Untitled: Chapter 5

Lily1

“Run!” he yelled, shoving me behind him.2

“Stop!” I screamed, “Please stop!”3

My heart beat wildly against my chest as another pull from the moon slammed me into his back. “You have to run, Lily,” he said softly so only I could hear. “It’s the only way.”4

He pulled me into his arms and I sobbed. “I can’t, Aubrey,” I whispered, wincing as I fell to my knees.5

“She’ll die anyway,” I heard. Damien moved toward us with a frightening speed. “Running won’t save her. Only your blood will.”6

“Then it’s my blood she’ll get,” Aubrey growled. Damien laughed coldly when a scream ripped from my throat.7

“You’ll never get that chance,” Damien said, stepping forward once more.8

Aubrey gathered my legs in his arms and lifted me from the ground. I cried out, biting down on his shoulder. “Don’t touch her!” Aubrey snarled. “Lay one finger on her again and you won’t live to tell the tale.”9

“You think you can stop me?” Damien asked, whipping around us. I shivered. “Why do you think she’s so weak? So pale? So thirsty?”10

“You took her blood?” Aubrey asked coldly, tightening his arms around me. I whimpered.11

“How you do think he suddenly had everyone of my powers?” I asked softly, “He can’t have them permanently until he drains me. That’s what he was waiting for. That’s why I’ve lasted this long.”12

I reached up and touched Aubrey’s damp cheek. “I won’t let him kill you, Lily,” Aubrey said softly, placing his hand over the one on his cheek.13

“Love,” Damien mused, “Such a splendid thing to rip apart.”14

I screamed as a blinding pain shot through my bones.15

I didn’t know I was screaming until my eyes snapped open and I felt the throbbing ache in my throat. I sat up, my arms shaking, and drew my knees to my chest. I touched my cheek, not surprised to feel hot, damp moisture on my skin. Tears were still rolling down my face.16

I felt a cool breeze tickle my legs and jumped. A shadow was there in my open window. I stood up and crossed the room in less than a millisecond. I hissed a warning and stepped onto the balcony. “Who’s there?” I said lowly, shuddering as another cold breeze whipped my hair around my face.17

The thin, satin nightie offered no protection against the wind. The super-short hemline billowed with every gust. I screamed when someone appeared in front of me. “It’s okay, Lily,” I heard softly, “It’s only me.”18

“Aubrey?” I whispered, “Is that you?”19

He stepped into a beam of moonlight. “I heard you screaming. And you felt frightened,” he said.20

I looked up into his haggard face and shivered again. “How do you know that?” I asked lowly, pushing my curls back.21

“I don’t know,” he replied, watching me closely. “I’ve been able to know what you are feeling ever since…”22

I nodded. “That’s going to get annoying really quickly,” I said, “But how could you hear me?”23

“I suppose it’s kind of like the way we can speak on a private mental thread,” he said, unsure.24

I stared at him, only just seeing the way the moonlight reflected off of his pale chest. “Why were you screaming?” he asked, moving toward me.25

I stepped back involuntarily. He looked hurt to have me move away from him. “I-I had a dream, a nightmare, a vision, I don’t know,” I said, shivering once more.26

“You’re cold,” Aubrey said, moving toward me again. I willed myself to not move away from him and felt his cold fingers brush across my cheek.27

“Did you read that from my mind as well?” I asked, smiling weakly up at him.28

“You shouldn’t be out in the cold,” he murmured, “You are human, after all.”29

He wrapped his arm around my shoulders and turned me around, leading me back inside. I continued to shiver as he shut the balcony doors and the window next to it. He went to my closet and pulled out a thick, fluffy black robe.30

He held it open and waited for me to step into it. I slipped my arms into the soft sleeves and let him tie the robe around me. He picked me up, cradling me in his arms. I yelped and felt my eyes open wide. “I’m only part human,” I pointed out lowly.31

Aubrey sat on the bed, leaning against the headboard and holding me. I felt him crossing his legs under me. “Tell me about this dream,” he murmured against my hair.32

I gulped. “Can’t you just go into my head and look at it?” I asked, pushing the thick tangle of curls back once more.33

He nodded. “If you want to relive it,” he said, “And it obviously terrified you.”34

“Will I still be in your arms?” I asked, shivering again as his cold skin pressed against my feet.35

“Of course,” he replied lovingly.36

I nodded. “It’s fine that way then,” I said, “I’d rather not say anything about it.”37

Aubrey pressed his lips against my forehead and my body seized as the dream came flooding back into my mind. My eyes clamped shut as I relived the dream, only it felt even more real. I felt myself clinging to him as his arms tightened around me. I gasped in pain when he pulled away, his lips leaving a burning sensation on my skin.38

I was shaking in his arms as I felt his hold loosen. “Aubrey,” I whispered, “Please don’t let me go.”39

I felt something damp fall and land on my wrist. I gasped and leaned away from Aubrey, looking up at him. It was a tear that fell from his amazing eyes. He pulled me close, not allowing me to look at him. “Lily,” he said thickly, “We’re keeping you away from Damien.”40

I chuckled. “Loosen up,” I ordered, struggling against his rock-hard arms.41

“I thought you didn’t want me to let you go,” he said, a hint of a laugh in his voice.42

“I don’t,” I said crossly, “I want to look at you and I can’t when you’re holding me this tightly.”43

He automatically relaxed his hold and let me look up at his now dry face. I reached my hand up and then pulled it back down. I didn’t want him to feel my hands tremble if I touched him. He took my hand and placed it on his cheek, his eyes closing as he started to brush his thumb back and forth across the back of my hand. “You’re shaking,” he said, his eyes still closed.44

“I was afraid of that,” I said, my eyes searching his face for any sign of emotion.45

“Lily, I don’t show my emotions on my face,” he said, opening his eyes and looking down at me.46

“How else am I supposed to know what you are feeling?” I asked lowly. “Your mind is guarded.”47

He shook his head, still holding my hand on his face. “I am sorry,” he said, “I’m not… I’ve never been…”48

“You sound like a human,” I murmured, pursing my lips. “But I know what you mean.”49

“Lily, whenever you have a dream like that, call for me,” Aubrey said, releasing my hand and clutching my waist to him.50

“How would I do that? Do you carry a cell phone with you?” I asked, tilting my head.51

He laughed. “No, I mean, reach out to touch my mind,” he explained. “You’ve been part vampire for centuries.”52

“But I’ve never been…tied…to anyone… not like this,” I said, sighing as I pushed the mess of curls back once more.53

He laughed at my frustration with my hair. “I like your hair like this, Lily,” he said, “Stop fussing with it.”54

I glared at him. “You’re aggravating,” I grumbled. “And curly hair is unacceptable to me.”55

“I refuse to let you do anything about your hair. I love it like this,” he insisted, kissing one of the tighter ringlets.56

I snuggled against his chest and was suddenly thankful for the thick, fluffy robe separating us. His skin was as cold as ice. “Fine,” I muttered, “I’m too tired to argue with…”57

A yawn took my last word and I covered my mouth with a hand. It wasn’t my hand, but I didn’t care. “Sorry,” I mumbled.58

“You’re still a little human. I guess sleep is something you need,” he said with a shrug.59

“It’s what keeps me beautiful,” I said sleepily, my eyelids drooping.60

“I doubt that,” he mumbled, humming some strange tune. I started humming it as well, surprised because I had never heard it, but too tired to care.61

The last thing I heard before drifting off was the hum in the back of his throat.62