It is highly amusing to break humans who think like that," the voice said; I could hear the sneer in their words.
"Why don't you go fuck yourself?" It wasn't exactly an elegant or classy reply but it got the message across, even if my voice was strained from pain and fear.
The eyes sighed, like they were mildly put upon. It was a sudden shift from their earlier mania and it scared me more than the crazy laughter did – the vampire was more unbalanced than I had thought.
I tried to step back, to run, but before I could move the vampire knocked me off my feet in one swift blow, sending my phone flying out my hand and leaving me blind, with no source of light. I lay gasping on the ground, winded and disoriented, my head ringing and flopping uselessly. Realising that I had no choice but to move if I wanted to live, I scrambled desperately on the ground, searching for my cell phone and trying to ignore the blood dripping from my head. Just as my hand touched the cold metal of my phone, I screamed in agony when the eyes appeared above me, glistening menacingly as they crushed my leg. I could feel my bones crunch together as they splintered. The fragments of what was once my shin gave way under the pressure of the vampire's strength and slid up, stabbing into my calf and shredding the muscle. Tears streamed down my face and I whimpered. The voice started cackling again.
"Poor baby, here, let me assist you."
I tried to move away, to do something but I was in too much pain and I bit back a scream as they bent my hand backwards, snapping it as easily as a child snaps Lego.
"Aw," the eyes cooed, "you're no fun! I like my humans on their knees and pleading for their life. Beg me to stop and I will make your death quick and painless, mostly."
I spat at them, or in their general direction – it was too dark to tell.
"So rude," they tutted, "I suppose I will have to teach you some manners before you depart from this world, really, I'll be doing whoever greets you in the afterlife a favour, that is, if there is one."
I braced myself, letting the tears drip down my face as I stared at the sky, hoping to see the stars one last time.
"Oh dear," the eyes giggled, looming above me again, "someone is coming. It appears as though you have a bodyguard. No matter, we can continue our little lesson another time. Remember – I will be waiting for you."
There was a rush of air as they disappeared and then I was left in silent torment, my body broken. I started to slip into the world of the unconscious; my head wound proving to be too much for me.
Just as my eyes started to slip shut, I felt a strong pair of arms scoop me up and cradle me into a hard chest. I breathed in their familiar scent, finding it comforting and realised that I knew that cologne – Armani.
Ta daaaa!
Poor Milia, she just cannot catch a break! I split this chapter in half because there would just be waaay too much violence for one chapter and it would have just ended up being very overdramatic and kind of cheesy.
I left a lot of unanswered questions about Leanna and her past in this chapter, and hinted that there is more to her old nest's evil plans that meet the eye. Some of these questions will be answered soon and you will have to wait for others...
Also, its fairly obvious who is rescuing her but if you're unsure, have a guess?
Thank you so much for reading!
Next Chapter: Milia tries to recover from her ordeal but her many problems catching up with her all at once gets in the way of that...