Watching From Darkness: My Vampire Stalker

Chapter 14: Travelling by night

POV: Sierra

***

I've checked the bags three times already but I still find myself pulling the contents out to scrutinise.

A different outfit, blood vials, a selection of hunting equipment for Blake and my favourite daggers, just in case.

"Mistress, are you ready?"

Blake enters the room and I don't need to look at him to picture his insulting expression of sympathy.

"Can't you see I'm busy?" I growl at him.

"How many times have you checked that bag? May will be fine, we'll be gone for a few days at most."

I hate that he knows what's wrong. Since I've told him the truth, he's shown much less fear of me and I don't have the heart to instil it again.

I know it's the bond making me feel this way but I'm helpless to stop it.

I sigh. He's right that I can't delay this forever. The bond has only gotten stronger as May grows older and I need to sever it before it consumes me.

"I'll be there in five."

Blake leaves me alone. One final check and then we'll go.

Leaning into my senses, I try and embrace May' s feelings instead of blocking them.

Months of repressed emotions rush into me, knocking me to my knees.

May smiling. Crying. Coffee. Class. Boredom. Kat. Happiness. Fear. Loneliness. Party. Excitement. Nerves.

A pulsing headache slowly forms as I'm overwhelmed.

Anger. Whispers. Help. Help. Help.

I slam my mental walls down, although I can feel the pain of the bond battering at them. I hate tapping into it. May has just so many feelings.

My thoughts are my own again. Even though I can tell she's not happy about something, she's not hurt or in danger. I'll be fine leaving her for a few days.

Grabbing the bag off my bed, I head to the main doors to find Blake.

He's dressed for the occasion, a crimson suit with golden buttons and for once, his hair is vaguely styled.

I'm in a matching floor length gown, with a high collar to signify my position over him.

He takes the bag from me, already hefting the chest of things I need to return.

"Are you ready?" I ask him. "You'll need to be on strict behaviour. This place is full of older vampires, traditional vampires. They won't take kindly to a subordinate talking back."

Blake stands straighter, the perfect picture of a servant.

"I won't let you down, Mistress."

Satisfied, I reach out and grab his arm. This is my favourite part of travelling.

Concentrating, we step into a shadow and simply...melt away.

For a brief moment, there is nothing. Complete darkness and complete silence. An endless expanse of emptiness.

Then we're stepping forwards and up and out into the cool night air.

Exhaustion crashes over me like a wave. Since the bond weakened me, I struggle with taking us long distances.

Blake is at my side instantly, offering an arm for me to lean on. I push him away.

"I'll be alright. I just need some time to recover. Do you have the map?"

"Of course, Mistress. I think we've landed about a night away. Not bad for someone your age."

"Glad to see your humour remains the same." I deadpan.

"Someone's got to cheer you up."

I look to see exactly where we've landed, ignoring Blake's far-too-happy humminh.

We're halfway up a hill, under a copse of trees. Spread out in front of us, lit by the moonlight, is a vast lake.

It stretches for miles across and the other side is an open grassy plain. That's our destination but it'll take most of the night just to walk around the lake.

"Let's get a move on. The last thing we need is to be stuck here when morning comes."

I set off at a fast pace, making the most of the downhill slope. Around us, I can hear the steady wing beats of owls and scurrying mice. It's so quiet compared to the city, a welcome break from the constant stimulation.

Blake catches up and I can see his confusion. "I don't mean to suggest we've made a mistake..."

"Then don't."

This headache is souring my mood and shortening my fuse further. I can't shake it, no matter what I do.

"It's just that I can't help spotting, or really not spotting, a massive city."

"It's there."

"Oh, right. Yes, I see. Gorgeous view."

His tone is dripping with sarcasm. I growl.

"Blake, shut up. I'm burned out, my head hurts and we have hours of walking ahead of us. I am telling you that we're in the right place and I don't want to hear another word about it. Am I clear?"

He has the grace to look ashamed.

"Yes, Mistress."

The rest of the evening passes in silence. I take a blood vial half way through the stave off the worst of my exhaustion.

We get most of the way around the lake by the time I decide we need to stop. Light will be drawing loser and we need to set up for the day.

Blake unpacks a series of dark plastic sheets with blackout lining sewn in. He arranges them around the trees, creating a safe bubble for me to sleep.

While he does that, I go through the bag and find some fishing gear. I was never overly skilled but I know enough of the basics to get Blake something to eat.

As his Mistress, I still have a duty to take care of him - and he'd make a terrible servant if I let him starve. I can only imagine the melodrama it would cause.

Blake stands stiffly next to me.

"Everything is sorted for the daytime. I apologise for my earlier comments."

I roll my eyes.

"Sit. Eat. Should have been on Broadway with those acting skills."

I make sure he's settled before I get his attention more seriously.

"Blake. I've been reflecting tonight. Do you know why I've kept you around so long?"

He shakes his head.

"Because despite your backchat, you are loyal and good at your job. And perhaps I've been too unkind to you. It's not easy for me to open up to anyone."

This is the closest I've ever come to apologising and I bite back discomfort.

"You are more than a servant. You are my...friend, when I have no others."

I can hardly look him in the eye.

"Sierra."

That draws my gaze.

"It's an honour."

"Good. I trust you'll keep me safe while I sleep. Tomorrow, you get to see Sanguine City."