by Tarah Knight
“We could just go talk to other vamps they would tell you the same thing would that confirm it for you?” He suggested. She smiled again. “Not a chance.”
~Chapter Two~
“Haven, I beg you again to reconsider this. You do not understand the peril that you put yourself and this other person with whom I have no quarrel.”
Haven barely even notice he had spoken she was so desperate to prove that he was full of crap about this whole soul mate thing. She cruised the local vamp bar looking for someone who might be up for some action with a stone faced Deacon trailing behind her. But something was definitely up because she couldn’t get a single smile or come hither look from anyone!
She stepped into the ladies room to check out her appearance. She stood in front of a mirror and checked out her reflection so thankful the old rumor about vamps and mirrors wasn’t true! When she was turned she became a pretty serious hottie herself. It would be a shame not to be able to at least ogle yourself from time to time. She stared into her eyes that always seemed to draw males from miles around. They were still as luminous as ever with long dark lashes that nearly curled up to her eyebrows. Her mouth was still deep dark pink with a full pouty lip on the bottom. Angie Jolie/Pitt had nothing on her. She gathered up her curly dark blonde hair holding it up at the sides of her head turning her head this way and that way. Yup! She was fine as ever. She stepped back from the mirror and walked away looking back over her shoulder checking her rear-view. Nice high bootie encased in tight faded Levi’s, long legs made even longer in black knee high boots with a chunky four inch heel. Absolutely nothing wrong with that area! She turned to evaluate her front. She patted the expanse of flat toned tummy that was bared by the super low rise Levi’s and her short purple t-shirt that said, “Yes, I am! No, you can’t!” in neon pink across her ample breasts.
She sighed as she played with her dangling silver bellybutton ring. It was a crescent moon with three fallen stars. She knew if her momma saw her dressed in such a manner she would whip her butt, but honestly her attire was modest compared to what all other vamps wore. All of her “parts” were nicely covered, thank you. She twisted the silver cross ring on her forefinger. It had belonged to her momma before she had died. It was all Haven had left of her. The overwhelming sadness engulfed her as she thought of all she had lost when Byron had turned her. She didn’t even get to say goodbye when her momma died. She was still too dangerous to be around a crowd of people at that time. Yet another reason to nurse the special love she felt for that festering pile of dog puke. She washed her hands then went to go find Deacon she didn’t have to look far. He was standing just outside the door not allowing anyone else in. The long line of angry females didn’t faze him in the slightest.
“What are you doing?” She hissed at him. “I’m ensuring your privacy.” He answered like she should have known. She smiled apologetically at the line of ladies who were doing the potty dance and dragged him away from the door. “Listen, Lurch, this a public restroom therefore it is open to the public got it?”
He pulled her to a stop. “I will always ensure the safety of my Serah and my name is Deacon, not Lurch.” Haven didn’t even know how to respond to that. She just walked off muttering, “God help me.”
Now that she knew she was still bringing her A game she went back to searching for a playing partner. At this point she wouldn’t care if he was human or vamp somebody just notice her already! Suddenly she caught her reflection in the mirror behind the bar or what she should say was she caught Deacons reflection. He was flashing fang to every guy that even looked her direction! Oh, so not fair! Well, two can play at that game! She walked up to the next vamp seated at the bar. She swung him around in his chair and planted a deep wet kiss on him. He didn’t get a chance to see Deacons pearly whites, so he responded with enthusiasm. She straddled his lap and nip his tongue just enough to get a taste. It was different from a human but it didn’t do anything for her. She licked at his fangs thinking maybe she just really needed to know she was noshing with another vamp. Again it was nice as kisses go, and he was pretty good at it, but it didn’t set her on fire and make her want to die exactly where she was. Suddenly she heard a deep growl coming from behind her. She sighed pulling away from her noshing partner.
He glanced over at Deacon threw his hands up and tried to buck her off his lap. “Dude, I’m sorry I didn’t know I swear!” The vamp all but knocked her from his lap then took off in the opposite direction. Haven didn’t even get a chance to confront Deacon as she was suddenly jerked around and hauled up against his rock hard chest! He fisted her hair with one hand while he held her jaw with the other. She barely had time to see the angry glow of yellow in his eyes before he crushed her lips under his.
Immediately the world ceased to exist. All she could feel, hear or taste was Deacon. He was suddenly everything to her, her breath came from him her heart beat for him. She felt the flames consume her as her entire body exploded and she reveled in the thought of being burned up by him. Nothing else mattered, nothing else existed just his lips and the feel of his hard body pressed against hers. This… this was what she had been searching for her entire life!
Suddenly he pulled away taking from her the very source of all her pleasure. Haven followed whimpering seeking his lips once more, she had to have them!
“Haven, open your eyes! Look at me!” The gruff raw sound of his voice pulled her from the stupor his kiss had left her in. She opened her eyes and saw the once greenish yellow glow of his eyes had turned to deep amber. She could hear his ragged breath could feel the thundering of his heart under her hand.
Tears blurred her vision when she realized what he said was true or at least partially. She backed away shaking her head and holding up her hand as if that would hold him at bay. “No… I have a choice! Fate can bite my lily-white ass! I have a choice!” She turned and ran as fast as she could, running from what she couldn’t understand, running from what she could never hope to escape and from what she feared she would never have again… free will.
Deacon pinched the bridge of his nose as he watched a very spooked Haven run like the hounds of hell were after her. He guessed that’s exactly what he was to her. “Bloody fool, you knew better than to kiss her so soon!” He admonished himself. The passion that ignited between bonded couples had to be eased into carefully. He was just so angry watching her sit on that other vamps lap giving to him what was his and his alone! He personally thought he handled himself very well, after all the other guy still had his head attached to his shoulders. With a sigh he sniffed the wind then started out after his very upset Serah.
Haven finally stopped at the sea wall miles from the vamp bar. She leaped to the top of the ten-foot wall and stood letting the spray wash over her from the waves crashing into the wall. Usually the power of the waves exhilarated her making her feel free and full of life, but tonight it wasn’t even coming close. She knew her life had been altered yet again and yet again it wasn’t by her own choice! She pried a small rock loose from the cement that held the stones and hurled it into the ocean. “Men suck!” She was so angry she was shaking! Why did they get all the breaks? Why were they so freaking special? She raged as the sea crashed into the wall spraying her until she was soaked and her tears mixed with the salty seawater.
Deacon watched as Haven screamed her denial into the waves. He understood why she was upset about her lack of choice, but he didn’t have a choice either. He wasn’t asked to choose his Serah. Fate had done that to him as well. He prayed for wisdom then leaped to the top of the wall. Haven whirled around to face him her eyes glittering with anger and resentment. “Go. Away.” She bit out barely moving her lips.
Speaking softly like he would to a cornered or wounded animal he tried to calm her. “Serah, I can’t. I’m sorry. Please let me help you understand.”
“Don’t call me that! I’m not yours or anyone else’s Serah, do you understand me?” She backed up her words by beating her fists against his chest. Deac
on stood stoically taking her rage and anger until she collapsed against him. He tried to wrap his arms her, but she shook them off. “Don’t! You don’t get to offer me comfort when you’re the one causing my pain.” She turned her back on him walking further down the wall.
“Do you think this is my choice?” He called after her. Haven stopped then turned around. “What?”
Deacon walked up to her. “You act like you’re the only one in this. I have also been denied my choice, Haven. I have seen many beautiful and engaging women that I would have like to have selected, but I couldn’t. I have wandered this world for over seven hundred years living in a body that was dead waiting for fate to finally decide to send me my Serah. Then because you were a youngling I waited an additional time to allow you to adjust. I’m not asking for you to love me instantly. Could we start by just being friends?”
Haven lifted her hands to gather her wet hair into a ponytail to keep it from slapping her in the face. She saw the way his eyes started glow when the action caused her breasts to lift up baring even more of her stomach. Dropping her hands she laughed scornfully. “Friends… right. Friends with benefits Deacon? I don’t think so.”
“Don’t act like you are immune to me shall I prove it once more how untrue that really is?” Deacon stalked toward her, his eyes taking on a predatory gleam that had Haven taking a few steps backwards. He made an imposing figure with his shirt plastered to his chest leaving no doubt of the rock hard body that lay beneath. The wind was whipping his dark hair and his long legs were bringing him closer. Haven took three steps to his one finally she stopped moving backwards and defiantly thrust her chin upward. “Go ahead… kiss me! But what will that prove? I won’t be responding by choice will I? I won’t be responding to you! Fate could have paired me with pond slime and the effect would be exactly the same. Face it, you and fate are no better than the men that drug and rape women! You both take away our choice!”
That statement made Deacon go very still. His nostrils flared as he tried to rein in his temper. “Apologize. Now.” He growled out.
Provoking him even further she stepped forward, crowding him. Looking up into his stormy face she whispered. “Like hell I will.” In a move that was too fast for even her to follow and evade Deacon snatched her up and tossing her over his shoulder he once more took to the skies.
If Haven thought that flying while being held securely in Deacons arms was nice, flying while being tossed over his shoulder was definitely not! She screamed at the top of her lungs while her stomach lurched and rolled dangerously as he shot upward. She watched the ground get further and further away until all she could see was tiny sprinkles of light dotting the ground. “Deacon! I’m sorry! Please land somewhere!” When he didn’t immediately show signs of descending she gave him a dire warning. “I hope you know a good dry cleaner because your pretty shirt is about to get ruined with bloody vomit!” That got his attention, but instead of gradually dropping to the earth he plummeted with the same amount speed as he had shot upwards! Feeling her ears pop as he dropped quickly back down she opened her mouth to scream at him again when they landed with a hard jolt. He tossed her off his shoulder walking away without a word. Haven lay there in a pile of wet leaves trying to get her heaving stomach under control. She finally gave up and rolled to her knees and retched until she dry heaved. She heard Deacon approach while she was still down on her hands and knees it was a very embarrassing position; with her head still hanging down she tried to catch her breath as she waited to see what he would do or say. What he said seriously surprised her.
“Haven? You are completely right. Please accept my sincere apology. I vow to you that I will not force anything upon you, including my company if you don’t wish it.”
She looked up at him in confusion. “Huh?”
He reached down and grabbing her around the waist he brought her to her feet held her shoulders until she was steady then stepped away. “I merely said that you were correct. About the fact you would not be responding to me, but simply reacting to the pull of fate. I don’t want that from you. If you kiss me I want you to want to kiss me, the man. Not just your fated one. I had never even considered that being true until you said it.”
Haven stood there not really sure what to make of his one hundred and eighty degree turn around. “Sooo… that’s it? You will let me go? Just like that?” He inclined his head toward her but said nothing. She took a couple of steps backwards. “You are really going to let me leave? You won’t come after me?” Deacon just stood still as a statue watching her get further away with every step. Haven had taken at least a dozen steps and was turning to flee when something caught her attention. It was a look of total devastation that filled Deacons eyes as she turned to leave. It was that look alone that told her he really was going to let her go and not come after her. She stood weighing her decision. Then heaving a sigh she turned back around.
“Deacon?” She said softly. “Yes?” He answered. “Look, I don’t really think you’re a bad guy.” She offered. “Thank you.” He replied.
“But you are a tad bit bossy and pushy and you really need to work on loosing up.” He nodded his head. “I mean you started off ok, but then bam it was all fate and soul mates and no choices. Can you see where a girl would get a little freaked out?” Again he just nodded, but she could see him watching her closely. “I mean you have definite potential. I think with a little tutoring you would be just fine. Maybe not for me, but you know… for someone.”
Deacon walked slowly over to her and lifting his hand he brushed the back of his fingers softly over her cheek. She ignored the electric tingle that scattered across her cheek at the brief contact. “For me there can be no one else Haven. I wish joy and happiness in your life. Please know that you can call to me should you ever have need of anything.” He smiled sadly, breaking her heart, then he walked away disappearing into the tree line…
A month later Haven gagged as she threw up her fifty-third dinner in a row. What was wrong with her? She hadn’t been able hold down more than a mouthful at a time ever since Deacon left. She had tried everything changing from human to vamp from male to female. She even tried animal blood, but nothing would stay down. She was starving to death. Every day she grew weaker her already thin body was starting to look downright skeletal. She would be the envy of the catwalk if she were a model. Her last dinner was a homeless man that had passed out on the sidewalk. Haven was so thankful to find him she didn’t even mind the rank odor coming from his unwashed body. At least she wouldn’t spend precious energy subduing and entrancing him. But it didn’t matter, because after a few deep swallows her body rejected it and she was back to square one. As she lay on the deserted street she stared up at the stars that were barely visible past the tall buildings.
She had wanted to do things with her life go places meet people, make a difference in the world. Now she wouldn’t be able to do any of those things! She was going to die alone in the street and no one would even care. Turning her head she looked at the homeless man still passed out a few feet away from her. Ok, so she wouldn’t exactly die alone, but close enough. Too weak to even crawl off the street she just laid there, tears of regret and remorse sliding down her pale cheeks. She could feel the last ember of life start to leave her body and with her final breath she spoke one word… “Deacon.”
~Chapter Three~
Haven stretched as she woke up. The smooth feel of silk sheets surrounded her body and felt blissfully cool against her skin. She didn’t want to open her eyes and have this wonderful dream end. Her body felt strong again, no ravaging hunger pains that had her tummy twisted up for weeks, no all consuming need to sink her fangs into anything and everything. She felt at peace. Then she wondered why she felt at peace? Suddenly she remembered feeding on the homeless man and not being able to keep his blood down, she remembered dying on the street next to him! She was dead! Oh crap-crap-crap! That’s why she felt so good. Now she kept her eyes closed for a different reason, she was scared of
what she would see when she opened them. She tried listening to her surroundings, but all she could hear was someone breathing close to her. Peeking her right eye open the tiniest crack she looked to see who was there with her.
It was Deacon. He was asleep in a chair next to her and he looked liked death warmed over. Pale and gaunt he was riddled with bite marks and scratches all over his neck, chest and arms. He looked like he had gotten into a fight with large alley cat and had lost… badly. What was he doing here? Where was here anyway? She looked around the room and was surprised to see it was actually a large cave with stalactites and everything. The stalactites that hung from the ceiling were covered in tiny crystals that shimmered and sparkled from the dim lights that were on the bedside table. The cave had been renovated and made into a lavish bedroom with a large four-poster bed and dressers along with a flat screen TV and a mini fridge. She wondered just where those things were plugged in? She could hear the sound of water falling in the distance so she raised up to see where it was coming from. When she sat up the sheet pooled around her waist and she could see she was wearing a dark blue silk nightgown and she had clearly been bathed. If Deacon had changed her clothes and seen her naked he was going to look way worse than he did right now! She slid out of bed and walked over to the chair. “Deacon?” She whispered.
Instantly his eyes flew open, and he looked at her. “Haven? Are you all right? Are you hungry again?” He lifted his right wrist and started to slash it open with his fang when Haven stopped him. “What are you doing? I’m fine! Why would you do that?”
He stood up unsteadily and Haven was alarmed at how weak he was. “Deacon when was the last time you fed? Why do you look so bad? What happened?” She walked him over to the side of the bed and he sat down.
