Forever His True Mate

Chapter 2

       The sky was a clear blue with only a slight dusting of cotton candy like puffy clouds. The sun was bright and high, its face hiding randomly behind the clouds. The weather was unseasonably cold, so a light jacket was necessary. Camille clutched her jacket closer as she walked towards the school’s cafeteria. It was situated on the far side of the campus, tucked in a neat corner that had been decorated with blooming flowers though Spring had just really begun to shine. The walk wasn't long from her classroom. “I could walk across this campus in about five minutes. Oh, I hope he isn’t waiting there already.” she softly said to herself as she put a slight boost in her speed.

          Camille neared the cafeteria. She could see Conor standing there waiting and looking at his phone, she slowed her approach so she wouldn’t look overly eager in his eyes. He looked so handsome from afar, the sun shining off his pale skin. He had tied his almost shoulder length hair back into a ponytail at the nape of his neck and there was the slight sheen to his hair. Maybe its hairspray, Camille thought to herself. He wore dark blue denim jeans with a faded wash to them and his shirt was V-necked, checkered and sported a ‘Savage’ logo. He wore a black hoodie and his book bag was black and slung over his left shoulder. He stood there like he was the coolest thing in the world as she walked up. “Hey Conor!” she said cheerfully to him. He smiled brightly at her. “Hey there darling.” he replied with equal enthusiasm. His voice smooth as honey and she couldn't help the blush that crept onto her cheeks as looked at her. He reached out to her, gesturing for a hug.  there was something about him. Camille felt safe and satisfied in his presence, so she met him halfway for a light hug. As soon as they touched, Camille’s heart skipped a beat and she felt a strange sensation. It was not pain, but instead felt like patch of irritated skin right on her rib cage. The sensation abated just as quickly as it had come, leaving Camille with an itch that she scratched absentmindedly as Conor released her from his light, cool embrace. “Are you ready to go?” he asked. She looked him up and down with an approving eye. “Sure.” she replied still slightly reeling from the butterflies that his touch invoked . Camille mentally shook herself. She had only just met Conor, yet she felt like she would give anything just to see him smile the crooked smile that graced his face as the two strolled.

          They chatted lightly until they reached the school’s parking lot. “Where are we going and how are we getting there?” Camille asked. Conor Looked contemplative for a few moments, putting his hand just under his chin. “Well, do you drive?" he replied. By now they had started to stroll slowly towards one side of the parking lot, drifting aimlessly as they figured out a plan.  “Yes.” she replied, “that's me right over there.” She pointed to a small Chevy Cobalt. It was pink with black rims and dark tinted windows. “Wow, nice looking car.” he said.  “Yeah she’s my pride and joy. What about you?” she replied. “Yeah.” he answered. “That's me right over there.”  He pointed to a Mercedes that was black on black on black; the windows as well as the rims and the car, which were both a smooth matte black. “It's beautiful.” she said. “Thank you. She's my pride and joy.” he replied. A small smile lit up Camille’s face.  “Alright, so where you want to go?” She asked. He considered for a moment. “Did you want to go get coffee?” He asked. “Sure. there's a Starbucks not too far from here did you want to walk, or did you want to drive?” She replied. He thought about it for a few beats and replied, “It's a nice day out. Did you want to walk?” He tucked his hands in his pockets. Camille had begun to walk slow circles around his still form. She had been watching him, and the only thing that had moved in the time that they were standing there was his mouth. He looked like he could’ve been a statue. She found it odd, but she was the one walking around him like he was the Saturn keeping her, like its rings, in a close steady orbit. A car passed slowly, and the driver waved. Camille waved back enthusiastically. “Sorry. That was my best friend, Tracy. And sure, I don't mind it's not like I can’t use the exercise.” she said giving her mostly flat stomach a playful pat.  Conor chuckled. “You don’t look like you need to lose wait to me.” He said. For a moment, Camille swore she could’ve seen him drool a little.

          They started walking through the parking lot again and headed for the sidewalk that lay only a short distance from the general area that they had parked in. During the course of their conversation and decision making, classes had resumed so they were virtually alone. They walked slowly and strolled down the sidewalk in deep conversation. They talked about where they were from. Camille revealed that her family was originally from the swamps in Louisiana and that Creole was a major part of her upbringing. “Ahhh. So, you speak French? Vous êtes belle.” Connor said to her. Camille smiled brightly. No one that she had met since moving to the area had known anything about the French Creole people of Louisiana. “Merci pour le compliment.” Camille responded fluently. Conor smiled just as brightly. A look crossed his face and was gone in an instant. He felt it. The sting of a long memory. A few different memories where all were different but still the same. They were each worldly and French was always their favorite language. Twice he had gone through the terrible loss of losing his mate. All because as a youthful vampire, he had been insatiable and curious about a beautiful witch that he should have given a wide berth.

**Flashback**

          Conor lay on the soft mattress. His arms wrapped loosely around the naked frame of his current statuesque conquest. She was lovely. She had long legs and an ample breast. Her face was angelic with soft lines and edges to her smooth face. Her hair was a silky raven black and her skin was just as pale as his. She was a witch and she topped him in age by about three hundred years give or take. She sighed. “Conor, how could you consider leaving the country without me?” Miranda pouted as she played with the hairs at the nape of his neck. “The vampire who turned me is looking for me because I stole that pretty little trinket you wanted for your spell from him. I have to get off the continent before he finds me and I cannot put you at risk.” He replied he looking at her sweetly. “Don't worry I will return for you.” He assured her as he rubbed her back and kissed her. In all actuality, Conor never intended to return for Miranda. He thought her drab, boring and conceited. She was a witch but came from no notable background and everything she had she had used her magic to obtain. He could never be with someone who didn’t believe in putting hard work and earning what they have. He had also recently met the girl who was destined to be his mate. He had seen the mark and felt the electricity that he had heard about when a vampire met his mate. Miranda, however, was the jealous kind and would never let him leave her. He could disappear on another continent with his love and never see or hear from the witch again without enraging her. That night Connor gave Miranda what she normally always wanted, a good night of wild s*x. She would be satisfied and appeased and he would slip out in the early morning to go and meet his love so that they could board a ship to the Americas in the new land.

          Connor was up and dressed before the rooster crowed. Miranda was dead asleep as he rode his steed into the town. He stopped at his own home to retrieve his suitcase and as he exited his home, he heard a soft voice. “Hey there stranger, where you headed?” Conor smiled. He looked and it was her. The beautiful woman who had captured his heart and was destined to be his mate. She wasn't very tall, maybe only about five foot two. She had long vibrant red hair it went down to her waist she wasn't slim, but she was not obese either she was nice and curvy, just how he liked it. Her modest dress was blue, and it did not reveal much unlike Miranda who would show almost everything to anybody who would look. His beautiful Stephanie. “Why are you waiting outside in the cold I would have come and picked you up from your house come let's go this ship will be leaving soon.” Conor said. He helped Stephanie onto his saddle and clicked the horse into a slow trot out of the town. Suddenly the wind picked up and Connor became uneasy. “Wow, that's a strong wind.” Stephanie said. She was holding on to him tightly and bracing herself as the horse lopped down the road. The sky became dark and clouds began to roll in. “It looks like rain. Maybe. we should turn back” she said over the fierce wind with a worried expression on her face. “No. We'll be OK. We're almost there. I can smell the salt on the air.” He replied clicking the horse into a gallop. Then further up on the road he saw something. There was a woman dressed in black with raven black hair blowing wildly in the wing. Her fluorescent purple eyes glowing. It was Miranda and boy was she pissed. “You lied to me!!! Who is SHEEE!??!” she screamed. “Darling who is that?” Stephanie said, the fear evident in her voice. “You lied to me!!” she screamed over and over. Then with words so fast that he could barely hear she repeated the phrase “All who love you will parish before you! Until the Wicca becomes of night you will see no light from love.” Over and over. Conor  felt a sharp pain in his unbeating heart as she screamed the curse at him. Then behind him Stephanie’s grip loosened. “Darling what's going on? I don't feel so good.” She said. She fell off the side of the horse. He jumped off and caught her with the lightning speed that was inherit of a vampire. She was only human, so she was very frail and fragile. She was dead before they hit the ground. When he realized that she was gone forever he looked up with anger and grief in his eyes and there stood Miranda smiling. She looked at him and repeated her curse one last time and then she was gone in a flash of lightning. The only thing she left behind was the cackling echo of her laughter. Conor screamed. The pain in his dead heart burned worse than the change to a vampire. He wept as his mate lay lifeless in his arms.