Chapter Ten

Nickolai

She's been gone for about ten minutes now and I was tired of laying down because regret was eating me alive. I was afraid that if I close my eyes it might consume me and I would never wake up.

Lifting myself into a sitting position I hissed at the pain in my side, it took a minute to catch my breath. I laid my head on the back of the sofa, eyes closed waiting for the pain to pass. "They're something you don't see every day." When I opened my eyes it was to witch's pentagram carved into the ceiling. I wasn't all that surprised to see, I figured out on my first night here that house was the work of witchcraft. The house itself was technically in the middle of nowhere and had no connection to the outside world. At night candles placed around the house would just light up, they burned all night same for the fireplaces. They would burn but the fire never dimed and by morning everything would return to its original state as if nothing happened. I stopped wondering where the water was coming from and why it was always hot after day two. "I would very much like to meet the witch that did all this."

The living room was a simple setup. A fireplace in the corner to my left with candles burning on the mantle above it. To the right of the fireplace, there was a big window that was positioned directly across from the large black leather sofa I was sitting on. Then there was the coffee table that looked to be the trunk of a tree that was buffed and polished. I guess living alone she doesn't need much.

I stood up and walked to the window, looking out into the dark. How could things go so wrong so fast? The one thing I told myself I wouldn't do and in the end to have done so was like a knife to the heart. I at least now know who has been following me for the past three years and what they want and now that I've gotten over the shock of seeing Annabelle again a little part of me is glad that she's alive so I can kill her myself. Centuries of torment and now this, she will die a slow and painful death at my hand this time.

I hear footsteps then the smell of wild orchids became overwhelmingly stronger. I don't immediately turn around when she walks into the room. The feeling of guilt and shame for having to feed from her after everything I've put her through in such a short amount of time threatened to knock me off my feet. Asking this of her was never thought id have to do let alone needed to do.

I could feel her eyes on me so I turned to her. What a sight she was to behold. She was beautiful. I'd never seen eyes like hers before and even though they were now tainted with red that hadn't been there they were exceptionally beautiful. What took me by surprise was there was no malice or anger in her eyes toward me and that gave me some comfort and ease a bit of the guilt I was feeling. Just a tiny bit.

We met in the middle of the room and I wanted to reach out and take her in my arms but I couldn't. I didn't feel I had the right to. So I stood there, hands planted at my side.

Maybe she saw the struggle in my eyes because the next thing I know she's wrapping her arms around my waist and laying her head on my chest. To say I was surprised would've been an understatement. I was floored. She was trying to comfort me. I should be the one comforting her. She sighed and snuggled into my chest and I've never felt more loved than I did at that moment. I brought my hand up and wrap them around her holding her close to me content to have my beloved in my arms for the time being.

We must have been standing there for a good fifteen minutes just holding each other before she broke the silence.

"I thought I told you to lay down."

"You know you are one bossy little lady." Giggling she pulled away from me a little and looked up at me.

"Little."

"Compare to me, yeah, little."

She was smiling for the first time since we meet and I couldn't help but feel proud that I could make her smile. I smile down at her and her eyes light up. An overwhelming amount of sadness filled me. This is how it should've been from the start.

"What's wrong with you?"

I wanted to say I was fine that everything was fine but I couldn't bring myself to lie to her, not after everything else so I didn't answer.

She took my hand and pulled me over to the sofa.

"Sit please."

I sat down and she claims on to lap. Another surprise. This time I'm sure it shows on my face. I liked that she wasn't shy around me.

"What's wrong?" She asks again.

"Not right now love", but since she looked ready to argue I added. "I promise I'll tell later." She studied me for a while then sighed and let it go.

"Fine then."

"Can I hug you again?" She didn't answer but instead, wrap her arms around my neck and laid her head on my shoulder and I wrapped my arms around her waist pulling her flush against my chest. It was the most wonderful feeling having her in my arms and since I didn't know when next I would get a chance to hold her like this I held on for dear life.

"Nickolai'?."

"Yes, love."

"Is this better?"

"Very much love."

"Are you sure? I can still feel how sad and worried you are, it's making my wolf uneasy."

She pulled back so we were now facing to face.

"How?"

"I'll tell you later but right now you need to feed and then shower. We should have a few hours before the sun come up."

"Are you still sure?"

"Do you still need to feed?"

"Yes."

"Then am sure."

She turned her head to the side exposing the right side of her neck to me. Keeping one hand around her waist I moved the other to the back of her head.

"There will be a slight sting when my teeth peace the skin but that's it. I won't take too much okay." She nodded her head and there was no turning back as my fangs sink into her.