An Angel's Ascent (13 page)

“
Ha-ha. I’m fine, just tired. Ask him to meet me here tonight around seven,” I mumbled, barely there with her on the phone.

“
Alright chick, I’m sorry to bother you.”

“
It’s fine. I won’t bite your head off,” I said chuckling as we hung up the phone. My words may have been distorted with sleep. At least I think I said that.

I decided a hot bath in my ginormous garden tub was in order. I wasn’t in panic mode like I was last night, but it still hurt for some reason. There was utter void-like blackness. I couldn’t even feel him anymore at all. The hole in my chest was burning, and making me choke. It was smothering me. Yet still not quite as bad as last night. What in the hell was going on? I threw the covers aside angrily and stomped to my pretty bathroom.

I'd had it redone so it was relaxing, open, and completely me. It was of course purple. The only other color was black window curtains, mats, and shower curtain. The towels,
wash cloths
, and bath accessories were purple, silver and black. Stars twinkled above me on the ceiling.

I was in way
over my head. What was I going to do? All the nonsense he'd spouted, I felt had truth to some degree, I just didn’t know how much.

I must’ve fell asleep after adding the fragrant
lavender
bath salts, because next thing I knew I was choking. Cold, soapy water had started gushing in my mouth. I had never come close to drowning in my tub before, and was shocked to realize I was out cold. Like I was in a coma. The enveloping blackness was still reaching for me, and that scared the elfin shit out of me. I finished my bath in a hurry and slipped into some panties and a black silk robe. The water was cold, so I must have been out for an hour or more.

I ate a banana and made my way back to my room. I opened my window and let the cool breeze distract me. Cold or not, I figured a breeze would shock my senses. My blanket was very thick and warm. Before I knew it I was snoring, unable to remember the last few steps, and the climb into my king size bed.

Sometime near dusk I awoke from my lethargy and gasped for air. The shakes had returned, as well as the engulfing panic. No empty void to buffer it anymore. I jerked the covers out of my way and went to the window, where I could sense him much better. He was out there, somewhere nearby, suffering the same as me. I was so done with this seriously, inconvenient load of bull.

I called to him. I’d never felt like this before and my defenses were up. I reacted to threats in different ways, but usually with
controlled anger. This was different. I was being swamped in this, and unable to be myself, unable to live my life.

“
Get in here now!” I called into the night, feeling a wave of dizziness as the air rushed back into my body. The floor tilted at such an odd angle. Oops…

CHAPTER SEVEN

Aries swept his arms under her neck and legs, pointedly ignoring the way the silk robe rose high on her thighs. Distracted by her loss of consciousness. He gently laid her in her massive bed and wrapped himself around her. Being close to her caused all the distress he’d felt last night, and since he woke, to dissipate. He could breathe and think now. Aries was starving, and the pain of not feeding was nearly worse than when he’d first changed.

He’d agonized all night about the woman who had come out of nowhere. The moment he had laid eyes on this elf sized beauty, he’d known she was meant for him. He’d put himself into a deep sleep so the pain would be less for them both, until he woke again. He didn’t like sleeping, because there was nothing there. No dreams or anything. It was too much like death for his taste. It was merely a way to pass the time. He didn’t have a choice today. It was to stop her suffering. He knew she had been, it had chilled him to the bone. Aries didn’t know how to stop it; or how to reverse the damage done.

He’d have never wished these immobilizing feelings on anyone. Especially this dark haired exotic creature. She called to him and disrupted his senses. He’d never met anyone who could affect him this way. Even the gods and goddesses didn’t make him feel so much anguish. When she woke he’d have a lot to explain, to apologize for. She was innocent and deserved an answer. He shouldn't have told her all of this, but if his goddess was right then all of this was irrevocable. It would also be a thousand times worse, otherwise.

No man would touch her, hurt her, or claim her.

Her pain had magnified Aries own, and he thought he’d have gone mad if she had not summoned him tonight. He had this intense feeling of protection for her. Like he’d die for her, a complete stranger. No, not true, he felt he knew her; he’d always known her. Like they’d been mates in every lifetime, and finally found each other again. It scared him on a level he’d never known before. This was beyond anything he’d ever imagined.

His hand moved her silky hair back from her now serene face. Her name fit her perfectly. All she needed was a halo and wings. And he needed horns and a tail. This was so impossible, and yet he couldn’t deny it. It would literally kill him to leave her, her too now, it seemed. It had been many years since he’d held a woman like this, in a bed. Many more after this, he admitted unwillingly to himself, if ever. His anguish was something he’d have lived with for his entire existence, if it meant shielding her from hers. He stared at her for some time, letting the guilt wash over him.

She must have some fairy in her, because she was too tiny to be human. She was tucked perfectly below his chin; breathing evenly on his chest. Thank gods he was wearing a shirt. One of her arms was bent to her ample chest, while the other was loosely thrown over his arm.

Her skin brushed his arm causing chills. How long since someone had touched him like this? He gritted his teeth against the smell emanating from her. Sweet, like exotic flowers… some kind of bath product most likely. Angel's own smell was hard to describe… something akin to fruit maybe. Mouthwatering. The scent of her blood called just as equally, causing him pain. His fangs fought for release; to tear through the thin tissue of his gums. To pierce Angel’s equally thin neck, and suck the irresistible, and life-altering nectar that kept him, and his brethren, alive.

Aries could withstand this, abide by the rules he’d set. He would not hurt this perfect woman, who lay so fragile beside him.

Her luscious legs were pulled up, so that her knees touched his abdomen. When he breathed deeply, he could feel their warmth.

Standing Angel only reached his biceps, almost childlike, but definitely a woman. Her curves began fantasies he’d have to finish some other time. Her silk robe was hiked up to her hip, showing she either wore a thong or nothing. Aries checked that thought before he got carried away.

His miniature princess whimpered softly; Aries automatically tightened his grip and stroked her back. She smelled wonderful; he was fighting with everything he had not to reach out and taste, with tongue and teeth. He knew somehow her blood would be ambrosia. It called silently to him, begging him to find out. He stiffened and started to get out of the bed, but she muttered something incoherently and tightened her miniscule hold on his shirt. He sighed, hoping she would wake up soon. The last few seconds were hell.

“
You’re awake...” He asked as consciousness flooded her eyes.

“
What happened? Did I faint?” She asked confused. Pictures and emotions bombarded her senses.

“
Yes.” He smiled at her innocence. She was so damn sexy, yet sex was not on his mind at this very second in time. It was true that blood lust often triggered other lusts. Not always with him. The thought was there, just not as important as her well-being.

I couldn't remember. My thoughts were all jumbled, and Aries was so warm. Apparently cold-blooded was, yet again, a false truth.

I snuggled closer, trying to figure out why being in his arms felt so good. How was it this man had made me come undone in twenty-four hours? She remembered something about crystals… oh well, it was gone now.

“
What time...” I asked stretching. Realizing he was getting a good look at her thighs, one hip and part of her butt cheek. She blushed and yanked the robe down as far as it would go. The robe was bought short, only because no one ever saw me in it.

“
About seven or so, at night,” He whispered gently.

“
What?” I exclaimed jumping up on my knees. Looking out the window, I leaned over him to get a closer look.

He smiled at my reaction. Then he sat up and pulled me to him and kissed my forehead. It seemed like the most natural thing; like we’d been this way forever. I felt his discomfort, desire, and worry and wondered if he’d gotten anything to drink last night.

“
What’s happening?” I asked quietly. Shivering in his tightening embrace.

“
I have no clue; I’m not sure I like this either. It scares me too,” he admitted, whispering. A slight Cajun accent flitted in and out when he was nervous. His hand absentmindedly stroked my arm.

“
Why?” I asked, timidly looking up at him.

“
I have never disobeyed her.”

Kali, his goddess, I thought. Jealousy flared for the briefest second, before I realized she was mine too. If this was all true, anyways.

My body ached. It felt like I’d danced for days, instead of hours. Dancing was out tonight, I thought to myself.

“
I need to sit up and stretch. I think my daily routine flew out the door, with all our reasoning.”

“
Routine?” He asked, letting me go, reluctantly.

“
I practice my martial arts, jog, and stretch every morning, at dawn.”

He stood up and looked confused. He glanced at my nearly naked body, instantly regretting it, but understanding flared in his eyes.

“
You can wait for me in the living room, I need a moment.” Apparently he remembered mortals had functions.

Aries nodded and went, and I uncontrollably checked out his derrière.

I felt the distance keenly, albeit tolerably. I hurried through the motions; brushing my teeth, using the toilet, and combing my hair… not in that order. I felt like some silly teenager, crushing on the lead quarterback. Why did I have to become like those airheaded teenagers when it came to Aries.

Makeup was rushed, but adequate, seeing as I was going clubbing shortly.

I nearly ran back, only slowing when I could see he was still there. Although I knew he was, my heart was still worried. I’ve never reacted to any boy or man in my life. This wasn't normal. I knew it, but I couldn't stop it. We felt genuine anguish when we were apart. I knew emotions. I had experienced every one. For crying out loud, I wasn’t a teenager, and yet I was acting just like one. Would I survive this?

“
Energy drink? You seem to have quite a few in the fridge,” Aries asked.

“
Thank you. Did you um, feed last night?”

“
I tried, but I just couldn’t. I tried again this afternoon, but you called me as I was enthralling… never mind.”

Enthralling? Whatever, there were more important questions to be asked.

“
In the daylight? Don’t answer that. How could you hold me, and not… try?”

“
I care more for you than how hungry I am, strangely enough, considering we’re nearly strangers. I’m the only one I know of who can be out during the day. I tend not to, and drinking at night lessens peoples fear. If I go too many weeks without feeding, I’ll become a monster hell-bent on consuming every living thing around me. I can go up to two weeks, before I forget who I am.”

“
So I must either watch you drink some person’s blood, or share mine?” Both of those ideas worried me; one caused more feelings than the other.

“
It seems so, I could leave you long enough and cause you pain, or cause myself pain. When I feed, the person falls under my siren call and actually enjoys the feedings. I cannot control the slow seepage of my siren powers; that may be what calls you to me.”

This wasn’t some sirens call. This had to be what he talked about last night, the whole theory. Otherwise, he’d leave a string of women behind like me. Would the anguish we felt get worse? I couldn’t handle that again; much less if it got worse. It would literally tear me apart.

He must have been thinking along the same lines, because he looked right at me.

“
I hope not. We have to be wrong. Why would she allow this? When she said I could never love, or have sex?” His face contorted with agony before he once more had control of his emotions. Of course, I felt the brief flare of his jealousy, which increased my own, and I couldn’t control mine, at least that fast.

“
Unless you were right all along, and one of you is destined to be my mate. Why not you, when you can walk in sunlight. Have you ever wondered why you could, and they couldn't? Wouldn‘t her mate need to be with her all the time, to protect her when no one else can.”

“
Yes... so this could mean that you are her,” he said drifting closer.

“
And you are he,” I said moving towards him. It seemed as if our bodies moved towards the other all on their own; without us even realizing. To me, it seemed that we were so aware of each other. That our bodies demanded the closeness all the more, like instinct. I whimpered in the back of my mind before that too was overcome by all the intense feelings. So much made sense while, on the other hand, there were even more questions. It took a moment before I found myself again.