A Guardian's Salvation

by Stein Willard

  Clarissa was the first to break the intoxicating kiss. “I gave you my word and I would hate to go back on it,” she gasped. She moved away to put space between their bodies. Jessica lay trembling with desire, watching Clarissa as the woman struggled to regain her composure. She smiled suddenly. Clarissa’s desire for her was evident in the ardent kisses they’d shared. It felt great to be wanted so much and it felt even better to want another woman like this again. Feeling her confidence return at the knowledge that Clarissa wanted her, she moved closer to the blonde, ignoring the pleading look from Clarissa. She placed her hand on Clarissa’s heaving chest.

  “I haven’t been with anyone since we were together last,” she admitted softly.

  The brown eyes looked suspicious at first, but just as quickly a look of fierce possessiveness replaced the suspicion. Jessica’s heartbeat accelerated and she couldn’t shake the feeling that Clarissa was actually looking right through her at that very moment. It felt as if Clarissa was literally paging through her thoughts.

  “Why not?”

  “I think you’ve bewitched me,” Jessica teased.

  Clarissa raised herself on her elbow, her mouth hovering over Jessica’s. Holding Jessica’s gaze, she lowered her lips and gently brushed them over Jessica’s. The kiss was infinitely tender.

  Jessica felt the pent up air in her lungs explode, but before it passed her lips, Clarissa’s mouth closed over hers. The kiss went on until Clarissa wrenched her mouth away and buried it in Clarissa’s neck. They lay like that for a long while before Clarissa fell back on the bed and pulled Jessica into her arms.

  “You need to close your eyes and sleep now, before we lose control,” Clarissa whispered hoarsely as she looked deep into Jessica’s eyes. Clarissa gently rolled her over and spooned her again.

  Jessica wasn’t really tired, but somehow her eyes suddenly felt heavy and she was struggling to keep her eyes open. With the last of her strength she turned her head and looked at Clarissa. The brown eyes were soft and the sweetest smile played over her lips. Jessica sighed deeply and succumbed to the gentle pull of sleep.

  †

  Clarissa felt as if her heart was going to explode as she watched Jessica slowly slipping deeper and deeper into sleep. She placed a soft kiss on her forehead and smiled. When Jonas came to Cleaver to get her, she’d fought against the inevitable. She denied it outright. A few weeks after returning to New York, the truth surfaced. She was in love with Jessica and Jessica didn’t love her back. Although she’d known that one day she would love to look Jessica up to see if she was still content with being alone and avoiding all emotional ties, Clarissa kept the memories hidden deep inside. To keep her mind off her pain she had concentrated on her new role as guardian of the human race. Meeting Jessica again tonight, Clarissa knew that amongst other things, Jessica would be an important factor in her life. One that would dictate the current of many life-changing events, she was sure. She knew Jessica felt it too. It had not been her intention to read Jessica’s mind earlier, but she’d been intrigued by the woman’s silence while she was turning back the bedcovers. Her senses automatically zeroed in on Jessica’s thoughts. She had promised herself that she would never read Jessica’s thoughts without the woman’s consent, as early as when she had taken her first sip of blood. It was regretful that she couldn’t stick to her promise, but she wasn’t completely apologetic about the act. Except for when she’d done it in the bar. Jessica was important to her and everything she would do from this moment on to keep Jessica safe would come automatically and without regret. At least now she knows that Jessica loves her and that she is scared that by loving her, Jessica has handed Clarissa a powerful means of hurting her. That fear, Clarissa mused, was unwarranted. She loved Jessica with every fiber in her body and she would sacrifice herself first, before she knowingly hurt the woman.

  She held Jessica tighter to her and pushed her nose into her hair. Jessica always smelled nice, but tonight she smelled delicious. Clarissa immediately cursed the thought since her eyes inevitably zoomed in on the slow, shallow pulse in Jessica’s neck. Clarissa quickly looked away. She craved the taste of Jessica’s blood; had been craving that taste for the past three years. Her eyes sought out the pulse again and this time she felt her fangs growing.

  Maybe just a sip or two would take the edge off her craving. It would be dawn soon and she didn’t have time to go out and feed anyway. She lowered her lips, but stopped a few millimeters from Jessica’s neck. It just didn’t feel right. She couldn’t use Jessica to feed her cursed hunger. It would mean that she knowingly reduced Jessica to the status of a blood cow. She needed to put some space between Jessica and the temptation she offered. She slowly began to ease away from Jessica, hoping to be long gone by the time the brunette woke up.

  She froze when the grey eyes fluttered open and looked straight at her. A dazzling smiled arched the beautiful lips as Jessica looked at her. The look only lasted for a few seconds before the grey eyes shut again and Jessica’s breathing evened out. Slowly blowing out her breath, Clarissa eased out of the bed and walked over to the writing desk in the corner. She quickly scribbled a note and placed it on the pillow on which her head had rested a few minutes ago.

  She stood there for a long while and smiled down at Jessica’s sleeping face. She looked so beautiful, with her cheek resting on her palm and a slight smile on her face. It was almost impossible to believe that they had finally found each other again. But the toughest test still lay ahead. How will Jessica react when she finds out what Clarissa is? Could Jessica love a creature that survives on the blood of humans? Clarissa quickly closed her eyes, hoping to stop the loop flashing through her mind. When she opened them, it was to look straight into concerned grey eyes.

  “You’re sad? What’s wrong?” Jessica enquired sleepily

  Clarissa stared, looking calm and collected, but insides churning. Jessica had sensed her sadness even in her sleep! For a human to be so attuned with the dispositions of a vampire, was unheard of … unless … unless she had some of the vampire’s blood. But how and when? Clarissa was sure she had been the one drinking from Jessica and she couldn’t remember an incident where she’d exchanged blood with her lover.

  “Are you OK, Clarissa?” Jessica was sitting up now, obviously spooked by Clarissa’s stare. Clarissa quickly shook her head.

  “No, do not get up. I am fine. I was just thinking about the time we were apart and how unfortunate it was that we allowed it to happen in the first place.” The lie slipped effortlessly from her lips and Clarissa hated that it was so easy to lie to her beloved.

  Jessica smiled sadly. “I will always regret my decision and the pain I caused us both during our separation.” She sighed deeply. “No need to dwell on the past. We have another chance to make it work and I promise not to squander it.

  Clarissa wondered if it would be safe to approach Jessica. Her hunger was almost acute, causing her to experience small pinprick sensations in her abdomen. Maybe she should keep her distance for now, no matter how much she wanted to physically comfort Jessica. “We are both to blame, Jessica. I probably should not have given up so easily. I could have fought harder.”

  Jessica smiled, but her eyes still reflected a lingering sadness. “No matter what you say, I know the truth.” Her eyes moved over Clarissa. “I can see that you’re dressed and ready to leave. Do I get a hug before you go?”

  Discarding her fears of not getting to closer to Jessica while in this state, Clarissa had to stop herself from falling over her feet in her eagerness to reach Jessica. Placing her hands on both sides of Jessica, she gently pushed the brunette back into the covers until she was lying on her back. Jessica slipped her arms around her neck and they kissed gently before Clarissa pulled away. The beast’s claws almost eviscerated her insides, as it demanded to be fed.

  “Will I see you later today?” Jessica asked urgently.

  Clarissa gently kissed her again, keeping her features serene despite the pain she suffered on t
he inside.

  “Of course. We can have dinner somewhere, if you like.”

  Jessica gently cupped her cheek and Clarissa moaned inwardly. She couldn’t very well push away from Jessica and run for the door. Jessica would demand and explanation and that was not a talk she was ready to have with the woman right now.

  “OK. Go now, before I decide to keep you here with me.” The grey eyes studied her hungrily and Clarissa quickly walked to the door. As the door closed behind her, she could hear Jessica’s teasing laughter. Clarissa grinned. Her promise of not seducing Jessica expired this morning. She wanted to see who would laugh last, tonight.

  †

  Jessica rolled over and heard the scrunching sound of paper. She quickly sat up and reached for the note which lay on the pillow. Her eyes scanned over the lines and she smiled. As expected, it was from Clarissa.

  See you later tonight. Meet you at the studio.

  She brought the note to her lips and kissed it softly, blushing at her unexpected and juvenile behavior. She was looking forward to tonight. She glanced at her alarm clock. It was early morning and she suddenly wondered why Clarissa had to rush away so early. She slowly sat up, her heart thundering in her chest. The obvious reason could be that she was with someone and was rushing back home before her partner noticed her absence.

  Her heart stuttered at the thought and she quickly tried to make up other reasons. Maybe Clarissa didn’t want the hotel staff to see her leaving Jessica’s room in the morning hours, because she was … was … she abruptly cut off her trail of thought. Only Clarissa will be able to answer that question. She rolled over on her stomach and smiled when the earthy scent of Clarissa assailed her nostrils. I wish you were here to hold me again, she thought with a dull ache in her heart. I’ll never admit it to you, but I’m so scared of letting you out of my sight. Scared you might disappear again. At least she knew now that Gabriella was a close relation. This time, Clarissa will not disappear off the face of the earth again.

  †

  Clarissa reached her lair, just in time, before the horizon lightened. She was already deep underground, about to shut down her vitals in preparation for her dreamless sleep, when Jessica’s thoughts soaked through her sleep-fuddled brain. Clarissa smiled. Jessica was scared that she would lose her again. That was not going to happen … never. Although Clarissa ached to take Jessica to bed, to extinguish the molten heat in her veins by taking the photographer over and over, she had also been privy to Jessica’s thoughts, her fears. Jessica wasn’t ready for that, yet.

  Whatever had kept Jessica from sleeping with other women over the past three years obviously ran deeper than she’d thought. It seemed Jessica feared that she would not be able to return the passion and love. Clarissa folded her arms across her chest, the smile still present on her face. She would have to be patient. Even if it drives her to the brink of insanity, she will at least be happy, knowing she had placed Jessica’s needs before her own. She had a long lifetime ahead of her and a few weeks, months… years … of waiting were not going to matter. Her eyes fluttered closed and she sighed deeply, content with life.

  †

  A few blood-red drops sloshed over the rim and stained the gleaming surface, as the goblet slammed down hard on the table. Cold, blue eyes lifted slowly to pierce the shivering human. She could smell his fear and the acidic stench of his urine. Pah, they are all so weak, she thought disdainfully. She slowly came to her feet.

  The human cowered even further, but she ignored him. What he had told her was totally unexpected. She hated surprises. She wasn’t the only surviving member of the Servants of Redemption Council by looks alone. As a human, she prided herself on her shrewdness, her will to survive against all odds. How else could she have been successful in snaring rich nobles and relieving them of their fortunes and eventually their lives, if not for her perceptiveness? Widowed four times, she had carefully studied and enticed her impossibly rich and older suitors before plying them small dosages of arsenic to help them along to the god they believed would offer them redemption. A cold smile played on her lips, as she turned her head to study the human. As a human, she’d had to give in to men so often. She was barely thirteen when an elderly nobleman visited their small farm. Enchanted by his fancy clothes and money, she had crawled under the table to listen to the conversations between the haughty noble and her parents. The night before he was to leave, she heard him, in his drunkenness, request her father for her presence in his bed in exchange for an amount that she’d only heard whispered in awe at the market. She hated her father when he rebuked the nobleman. She hated him for not allowing her the chance to prove her worth to the nobleman. She hated him even more for touting his seemingly noble principles while his family starved, having had to live off the sale of the few dirty potatoes she sold at the market every day.

  Scared, but determined, she waited until her father stumbled to his bedroom, before she revealed herself to the drunken lord. He took her that night. His drunken lust was violent and painful, but she knew that it was only a means to an end. When the nobleman left the next morning, she sat next to him, his large hand resting possessively on her thigh. That was also the last time she saw her family. The life she had in mind for herself didn’t include them.

  A cruel smile formed on her lips. What would’ve become of London if the country trash were to infiltrate her glorious gates, after all? As soon as the Baron slipped a ring over her finger, Mary Pritchard died. Out of the ashes, Lady Mary Peel, the Baroness of Camphor was born. Four husbands later, thanks to a small stash of hemlock hidden in a compartment of her clothing cupboard; Lady Mary Huntington, the sixth Marchioness of Windom, finally took her rightful place amongst London’s peerage. She had the power and wealth to choose whether she would continue with her string of lovers or marry for love. Her path had not been easy. She had to spread her legs on numerous occasions, for a bauble or a favor, knowing that it was but a step toward her destiny.

  Glancing back at the human, her blue eyes narrowed. If what he said held true, life would definitely become more interesting. But where would that leave her? How could she use this to her advantage? She locked eyes with her most trusted servant. Together, they would get to the bottom of this new development. She turned to the human.

  “I need more information. Now, go!”

  †

  Shaking with relief at having survived yet another meeting, the man quickly left the oppressing presence of the renegade princess. He stiffened when two heavily armed vampires appeared at his side, escorting him down the long, cold corridor. At the door, one of the guards pushed a thick envelope into his hands. He sighed with relief when the heavy door closed behind him. He hurried to the large gate and using the shadows, made his way through the garden. His car was parked just beyond the grounds. The castle was under surveillance and having inside information made it so much easier for him to slip the attention of the hunters.

  He made out the shape of his sports car a few meters away and smiled. Not only was it the fruit of his achievements, but it was also a sign of his achievements. Growing up in a small village, he always used to watch soccer matches, envious of the overpaid football players. They made more money than they could spend in a week and dated the most beautiful women in the world. He wanted that. Feeding and milking cows was not in his destiny and as soon as he moved away to a nearby university, he started working on his dream. Back then he made quite a lot of money, procuring fake documents for immigrants and delivering mystery packages without question. His breakthrough came when a mutual friend introduced him to a powerful man with connections in Cologne. He quickly realized that working for the man’s clandestine organization offered access to information that other people would kill to possess. After months of plying his new friend with expensive gifts, private penthouse parties and beautiful women, he began to make headway. His informant slowly began to confide in him. He knew the moment he heard the word ‘vampire’, he had struck gold. The business quickly took off aft
er that. He touched the envelope in his pocket and grinned. Working as an informant for a mad, bloodthirsty vampiress was dangerous, but extremely profitable. He made exorbitant amounts of money passing on information. It was almost perverse.

  He sobered a little.

  If only he didn’t have to deal directly with Mary. She scared the crap out of him. His damp pants were testimony of exactly how much he feared her. He reached his car and only when he was safely locked within the luxurious confines, did he truly relax. Reaching for his car phone, he punched in a number.

  “I’ve delivered the package. The wrapping was met with satisfaction, but the size was not appreciated much. When can we meet?” After a short silence, the man snapped the phone shut and fired the engine. He gently tapped the bulging envelope and smiled. He could almost smell the crisp euro bills that he knew filled out the seams of the envelope.

  Eager for a glass of bourbon and female attention, he was not aware a lone shadow stepped out of the shadows. Hard, silver eyes followed his shrinking backlights, before they studied the outline of the castle. Lips pulled back and sharp fangs glinted in the moonlight. The figure dissolved in a cloud of mist.

  †

  After a short lunch break the photo-shoot continued. Jessica was aware of Howard sneaking puzzling looks her way, but she ignored him. Howie’s curiosity would just have to wait until later. If she told him about Clarissa, she was sure to lose her concentration and that could result in the shoot being extended by another day or two. The agency would be livid. Jessica had been on the receiving end of Gloria d’Matteo’s sharp tongue quite a few times in the past. Literally too, she thought and felt the heat rising in her neck. Gloria was one of the many faceless women who had frequented her bed in the past. It was pure professionalism which had kept their working relationship floating. They never spoke or referred to their personal connection. Since it was her agency’s shoot, Gloria issued the orders and Jessica followed them to the letter. Gloria would be beside herself if they had to come up with another couple of thousand to ensure that the shoot was successfully completed.