A Slayer Like Me Wears Designer Clothing (3)

So here's chapter three, now that I'm on term break, I have a lot more time for writing. :P I hope you enjoy this chapter!

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Chapter 3

"What do you mean he kissed you?" Rachel exclaimed.

"I wouldn’t really call it a kiss…" my mind flashed back to those masculine lips on mine. The word kiss sounded as if it had been gentle…nothing about Damian was gentle. "I didn’t really want him to kiss me…" I trailed off, not even believing my own words.

"Girlfriend, you’ve got to be kidding me. Who wouldn’t want that hunk of a man to kiss them?" she rested her chin on her palm, "I know I would," she sighed happily.

The cafe was getting crowded now, as it was nearly midday. It was dangerous to talk in front of humans. Because as ordinary as they were, they could have sharp hearing when they wanted it and were also major gossipers too.

I clicked my fingers in front of her eyes, "Snap out of it Rachel."

She blinked rapidly as if trying to clear her vision. What she was envisioning however, I did not particularly want to know.

"All I’m saying is, if you want him, go after him, what’s between you and him anyway? You act like you can’t stand him while your actions suggest otherwise."

I thought about all those years ago and clasped my hands around my cup, the warmth seeping through my hands. We had a long history, if you could call it that, it was too difficult to explain to her right now. All the words, actions, events and unspoken thoughts rampaged through my mind.

"It’s…complicated." I said.

Rachel snorted, "Yeah, like I haven’t heard that one before. It’s only complicated when you want it to be."

I rolled my eyes and sipped gently at my cocoa. I’d never been the coffee type. The smell of it actually made me light-headed, though I never knew why. I had once tasted it a couple of years ago. That strong taste that flooded my mouth made me choke and gag. I hadn’t tried coffee since.

"So what are you wearing to the ball? I’m thinking of wearing this pink strapless dress. I’m not sure if I should have the gloves or not. I mean, it’s not like I want to appear royal or anything, but they’re a slightly darker colour than the dress and they bring out my eyes." She tapped her fingers on the table, "we should go shopping later and look for your dress too."

I blinked. Rachel had always been a fashion setter. Personally, I liked to look good. Being a slayer every day, having to kill monsters and creatures at night, I felt the ‘need’ to look glamorous, to rid myself of all the horrible things I had to do every day. No slayer ever got over their first kill, because technically it was still ending a life, even if the world was better off with it. I remembered all those years ago, the first time I had killed. It was back when I could still stand Damian.

I remember it was cold that night. I was quite young then. People like me, slayers, and the supernatural alike have different time spans. We have our years and lives stretched greatly by human comparison. So while a slayer may have lived 32 earth years, they were still be but a child in the Realm. I was just but a young girl when this had happened and had a really bad crush on Damian, but honestly could you really have blamed me? He had a strong build and his Italian accent was still very strong at that time. It was his birthday back then. I wasn’t allowed out of the castle on my own so I didn’t have a present for him.

On the eve of his birthday I had slipped out of the castle while everyone else was sleeping. I know it was stupid, even then I knew it was stupid because not only did I know that it was dangerous but I also believed that a guy like Damian would like a bunch a flowers for his birthday. I can’t say I wasn’t desperate. But I was young and naïve. I didn’t know what the real world was truly like.

Taking my knife, I crept out of my room. I slept on the highest floor, along with my other Guardians. I’d stepped quietly down the stairs. All slayers were born with sensitive hearing and slept lightly. The tiniest sound woke them up. As I walked down the stairs, I gently stepped over the servant’s sleeping forms. But as I passed Damian’s room to the back door, I couldn’t resist. The door was slightly ajar which added more to the temptation. Looking around to make sure no one was looking, I crept in.

I knew I shouldn’t be doing this, but at that time, it was like offering me a taste of forbidden fruit. I didn’t know any better. I’d never gotten to see Damian sleep, I wanted to know what he would look like, if his features were bolder, or if they were smooth without worry. Moonlight spilled in the darkened room. It smelled of him too, a faint woodsy, spicy smell that was forever imprinted in my mind.
His gear and clothing were tossed recklessly on his desk and the stone ground was cold beneath my feat.

I saw him on the bed. I wasn’t going to do anything, I’d told myself repeatedly not to. But as I went closer to his bed, I saw him. I actually saw ‘him’. Not the tough macho guy that he’d always portrayed himself as, not the cold slayer he had to be, but as just another person. A human.

His features were harsh and angular; he had the beauty to make even an angel weep. I was just so madly in love with him. I didn’t think. I never did. Although I had sworn myself not to, I reached out, my small hands looking pale against the moonlight and touched his lips. But before I had even the slightest bit of contact, his arm lashed out and before I could even blink I was on the cold floor with an even colder blade at my throat.

I gasped, my breaths coming in short. It had all happened so quickly. I looked up into his eyes, now metal silver. I had never had any reason to fear him. But now I did. I just looked up into his face and said his name, "Damian?"

Though soft my voice was, his name rang out in the small room. Slowly, the lines on his face eased with recognition.

"Susannah?" he’d said.

We stayed in that position for a while, his hard, warm body pressed to my front and cold stone to my back.

After a few seconds passed he got off me, "What are you doing here?" he asked as he lifted me up. I stumbled for a reply, I hadn’t thought what I would say if I got caught, "I…you…I was…the door…." His handsome face was masked with confusion at what I was mumbling about.

"Sleep-walking," I finished lamely.

He had looked surprised at first then smiled, "And that brought you to my room? I am flattered."

He bent down slightly and placed a brotherly kiss on my forehead. It comforted me a little. Becoming serious he said, "It is dangerous to go wandering around at night. Even in the castle. You must stay in your room. Place a barrier in front of it if you have to." He gently patted my head while smiling in my eyes, "You should go to bed now. Will you be okay finding your way back? Or would you like me to come with you?" I was thrilled at the thought of him caring enough to take me back, but I couldn’t forget why I had got up in the first place.

I shook my head, "No, I’m okay." I’d said. Now, looking back at that night, I imagine what he’d seen me as, a small little girl staring up at him with large foe-like eyes. He’d probably laughed after I was gone. I exited the room, closing it softly behind me.

I unlocked the back door quietly and stepped outside in the cool night air. The grass was moist beneath my feet and I ran to the creek. I’d known that the gardener had planted a rose bed near it. Using my knife, I plucked a few and gathered some yellow daisies as well. I knelt down and arranged them nicely. I was about to head back when I heard the faintest sound; the snap of a twig.

The soft, yet sudden sound whipped like a lash through the silent night, startling me. I stumbled back on my knees. I looked around, my head whirling in all directions. I knew what Damian had taught me, he’d said, ‘Don’t panic, never panic, panic makes you think irrationally, stay calm and observe your surroundings.’ It had sounded easy then, but when put into practice it was a whole other story.

I surveyed my surrounding, like he’d taught me and clutched my knife I had used to cut the roses. Moments passed, yet the night had seemed as still and as soundless as it had always been. I got up cautiously and headed back towards the house. Suddenly, a black object tackled me from the side.

I didn’t have time to scream as I rolled down the bank with it. I scrambled up quickly and faced my opponent. My hand shook ceaselessly as I gripped the knife. The monster was huge, crouched on four legs like an enormous wolf towering above me. But this was no animal; it was more like a rotting corpse. A putrid smell filled the air as I smelled blood. It bared its horrible sharp teeth at me.

"So young…" it hissed.
Its yellow tongue came out to lick it’s teeth. Oh god, I thought, it was going to eat me. It was going to eat me alive!

I didn’t have time to think because it lunged at me with such swiftness that I honestly didn’t see coming. I screamed then, but I couldn’t move. Out of fear, I was rooted to the spot. Instinctively, I lunged outward and began to slash blindly. I didn’t pause with the thrusts of my knife, I didn’t even know if it was hitting anything, but all I knew is that I couldn’t stop. Not for one second. I could feel pressure against my knife and knew that I must be hurting it. Suddenly, a sharp sting slid across my arm, it had nicked me with its teeth.

An inhuman growl filled the night air. I was crying so badly by then, but I knew I couldn’t stop. I remembered thinking of how much I loved Damian, about how I wouldn’t ever get to see his face again, that I’d never be able to tell him I was sorry.

I could see vicious teeth snapping at me, I didn’t have much time and I was running out of energy fast. The creature leapt away from me and began circling me. It was bleeding horribly now, while I was surprisingly left unscathed except for the gash on my arm. It didn’t hurt anymore. I was too cold and my whole body felt numb.

It hissed at me again and lunged. This time I saw it coming and thrust my knife outwards at the exact time it neared. The creature stopped fighting immediately. It went limp and I was rolled under its weight. I kicked and screamed and shoved at it until I managed to stand up. I knew it was dead, that final blow had killed it. But I was just so scared at that time that I knew I couldn’t stop. I kept stabbing at it.

As heinous as that sounds, I was so scared at that time that I knew I couldn’t take any chances. I was crying so badly by then that I couldn’t breathe. A hand curled around my mouth suddenly, and afraid that it was another attack, I lashed out, kicking and screaming again. Strong hands wrapped around my arms as I was pulled against a hard chest. I had remembered that smell from earlier. I knew it was Damian.

I was crying hysterically now, I was shocked frozen. Damian rocked me gently while murmuring soft, soothing words, that I couldn’t hear over my wails. A few minutes passed and I had used all my tears. He seemed to realize this as well. He pulled me away from his chest and looked at me.

"What happened Susannah? Did it hurt you? How could you be so stupid and come out at night! What possessed you to do such a thing?"

Those questions and accusations only brought up new sobs in my chest. He was mad at me. I hated myself then. I wasn’t aware at that time, but he had carried me back to my room and laid me down. He started the fire in the fire place and the room quickly warmed. It was then that I noticed a sharp sting in my hand, looking down, I realized that I was still clutching the roses.

The thorns were embedded in my hands as I slowly uncurled my fingers as the roses dropped from my hand onto my lap. Damian saw this and knelt down next to my bed.

"What did you do to your hand?" he asked angrily. I’d never seen him this mad before. My lip began to tremble again as I looked up at him. But I wanted him to think I was grown up, not the little girl I was, so I fought it back.

Seeing my expression, his anger quickly evaporated. He touched my cheek gently. I looked down at the roses and daisies, they were ruined now, all squashed and lifeless.
"Why Susannah?" he had asked softly.

I saw a daisy that was left untouched, miracles of miracles, it had remained unharmed. I picked it up with shaking fingers. I didn’t expect him to understand then, I didn’t want him too, I knew that I would die if he found out how much I loved him.
His hands gently closed around the hand holding the daisy. I moved it towards him, "It was your birthday," I’d whispered.

I couldn’t read Damian’s expression. But now, thinking back, I think he was touched, touched at what a mere girl like me would do for him. He carefully plucked it from my fingers and smelt it.

"It’s beautiful." He’d said and I remember my heart thumping quickly at the smile he gave me. His expression grew solemn, "Don’t ever put yourself in danger, not for me, not for anyone. It’s too dangerous, don’t ever scare me like that again."

With another kiss to my forehead, he said, "This is the best birthday present I’ve ever had, but don’t put your life at risk because of me." And so softly, I barely even heard it, he’d said, "I’m not worth it."

I sighed and sipped my cocoa again; it had happened such a long time ago that it seemed as if it happened in another life time.

Rachel got up of her seat, "Come on, we should go, it’s getting crowded now, and we need to go shopping for that dress of yours."

I drank the last of my drink and stretched my legs as I stood up, "As much as I appreciate this Rachel, I think I’ll just see what I have in my own wardrobe, there’s no point getting another dress for one meeting."

She rolled her eyes, "It’s not just any meeting, it’s a ball, they don’t have one very often, so you may as well take advantage and pretty yourself up. After all, if I’m correct, Damian’s going to be there."

That brought me back to reality. I was no longer with Damian, he had left a long time ago. I hated him. "I don’t care what Damian thinks," I replied hotly.

Rachel chuckled, "If you say so, but there’s nothing wrong with making him jealous."

As we walked down the street, we hailed a cab.

"Where too?" the driver said.

"City Central," I replied.

Just as we got in, thunder rolled again. I frowned at the sky. What was up with the weather? My instincts told me that this was a warning...what about, I’m not sure.
On our way to City Central, Rachel and I talked in hushed tones, making sure that the driver couldn’t hear us. We talked about what the meeting could be about. Rachel had close ties with the council because her uncle was a member. I never knew much about my parents because my mother died giving birth to me, while my father killed himself shortly after her death.

I’d always blamed myself for my parent’s deaths, irrational as it was, I couldn’t help but feel guilty. I had been sent to an orphanage and had then been put through many homes, but although each family was nice and caring, they’d always let me go in the end. I’d heard one of the parents say that there was something wrong with me, that something just wasn’t right.

You could have imagined how that made me feel at that young age. It was when I was 7 when my Guardians came to collect me. They made me show them my strange birthmark on my shoulder and when I did, they told me that I was one of ‘them’. They told me that every time a slayer is born a golden coin would float to the surface of a magical well named Mona. On that coin, would reveal the locations of the slayer and several Guardians would be appointed to the task of finding that person.

They showed me the coin at one point and said that it was a part of me. As soon as I held it in the palm of my hand, it dissolved into my skin, leaving a warm mark on my palm. It was a dragon. They told me that each slayer had a different mark, one that defined them and made them different. It was like a thumb print they’d said.

I asked if they were slayers too. They had said no, but once were. You need to be of a certain age to apply to be a Guardian, Guardians were protectors and teachers of the young. They acted like a mentor for young slayers.

A large clunk of ice hit the roof of the cab, jarring me from my thoughts. Suddenly, more and more ice began to fall. It was hailing. The weather was turning bizarre now, I looked at Rachel. She appeared just as puzzled. Peering out of the window, I realized the driver had taken the wrong intersection. I was about to say something when I looked at the rear-view mirror. Large golden eyes looked back at me.

The driver wasn’t human.

Never taking my eyes of the mirror, I whispered to Rachel, "When I say so, jump out the door."

I didn’t need to look at her to show her disbelief, "Are you nuts?" she whispered back.

"Just do it," I hissed out. I could see the driver transforming before my eyes, scaly skin now covered once what was human and long sharp teeth protruded from rotten lips.

It began laughing, laughing horribly.

"NOW!" I yelled just as the creature turned around in the seat and lunged towards us.

We both opened the doors and fell outside in the middle of the damp road, hail harshly falling on us.

And that’s when,
All hell broke loose.

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Well, there's another chapter, it's a bit longer than the other two, so I really hope you enjoyed it. I'm thinking about writing my own book :P It probably won't end up getting published, or I might not even finish it.
hahaha, anyways, I hope you enjoyed this chapter, as always comments and suggestions are welcomed.

Hope you enjoyed it!

Happy Reading :)