Within the Cards (20 page)

“What? You want me to come in there with you. Tell me what you would like to do to me.” I teased him. I walked seductively in front of him. I knew this would drive him wilder than he could bear. I was right. He tried to break the invisible bond and fell to the floor. I laughed at this pathetic mongrel.

When I heard the door to the dungeon open, my heart sunk to the ground. I was scared that Dee was unable to convince the male guards to let her take him. She was the leader of the clan and didn’t normally do labor work. They pushed Daught through the door and behind him came Dee, but the male guard followed her. Daught looked into my eyes. He could see the terror and fear they held. I felt brave with others in the outside world. I never feared anyone. However, this was different we were within the witchyre clan’s walls. I was here, and my hidden creation stood in front of me. His body showed signs of the beaten from the other witchyres. My eyes couldn’t stand to see what they had done to him. For a moment, I froze with fear. I feared the leaders of the witchyres, the Lords and my sister Suzi. Suzi hadn’t been gone long, and I feared she would know the upheaval and return before I could escape with Daught.

Dee looked at me. She knew I would do whatever I had to do to save him, just as I’d done so many years before. She informed the guard to put him behind the vibration bonds. Daught could read my thoughts. He knew I was going to do something to save him. As the guard attempted to push him toward the other vampire, he thrust backwards and loosened his bonds. The guard started to use his magical powers on him, when Daught turned toward him. He read Dee’s thoughts that told him to pretend to cast a spell. He did what she told him. With the guard’s attention on Daught, Dee was able to reverse the magic of the guard, which bonded him instead of Daught. She told Daught with her thoughts to hold me hostage, and for him to announce he would use his powers to kill me. He followed her thoughts again. When I was in Daught’s arms I snapped my fingers, and we both vanished. The male guard couldn’t believe his eyes. He looked shaken. He yelled for help, before Daught and I disappeared. His help came late because they entered the dungeon just in time to see our vanishing act.

Dee sent them away. She completed the task she intended, before the others arrived to see what she had done. She put herself at risk for us. I would owe her forever for saving Daught. She was truly my protector. With just a few moments to spare, Daught and I escaped. I worried what would happen to Dee, but I knew there was nothing I could do at this point.

Chapter Seventeen

ON THE RUN

In a flash, we were back in my dorm room. I could feel Ellie shaking violently. I held her tight next to me, and this time she didn’t pull away. We stood for several minutes unsure of what to say to each other. Once she calmed down, I released my grip and looked into her eyes. If she could produce tears I would have to wipe her face, but it was dry. We couldn’t do this human act. She took a deep breath.

“Why did you go to my sisters? You know they would have made me kill you.” She yelled at me with anger and with love in the same breath. She pulled away from me. She ran her hand through her hair as she glared at me.

“I was under the impression from your letter that you could care less if I died.” I scolded back and turned to look out the window.

“My letter? I told you I needed time, Daught.” She hissed and sat on the bed. Her words angered me. I turned to face her.

“I had to find you. I will not exist without you.” I yelled. “I love you Ellie, and I’ve lived for a hundred years without you. I can't do this any longer.”

I sat down at the desk as I leaned over putting my face in my hands. Then I felt her touch on my back as the electricity surged through my body. I lifted my head to look at her. I saw the disbelief in her eyes. She reached for my face. I hesitated and pulled back. I knew the power she held. She could turn me into a frog if she wanted with just a touch. She moved closer to me. I couldn't pull back any further. She blocked me. She was in front of me, and the window was behind me. She touched my face, and it felt gentle. I felt the warmth of her touch as she healed my wounds. I rose from my chair. Moving toward me, she pushed against me. Her body felt warm and inviting. I was a man, but I didn’t know what to do next. The last time we spoke, she was anything but gentle. Then again, she had risked her life for me at her sister’s lair.

“You’ll never be without me again. I was coming back for you.” She tried to assure me as she smiled and ran her fingers down the side of my face.

“You left me once before, and I waited then. I can’t do this again.” I dropped my face. I couldn’t look at her. She pulled my face to hers. Her lips touched mine. The electricity was stronger this time, and I couldn’t resist her even though I knew she might be gone again in the morning. I felt the heat from her kiss. Our bodies must have levitated because I never knew we moved to the bed. We made love all night this time. Ellie was as much in attendance as I. I loved the smell of her. I loved the taste of her.

I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw the sun outside my window. I lay in bed looking into Ellie’s eyes for hours, kissing her lips. I never wanted to leave this place in time.

“I know you don’t want to hear this, but I love you.” I told her as I kissed her lips. She smiled and then began to laugh wildly. I didn't understand her amusement. She looked at me and kissed me, but continued to burst out laughing uncontrollability. I sat up in bed.

“Why are you laughing at me?” I scowled at her and pulled away.

“No – No, Daught, I’m not laughing at you.” She could hardly speak for laughing. I looked at her with a strange look. I wasn’t sure if she was right. Maybe I was crazy and it had rubbed off on her.

“It kind of appears that way. Now, who’s acting insane?” I said sarcastically. She tried to pull me closer to her, but I moved to the edge of the bed.

She tried to control her laughter before she spoke, but the smirk of giggling still rang through her voice. She sat up behind me. My back was to her. She gravitated toward me and put her warm cheek against my cold skin. It felt warm. I closed my eyes trying to retain this feeling.

“Excuse me I’m not the one that tried to enter a Witchyre’s lair. Now that’s certified.” She laughed. I forgot how strong she was. She wrapped her arms around me and squeezed tighter. She pulled my arm up to make room as she slid under it straddling my lap. She wrapped her legs tightly around my waist. I pulled her close and smiled.

“Yes, but you did help a vampire escape,” I boosted and sarcastically mimicked her laughter.

“OK-OK, so we’re both mentally insane and maybe a little strange for immortals,” She laughed even wilder as she pressed harder against my excitement. She was beautiful. I wanted to remain in this room for the rest of my existence.

“Oh great, A crazy witchyre bit me, and now we have both lost our minds.” I smirked. I couldn’t help, but laugh as I twisted around laying Ellie on the bed. She giggled, but her laughter turned to want. I pressed firmly and deeply against her body. My mouth touched hers. I felt her tongue lightly lick my lips. I wanted to devour her. I found myself exploring every curve of her body as my kisses trailed downward. Ellie made the sounds of deep satisfaction. I knew she wanted this union as much as I. We made love repeatedly. The excitement built and exploded as our bodies moved with each other. Ellie made me feel as if our existence had never felt a void. After many hours of ecstasy, I lay on the bed beside Ellie and stared at the ceiling. Ellie moved toward me, and curled up beside me with her head resting on my chest.

“I was just thinking. After you said you loved me I didn't respond,” she was still giggling, “but I think I love you too, Daught.”

The shock of her response threw me for a loop. Had I heard Ellie say she loved me? These words I waited to hear for many decades. Did they just come out of her mouth? True she was laughing when she said them, but she did just admit to loving me. My movement was fast as I propped my head up on my hand, turning toward her. Ellie jerked back somewhat startled at my movement. I looked into her eyes.

“What did you say?” I gasp. I sat up in bed. I shook my head. I wasn't sure if I believed what I thought I heard. She smiled at me. She knew it was true; she did love me. The new Ellie had fallen in love with me, the creation she had forgotten about. She had fallen in love with me again. I smiled at her. She pulled me back down on the bed, and we lay in each other’s arms. We laughed, not at the words as if we were mocking them, but because we were enjoying the fact that these words were true.

“I love you Daughtry McRyne, I love you.” She shouted loudly. The smile on her face told me she meant everything she was saying. I couldn’t control my happiness. I grabbed her and held her tight. We laughed and rolled over the bed for what seemed like hours, but were only minutes. Then I looked into her eyes and smiled.

“I’ve taken care of that my love. We are supposed to be in Washington, DC, doing research. We’ll be there for the next couple of weeks.” I boosted of my quick thinking of taking care of Mr. Dundford.

“So what are we going to do in this room for two weeks?” She asked playfully. I sat up on the bed and began to laugh.

“Well you're stuck with me, so I guess all we can do is study.” I smirked at her, and I handed her a book. This was a mistake. I forgot about her strength. She threw the book at me. Lucky for me, I was of the walking dead. If I were human, I would cease to breath and would have to release my mortality from the horrific blow. I lay back down on the bed with her, and we entangled our bodies. I loved holding her. She was the one thing I loved more than anything and holding her was one of my most missed memories.

As I lay beside her, I thought about the past night's events. I realized her sister Dee had helped me. Through her thoughts, I realized what Ellie was going to do. When Dee saw that I could read her thoughts she told me how to save Ellie and myself.

“Did Dee help us or are you correct and I have actually lost my mind?” I asked as I lay staring at the ceiling.

“Yes, she did.” She began to explain. “Daught, she’s in danger now because she helped us. Although, we made it look as if you were some kind of wizard, this will only keep them at bay for a short while. We have to save her. Suzi and the Lords will kill her.”

I listened to her story of how Suzi was now the wife of the three Lords, and how Dee had taken over their clan as the leader. Dee told her that my existence was real, and she told her about the love she needed to release herself too. I had to admit I owed Dee an immense deal. If she hadn’t convinced Ellie of her feelings for me, I would likely be dead at this point.

“So what can we do to help her?” I asked.

“We have to bring my grandmother back, now. We have to complete the spell as soon as possible.” She stated matter of fact.

“We need the blue moon. How do you plan to do this without it? The witch said it must be done exactly as the spell says.” I exclaimed.

She smiled and began to laugh. She reached up and touched my face again. The electricity still flowed through her touch.

“Silly Vampire, I got tricks.” She laughed. “I can speed up time; remember the classroom?”

When would I stop forgetting the things Ellie could do? She was a mystical creature that I was in love with, and she now loved me again.

“How could I forget?” I laughed. She touched my chest and ran her fingers over my abdomen. I knew the last hundred years were worth the wait. She smiled at me with the sweetest smile. I could tell she was proud of herself for having the abilities that she possessed.

Within seconds, her body tensed. I knew from the look in her eyes that something was wrong. She sat up in bed with her fingers placed against her temples. It was as if she had left and went to a faraway place. Her physical being was present in the room, but her mind was in another place.

“What’s wrong, Ellie?” I asked while sitting up on the bed beside her. Her eyes looked far away. She held up one finger in order to motion me to be quiet. She seemed to be listening to something that I couldn’t hear. I tried to read her thoughts, but she blocked them with the concentration she maintained. I had never seen Ellie, old or new, act this way before. She closed her eyes tightly as to get a better picture or listen closer. I waited eager to know what was happening, but I didn’t interrupt her again.

When Ellie began to release the tension in her body, I placed my arm around her letting her know I was still beside her. She turned to look at me. I could see she was immersed in thought, and I listened to the message she sent. Dee transported a message to her. It was a message that changed our plans of staying in this room. We had to go. Suzi and the Lords were after us. They figured out what we had done. We had to act fast.

“Where do we hide? Where could we go so that a magical being wouldn’t find us?” I wondered with my thoughts. I looked at Ellie. She was concentrating on Dee.

“We hide only after we save Dee.” She returned her thoughts. She couldn’t stand the thought of Dee being punished for helping us.

Dee sent another message. She told Ellie of a secret place to meet her. It was deep in the jungles of South America. Ellie grabbed the spell book then she took my hand and with a snap, we vanished. I felt a strange feeling that every cell in my body was tingling. I then felt the sun, and my body was in one piece again.

The jungle was mysterious and thick with bright green foliage. This foliage ended next to the sugar white sandy beach that stretched out into the fathomless, vast waters of the ocean. The village Dee told Ellie about sat just past the edge of the trees. We stood by the water. The sun was bright and warm. The temperature had changed from the cold, six degrees in Vancouver a few days ago, to the hot Ninety-seven degrees in the southern most jungle of the South American continent. This didn’t matter to my cold, physical form. However, for Ellie, it was much different. She was immortal meaning she lives forever and was part vampire, but climate changes did affect her because her body temperature was slightly higher than that of my non-living existence.