Survivor (18 page)

“I don’t hate you.”  It was the first time I had
spoken since I woke up.  My voice sounded foreign to my ears, filled with depth
and beauty.  His hair was a mess, and I thought he must have been pretty upset
to be raking his hands through it so much.  I tangled my fingers in the silky
waves and lifted his head.  Seeing the emotion in my eyes, he met my lips
fiercely.  His tongue plunged into my mouth and I shifted my weight to press
against him through his clothes.

He leaned back and pulled the t-shirt off over my
head.  Then his hot mouth found my breasts and I moaned in pleasure.  We were
the same temperature now, his touch no longer cold.  I rocked against him,
feeling him pressed against me through our thin layers of clothing.  Just that
much was enough, and orgasm washed over me, more intense than I had ever felt.  Peter
gasped and lifted his head, feeling the echo of my pleasure through our blood
connection.  We shed the rest of our clothes and he reclined against the
headboard again, pulling me on top.  He pulled me down hard, sheathing himself
deep inside me with a satisfied groan.  I laughed softly as I realized I didn’t
need his help to carry the rhythm this time.  I took him deep while he nuzzled
my neck, planting soft kisses there.

“Please,” he said softly.  “Please.  I promise I
won’t take much, but please let me taste you.”  His voice was filled with a
barely restrained urgency that lit through me like fire.  I nodded assent and
he sank his fangs deep into my neck as he lifted his hips to press inside me.  The
pleasure doubled and we both cried out together.

We spent the rest of the day getting used to each
other again.  I was the same person I had always been, and yet I wasn’t.  Peter
was careful of me.  He seemed hesitant, even after our uh… reunion. 

I helped him make breakfast, thrilled at the chance
to move about freely, even if I did tire easily.  I jokingly juggled the eggs,
catching them just before they hit the floor.  Peter smiled in response to my
exuberance, but his eyes looked sad.

Finally, I couldn’t take it anymore.  I stopped
flipping the pancakes into the air and set the frying pan down.  “Do you wish
you hadn’t saved me?”  I forced myself to meet his eyes, searching for emotion
in those deep green pools.

He was silent for a moment.  Then he moved to take
the frying pan, sliding the pancake onto a plate.  “You sure you still want
these?”  He asked lightly.  “I’m telling you, they won’t taste the same.”

I shrugged.  “It’s breakfast time, and I want to eat
breakfast.”  Taking the plate, I drizzled syrup onto the warm, golden circle of
heaven.  “Are you going to answer my question?”

He sighed.  “Of course I don’t wish that.  It’s
just…well, aren’t you angry?”

I shook my head and stuffed a bite of pancake into
my mouth.  Peter watched with a raised eyebrow.  My joy died and I hastily spit
out the soft dough.  “Oh
God
….”  Now I knew what he meant.  The pancake
didn’t taste like a pancake.  It tasted like eggs, baking powder, and flour.  I
reached for a glass of orange juice to rinse out my mouth.  The juice didn’t
taste like juice either, but it wasn’t bad.  It just tasted like oranges,
water, and sunshine. 

I wiped my mouth with the back of my hand and Peter
smothered a smile.  “I did warn you.”

I shrugged.  “Why would I be angry?  It’s not your
fault your coven mates are ruthless assholes.”

He snorted.  “True.”  Taking my plate, he scraped
the pancake into the trash.  He handed me an apple.  “Try this.”  He levered
himself up to sit next to me on the island.  “I almost let you die,” he said
seriously.  I glanced at him in surprise and he shrugged.  “By turning you, I
risked trapping you in an immortal body that was inferior to the rest of our
kind.  You could end up being targeted if you are weak…we’re kind of like
animals that way.” 

I bit into the apple.  It was sweet and crisp.  The
crunch was amazing.  “Well,” I said slowly.  “I suppose I might be pissed if I
was permanently crippled…but then again, I’m used to being weak and
different.”  I bumped my shoulder into his.  “It turned out fine.  I’m not
angry.”  I sighed, losing my playful mood.  “I’m sorry to be a burden.  I know
you didn’t want a … child.”

He ruffled my hair affectionately.  “I’m happy to
have you by my side.”

I batted his hand away and regarded him seriously. 
“What was it,” I said curiously.  “You said you almost let me go… why did you
change your mind?”

He looked down at his hands.  “It’s hard to
explain.  You are so strong- I thought maybe you would want to survive, no
matter what.”  He shrugged.  “It’s what you’ve been doing for years. 
Surviving.”

I laughed.  He was right.  Being stubborn and
bull-headed had gotten me a long way in life.  Peter met my eyes.  “Besides,”
he said lightly, “I’ve been lonely.”  I didn’t think he was joking.

I
turned back the covers and slipped into
bed.  From what Peter had told me, vampires don’t sleep.  Sometimes they slip
into a state kind of like deep meditation, where they can blank their minds and
be still for hours at a time.  He said it was refreshing.  However, they don’t
sleep
. 
This vampire slept.  Granted, I wasn’t ever as tired as I had been before being
turned, but every now and then, I needed a nap.

I flopped onto my pillow with a sigh.  Peter had left
to visit Leah.  He had refused to take me with him, stating that I wasn’t ready
to be exposed to people yet.  I think he was concerned that I was still a bit
weak, and he didn’t want the other coven members to know it.  Without the
gentle sounds of him going about his day, the house felt very empty.  I thought
I would have trouble sleeping without him near, but drifted off to sleep in no
time. 

I don’t know how long I slept.  When I woke, I
smelled blood, thick and choking.  I got out of bed and moved soundlessly to
the bedroom door, a hand pressed to my burning throat.  Being careful not to
make a sound, I slipped into the hallway.  I paused and put a my hand to my
head as a wave of dizziness hit me.  The hallway was crowded with people, all of
them dead.  I wanted to call for help, but I didn’t dare.  Whoever had done
this might still be in the house.  But where had all these people come from?

I gingerly stepped over bodies, trying not to look
too hard.  Some had been bitten, their flesh torn and ragged.  Others looked
like they had simply been taken apart.  I stepped over an arm and my fangs
elongated.  Lifeless blood held no appeal to me, but the stress of the
situation pulled my defensive instincts into play.  The house was silent. 
There was no moaning or cries for help.  I wrinkled my brow, wondering how I
had slept through such a gruesome battle.

Exhaling, I knelt and peered into a lifeless face,
someone I didn’t recognize.  Chills walked up my spine.  Lying next to him was
a woman.  I had seen her at the coven house.  I couldn’t see any visible
injuries, but she was dead.  Clenching my fists, I stood. 

As I neared the other end of the hallway, I found
Cynthia.  Not far away was Viktor.  Leah and Peter were crumpled at the
landing, their bodies entwined as if they had fought and died together.  I felt
numb and unreal, a sort of floating sensation.  I tried to scream but nothing
sound came out.  I turned and pummeled my fists against the wall.  My blows
should have obliterated the weak sheet rock but it remained undamaged.  That’s
when I saw the dead man in the corner.  Haine’s silver hair was streaked with
blood, like a bad dye job.  His wide shoulders covered the body of a woman, as
if he had shielded her.  Her thick, light brown hair was covering her face, but
she was wearing my clothes.  I tried to touch her.  Me.  But couldn’t.  I tore
at the walls.  I kicked, and screamed and shouted, but I couldn’t effect my
environment at all.  It was as if I didn’t exist.  Something wrapped around me
from behind, pinning my arms to my sides as I struggled. 

My eyes flew open and I pushed at the restraining
hands that bit into my upper arms.  Peter’s face was pinched.  The worried look
in his eyes lessened when I stopped struggling.  His voice was anxious. 
“Melody,” he loosened his hold on me and stared into my eyes, “are you okay? 
Does it hurt somewhere?  What’s going on?”

He sounded panicked, probably wondering if my body
was rejecting the turn.  He had told me it could happen, though that was rare. 
I took a deep breath and gave him a weak smile.  “I’m fine,” I said, striving
to stay calm.  “It was just a bad dream.”

He sat back with a short laugh and ran his hand
through his thick, wavy hair, making it stand on end.  “Is that all?”

I nodded, then laughed.  “It was just a dream.  Not
a big deal.”

He nodded slowly.  A slight frown creased his brow,
but was gone in an instant.  “Well that’s good then.”  He said nothing about
the fact that vampires shouldn’t be able to dream, just gestured at the dark
window.  “Do you want to go out?”

I nodded eagerly, pushing the memory of those
lifeless bodies out of my head.  Going outside was a treat.  I couldn’t
tolerate the sunlight right now.  It wouldn’t kill me, but I burned and
blistered easily, and the glare made my head ache. 

The night was cool and damp.  Crickets called
raucously as we walked along the sidewalk toward the river.  The park was
likely to be empty this time of night, and there wouldn’t be many people out on
the sidewalks.  We passed a man toting a bunch of grocery bags.  His eyes met
mine as he approached us and his gait slowed.  He gave me a smile, as though he
were captivated.  I averted my gaze, so he wouldn’t see my silver eyes- and so
I wouldn’t accidentally draw him to me.  We kept walking and I clenched my
mouth shut as my fangs elongated.  Everything in me wanted to turn around and
pin the man to the ground. 

Peter squeezed my hand.  “Keep walking.”  He spoke
softly, but it wasn’t a suggestion, it was a command.  I let his aura wash over
me and kept walking.

We made our way to the empty park, and I stood
looking out over the dark river.  I took deep, calming breaths of the cool,
night-scented air.  Finally, when I was in control again, I turned to Peter. 
“It’s pretty out here at night,” I said sincerely.  “I wouldn’t have thought to
come here after dark…before.”

He sighed.  “I’m sorry,” he said in a flat tone. 

I didn’t ask what he meant.  “Don’t worry about it,”
I replied cheerily.  “You’re just keeping people safe.”  Peter had created me. 
He was my master now, and he had the power to command me.  I could disobey him,
but it would be extremely difficult.  I knew he felt guilty about this- and on
the surface, it sounded like a really big barrier to our romantic relationship-
but he never abused the power.  He had only used it on me a few times, and
always in order to keep me or the people around me safe. 

I took his hand, giving it a squeeze.  “I trust
you.”  I shrugged.  “And thanks.  I mean, I know you don’t enjoy it either.” 
This was part of the reason he had refused to turn anyone.  He didn’t want the
burden of being able to dominate someone’s will, or the responsibility that
would come with it if he failed to do so at a crucial moment.

We stood silent, watching the moonlight glint over
the black mirror of the river.  I took a deep breath.  “So what did you discuss
with Leah?”

“Coven business.”  His answer was just a beat too
fast.

“You mean regarding new vampires?”  He was worried
about me.  I knew that I wasn’t what you would call normal, even for a vampire.

He slipped an arm around my waist and drew me against
his side.  “It will be okay,” he said confidently.  “I just worry too much.” 

I poked him in the ribs, making him jump.  “I’m not
supposed to sleep.”  He was silent and I poked him again.  He made an indignant
noise and swatted my hands away.  “I’m not supposed to dream either, am I?”  I
shivered at the remembered horror of my dream.

He ran a hand over my head, smoothing my hair. 
“It’s not like we come with a rule book, you know.”  His voice still sounded
distracted, and I wondered if my issues were the only thing bothering him.  I
had a sneaking suspicion there were other things going on at the coven house. 
If that was the case, I was being carefully kept out of it because I was too
weak- and maybe too unstable- to take part.

 I gave him a playful shove and ran to a big willow
tree growing near the water.  Reaching above my head, I grasped a limb,
enjoying the feel of the rough bark against my skin.  Every sense was so much
stronger now.  I felt like I was experiencing everything for the first time. 
Exerting very little effort, I pulled myself up into the tree.  Gracefully
folding my legs, I swung forward and back.  I contorted myself into a back flip
and landed on the limb, balancing on my toes and laughing ecstatically at what
I had just done. 

Peter came to stand under the tree, where he
regarded me with a lopsided grin.  “I couldn’t have done that sort of thing
when I was new,” he admitted.  “Most new vampires take a little bit of time to
get used to their new reflexes.”

I shrugged.  “So I’m more talented.  See, nothing
wrong.”  But I knew I was slower than him, and I didn’t think that was normal.

He laughed.  “I think maybe it’s because of your
injury.  You had to struggle so hard to move before.  Maybe you became…
hyper-aware of your body?’