Shout out to Rumpole for pre-approving.
Thanks to you all for reading, feedback and voting ;)
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The sun lazily descended beyond the horizon, signalling the end of twilight. Edmund's mind whirled with doubt as he approached home at a gallop. The puzzle seemed almost solved, but the answer was difficult to stomach. It was impossible to credit with an objective mind, yet Edmund sensed its truth. Though plain from the outset that Sage was no ordinary girl, he'd hardly expected his discovery to link with the forbidden occult.
In a quick prayer, Edmund wished his inklings were convoluted coincidence, delusion and paranoia. He prayed he had not inadvertently fallen in love with a girl raised by a creature who founded a chilling, mythical nightmare. A heartbroken, vampiric creature, who somehow chose Sage as his mate.
Edmund swore and abruptly pulled the reins, realising his path was blocked. The horse whinnied indignantly as it strained to halt with only moments to spare.
In the path's centre stood a fully cloaked, motionless figure. Edmund edged his horse back from the unstartled character, and the beast eagerly complied, very distressed by the obstruction.
"A robbery would be ill-advised!" Edmund harshly called, his words echoed along the still road.
Though rattled by recent discoveries, Edmund was unafraid of footpads. But the stranger offered only silence - there was no demand or threat. A strange feeling crept up Edmund's spine as he noted the disguised man had no horse or weapon beside what might be concealed beneath the blue-black cloak. The surrounding wilderness was such that companions would be impossible to conceal. It was not an ambush.
In an unusual rebellion, the horse tentatively stepped back and Edmund warningly tightened the reins. He had no intention of retreating.
"Why do you block the path?" he asked coldly.
"Your name?" the stranger inquired. His voice was deeply pleasant and hardly older than Edmund's.
"My name is not your business," Edmund snapped. "Let me pass."
"I am afraid we must disagree," the other purred in clipped, eloquent tones.
Edmund's eyes widened as he faintly recognised Sage's accent.
"A-Aleksis?" he breathed.
A part of Edmund felt foolish for voicing a ludicrous suspicion. But his query was not met by denial. The cloaked figure stepped back and swept a graceful bow before resuming stance, still concealing his features.
"Now you have me at a disadvantage, dear boy." The melodious voice contained a smile.
"Why do you hide yourself?" Edmund asked. With a thousand questions tumbling about his bewildered mind, his heart pounded with justified unease. But he had his sword, and was ready to use it.
"Why do you hide your name? Perhaps we are both men of instinct, with reason for caution. You have something that belongs to me. I smell her on you."
"I will believe she belongs to you, when I hear it from her lips with certainty. And you are no man."
The figure angled its head thoughtfully. "Very well. You are braver than I predicted. I could easily kill you now."
"You could try!" Edmund growled, his gaze unwavering from that shadowed, black space from where he knew a face keenly observed him. Edmund's horse restlessly shuffled in disagreement to his challenge.
The figure chuckled. "Foolish young man. Whatever you think of me, I am not here to harm you."
"Then what do you want?"
The creature angled his head, and Edmund sensed Aleksis' cynicism. "Really, boy?"
Edmund grit his teeth. "I will not forsake her."
"It is not your choice."
"If you truly care for Sage, you will allow her a natural life."
Aleksis laughed scornfully. "Naïve lad. My gift to her is coveted by the world."
"If she accepts it."
"She already has."
Edmund snarled, unable to think clearly for the anger pulsing through him. Before he could retort, the hooded form stepped forward and Edmund's horse panicked, rearing up with a shriek. When Edmund regained control of the steed, the road was clear and silent.
*******
"Do not run from me."
Not heeding the command, Sage fled into the dark. Danger swiftly followed as she blindly plunged through patches of clouded mist. Glancing to the sky for direction, she saw the treetops, impossibly high, disappear into the starry sky.
The surrounding forest stood cold and unresponsive to her panic. Reaching a familiar clearing where old ruins lay, the tranquil stone pieces appeared grim in the stark moonlight, like jaded gravestones. Sweat poured down Sage's temples as she abruptly changed direction.
Finding herself in a maze-like garden, she met one dead end after another. The forest was gone from her world, taking all comfort with it. Now, she was trapped in a cluster of thick hedges that began to slowly reduce in proximity, boxing her in.
Defeated, Sage whimpered and turned to the hedge, praying for rescue as the unyielding plant wall pressed into her soft skin, marking her delicate cheek with cool imprints of leaf and twig. A step sounded behind her, and Sage stood frozen with terror. Too afraid to face her pursuer, her heart thundered with frightened adrenaline. Where was she?
"Sage," he whispered, so close behind her.
Large, gentle hands guided her to turn around. Held in a nurturing embrace, her cheek lay against a broad chest.
"Wait! Please!" Sage begged, her eyes still tightly closed in fear. Though fighting to be free, she was too weak to make a difference. The man was unfazed by her struggling.
"Do not fight me, Sage," he ordered. "Be still."
"Where am I?" she sighed pitiably. The hands returned, warmly tracing up her waist to settle beneath her breasts. A mouth drew close and caressed her ear.
"You are dreaming."
"Dreaming?" she dizzily echoed.
The hands became inquisitive, touching and kneading until the cold sweat that had settled like beads of ice on her skin, suddenly warmed to something else. Hot perspiration. Arousal. Suddenly Sage's heart raced for desire, not fear, and she felt breathlessly confused.
The mouth by her ear moved to more sensitive territory. Smiling lips teased along her jaw and journeyed down her neck. Sage gasped, her heart fluttering as he caught a slip of flesh between his teeth and gently sucked. The hands continued to move over her body, sensually stroking her breasts and dipping lower.
Sage moaned restlessly, and was released. Panting, she finally dared open her eyes to perceive a tall man dressed in black, wearing a familiar, flattering navy coat. He was perhaps a few years older, in his early twenties, with blonde hair that shone like soft gold, swept neatly back from his brow. His striking features were sharp with ancient wisdom, enclosed in youth. His eyes glinted like black coal, captivating Sage with hypnotic intensity. As she recognised him, his mouth slowly curved to an attractive smile.
"Aleksis!" Sage gasped, staring around. "How?"
"You are dreaming, sweet," he grinned, intently watching her.
"B-But..."
"I told you not to run from me. It shortened our time."
"I did not know you could do this."
"Nor I. But I persevered." He stepped closer. "Tell me, quickly. Who has you?"
