A Guardian's Love

by Stein Willard

  Tahlia smiled faintly as she studied her friend. She was aware of Jemima looking at the both of them. The silver eyes didn’t stray from hers, and Tahlia felt the centuries fall away. She was once again back on the cruel streets of Rome.

  The man was stronger than he looked and the harder she tried to pry him off her friend, the more determined he became. He pressed his uniformed body against the lanky one of Paloma, holding her up against the coarse wall. She once again tried to pull him off, but he didn’t budge.

  She felt helpless as she searched the area looking for help, but they were in a deserted area of town. They were on their rounds to collect dirty soldier uniforms for their mothers when the drunken soldier accosted them. She could see in his eyes what he wanted as they’d moved over Paloma’s frame even before he had lunged for her.

  “Wait your turn,” he growled at her, and Tahlia turned her head away from the overwhelming stench of drink on his breath. The man’s rough hand ripped wildly at Paloma’s threadbare tunic, groping at her young breasts. She saw Paloma’s terrified eyes and knew that even if it killed her, she was going to do everything in her power to deter the man from further soiling her friend with his vile touch.

  Era, the blacksmith’s daughter, had suffered through this brutal deed. It had left her wandering the streets with a vacant stare for weeks afterwards. Marila, Era’s mother, had told her mother not long after that her daughter was still afflicted by night sweats and that the man’s seed had caught and her daughter was breeding.

  She met her friend’s scared eyes. This man was not going to defile her friend like that...not as long as she could prevent it.

  Picking up a shard of a broken water container, she advanced on the heavily-breathing soldier and bashed him soundly on the head and shoulders.

  “What—?” He turned from Paloma and reached for her. His grimy hands had locked around her throat as he lifted her off the ground. “This will teach you to interrupt me.” He then dropped her and lashed out with brutal kicks to her head and stomach. He only stopped when Paloma brought the shard she had dropped, down hard on his head making him crumple into a heap.

  Dazed and weakened by pain, Tahlia allowed Paloma to lead her to the small house their family shared. Luckily, their mothers were not home, and Paloma continued to gently bathe Tahlia’s aching body before putting her in bed. The silver eyes had studied her like a hawk before she came to her feet.

  “I will return soon, Tahlia. Please be alive when I get back.” The tears running down her friend’s cheeks made her blink. Paloma never cried—never ever.

  “I promise. Just hurry.”

  She must have dozed off because when she opened her eyes again, it was not Paloma’s gaze she encountered, but the teary blue ones of Aurora. Having her there was a cool balm to her throbbing body.

  “Oh, my heart, I will personally make sure the beast never draws another breath again.” With soft, smooth hands, she had caressed her cheeks before planting a soft kiss on the corner of her lips. “My beautiful angel…” The blue eyes hardened suddenly. “I will have them cut off his arms and legs and leave him only his belly to crawl on.”

  She would’ve smiled if it weren’t so painful, but she weakly squeezed her lover’s hand.

  “I will be fine, dearling.”

  Paloma stepped forward and knelt at the side of her bed. Her silver eyes were solemn as they locked with hers.

  “I will always be indebted to you, Tahlia. From this moment onwards, I will be at your service. I will protect you and yours with my life.” She had placed a soft kiss on her sweaty brow. “I love you dearly, my sister.”

  That day they became sisters. They had protected each other even at the expense of their own lives. That’s why it hurt so badly when Paloma had disappeared. Tahlia wasn’t there to protect her friend, her sister. She hadn’t kept her promise, and the guilt had lingered for 500 years.

  Tahlia had opened her mind to Jemima while she and Paloma relived that day. She felt her lover’s arm slip around her waist.

 

  “I will go see if our guests need anything.” Jemima said out loud and walked away. Tahlia followed her with her eyes until she disappeared into the crowded room.

  †

  Paloma watched as Tahlia's eyes followed Jemima. She cleared her throat softly, and Tahlia turned to look at her

  “I would like to ask you formally if I could bind myself to your daughter, Tahlia.” Paloma had chosen her words carefully, aware of her friend’s mood. Tahlia completely adored her daughter. When Inger was younger, she’d always found them sitting in the park after dark, their dark heads close as they talked and laughed. Knowing how much Tahlia adored her daughter, she could only imagine how difficult it was going to be for her to release her daughter into her care. But Paloma needed more. She needed to possess Inger fully before she could be completely happy.

  Tahlia’s black eyes narrowed. “Are you going to make her Vampire?”

  Paloma felt the tension coming off Tahlia. She will have to tread carefully if she wanted to claim Inger and retain Tahlia’s friendship and respect. She doubted if she could gain both, but it was worth a try.

  “No.”

  Tahlia cocked her head to the side. Paloma could see Tahlia’s mind work behind the unreadable gaze.

  “Only vampires can be bound to each other, and even then you know the intricacies of the process. If something should happen to Inger, you will be doomed to a life of loneliness, like Pierre.”

  Paloma’s eyes held Tahlia’s. “I love her enough to want to take the chance.”

  Tahlia turned away and looked out over the garden. “Have you spoken to her about this?”

  “Not yet. I wanted to speak to you first.”

  Tahlia turned back to Paloma. “Speak to her first. But I want you to be honest with her otherwise I will have to. Tell her what could happen to you should something happened to her. You need to tell her everything.”

  Paloma frowned, but nodded. Knowing Inger, upon hearing this, she most definitely would refuse to marry her.

  “What if she wants me to convert her?”

  Tahlia’s eyes grew sad. “It hurts to admit this, but I cannot be everything for her anymore. You are what she wants now. In the end it is Inger’s decision, but it hurts nonetheless, thinking of her living in the dark as we do.”

  “I will consult with you first, Tahlia.” She could feel Tahlia’s pain like it was her own. She placed her hand over Tahlia’s heart. “I will never do anything to hurt you, sister.”

  Chapter 11

  Inger had difficulty concentrating on the text before her, so, after a valiant effort she gave up. After class, she decided to visit the library to read up for a paper. She realized now how fruitless it was. Sitting opposite her reading through a thick Latin volume, was Paloma. Inger was acutely aware of her lover’s subtle presence in her mind and her intoxicating physical presence. Since they had become lovers, they were inseparable. Paloma accompanied her everywhere now that she was using the daylight serum.

  In class, Paloma would cast a visibility spell to cloak her presence and would stand guard at the door, her silver eyes not leaving her. In the beginning it took a while getting used to Paloma’s presence in the lecture room. Sometimes, like today for instance, she felt the incredible draw of Paloma. Inger found herself looking to the door more times than she could remember. In the end, it prompted her professor to ask her if she had urgent matters to attend to before the lecture ended. With half the class chuckling, she had felt Paloma’s smile in her mind. Blushing furiously she made a point not to look toward the door for the duration of the lecture.

  Paloma shifted and lifted her eyes from the book she was reading. “If you want, I can get the professor back for having put you on the spot.” Inger gasped and Paloma smiled. “I am not talking about killing him.”

  Paloma had snuck into her mind again. Ever since Paloma had taken her blood, it was becom
ing harder to keep the Assassin out of her mind. She wasn’t sure if she wanted to block her lover’s invasions anymore. Inger grimaced. “No. I wasn’t concentrating. He had every right to poke fun at me.”

  Paloma nodded. “OK. But if you change your mind, I have the perfect prank to make him the laughing stock in class for a change.”

  A shadow fell over them and even before Inger looked up to see who the person was, she felt waves of menace bouncing off Paloma. She quickly looked up and couldn’t help but smile.

  Jeremy Givens was in her class, and she knew he had been trying extremely hard for her to notice him. As captain of the football team, he could have his pick of girls and she was flattered by his attention. He was incredibly good-looking causing all the girls and even some of the female professors to swoon.

  She looked up into his sky blue eyes and smiled. Her smile faltered slightly when she saw the blatant lust in his eyes. She also knew that even with his back to her, Paloma could sense his lust. The air in the library suddenly became stifling, and Inger knew Paloma had something to do with the sudden ominous feeling in the air. She had to get rid of Jeremy, and fast.

  “Hi Jeremy, how can I help you?” She tried to keep the tension out of her voice. Paloma sat motionless, her eyes riveted on the page of the book before her.

  Jeremy beamed at her. “After the match tonight, we’re going to a party. Is it OK if I pick you up at seven?”

  Inger had to smile at his overconfidence. At seven tonight she will most likely be lying in Paloma’s arms, but this boy didn’t even consider the fact that she might be seeing someone. She threw a quick glance at Paloma. What she saw in the vampire’s eyes had her quickly turning back to Jeremy. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Paloma quickly averting her gaze. What she saw in those eyes spelled great danger for Jeremy. Paloma’s eyes dripped venom and were almost white with what Inger identified as jealousy.

  “I’m sorry, Jeremy, but I’m seeing someone. Thank you for the invitation though.”

  Jeremy shrugged as he flashed another brilliant smile. “You should give the loser the boot.” He winked at her. “You belong on the arm of a real man, sweetheart.”

  Inger groaned under her breath.

  “You can bring your friend along. I’ve heard that these foreign exchange students are quite lively. The guys will have a lot of fun with her.”

  Jeremy leered at Paloma and Inger tried to think of something to say to get him to move on. She didn’t take her eyes off a seemingly calm Paloma.

  All of a sudden, the library erupted in jeers and laughter. When she looked at Jeremy, her jaw dropped. He was standing there, the cocky expression still on his handsome face and his pants pooled around his ankles. It took him a few seconds to realize that everyone was not laughing with him, but laughing at him. When he looked down, he dropped his school bag and grabbed a book out of a nearby shelf to cover his privates. There was a look of horror on his handsome features.

  “Natalia is not interested in boy with tiny manhood.” Paloma drawled in a heavy accent loud enough for everybody to hear. “I like a man with…” she gestured toward Jeremy’s crotch, “a strong weapon.”

  More jeers and laughter sounded as a pale Jeremy pulled up his pants and stormed for the exit.

  When Inger looked back at Paloma, the silver eyes held a look of death. “He got off lightly this time, but if he ever tries that again, I will skin him alive.”

  Inger felt a chill run down her spine. That was no idle threat. She quickly grabbed her notes off the desk and pushed them into her shoulder bag.

  “Let’s get out of here.” As far away from other people as we can before Paloma snaps.

  †

  The warehouse looked deserted to the human eye, but the moment Paloma stepped in she smelled the foul stench of renegades. She signaled for Gene and Carlos to spread out and comb the rest of the interior while she went to work on the near-invisible clues in front of her. She was sniffing the air, analyzing the different smells and filing them in her mind. It would make it easier to identify who was in here in the last 24 hours. Except for the repugnant smell of renegades, there were also a great number of human scents.

 

  Paloma quickly came to her feet and using preternatural speed, raced up the stairs to where the offices were located. Carlos and Gene were in one of the offices and they made way for her to enter. Four corpses lay strewn on the floor. From where she stood, it was obvious that it was a vampire killing. Her eyes moved over the puncture wounds covering the arms and legs of the corpses. Blood cows. She studied the gaping wounds in their necks. Whoever killed them must’ve been in a hurry to feed or the intention was to kill. The latter sounded more plausible. She turned to the two hunters.

  “These killings were committed by one vampire. Do you know what that means?”

  “A gluttonous appetite like this can only mean that the killer must be a renegade ancient who surfaced recently. Or perhaps the killer was merely chasing the thrill of the kill,” offered Gene.

  Paloma nodded and left the office.

  “I cannot help but feel that we are missing something.” She turned back to look at the corpses. “I have a feeling that Mercredi is already in town. But how did he sneak in without our sentries picking him up?”

  She jumped down from the steel walkway and came to land on her feet. This time she carefully walked through the warehouse, her eyes darting from the floor to the walls to the ceiling. There must be something here.

  †

  The green eyes cracked open and for a few seconds she didn’t know what exactly had awakened her from the deep sleep. She lay quietly for a few seconds. There it was again—a familiar presence. It was vague, but close by. She felt a stirring in her mind. Mercredi was trying to read her mind. She shut him out rudely. Erecting a strong ancient mental block, she tried to reach out to the owner of the scent.

  She smiled when she made contact. Help has arrived—finally.

  †

  Inger looked up from her books when she felt the presence behind her. When she turned, it was to find Paloma sitting on her bed. She rolled her eyes when she saw the look in Paloma’s eyes.

  “I have to finish this paper tonight.”

  Paloma shrugged, her eyes still looking at her hungrily. “I can wait.” She swung her legs onto the bed. With her hands folded behind her head, she looked at Inger. “I am very patient.”

  Inger felt her body respond to the hot look in Paloma’s eyes. Maybe taking a five-minute break wasn’t such a bad idea, she thought to herself as she studied the vampire stretched out on her bed.

  “I am meeting with Michael and Joan in an hour at the safe house. Do you think you will be done by then, because I do not want to leave you here alone?”

  Inger quickly scanned through her notes. She would still need at least an hour to finish reading the report. She turned back to Paloma.

  “Maybe you could pick me up afterwards?”

  Paloma raised herself onto her elbow. “No.” The silver eyes were serious. “I will wait for you.”

  “Why? I am not in any danger in my room?”

  Paloma swung her feet off the bed and came to stand behind her. A slight shiver went down her spine at the light touch of Paloma’s fingertips around her neck. Of late, she had only to look at Paloma and her body would rebel against common sense. Many passion-filled nights had started with a slow glance and a light touch from Paloma. Inger came to her feet and turning, stepped into Paloma’s arms. Yes, she did feel safe in her arms.

  “I cannot shake the feeling that something big is going to happen soon. I will not let you out of my sight until I know that it is safe for you to wander around alone.”

  “Do you think that Mercredi is in town?”

  Paloma nodded. “I am not sensing him—not yet—but earlier we found the bodies of four blood cows. It could be his handiwork.” Paloma’s eyes were hard. “As a human he was an evil, cruel man. As a mon
ster with superhuman power and an undead army; he is a force to be reckoned with.” Her arms tightened around her, and Inger looked up. “I do not want anything to happen to you; therefore, I beg you not to stray too far from me, my love.”

  For four years, Inger had been fighting renegades successfully and had prided herself on that. She’d hated the idea of anyone coming into her life and telling her how to run it, even kicking against her parents’ interference. But with Paloma, it was different. She respected her fighting skills and knew that Inger could take care of herself when needed.

  “OK. I’ll go with you.” She turned back to her desk to pack up her books. “Where are we spending the night?”

  “If it is fine with you, we can sleep over at my place. I have not been there for a while.”

  Inger came upright from sorting her notes. These past weeks they’d sleep either at the safe house, her dorm room, or at her grandparents’ place. They were never alone. At Paloma’s place, they would be alone. She will be totally alone with Paloma.

  She had been so engrossed in her thoughts that she failed to detect Paloma’s presence in her mind.

  Paloma took a few steps backwards, a wounded look in her eyes. “You are scared of being alone with me? With the monster?”

  Inger’s head snapped up. She quickly stepped forward, but Paloma moved farther out of reach. Inger became desperate as she felt the distance between them. The silver eyes were hooded, hiding the pain. Oh, what have I done now? Even though Paloma came across as unflappable, Inger still sensed the vampire’s unease with how Inger perceived her. Every time Paloma drank from her while they made love, she noticed how withdrawn she became afterward. It is as if she was ashamed and wanted to hide from her. Inger’s desperation intensified.