All Chapters of Shadows Of The Heart: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

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

Nerves jangled as he sat in the taxi. His proximity to her was driving him insane with the need to touch her, to hold her and never let go. Yet the more rational part of him still overrode his needs, constantly reminding him he was dangerous, his darker side just seconds from being free at any point. Even so he could feel the darkness had abated, retreated farther back into his psyche and a hope sprung up in him.Might it be because of her? He wondered as lights flashed into his eyes. Could it be that being near her forces the darkness back?Wishful thinking. Another part of him said. That is what you wish to believe, therefore that is why you feel the darkness has retreated.Vanadine tried to ignore the savage voice as they took the turn towards the centre, the darkness almost swallowing everything but what the headlights revealed.“Thirty quid, gov,” the driver said when they reached the building.Vanadine handed him some notes without counting and opened the door.“Hold up, mate, y

He is insane. Carine thought with a stab of sadness. I thought he was a little quirky but this..? And I can see he believes it utterly. He actually believes he’s a dark Elf from another world.Misery spread through her tempered by a heavy dose of pity for him. She had read stories about people who believed they were different, believed they were superheroes or advanced in some way. The human brain could convince itself of almost anything under the right conditions. A slight chemical imbalance and people were seeing fairies or thought they could wrestle tigers.But this?“I said you would not believe me. I said you would think me mad if I told you,” Vanadine said in a sad voice.“It’s not that,” Carine said carefully, not wanting to upset him. “It’s just a lot to take in,” she added gently.Now what? I can hardly say I believe him but we’re here alone and no one knows where I am, if he decides to attack me they’ll just find my corpse ripped and bloody.Don’t be so dramatic! Her mind sn

Even the warm buzz from the wine could not reduce the pounding in her heart at having Vanadine in her room. It seemed even smaller than normal with his huge presence filling it. He stood by the door as if waiting for instructions as his eyes roamed over the few things she had there; chest of drawers with various items of make up and perfume on top, a mirror hung on the wall and the stuffed rabbit on her bed. A shock of embarrassment hit her at the thought he saw the toy but he said nothing about it and looked at her as she crossed to the far side of the room.“You can come in,” she said. “I won’t bite.”“Pity,” Vanadine said with a smile.Her stomach flipped as she realised his mind must be in a similar place to hers.“Was that a joke?” She asked in a playful tone. “Mr. Serious has a funny side?”“I happen to be hilarious, especially in social gatherings,” he said. “Oh, no, wait a second,” he added with a smirk.The expression combined with his dark eyes made things squirm deliciously

He occupied himself with making coffee while Carine spoke to the young family who had come to get a dog. Trying to dispel the darkness that Paul had brought out, he shook as he forced the dark thoughts back. It had surprised even him how his darker side had reacted when Paul had been unkind to Carine, snapping to the front of his consciousness and ready to devour.Yet there had been a subtle difference to his darkness that he had never expected. While his dark half was always ready to kill and maim and injure, this time he had felt a difference. It had felt as if it was protective of Carine. As if it cared about her as much as his human side was beginning to. He frowned as he poured hot water, wondering over the change. The darker side of his personality had never cared about anyone before, mainly concentrating on anger, hate and violence.What does it mean? He asked himself, stirring the coffee. Is this because of her? I have never felt about anyone in the same way as I have with Car