Forsaken (book 3) (The Charmer series) (13 page)

I’m getting really nervous now it’s getting close to the time for him to rise, I’ve got to fight him
, giving in isn’t an option.

“
Mum, Dad please please hear me I need you!” I whisper gently in a prayer.

“Ah Bella so sweet
, but they can’t hear you, do not threat, you will forget about them soon!”

“Monster, you will
never make me forget! I will be away from you. I will never stop fighting!”

“
Oh you do entertain me, but I’m the King of the Vampires not one of your warriors, I’m impervious to you Charmer! I desire your body, come to me!”

Scaring me into a state of panic, my body hovers towards him, and I stop only inches away from him.

As his hands reach towards my breasts, rather than my heart beat rocketing, it slows down dramatically, filling me with strength and courage, more importantly breaking his hold on me.  My hands reach his shoulders and push down hard as I bring my knee up with force into his balls.

Making a grunt he drops on his knees gripping himself.

“You’re not impervious to pain though are you!” I bite back in an irate tone.

Jumping angrily to his feet, fangs bared, I’m terrified at his murderess look, stepping backwards as he lunges for me.

“I’m going to drain you dry and rip your throat out bitch.” He shouts, as his nails dig in my arms drawing blood as I struggle, then his fangs tear through the artery in my neck, all pain this time as he gulps down my blood.

The fight has left me as I’m feeling light headed
, beginning to float away to oblivion when I swear I hear my father’s muffled voice.

"Take your hands off my daughter!" My father bellows from behind me.

Breathing out heavily, my heart fills with joy when I feel Demitri's arms slip from around me, freeing me.

Falling into my father’s arms, I hug him tightly for dear life.

"I'm here now child," he comforts and holds me close to him, his body shaking with rage.

"How dare you take my
daughter! I have warned you Demitri!" His voice thunders.

"If I do not take her, then someone else will," he threatens.

"Do not take me for a fool! Never come to her again, or so help me Demitri, I will burn every Vampire that exists starting with you! Do I make myself clear?"

Never has anyone scared me so in my life, or my nightmares. I thought that Lucifer was fierce in his monstrous form, but my father, he has nothing on him.

Seeing the change in Demitri’s stance and the fear showing clearly in his eyes, I realise the power my father holds.

"Yes," he growls out and bows his head slightly.

Watching each other closely, my father pushes out his chest in a fighting stance, causing Demitri to look down at the ground, rather than to the rage filled eyes of my father.

"Child, hold on to me." He whispers lovingly, not that he needed to, I was holding on so tightly that I may have left finger nail marks.

With that, we transport to his house.

“I am sorry I scared you, you should not have seen me like that," he tells me full of sorrow.

With a steady stream of tears, I
squeeze him tighter as I feel I’m going to black out. Feeling myself being carried and placed gently down on the couch, I feel his healing hands on my neck as the pain goes.

“Sorry child, if
I hadn’t broken through his ward in time I could have lost you.” His shoulders stiff in fear of what could have been.

"You did though, you found me, thank you, I love you, so much," I cry into his shirt.

"Shhh, I know that child, and I love you. Wait here for me; I will be just a moment?" He asks cautiously.

Nodding my head to him, he reluctantly slips from my grasp and stands with a weak smile before disappearing.

Pushing my back up against the cushions, I run my hands over my face, and think of what could have happened to me at that place, and those poor women who are stuck there, addicted to his bite.

When I let my hands fall from my face, no other then Richard stands with my father, both looking at me with concern.

"Was it you, did you help him?" I ask Richard with a shaky breath, getting to my feet.

"No," he says strongly shaking his head, and as soon as he speaks, I know it is the truth, I can see it in his face.

"Why is he here?" I ask my father sounding depressed but more so confused.

"Come to me child," he calls lovingly.

Walking into his arms, I suddenly feel safe again, loved.

"Zara, are you ok?
" Richard asks in a tone I have not yet heard coming from him.

"I'm fine," I reply, but the tears stains on my cheeks are not missed by him as he scans my face.

"Child, I have to go away for a few days, it's something I have to do," he tells me sadly, "I know you are strong, I see it in your heart, but I need to know you are safe, and with Ruk..." He stops and sighs before continuing, "Richard is a powerful man, strong and wise, he knows the enemy, he is the enemy," he says directly to Richard, getting a wink in return, "I have asked him to be at your side, you are strong together," he nods at me thoughtfully.

"You don’t need to worry. I know what I’m up against with
him, I know that he has deadly power. I will not seek revenge until I have matched strength."

"All the same, for my peace of mind, you
’re precious to me child so please. I know you have your differences, but you work well together," he confesses.

"You agree to this?" I ask Richard wondering what’s in it for him.

"I do, for my own benefits of course," he smirks.

"Just until you get back?"
I ask my father sceptically.

"I promise. Your mother and I think it is for the best, he is the only one we trust."

"Trust?" I ask in amazement, making Richard snort a laugh, and my father stare daggers at him.

"He knows what will be lost if he deceives us. Please child, this shall be all I ever ask of you. You can both stay here; no one can enter who is not invited by me and only me. You can come and go as you please, just stay together," he asks in desperation pleading with his eyes.

"Do you know something?"

"Don't fret child. That man will not come for you as long as I live." He states as a fact, "we shall get revenge for what he did, but the time is not right, you must trust me?"

"I do, I promise," I tell him, then look to Richard to hear his thoughts, but he looks down at the floor.

"Stay here tonight. I will tell Dallah you are with me, safe."

"She won't believe you," I say with a raised brow, making him smile sweetly.

"She will," he winks and kisses my head before scanning my face and speaking gently.

"I love you child, you are my life, my whole life."

"I love you dad," I kiss his cheek and smile up at him proudly.

When my father transports out of his home with a small suitcase, I feel sad to see him go.

Great left alone with Richard who seems to be watching me intensely.

"Where were they?"

"Who?"

"Your friends, your lover, when Demitri took you where were they?"

"I...don't..." I can't finish, I don't want him to ask questions.

"Ok. Know this, I made a promise to your father, and no one can make a promise to Eric and fail him. I will be here for you, watch your back, but I will not wipe your tears or be your councillor," he speaks slowly so every word is understood.

"I didn't want you here Richard, and understand that I do not need your shoulder to cry on,” I tell him with my head held high.

"Good. Where shall I sleep?" He asks arrogantly.

"Where ever you like," I tell him and walk out of the dining room and up the elegant stair case to my bedroom, but instead of looking calm and controlled like I’d hope, I look like an idiot. I’m wearing a tiny amount of material, no underwear, and walking up the stairs with my hands covering my exposed butt and crutch. Damn it. If I had the strength, I would wrap a robe around me with magic.

Slipping into my huge bed, and sweet smelling sheets, I snuggle against the pillow and close my eyes to the nightmares that wait for me so cruelly. The life I was so close to living. Never will I forget about the small amount of time I spent with that monster.

Waking in the morning, I reluctantly leave my comfortable bed and step into the amazing shower that adjoins my room. Languishing under the warm sprays, so relieved to be free again.

Opening the door on my bedroom wa
rdrobe, I’m amazed to see it full of coats and footwear, dresses and jeans. My mum must have had a hand in helping my dad find all these things for me, then it actually hits me, I have parents that love me, a family.

Dressing in one of the beautiful long sleeved dr
esses that hang in the wardrobe and sorting my hair and make-up before I take a deep breath and exit my room, heading down stairs to face Richard.

"Zara, I thought your father was teasing me. How exciting you will be staying here," the lovely Alfred speaks with a twinkle in his eye.

"Yes, I will be staying here a few days, I look forward to getting to know you better," I tell him with a sweet smile.

"Good, this is where you belong, but I won't go on, your father warned me," He winks, "come for brea
kfast. Your guest is quiet the Charmer," he states, and then snorts a laugh at the words he used.

"Oh you met Richard," I ask with a laugh.

"Yes, unfortunately," he rolls him eyes playfully before turning and walking into the large kitchen area, where Richard‘s sat eating breakfast.

Joining him at the table, I give him a weak smile as I say hi.

"You look better this morning."

I have woken to a new day, I have to cat Demitri aside in my mind and concentrate on what is important to me and to those I care deeply for.

"Um...thanks. Listen, I'm going to see the Brothers’ today at the bar, shall I meet you back here at say...7?"

"No. I'll be going with you; we can come back together at say...4." He states

"You’re being serious?"

"Of course, I made a promise, I will stick to it. And if I remember correctly, you made the same promise to daddy," he says in a belittling tone.

"Fine. Uhh, how will I explain this to them," I ask myself aloud.

"Stop thinking about others, the day you do is the day you will feel free," he answers my own question.

"I know you don't get it, but I care for these people, and they care for me. If you're coming too then I expect you to be on your best behaviour, or I'll tell daddy," I tell him sarcastically, getting a small smile from him.

"Wow a smile, don't crack that lovely face will you," I joke.

Winking at me and pursing his lips, I roll my eyes at him.

Alfred brings over a pot of tea, blueberry muffins and a slice of toast, my favourite.

"Wow, how did you know?" I ask with appreciation.

"I know a few things," he smile down at me and looks at Richard with a curled lip before heading outside.

As soon as he leaves us, I burst into laughter at the sight of Richards shocked face.

"You make a good impression," I joke.

"Um, looks that way. I have never heard you laugh," he says aloud, with a grin.

"Well that's because you never gave me anything to laugh about." I say with a fake smile.

"So what will you be doing today, winning back the dog? Ok, ok, I'm sorry just teasing." He say’s after seeing my angry face.

"I will be visiting the Brothers’ but mainly Ruk, I need to see he is well."

"Why bother," he asks with an attitude.

"I bother because he would for me!" I tell him with a raised voice.

"Whatever Zara, your life, ruin it how you wish," he says in a bored tone.

"Could you not
be a complete wanker for 10 minutes?"

"Oh as you ask so nicely I will try."

This is going to be extremely hard, being so close to such a man, never mind living with him for the sake of my father’s sanity.

Nevertheless, in a strange way I am grateful for his being here, I haven't got to tell him lies, he know everything, and although I will never in a million years admit it, I do feel safe knowing he is here. I just hope he doesn't make me regret my promise to my father.

I'm starting to see Richard a little differently, he is still dangerous and arrogant, but I see why he is a Prince, he has power, and knows how to use it.

I'm not sure I trust him, but I hope to prove myself wrong. Nevertheless, this is all for Ruk, he may not know it, or ever find out, but I will keep strong in the hopes he will see thro
ugh this lie and come back to us in time.