Thanks for the fan art from one of the readers^^ ! Thanks so much!
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Sketch:
My smile could not have been matched as I pulled him into a hug, ignoring those bright red eyes. My dreams never imagined to be looking into that face...forever - unable to age. His skin was glowing, casted upon years of tanned skin and wispy locks of golden brown hair. It was as if time had froze itself just by looking at him. As if a painter had captured all of his best qualities into one single portrait.
He looked....well alive, very much alive.
I pulled back first, grabbing his cheeks like he used to do to me. He smiled, tears gathering and yet daring to spill amongst such rosy cheeks.
"I must say, you are beautiful."
A laugh delighted the air as a breeze had brushed passed us, sending rose petals off into the distance.
"I'm one of them now Sketch, I'm something that caged us in, killed off our family." he whispered, frightening of an answer.
Frightened that he had failed us.
"I don't see you like that." I concluded, giving him a half smile. "I see you as you, Sam. You'll always be Sam."
"What about my eyes...or the fangs that I have?" he asked, smiling lazily.
"I don't think having that makes you a monster."
He smiled softly, wiping his own tears. This might not be the worst thing that's happened, not even close. I know that maybe Sam becoming a vampire was better, this way I might not lose him. However, this was bad in other ways.
"I guess this is it, this is our lives now." he whispered.
I just sat back on the grass, looking at the flowers that were in front of me. "I guess so, but I don't think it'll be that bad. Erin told me that there's these things called an underground city! And the cities that stand! It seems so fun, and I really want to explore the world, and help as many people as I can." I exclaimed throwing my arms in the air to prove a point.
"Who's Erin?" he asked.
"My boyfriend." I gleamed, winking at Orion on the balcony. "He's actually my tutor, but he's great! You'll have to meet him."
"Oh, I didn't know you had a tutor."
I nodded, the breeze running through my hair once more. The morning was nice and warm against my skin.
The world was strange, the strong would feast on the weak. I was weak, but only because I was human.
Sam looked back over at me; red looked better on him anyway.
"Why are your eyes red, but their eyes normal?" I asked, referring to the older vampires that were spying on the balcony.
"Xanthe said that when a vampire turns, there's blood vessels in the eyes that pop, making my eyes red. But since vampires heal overtime they should eventually go back to normal." he confirmed, gazing to the clouds above.
"I personally like the red eyes."
"Well I'll have another thousand years or so with them."
I laid down on the warm grass, letting the sun warm my face.
"That sounds funny doesn't it, another thousand years...."
He laughed, softly nodding. He took upon the same position as me, allowing the sun to cast his best features.
"How did he burn his face, I never asked." he questioned, referring to the scarred man on the balcony.
"Orion once told me during the great cleansing the witches burned everything down in hopes to stop the vampire invasion. There was a fire in the village they lived. Xanthe tried to save his sister Xelia, but fell unconscious before he could. Orion saved them all."
He had that far away look in his eyes before looking up and smiling Xanthe.
"You think they're listening?" he asked.
I looked up at Orion, before looking back at Sam. "Definitely."
He placed his hands back behind him, extending his feet. "So...do you hate him?" I asked, referring to Xanthe. He stopped to think looking out to the trees in front of us.
"I wish I could....this bond thing won't let me. I know I should but I just can't. I don't like being dead, I don't like never aging. I don't like feasting on blood but I won't drink humans. I like how I feel alive and how everything looks so alive, the trees and the grass is so green. I feel like I could do anything, and my muscles nor my body gets tired as much."
He sighed softly, casting his face to the side and closing his eyes, letting the sun shine down on him. He was so handsome, Xanthe needed to realize how lucky he is.
"Well I don't like him." But Sam just laughed in response, the sound so nice in my ears. I loved how he laughed, it made me happy.
"He's a real ass, but it's impossible for me to hate him."
"Do you love him?" I asked, flinging a piece of grass into the air.
"I wouldn't go that far, since he is listening in. But it's mutual, I think."
I nodded slowly, the world was funny. It was full of monsters, demons, and well humans. It was strange how things happened in such little time.
"The sun feels nice." he commented.
"Yeah." I said. "Are you okay?"
He nodded, smiling softly to himself. Then he closed his eyes again, taking a deep breath.
I stood up, running over to the flowers. I wasn't going to waste this precious time just talking to Sam. I wanted to play in the flowers and enjoy the outdoors.
"Join me!" I shouted at Sam and he did so, reluctantly standing up. He joined me in the roses, just standing by me as I smelled each one. I loved flowers, I loved how pretty they were and how they ranged from different colors. They smelled good too and represent the most happiest time of the year; spring. It's when baby deer or baby bunnies are born.
Sam found a soccer ball and we started kicking it around, then we did some one on one. Which I won but I'm pretty sure Sam let me win. I didn't notice that the guards were actually doubled and there were maids by the sidewalk.
Sam sat down sometime later, and I sat down with him. The maid came forward and handed us both water, then she stepped back.
"You let me win." I said and Sam just smiled, hitting his chest like he was wounded.
"Never!" he exclaimed, a smile breaking out on his face.
"You're not even a little tired?" I asked.
"No, but maybe that's a perk of being a bloodsucker." he said with a small smile.
"Sam, time to go." Xanthe said, his voice commanding and firm as if he were speaking to a child. Sam looked up at him as I glared. We've only been out here for an hour or two.
"But it's only been a couple hours, I'm fine." Sam complained.
"Now." Xanthe said, glaring at him.
Sam looked back at me with a frown. "I don't want to make him angry, I'll see you later Sketch, yeah?"
I watched as Sam followed behind Xanthe, and then disappeared completely into the building.
"Did you have fun today?" Orion asked, and I just nodded, resting my head on his shoulder.
"The most fun in a long time."
-
"We're leaving. I'm taking him to explore the world, or well what I have planned in mind. Wake Sketch up later, okay? We won't leave till then."
I moved over in the bed, my eyes droopy but I stood up and walked over to the door. Whoever that was said my name and I didn't like how weird it sounded.
Orion wasn't in bed and no one was in the room. I heard the voices come from the door so I moved closer to eavesdrop.
"Sam won't be happy at first, I'm going go back to my castle. Then we'll travel to countries across Europe and Asia. Anywhere I can think of."
"Sketch won't be happy either. Xanthe you can't just separate them." Orion's voice lingered.
"I know, we'll visit. I want Sam to have a life free of responsibly, worries, and parenting Sketch." I opened the door and glared at the demon that will had planned such a scheme to steal Sam away.
Orion grabbed me, tucking my arms in so I couldn't fight Xanthe and lose.
"You can't do that! Sam is the only family I have left! Let go!" I said but Orion just hugged me closer not even affected by my struggle.
Xanthe smiled softly but it didn't make me any less angry. I became even more frustrated and thrashed and kicked.
"Sketch...hey stop!" Orion said but I couldn't lose Sam. He's all I had left in this cruel world. I know I had Orion but Sam was family...he was my only family left.
My only family.