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by Monroe on Fri Jan 16, 2009 6:18 pm
“Ilena!” Claire whined, brow furrowed unhappily, her gray blue eyes darkening to the color of the stormy sky outside. “It’s not really fair to make fun of my life span. I’m feeling very conscious of it right now.” she informed her immortal friend, crossing her arms over her chest, hands clasping her narrow sides.
“I can honestly say that no male in any species has ever looked at me the way Nathan looks at you” Ilena said reassuringly, and Claire smiled softly down at the floor as she remembered how it felt to be in Nathan’s strong, warm embrace. Maybe if he wanted her that way, it wouldn’t be so bad, she thought. As long as he didn’t only want her that way.
A thought occurred to her and Claire’s soft smile turned mischievous, darting back up to smirk at the vampire beside her. “Oh, I wouldn’t be so sure about that. I’ve seen the way that boy looks at you. You’re a tall glass of lemonade on a hot day to him. He looks at you as if he can’t quite believe you’re real.”
Ilena’s request tore the smile off her face and her skin paled beneath her freckles. “Stay out of the woods?” she repeated. “Why-?” she asked, but her question was cut off by the bell. Claire rolled her eyes in annoyance and gathered her papers, running to the door. “We’ll talk later, okay?” she called over her shoulder, slipping into the crowd of bodies, all seeming unexceptional and dull after spending time with Nathan, Nina, and Ilena. Especially Nathan though.
Her next few classes passed in a blur and she hardly noticed as the minutes turned into hours, the teachers droning on as she absentmindedly took notes, chin propped up on her hand, chewing thoughtfully on the end of her pen or curling a stray lock of hair around her finger. She couldn’t seem to concentrate at all. She felt edgy and restless, as if she needed to get out of her seat and just run. But she resisted the urge, and finally the bell rang for lunch.
--- --- --- --- ---
The tall man with the olive toned, light brown skin let out a ragged breath, scrubbing a hand across his eyes wearily. He hated admitting when he was wrong, but he also hated seeing Nina upset. It was a double edged sword and either way he got hurt. Either his pride or his heart.
Deciding his pride could take one more blow and that he probably had enough ego and arrogance for it to not make a big difference anyway, Siku put a finger to her lips, halting her words. “Stop.” he instructed her with a stern look. “You didn’t take anything out on me. I got what I deserved for acting that way. I’m just sorry you got hurt.”
His finger fell from her warm, soft lips and in a graceful motion he was suddenly seated beside her on the bed. An amused smile showed in his eyes, even if it refused to surface on his lips as he wrapped his arm around her. “I attract dangerous women, yes. But I also attract sexy women, and interesting women, and challenging women. I don’t need a wilting flower. I need… a partner who’s not afraid to try and put me in my place if she thinks I’m wrong. Because I am sometimes, and I’m too stubborn to ever admit it.”
"I guess he really has imprinted on me..." she said, and Siku could feel the temperature of his skin rising in anger.
Her mention of Dante elicited a rumbling growl from his throat. “If that’s what imprinting causes, then I’m glad I didn’t.” he snarled angrily, thinking of the man who had carried Nina between his teeth like a piece of meat. He tried to calm down, reminding himself that he was the one that was there with Nina, not Dante. Perhaps she had told both of them to leave her, but she was letting him stay now, and that was what mattered.
What kind of a man hurts the woman he loves, his mind repeated, and he looked away. Hadn’t that been how the two of them had met? Tooth to tooth, nail to nail? Throwing each other into trees, tearing at each other's flesh? Nina had bandaged the wounds that she herself had inflicted and he had attempted to kiss away her pain.
But had he?
Was she any better off now than she had been before he came? He had caused both of them so much pain and struggle, and for what? One incredible night of passion? Was it worth it? If he hadn’t of shown up, Dante wouldn’t have stolen her away like that, sunk his fangs into her and cracked her bones. If he hadn’t of shown up, maybe she would have given in to her imprinting and been happy with Dante.
Would he be left alone when her instincts took over and the call of the imprint was too hard to resist?
“Nina… I have hurt you too.” he reminded her quietly, eyes cast to the window where the snow was beginning to turn to icy rain. The sky outside was almost black with storm clouds, despite the fact that it was only noon. The weather seemed to mirror his emotions.
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