Revealing the Unknown

~Aida~

I stir, feeling softness under me. I also feel something itchy surrounding me. I don’t know where I am or where I was. My eyes fly open, and I sit up, looking around. The room is dark, and it’s hard to make anything out. I haven’t seen or heard from Hazel in so long, and I’ve been missing my wolf abilities. I try to recall what had happened before. I remember running from the hospital and almost getting captured a few times. I found myself in a cave, and I remember sleeping there. A voice spoke to me, but it wasn’t Hazel. It led me out of the cave, and I remember a blue light, then darkness.

I hear a squeak in the room and feel a slimy hand on my arm. I gasp and snatch my arm away. I can see a shadow, but that’s it. I’m getting scared because I don’t know what’s waiting for me in the dark. I could have been captured for all I know. I close my eyes and feel a hot breath get closer. It reeks of brimstone and sulfur, making me want to throw up. I feel a burning in my nostrils, and my eyes start to water.

I close my eyes tight as the slimy finger trails along my body. I try to stay still as much as possible. I just want this to be over without getting hurt, but that may be asking too much. I don’t know what to do or where to go. I don’t even know where I am.

A door slams open, and I can feel a strong presence. “EZĒBU!” The breath and slimy finger quickly disappear, and I take a breath. I can breathe better, and I try to gulp down as much fresh air as I can. A light shines bright, and I cringe. “Ḫibti, it’s okay. He’s gone.” I crack an eye open and look around the room. It looks dank and old while smelling musty. I look down at myself and can see that I’m wearing something made of burlap. That must be why I’m itchy.

I look up at the man who entered the room, and my breath catches in my throat. He is gorgeous, but there’s a dangerous aura around him that scares me. I close my eyes and open them again. I feel a stirring in my mind, and I try to concentrate. The stirring disappears, which frustrates me. “How are you, lovely? You had me worried.” He speaks as if he knows me, and I’ve never seen him before in my life.

His skin has a pale tint, so much so that it’s almost translucent. He has black hair that goes past his shoulders. He looks like he’s 6’5, and he’s lean but muscular. He’s wearing old-world clothing, something from the 19th century. I look closer and notice that his eyes are red, blood red. I gasp once I realize what that means. He’s a vampire, like a real-life vampire. I have never been around a vampire before, and I know my life must be over.

He sits on the edge of the bed near me, and I can’t stop myself from recoiling. A spot of hurt flashes through his eyes, and I feel bad. I feel bad for hurting his feelings. I don’t understand what that’s about, but I say nothing. “My apologies. Where are my manners? I’m Ivan Neelor, and I’ve been waiting for you.”

“Wh…..waiting for me? How could you have been waiting for me? You don’t even know me.” He leans in closer, and my anxiety peaks. I’m scared, like terrified, but a part of me doesn’t want to move. I want him to touch me. I want his hand to caress me. What the hell is wrong with me?

“It feels like I’ve been waiting a lifetime for you.” He lifts his hand as if to touch me but stops short. “You are so much more beautiful in person.” In person? What the hell am I missing? He stands up and straightens his clothes. “I’m so glad I finally got you here. I was beginning to think it would never happen.” If my eyes could get any bigger, I think they’d pop out of my head. “I’m sorry about before. It wasn’t my intention for you to get caught up in problems.” I shake my head and huff.

“What the fuck are you talking about?!”

~Ivan~

She is gorgeous! The images of her I’ve had all these years just didn’t do her justice. Her light brown skin and big dark brown eyes are enough to make me want to give up my eternity just for her. Her hair is matted and could use some care. Her scratches are slow to heal, but I’m not too surprised. Her wolf had to be suppressed so I could communicate with her.

Aida is looking at me like I’m crazy, which I can’t blame her for. She has no idea about the bond we share. She doesn’t know who we are to each other. I wish we could have met under better circumstances, but I will take what I can get.

I pull a chair from the corner of the room to her bedside. She scoots away from me again, and it hurts each time. I close my eyes, trying to ignore the pain. She will love me when she knows who I am; I just know it. “I’ve been watching you for a long time, lovely. You are my greatest gift, and I’m so happy you are finally here.” She begins to speak, but I hold up my hand to stop her. “You are my darû rā’imu, my forever love. I never thought I’d have one, but I found you. I’ve been communicating with you, trying to get you to find me, as I can’t leave this dreaded place. The voices in your head, both times, were from me. The first time, I’m so sorry, is what caused you the trouble of being committed to that dreadful hospital. The witch I was using fell for me, trying to push you out of the way. I found out too late, and I’m deeply apologetic. The second voice, the one you have been hearing recently, that is the one that brought you to me.”

I watch her face as she processes everything I’ve told her. I know it’s a lot, but she has to know what’s going on. I won’t have her in the dark. “What happened to my wolf? Where’s Hazel?”

“She’s there, for now. You won’t need her, though, not once we accept each other.”

“What do you mean?”

“When we accept our love, when we mark each other, you will become like me. We will live out the rest of eternity together. You will be a member of the undead world and will have no need for a wolf. We are faster and stronger than werewolves, so it will be an upgrade.” Aida starts scooting back further from me.

“Lose Hazel? Become like you? No! No, I don’t want that. I won’t do it. I can’t be with a….with a vampire.” My heart drops, and the pain radiates through my body. I didn’t think she’d reject me; the thought never crossed my mind. I love her. I love her more than I love myself. I don’t want to be without her any longer. I can’t live if she isn’t by my side. Waiting for her has been the hardest thing I have ever gone through, and that includes my imprisonment. I need her like I need blood to survive.

I stand up and stumble back, the pain making me weak. I shuffle to the door, looking back before crossing the threshold. Her eyes are on me, and it seems like there is pain there. “I will check on you later.” I slink away into the dark shadows, cursing my lot in life. I can’t be this unlucky. I can’t be this unlovable. Something has to give.