Silver Lining Ch. 01

When I struggle out of the void I am back in bed, only I don't remember getting back in bed. My body is even heavier now, my eyes roll around the room, my heart thrums to life when I see a figure by the front door. But it morphs into my coat rack, I sit up shakily holding my throbbing skull. I am so thirsty... A glance shows me that the front door is still securely locked, my body is so heavy even sitting up is difficult. I start to move out of bed but a bright yellow paper halts my movement, lying directly beside where my head had been. My hand is shaking when I reach for it. The handwriting is scrawled, almost lazily:

If you manage to wake up meet me where we first kissed, I'll be waiting for you. I left some food on the table for you, drink up to get your strength my dear.

My body is icy, I slide out of bed and walk to the kitchen, my ears buzz as I see the glass full of a dark liquid. The smell washes over me and the glass is in my hands before I can stop myself, I can only watch in horror as I raise it to my nose. The scent is intoxicating, like the most delicious food I could ever imagine, the glass is still warm. I raise it to my lips (still warm) and tilt it until the liquid touches my lips (still warm), the thought pierces my hunger. I fling the glass into the sink, it shatters spraying blood inside the white base, I turn the water on full blast and flush away the liquid. I am shaking all over as it disappears. Anger is caressing my heart, stoking a fire inside me brighter than any fear I might have felt. That fucker was in my apartment, he stood there and wrote a fucking note, on my fucking paper... And left his fucking blood in my glass...

"I am going to kill you..." So much rage pierces me that I don't think of the consequences, I don't have a second thought to meeting him. Once in my car the anger dims to a steady burn, I hesitate with my keys in the ignition but there is no way I can handle this on my own. Even if he wants to kill me I don't have many options on people to talk to about handling myself around blood. The desperation for it... Even walking out of the apartment I had heard heartbeats, smelled... I press my forehead against the steering wheel, I am so thirsty... "Just breathe... Just ignore it..." I can't ignore him... He knows where I live anyway, I can't let Alana come over and see me like this, what if I lose it and hurt her? What if...? I start my car and turn the radio on full blast to drown out their thoughts and mine.

I walk softly along the path, I don't know why but I don't expect to see him there. Deep down I had expected him to never show up, to just leave me to massacre everyone around me... He is sitting in the bench facing the horizon, one leg stretched out, an arm draped along the back of the bench and the other hand sporting a thin cigarette. He is dressed in worn jeans and a tight fitting black shirt, his sneakers look old, when I look at his face he is studying me, "You are an intriguing little human, surviving this change is incredibly rare, and you have done it in record time as well. Be proud." His thoughts don't invade my mind like everyone else, the one person I want to hear the truth from and I can't even hear a faint whisper from his mind, "Oh? You have heard their thoughts? Impressive."

I glare at him, "Are you going to kill me now?"

He takes a long drag from the cigarette, it smells slightly sweet with a tinge of bitterness, but that is not the smell that intrigues me, I can smell his life pulsing just under his flesh... I bite my lip hard enough to draw blood, he groans and before I can blink he is in front of me, mouth hovering over mine, "Do you want to die sweet little human?" I open my mouth to respond but his tongue darts across my lip and I taste the smoke in his mouth, I feel the pulse of his heart in his tongue and that scent overpowers my senses. He pulls away with a cocky smirk, anger fuels the insanity within me, I slam forward snarling. He grabs my throat and flings me into a tree, my spine cracks when I make contact, I groan and curl into a ball, "Did you not drink the gift I left for you? Hunger is a dangerous thing for a newborn, if you don't eat soon you will die. So answer my question Halfling. Do you want to die?"

I can feel something from him, not quite a thought but a glean of his emotion; curious, confused, intrigued? I glare up at him and hiss, the sound breaks my illusion and I yank away from him, he watches me but says nothing, "I don't know. Should I want to die?"

He takes another drag from his cigarette as he crouches before me, "Clever little creature." With a long silence he snuffs out the cigarette in the dirt, "Let's find dinner."

"What the fuck do you want?!" I stand slowly, my body feels lighter, less like I am drowning on the inside.

He moves as a blur, he isn't as fast as I remember, but he is still too fast for me, he pins me to the ground, "Tread carefully little one."

"Go fuck..."

My throat is closed instantly, his eyes flash silver, "This fiery spirit of yours will only get you burned Halfling." I strike toward him but he snatches up my wrists and pins them against my abdomen, dangerously close to a place I don't want him to touch, "Unlike me, you need oxygen to survive, how long can you hold your breath pet?"

His lips brush mine, fangs graze my lower lip and I freeze, I don't want him to bite me again, "Are you sure?" I hate him digging in my mind, I just want to disappear, my vision swims with black dots. His grip loosens, I gulp in air and blink away the invading darkness, "You truly are an intriguing creature."

I try to push him off me but his grip remains tight around my wrists, he cups my cheek and I force myself not to flinch, "What exactly do you want?"

He trails his fingers down my neck, tracing my collarbone, I shiver as his fingers hover just above the hem of my shirt, his eyes on mine, "What do you think I want?" His hand slides down my side, molding to the curve of my ribs, coming to rest at my waist, his fingers start to slide up my shirt, "Hmm? Devyn?"

His says my name in a low purring growl, it burrows into me and I feel something alight in my stomach, something familiar... I struggle against him, frantically now, "No!"

He smiles forcing his hand further up my shirt until his fingertips are cupping the underside of my bra, then he pulls away from me, "Let's find dinner." He pulls me to my feet, completely ignoring the fact that he violated me, "Violated?" He scoffs, "You stabbed me, try not to forget."

I yank out of his grip, "You were going to fucking kill me! You fucking psycho!"

He cocks his head to the side, "You kill your food, do you not?" I growl at him, "No need to show your teeth little one. Let's hunt, either that or stay here and starve to death, there is a guy up here somewhere. Want to play a game?"

"No."

His eyes shimmer under the moonlight, "Good. If you find him first I'll answer four of your questions, and if I find him..." The thought stands unfinished, I remain silent and his smile only grows wider, "Well I just can't decide what I want so I suppose I will make my decision if I manage to win."

I narrow my eyes, "Why do you choose your prize and I do not?"

His fangs extend causing his features to shift from handsome to deadly, "Because it is my game, ready? Go!" He races into the trees, leaving me confused and cold, I take a deep breath hoping to smell something but all I can smell is him and his fucking cigarette... I force my anger away, narrow my focus to a point and take another deep breath, under the layers of his scent there is something else, fear, the acrid scent of fear. When I focus even harder on that scent thoughts pool over me Lost, I am so fucking lost. Where is my phone, shit...

I flash through the trees, darting over stumps, bouncing through the trees with a precision I can't even comprehend, the world blurs around me as I focus so hard on his thoughts that nothing else matters, nothing else processes. He has gotten quite lost, I fade through the darkness, one with it now, piercing through it in utter silence. He is so far from the path I doubt he will ever make it back on his own, but that doesn't matter, as I get closer I smell the fear in his blood, I smell the fresh pulse of life. Beckoning to me.

He is leaning against a tree, his body lax in the darkness, his eyes scanning but seeing nothing. The vampire is leaning against a tree near him, but he does not approach the man, I narrow my eyes at him. He has won the sick game... But that pales against the smell, seducing me until I no longer think, I am a victim to the instincts. I tear forward and bury my teeth in his neck, a scream ripples through the air, his fear spikes causing his blood to alight. I drink in his essence and it feels glorious, stealing his life to fuel my own, a groan peels from me. I pin his arms to his sides and drain him.

The vampire is behind me, his lips against my ear, I growl causing him to chuckle, "Is this the part where you kill him? Drain him dry? Leave him to rot? It feels amazing doesn't it?"

If I don't stop soon I will kill him, I can feel it... But I am so thirsty... His flavor is so... tantalizing. I close my eyes and yank away from him, his body is limp in my arms, and I know I have killed him. I stumble back into the vampire's chest, his hands steady my shoulders and I am too disturbed to stop him, "Oh god..."

"Oh dear. Looks as if you've killed your first." His voice is too close to patronizing, I stare down at the man's body but as the desperation eases I hear his heartbeat. I yank away from my... I don't even know what he is anymore, "Creator."

I glower at him, "What do we do with him now?"

His face is set in a blank mask, "Kill him?"

I grit my teeth to stem the rage, it comes so easily now, "I will not."

"Then I will." He moves forward but I slam against him, caught off guard he steps back, "Move."

A flash of silver in his eyes causes a tremor to race up my legs, the muscles vibrate with the urge to listen to him. To obey... My nails bite into my palm, I bare my teeth, my body quakes under his influence but I hold my ground, "You will have to kill me first."

He studies me, "You would die for some unknown human? Is he worth dying for?"

I stand straight, "Maybe not, maybe I should just kill you."

He laughs, the sound catches me off guard, it is harsh and yet... "Alright Halfling. If you want him to live carry him back to the trail, I'll meet you there." He disappears into the trees, I wait a few moments to make sure he is gone before I grip the man under his arms and lift. I hold my breath as I drag him up but he is much lighter than I anticipated, I tumble back and he is draped across me.

I blink up into the trees, "Well okay then..." The second attempt is a success, I am able to trot through the trees with him slung across my back, the feeling is a bit exhilarating. This body is so much... I shake away the euphoria, there is no time to get seduced by this life, I almost killed a man... That brings me back to reality. By the time I reach the path my face is set in a grim line, the vampire is laying down in the bench now, his arm draped across his eyes.

I gently place the man down beside the bench, "Now what?" The vampire doesn't respond and I start to wonder if this dude really is a psycho...

"Now we let him die." His voice is sharp, cutting through me like a knife, I glower at him before placing myself between him and the man.

"Why? What is your fucking problem? Do you just kill everything you encounter?" My anger flows more freely than usual, getting a reign on my emotions is incredibly difficult now. Before I was level-headed, but everything is so much more sensitive now, volatile...

"He is a loose-end, if he lives there is always a chance your secret will be brought to life." His voice is still sharp, now it is like ice dumping over me, chilling the rage within me, I glance down at the man.

"You want him dead so badly then you fucking kill him, but I won't fucking let you do it. So let's move on to another fucking solution. Alright, you fucking psychopath?"

A smile carves across his lips, he looks normal right now, but the red memory is still very much alive within me, he tried to kill me, so I really don't give two fucks about him, "Nice to know." He stands slowly, his gray eyes locking with mine, I can see every detail in the darkness. I don't feel any remorse for my thoughts, I shrug, "Do you want an apology?"

I glare at him, barely stemming the tide of my overactive emotions, "You could go fuck yourself, that would be fantastic."

He smiles wider, "Oh? And let you go back to your safe little hovel, lie in wait for your innocent little friend, then paint your walls with her blood? All the while she was just trying to help you, I mean you have two whole weeks to get yourself under control. So yeah, I'll just leave. Good luck." He winks and starts to walk past me, every scenario washes through my mind, as he passes me I am panicking. I stare at the unconscious guy, the guy I almost killed on accident, every emotion is explosive now, there is no way I won't fuck up somehow...

I turn to him, afraid that he will already be gone but he is just casually walking, he knows I will call after him, the thought makes my stomach churn. But I don't know if there are other vampires, I don't know if this will get worse before it gets better, I don't know jack about this situation, "Wait." My voice is soft, he keeps walking and I stamp down my rage, "Please!!"

He stops and turns, his steely eyes full of arrogance, I could beat him to a pulp and feel no remorse, "That is an interesting way of saying thank you."

I flinch when he appears before me, his movements still a blur to me, I stare up at him as his eyes probe mine, "I will admit I need your help, but this situation is your fault."

He caresses my cheek, I step back, my heart flutters in my chest, "That does not mean I must take responsibility for it." As he steps toward me I want to keep backing away, but that is what he wants, I can feel it radiating from him, "So perceptive."

Instead of guiding me where he wants me, he grabs me and slams me against a tree, his hands pin mine firmly to the bark, unable to escape I don't struggle against him. His strength is triple my own, "Is this all a game to you? Did you bring that guy here? Has all of this been some sort of game?"

He searches my eyes before a grin spreads, "Clever, clever, clever."

I turn my face away, now the fear is taking hold, the fear he said would come is bubbling up, "What the fuck do you want? Can I get one fucking straight answer?"

His tongue trails up the side of my throat, his teeth rake against my neck, directly over the place he bit me before, I feel a tender throb in my throat. But he doesn't bite me, he groans against my flesh before he pulls away, "You are mine now. The moment you drank my blood, you became mine, every order I give you will be one you will want to obey. You have a strong will but I can override it if I so wish."

I look at him in surprise, my body alights with fresh fear, the type of fear that curdles my insides, the type I haven't known since I was young, "No. Let me go!"

"Be silent." His tone is tender, almost soothing, I yank against him with renewed vigor but no sound escapes me, no matter how desperately I try, "Be still."

My body locks in place, he releases my wrists but as hard as I might try I cannot break free the invisible bond, my mind races through every possible way to snap myself out of this but nothing comes to me. His hands are on my waist, his silver eyes boring into mine as he lifts my shirt, this time he doesn't stop at my bra, he pulls at the fabric until I hear it tear. My breasts spill free, he cradles them in his hands with a sigh, "Your tits are quite a handful Devyn..." I close my eyes, trying to will myself away from the situation, a pinch on my nipple brings me panting back to reality. I almost gasp but I still cannot make a sound, one hand teases my nipples while the other caresses down my waist until his hand is buried in my pants, "Are you wet?"

I don't want to be, but deep down I fear I will be. Perhaps it is because he is a vampire, because he is my creator... "No, it is because you want me. Your desire has nothing to do with that bond, our blood tie merely allows me control over your actions, I cannot control your thoughts though. Unfortunately... Although I am intrigued by the path yours take." His finger presses against my pussy and he groans, "Sopping wet, even your panties are soaked, how interesting, I barely even touched you. Are you a virgin?"

He waits a moment before his face splits into a grin, "Oh, that's right. You may speak." I feel the release but I say nothing immediately, he studies my face, rage blurs my vision and if I could move I would stab him in the heart this time, "Answer the question Devyn."

I bite my lip hard but the cinch of control stabs through me, there is no resisting it as it tears the answer from me, "No."

"Oh? How many lovers have you had?"

I look past him, unable to stand looking into those eyes any longer, "Two."

"Both male?" I bite my lip, I don't want to tell him anything.

"Yes, both only once. Neither ended very well, intimacy is not my strongest suit. Are you done now? I get it alright." His finger moves against me, inside me, I moan then bite my lip in surprise.

"You will come with me, without a fuss, you will not try to escape me, and you will not kill me." He pauses for a long moment, "And you will call me Malachi from now on. Or master. Nothing else."

"You can go fuck yourself! You sick mother..." The words die in my throat, my insides writhe, pain flares up my spine. It tears a scream from me, but still I remain locked in place.

Malachi backs away from me, the pain dims to the back of my mind as I watch him kneel before the unconscious guy. For a long moment I fear he will kill him, snap his neck in front of me, or drain him dry then toss him over the railing... But he does none of that, instead a silver light appears on his fingertips, he places his hands on either side of the man's head and sits very still for a moment before he tosses the guy on the bench, quite unceremoniously. His head snapping against the wood, but Malachi looks unconcerned, "He's bleeding..."

Malachi studies me, my arms still locked above my head, "Yes well, the memory I gave him says he tripped and hit his head. Then he barely made it here alive. The hikers will find him at sunrise, which is soon. We must be going. Follow me."

The command buries itself inside me, "Please! Don't make me do this! I have a life..." But can I really call it that? Honestly the only thing I'll be losing is Alana, and even then our friendship was more parasitic than anything else, I just used her so I would feel normal... She was so bright, of course I was in love with her, but more than anything I just wanted to be like her. The train of thought turns dark, I push it away before Malachi can see my weaknesses, "I am not a puppet..."

As he starts to walk I am unable to stop my advance, I keep pace beside him, and everything inside me settles with the realization that he really doesn't care what I want, or how I feel, "That is not true, if you hadn't been sopping fucking wet, this would have gone much differently."

I glare at him, "Oh I am so fucking sorry, so this is my fault then?" Pain trickles up my spine as I clip out the last words, "Fucking vampire Malachi."

He chuckles, the sound jars against me, so normal sounding, I hate him with a fiery passion, "I'm not so bad when you get to know me." I already know better...