Emmerson & The Guardian

The Last 24 Hours

“Henry, where is Blaze?”  It wasn’t until I tried to speak that I noticed I have been silently crying.

“He wants me to get you to safety.  He doesn’t believe Freddie will stop searching for you.  He wanted to finish it.  To protect you.”  My heart constricts in my chest.  Blaze is going back to kill Freddie.  I’m not upset that Freddie the sadistic murder will be dead, but rather for Blaze’s safety.  What if something happens to him?  “He’s strong, and so are you.  Do not worry.  He will meet you.  He will be there at the rendezvous point- wherever that is.”  This is the only person in the world I have left- well except for a supposed estranged brother.  But who knows where he is?  Blaze is my family.  He was shocked to discover that I was a vampire, but why wouldn’t he be?  He saved me when he got the chance.  I sit with my eyes closed in the backseat of the BMW while Henry continues to drive like the stole the car.  We finally come to a complete stop, so I force my eyes open.  We are out front of a large iron gate.  Henry rolls his window down and punches a code into the keypad.  The gate opens slowly.  We drive a short distance up the driveway, and a beautiful ranch style house sits on the back of the property.  It’s elegant, but understated.  The large cedar beams over the garage give a rustic flare to the home.

“Whose house is this, Henry?”

“Mr. Giles mam.”

“Wow.”

“Please.  Make yourself at home.  I’ll collect him and bring him along shortly.  Keys under the mat.”

“Thank you, Henry.”

        As I walk up the sidewalk toward the front door, I collect the key from under the welcome mat- insert it into the keyhole and turn.  I hear the ‘click’ indicating the lock is now unlatched.  After turning the knob and pushing slowly the door swings open.  Wow.  I stand mouth agape in the rotunda.  The door is still open, so I close it and make sure to lock the dead bolt.  Beyond the rotunda is the short hallway into the kitchen, living room, and dining room.  All the rooms are open.  Perfect for entertaining.  In the kitchen is a large room with a double oven, pot filler, and huge island.  A kitchen fit for a gourmet chef.  I cooked every day for Freddie, but I’d hardly call my cooking gourmet.  I could never perform the taste test on my concoctions since I can’t really taste anything.  I run my fingertips along the granite on the island.  Smooth and cool.  It has small flecks of silver intertwined in the brown and cream igneous rock.  

        Just past the kitchen is the living room- a large rectangular room that has a floor to ceiling stone fireplace.  A deer head hangs above the mantel- one of his trophies no doubt.  A large plush brown sectional with decorative pillows scattered about sits in the center of the room.  He must have a decorator.  I quickly scan the room for photos to ensure that he isn’t married- but there are none.  I walk through the dining room and graze the wooden table set as I pass.  The table is rustic, with large nail heads around the edge of the tabletop.  Elegant, rustic, and old worldly.  A table fit for a king’s castle, and it seats twelve comfortably.  Just past the dining room is a small hallway- maybe four feet long- leading to a closed door.  I gently tap my knuckle on the door to see if anyone is behind it.  No answer.  I gently tug the handle and the door springs open.  It’s his room.  There is a large four poster king sized bed in the center of the wall.  It’s a rich wood like the dining table.  The bedspread looks to be handmade, and more elegant than any I’ve ever seen.  It’s made of silk, leather, and satin.  A combination I’d never thought could go together.  It’s manly yet feminine all at the same time.  I decide he definitely has a decorator.  There’s no way my Blaze could throw all this together, and in such good taste.  “Are you sure?  You don’t know him very well.”  I know him better than I knew Freddie.  But my subconscious isn’t being ridiculous- I’ve known Blaze about a minute. 

        On the bed next to the wall is a set of French doors.  I push them open to find the master bathroom.  There are white marble floors, a huge soaking tub, a shower that could comfortably fit five adult men, and the most gorgeous chandelier.  A bath sounds nice.  I can rinse away all the heartache the last twelve hours brought.  I reach for the water faucet and turn on the hot water.  I reach down and close the drain, and let it fill with steamy water.  He has a bottle of rose oil next to a basket of plush towels.  I pour a few capfuls into the flowing water.  As I inhale, I feel intoxicated with the luscious scent of rose.  It’s my favorite flower, and my favorite scent.  I glance down at my scarred wrists, then at my bare feet.  My wrists are healing, but slower than Blazes wounds did.  I look like a homeless wretch.  I look up into the large, framed mirror, and notice the dress he gave me earlier in the day is ruined.  The lovely silk is now tattered and torn.  I untie the bow that is somehow still intact then reach for the zipper.  It floats effortlessly onto the floor and pools at my feet.  I peel off my bra and panties, then step into the water.  The scalding water burns my skin but feels so necessary.  As if it’s the only thing that can truly cleanse the filth off me.  

        I lean back into the indention of the tub and the floodgates open back up.  I can’t stop crying.  I am hurt, scared, sad, mad, and every other feeling that I can’t quite put into words.  I need Blaze.  I need answers.  And I need to know Freddie is dead.  I’m exhausted, and I feel myself drifting off.

        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 holding Blaze’s hand.  Blaze is running alongside me and we are gazing at one another.  We are still running to something, though we can’t see what it is.  It’s more of a feeling drawing us near.  Then in a nanosecond everything beautiful fades away.  Blaze is gone, 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, only this time I can see his face.  He looks so much like me.  Blonde hair, pale skin, long fingers, glimmering blue eyes, and strong broad shoulders.  He’s beautiful.  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 a sharp breath of air.  It is as if he can feel my pain, too.  He whispers something- my name?  “Why am I here?”  He still gazes down at me.  He reaches for my hand and pulls me up until we are standing face to face.  “Flesh of my flesh.  I am you and you are me.  Together we can end this.  Together we can be free.”  He speaks.  It’s melodic and cryptic.  “Who are you?  I don’t understand you.”  I am almost screaming at this beautiful vampire.

“Emmerson.  I need you.  I’m weak.  We can’t be separated any longer.  I’m dying.”

“How do you know who I am?  Why am I just now learning of your existence?”

“Emmerson we are dangerous together.  The Gatekeepers want us together to eradicate us.  You and I are the last remaining royals in our blood line sister.”

“I’m not royal.  I’m just me.  Emmerson, a stay at home- er…umm person.  I’m not royalty.”

“You are sister.  You and I were separated at birth.  I was under the care of Aunt Lena, and you under the care of Aunt Sybil.  Lena and Sybil are now dead- it’s just us now.”

“What is your name?”  Before he could answer I feel my body being shaken.  No.  I’m finally getting answers.  I’m enraged!  I feel my fangs extend as I jump up from the water.  My eyes open, and I’m standing nose to nose with Blaze.  He looks horrified.  I can feel his fear.  My breathing is ragged, and I’m standing in a position ready to attack.  Very primal.  Very vampire.  Blaze takes a step back, in order to let me calm down.  I take three steading breaths and retract my fangs.  The expression in Blaze’s eyes changes.  His horrified eyes turn into molten pools of lust and want. He reaches for me and lifts me underneath my behind.  “Wrap your legs around me.  Let’s finish this in bed.”

        He pulls me to him.  My wet skin sticks to his clothes, but he doesn’t seem to care.  We are entangled into one soul.  He walks backwards towards his bed- never breaking eye contact.  It’s the most erotic feeling to have someone not look at you but into you.  “I thought I’d never see you again.”  I kiss him on the lips- gently.  He returns my kiss and demands access into my mouth with his tongue.  He breaks the kiss to speak.

“They will have to kill me to keep me from you.  And it’ll take a whole lot more than a Freddie Fisher to kill me.” I give him the biggest- cheesiest smile I can, and his smile mirrors mine.  

“Well, that’s good to know.  Because I kind of want to keep you around for a little longer.”

        Blaze leans into my neck and plants several sweet kisses down to my clavicle.  Once we are by his bed, he throws me on top of the ornate spread.  I turn and throw the decorative pillows onto the floor.  Blaze quickly undresses and hops on top of me.  His eyes look like chocolate fondue.  Hot and sweet.  He reaches for my hand and examines my right wrist.  A pained expression dulls the mood.  His eyes now reflect remorse.  “I should have never allowed this to happen to you.  It’s all my fault.”

“No, it’s not.  It’s my fault, and it’s Freddie’s fault.”

“You shouldn’t have been punished for who you are.  We thought we were warriors of God, but now I realize we were the demons doing Satan’s work.”  I didn’t realize how religious Blaze was.  All the romance that filled the room has dissipated.  

“Blaze.  You are a good man.  You were doing what you thought was right.  But I must ask.  Did you torture my kind like Freddie?”

“No.  Freddie took what we did to a whole new level.  He was sadistic, tormented, and evil.  When I was in your room watching you dream.  I wondered how someone that looked so much like an angel could be married to Freddie.  Then when I started to get to know you…you are so good Emmerson.  It doesn’t matter what you are.  You are good.  A beautiful person…both inside and out.”

“I’ve done things I’m not proud of too, Blaze.”

“We all have.  The main one for me…”  He gestures to my wrists.  “I let this happen to you.”

“Blaze I’m sure you’ve encountered plenty of vampires that are all worthy of indiscernible deaths… Probably more than do than don’t.  I don’t blame you.”  I pause before I continue.  “You told me that your brothers were killed in war- were they killed trying to kill vampires?”

“Yes.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Emmerson you aren’t responsible for their deaths.  I’ve never met a vampire like you.  So controlled, for the most part.  Innocent, and you don’t drink blood.”

“We don’t require it.  It feels wrong to harm humans to me.”

“You don’t require it, but it makes you strong.”  Before I can react, he lifts me up onto his lap.  We are sitting here naked- skin to skin.  “And Emmerson, you do need it.  You are not going to deprive yourself ever again.”  He tilts his head back to expose his neck.  I can see the blood pulsing through his veins.  My horrified expression blazes across my face before words come.  

“No!  I can’t do that!  I might not be able to stop- And you…you’re so good.  I can’t do it!”

“Yes, you can.  I want you to…”

He pulls me by the back of my neck toward him.  He stops right before my lips are touching his neck.  I’ve never been put in this position before.  It feels… It feels so intimate.  It doesn’t feel wrong.

“Get drunk off of me baby.”  My lips part instantly as my fangs extend.  I don’t sink them in thought.  I trail my tongue along the vein.  I feel like I’m going to c*m.  It’s a heady sensation.  I whisper, “Are you ready?”  And I’m not met with words, but by his erection digging into the apex of my thighs.  He is ready…in more ways than one.  I gently graze his neck with my fangs, and then I gently pierce his skin.  Blood invades my mouth with a swift gush.  He is delicious.  His blood is thick, rich, and sweet.  I suck very gently.  I don’t want to lose control.  I feel his hands ease under the back of my thighs.  He lifts me up slightly then he slips inside me.  “Ahhhhh.”  He hisses.  The sensations running through me are only described in one word.  Electric.  His blood, ‘him’, it’s overwhelming.  It’s intense.  It’s amazing.  I pull my fangs out of him and graze my tongue over the puncture wounds.  They instantly close.  Erasing the proof.  Then we move.  In unison.  Up.  Down.  Up.  Down.  I’m riding a high that feels illegal.  Drunk isn’t the right word.  I’m in a state of transcendence.  Our eyes lock.  This is all it takes.  We shatter against one another, we come apart together.  Then collapse onto the bed, intertwined in one another.

Once I collect my breath the only word that I can rationalize is “Wow…”

“Yea…. wow.”  His hand glides through my hair.  

“I love you.”

“I love you, too.”

“That was intense…”

“Yes.”

        I’m in a sated state and still completely tangled up in him.  I’m having a difficult time believing that the last twenty-four hours were real.  I was given the most expensive clothes I could imagine, my ummmmm-ex-husband?- tried to kill me and did kill my mom, I had to drink Blazes’ blood after cutting off his tattoo, then made the sweetest love.  A confusing twenty-four hours for sure.  But I push all my thoughts aside because right now I want- no I need just be with Blaze.  I want to lay skin to skin.  I want to caress him, drink him in.  I just need to love him, and nothing else right now.  I lay my head on his chest listening to the gentle pull and push of air as he breathes.  It’s soothing, and I quickly fall asleep.