Emmerson & The Guardian

Kidnapped

        When I look up at the clock and see the time reads 5:03 pm I decide to collect my things.  Quitting time as the working folk say in all the movies.  I switch off all the lights, push my chair in, straighten the desk and pad towards the door.  When I pushed the door open the bell chimed loudly making me flinch and laugh at my skittish reaction.  As I fished for the keys in the depths of my purse I paused.  Without turning around, I allow my senses to heighten.  I feel someone watching me.  I feel their dark aura.  I decide to continue searching for the key but hurry myself.  The final thing I touch in the absolute bottom of my purse was the keys.  I locked the door, and mentally prepare for my attacker.  I swing myself around ready for the worst.  “AHHHHHH!” I yelled.          But there was on one there.  Not a sole in sight on the entire street which I found even more odd.  I shake the thoughts aside, and sigh with relief “Is your life so boring that you’d think up an attacker in order to get a little action?!”  I laugh because I know my subconscious is right.  I walk along the sidewalk towards our apartment building stepping over every crack in the cement.                    Once I got to the apartment complex, I make the 3 flight hike up to my apartment in no time.  I was careful to hook my keys on the side of my purse after leaving Freddie’s office, so I didn’t lose them in the bottom of my purse, again.  I threw all my belongings on the bar and decided to go take a shower to wash the sweat of the day away. I practically ran into the bathroom- so ready to get my sticky clothes off.  I decided I was going to take a loooonnnnng shower.  Freddie never let me take more than a 15-minute shower because he was big on water conservation.  Do not get me wrong I’m all for helping the planet, but my hair is down past the middle of my back- do you have any idea how hard it is to get all the soap out of my hair in such a short time frame?!  The water feels amazing- cascading down and all around me.  I took the time to feel every droplet of water as it touched my skin and enjoyed it as it ran down to the drain.  This shower was more than a utility shower…this shower was for me.              After my shower I towel dried my body wrapping the towel around myself before putting detangler into my hair and brushing it.  It always takes me a while to fully brush my hair because of the length.  I wonder what I would look like with a bob?  But shoo that image from my mind because I love my hair.  After brushing it I throw it on top of my head in a messy bun and decide I’ll dry it in the morning.  It will feel good having the coolness from my wet hair when I go to sleep- our apartment isn’t much cooler than Freddie’s office.  I decide to put on my favorite sweats and a sports bra to sleep.  I knew when my head hit the pillow it would not be long before I’d drift off into a state of unconsciousness.   

        I’m running in a field, and it’s a beautiful day.  My hands graze the top of the tall grass, and my hair floats wistfully around my shoulders as the wind blows it.  I’m running to something, though I can’t see what it is.  It’s more of a feeling drawing me near.  Then in a nanosecond everything beautiful fades away and I’m crawling on my hands and knees in a dark dungeon.  Something, or someone rather, still pulling me to them.  When I stop crawling, I look up to see the figure of a man, though I cannot make out the top half of his face.  Blonde hair, pale skin, long fingers.  He reaches down to touch my face and as he does, I feel a strange pain pierce my heart.  His lips part slightly, revealing a pearly set of fangs as he takes in a sharp breath of air.  It is as if he can feel my pain, too.  

I awake gasping for air in a pool of sweat.  I’ve had the dream again, but this time it felt so much real.  I can feel my heart racing a million miles a minute, and it takes me a few moments to collect myself and adjust to my surroundings.  Once I do I feel a pair of eyes on me.  I can feel his dark intentions, and every hair on my body stands up at attention.  But I cannot speak. I am frozen, but I realize it’s the same feeling I had earlier outside the photography studio.  Then I hear his lyrical voice quiet, almost a whisper.

“Hello, Emmerson.”       

“Who the f**k are you?” I sputter as I grab my knees to my chest in reaction.

“We spoke earlier today on the phone, I am Blaze.  Blaze Giles.”  I can feel a darkness about him, but it’s more of a darkness of his past not what he plans to do to me...

“It was you following me as I left the studio today, wasn’t it?” I ask.

“Smart girl.  I didn’t expect that.”  Now you’re going to insult my intelligence?  Absolutely f*****g not…

“What do you want?  Why are you in my apartment?”  I hiss.  

“I am going to help reconnect you with your husband Em… May I call you Em?”  I can feel his words like velvet on my skin.  It’s as if he’s caressing all the fear out of my body with just his words.  But I’m not ready to not be mad.  Is mad the right emotion?  Scared?  No…Mad is right.

            He switched on the light and it took my eyes a moment to adjust to the brightness.  I hear the sharp intake of air as he sees me.  He is sitting on the settee at the end of my bed with one foot propped up.  The figure that comes into focus is striking.  Strong angular jaw, dark hair, with dark alluring eyes.  And he is just sitting there…staring at me in my sports bra and sweats with my hair thrown up in a messy bun on top of my head.  I suddenly feel self-conscious.  As I examine my attire, I look up just in time to see his failed attempt to hide his amusement.

“Something funny, asshole?” 

“Would you like a few minutes to collect yourself, Em?  You will need to pack an overnight bag.  We have a long way to travel.” He says firmly.

“Where are we going?”

“I already told you of my intentions.  I do not like repeating myself.  I know where Freddie is, and I am going to get you to him.  Now get dressed Emmerson.”  

“Freddie’s gone, and now this guy ordering you around?  Hell to the no Emmerson.”  It’s far too early to fight with my self-conscious.   

And with that he stands and turns on his heels and is out of my bedroom.  Still groggy from my sleep I yawn and rub my eyes.  Forcing myself out of bed I shrug out of my sweatpants and put on a fresh pair of panties and my favorite jeans -the ones that I’ve washed too many times that have a hole on my right thigh and one on the left knee.  I wrestle open my top dresser drawer to find a clean bra, and then I put on an AC/DC t-shirt with my black Converse tennis shoes.  I grab my iPhone off the nightstand and note the time is 6:56 am, turn my 7:00 am alarm off, and place the phone into the back pocket of my jeans.  As I head into the bathroom to run a brush through the knotted mess I call my hair, it dawns on me.  “Why is he in my apartment?!  If his intentions are as pure as he says – wouldn’t a simple phone call be sufficient- not breaking and entering in the wee morning hours?!”  I hurry out of the bathroom to my bedside table to grab my 9mm, and after opening the drawer I see my gun is missing.  I hear a slight knock on the door and there he is standing in the doorway holding up my gun.  

“Looking for this, Em?  I really do not have time to play games with you.  Now finish preparing for our departure.”  And he once again turns on his heels and heads back into the living room out of sight, twirling my empty pistol around his index finger.

 I stand with my mouth agape for a few minutes fuming. I decide to confront him.  How dare he treat me like some….UH!  I don’t even know the word I want to form I’m so mad!  I storm into the living room and notice the gun on the bar with the magazine next to it.  A fresh pot of coffee has been made, and there is my favorite much sitting on the counter with steam escaping it.  He stands watching the early morning news while drinking his own mug full of happiness.  I didn’t notice when he was in my room how tall and muscular he is.  He stands at least 6’3” with broad shoulders and a slim waist.  He’s wearing a black leather trench coat with a tight-fitting black T-shirt, and jeans that fit snugly around his hips.  You can tell he works out.  Damn…he is sexy.  I rush these thoughts from my conscious to focus on how irate I am that he has broken into my apartment…and watched me while I was near comatose.  Who knows how long he has even been in my room watching me… “talk about CREEPY!”

“Why did you break into my apartment…?” I rasp.

“Mrs. Fisher I don’t really think we have time for that.  Your husband is expecting you.  I would rather we didn’t stand here arguing about your minor inconveniences.  Now go…pack your bag and let us get on the road!” He is almost shouting at me.

“Ok…I demand an explanation when we are in the car.” I usher myself back into my closet and drag out a rolling suitcase and begin to pack my things.  “What kind of clothes do I need to pack?” I shout over my shoulder.  And I can hear the annoyance in his tone as he replies, “The kind that cover your body.”  Man, he isn’t giving much away.  I roll my eyes and get to packing.  I pack two pairs of jeans, an I Heart Vegas T-shirt, a baby blue button up blouse, two pairs of socks, more lingerie than entirely necessary, and my knee-high black leather boots.  I throw all my toiletries into a waterproof bag and place it on top of my clothes.  I zip my suitcase and roll it into the living room where Blaze is gazing at me with bewilderment.  

“Ever heard of packing light?”  he says with annoyance. 

“What are you talking about?  This is light.”  A smirk rises from the corner of my mouth.  And with that we are out the door heading towards the parking lot.  He reaches for my suitcase and I let him take it because we are on the third floor, and I am in no mood to be inconvenienced any more than I already am today.  Once we are on the ground level, I gaze along the row of cars and spot it.  The only car out of place.  He punches a button on his key fob and the headlights blink to life.  I stand with my mouth agape as he opens the trunk of his Aston Martin.  It is a beautiful sleek black car. Not what I expected to be riding on a cross country road trip in at all.  

“This is your car?” I squeak after I return to earth.  I can feel my mouth getting dry from panting over the vehicle.

“You like, Em?  I nod- then sarcastically say.   

“I mean it’s alright.  A little ostentatious for me personally, but it looks like it’ll get the job done.” He punches a button on the key fob to open the trunk – then takes my luggage and places it inside.  He punches one more button to close the trunk, and heads for the drives side door.

“Get in…we have a long way to go.  Luckily, my ostentatious Aston Martin has a V-12 and can make up the precious time you are wasting.”  After giving me a playful wink, he reaches into the breast pocket of his jacket to remove his aviator shades.  I can feel an intensity exude from him unlike any other human I have encountered.  He slides his arms out of his jacket and carefully folds it and lays it in the backseat of the car.  He gracefully slides into the driver’s seat of the car and presses the ignition and the car roars to life.  He places his sunglasses in the cup holder- then eases out of the parking space, and with a squeal we are off.  He steps on the accelerator with such force it throws me back in my seat.  “Good going genius.  You let your husband boss you around, you allow a man you don’t know to boss you around, and then you get in a car with him!?”  I don’t know why I am doing this to be honest, but I can say- it does not feel wrong.  I inhale before letting out a huge sigh, and the scent that invades my nostrils is like heaven.  He smells sweet.  Not like cologne, but like he has a personal scent… like fresh picked strawberries.  I decide it’s better if we ride in silence for a while- before I say something stupid.  So, I bite my lip and gaze out of the passenger window. 

            Blaze is the first to break the silence.

“Where are you from, Em?”

“Me?!  What about YOU!”  My subconscious screams.  “Oh, I’m from Texas.”

“Tell me about yourself.” 

“Well, I’m 25…”

“How about something I can’t get from public record…?”

“Oh.”  I hesitate before telling this stranger my life story.  “I’m an only child.  I have a degree in athletic training.  And my mom is my best friend.  She’s the only person on the planet that knows who I really am.”  I bite my lip a bit harder than I mean to…why am I shy all of a sudden?

“Who are you really, Em?  A vampire?”  He asks amused but arches his right brow as he gazes at me through his long, beautiful eyelashes.

“Of course not!” I scream!

“My sarcasm seems lost on you...”  He now has a playful tone that takes me by surprise.

“Maybe if I knew you better, or at all for that matter, the sarcasm wouldn’t be lost on me.”  I decide to ask him some questions to get myself out of the hot seat.  “Where are you from?”  

“Hmmmmm, well, my family moved around a lot growing up.  Mostly I’m from Washington.  I love the snow and the mountains...  My mother, sisters, and youngest brother still reside there.”  He says this with fondness.  I can see the wrinkles crease the sides of his eyes as she smiles kindly. 

“How many siblings do you have?”

“I have 4 sisters and had 3 brothers.  There were 8 of us in all.”

“Were?” I ask cautiously not wanting to overstep my boundaries.

“My two older brothers were killed in war, Emmerson.  It was a long time ago.  Not something I really want to talk about, but let’s just say they were overly confident in themselves and paid the price.”  He furrows his brow as if recalling something unsettling from his past.  Something possess’ me and I gently put my hand on top of his hand.  Both of our bodies still as we gaze down at our now touching hands.  Electricity.  Our touch produced electricity.  I recoil my hand with a blush.  

“You care for them.  For your family.” I say to break the awkwardness.

“Yes, I do Em.  I would go to great lengths to keep them safe.  I go out of my way to protect what is mine.”  We ride in silence for another stretch of road.  “Where are we going?!  Why did you get into a car with a man you don’t know…who quite frankly broke into your apartment and basically abducted you?!”  My subconscious is none too pleased with my spontaneous road trip.  Oddly enough- I feel completely safe with him.  Sybil told me whenever you feel safe- that is when you need to worry the most.  I decide to continue my interrogation.    

“How did you find yourself in Nevada?”

“All of the Giles men are adventurous, and we travel a lot.  My business allows for me to have a lot of freedom to come and go as I please.  My great grandfather moved to the states because he felt the opportunity was better here than in Ireland.  It was safer to move here to raise families also which is why my great grandmother packed the whole family up and followed him here.”

“Must be difficult being away from your family like that.”

“Yes, but absence makes the heart grow fonder.  I’m sure you can you relate?”

“Relate?  How?” 

“Well hasn’t it been three weeks since you have seen your beloved husband?”

I squirm in my seat feeling uncomfortable at the intrusion of privacy.  “Can we discuss the break in and abduction now?”

“I’d hardly call it a break in – you left the front door unlocked.  And I would say abduction is a bit farfetched as well… seeing as you got into my car of your own free will.  But…I will admit that I was prepared to take you against your will should you have resisted.”

“Oh.”  This would explain why I felt the darkness around him when I first became aware of him in my room.  “How do you know where my husband is?”

“I know people.”

“So… they told you where he is?”

“I am in the business of finding people.  This is really all you need to know, Emmerson.”

“Then why didn’t you just bring him home?  There has to be something you aren’t telling me.”  I press knowing he is hiding something.  I can feel it. 

He is quiet for a beat then he says, “You know you are quite stupid, Em.”  

I glare at him bewildered and in disbelief.  The nerve of this man!  “Excuse me?”  I ask through gritted teeth.

“You have no idea who I am, yet you packed a bag and got into a car with me.  With little to no coaxing on my part.  You don’t even know where I’m planning on taking you.  I could be…a criminal, a r****t, or worse a vampire.”  

“Are you?”  I ask worried…this is the second time he’s brought up vampires in such a short amount of time I’m beginning to think he may be one…or worse know I am one!?  

“Hell NO!”

“To which?”

“All.”

I’m not sure why but I feel relieved to know Blaze Giles is not a vampire.  I decide I should let him know that this isn’t a normal thing for me to just get into strangers’ cars and take road trips…  “I’ll have you know that getting into cars with strangers who break into my apartment isn’t usually part of my M.O.  When you said you knew where Freddie was, I suppose all logic evaporated.” I say honestly.  I turn and gaze out the window, and we drive on.  I fall asleep- something about car rides always puts me to sleep- and as I awake the sun is fully up and it is a lovely day.  I look over at Blaze who has a s**t eating grin plastered on his face.

“What is it?”  I look in the side view mirror to make sure I wasn’t drooling.    

“You talk in your sleep.” 

“Oh.  I hope nothing too embarrassing.”  I blush as I say the words.

“You said you feel…”empty”.   Are you hungry?  We can stop to eat.”  

Not requiring food makes it that much more difficult to attempt to be human.  So, knowing I’m supposed to be hungry I smile sweetly and shake my head yes.

“Very well.”  He reaches for his I-Phone in his jacket and commands Siri “Siri, find a restaurant near me.”

“I’ve found several restaurants near you.  Would you like the address?” 

“Yes.”  As Siri finds eateries in our area we decide on Subway.  He pulls the extravagant car into a parking space in the far less extravagant Subway parking lot that houses a Subway, adult video store, and a washateria.  Two young teenage boys gawk at Blazes’ car in appreciation.  They stalk up to the car with their mouths agape, and Blaze pulls open the driver side door and stands.  He slowly stalks over to the passenger side door, and gently pulls it open for me.  I climb out and smile at the boys who still stand with their mouths agape.  Only now I think they are gawking at me.  He squares up to them putting himself between them and the car and me- squints his eyes and glares.  They run off fearful of this strange yet beautiful man.  I could have sworn I heard a growl come from him, but that couldn’t be…humans don’t “growl” …  I nudge Blaze with my elbow and say,

“They were just looking at it.  Geez don’t get your panties in a wad.”  

“They can look at her from afar.”  He says sternly.

“Her?”  I ask shocked that he would give his car a gender.  We step inside the establishment and order our sandwiches.  He orders a footlong Italian on wheat, and I order a six-inch Tuna on honey oat.  We eat our meals in silence.  Once we have finished our subs he stands and looks at me with his sexy as hell eyes, and we head back to the car.  Why do I feel like there are a thousand butterflies in my belly around this mysterious person?  I am married for crying out loud!  I cannot “like” someone else.  Besides, I don’t know anything about him, except he is great at breaking and entering.