Shattered Hope * Book 2, free, on going *

5. Under the Collar

Roman

Year: 1984, 29th May, Tuesday, 6.18 PM, P.S.T, Spring.

“Of course.” I was confused by her request but I wouldn’t deny her. I wasn’t sure I could deny her anything, not any more. I desperately needed a moment alone with Zatiheir to explain but even the smallest thought of leaving Sally-Anne made my heart pinch.

I’d like to think I was a master of myself but looking at Sally-Anne, seeing how she was only just holding herself together, made me want to slide across the dimension and mutilate Guy’s corpse. She was so beautiful - inside and out. How she was being so trusting and accepting of me right now I didn’t understand. Then again everything had been a massive change for her. Repeatedly. I couldn’t foresee that there had been enough time between any of the events in her tragic life for her to properly process any of them. Not becoming a Vampire, abandoned by her Sire, the death of all her family, the imprisonment she suffered both from her own hand and Guy’s, being pimped out to me… I cringed inwardly at that one. The horror she had faced after that, I could only imagine. The panic attacks were clear evidence of that.

“Sally-Anne, would it be ok if we teleported to a room rather than walk through the house?” I said softly, seeking her permission. I could feel Zatiheir’s icy blue eyes on me, I imagine she had one eyebrow quizzically raised. Truthfully I almost never used this ability in the house but not only did I not want to risk something triggering her, I didn’t want her to have to walk around improperly dressed. We were both naked. The ragged shirt I’d put back on did not count. I suppose I could send Zatiheir to get her something to wear but the way Sally-Anne was gripping Zatiheir’s hand made me not want to part them.

“Mmm-humm.” She agreed and moved closer, sitting up and snuggling into my body. Sally-Anne let go of my hand so she could hold on to both her knives. At least I was pretty sure the one stained with her blood was also a knife, a folded one.

Zatiheir was trying to wriggle her hand out of Sally-Anne’s. It bothered me but I knew I was overreacting. Zatiheir just didn’t like teleporting. I looked her right in the eyes and mouthed ‘Stop’. Her nostrils flared and her mouth pinched in anger but she stopped trying to pull back her hand.

“Sally-Anne, Zatiheir really doesn’t like the feeling of teleporting.” I told her. Everything needed to be on her terms right now. I was going to have to be very conscientious and remember to articulate as much as possible. “So could you please let go of Zatiheir’s hand?”

There was a little moan and Sally-Anne started to shake. I wasn’t sure what to say. I did want to force either of them.

“Sally-Anne, how about you just take my feelings so I don’t have to experience teleporting and I can still hold your hand?” I could have kissed Zatiheir when she said that. Sally-Anne had stopped shaking and relaxed again.

“You would trust me to do that?” Sally’s head snapped around at speed, there was a little tremble in her voice.

“Yes. I trust you.” Zatiheir nodded positively.

“Ok, that sounds good. I’m not ready to let go.” She sighed, turning her face back to my chest. “I’m ready.”

I focused on visualizing exactly where I wanted to go. Normally it didn’t take this volume of concentration but Sally-Anne was in my every thought. Even after that I didn’t quite get it right. Instead of arriving inside my room we were in the hall outside the door. I smiled to myself, never had performance issues before now I’d had them twice from the same woman.

“Thank you.” Zatiheir said quietly to Sally-Anne.

“Can I pick you up?” I asked. I really wanted to pick her up. I was acting like the epitome of young love rather than the wise to the world Demon I was.

Sally-Anne giggled and I was stunned. Oh. She could feel what I was feeling… Now it was my turn to be embarrassed. I blushed. I could feel the heat on my face and Zatiheir was trying to look anywhere else but at me. Probably so she didn’t start laughing.

“Pick me up Roman.” She told me confidently. I thought my heart might burst. I scooped her up easily and Zatiheir opened the door with her free hand.

“Oh! This is your room.” Sally-Anne sounded surprised and suddenly I was worried I’d made the wrong choice. I should have told her my intention. Feeling her breath deeply in my arms my uncharacteristic anxiety eased. I could feel her. She wasn’t upset but I had to check.

“Is this ok or do you want a guest room?” I voiced mostly for my own benefit.

“I want to stay here. It smells like you. Honey and smoke.” She murmured.

“Like barbeque!” Zatiheir laughed. “It’s funny because of people's concepts on Hell… and you’re a Demon…” She trailed off when neither of us appeared to be amused. “Suit yourselves, I still think it’s funny.” She pouted, rolling her eyes.

“Sally-Anne do you want to get straight into bed or wash up first? Honestly I just want you to be comfortable, don’t worry about the sheets or anything.” I blabbered. Not my usual cool and confident style.

“Wash, definitely wash.” She said from my arms. I could feel how she felt as I carried her to the bathroom. She felt safe but undeserving of it. She felt relieved but anxious. Everything emanating from her clashed. She was at war within herself, with her feelings and her nature. When I first found out how young she was and how little experience she had of her nature I was confounded by the level of countenance she possessed.

Sally-Anne wouldn’t realise it but even her actions today were restrained for a fledgling, a fledgling without a Sire of all things! I had seen young Vampires in action. Easily swayed from one emotion to the next, unable to gauge their strength and desperate to feed. The way she had fed on both Zatiheir and myself had not been the gentlest and if we had been human there may have been a few broken bones but had we been human we probably would have lived.

Zatiheir ran the bath, she held bathing products near Sally-Anne’s nose so she could sniff them and choose what she wanted to use, all while still holding Sally-Anne’s hand. Zatiheir’s kindness and understanding of the situation was testament to how far she had come. When she first came to me, desperate for a deal that would nullify all the ones she had already made, Zatiheir was entitled, overly proud, mean spirited and sharp tongued. Given the opportunity she was still sharp tongued but as time had gone by those ugly qualities had slowly been replaced.

“The bath is ready if you are Sally-Anne.” I could hear how careful Zatiheir’s words were. We were both being careful of our words, avoiding anything that sounded like an order.

Sally-Anne however was not finding the same level of control. Not that I could blame her but her emotional desire to be in the bath was so strong I almost threw her in. This was going to be a huge adjustment. I was, of course, used to being surrounded by emotions. Tasting them, absorbing them, shutting them out - after all this time control was second nature and it was all very natural for me, having been born this way, but Sally-Anne was a phenomenon. Her emotional state wasn’t passive. It was the difference between still air and the wind. She had not yet learned to be still, even when she wasn’t trying there was a light breeze of emotion.

Slowly I settled her into the bath. Vampires could be very sensitive to sensations, especially new or sudden ones. Maybe I was being too cautious, treating her so delicately, but her strength did not need testing.

She sighed in comfort as the water surrounded her. Loathsome as it was to cease touching her I removed my arms and stepped back. Sally-Anne sank to the bottom. Little bubbles rushed to the surface. I could feel her peace.

“Sally-Anne,” I said, directing my voice at the surface of the water. “Zatiheir and I are just going to step out of the bathroom, give you some privacy and sort some things for you. If you need me to come back, I will feel it.” I took one last look at her, Sally-Anne was still clutching both the knives, before ushering Zatiheir out of the bathroom.

“Wha…” Zatiheir started.

“Shh.” I put my finger to my lips pleading for her silence for a few moments longer. Carefully, I folded a pocket in the dimension, leaving an emotional bleed but cutting off the sound. I turned to Zatiheir and with shaking hands I pulled my collar aside for her to see.

“Oh, oh my.” She exclaimed. “Is that what I think it is?”

“Yes… Yes.” I was unsure what to say.