“Open up just a little.” The man said, and Keagan felt flesh pressed to his lips. “Drink sweetheart, it’ll make you well.” He didn’t comprehend his meaning but opened to a substance that flowed over his lips and into his mouth. It was strange tasting but invigorating, and it took him a moment to recognize it as blood. He fastened his lips around the source and drank as it spread a heat and healing throughout his body.
“That’s it sweetheart drink, take all you need.” Keagan finished and licked his lips as he opened his eyes. No longer was it a struggle to wake, and he felt the healing continue to progress through his body. The pain was subsiding, as was the stiffness and confusion. He was coming back to himself.
Keagan finally saw him, so tall and solid-looking like a knight in shining armor in his mind. He hoped to God that he was a good man, and this wasn’t the beginning of his worst nightmare. He watched him lick the wound on his wrist, closing and healing it.
This man was a vampire, and he’d fed him in order to heal him. Keagan had been aware that healing was possible when the feeding was reversed, but he’d never seen or experienced it himself. Most of the vamps he’d dealt with would have just as soon watch someone die as lift a hand to help them.
Why would this vampire help him? They wanted him dead after what he saw. It was an order put out by Cruise, and they wouldn’t stop until the job was done. “Who are you?” he managed to croak out between lips that seemed not completely under his control.
The man leaned over him and once again took Keagan’s hand in a firm grip while seated on the edge of the bed. Keagan found himself leaning into the man and watching him with a fascination. He had shiny dark brown hair that was stylishly cut and possessed dark brown eyes that were so intense they seem to see right through him. His face was handsome in a serious take no prisoners sort of way. He had that air of force and authority that Keagan craved and melt for. He loved the commanding sort.
“My name is Sergio Donato, I’m a guard with the Hadden Coven, and you’re in my room at the Hadden Center. We’ve been looking for you for a long time.” He ended with a warm smile that suddenly chilled Keagan to the bone and sent him into a violent panic. All his romantic notions skidded to a halt, and he was effectively thrust back into his nightmare reality.
He began to fight the man who was attempting to hold him down on the bed. Surprisingly, he wasn’t being aggressive, just attempting to restrain him, but Keagan fought with all he had. This was one of Cruise’s men, and for all the kind words and decent care, in the end, he was there to kill him. “Don’t kill me,” Keagan shouted with a voice that cracked and shattered the air around them. “Please, please don’t kill me.” When it became clear he had no escape, Keagan collapsed into shuttering sobs as he waited for the inevitable.
…
Sergio was struck speechless, holding his beloved and wondering where it all went wrong. What did he say that reduced Keagan to terrified cries? “You’re safe, no one is going to kill you. I’d kill them before they had a chance to even consider it. I’ll protect you, sweetheart, you’re safe.” Sergio sat on the edge of the bed and held Keagan in his arms as the man wept nonstop. He kept repeating that he was safe and in no imminent danger, but the young man cried and begged for his life, seemingly not hearing a word that Sergio was saying. Sergio was at his emotional end.
“Stop!” It came out harsher than intended, but at least Keagan heard him and fell silent. “Listen to me.” Sergio still held him in his arms and lifted Keagan’s face up to his so as to make the young man see him and see the truth of his words.
“No one is going to harm you. I will stand between you and anyone who wishes you harm on that you have my pledge. Do you hear me?” Sergio held him fast and urged him to calm down and think. After a few moments, Keagan nodded. “Speak to me, Keagan. Tell me why you fear me.” Sergio continued with the same commanding tone. In Keagan’s present state of mind, it was the only tone he responded to.
It took Keagan a few minutes to speak, and even then, his voice was hesitant and fearful. His eyes, though, never left Sergio’s. “You’re a soldier for the Hadden Coven. The Coven wants me dead.”
“Who told you that the Coven wanted you dead?” Sergio asked more gently this time to keep the young man talking.
“Cruise ordered it, and Jason was to carry it out.” Sergio was not surprised by Keagan’s words. It was suspected that Cruise had ordered Keagan’s death and also Carlo’s. Luckily Carlo had the help of family to aid his escape.
“Cruise and his men were rogues and outliers. They didn’t represent the Hadden Coven or abide by its laws.” Sergio noticed Keagan vigorously shaking his head.
“No, it doesn’t matter, they will never stop. Jason was given the order to kill, and he won’t stop until I’m dead.” Keagan clutched nervously onto Sergio’s sleeve, indicating a subtle shift in his opinion as to who to trust. The move warmed Sergio, and he placed the palm of his hand against Keagan’s cheek, pushing his
