Forbidden Findings -- Vampire One on One

Lurk

<3	100.0%	[ 19 ]
Total Votes:			[ 19 ]

[[Bang Bang]]

Lucas stood beside the bench Dahlia had positioned herself into. He was silent as she recomposed herself, which he knew would be hard. Her body was going through worse then what humans knew as "jet lag". Maybe one day she'd get used to running with him, but then again, there was no telling how long she'd even be alive. Lucas didn't want to live a life of hiding with her. He didn't want to live a life of hiding, period. When he peered down at Dahlia, he realized how horrible she looked compared to her natural beauty. She was being ripped apart, little by little because of everything that happened. She didn't have an impenetrable exterior like Lucas. She couldn't heal instantly like his kind. The sight of gore and violence wasn't something she deemed as an every day experience. And yet, she had been put up to the standards of a vampire, to act and adapt like one. He had forgotten what it was like to have weakness and downfalls. But here Dahlia was, reminding him of her fragility.

It was quiet for a while. Lucas was again in his head, wondering what he could do to ensure Dahlia would be safe. No answer left him fully satisfied. Finally, she found the strength to speak, though he didn't feel she should have.

"I can't be.......like this anymore..." She huffed. Lucas tried not to process her words but his efforts did little to help. "Helpless....I.....hate being this way, to you. I don't understand..."

Letting her take in a few more breaths, he removed his jacket and placed it over Dahlia. Then he reached down and slung one of her arms over his shoulders. He started to aid her into walking. With his hand on her waist, he could have lifted her up and kept her suspended but he wanted to try and give her a task to do which would keep her occupied. Putting one foot in front of the other would be enough to keep the silence between them. Lucas walked them into town. He searched for some sign of a place to stay. From the vapor in Dahlia's breath, he knew it had to be freezing outside. They were lucky enough to find a motel which was open. Before they entered, Lucas spoke in a low voice.

“Please, just follow along,” He started to open the door with one hand. “Someone might get suspicious of us,” When they stepped inside, Lucas smiled brightly towards the man at the front desk. He looked to be around forty five. He wore thick glasses and a sweater which appeared to be hand knitted.

“Good Ev-” Lucas immediately cleared his throat. He still had his birth accent and dialect that was far too outdated. This time, he tried again only with an American accent and no formality. “Hey, how's a goin'?” He breathed quickly. “My fiance's had a bit too much to drink. We were wondering if you had any place for us to sleep?” The older man stared at Dahlia a bit strangely. The two of them both had dirt and grime on them. If it weren't for Lucas' jacket, Dahlia's blood stains would be very noticeable. After a while of staring, he finally turned his back and grabbed a key. He began punching in numbers into his outdated computer. Lucas reached into his back pocket for his wallet. Inside, he had several different IDs as well as money for different countries. It didn't take long to pay for one night's stay then help Dahlia into the room. When they were finally alone, he sat Dahlia onto the queen size bed and stood next to her.

"I would like for you to sleep," Lucas said, returning back to his accent and dialect. "We're safe here. I won't leave again," he promised. This time, it was of his own free will. Dahlia didn't need to ask him.

[Korrye]

__________Yet Lucas loftily listened to her words before deciding himself that she was okay to move on The brushing of fabric over her skin made her tremor. She grabbed at the lip of zipper and tugged it closer to her taking in the smell of him, that musky odor she’d come to adore. When he tossed her arm over his shoulder she leaned into him, grateful for the gesture. When they rose to walk she stumbled. If Lucas weren’t as strong as he was she would have pulled him down. For the first half hour of them walking Dahlia carried her legs as dead weight.

The chill of the air made her shiver even with Lucas’ coat over her shoulders. As they approached town Dahlia was thankful, her heavy breathes began to materialize in foggy patches.

“Please, just follow along," he started to open the door with one hand. “Someone might get suspicious of us.”

Dahlia didn’t even nod, choosing to pull her injured and bruised arm inside the coat to hide it. When they walked through the door the jingle of a set of bells overhead seemed deafening loud. She winced, leaning closer to his frame. Her senses were frantic, offset by her body’s inability to readjust to solid ground.

“Good Ev-” Lucas began. But she listened to his clear his throat, feigning phlegm she knew he didn’t possess. “Hey, how's a goin'? My fiance's had a bit too much to drink. We were wondering if you had any place for us to sleep?”

She smiled then, a loopy half grin that filled only the bottom portion of her face. With her eyes averting the clerk he wasn’t able to catch her grief only that she had visibly dark circles under her eyes like an insomniac. She felt his gaze on her but Dahlia didn’t focus on it. She was doing everything she could to hold herself up.

When they entered the room Dahlia was surprised to feel him lift her. When her toes left the floor she felt uncomfortable. The floating feeling he gave to her with his swift motions made the discomfort more apparent. When she was set onto the bed she instantly rolled on her side way from him, facing the wall.

"I would like for you to sleep," Lucas said, returning back to his accent and dialect. "We're safe here. I won't leave again.”

Dahlia closed her eyes with his promise. Yet she didn’t hold them closed for long when she was drowning in the images. She couldn’t sleep; she didn’t want to risk the nightmares. The last time she’d experienced something severely traumatizing she’d done nothing but scream in her slumber. It wasn’t sleeping when one was so restless.

Bringing her right arm under her pillow she settled for staring at the marks remaining on her pale skin. It was better than looking straight at the plain wall. The silence in the room there after hurt her and she remained on her side awake for at least twenty minutes before her eyes fell shut on her.


XXX


The dreams took over like she’d thought they would. Only Dahlia found herself not only reliving the moments in the den but experiencing them as they could have happened. When the dream began she found herself released from Lucas, released and pulled away. He watched her with his cold expression beside Fallon, dressed in his black and red clothes. He left with his casual remark.

Guided into the enclave by hypnosis she was fully clasped to the wall, the blond taking particular joy in squeezing her arms, wrenching them in the straps so that her wrists faced out. When she left the room seemed to grow dark. The beast then entered dressed in nothing but deep crimson robe. Despite his age he entered with a grace unmatched by any vampire she’d seen. The creature closed the door to the enclave and circled the room dimming the light by extinguishing several of the candles set into the walls. Then he approached her, standing before her. Dahlia spent an eternity staring into the beast’s eyes, drowning in fear. When she screamed there was no sound, only her trembling body. Then in a sudden lunge the beast was in her neck, his mouth engorged in her jugular.


XXX

[[Bang Bang]]

Dahlia tried to commit to sleep well enough. For the majority of her night, Lucas sat on the floor, cross legged and still. His eyes burned into the same spot for hours, as if he could find answers in the dirty carpet. He processed all the events that had been jam packed into one morning. Every detail and sensory memory was scanned over and stored into his thoughts. No matter what mistakes he pin-pointed or ideas he thought would be useful, he relished in the fact that Dahlia was safe and laying only inches away from him. Her breathing was the only sound he allowed himself to tune into. For the longest time, he knew she was awake. Neither of them could go to sleep, no matter how hard they tried. Lucas, by nature. Dahlia, through trauma. Every now and again, Luke would purposely rustle his clothes as if repositioning himself or run his fingers against the carpet to give Dahlia something to listen to. Just as her heart was soothing to him, he was sure she'd finding it calming to know Lucas was still there. Eventually, her breathing slowed down which indicated she had found rest.

Luke left the room momentarily, finding the man behind the counter again (whose name he learned was Samuel) and asking for a map of the city. His excuse was that his " fiance " and himself would like to tour around the area before moving on. In all actuality, he just wanted to know where on earth they were. Lucas returned to the room to realize he had run even faster then he thought he could. Dahlia's gift was an amazing one, at that. He'd have to savor it while it lasted because from his behaviors before, she wasn't likely to ever offer again. He had betrayed her trust and for that, he was regretfully sorry. Lucas returned to the room and placed the map down on the night stand near the bed. Dahlia was still asleep when he got back.

It took all his might not to turn and wake Dahlia from her sleep. Soon after he had settled himself back into his place, her heart started to speed up and he could smell sweat on her body. She was having a nightmare. Whatever twisted images were appearing in her thoughts, Lucas could only imagine. It was his fault for the torture her own mind was putting her through. It tortured him to know he couldn't spare her the pain. He squeezed his eyes shut and ground his teeth together, but nothing stopped her fast paced heart. It would be no better to wake her up. At least when she was asleep, her body could recuperate faster. Morning could not come fast enough. But as predicted, the sun did rise again and Dahlia followed after. Once she was finally awake, Lucas stood back on his feet and spoke.

“You should shower first. I'll go find you some breakfast as well as a clean change of clothes.” He scanned Dahlia's face for some sort of answer as to how she was feeling, emotionally. From what he could tell, she still wasn't the same. “We're in Nebraska. I thought you might like to know.”

[Korrye]

__________The dream didn't end. She suffered through fictional pain; the feigned warmth of what she thought was her own blood running down her arms, her thighs. The beast ate into her, pulled muscle against from her neck. Dahlia’s body slowly healing throughout the process while the creature pressed his hand on her collar bone bracing her for him while his lips searched for more. The tension rippled through her muscles, the pain did nothing but destroy her. It went on and on.


XXX


Dahlia was started awake, her body bolting away. Her arms flew out, her right slapping the wall. Her legs cut the air like scissors while she pushed herself to sit. The movement was rapid and she felt her chest rise and fall dramatically. In silence she looked around the room. Pulling the blankets over her she was confused. Where was she?

Bright yellow walls and white lacey curtains came into view. An older styled tube television gloated with its dark unused screen. Lucas was there, he turned to look at her immediately. Dahlia wiped her eyes and flopped back on the pillow which sank under her head. She stared at the ceiling, unwilling to move.

“You should shower first. I'll go find you some breakfast as well as a clean change of clothes.” He told her, turning on his analyzing gaze. Was she really that fragile to him? A Barbie doll who’d seen war? “We're in Nebraska. I thought you might like to know.”

He’d run her across two ******** states? Jesus.

Dahlia brought her hands to her face, wiping her eyelids of sleep and dried tears. They burned with the dry air. When she moved her body ached. Lucas’ offer of the shower was a kind one that she obliged.

Twisting over the edge of the bed she brought her legs to the floor. Her feet were still in her shoes and socks. She didn’t remove them only she stood, pulling herself to stand with the help of the edge of the wall. Dahlia edged her way slowly into the bathroom, closing the door and locking it. Turning on the light she flinched from the brightness, bracing herself on the sink before sitting on the closed toilet. Sitting there she pulled at her shoes, prying at dried mud. When she pulled off a clump underneath her white socks were red. For a moment she paused, her fingers in the elastic of her sock. Taking a deep breath she pulled herself through the visual echo of the nightmare. Seconds later she pulled of her sock and moved onto the other sock.
The shower she stepped into still wearing her undergarments. She didn’t care. But to be naked would make her feel too raw. As she stepped into the bath tub she tripped, falling into the basin under the shower of hot water with a loud thud. Sitting there was more comfortable than standing.

The water wasn’t cleansing, instead it brought on tears. She didn’t sob but settled for leaning her head against the cold porcelain tiles and letting the hard pressure of the shower head wash away the crusted blood and dirt. Her sweating through the night had rubbed the majority of it off on her clothes, not to the mention the bed sheets. Her tight white t-shirt was far from its original color. The jeans were shredded. She figured they’d need to be burned.

Ultimately Dahlia settled for five minutes under the water before she turned off the tap and stepped out to grab a towel. The hotel provided small toothbrushes. It felt nice to wash out her mouth and tongue. As she brought the cheap brush across her front teeth she noticed the little amount of bruising left on her forearm and palm. A few blemishes remained along with a pink scar down her palm, stretched into the crescent shape of a jaw. Even the vampire blood wouldn’t heal it away from her sight.

When she emerged from the bathroom she pushed open the door to find Lucas absent. With a towel wrapped around her tiny frame she sat herself on the end of the bed, her wet hair dripping down her neck. The water caught itself on the towel which she concealed under one of the room’s two bathrobes.

Lucas returned carrying a plain white plastic shopping bag. From it he pulled a pair of plain jeans, a black off the shoulder t-shirt and a bright red sweater. The outfit she took into the bathroom where she changed. Everything fit. Dahlia hadn’t even told him her size.

The warmth of clean clothes brought her no joy. She stuffed the bloody fabric of her t-shirt into the bag along with her jeans and socks. The clothes she brought out, setting the bag at the foot of the bed. Now that it was daylight she was unsure of Lucas’ plans. He was always hesitant to go out in public, to be seen by anybody. Yet the idea of being trapped in a room made her tense. Nothing about her was calm. She took to wrapping her arms tightly around her stomach again, remaining silent. Though she wished to say thank-you she had no voice.

When she emerged her hair was a half dry mass of thick brown curls. She'd down nothing to tame it, only brush it after towel drying it. She continued to tuck strands behind her ear until settling on using a regular elastic on the desk from the map. Once it was out of her face she turned to face a small container of food next to the TV. All she could do was stare at it. There was nothing about her that screamed hungry. The pains in her stomach, she could have sworn they were something other than a desire to eat. She felt that if she downed anything she'd just throw it back up. But her mouth was dry so she pulled at a bottle of water he'd set next to it, bringing it into her lap to pull at the cap. She ripped it off with ease and brought the bottle to her chapped lips. She took small sips, testing her stomach's capacity for fluids.

[[Bang Bang]]

Last night, Dahlia was the only one talking. Today, it was Lucas' turn. He stood and watched as Dahlia barely made her way into the bathroom. She was a wreck, inside any out. He felt as if he were trying to put all the pieces that made her human back together. But her spirit was like broken glass; there were too many pieces to be able to fix. After she disappeared behind the bathroom door, Lucas did the same. He had memorized the map of the town they were in easily enough so finding his way around was simple. Food always had the same scents anyways, so even if he couldn't remember where he was, following familiar scents would lead him to where he needed to be. Unlike Dahlia, he didn't need her sizes to pick out the right clothes. A vampire's memory was spectacular and precise. Time did not weather anything down. Mentally sizing her up was a piece of cake to him. He rushed to a local diner with a bag of clothes in one hand. He was hoping to get back to the motel before Dahlia got out of the shower. Unfortunately, it seemed like a tradition in the town to eat at the place he had chosen for breakfast. Getting an order in took ages.

Lucas sat on one of the bar stools and stared at the waves of people surrounding him. None of them had a scent that was anywhere near pleasing to him. The food smelled better than they did and that was saying a lot. But every face he met eyes with was smiling and cheerful. Lucas hadn't seen a smile forever. Dahlia had none to supply as of late, he realized. He wished he could figure out what it was the crowd was so gleeful about. If he found out, he could try it on Dahlia to see if it worked. But somehow, it didn't feel that simple. His order finally came forward, which Lucas grabbed and disappeared with in an instant. He wanted Dahlia to exit the bathroom knowing he was still there. Once he opened the door to their room, he saw Dahlia already sitting on the edge of her bed. His hopes deflated quite fast after that. How long had she been alone? Five minutes? Ten? He couldn't even arrive in a room in time. How was he supposed to help Dahlia's condition? Walking in nervously, he set her bag of clothes down then rested the food which was just as warm as when it was served to him down on her nightstand. He stepped away from everything and watched Dahlia disappear into the bathroom once more.

Looking around, Lucas felt there was nothing left to do but sit. So he took a seat on the chair in the corner of the room. When Dahlia stepped back out fully clothed, he rose to his feet once more. It was habit more than anything. One was always supposed to stand when in the presense of a lady. Though showered, Dahlia didn't look much better than before. Physically she was much better but inside he knew everything was just the same. A shower didn't reach that deep. She shared no words with him, still. Lucas retreated into the bathroom after Dahlia. He stared into the bathroom mirror for a while. A few things struck him. For one, he was rather dirty and worn. Much more than he had thought he was. Running a hand through his grimy hair, he knew he would look as good as new after his shower. No matter what his mental state was, his body would always be as young and strong as he was when he was human. Secondly, he noticed he wasn't the least bit hungry. His eyes were bright and filled with color unlike his worse days when his eyes retreated into dull and dark shades. Lastly, he recognized the cause for all of Dahlia's pain. He was staring straight at it. Keeping her alive, dragging her into a world she did not belong it, forcing her to see things no human ever should - all of it wasn't fair and all of it was his fault. He remembered quite well at that point why he killed humans once they found out about their secret.

Stepping into the shower, he let the water burn his cold skin. No matter how hot it became, he was still unaffected. He stepped out a new man, and dressed in the new clothes he had picked out for himself. Nothing stuck out - his pants were casual jeans and his shirt was a long sleeve black sweater. He had a coat to wear but since he was indoors, there was no purpose in wearing it. The shower did him well but it didn't change his state of panic. There was still a human in turmoil outside of the door. When he stepped out, he saw Dahlia sitting on the bed doing nothing. He guessed she had been doing this since he went into the bathroom. Lucas quietly reseated himself in the same seat without a word. Neither of them said anything. Lucas, who had nothing to say, forced words out anyways.

“Dahlia,” He breathed, hoping to pull her out of whatever pool of thoughts she was swimming in. “I understand your desire to remain silent, and I'll respect your wishes,” He paused, wondering where he planned to go with his words. He suddenly felt that all the knowledge he had gained with his unlimited amount of years were useless. “But I'm going to sit this through with you. I want you to know I'm going to do my best to help you with whatever you're...” He ran out of words, after that. This was such a foreign subject for him. “I can't read your mind. If there's anything I can do, please tell me.” His voice was a bit desperate now. It was unbelievably frustrating to have so much power and nothing that would help. Dahlia had discovered the full extent of his world. There were no more curtains or beating around the bush. He had abandoned his duties entirely for Dahlia's safety - a gamble that each one of his instincts urged against. Now, with all the trouble looming over his head, he had only more to face.

[Korrye]

__________Silence wasn't something Dahlia was accustomed to. She never liked it. For some reason she'd always been bothered to be in placed alone. She had had a dog for awhile in Tacoma but it hadn't felt fair to the thing given the hours she worked. Now she was longing for something, a physical touch that would break her from this curse of scenes she saw playing over and over in her head.

When Lucas moved into the shower Dahlia found a place on the wall. She continued to look at it. The dream seemed to fade the more she thought. Instead it was replaced with that image of Lucas' face when he'd let her go in trade for three others. That stony expression on his face that seemed so unloving. The comment he'd made still stung. “You've been trouble, enough.”

The laughter and respite of the crowd, how weak she'd been. Dahlia held the water bottle firmly in her hand, crunching the bottle with a grasp too strong. The plastic crumpled. When she'd squeeze it enough water spilled onto the floor and her bare feet. For a moment she stared, not even reacting to the chill. Then she set the thing beside the food he'd brought her like it was an omen and retreated back to her spot on the end of the bed.

Lucas was kind enough to finish his tour in the bathroom quickly. She didn't follow him when he exited the bathroom, her eyes remained on the sour spot on the wall. Dahlia could have sworn she was burning a hole through the wallpaper.

“Dahlia,” He breathed. The words were quiet. They didn't pull her gaze to him. “I understand your desire to remain silent, and I'll respect your wishes.” He paused, she didn't know why. She didn't care. “But I'm going to sit this through with you. I want you to know I'm going to do my best to help you with whatever you're...I can't read your mind. If there's anything I can do, please tell me.”

When he continued her eyes shot over to him, taking in his face and his lips, the sullen eyes that seemed to curve with a sort of guilt. He was vibrant in that chair across from her, dressed in his own clean clothes. She sat there, her shoulders lowered as she lost tension.

"Why did you come back?" she whispered faintly. The words rolled off her tongue without his name. Dahlia didn't want to use it. "You left me there facing a room where people had been butchered because of my blood. That...thing wanted me. You gave me to him without a care! I hate this," she paused to take in a deep staggered breath. Her anger became apparent. "All you ever do is save me. I can't do anything for you. Nothing but just be...this."

Her lip began to tremble with the last line. Dahlia's chest heaved dangerously as she choked back tears. Nothing in her could break her away from his face and the possibility that he might have some emotive reaction to her words. If he didn't she just might throw something.

[[Bang Bang]]

Her response wasn't what he was expecting but it was a response, at least. Dahlia was kind enough to pour some of her thoughts over Luke. She hadn't shut him out entirely. For that, he was thankful. Her tone was angry, that was obvious. She felt betrayed by him, from what he could tell, though he wished she hadn't. Lucas' eyebrows wrinkled together in sadness. She figured him for a traitor to her life. From his actions, she was already assuming he actually wanted to give her up in exchange for his own life.

"You left me there facing a room where people had been butchered because of my blood. That...thing wanted me. You gave me to him without a care!" She accused. Lucas edged toward the end of his seat.

“You must believe me when I say it was never my intention to leave you.” Staring deeper into Dahlia's eyes, he wished he could show her the truth that was running through his thoughts. “They had us surrounded. If I didn't give you up, they would have killed us both. I had to make a decision quickly and...” Pausing again, he wondered how else to explain himself. “Surely you knew what I said was a lie, Dahlia.”

"I hate this," She pressed on. "All you ever do is save me. I can't do anything for you. Nothing but just be...this." Lucas' shoulders sank for a moment. He wasn't sure what he could say. She was human - her strength was nothing compared to his.

“I cannot lie to you and tell you that you're capable of rescuing me from a situation I, myself, cannot escape. I fear, there is none.” He said slowly, redirecting his gaze onto an inanimate object. “But I'd like to believe you have helped me. You've showed me the line between what I am and what they are. I don't want to kill anymore. I can see the value in life, again.” He had no difficulty admitting this. Lucas understood humans were more than just meals which was something he had lost ages ago. “If that means nothing to you, then I can't imagine what would.” He said calmly.

[Korrye]

__________When he returned her look, when his eyes creased in something she registered to be sadness Dahlia’s lip sputtered and she heaved in a cry with air. In order to shush the sounds of her sobs she held a hand to her lips. The smell of her tears made her continue to wipe at them. He explained himself as a chronic liar, he explained his actions as the way she’d thought them to be. What was worse was his facial expressions, when they were marbled, blended. After Fallon had arrived Lucas had become that cold animal. What he’d said then was no different than the way he’d acted around her before. That was why she believed otherwise.

But, she knew his words now were honest. He looked straight at her with a pained human expression of guilt and pain for what he’d caused her, was causing her, to feel.

“I cannot lie to you and tell you that you're capable of rescuing me from a situation I, myself, cannot escape. I fear, there is none.” He said slowly, redirecting his gaze onto an inanimate object. Dahlia didn’t like this, she shifted her way further onto the bed closer to the center, her tears slowing. “But I'd like to believe you have helped me. You've showed me the line between what I am and what they are. I don't want to kill anymore. I can see the value in life, again. If that means nothing to you, then I can't imagine what would.” He said calmly.

With her hands in her lap Dahlia’s shoulders trembled with anguish. Her left hand continued to rub at the half moon scar on her palm, tracing the line across her skin and rubbing at it like it itched. She didn’t know if she wanted to tell him anything else but the room was beginning to seem like a cell. Facing this was hard to bare. Staring into the pattern of the blankets she couldn’t look at him anymore when he wasn’t doing the same to her. Dahlia took on the look of a nervous wreck then, biting at her lower lip anxiously.

“I can’t…get these…images out of my head,” she stifled the breaks in her voice. “I can’t—every time I blink, I see them. I feel them there,” she diverted the subject. Blinking pained her yet with the tears she continued to do so. The sounds of it, the roars and screeches, echoed in her brain. Nothing stopped it. This was worse than Fallon’s episode because she saw his head at her feet. As her fingers dug into the skin of her hand she felt it burn, the friction of her rubbing causing it to nearly blister now.

“I loved you,” she murmured. The words came out and she wasn’t even sure she’d said them or why. They came out in the past tense. She felt so human and so insignificant and raw in front of him that it hurt her. Here she was this heap of a person. Dahlia didn’t know how to fix herself. “You saved me so many times, my life Lucas,” she said sharply. “And that thing is still out there,” she pointed to the window. Dahlia’s hand remained there for a few moments, the scar exposed. Then she pulled it back towards her, unsure of whether or not he understood where her thoughts kept leading her.

Dahlia knew at that point that if she were ever to face that monster again she wouldn’t handle herself as well, that she wouldn’t be so lucky. That Lucas wouldn’t defend her like he had this time and if he did she might end up watching someone she needed die before her. The horrible ending continued to play in her mind, more so than the memories or the dreams. When she looked at him she saw his head being wrenched around, his eyes wide staring right at her while she screamed. How the beast would toss him to the coven before moving onto her, hoisting her onto that wall somehow rebuilt.

“I believed Fallon because you gave me to him as openly as you gave me to that thing,” she concluded. “Because suddenly you weren’t at ease around me and I was just some thing you towed around and he played with.

Revealing to him how she felt, Dahlia realized that everything she felt he would contradict with reality. That her human nature had made her believe any sort of sort of lie or rumor through at her made her ashamed to be sitting there doubting him. He had brought her to the motel, run so hard she’d been unstable for twelve hours at least as a result. The food, the clothes, the sorrow. He’d done it all. To look at where they had started in that scene with him standing there curious as to whether or not she was scared, his stiff demeanor and crude language. To see him there bent forward and emotional spoke volumes about how he felt about humans; about her.

“You lie too well for your own good,” she scoffed.

[[Bang Bang]]

“I loved you,” she murmured.

Love. Such a strange word to Lucas. Forever ago, he thought he knew what love was. He was young and innocent back then. It wasn't until he crossed over that he realized how wrong he had been. After becoming apart of the damned, Lucas was more upset with the fact that he had taken a life rather then the fact that it was his wife's life he had taken. That was the defining moment for Luke. He knew then he was never in love - he only forced himself to believe it was so. He couldn't imagine what feelings Dahlia had once felt for him. Nor did he understand why she had changed her mind about him. None the less, he was scared of the possibility of love between them. Dahlia had been shredded enough times, she didn't need an emotion like that ripping more from her. Maybe it was a good thing she admitted to her feelings in the past tense. 'End it before it has a chance to grow,' he told himself.

“You lie too well for your own good,” she scoffed. Lucas forced a smile out of himself. He had always considered his lying a skill. Dahlia easily turned it into a bad habit for him. Silence crept back into the room. Lucas didn't let it live for long though. He quickly rose to his feet and reached into the bag of clothes he had brought for two coats. Throwing his aside onto the bed, he unfolded Dahlia's and began to hold it out.

“It is nice weather outside and I do think you'll enjoy a walk,” He ushered Dahlia up out of her seat with his eyes alone and held out her coat while she slipped her arms into it. “You're going to like this town,” He said confidently. “It's nothing like your home.” That alone, was his reason and what he felt was reason enough. Dahlia never liked her home - he could tell from the way she spoke of it and the way she spoke to her parents. Hopefully this would take her mind off of everything else and let her enjoy the day like Lucas had planned. After she had her coat on, Luke grabbed his own and placed it over him. He reached into his pocket and pulled out something small and dainty.

“You'll be needing these,” Lucas explained. “Mostly for when we exit, though I do think they're good for more,” he extended his hand out and presented Dahlia with a pair of brown gloves. He estimated they would fit perfectly. After they were both fully clothed and ready, Lucas took the card key and stuffed it in his pocket beside his wallet then stepped out of the room after Dahlia. Samuel, the man they met the night before was walking towards their room. Lucas reached out and grabbed Dahlia's gloved hand into his. With her gloves on, she wouldn't have to suffer from his cold touch. “Good morning,” Lucas smiled. The man nodded and turned towards Dahlia who he had been more suspicious about from the start.

"Feeling better, I hope?" The man asked, still remembering the story about how drunk she had been.

[Korrye]

__________There was no option for her to decline. There was only going with him and Dahlia was hard pressed to object. Yet it still bothered her that he openly took her outside. After a month of being asked to remain in a house she didn’t much like or feel comfortable in he was taking her outside. Pulled to stand she slipped her feet into her worn sneakers, frowning at the amount of mud caked onto the soles but fearing if she tried to clean them off there would be something more peculiar on the bottom. Then he handed her a coat, a regular styled red and white ski jacket with a thick hood; waterproof. When he’d held it out to her open Dahlia had slid her arms into the cold fabric and readjusted it on her shoulders. It sat comfortably and zipped up to just under her chin.

“You're going to like this town,” He said confidently. “It's nothing like your home.”

Home. The word stung her. Recollecting that her big city apartment was in ruins made her cringe. There really was no safe haven for her now, except when she was with him. He turned to her then directly then, facing her with more than just his gaze. When he pulled out a pair of brown leather gloves she stared at them for a moment.

“You'll be needing these,” Lucas explained. “Mostly for when we exit, though I do think they're good for more.” When he handed them to her she told them somewhat hesitantly. She’d always been a mitten person. Then again Lucas wasn’t privy to everything about her. As she slid them over her hands she was astonished to see that they fit flawlessly. More than that they covered what she didn’t want to see.

When she looked up he was there again, ready. They exited the room like normal people. Dahlia recognized the fading effects of the vampire blood in her system. The sights and sounds of the hotel lobby weren’t near as strong as they had been last night. Now that she stood there she barely recalled walking in. When Lucas grabbed her hand tightly in his own she stared at him oddly for a moment before appraising him with raised eyebrows. His grip was ginger, he knew the limits of her bones. More than that her fingers were shielded from his cold.
“Good morning,” Lucas smiled towards the man operating the front desk. Dahlia tried to force her smile to grow but it seemed to refuse.

“Feeling better I hope?” the man asked. Dahlia’s eyebrows rose in question but she softened her expression in improvisation. Even though she didn’t remember exactly what Lucas had said she had to go along with it.

“O, yes…much. Thanks,” she replied. Dahlia squeezed his fingers in apprehension. Before she knew it they were outside in the fresh air.

Within the time they’d spent outside Dahlia hadn’t taken much time to worry about her surroundings. The sky was overcast and gray yet it was accommodating. As it wasn’t raining Dahlia didn’t mind. No wonder Lucas felt okay with bringing her outside. It wasn’t sunny.

Dahlia kept her hand tucked into Lucas’; her fingers woven through his. While they walked she felt as id she were being judged and idolized by the people who walked by. Lucas seemed to glow with a happiness that Dahlia just didn’t possess. The people smiled too like they were newlyweds. Dahlia felt comfortable with him but she remained silent, smiling with her lips while her eyes wandered. The town seemed sleepy. He’d conveniently stopped in a good place. The people didn’t object to travelers. It was larger, newer than Ames. It was a fresh atmosphere and she welcomed it. The fact that she wasn’t used to her surroundings took her mind away from the video reel that played in her head.

The city shops were organized in personalized family like designs, unique one from the next. The smells of restaurants flooded her nose and Dahlia sighed with her body’s sudden hunger. It just didn’t feel right to eat when her body was refusing to cooperate. As they walked Dahlia leaned into his shoulder, liking the proximity she was permitting herself to have with him.
They came upon a large park area. It seemed large amidst a city of family shops and townhouses at least. Dahlia felt the urge to speak. To do so she knew they would have to be out of earshot of the locals, not that they could exchange words in lower frequencies.

The trees were thick with fall colors, assorted yellows, and oranges and reds. Dahlia felt a smile on her cheeks when she stared up into the trees. Nature was just one of those things that went on undisturbed and never stopping.

“Thank-you,” she said. The words applied to so much more than the walk. To think of where she had been at this hour the day before…he’d gotten her through it. Somehow.

“The more these people look at us like we’re a couple, the more I realize I know so little about you,” she announced. “Your favorite things…….your complete story.”

If he chose to talk for an extended period of time then she wouldn’t mind. Dahlia wasn’t much for words right now, going about her story. Lucas knew why she’d left Ames but he didn’t know why she continued to hate the town when the man who’d hurt her was long gone and dead. Suffice to say the story seemed so insignificant now but she felt it best to stay off the topic of yesterday and focus on themselves.

[[Bang Bang]]

Beginning their walk was the most awkward part. Lucas had outstretched his fingers so that Dahlia could unlace hers from his. When she didn't pull away, Lucas wondered if it would be rude to force her to. He had only grabbed her hand to fool the land lord of the motel. They didn't need to convince anyone else since they were all strangers. From the way Dahlia held onto him, he felt maybe it would be best not to fight her. He soon brought his fingers back over her own and walked as casually as he could make himself. As they strolled, he began to feel like his idea wasn't working. A complete failure, just as all the other attempts at cheering her up had been. Dahlia walked as if broken-hearted and down trodded. She carried her sorrows on her shoulder no matter how posture perfect Lucas stood, beside her. As they pressed one, she began to straighten up little by little and allow her curious eyes to soak in the atmosphere. Before long, he felt as if she were allowing herself to forget about their recent past. Maybe the walk was working after all.

“Thank-you,” she said, leaning into him comfortably. Lucas looked down at her without the desire for her to look back at him. This was by far the hardest thing to save her from yet. Lucas wasn't fighting something that needed strength or speed to match. He wasn't protecting Dahlia from any physical damage. What he had to save her from this time was herself. But saving her, none the less, was his job. He'd never give up on it.

Letting a small smile form over his lips, he kept his silence and continued to scan the area. Colors stuck out to him so much more with Dahlia beside him. She was safe and they were actually outside, enjoying the day. It was a bizarre idea. Usually they both had to cram themselves into a place with four walls. It was almost thrilling to be able to breathe fresh air without worry. “The more these people look at us like we’re a couple, the more I realize I know so little about you,” Dahlia declared, interrupting their silence. Lucas thought it over carefully and wondered if she was right or not. She knew him better than anyone else alive. How could she say she knew very little? “Your favorite things…….your complete story.”

“I don't understand,” he admitted. His complete story wasn't the happiest of tales. Lucas didn't have a happily ever after nor did he have things to say which came wrapped in big red bow. She had to have been talking about something else. “What else is there that you don't already know?” He wondered aloud.

[Korrye]

__________Dahlia's smile grew with Lucas’ response while her mind buzzed with questions. Mainly things she’d come across over the past day. Curious ideas as was her human nature and she wasn’t even sure he’d want to tell her everything she wanted to know. But the thirst for knowledge was there because as much as she knew Lucas there were so many other things he’d failed to reveal.

“For one, have you always been able to run like you did last night?” she asked gently, chiding him through the conversation with a weak smile. The full extent of his powers had never been discussed, merely his faster, stronger better. It was more of a discovery process. When he performed something she came out of it thinking, wow! You can do that. “Think of it this way, if you lay it all out before me I won’t always be surprised.”

While they walked Dahlia enjoyed a slow pace, her limbs tired already despite the brevity of their being outside. A welcome site came in the form of a park bench. Making their way over to it she was more than happy to collapse to a sitting position.

The breeze nipped at her cheeks causing them to flush while pulling at the thick curls of her hair. There was a twinkle in her eye with the prospect of learning something about him. Lucas was exciting like that to her, he’d always been. Though their conversations hadn’t always been so orthodox and Dahlia herself hadn’t been open to the concepts she was beginning to latch onto the concept of fantasy as reality. Despite the horror she had a rather beautiful creature seated beside her.

“You explained something before too,” she asked later. “When you were dying, you left out the…how you became.”

Dahlia wouldn’t have been human if she hadn’t asked him about it, about the process. It had come upon her in the past month she’d just never had the courage to pry him for the information. Every book was different. Quite a few myths weren’t possible already. Curiosity grabbed her though, pulled at her and made her wish to have an answer.

[[Bang Bang]]

Lucas watched first hand as Dahlia's eyes lit up with pure curiosity. She was smiling and it made everything better. Dahlia was back, he was sure of it. Everything he had done to find her in the mess he had made was worth it. So long as she was happy, he was willing to relive it. Now, it was his responsibility to keep her happy. Whatever she wanted to know, he would tell her without pause. Her curiosity fueled her excitement which in turn transferred over to him. He couldn't help but allow himself to feel relaxed. It was hard for even he to believe they were safe. But he had ran faster then he ever could. No vampire would be able to keep up with him nor track his scent. The only danger in Dahlia's path now was himself and he planned on controlling his hunger when the time came.

“For one, have you always been able to run like you did last night?” She wondered, somewhere along the same lines of what Lucas had been thinking of. He let a small smile form over his own lips. It must have been unbearable for her, when he ran. He could imagine why she was curious on why he never did it before.

“Yes and no,” He started, “I was always capable of running at speeds that would crush you. I'm sure you've felt it before with other vampires. I, myself, have always tried my best to avoid hurting you. But I've never reached that speed before. I guess you could say your blood provided a boost,” He said, with the same smile as before. He hoped to keep the conversations light to keep their moods afloat. The last thing he wanted was for Dahlia to start sinking once again.

“Think of it this way, if you lay it all out before me I won’t always be surprised.” She said with a playful smile. Lucas smiled back, remembering just how clever Dahlia could be with her words.

“For the record, last time I " laid it all out " for you, you told me to go take a shower,” He replied slyly, remembering when he told Dahlia what he was for the first time. “But we can try it again, I suppose,” Inhaling freely, Lucas wondered where to start. “You already know about my strength and my speed. You know I can heal remarkably fast. You've even shared the experience of my senses. I guess something you do not know fully is my ability to glamor.” Lucas turned towards Dahlia and established eye contact with her. He stared closely but not with much strength. “I can make humans do my bidding just through eye contact alone. I've always believed it should be used as a last resort, though.” Lucas continued to stare at Dahlia's eyes, after explaining what he was capable of. “Although I'm not above making you eat if you continue to refuse,” he said jokingly. There was some truth in what he said but he hoped it wouldn't come to that point. With Dahlia's new found personality, hopefully she'd find her stomach as well.

“You explained something before too,” Dahlia asked after they found a bench to sit on. “When you were dying, you left out the…how you became.” Lucas nodded, affirmatively.

“Ah, you remember.” His thoughts flew over two hundred years into the past and picked out the details he needed. “Well, I've already explained to you the last human memory I have. My struggle to survive when fate wrestled against me. My first memory of my second life started in an old cabin. Mouth hot like fire, I thought I had made up my past in a feverish dream. Sounds were unbelievably loud and sights were even worse. Like a new born, I experimented with every new sense and slowly adjusted to my new body. When I was sane enough to understand reality, a woman greeted me like we were old friends.” Lucas, despite wanting to keep the conversation light, stared out in front of him as if he were looking into a crystal ball of his past. He could remember things so clearly with his vampire memories. “She was my maker. She spared me no details of how I came to be alive and dead as one. Roaming the battle field for an easy meal, she found me - said I reminded her of her son. She wanted us to be a family.” Blinking out of his past, he turned to look over Dahlia. He saw no connection between her and his long ago wife. Maybe it was a good thing they didn't resemble one another. An infatuation with the past was never healthy. “I ran, and she allowed me to. I think she always knew I was going to destroy whatever it was that kept me bound to the human world. It wasn't until after my family had passed that she explained my thirst for blood. Her name was Adele.” Lucas sighed and leaned into the bench a little more. He recovered quickly from his past with Dahlia beside him. There were better things to think about when she was around.

“I hope I'm quenching your thirst for answers,” He commented, with a small grin.

[Korrye]

__________Lucas found a sort of humor about himself that Dahlia didn’t know him to possess. When he moved through his abilities he mentioned how her blood strengthened him. The thought made Dahlia lean into him. The knowledge helped her in some respect for she began to realize that whenever he’d taken from her, he’d won a battle.

“For the record, last time I " laid it all out " for you, you told me to go take a shower,” He replied, a slick smile replaced his ordinary one. Dahlia’s eyes widened in recollection and she grew red at the thought that with such simple words she’d thought herself insanity. The madness had only turned worse from there.

“But we can try it again, I suppose,” he told her, taking in a breath before starting. “You already know about my strength and my speed. You know I can heal remarkably fast. You've even shared the experience of my senses. I guess something you do not know fully is my ability to glamor.”

He turned to look at her then and she felt like she lost herself in his eyes, such an oddity. She smirked at his comment. The lure of his beauty had always been something she'd overlooked until her senses had panicked under the influence of vampire blood. Dahlia knew he was attractive and she felt it then, a desire to continue to sit there beside from for a much longer period of time then she guessed they would have. His beauty was captivating despite the gray landscape. She chose to ignore it though, and sink into his gaze.

“I can make humans do my bidding just through eye contact alone. I've always believed it should be used as a last resort, though.”

This knowledge made sense, she realized and Dahlia felt lost in the fact that the blond had taken control of her for those moments of insanity, how she’d been trapped in her own body and mind. But then Lucas had done it before, quenching her sudden lust with a simple look. Despite this she stared right back at him. “Although I'm not above making you eat if you continue to refuse,” he said. Dahlia rolled her eyes and wrapped one arm around her stomach. It seemed like such a void. The muscles in her abdomen twitched in accordance to his words yet the desire to eat just wasn’t there.

“You’ve done that, before I just never realized it,” she whispered. “They did it too, after you left. It’s the worst feeling when you’re mentally panicking and your body just doesn’t respond...And don't try it; I don't think you'd appreciate my never making eye contact with you. Ever,” she chuckled.

Their conversation continued and Dahlia was more than excited as he progressed. Lucas seemed to open his thoughts to her then and she appreciated it. When she asked about how he became a vampire, in essence, he explained. Yet he turned away from her then, staring across the park path into nothingness. She squeezed his hand then, unsure of where exactly he’d taken himself to in memory.

“Well, I've already explained to you the last human memory I have. My struggle to survive when fate wrestled against me. My first memory of my second life started in an old cabin. Mouth hot like fire, I thought I had made up my past in a feverish dream. Sounds were unbelievably loud and sights were even worse. Like a new born, I experimented with every new sense and slowly adjusted to my new body. When I was sane enough to understand reality, a woman greeted me like we were old friends.”

Dahlia remained silent, allowing him to pause yet listening intently.

“She was my maker. She spared me no details of how I came to be alive and dead as one. Roaming the battle field for an easy meal, she found me - said I reminded her of her son. She wanted us to be a family.”

Lucas chose to look at her then and she smiled with her lips solemnly and readjusted her grip on his hand. Not even the gloves saved her from the cold of his skin or the air.

“I ran, and she allowed me to. I think she always knew I was going to destroy whatever it was that kept me bound to the human world. It wasn't until after my family had passed that she explained my thirst for blood. Her name was Adele.”

He ended there and she leaned her head on his shoulder again, feeling the sleek texture of the coat against her cheek. For awhile she remained quiet, unsure of how to ask the remaining question. Lucas had told him of his creator but he didn’t remember the process, the actual becoming. He’d essentially died on the battlefield and awoken to a woman who treated him like a son. Did he really...not know? The pain he must have felt then, it made her shift in her seat uncomfortably.

“I hope I'm quenching your thirst for answers,” He commented, with a small grin. Dahlia nodded feeling appreciative of his words.

“You are. But,” she stopped herself. Dahlia didn’t know how to phrase what she was looking for. “You’ve never explained why you do what you do. I asked you before, I think. And the….he mentioned laws. And the whole ordeal, what he looked like. I don't understand why I was so important or what he was...who he was. Care to indulge me?”

Curiosity never killed the cat but it sure made it apprehensive of everything. Dahlia grew quiet for a time, unsure of whether or not Lucas would continue to indulge her. She was prying and felt as if she were treading on dangerous territory. The idea that she was allowing herself to receive clarity from him was a mixed feeling. Curious, yes, but Lucas had brought up the good point that she’d not always handled his responses that well.

“Now you’ve answered a lot about yourself. I guess it’s only fair to let you ask me anything, if you’re curious,” she concluded. She doubted there was something Lucas wanted to know about her. He’d never shown interest when she’d indulged him in her stories before. Dahlia felt it right to let him ask anything should he want to though, more as a courtesy than any desire to talk.

[[Bang Bang]]

At first, Dahlia didn't seem to be intimidated by Lucas' ability. Though he was making clear eye contact with her, she never looked away in fear that he might make an example out of her. Instead, she stared right back at him, nearly melting into the color of his iris. To Lucas, she seemed to be enjoying their silent connection. Her eyes lit up whenever they were looking at one another. He realized at this distance, he could pick apart the freckles in her eyes. Their mood changed when he mentioned how she hadn't eaten yet. Her free hand moved to comfort her stomach. He didn't want to drag the situation out in the middle of their day. Dahlia was relaxing for the first time in a while and he couldn't bare to be the one to disturb her. But it was thought that remained in the back of his mind. Like a clock, he was constantly adding up the seconds she went without food. When the hours became critical, he would urge it more.

“You’ve done that, before I just never realized it,” she answered. Dahlia was a very bright girl, he was starting to realize. She had a lot more going on in her thoughts then she lead on. Lucas nodded in response. He had taken her free will but only when he deemed it as a necessity. “They did it too, after you left. she went on to explain. Lucas' eyes narrowed after that. He didn't want to imagine what sort of sick thoughts they would try and push into her head when he wasn't there to defend her. He knew he should have been there, no matter what. The fact that he left her alone, unprotected reminded him of his honest regret. “And don't try it; I don't think you'd appreciate my never making eye contact with you. Ever.” There was a playful tone in her voice but he knew Dahlia was trying to explain she didn't like being manipulated. Lucas didn't want to explain to her how she would have no idea it was him who was making her eat, nor that he could make it so that she felt it was her idea from the start. There were so many ways around keeping the truth from her. To end the conversation, Lucas nodded silently. As he said before, he would make her eat if he needed to.

Dahlia was patient and silent when he explained his beginning years of what he now was. What he didn't realize was that Dahlia wanted to know something Lucas was not willing to share. She didn't want to know the results of his change, she wanted to know the process. He remembered full well the torment of the venom in his body, coursing through every vein and setting fire to every sensitive nerve in his body. He remembered wishing for death to find him but never being granted mercy. Lucas had skipped over the explanation for two reasons. The first being that it was a memory he didn't want to relive. The second was because it felt too gruesome to share with Dahlia. She had been through enough pain; he didn't need to speak about more. He could only hope he was sharing enough information without certain details.

“You are. But,” she paused. Perhaps she was dwelling on an even harder question? “You’ve never explained why you do what you do. I asked you before, I think. And the….he mentioned laws. And the whole ordeal, what he looked like. I don't understand why I was so important or what he was...who he was. Care to explain?”

“The secret of what I am - my existence - doesn't remain confidential by luck. There are members of my kind which must devote their life to protecting the truth. We're called guardians.” he explained, knowing well enough that Dahlia could safely assume he was a guardian. “If a vampire begins to cause suspicions within the human race, it's our job to stop them. And if a human realizes too much about our kind...” Lucas inhaled slowly and turned towards Dahlia with solemn eyes. “We're supposed to kill them,” he muttered. “As for your role,” he sighed, trying to recover from the truth he had just dropped on Dahlia. “The beast we encountered is known as a Legend to our kind. It's a horrible process to put oneself under. A vampire must starve himself for centuries, without a single drop of blood. In that time, our bodies age and become weak, but we never die. The only way to ever return to our previous form is to feed on a human whose blood is like yours. They need every last drop - a taste will not do.” Lucas gazed down at Dahlia's hand which was still intertwined with his. He carefully unlaced his fingers and tucked both of his hands into his jacket pockets. “I'm going to give you frost - bite,” he said lowly.

“It's a very long process. Some vampires choose to attempt the feat, others lose their will to eat and fall into it by accident. If completed, the outcome is always the same. Power beyond compare.” Lucas spoke dully, as if uninterested. He wasn't the kind of man to lust for power, like most. To him, the challenge was useless. “It's said that afterward, a Legend would only require feeding thrice in a year.” That part, however, was of interest to him. To need to harm humans less then he already does - it was his biggest wish, but a dream nonetheless.

“Now you’ve answered a lot about yourself. I guess it’s only fair to let you ask me anything, if you’re curious,” she later went on to say. In all honestly, there were actually a couple of questioned he had for her. As if written down and ready for this exact moment, he was able to draw them out easily.

“On our first encounter,” he started, reeling back to over a month ago, “you put a gun to my head.” He brought his hand up and pressed two fingers to his temple as if to remind her of the exact spot it had been at. “And although I was unarmed, non-threatening, and calm, you pulled the trigger.” His own curiosity couldn't help but turn to watch Dahlia's facial expressions in an attempt to read what she was feeling. “Now, your laws state a defendant is entitled to use reasonable force to protect himself, but you were in no immediate danger.” Lucas' perfect memory recited his knowledge of criminal law. “I guess my question would be, why did you do it?” He had a few theories, himself, but nothing was as satisfying than hearing it from the horses mouth. He figured it had to be one of two things. Either she was letting her emotions control her, and her short temper got the best of her. Or her instincts drove her to the conclusion that Lucas was ultimately bad and needed to be destroyed. After all, he was an abomination and mankinds eternal enemy.