The Daylighter Apprentice

Chapter 19 - The Calm Before The Storm

"Good morning sleepyhead!" I wake up to Matt's soft voice just centimetres from my face. I smile sleepily, still not fully awake. I mumble something along the lines of 'Good Morning' and Matt just chuckles, brushing my hair off my forehead.
"Did you sleep well?"
"Yeah, just a bit..." I stretch, careful not to hit him in the face, "Just a bit sore." I confess, eyes opening properly and locking with Matt's straight away.
"You OK though? No unbearable pain?" He sounds really worried and I shake my head, snaking one arm around his waist and pulling myself to him so our bodies are flush.
"No. Just a slight ache. Nothing a warm shower and a cuddle won't help." His face softens.
"Good. I'd hate to think I'd hurt you. It would pain me." He says sincerely and I hum.
"You could never hurt me. I promise." I kiss him once before pressing my face into the crook of his neck. One strong hand caresses my arm and I sigh happily.
"Tom came in about half an hour after you fell asleep. He laughed and left, wishing you a good night." Matt murmurs and I giggle.
"You hid behind the curtains again?"
"Yep. Those black out blinds work wonders. Any way, I'm going to go back to the lab and freshen up. You can have today off however, I request you presence for lunch and maybe a bit of cuddling this afternoon." Matt says and I pull back from him, grinning ear to ear.
"That sounds perfect." I reply and he smiles back.
"OK so if you pop in around 11:30, Lunch will be nearly ready and then we can lounge around for a bit. Then, you can come back and have tea with the others so that they don't ask questions." He kisses me quickly before detaching himself from me and climbing out of bed to get dressed. I watch him move, admiring the glorious naked body before me. He catches me staring and winks, blowing a kiss as he pulls on his boxers. His shirt is buttoned up and trousers fastened before he climbs back into bed with me.

"You promise me that you'll be careful on the way to the lab? I don't want you hurt. In any way. Stay away from back alleys and you know that if you're not at the lab before 11:35 I am going to panic and start worrying." Matt rests a hand on my thigh and leans in to kiss me, lips seizing mine in a heated, passionate kiss. I break the kiss and place a hand on his chest.
"You stay safe too. You're just as risk as I am. Don't let strangers into the lab."
"I'm big enough to deal with my own battles but you know me, my darling Daylighter, I don't let anyone see my face let alone come into our lab." He teases and leaves the bed once more. I pull the covers up to my chin and he leans down to kiss me once more before making for the door.
"11:30, yeah? 11:35 latest." He smiles, hand on the door handle. I nod.
"Sure thing."
"OK. Well, enjoy the rest of your morning. I love you, Dominic."
"I love you too, Matt." And with that, he's gone.

I arrive at exactly 11:31 and true to his word, me and Matt eat a lunch of chicken salad and warm panini before spending a lazy afternoon curled together on Matt's couch. There's nothing sensual or erotic about the time we spend in each other's company; it's just pure, sweet and tender love.
The type of love which leaves you all warm and tingly inside as you make your way home.

The next few days pass without incident. I'm constantly in and out of the lab and Chris is never home, even when I am. Tom and Morgan tell me that it's because he's needed pretty much 24/7 to keep the town safe and, as you can imagine, this does nothing to calm my nerves.

The following Monday, Morgan, Tom and I are sat eating Morgan's homemade lamb and vegetable kebabs when Chris comes into the kitchen, tired and weary eyed after his shift. He grabs a plate of food before joining us at the table.
"Dude, you look drained. You OK?" Tom asks, putting his fork down. Chris sighs.
"Work's hard; that's all."
"How are things looking on the whole Ashton front?" I ask and the grim look on Chris's face already tells me that the news he bears will not be good.
"The town is on high alert. Sources are saying that 'A storm is coming' and we should all start preparing for the worst." Chris continues and I grimace.
"What could the worst be?"
"Riots. Arson attacks. Hell, I wouldn't put bombs past that psycho." The hunter scoffs, taking his first forkful of food. "Ashton is back and this time, with the intent to do some serious damage." The room falls silent except for the soft clink of forks against china plates. It's an uneasy silence that fills me with fear and dread of what is to come.

Dinner is finished and everyone heads to their own rooms or separate rooms in the house. There's tension buzzing in the air and nobody quite knows what to say to brighten the mood. I go to my own room and lie in the dark, trying to wrap my head around the blur of events over the past few weeks.

First of all, I discover that I have moved to a town teeming with vampires.
Second, my boss is a vampire.
Thirdly, I am in a relationship with a vampire and, hey, he's also my soul mate!
Fourth, there's a vampire out to wreck the town.
Fifth, said vampire probably wants to kill me and Matt.

Super.
Nobody said being an adult would be this fun.