My gaze continually glances towards Serena, nestled against the door, her tiny frame curled up on the seat, my heart swells, her face is peaceful as she sleeps, i'm still amazed at how much power she already harnesses but i'm also worried about how much power shes going to have to contend with when her 20th birthday arrives. I desperately need to speak to Byron but i know he is going to be angry with me for leaving without explaining the plan, i just pray that we reach the palace and gain control of the council before all hell breaks loose, literally. The sunlight warms my arm and my head still cant comprehend how i am able to accomplish something that no other vampire has been able to do, all thanks to the blood of Serena. More questions swirl in my head, is it just her blood or the blood of all mages? Hopefully we can speak to her father when he is more under control, the things we could both learn could change our lives as we know it, the roads get busier in the daylight hours, for the first time in my life i experience the road rage ive heard humans getting, the amount of idiots on the road is astounding, their lack of care for their own lives or the lives of others angers me, my fingers grip the steering wheel tightly, the material protesting the building pressure. A large pickup suddenly veers infront of me, causing me to break suddenly, the music from the truck making me angrier, without thinking rationally my hand is on the handle, the door half open before small hands grip my other arm, forcing me to stay in the van. Turning my head abruptly my gaze collides with the emerald eyes i love, immediately my anger dissapates, the rage that was coursing through my veins seeps away.
"It's okay Alex, let me drive." Serena's soft voice soothes me further, part of me protests giving her control but i realise that it will be safer for us all if she drives as shes used to this sort of idiotic behaviour. Quickly moving the van to the side of the road i slip out, Serena reaches me near the front of the van, pulling her against me i kiss her sweetly, her body instantly responds to my touch, her arms wrap around my neck as she deepens the kiss, then all to soon she slinks out of my arms, clambering into the drivers side. Sitting next to her as she pulls back into traffic i study her as she easily moves through the queues, her fingers gently tap on the wheel as we wait, she hums to herself, a small smile on her face, calmness smooths out the worry lines on her face.
"How are you so calm?" I ask, genuinely curious, it almost feels like bees moving under my skin, watching the traffic, the noises and the people is more than i can bear.
"Crowds make me calm, easy to hide, in a sea of faces your own face just becomes a blur. Are you okay?" She asks, glancing to me, the road and back again.
"I dont know, something doesnt feel right." She watches me studying my hands, almost invisible i see the thin smoke starting to rise from my skin, the bees under my skin start to sting, without another word Serena pulls off the main roads, weaving down the smaller streets until she comes to a long driveway, pulling onto the gravel road, the shade of a large oak tree shields the van, my eyes watering in the now blinding sunlight.
"You need more of my blood." Serena cuts the engine, in a swift move she clambers over, swinging her legs either side of mine, i moan at the bold manouver and my hands automatically grip her hips bruisingly, her emerald eyes hold mine captive, her lips press tightly against mine, the soft warmth of her body is addicting. she gently guides my lips to her throat, the exact spot her pulse beats strongest. My fangs descend, pressing against her soft skin, they slip through her flesh like a hot knife through butter, her blood, her taste, her very essence explodes through my mouth and throat, addicting like a drug, as sweet as ambrosia, my hands hold her tightly against me, her soft quick breaths are music to my ears. All too soon i reluctantly close the bite, i feather kisses across her collarbone, before leaning back and looking deep into her eyes, her cheeks are flushed and her eyes are bright. Kissing me softly she slips back into the drivers seat, starting the van and pulling away, heading back towards the main road.
"Thank you." I take her free hand gently, squeezing it in gratitude, her small smile causes me to smile in return.
"You're welcome. If you are starting to feel the effects of the sun then by tomorrow morning i will need to give my father some more blood."
"Are you sure you will be alright doing that, its quite alot of blood to lose in one day."
"I can only try, i've got you to help make sure im okay. We need to get to your palace as soon as possible, we cant allow for any delays." The traffic is starting to ease as we speed along the roads, keeping to a better pace than i thought we would be. We briefly stop to get some food and for Serena to use the restroom, as the night falls she pulls into an empty parking lot, parking effortlessly before getting out, she stretches and her top rides up a little, my instinct get the better of me and my arms are snaked around her waist, my lips on her shoulder before shes even seen me move.
"Anothers day drive and we should be at the palace, as long as the traffic isnt bad." She turns in my arms, wrapping her arms around my neck, pulling her body flush against mine.
"I'll give my dad some blood then we will get on our way." Pressing a soft kiss to her lips before i release her and she heads to the back of the van, but as she opens the door she is knocked down by her father leaping out, quick as a flash ive grabbed him by the chains still restraining his body, before throwing him, a bit harder than i intended, as his body dents the divider.
"Blood." He screeches, eyes blood red. Serena jumps up, placing one step in the van before i grasp her arm, she turns her head to me.
"I'm not sure about this Serena." Her gaze softens as she looks at me.
"I will be okay. If my father is feeling what you did earlier its going to affect his mood." She explains softly, taming my beast slightly, but my body still vibrates with frustration that she has to go in there. Releasing her arm she climbs in, i have to turn away when she offers her arm to her father, the beast in me growls in sheer fustration, my nails dig into my palms as i force myself to stay calm. Having sensitive hearing is a curse in this situation, i hear the moment her fathers fangs sink into her skin, the gasp of pain has my nails drawing blood from my palms, listening to her father feed from her has me pacing the back of the van, agitated. A soft small hand suddenly rests on my arm, i whir round, fangs bared, only to see its Serena, looking slightly pale but no worse for wear. Her palm rests gently on my cheek, the tang of her blood fills my senses again.
"I'm sorry." I whisper, ashamed at the lack of control i have over my emotions right now.
"You dont need to be. I understand." She leans in, our lips millimetres away before something suddenly lands heavily on the roof of the van, we leap away from the van, our eyes colliding with the glowing red eyes of a vampire. Instantly i am on high alert, my senses flaring out as i pick up lots of movement. I notice Serena scanning the area, her eyes flashing gold as i realise shes using her powers.
"Get ready."
"25, that i can find." She replies calmly, her voice changed, a bluish flame dances over her hands. All hell proceeds to break lose, waves upon waves of vampires peel away from the shadows, dropping from trees and rooftops, before we can say anything they attack, correographed like they have been waiting for us. We fight back on instinct, somehow avoiding each others movements as if we already knew what they were going to be, blue flames explode from her hands, ploughing through three vampires, blood runs down my hands from the enemies wounds, claw marks mar my own skin, stinging like mad. Suddenly the vampires stop their attack, i feel Serena freeze, my gaze follows hers and i see her father being restrained by 4 vampires. one holding a wicked looking knife to his throat.
"Surrender. Or i kill him." One of the vampires sneers, i grab her arm as she tries launching forward.
"Let him go!" She screams, fighting against my hold, the vampire cackles before slicing swiftly and surely, her fathers motionless body falls to the floor with a sickening crunch. Serena starts shaking in my arms, her skin heating intensly, burning my hands until i am force to let her go, her feet leave the floor, her hair whipping around in the sky as if gravity has disappeared, her eyes are completely gold and are glowing brighter than the sun, the air crackles around us, the vampires glance around uneasy, jumping into the van i slam the doors shut just as the air explodes with power. Screams fill the night, explosions, energy crackling, the metal roof starts warping in under the pressure, the metal turning orange with the heat. Then as the metal starts cooling again I take my chance and open the door slightly, Serena floats 15 feet in the air, power bursts from her in waves, but i notice her power is only reaching a certain radius, protecting even while she doesnt understand her powers. The smell of burning flesh makes my stomach turn, tears stream down her face even though her eyes dont really see whats happening, her powers have taken over. Stepping out the van i try to ignore the bodies littering the floor.
"Serena!" I yell, her head turns towards my voice, her eyes flickering, a bolt of energy is thrown my way, ducking and rolling i launch skywards, grabbing her ankle i pull her back down, we hit the ground hard, the breath knocked out of her lungs as she starts fighting back. Her fist collides with my cheek, hotter than an iron, i try to stop her attacks but she learns quickly, her legs launch me off of her as she rolls backwards, crouching as she launches again, using her momentum i twist her around, her body slamming into the crumpled van, she spins, a chunk of metal in her hand which slices across my chest, i am forced to jump back as she tries to punch me again. The Serena I know is lost behind the golden haze of her mage powers, leaping forward i slam her back into the van, doing the only thing i can think of, my lips press against hers, her hands burning into my skin but as our kiss deepens i feel her temperature slowly decreasing, leaning our foreheads together we breathe slowly, holding her to my chest i survey the area, patches of burned aspalt is the only indication of any attack, and the van is a write off, the tyres are melted, the metal of the van is seriously mishapen. But we are alive, except for her father, which i cant help but feel grief for.
"They killed him." Serena sobs, clutching my top tightly, i stroke her hair gently.
"I'm sorry. I truly am. But we need to get moving, i have a feeling this wont be the only attack that has been planned." She nods, lifting her head, her cheeks stained with tears, she reaches up to touch my cheek where the skin is tender. Her wide gaze scans the area, ash swirls around on the wind, her hands press to her lips in complete dismay.
"Did i do that?" She whispers horrified.
"You did, but it's fine, honestly. We need to run it from now, it will be easier to evade any planned attacks if we arent in a vehicle."
"Will you be able to run all that way with me?"
"I can only try." Scooping up her lithe weight, I feel her collapse against me, her energy spent, the wounds on my figure sting and warm as my body heals. Taking off into the night I run, my legs moving with ease, too fast for human eyes, Serena closes her eyes, her body going limp as sleep claims her, a gentle brush of my lips to her forehead has a soft smile curving on her lips even in sleep.