The Violet Line by Bilinda Ni Siodacain Page A

Cassiopeia had succeeded and killed him in the dungeon that day, Sam would not have the opportunity he had now to warn Jade of the danger that she was in. He wanted to hold her close again, drink deep of her sweet scent and properly say goodbye. He knew what he had to do. He would ensure Jade was safe and he would say goodbye. It was the only way he knew of to keep her safe. His being alive was the only thing that would allow the council to track her; with him out of the picture, they would never be able to detect or find her. It would be as though she suddenly no longer existed and the vampires would never have their prophecy fulfilled. His beautiful, talented, loving and gentle Jade would never have to suffer at their sick perverted hands; she would not have to constantly look over her shoulder in fear of detection. She could have her life and perhaps in the afterlife, if Sam was granted one, they could be together.
    Sam continued the long walk back to his Jade. His injuries were slowing him down but he knew he would make it back to her before sunrise. He could taste rain on the air. The fine weather was finally going to break and the dawn would be delayed, allowing him more time to get back before the sun’s rays found him. The thought of holding her close lifted his heart and spirits and he found himself picking up his pace in anticipation of seeing her face. He dreaded the conversation he would have to have with her but he knew this way was for the best. He didn’t want to hurt her but he wouldn’t see her die and be reborn into the hands of those back at the manor. The one thing that was bothering Sam most was the final vision that Oskaar had allowed him to see before he left. Oskaar had shown him who would be the one to finally turn Jade into the cruel beautiful shell that he had seen standing on the stage. In the vision, Sam had held Jade in his arms and she had smiled up at him, tracing her fingers over his lips and jaw. She had smiled and pulled him in close to her as he had slid his fangs out and nestled his face against her neck, inhaling deeply the smell of her sweet blood. Jade had wrapped her arms around his neck as Sam sank his fangs deep into her neck, drinking from her until only a drop of her blood remained. He had watched, horrified, as Oskaar had shown him laying Jade out across his lap as he slit one of his wrists and smeared his blood across her lips, urging her to drink deeply and watching with a smile as she latched on. Oskaar had finished the vision there but Sam had seen enough of the possible future to know that it was he who would turn his beloved into the monster he had seen in his first vision. This disturbed him beyond anything else he had ever witnessed in his life. Sam would not allow this future to happen. He would see to it that Jade lived a long and full life; happy, and human with no threat from the vampires that haunted his constant waking thoughts. Three days and two nights was all the time he had to make his preparations. Despite the pain that ran in lines down his back and legs, Sam began to run to Jade.
     
    Chapter Eight
    Sitting in the darkness of the flat, lights from the cars flicked up onto the ceiling, before chasing across it like small children in a playground. Annie had gone home when it had still been bright outside. The landlord had rang her to say he’d fix the locks and she had wanted to go around and make sure he didn’t touch anything else. I’d offered to drive her back but she told me she needed the time to clear her head.
    The heating had gone off hours ago and I watched, fascinated as my breaths caused little puffs of white fog to form near my face. Since Annie’s departure, I had thought of nothing except Sam; how his smile it crinkled up near the corners of his eyes. I remembered the feel of his skin under my hands and how when we touched, it felt like little sparks of electricity passed between us. I could remember every part of him but it wasn’t enough.