Xeranthemum (Discontinued)

Chapter 4

Calendula- despair and sorrow

~Luna~

Adrian made good on his promise to bring food. It was probably the most delicious food I'd ever eaten. It was so good that I couldn't help but wonder why he would need 'mortal' food.

I was stuck in that dark room for about a week due to my stupid, self-inflicted injury. Adrian visited frequently. His visits were nothing special since he was arrogant, full of himself and still a monster.

It was Saturday afternoon before I could manage walking again. I managed to stumble out the door before realising I didn't know where anything was. But, being stubborn, I stumbled around the mansion allowing myself to get lost in the grey corridors.

When I finally tired of the pointless endeavour, I slumped down against the wall. I was tired and weak- having a life threatening injury kinda drains you. My eyes fluttered shut and within seconds I was fast asleep. So sound asleep that I didn't notice the little boy who was standing over me.

I'm not sure what woke me up. Was it the prickly feeling you get down the back of your neck when someone is watching you? Or was it the haunting lack of sound? Whatever it was, I woke up to find myself staring into red eyes.

I yelped, jumping away. Not the cleverest idea with a wall behind me. The child's red eyes stared at me in curiosity as I rubbed the bump on the back of my head.

"Wh-who are you?" I finally managed to stutter after several moments of silence. The boy just carried on looking at me as though I had said nothing at all. "Who are you?" I asked again, my shaky voice became steadier and colder.

The child came towards me. Suddenly his young innocent face smiled and revealed several rows of sharp teeth. Oh crap, I thought. I was still weak from all the blood loss I'd recieved by the hands of that loathsome monster Adrian. I wondered what type of monster the child was.

I was tempted to mention the fact I was Bonded to Adrian but I was tired of a vampire helping me out. If only I had taken my own advice and not come to this stupid mansion. But my pride wouldn't allow it. I kill vampires. They try and kill me, they aren't the things I look to when I want to be saved.

So instead I was looking around the barren corridor looking for a weapon. My eyes fell on a table with an old vintage lamp on it. That would work. I got up suddenly, throwing off the child-beast for a few precious seconds. The Institute had taught me that even a millisecond could make a huge difference in a fight.

I managed to lunge and grab the lamp before spinning around. I stood grasping the lamp with both hands- like a sword- and centred my weight. The child-beast stalked towards me. Its smile was sick and twisted.

When the creature moved towards me, I backed away slowly. Suddenly, it darted forwards in an indecipherable blur. It came incredibly close to catching me off guard. Luckily, I was prepared for this type of move because it was similar to what Adrian had done in his fight against me.

I raised the lamp, getting ready to charge. The creature just broadened its grotesque smile. Deliberately leaving an open spot in my deffence, I edged towards the creature, hoping it would take the bait.

If it took the bait I would be able to kill it. It lunged forwards, its nails raking against my shoulders and causing a gasp of pain. I managed to ignore the pain and smashed the lamp down on the monsters head.

I was still smashing the lamp repeatedly over the creatures head when Adrian managed to find me. He was gasping as though he'd been running. When I saw him I just burst out laughing psychotically.

"Adrian, Adrian..." I giggled. "I killed the monster!" I hiccupped slightly through my hysterical laughter.

"I killed the monster..." Suddenly it didn't seem so funny and I felt tears falling down my cheeks. Adrian took a step towards me, his mouth open as though he were about to say something. I think he saw something menacing in my gaze as I backed away because he closed his mouth.

"The only reason you aren't dead, monster." I spat, "Is because I can't eradicate all the other monsters if I'm dead."

I had backed up all the way to the wall. My eyes were wild and I'm pretty sure I looked like a psychotic mess. Just then the monster I thought I had killed started moving. It started crawling towards me.

I had just smashed that things brains out and it was crawling towards me! I let out sob of anger- a rather contradictory emotion. Adrian's eyes flashed red and he grabbed the creature and bit into its neck. The creature let out a wild screech before fallong limp. Adrian threw the limp body to the side before slowly walking towards me.

I would be lying if I said I hadn't felt a flash of fear. Adrian looked menacing with glowing red eyes and pearly white fangs. I tried to back away more, but I was already right up against the wall.

"This monster," he spat at me, "just saved your worthless life."

"Only because you would also die if I did." I tried to glare as I replied, but I probably just made myself look even more helpless.

"Damn straight." He growled as he turned and walked away.

How had I ended up at the mercy of this monster? I couldn't stop the thoughts from invading my mind. All I could see were the white fangs. All I could hear was the roar of fire. My vision was black and filled with the vivid images of the vampire that had created my hatred. The vampire that was the reason I had turned into the Dark Blade that I was known as in the underworld.

And suddenly I didn't want the nightmares. I didn't want the nightmares or cold looks or heartache that I constantly lived with.

"Adrian!" I yelled. He turned around and gave me a disgusted look. "Why don't you just kill me?"

"You know why." He stated, but I saw a flash of something deeper.

"We both know that's not true..."