This will be deleted soon - The Wrong Hope *Complete and Free*

40. A Guest

Sally-Anne

Year:1983, 3rd August, Wednesday, Morning, Summer.

The rest of the night had flown by. I made us coffee. I put all the shopping away and dressed in the new clothes Guy had chosen for me. A dress this time, a deep green colour that matched my eyes with a long flowing skirt and a belt at the waist. Truly I was happy with it, much more comfortable than the jeans and tee’s he had been getting me. Before bed I washed with the feminie products he had bought. I imagined him a little lost in the ladies section at the store cautiously sniffing shampoos and soaps till he found one he liked. Made me think that maybe he cared. Perhaps when he behaved cruelly was just a front because I was a Vampire and he was a Hunter but actually he liked me.

The nights went by with me cleaning the house and bringing Guy coffee. He was busy writing in his notepad and making phone calls. The days were spent with his wrist pressed to my lips as he slept. I didn’t quite understand the change in my feelings or our dynamic. He fed me, he was kind. The only ‘Guy says’ that he uttered were to ease my pain.

It wasn’t that I had forgotten everything that he had done to me, heck every memory was sharp but my emotions were on a sliding scale. It was like there wasn’t enough room inside me for more than one emotion. They would just switch over like traffic lights. Right now I’m stuck on green. Everything was happy-go-lucky and I just couldn’t help it. In my mind I knew this wasn’t a good situation but my emotions were ruling over my thoughts. I wanted to be happy and if this was the only opportunity I had I was taking it. It felt safe. I couldn’t hurt him. I could play house and pretend that I wasn’t a Vampire. Maybe one day … well I’d just have to wait and see.

It had taken over a week to get the house clean, Guy had told me not to bother with the front room and just use it for storage. Guy had to show me how to use the vacuum. At home we had a sweeper. It was like the vacuum but the brush span when you pushed it, it didn’t run on electricity.

Tonight I was reorganising the boxes in the front guest room. There was a lot of paperwork and boxes of clothes. I didn’t snoop though, instead I restacked the papers and folded the clothes neatly so they didn’t take up as much space. Some of the boxes had ornaments and knick knacks but I didn’t mess with them. They were all nicely wrapped in newspaper. There were only a few shelves around the house and they were already tidy, decorated with the pieces that Guy must have wanted out. I grabbed the next box, thinking about making some coffee, it was full of books.

All thoughts of coffee went out the window as I ran my fingers along gilded lettered spines. They would look lovely on the shelf in the guestroom. Gleefully I carried the box down the hall. The ornaments that were already there I moved on to the chest of draws before I started setting up the books. They were all classics that I recognised and that was comforting. The Great Gatsby, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Vanity Fair, Dracula (I put that one back in the box) amongst others. There was a copy of Jane Austen’s Persuasion, I’d been in the middle of reading it when … when I was still just Sally-Anne.

I couldn’t remember what page I’d been on so I just started again. Curled up in a chair by the window I lost myself in the story of Miss Elliot and Captain Wentworth.

“Doll?” Guy called, I looked up to see him leaning on the door frame. “Whatcha got there?” I held up the book for him to see, feeling sheepish that he had caught me not only taking a break but also using his belongings without permission. He smiled at me, a sad smile.

“Never read it, the books were my mother’s.” He came into the room looking at the books that I had lined up on the shelf. Guy ran his hand over the books with a wistful look on his face.

“Coffee?”

“Ye, of course, I’m so sorry.” I closed the book.

“No, it’s ok I’ll get it Doll. You enjoy the book.” He stroked my face softly looking into my eyes. He had kept the clean shaven look and it was really growing on me. I smiled, enjoying the warmth of his fingers, the gentleness of his touch.

The coffee he brought me wasn’t great, I was pretty sure he’d heated up the old pot instead of making it fresh, but it was a sweet gesture. I was halfway through Persuasion when there was a knock at the door.

“Doll!! Get the door would ya?” Guy said from the living room. He raised his voice but didn’t shout, I would have heard him if he whispered. Perhaps he raised his voice out of habit or perhaps he thought I might be too distracted.

After quickly committing the page number to memory I closed the novel and went to see who was at the door. It was exciting. A visitor, and Guy was letting me get the door. I practically skipped down the hall to the front door. Before opening it I smoothed my dress and fluffed my hair. With a beaming smile I slid the bolt back and turned the handle. The man at the door was stunning. Bright blue eyes that lit up his face, his skin was tan and his hair bleach blonde. The glow of the light from the porch made him look like an angel. I opened my mouth to speak only to choke on pain.

The pain radiated from my chest. Looking down I was shocked to see a crossbow bolt sticking out of my chest, right where I’d stabbed myself before. The mystery man's bright blue eyes had been mesmerising. I’d been so lost in them I hadn’t seen him raise the bow. I hadn’t heard the thwack as the bolt was released. I hadn't even heard the thud as it embedded itself in my chest.

The gorgeous young man looked at me with curious eyes. I thought I was falling into the sky but it was his eyes. With a delicate hand he pushed me backwards. The world was peeling away in slow motion as my body fell to the floor.

He missed.

If I could, I would have screamed at him. Despite having had a pleasant week. Despite feeling cared for. Despite being content with playing house with Guy. Deep down the despair was still there, a hollow inky void that threatened to swallow me whole. My hope was a twisted piece of twine, two vines tangled and frayed. I hoped to live, this little taste of being with Guy no matter how fake had inspired a new thread of hope but I still hoped to die. That hope was the strongest. It burned the brightest. It was what made this moment bitter.

I hit the floor. My body was stiff. I couldn’t move. The stranger stepped over my body with his crossbow raised, ignoring me completely.

“Guy?” He called cautiously. His voice was unexpectedly deep.

“Bill?” Guy called back coming into the hallway. “What the f**k Bill!” Guy knelt next to me inspecting the bolt protruding from my chest. The terror on his face melted into relief as he too realised that Bill had missed.

“f**k that was close.” Guy rubbed my cheek and gave it a light pat.

“You know she’s a Leech right?” Bill scratched his head sitting on the credenza with his crossbow resting on his lap.

“Yes Bill, I know she’s a f*****g Vampire.” He hissed.

“So what’s the problem?” Bill shrugged. “One less evil in the world. It’s what we’re here for.”

“Well thank the Lord that you f*****g missed.” Guy told Bill gruffly. Bill scratched his chin and shrugged.

“Ye, that threw me for a loop but I always double tap.” Bill said with a grin. “Bolts are laced.”

“Laced with what?” Guy growled in a low voice.

“The usual.” He shrugged, clearly unbothered.

“Christ above Bill, you absolute flute. Why the f**k would you bring a loaded crossbow to my door?” Guy admonished. “Help me move her.” Bill put down his crossbow and moved to my feet. Together they carried me into the kitchen and placed me on the dining table.

“You got antidote with you?” Guy asked.

“Yup.” Bill took a bottle from inside his jacket and Guy snached it straight out of his hand. “What’s the deal? Chick someone to you or what?”

“I’ll tell you about it once this mess is sorted. I got to get the first aid kit. Can I trust you to refrain from finishing the job you bloody fuckwit?” Guy told Bill as he went to get the kit. Bill loomed over me, his eyes as bright as his smile.

“So, you’re a special little lady huh?” Bill told me clearly amused. I couldn’t speak. Not because I didn’t want to but because I was completely paralized. I realised that I also couldn't feel anything. Even the pain that had originally been searing through my chest had gone completely.

I heard Guy come back and rummage through the first aid kit. When he came into view it was with that huge needle in his hand. My eyes were frozen open by whatever was on the bolt but they still managed to convey my fear.

“Shhh Doll. It’s ok, I’ll be gentle.” He soothed, stroking my hair. “I’m going to take out the bolt first.” I was aware of my body lifting off the table as Guy yanked the bolt but thankfully I didn’t feel it. Whatever this poison was, it was preferable to the one Guy had fed me before. I couldn’t help but hope it would be too late for the antidote.

Guy was poised, ready to once again drive the needle through my eye. It took me back to the moment in the car where I ‘switched myself off’ and let him do it. This time I had no choice and I was afraid.

“Guy says you will stay still and silent until I tell you otherwise.” He ordered me, looking worried the whole time.

“Mate, you finally lost it or you been on the sauce?” Bill laughed.

“Shut the f**k up Bill.” He muttered, pushing the needle into my eye. Internally I squirmed. Slowly he depressed the plunger. It was nothing like the first time. There was no pain, no pressure and I didn’t black out. That was my greatest fear, being dragged back into my nightmare to relieve my painful past.

“Guy, you seriously holding her hand? You gone soft?” Bill joked.

Guy was holding my hand…

Right then I knew this was going to be bad.