NEVER FALL FOR THE FORBIDDEN (NEVER FALL SERIES) (12 page)

Chapt
er Twenty-One

              After the twentieth call unanswered, Triton’s hopes faded that Annasara would ever forgive him. He did everything in his power. He found out who held her mortgages and paid them off. He sent flowers, and cards, showed up at the gallery to only to be told she would not come out of the backroom to see him.

             
For days, he barely slept, not feeding, not showering, and moping about. His pissy mood and stench kept everyone at bay. Too occupied with the activity of Januar’s clan to notice, Umbriel and Nala paid no attention to Triton. After the first few days of trying to get him to help them, Nala and Umbriel grew weary of his depressed state and moodiness to bother.

             
The nights held no solace, Triton ignored the art auctions on line, he would stare for hours at her business card, and he listened to old voice mails of her voice in happier times twenty times in a row just to hear her.

             
Lying on the bed, staring at the ceiling, Triton pouted, until his phone vibrated from under the covers.
Umbriel calling with one of his lectures again
, he thought and ignored the buzzing. Rolling over to his stomach, he lay on top of the phone and cursed. Pulling it out from underneath, he considered throwing it against the wall when he saw the number on the screen. Spring up, he fumbled to press the accept button.
Annasara!
Missing the call, he waiting with baited breath until the tiny envelope popped up to tell him he had voicemail.              

             
“Hi, it’s me. I just found out what you did with the mortgage. Listen maybe we could meet for a glass of wine at the pub and talk. I have been doing a lot of thinking. I could stay mad forever, but I won’t. Tomorrow around eight? I hope you will come.”

             
Triton’s heart and body leaped. Jumping from the bed, he fisted his hand in victory. A second chance is exactly what he wanted, what he needed, what he hoped every day for. He vowed to make it up to her everyday of the rest of her life. He felt alive again, his strength returned, this thirst rose. Quickly he dialed leaving a message for Annasara, “My love nothing will keep me away, as son as I see you again I will take you into my arms and never let go.”

             
Stretching his body as if awaking for the first time, it finally it hit him, he laughed and smelled himself,
no one wonder everyone stayed away
. The phone vibrated again with a text message from Umbriel, Party tonight. Nala’s club. Be there.” Triton texted back, “I will be there.” A celebration was exactly what he needed. Tonight a celebration with his brother and tomorrow one with the love of his life, eternal life held value again. Another message popped up, “Please shower first.”

              That night, Triton, Umbriel and several other blood warriors, went to Nala’s club to celebrate. Pushing back Januar’s clan out of their feeding territory and keeping them at bay, they called a victory. However, what it was an excuse to blow off steam and recharge the clan’s spirits. All of the vamps entered and headed towards the V.I.P area. Triton spotted Nala behind the bar and she motioned him over.

             
“About time you came out of your cave, carry these upstairs.” Nala said handing him a crate of chilled champagne bottles filled with blood. He took the case from her as she grabbed one single bottle and led the way through the rowdy crowd. Triton felt two small hands go over his eyes and smiled. “Guess who?” Annasara tip toed up and whispered in his ear. Annasara lowered her hands and Triton spun around to face her. Nala stopped to turn to see Triton had stopped.

             
“What are you doing here?” Annasara asked smiling up at him. Triton looked from Annasara to Nala and back to Annasara, his elated look fell into an emotionless blank stare. Triton had to void his thoughts of any indication of his feelings for his Sara. Annasara stood stunned as he spoke coldly.

             
“Good to see you again. I will call the gallery when I get a chance.”

             
“Triton, the others are waiting.” Nala said to him and then turned to Annasara, “Please excuse us.” Nala said walking away towards the steps.

             
Feeling faint, Annasara’s mind fought to keep from shutting down; he could detect the sick pitting feeling in her gut. Annasara felt shunned by him,
it all made sense, all the secrecy; he is with that woman, she part of the organization.
Annasara stepped backwards, shaking her head side to side at him before turning away, pushing her way through the dancing crowd towards the door. Triton took one-step after her, but stopped him self. It killed him inside to see Annasara so hurt, but he could not let on in anyway, perhaps he had already. His heart ached horribly that he could not explain to Annasara what was going on in this moment. He loved Sara so much it pained him. With every fiber of his immortal being, he held back from chasing after her.
The damage is done
, he thought and straightened his posture and turned around. Catching up with Nala, Triton held the door for her.

             
“Who was that?” Nala asked.

             
“Just an art dealer.” He told her.

             
“You and your art.” She said and entered the private party to howls and cheers. Forgetting all about the encounter, Nala enjoyed the company unlike Triton who stood at the window looming over the dance floor looking for his lover. Retreating to Nala’s office to call Annasara, he opened the phone and dialed, closing it with a snap as Nala walked in and closed the door behind her.

             
“You’re not enjoying the celebration?” she asked.

             
“Why are you in here instead of out there?” he responded blankly.

             
“I came to find you.” She said. Nala strolled over to him unbuttoned her shirt and exposed her perfectly white skin of her neck to him. Triton’s thirst rose. All the anger, frustration, pent up tension made his vampire appear. He tried to resist but Nala’s precious drug that pumped underneath her skin called to him to drink.

             
“Feed.” Nala said. Triton grabbed her shoulders, mouth watering, fangs growing, eyes glowing green as grass. Ask he tilted his head in; Triton looked over her shoulder through the one-way glass down to the dance floor. Annasara walked towards the exit wiping tears from her eyes and stopped when the artist from the gallery grabbed her arm. Words exchanged quickly, Annasara turned from him, and he grabbed her arm again this time yanking her against his body, holding her lecherously. Annasara reared back, slapping his face and stormed off. Holding his chin, the artist threw down his glass angrily and chased after her. Triton’s ire exploded. Pushing Nala aside, he tore out of the room. Pulling up her shirt, Nala cursed, as Umbriel stood at the doorway looking perplexed. Umbriel walked in, her craving unsatisfied, she locked the door and unleashed on a very wiling Umbriel.

             
With uncanny speed, he made it to the parking lot. Annasara’s footsteps turned into stomps as she huffed out of the street to hail a taxi. The artist followed behind her, his thought disgusting and perverse,
I paid this bitch all that commission and this is thanks I get?”

             
Triton read what the man had planned for her, he snatched the artist dragging him in to the shadows. Annasara turned only to feel a light breeze, and saw nothing behind her. Struggling to free himself, the artist fought but was no match for Triton’s superhuman strength. Canine teeth grew to full length, his skin glowed white in the dark night, his anger turned darker than he had ever. Stretched taught, his head craned by Triton’s hand, the skin of the artist’s neck made a popping sound as Triton’s mouth opened wide, and clamped down onto the flesh. Blood hot and steamy rushed over his taste buds, down his throat, filling him, the lust for the dark drink made his head swim with dizziness and satisfaction of an excellent meal. Drinking him dry, Triton threw the corpse into a dumpster with an easy motion. Triton felt drunk with power, revenge killing proved intoxicating and he wanted more, he wanted her. He leaned against the wall recovering from the blood drink orgasm. Calling Annasara’s cellular, her voice mail picked up right away. He left her a quick message, telling her Nala was his superior in the organization and he could not mix business with pleasure and hoped she would understand. Clicking the phone shut, pushing off the wall, Triton composed himself. As he approached his car, leaning against the door, there she was an unreadable thought in her mind. Expecting her to slap him as she did to the artist, he braced himself as he stood directly in front of her, looking down at her. Raising her arm, she grabbed the back of his neck and pulled him to her lips. It seemed her passion was intense as his blood thirst was minutes ago.

             
“I have to have you, now.” She ordered. Triton’s lip twitched as he grabbed he and took her behind the building, at a desolate spot. Dropping to his knees, he reached under her skirt, put his sturdy hands on the top of her thighs slid them up the soft flesh until he came to her womanhood. Sweaty and moist, she writhed as his fingers traced under the elastic bands of the leg holes to her lacey pink underwear. Sliding them down to the ground, she stepped out of them and kept her legs slightly apart. Strong hands massaged her bottom as he came closer to her, his hot breath over her she shivered at the mere thought of his mouth and tongue gratifying her. As he pleased her, she moaned so loud he threw up a hand to keep the tryst quiet. Running her tongue over his fingers, he felt them sliding in and out of her mouth. Kissing and sucking the she lost herself in the fever of the forthcoming orgasm Annasara’s body shook hard from the explosion. Inadvertently biting down on his finger, she broke the skin on his pinky drawing a trickle of blood. Seeping into her mouth, the few drops make her gag, the metallic taste was choking to the taste. Triton reared his hand back, accidentally smacking her across the face as he shook off the pain. She raised her hand to her flushed face in shock, “I’m sorry!” He said.

             
“You hit me!” she blurted out.

             
“You bit me!” he retorted, the irony of a human biting a vampire danced in his head. Thick silence was broken but their instant laughter. Grabbing her hand, they ran back to his car, still laughing, the pink panties left in the spot where they dropped. Driving her home, friskily she freed him for his pants leaned her head over his lap, orally sexing him the entire ride home. He held her head down, as he pulled up to a red light, a female police officer next to him, unaware of her activities below the window. He smile at the officer and pulled the car through the light. Parking in front of the brownstone, he let her finish until she drained him of seed.

             
He held her against his side, rubbing her cool arm with his warm hand. They both felt good, an unspoken forgiveness granted to each other.

             
Exchanging a long good night, they parted ways; she drifted off to sleep as he returned to the compound. With most of the vampires still the club, Triton walked alone through the halls to his room. Surfing on line, he looked at property. Secretly he considered leaving, the clan, the compound, and especially the rules. Viewing several villas, castles, and manor houses in far off European lands, he occupied the hours until he could go to her again. Maybe they could go away together; never look back, but that was a far off dream. He would never age, she would not understand his world, they eventually would be hunted, and no one from his immortal culture could or would accept him being in love with a human. But he had a plan, and tomorrow he would execute it.

Chap
ter Twenty-Two

              As soon as the sunset faded into the horizon, Triton slid into his car driving quickly downtown. His cell phone rung continuously with Nala’s number flashing across the screen each time. The last thing he wanted to hear was Nala’s demands and plans for him. He slid the phone into his coat pocket and pulled up in front of the gallery. Finding it empty, he realized today was Sunday and the shop closed early. He tried her house, the corner market, and the pub with no luck.
Where is she?
He thought then realized he knew exactly where she was.              

             
The air was full of tomato, basil, and fresh baked bread scents as he entered in to the restaurant, finding her sitting at the same small table they had shared once before. Taking a seat, they stared coyly into each other’s gaze, as lovers in deep do.

             
“So”, he said breaking the silence. “Why were you at the club last night? Celebrating selling a painting?”

             
“No celebrating something else.” She said.

             
“What was that?”

             
“My birthday.” She said trying to disguise the disappointment of him not remembering in her voice.

             
“It was your birthday?” Triton said.

             
“Actually, it’s today.” She replied.

             
“I wish I would have known.” He looked at her with a perplexed grimace, which grew to a wide smile as he pulled out a large black velvet box from his inside coat pocket. Placing the box on the table, he slid it with one finger across the table to her.

             
“Happy Birthday.” He said as he watched her trembling hands open the box.

             
Inhaling sharply, her jaw dropped as she viewed the unbelievable present. Blood red and heart shaped the rarest ruby colored diamond sparkled up at her. The size of nickel, the gem dangled from a short platinum chain. Running her fingers across the priceless diamond, she looked up at him, mouth agape.              

             
Getting up from his chair, he took the necklace from the box and stood behind her. Holding up her silky hair, he linked the clasp on the necklace. The pendant rested against her throat. It felt as if necklace came right out of the freezer, cold and icy against her warm skin. He leaned over kissing her neck, and whispered, “This stone was once adorned on an ancient ceremonious hat worn by bishops and popes, then, at one time was a hair gem for one very selfish French queen who lost her head, but now it rests upon the neck of the most beautiful woman I have ever laid my sights upon.”

             
Triton took his seat again so he could admire the jewelry resting upon her neck.

             
“Oh Triton, it’s so amazing, but I don’t deserve something so expensive.”

             
“You deserve more.” He told her reached out taking hold of her hand. He could not contain himself, stood up leaned across the table, and kissed her. 

             
“Thank you, I will cherish for ever.” She said cupping his cheek in her hand and touching the other to the diamond. She stood as he did; they need to feel each other, embrace each other, and love each other. He sensed her undying love for him. Then, he sensed something else, another vampire.

             
The scent came over him quickly as he pulled away from their romantic entanglement. It was powerfully strong but not an elder. Annasara watched his face turn from enraptured to worry to fright. Umbriel stood before them. Triton froze as Umbriel’s eyes shifted from Triton to Annasara, to the necklace and back to Triton who stood stiff, like deer caught in the headlights.

             
“Pardon the intrusion.”  Umbriel told Annasara. “Do have a minute, brother?” he asked in a coolly restrained demanding tone.

             
“Of course I do.” He told Umbriel, nervously rubbing the back of his neck, “My apologies, Annasara this is my oldest and dearest friend, Umbriel.”

             
Annasara extended her hand, which, Umbriel took and kissed the top of with utmost manners. He breathed in deep, the scent of her filled his nose; the human flesh, sweet blood smelled divine and familiar. Umbriel remembered the scent form the shirt Triton tossed in face once.

             
“Please excuse my rude interruption, but I must speak to Triton, it is of utmost importance.” He said to her.

             
“I understand, if you will excuse me. I will give you a minute.” She said and retreated to the ladies room to gaze upon the necklace. Umbriel sat in her chair and Triton took his.

             
“What the bloody hell is wrong with you?!” Umbriel growled in low tone. “Are you mad, a human!” he continued. “Have you lost all your senses?”

             
“Why have you tracked me down like this?” Triton asked him trying not to attract any more attention to them. Umbriel sat further forward, “It’s started.”

             
“Started?” Triton said confused.

             
“War, brother.” He said and Triton closed his eyes in disbelief.

             
“Januar has killed the elder Valian, taken over his clan. They are one now and nearly four hundred strong.”

             
Triton slammed his fist, “He said he would not!” Then stopped him self from saying too much. “Valian’s territory borders ours to the west.”

             
“My sources say Nala may be next. They feel a female elder is more vulnerable. Fools think otherwise”

             
“She is stronger than most elders, she is the fourth oldest of all.”

             
“The third now that Valian is dead.”

             
“They’ve slaughtered all the resisters, but we have a few who are on our side and agreed to feed information to me in exchange for getting them out in when the time is right. Time to fight, we need you brother, you have to stop Januar.”

Guilt ate away at Triton knowing his actions in
Parkville started this clash.

             
“Let’s go, I must speak to Nala.” Triton said and stood to leave.

             
“What of the human?” Umbriel said. Triton’s heart sank. Winding his head back, Annasara walked back towards the two men who stared her down. He would have to leave her again. Be without his love. He only hoped she would love him enough to wait.

             
“Can I trust you to say nothing to anyone about her?” Triton asked.

             
“Do you have to ask?” Umbriel said. Triton put his arm on Umbriel’s shoulder, “I am in your debt.” Umbriel nodded, turned, and left. Returning to the table, Annasara frowned at Triton face, which held the most devastating look.

             
“Is everything okay?” she asked. Tortured by the task ahead, Triton braced himself before delivering the news to his beloved.

             
“No. Listen to me; there are things about me you do not know. Things I can not explain now, but please be patient.” He paused torn by what he was about to tell her. Urgency and desperation filled his voice, and she knew the dead seriousness of what he was about to say.

             
“I have to go away, I will not be able to contact you, and please what ever you do, do not try to call me. As hard as it may be, do not do it.”

             
“For how long?”

             
“I can not say, but know-I love you.” He said taking her hand in his. Tears filled her eyes, spilling in cascades down her cheeks. She in turn professed her love to him as well.

             
“Last thing I want to do is leave you, but I have no choice.”

             
“Please be careful. If you need anything I will be here for you.” She said. Desperately pleading, his words came out choked, “Will you wait for me? No matter how ever long I am gone?”

             
She held her breath for a few seconds, making Triton nervous with anticipation, “Yes.” she said. Triton paid the bill, escorted Sara out, and drove her straight home. Holding her tightly against him with one arm the entire way home he comforted her as she wept. Triton found himself shedding tears as well. Wiping the drop from his cheek, he looked surprisingly at it.

             
“You’re the only man I ever loved.” She sobbed.
I am not a man, I am a beast,
he thought but could not explain this to her. They held each for longer than they should have, neither one wanting to be the first to let go.

             
“I feel like I will never see you again.” She cried. Triton choked on his own tears, the desperation caught in his throat, “You will, we will be together again. I promise this to you. I have to go.”

             
“No, please don’t leave me.” She begged.

             
“I must, I’m sorry.”

             
“I don’t understand.” Annasara sobbed.

             
“I have to do this, to protect you.”

             
“Tell me again.” She cried. He held her so tight, the words spilling out with his tears. “I love you.”

             
Exiting the car, Annasara ran into the house and did not look back. She was inconsolable, collapsing onto the couch, she cried until tears until she exhausted them all. Triton nearly turned the car around several times. He wanted to forget war, clans, and fighting and run away with her. However, his world called him, duty to the order, and loyalty to Umbriel, and the others. Annasara owned his heart, no one had ever filled his emptiness, subsided the loneliness of centuries prior, but he was what he was and had to join the fight. Fight a war he inevitably and knowingly had started. He had no options, he had sold his soul to the devil, and the devil wanted his due. Today.