Craving Charlotte

Chapter 8

           

Ethan pov.

Charlotte... Char-lotte....

Her name, her smell and everything about her is like my own personal high. She's beautiful and elegant in her own remarkable way, her long hair; the way that it falls over her shoulders and down her back. The way her hips curve in the slender sexy way that they do, but it's the way her lips murmur my name like it's the only name she knows. She has the sweetest and most kind personality that any human being could ever have and I hurt her. I took her dignity away. I love her, I was her friend and now she's gone. I had to let her go. I took away everything from her- her life, dignity and the spiritual life within her. The bounce in her step is now tainted with a mixture of fear and betrayal.

I place a hand on my head trying to rub away the ache as it hangs low and my fangs begin to protrude. The change can take a few days to fully turn sometimes it can be quick. It all depends on the individual. At least my fangs do hide away and I have control over when they show. I can then walk around looking like a normal human being, some vampires don't have that luxury of being able to do that; again, it depends on the individual.

"So, fucking stupid Ethan!" I shout at myself and hit my head whilst throwing the closest object to me which in fact was the unfortunate bottle opener. I stand from the chair and walk over to the mirror. Harper would enjoy seeing me like this. Jealous bitch! She knew she couldn't have me any other way therefore, she turned me. She thought she could have me all to herself and I rejected her. I told her I loved Charlotte and she said I was chasing a lost cause.

I pick up the bottle of whiskey from the table and pour the bitter liquid into my mouth. It slides down my throat feeling warm, however the strong sour taste lingers on my tongue causing me to screw up my face. It surely is a vile drink but one of them that seems to hit the spot just perfectly.

"Stupid fucking whore, ruined my life!" I shout out knowing no one can hear me here. It is an isolated area of the forest where nobody wonders if they are wise enough not to that is. The rise of anger fills within me boiling my blood; I feel a fiery redness flare from my neck to my cheeks. Lashing out I throw the now empty bottle against the wall, it smashes in to smithereens which is temporarily satisfying. Why couldn't I control myself? Why did I inject Charlotte with my venom? I lost myself, I become the monster Harper wanted me to be. That's why I had to leave Harper, I couldn't be her pet.

Suddenly it hits me... Charlotte has gone. She's alone in the woods and Harper is still out there... somewhere. This would be the pure perfect moment for her, me feeling sorry for myself in endless hours while Charlotte is vulnerable and alone. I run out the door feeling the effects of the whiskey hitting me as soon as the cold air of the night touches my skin.

It's night time! How long was I sitting there wasting endless time? Fuck Ethan! Is it too late?

"CHARLOTTE!" I call her name into the Forrest. I smell the air trying to find her scent. She's long gone now; my heart sinks. Harper may already have her, I shake the thought away. I can't think like that. I can't just leave her.

Don't give up Ethan, find her. I tell myself, determination flutters inside. I run... I run as fast as I can. I try to guess the direction she may have walked in, I should have told her where to go. I should have done something taken her somewhere safe, shown her a new way to live, somewhere safe.
Oh, shut up Ethan! Pull yourself together!
I haven't time to think stupid thoughts of what I could have done I have to think of what I can do now to make things right. Find Charlotte and keep her safe, do what I should have done from the very start!

"CHARLOTTE!" I call her name again and I receive no reply. In my gut, I know Harper is on her trail. I know she will destroy Charlotte. Please God let her be safe, save her soul, she is not evil!

Suddenly I pick up a scent, I follow it as I slow down my pace. I take in the air in a long draw... it's a natural sweet smell like heavenly flowers on a summers day, the very scent that always lures me in.
"Charlotte," I breathe.

Crunch!

I stare down at the ground to see something shiny that doesn't belong here amongst the leaves. I bend down and scoop it up with my fingers. Touching the cold metal I see that it's a delicate silver bracelet, the one I had brought Charlotte for her twenty first birthday. I place the bracelet in my pocket and cast my eyes over the area. The only sound that meets my ears is the rustling of the trees as a cool breeze glides through.

"Charlotte!" I bellow once again in the dead of night.

׼|E2