Original Stories Fan Fiction ❯ A Matter Of Choice ❯ Facing the Odds ( Chapter 19 )

Facing the Odds

 

It was a few days later and Tegan was sat in her room looking at the wounds on her throat. They were healing remarkably well but they were deep. She knew that it wouldn't take much to reopen them, the flesh around the puncture wounds still red and angry looking. Still it steeled her resolve. She had to face up to what had happened and what was to come in her future, no matter how much she didn't want to. She watched the sky turn dark, dressing in heavy jeans, a t-shirt and her heavy denim jacket. It was going to be a cold night but wasn't that which chilled her. Tonight she would see Demetriov again.

 

She breathed deeply trying to calm herself. How was she going to react when it came down to it? She didn't know and that in itself scared her, but there was no time to be dwelling on this. She finally felt herself and strong again, and she knew she had to be. As she headed downstairs she found Stuart waiting for her.

 

“Ready?”

 

“As I'll ever be.”

 

He saw how nervous she was and brought her in for a reassuring hug. She appreciated it more than he knew. They walked out into the night together, the walk seeming to stretch on for hours. She became aware that they had entered the grounds of a large house.

 

“What are we doing out here?” She asked perturbed by their surroundings.

 

“They like to be out, and they all hunt at different times. Besides, they are trying to decide the best way to kill me.”

 

“Oh, how nice of them. Will they be arranging the funeral?”

 

“Tegan!”

 

“Sorry. I'm being cynical.”

 

“I'd noticed. Are you always like this when you're pissed off? I never know, I've not seen you much in the past couple of years.”

 

“My friends would tell you that I even get worse sometimes.”

 

“How do they live with you in this mood?”

 

“Ask them. I don't know.” She shrugged indifferently.

 

“Shh. We should be there soon.”

 

They approached an outcrop above what seemed to be a dry stream, Stuart stopping her.

 

“They're close; we have to be very careful and very quiet. I hate to think what would happen if they notice us.”

 

They crept up to the outcrop, dropping to their hands and knees to reach the edge, lying down out of sight. Peering over Tegan could see four figures, the moonlight allowing her to see clearly. The first was a woman; slender, very pale and reasonably young in appearance thought doubtless she was much older. She wore a long black dress, the colour adding to the pallor of her skin. Tegan wondered how she didn't feel the cold. A distance away from her stood a tall man who looked like he was in his mid twenties. He was dressed in a t-shirt and ripped jeans, leant against a tree nonchalantly, smiling with a twinkle in his eyes. To look at him you never had believed he wasn't quite human, until the moonlight caught his eyes, which were a brilliant emerald green.

 

Beside the woman was a man who was again pale, looking at their smiling companion with a disdainful sneer. The two obviously didn't see eye to eye. He was dressed in a dark suit to match his companion. There was a third male in the group, looking on obviously amused by his two male companions' dislike of each other. For some reason looking at him made her shiver; his smile and his eyes cruel and hard. He looked like a predator. They were all stood in silence.

 

“So as usual we are waiting on Demetriov.” The woman broke the silence.

 

“Probably chasing the girl again.” The cruel looking one laughed. “How is it that one eighteen year old girl can evade him? He must be losing his touch.”

 

“It's not like him to play with his food.” She countered, the two getting into a flow.

 

“He doesn't want to kill her.” The one by the tree stated, moving away from his perch.

 

“Ah Torin, very insightful. Stating the obvious don't you think?”

 

“Adam, do you always have to be this obnoxious? No wait, I already know the answer to that.”

 

“Children, no bickering.” The last male of the group joining the conversation at last.

 

“I never said you had to like me.” Adam looked to Torin. “We all know what he was up to. What puzzles me is how our strongest companion actually managed to fail, after all, the hunter is a weakling we all know it.”

 

Tegan fairly bristled in anger at that comment, how dare he talk about her uncle that way! Stuart sensed her outrage and reached out a hand to squeeze hers, both to reassure, and to hopefully calm the girl.

 

The third male stepped in again. “It doesn't matter now, what is done is done. What matters is the future and we should leave this matter firmly where it belongs, in the past.”

 

“Thank you Daniel.” Tegan jumped at the familiar voice.

 

Demetriov melted out of the shadows. She studied her adversary, now better able to see him in this light than when she had first met him. He was wearing a black suit once more, but this was a different cut. He wore it with a pastel shirt open at the collar and the jacket open. His hair was tied back allowing her to see his face clearly. She was drawn to his features, the bright eyes, the slightly rosy tint to his skin, etching him into her memory lest she be caught unawares. Her heart was racing; she closed her eyes trying to control it. Why did it race so? Was it fear or anticipation?

 

“So,” Demetriov began. “Now we are all here what is the occasion?”

 

“We want to know what you are up to.”

 

“Torin, you can never just trust me can you?” Amusement evident in his tone.

 

“He has a point Demetriov. What happens to her could affect all of us.” The woman interjected.

 

Tegan couldn't be certain, but something inside of her and the look in her uncle's eyes told her that she was the subject of this conversation.

 

Daniel shared his companion's concern. “Alicia's right. If you had left her alone things would have been a lot simpler. Now who knows what the consequences of your actions may be.”

 

“We don't know how she is going to react.” Torin replied. “Though having said that her uncle may have decided to tell her any way at some point, so speculating is not going to get us anywhere.”

 

“If her uncle hadn't butted in this would have been ended and we wouldn't be arguing about it.” Demetriov responded bluntly.

 

“Oh we could have some fun if you get your way.” Adam chuckled.

 

“She's a person Adam, not a bloody plaything!” Torin snapped disgusted at the other's amusement.

 

The argument continued but Tegan was no longer listening. Her eyes were locked on Demetriov who stood smiling watching the argument happen around him. He seemed calm, almost serene as the two men bickered. She now found herself picking out the details of his appearance, the black velvet ribbon in his hair, the amused look in his eyes. Her heart was pounding in what she now saw was anticipation, every instinct telling her that something was about to happen. He turned ever so slowly, a smile spreading across his features. He knew they were there!

 

His gaze met hers and suddenly with a jolt the world fell away, Demetriov taking hold of her mind. She was transported back to that night and they seemed utterly alone once more. She felt the powerlessness that had overwhelmed her then and was taking over her now. She could feel his arms around her, his cold touch on her skin sending exquisite shivers through her. She started to tremble, trying to break away from his gaze but she couldn't. He smiled that same smile as he had when he had held her in his arms. His eyes bored into her, making her remember how good it had felt. She felt his silken lips at her throat once more, kissing her in that way that made her knees go weak. Tegan was gasping for breath now, overwhelmed by his mental hold on her.

 

She shuddered as she relived the moment of the bite; Demetriov's smile widening. He found her so easy to manipulate. She screwed her eyes shut, her body breaking into a sweat as she felt the blood begin to flow once more. Even with her eyes closed she could feel his gaze boring into her, hear him laughing in her mind. The sensations flooded through her, extending into every fibre of her being. The pleasure she had experienced as he had fed off her now reawakening inside her. She reeled as her emotions threatened to overwhelm her. She was desperate to break this impossible hold on her, and yet her body cried out for more.

 

She fought him with every ounce of determination and will she possessed. His hold seemed to weaken and yet he stayed. He tortured her with the memory, the memory of how much she had wanted it. Her heart was out of control, gasping for breath, her body bathed in sweat, her clothes sticking to her unpleasantly. She felt a thick stickiness at her throat, the wounds throbbing. The terrible sweetness was becoming unbearable and she feared she would cry out and reveal their presence. She pleaded with him with her eyes to let her go, to release her from this damning ecstasy that threatened to tear her apart from the inside.

 

Suddenly his hold was gone, Tegan breathing hard as the phantom sensations dissipated, their eyes still locked on one another. She felt Stuart reach for her but she brushed him away rolling onto her back. She tried to get her breathing under control, her body quaking. She could still hear him and feel him and it was too much. She couldn't cope with what was happening to her; her life changing too much and too fast, and he was making it so much worse. Shrugging off Stuart she got to her feet and ran.

 

* * * * *

 

Demetriov chuckled to himself. It had been cruel but oh so enjoyable. Torin caught the look in his eye and was puzzled.

 

“Demetriov?”

 

“Hmm?”

 

“Have you been listening?”

 

“Don't worry, we just had visitors.”

 

“What?”

 

“No matter, they are gone, now we can get down to business.”

 

“Just a moment.” Alicia interjected. “Visitors?”

 

“Oh that, our dear enemy and his niece; though why he brought her I have no idea.”

 

“Tegan?” Torin was suddenly concerned. Things had suddenly become very interesting.

 

“They're gone. So to business.”

 

* * * * *

 

Tegan ran and ran, her heart threatening to burst out of her chest, the stickiness at her throat increasing. She could hear Stuart calling her but she didn't stop. She disregarded everything. She thundered across the fields and into the house, almost collapsing as she got through the door. As she stopped she suddenly felt weak, what had he done to her? She was out of breath from the run, her clothes constricting. She struggled out her jacked suddenly aware of stickiness on her hands. She looked down stifling a cry as she saw the blood. Looking down it had soaked her t-shirt.

 

The throbbing at her throat told her what had happened, putting her hand to the wounds she was unsurprised to find that her throat was wet, her fingers coated with clotting blood. Demetriov was so strong, she could barely comprehend that this had happened. It wasn't just her mind he had manipulated. She turned as she heard Stuart fly through the door behind her.

 

“Are you alright?”

 

Ignoring him she headed into the kitchen and with silent efficiency found herself a towel, pressing it to her throat. She looked up at him and he nodded needing no explanation. She sat down applying pressure. She sighed.

 

“So that's what I am up against.” The resignation in her voice painful to hear.

 

“He's incredibly strong, now you see why he is so dangerous to you.”

 

“You have to train me; I don't have a chance otherwise. If he can control me like that I'm done for.” There was a touch of desperation in her voice, it almost dropping to a whisper as she realised the depth of her predicament.

 

“I know; I have to admit I am scared for you. I doubt I have much time and there is so much we need to do.”

 

“I'll have to quit school. I need to focus all my attention on this. You're right; I have to get away. I can't stay here and wait him out. And then… there's Michael.” The words dried up in her throat.

 

She suddenly understood why Stuart had been so harsh with her a few weeks ago, why that conversation had come to pass at all. Her feelings for him anchored her here, but that could no longer be. Her eyes brimmed with tears.

 

“You have to let him go.” Stuart murmured softly. He hated to see her upset.

 

“I know, I don't want to, I don't want to hurt him, but I must.” She swallowed hard, wiping the tears away resolutely. “So, Demetriov is going to haunt me for the rest of my life, and I will have to run and keep on running.” She stated bitterly.

 

“I'm so sorry; I never wanted this for you.” Stuart hung his head; it was all he could do.

 

She closed her eyes and fought back further tears. They sat in silence for a long time until the bleeding at her throat stopped. Weary and shaken she headed upstairs and headed for the shower. She stood in the warm water for what seemed like an age, the blood and sweat washing away. She watched the red streams work their way through the water and down the plughole in a daze. That image seemed to sum up her whole situation. Once she finally left the steamy room, she slammed the bedroom window shut, locked it, and patched up her throat once more. She lay in bed for a long time waiting for sleep to come, her mind almost numb. When she finally drifted into sleep, her dreams were filled with Demetriov.

 

* * * * *

 

When the morning came she made the hard call to the school. She arranged to go in the afternoon to discuss her situation and sort out the necessary paperwork. It was agony waiting for the afternoon to come, the prospect of seeing Michael and having to say what needed to be said stung. She wasn't sure she could do it, but she had to. She walked slowly to pass the time until their meeting, waiting for classes to start before she arrived. She didn't know she managed to maintain her composure, telling the lies that she needed to. Somehow she got through it, and the paperwork done, that was the end of her formal education.

 

The foggy state of numbness claimed her again as she walked through the corridors, making her way back outside. It was becoming all too familiar. This action seemed to have such finality, perhaps more so than the impending meeting with Michael. This was official, legal, and it signalled a definite end to a part of her life. Her hands balled into fits, feeling anger rise within her again at the realisation of how much Demetriov had stolen from her. She swallowed hard, determined not to let this anger rule her, but almost welcoming it; it was better than the numbness which had claimed her all too often of late.

 

It wasn't long until the final bell went so she decided to get the hardest part of this painful closure over. She waited by the gate that she knew he would leave through, her heart pounding as the bell rang. As everyone started to file out she chose a secluded spot, not wanting to run into her friends, only Michael. Tears were already threatening to fall before she saw him. It only took a moment for him to spot her, surprise in his expression. She motioned for him to follow her and she started down the street.

 

“Tegan!” He said breathlessly as he caught her up, stopping her. “Where have you been? I tried to call you but your aunt told me you weren't well. She wouldn't let me talk to you.”

 

“I've had a pretty rough time of it.” She managed to say, and to her surprise her voice sounded fairly composed. “Things are still not good. That's why I'm here.”

 

He stepped up to her, taking her in his arms. She closed her eyes wishing she didn't have to do this.

 

“When are you coming back?”

 

She stepped back sighing. “I'm not.” She swallowed hard, not quite able to look him in the eye as she made her admission.

 

“Why? What's happened?” He was incredulous.

 

“That doesn't matter now.” She tried to brush the subject off, needing to finish the conversation while she still could.

 

“Like hell it doesn't!”

 

“Please stop!” Her voice was trembling. “This is hard enough as it is.” She turned away, unable to look at him, tears starting to fall down her face.

 

It took him a moment but he realised where this might be going.

 

“Tegan, please don't tell me that you're…you wouldn't.” But as he looked at her, her breathing interspersed with quiet sobs, he knew. “Why?” He asked softly, that one word tinged with the pain he felt, the pain she was causing him.

 

“Because I have to.” Came her choked reply. She could barely stand it when he placed his hand on her shoulder. “I'm going to have to move away. I don't want to but…”

 

“All of a sudden you have to.” He snapped. “What the hell is going on?” He demanded, his temper getting the better of him.

 

“I can't explain, I wouldn't know how to. So much has changed and so fast. I'm so sorry.” She turned to him, his anger deflating as she saw her anguish. “You must know that I love you, that I don't want to do this.”

 

He took her face in his hands, kissing her softly.

 

“I love you too, you know that. Whatever it is I'm here for you.”

 

“No.” She replied sadly. “You can't be, not for this, no matter how much you want to be. I'm not going to be here much longer, and you can't come with me. You have to live your own life.”

 

“Where are you going?”

 

“Not sure, we are still working on that detail. Not in this country though.”

 

“When?”

 

“I don't know yet, soon. I wanted you to know as soon as I did.”

 

“So you've come to say goodbye.”

She nodded. She looked up at him. He looked like someone had punched him; she could see the pain in his eyes, feeling the pain in her heart increase at the sight.

 

“I'm so sorry.” She whispered, barely able to speak anymore.

 

She stepped up to him and kissed him tenderly. They held each other for a long time, both wishing that the moment didn't have to end, for it finally to be over between them. Tegan knew she had to walk away. Her tears were now constant as she placed her hands on his chest, pausing for a moment to feel the strength she loved one last time, before applying pressure and pushing them apart. She stepped back and turned from him, her eyes on the ground now. Desperate for the moment to continue he caught her hand as she began to walk away. She stopped swallowing hard.

 

They stood like this for a long moment, neither able to move, barely daring to breathe. Ever so slowly Tegan managed to bring herself to slip her fingers from his grasp, not seeing how his hand slipped back to his side slackly in defeat. It took all of her courage to make herself walk away and not look back. She knew she couldn't look back or she would see his heart breaking, and she wouldn't be able to leave at all. He watched her walk away, tears now flowing silently down his cheeks, until she turned the corner and was gone from sight.

 

Tegan walked on autopilot, unaware of everything, just placing one foot in front of the other. It was a long walk home, Stuart waiting for her when she got back. He stood as she walked through the kitchen but didn't stop her as she headed wordlessly upstairs. She closed the door behind her, letting go of all the emotions she had held back, tears flooding down her face in a fresh deluge. She collapsed at the end of the bed, hugging her knees to her chest, crying, crying and crying until the tears ran dry.

 

 

 

 

Author's notes:

Okay, I think we had angst by the truckload there. Oh I am so kind to my little heroine. Poor thing was doomed from the get go. Hee hee! I know I shouldn't laugh at other's misfortunes but it such fun to write. Anyways, not things are starting to move. I am hoping I have you hooked into her character now, because we are sticking with her for the rest of the story. So till next time folks!