Black Blood

Chapter 3

I open my eyes with James above me. I tense as his eyes meet mine, a soft smile spreads across his lips. He rose and tucked the bandages back in my bag.

"I was just wrapping up your neck. Don't want it to get infected." He pauses and nervously plays with a rip in his jeans. I smiled up at him, and shrugged. "Thanks." He smiles again, relieved.

"Now help me sit up. We have miles to make!" He nodds and lowers his hand.

I stare up his tan skin, and cautiously accepted it. His hand, warm and soft, comforts me. I release out a small sigh as he let go. He smiled again, this one a little more relaxed. I feel my cheeks grow red, and his smile grew. He quickly recollected his senses and asked if I was well enough to travel, which I smoothly replied I was.

We quickly pack up our stuff and greeted a bleak, rainy day. Relieved for my cloak, I snuggle closer to the black fabric. I paused on the rocky hill as James put his hand in mine. It wasn't a gesture -- it was for comfort.

I knew that touch. It spoke of longing and pain. I remember it like it just happened -- me standing in the gray doctors' office, clutching my mother's hand, my twelve year old body trembling with fear. The crazy man, standing in front of me, saying I was a vampire. Threatening to burn me at the stakes like they did witches.

But the fire didn't harm me. No -- it made me stronger. And nobody doubted my abilities. So I was sent to the Academy, where I've been for almost four years.

I am snapped back from my thoughts when James touches my arm. His face was full of concern as he gently moved it up my shoulder, my cheek. For a moment, we look at eachother.

"You ok?" He asks, taking a step nearer.

I nod, giving him a small smile. He shakes his head.

"No. You thought something just now." I pause as the thought drifted back, and quickly shake my head again. He puts both hands on my cheeks, taking a step closer so our lips were almost touching.

"What's wrong?" He asks. I sigh and explain.

His eyes are struck with pain as he meets my eyes the whole story. I decide to leave my brother's death from the picture. How they burned him in case he was a vampire too...

My cheeks are wet with tears, and James gently wipes them away.

"Hey, it's okay." He tells me in a soothing voice. I find myself watching him. Studying his intelligent eyes scanning my face. Study his jaw as he prepares himself for me to start crying again. But I didnt. And I didn't prepare myself for the kiss.

It was sweet. His lips linger softly against mine for only a second. He quickly pulls away, embarrassed. I continue to study him for a moment longer, debating what to do. That kiss was so sweet - so organized. So...amazing.

He opens his mouth to apologize, but I block his words with a kiss of my own. His soft, warm lips feel inviting against mine. My kisses are needy, a bit sloppy. But I can tell he doesn't mind, for he slowly buckles his arms around my neck and we depart.

His eyes are much more blue up close, and his breath is refreshing, still lingering on my lips and against them now.

"You...you...really don't mind me, do you?" He asks, slowly taking a step back. I shook my head. "No...I dont."

We stare at eachother a few more moments before we collect our minds again. Or at least - I collect my mind again.

"James, we can't be together...we...We have two clans after us. Two clans that are entirely opposites. Clans that...clans that forbid one of their kind to join hands with a member from the other side."

He nods, his eyes keen, understanding. "I know...but we'll be dead soon, and I want to spend my remaining time with you."

Before I can argue back, he was pushing his lips back into mine, gently wiping my red hair from my face as he kisses me. I enjoy him. I enjoy his lips like this, and I enjoy him touching me. As wrong as it may be, his actions made my heart slip a happy beat.
~~~
I wake on James' chest, my head and heart both throbbing painfully. I sit up, forcing my breathing to slow and look around. No Kara. No volcano.

I push back the flap of grass blocking our underground entrance to our small den James dug. Dawn shines on my face, and I crawl out to greet the warm, sunny day.

The Peaks Mts. We made it. I smile again, feeling more grateful having James than ever. Werewolf or not, he was incredible.

My thoughts drift back to Kara. We haven't seen her directly - that was bad. She was planning something. I can feel it in my blood.

I was released by Myles with a heavy tackle down the hill by James. Despite the incoming dangers, a happy laugh escapes my lips as James gives me a small, light storm of kisses.

"OK, OK." I gently shove him off my lap and on the ground. He smiles playfully up at me, and my heart pounds a little harder.

"We need to be alert. Since we haven't seen Kara yet, she's planning an attack on us." He raised an eyebrow and got up, brushing the dirt off his jeans.

"And you know this how....?" He asks, giving me a hand up. I sigh and reply, "Because, doggy boy. She's my teacher." James gasps dramatically and fakes a faint back to the ground.

I poke him with my foot, and act like I'm walking away. He quickly gasps again dramatically and I turn, glaring at his one open eye.

"James," I say in a fake angry voice, "get up. We need to go. We're wasting daylight.

"But I have fainted and cannot get up." James is fully watching me now, a dorky smile painted on his face. I smile sarcastically but help him up. His hand doesn't leave mine as he asks,

"Oh yeah, I was wondering. How come you don't burn up in the sun like the movies and books say?" I stop walking to look at him, preparing to explain...what? I sigh and shrug.

"I don't really know...nobody I know burns in the sun." James stops looks in front of me and quickly shoves me out of the way oft a ball of fire. And there, standing in front of us with an evil smile on her face, is Kara.