Within The Ash

Chapter 20

Athan's POV

I met them outside of the building and Heaven was consoling Lauren by running her fingers through her hair and fixing her blouse. She held her by both of her hands and was saying inspirational words to try and cheer her up. And even for a second I thought I saw Lauren smile but the smile fell when she saw me. Not because she was afraid of me but because she was embarrassed.

She had all those guys touching her in places no girl would want somebody to violate and the smell or sight of another man normally scares or intimidates a girl after experiencing something like that. I didn't blame her for withdrawing from me after that. It was completely natural so I made a point to stand far enough away and to give her, her space.

We made our way into the Forrest and to the very very back.

"This is where we are going to be staying, it's far from humans but close enough to where we can still be around society without me being found out, i don't want you girls going back into that school, you two have been around vampires too long to fit in. And honestly, there's no way I can possibly fit in either" Lauren and Heaven both shivered at the thought of sleeping in the dark Forrest. I knew this because the smell of fear was strong on both of them.

I sighed gently and rolled my eyes but not for them to see.

"Look, I'll make a fire, we can buy some blankets so that both of you are warm, we can even make ourselves a fort so that we feel more protected"

Heaven looked up at me with embarrassment.

"Have I ever told you that I'm afraid of the dark?" She said in a timid voice.

I thought for a second trying to remember if she's ever told me but she must not have because I definitely would have remembered that.

"Well, darling, vampires have almost perfect memories, if not perfect probably about 99.9 percent, I don't remember you ever telling me, however around me neither of you have reason to be afraid because as a vampire I don't sleep, I meditate inside my head while still hearing everything around me. Nobody and nothing can sneak up on us"

Heaven seemed to be consoled by that but Lauren was still withdrawn with her arms wrapped around herself as she stood behind Heaven timidly. And I still let her have as much space as possible.

The sky began to get darker so I started the fire and it went up quick. We set up a decently sized fort with wood and blankets that we bought at a store just outside of the Forrest and we set giant logs around the fire. Heaven shared a big log with me and Lauren sat on the other side of the fire and just laid down while the light of the flames flickered within her green eyes.

The sky became darker and darker until it was so black that the stars stretched across the sky like never ending blankets of little white dots.

Heaven started tracing images within the stars and she laid her head on my lap so that she could easily do so as I ran my fingers through her perfect white hair. I watched her eyes gaze in amazement and Lauren seemed to take comfort in watching spirits dance within the flames of the fire.

Just than we heard voices in the far distance beside us. It was other people. Shit, I said within my own head and I rolled my eyes.

"Stay here, I will be back shortly. If something goes wrong scream my name and I will be here within seconds okay" I said in a reassuring way as I made my way through the thick Forrest towards the sound of the people.

"Hello? Who's out here?" The sounds and voices quickly turned into laughter. I heard at least 5 guys and 3 girls, but they sounded much further away. One of the guys called out.

"Uh none of your fucking business?" One of the men said in a deep voice. He spoke in a joking way so I didn't take them as a threat.

They didn't sound like younger people so I was instantly relived at that. They sounded to be at least in their late 20s and I couldn't smell fear or evil on them.

"I come in peace" I said loudly and one of the other men with an unnaturally deep voice mocked through the darkness.

"I CoME In PeACe" mocked the deeper voiced man. He sounded like he was a smoker because his voice was deep but also raspy. He was a young man but not a child. And when I finally saw him emerge from the trees he was definitely in his early 20s

"What's up, what brings you back here?" He said as he took a long drag of his cigarette.

I thought about that for a second and chose my words carefully as I spoke.

"My name is Caleb, I'm here with 2 other friends of mine, 2 girls. It's only respectful to allow them to tell you their names later, we are from out of town and figured we would live back here for a while"

The young man took another drag of his cigarette and another followed by another before exhaling into the night air. He was obviously thinking and I took my chance to read his thoughts over briefly.

From his thoughts I could read that he was fearful but not to the point to where he wouldn't accept me. He ran over all his group members within his thoughts and I was indeed right about how many there were.

"If you guys are run away's, just say so, we welcome all as long as you come in "peace" he mocked jokingly again.

"Very well" I said as I glanced behind me making sure I could still smell Heaven and Lauren close by.

"You talk weird" he said as he took another hit of his cigarette. He stared me down with his deep blue eyes before smiling.

"Don't worry dude, I'm joking with you, bring your friends over here with us and we can chill" he said in a friendly way as he walked calmly back to where his people were.

I walked over back to Heaven and Lauren. Lauren was finally asleep and Heaven gazed upon the fire in a day dream like state.

Heaven looked over at me with her arms wrapped around her body.

"What's going on"

"They are good people, we are going to go hang around them for a bit, they have food, a warmer fire and frankly their friendship is what we need most right now. We need human interaction if I'm going to blend in around here" I said as I walked over to the sleeping Lauren.

I carried her within my arms as Heaven walked right next to me, damn near hip to hip with me. Her body was touching mine and I could smell her fear of darkness. Her fear was strong even tho I told her she didn't need to be afraid.

We reached the other people and they welcomed us with open arms. I could smell the scent of weed in the air. I always loved the smell of weed but I never smoked it much.

I walked over to the man who I had met in the Forrest. "Hey do you have anywhere she can sleep, she's afraid of men right now as she was violated by 5 men the other day" he took a drag of his joint and thought for a second as he exhaled.

"Aah, I see, what happened to the men who hurt her if you don't mind me asking?"

I glanced up at the sky in thought for a second and smiled just a half smile while nodding my head and looking back at the deep voiced man who spoke to me.

"Let's just say they won't be hurting anybody ever again after I got my hands on their friend"

The deep voiced man smiled a genuine smile of joy before handing me the joint that was once between the very tips of his fingers.

"And for that you deserve a smoke" he said as he took Lauren from my arms and gently placed her inside of a one person tint with many soft pillows and blankets, securing the zipper completely shut so that she could have her space.