Fated To A Vampire

Chapter 16: Escape, or Fate?

~Several hours later~

~Athena'a POV~

My bare feet hit the sidewalk in a fast face, the concrete stinging into my bare soles as I ran. Night had broken the sky as the sun slipped behind the tall buildings and the moon made its full glowing appearance. I had lost the Twins in a massive crowd, quickly ditching my heels and taking my chance. If I am doomed to truly be with that man for an eternity, he will have to do better than sick his little sidekicks on me. Quickly, I duck around an alleyway corner, holding my breath as my body shakes. I don't know who the man was that was following me, but I seemed to have gotten away. Peeking around the building, the streets are slowly moving. People walk in a group by me, taking my chance to be in a crowd, I go to step out. Someone's arms quickly wrap around my waist and cover my mouth, restraining me from behind and picking me up off my feet. I thrashed my legs violently looking to defend myself. Having no other choice, I slammed the back of my head into the man's nose, causing him to loosen his grip and allow me to slip free. Turning, I faced the man before me, and my heart stopped. His wicked grin reminded me of a much older version of himself. What the hell was my brother doing here?

"What the f**k Hector!" I stared at him still like a deer in headlights, blinded by the sheer irony of the way tonight had gone.

"Where is he, Athena?" His tall frame stalked towards me as my feet moved backwards against the rough earth.

"Who are you talking about?" My feet continued to move backwards away from him.

"Dad" His feet stopped and so did mine. Why would I know? The horrid retch you would call a father never treated me like his child.

"Hell if I know." Crossing my arms, I stared at his blue eyes that reminded me of my father. "He killed mom, hector. He also tried to kill me." I spat towards him. Ever since he left after turning eighteen four years ago and never coming back, I hadn't seen him.

"YOU did that." Within a second his hand was on my throat, squeezing it, so tightly the blood rushed to my ears.

"Pl-S-" I tried to cough out, but his other hand went to my throat as well. I could feel my chest caving as it was deprived of the oxygen I so badly needed. My heart fluttered in my chest, and for some reason one man came into my thoughts. I know he would and very much could save me now... As if I had whispered beetle juice three times, the voice of my dreams sounded from behind me.

"Let her go now, and I won't rip you limb from limb." The threat caused a smile to ripple across my face, giving me a new sense of adrenaline. Using the distraction, I took my foot between his legs, my shinbone connecting to Hector's very sensitive nerve. In a quick breeze they were ten feet in front of me. I could feel the dark waves like a tsunami crushing me. What played out next was in slow motion. James tore his arms from his body as my brother screamed in agony, dropping to his knees. Horror had me crashing to my own knees as I watched the vampire rip the head from this man's body. Blood spurting from the neck it sat on. I felt the blood drain from my face as I slipped into blackness. The last thing I saw was James' red eyes coming my way. What have I done....

Waking up, I felt as though I was lying in a cloud. The soft fabric enclosed my body, almost lulling me back to bed. Going to sit up, my wrist gets bitten harshly by a cuff that is linked to the bed. What the..

"I'm glad you're awake." His voice came from the couch in the dark corner.

"What did-" My voice cracks from my throat being so dry. Picking up a glass, he walked towards me, his clean shoes and neat tux almost eluding the fact he was a dangerous predator.

"Well, you tried to run. Little fox," he paused, sighing as he extended the glass of water towards me, "I told you. You can't leave me." His face looked worn and somewhat tired. Taking the glass, I sniffed it. Laughing, he rolled his eyes, and sat on the edge of bed. "I didn't drug you, Athena. I need you to understand how important you are to me." Taking a small sip, I handed it back.

"Why me? Why is it MY life gets turned upside down for YOU." I could feel anger bubbling as he looked at me quietly.

"So you think I have a choice in this?" He asked me.

"Everyone has a choice." I hardly stared at him. As angry as I was, I was finding it hard to be so mad with him so close to me.

"No." His confidence and arrogance were like a match for my burning fuel.

"What do you mean no?" I asked quietly.

"You know you can feel it too." He inched closer to me on the bed and I felt walls closing in. I wouldn't admit that. "You are drawn to me, and I to you. I heard you call for me, Athena." His voice was low and drawing me in.

"Maybe because I was dying!" I said angrily before I could filter my thoughts.

"You knew I would come. You can feel it, Athena." His face was lit by the lamp in the room, outlining his sharp handsome features.

"You're using your hex crap." I countered, but I knew it wasn't true. He was right, even though I still had so many questions, and I ws deeply hurt, I still wanted him.

"Athena.." He tried.

"NO!" I said harshly, I could feel tears stinging my eyes. "Am I really like her? Who was this queen? Why haven't you visited?.." I started firing questions as the tears slipped free from their prison, and sliding away to freedom down my face. Putting my head down, I had never felt more alone.

"The queen was my Grandmother. The first Vampire to walk the earth, a deadly curse turned sour.." His voice sounded far away, as if he himself was there. "She was a powerful vampire and the first to recreate our kind. Only a full-blooded vampire like my line can turn people, the rest just need the blood to survive. After a massive war broke out generations ago, our numbers dropped quickly. We were hunted." His red eyes looked into mine, and it wasn't blood-filled anger that filled the pools, but a great sadness behind those ruby-like gems. "They killed me along with my father and mother, leaving me to take the throne of an entire kingdom. I have lived for a very long time, Athena, and it was lonely after I lost them. So, I confided in Clara. She gave me comfort, among other things. Helping tend to the roughly billion vampires around the world that do exist." My heart broke at his story, me losing a lot as well.

"I'm sorry.." I touched his arm gently, and a rush flowed through me from touching him.

"It's alright," His half smile not meeting his now gray eyes. Placing his hand onto mine, he continued, "You are not a random person, Athena. You are not alone. You will have me, and if you choose to grow old..." he paused and looked at me, "I don't expect you to turn, but I do look forward to a life of getting to know you." His sweet promises seemed to melt the world around me, which seemed impossible.

"Can you please unlock this?" I pulled lightly against it and I could see the hesitation. "I won't run again..."