"Hello?” It echoed in the forlorn landscape. No one answered her so she began to walk. It was endless, this walking. Jayd had no knowledge of the passage of time until, after walking through the grass, she came to a place where the meadow ended. Someone had torn it from the fabric of space and time, and the only thing before her was blackness. In the distance, she saw twinkling dots that could have been stars.
"Hello.” This time her call didn't echo. It was absorbed by the darkness. After a few moments, Jayd felt something coming. Whatever it was, was powerful. The weight of the power already weighed on her skin. She backed away from the darkness when she saw a shape emerge from it. The figure was the most beautiful being she'd ever seen. He was pale like the moon above, with hair coal dark, dressed all in black, and wings of black feathers reminding her of raven wings.
He was an angel. What would an angel want with me now that my soul is damned? The figure laughed. He stepped forward and held out his hands, showing her that he was not about to hurt her.
"Who are you?"
He stopped a few inches from her. The being reached out and touched her cheek lightly. His touch made her shiver in a good way. The only other person to make her feel that way had been Seth. “My name is Azrael, Jayd. I am the Angel of Death."
"So I'm dead? Is that why I'm here? Is this limbo or something? Did the sun really burn me alive because..."
He smiled, and she saw his pointed canine teeth. “No, you're not dead. Seth saved you before the sun could claim you. This is a limbo. It is a place between life and death. A place where you can summon me. A place where you can be free to wander in your dreams. You are not a condemned soul, Jayd. Becoming a vampire doesn't mean your soul goes to hell. Changing your being only means whatever you want it to. The only way you will be condemned is if you let yourself be. It's your choice, really."
Jayd heard his words and considered them. They made sense. But there was something about the angel she couldn't put her finger on. She felt akin to the angel in a strange way. “You're a vampire, aren't you?” She blurted out her words before she realized she had said them.
Azrael laughed. It was a rich and hearty sound. Staring at him, she could find herself falling in love with this creature. It didn't matter that he was an angel. He was beautiful and kindhearted. “I'll let you in on a little secret, but you must promise not to tell anyone."
"Swear.” Jayd stepped a little closer and realized he smelled of Easter lilies, of rich earth and decay, of everything that reminded her of death and holy places.
"Good. Did you know that Seth is worried about you?” he whispered in her ear.
That was not the secret she expected to learn. Hearing Seth's name made her heart ache. “It was really him that pulled me out of the sun? He came back for me?” Jayd asked Azrael. Her voice dropped to a whisper.
The angel nodded. “He did. Now he sleeps, wondering if you're the other half of his soul. Do you love him, Jayd?"
Jayd found her fingers were twirling around one of the taller strands of grass. Did she love him? She had a huge crush on him, but that wasn't the same thing. Seth had promised to come back for her. Even though he hadn't stopped Patrick from biting her, Seth still had tried to help her. Her heart was unsure of how she felt. “I don't know."
Death stared deep into her eyes. She felt his ominous power surrounding her. “That's an honest answer. Only you can know your heart, Jayd. Just don't lead him on. You are very special to him."
"How?"
"Ahh.” Azrael smiled. “I can't tell you that. There are some things I can't get involved with. Some events have to unfold for themselves. But I can tell you there's no going back. Seth tried to intervene with your condition, but he was shot down on the highest level. What was done to you is permanent. Don't hold it against him. Even if he hurts you. Okay?"
Jayd nodded, not sure of what the angel meant. What had Seth done or tried to do for her? Seth would never hurt her. He wasn't capable of it. “There's no way I can be human again?” She felt the statement was true. She knew that her heart was no longer beating in her chest.
"Don't look so sad, Jayd. You will be able to do many things with your life. Just because you passed over the threshold of death doesn't mean that you have to give up. You won't become a fiend. Being a vampire isn't that bad."
"And how do you know?” She turned away from the angel and stared up at the moon. Here, it was flat, a cardboard cutout of the real thing. Jayd hugged herself and felt all alone in the expanse. Deep down, she knew she had entered into a new kind of life, a new existence, but here, she didn't feel any different. The hunger she had felt when she nearly attacked Robyn was not churning her veins. It wasn't even a whisper. She could think clearly almost if she were her old self. Her thoughts turned to Seth, and she was grateful to him for saving her.
The Angel of Death stood before her. “I know because I've gone through what you're going through. My soul mate has gone through the same thing. Only it took me forever to realize she was my equal and she's a vampire. But we are a breed apart from what you are."
"Is that possible? To have to different strains of vampires? I thought there would be only one type of vampire. Hell, before this, I never believed in magic, the boogeyman, or angels. Now I guess I have to rethink that whole idea."
Azrael chuckled. He was an odd being, but Jayd found that she liked him. She wondered what kind of a creature would be the soul mate for Death. How was it possible for an angel to also be a vampire? Wasn't there a conflict of interests, being a heavenly creature and drinking blood at the same time?
"I can't give away all my secrets, Jayd. That would be cheating. But I'll answer a couple. Yes, it's possible to have more than one strain of vampire surviving on the planet. My kind doesn't even know yours exists. You would be invisible to them, as a vampire at least. My mate is a woman who's been to hell and back. You would get along with her. Maybe one day I will introduce you two."
"Why are you being so nice to me? Why are you here anyway?” Jayd blurted out.
The Angel bowed. “I thought you could use some comfort. You didn't choose this life, and I wanted to lend an ear. If you ever need me, I'll always be here for you. You have part of me inside of you now because your kiss will bring death. Therefore, I will always be around you. Take care, beautiful Jayd.” The angel picked up her hand and kissed the back of her hand. A zing of ice went through her skin at the contact from his lips. She was enveloped in cold. It was enough that it stole her breath. When she exhaled there was vapor. The angel was gone and she was left all alone.
* * * *
Jayd opened her eyes slowly. When she did, she realized that she was awake. None of the fog of sleep clung to her brain. Everything was clear. Instinctively, she knew that it was night. She could feel the change in the temperature outside and there wasn't that much weight on her skin as there had been in the morning. Her body was still cold from Azrael's power flowing through her. Jayd had never expected to meet the Angel of Death, but she had never thought she'd be a vampire, either. Jayd shook her head and inspected the room. In front of her was a painting that looked it was of Egypt. Ancient Egypt from the look of the buildings and the pyramids. So that's why he likes to read about Egypt. He was from there. She glanced around the rest of the room. It was spartan. Other decorations showed he was from Egypt. There were urns with hieroglyphics. Even a mummy mask hung on the wall. A necklace with a large pendent that appeared to be the Eye of Horus was on the wall. Jayd was intrigued by the contents of his room. It reflected some of his personality. Beside the bed, there was one other chair and shelves on the wall. There was no other furniture. Nothing to hold clothes.
Jayd looked at the black cloak that had covered her. She ran her hands over the material. It was the softest thing she had ever felt. Maybe it'd been woven from the fabric of the universe itself. It was warm too, but light. Jayd lifted it to her nose and inhaled. When she did, she smelled Seth, but more so than she ever had. He had a deep musky aroma that re
minded her of wet earth mixed with a dry scent she didn't have a name for. Sand maybe. She smiled when she thought about him. Azrael asked me if I loved him. Jayd still didn't know the answer to that, but she was grateful to him for pulling her from the sun. Hope had evaporated from her heart when the light grew in the sky. Her aspirations of Seth returning had begun to fall away. Maybe he had forgotten about her. She didn't blame him for her being attacked. At the last moment, Seth had shown up. She had wished that would have been sooner, and if that had been the case, then she wouldn't be a vampire. Then again, she might be dead all together.
I have to stop thinking like that, she reminded herself. Gabrielle would want me to face the situation and march forward. She'd want me to embrace my fate as she always had when bad circumstances faced her. She made the best of her life. Jayd had been through a lot in her life. She had seen her mother die, and she had gotten through it. It was a dark spot in her childhood, and now, she was in a dark space in her adult life. But she would get through it. Gabrielle had given her that strength.
She sighed and ran her hand through her hair. When she did, she noticed that it was still curly, but it was longer. So were her nails. They were sharper too. When she searched the room, she noticed she saw the grain in the wood from across the room. All her senses had sharpened. She had read that in vampire novels before that all five senses were enhanced when anyone was turned, and she assumed that was what had happened to her. When she listened, she realized the annoying thumping sound she heard in the back of her mind, was Seth's heart. Jayd licked her lips absently. The thought of food made her hunger flare to life. Great pain seized her whole body, worse than what she had been the day before when she wanted to attack Robyn. Now she wanted to sink her fangs into Seth and drink him dry.
"No. I will not let this rule me!” Azrael said that she would not be a fiend. Her nature was not going to get the better of her.
Jayd doubled over on the bed. Her fingers dug into the cloak, and her nails shredded the fabric. Her teeth sprang to their full length in her mouth. She nearly sliced her tongue on them. The door slammed into the wall, making Jayd glance up briefly. She bit her lip to keep the pain at bay. Seth was in the doorway with his silver sword in hand. Her heart melted at the sight. He was ready to defend her honor since she had screamed.
"What's the matter?"
"Nothing. It was me. You can put your sword away, Seth.” Jayd forced out.
Seth threw it into the air. It disappeared before it hit the ground. He crossed the room in only a couple of steps and knelt beside her. Seth took her arms and pulled them away from her face so he could search her eyes. His power prickled against her mind. She didn't know what to do to block him, but a wall went up in her mind on instinct when she tried to keep him out of her thoughts. He realized that, withdrew, and ran his hand down the side of her cheek. His touch burned against her cold skin. Jayd realized then that her heart was no longer beating and her entire body was ice cold. She tried to pull away from him so he would not see her as a monster, but he was not letting her go.
"No, Jayd. You're not a monster. You're so beautiful even being what you are. Please don't turn away from me.” Either Seth read her mind or he saw her expression and her fears written all over his face. “Tell me what was the matter? Are you hungry?"
Jayd nodded slowly. She turned her face to him and let him caress the side of her cheek. His touch felt good. His flesh felt good, and the blood singing through his veins had its own tune that she wanted to memorize and taste on the back of her tongue. “Yes. The pain is too much. I don't know what to do."
He kissed the side of her face lightly. His lips blazed against her skin. “Drink from me, love. I'll feed your hunger until you can tame it.” Seth didn't lose her gaze.
Shock bolted through Jayd. She never expected Seth to offer himself to her. “I can't let you offer yourself up for dinner. Oh God, Seth. I could kill you. I don't want to hurt you. No.” She shook her head, pulled herself away from him, and huddled into the corner. His heart thundered in her ears. The rhythm was like a bass drum at a concert, and she was too close to the speaker. Her head was clouding from the noise. The agony crawling into her veins slithered through them. Jayd took in a breath and smelled something else wafting from Seth, another scent that hadn't been there before. It was sweet. It made her mouth water. She didn't know what it was, but he was breathing heavier. His heart was pounding faster in his chest. Maybe it was adrenaline. Maybe she smelled his passion. Jayd shook her head. It was impossible for anyone to smell emotion. It was not humanly possible.
But you're not human any more. She heard Azrael's voice in the back of her mind. He doesn't see you as a monster. He loves you, Jayd, from the depths of his soul. Trust him.
"I can't. He'll die,” Jayd whispered to the voice in her mind. She didn't know if it was another hallucination.
"Love, I can't die. I'm immortal. Practically. Trust me. Let me ease your pain. Please, Jayd. It's killing me. I don't know your hunger, but the echo of your suffering is twisting me in knots.” Seth begged her to come to him.
Jayd glanced up and peered into Seth's eyes. He was serious. He reached out and traced the back of her hand up her arm with his finger. Jayd bite her lip and shivered from the contact. The only way to be free of the ache was to feed. Her throat was parched. She closed her eyes and nodded, giving up. Seth smiled and climbed up on the bed next to her, but still kept his distance so they weren't even touching.
He was silent, waiting for her to make a move. Without saying anything, Jayd, crawled over to him. She ran her palm over his cheek. His skin was silky, polished ebony. She watched when he trembled from her touch. Seth didn't have any stubble and she didn't feel any. Seth observed her every move. She bit her lip and brushed his dreadlocks over his shoulder. The charms in his hair chimed together. She brought her lips to his neck, but before she bit down she whispered. “Thank you."
Jayd opened her mouth wide. Her tongue rested on the pulsating of his jugular. His skin tasted even better than what he smelled. It was spicy. She ran her tongue along the river flowing below his flesh keeping time to a melody. She scraped her fangs along his skin before she drew blood. Seth quaked against her, and a small moan loosed from him. Jayd's breathing increased, and she couldn't take the anticipation anymore. She let her fangs pierce his flesh. Once they did, hot liquid plunged down her throat and forced her to swallow. One arm wrapped around Seth neck holding him place, pulling him even closer to her. She felt Seth weave his fingers through her free hand. Her lips worked against his neck, sucking on his blood.
"Oh, God.” Seth moaned. Jayd felt him stiffen while she drank. He held onto her fingers. Seth moved himself closer to her.
Jayd didn't bother to pay attention to him. All she focused on was the blood coming into her mouth. Then images began to follow. She realized she was seeing Seth's memories. She was back in Ancient Egypt next a stone altar. Someone was chanting. The moon blocked out the sun above, and he was being cursed. She looked up and saw great black wings above her, enfolding her. Raven Warrior. The name whispered through her thoughts. Welcome to the flock. She heard a woman's voice move through her mind as it had moved through Seth's ages ago. But the pain was easing in her stomach, and her veins didn't feel if they were threaded with barbs anymore.
Her thirst was quenched. Seth's heart was beat was slowing. Fear gripped her. She wasn't going to kill Seth. She didn't have to drink him dry, even though it was enticing. The agony was gone from her now and everything in her felt renewed. Jayd pulled herself away from the fount he offered. When she did, she looked up shyly at Seth. He returned her look with a smile so wide that it captured her heart and froze the breath in her chest.
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Chapter Fourteen
Once Jayd's fangs slipped into his throat, ecstasy entered Seth's body from her feeding. He wasn't sure if it was a chemical in her fangs that induced it, or if it was something he was experiencing. He had never had a vampire fee
d from him before. However, he did feel Jayd's mind wind through his. The Raven Warrior could have blocked her out, but he didn't want to raise his power and frighten her. Jayd's arm wrapped around his neck and molded his body against hers. He wound the fingers of his free hand through her fingers only to feel her more. Her lips worked on his neck when she swallowed, and with each one, the rapture he felt brought him higher. While Jayd fed, Seth felt her skin warming. Seth wanted to capture her lips and make love to her. The close proximity of her body pressed against him, made him hunger for her. He grew hard from her feeding. His mind began to wonder about how Jayd and he would move together. He didn't enjoy that she was a vampire, but he could not lose her. She was his whole world and he would do anything for her. Seth felt his mind change at that moment. The goddess had told him love was an amazing gift, and he realized that he could not lose Jayd. He would not see her starve. Seth would feed her forever if that was what she wanted so she would not have to kill. He could take it. He was going to die or turn into a vampire from her bite. The goddess was not going to relinquish her hold on him anytime soon.
Jayd pulled away. When she did, she looked down at the bed demurely like she was a sweet creature rather than a dangerous monster who was his heartmate. There was blood on her lips. His blood. Her gaze met his and she gave him the widest smile he had ever seen. It tugged on the edges of his heart and tightened his groin. He half expected for his spine to start bowing and his feathers to begin sprouting through his skin. That had happened the last time he had tried to be with Robyn, but they didn't. His human form remained. It proved the point that he and Jayd were supposed to be together.
Whispers in the Dark [A Raven Saga Book 3] Page 14
