Within The Ash

Chapter 48

Athan's POV

I crawled from the tint and noticed that Zero laid on the dirt fully clothed sleeping with his head rested on the log. He slept with one arm laying over his stomach and the other arm under his head and an unlit joint between his fingers.

I was surprised to see Lauren laying close next to him. Their body's weren't touching but the fact that she was laying that close to him told me he had gained her trust last night.

I was weary of what they did last night. I admit I am a protective friend and considering what all has happened to her lately, I wanted to know what they did last night.

I stood over Zero and just stared at him until he woke up.

He glanced up at me and looked around as if he was confused. "What's up" he said in a deep sleepy voice.

"I see you gained her trust, how did that happen?" I asked.

"Oh, I was just talking to her, she seemed sad so I offered her some food that I had left from a couple nights back. I told her the story of the man in the moon and she seemed to really enjoy it" he said still in a drowsy voice as he rubbed his blue eyes not bothering to remove the loose hair that hung in front of his eyes.

"I see, does she seem to be talking more?" As I asked that question Lauren opened her eyes and looked at me. She didn't seem fearful anymore and more tired than anything. She looked around and sat up.

"Where's Heaven?" She asked in a timid voice.

"Heaven is still sleeping, did you wanna come collect herbs and stones with us when she wakes up"

Zero cut me off mid sentence and I ignored my annoyance at that remembering that human manners are a lot different than vampires. I only blinked at him starring him up and down as he started to speak.

"Be careful doing that shit man, witch hunters are regularly searching for women collecting herbs and stones, if they see you and those 2 girls out there doing that they could burn you at the steak and than stone the 2 girls to death"

I disregarded my annoyance at his interruption because he was clearly only trying to warn me of an actual danger.

"It's better for you and I to go alone, I know how to stay clear of the witch hunters, your girls will be safe at my camp with the other girls in my group" he looked at Lauren and smiled a gentle smile before continuing but now talking softly to her. "The men went out hunting and won't be back till late tonight" that seemed to put Lauren at ease and he looked up at me and smiled.

"What do you say?" He asked as he finally stood up to face me.

"Yea, let's go, we need protection quartz, and healing herbs" I said as I began to walk in front of him and into the Forrest.

"What's the plans for tonight?" He asked.

I read his mind and I got nothing but curiosity. He definitely wasn't going to tell other humans and he was definitely trust worthy but I wanted to ask to make sure he was able to keep a secret, I needed to be sure.

"Can I trust you not to run to the humans? Or not to be afraid?" I looked him right in the eyes and he stood tall with his head held high. "Are we friends Caleb?" Was all he asked and he asked it in a serious tone.

I had to think about that for a moment because I've never had an actual male friend accept for Andre but he's dead now. I lied out of fear of hurting his feelings.

"Yes" he continued immediately after that.

"Than you can trust me dude" he said with a slight laugh as if he had not a worry in the world.

Hmm, must be nice to be so comfortable with your surroundings. I could literally eat this man alive in seconds and he wasn't scared of me not one single bit. I admired his care free attitude.

" tonight is the blood moon and Heaven was bitten by my late brother, her soul is betrothed to him even in his death, tonight when the blood moon rises I need to bite her to cancel his out and replace it with mine so that the spirits don't harm her, I'm hoping the crystals will do their job so that I don't have to bite her, I'm not a man of force but if she doesn't allow me to bite her I have to take her blood by force or else the spirits will kill her"

Zero looked at me with surprise but softened his tone when I mentioned her death.

"What about Lauren?, hasn't she been bitten too?" He asked curiously.

"Yes but she hasn't shown any signs of seeing the dead, as long as she hasn't seen the dead or the activity that happened last night, the spirits of tonight can't harm her"

"Ah, OK, how do you plan on getting her to let you bite her"

I became annoyed at his questioned and turned to look at him stopping him in his tracks.

"I don't know Zero, I'm probably going to have to force her, I really don't want to but it's the only way to protect her life"聽

At that he stopped the conversation and continued picking up stones while I picked healing herbs.

The sky began to darken and the moon began to rise.

"We got about 3 hours till that moon becomes red, we have to get back to camp"

I said as I began to walk back.

I turned to the obviously nervous Zero behind me and he tried his hardest to continue his facade of this fearless man he told everybody he was.

I ignored it as it would be cruel for me to point out the pain he was so clearly hiding from everybody including myself. He had to of known vampires can read minds.

"Thank you for helping me and thank you for calming Lauren down last night" I said calmly as Heaven and I made eye contact with each other from across the camp.

She spoke fearlessly from across the camp still being defiant towards me and not caring who heard.

"I said no Caleb!" She yelled.

I didn't respond to her but instead prepared the tea and healing elements that I needed for tonight. I mixed the crystals with herbs inside spells jars and tied one around my neck.

I walked over to Heaven who still stood tall and even sized me up knowing damn well she wouldn't be a match for me when I did need to eventually feed from her.

"You know Heaven, I'm going to feed from you weather you give me permission or not" she rolled her eyes at me and crossed her arms in front of her small body.

"No you're not" she said loudly. And with that I chuckled at her pride. I got real close to her face and smiled a loving smile reminding her that I'm not her enemy.

"Darling, you don't have a fucking choice" was all I said before I looked to the sky and noticed the red veil that started to cover the moon. When I looked back down where the small girl stood in front of me she was gone.