Editor's note: this story contains scenes of non-consensual or reluctant sex.
*****
When Arda awoke sometime later, she was back in Ctesasisl's cabin. There was a roaring fire going. Ctesasisl was across the room in his chair looking at her with a concerned look on his face.
"Do you believe me now?" he anxiously questioned. Everything in the world seemed to hinge on whether this woman believed him or not.
Arda didn't meet his eyes. She clutched her bear for protection and ran her fingers over the sheets. "No...I mean yes, I mean...no, but it has to be a yes because I don't see any other explanation for it. I've always believed in impossible things and hoped they existed. But, if you want me to be totally honest, my final answer is almost maybe." She finally looked up and met Ctesasisl's deep jade eyes. She smiled shyly and uncertainly.
Almost maybe...thought Ctesasisl to himself. Almost maybe, it wasn't the answer he'd been hoping for. But, it wasn't a no. Almost maybe, at least Arda was honest. He had an almost maybe. Sooner or later, he would turn that into a yes for her. Ctesasisl just had to figure out how.
"I'm sleepy and I'm still in that cocktail dress, could I have some pajamas or a t-shirt of yours." yawned Arda.
"Sure, sweetie...let me help you out of that." Ctesasisl strode across the room and gently unzipped Arda. He kissed her neck and shoulders as he went. He kissed her along her back as he took the zipper further and further down. Ctesasisl stopped when he reached the small of her back. He longed for what was in between Arda's legs. He wanted to repeatedly pleasure her there and make Arda forget all her worries. Ctesasisl had no doubt he could assuage her fears if she let him hold her in his arms. Arda's body quivered as he momentarily stopped there. Her heart rate elevated. Ctesasisl wondered if it was with desire or memory of her trauma? He finished unzipping her dress. It fell to the floor and he watched as she put on pajamas.
If Arda had thought she could hide the dark red spot on her back from Ctesasisl, she was wrong. He had seen it. He knew that the young vampire clan would come for her soon. Their cruel game of cat and mouse would begin again.
Ctesasisl had to tell her. Ctesasisl didn't want to tell her, he just couldn't bear to tell her. He wanted Arda to belong to him and him alone. Ctesasisl normally kept to himself and was closed off to the world. Yet, this mortal woman tugged at his heart strings and made him feel emotions. He hadn't felt emotions in decades. Ctesasisl didn't know why he was drawn to Arda, it was more than her beauty, he had seen beautiful women before, but Ctesasisl knew he would protect Arda know matter what the cost.
He told Arda the news about the young vampire clan. He told her how they would never stop. Arda looked horrified, but she didn't faint like her had been expecting.
"What are we going to do?" she questioned desperately.
It was the "WE " that set Ctesasisl off. Was she thinking of them as a couple? As a team? Was Arda now believing what she had called his "outlandish tales''? The ''we" amazed Ctesasisl at long last he had someone who thought of him as a friend. Despite their dire predicament Ctesasisl smiled to himself. Could he be experiencing happiness over the past few days? It had been so long since he felt that emotion, that he had forgotten what it felt like.
"So what are WE going to do?" questioned Arda again, anxiously.
"I don't know, Arda." said Ctesasisl honestly. "But, I swear to you...whatever happens I'll always take care of you. Don't worry, we're in this odessey together. The first thing we have to do is leave this cabin and go away...I'm making this plan up as I go so just come along for the ride, with me."
Arda nodded. She believed Ctesasisl wild stories now, she might even trust him. She'd go with him. "Okay, let's go." she said more boldly that she felt. "Lead the way, Ctesasisl."
Despite spending centuries in his cabin, when it came time to leave Ctesasisl had nothing to take. He was ready to start a new chapter of life with Arda and forget his cabin entirely. It was dozens of miles to the nearest road. Ctesasisl picked Arda up and with his vampiric speed arrived at the snowcovered unpaved desolate road.
"Wow, we were at that cabin and now we're here...wherever here is. Arda looked at Ctesasisl in astonishment. What the fuck was going on?
"Arda, I'm starting to have an idea...I don't know if it'll work because it's so vague. But, we're going to try it for now. I have a house, more of a fortress, in northern Newfoundland, that I built during the Cold War in case things on Earth really went to Hell. Canada never seems to get into any real trouble. I'm the only one who knows about it now, the builders have all died...we can make our stand against the young vampires there. Now I can instantly transport us there, but that would take alot energy out of me and I won't be able to protect you. So I think we should drive. It'll take a few days but I believe it's our best option."
Suddenly, a brand new car appeared on the snowbound road. It was a silver Honda Civic. "Arda, you deserve a Porsche, Lamborghini or a Rolls-Royce. But, we have to blend, this is the most common car for you mortals so we should take it."
Arda made to enter the passenger side of the car. "Uhmm, Arda-you're going to have to drive it. I've never learned how." Arda stared at Ctesasisl, was he punking her?
