Flashback

The rain splashed against the glass with but the lightest of touches, sliding down the pane as if nothing else mattered. Musty air swirled into her nose as she heard the door open. She could smell the rot, the musty aroma, surrounded by false death and decay. She paid no heed only watch as the darkness engulfed the yard around her home, her sanctuary. It seemed to wrap its massive arms of time, sinking deep into the cracks no one could see. Thick, muggy, rancid, and controlling. It was the whole of her life now, that darkness. She cared little for the presence that had entered the room she occupied. Candles glowed across the mantle piece, as a fire in the fireplace crackled and eagerly devoured it’s life substance. The scratches in the wall came and went, twinging her ears in defiance of the silence she so desired. Trapped now, the darkness her world, her needs had changed now. The darkness was the only thing that she could accept, embrace against the harshness of life. Her fiancé, twisted and torn in front of her eyes, he was no more. Her family, lost years to her touch in the dark alleys, their bodies now hidden from prying eyes. It mattered no longer. She was new, her mind different. Her wants changed, the darkness was her ally and in it, she controlled the world around her. Sheep wandered freely, their wool providing her with warmth. A smile eased across her lips as her tongue flicked lightly
on her upper lip. A sheep was near, and she was in need of the warmth. Her eyes listed left across the green grass, the statues, and the shrubs she knew were there, though had no seen in anything but the moon light. It still burned too, but not enough to cause her that much harm. There was more to her story than even she knew, yet her mind was on the verge of collapsing. She needed out. She felt him enter, his presence strong, commanding, and fearful. She didn’t give into it though, she had been captured by the darkness, and it held strong, though his touch brought her back to the reality she had no desire to go back to. She turned her head lightly, catching him from the side of her vision. Her blonde bangs fell above her blue eyes. Her stare caught him mid step, an eager smile caressing his lips. The deepest of blue he’d ever seen. They reminded him of the storms at night. They dragged you in, eagerly awaiting to crush your being against the rocks of their shores. Her pupils were dilated to a mere spec of their former beauty, one of the thing he regretted when he took her, they would never go as deep and full as they once were. He sucked his upper lip lightly into his mouth admiring the beauty that stood before him. He had taken her in the prime of her life, she would prove a most worthy student in the ancient
arts. She had opted for the green dress this eve. Emerald and silver cross earrings hung from her
earlobes, and she had matched them with a necklace of the same caliber. The cross was hung from a silver chain and it hovered just above her cleavage, almost inviting you in. The dress itself was an amazing choice, accenting all of the right features. It just washed over her like a wave of purity. He took a deep breath as he admired her, unknown to him that her heart was filled with rage. He turned on his foot lightly, his arm spreading towards the door. She cursed inside her mind, about the only thing that was not fully broken of her body anymore. She watched him at first, him and his styled brown hair. His green eyes were sharp, even dangerous at times. She was beginning to hate that color, though she didn’t want to anger him. She followed his outstretched arm and there she stood. Long brown hair, a dirty face, lanky arms and legs. She scowled lightly at the girl in the doorway. Another peasant, always bring her peasants. She wanted something richer, something deeper, or even something with meaning. His face suddenly went serious, and his arm dropped to his side as he tried to control his
patience.

“Our choices are sorely limited, love.” His voice was stretched and she growled lightly at him once more.

“Fix it.” Her voice was factual, though she gave in to her desires. She strode soundless to the female in the doorway. She moved her hand down her cheek like water, and smiled as the tears began to fall from the eyes of the terrified girl. Teens, always thinking they knew it all, and this one was just about to see how scary it could get. She laughed lightly as she ran her hand to her neck. She held it there, closing her eyes. She tilted her head back as the throbbing of each heart beat sent spasms of enjoyment through her whole being. She waited not longer as the desire rose up from within her. Her hand found the hair of the girl and pulled roughly. The girl yelped lightly, but she quashed it quickly. She sank her fangs directly into the veins of her meal, letting the blood flow easily down her throat. It quickly relished itself into her body, repairing the undead tissue, and filling her body with a power only her body could tap. She felt the heart beat weaken, but she didn’t stop, she relished the fact she held this dear little girls life within her hands.

“Enough, Valleera, we need no more attention.” His voice grated her nerves and she held on a second longer. The girls heartbeat slowed to a deadly pace for the poor creature and she pulled away, dropping the body to the ground. She hit with a heavy thunk, her hair falling over her face, hiding the fearful brown eyes. Her arms were stretched out an limp, her legs bent at the knees, one atop the other. A light blood trickle came from the clean spot on her neck. Valleera wiped her mouth, removing the grime from her lips. She tasted nothing of that taint that was not imaginary, but she spit on the ground lightly as she walked past him. He growled lightly and shook his head, she was becoming more of a chore than what she was worth. His mouth opened to say something, but something else caught his attention. She smiled to herself, the smells hitting her nose. It was damp fur, surrounded by oil and steel. She smelled something else though, and that smell took her completely by surprise. She whirled around and there he stood, sword in each hand.

“Ashton?” Her voice broke, her eyes wide. His hair was matted, his blades bloody. She knew where the blood came from but she pushed the thought aside. His long red hair was matted and dirty, but his ice blue eyes still shined even in the dim lit hallway. She ignored the smells that wafted from him, she could only see him. He was a magnificent specimen of a man. His strength knew no bounds, and his quickness was astounding. It’s why she fell in love with him, well that and his charm and sense of humor. Though there was no smile on his face at this time. He was watching her, with deadly intentions behind those eyes. She took a step back as her mind finally encompassed around the aroma’s she got from him. Something grabbed the door frame beside him and she hissed loudly. Talons embraced the wood, sinking deep as the furry fingers that held them gripped firmly into it. The wood splinted and she saw the maw begin to come into view. It was massive, with easily 8 inch incisors jutting from both the bottom and top of it. It was filled with razor sharp teeth along the jawlines, and she now feared for her life. The nose on the top was black but moist, and the red stained fur around the jaw line was enough
to let her know the full area that played out. These were elders, and they were pissed. She looked to her sire and his body was glowing as he was tapping on the power of his blood. She smiled to herself, it would take more than two to take him on and survive. She followed suit. “I want Ashton.” She growled to her sire. Her fingernails suddenly began to grow as she tapped into the power of the blood she had just devoured. Her body sang in acceptance as it began to increase in power, agility and speed. She stared at her fiancé, a smirk crossed his lips. His body suddenly changed at such an alarming rate she wasn’t sure what she saw, but there he stood. He was massive, the blades in his hands now dwarfed in comparison. He was hunched in the door way, his back still touching the top of the door frame, and still there was pressure on the muscles there. He opened his maw, a howl escaping his lips. Two more wolves appeared at his feet. Regular wolves, but she knew better. They had no room to change at this moment and opted for their speedier forms. She hissed again and bolted for him. Rage was in her eyes, her muscles flexed as her claws sank deep into his chest. She picked him and threw him across the room. The two lighter wolves leaped towards her and she knocked them aside with ease. She fueled more blood into her abilities as the massive wolf leaped at her sire. She leaped towards Ashton again her claws in full 2 feet long from each nail on her fingers. Sturdier, sharper and more reliable than any steal blade. She sank them deep into him again. His hand grabbed
her and he flung her suddenly against the wall across from him. She sailed through it and the corridor wall behind it. She lay there for only a second before bolting back towards him. His wounds were already healed. His massive from came flying through the wall at the same time she did. It engulfed her little body. She screamed as she was raised above his head, he slammed her suddenly into the floorboards. She felt bones snap, skin rip, but felt no pain. They repaired themselves almost instantly, but she would need to feed again this eve. The thunder cracked suddenly outside as he picked her up again. She sank her claws into his arm as she threw taking flesh and muscle with her. He howled in pain but followed her body. Two of his companions caught her and she heard the sickening tear of flesh. She chanced a look, her arms now useless against the strength of these two werewolves. She laughed as she saw Simon turn towards Ashton’s running form. His mouth was drenched in wolf blood, his eyes rabid and angry. Ashton didn’t stop, he barreled into Simon picking him up by his head. Simon lashed out with amazing strength at the maw of his attacker. Ashton’s head cranked sideways with each hit, blood flying across the room. Ashton had him in the air above him, Simons head only inches from the ceiling. Simon kicked, but he was brought down suddenly into the ground
with so much force the house literally shook. Her eyes were wide as the maw bit deep into a now screaming Simon. She could hear bones snap, the tearing of flesh and cartilage. She was sickened by this display. Ashton reared his head back suddenly, half of Simons head in his maw. He spit it aside, blood and brain dripping from his massive teeth. She screamed loudly, struggling against her captors but they held fast. Ashton looked to her, his eyes locking to hers, still the same beautiful ice blue. She saw his fingers grasp a piece of wood from the fireplace. His eyes watched her the whole time as he brought it back to him. She followed and he shifted from suddenly back to human. His face was serious and stern. He drove the piece of wood through the chest of Simon. The breaking of bone and the sudden smell of burnt flesh and ash engulfed the room. She lowered her head, saddened at the link lost with her sire.

“More will come. Cole, Anka, let her go, she is of no concern to us as of yet.” She felt her captors release her arms and her body returned to it’s normal vamipiric self. Her nails shrank back into her fingers and her body lost it’s enhanced attributes. She was still very much a threat, but not to 3 werewolves. She raised her eyes and looked to Ashton again, a female and male were at his side now. Anger engulfed her, but so did sadness.

“Don’t leave me again Ash.” She curled into the fetal position, her heart felt as if it were tearing in 2 once more. “I can’t take losing you again. Never again.”