Darkness swam through his mind as he fought for control of the raging madness that sought to overtake him. It had been her voice, her plea, that had stopped him from choking Hann until his heart stopped. Even so Vanadine thought there might be some permanent brain damage and a savage joy thrilled up through him. His thoughts turned to the woman and how easily he could end her life. Ten different scenarios played across his psyche as he gripped the concrete upright, his fingers aching. Yet the pain and discomfort grounded him, allowed the darkness to abate and his human side reasserted itself, bringing a calm and banishing the chaos.
The intensity of his emotions drained him and he slowly let go of the concrete pillar, noticing the cracks radiating from where he had gripped it so hard. Now in control of himself once more, Vanadine knew he had to get away, protect this innocent woman from what he was. Yet as he turned to see her, shivering and in a heap, clothing tattered and face bruised from their assault, his heart melted, a hollow forming as he looked at the traumatised form before him. A need grew in him, the need to protect her, to care for her and make sure she was safe. Yet he also knew what he needed to protect her from most was himself.
Forcing himself to turn from her, Vanadine started for the door. He heard a groan and looked to where Glenn looked up at him with hate and pain filled eyes.
“You broke my arm,” he said in a tone of accusation. “Snapped it so the bones poke out,” he added in a tone of disbelief.
“You ought to consider yourself lucky it was not your neck,” Vanadine stated flatly. “And what do you expect, coming at me with a knife? That I am just going to let you cut me?”
Vanadine headed for the doorway but halted when the woman called out.
“Wait! You’re not just going to leave me here!” She squealed. “I don’t even know your name.”
Vanadine flashed over to where she sat, the action making her flinch as he drew her ripped blouse over her nudity and helped her up. He released her as he went to the doorway, expecting her to follow. When she got level with where Glenn lay moaning, she turned as the injured man yelled at her.
“I’ll find you, you fucking cunt! I’ll find you and when I do I’m gonna cut you up so bad…”
“Do the world a favour and overdose you junkie rapist,” she said.
As Vanadine watched Glenn reach out for her with his good arm he felt a surge of satisfaction as the woman kicked him in the ribs. Glenn howled and rolled away, protecting his broken arm as furtherr whimpers and moans of pain issued from his mouth.
Vanadine turned and led her up through the old hospital and out into the night.
Footsteps echoed in the concrete tomb as she followed the stranger up the steps and into the darkness.Why can I only hear mine? She wondered as she ran a hand along the rough wall due to the blackness being all consuming. She walked into something hard and warm, squeaking at the surprise before she realised it was him.“Vanadine,” he said.“What?” Carine asked in confusion.“My name,” he mumbled. “It’s Vanadine.”“Oh, pleased to meet you,” she said, hearing the tremble in her own voice. “I’m Carine,” she added. “Um, where are we?”“Inside a derelict hospital or clinic,” Vanadine stated the obvious.“Yeah…” Carine said. “But where are we in relation to the exit?”“Not far,” Vanadine said, his voice devoid of any inflection or emotion. “Follow me,” he told her.“Well I would but I can’t see anything,” Carine said, inhaling the warm scent that wafted from him.A mix of the clothing he wore and something undefinable she was drawn to on a primitive level, Carine smelled no artificial scen
Sickened by his loss of control in the hospital cellar, Vanadine swept through the night towards one of the thins, an area where his world met the human world. There were a few such places he knew of but the closest was in a park a mile or so away. Few people were out at this hour so he risked taking the streets, running along at an inhuman pace and pausing as soon as he saw someone. He hopped over the fence and headed into the darkness again, taking comfort and solace in the shadows.Tearing himself away from Carine had been the hardest thing he had been forced to do in years and Vanadine was surprised at the hollow that grew in his chest when he thought of her face.So small and helpless. He thought. Maybe I should go and see if she is all right.No! another part of his snapped. You know what you are and that is a threat to her. Stay away, stick to the shadows and remain alone for her sake.Vanadine knew his conscience was correct. Carine would be at risk if he was near her and stay
Returning home she had showered and changed, throwing her torn and ruined clothes away but keeping Vanadine’s coat. She examined it, finding nothing in the pockets and not even a label to say where it had been made. Yet she could tell from the weave and stitching it was a quality garment and probably expensive. With Laura still out, Carine lay on her bed and covered herself with the coat, trying to get some sleep. Yet despite the comfort and safety she gained from his scent surrounding her and the soft touch of the cloth, every time she closed her eyes all she saw was the grinning, leering faces of Glenn and Hann, ready to grab her again.She woke with a start, a scream on her lips as something grabbed her leg. Thrashing and fighting against the bedclothes and coat, she kicked and grunted, mewling sounds escaping her throat as she tried to escape. When her eyes opened and she saw the lamp beside her bed was on, she looked down to see the bed was undisturbed and the coat lay over her l
Muscles straining against the invisible bonds that rooted him in place, Vanadine felt the darkness begin to creep in. Anger and rage at his captivity seemed to develop thoughts of their own, driving him to lash out and maim.Who does this mongrel halfbreed think she is to bind us like this? Burn her alive! Tear out her heart! Kill this bitch in the worst of ways and let all know we are not to be challenged.Vanadine closed his eyes, concentrating on his human side, embracing the lighter, more forgiving aspect of his psyche.This is why you can never be with someone like Carine. His mind said. One slip and she would be dead. One tiny misstep and you would be watching her life force drain out onto the ground.Thoughts of Carine, her beauty and vulnerability, pushed the darkness aside a little and his thinking cleared as he watched the twisted horror of his former friend come into view before him.“I will have you, Vanadine, willingly or under duress but either way you will be mine!”The
Knees up, with arms wrapped around them and her head buried in those, Carine had her back to the door as she sobbed.I’ve fucked it now! She berated herself. And I took it out on Paul. He’s not the type to rape and assault so why did I shout at him?“Uh...Carine?” A voice came through the door. “It’s Laura, can I come in? Are you all right?”No. I’m not all right. What do you think, I screamed at him for fun?Despite feeling safe, cocooned inside the office, Carine knew she could not stay there forever and would have to emerge at some point. Slowly she dragged herself up and peered through the glass panel in the door. Only Laura stood there and she was grateful no one else was rubbernecking behind her. She opened it a fraction before retreating like the abused dog had done earlier.Laura entered and shut the door again, turning to look at Carine.“Don’t,” Carine muttered as she wiped her eyes.“Don’t what?” Laura asked, puzzled.“Don’t look at me with that face,” Carine said.“Okay, t
Stay away from her! His mind shouted as thoughts of Carine ran through him again.He had been in a world of pain and loss for a week, unable to concentrate on anything and with his already lonely existence, staying away from Carine was a torture he could no longer bear.I will just watch from afar. He told himself. No contact but I can at least see her, make sure she is safe.You are lying to yourself. Another part of him said. You will not be able to stay away once you see her.It was galling, Vanadine admitted to himself, that he felt so drawn to Carine. It had never happened before even though his human side was at the front of his personality. Maybe he had never let it happen before or maybe he was just so lonely his need for some kind of contact was overriding his common sense.I will forget her. He assured himself. I will keep clear for her own sake.Half an hour later Vanadine sat before a computer. It was an older model as the small office was part of a taxi company that was o
Guilt and misery had flooded her chest when Carine had tried to speak to Paul earlier that day. He had looked hurt and angry when she had gone to find him, cleaning the kennels outside.“Paul, I…”“Let’s just keep this professional, shall we?” He had said in a dead tone. “You made things perfectly clear yesterday. So you do your thing and I’ll do mine. Now if you don’t mind I’ve got loads of shit to clear up!”With that he had turned his back as Lucy and Brinn had pretended not to hear, the two girls harnessing several dogs each ready for their daily walk.Carine had left them, heading for the main building and the toilet where she had sobbed at hurting him and saying what she had. Paul was gentle and kind, even if she was not attracted to and did not have feelings for him. He had been a friend for a long time and they still had to work together. This was going to be awkward for a long time and not just for her, everyone would be able to feel the tension.Unless I leave. The thought t
Perched atop the roof of the Daniel Colefax rescue centre, his dark outline melding seamlessly with the night around him, Vanadine peered carefully in through the roof light, the slanted window offering him a view of the interior.Carine sat hunched over some paperwork she was writing something on, moving the occasional sheet to another stack. One hand braced her head, her delicate fingers cupping her chin as her ringlets of hair hung down like a curtain. Vanadine felt a smile cross his face as he saw her tapping one finger on her cheek occasionally as she concentrated. The sounds of some evening radio show filtered up to his sensitive ears. One of the dogs barked, setting off a flurry of yaps and barks that dissipated into the darkness. His eyes drifted to the back of her chair where he saw she had hung his coat and feeling of needy warmth spread through him at the thought of her small frame wrapped in his old coat.Desire crashed through Vanadine as he watched her processing the mun