Guardian of the Shadows ~Closed

[Perplexia]

"Interesting" she replied after catching her breath at the gorgeous wet man before her. "So it will be a rags to riches story, enveloping the drive and persistence that anyone can do anything or become anyone they like." she pondered for a moment before continued. "It has been done quite a bit. What angle do you have or possess that would make it sell worthy is it the path you mentioned? and what about this path could be inspiring for its readers?"

Lily took a moment to admire the muscles that his nude torso. It was more than his rippling torso though. Jake was well built, but his manipulative asshole tendencies made him disgusting. His kisses were forced and hateful. There was no attraction toward him, when his true colors had shown through.

Shaking her head to get him out his mind she forced a smile across her lips as if she were enjoying the sun. Slowly she swam over to him and stood in front of him. "About earlier, if you are able to by some miracle take care of my um 'problem', I'll be able to finally move forward. I need to figure out who i am, and what i want. When you touch me. I feel calm, I haven't had sleep like that in many years. When we were in each others arms..I've never felt that .. physical connection to anyone else. It scared me, and yet made me feel a desire that i have never known. At the same time, I know that you have your pick of anyone you choose. I'm don't know much about what a healthy relationship is like. I just know that i'm not a sharer if you decide you want to explore whatever this is between us. If thats even something you were thinking about. If not i understand, I truly appreciate you helping me."

 

[cnuveau]

It was true that the premise Edward had proposed for his memoire was a well worn subject filling many of the volumes that likely littered book store storage rooms unsold and it exposed a weakness in his story he hadn't anticipated that she'd seize upon. "I don't doubt that the gist of every rags to riches story is roughly the same. It's smaller moments along the way that makes one stand out over another and I'm sure mine is likely interesting enough to draw at least some audience." he said, confident that there were enough anecdotes he could pull from to make it compelling. For the moment his answer seemed to satisfy her and she smiled sweetly taking in the sensation of the warm sun on her face.

Swimming closer to him Edwards arms dropped from the pool deck to his sides as she stopped just in front of him. Edward reached out then placed his hands on her hips beneath her loose tee that flowed beneath the water as she spoke. Though he hadn't expected the level of candor she displayed it was also clear that what happened between them earlier in the morning wasn't something either of them wanted to ignore. He listened as she expressed her feelings then pulled her closer into his chest as his hands wrapped fully around her. "I guess I need to make sure I deliver on that miracle you're hoping for than." he said softly as he held her for a moment silently communicating that he was feeling much the same way she was. Edward had little doubt that he could easily dispatch however many men he might end up being confronted by and with the added incentive of the promise she held out he was more eager than before to help her put this whole ordeal behind her.

Edward held Lilly there against him for a moment longer feeling the sensation of her soft body pressed to his. Even though he'd sworn to himself he'd never again allow himself to become emotionally entangled again he couldn't help but imagine feeling the warmth had had with Penelope again. The thought was both comforting and terrifying as remnants of the searing pain from his loss began to intrude on his thoughts and he slowly released her.

"I'll get you through this tonight then you'll be free to live your life. You've missed out on a lot so you should explore all that it has to offer." he said, trying to distance himself and her from the feelings that both excited and terrified him.

 

[Perplexia]

Hot and cold, was the feeling she got. The feeling of being in his arms again, her body pressed against his. The feeling of protection and desire, the way he said he'd have to deliver on her miracle, to the release almost putting up walls. She heard his words almost encouraging her to not fall for him and to live life w/o him in it. It was still early though, they barely knew each other. Without thinking she did what she'd never dared to before. Lily stepped closer and kissed him with a passion she didn't know she was capable of. The feeling of their lips touching sent a wave of electricity through her body and butterflies to her stomach.

Biting her lower lip she stepped back leaving her hands on his chest her eyes looked up to his searching. There it was, the pain. It was a different kind of pain then what she currently had, it was that of loss. Something similar to what she felt when her parents died, but there was also something else she didn't recognize. Stepping back and lowering her hands into the water she gave a playful smile. Cupping her hands she brought them up quickly and splashed him, laughing, before diving under being sure to kick more water at him and started swimming toward the other end of the pool.

For the first time in what seemed like forever she felt playful. Goading him, almost daring him to chasing her as if in a game of tag. Fun that's what it was called.

 

[cnuveau]

The kiss from Lilly caught Edward by surprise but what surprised him most was the intensity with which she did it. It took only a second for him to respond in kind, letting his hands fall to her hips and pulling them tight against his body. Edward could feel his pulse quickening as his arousal began to build, pressing firmly into her stomach before she abruptly pulled away leaving him speechless.

The playful splash of water again caught him by surprise. He wondered how this could possibly be the same girl he'd met the night before who bore the weight of the world on her shoulders. When she disappeared below the water he gave chase training closely behind her until she reached the other side of the pool then surfaced. Edward surfaced right behind her than wrapped his arms around her allowing them once again to snake beneath her loose tee to cup her breasts as his lips found the side of her neck.

Edward could feel her pulse thumping beneath his lips as he kissed her neck. He didn't know how much longer he could fight back the primal urge that drove his desire to taste her but with each interaction it became more difficult to deny. As his fingers closed around her stiffening nipples he could feel his fangs sliding into place and dragging lightly across the soft skin of her neck. Inside of him the battle raged as he tried to fight back his urges. Finally Edward forced his mouth from her then nuzzled her neck as his hands continued to caress her breasts.

 

[Perplexia]

His responding kiss made her mind cloudy and body melt. When his lips left hers and went to her neck her breathing was ragged, her body raged a fire from within that she never knew was possible. He brought something out in her she'd never experienced. Though she barely knew him, she somehow knew that if she were to have a future, it would be with him. was Lily let out a soft moan as his hand caressed his breast and his fingers played with her nipples.

She whimpered softly as his teeth scratched her neck, and mewed as he nuzzled her. "I know that we just met, but being this close to you feels right". Her fingers ran through his gorgeous long hair. Closing her eyes she just laid her head against his. Her breathing was raspy. Lily's legs wrapped around him as her arms did around his neck clinging to him as if his arms where the only place she wanted to be.

"Tell me something about you" she whispered softly. "tell me why i find you irresistible. "

 

[cnuveau]

With Lilly's arms and legs wrapped around him Edward could feel his growing hardness pressing firmly against the confines of his swim trunks begging to be freed. It took all his will power to fight back the urge to pin her against the side of the pool and let his desires take control but he knew allowing himself that indulgence would only complicate the things they were both feeling.

"I know, it's hard to explain." he said, acknowledging that he felt the same things she was feeling. Though he'd fought allowing himself to feel these feelings he was finding it harder to resist them than it had been in the past. Groping for an answer to her question he found himself circling a flawed rationalization. "Maybe it's just that in me you see a way out. The chance that I might deliver you from what you've been running from." He hoped that it was more than what he could give her that drew her to him but there was the possibility that it was just that. Her clinging tightly to the only hope she had at the moment to rid herself of the man that had made her life a living hell.

Edward cradled her bottom as he kissing her tenderly one last time. "We should probably get ourselves ready for tonight. Once it's all over we can figure out the rest." he said, pulling her against him one last time before slowly lowering her feet back to the pools bottom.

 

[Perplexia]

Lily could feel his hardness against her. If it had been anyone else she would have been afraid. But there was an essence of safety with Edward, that she'd never felt before. He was right it was hard to explain why she felt so at ease with him, why she longed for his kiss. It made no sense. She'd only known him a day, he was wanting to confront the man that had tortured and abused her. He was wanting to make her safe. So she could live. But why? Why was he putting his life at risk?.
Why was he so confident that no matter what Jake threw at him, it wouldn't be an issue.

No it wasn't that she saw him as a way out. The truth was she was afraid that he would die in his noble quest and that it would be her fault. Some how the idea of losing him was far worse then being captured by Jake once again.

"We should probably get ourselves ready for tonight. Once it's all over we can figure out the rest."
His kiss still lingered upon her lips. Her heart racing so fast in a combination of desire and desire for him.

"I'm not sure that us going is a good idea. I know you've said you can handle it, and maybe you can. But the risk is too high. What if he kills you? What if captures us both and forces you to watch what he will inflict upon me? Its too great of a risk. You don't know me, you shouldn't be risking your life and livelihood for me."
Lily trembled in his arms at the mere thought of one more person being subjected to Jakes psychopathic tendencies.

 

[cnuveau]

Edward clasped Lilly's face between his hands then brought her eyes to his before letting a warm smile engulf his face. "It's going to be fine." he started out, his face turning serious as he spoke. "What I know isn't a good idea is to let this drag out any longer and have you continue to live in fear. There are things you don't know about me that make me sure none of that is going to happen. Besides, I think we're both looking forward to celebrating after aren't we?" As he finished another broad grin crept across his face.

Though he did his best to reassure her, Edward knew that she still had lingering fears about what might happen. His own fears laid in the likelihood that in dispatching her tormentor he'd reveal far more about himself than he'd like to. It was an obvious risk but one he wasn't sure he'd be able to get around. As he pondered the eventuality he found himself growing more comfortable with the possibility.

Getting out of the pool Edward dried himself off with a towel. "Let's plan on leaving in an hour. I want a chance to scope out what we'll be dealing with before it gets dark." he said, hoping that he'd finally gotten past her resistance to going.

 

[Perplexia]

His hands clasping her face and forcing her to look in his eyes offered her a weird sense of assurance. As he spoke his words she listened intently. The tonality of his voice was serious and still calmed her. His own confidence gave her hope. She didn't know everything about him, he could be a blackbelt in some form of martial arts, or perhaps a navy seal. But one thing she knew is he would always bring a group of guys with him. They thought of it like a hunt, and she was the pray. They had been allowed to slap her around, grope her, bruise her etc. She shivered at the memories. He was right, it was time to put this to bed. "Yes" came from her lips to respond to the option of celebrating. If they managed to make it through this. Lily wondered what he might have in mind.

Getting out of the pool she dried off slowly, taking her time to somehow delay the inevitable. He mentioned wanting to scope out the area. Which reminded her of something the military would do like the mercenary teams she'd seen in movies.

"Ok" came from her lips with a tone of understanding, but the reluctancy of the plan all together. "I'll get ready" she said softly as she headed back inside and up the stairs to her room. She took her time getting ready. Taking a shower to was off the chlorine, blow drying her hair adding some light making up. She put on a nice green turtle neck dress that accentuated her form. Her choice of shoes she pondered. If she wore heels and hand to run, they would be a hindrance. So Lily determined that pumps would be the smarter choice.

With some light make up applied, and laptop bag in tow, she descended down the stairs, feeling uncomfortable in her own skin.

 

[cnuveau]

Edward went up to his room and rinsed himself off once again, taking far less time in the shower than he had earlier in the day before stepping out and drying off. After tying his hair back in a tight ponytail he rummaged through his closet and retrieved a pair of black tactical pants and pulled them on before pulling on a dark tee shirt and a black hoodie. He expected that whoever he'd be confronting would chose to do it under the cover of darkness so he planned on using that fact to his advantage.

When he walked down the stairs he found Lilly already dressed and ready. As he descended the stairs he took in the form fitting dress that she selected and how nicely it hugged the contours of her body. If she was trying to dress in a way to bait her stalker, it was likely perfect although Edward had no intention of ever letting her leave the car to put herself in jeopardy.

"You ready?" he asked, not stopping for her answer as he made his way to the elevator then pressed the button causing the doors to slide open.

Down in the garage Edward led her to his black Range Rover. The tinted windows had been fortified for security so it seemed like the perfect choice for the evening. Opening the door for Lilly he helped her in then closed the door behind her before rounding the car and climbing behind the wheel. "Just relax, everything is going to be fine." He said, reaching out to give her hand a reassuring squeeze before putting the car in gear and pulling out of the garage.

 

[Perplexia]

Well chivalry isn't dead she thought, even if i might be soon. She looked to him when he took his seat behind the wheel, almost begging him with her eyes to not do this. As he told her to relax and that everything would be fine. Lily breathed deep nodding and relishing in their hands touching as he squeezed hers with reassurance.

They made it close to their destination they were a hour or so early. As the sun was starting to go down. "I'm scared" Lily said softly. "I don't know you or your history, what you are or what you are not capable of. So as much as i want to ask you to not do this. Because I'm a walking monument to the depths of his darkness. I also want to be free. So please be careful."

She laid her hand over his and squeezed it softly. "If he gets me, know that I'm eternally grateful for your effort, and for the freedom and peace I've felt briefly with you, and because of you." A tear fell from her eye as she stared into his eyes.

 

[cnuveau]

"Don't worry. He's not going to get you." Edward reassured her before falling silent as he surveyed the designated meeting place.

Just as they'd observed it was an empty parking lot. It was obvious that at some point something was here but it appeared to have been torn down long ago. "Yup, one way in, one way out." Edward said to himself as he observed how the entrance funneled them into what he could only expect that they they thought of as the kill zone. Though their plan seemed tactically sound he had a feeling they were going to wish there were more means of escape than they'd allowed themselves.

Edward pulled the car to a stop then looked around as the plan started to form in his mind. "Ok, you're going to be driving. Just after the last turn in you're going to slow to almost a stop and I'm going to jump out of the rear hatch." he said, starting to talk through the plan and what he needed from her. "As soon as you hear that hatch close you make sure the doors are locked. The glass is reinforced so if anything happens, they won't be able to get in. If you have to, just throw the car in reverse and get the hell out of here you understand?" Creeping up behind the car as she drove would allow him to get within feet of them without ever being detected. From there, he expected his speed would be far more than even 5 could even hope to react to before it was all over for them.

Confident in his plan Edward drove away then found a secluded spot to park where they'd be able to see anyone entering the area. When he turned off the engine and killed the lights an eerie silence enveloped them in the growing darkness.

 

[Perplexia]

Lily was visibly trembling and nodded. I understand. she replied. Thank goodness the car was an automatic. With Edward secure in the hatch she began to drive to the location. She thought for a moment about turning around and just keep going for hours to some place new, so Edward and her could begin a new life together.

Somehow she knew that wasn't going to be the answer. Edward was asking her for her trust. Something she hadn't been able to give anyone in years. But she had to believe him, that she was safe. That he would somehow find a way to resolve this issue.

As she reached the last turn she spoke loudly "Last Turn". She said loudly so he could be prepared. Slowly she took it almost coming to a stop as she began to approach the meeting location. Slowly the car crept. She heard the hatch open and close and she locked all the doors and ensured the windows were all up.

There was a suv in the lot. With a man she didn't recognize standing there she went closer and stopped the car. The lights stayed on and she cut off the engine. The windows were too dark for them see her inside. She turned on the dome light so they could see the dome light and her shadow looking as if she was gathering her stuff.

 

[cnuveau]

Edwards feet landed softly in the gravel behind the Rover as she slowly continued to pull forward. As quietly as he could he closed the hatch then followed the car with his hand on the bumper making sure he couldn't be seen by anyone in front.

"Here she is." he heard a voice say as they approached then the car slowed to a stop.

Peaking out around the car Edward noted the SUV already parked there and the single man standing in front of the car. She'd warned him that there were likely going to be more so he waited for a moment for things to develop. After a brief moment they back doors of the SUV swung open and 3 other men stepped out.

Edward watched as the 4 men fanned out in front of his stopped car. "You boys ready?" he heard another voice call out. When he saw one of them take a step toward Lilly he lunged from his hiding place, rounding the car in the blink of an eye.

The first two bodies fell to the ground before either of them had a chance to realize what was going on. Edward sunk his fangs into the jugular of each and tore it away leaving his face covered into their blood. By the time he got to the third he'd just begun to turn toward Edward. Rushing him quickly Edward knocked him to the ground then pounced on top of him. With a swift fluid motion Edward twisted his head until he heard the snapping of his neck and the man's eyes went blank.

Just as he was pushing up from the 3rd man, the final man rushed him and their bodies collided sending them both skidding onto the gravel. A searing pain radiated from Edward's stomach as he wrestled for control with the man then finally pinned him down onto his back. Edward let out a loud hiss as the man's arms flailed wildly at him then with blinding speed Edward dropped down onto him and sank his fangs into the man's neck, feeding eagerly on him until his body fell limp instead of just tearing away the flesh from his neck.

 

[Perplexia]

Lily saw some heading toward the vehicle she let out a cry of fear and ducked. The fact the car was locked and windows secure, didn't come into her mind. Her body shook uncontrollably. "no no no" she repeated over an over as her breathing quickened an her eyes closed tight. Waiting for the inevitable pulling her from the vehicle. But the only thing she heard was a thump. Then another thump, and another, and then a cry out and the sound of skidding on gravel followed by a loud feral hiss.

Slowly she rose up to look over the dashboard. Her eyes saw bodies and blood, and Edward hunched over one of them. As he stood up she saw blood on his stomach and Jake dead on the ground. She stayed put watching Edward check the vehicle to ensure there were no more people. Slowly she found the strength to open the car door. and step out. "How?" she asked as she looked to Edwards eyes trying not to react to the bodies scattered over the parking lot.

Lily's attempt at adverting her eyes from the massacre in front of her failed. The shock of the mauling overcame her and she fell to her knees. "how?" she asked shakenly. "you're hurt" .
"how?" Her brain couldn't resonate how he accomplished this. Who was this man? How could he kill? Her body shook as he came closer to her. She half wanted to run from him, and the other half wanted to run from him.

"Don't hurt me" she said holding up her hand as if that would be enough to fend him off if he were to attack her.

 

[cnuveau]

Edward stood then looked back to see the horror on Lilly's face. There was no doubt that this was likely the most grotesque scene she'd ever witnessed so he understood how it might have shaken her. Concerned that being seen in this new light might make her feel dramatically different about him Edward started to move toward her.

It was Lilly's own observation that drew Edwards attention to the gaping hole in his stomach. Even in the darkness he was able to see how soaked with blood his shirt was. Edward took another few steps forward then crumped to his knees clutching at the open wound. "I'm not going to hurt you." he groan out through gritted teeth as the pain from the stab wound shot through him. Now that the heat of battle had passed he was acutely aware of just how severe and painful it was.

As the silence fell around them one of the men behind them let out a final gurgling gasp before falling silent again. Edward looked up at Lilly with pleading eyes hoping she'd be able to see past what he had to do and once again see the man she'd known only a few minutes prior.

 

[Perplexia]

Lily reached forward touching him, the same electricity she had before shot through her. Giving her confirmation this was the same man she'd known a few minutes ago. "We need to get you to the hospital, we'll claim kitchen accident or something." she said breaking past the fear she had of him. She crawled forward to him and slowly rose helping him to his feet. "Should we burn the bodies? Put them in the car and set it on fire?"

Pulling out her phone she sent a email to her boss stating she looked up the location of the club she was suppose to go visit, and there was nothing there. So she wasn't going to waste the money on uber to go to an empty location.

Putting her phone back in her pocked she looked to Edward to see what he wanted to do about the bodies. She knew she couldn't move them on her own.

 

[cnuveau]

Even in the short amount of time it took Lilly to close the distance between them and kneel in front of him Edward's body was already well on it's way to healing the wound he'd sustained. "No! No hospitals. I'll be fine." he said pushing the pain out of his mind for a moment to look around at the bodies strewn around them.

"Yeah, that'd probably be best. Leaving them like this will likely draw a lot of unwanted attention." he said, as he started to pull himself to his feet, feeling far more stable than he had before.

One by one Edward collected the bodies from the ground then loaded them into the SUV. Picking up the last of them he loaded him behind the wheel then reached in and started the engine. Taking a lighter from his pocket he reached in and started to carpeting of the SUV on fire then gave it a moment to start to spread. Once it seemed the fire was well on the way to sustaining itself Edward popped the car into gear then closed the door as it slowly began to roll forward. When it hit the edge of the parking lot the SUV careened into a stand of trees just beyond then came to a stop. He watched as the fire continued to spread then eventually engulfed the interior.

"Let's get out of here. Can you get us home?" he groaned as he placed his hand on the still open wound on his stomach then walked to the back door of the Range Rover then climbed in and laid across the back seat.

 

[Perplexia]

Lily watched as Edward seemed to load the bodies with ease into the SUV, and start it on fire. It was a revitalizing feeling to see Jakes dead body being loaded in the car. "He'd be the driver" she offered when she saw him walking with Jakes bleeding body over his shoulder. She waited and watched as it rolled and the fire spread finally hitting the gas tank and making a large boom.

Looking to Edward she nodded when he asked if she could get them home. Placing her arm under his she offered support as she led him to the passenger side of his vehicle. Once she had him in and buckled. Lily made her way to the drivers side and began their journey back to the house. It was hard to explain the weight that was lifted from seeing Jake dead. It was if she was a phoenix rising from its ashes. She was finally reborn and able to live her life how she wanted to.

She had never allowed herself to dream of a future before. It was always about hiding, and staying under the radar. "how are you doing?" she asked him concerned for the wound he sustained. "Are you sure you don't want to go to the hospital? It looked like you lost a bid of blood." Lily was still confused over how he was able to accomplish what he did. Taking his hand she held it as she drove. Being sure she did the speed limit so there wasn't a chance of being pulled over.

Once home she pulled into the garage and parked the car. "Stay there" she commanded getting out of the car and going to his side and helping him out and into the house. "Let me take a look at your wound" she said as she began to try to take his shirt off.

 

[cnuveau]

As they drove through the night Edward could feel the wound in his stomach healing itself more and more. The wound itself wasn't something that he was overly concerned about. What concerned him more was the sheer amount of blood that he lost. Even though he allowed himself to gorge on Jake as he killed him, it was hardly enough counteract the nourishment he'd need for recovery. Under normal circumstances, this wouldn't be much of a problem either but under Lilly's watchful eye, it will be far more difficult for him to feed the way he'll need to.

When she pulled into the garage he allowed her to help him inside. It wasn’t in his nature to need help like this and he likely could have gotten himself inside but something inside him wanted to rely on her.

They made their way into the living room and she helped him gingerly down onto the sofa then began to remove his shirt. He knew that by now there might not be much left of the wound to see at all and that realization made him nervous about what her reaction might be. “I’m sure I’ll be ok. I’m just going to need some blood.” He said before realizing his words might have betrayed him. “I mean…. I just lost a lot of blood that’s all.” He said weakly before collapsing back onto the sofa.

 

[Perplexia]

Lily took a moment before saying anything after he spoke. As a writer words were her forte, she also knew that the first words out of someone's mouth were what true, and the following usually a coverup. But what could that mean? Semi cool to the touch, killed four men with nothing more then one wound, and wouldn't let her see it? As her mind tried to process the impossible she took a step backwards. No, he was able to go in the sun. But what if that was false made up stuff to cover up the true existence of.. no way.

But what if? What if she lived in a world where vampires did exist? He didn't have any weapon and yet still manage to kill five men. All the blood she saw. Why would he have it on the neck of his shirt? She didn't feel weaker, so he didn't feed on her. Or what if he could hypnotize her to forget and seal up the wounds with his saliva? But he ate human food. Lily stepped backward again while she maintained eye contact again.

"Is there a particular type of blood you prefer? " she asked nonchalantly. Her facial expressions and her backwards movement probably clued him into her brain processing the impossible. Yet she wasn't about to accuse him outright of being what no human actually believed existed. Except perhaps some of the goth scene. That would explain why he didn't want to go to the hospital. By now it had probably healed, She took another step backwards toward the stairs. That would be her luck, escape one psycho path for a potential serial killer. But nothing he'd done signified he wanted to hurt her. He had plenty of opportunity. Its not as if she would have been missed by anyone. Then there was that kiss, he took her breath away. Her body reacted to him as it had never done to anyone before. "I'm a, going to change so we can burn our clothes, erasing evidence etc."

 

[cnuveau]

Edward’s eyes shot up towards Lilly’s as he sat there in stunned silence. Had it just been the one verbal slip up it likely would have gone unnoticed but combine that with what she likely witnessed earlier and it seemed reasonable that she’d come to the correct conclusion. Edward had hoped that she was like most people who would look past any mountain of evidence to deny the existence of those like him but that didn’t seem to be the case with her. “I’m not particular.” He said, the casualness of his words matching hers as if they’d flown right past the shocking revelation and into a sort of bizarre acceptance.

“Yeah, that’s probably a good idea.” He said before watching her climb the stairs then disappear into her room. On shaky legs, Edward stood then walked over to the fireplace and ignited the gas powered flames that roared to life. He contemplated for a moment climbing the stairs to change also but, still weak, he wasn’t sure he could make it. Eventually he tossed his bloody shirt into the fire and watched as it stoked the flames to new heights then slowly burned away.

Sitting back down on the sofa Edward unlaced his boots then slipped them off and set them aside. His pants were a bit more of a struggle but he eventually wiggled out of them leaving him only in his boxers as he walked toward the fire and deposited his pants into it. Back on the sofa he waited for Lilly to return wondering if she was using her time alone upstairs to pack her things and prepare to flee.

 

[Perplexia]

As she stripped off her bloody clothes onto the bathroom floor she pondered his words 'I'm not particular' they danced in her head confirming what she was thinking. There was a million ways he could have gone with that claiming it had been a joke, or laughing when he said it to say he was kidding. But he met her words with the same candor that she asked the question. So there it was the man she couldn't stay away from was a vampire. Vampires were real. Vampires existed. What else existed? where there werewolves? Where there fairies, witches, gargoyles etc?

Why wasn't she freaked out by this? Was it because of the way she was feeling toward him? He could have easily jumped her and used her as a feeding source. Instead she felt safe with him. It was to early to say she was in love with him, she barely knew him. But it was definitely going to be a possibility if she stayed.

Lily changed into her shorts and tank top and brought down her clothes trying not to look at him. From the stairs she had seen him in nothing but his boxers. God he was an image. Shaking her head she made her way to the fireplace and tossed in one item at a time as to not smother the flames. Her mind should be contemplating the horrors she witnessed tonight. But she didn't feel bad for Jake and his goons. She had seen each of their dead faces. They had all taken place at one time or another in her torture at the hands of Jake. If Edward hadn't killed them. No lesson taught would have been taken lightly. They would have saw that as goading and tried harder at their next attempt.

"What are the side effects of giving you my blood?" she asked lightly as she threw the last item into the fire. "Will you be able to track me? invade my thoughts? Enslave me? See my history?"
Lily knew he was weak, and needed to feed. But the idea of it being someone else that healed him didn't see right. It even made her a little jealous. "how old are you?" she ended her slew of questions giving her the opportunity to answer.

 

[cnuveau]

Edward glanced up when Lilly started to descend the stairs and was relieved when he saw only her clothes in her arms and not a suitcase. He expected the latter was the far more likely even with all he had done for her and the decision he’d have to make at that point troubled him. Knowing what he was, could he simply let her walk out the door? She was, after all, a writer and he suspected the urge to write about him would be difficult for her to ignore. On the other hand, he knew doing something to prevent that outcome wouldn’t be something he’d be able to bring himself to do. It was an impossible situation and he was thankful he wasn’t going to have to be faced with that choice.

He watched in the awkward silence between them as she slowly fed her clothes into the fire. He could sense the jumble of thoughts running through her mind so when the question finally came he wasn’t surprised.

“To some extent I’m already in tune with your emotions. If you recall I’ve tasted you before. That sense would be sharpened.” He started out, his voice a little wearily. He wasn’t sure how she’d react to something to invasive as the rest of it but he wanted her to walk into this with a clear idea of what to expect. “It would also make it easier for me to find you wherever you might be but you can be assured that I wouldn’t let that become a problem for you. In my 700 years I like to think I’ve become well adjusted. Petty grievances don’t really serve any purpose to me and, should we decide to part ways, as long as you leave me alone, I’ll return the courtesy.”

 

[Perplexia]

Lily sat down next to him and remained silent for a few moments. "You need to eat to regain your strength. It really is the least thing I could do in exchange for what you did for me this evening. I'm also aware that I could never tell anyone what you are. That includes your memoirs as well. But I think what might be interesting is your stories throughout time and i could write a 'fictional series' and if they sell, well of course I'd share the profits with you. I witnessed speed, well I think i did. Any other superpowers i should be aware of?"

She began rolling on of the legs of her shorts up to her groin to revel the femoral artery. "I'm assuming this artery is a good one?" she asked placing her leg over his. "Or at least in some movies they say its a sweet spot. Or if there's another spot that is better that wouldn't show. Not that I'm going to suddenly go out clubbing. Does your saliva heal wounds?" she asked having forgotten about the injury she had got when he took her home until he mentioned having tasted her. She looked at her hand that she had hurt and there wasn't a mark there. "I guess it does. So i guess it doesn't matter where you feed from. Do you have a preference?"

Given the about of torture and pain she had been through in her life. The idea of being bitten by him didn't really phase her. Yes it was still shocking that she was actually saying this stuff to him. That he trusted her enough to acknowledge her questions without hesitation. After all he had done for her, and now this. There was a trust on his end that was astounding to her. It also made her wonder why did he save her? In some reality what he was, could be described as a monster. But she had not seen one essence of that from him. He was caring, passionate, intelligent, and had been in everyway a gentlemen. In the almost 24 hours she had known him, he was unlike anyone she'd ever met or likely would ever meet again.

She let out a little laugh "I shall certainly never say Eat me without knowing the consequences" she giggled semi nervously.