Heir to the Eternal Throne

Chapter 7

             Aldrin opened his eyes, uncomfortably gazing at the woman who watched vigilantly at the end of the bed. Jade leaned against the bedpost, her arms crossed. She appeared to be lost in her own thoughts. Aldrin slowly pushed himself up, bring the woman back to reality as he did so. "You don't need to watch me sleep."

            "Your sister was quite specific with her request," Jade retorted. She leaned her head against the bedpost, a thoughtful gaze lingering on Aldrin. "I thought vampires did not need to sleep."

            "I was not sure we ever could. This would be my first time," Aldrin replied, stretching his arms. "This is strange to me. It feels normal, yet unnatural."

            "I can relate. Nice to know I am not alone," Jade commented, a slight smile crossing her lips. "Unless..."

            "Don't," Aldrin warned the newborn vampire.

            "There is this possibility I might have some vampire specific contagion, and you caught it." Jade looked up, a thoughtful finger tapping her chin.

            "Absolutely not!" Aldrin retorted.

            "Well, I mean, you didn't sleep before you met me so..." Jade cocked her head at Aldrin, stressing the idea. Aldrin jumped from the bed, tackling Jade. As they both fell, Jade pushed up against Aldrin, flipping them over; as to land with Aldrin on the ground, and Jade being on top.

            Pinned by the newborn's superior strength, Aldrin refused to struggle. "Again?" He remarked, annoyance lacing his tone.

            "You tried to tackle me again. Thought you would have learned that lesson the last three times you tried, " Jade retorted, a victorious grin across her face as she held him in place. Leaning down, she whispered, "Then again, there may be some other motive that drives you to tackle me?" The vampire smirked, her gaze locked with Aldrin's as she probed him for a reaction.

            Aldrin glared at the woman. "Now you're having too much fun. Let me up."

            "Ummm, how about, no? I think I am enjoying this," Jade remarked, her smirk lingering as a seductive gaze trailed down Aldrin's bare chest. It was then that a thought crossed Aldrin's mind. Rather than objecting to the vampires advance, he drifted his own eyes down her robe. Not that there was anything to see, but the movement caught her attention.

            Jade bit her lip, her muscles slightly trembling as the thought and idea took root in her mind. The tremble loosened her hold on Aldrin. Something she didn't account for. Aldrin looked back up at her and smirked, a victorious glint in his eyes. Tilting her head, Jade tried to determine what Aldrin had become so proud of.

            Pushing his full strength up against the vampire, Aldrin threw them both off the ground, pinning the newborn against the bedpost, before she could fight back. Aldrin's grip closed around her throat, a free arm pressing firmly into her stomach. The bedpost creaked, cracking with a snap. A few splinters breaking free of the wood.

            Jade looked into Aldrin's eyes. Her own were wide, her breath caught as she processed what had happened. Aldrin leaned forward, causing the other to struggle, and back away. She kicked and punched, struggling to free herself from his grasp.

            "Learn to control your desires, Jade. Let your guard down for even a second, like you just did, and someone may take the opportunity to kill you. Had I been your enemy, you would be dead," Aldrin cautioned her, his tone low. Waiting a moment, to be sure his words registered, he released her and stepped back.