The picture above is a drawing I did a while back of Saphira. :)
IG : hannahpatrixia1
Follow me.

~Valentine~

I stare at what used to be the bathroom. It looks like burned and withered roses, displaying the magnitude of her powers. Saphira lays asleep on the bed - her body hidden under a mountain of sheets and pillows. I was tempted, many a time, to crawl in and warm her cold body.

I can still feel her body pressed against mine and her lips tangling with my own. Every moment with her has me wishing that she was in my arms.

Saphira has been in a deep slumber for a lot longer than usual. Despite the three humans she fed on the day before, she is completely drained. I, on the other hand, am still trying to conveniently wrap my head around our circumstances. Many matters at hand were running rampantly around us, waiting for the opportune moment to strike.

New things are appearing every day and unfortunately more will come. Although she knows quite a bit, there is still more for her to know - some, inconceivable and some, instinctual.

"How is she doing?" Amaryllis comes up behind me and gracefully stands by the bed. Our voices are barely whispers.

I look down at Saphira's sleeping figure and frown. "Her breathing and heart rate has regulated. As for the others, I can't really know until she wakes," I say while trying to listen to her steady heart beat.

Amaryllis gives me an amused smile. "I am a witch, you know. I can fix her up before you can blink."

"And you remind me every time." I laugh and lean against the wall. "I don't think it will do much more, Ari, she seems pretty stable. But thank you."

She straightens her body and grins at me. "Couldn't you just say that you liked watching her sleep?"

I give her a smirk. "You know me too well." Saphira is beautiful and any man would be a fool to not love her and care for her.

She sits herself down on the foot of the large bed and sighs. There was a silence in the room and I could tell that Ari desired to say something but was hesitant. We have been friends for many years and I am glad to have her on my side. Ari always has a sense of the happenings in my life.

"Yes. A little too well for my liking," she jokes and scrunches her nose. I'm glad there's humor still left in her. "When are you going to tell her?"

My jaw clenches. I know exactly what she was referring to. "When the time is right. She knows too much and doesn't need anymore barriers to keep her from achieving her true potential. She's a ticking bomb."

She turns her head to look at me. "You know, I don't usually meddle with things, especially with your future, but I have a feeling it might help if you told her sooner than later."

Contemplating on her advice, I pace back and forth, immediately thinking of the damage it may cause if I did tell her. "I don't know, I mean, look at her. She nearly killed herself last night and we just kissed. Think of what she'll do if..."

I stop when Saphira rustles on the bed. My voice raises and Ari stands up to confront me. She knows my thoughts about all of this but she also knows the future. Even as a high witch, she glows with humility and caution. "You need to think this through, Valentine, there are many lives at risk. Datura will do anything to end your bloodline and everyone around it. You might think Saphira knows too much, but the truth is, she knows too little."

Her words are like knives to the heart, slicing every bit of exposed flesh to slowly tear it apart. It was an aching reminder of my imperfections. Amaryllis turns on her heels and and proceeds to exit out of the room, leaving me with a waking Saphira.

I stay within the shadow as she bolts upright, looking quite disoriented. Saphira looks around the room and her eyes fall on me and my teeth clench in anticipation. Her gaze switches to the bathroom and she gives out a small gasp. She looks delirious, like she doesn't know who or where she is. I credit that to the raw power she let go last night. 

"Is that my doing?" She points.

I take one step forward. "Unfortunately."

She recoils and throws the sheets off of her while swinging herself off of he bed. "I gotta get out of here," she says frantically.

Quickly, I walk over to her and ignore the fact that she is standing there in my shirt. Only my shirt.

"Wait, where are you going?"

She realizes her lack of clothing and she starts to look around the room. "Anywhere but here."

I look at her, confused and try to figure out exactly what she wanted. Saphira hastens as she starts to pick up items of clothing that instantly appear in the room.

"No, it's dangerous out there," I say, a little too protectively. Will my actions and our circumstances allow her to discover the many secrets I conceal? Will she be wise enough to figure how grave her position stands in this blood feud?

She stops to look at me. "The only dangerous thing out there is me. Did you not see what I did? I have to leave before I do anything else."

I place myself between the door frame to stop her from leaving. "Running away won't change anything."

She growls and her fangs release from her gums. "You're right, it won't, but at least no one will get hurt."

Saphira pushes me and my hands create dents in the frame, still preventing her from leaving. Her hands curl around my neck and my own shoot up as an attempt to remove them.

"Saphira," I hiss through my teeth. I could feel my breath slip away the longer her hands touch my skin. My thoughts turn to my powers but refrain. Anything I do will kill her and I can't lose her now. I gasp for air and her eyes widen as my body falls limp against hers.

"I'm so sorry," she whispers in my ear. "Don't follow me or I will let my rage consume you." My lids fall to a close and I watch, with blurred vision, as she disappears from my sight.

****

~Saphira~

I took one last look at Valentine as he lay motionless on the floor. A low growl crawls up my throat as I make my way out of the mansion. With no destination in mind, I accelerate out of the estate with the noise of screeching tires to inform them of my getaway.

I look into the rearview mirror and spot Ari standing on a veranda not taking her eyes off of the car. I'm at the breaking point and I've had enough. The more this so-called mission goes deeper into my roots the more my anger stirs. It's only a matter of time before people get hurt.

I'm going to go after Datura myself and end this. She'll be dead before the sun rises. My hands curl tightly around the steering wheel as I step on the gas pedal. The sky is pitch black and there is no sign of light aside from the moon and my headlights.

Acacia had a reputation for casting a looming shadow over the surrounding land. The day it burned, was the day I was born. Fire and smoke was the first I laid my eyes on and the memory is still clear as day. The sight and sound of screams was seared in my mind and every time I close my eyes I see them. There was not a single city or town that was built within five miles of it's vicinity. Acacia is an island.

Along with the car, my heart accelerates toward the dark shadows of the forest. It's somber atmosphere seep with a murky mist that rolled off of the burnt trees and barren ground. It is enough to repel those who do not know that lies within, but lures those willing to execute themselves. I, on a different note, am attracted in a way that I cannot explain, something I have never felt before. I feel at home.

A screeching of tires knocked me out of a hazy reverie and it barely registers that I am being pursued. "Dammit!" I slap my palm against the steering wheel and sharply turn it to the right, avoiding a fatal impact with the other car.

Adjacently, we race down the pavement. I am tossed to the side when the vehicle crashes into the rear bumper almost causing me to spin. The crunching metal creates a nasty sound when mixed with my exclamations. The windows cave in and from every impact they crack, letting a fierce wind hit my skin.

My fangs extend and I growl, loudly. Whoever this is, they will wish they never met me. I crane my head to catch a glimpse of my assailant but their tinted windows prevent me from success. I grit my teeth and prepare to hit them with a strong force.

The black car swerves to the right and the front tires uncontrollably thrash against the asphalt causing the vehicle to roll on its side. I slam on the breaks and watch the car slide to a stop a few meters away with its wheels spinning in the air. A terrible sound of scraping ad shattering cascade into my eardrums.

Cautiously, I exit out of the car to assess the brutal scene. I arm myself with my dagger and walk over to the immobile vehicle. Aside from the crunching of glass and creaking metal, the night is quiet. There is nothing but darkness surrounding us and the narrow glow of headlights.

I check left and right and quickly advance to the totaled car. I pull on the dilapidated car door and it pops off with little effort. With my rapid actions, I crouch down to peek inside the car.

"Shit." I groan loudly when I was met with vacant space and broken glass. My nostrils flare at the blood that was splattered in the car. It envelopes me like rain on a summer day and has me distracted. Whoever he or she is, they're hurt and could not have run far.

The sound of a gun firing rids me of my distractions and a scream breaks from my quivering lips. My hand shoots to my shoulder - sticky blood seeps through the fabric of my shirt and drips onto my hand. I wince at the throbbing pain and bite my lip as the broken flesh pushes the bullet outward. Good, it's healing faster than I thought.

I hear a slightly labored breathing behind me and twist on my heels to see who my attacker was. My eyes widen in surprise and my jaw clenches firmly. Her short brown hair is splayed around the lethal expression on her face.

"Chelsea," I breathe out. It isn't a question but a statement of my realization. My eyes lock with my personal assistant's hollow ones. A gun is pointed straight at my head.

"Hey, boss," she smiles ferociously. "Good to see you again, how's that last novel coming?"

I scoff. Chelsea refers to the current story that I am living. It is expected that my alter ego would write the sadistic, but thrilling novel of those I kill. If I am doing so, this will be my longest and most complicated yet.

"Quite well, actually. Now that you're in the story, of course," I reply. "This is an interesting twist, don't you think? You'll be a great temporary edition."

She laughs. "Yes, but you see," she pauses and cocks the gun. "You're forgetting one thing. I'll be the first to kill you - I won't just be temporary."

"I'm glad we're talking business, but let's cut to the chase. Who turned you and sent you to kill me?"

"I thought you would know that, boss, since you're the best." She is completely different. This is not Chelsea. The diligent, loyal and quiet girl I had for a familiar and agent had transformed into a crazed vampire. Did Augustine get his unforgivable claws on her and turn her against me?

"I didn't think I'd have the upper hand in this situation."

"You don't," I spit with fury and throw the dagger straight at her stomach lodging where I was positive she would survive. I could hear a gurgling sound coming from Chelsea as her body falls limply to the ground.

Her gun fires and my breathing hitches as it stops two inches from my eyes. For a few seconds, my heart stops beating and my breathing runs ragged. The large bullet is so close that I can see the rivets in it's design and the little steam flowing from it. The bullet falls and lands right between my feet sending back a light clink as a reminder that if not stopped it would have been half way through my head. 

I turn my head and my gaze meets with Valentine's. His hair is disheveled and from the look of it, he is still recovering from my touch. His presence gives me a feeling of safety and intimacy - making me feel guilty for what I did to him. Had he been waiting long or is his impeccable timing so precise and so perfect? I give him a feeble smile and pivot myself to face him. My heart leaps at the subtle smile he returns.

Valentine's expression drops and his jaw clenches tightly. He reaches behind his waist and pulls out a gun to point it directly at me. My eyes narrow to slits at Valentine and I notice the slight movement of a body behind me. Of course, Chelsea wouldn't attack me on her own - she's a fledgeling and she knows what I can do.

"Are you here to kill me too?" I ask with dripping sarcasm intended for the stealthy individual sneaking up to me but directed at Valentine.

When my assailant is only inches from me, I quickly drop down to a crouch and take their legs out from under them. My attacker, who I figured to be another bloodsucker, falls on his side - his head hitting the asphalt with a crack. He grunts in pain and tries to rise from his position but I keep him still with my heeled boot.

He stares up at me and scurries for his weapon but I dig the sharp heel into his chest to render him immobile. He screams and grabs onto my foot as an attempt to disengage.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you," I chastise him.

"Don't kill me, please," he begs. "Let me go."

Valentine approaches us and he, too, looks down at the struggling vampire with pity. "Not until we get a name from you. Who are you working for?" Valentine interrogates venomously.

His glance switches from mine to Valentine, who appears furious and bloodthirsty. "I-I don't know. I never saw his face," he stutters.

"You're lying," I press the heel down again and he squirms under my foot.

"The offer must have been hard to resist then," Valentine mutters. From his tone, he seemed to be contemplating on various possible people wanting to kill me.

At this moment, the long heel was halfway through his chest on its way to his heart. I give it a slight twist and he shoots me a wrenching look of desperation.

"Give me one reason why I shouldn't end your life right here," I spit.

"Ah, gah-" he exclaims and breathes heavily - his chest painfully convulsing. "I can't, I don't have one."

"I just need a damn name," I screech. My patience is wearing thin and I have nothing better to do than torture the poor creature. I can feel my dark power lethally course through my veins.

With force, I exert a heavy weight on my foot, driving my heel into his heart. "Oh, fuck," he chokes from his own dark blood and and it sputters from his mouth.

"H-his name is-" he says, but never finishes. A sharp scraping sound whirs from his neck and blood flows like a river, pooling around his body. His body shakes before it completely stops and his eyes come to a close. I lift my foot from his chest and bend down to examine him.

A thick metallic collar hangs from his neck, covered thick with blood. Valentine crouches down to my level and touches the device. "An enforcement collar?" His eyebrows come together in confusion. "Only imprisoned vampires wear these. They have titanium spikes that shoot into necks, almost severing them, killing them instantly. Whoever hired him must have been listening through the transmitter."

My mouth drops. "Are you implying that someone from Numidia is trying to kill me?"

"It's possible, but it could be anyone. I have seen these being sold in the underground market. Whoever it is, they didn't want even a slight hint of who they are." He stretches to his full height and walks over to Chelsea who lays unconscious on the ground with blood staining her clothes. I feel sorry for her. My dagger is in her bloody hand and a collar is also around her neck.

Valentine bends down and in a short moment the device clicks and it disables - unlatching from her neck. He activates the spikes and they protrude with a slicing sound. I take the collar from him and examine it myself.

I move my body but flinch as I feel a sharp pain in my shoulder. I had forgotten that a bullet is still lodged in the flesh. I figured it would have healed by now, but I was too preoccupied to pay attention. Now it burned like my own blood was killing me.

Valentine's hand made its way to my cheek. I almost refused to believe what he was doing because of the gentle and kind gesture. "Are you alright?"

"Yeah, I just need this damn bullet out of me." My face twists in pain. I try to let his strange but comforting concern slip but I can't - Valentine's actions are making quite a lasting impression.

I try not to wince as Valentine grips my shoulder, squeezing it tightly. "May I?" He asks and I nod stiffly.

"Do I have a choice?" I retort sarcastically.

He takes the dagger from Chelsea's hand and points the tip right over the wound. "Don't move," he commands. I obey and clamp my mouth at the burning impact of the titanium against my skin.

I scream as he pushes the blade in, creating a bigger incision for the bullet. When he accidentally hits a bone, my hand instinctively shoots to his arm.

"Hang in there, sweetheart. Almost got it," he reassures. My fangs spring out in agony, wanting, so bad, to sink themselves into something.

I silently count in my mind and on the count of seven, the excruciating pain is no longer there. I turn from my fetal position and eye Valentine as he holds up a titanium bullet filled with glowing liquid.

His pupils dilate and his jaw drops. "Well, that changes things," he says under his breath.

******

Sorry to end it so lame, I couldn't think of a good clifffhanger.
This chapter, in particular, was incredibly hard to write.
Leave me a note and vote, yeah?
Also, where are you guys from?