For the Good of Eternity: Part Six

When Kainda woke up, it was morning, she stretched and groaned, yawning. Crawling from under the sheets, she quietly stepped out of the room to the bathroom.1

She sat for a while on the side of the tub, thinking. The luminescent light yellowed the white basin of the sink and the porcelain toilet. She could hear the pipes from the other apartments rush water behind the walls, but everything else outside the bathroom was inaudible as she struggled to make sense of what had transpired that night they were attacked.2

More than just analyzing the attack from the vampires, she was also analyzing Serkan's reactions to her clinging to his arm and her suggestive turn of conversation between them. Although, it could have been more suggestive, it was far more suggestive coming from her.3

A light tap came on the door and she got up, opening the door.4

Serkan stood there, light concern darting in his eyes as he gazed at her. "You look better," he said, as if confirming something he had mentioned before. He reached a hand out slowly to feel her forehead. She allowed him to, waiting as he took gauge of her temperature. His cold hand felt nice against her warm skin. She would have thought it was clammy, but her own warmth had brought light perspiration on her brow.5

Blinking, she focused on his expression, seeing genuine concern. She watched him turn to pick up a few things from the floor and tidy the night table of tissue and glasses.6

"Thank you," she said to his back. He stopped only a second and continued to walk out of the room.7

For a few minutes she thought to herself about how many times she noticed his eyes. Despite his obvious middle eastern looks, he had the most amazing dark blue eyes. There was a depth like a dark ocean you travelled on ship over.8

A sudden wave of lightheadedness crossed her and she moaned. A soft breath caressed her ear and she thought she felt a hand on her shoulder. Her eyes opened. No one was there. Immediately her heart began to pound with fear. Her respiration quickened and her hair blew slightly as if a draft had entered the room. Her hands clung to the sheets and her eyes shut tight, hoping to banish whatever was happening.9

When the bed shifted she jumped to her feet, staring about the empty room, panicking. Something touched her arm and she ran out of the room to the kitchen where Serkan looked up and moved to her.10

"What happened?"11

"I..." How was she going to explain that to him? Would he believe her? She glanced behind her to the room. "I..." The words didn't want to come out.12

His face softened as if he understood. "Don't go back into that room."13

The tone he used caught her attention, but she didn't question him. She sat at the kitchen bar and watched him do the dishes, putting the clean ones away in the upper cupboards and the pots and pans went underneath the counter.14

As time passed and the kitchen became almost too clean to actually look like it has ever been used, she rested her head on the counter, dozing.15

"Do you want to go for a walk?" he asked, making her lift her eyes to him.16

On his lips was the sweetest smile. She couldn't resist smiling back and agreeing.17

They had walked slowly, as Kainda had no strength to move as quickly as she usually did. He had a protective arm wrapped around her shoulders and she willingly accepted the rubs he gave her upper arm now and then.18

They stopped in a coffee shop, both of them sitting with a cappuccino in front of them. They were in the back where no one could hear what they said.19

"What happened?" she asked in a whisper, not looking at him but at the floor to her side. She was almost ashamed that she let her guard down. What was even worse was the fact she was still in last night's clothes.20

"Something that could have been prevented on my part," he replied even softer. His brows were furrowed with disappointment. A sigh of exasperation past his lips and he folded his hands on the table in front of him. "It caught me off guard. I knew something was about to happen, but..." His head shook.21

Kainda reached over the table, slowly letting her fingers touch his. He didn't move; only staring as she ran her fingers over his hands. She examined them as she pulled them apart gently, seeing every fine line in his palms and the little scars she never noticed before on the back of his hands and on his wrists within his sleeves.22

Serkan slid his hands back and under the table, leaning forward. "What are you thinking?" he asked.23

When she stared at his face, she felt like crying. There, before her, was all that she longed for from someone else other than her reflection. There was understanding and concern. For a moment she recognized something she saw in her father's face a long time ago. She saw it from him before, but the look was so enigmatic she couldn't help but stare deeper into his eyes.24

Serkan shut his eyes and leaned back in his chair, slumping. With his eyes still closed, he said, "Maybe I should have never put myself within your life."25

"You're right," she agreed. "I told you I didn't want you in my life. I didn't want anything to do with you." Her voice, to her amazement and delight sounded like her old self.26

A grin graced his lips. Blindly he stood and turned toward the window that looked out onto the streets. His eyes opened and he watched the people go by.27

Kainda paid no mind, sipping her cappuccino.28

"I didn't think in all my years that I would have found anyone like you," he said absently. "Never had I thought that I would find myself thinking and acting like this."29

She got up and began to leave the coffee shop. He followed her out onto the street moments later, probably first paying the bill. When he caught up with her she glanced at him and walked as quickly as possible.30

She found him following her very irritating and felt her rage grow as she neared a familiar street she knew would take her to the street her house was on.31

Kainda slowed when she saw that the house looked empty. She shook her head and ran the rest of the way to the front door, finding it locked.32

"She hasn't been home for a couple of hours. I tried to bring you home after we were attacked but I didn't want to leave you alone in your house."33

She ran around to the back of the house and checked the door there, finding it also locked. She had no key on her and so she kicked the door, feeling it hold solid under her foot. She kicked again as Serkan pulled her back.34

"You are only going to make your condition worse," he stated.35

Kainda sobbed and collapsed to the ground, hurting her rump, but didn't care as she rocked back and forth. Panic seized her and flopped onto her back and rolled onto her side, biting her knuckles.36

Serkan stood over her, watching. He didn't know what to make of her sudden attitude change. He went to the door and kicked it in, pretty much kicking it off the hinges It was a metal door so Serkan's foot left a huge dent in it. He came back to Kainda, scooped her up and carried her into the house. He laid her on the couch, went back to the door and shut it, shoving it back into the frame. He made sure it was secure before he checked on Kainda.37

She laid where he had put her, her eyes shut as she muttered under her breath incoherently. He brushed her hair back and wiped her tears with his fingers. She sighed and shut her eyes tight, not caring about him.38

He took one of her braids and noticed that her hair was growing out far too much for the braid to be an effectively attractive. He began to twine it till it started to come undone. With one undone, he removed the extra hair that was braided in to make long and brushed her real hair free of the tangles it accumulated.39

With a good two hours gone by, her entire head of hair was a curly mess that framed her face. She had calmed and didn't mind him undoing every braid. The pile of synthetic hair sat on the coffee table, dirty and unwanted.40

Kainda sat up and ran her hand over her head, feeling the medium-length of her curls and seeing the dry brown color. She scowled. "I need a shower."41

Serkan stood. "Then go take one. I am going to find out where Carmina has gone."42

Kainda's eyes widened. "You're leaving?" She sat up.43

"I don't have to. I only have to search for the little thing Carmina left behind to know where she might have gone."44

Kainda relaxed and trudged up the stairs without another word.45

Serkan watched till she was out of sight and listened for a door to close. Once the click of the latch hit the frame he went to the kitchen. He touched the sink, the dishwasher and scanned for anything that might lead to where Carmina went.46

The kitchen was entirely spic and span. Th dishwasher was empty, the floor was swept and mopped and the counters smelt of bleach. Underneath the smell of bleach was the tinge of blood. It wasn't strong enough to know what type, but it still triggered his alertness.47

He went to the living room and sat on the couch. He laid on the cushions, sniffing until he found more blood. He licked where the blood was and tasted it. He knew what type it was, and it tasted like... like... sex.48

Serkan was confused. Bloodletting? Did Carmina and Aelwyn have sex and she bled for him?49

He went back to the kitchen and sniffed around, snorting when the bleach smell overwhelmed his senses. He crouched down to the floor and saw dribbles underneath the cupboards and on the linoleum. He followed the dribbles to the couch on the carpet. They were dried and blended in with the dark brown carpet.50

Serkan hoped that his suspicion of Aelwyn and Carmina was right. He figured they clicked so well after he and kainda left that they went to the kitchen to finish cleaning up. She cut herself or somehow got to bleed so his bloodlust was ignited. They broke into heated passion and moved to the couch to finish. They left when they were through, locking the doors and have been gone ever since.51

But where were they now? Serkan thought he had heard rustling of sheets in Aelwyn's room and so he assumed that that was where they went; they went back to their apartment and made more sex, keeping quiet.52

But then why didn't he smell blood in the apartment? A freshly open wound, within the few hours approximated would still smell. Perhaps they cleaned it and wrapped it up so it began to heal.53

Why didn't one of them emerge at all from the room during the time that Serkan and Kainda was there?54

His brain was wracked with such questions, and he could only answer them with more questions. He was still hoping that he was assuming correctly of his assessment of what occurred after he left. If anything else happened to the contrary...55

Serkan stared at the top of the stairs. The sound of the shower turning on assured him that she was indeed showering and that she was safe.56

Deep inside his chest, he felt a pang of wariness. Sitting on the couch he rested his head back on the couch to stare at the ceiling.57

Out of the corner of his eye he noticed the answering machine on a table by the door blinking. He got up and pressed the playback button.58

"Hey, Inda," a soft male voice said. "It's me. I just wanted to say I was sorry. Can I make it up to you? I am willing to do anything if you will just forgive me."59

Beep. "Next message," a monotone feminine voice said.60

"Inda, sweetie, it's Carmina. I just wanted to tell you that things are all right. I am busy but I want you to meet me at the usual place. I need to talk with you." The last sentence sounded a bit forced, uncertain. It triggered Serkan to play back the message again. In the background he could hear a whispering male voice, but couldn't tell what he was saying.61

This made Serkan even more wary. Things were adding up in a negative way. Where was Aelwyn? Why was Carmina acting so strange on the phone? Kainda would be able to tell the difference in tone for Carmina.62

He looked up the stairs, hearing the flow of water, the sloshing of hair being squeezed of the water it collected. He could feel the fear that Kainda would soon know.63

Kainda felt so much better when the hot water sprayed onto her naked body. She ran her hand over her hair and gently rubbed the bump on the back of her head. How can she thank Serkan? He had saved her life, it was in her honor to return the favor.64

She rolled her eyes at herself. She was now in the debt of a vampire? The very thing she loathed and destroyed? What compelled him to save her? Why didn't he just let her die for her stupidity? He should have killed her for himself.65

Two sides of Kainda were struggling over her feelings as she cleaned herself. She frowned at the thought of what Serkan might ask for in return. She didn't know him that well and for all she knew he would be a secretly perverted vampire who got his kicks from slowly torturing and raping women to death. She shuddered when her mind asked her heart what it felt. She couldn't describe how she could feel so safe next to him, and yet not feel like she was worthy to be with him...66

She shut off the water and began to huff. She was ticking herself off. She didn't a shit about this vampire. He was a murderer, a vampire. His whole existence came from destroying the lives of innocent people.67

You don't know that, her mind argued. He has nothing proving that. Just talk to him.68

She dressed and trotted down the stairs. At first she didn't see him, but then her eyes focused on Serkan where he loomed over by the phone.69

He looked at her, no expression on his face, making his flawless features all the more frightening to her. Deep inside she felt the normal fear as anyone would around a predator as dangerous and powerful as a vampire, but when he smiled or showed a little emotion like a human, Kainda nearly forgot what he was. But now, his eyes held nothing, guarded by the gates of his mind, his mouth a straight line.70

"Carmina called for you," he said, handing her the cordless phone. "She wanted you to call her back."71

"Did she call when I was in the shower?" Usually Kainda could hear the phone in the shower.72

"No. She called while you were out." For a flicker of a second his eyes darkened with concern and warning, then went back to their emotionless state as he turned to the kitchen.73

Kainda checked the numbers in the Caller ID and found the number that was most recent. She hit Talk and listened as it rang.74

"Inda, sweetie!" Carmina's voice chimed. "You got my message?"75

"Where are you?" was Kainda's first words to her roommate and friend.76

"I had to take care of a job. Aelwyn and I left like an hour after you left." She scoffed. She spoke to someone away from the receiver, unintelligible babble until she returned to the receiver. "Anyway, I just had to go after Aelwyn and I had some time to get to know each other."77

Kainda nodded, feeling something was off as Carmina rattled on and on about her and Aelwyn.78

"So you two hooked up?"79

"Yes, he showed me a few things and we talked..." Her voice smiled. "Hey, can you meet me at our usual place?"80

Kainda's brow furrowed. She was about to reply when Serkan appeared out of the corner of her eye, his sober face just hinting what she should say.81

"Yeah. When?" She almost regretted her voice sounding so monotone and vacant as she stared into Serkan's eyes.82

"In thirty minutes? I'm almost done with this job and then we can talk some more. I even have to show you something." Her excitement rang in the phone. "I think you are going to love it."83

"Yeah. Thirty minutes then."84

"Arrivederci, Inda."85

"That wasn't Carmina," he told her.86

She nodded slightly. "I figured." Then she shook her head. "She never talks like that. She never acts so... bubbly."87

He muttered under his breath in another language and turned away. "I am afraid something else happened other than what she explained on the phone. I am sure that she is probably in the hands of the enemy and they want to get revenge on you."88

"I was only doing my job."89

"They also want to get to me," he explained. He turned his head, but not his body, His profile silhouetted against the light outside. His eyes glittered with a sadness she hadn't seen before and he caught her gaze, his brows raising with hope.90

"Will you do me a favor?"91

Here it is, her mind said. She gulped and nodded. "I owe you for saving my life."92

His eyes flickered to the floor and then back to her. "Will you get me that silver sword your father owned?"93

Her body relaxed from the tension of what he would ask her. "Of course. But why?"94

He looked out the window at the sunlit street. "It was my sword. Since it is made from pure silver, it is the most lethal weapon against my father the Vampire King."95

Kainda nodded again and went to the kitchen. She reached on top of the fridge and pulled down a jar. She pulled out a giant wad of twenties and stuffed it into the cleavage of her pale yellow tee-shirt.96

She went to the sink to get a glass of water when she squinted out the window. Then something came to light for her. She gasped and went back into the front room to see Serkan still looking out the window at the street.97

"You lied," she said, hissing.98

He turned sharply. "What?"99

She stood in a strong position, her legs shoulder-width apart, ready to defend herself or attack. "You lied when that first night you came here."100

He cocked his head to one side a little, not quite catching on to what she was saying.101

She grinned with disgust. "You can be out in daylight; the sun doesn't hurt you."