Temptation and Restraint
1427 Words
I let go of Lucian and knelt in the middle of the thick forest, the damp ground cushioning my fall. I started making a shallow grave for the shattered pieces of the glasses cover, which were now covered in crimson drops, with a mix of trepidation and resolve. As I battled the constant impulse to turn and plunge my fangs into the pulsing vein on his neck, each spade of earth released a maelstrom of conflicting feelings within me. Every heartbeat made it harder for me to control my urges, but I persisted nonetheless, keeping my eyes on the task at hand.
After patiently completing the covert burial, I got up and rubbed my hands together in a sense of completion. However, when I turned to look, I saw Lucian staring at me closely with a deep gaze that was full of unspoken understanding. I mustered up a calm exterior and said, “It would be prudent for you to be cautious and avoid shedding your own blood,” in measured tones, masking the turmoil beneath. I couldn’t take the thought of Vesperus, with its keen nose, locating his blood and causing unnecessary complications despite the sting of his stinging words. I had a strange need to protect Lucian from harm because I knew how deeply he hated vampires and me in particular.
Only the distant murmur of the party we had left behind and the rustle of leaves could be heard as silence engulfed us. I dared to speak up again, breaking the quiet moment. Avoiding his gaze, I said, “Perhaps it is time we return to the festivities,” motioning for him to follow as I passed. The silence was broken by Lucian’s voice as each stride brought us nearer, and our shoulders almost touched. “Are you hiding anything from me regarding my blood?” His remarks demanded an answer, one that I fervently hoped to avoid giving, hanging in the air thick with intrigue and suspicion.
The intimidating question hung over me, weighing down on my entire essence. How could I possibly answer with something original? Should I admit that the delicacy of his blood filled my senses with an alluring smell that was intoxicating? Was I to admit that his very being sparked a primitive urge in me, causing me to let go of all self-control and give in to its forbidding appeal like never before?
I have experienced innumerable different blood types during my life, each with unique characteristics. But none had captured my attention as much as his. It had the air of something rare among the common and commonplace, something elusive. It was surrounded by an obvious aura, an ethereal presence that hinted at something amazing beneath the surface. Its flavor alone aroused intense curiosity in people. Would they be able to resist its enticing charm, or would they give in to the temptation and drink until there was nothing left?
But it wasn’t simply the taste that mesmerized me; there were a lot of other feelings as well. My entire being was revitalized by its velvety smoothness, the soothing warmth that permeated my veins with each drink, and the energizing burst of energy that rushed through my body. Every part of my existence was awakened by the immersive event, which left me enthralled and consumed.
I couldn’t help but acknowledge the intense feelings that erupted within me as I struggled with the gravity of my confession. My consciousness was engulfed by an intense brew of longing, want, and ravenous hunger. My ongoing struggle against the forces that wished to destroy my self-control turned into a daily struggle to control my primordial inclinations and reject the seductive temptation.
The world around me vanished into insignificance in that fleeting instant. Because of this otherworldly encounter, time itself seemed to stop. I had to decide whether to exercise self-control, resist the pull of his blood, or give in to the unquenchable longing that called me to a place of ecstasy and surrender.
My decision’s weight pressed down on me, and its effects reverberated throughout my eternal spirit. Would I give in to my baser urges and fall into a chasm from which there might be no way back? Or would I find the fortitude to put up a fight, protect my sanity, and maintain the precarious balance that held me bound to my humanity?
I kept my mouth shut as I considered the significance of my response. To tell the truth, to reveal the mysterious appeal of his blood, would mean revealing a horrible side of myself to the world. Every waking minute was consumed by a hidden yearning that threatened to destroy the façade of normalcy I had worked so hard to create.
The words on the tip of my mouth were abruptly halted by an obtrusive voice that cut through the tension like a jagged blade as I stood there struggling under the weight of my unfathomable need. When the voice called out “Lucian,” a young girl suddenly appeared and threw herself into his arms with a level of fervor that knocked me flat. Confusion flooded over me as I recoiled involuntarily, my mind troubled by a single, scornful thought: Who is this intruder?
I had a maelstrom of feelings that cascaded over me like a hurricane as I watched them with a mix of interest and dismay. The girl held onto Lucian as if her life depended on it; her eyes were filled with devotion, and her touch had an intensity that made my senses uneasy.
Then again, a glimmer of curiosity emerged amidst the emotional tempest. Who was she to him? Possibly his mate? And if so, how had I managed to ignore this information?
The girl eventually pulled away, keeping her eyes only on Lucian as I watched them clasp in silence. “I’ve missed you, Lucian,” she muttered with a mixture of vulnerability and adoration.
I was caught off guard when a surge of contradictory emotions swept over me as he returned her beautiful smile. My heart broke into innumerable pieces at that very instant, for reasons I still don’t fully understand. He playfully ruffled her hair, a gentle gesture that conveyed volumes, and I quickly regained my calm. He responded in a warm tone, “I’ve missed you too, kid.”
A tiny pout formed on her face as a subtle expression of her irritation. She questioned, her tone a mix of humor and vulnerability, “Am I still just a kid to you?” Unfazed, she gracefully turned around, displaying her blossoming body, and then abruptly came to a stop. Her eyes focused upon mine, displaying an intriguing fusion of curiosity and something else.
“And who might you be?” she asked abruptly, her voice overflowing with intrigue and a dash of evident jealousy.
I approached her with careful steps, conscious of Lucian’s close observation from the sidelines. He appeared to be really worried that I could hurt the young woman in front of me. I leaned in, allowing my eyes to take on a terrifying change, turning a deep crimson that represented my vampiric nature, while grinning slyly. My voice was filled with curiosity as I asked her, “Who do you believe me to be?” while maintaining eye contact with her.
Although she had werewolf strength, it appeared that she lacked mental toughness because, in a split second, her eyes glazed over, and she gave in to my alluring presence. She said without much thought, her voice unsure, “A vampire?” Her comments had a tone of inquiry, and the undercurrent of uncertainty in her voice made me chuckle.
I slowly let go of my hold and moved away from her, putting a physical barrier between us. She abruptly snapped out of the magic I had briefly created upon her as her eyelids fluttered quickly.
A rush of realization washed over her, causing her to spin around in circles in search of solutions. I could almost taste the lingering questions in her eyes, as Lucian sighed heavily, burdened by the situation’s complexities. Sensing the tension, I quickly left, slipping into the dark undergrowth, leaving them alone in the forest with murmuring trees. Nonetheless, as I hurried back to the Past, Present, and Future party, a subtle curiosity prompted me to listen in on the girl’s heartbreaking question directed at Lucian.
“I thought you despised vampires?” Her comments were beautifully braided with a mix of astonishment, perplexity, and possibly a tinge of betrayal.
- Writer
