[THREE] - All the pretty little horses

[Scarlett Devereaux]

I could just barely feel his warm hands on me, barely hear him screaming my name in the night. All I could see, all I could hear, was my mother. "Lettie, don't let it take you. You do what you can to live, your a survivor baby girl. A survivor." I couldn't feel the tears on my cheeks but they were there and they were red, as was the way of it now. Too much blood to cry clear tears, but not enough to live. What bullshit.

"Eat. Scarlett. Eat." I heard him better this time and I could smell.. something. Blood. I could smell blood. Oh god, where had it come from?! Had he cut himself? I couldn't take his blood, I couldn't hurt him again! I felt my body start to shake in protest as I felt the first drop of blood hit my tongue. However, my protest was short lived when I realized that this blood was healthy, not sick at all. Jackson poured and I drank greedily, feeling a few drops rolling down my chin.

I drained the bag he had offered and it was enough to keep me alive, but my body was already so exhausted. My eyes opened momentarily and I could see Jackson's frantic face above me. I reached my hand up very slowly and rested it on his warm cheek. It was a light touch, but it was enough, "th.. thank you." I said to him through shivering teeth. It was all I got out before losing to the darkness again. This time though, I wasn't afraid. I needed the sleep to heal, to recover. All I could hope for was that Jackson would have enough in him to remove me from the sun that would be coming soon.

[jackson]

I watched as she passed out in my arms again. I thought the blood would be enough to get her up and moving, but it must've not been enough to sustain her. This would be a test as to how much I've recovered becasue I needed to lift her in my arms. If I was too weak to lift her, she would have to stay where she was, and the floor was no place for a lady. Even if the lady was a killer.
I bent over and tried to hoist her into my arms, but each time I tried to lift her I fell to the ground with her. I could see the sun over the horizon starting to peak above the tree tops, the only thing saving her right now was the shade. I bent down to try again and was still unable to move her. Sadly I was still too weak to lift her and carry her to safety.
I ran back to the bedroom, racing time and nature to get a blanket big enough to cover her. The sun was starting to come over the trees and the shade was getting less.
I grabbed a blanket from my bed, a quilt my mother had made to sale for the ladies ministries. I ran back up the stairs with it and threw it over her right as the sun peaked and the shade was gone. I slammed the door shut, the windows beign the only enemy for the time being. I wiped the sweat off my forehead and laid down beside her weak from the excitment and danger. I prayed this was enouh to keep her safe until I could move her.

[Scarlett Devereaux]

"Lettie. Scarlett. I love you, you know I do. Your the girl I'm going to marry. But.. This God damn ball, do you really need to go?" He shook his head in aggravation. I knew he didn't want me to leave. I was taking all the important woman in his life with me to Nevada. It was a quick trip, but he would miss us and I loved him for that. "Tristan, I love you too sweetheart." I said, smiling widely at him. "This is the last one of the season and we'll be back in two days. Promise." I smirked at him and crossed my heart with my left index finger.

Tristan crossed the room and took me in to his arms. I smiled at him as my whole body turned to mush in his arms. "I want to give you something before you go." He said to me as he leaned down to my neck and placed a soft kiss that made things low in my body tingle. He reached in to his pocket and pulled out a little black box. My heart raced in my chest as he opened it to me, revealing his grandmothers engagement ring. I knew what the ring meant to him and his family and I knew what it would mean to me now. "Scarlett Devereaux, you are the love of my life and I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?"

That warm fuzzy feeling that a good memory brings was gone in a flash as the sun hit my ankle. "AHHHHH!!" My scream was blood curdling as my body flailed. "Tristan!" I screamed his name at the top of my lungs as the skin on my small ankle began to burn to the third degree. Most of me was covered by a soft blanket, but that small bit, just my ankle, was enough. The pain was so intense that I saw stars as I scrambled in to a dark corner.

My heart was trying to climb up and out through my throat as the pain spread to my entire body. Fresh red tears ran down my cheeks and on to my chest as I cried the pain out. Where was I?! Why I hadn't I gotten myself inside before sun up! The fabric of my dress snatched on to the fresh burn and I screamed again. I hiked the dress up to my knees, very unladylike, but it kept it off the burn that I could now see in full view. It wasn't just my ankle, it was halfway up my calf as well.

The tears flowed down my cheeks as I scanned the room I was in. A church?! Why in the good hell was I in a church? I looked around frantically, searching for the Vamp hating mob that had surely brought me hear as a sacrifice. Maybe a little over dramatic, but you never know these days. I started to calm myself with my ridiculous comment and thats when my eyes locked on the man sitting across from me. "Tristan?!" I said softly. It had to be him, but it wasn't. "Jackson. I'm..I'm sorry. I.. It was a dream." I had nothing to say. I was in shock and my leg was throbbing.

[jackson]

Her scream woke me from a slumber. When I opened my eyes I couldn't see her, she was tucked away in a dark corner.
I could smell burnt flesh and raised up still a little grawgy, "Scarlett?" I said softly as I rubbed the back of my neck. I must've got a crank in it from the way I was laying.

"Tristan?!" she said softly. It had to be him, but it wasn't. "Jackson. I'm..I'm sorry. I.. It was a dream." she had nothing to say. she was in shock and her leg was throbbing.

I stood to my feet and walked over to her, she was hunkered down in the corner like a frightened animal. Whatever had happened was enough to send her into shock. I noticed the sun was still coming through the windows strongly , "Hold on." I said as I walked away to the basement again. I came back with a can of dark pain and a flat head screw driver. I took the screw driver and opened the can and started to throw the paint on the windows to drown out the light. My father would be furious, but this was an aspect of the shelter I hadn't thought about. Not all of Gods creatures could handle the sunlight any longer. Once I was sure the windows were covered I laid the can down and walked back to Scarlett's side. I knealt down to see she was severly burnt, "I'm sorry." I said feeling as if I failed her.

Feeling much more stronger I did what I had faile dto do before and that was lift her into my arms. I took her in my arms and walked her down to a pew and sat her in it, "What do I need to do? Let me get soem first aid stuff."

[Scarlett Devereaux]

I was shaking like a leaf on a tree when he came over to me. He looked from me to the big church windows, "Hold on." He said and left the room. he came back with a can of paint in one hand and a screw driver in the other. Before I could even think straight, he was splashing the paint of the large stained glass windows. I watched in silent awe as he defiled his church, his sanctuary, to save a blood sucker. When the window was covered enough, he set the paint can down and came back to me.

He knelt down in front of me and I was still shaking. He looked down at my ankle and I moved my dress to cover more of my legs, still leaving the burn exposed. "I'm sorry." I shook my head, trying to tell him that he didn't have to be, without using any words. A moment later, he shocked the hell out of me and picked me up in to his arms. He carried me up the isle and laid me down in a pew. "What do I need to do? Let me get some first aid stuff." I shook my head at him, "No."

I pulled my self up to a sitting position and laid my injured leg out beside me. "It should.." was all I got out before the skin on my calf started to knit back together. I watched as the burn slowly, and painfully, disappeared from my leg. My ankle however, was a much deeper burn and that one would take some time to heal. "If I just leave it exposed, it will heal. I just.." I tried to stand up and fell back down to the hard pew with an audible oomph sound to match. "I can't walk yet." I said out of frustration as I wiped at the red streaks that lined my cheeks.

[jackson]

"No." she said laying her leg out on the pew exposed. I looked down at the burn and shook my head at her and turned to sit next to her.

"It should.." "If I just leave it exposed, it will heal. I just.." "I can't walk yet." she continued wiping her cheeks. I could tell she was in a lot of pain and I felt sorry for her. I reached over and brushed one of her cheeks with my hand, "You can stay as long as you need." I said feeling respnsible for this. If I had been more careful she wouldn't be hurt.

As I looked into her eyes I felt a longing for her. Was I falling for the vamp after all? Part of me wanted to kiss her, and yet part of me wanted to send her away. Had this of been 12 months ago I would be on Doctor Phil for wanting a woman that nearly killed me. I quickly tossed those thoughts from my mind.

[Scarlett Devereaux]

He reached his hand up and wiped my cheek. I stared down at the red stain that was now on his hand from just touching my cheek. Crying tears wasn't one of the good points of being a Vampire. "You can stay as long as you need." He said to me and the look in his eyes was sincere. I gave him a slight smile but it was nothing happy. It had been a long time since someone had looked at me with that shimmer and their eye. Well, a long time since it was real. Many men over the last year had looked at me like Jackson was looking at me now. But, they had been consumed with my eyes, drawn in to me by the sound of my voice. Jackson was doing it all on his own.

But, just as quick as the look had appeared, it disappeared just as fast. "I should go. You shouldn't let me stay. After what I did to you.. You should send me out in to the sun, not house me in your church." I looked down and away from him, I didn't want to see his face when he sent me on my way. It was the right thing to do, he didn't owe me anything. But, at that moment a ray of light chose to come down through a small opening left uncovered on the window. I screamed bloody murder as a new hole burned through the strap of my dress.

My dress slipped down my shoulder as I threw myself on the floor beneath the pew I'd been sitting in. "Basement! Please help me!" I screamed at him, as I crawled out of the sunlight. I was in the shadows and got to my feet. My ankle barely took on my weight, but I was stable enough to go down to the basement, I was just waiting for Jackson to give me the okay and lead the way. Before I was turned in to a crispy critter at high noon.

[jackson]

"I should go. You shouldn't let me stay. After what I did to you.. You should send me out in to the sun, not house me in your church."


I could tell at that moment, in those words, that she really felt bad for what she had done. My voice became more soft and gentle, "No..." I replied, "I'm not gonna send you away. This is what I do, I help people." I looked over at her and before she could say anything, she let out a blood curddling scream. I looked to her shoulder to see a ray of sun had made it through a small part of the window that hadn't been covered all the way. It had started to leave another burn on her body like the one on her ankle. I quickly stood to my feet as she fell to the floor sliding beneath the pew, "Basement! Please help me!" she cried out terrified.

In a hurry and in a panic I bend down and grabbed hold of both of her arms and in almost one motion I pulled her out and into my arms again, "Hold on!" I said frantically as the sun started to come through uncovered places on all the windows. High noon was upon us and I needed to get her to the basement immediately. As I approached the stairs that lead to the basement I realized there were panels of big windows. I stopped and sat her in a chair removing my jacket and covering her face and shoulders as I hoisted her into my arms again. I could feel the sun on me so I knew she could feel it too.

I ran as fast as I could down the stairs and into the basement. I quickly laid her into my bed, "It's okay, it's okay now." I tried to assure her.

[Scarlett Devereaux]

He pulled me up off the floor and in to his arms in one swift motion. "Hold on!" He said with panic in his voice. He ran for the basement stairs, but stopped quick when he saw the sun peaking through the open panels on the big windows. He sat me down in a chair and proceeded to take his jacket off, throwing it over my face and shoulders before picking me up again. It was warm under his coat and I could feel the heat from the sun pinkening my skin as he moved.

He ran quickly down the stairs and in to the basement. He set me down on the bed and I immediately curled in around myself. I was shivering and feeling extremely cold, which was never a good sign. I reached my hand up and held the broken straps to my bra and dress. I looked down at them, taking that moment once again to concentrate on something, anything, just to ease the pain. "It's okay, it's okay now." I shook my head as my legs moved frustratingly, my black pumps digging in to the sheets that I was laying on. "No.. NO! Nothing is okay! Nothing is ever ok.."

I started to cry again and this time it wasn't from the pain. I wasn't a very strong girl, but strong enough. I hadn't let myself cry for the past until now. I hadn't deserved to cry after I'd killed Tristan's mother. I was a murderer. But now, when everything i crashing down around me, I let myself cry for everything I had lost and for everything I would never have again.

[jackson]

"No.. NO! Nothing is okay! Nothing is ever ok.." I sat there unsure what to say to her. At this point I think trying to be her hero was out of the question. Quit pointless . I just let the silence take us over. As much as my heart wanted to reach out to her, I had to remember who she still was, a vampire, a killer. I let a grunt out from under my breath. Being this close to her was tortures, did I really have the strength to help people without getting too close? The events of the last twenty four hours played back in my head over and over.

I looked over at her, her eyes shutting. She could turn on me again at any minute. She wasn't human like I was, she was a creature of the night. She played with men. We were toys she could dispose of as she pleased. Why? Why did I fall in love with this woman whom I can't have? She had my mind doing flips flops. My emotions weren't mine anymore and they were hard to control. I needed to forget her.

I needed to forget she existed. I didn't want to run into her on the streets, I didn't want to have her anywhere near me.
This time we shared was in reality her trying to get a meal. It wasn't as if we were friends. She was hot and cold. She was really cold I thought as I leaned over and touched her hand.
I stood to my feet knowing I needed to be gone before she woke up. I grabbed a pen and piece of paper and wrote on it:


Scarlett,

I didn't want to be breakfast. When you wake up I won't be here. Hope you're not when I get back.

No hard feelings.

-Jack

I folded it in two and laid it next to her head. I know I didn't need to give her any explanation for her waking up alone. However I thought it was the polite thing to do. I took my jacket from the end of the bed and walked bak up the stairs and out of the vampire's life.

[Scarlett Devereaux]

The dream was lovely. Tristan and I had never really made love, thats what gave it away as a dream. His skin was soft and warm on mine and his breath was hot against my neck. I felt him pumping in and out of me, my body coming up to meet his for each thrust. "Scarlett.." He said my name in a breath and it sent goose bumps all over my body. I pulled my head back and looked up at the man I loved. Tristan looked down at me and smiled as his face changed before my eyes. Jackson was now above me, passion glistening in his eyes as he bent his head down to mine.

Our lips crashed together in a heated kiss that was all consuming. I locked my arms up around his neck as we kissed hard and I felt his own arms tighten around me. He continued to move inside me and it was the most amazing feeling. I felt the warmth rising up inside of me, I was on the brink of climax and that was when the dream turned bad. The urge to feed rose with my orgasm, sending me in to a full on frenzy underneath Jackson. He looked down at me and there was fear in his eyes as he looked in to mine. "Your eyes.. So.. cold." He said to me, his voice holding terror now, the passion was gone. I leered my head back, sank elongated fangs in to his neck and immediately began to suck the life out of him. Literally.

I woke up alone and in a cold sweat. I was in Jackson's bed, but he was no where to be found. I sat up quick, setting my hand down on a piece of paper as I tried to balance my still exhausted body. I picked up the paper and sighed as I read it.

Scarlett,

I didn't want to be breakfast. When you wake up I won't be here. Hope you're not when I get back.

No hard feelings.

-Jack

I didn't blame him for leaving, or for wanting me gone. he was right, it was time for me to move on. He'd helped me and I'd tried to kill him, it was only fair that he asked me to leave. I reached up to my shoulder and sloppily tied my singed strap, so it was at least staying up on my shoulder. A ruthless killer with a modesty problem, can you say oxy moron?! I got off the bed and grabbed my coat form the chair it was laying on. I slipped it over my shoulders and headed for the door.

I took the stairs slowly, hoping to see the light before it saw me, but my body could already tell that it was night. The church above me was dark and the mess from my injuries was still evident. I stared up at the paint covered windows that had once depicted a beautiful stained glass scene of Madonna and child and I shook my head. This was all my fault. Every where I went I left a blazing path behind me. Jackson was right to kick me out. I'd have killed him eventually. I strode fast to the door and pushed them open hard. The night air swam around me and I smiled up at the moon. "Just me and you again. How bout we find someone to play with." Yeah, there was nothing like food to ease an aching heart.

:EXIT SCARLETT: