Always Be Careful Ch. 04

"So what happened gram?"

"They were married within a week of his return. They could finally live a life together. Soon your mother learned that she was pregnant. They were over the moon at the news of your coming. As word of the pending birth spread the king heard the news and sent for his old friend and general. The king was happy for his friend but also worried for his kingdom again. He knew just as much as your father knew that a child with his blood pumping throw its veins would be much desired by all the wrong people. The king offered to take your mother and father in to hide them and you away from the world. Your father was a natural warrior so the idea of hiding was absurd to him, he would protect his family so he declined the kings offer. Before he left the palace that day the king warned him that if he had to take the child by force he would at any cost to stop a war..." my head was spinning with the talk of kings and generals in an army.

"So my father turned his back on the king?"

"He did. He returned to your mother and waited for your birth. The day finally came and you were delivered in secret. You had your father wrapped around your finger from the very first time he held you and looked into your eyes. Life was good but soon it changed. The king sent a message to your father warning him of an attack against his family. As he was taking your mother and yourself to a safe house his suv was struck by a semi-truck. Your father managed to crawl from the wreckage with you but as he went back for your mother the car burst into flames. He could do nothing but stand by watching as the car burnt. With a heavy heart he walked through the woods trying to keep you quiet as he made his way to my home. That night when I opened the door I knew life would forever change. He hurried you inside and told me the tale of kings and battles, and then of how my daughter died. Your father made me promise to keep you safe at all cost, he kissed your for head and left into the night. Your father went to the king for help but was only meant with guards as he entered the palace. The king had set your father up to get to you. Cursing the king your father tried to avenge your mother to no ad vale as the king cut him down. By the time people came looking for you I had already taken you to a family that would raise you as their own. I told them that you had perished in the car accident with your mother and even took them to your grave. No one ever came looking for you again after that. You were safe and able to grow up as your mother and father had wanted for you...

"Gram, why did they want me enough to kill my mother and betray my father?"

"Your father's name was Michael, Gwen he was an archangel. The king was not just a king but the king of kings. Your father fought against Satan and his armies. He was an angle." I couldn't feel anything anymore just numbness as I slid off the swing onto the floor I sobbed.

"Then what does that make me?"

"Honey your are the child of one of the most powerful angles and a mere mortal woman. You are half angle half human. I didn't want to believe it either when I first heard the story but it is true Gwen."

"What are you Gram?" the words escaped my mouth before my brain could process that I had even spoken.

" I am human just like my daughter but that night your father brought me to you he transferred some of his powers to me to insure that I lived long enough to keep you safe."

"But you didn't you left me just like they did!" I was angry and I didn't know why I was feeling every emotion all at once and I just couldn't control myself.

"I know Gwen I know I left you trust me I didn't want to but it was on your 13th birthday when some men in black suits came here asking about you. I knew they were bad news from the start. I did what I had to do to protect you child even if that meant that I had to leave you. But know that I never truly left you I have been with you each and every day."

"So what do I do now?"

"That is up to you. The men that are coming for you want you so they can have hell on earth. With them having the same power as an archangel there will be no stopping them. You can give yourself over to them and let that happen or you can be your father's daughter and fight."

"I can't fight them gram they are so strong."

"You can! You are just as strong as them if not stronger."

"I don't know how."

"You will have to learn to harness your power and then the war will begin. Until then just stay safe and hidden. That blood sucker seems to want to keep you safe just stay with him."

"His name is Alexander gram!"

"I know his name, who do you think sent him to you to look over you when I could no longer do it myself? He doesn't even know but I used him like a puppet to save you."

"So his feelings for me are just what you are making him feel?"

" Heavens no, if I could do anything about it trust me I would I don't really want you in the arms of a killer but for right now it is the safest place for you."

"He would never hurt me."

"Ya he showed that when he almost drained you. Just be careful with him. I can't stop you from being with him or the way you feel for each other but just know his nature is to harm you."

"I think I love him gram."

"I know you do child, and I know that he loves you." we sat in silence as the sun started to sink over the hill.

"Gwen it is time for you to go."

"Just a little longer gram please."

"Im sorry child but the vampire is on edge about you right now, you see it's almost like you are in a coma when you are here with me. Remember they are coming Gwen I don't know when but it will be soon."

"Will I see you again?"

"Of cores you will I'll be here waiting when you need me, remember Gwen I love you so much and that I am always with you. Now go so the blood sucker will calm down."

"Alexander gram try to remember it for next time." as I clung tightly to her but I could feel myself slipping away from her grasp.

******

Gwen had been asleep for hours. Every attempt at waking her had failed. As the sun started to set fear filled my body. What have I don't to her? All I wanted was to keep her safe from harm but at the same time I put her in such danger. As I battled with myself a small whimper escaped her lips.

"Gwen? Oh please Gwen wake up I am so sorry I hurt you small one" her body started to stir at the sound of my voice. Slowly her eyes fluttered open. Relief flooded over me as she reached for me.

"Im so sorry Gwen I thought I could control what I am but I can't, I can't endanger you any longer." as I pulled out of our embrace her hands held me tighter stopping me from leaving the warmth of her hug.

"Please just hold me and I will explain the best that I can." I could see the worry on her face now and the unsureness in her voice. I pulled her into my chest just holding her there stroking her hair waiting for her to be ready to tell me what was wrong.

"I don't hear anything." her eyes looked puzzled as her hear rested against my chest.

"You will never hear anything in there Gwen remember I am dead and the dead don't have heart beats."

"But you breathe."

"I don't have to but I do to fit in if you will, I mean what would you do if you were someone walking around that never took a breath?

"I guess that's true." her hands drug my hands up her body and rested them over her heart. I could feel each time it beat as she held my hands there.

"Do you feel mine?"

"Of cores I feel it I can hear it to."

"Close your eyes and just feel and hear it for a few minutes Alexander." not sure of where she was going with this I just did as she asked. I could feel each rise and fall of her chest and every thump that her heart made. I could feel the life coursing through her. I was lost in the feeling until her voice once again filled my head.

"My heart beats for one thing and one thing only."

"And what is that small one?"

"you." her answer was simple and shocking. I opened my eyes to see her smiling face looking up at me.

"I love you Alexander and nothing is going to change that. I want to be with you even though you say you are a monster and will hurt me I know that you will never do anything to hurt me. I am safer with you than I have ever been before."

"Gwen I love you to but I can't forget what I did to you today."

"What gave me pleasure that I have never felt in my life? Made me feel your love? What you have done to me Alexander is nothing to be sorry for, it was amazing and I can't wait to do it over and over again with you."

"Gwen I hurt you I took too much, when you wouldn't wake up I was so scared. I thought that I had lost you my small one."

"It's ok Alexander I was with my grandmother I am so sorry that I scared you love but I needed to be there."

"What do you mean Gwen?"

******

I awoke to the stale smell of the hotel room. It was going to be night soon so we needed to head out soon if we were going to make it to Alexander's by day break. The men Gabe sent to assist me were already waiting for me by the car.

"Now that sleeping beauty is awake let's get this done." shaking my head in agreement as I shook off the sleep that was clinging to me. As I pulled out of the hotel lot a big SUV followed.

"Reinforcements just in case we need them." the cold expression on the man's face told me that there would be no need for it but I was glad to have it.

"Alexander is nothing to shake your head at, especially when he has a reason to fight."

"And what is it that he is fighting for?"

"The woman that we are going to reclaim could be his mate."

"Well it will make it even more fun to see him suffer as we rip her from his arms then." I wanted to see him suffer just as much as anyone. My revenge would be anything but swift on Alexander. I would take the girl and there was nothing that he could do to stop me this time, she was going to once again be mine.

*****

As Gwen told me all that she had found out from her time with her grandmother, I couldn't help but feel a twinge of pain flutter through me. It was all too clear to me why Gabe wanted her, and how I could never let that happen. This small being lying in my arms could end the world as we knew it if I let them take her.

"Are you listening to me Alexander?" I was so lost in my own thought that I had completely missed that she was even talking.

"I'm sorry Gwen I was just processing all of the new information." her green eyes searched my face for any trace of emotion but found none. As I looked down on her I could see the worry etched across her brow and the fear pooling in her eyes.

"Don't worry small one I will not let anything happen to you."

"I know you won't." I clung to her as we just sat holding one another. A knock on the door made her jump in my arms.

"It's ok Gwen it is just James. When you didn't seem to be getting any better I called him to come take a look at you. I would still like it if he would just give you a quick once over, as long as that is ok with you that is."

"I don't really see the point of it but if it will make you feel better I will do it for you love."

James came out of the room 20 minutes later. The smirk across his face told me he knew something.

"How is she doc?"

"I should be asking you that question Alexander, but she will be fine. She needs to drink plenty of fluids to replenish what you took but other than some bruises and tiredness she is fine." relief pored over me.

"Thank you James.'

"You're welcome old friend just next time be more careful with the human."

"I will."

"Now that being said I say we have something sent up for she to eat and we go have a meal ourselves. I hadn't noticed how hungry I truly was until James spoke,

"That sounds like a great idea."

****

I had finished the meal that Alexander had sent to the room for me, it was delicious. A steak, mashed potatoes, and corn on the cob. I was picking through the bowel of fruit just nibbling on some grapes and a few strawberries as I waited for Alexander to return with James. It was getting late and they had been gone for hours, sleep was starting to creep into my bones as I crawled under the blankets and rested into bed. So much had happened to me in the last week and I was just so tired from the toll that is has taken emotionally and physically on me. The night sky was starting to lighten with the first rays of morning as my eyes grew too heavy to fight with and sleep finally came to me.

I was walking down the hall way looking at all of the pictures that hung on the walls. They all looked like Alexander but were from many different time periods, then it hit me they were all Alexander and from different time periods. I didn't know where I was going but I just kept walking down the stair case into a large foyer and then toward the door. As my hand clasped the cool metal of the door handle Alexander's words came to me like a whisper.

"You are safe inside the house don't leave without me." I heard them in a passing thought as I turned the knob pulling the door open. The cool early morning air felt amazing against me skin as I took a step out the door. It was still mostly dark but daylight was slowly blanketing the world. I could see a man standing at the end of the walk. It looked like it could be Alexander but I was too far away to see the features of his face. My heart fluttered as he spoke.

"Come to me small one." his voice sounded deeper than it normally did but I didn't care Alexander was home and he wanted me to be with him. My bare feet padded across the stone walk as I made my way to him. Finally his arms were around me holding me tight, so tight in fact it hurt.

"Alexander you are hurting me love."

"Oh you have no idea what im going to do to hurt you small one."

"That voice I know that voice." I grew stiff with fear as I realized that it was not Alexander that was holding me. His face turned to me and I saw the smile the smile that haunted me dreams.

"Hello small one." his voice sent shivers down my spine as my knees grew week and began to shake. His hand brushed against my cheek as he pushed the hair from my face. I tried to move but I couldn't I was paralyzed by fear of this man.

"How about a kiss?" the heat of his breath was on my neck as he spoke to me. As his lips crushed against mine I could taste the bile rising in my mouth. It was then that I made the choice in my mind not to let him take me again. I had to do something anything even if it meant that he would kill me, anything was better than re living what he did to me. His kiss was growing deeper; he forced my lips to part as his tongue snaked into my mouth. He didn't realize until it was too late that my leg had moved as I jerked it into his groin.

As his released my arms I ran as fast as I could. I was almost to the door when I was tackled to the ground. The weight of the blow knocked the wind from me as I gasped on the ground trying to crawl back to the door.

"That's it small one you know I like it better when you struggle." his hands moved up my legs stopping on my hips. With one swift motion he had me turned over on my back looking to the sky. The tears just started to flow as he crawled up my body, his cool fingers tracing a path up my body. His weight was keeping me pinned to the ground as he pulled at the hem of my t shirt. As I felt something like a knife move with his hand across my stomach and up my chest, panic and fear filled me as I cried out.

"No please no!" his hand slid back down my chest as he pulled a claw shaped finger to his lips.

"Shah small one you wouldn't want to alarm Alexander now would you?" Alexander my mind raced to thoughts of him. Where was he, Why wasn't he here to save me, Why hadn't I listened to his warning about leaving the house, and was I ever going to see him again was all I could think about as the sound of my shirt ripping filled the early morning. Looking to the sides trying to see any way to escape I saw the other two men closing in on me.

"Don't worry small one there with me, now be a good girl and show my friends a good time." once again his mouth was covering mine in a fevered kiss. As his clawed hand scraped across my chest I felt the skin being pierced as he grasped my breast. A warm trickle flowed from me as the men stopped to the sides of me.

"I don't think Gabe is going to like damaged goods Dylan."

"Ill handle Gabe, but this is personal between me her and the blood sucker." a serpent tongue flicked across my nipple and lapped at the blood drying on my chest. Soon his whole wet hot mouth was suckling at the puncture mark in my skin. Once again I could feel my body betray me as a small moan escaped my mouth.

"I had almost forgotten how amazing you taste." his lips were stained a deeper red with my blood as he looked down on me. I could see the features of his face morph. His skin was turning a gray color right before my eyes. Clenching his eyes shut he let out a low growl as the bumps on the sides of his head grew. Snapping his eyes open once again they were solid black. Turning my head to the side unable to look into my attackers face any longer his cold hard claw grasped my chin turning me back to his face.

"Look into my eyes small one." his voice was hypnotizing to me and I found that I was unable to look away from his cold lifeless eyes.

"Just relax and enjoy the ride." despite the sound of his zipper opening I felt my body relax against the ground. As a black mist filled my head I screamed out to Alexander for help hoping that he would hear my call again. Then there was nothing no thoughts of anything left I was just an empty husk as my shorts were pulled from my body.

*************

James and left the house and headed for a small bar in town. It was a good place to pick up a good meal according to James so I just went with it, even though I was worried about leaving Gwen.

"She will be fine; she will eat and get some much needed rest while we eat."

"Your right old friend she does need rest and I am pretty hungry myself."

"See it's a win win." rolling my eyes at James as we walked into the dim lit bar. There were people scattered all through the place all drinking having a good time. It would be easy to find a mark here. Taking a seat at the bar I ordered my usual drink.

"Captain and coke please." sitting there stirring my drink looking around for the lucky one. Then I saw her. Her hair was red as blood as it framed her face. Her deep blue eyes glance my way as I flashed her smile. When she came over to me and asked if the seat next to me was taken I could smell her wonderful sent. It was sweet like icing on a cupcake and I had a major sweet tooth.

"By all mean help yourself miss?"

"Sidney." she held her slender hand out to me as she took a seat.

"Nice to meet you Sidney im Alexander. I raised her hands to my lips.

"Can I buy you a drink?"

"Sure I'll have what you're having Alex."

"Captain and coke it is then." we sat making small talk for what seemed like hours. I watched James leave the bar with a women and a huge smile on his face.

"So Alex what brings you here tonight?"

"Just here for a drink and good conversation."

"Anything else you're looking for tonight?"

"Well if something would present itself to me I wouldn't turn it down." I smirked at her as she drank down the last of her drink.

"Do you want to get out of here?"

"With you of course" she took my hand and led me out the door.

"I know this is going to sound weird but my car is parked over here if you just want to sit and listen to music or something." she was twirling her hair with her fingers I could smell her nervousness and her excitement in the air.

"That sounds great Sidney." we sat in the back of her small car listening to some metal band that she could really relate to. She was telling me about how she could really connect with the music. All I could hear was some growling and mumbles. As her hand reached my inner thigh I knew this was heading in the right direction. I leaned in and kissed her as she massaged my thigh. I couldn't help but compare her to Gwen. She was as sloppy as she wiggled around under me. Finally her eyes locked on mine and she was still.