Maxwell
The shout of her words directed toward me brings a smile to my face. The shadows, my love, are exactly where I am and soon you’ll be in the shadows with me, I mockingly think to myself. The sun will be up in an hour or so and that’s the only thing keeping me in those shadows and not arguing with her further. For once in a very long time, I have a challenge and the anticipation of victory itches underneath my dead skin.
All Charlie needs to do is simmer down and accept her new reality, because it’s not going to just disappear. Nonetheless, accepting this fate isn’t easy. I didn’t accept my fate with open arms and Charlie isn’t either. Flashbacks of when I was in the same position as Charlie blur my vision as I casually walk down the street. I wasn’t lured by an attractive female vampire wanting to make me her groom because she loved me. No, I was forced into the night by a greedy man who only cared for his own survival.
His selfish ways molded me into the heartless vampire I try not to be. I repeatedly tell myself that I’m willing to give her all the time she could possibly need to reach the right conclusion, which is that we belong together. Easier said than done.
Realism isn’t a friend of vampires, considering everything about us goes against all human beliefs and proven scientific facts. Realism is what Charlie holds so close. For the sake of my sanity, wishes that she were one of those girls fascinated about vampires would make the situation more pleasurable. It would make things easier on the both of us, but she’s anything but easy. In fact, I’m not even sure she’s manageable, seeing as she cut me within thirty minutes of my arrival.
The need for her to be in control of all situations she comes upon is quite entertaining, though. Violence is a very vampire thing to turn to and the minute she turned forceful, I knew she would fit in my world effortlessly. Even so, her fitting in and her actually putting herself in a dead life are two completely opposite things. Now all I’m left with is the feel of her warm cheek against my dead, cold hand.
Time used to stand still, but now it seems to be passing me by quite quickly. There are many more things to discuss, if she likes it or not, and the small amount of hours in darkness seem to be pitting themselves against me. Sun filled days will only stand in our way for so long.
One of the most important tidbits of vampire information is how the bond is formed with their human, a very important part I chose not to share with her. After her outburst, I can imagine how she’ll react when I tell her the bond has already started to take place without her consent. A simple skin-to-skin touch is all that’s required to activate the blood…all that’s required for her to understand that she lives for me as much as I strive for her.
She’s a fighter, though. There’s no doubt in my mind that she’ll fight this tooth and nail, which leads me to the fact that this is going to take longer than it should, longer than I want it to. Wanting to control her so I can feed is overwhelming. A throbbing ache fills my body as my mind can’t process anything other than ‘eat, eat, eat.’ The monster I try not to be rises to the surface, but I do my best to keep the bloodthirsty killer at bay. I’m afraid that will only last so long.
What do the humans say…it will be like pulling teeth?
CharlieTossing and turning in bed, I beg for my eyes to remain closed. A lazy half roll is all I can muster to stretch away the restlessness. Within seconds of my new found position, though, the sheet slides off, exposing my barely clothed body. The feel of a large hand trailing up my thigh causes my body to shiver with anticipation. I don’t need to open my eyes to know who the hand belongs to. His hand keeps a steady pace as he glides his fingertips over my stomach to linger on my chest. Goosebumps break out over my skin from his tickling touch.His lips touch my ear, and his seductive voice has an angelic tone as he whispers my name. “Charlie.”The need to be close to him gets to be too much for me to keep bottled up and my back arches in efforts of raising myself to my knees. However, when my head gets a few inches off the pillow he pushes me back down only to climb on the bed himself. His strong hands bend my legs at the knee. Loitering behind my closed legs, his hands rub at my
MaxwellAn overextended stretch wakes my body up. My joints twinge with pain and my muscles ache from malnourishment. Looking around the hotel room that’s been my home away from home, my patience wears thin. It’s as if staying in a stranger’s home and having to watch your every step. The thick dark curtains that line each window are the only thing to resemble my home, the only thing to give hope to this wretched place. The only thing that’s pleasing is the fact that the streetlamps are beneath the fourth floor room, keeping any light at night nonexistent.I find myself pacing the entire length of the room, entering a room and immediately exiting it. Boredom eats at me. I need to see Charlie even though I’ll have plenty of her soon enough. Within minutes, I stand outside her home. All the lights are off and her friend Juliet continually pounds on the front door. Her panic settles into every inch of my body. If she has no idea where Charlie is when she should be at home something may be
CharlieThe impact from me crashing into the wall makes the drywall sound as if it’s cracking from the force. With hands flailing in the air scrambling all the papers, one piece somehow remains stuck to my cheek, which slowly falls off and lands in my lap after a few seconds of barely hanging on.My dazed and confused voice answers the phone without knowing who it is since my eyes are watery from the bright light of the screen. “Hello.”“Charlie, where the hell are you? I was banging on your door for like fifteen minutes. I’m on my way to the police station to file a missing persons report.” It isn’t the concern or anger in Juliet’s voice that makes me cringe, it’s the sheer loudness of her voice shocking my eardrums, causing them to ring.“Juliet, calm down, I fell asleep at the office. What time is it?” I rub at my eyes, trying to wipe away the blurry vision in order to see the clock myself, but it’s just easier to ask.“It’s past nine. What are you doing at the office anyways? I th
MaxwellJust the thought of The High Council in town puts me on the brink of insanity. The group of men that make up the council are considered elders. All of them are harsh, cold-hearted killers that are the oldest vampires alive, and I have a history that’s not so pleasant with them. I reread the letter that was left for me several times, allowing memories from the past to fog my thoughts. The words that are written on the cream paper echo in my head.Dearest Maxwell, We’re so delighted to hear you’ve found your bride. We’re more than excited to meet her. To ensure that you follow through and collect what’s yours for the taking, one member requests your presence at Junction 22 tomorrow evening. We expect to be impressed. Best wishes and happy drinking, The High Council.There’s no doubt in my mind that Benjamin, the main enforcer of the council, wrote this heartless letter. Is he the member I’ll be meeting at this Junction 22…I hope not. All I can think about is the repercussions
CharlieCuriosity only grows as I stare at Maxwell and the unfamiliar guest who joins him at the table. The older man keeps on talking even though it’s apparent that Maxwell isn’t paying attention. As Maxwell ignores his friend, he also refuses to look at me as he sits stiffly in his chair. He only glances over in my direction once and it’s a half assed glance at that. Maybe he got the hint, maybe he moved on?Memories of his stone-like body with lack of emotions, not to mention lack of blood torment my thoughts. Deep heavy pants hinder my breathing as beads of sweat accumulate along my hairline. It feels as if the world is crashing down and I need to escape. Rushing to the bathroom to breathe through my panic attack alone, flashes of his messy dark hair and deep brown eyes play behind my eyes.The cold water that splashes on my face barely keeps me from falling completely apart. It’s just a coincidence that he’s here the same time I am…right? Patting my face dry, I examine my reflect
MaxwellIt’s easy for me to keep my eyes off her when she’s across the room. However, it doesn’t stop my senses from getting on edge when I feel her response as she finally realizes I’m here, in the same building as her. It takes everything in me to stay at the table and not chase after her when she bolts. My feet shuffle in anticipation of her reappearance.Against my will I become even more rigid as she reenters the room, and my muscles twitch when she heads this way. Prayers sound in my head that she doesn’t confront me, at least not right now. Keeping my eyes locked on Eugene as she walks past takes every ounce of self-control I have in order to not to grab her swinging arm.Eugene seems oblivious to my inattentiveness as he talks about his bride. It’s always the same, compliment after compliment in order to make others jealous of his well tamed bride. My eyes might be on Eugene, but my ears are on Charlie. The tips of my fingers dig into my knees from a tight firm grip that squee
CharlieI tell myself encouraging and positive thoughts to help me get through my day. Nothing but relaxation and relief flow through me as I recline in my office chair with a coffee mug in hand. The silence of the empty office building adds to my comfort, although it doesn’t last forever.“Good morning, Charlie,” Morgan sings as she pokes her head into my office.“Must you say that every morning?” I say, annoyed.“It is morning and your name is Charlie,” Morgan retorts.“It’s how you say it, not why you say it, but anyways, good morning to you too, Morgan.”“Well, we have a big party on Saturday, so there’s a lot to do. I’m going to get to work at the front desk.” She ducks out of the open doorway.“Not so fast,” I yell, patiently waiting until she stands in the doorway again. “I need to talk to you about something. Sit down.” My index finger points to the chair that sits across from me.The discontent on her face as she solemnly drags her feet to the chair and restlessly plops herse
MaxwellWith my attention being put toward Eugene and The High Council, I don’t have time to see Charlie within the week. It feels as though every cell in my body is on fire knowing that she’s so close but yet so far from reach. I take the risk in trying to escape watching eyes to see her tonight at the dance club, recalling Juliet expects her to show up.Doing everything inhumanly possible, I try to convince Eugene to make himself comfortable in the hotel he’s staying at while I spend some quality time with my bride. He accepts my offer after much bribing and I instantly head out.Sitting in my usual corner, I search the dance floor. It’s later than I wanted to arrive, but when there’s no sign of Charlie or her friends, I take a breath of relief. There’s just something about witnessing her enter the large overcrowded room that pleases me.With what feels like eternity later, I see her friends, including Juliet, arrive and indulge themselves with drinks. They dance to the music withou