Fear

"I like it," Brittany purred, licking her fangs at him.

John chuckled, then strapped on his sword, admiring her royal purple gown. He took in the sight of her perfectly displayed cleavage, and as she stepped towards him, she flashed the cut away thigh, exposing her pale, firm form beneath. Not wanting a repeat of earlier, he kissed her quickly and lead her from the room, confronting the embarrassed vampire sitting at their table.

"Grace." John chuckled, "are you OK?"

"Let's just pretend I didn't see that, shall we?" she grimaced, "I'm here to escort you both to dinner."

John nodded, gesturing for her to lead the way. This time they were lead to an elevator, taking them several stories down, John couldn't help but notice this facility, wherever they were was fifteen levels, but he wasn't sure how many were above ground. The doors opened without that god awful ding he was used to, Grace chuckled, leading them towards a large set of doors that opened automatically. Beyond was a large room, filled with dozens of different people, all dressed up as if this were a huge event, John paused for a few moments to collect himself, Brittany gently squeezed his elbow, I've never been around this many people before... Ha... Let alone vampires...

John decided at this moment to adopt a sedentary role, the Queen as they called her needed to be the one people paid attention too, not him, he was just along for the ride. Lowering his gaze, attempting to shrink back slightly, he walked arm in arm with his love into the room.

"Introducing heir to the throne, Brittany Hay and her Vassal, Sentinel John Smith." Called Jason, standing inside the doorway.

John felt a pang of regret, realising he didn't even know Brittany's surname until this moment, I really should talk to her more often... As they entered the room, it fell silent, John could feel the eyes burning holes in them from around the room, and something felt... Wrong...

Immediately Janet approached them, George in tow, they were beaming, Janet kissed Brittany on each cheek, George shaking John's hand.

"I see my granddaughter finally got you here," she smiled brightly, "Better late than never I suppose."

John frowned for a moment, "Granddaughter?"

"Grace," Janet smiled, "didn't she tell you?"

John shook his head, taking a glance around the room, he listened to Brittany continue her discussion with Janet. John couldn't place his sense of dread, something felt very wrong, turning back to Janet, she seemed to be at ease, chatting away with Brittany.

"Janet, is there something wrong?" John asked quietly

She stared at him a moment, "Why do you ask?"

"Something... Feels, wrong."

Janet stood still for a moment, an expression of understanding crossed her face, "Brittany, stay close to John, I will escort you both back to your rooms now."

Brittany looked confused but nodded, the three turned to leave, heading out the way they came, when Jason stepped in front of them, raising his hand. John's heart nearly stopped, he was holding a revolver... Aiming at Brittany... He felt it to his core, while his terror gave him chills, when Brittany saw the gun he felt hers too. John could see, in slow motion that hammer fall, and in that moment, he felt clarity, in that moment, he understood on a core level, the exact moment the bullet would fly from the barrel, the exact trajectory it would take and the exact moment it would impact the woman he loved.

With a hard flick of his wrist, John swept the half cape in front of his beloved, the round caught harmlessly in the dense fabric. Drawing his sword in the same motion he leapt towards Jason, determined to kill the man. Jason fired a second shot, this John was able to deflect with the flat of his blade, grunting as the impact shattered his trusted sword, but it was still whole enough to plunge through his heart and with a final lunge. He stuck the blade deep into the vampires chest, his satisfaction lost in the sound of a third gunshot.

John twisted the blade, watching Jason's expression fall blank before giving him a hard shove, watching in grim pleasure as his body cracked and began to fall apart before him. John took a deep breath, before doubling over, coughing in agony a mouthful of blood hitting the floor, he straightened up, turning sightly as Brittany rushed to join him. John simply collapsed into her arms, regretting every moment as he slid to the floor, the long streak of blood he left down her perfect body. She was screaming his name, he was sure, but everything was so silent, looking up into her face, he could see the tears forming, he reached up, stroking her face, an odd smile on his lips... My death brings an end to the prophecy... She will be safe now...

He continued smiling even as she shook him violently, he wished she wouldn't, as it made it difficult to remember the details of her face, and he didn't want to forget them. He watched as rough hands came into view, slamming him to the ground, compressing his chest tightly, there was dull recognition that these hands were trying to help him, but they were distracting him from the hands slowly pulling Brittany away. That's not right... Why isn't anyone stopping them from taking her?... Then he saw it, the silver flash of a blade being drawn from the figures sleeve, a second assassin, this one to take Brittany... NO!...

The sound of shattering glass permeated the air, John felt light, he slid back, away from the man trying to aid him, and stood up. He was surprised there wasn't any pain, as he turned and walked over to Brittany, kissing her lips softly, he could see the reflection of his body in her irises.

"I love you." he said softly into her ear, hoping she would hear his words.

He stepped around her, wrapping his arms around the assassin, and with a scream, pushed his corporeal form into the mans body.

... Brittany...

She stood in shock, as Jason fell to the floor, John turned to face her, his face scrunched in pain. She ran at him, grasping him as he collapsed. She held him as he slumped to the floor.

"JOHN! John hold on please!" she cried, tears streaming down her face.

She held him tightly, the world around her was devoid of light, her only concern was the man she held, bleeding in her arms. She cried out his name as he gently touched her cheek, but he didn't respond, he just smiled softly at her.

"Don't go John! Please hold on, please!"

She was shaking him now, trying to stop him closing his eyes, she shook him so hard it hurt, his blood was soaking through her dress and across the floor before strong arms pushed him from her grip, applying pressure on his wound, crushing him to the floor. Brittany screamed in despair, watching John's pained expression. She felt a strong tug, pulling her away, I have to stay with him!... But she froze, hearing the familiar sound of steel being drawn from a scabbard, John's eyes rolled back into his head.

"I love you." said a soft voice.

The man holding her released his grip, Brittany threw herself away from him, turning to face the man, she was shocked to find him struggling with himself, it appeared his right hand was trying to cut his own throat, while his left hand tried to fend it off. The man's eyes were wild, and he was grunting in effort, the hand with the knife pulled away suddenly, before plunging the blade deep into his leg. The man yelled in agony as the blade was twisted and he fell flat on his back, his hand yanking the blade free and trying to impale his heart. The man was able to stop the blade but was stabbed through the wrist in his attempt. His arm twisted the blade again, causing the man to scream in both pain and fear before the blade was wrenched free a second time, now stabbing deeply three times into his stomach, a fourth into his opposite leg, and finally into his eye socket, where the man shuddered and went still.

Brittany stood in shock, then awe, a slow grim realisation came across her, the soft voice, the man's psychotic actions, and John's sudden stillness. Turning back to John she quickly ran to him, kneeling above him, she bent, kissing his still lips.

"Come back to me John, I know you're out there, this is an order, you come back to me, you come back now, I can't do this without you, I don't want it without you!" she begged, tears dripping onto his lifeless form.

... John...

The man had screamed profanities like a mad man inside his head, desperately trying to shake off John's influence on his mind, but John was determined, this was his last chance to protect the woman he loved, so he ignored the pain, feeling every wound he inflicted on the vampire, using the pain to fuel his anger, she would be safe.

The feeling of a knife in your eye socket was a strange one, until the blade passed through the nerve, he could see two pictures through his eye, one of either side of the blade, before a sudden impact left his corporeal form floating outside of the mans body, he had done it... Now what?... John climbed to his feet, looking back to Brittany, he was in the same time plane as her, watching her shocked expression change to understanding. He followed her to his body, it was an odd experience, staring at your own body, he smiled, watching her kiss him, but the thought of never feeling those lips again made his chest ache. Then he heard her voice, but it wasn't a voice, it was a compulsion, a force of nature pulling him towards his body, but that was wrong, his body was broken, the last of his strength went into this moment... This is love... He couldn't help but grin, even as his form twisted violently as it forced itself back into his corpse, he continued grinning as the pain from his bullet wound shot back through his body, and his grinned realising he could feel her hands holding his face.

"I... Came back... To you" he choked

CHAPTER TEN

The first thing John noticed when he woke up, was he was back in the hospital, the second thing he noticed was Brittany's cool body wrapped around him, the third thing he noticed was the horrible ache in his chest, that reminded him he was alive, Thank god... Gingerly he rolled, admiring her gorgeous features in the shallow light, before reaching over and stroking the hair from her cheek, smiling as she twitched and started waking up.

"Five more minutes," she grumbled.

John bent lower and kissed her, smiling as she moaned slightly. Her eyes shot open, like two burning green lamps, she screamed into his kiss, wrapping her arms around him in a tight embrace. She sprung from the bed, tearing open the door.

"He's awake!"

Brittany turned, racing back to the bed, throwing her arms around him, covering him in kisses as the light switched on and several nurses including Grace filled the room, they started fussing over him, taking his blood pressure, checking his heart rate, one even took a moment to pull Brittany away from him in order to place a mask over his mouth to check his breathing. But as soon as it started, they quickly signed off and dispersed, all except Grace, who stood by the door and gestured for Brittany to go back to him.

John smiled as Brittany practically jumped onto the bed beside him, wrapping her arms around his torso she leaned against his chest. John looked down at her, his heart broke seeing her tears.

"Don't do that again," she whispered

"Don't do what?"

"Don't die... " He felt her shudder, "I felt it... Like losing a part of myself, I wanted to die too, I ordered you to come back, then you did, and I felt it again... Please..." She burst into tears, unable to contain herself.

John pulled her as tightly as he could to himself, being careful not to hurt himself, "shhh, it's OK, I'm OK, I promise, everything will be OK."

Brittany nodded her head, but didn't stop crying, she clung to him for several more minutes before exhaustion seemed to overtake her and she fell asleep, still clutching him. John gingerly bent, grabbing the blanket, pulling it up and over her.

"You know she can't get cold right?" chuckled Grace.

"It's the thought that counts," John sighed, "I'm guessing she hasn't slept much?"

"She's slept plenty, she's just exhausted, she hasn't left your side for the last week except to shower and change, she insisted that if we were to feed you our blood, it would be hers."

"... What?..."

"Oh... You wouldn't know would you?" Grace smiled awkwardly, "the old myth goes, that sentinels can borrow power from vampires," She smiled now, "we kept you alive long enough to explain to the Queen the potential complications, but she agreed to feed you vampire blood for our healing abilities, under the pretence that it was to be her blood we used."

"And it took a week?"

"Yes, power is borrowed, you wouldn't heal like we would, but better than if we left you, there was a hole the size of a tennis ball straight through your lung."

John paused for a moment, "Has she been fed?"

Grace frowned, "No, she refused to take a volunteer, something about betraying your trust? I dunno."

It was John's turn to frown, "How long ago did my bleeding stop?"

"I wouldn't recommend it John, you've just woken up-"

"How long?"

"Two days"

John turned back to Brittany, gently shaking her until her eyes fluttered open.

"You need to feed."

"No... rest, I'll feed later-"

"You need to feed, or I'm telling Grace to bring you a blood bag"

"I... No... I can wait-"

"Stop it!" John growled, "you need this, one way or another, look at you, you can barely stay awake."

Brittany looked sheepish, she didn't like him telling her off, but he made sense. "I'll only drink from John, but if you have a blood bag, that would be fine."

Grace immediately dashed from the room, a small grin on her face that John decided to ignore, he pulled Brittany into a tight kiss.

"Don't do this again, if you need to feed, then feed."

"But-"

"No buts!" John growled, "your health doesn't mean less because you're a vampire, I would rather you take mine, but if that's not an option, take whatever you need to survive... We're a team now, and if I'm out of action, you need to be strong for both of us."

Brittany didn't have time to respond before Grace ran back into the room, holding two bags, she offered one to Brittany straight away. John helped her sit up, watching her take the bag, and bite into the corner, slowly sucking the contents down. It only took her a few seconds to drain the entire bag, Grace quickly gave her the second, and she bit into it, draining it too, somewhat slower.

"Thank you," she sighed, "I needed that more than I would admit."

"Better." growled John, kissing her shoulder gently, "Now, why did Grace refer to you as the Queen?"

"Well... My lord." She giggled, "Me giving you my blood, was the final act in the prophecy, they didn't even tell me until after I fed you the first time."

"I... Well... Please don't call me Lord..." John grumbled quietly.

"Proper etiquette dictates that in certain circumstances you must be referred to by your title," Grace quickly chimed in, "the coronation will be held once you are recovered, but in the meantime, the council has already officiated her rule, why do you think we allowed her to stay in the hospital?"

"I'm under the impression I'm still missing something", John glared at Grace, but noticing Brittany wasn't looking at him either.

"There has been several attacks..." Grace cleared her throat, "The hospital is under guard."

"I thought the attacks would stop?"

"We thought they would, but somehow word of your injuries got out, some are still under the impression that finishing the job while you were injured will prevent the prophecy."

John sighed, "I need a sword..."

It was several more days before John was discharged, he and Brittany were brought under guard to an armoured vehicle and transported back to the facility, where they were now told was the Australian Council Headquarters, there were several of these facilities around the world, and each of them would have similar Royal Chambers.

On exiting the car, John was greeted by the sight of the Council members kneeling in front of the entrance. John took Brittany by the hand, unsure of what was happening.

Janet cleared her throat, "Your Majesty, we, the council, have made a grave error, that resulted in yours and your Vassal's life being threatened. If not for the actions of Lord Smith, the attempt would have succeeded. We humbly beg your forgiveness."

Brittany stepped forwards, John deferring to her position. "I accept your apologies, and I respect your position, I trust measures have been taken to prevent this occurring again?"

"Yes your majesty."

"Then I ask that you rise, please, Lord Smith and I are very tired and would love to spend some much needed time together."

"We shall send meals to your room this evening," said Janet quickly, rising with the others.

John realised they looked relieved, almost as if they expected some harsh punishment, and while that would be a satisfying prospect, he also understood Brittany's way of thinking. Janet herself lead them in silence to their rooms, before turning and bowing.

"Don't bow to us Janet, please." Brittany said quickly, giving the old woman a hug, "at least not when it isn't completely necessary."

Janet smiled, "of course your-"

"Please Janet," Brittany cut her off, "When we're together, it's Brittany and John, none of the formalities."

John just smiled at the pair, stepping past them and into their room, it looked just like before, except for one change, there was a glass cabinet against the far wall, John quickly moved to examine it, stopping dead in his tracks. Inside was the collected remains of his shattered sword, laid out neatly, as if a jigsaw puzzle, cushioned by red silk, the blade hadn't been cleaned, still dusted and grey from Jason. On the far left of the cabinet, was two bullets and a plaque, that read.

FOR HONOUR

At the top was a red stained bullet, The one they removed from my chest... Beside it was a plaque.

FOR STRENGTH

At the far right of the cabinet, he saw the dust coated blade that was held by the second assassin, it's plague made John tear up.

FOR LOVE

He stood, staring at the beautiful display of his devotion to Brittany, before he felt her soft hands wrap themselves around his waist.

"I asked them to collect the pieces, but Janet's idea was to have this memorialised." She said softly, "When you're ready, join me in the bathroom."

John stood for a few minutes, staring at the display, feeling his emotions roll over him, before sighing. John turned away from the case, and following the sounds of running water. He could see her naked form, floating lazily through the warm water, so he quickly stripped off his clothing, wincing in discomfort where his bullet wound hadn't completely healed yet. He slipped slowly into the warm water, groaning in delight as it took the weight of his aching joints, he had after all slept in a hospital bed for over a week.

John waded through the water, heading straight for Brittany, he reached out to take her in his arms, but without prompting she reached out, grabbing his hands and pulling herself into his embrace.

"I love you," John whispered into her ear, following with a small kiss.

"I love you too John." Opening her eyes, she sighed, "I didn't want this... None of it... I could have died happy that day back in your home-"

"Brittany... I-"

"Let me finish..." she growled, "I could have died happy that day, but I didn't, and now I'm being told you'll live as long as I will... And... And it makes me so happy."