Tempting Destiny

by Sela Croft

  Yet if I gave in and tasted a drop of Mirela’s blood, there would be no turning back. Any shred of control that I clung to in her presence would vaporize. Ravenous, and empty for sustenance that only she could give, I would suck voraciously.

  Even if I was able to stop before draining her dry, the consequences of quenching my thirst would alter her irrevocably. Mirela’s blood was what I’d sought for centuries. Having found her, I dared not let temptation win out.

  Mirela sighed in my arms, content, happy. She would have given all; her willing heart urged me on. I opened my eyes to see her staring into mine. I let a silken strand of her long, dark hair drift through my fingertips.

  Her wide eyes were a pale green. Surrounded by the green of nature, the color paled next to the light emerald shade of her eyes. Her skin was smooth and flawless, her mouth sensual. And her body was that of a young maiden, a form recreated in paintings throughout the centuries.

  I wondered how much Mirela knew, but I suspected it was little. Her innocence was not a pretense. She was pure and radiant—untouched by the darkness that had created me. I suffered in silence, rather than take her as I wished.

  Blood was food; it was satisfaction. Yet Mirela’s was special. The aroma was dizzying. An addiction I wouldn’t be able to recover from beckoned to me. Reaching into a place in my heart—if a heart I still had—I managed to put Mirela’s welfare ahead of my needs.

  Her value warranted such drastic measures.

  Mirela’s questions abounded, ones that I wasn’t free to answer. She’d discovered my nature, despite my efforts to avoid that. But she lusted for more knowledge that she was better off not having. I’d allowed her to learn too much already.

  My insides ached, parched for her blood—a delicacy withheld from me. I had to be satisfied that I’d found her, that I’d seen her—that I’d kissed her. I couldn’t conceive it would be enough, but it would have to do. I’d stayed over long as it was.

  I’d just said, “What’s truly amazing is you.” Mirela’s eyes filled with admiration, and her skin flushed with desire.

  I looked away—a second longer and I wouldn’t resist. I would have what I wanted and be consumed with regret. Seen through Mirela’s eyes, I was good, deserving of her love. But I was aware of who I was, what I was capable of. If I did only one good thing, it would be to ensure that Mirela was not swept into the darkness, her pure heart destroyed.

  Holding Mirela’s hand, I guided her back to the car. Before I opened the door, I brushed my lips against her wrist. I savored the delicate scent of her, then said, “We must go.”

  I ignored the sadness in her eyes, having tempted fate enough for one day.

  As the car sped over the road, Mirela watched me. “I wish I didn’t have to go back. I’d rather stay with you.”

  “That’s unwise,” I said. “It’s important that we’re not found out.” That was truer than she knew.

  “I’ve been very careful.”

  The wind whipped past, taunting me with Mirela’s sweet scent. I accelerated, needing to get away from her—if just for a while. I had to regain my composure, numb my need. It would be best not to see her again, but I didn’t know if I was ready for that.

  It would be soon. The temporary respite from my life, and the cherished moments with Mirela, toyed with destiny. It was crucial that I be cautious not to alter the course of her life. Yet hadn’t I done that already? I was with her, having stayed beside her for longer than I should have.

  I feared that had been a mistake. But despite the possible consequences, I’d come to her. This brief breath in time would have to satisfy me for an eternity. Life without seeing her again loomed as an unlivable monster. But had I already endangered her irrevocably?

  “What are you thinking about?” Mirela said. “You’re so quiet. Didn’t you enjoy the forest?”

  “Oh, yes…I did.” I glanced over, and desire engulfed me. Mirela’s dark hair blew around her face, her cheeks pink from the cold, her lips swollen from my kiss. “I’m glad…to be with you.”

  Had I said too much? I was only encouraging her, just as I had by appearing in her dreams at night. But then, I wasn’t a decent guy. I wasn’t what she imagined. I was born of evil, riddled with needs that refused to abate.

  Mirela stroked my leg, her gentle touch a reminder of all that I could partake of. It might have been best if I hadn’t come with her, but I was unable to imagine refusing her…anything.

  I pulled into the parking lot, back where we’d started hours before. Only life had changed. A kiss in an enchanted forest had left me weak, vulnerable to my dark side. I got out to open the door but didn’t look at Mirela. “Go…quickly, before it’s too late.”

  Mirela hesitated, then walked away from the car. I watched as she went back to school, back to where she belonged. She was mine, always mine. But I wasn’t to have her then, if at all. The fates might have other plans. Yet I vowed this wasn’t the last time I’d be with her. I couldn’t let her go—not yet.

  The next school day, I looked for Mirela. I wasn’t there to go to class and wasn’t concerned with grades. Graduation wasn’t far off, but I had no need of it. My only purpose was to be close to Mirela, the lovely maiden I’d struggled for centuries to find.

  I had my romantic side, but only when it came to Mirela. Otherwise, I was true to my vampire nature. Only with her, the light of my soul glimmered—a light that had long ago faded.

  That day I played my role as high school senior, dressed in dark jeans and a thermal shirt. Even my longish hair didn’t seem objectionable. The other students accepted my presence, as did the teachers. But then, I was able to affect minds in certain circumstances.

  It was an overcast day, just how I liked it. The clouds darkened, although it hadn’t rained yet. I left the top up on the convertible. Strolling through campus, I nodded at other students who recognized me. I headed toward Mirela’s first class.

  I’d arrived so that I might catch her before she went inside. She was talking to Lana but glanced at me. I hurried over to talk to her before the bell rang.

  “Lana…Mirela,” I said.

  Lana looked up at me with a smile on her face. I wasn’t sure if she liked me, as much as she liked the fact that I hung around with Mirela. “Good morning, Draven.”

  “I thought I might catch you.” I stood close to Mirela.

  “I’ll leave you to it,” Lana said. “I can’t be late again.” She waved. “And don’t take her away at lunch…I have important stuff to talk to her about.”

  Mirela laughed. “As if we don’t talk on the phone enough. We were on for hours last night. My mother finally yelled for me to go to bed already.”

  “What do you find to talk about?”

  “Hmm, wouldn’t you like to know.” Mirela looped her arm through mine. “Walk me to class.”

  “Actually, I would like to know. What do high school girls talk about…for hours?”

  Mirela wrinkled her nose. “You say that as if girls was a derogatory term.”

  “Not at all. I like girls…especially you.”

  Mirela grinned. “Oh, flattery will get you everywhere.” She stopped in front of her classroom. “If you must know, we talked about you.”

  I raised my eyebrows. “For hours? I had no idea that I was that interesting.”

  “Oh, not for hours. We moved on to other juicy topics, like parties and what girl is dating what boy. Maybe we mentioned studying for tests, but just in passing.”

  “And what about me?”

  Mirela smiled. “I figured that’s what you’d want to know. It’s so much more intriguing than discussing Lana’s hope that Adam Jameson will ask her out.” She lifted her hand. “You took me on a date yesterday, so I had much to share with my friend.”

  “The forest was a date?”

  “Don’t you know anything?”

  “Apparently not.” I reached for a strand of Mirela’s long hair, then tugged lightly. “So…what did you tell her?”

>   “Oh, just…everything.” Mirela giggled, and I rather liked seeing her joyful at my expense. “I told her how beautiful the trees were, how magical the bridge was…”

  “And?”

  “You know…at the end.” Mirela glowed and heat surged through my body. The bell rang, so she stepped toward class. “I told her…about the kiss.” Then she disappeared inside.

  I entertained myself by going to a class of my own, unconcerned that I was late. I merely altered a thought in the instructor’s mind, so he wasn’t aware of my tardiness. Then I sat at the back of the room, thinking only of Mirela.

  Lunchtime arrived at last, so I went to the cafeteria. The stale food smelled gross, but I didn’t exhibit any repulsion. Mirela was sitting with Lana and a few other classmates. But there was an empty seat.

  When I walked over, Mirela waved toward the chair next to her. “You can sit here.” I slid in beside her, trying to pick up on the conversation. The subjects of discourse in high school baffled me. I’d not have conceived the issues that held the center of conversation were of such importance.

  But they seemed to be. It was all about dating, partying, what to wear, and all discussion was laced with gossip. It was no surprise that I hadn’t been able to discreetly attend the school and befriend Mirela. Word had been out, nearly before I’d laid eyes on her. Rumor had a miraculous way of spreading.

  “Who are you taking to prom next week?” It was a redheaded girl named Julie, who was often at lunch with the group. She looked over at me with anticipation.

  I shrugged, taking on my high school personality. “Mirela, of course.”

  Mirela leaned against me. “You might try asking me.”

  The others laughed. But I remained undaunted. “Will you please go to the prom with me?”

  “Well…since you put it that way, yes, I’ll be your date,” Mirela said. “With Lana’s help, I’ve already found the perfect dress.”

  “She’s right,” Lana said. “It is stunning…red velvet with a floor-length skirt. Mirela will be the envy of all the girls.”

  “That’s what I was hoping,” I said, and smiled at Lana.

  The conversation continued unabated. It varied only slightly in subject matter, but I was content to be with Mirela. I rather enjoyed watching her in her natural element. A vision of her in a red velvet dress came to mind. She would be stunning, and likely to steal any man’s heart—something I couldn’t allow. I supposed that I would have to take her to prom, lest another male scoop her away. My limited days with Mirela seemed to be extending, beyond my original plan.

  As I walked Mirela back to class, she invited me to attend the senior picnic. I’d heard snippets about it at lunch. “Do you think that’s wise?”

  “You just won’t ride with the rest of us. The chaperones would certainly snitch, and the last thing I need is for my mother to restrict me.”

  “Good point,” I said. “I’ll get the details and meet you there.”

  Mirela pointed a finger at me. “Be sure that you do.”

  The day of the picnic was chilly, but I left the top down on the convertible. The brisk air felt good against my face and reminded me of rides with Mirela. The event was at Cape Disappointment, a park with beaches, stretched below jagged cliffs.

  Upon arrival, I noticed that it was quite scenic. There were areas for the tourists and locals to hang out and eat. Plus, the beach offered sandy strips to walk along, although the water was too cold for swimming.

  I kept to the trees, not wanting the parents to spot me. I’d fed earlier, as was my routine before being in the company of humans. The smell of grilling food did not entice me. There was only one aroma I was searching for, and I picked up her scent as soon as I got out of the car.

  Mirela wasn’t far. I edged toward the path and spotted her among a group of friends. She was dressed warmly, and her long hair was tied back. I watched her for a while, waiting for an opportunity to connect.

  Before too long, I saw Mirela strolling along the path alone. She was hoping to get away from the crowd and give me a chance to find her. I moved through the trees, appearing up ahead so she’d see me. When she turned down a path in the forest, I stepped into view.

  Alone with Mirela, I took in her beauty. Then I swallowed hard, suppressing my craving for her blood. I’d been wise to have my fill before arriving, as it was difficult enough to forgo imbibing. She chatted for a few minutes, but not about anything important.

  Then I drew her close for a kiss. This time I didn’t pull back; I leaned into the kiss. Mirela tasted so sweet, her lips so warm. She ran her fingers through my shaggy hair and reassured me that everything would work out.

  I was the one who should be reassuring her, not the other way around. Yet worry nagged at me. There had been that incident, the fight with death’s minion at the edge of the forest. It had been on one of the rides with Mirela, along the mountain roads.

  I’d handled the intrusion, annoyed at the invasion of my privacy. Yet the creature’s appearance, even the attack, hadn’t been my major concern. Mirela had seen the event, but she shouldn’t have. Humans weren’t able to perceive such creatures from my world.

  It was unsettling, and I still hadn’t made sense of it. Or maybe I had…

  I just didn’t want to allow those thoughts. Yet I couldn’t put them aside. I knew more about Mirela and her abilities than she probably did. If she had a clue, she hadn’t let on. I’d chosen to ignore the truth, not wanting her normal human life to be disturbed.

  But I couldn’t turn a blind eye to what had happened. Mirela had seen the creature and witnessed the fight. I couldn’t deny it, and nor could I explain it to her—not without telling her more than I should.

  Then Mirela made her way out of the forest, holding tight to my hand. Lana shouted from across the path, inviting us to join the group. “Come with us. We’re going up to the lighthouse.”

  There were no chaperones, so it was safe. Walking on the outside of the path, to shelter Mirela from the wind, I made my way up the incline to the lighthouse. It was worth the trek. From the top, the scene was majestic. The view extended far out to the horizon and the expansive sky above was filled with clouds, blocking out the sun.

  For a while, I stood with my arm around Mirela and gazed at the ocean. Lana and her friends were next to us, commenting on the awe-inspiring beauty of the vista. For a fleeting moment, I envisioned staying with Mirela. I imagined what it would be like to be together without end.

  The spell was broken when Lana suggested that it was time to leave and Mirela stepped away from me. Then I froze, alert to a sound. I took a step toward the edge to peer at the water below. In a flash, I was suspended in midair, at the mercy of the horror I’d perceived.

  CHAPTER 3 – MIRELA

  My scream filled the air. I stared wide-eyed as the frightening scene unfolded. Massive wings flapped with powerful force, blowing my hair. I put my hand up, palm out, to shield my face. The wings were webbed like those of sea creatures.

  The wings caught my attention first, but I immediately realized that three winged women were the cause of the commotion. One had reached out a clawed hand with lightning speed, arresting Draven’s fall. With superhuman strength, she held him to her chest.

  The horrible winged women were draped in black, with serpent hair and eyes that dripped blood. I trembled in fear for Draven, helpless to rescue him from the onslaught. The women appeared larger than he was, and their distorted visages were repulsive.

  Frozen to the spot, I watched in terror. The women had appeared, as if from nowhere. But they had to have come from somewhere. I’d stepped closer to the edge, watching, as they swooped toward the ocean below.

  I was unable to see Draven, as their huge wings blocked any view of him. I caught a last glimpse of black cape and rubbery wings, before they disappeared into the water. There was no ripple or wave indicating their location. Only the crashing of waves against the cliffs as before.

  Had the whole thing taken a
n instant, an hour? I couldn’t be sure. Time has seemed suspended, irrelevant. A force greater than any I’d witnessed before had taken Draven—swept him off the cliff and into the ocean.

  He couldn’t survive under the ocean. Although supernatural, it didn’t mean he could breathe under the surface. I had no concept of the abilities of the winged women, other than what I’d seen. Maybe they were part fish or had magical abilities, such as breathing in water.

  I staggered—nearly falling over the edge—but regained my balance. The ocean was so far below, and Draven was too far away. Where would they take him? Who were they and why did they want him?

  An arm wrapped around mine and I was aware of Lana. She stood next to me, looking fixedly at the edge of the cliff. It was as though she couldn’t conceive that it was real, that another glance at the cliff would reveal Draven standing there as before.

  But Draven was gone.

  My voice sounded distant as I said, “He was beside me, then took two steps and was swept off the cliff.”

  Lana squeezed me closer. “Oh my God.” She stared at the open space, seemingly unable to say more.

  My friend was my only comfort, and little enough as it was. The day had shifted from a joyful interlude—complete with thrill of defiance against my mother’s instruction to stay away from Draven—to the blackest of afternoons. Grief welled inside me, yet I didn’t cry.

  It was as if all this wasn’t happening. It couldn’t be; it wasn’t real.

  One of the boys put his arm around me then pulled me away from the edge. Another moved as close to the drop as he dared and looked over. I held my breath, cringing at the thought of Draven smashed against the rocky shore below.

  Two other boys jockeyed into position to get a look. Their eyes scanned the beach below and the ocean farther out. Seconds ticked by, seeming like minutes. I prayed for good news, yet feared that none was to be had. In unison, the boys stepped back.