Thank you all for being so wonderful! I hope the chapter below is enjoyable, please keep reading and commenting.
A few times I have been pulled up on my grammar- and for this I am sorry. Between work and uni, I barely have enough time to write, and so the grammatical errors fall last on my 'to do list'. I have tried to find an editor- but so far no luck. So if you are reading these stories and think you might be able to help- please let me know!
I want desperately to please everyone. Unfortunately my studies are science based, and so I am finding it difficult to transverse into the world of non-fictional writing.
I hope to hear from anyone who may be interested soon...
Chapter 7... Hunting in style-
"How can the elders know we have formed a coven?" Sameth asked, his voice betraying his feelings of insecurity.
Clyde shrugged in response and Ragon stared at him. If he were going to pick someone he trusted least out of his recruited coven members; it was Clyde. Still, he had no basis for such an accusation, and besides trying valiantly to win Bell's affections, Clyde had shown no indications of betrayal. He was after all, Ragon thought to himself; just acting like Clyde.
"When I asked you all here to form this coven, I had no intention of bringing danger to you, beyond that which Kiara might supply. I will show no animosity if you choose to leave now?" Ragon said.
"Leave now?" Clyde asked undignified, "when it is just starting to get good?"
Both Larissa and Cambridge exchanged worried looks, which was punctuated by Sandra saying, "I didn't expect to be called upon by William and Nicholas," and her sad eyes raked over Bell before she added, "but I have come to know this little one, and I will stand by you both."
The other three nodded.
"So be it," Ragon said, before turning to Sameth, "and you what of you friend?"
Sameth seemed to be thinking hard. After a moment, which to Bell felt like a life time, he nodded once.
Bell looked around at the vampires who were staying to protect her and realised something; she had not thanked them. Chewing on her bottom lip, she rehearsed her thank you speech in her head for a moment then said, "I'm sorry. I don't want anything to happen to anyone."
"Oh sugar, come here," Sandra said, moving to her side in a flash and embracing her.
Bell wanted to cry. How could she have spent a lifetime looking for friends in other humans only to find such friendships in the un-dead? Her face must have shown her gratitude, because Larissa moved over quickly too, joining the hug. Clyde smiled wickedly; moving over to embrace all three girls, but Ragon reached out and stopped him. She thought she might have heard Ragon whisper something to him, but was unsure.
That night Ragon thought long and hard about the coming Halloween party. The fact that the elders knew about Bell was a concern; but that they would invite a mortal, who was not a source, to one of their events? That was unheard of. He had been waiting for an opportunity to speak with Sameth about this since the letter had first arrived. Sameth had been a friend since Ragon had been made by Kiara, and it was he who had helped him escape her clutches all those decades ago. When Sameth glanced over at him, he indicated for him to follow him; which he did.
Moving over to the deserted hall way, Ragon said, "Follow me."
The two did not talk again until Ragon had directed them through a door.
"Read much?" Sameth asked when he saw the impressive library that Ragon had taken him to.
Large mahogany bookshelves lined the walls, each filled with various writings.
"My collection has grown since last you saw me," Ragon replied, indicating a small spiral staircase that lead to a second level.
From this vantage point Sameth could appreciate Ragon's library in its entirety. His eyes scanned the room quickly; noting the antique desk which corned this second level and was scattered with papers. Ragon hurriedly covered his personal documents. Trusting Sameth was without question; still, some things were best kept private.
"What's this all about?" Sameth asked
"I need your advice," Ragon said quickly.
Sameth stared back at Ragon, and waited for him to continue.
"Am I doing the right thing?" he asked, "keeping Bell here, would it not be better for us to escape into the night, to leave this place?"
Sameth considered his words for a moment. "What are your intensions for Bell? Do you mean to change her?" he asked.
Ragon looked around the room quickly, "No," he said simply.
"Why have you kept her then? What is she to you? Surely you do not mean to watch her grow old and die?" Sameth asked.
"No, but-" Ragon began.
"Then why suffer her to Kiara's tyranny? You must know that Kiara means to kill her. Would it not have been better to release her, and let her resume a normal life?" Sameth asked.
"I can't let her go," Ragon replied.
His hands were shaking, realising the truth of his words. He couldn't let her go. Not now that he had gotten to know her.
"Then you must remain here," Sameth said, before touching his chin in consideration, "but why not at least let her pick up her old life? You would not begrudge her some semblance of living?"
"You think I don't want to? I know I can't give her what she deserves, but surely the risks are too great. What if Kiara captured her again? I do not think she would take so long a second time to kill her," Ragon said, his eyes sad.
"Better living one day happy, then a lifetime hiding," Sameth said, before reaching out to touch Ragon on the shoulder and adding, "you are not a cruel man. Why not let her out a bit; let her smell the roses."
"Perhaps," Ragon said, mulling over Sameth's words.
"I would volunteer my services on such occasions, I could watch over her. I believe before all this happened she was studying? Why not let her partake in night classes, where she can be safe with your friends nearby? Kiara would be none the wiser; she won't be expecting you to let her leave again, not after what happened last time," Sameth said.
Ragon nodded slowly, "Once the Halloween party has played out I will do as you suggest," he said.
Ragon then reached up to clap Sameth on the shoulder, "you have been a dear friend," he said smiling.
Sameth replied, "We have been through much together."
"And some," Ragon said, his smile widening, "I shall not forget your help, this time, or the last."
"There was nothing more I wanted than to free Kiara from you," Sameth replied, and followed Ragon down the spiral staircase.
***
Bell had been waiting to get Ragon alone all night, and had been disappointed when he had disappeared with Sameth. When finally she saw him returning she took her chance, jumped from her chair, and reached him before he could resume his place with the group.
"Is there something wrong?" Ragon asked, noting the look in Bell's eyes.
Bell laughed once, "You mean asides from your ex wanting to kill me? Nope nothing- everything is just great." She had spoken with sarcasm, and though she instantly knew her words had hurt Ragon; she couldn't help but laugh at her situation.
"I'm sorry," Ragon said simply looking down.
"Please stop apologising. I am the one who should be saying sorry to you. You rescue me from rapists; tell me that you will look after me; save me from vampires after I ignore your warnings, and now you are forming a coven to keep me safe," Bell blurted out.
She wanted to add just one word to the end of her sentence. Why? She knew that Ragon was a nice guy, or rather a nice vampire; but there must be a thousand girls around here that were at this very moment in trouble. Each one of them needed a saviour just as much as her; maybe even more so. So why had he chosen her; why was her story any different to theirs? Her eyes raked his abnormally beautiful features. Someone with looks like his could have whoever they wanted: why her?
Ragon smiled kindly, "you have made for a rather difficult house guest," he teased.
Bell returned his smile, but continued to build the courage to ask him why he had saved her in the first place. Just then however, Clyde entered the hallway.
"Not talking about me I hope?" he asked.
Ragon glowered at him, but neither responded.
"Well, I was thinking as we have a party to go to, that we might go out and get our costumes?"
Both Bell and Ragon stared back in disbelief. Was he serious?
"And," Clyde went on taking advantage of their silence, "seeing as the event is so soon, I thought perhaps tonight was as good as any to get them," he finished.
Ragon made to speak, but Bell answered first saying, "it would be nice to get out of this house for a bit."
Ragon considered her words carefully, and thinking of his recent conversation with Sameth said, "I guess we will have to get them at some point."
"But why can't we go?" B1 asked in an annoyingly high pitched whiney voice, thirty minutes later as the coven and Bell made to leave.
"Because my dears, you are not on the invite," Clyde said for the third time; now losing patience with his beautiful blood bags.
"Besides," Cambridge interjected, "you would likely be served up as the main course."
Both girls pouted; their large full lips quivering, giving them the appearance of spoilt teenagers. Which Bell realised, they probably were.
"When I return, I promise you, we will have some fun," Clyde said winking.
They stormed off to the kitchen, reached inside the freezer, and began pouring vodka shots.
"Where did you find them?" Larissa asked incredulously.
"At a fashion shoot in Rio," he replied, his ever wicked grin adorning his face. "I saw them, and I thought; I just have to have them."
Bell and Ragon rode behind Clyde's car; which held himself and Cambridge in the front, and Thomas, Sandra and Larissa in the back. Sameth had said he would rather go hunting and requested the group select a costume for him.
"Do you think Sameth would be opposed to going as a mermaid?" Clyde asked sneakily, when he knew he had driven far enough to be out of earshot of Sameth.
Cambridge's large booming laugh filled the car.
"So were actually doing this? We're going? And were taking Bell with us?" Larissa asked when finally they had stopped laughing.
"You know we cannot refuse the invite," Cambridge said soothingly to his mate.
"Yes, but surely if Ragon and Bell left to go somewhere else the elders would be none the wiser," Larissa protested.
