XXIII. Never forget

Jasper

Absent-mindedly, I listened to the clock ticking, eagerly waiting for the hour hand to strike midnight so that this wretched day may over.

Tick

Tick

Tick

It was now half past eleven. Thirty minutes left of this agony.

The room was cold and empty. It was dark too. The only light that was on was the one on my desk, the one I was currently pretending to use.

The walls were thick, thick enough for me not to be able to hear past them. They were made that way on purpose as were the walls of all the chambers on the South and North wings of the castle.

The desk was filled with documents that I had to look at and papers I had to pass to Ivan. In the King's absence all his work fell on my shoulder, as his right hand man...practically even his own right hand. He was currently dealing with the hunt for Zoladie, a sorceress as old and as cruel as time.

The woman was...slippery. She left no tracks, using powerful, ancient, untraceable spells to mask her paths and ways. As far as we knew she could have been anywhere on the surface of the earth at this point, even below the surface was a possibility. Nothing was seemed impossible when it came to her.

Staring at the stack of papers, I thanked the Goddess that I had not been allocated that horrid task.

The chair groaned against the floor as I stood up from the desk. I went across the room to the box that sat lonely in the corner. Then I remembered that the key was in my desk drawer so I went back.

Today is her day..

With uncontrolled strength, I pulled the drawer open, accidentally - or perhaps purposefully - breaking the handle.

"Ah!" I exclaimed angrily, seeing what I had done. I did not get a chance to try and fix it as there was a knock on the door.

I knew who it was; I smelled her scent and I recognized it as easily as I would recognize my own image in the mirror. It was rosy with a hint of chemicals, like a hospital or a scientists lab. I liked it very much. It gave me some comfort, the only comfort I had known in a hundred years.

Something tugged at my chest. A sense of betrayal washed over me.

Placing the drawer knob on the desk, I went to open the door for my nighttime visitor.

"Merideth..." I breath out, taking her form in. She was truly a sight for sour eyes.

She was dressed in a black coat and high heels that accentuated her long shapely legs. She knew I liked her legs. Her coat was left a little open at the top, allowing my eyes a peek at her ample cleavage.

Temptress...

"Hale," she greeted, using her hand to flip her fiery hair over her shoulders. A growl left my lips as she softly, seductively said my name. "Still up I see."

"I have work to do," I respond. My tone was more bored than I wanted it to be. She frowned and I felt something odd settle in my stomach.

I wanted to turn her away. It just wasn't the right time or the right day. Seeing her today was about as equal as a Christian breaking all ten commandments on a Sunday.

"Not today..." Just as I finished speaking the clock loudly stroke midnight. Merideth glanced at the thin watch on her wrist and smiled at me.

"Today then... It's midnight and I believe you owe me something," she reached out to touch me and I let. She traced her fingers over my cheek. Her touch was soft.

"Not today either...kindly come back later," it surprised me to hear my own words. I spoke so kindly yet my mood was all too fowl. The woman studied me again, her brown eyes staring at my face.

With clear resistance in her voice, she asked,"...w-what's the matter?" Her seductive tone fell away.

"Nothing."

"It sure seems to be something," she prodded.

"It's not your problem," I barked at her.

Standing in front of me, I saw the woman that she truly was. She became more meek, her confidence -the confidence I that I had built in her over the past few months - was gone. Fear flashed on her impeccable features, a pierce to my heart.

Merideth was smart to be fearful. I was capable of anything. But deep inside I knew that even in my fowlest of moods, I would never hurt the doctor.

"Sorry..."I breath out, frustrated. ,"I am just having a bad day," I lied. Though in some way I was having a bad day. Today -or yesterday to be exact - was a bad day...a bad date. But it was one I would have to keep, to remembered.

Never forget

With clear hesitance in her voice, the woman, started, "we can talk about it. I am capable of holding a conversation you know, not just..." She did not complete the statement but I knew what she was going to say. Sex. Mind blowing sex.

The doctor and I had been involved in a casual, sexual relationship for the past few months. It had began simply but I feared it was growing into something else, something I was not searching for.

When she first started working with us, when Ivan first hired her -bought her from the human slave market where she had been put due to her family's debt- I became instantly attracted to her. She called to me. I thought it was a purely sexual infatuation but now I was not so sure.

She too had felt it and once I approached her and seduced her, trapped her, she was mine, mine to play with, to do whatever I wanted with.

Alternatively, I could have just ignored my feelings and taken care of my needs with the others who worked here -they had always been so eager to please me anyway- but I did not and now here we were.

"No," I told her. I pulled her in and took her lips in mine. With my hands gripping her small waist, I brought her inside, not breaking the kiss. I shut the door and took her to my bed.

I pushed her onto the comforter and climbed on top of her, hastily undying the knot of her coat in the process.

I was pleasantly surprised to find that she wore only a bra and panties underneath.

"Naughty naughty, are we?" I hummed into her ear, running my lips along the lobe. She moaned with delight.

Excited, she undid the buttons of my shirt, placing her hands and lips anywhere she could reach on my body.

With her help, I took off her clothing, leaving her in only her innerwear. I was kissing her relentlessly but stopped when I reached her collarbone, noting the sting in my gums where my fangs were aching to reveal themselves.

I wanted to mark her.

My eyes shut at the realization that on this, just the day after the anniversary of the worst day of my existence, I wanted to mark a woman, one who ;furthermore, was not my beloved. We were not even engaged. This was only a fling to fulfill our carnal desires.

"Is something wrong? Have I done something wrong? Jasper?" The doctor questioned when all my movements stopped and I only hovered over, closing my eyes, attempting to force away my urges.

She removed herself from beneath me and sat on the bed. She reached out to me. My hand was around her wrist before she could touch me again.

Ignore it...enjoy her...this is just sex...nothing more ,I told myself, clearly in denial of the reality before me, I had fallen for the woman.

My movements were deft as I grabbed her by the waist and placed her in front of me. She was on all floors on the comforter and I was right behind her.

In a swift and effortless move, I ripped off her panties and harshly grabbed her ass. There was a hitch in her breathing, a reaction to my aggressiveness, but she moaned when I squeezed her firm buttocks, pulling her to me.

She gasped. "Jasper...Gently, please," she pleaded and I obeyed for even when I did not know it myself, there was nothing I could possibly deny this woman.

***

Hours, later I woke. The sun was out now, its rays penetrating through the long giant curtains, illuminating the room.

Merideth was asleep beside me. Her breaths were slow and her heartbeat was calm. She slept heavily, she was tired. This was to be expected of a human who had been fucked through the wee hours of the night.

Her hand rested on my torso. Half of her body lay on top of mine. As much as I was used to having the bed to myself, I did not mind. She provided a warmth that I had not felt in decades.

As she lay with me there, I felt myself forget all those icy, lonely years. I felt myself forget my sorrow. The memories of back then faded away. But then something else began to fade away and I suddenly jumped away from the bed.

No, I would not forget...I refused to forget my pain. My heart was closed to all love. Love was just another way to kill yourself, I would rather a silver sword through my chest.

I practically flew out of the bed, landing beside it. I stood there, staring at Merideth.

She stirred and her eyes opened. Her brown orbs drew me in but I pulled myself out.

"Jasper, you're so warm. Come back to bed," she said patting the silk sheets.

"You don't tell me what to do, human," I snapped. Astonishment was clear on her soft features. I felt the same but I had to go through with this. " Get out!" I ordered. My fist clenched with anger, rage and disgust but it was all directed at myself.

Her mouth was agape with shock. She said nothing, she did not need to, I felt her anger, her heartbreak. Did she think she was anything more than a toy for me?

Never had I treated her like this, not even when we met. Sure I always been dominating and commanding with her but never mean, never a complete and total ass.

She gathered her garments, quickly dressed and left. She exited in tears and barefooted.

I reminded myself my reasons for my actions.

'I will never forget you ' my own words, my own promise. A promise I made to someone.

I was reminded of all my pain. I would not face that again, not for some human girl.