How to live
“Ok so we have at least five designers that will come. I have all the other stuff set up to be taken care of. I need you to call about the food though; it will be your duty to get a good catering company. Throw my name around and you will get what you want.” I told her with a smile.
Ceri nodded and I thought she would cry. I hugged her once more and grabbed my bags and headed to the front door. Once there I stopped and looked at the windows and had an idea. It would be a surprise for Ceri I think.
Once I had the bags in the car I slide into the driver’s seat and pulled out my cell phone. I dialed a number and spoke to a very sleepy woman and told her what I wanted and how she could go about getting the design. At first she didn’t want to do it but I told her that I would pay her double for the work. I hung up and headed home. A smile on my face until I walked into my house, then it all came back to him and I wanted to scream.
“It’s ok Natalia. You’re safe I promise.” Draven appeared by me.
I felt his warm arms go around me and I smiled, letting the pain slide away from me. He looked at bags and helped me to take them into the bedroom. When he put them on the bed he looked at them and sighed.
“Are you sure you’re ok?” Draven asked having seen the change in her when she entered the house.
“Yes I am fine, it is just getting over the fact that it happened here.” I took a deep breath and finally spoke again. “I have lots of stuff to take with us; I hope I didn’t buy too much. Oh I am throwing a party for Ceri next Saturday. You will be there right?”
“A party for her?” Draven didn't understand.
“Yes like a coming out party, but for a designer. I called the ones I know and Mom called a few others. I really wish I could have gotten one of the bigger people there. She has worked so hard.” I told him with a sigh. I was worn out again.
I noticed the look in his eyes and then looked at the clothes. I started to sort them and then started to hang them in the closet. Ceri said they had been washed before she gave them to me. It was a smart way to run her business but I didn’t think she could keep doing that. After a few moments I came out and looked at Draven who was just putting his phone back in his pocket.
“I will be your date for that night if you don’t mind.” Draven smiled brightly at me.
“I would love that.” I said smileing at him, feeling a little better.“I will wear my new dress.”
I picked it up and showed it to him and twirled showing how the skirt twirled around. He smiled at me and then pulled me toward him and I tried not to seem scared. It had only been a few days to a week since I was attacked. It was nice to have Draven staying at the house with me; he kept the bad thoughts away. When I looked at him his eyes darkened and gave me that come here look told me that he liked it as well. I shivered at the way he was making me feel, and I was scared of seeing that in him. How would I ever be with another man after what happened? I shivered and took the dress into the closet and hung it with the rest of my stuff.
“When was the last time you spoke to Elysium?” Draven asked worried about her.
“I think right after the attack. She took blood and checked me over. Told me I was fine to go about my life even if I was shaking like a leaf in the wind.” I told him not wanting to really talk about it.
“Well she got her test back.” I stopped moving and looked him with the deer in the headlights look. “What did she say?”
“That you’re blood is coming back looking human. That the vampire genes are almost missing in your blood. She wants you to try and walk in the sunlight.” Draven told me with hope in his eyes.
“I’m scared to go into the sun.” I told him feelilng the fear build in me.
“I know but this is something that we have to see if it worked. You are one of the only ones that show the change. One of the other women have hints of it in her blood and she can be awake and look out the door but when she put her hand in the sun it burned her. She healed with a feeding.” Draven could see that he shouldn't have told her that part.
I stood shivering in the middle of the room, I felt his hands go around my waist and I swayed toward him. The feel of him so close brought a slight moan out of me. The want to be held and loved over whelmed me, but I knew what was coming. The tears started and I felt my knees get weak. Draven held me up, my feet left the floor and before I really knew what I was doing I wrapped them around him holding close to the man I just realized I loved. It scared me to my bones, but I did love this man.
I took a shaky breath and pulled away from him a little and kissed him. My hands digging into his hair holding him to me wanting to feel his body close to mine. Maybe I was finally coming out of that shell I had built around myself. When he started to kiss me back and his hands went to my rear I stiffened and pulled back. This is what happened when he tried to be a little more aggressive.
“Natalia you’re not ready.” Draven told me but I knew what I wanted.
“I want to be ready; I want to feel your body on mine. It scares me that I might never be able to overcome the fear that haunts me.” I told him seeing the same fear in his eyes.
“I know my dear, I know. I can’t bring myself to do anything with you if you have that scared look in your eyes. I want to bring you back to life but I fear what might happen if we do try something.” Draven would hold off until I was ready, but what if I never was?