Vampire Luna

I'll Protect You, Even Against Myself

Nova

I had managed to escape Xavier’s attempts to sleep with me multiple times. Whether I made myself busy with my mother, or stayed in Gale’s room. I did everything I could to not end up alone with Xavier, but sometimes for the few seconds that he could get me. He would kiss me and hit me. Vampires heal easily, so it was fine. But one night he started to get a dagger and leave little scars on my body. 

I knew Gale could tell, and she tried to tell me we had to do something about it, but I knew there was nothing I could do. My father wouldn’t care, and if my mother tried to stop him, my father would punish her for trying. I was alone in this. My only hope was Connor. Not just because he was my plan, but because I trusted him.

After our last meeting together Connor and I promised to meet each other again as often as we could. I had to keep reminding myself of the plan. I was so intrigued by him. We were just holding hands in the middle of the woods, both of us curious about the other. I never thought I would’ve let my guard down around a werewolf, but the truth was I really did feel like he wouldn’t hurt me. I have been hurt so much these past days. Xavier being the main person, but something about Connor made me feel like he wouldn’t, and not just because of the treaty.  

Each night when we met we would talk about our day. I would keep out the parts about me being the Vampire Queen, and all the stuff with Xavier, and he would tell me about his girlfriend, and what it was like hunting as a werewolf. 

We’d end each night laughing as we held hands. I truly felt like a kid. Like this was a secret that no one else knew, and no one else could take from me. This was mine, and mine alone. 

Sometimes we would meet and it was like our nature took over, and we were short with each other, but then our hands would touch, or one of us would be sad, and suddenly it was like we’d been friends our whole life. We were meeting each other twice a week, and I found myself always eagerly getting ready and showing up exactly on time.

This time though I was late. When I was trying to leave, Xavier found me. I told him I was on my way to go talk with a family, who’s son just turned 25 and wanted a royal blessing at their party. He told me I could be late. When I tried to tell him I couldn’t he pulled out the dagger and slashed my arms. He pushed me against the bookcase, letting all the books from the top shelf fall on me. Then he called me a b***h, and left. 

I stayed like that for a couple of seconds. Crying. Wondering what I did for this to be my life. I realized that all I wanted was to feel warmth. So I quietly, yet quickly forced myself to leave the castle and find Connor.

I made my way to our usual spot, and as soon as I could smell him I felt relief. I guess he smelled me too, because before I showed myself I heard him say, “Hey, I thought you weren’t going to show.”

I walked into the open space and saw him sitting at the boulder that we’ve started to share. “Sorry I um. Got held up.”

He looked at me and he gave me the same look of pity that Gale gave me the other day.

“What happened to your arms.” he asked softly, getting up from the boulder and coming toward me.

I looked down and realized that I was so preoccupied with coming here, I didn’t bother to clean up my scars. It wasn’t as bad or as deep, as when Xavier first cut me, but there was still blood, dripping from my wrist to my elbow.

I quickly hid my arm behind my back. “Oh it’s nothing. I just forgot to clean it up, but it should heal in a couple of hours.”

His jaw dropped, “Hours? Morgan, how deep was it? Did someone do this to you?”

I shook my head. There was no way I could tell him. I trusted him, but if I spoke about it, I think it would only make me cry.

He sighed and walked closer until he was right in front of me. He softly grabbed my upper arm and tugged to let me know he wanted me to show him my cut. I shouldn’t have and should’ve just told him to drop it, but I found myself bringing my arm toward him. He ran his hand along the side of the cut, like he was seeing how long it was. 

“You should at least clean it up. Can’t you still get infections or something.?”

“Rarely.” I answered.

“Rarely isn’t comforting enough. Will you wait here for me? I won’t be long.” He said. 

“Where are you going?” I asked

“To at least get some bandages to clean up the blood. And maybe some peroxide to make sure that rarely doesn’t happen.” he answered

Truth was I wanted to stay like this with him holding my arm. The warmth that he brought made the wound feel better already, still something about him wanting to help me even more made me nod. “Okay. I’ll be here.”

“Promise?” He said, giving me a smile and raising his eyebrow. 

“Trust me I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.”

He patted my arm, and started to take off. 

Jett

What’re you doing? Why’re you helping her?

Zeke was complaining over and over as I searched through the infirmary for bandages.

She’s hurt. She needed someone to help her. 

She said she’d heal in a couple of hours just leave her alone.

I can’t. I can’t just look at her when she’s bleeding like that.

Then just don’t go back and you won’t have to look at her.

You know I can’t do that. That might break the trust we have, and will ruin the plan.

I don’t think that’s what’s ruining the plan. You only have one more month until your ceremony. You’ve already wasted a month on nonsense with her.

I didn’t waste a month, building trust takes time. And letting her bleed like that doesn’t build trust. 

Do you trust her?

Yeah, so?

So you shouldn’t don’t forget what she is. No matter how much you like talking to her. Don’t forget what her kind did to your father.

I shut Zeke up. I didn’t want to hear anymore of his complaining. I just wanted to hurry back to Morgan. I put all the supplies I got into a bag and ran back to her. I was glad when I saw that she was waiting for me. But when I saw the cut on her arm again, I felt my heart drop. I could hear Zeke in my head reminding me to not forget what she is. But it wasn’t that I just liked talking to her. It was that she was sincere, and she did trust me. Whatever happened to her, I knew she didn’t deserve it. I knew her for a month, meeting her at least twice a week. At first it felt like we were just messing around with each other. Like rebelling against our kind was just fun, but after a while I got to know her.

I got to learn how she liked to listen to music, and did like dancing. I learned that she had a brother once, but he got killed. She didn’t really want to talk about him. But she talked about her mother, and how much she loved her. She told me she wondered what it would be like to travel, but it was nearly impossible for her kind. She was funny, she really was. Her laugh was so nice to hear. It rang in my ears and I could feel it echo throughout me. 

She let me go on about Ellie, and how I was trying to avoid her, then she’d tell me about all the ways she’d avoid her fiancé, and we’d laugh about it, giving one another ways to try and trick their significant other.

I told her about my hobbies, and how I liked to paint. I even brought her one, one day, and she begged to keep it. She said she’d hang it up in her room. The way she smiled at me, I couldn’t help but say yes, and I really did hope she hung it up. 

She was a good friend to me, no matter what she was. I knew that. So seeing her, so sad, it reminded me of the day I met her. The day I heard her wanting to die. I hadn’t thought much about it since then, but remembering it now, I felt my heartbreak at the idea of her wanting to die. She hadn’t even turned 25, when vampires started immortality, but she already was tired of living. I remembered that it was her engagement that made her want to die. She never really talked too much about her fiancé, just that she didn’t like him, and he wasn’t nice. I wondered just how mean he really was. 

So as I sat next to her, took her arm in my lap, and started to clean it, I just had to ask her, “Was it your fiancé that did this?”

She didn’t answer at first. There were a couple of beats before I heard her sniff. My eyes darted to hers, as tears slowly fell from her face. I didn’t need her to answer. I knew that it was him. I quietly cleaned up her wound, and didn’t say a word. Once I was done however, I cupped her face in my hands. She looked at me so softly, and in pain. 

“Hey, you know you can tell me anything right? If you need help just let me know.” I said.

She sniffled again and brought her hand up to one of mine holding it as I stayed holding her face up. “It’s not that simple. I’m stuck with him.”

“No you’re not. There has to be something you can do.”

She shook her head, and I released my hold, only to grab onto her hands as she spoke, “No trust me I tried everything. The um, Vampire King, sort of blessed this marriage so I have no way out. It doesn’t matter that he hurts me he won’t care. You can’t go against the King’s wishes.”

“Why you though? Do all vampires have arranged marriages?” I asked.

Again she shook her head, “No. Um.. it’s complicated. I um. The guy I’m engaged to is a powerful vampire, he’s going to be head of our army. Because of that the King wants him to have a chosen wife. And that’s me.” 

She said the word ‘me’ with so much pain that I had to wrap my arms around her, and pull her toward me. We had never held each other like this before. We’d just held hands. But holding her, wrapping her around me, pulling her head to my chest. It was different. I was worried that having her this close would feel too cold, that I would for the first time, feel what it was like to freeze. But I didn't, I just felt...right. Perfect even. I didn’t even want to move ever again. I just wanted to keep her here with me, where I could make sure that no one ever hurt her again, but then Zeke had to speak up.

So I guess she isn’t a waste of time after all.

What do you mean?

Her fiancé is the head of their army. Imagine how close this could get us to the Vampire King. If we start asking her about her fiancé more, we could learn more about the King. 

Yeah that’s true, but I don’t think she wants to talk about her fiancé too much.

That’s what you thought earlier, but look, she just told you who he is.

It’s different though, it’s because he hurt her.

And? It doesn’t matter.

Of course it matters. She doesn’t deserve that.

Well how much do you think it’ll hurt her when the plan comes out, and she figures out you were just using her.

No, I would make sure she wouldn’t get hurt.

And how would you do that?

I don’t know.

You’re running out of time, and this girl is only making it harder.

Just shut up.

Maybe you should let me take control, and I’ll make sure she's not a problem anymore.

No! You can’t hurt her, the treaty.

Is that really the only reason we can’t hurt her? Besides you and I could figure out a way to hide the body. 

Zeke was fighting to take control. Don’t you dare! I warned.

I’d only be doing it for the pack. It’s what’s best.

No! Leave her alone.

I could hear my breathing getting quicker as I tried to fight Zeke off. Morgan could tell something was wrong. She lifted her head from my chest and stared at me. She stroked my arm, “Hey are you okay?”

I looked at her eyes, again so soft and sweet. There was no way I was going to let Zeke hurt her. I cupped her face again in my hands and she smiled. Seeing her smile somehow gave me the strength to fight Zeke off, and push him away. I wasn’t going to let anyone hurt her.

I knew that even talking with her once could jeopardize the way the pack saw me as Alpha, but when I talked with her I didn’t feel any pressure to be perfect, or the best in the room. That was how I felt back at home. Like everyone expected more from me than I could give. With Morgan though, I just felt like myself. 

I knew I had to go back to the pack though. My father needed me, and that was enough to take my hands off her and say “Yeah I’m okay, but I think I should head back before anyone notices I’m gone.” 

She nodded, “Yeah okay, you’re right me too. I’ll see you in two days if you can.”

“Yeah that’s perfect.”

“Okay, see you then.”

She jumped off the boulder and started to head back.

“Hey Morgan.” She didn’t turn back, so I said it louder, “Morgan?”

She whipped around, “Oh sorry, what’s up?”

“Would it be weird to ask you for your phone number. In case you want to meet sooner, or if you just want to talk. Or if you’re gonna be late again. I think I’m gonna start worrying a lot now if you’re late.”

She smiled again, “Yeah I’d like that actually. But there’s no need to worry, I promise I got it handled.”

She came back toward me and we exchanged phone numbers. Something about knowing I was a phone call away now made me feel a bit better. Still, if I could kill any vampire, or any creature for that matter, it would be that finance of hers.