Dusk and Her Embrace

Dusk and Her Embrace
Written by: Lady Nocturne Juliet


Chapter 3


As I peered into the mirror in my room, I put on eyeliner, mascara, and some lip gloss. I looked myself over, making sure I was presentable. My hair fell in long, soft auburn waves down to the middle of my back. I wore a sleeveless black shirt that fit my curves quite nicely and low-rider jeans, with Harley Davidson boots that made me a little taller than my original height of 5'4". I turned and moved my hair aside to examine the tribal tattoo of the sun that was permanently marked in the middle of my upper back. After a year of Tristan gone, I had gotten the tattoo in memory of him. I always thought of him as my sun. My light. I hoped that I could find him again.
It was 7:05pm already. My best friend, Sandra was going to be here any minute. I grabbed my purse and headed down to the front door.
"Gabrielle," my dad called after me.
I turned around to face him.
"Where are you going?" He examined me over.
"Out with friends," I replied.
"With who?" He asked.
I narrowed my eyes at him. "Friends from school." He didn't need anymore information than that. I was an adult and didn't need my parents hounding me every minute.
"Where?" He pressed on.
"Dad, I'm not a child," I snapped. My patience was clearly running out. I stormed out of the house without another glance.
Just in time. Sandra's car pulled up in front of the house. I opened the door and sat in the front seat by Sandra.
"Hey." Sandra smiled. She had straight brown hair with honey brown eyes and a pretty light tan. She had an exotic beauty.
I met her smile. "Hey Sandra."
She turned and started driving. My house vanished from sight as she turned away from the neighborhood. Thank God.
"Where are we going?" I asked. I watched the passing street lamps and passing cars. The city of Orlando was a very busy place, even at night. The city was over crowded. It irritated me to no end.
"We're gonna meet the others at the new bar that opened a couple of weeks ago." She explained.
"Oh, cool."
Sandra raised the volume of her radio. It was our favorite rock station. I bobbed my head gently to the music.
"Erik's going to be there," Sandra said.
I looked out the window. "So?"
"Oh, come on. He's only the most gorgeous guy in our school!" She said, incredulously.
I turned and narrowed my eyes at her.
"Erik's got the hots for you," She gave me a teasing grin.
"I'm not interested," I said.
"Aw, give him a chance," she said. "He's sweet, intelligent, and absolutely gorgeous. Everything all in one package. Perfect!"
I rolled my eyes. "No one's perfect."
"He's as close to perfect as you can get." She laughed.
"I don't want to date anyone right now," I replied.
"Alright. Suit yourself." Sandra shrugged. She drove to a stop. Before I knew it, we had arrived at our destination. I opened the door and stepped into the light chill of the night air. Sandra led me through the doors of the bar.
"They're over there." She motioned to a table in the far corner. I followed closely behind and sure enough I saw familiar faces.
"Hey" Lauren was the first to greet us. She had a beautiful bronze tan with long flowing blonde hair. Beside her sitting was Alyssa and Nikisia. Alyssa was the perky one of the group, with short brown hair and blood red tips. Nikisia was a beautiful mixed girl with a creamy mocha complexion. She was a lively, outgoing girl. These girls all attended my college.
"Did the guys make it?" Sandra asked, as we pulled up extra chairs to join the table.
"Yeah, they're over there playing pool," Alyssa answered, while motioning toward the pool tables. My eyes instantly fell on Erik. He was shooting pool with other guys that attended our college. Erik was wearing a black sleeveless shirt that showed off the muscles of his well toned arms. His long blond hair was pushed behind his ears. He laughed at something another guy said beside him. I recognized one of the guys standing near Erik. It was Andre, a good friend of mine. He had spikey brown hair and dark eyes. Andre had snake bites, a piercing on each side of his bottom lip. He was laid back and a cool guy to hang out with. We had a lot in common. Andre was also a friend of Tristan's. I wondered if I should tell him about my encounter with Tristan last night. He would probably think I was delusional so I decided against it.
"Earth to Gabrielle!" A voice broke through. I turned and realized it was Sandra. All eyes were turned on me. I shifted my hands in my lap uncomfortably. I hated being the center of attention. "What?" I asked.
"So, what's up with you and Erik?" Lauren asked, with a grin.
"Nothing," I said, watching her smile widen with suspicion.
Lauren met Alyssa's eyes and they laughed.
"I see the way Erik looks at you." Lauren gave a teasing smile.
Nikisia glanced toward the pool table. "He's looking this way right now."
Lauren and Alyssa giggled. Soon after, Sandra joined in.
"Sandra!" I whispered harshly.
"What?" She smiled innocently.
I turned my head and met Erik's eyes. He was indeed looking directly at me. He gave me a smile.
I quickly turned away and turned pink. "So?" I said, trying to sound nonchalant.
"So?" Alyssa and Lauren both repeated incredulously.
"Damn, girl. If Erik looked at me that way, I'd be on my back in seconds," Nikisia said.
"Niki!" Sandra said, with shock. The whole table burst out into a fit of laughter. Even I couldn't resist. Nikisia was always the blunt one.
"It's true!" Nikisia said, with a grin.
Lauren nodded. "It would be hard to resist him, I'll admit."
"He is majorly hot," Alyssa gushed.
Sandra laughed. "Yeah," she agreed.
Everyone glanced at me as if expecting an answer from me. I sighed in defeat. "Fine. He is hot," I reluctantly agreed.
"Hey Gabrielle," a voice came from behind me.
I nearly jumped out of my seat. Oh crap. I glanced over my shoulder. "Hey...Erik." My face flushed bright red. I prayed he hadn't heard me.
Erik glanced around the table and smiled. "Hey, do you mind if I steal her away for a while?" He asked.
I gave Sandra a warning look but she ignored me and spoke up. "We don't mind. You can burrow her for as long as you want."
"Great," Erik said.
I glared at Sandra as she smiled innocently. I stood up and faced Erik. He grabbed me gently by the arm, leading me outside the bar. He let go of my arm and turned toward me. I looked at him, waiting for him to speak.
"Nice night out, huh?" Erik nodded his head toward the sky.
"Yeah," I agreed. I glanced at the shimmers of light spread across the dark sky.
"So, do you have any plans this weekend?" Erik asked casually, though I knew where he was going with this.
I hesitated. "No," I finally answered.
His eyes lit up with hope. "Wanna go to a movie or something?" He asked.
I searched his eyes and saw the little spark of hope. I felt bad turning him down. "You know I'm not ready to date."
"Well, it doesn't have to be a date. We can go as friends," Erik pressed on.
I sighed. This was the umpteenth time he tried to ask me out. Erik was clearly not giving up. "Alright. We'll go as friends." I made sure to emphasize the last word.
Erik smiled. He seemed pleased enough that I had accepted. "How about this Friday?"
"Sure."
"Hey guys," Sandra called out from behind us. Lauren and the rest of the crew filed out of the bar, joined by Andre and his friends. Sandra smiled with a teasing glint in her light brown eyes. "We're gonna head down to the beach. Andre invited us. There's a party down there," she explained.
My face fell into a grimace. I hated college parties. They were just an excuse for people to get drunk and laid.
Andre wrapped an arm around me. "Gabrielle. Come on. It'll be fun." I looked from Andre to Sandra and knew I wasn't going to win.
"Fine." I sighed.
Erik chuckled. "We'll survive the night."


"Tell me why I'm here again," I asked Sandra, with annoyance.
"You need to let loose and have fun," she said.
"I don't need to get drunk to have fun, Sandra," I retorted.
"I didn't say you did." Sandra laughed.
I sat on a blanket that was laid out on the sand and watched the dancing bodies pressed against each other. The scent of alcohol burned through the air. The smoke from the bonfire soared high into the dark sky. I watched as people stumbled and fell onto their drunken faces.
Erik stayed loyally by my side, sitting beside me on the blanket. I felt his eyes on me and glanced at him. "Wanna dance?" He flashed me a charming smile.
"No, I'm fine just hanging out here," I said.
Erik chuckled. "Why? Can't dance?" He teased.
I narrowed my eyes at him. "I can dance," I said, defensively.
Erik smirked. "It's okay if you don't know how."
"I do know how!" I knew Erik was joking but I couldn't let him break my ego. I stood and grabbed his arm. "Come on."
Erik's smile widened. "All right." He followed me as we joined the crowd of dancing people. I started moving shyly at first but my senses began to fade into the music. Erik moved along beside me. I gyrated my hips as I danced, losing myself in the music. It had been a long time since I let myself go. Erik pressed himself against me. His hands rested on my hips. I didn't realize how close we were. The heat from his body pressed against me. I opened my eyes and realized I was only an inch away from Erik's face. I hadn't been this close to anyone since Tristan. My Tristan...his face flashed through my mind.
"Gabrielle?" Erik whispered, with confusion.
I pulled away and felt the heat rush to my face. I felt the shame pull me under its grasp. "I'm sorry. I can't do this," I said. Walking away, I ignored Erik's calls. I headed for the nearby woods and disappeared into the trees. The hurt overcame me. I pushed through the branches in my path. Tristan was still alive but that didn't mean he still wanted me. He left me on our wedding night and I didn't hear from him for two long years. Angry tears trickled down my face. "Damn you, Tristan!" I yelled. My voice echoed between the trees and the empty darkness.
"A little late for that..." A voice whispered from the shadows.
I let out a shriek. Tristan stepped out of the shadows and into the moonlight. He moved with eerie grace. Once again, I was stunned into silence and was staring in awe.
"What are you doing here?" He asked, with a hard tone.
I shook off the awed state I was in and remembered why I was angry. "I could ask you the same," I replied, coldly.
"You shouldn't wander off in the woods, especially at this time of night," Tristan scolded me.
"Why are you so concerned anyway?" I asked.
He seemed taken back by my words.
"You abandon me on our wedding night and disappear for two years. Not one word from you!" I blurted out, angrily. I watched his face contort into a mask of agony. His eyes were tortured then his face became an emotionless mask. His lips hardened into a straight line.
"I know," he said.
I glared at him through angry tears. "That's all you have to say? I thought you were dead all this time! I cried myself to sleep every night over you. Then suddenly you think you can just walk right back into my life again like everything is ok!" I wiped at the tears that continued to leak down my face. I stepped closer to Tristan and slapped his face. Whimpering in pain, I rubbed my hand. It was like hitting a rock. Tristan didn't flinch at all but I saw the spark of agony in his eyes like my words had done more damage than my weak attempt to physically hurt him. "Dammit!" I snapped, trying not to be alarmed by the tortured look in his eyes. "You're such a heartless jerk," I said with a trembling voice. "You didn't think about me or your parents. Your mother is heart broken!" I sobbed.
As if sensing the sudden weakness in my body, Tristan pulled me against him into a tight embrace. I couldn't fight against it, Tristan's strength surpassed mine and even so I didn't want to fight it. Here I was in Tristan's strong arms again. I was angry at him but still I felt a sense of comfort settle upon me as I clung to Tristan. If he weren't holding me, I would have crumbled into a ball on the ground.
"Why...?" I whispered. Tristan seemed to flinch in our embrace. "Tristan...why did you leave?" My voice broke.
"I have so much to tell you, Ellie," he trailed off, softly.
"Then tell me," I whispered.
Tristan remained silent. I looked up at him but his head was turned as if he were watching something I couldn't sense or see.
"Tristan?"
He seemed to be listening to something. I watched him curiously, following his eyes but saw nothing. "Let's talk somewhere else," he said.
I turned and met his eyes. I was puzzled.
"This place is hardly appropriate for this discussion," Tristan pressed further.
"Alright." I nodded. He pulled away and took my hand. I gasped at the icey touch of his hand. Tristan led me deeper into the woods. He pulled the branches aside and cleared the path for me. The path ended at the entrance of a cave. Tristan led me inside the dark cavern. He pulled out a lighter and lit the torches that lined the stone walls. The flames lit the dark cave. Tristan released my hand and motioned for me to sit on the flat surface of a boulder. I faltered.
"It's okay," Tristan reassured me.
I sat down and watched as Tristan sat down on a boulder beside me. He wasn't as close as I would have liked him to be though.
Tristan's gaze moved to me. "Ellie," he began. "I didn't leave because I wanted to."
I stared at him, confused.
"Something happened to me that night," he said.
I rolled my eyes. "You got amnesia and suddenly all your memories came back now," I said. The irritation was clear in my voice.
Tristan narrowed his eyes at me. "Are you going to let me explain what happened?"
I knew I was being unreasonable but I felt so hurt. I nodded. "I'm sorry. Go ahead," I said, softly.
He sighed and continued. "I was so excited that day. The thought of spending the rest of my life with you brought me all the joy in the world. I brought a bouquet of roses just before meeting with you. I left the store and passed the alley way. I saw a man choking a woman. Naturally, I wanted to help. I pried the man off the woman and told her to run. So, she ran away to safety. Before I had time to realize it, the man had pulled out a gun. I heard the rush of the bullets ring in my ears. The roses I brought for you fell from my weak grasp. I remember crashing to the ground. I felt the blood pooling around my body. Surprisingly, I didn't feel the pain. I couldn't move and I knew I was going to die. I kept thinking of you and how I would never see your face again." Tristan's eyes were distant as he recalled the events from the night he had vanished. I listened intently to his story.
"There was a man who was suddenly by my side," Tristan continued. "He had the most piercing emerald eyes and his pale blond hair fell to his waist. It was almost silver and his skin was like an alabastor statue. There was something very unnatural about this man. Somehow I knew he was not human. Since I was close to dying, I thought he might be an angel. The man introduced himself to me as Dante. He held my head gently off the ground and asked if I wanted to live. I could barely manage to speak but I let out a weak yes" Tristan stopped and looked at me.
"What happened next?" I asked, in anticipation.
"Dante leaned his head into the crook of my neck. I felt a piercing pain and a weird sensation." Tristan explained. "He was draining the rest of the blood from my body. I felt like I was fading away. I watched him slice through his wrist with his sharp nail and lower it to my mouth. Confusion settled on me. He told me to drink and in desperation I started to lap up his blood. His blood was like liquid fire running down my throat and through my veins. I started to crave more and I found that I couldn't stop. Dante pulled his arm away and watched me. I felt the worst pain anyone could ever imagine. My human body died and I went through the Change," Tristan explained.
I sat frozen. "What change?" I asked. His story had become so bizarre.
Tristan looked at me seriously. "I am a vampire," he finally said.
I arched my eyebrow. "A vampire?" I repeated.
"Yes," Tristan said. "I wanted to see you but I knew I couldn't anymore. I couldn't put you in that kind of danger so I stayed away all this time."
"Tristan. Be serious," I said.
"I am being serious," Tristan said.
"Tristan, I can't believe you. If you really didn't want me anymore you could have just told me instead of coming up with such nonsense," I said, as I glared at him.
"It's not nonsense, Ellie. You asked and I told you the truth," he said.
"Do you really expect me to believe that you went off and became a blood sucking creature?" I questioned as I scrutinized his face.
"I know it's hard to believe, but it's true. I am not the same Tristan you fell in love with. I am a monster now," he said.
"You're so full of shit, Tristan." I shook my head in disbelief. I couldn't believe Tristan came back and dragged me to a cave to make up such stories. He could have at least told me a more convincing story that could have explained his absence. I picked up a small stone with a sharp jagged edge.
Tristan froze, watching me carefully. "What are you doing...?" He asked.
I pressed the sharp edge of the stone against the skin right above my left breast. I drew it across my skin.
"No!" Tristan yelled, with sheer horror in his eyes.
But it was too late, I had drawn blood. I winced a little at the sting. I dropped the stone onto the ground and looked up at Tristan. "You say you're a vampire, right? Then drink my blood," I said. His eyes became very dark. They were an onyx black. They were so different from his normally light cerulean eyes. His hands were grasping the edges of the boulder he was sitting on. He was grasping the edges so tightly that his knuckles seemed to whiten even more than his pale skin already was. Tristan began to tremble. I had never seen him act or look this way before. I was starting to get frightened. "Tristan, are you okay?"
"Get out of here," he said, through gritted teeth.
I stood up and took slow hesitant steps toward Tristan. My heart sank. How could I be this frightened of him. This was the man I loved all these years and who I came very close to marrying. My Tristan. "I'm not leaving," I said with all the confidence I could muster.
He closed his eyes. It looked like he wasn't breathing. "Get away from me, Ellie." His voice was low and dangerous.
I stood in front of him. "Tristan, what's wrong...?" My voice began to tremble.
He opened his eyes. A low growl formed in his throat. "I don't want to hurt you!"
"You can't hurt me anymore than you already have, Tristan." I whispered.
He stood up with preternatural speed and pinned me to the flat surface of the boulder. His eyes were dark with hunger.
I stared with wide eyes. "What are you--?"
His eyes moved down to my chest and to the line of blood just above my breast. I was puzzled by Tristan's behavior. "I want you," he said huskily and crushed his lips to mine. He moved his lips against mine, his tongue tracing my bottom lip. I melted into his kiss and closed my eyes. I wrapped my arms around him, pulling him closer. I kissed him back.
He deepened the kiss, exploring my mouth with his cool tongue. I moaned into the kiss. His kiss was different now, somehow more passionate. Tristan trailed cool kisses down my jaw line and neck.
My eyes shut tighter when I felt him flick his tongue against the cut on my breast. Shivers rushed down my body. I tried to clamp my thighs together to stop the ache but Tristan's leg was in the way. He was drinking my blood and yet I was too lost in the powerful sensations he was giving me. I dug my nails into his back and couldn't help but moan loudly. "Oh, Tristan!"
He moved his leg between my thighs, pressing hard against the ache. One of his hands held the back of my neck while his other hand caressed my stomach.
I cried out when I felt a sharp pain searing through my body. I dug my nails deeper into Tristan's back.
"Enough Tristan," a cold, deep voice echoed against the stone walls.
My eyes shot open instantly as if I were awakened from a spell. With horror, I watched Tristan lift his face to look at me. I gasped. He looked inhuman. His lips were stained with blood. My blood. His lips were parted slightly, revealing two razor sharp canines. His eyes were pitch black with hunger. I stared in horror.
Tristan began trembling almost uncontrollably. He pulled away and licked his lips clean. His expression changed into one of agony. "I'm so sorry, Ellie..." His voice came as a whisper. He turned toward the entrance of the cave.
I sat up and gasped again. There was a tall, beautiful man standing at the entrance of the cave. His skin was just as marble white as Tristan's. His pale blond hair was pulled back into a long ponytail. He stepped closer to Tristan. It must have been Dante. This man seemed to fit Tristan's description. The man seemed to hold a lot of power and authority. He walked with such powerful grace. He was much more graceful than Tristan if that were even possible. He appeared to be in his late 20's. He was a little taller than Tristan. The man appeared to be in a very good shape as well. Even in my frightened state, I couldn't help but stare at this man's beauty. He had that same unnatural beauty that Tristan had. His hair almost looked silver beside the light of the torch. He glared at Tristan.
"After all the effort you put for the good of the coven, you fail," the man said, coldly. He glared down at Tristan. His voice held a slight french accent.
Tristan bowed his head in shame. "I know."
"We are not to feed from the humans." The blond haired man hissed.
"Yes, Dante," Tristan replied.
"I will take the girl back to her friends," Dante said. He finally turned his gaze to me and walked in my direction. I was frozen in my spot.
Dante stopped in front of me and offered his hand. I stared at it. I didn't know what to think. Tristan told me he was a vampire and ended up drinking my blood. I didn't understand where the sensations I felt came from. I moved my gaze into Dante's eyes. They were a piercing emerald green. I finally took his hand. He easily pulled me to my feet as if I weighed nothing. He led me out of the cave, leaving Tristan behind. He released my hand and glanced over his broad shoulder. "Stay close." Dante began leading me through the woods.
"Are you the one who---?" I began to ask.
"Made Tristan?" Dante finished. "Yes."
"Made..." I trailed off. "I don't believe the story Tristan told me," I said, in disbelief.
"Oh, but you do believe," Dante said, knowingly.
I laughed bitterly. "I don't believe in such nonsense.
He came to a sudden stop. I didn't realize it until I collided with his back. "Shit." He was as hard as a marble statue. I stepped away from him and met his piercing green eyes.
"You do believe. You simply won't accept it just yet," Dante said. His eyes seemed to be looking right through me. I took a small step back. "I understand though. Even Tristan's having a hard time accepting what he's become," he said, with a sympathetic look.
I was speechless.
He shook his head. His hair was silver in the moonlight. "I too, struggled to accept my fate but I learned to embrace it." He turned around and started through the woods again. "Come," he said.
I followed him silently. The twigs snapped as my boots crushed them. The crunching of leaves under my feet penetrated the air. I stared at Dante's back as I followed. How was it that I was making noise as I stepped over fallen leaves and twigs and Dante hadn't made a sound at all? He walked with such unearthly grace. It frightened me. He glanced over his shoulder at me, with a look of amusement as if he could read my thoughts. A smirk tugged at the corner of his lips. He turned and continued to lead me through the forest. I had the nagging suspicion that Dante knew more than he was letting on. I didn't know if I could accept Tristan being a vampire exactly but I knew he and Dante were not ordinary humans. My Tristan had become something totally different. I saw it in his eyes. Right before he drank my blood, I knew something in Tristan had changed. I was still in shock of what happened between Tristan and me in the cave. I looked up and heard the music from the beach party.
Dante turned to face me. "Your friends are right through these trees," he said.
I arched a curious eyebrow. "How did you know about my friends anyway?" I wondered aloud.
"Tristan told me," Dante replied.
"When?" I asked, puzzled.
"At the cave," he said, matter of factly.
I stared at him blankly. "What?" I didn't understand.
Dante gave a rich laugh. "My apologies, dear." His eyes lit with amusement. "I had forgotten how fragile minded humans were." He looked me up and down. "It has been long since I have been around a human. Tristan told me all that I needed to know telepathically," he explained.
Telepathy? Things just kept getting stranger through out this night.
Dante's smile faded and he became serious. "It is clear that the way of the vampire is too much for you to handle. Tristan knew of the danger and so he kept his distance from you for these years, until now."
I scrutinized his face, searching for answers. "Why did Tristan come to me now?" I questioned.
"Your first encounter with Tristan again was last night. He couldn't let the gang of men hurt you, dear. He had no choice but to reveal his presence to you," he said. Dante stepped closer until I was a mere inches away. I took a deep breath and held it in my throat. "Listen very carefully, Gabrielle. I know Tristan holds a special place in your heart but you have to let him go. Tristan is not a part of your world anymore," he said, seriously.
His words burned a whole through my heart. I swallowed the lump that formed in my throat.
Dante gave me a sympathetic look and gently placed his hand on my shoulder in a comforting manner. "I am sorry, Gabrielle." With the blink of an eye he was gone. I gasped and scanned my surroundings. Dante was nowhere in sight.
Go to your friends.
I heard Dante's voice in my mind. I looked around again for any sign that Dante had been there. I wondered if Tristan was nearby. I shook off my thoughts. I suddenly felt the urgency to meet with my friends. I yearned for the sense of being normal. I suddenly rushed through the remaining trees and bushes and at last, the sand was smooth under my boots. The party was just as I had left it. I let out a sigh of relief. I caught sight of Erik running toward me.
"Gabrielle!" He cried out. He stopped in front of me. "I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to. Please forgive me," he pleaded.
I shook my head and smiled. I was so glad to be surrounded by normal people again. "It's okay," I assured him.
Erik frowned. "I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable. It's just, I got caught up with the music and your dancing......I'm so sorry. I--"
"Erik," I interrupted his babbling. "It's okay. I overreacted."
His eyes trailed down to my chest. "Gabrielle, you're hurt."
I glanced down and noticed the small cut I had made above my breast was a very faint red line now. What surprised me most were the two little puncture marks Tristan left where he had pierced through my skin with his sharp teeth. Shivers ran down my spine. I looked up to meet Erik's curious eyes. "Oh, that's nothing. My shirt got caught on a branch and I got cut. No big deal," I said.
Erik gave me a look of disbelief. "It looks like some kind of bite..." he trailed off.
I turned my gaze away from Erik, scanning the beach in search of Sandra. "The party seems to be getting along well," I said, hoping to change the subject.
"Oh yeah, it is..." Erik sounded distracted. I knew his mind was still on the bite.
"Have you seen Sandra?" I asked.
"Last time I saw her she was hanging with Andre. They were walking close to the shore." Erik glanced off into the distance. "She's still there with him."
I spotted Sandra and Andre sitting by the ocean. A smile tugged at the corners of my mouth. Sandra hadn't told me about her crush on Andre but it was obvious. I saw the chemistry between them. The way they looked at each other made it obvious. "Guess I'm not going home anytime soon," I sighed.
"I can take you home," Erik suggested.
I hesitated.
"Come on, I can take you. I don't bite," he joked.
I forced a smile. "I hope not," I muttered to myself.
"Did you say something?" Erik questioned.
"No, let's go." I said, heading away from the beach. Once inside the parking lot I spotted his silver Porsche.
Erik opened his door and settled inside the car. He opened my door, letting me inside. We sat in silence for most of the drive. I pretended to enjoy the scenery as I stared out the window. I watched the dark trees pass by. Tristan's angelic face could not escape my mind. I recalled vivid details of my encounter with Tristan, including the bite. I couldn't help but wonder about the sensations I felt when Tristan began drinking my blood. It was a mixture of fear, confusion, and what puzzled me most was the desire. I realized I had wanted something more. I tried to reason with myself. Perhaps, my being vulnerable and Tristan's control was what made me react in such a lewd way. Tristan had never been that passionate with me before. While we were dating, we had our share of heavy make-out sessions but we always made sure not to cross the line. But tonight, there was a different kind of passion. It was like Tristan had let his guard down. I felt it in the intensity of his kisses. I had to accept that he wasn't my old Tristan anymore. Dante's words still burned through my heart. Tristan was no longer a part of my world. Dante told me I had to let Tristan go. I couldn't bear the thought. Now that I knew Tristan was alive I couldn't just let him go. Tristan was a...vampire. I struggled to even say it in my mind. It was so unreal. Vampires existing... If I told anyone I would be put in a padded white room. Even though I didn't want to believe what Tristan was, I knew for certain now that he wasn't human anymore. Vampire or whatever he was, he was still Tristan and I still loved him, even if his inhuman side terrified me. I struggled with these troubled thoughts.
"Are you okay, Gabrielle?" Erik's voice broke through my thoughts.
I looked at him. "Yeah. Why?"
Erik shook his head and glanced at me. "Well, you had a very troubled look on your face, almost as if you were in physical pain," he explained.
A worse pain, I thought. "Oh."
Erik watched the road ahead as he drove. "You're thinking of him again," he said quietly.
I fidgeted with my hands in my lap. "Who?" I played dumb.
"Tristan," Erik answered.
"How do you know what I'm thinking?"
Erik kept his eyes on the road. "You get this pained look on your face every time, even when you talk about him. I can see it especially in your eyes. Even when you smile, it doesn't reach your eyes."
I looked at him in astonishment.
"That's why you ran off into the woods after we danced," he continued. "I saw it in your eyes..." he trailed off.
"How do you know so much about me...?" I asked quietly.
He gave me a side ways glance. "I pay attention."