A Slayer's Daughter

18

A few hours later, Alex started to convulse, her eyes rolled back. Then suddenly she started to scream in pain or fear. I couldn't tell. I held on to her as this happened, wishing I could take this pain from her. Until she went still again, this time she fell into a deep sleep. Soon I got a call from Dalton. He was at Lillian's old house.

"There's nothing left, Chris. I found Alex's things or at least what used to be her things, the rest of the house was pretty empty.."

"Fine Dalton, anything else?" I asked. I could tell he wanted to ask about his sister, but felt guilty too.

"No..or..How is Calista?"

"She's on the mend, she fought hard."

"Good, that's..good to hear."

I hung up on him, the i***t had been so tied up with his "mate" he ignored his sister's call for help. He could wallow for a while, Calista hadn't been too badly hurt, the vampires weren't interested in her. She was downstairs with Jacelyn and who I now knew was Emilian Bogdan.

I found that he was Alex's biological father, who had been on the run for many years, up until three years ago, when Sorina had died. Then he started to look for Alex, but he could never catch up with her. That's when Jacelyn told him she was here. It took him a few days to get here. I asked him why until now? He pulled out a picture. It was of Alex when she was a baby.

"That was the only picture I had of her, while I ran being chased by the very man that was keeping me away from her."

I took it, but I didn't know Alex would once she woke up. Jacelyn and Emilian kept checking her and kept saying her body was still processing. Making it sound so simple and seeing nothing happen was frustrating. Soon Lillian came by and gave me an ear full and a slap across the face.

"How dare you hide this from me!" she yelled at me, and demanded to see Alex. I let her see her niece but she wasn't happy with what she saw. She broke down in tears, and John was pissed with his son. Calista explained what had happened, and if John had been mad before, he was now on the verge of changing from how mad he was. Unfortunately, for Dalton, he arrived right then and John released his full wrath on his son.

"I leave for a couple of days and you couldn't even protect your little sister for two days!"

Dalton didn't say anything.

"I'm fine, Dad, I don't need him to be safe."

John looked at Calista, then back at his son.

"I want that woman out of my house now!"

"What? Dad, she is my mate!"

"Like hell she is! A mate doesn't stop you from going to those in your pack, a mate doesn't make herself the center of your world! A mate is to complete you, not turn you against your family!"

"I just found her. Give me time!"

"No, boy, I have found my mate, and not once have I turned my back to any of you. That woman is not your mate."

"If you kick her out...then I will leave with her."

Calista went pale. John too, but he hid it too well.

"So be it." he finally said, as the silence became deafening. Dalton looked hurt but Calista went to her big brother.

"How many times..Dalton...how many times have we had each other's back?" she asked him with tears in her eyes.

"She's my mate!"

"Dalton! Dad's right. A mate doesn't turn you against your own, a mate guides you to make your life better. That woman isn't your mate."

Dalton really seemed to struggle, but just turned to leave.

"Dalton!" I called. He stopped, and turned to look at me, " Rushing things don't make them right."

That was something I had always told him, he was always in a rush to do things but would make mistakes. He nodded and walked out of my house. Calista was really hurt but she also felt betrayed. Things were happening and we needed to get to the bottom of them, but I needed to make sure Alex was okay.

The week slowly passed us, but Alex wouldn't wake up. I actually found myself talking to her, or reading to her. Her skin was looking really pale and a little cold to the touch. The only thing to distract me was that I had to keep finding out what was going on with the case, until one day I got a call from the Las Vegas office. An old slayer, now a cop, was seeing a lot of what was happening here was happening in the city. Women confirmed witches being killed and he wanted help to find out what was going on. I told him I had a situation and couldn't leave right now, but I would keep in touch.

Seconds after I hung up, I got a call from the house.

"I'm coming." I said, only giving Jacelyn a second to say, then hung up and ran out of the office. As I ran back to the house, something caught my attention. Nicholas was just standing there.

"What the hell have you been doing?"

"Master, I'm in a trap."

"You've been here this whole time?"

"Yes, while in this trap I can't move."

I walked a little closer, and sure enough the trap was made with blessed oil, he even dared to walk out, he would burst into flames. I kicked away some of the symbols and he walked out casually.

"You're lucky, Alex is alive or else I would kill you myself."

"Sir, I couldn't move."

"What were you doing out here, when you were supposed to be watching over Alex!?"

He looked a little worried, but sighed.

" I was summoned?"

I looked at him, he just looked at the ground.

"Let's go, Alex is awake." he gave me a deep bow and followed me back to the house.

At the house, I walked in and headed to Alex's room. She was sitting on the edge of the bed, Jacelyn was talking soothingly to her. Jacelyn gave me a look of warning, so I approached carefully. Alex met my eyes, her eyes, now a gold color, were full of fear, she was even shaking.

"Alex.." I wanted to hug her but Jacelyn stopped me, and Alex shrunk away from me.

"The pain is still fresh in her mind, just give it some time."

I didn't want to give it more time, but I couldn't stand seeing her scared of me. I sighed and walked back out. I headed down stairs and sat down. Nicholas stood by for once in all the years he's been with me. He looked worried.

"Something on your mind?" I asked him. He turned to look at me.

"May I speak freely sir?"

"Go ahead."

"Miss Alex, sir...I can't seem to...I can't seem to stop worrying about her."

I looked at the shapeshifter, and sensed his meaning. Alex has had that effect on me as well. She had been so fragile and innocent. Her blood was definitely clear on that. Every fiber of my being wanted to hide her from the world, but she wasn't naive about anything, which to me made her even more precious.

"Meaning what?"

"After..after I..I tasted her in the forest, I couldn't hurt her. Not the same way I had with the others."

"You've never been taught to care for someone as deeply. She, even after everything, has forgiven you, has given you a name, and has put her trust in you. As a family member would."

He thought about it for a bit. The truth was Nicholas had never been treated with such kindness, it was strange of him to feel deeply for another. His only emotions have ever been lust and fear.

"She's like...the sister I never had."

"You don't almost f**k your own sister, Nicholas."

He laughed.

"Not knowingly sir." I rolled my eyes, but had to chuckle a little. A while later, Jacelyn came down and came toward me.

"She's calmer now, and has asked to see you too. Please don't push her too much."

I nodded and stood up.

"What does she know?"

"Nothing, and I talked with Emilian, he wouldn't just drop by unannounced. Until she's a little more calm and stable."

"Sounds good, what can we expect now?"

"I can't say, her eyes earlier were in fact because she was hungry but she nibbled on some crackers without a problem, otherwise only time will tell."

I nodded and headed upstairs. I was half way, when I turned again. She stood waiting for my question.

"Thank you Jacelyn." when I thanked her she seemed taken aback but gave me a small bow. I headed for Alex's room, and knocked lightly.

"Come in." her voice was horse and tired sounding. I opened the door and just took in the atmosphere of the room. She was nervous but her fear level was down, so I walked in a little carefully but confident. Her eyes on me like a hawk, almost literally, they had a predator look she hadn't before.

"How you feeling?" I asked her.

"I'm not sure, I woke up being able to hear someone's heart beat from downstairs."

"What can you smell?"

"Everything. I can even smell my own blood in this room. I feel...everything."

"After you ate, what did you feel?"

"Nothing, I felt fine."

"Are you craving anything?" I asked, but she shook her head.

"No, well, not right now."

I breathed a breath of relief, she had gone through the change just fine, but now what we needed to see was what was really going on. Was she a mix of witch and vampire or just a vampire?

"Well, you're safe here, if you need anything don't hesitate to ask."I got up and was about to walk out.

"Um.."she said, now sounding a little scared.

"Yeah?"

"I know you don't sleep, but can..um..it's okay if you don't want to..but could you stay with me?"

Those simple words touched me, she felt safe with me, and it wasn't a roaring passion, but as long as we headed in that direction I was willing to take it slow. I got comfortable next to her, and she snuggled up close to me, and sure enough, in seconds was back to sleep. It was true I didn't have to sleep, but I did whenever I found myself bored. In this case, just knowing that I was next to her was worth it.

The next morning, she was still asleep and was curled up really close to me. I kissed her forehead and found myself playing with her hair. Like Nicholas, I had never given myself a chance to care for someone like this. To be vulnerable the way I have been with her. For a simple touch or kiss to have me thinking so hard, to be jealous of someone touching her. I've seen her body and as much as I longed for it, what's impressed me has been her mind. I've seen her past pains and would happily rip the asshole that did that to her to pieces, but even then she was sharp and full of life. I have fallen so deeply in love with her, I would've died if she had. She took a deep breath and realized she was snuggling up close to someone, when she looked up at me she gave me a small smile.

"Morning."

"Good morning." I replied as she sat up, rubbing her eyes.

"I thought you had left."

"No, I stayed all night with you." I said, getting to my feet, and headed for the door. She looked worried, and without warning sped toward me, slamming into me.

"Oh, my gosh!" she said, looking up at me, but walked back to bed. I guess our answers will come soon.