The Hiding

"I don't think it is safe for you to stay with me. I'm not sure I can protect you from what harm may come my way, or if in fact I might harm you. I think you need to leave now. I'm sorry."

Whatever the case, he had decided before he left the safety of Carlsbad that he was not going to leave her side. Knowing more than he had ever thought would be possible still doesn't change his decision. He's staying put. "You will have to literally kick me out of your life. I'm not going anyplace."

She looks at him and without saying a word grabs him around his waist. Before he realizes what is happening they rise fast up into the sky. She whispers into his ear, "If this is how you want it, so be it. You're with me and I'll do everything I can to keep you safe."

Then she wraps him totally in her arms and speeds up as fast as she can,  protecting him from the wind. They soar higher and higher.

At first she feels him tightening his grip around her but as the howling wind becomes only a soft hissing sound he relaxes and seems to be more trusting of her. Where they are headed is any one's guess. The destination is not as important as the journey itself. She gives no thought to worrying about if he, as a human, can survive the experience, but it seems too late to change her mind. She makes circles in flight, dips and ascends, all the while feeling free.

The flight finally ends where it all began. She gently descends on the soft sandy beach, her toes striking first. Her feet barely make an indentation on the earth. She looks at Paul who is asleep. He's lost consciousness from the merry-go-round-like movements, most likely more of an ordeal to him than one of pleasure for her. She carries him to their parked vehicle where she rests him in the back seat. She assumes the driver's role and heads back to her house.

On the way back she begins to make plans for his protection, as if she has any idea what might come their way. Still, she figures she doesn't have a lot of time. The vampires have most likely reported to Lufnis, who probably isn't pleased. He might have already sent out a pack of vampires to hunt her down.

At least now she realizes that she can sense vampire presence through her sense of smell. The rotten egg odor is a sure giveaway of a vampire's nearness or recent presence. While not necessarily wanting to be compared to a cadaver dog, perhaps the similarities are not so far off.

Cadaver dogs use a form of search called air scenting. When a human body begins to decompose it starts emitting a generic scent that all humans have in common. The scent changes as the decomposition moves through five stages. The dog is trained to pick up the scent of a decomposing human from up to a quarter mile away, and then hone in on it. She figures that vampires must have the same specialty that a cadaver dog has, being able to smell the presence of the dead.

She places Paul's body on the bed, studying him, assessing him. She admires his loyalty to her yet at the same time knows how dangerous a situation they've created. A vampire and human in love with one another. There might come a time when each of them must choose between living alone without each other or dying together. She could probably lessen the complexity of the state of affairs by turning him now as he sleeps, yet she wonders if she has that power to do it. She just stands there thinking, or rather visualizing it all, but no images come forth. 

Then she raises her body just ever so slightly so that she hovers over him. The silver crucifix rests on his chest. She levels her body so that it appears she is parallel to him and then slowly lowers herself face down to rest within a hair of his prone body. She takes in a whiff of his human scent, and then another. She feels an excitement grow inside her, her blood heats up. Her heart starts to race as her lips separate showing off her teeth. A sudden pain in her mouth gets her attention as if she has been unexpectedly struck by a tooth ache. She feels she is on the verge of something so moving that for a split second her heart stops beating. In utter agony she wrestles to hold back a strange force from overtaking her. "You would never be my enemy, would you?"

Her lips crack open showing off two jagged fangs. She lowers her face close to his, brushing her nose against his cheeks and then towards his neck. Her tongue licks his white skin savoring the flavor, fighting off to take only a little nibble and just a small drink. Flashes of indescribable figures pass through her mind making no sense to her at first, but then a garden scene appears. She feels the grass between her toes. It seems so lovely and beautiful. Moist air passes by, full of familiarity. Her eyes widen with joy and happiness. "Rest my love."