How Do I Love Thee?

The Beginning of the End: Part 2

I was losing blood fast, but I could still hear the men behind me. I pushed my legs harder and faster, everything around me became fuzzy at the edges. I was going to pass out if I didn't rest. But where? Where could I hide? I saw a tree with roots lifted off the ground. This would have to do. I changed and squished my human body under the roots as tightly as I could. They would smell me, especially with all the blood. I grabbed a handful of mud and smeared it on the edges of my wounds and on my body, trying to mask my scent. When I heard them close by I froze, my heart and breathing stopped. I waited.

"Find her!" Scott. He was angry. Why wouldn't he be? He finally had the girl he had been hunting for nineteen years in his grasp and then she was gone. Of course he was angry. There were a lot of yes sirs and shuffling of feet. I watched in horror as they searched the ground, sniffed the air. Would they find me?

"Sir, her trail seems to just stop." I saw the man flinch as Scott whirled around and directed his stare at the boy. He couldn't have been more than eighteen. But I knew better, he was a vampire. He could be hundreds of years old.

"It couldn't have just stopped. She couldn't have just vanished into thin air!" His voice bellowed and echoed off the trees around him. For a moment everyone paused and then continued their search. "I don't care if it takes you the next week, you will keep looking until you find her!" Scott turned and headed off back in the direction we had come. My heart faltered and I placed a hand over my mouth to muffle my breathing. I waited, it took them so long until they were finally gone. Searching deeper and deeper into the woods. I emerged slowly and winced at the pain in my side. I had two gashes in my side, each about two inches long and blood was still flowing freely. I didn't have time to think though. I had to run.

I changed and ran North, or at least what I thought was North. I was slightly comforted by the thump, thump, thump of just my paws hitting the ground. There was no one chasing me, but that wouldn't last long. I kept my head low to the ground and ran as fast as I could push my legs. I didn't think about my surroundings, who and what was behind me, all I thought about was what was ahead of me. My family. The one thing I was sworn to protect. I pushed harder.

Then there he was. Scott. Shit. I stopped dead in my tracks. I was so close. I could feel it. And now this. I watched a smile slowly spread across his lips. He knew it too.

"Well this is convenient. I can get two in one." He laughed loudly. What did he mean?

Then Ian, with Aaron and Carolina beside him, emerged from the trees to my right. "Alex." I could hear the relief in all their voices. No. No he couldn't hurt them. I wouldn't let him.

I heard a low growl come from my throat. It was deadly, but I didn't recognize it. I had never been more intent on someone's death before. Before I knew what was happening I lunged for him, my jaws locking around it throat. I heard others. But I couldn't focus. I couldn't see anyone but the man I was trying to kill. I felt sharp pains coming from all angles. I turned on my attackers and killed them one by one. I noticed they all had daggers, I knew damn well that vampires could fight with their hands. I didn't think before I had another attacker coming in every direction. I tried my damnedest to kill them, but there were too many and I could only kill one at a time. When the space was clear and there were only five standing figures my step faltered and I fell to the ground. I felt grass, mud, and blood against my bare skin. I was human again. I looked up and saw Scott. How was he still alive? Aaron and Carolina stood in front of me facing him, protecting me, and Ian was holding his hands over wounds to stop my bleeding. It was time to end this. If I was going to die, he was going down with me. I saw one of the daggers laying close by. I remembered it from a picture Ian had shown me a long time ago. It was long, made of silver, had designs on it, and it was encrusted with rubies. It was the only man made object that could kill a vampire, I didn't care for the details right now. I took a deep breath. I heard Ian when I stood, dagger in hand, but it was my fight not his. I felt every wound in my body, every sore muscle. I walked forward slowly, pushing Aaron and Carolina aside.

"Stay back." I told my family, they couldn't get involved in this.

"You should listen to her." Scott said with humor in his voice. I heard Ian, Aaron was surely holding him back. He knew what I had to do.

"This is between me and you." I walked closer and closer with each word. "You don't need to hurt them. You have me now." I noticed Ian had slipped his shirt on me. It smelled like him. Perfect. My death would be harder with him at my side. I had to save my family. No matter the cost.

I held the dagger against the back of my thigh. Scott would run if he saw it. I got close to him, no more than half a foot apart. "You're a very smart girl." His hand wrapped around my throat and I allowed it. It was now or never. I plunged the dagger into his chest, I felt warm blood seep over my hand. His expression faltered and had surprise hidden in it. The hand on my neck loosened and then fell off completely. I released the dagger and took a step back. He fell to his knees, took a shaky breath, and then fell with his face down.

I sighed and fell to my back. I had lost so much blood that the pain was non existent. Ian was there in my view. I felt his hands on my face, I saw his lips moving, but I couldn't hear his voice. I wanted to hear it. I listened closer, it was dull but I could hear him.

"Alex? Oh god Alex. You're going to be okay. I'll get you to Doc." I saw tears stream down his face. It was too late. I had damaged him beyond words.

I held his hands to my face. "No. Just stay here." I heard my own tears in my voice. I didn't want to lose him. "He can't help me now." I wiped at the tears on his perfect face. I coughed and tasted blood. "I love you, Ian. Forever."

"No. Don't say that. I'm not losing you. Not now." He was saying it to himself more than he was me.

"I'm so sorry. I'm sorry I'm putting you through this. Carolina will help you."

"No."

"Please. Stay here. For me. Help my dad. Tell him I love him. I always have." I reached for my locket that wasn't there. Someone placed it in my head. I looked. Carolina. I smiled at her. "Thank you." She had tears along with Aaron, but she gave me a slight smile. I looked back at Ian. "Please."

"No, you can tell him yourself." I coughed again and couldn't hold the blood down this time. Ian held me close.

I placed my hand on his chest. "I love you."

"Alex..." More tears spilled over. "I love you."

He kissed me, long and hard. He gave me everything in that moment. I knew that I was the one thing that kept him breathing. The one thing that gave him hope. I wanted to hold on, but I couldn't. I felt the darkness getting closer with each breath. I heard Carolina hiccup with sobs, I felt Ian holding them in beneath my hands. I stared into his closed eyes as he kissed me. I was in love with this man, I always would be. Alive or dead. I felt the darkness drown me and my eyes slipped closed. My limbs sagged, but Ian held me close. My breath became short and ragged before it didn't come at all. This was my last breath.

This new life, the one I had come to know and love, was better than anything I could have asked for. It was short, but I would always remember it. The people I now called family would always stay in my heart and I in theirs. I would always be a part of this little Estonian community. It would always be under my skin. The life I was leaving behind me...