The Essential Bride

The Essential Bride (17)

My legs were still shaky from the landing, and I cursed my legs for acting this way as we walked our way to the new car. It was black, and sleek and besides that I had no idea. I got in the passenger side wordlessly, and sunk into the leather seats. I wanted this day to be over, even after sleeping most of that long flight, I was exhausted. Being around Leon would never get easy, I was always so aware that he was near me. I remember him vanishing from my life for a few weeks, and how desperate I was to see his face again, just to know that I wasn't crazy. Now that he was a constant, I don't know how I could get used to it.

There was something about being around Leon that was strange. I didn't want to believe his words about a bond, about being mates and whatever that meant but I couldn't explain this any other way. He made the hair on the back of my neck stand up, sent tingles up my spine, his touch made my skin ignite. It scared me, I was starting to think he was right, and I didn't want to. Leon was a vampire, a thought that I've been desperately avoiding, to avoid a full out panic attack but... when someone touches you and you feel volts of electricity, how can you avoid that?

Leon seemed to be acting a little strange, ever since we landed. In the car, I kept glancing at him, trying to figure out why he was acting so jittery. There was no other way to explain it, besides he looked nervous. 

"What's with you?" I asked, about fifteen minutes into our drive. He had explained we would be driving for another few hours, and we would be at our destination. Our destination that I still was unsure about. Leon was leaving me primarily in the dark about where we were going, probably because he didn't want me escaping and actually being able to help myself. 

Leon looked at me funnily, quickly before adverting his eyes back to the road because he was driving. "I haven't been home in a very long time Demetria." Leon explained slowly, and I waited for him to continue but he offered no more explanation. 

"Home? Are we going to your home?" I couldn't help but imagine his home being a massive castle, with a mote, a draw bridge... basically everything I had ever read about a medieval castle and that is where this guy is from. 

"Yes." He said quietly, obviously deeply in thought and I sighed.

We continued driving for awhile in silence, and I was starting to get restless picturing this castle, littered with vampires who would want nothing more than to rip my throat out and feast. If Leon claimed to need me, love me even, as much as he has said you would think he wouldn't want to bring me into harms way, but here we are.

"The last time I was home," he began slowly "I vowed I would bring back my other half to my brothers and sisters. I was tired of being around them as they were happy with their mates, and it was just I. They were all waiting anxiously for me to discover my mate, and do what I needed to do but years passed and nothing changed. I don't think they ever expected me to return."

"You haven't even told them we were coming?" I demanded, horrified of the possibilities laid out in front of me. Would I be the only human one here? The only sane one? How would I be able to protect myself?

"I've been helping myself to our means of transportation, I'm sure they have some idea I'm returning Demetria, thank you." He said, sounding more tired than usual. 

I didn't want to say what I was thinking, but I knew I would have to. Leon wasn't very good at thinking about things from my perspective, I would very literally have to spell this out to him. "Leon, I'm scared." I said quickly, trying to get it over with.

He glanced at me again, immediately not understanding. "Why would you be afraid? We've already landed, the hardest part of this trip is over." 

I rolled my eyes, "I don't know these ...people." I chose my words carefully, I didn't want to call the people I would be sharing a castle with to know I called them all monsters, and give them a reason to kill me. "These vampires." I corrected, so he would understand. 

Realization instantly flashed across Leon's face as he continued driving, "my Demetria. You have nothing to fear. These people have never wanted to cause you harm, they've waited for you the same I have." He explained happily, like that would reassure me.

"Like Zackary meant to cause me no harm?!" I demanded, ripping the tank top and zipped hoodie up my torso to stop under my bra, because I had no intention of giving him that kind of show, I only wanted him to see the bruises that monster left on my skin. Zackary had said to me 'I wonder how mad he will be when he finds out what I've done-" and I couldn't help but think he was talking about Leon.

Without warning, Leon jerked the car to the side of the road and came to an abrupt halt. I was flung forward, stupidly not wearing a seat belt, but before I made contact with the dashboard Leon was gently pushing me back into my seat. Besides the fast beating of my heart, I was fine. I tired yanking my shirt down, but Leon's hand were there first, tracing my chilled flesh with his warm hands.

"He did this..." He whispered, his voice almost unrecognizable. "I should have.." Leon never finished his sentence, but I could finish it for him if I wanted. He touched the bruises lightly, once again igniting my skin with a feeling I would never be used to.

"Stop. Stop touching me, please." I pleaded, needing him to take his hands away from me but he didn't.

"I didn't want to kill him in front of you. You already looked so frightened, I didn't want to scare you more. I didn't want you to think of me as a monster." Leon said, finally pulling his hands away and letting me pull my shirt down. "I didn't want you to be afraid of me." He said softly, "but something has to be done. He harmed you."

"Kill him?" I whispered, horrified.

"He was going to mark you Demetria, he was going to change you in that dirty bathroom. Something so intimate and loving, happening like that. Just to rip you from me. Something needs to be done." Leon explained, and I said nothing. I didn't want to tell him he was over exaggerating because I didn't think he was. I was scared of Zackary, and I didn't want to have to be. 

"I shouldn't have showed you." I said finally.

"You should always show me something like that, no one deserves to have their hands on you. No one is to touch you Demetria, no one but I. Where we are going, the kinds like that don't exist. They are all so happy to meet you, and have been. My return means I have found you, and you will be seen as hope and pride. You still don't understand what you will be, but when you do... it'll be beautiful." He smiled at me, and my blood ran cold. "I have so much to explain, all in due time. Just know now, where we are going, you will be nothing but safe from any kind of harm. I promise you."

"Your promises suck Leon, I've told you that." I said, as he pulled back on to the road, on the way to his home.

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