Eternally Dark

chapter 7: Puzzle pieces

“Ah, Maria,” James said, coming to a sudden halt. A tall woman with long black hair and a silk dress, turned around and immediately smiled when she saw James, her smile dimed slightly as she noticed me. She studied me for a moment before sticking out a hand for me to shake. I hesitated, but ultimately decided to shake her hand.

“I’m Maria,” She said,

“Elizabeth,” Maria turned her attention back to James

“She’s human?” She asked, “Why is she here?” James looked at me for a moment, then back to Maria. She raise her eyebrows,

“Is she?” Maria asked, not finishing the question, James nodded.

“Yes,” He whispered,

“Come with me,” Maria said and began to walk off. James and by extension I followed her into another room, -an office- this one empty of any people. The furniture was the same -expensive, fancy and beautiful- as all the rooms were. Except the dungeon and cells. Maria closed the doors upon our entry and locked them. James brought us over to a lounge where we sat, Maria sat opposite us.

“Does she know?” She asked, though I wanted to ask ‘know what?’ I felt this wasn't a conversation for me to comment on.

“No she doesn't,” James replied

“Okay, Are you sure about her?”

“Yes, but I don’t want her apart of our world, as you said she’s human,” Maria nodded

“Does she feel it too?” They both looked to me, obviously expecting an answer

“Do you,” He asked, when I didn't say anything,

“I would answer but I don’t know what this conversation is about,” I told them,

“Does a part of you pull toward James, even if the rest of you wants to hate him or run? Do you feel the need to keep him nearby and trust him?” James was looking at me, waiting for my answer as if what I said was life or death for him.

“Yes,” I muttered, looking down. I wanted to disappear at that moment, sink into the lounge and never come back out. I felt ashamed that I was pulled to him,

“Fascinating!” Maria called, “I don’t believe this has never happened before! When did it happen?”

“A couple of days ago,” He said, still looking at me, “No one else knows,” Tears filled my eyes. What is wrong with me? I screamed at myself silently. I tried to blink back the tears but they spilled over and ran down my face. I kept my head down hoping that neither of them would notice, but I wasn’t so lucky.

“Hey, Why are you crying?” James asked, lifting my chin with his hand. I pulled back and pointlessly wiped at my face. The way he was looking at me though, it was worried, caring and kind it made more tears fall. I didn’t object when he pulled me into a tight hug, it made me feel safe and scared, happy and angry, I wanted it to go on forever and for it to stop, to push back and yell at him to stay away from me.

“Elizabeth, it will all be okay,” Maria said, “Why don’t you go back to the party,” She offered.

“No!” James told her, “Maria think that over one humans in a room full of-” He stopped himself,

“James she will be okay out there,” She told him, James tightened his grip on me in response.

“I’ll be okay,” I said, pulling out of the hug, fighting the part of me that wanted him, “If you didn’t want me here then why kidnap me? Why take me from that cell? Why dress me up and force me to this party? Look I don’t know you, I don’t trust you and you don’t get to tell me what to do! I won’t try to run, I know it’s pointless but don’t think anything of that!” I turned and walked to the door. I unlocked it, walked out and closed it behind me. Again all eyes focused on me. I ignored them the best I could and found a chair in the corner. A tall handsome man walked over and took the chair next to me, wine glass in hand. Just as they all were , his eyes were blood red and fixed on me. After a moment of silence I began to regret coming back out,

“Hi?” I said, feeling awkward.

“Hello,” He replied, “Do you mind if I ask, why is it you’re here?”

“Do you mean in the corner or here in general?”

“In general,”

“Long story, not sure im supposed to tell,” I told him, he nodded and took a sip from his glass,

“Are you here with anyone in particular?” The way he had said it made me feel sick and my heart raced. He picked up on this and gave me a cruel smile that reminded me of James when he was chasing me in the park.

“I’m going to go,” I said, standing up. The man grabbed my wrist, right where the chains had been.

“You’re from the dungeon, and if you’re not here with someone then it’s fair gain,” I looked around for help but everyone had gone back to their conversations.

“Let go of me,” I said, sounding surprisingly calm, “Even if what you're saying is correct, I am here with someone so back off,” The man looked both amused and surprised now,

“Really? Well I don’t see anyone here claiming you so,” He drew out the last word “Who is it you’re here with?” I tried to pull my arm back, but he tightened his grip. I opened my mouth in a silent scream, tears back in my eyes. He pulled me in closer, wiping my cheek with the back of his hand.

“So fragile,” He whispered, “So easy to break,”

“Let go,” I told him again “And don’t touch me,” I batted his hand away from my face.

“Well then please, who is it you’re here with?” I glared at him, just tell him! My mind screamed,

“Let go of her!” Said a cold emotionless voice from behind me. The man let go, and I spun to see who it was standing there. It was a woman of clear power, she wore an expensive dress just as they all did, her hair was down around her shoulders a gorgeous fiery red.

“Who are you girl?” She asked me,

“Elizabeth,” I told her,

“Who are you here with?” I hesitated before answering,

“James,” She raised her eyebrows

“How amusing. Do you know where you are?”

“No,”

“What we are?”

“No,” Monsters, I thought.

“Go back to your escort, before I let Nathaniel here have his fun,” I nodded and walked away as fast as I could without running. I found James and Maria still in the room. I came in closed and locked the door. Suddenly James was beside me,

“What happened?” He asked, he grabbed my arms, turning them over before lifting my hair and checking my neck.

“Nathaniel,” He whispered, I nodded, “Did he hurt you?” Absently my hand went to my wrist, the one he’d grabbed. James took that hand and looked more carefully, there was a bruise already forming in the shape of his hand wrapped around my wrist,

“I’m going to kill him,” He mumbled, he let my hand go. Too quick to stop myself I wrapped my arms around James, he wrapped his own arms around me. I pulled back, stop! He’s not your friend! Trust him! You need him! It felt like there was a war being fought within me.

“Tell me what’s going on!” I demanded, James nodded and I followed him back to the lounges. We sat down and James nodded to Maria.

“Elizabeth, there are things that don’t fit within your laws of science, things that were rejected by nature, ban from the world cursed to live in the shadows,” Maria said, “You call us monsters, turn us into scary stories, and refuse to accept we exist, but we do we hide, we hunt, we play our games and tricks, still the explanation is we don’t exist, but we do,”

“What are you saying?”

“Put the pieces together, red eyes, inhumanly strong and fast, what’s within the wine glasses out there, they call us monsters and say we don’t exist,” She smiled, revealing fangs? “We’re vampires Elizabeth,” I nodded,

“If your aim was to scare me sorry to disappoint you,” My heart hadn’t even began to beat fast, for some unknown reason I wasn’t scared,

“Elizabeth, do you understand what shes saying” James asked, grabbing my hand,

“Yes, she’s saying that both of you are vampires and so is everyone past those doors, at least those with red eyes are. But what I want to know is why did you change your mind on hurting me?” The question was directed at James but it was Maria who answered,

“Because you are his mate, like it or not. That means that his life changes to revolve around you, and why you feel pulled towards each other. Your blood is enchanted, a special spell purely for each other,” I looked to James, he was watching me to see how I would react to the news HE’S A VAMPIRE! My mind raced that line repeated itself constantly and yet I felt calm some how,

“Earlier you said that this had never happened before, I assume that refers to the fact that I’m human?” They both nodded, “Okay, so how about this, you figure out what happened and I go back home to my family,” I hadn’t said it as a question or even a suggestion really.

“That’s not how it works,” Maria said, “Your blood will pull you together,”

“Figure it out, I’m going back to my family!” I stood, but James still held my hand.

“I’ll go with,” He said, now standing. Maria stayed silent for a second, then offered

“I’ll organise a hotel for the both of you to stay in,” She put emphasis on the both part, “With James gone too it won’t be long before you’re made to return,”

“No, I’m staying with my family,”

“Elizabeth, I’ll give you the choice, you stay in the hotel with me or I stay in your home with you and your family,” I didn’t like the idea of James in my house around my family, but I needed them.

“I’m staying with my family,” I repeated,

“Great, can't wait to meet them,” He said. They’ll think he’s your boyfriend. They’ll ask him a million questions, some he won’t be able to answer. What if he hurts them? James seemed to know what I was worrying about as he said,

“You can choose whether or not they find out about me. We have ways of keeping ourselves hidden, they won’t have to know,”

“When do we leave?” I asked, not wanting to think too deeply about it.

“Now, I want you out of here as soon as possible,” Vampire, my mind whispered “Once we go out that door just walk past everyone, don’t look up, don’t stop just keep going,” I nodded, he gave me a small smile that I returned.

Maria opened the door for us, stood on the other side was Nathanael, his back was to the door. He turned and regained that cruel smile of his when he saw me and James.

“So you really have decided to take on a pet,” He said, stepping into the room. James moved me behind him, “Oh, did no one tell you it’s nice to share,” I blinked and he was in front of us staring directly at me.

“I’m not your property,” I said, surprising the three of them. “Did no one ever teach you no, or are you a little slow? I can spell it for you if you want,” He’s going to kill me!

“Watch your pet James, she's out of line,” Nathanael reached out and grabbed me by the shoulder, and squeezed hard. Though it put me in agony I didn’t let it show.

“So, the answer is you're a slow learner. Let me help you, You take your hand off me or I find a way to remove your fingers, we clear?” He hesitated a moment before letting my shoulder go. “See, even you can learn,” The attention of the other room was now on Nathanael and I. I could see James out of the corner of my eye, he couldn’t do anything without raising suspicions and he hated it.

“James,” He said, sounding pissed “Don’t kill this one I want to do it,”

“Hey, though we went over this. I’m a person, you talk to me. I’m not property. Clear?” It was obvious to anyone he was getting more and more angry, and it was taking a lot for him not to hurt me further. I gave him a sweet smile and just to poke the bear said,

“Don’t give up, you’ll get there eventually,” I pat his shoulder, walked past him, grabbed James' hand, and march out the door. The crowd of vampires parted for us or more specifically me. Once in the hall, I let my guard down just slightly. Tears stung my eyes and the hand that held onto James' was trembling. I slowed down my walk as we turned a corner and he fell into step beside me. I let go of his hand, taking deep shaky breaths.