The Guest & the Change (12 page)

CHAPTER 7

Daniel’s heart exploded.
 
Sebastian had taken Sarah.
 
The first woman he had cared about since he had lost his wife, whom Sebastian had killed.
 
Tears rolled down his cheeks, he felt helpless.
 
Like an idiot.
 
I should never have let her come.
 
But she had been amazing, she had coped, she had held up that stake, prepared to fight as Jo had come for her.
 
And she had stabbed it into him, piercing just below his ribs.
 
Yet her angle hadn’t been right, she couldn’t reach his heart when Jo had been pushing her onto the stone.
 
If he hadn’t attacked her I may not have been able to kill him
.
 
 

When he was feeding off her Jo had been an easy victim.
 
It hadn’t taken long to be at their side.
 
To stab him in the back.
 
He deserved it though.
 
He
would have killed Sarah.
 
She was injured, she was weakened.
 
I should have given her my blood, before it was too late, before he had a chance to take her.
 
I should have known he’d come, I should have taken her away the second I killed Jo.
 
I should have sped her out of here myself.
 
Daniel let himself slip down against the wall in despair.
 
There was no point following Sebastian now, he was much faster, he would have to think of a plan and track them down.
 
Get Sarah back.

The alley was dark and still.
 
It smelt strongly of blood.
 
It made Daniel’s throat burn with thirst.
 
He would have to hunt before tracking Sebastian, increase his strength if he had any chance of succeeding.

He forced himself to rise, to get it together.
 
He had already healed, but he could feel dirt and dried blood on his face.
 
He wiped at it with his sleeve, trying to make himself more presentable.
 
He straightened out his hair and clothes, dirt falling to the ground.
 

He heard movement and was back on alert; it was coming from deeper in the alley.
 
He walked towards the sound, proceeding with caution, feeling weak.
 

There, he saw bodies on the ground, his eyes focused in and he saw there were four, piled on top of each other.
 
Four dead people.
 
If only he and Sarah had come out a little earlier, they may have saved someone.
 
Things may have panned out differently.
 

One of the bodies moved. He looked at the neck, healed, and surrounded by blond hair much like Sarah’s.
 
Sebastian must have turned her.
 

Daniel grabbed another stake from inside his coat and stabbed it into her heart, before she’d even had the opportunity to open her eyes.
 
She burst into flames.
 
He checked the other victims.
 
All dead, none to save, none that were going to turn.
 

He walked away from the scene, despair and desperation in his heart.
 
He could go to the forest, hunt for bear.
 
But as he was thinking this he saw the bar door open and a couple of men stepped out.

***

Sarah came to with something pressed against her mouth, cool firm skin, something enticing dripping into her mouth, sliding down her throat.
 
Blood.
 
She snapped her eyes open and the wrist pressed more firmly into her mouth, a hand held her head in place from behind.
 
She gulped, swallowing more blood, feeling the pain in her head and neck ease.
 
Then the wrist pulled away and, in the dim moon-lit night, she was looking into dark eyes that stretched to infinity.
 
Only these weren’t the gentle
smoldering
eyes of Daniel, these were the black eyes of Sebastian.
 

They were filled with amusement and wickedness.
 
His hair fell about his face - she almost wanted to reach out and stroke it, it looked so sleek and shiny.
 
She shook her head,
realizing
she was under his influence.
 
Her heart pounded, and Sarah
realized
Daniel’s influence had worn off.
 
Daniel.
 
Jo.
 
Jo’s dead.
 

Tears sprang into her eyes and she let them fall.
 
Without thinking she hit Sebastian.
 
He obviously hadn’t been expecting it as he fell back, grabbing a branch and swinging back up.
 
Sarah had been so absorbed she hadn’t even noticed their location.
 
They were on a wide branch, perched in a tree.
 
Her heart raced.
 
It was so dark she couldn’t tell how high they were.
 

Hearing laughter she faced Sebastian.
 
‘How could you do this?
 
You - you killed Jo.
 
He was my husband.’
 
More tears fell down her face.
 
Sebastian reached towards her and she flinched back, yet held tightly to the branch.
 
She didn’t fancy falling.
 

‘Sarah, what shall we do with you?’ He said, and he smirked at her.
 
She felt nausea threaten to engulf her.
 

‘Why did you take me?
 
Why am I still alive?’

‘I wouldn’t kill you Sarah.
 
I may turn you.
 
I haven’t decided yet.
 
You are too beautiful to get rid of.
 
I might have you for myself.’
 
Sarah looked away as he looked her over appreciatively, her face heating.
 
He was obviously rejoicing in making her feel uneasy.
 

She vowed not to say another word to Sebastian, she didn’t want to make things worse and she had no idea how to make things better.

She wondered where she was, smelling strong scents of pine.
 
She supposed Sebastian had brought
her
here,
therefore there may be a trail for Daniel to follow.
 
To rescue her.
 
But what could he do?
 
Sebastian had taken her away and Daniel hadn’t been able to do anything.
 
What made her think he would be able to do anything now?

***

Daniel walked towards the men; they were about forty, a bit ruff round the edges.
 
Their clothing looked like tough work wear, they were probably employed in forestry.
 

They had definitely had too much to drink, and were having difficulty walking in a straight line.
 
Daniel approached them, sending out calming tendrils of power.
 
They both looked up, surprised to see anyone else out in the cold, not used to seeing anyone as good looking and well dressed as Daniel.
 

Before they uttered a word Daniel looked into their eyes in turn and said ‘No need to be scared.
 
Please can you help me, I’ve lost my wallet.
 
I think I dropped it over there.’
 
He pointed towards the same alley he had killed Jo in.
 
 

‘Yeah sure, what were you doing, lurking in the dark?’ one joked.

Daniel didn’t reply, his need was urgent.
 
What if Sebastian killed her?
 
Turned her?
 
As soon as they were in the shadows, looking separately for a wallet, he touched one man on the arm.
 
When he looked in his eyes he whispered, ‘Don’t move, stay quite.’

He rose and approached the other man who stood when he saw Daniel coming.
 
‘I don’t think we’ll find it out here, can we buy you a drink?’

‘Thank-you, but that won’t be necessary.
 
Don’t fight, don’t be scared.
 
You will not remember
this,
or that you met me.’
 
And Daniel bit into his neck.
 
Warm luscious liquid spilled down his throat, bringing him life energy.
 
He soaked it up drinking deeply.
 
It had been a long time since he had drunk human
blood,
he usually relied on animals for sustenance.
 
It would have been heaven if it wasn’t that his heart was breaking.