Safire

Fate

Nathaniel

         Collin left this morning without telling Nathan. Nathan and Collin were supposed to go catch the rogue Vampire girl and bring her back. Nathan wasn’t surprised to walk into Collin’s room and find it empty besides one of his many girls laying in his bed. Collin always wanted to be the one reaping the rewards. 

         Nathan just sighed unhappily and found his “sister” in the living room with a cup of blood. She was sitting on the sofa, sipping from the glass cup and reading a novel. 

         “Collin left without you,” she spoke without looking up. Her dark hair was falling in her face and it annoyed Nathan. Everything Elizabeth did was for attention. Nathan disliked his siblings. Of course, they weren’t really related but the three of them were put together on this mission because they all looked similar and could pass as a family.

         “I know,” he said and sat down. Nathan was not a mean person; he was always polite and never quipped back to any of his siblings' annoying comments. Collin and Elizabeth were rude because he did not believe Vampires were amazing and he regretted his predicament. 

         “You gonna do something about it? He wasn’t supposed to leave without you, aren’t you mad?” Beth asked trying to provoke Nathan. He just rested his chin on his hands.

         “No, we just need the girl; if he gets her it doesn’t make a difference.” Nathan rationalized. Beth groaned and finally looked up from the book. Her black eyes made him remember how all Vampires were monsters. Only Vampires which feast on humans had black eyes. If you ate only animal blood, your eyes would stay their original color.

         “You are no fun!” Beth complained while her black eyes glared angrily at Nathan’s warm brown ones. He ate only animal blood not wanting to be a monster like Beth or Collin. He was turned in 1912 and has been stuck with this coven since. He has wanted to leave every day since then but too scared to venture out on his own. Nathan was a strong and brave man but also knew that the loneliness of solitude was not a life that he would want to live. 

         “Sorry to disappoint,” Nathan muttered and left the living room. He went outside and looked at the scenery around him. The coven he lived with was stationed in the mountains in Vermont. He let the cold air surround his body and he sat down on the front steps. He shoved his hand into his curly dark pile of hair and sighed stared out at the settlement around him.

         Birds were singing and the roar of an engine ruined the relaxed mood he finally achieved. He knew right away it was Collin with the girl. The little red car pulled into the gravel driveway and Nathan saw the absolutely breathtaking girl tied up in the front. Nathan felt a surge of anger but continued sitting. Collin parked and picked the girl up and walked over to Nathan with her in his arms.

         “Nathan meet Safire,” Collin said and smirked at Nathan. “Here, take her, get her ready and send her to the elders.”

         “You bastard,” Nathan hissed and took the girl in his arms. When her skin touched him he felt tingles and shivers running up and down his arms. He took a deep breath and smelled warm vanilla and sweet honey. Nathan's stomach dropped. His mate was in his arms. The girl that was made for him was in his arms. He felt Safire stiffen as she felt the tingles too. 

         “So, you're my mate” Safire muttered sounding very pissed off. Nathan wasn’t annoyed by her rude tone. He felt more anger towards Collin for making her think everyone at the settlement was evil and having their meeting start off in a negative manner. The sun was shining off her hair and Nathan couldn’t help but realize again how beautiful she was, even with the blindfold covering her eyes. 

         “Yes, I suppose I am. I will not hurt you, I can’t promise others won’t but I will try to help you,” Nathan offered. He felt nervous and began walking to her cabin so he could place her down. 

         “Then will you let me free?” Safire asked. Nathan finally set her on the couch in the house for her and undid the binding chains. He took off her blindfold and met her gaze. She tensed when she saw him and he suddenly recognized her.

         “You were the one with me,” Nathan gasped. Safire and Nathan had known each other in their small village in Russia. He was a few years older than her and often out farming or hunting and providing for his family. They saw each other around town and were turned during the same attack. However, they were sent to different sections of the coven because they did not look enough alike. Since the coven is broken down into people that look similar enough to pass as siblings. 

         “This is weird,” Safire said angrily. “After all this time my mate is someone from my childhood.”

         “I know,” Nathan answered and he knew that she wasn’t like other vampires, she was like him. Her green eyes were too clear to have ever been poisoned by human blood.

         “Why do they want me?” Safire asked and Nathan sat down next to her with a sigh. He wanted to reach out and hold her. Every part of him wanted her in his arms but he could tell she did not want to be touched. 

         “Your power is… special, they can’t find anyone else who has your strength of this power.” He ran his hand over his face. Safire's power was rare and very strong. His coven has wanted her back for a while now, but recently there has been more of a sense of urgency due to a new band of Hunters in the area. 

         “Well, I wanted to see what was going on up here but now it's time for me to take my leave,” Safire said and Nathan felt sick. 

           "You're going to leave?" He asked, hoping that his tall beautiful mate would change her mind. She glanced at him with her emerald eyes and he could see there was a little sadness mixed in with a whole lot of resolve. Safire slowly reached out and put her hand on top of Nathan's. The tingles shot through his skin and he closed his eyes. He wanted his mate to stay, no, he needed his mate to stay. He may barely know her but she already owned his heart. 

            "Nathan, you seem like you're one of the good guys. But I have spent my whole life separating myself from vampires. I always told myself if I found a mate that I wouldn't accept them. I am really sorry." Nathan felt tears building up and opened his eyes and stared at Safire's beautiful hand. 

            "I am not like all the other vampires, I don't want to be a vampire... I can separate myself too." Nate said knowing that he was fighting a losing battle. Safire removed her hand and looked around uncomfortably, seemingly trying to think of the right thing to say. 

            She cleared her throat and stood up suddenly. Safire could tell if she didn't leave soon the mate bond would convince her to stay. "I am sorry Nathan, I can't. I can't be near vampires. I swore that I would never live as a vampire or with other vampires."

            Nathan watched Safire walk towards the door. 

         “Here are my keys," he said as his heart broke,  "my car is black and in front of house number seven." He watched as Safire fled and felt pain entering his whole body but he couldn’t do anything, he loved her enough to respect her. 

            Nathan went to his cabin and laid on his couch and imagined Safire's body against his. Her pink, plump lips pressed against his. He was daydreaming about her body when his cabin door slammed open.

         “Where the f**k is she?” Collin demanded impatiently. 

         “Safire ran away,” Nathan informed Collin. Collin looked outraged.

         “Damn, this was a stupid plan! Did you take her blindfold off?  Which way did she go, did you see?” Collin said with a flare of his nostrils like a bull.

         “Left,” Nathan said knowing damn straight she went right. Collin ran out of the house and ran to the car he jumped in and turned left on the main street.