Their Vampire Bond

Chapter 3

Erik's POV

Thomas had finally made it back and he was ready to see his friend and ask how the trip went. It had been sometime since he traveled outside of the states. He had wanted to go with Julius and Thomas, but that wasn't possible. Someone had to stay and keep an eye on Julius’s territory while both were gone. All three couldn’t be out and about or that might cause a ruckus around these parts.

He couldn't imagine what it would have been. It had been quite a storm around the office with both of them missing and, after all the overtime, he just wanted to sit down and have a drink with his friend.

Most days, walking through Thomas’s door was fine. He would just come in and without knocking while yelling for his friend, but this time he smelled a scent that made him stall at the open door. That sweet scent of honey and cinnamon had stopped him dead in his tracks.

Sudden movement caught his eyes when he noticed Thomas striding out from the hall with a finger over his mouth, signaling him to be quiet. Why?

His friend then hurried to the couch where he gathered up the person who had been sleeping there unnoticed by him. It couldn’t be. No, he couldn’t believe his eyes. There, collected in Thomas’s arms was his beautiful Evie and she was just as beautiful if not more, than so long ago. Watching Thomas carry her made him want to rush over and pluck her from his hold, but instead he forced himself to stay rooted in his spot.

It was beyond difficult though to stay there uncaring, especially since he realized she was wearing just a pair of small black spandex shorts and a grey tee shirt that was much to big on her. Could it be Thomas’s? It should be his on her, not Thomas’s, but he shoved those thoughts aside. The anger at her replaced the happiness he felt. She had left him willingly and even upon her return she hadn’t even bothered to tell him. Obviously, Thomas knew before him. She trusted him far more, it seemed, than the one she supposedly loved, well actually didn’t love. Instead, she had used him from what her letter said and he had seen it with his own eyes as well.

He wanted to shout at her, forcing her to wake up, but the gaze Thomas shot at him made him behave. There was something in those eyes that told him if he woke her, he’d make sure that he paid the price. All he could do was watch as he shifted her out of the living room and instead headed back down the hall. Realizing the door was still wide open, he closed it behind him.

He wanted to escape this place, but he needed to know how she came here. He couldn’t go about not knowing.

A few seconds later, a door shut, and Thomas was striding back out of the hall towards Erik. “Thank you. She hasn’t slept in days I guess and was able to finally get some sleep. I didn’t want you to disturb that, regardless of how angry you are at her.” Turning to the kitchen, he made his way to the fridge to grab a blood bag. He offered him one, but Erik had already had his share tonight before he left his house, so he turned it down. Instead, he stared Thomas down, he couldn’t help but to let the anger begin to bubble.

“Why is she here at your place?” There was fury laced in his voice and it was directed at Thomas. Why was she here with him? Why did she have to go to Thomas? Did she really have no feelings for him at all? There were many questions, and all of them made him frustrated with this situation.

Thomas only sighed at him as he tore the blood bag open and tipped his head back to drink it from the bag easily. It didn’t take long, but it caused the rage to boil more inside of Erik. “It’s not at all what you think. She didn’t just waltz on in here and say 'I’m going to stay with you, Thomas.' It was happen stance we even met up at all again. And don’t give me that look. It’s not my story to tell you and I was forbidden to say much at all about it. Just know that I’m on your side and wish I could do more about the situation, but that’s not up to me.” Thomas’s words didn’t help the fury inside of him nor the curiosity. Instead, it brought out more questions that all revolved about the girl that had destroyed a part of him.

“You both just happened to find her and she just agreed to come with you both now, is that what I am to believe? After she left us with no care?!” He felt the pain and anger start to truly rise in him. All because of her. The note she left had destroyed him, yet he still couldn’t give up on them. He had thought they were mates. True mates that were unique to one another.

He had even tracked her down and with that came the scene he could never erase from his mind. That was when he realized how she truly had used them all, especially him. He had never told anyone about it, couldn’t even give voice to it. That was too painful.

“Yes. Even if you don’t believe me, that is what happened. Luck appeared to be on our side. Now I have to drop this now. I really can’t tell you more. I am sorry Erik. I do wish I could, but I can’t this time.” There laid determination in those eyes and Erik knew there would be no more information on this matter. Sighing he wanted to be upset with his friend, but it wasn’t his fault.

“Don’t be mad at him, Erik. I have made him blood promise not to.” The sweetest voice he had missed, with every fiber of his being washed over him and forced his attention behind him. There she stood the beauty he had so desperately missed in his life. Her mahogany brown hair was in long waves down her shoulder reaching down to her waist. She still wore the grey shirt much too large for her and it was large enough, one might think she wore only underwear under them instead of the black spandex shorts he knew were hidden underneath. Her slender pixie-like build was still the same, however she looked thinner somehow. Then he moved his gaze up to her kissable pink lips that hid the sharp fangs he knew very well.

Continuing his eyes up, he locked onto her eyes. Instead of seeing the vibrant teal eyes, he remembered there laid an exhausted appearance within them with not much light left. Not just being tired from a day or a few days, but centuries of tiredness that had worn her eyes. “It really was not his decision.” Her eyes never wavered from his and he could tell her eyes were far different from what he remembered of her. The innocence of youth was gone from them. What had caused such to happen to her?

“Damn, sorry Evie. I was trying to let you sleep longer.” Snapping his head around, Erik saw his friend stare daggers at him, blaming him for this issue.

“If I had even known she was here I wouldn’t have even bothered to have come over.” Steeling his gaze back towards Evie, he hoped his words stung her. The look he saw though crushed him. She appeared to just stare at him, not a hint of emotion. She truly had played him then. Why was he hoping for something more?

Then he noticed her eyes weren’t focused and, without meaning to react, he felt his feet moving forward of their own accord. Luckily for him, Thomas reacted faster and was before her, but her hand shot up and she shook her head. “I’m fine. I just need a moment.” He was glad that Thomas was there instead of him. He would just be a fool to show such reactions to her.

That part of him should be gone. Someone else warmed his bed at night and he was thankful it wasn’t this creature before him.

Still, his eyes couldn’t stop gazing at her as her eyes cleared. The vision must be over. That’s how it used to be with her, at least. They always made it difficult at times for her, though it seemed she was more aware of things around her unlike before.

Forcing his gaze away from her, he started to walk out of the kitchen. There was no way he could stay there any longer with either of them. Too many emotions bubbled inside him from both of them right now. Plus, he wanted to yell at Julius. His Sire knew what Evie had meant to him and he didn’t tell him either. Betrayed on all fronts tonight and that hurt.

“Erik.” There she stood right before him. How had she moved so quickly? “Julius isn’t at fault either. Stay angry with me and not at them.” Her hand had reached out to him though it dropped before getting close to him. Of course, she shouldn’t touch him. Then why wasn’t he glad that she stopped herself? Walking around her, he headed for the front door. This evening was ruined, and he just wanted to get out of here. Instead of a good tale from his friend, he had been reacquainted with the woman who had broken him.

“I’ll talk with you later, Thomas. I just can’t right now.” Ignoring her, he opened the door and let the night air greet him as he slammed the door behind him. Just when life was starting to look up for him, it felt like his world was starting to crack. No, he wouldn’t let her be the one to control his life anymore. His life was good, and he had done it all without her being a part of it. That could continue. It wasn’t like he had to see her anymore if he chose to. If he stayed away from Thomas’s, he should be able to avoid seeing her.