The Vampire's Heart [Sequel to the witch's heart]

Chapter 4

"You're here," a soft voice calls from the center of the glade. Elspeth whips around, the back of her neck prickling with energy, and she wonders how this person could have slipped past both her magick and new found powers.

"Who are you?" She calls back to them, her hand gripping an amulet around her neck. The man stands, the flowers he'd been holding in his lap falling to the ground. He smiles at Elspeth, his green eyes kind and open, and makes his way over to her. She takes a step back, the thought of running back through the forest crosses her mind. He raises one dark eyebrow and stops his approach.

"Please don't run," he says holding his hands up. Elspeth notices an abundance of rings on his fingers. "My name is Taun. I'm here to help."

"what do you mean?" Elspeth asks cautiously, her hand dangling close to the wand just inside her bag.

"The Mother has called us both here for a reason," Taun says. "she told me that i'm supposed to help you with something." Taun looks evenly into Elspeth's eyes, almost as if he's looking for something. "my, that's quite the predicament you're in."

"What?" Elspeth questions, her eyes narrowing at his statement. "What do you know of it?" Her defenses are going haywire. What power does this man poses to know her situation just by looking at her?

"You've been touched by darkness, it clings to you like claw dug into your flesh," Taun explains. "You've cast a very powerful curse recently, haven't you?"

Elspeth looks away from his scrutinizing eyes. "he deserved it," is the only answer she supplies.

"I do not judge, I'm merely stating the truth," Taun shrugs lightly. "But that is not the problem at hand, merely an observation. You are stuck? In this form, I mean."

"Yes," Elspeth replies curtly. She leans her weight on one foot, her legs getting tired. Taun notices this and gestures to the middle of the glade where he was once sitting. Elspeth follows silently and cautiously, the safety of the treeline getting farther and farther away. She sits across from Taun, her eyes darting between him and the trees.

"You don't need to feel threatened. Listen to the Mother, she will tell you there is nothing to fear here," Taun says without looking at her as he brushes his hands over some flower buds at his side. The flowers bloom at his caress.

It reminds her of how she had bloomed a flower when she and Gregory had sat together nearly a year ago. A stab of phantom pain hits her where she had been shot but she shows no signs of it on her face.

"Now," Taun says folding his hands lightly in his lap. "Let's discuss a little, shall we?"

Hey guys! So I know this is incredibly short and way over due. But college has been kicking my but this semester. I'm really sorry and I'll try to get things done quicker from now on. Super sorry for the wait! Thanks for reading and supporting this story!