Chapter 1
He reached for the golden knob to the large French doors. His body ached with a strange pain he had never felt before. So many times he had killed humans to satisfy his thirst. Never had he felt pain such as this when he had drank of their blood.
His body felt weak against the constant sting of his veins, but he had to get to her. She couldn't die, not now. He had killed the Guardian that would take her place. They couldn't take her from him anymore.
He slid the door open, using all his strength to keep moving forward. As he crept through the door, he saw her there, lying upon the small white bed. It seemed to glow against the darkness of the room. The dark paneled walls and wood floor reflected only shadows in the dim candlelight.
Her long dark hair spilled over the side of the bed like dark satin. Her frail shape was still except for her shallow breathing. The white, lace dress she wore seemed to drain the color from her skin. She looked so pale in the dim light that Eramaius feared he was too late. Only her shallow breathing gave him comfort.
He walked to her slowly. Each step was painful, as the blood of the boy he had killed seemed to be fighting to release itself from his veins.
"Claire?" Eramaius whispered.
Her eyes fluttered and parted slightly. Her gray eyes searched until they found him. She smiled weakly and her hand twitched as she attempted to reach for him.
He came to her side. The pain seemed to be worsening with each movement of his body. He gasped slightly as he fell to his knees at her bedside.
"Eramaius? What's wrong? What have you done?" Claire asked. Her words sounding strained.
"I did it Claire. I killed him for you. He can no longer take your place as Guardian. You can live now, my dear. Live with me forever," he explained.
"Eramaius, no!" she breathed. "You have only condemned yourself to death!"
He stared at her. Was this why he felt the pain? Was this why she still looked so frail? No. It couldn't be. He wouldn't allow it! He had to make it stop.
"Claire. That can't be. It is said that if the Guardian's power awakens before the death of the old Guardian, should the new one die, the old Guardian would retain their position until the next one was ready," he explained, fear seeping into is words.
Had he been wrong? He had heard this from the Council. It had to be true.
She smiled at him, but the smile was that of sorrow.
"No, Eramaius," she paused, every breath becoming more difficult. "It is true that if the death of the new Guardian comes before the old, that the old would retain their position, but I betrayed my oath. I betrayed it when I allowed the Children of the Night to enter the day, when I wanted nothing more then to be with you forever. You are a vampire, and I am a Guardian. It was my task to make sure the balance between the Children of the Day and Night was never compromised. I will die no matter what for what I have done."
"NO!" Eramaius screamed. "No, Claire. You can't leave me. There has to be a way. There has to be!"
Tears slid silently down her soft cheeks. Her breathing was becoming weaker with every breath she took.
"I.....I love...you...Eramaius," she breathed.
Her eyes slid shut as a final breath slipped from her pale lips. Her head dropped to the side, as her whole body seemed to relax.
"Claire?" Eramaius called her. Panic overcame him.
He fought the pain in his body to wrap his arms around her, pulling her to him.
