Fifteen…

Fifteen: The Forgiven One

This one contains some sexually explicit content, language, and violence.

The pale moon rose as the sun dipped below Shadowvale.

Aubrey dressed and then exited her bedroom.

She’d thrown up several times earlier due to a bad hangover. Every inch of her ached, including the soreness from Vaclav’s vigorous lovemaking.

His sexual appetite robust as ever, Vaclav waited for her in the corridor.

He gazed at her with those bedroom eyes…

But when he tried kissing her, she pushed him away.

“Don’t touch me.”

“Why? What’s wrong?”

“What’s wrong? Seriously? I got drunk last night because of the horrible things you told me. And what did you do? You took advantage of me!”

“It wasn’t like that, Aubrey. I love you.” Just for a second, his eyes drifted guiltily to the floor.

“Yes it was like that. I was vulnerable, and you took advantage of that.”

Vaclav put his lips to her neck. “I apologize.”

Then you’re admitting what you did was wrong?

He rushed off and headed down the stairs.

A moment later, she followed but took a detour into the sitting area. Whenever a tear surfaced she brushed it away.

A shuffling sound came from behind.

Aubrey figured it was Vaclav, back for some grovelling.

“Hi Aubrey,” Shawn said.

Her eyes grew round.

He sat next to her, his luminous eyes meeting hers.

“I’m sorry for all those things I said. I hope you can forgive me.”

Her breath caught in her throat.

“Why did you say those things?”

“When I first saw you again, I was so drawn to you that it scared me. I have a hard time controlling my urges, I guess ’cause I’m so new at the… vampire thing. Anyhow, I was afraid I’d hurt you.”

She could see how uncomfortable he was baring his feelings. He shifted around on the sofa.

“It’s okay. I guess,” she replied. Forgiveness was just a step away.

Shawn smiled at her, shattering the armor that encased Aubrey’s heart. She wasn’t sure that was such a good thing, but nevertheless…

“Like my new teeth?” he asked.

Aubrey laughed. It was almost like the way is used to be, when they were still in college and the world was at their fingertips.

“So, can I finally kiss you?”

“Sure,” she said just as her mind screamed: but if you break my heart again, I’ll kill you.  

They leaned over.

Like an electrical current, his lips on hers sent chills throughout her body.

It was the moment she’d anticipated for… forever.

She never knew Vaclav was watching; his predatory instincts kicking in, feeding his rage and vice-versa.

The highrise building beckoned him, teasing him with images of the blood-rich humans that inhabited it.

Since Aubrey’s return, his appetite for anything had increased tenfold. Sex, blood, vengeance. The desire for all consumed him.

The two years he hadn’t seen her, he lost interest in living and starved himself into a skeletal being. He vowed for it to never happen again. Vaclav vowed to remain the strong, powerful and sexual being he was always meant to be, despite Aubrey’s rejection.

Shifting his vision to hunt mode, Vaclav scanned the room.

There were two with especially rich blood.

Of course, he was particularly interested in the female.

“Would you like to have a drink with me?” he asked her.

She looked over at him and said, “sure.”

Briefly he chatted with her, pretending he didn’t despise small talk.

Then he took a sip of his drink.

Alcohol wasn’t a substance he often ingested, only in rare circumstances such as trying to capture prey.

He put on his most irresistible face as he asked, “would you like to go somewhere?”

She gazed at him a few seconds, as though trying to determine whether or not he was a psychotic killer.

Ah, if she only knew, Vaclav thought with an inner smile.

Just like they always do, she followed him into the subway.

They emerged in an area far more desolate. Indeed, it was perfect.

Vaclav caressed her face.

Her eyes widened in shock and fear, as though seeing his vampiric characteristics for the first time.

But now it was too late.

“You’re going to let me feed from you.” He smiled, his eyes penetrating hers, placing her under his spell.

 

She relaxed and he swooped to her neck.

Her flesh crunched beneath his fangs. She cried out, then was quiet.

Vaclav drank, moaning as he hungrily took in the sweet fluid, and pretending just for a moment the woman was Aubrey… the blood filled his stomach with warmth, the images of his beloved filling his body with desire.

Finally sated, he withdrew.

In her newly weakened state, she almost collapsed.

“Thank you,” he said, his hands cradling her face. “That tasted especially delicious.”

She only continued to stare at him with glazed eyes.

He licked his lips trying to get all the excess blood.

Waste not.

He disappeared in a veil of mist, chuckling at the look of puzzlement upon her face.

 

The hunger for vengeance lured him to a familiar spot in the city. An area where members of the rival clan sometimes frequent.

Vaclav’s enemy glared at him, his lips twitched into a smirk.

Vaclav headed toward him, but it was obvious the other vampire wouldn’t back down.

Neither would Vaclav. He lunged forward.

The creatures wrestled in a furious struggle to gain control over the other.

Vaclav restrained him from behind.

The vampire roared in anger, fighting to free himself.

Vaclav drew out a dagger.

“Where are the Shadows keeping my son?” Vaclav demanded.

“I don’t know.”

“Bullshit. Where is my son?”

“I told you I don’t know, so fuck off!”

The blade going through his neck was like slicing through butter.

For now, Vaclav’s hunger was sated.

The enemy fell to the ground.

“I will find my son! And I’ll kill all of you vile, dark-haired pieces of shit.”

Guilt crept up in his conscience as he remembered that Aubrey was also one of them.

Then something overcame him. He dropped to his knees, his mind’s eyes glimpsing horrible visions.

Down in the vampires’ pit.

Beyond the pile of dead.

Shawn made love to Aubrey, the sweat on his backside glistening as he thrust.

She was the essence of Vaclav’s very existence. She did not belong with Shawn.

Those images made Aubrey’s rejection all that more real, bitter, painful.

And in his mind’s eyes, Vaclav saw a plan that went terribly wrong. The plan to lure Aubrey back into his arms. He should’ve seen this coming, should’ve predicted the various possible outcomes instead of falling into the trap of being blinded by love.

*

Thanks for reading!  😀  Chapter 16 will be out on Friday, Nov. 12. ♥