Loving the enemy

Chapter 21

"I'll do it." I say, playing with the small knife in my hand. "I need to do it. I need to make it okay."
"Max, are you sure-"
"I'm not as weak as you think I am."
"I'm don't think you're weak. Not even close." He puts his hand on top of mine, the one not holding the knife. "If you were weak, you wouldn't have made it this far." He squeezes my hand with a sad smile. "I just know you love him a lot, that's all."
"No, Shane. I can't love anyone. Not like I used to. Not after everything." A glimer of hurt flashes over his eyes before quickly melting into his skin. "I'll leave now, in the light of the day I will have the advantage." I lean forward and kiss him on the corner of the mouth.
"What will happen after this?" He asks. "If it works out, will you come back this time?"
"If don't know." He looks down briefly before fixing his gaze back on me.
"If you don't come back to us, that's okay. I won't look for you if you leave. But, if you return I want you to know you're loved here. Even if you don't come until fifty years in the future, after you've moved on from this life, after you're kids have grown and had their own families. No matter what. You're welcome here. Always. And even if you can't love me like I need you to-" He touches my face "I'll still love you as much as the first moment I saw you."
I put my hand on top of his, unseen tears building behind my eyes.
"Goodbye, Shane." I gently remove his hand, and I walk out of the tent.
•••••
When I reach the castle again it's raining. It's a good thing, the water helps diminish my scent. I walk up to the front door again, my hair slick with water. I lift up my hand to knock, but before I can make contact with the wood the door is thrown open. A man flies out at me, tackling me to the ground and pinning me down. I look into the eyes of a vampire I've never seen before, his eyes are glowing yellow and his fangs are showing from behind his upper lip.
"You're a long way from home, werewolf girly." His voice smells of dead dreams.
"I want to speak with my brother."
"The king gave very specific instructions on what to do with you if you came here again." He says with a sick smile. "He wanted the person to find you to have the honour. Well, one of them."
"Get off of me!" I shout, squirming under his tight grip. He moves his arm up to my throat, pushing down on my windpipe as his other hand begins to slide down in between my legs. My eyes widen and I kick frantically. "Stop it!" Don't you dare!" He seems to get pleasure from my squirming, and grins even more.
"Shh, princess.Nobody is coming to help yo-" Before he can finish, a hand strikes the side of his head amd he is thrown off of me. Blood seeps from an open wound in his skull as I stare up the cloaked man who saved me.
"I told you not to come back here." He hisses, his voice as cool as a knife.
"I was wrong." I pant, air seeping back into my lungs. "I was wrong."
He reaches a hand down to me and I take it. He pulls me to my feet. "Come inside. We have much to discuss."
•••••
We are standing in a dark gloomy room underneath the castle. It's empty, and is filled with the stench of mould and dry blood.
"Nobody can hear us down here." He says. "It's just you and me." He smiles to himself, and I notice a flash of inoccence. "It's just like old times, in the tree house."
"It's nothing like how it was then." His smile fades.
"No, you're right."
I reach into my pocket and grab the handful of fur. I show it him. "I choose you." I say, my voice dark also. He extends his hand and takes the fur, holding it in his palm.
"You killed him?" He asks, his words almost a statement.
"Like I said, I choose you, I was wrong."
"Why?" He says, not taking his eyes from the fur.
"Because you're my family, and he's just a wolf." He looks up from the fur and locks his eyes with mine. "Because they killed our parents. Because they crushed you. Because they are filth. Because you are the most important thing in my family and I love you." I don't even flinch.
He is silent for a moment, and he drops the hair. It falls to the ground. "Prove it to me."
"The alpha is dead."
"No, Max. I need more than that. I need ultimate reassurance."
"What do you want me to do?"
His eyes flash red and he steps closer to me. He takes my arms and stares into my eyes. He opens his mouth and I see huge fangs appear from his gums.
"You know what I want you to do." My heart starts to pulsate in my chest. "I cannot turn you without your consent. If you fight it, you'll die." I can hear my heartbeat in my skull."This is how you can prove it to me."
"Okay, little brother. Lets give it a shot."
"Tilt your neck." I do as he says.

Before I can react, I feel his teeth in my neck. Even though nobody can hear me, I scream.