Aster:
**She sits with her feet in the cool water of the stream. Alone. No one’s home. Even the staff isn’t there. Nanny is gone too – she left with Brody and the ambulance men. Soon after, mommy and daddy left in the car, leaving her here all alone. They didn’t even look at her when they drove by her, even though she waved until her arm was sore.She doesn’t cry. It isn’t scary to be alone in the fairy garden. She has lots of friends here – no one else can see them, and mommy says they’re pretend, but she knows her friends are real. They told her mommy and daddy can’t see them, because they’re not special like her.
“Good morning, little girl,” a deep voice says next to her.
Little Aster doesn’t think to be afraid – strangers talk to her all the time. Like the friends mommy and daddy can’t see. She looks up at the man. He was very tall, and had very long, white hair that reminded her of cotton candy. She can’t s
Declan: For a second there, he hesitated again – was afraid to give in and give over. He was afraid that he’d surrender to her, give himself to her fully, just to watch her die. But then he couldn’t deny himself anymore. Couldn’t deny her. Just for a little while, he didn’t want to think about the future. Didn’t want to worry about Cyrus or his father, or what lay ahead for Aster. He just wanted to get lost in her and forget about everything. When she wrapped her arms and legs around him, gripping him tightly against him, he knew it was all over. Some kind of invisible barrier between them broke. She stared at him in wonder, her breath coming fast and urgent, running her hands over his body, and setting him alight with a profound yearning he didn’t quite understand. It was more than a physical demand to satisfy his lust – he could fulfil that anywhere he liked. It was deeper than anything he had ever felt before. An aching, all-consuming need
Aster: Behind the desk sat an impressive man. He was attractive, like all of them, with amazing white hair and the most unique eyes she had ever seen – icy, pale blue. Do vampires only transform good-looking people? She wondered. He looked strangely familiar, and when he spoke she had the uncomfortable feeling that she had heard his voice somewhere before. “Miss Montgomery,” he said, and his deep, gravelly voice sent shivers up and down her spine. “It’s such a pleasure to finally meet you.” Aster didn’t feel any fear, but he made her nervous. Maybe it was because everyone else kept telling her how dangerous he was, and as a result she didn’t give him a fair chance. Rowan stood behind Cyrus – he looked calm enough, but she noticed his brown eyes were troubled, and his body tense. He nodded a greeting at her, but didn’t speak. “Take a seat,” Cyrus offered. She glanced at Declan, who nodded and indicated towards the seat in fron
Declan: He didn’t feel like rushing. He needed to get his emotions under control first, but the closer he came to the donor wing, the more his nerves started acting up. Declan had no evidence to support his suspicions, but he knew there’d be some kind of retribution for Aster’s outburst – they needed her, and wouldn’t do anything to her, but they would do something to him, just so they could get her in line and on board with their plans. Halfway to the donor room he found Katelynn sitting on the floor, her back against a marble statue of a naked young woman, looking miserable and wiping away tears. Ignoring her, he walked past her, stopped, looked over his shoulder at the despondent young woman, and turned back. He had no idea why he did it – some kind of nostalgia for the love he once bore her maybe. “Better not let Rowan catch you, Michelangelo himself created that sculpture. If my father catches you using it as a backrest, he’ll have kittens.”
**WARNING: Dear readers, please be aware that this chapter contains a scene depicting sexual assault. The scene isn't meant to titillate, but I want you to be warned that it is graphic, and may upset sensitive readers. Proceed with caution.** Declan – part 2: The donor room was empty, except for Rowan, Cyrus, and one unconscious human lying across the master’s lap. “Declan,” he said. “It’s about time.” “I’m sorry. I was waylaid by Matthew.” As he approached, he recognised the girl. It was Mary. “You like this human, don’t you?” Declan shrugged. “I barely know her.” It took a real, conscious effort to keep his heartbeat under control. “All the same, last night you went through the trouble to heal her, but ignored all the other humans.” “She…yes master. Healing humans is tiring…I couldn’t have done them all.” Cyrus nodded, a foreboding smile on his face. “Heal her for me, w
Aster: Aster sat between Elizabeth and Ann, Samuel’s two wives. The two chubby women looked so similar with their strawberry blonde hair, grey eyes and relatively plain features, that Aster thought they were related – they quickly informed her that there was a hundred years age difference between them, and until he took Ann, they had never met. “Samuel definitely has a type,” Aster said, and smiled. With nothing else to do, she looked around the room, comparing the vampires’ appearance with each other. It was a shallow way to pass the time, but at least it was entertaining. Across the room, she caught Samuel’s eye – he smiled and raised a glass filled with amber liquid in the air. Like all the other vampires she had met, he was handsome; dusty hair, full lips, straight nose, but unlike Declan and Rowan, he was tall and wiry, rather than muscular. In contrast, Joel with his blue eyes and blonde hair was short and brawny, and had almost babyish feature
Declan: Declan was vaguely aware of Samuel’s presence. “What happened?” his brother asked Rowan. Declan listened, detached, as his father told Samuel what had transpired the last two hours. He didn’t want to move; he wanted to lie on this floor, staring at the ceiling until the end of time came. Samuel knelt next to him, and held the tube of the blood bag to his lips. He kept his mouth closed, and turned his head, staring into Mary’s empty eyes again. His breath hitched, and he turned his head away. “Come on, mate, you have to…do it for Aster.” From behind, Rowan lifted him into a sitting position, letting Declan rest the back of his head against his shoulder. If he wasn’t so far down the pit of despair, he’d have found his father's warmth and kindness surprising, but for now he just let Rowan take care of him like an infant. “Come on, son, please.” He took the blood bag from Samuel and coaxed the tube into his mouth, and as Declan di
Aster: Even though she didn’t have to, Lydia stayed with Aster…even after she stopped feeling Declan, and started to regain her equilibrium a little. “Thank you,” she said after a while. “For your kindness.” “You are family, dear, your blood is my blood.” “Everyone keeps saying that. What does it mean?” “It means we are sisters – there’s no human family that can match the love and loyalty of a vampire family. No bond is stronger.” “I thought I only shared a bond with Declan.” “His would be the strongest, yes, but ours come in at a close second--” Lydia cupped her face “—you are so young and new. I forget what it’s like…and with Declan constantly occupied…you must be so confused.” “A little,” Aster said. Rowan came into the room before Lydia could say anything else. “Good evening my love,” he said. Lydia beamed and got up to accept Rowan’s embrace, then she stepped back and whacked him hard acros
Declan: The brothers touched down in a dark, quiet alley, looking around for any human witnesses before they stepped into the bustling street. It looked like all the villagers were out tonight, trying to enjoy as much of the summer before the winter cold chased them back into their homes. People stopped and looked at them as they passed. Declan was used to it. Humans were naturally attracted to vampires. When he was newly born, he took full advantage of this attraction, but now that he was older, he found it easier to resist the gaggle of humans that always threw themselves at him. “Over there,” Matthew said, pointing to a dingy pub, “a proper hole in the wall.” “Ah yes,” Joel said, “just the place to catch a good dose of hepatitis.” Samuel laughed. “I’m sure you’ll survive it.” The brothers crossed a busy street, all of them seemingly oblivious to the human stares that followed them. They were, in fact, very aware of
Dear readers, I would like to thank you for taking the time to read Declan and Aster's story. I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it! Thank you for your support and love. It means the world to me, and I hope to see you all soon with the next one. Please feel free to leave a comment if you liked this story. I always love hearing from my readers. Remember: All writers love their readers, we would be nothing without you -- you are the engine that makes a writer's world go 'round. Much love, Celice
The old man sat on his balcony, looking at the beach bathed in the soft blue moonlight. It was a beautiful night, but a full moon, which meant all manner of creatures were about. Ever since that blasted vampire war fifty years ago, all sorts had been crawling out of the darkness, wouldn’t you know? It didn’t matter how many times that vampire, Rowan Watchamacallit, went on the news and every talk show known to man, just to keep telling the humans that they had nothing to fear, he knew better. He was old enough to remember that war, remembered the roving vampires that came through his town and tore his wife’s throat out. He didn’t forget and forgive that easily. The humans hadn’t been idle. They had been developing weapons that were strong enough to kill vampires. He had one. A gun that could take a vampire’s head off with one shot. It wasn’t technically speaking legal to kill vampires, but their bodies evaporated fairly quickly once the sun hit it, and no body, no ev
Declan:He kissed her until the tension left her body, and the doubts she felt earlier released her. It was like that first time, when the world outside faded to dull insignificance, and all that mattered were the two of them, wrapped in each other’s arms, safe in their bubble.Declan didn’t understand what it was he felt the first time they had sex, but he understood it now. It was the completion of the bond. He could feel it as he pushed inside her. The way the bond united them, how it knitted them together, tying her soul to his and his to hers. The two halves becoming one. And it was stronger now than before. Much stronger.As she opened up under him, giving herself to him so completely that he didn’t even know where she began and he ended, he knew that this was forever. He would never, could never, break their bond. When her eyes filled with tears, and he felt the burden she had been carrying around lift from her shoulders
Aster:Aster sat up, her head pounding and bladder throbbing. The last thing she remembered was sitting on the floor in the lobby with Declan, trying not to scream as her injuries healed. After that, nothing.Declan sat on the armchair, naked from the waist up, watching her with an amused smirk. It had been days since he was there when she woke. “Don’t you need to work?”“Don’t you need to pee?” he retorted.Shooting nasty glances his way, she went to the bathroom, taking a quick shower while she was there, and hoping that he would be gone by the time she was done. She was embarrassed by her actions the previous night, and she didn’t know how to look him in the eye.Wrapping a towel around herself, she went back to the bedroom, just to find that she wasn’t that lucky. Declan still sat where she had left him. “Blood’s on the bed,” he said a mischievous glint in
Declan: Declan gasped, and dropped his pen. Aster very quickly cycled from jealous to angry to a soul-crushing sadness that threatened to eat her alive. Their connection was growing stronger – it would probably have been completely restored by now if they could spend some time together, but the logistics of Maximillian’s estate and the vampire council occupied him non-stop. She wasn’t in any danger, and she didn’t call out to him. Sighing, he blocked her out and pulled more paperwork towards him. There were hundreds of requests from sheriffs and smaller families in need of help, and Lucas wanted to help all of them. Saw it as his sacred duty as the new head of the most powerful family in the region. Declan had to keep reminding his cousin that the only reason they became the most powerful family, was because Maximillian knew when to say yes and when to say no. Lucas needed a lot of mentoring, and with no elders around to guide him, Declan did
Aster:Aster strolled through the hotel, greeting the other vampires that not three weeks ago were so scared of her that they could barely look at her, but now finally treated her like family. Most of their allies had left, leaving the hotel mostly open, but the place was destroyed, because there had been simply too many people living in it.When they arrived in Slovakia, Declan asked her to take care of the humans, help as many of them get back home as she could, but a lot of them didn’t want to leave. Their homes weren’t destroyed; it wasn’t a war that was fought with bombs and guns, but many lost their families in vampire attacks. Others came to love their vampires masters, and simply refused to leave, even after their familiar oaths were broken.She walked from room to room, looking at the progress of the renovations and clean-up process. With a lot of the vampires gone, and because most of the humans were injured and traum
Declan: Declan stood in the dark, overgrown garden, leaning against a tree, watching Aster where she lay flat on her back next to the stream, her hand dangling in the water. It had been two nights since the witch helped them reform their bond, but their connection wasn’t very strong yet. It was like a weak battery, waiting to be recharged, and he had no idea how long that would take. Still, all he could think about was her, which he took as a good sign. After a few minutes, he stepped out of the darkness and walked up to her, squatting by her side. “Hello, beautiful.” Her eyes lit up when she saw him, and she gave him a dazzling smile. That smile soothed his aching heart more than she’d ever know. He leaned over and kissed her, feeling the spark trying to ignite the fire in his heart, but not quite getting there. “You still hate it inside the castle, huh?” “Yes,” she answered. “Too many ghosts.” “Don’t they just follow you?”
Aster: Aster only had one thought running through her mind as she drifted off to sleep. I want him back. Even in her sleep, it was all she could think about, and as she slipped deeper into the darkness, she dreamed about Declan calling to her, telling her to come back to him. ** She hears him calling out to her. He’s somewhere out there in the darkness. “Come to me,” he pleads, “find me.” “Where are you?” she calls back. “I can’t see.” The place is too dark. The kind of darkness that grabs you and won’t let go. The kind of darkness she only experienced once before: in the in-between. “Aster!” Declan screams. “Find me. Come to me.” “I can’t see anything,” she sobs into the darkness. “Why can’t you come to me?” “I’m stuck. Please. Find me.” He sounds so desperately afraid. So lonely. In turn, Aster’s heart cries out to him. She wants to feel his strong, comforting arms around her.
Declan: This wasn’t Declan’s first war, and it wouldn’t be his last. Every once in a while vampires would get in a strop and start killing each other. Maybe it was nature’s way of keeping their numbers down. This was the first war that easily killed half his family though, and he wasn’t quite sure how to deal with it. He lay on his side, staring at Aster, tracing the outline of her face with his fingers. Neither of them spoke, there was nothing to say. Words of comfort rang hollow, discussing the war so soon after it ended was too raw and excruciating, and he didn’t want to talk about his feelings. “I wish I could feel you,” he whispered. “Me too.” He gave her a tight smile and sighed. He didn’t know what hurt worse – the death of his family members, his mother and brother, or the broken bond. It all just blended together into one, big, brutal, open wound. For no reason, and without any conscious thought that he was about to d