The Power of One (The Forever series Book Two) (12 page)

Inverness, Scotland 1745 – Emily

I met Fraser of Clan Campbell in a tavern in Inverness. I
had been in Scotland for a few years now slowly making my way north. I was
similar to my natural form with blonde hair in loose curls though instead of
straight and I was blue-eyed and taller. I was partaking of a bite to eat on my
own in the corner by the door, when he bustled in letting the snow in with him.

I scowled at him as I brushed the snow off me. Not cold,
just wet now. He chuckled at my reaction and held my eyes with his. Giving him
a second glance, I arched my eyebrows at his impressive height. He must have
been a towering six feet seven inches, a whole foot taller than my current
height. His bright green eyes, the color of peat, twinkled at my appraisal. He
brushed his windswept black hair out of his face and boldly sat down at my
table. “Sorry lass, seems there’s nowhere else to sit,” he laughed gesturing to
the nearly empty tavern. I smiled at his presumption and he grinned back: the
most devastating grin that took hold of me and didn’t let go.

“Fraser Campbell,” he whispered.

“Emily Sutcliffe,” I whispered back.

“You are far too bonny a lass to be eating alone,” he
said, exaggerating his Scottish burr; I could tell he was rather well-spoken
and educated.

“I prefer to eat alone,” I said pointedly and laughed as
his face falls in disappointment. “I’ll make an exception just this once though
Fraser of Clan Campbell.” His eyes lit up wickedly as he pinched a piece of
bread from my plate.

“You are a long way from home,” he stated.

“As are you,” I replied.

“Hm,” he said grimly. “That I am. Although how a
Sassenach like yourself knows that is most curious,” he remarked.

“Sassenach? I am offended Mr Campbell. I have lived in
Scotland for several years now,” I said haughtily, and he laughed.

“I apologize, my lady.”

I smiled to show him I was not offended, “As for the clan
lands, I make it my business to know. That way there are no… missteps.”

He smiled at my choice of words, “Aye, if only half the
people who came here wanted to avoid… missteps. Speaking of which, what pray
tell are you still doing here during this…” he waved his hand about.

I shrugged, “I love a good fight.”

He spat out the drink he had just taken in surprise.
“Sprightly, aren’t you?” he said, voice low in admiration.

“You don’t know the half of it,” I murmured and he
blushed at my tone.

Clearing his throat he continued to pick at my lunch in
silence while I watched him, enjoying him immensely.

“Are you here to fight?” I asked suddenly catching him
off guard.

“I will be, when I’m needed.”

“And in the meantime?”

“I will be getting to know you better,” he winked.

I giggled, “I like the sound of that.”

He narrowed his eyes, “Well?”

“Well, what?” I asked innocently.

“In order to get to know you better, you need to tell me
something about yourself.”

I remained silent, then said, “I believe I am still here,
this far north, waiting for you.”

He looked confused momentarily, “Waiting for me? You know
of me?”

I shook my head, “No sweet Fraser. It’s destiny. I didn’t
know I was waiting for you until I found you.”

“Ah, I see,” he said and flashed me that brilliant smile.
“I’m inclined to the feel the same way, sweet Emily.”

The next few days were spent in a whirlwind. I knew I was
madly in love with him and wanted him to be mine – in the everlasting sense. I
wasn’t sure he would accept my true nature so I put off telling him, enjoying
just being with him, making love to him, talking endlessly of everything and
nothing. He was everything I ever wanted. He had Constantine’s, serious warrior
side, a hard, cold, yet passionate dominance mixed with Devon’s fun side:
charming, intelligent, funny, and coy. He was just perfect and he loved me. But
I still just couldn’t tell him, not wanting to ruin what we had. We made a
striking couple and were met with envious looks wherever we went.

He asked me to marry him, four weeks after we met and I
readily accepted. We married in the April of 1745, just months before he was
called to arms to help defend Carlisle.

It was the happiest day of my long life. I planned to
tell him that night of my secret and my desire to turn him so we could be
together forever. After we made love that night, I prepared to tell him but we
were interrupted by a messenger sent from Campbell of Ardslignish, requesting
Fraser’s attendance in Carlisle, anon. All thoughts of my secret were put on
hold as we prepared to leave for England.

It was a war for him personally and one I knew he
regretted. His clan was split in this fight but he had sworn allegiance to
Bonnie Prince Charlie and was fighting to keep his land for his king. I loved
him more each passing day on the road to England. I didn’t think it was
possible to love someone so much. I feared for his safety even though he was a
seasoned warrior. I enjoyed watching him train. He was so powerful and in spite
of his great height he was so graceful and swift. Adept at swordsmanship
myself, remembering fondly my lessons with William all those centuries ago, I
challenged him to his utter surprise and delight, especially as he couldn’t get
the better of me. So maybe I cheated and used my Vampire abilities just a tiny
bit, but it was worth it just to see the look on his face.

We went to bed that night in rapture. He kissed me so
sweetly and touched me so gently, like I would break. I loved him so much. I
forewent any assertiveness I usually felt and let him take me as he pleased.
His hands sparked on my flesh as he trailed his hands all over me. Mine were
all over him, my cold touch made him shiver. He kissed me and whispered so
softly, “I love you.” And I was so happy. After the heartbreak and
disappointment with Constantine and the crazy ride with Devon, that right there
was all I wanted. He was everything to me. He gently laid me down on the bed,
his loose hair brushed my face. His intense green eyes focused on my fake blue ones
and it made me flinch a bit when he whispered how much he loved the color. I
brushed it all aside though when he entered me. Enormous and rock hard as he
split me open. I craved him, I needed him. All of him. His touch, his lips, his
look. Everything. I had to tell him. He had to know. He had to accept me so he
can be like me and I would never lose him. Those thoughts consumed me, as the
battles were ever closer. I would die without him. I could not lose him.

I came ferociously around him and he groaned into my
mouth at the feel of me. “I love you Emmie,” he whispered and I said it back
meaning it more than I ever had before.

The night of the 20
^th
December 1745, he came
looking for me, wondering where I had disappeared to. He found me in the barn
of the inn we were staying in, drinking deeply from the innkeeper. His
astounded look turned murderous as he saw what I was doing. Retracting my fangs
quickly I pushed the innkeeper aside who was alive but passed out, with
apologies on my lips.

“What are you?” he asked with contempt.

I explained as quickly and thoroughly as possible given
that he had drawn his sword and it was ready to cleave my head off at any
second.

At the words “Vampire” and “drink blood” he closed his
eyes in disbelief. “No! No! It’s not possible. You are the sweetest person I
know. So loving and generous, you would never hurt people like that,” he said
but it’s not true. At least I knew of myself.

“Fraser. I love you. I loved you the second you blew into
that tavern. We were meant to be together. Don’t you see? I truly believe I was
made immortal so I could live long enough to meet you, to be with you, fall in
love and marry you.”

His face was a mix of emotions. “Immortal? How old are
you?” he asked in confusion.

“Seven hundred and thirty-three years old,” I said
hesitantly. His mouth dropped open in shock.

“I don’t believe this. I don’t believe you. What kind of
game are you playing?” he spat out.

“No game, my love. I have wanted to tell you but I was
afraid. I am still the same woman you fell in love with,” I said desperately.

“And yet, you kill people for food?”

“No!” Well yes, sometimes, but this wasn’t the time for
full confessions. “I feed to survive. All this time and I have never hurt you.
Don’t you understand that I would never, could never hurt you?”

He inhaled deeply and closed his eyes, “I do know that
you would never hurt me. But the others? You hurt them.”

“To survive, my love. I don’t have a choice.”

He blinked as in a flash of Vampire speed I was behind
him, snapping the neck of the English scout ready to slit his throat, who had
snuck up on us, me, in a moment of weakness. He spun around as the scout
dropped to the floor and I sighed, “I’m sorry, my love. I should have told you
sooner. It never seemed the right time.”

“You… you just saved me,” he said in amazement.

Slightly offended that he would think otherwise, I
shrugged, “I love you. I will never let anything happen to you.”

“I love you too. I will accept what you are. To do so
otherwise would be like ripping a limb from my body. I have been yours since
the second you scowled at me in Inverness and I will be yours until the day I
die.”

I pulled him towards me in earnest and kissed him deeply.
“Be like me,” I whispered to him, “I can make you like me and we can be
together forever.”

He pulled away, horrified, “No!”

“He died a few months later as a human, at
…”
I
sniffle softly. “I’d rather not go into the specifics.” I turn to Devon who is
standing steadfast by my side and he embraces me.

“Battle of Culloden,” he says softly, no doubt drawing a
quizzical look from Cole at my omission.

“Oh shit, Liv. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said anything. I
shouldn’t have pushed you to talk about it.”

“Well now you know. It's better this way,” I sniffle again
and Cole crosses over to me to pull me to him.

“I’m sorry,” he whispers again.

“I don’t want to talk or think about it again. Please. Can
we just leave it alone now?” I plead.

“Of course. I love you.”

I smile weakly, “I love you too.”

I ask them to leave me with my thoughts and they reluctantly
go. I curl up on the couch in my office staring at the stained glass window,
Scotch in hand. The painful memories are so close to the surface now. Fraser’s
vehement refusal had ultimately been his death sentence. If he had stepped onto
Culloden Moor as a Vampire, he would have survived. For the thousandth time I
curse myself for not just turning him anyway. He would have been furious with
me, I smile sadly. He did furious almost as well as Constantine. My heart aches
for my lost love. I steer my thoughts away from his final moments and get up to
find my new found love, as he needs me. He needs me to be strong.

XXXXX

“Hey,” I say softly as I find him out by the pool sipping a
beer.

He looks up and smiles, “Hey.”

I hand him a glass of blood, which he stares at momentarily
then takes.

“It’s unconventional but you need to drink,” I say, adding,
“Cheers.” He touches his glass to mine and takes a sip.

“Thank you,” he says.

“No worries.”

“No, I mean thank you for telling me. About him.”

Oh.

I nod grimly. He takes my hand and we sit in silence sipping
our blood.

“Better?” I ask when he finishes.

“Yeah. It’s not the same but I’ll do.”

“Don’t worry, we have someone for you tomorrow. She'll be
here first thing.”

“And you?” I hold my glass up, “This will suffice for now.
The cravings are less now that the Power has calmed.”

“So who do you think that man is from your vision?” he asks
at the mention of The Power.

“I have a working theory but am not willing to share yet,
just in case I am wrong.”

He looks intrigued. “Aw, you can’t just say that and leave
me hanging,” he sulks.

I laugh. “We shall all find out soon enough, my love I’m
sure. Come now. It’s bedtime,” I order.

“Yes Ma’am,” he salutes sardonically and I see myself in
him, his defiance of me so similar to my own with Constantine.

I narrow my eyes and he smiles that half smile at me that
stops my heart. “You are lucky that I am so easygoing,” I say as I stand and
pull him up with me. “It is my right to punish you for your impudence,” I add,
my eyes glinting wickedly.

He grins. “Oh I wouldn’t say you were easygoing after
tonight’s performance, but don’t let me stop you from meting out any discipline
you see fit,” he says with a wicked glint of his own, and in a swirl of smoky
black I whisk him up to our bedroom. Impressed that I managed a passenger, I
pin him forcibly down and start an arduous torture, which soon has him begging
for mercy.

XXXXX

That night I dream the same dream in the canyon but this
time when the voice calls to me, I turn and he’s standing there. The man from
my vision, next to Corinne.

“Aefre,” he says again. I try to speak, to ask him who he is
but no words come out. “Let go, Aefre. It’s the only way.”

I awake with a start. Let go? Of what? I wasn’t aware I was
holding on to anything. Glancing at the clock it tells me it’s 6 AM. Four hours
of sleep again. This is ridiculous. It should be less, not more. Cole is still
sound asleep, so I creep out of bed and “Teleport” downstairs to Devon. He
jumps as I appear next to him. “Jesus! Stop doing that!” he snaps and I grin.