Sanctuary

The music from the club blared as loud as the trumpets from the heavens. Sweat slicked bodies moved against each other in smooth motions that speak of grace and intoxication. People of both sexes hold one another in desperate attempts to stay afloat in the sea of moving bodies. The air is thick with cigarette smoke and perspiration and not only this, but the auras of things that are beyond humans.

The unmistakable sent of the undead auras of the vampires. The smell of blood and fur from the weres. The dark and chilling black magic that clings to the mages. The healing and pure white magic of the faeries. The smell of undead corpses and death that clings to the necromancers. The ever persistent feeling of invasion from the psychics and the constant battle to keep invaders from one’s mind. The aura from the immortal shapeshifters. that feel older than time itself. These creatures of such great power mingling with humans that do not have the common sense or the ability to see the power that surrounds them.

There is where shapeshifter Nikolos Vecchi decided to spend his evening. This place full of helpless, drunk mortals and foolish creatures. To Nikolos, this was not how he pictured himself spending a Friday night. Then again, he really could do whatever he wished. He has the rest of time to do whatever he saw fit. He heaved a sigh and crossed his arms. His eyes scanned the crowds of mortals and creatures. They all seemed oblivious to his watching them either ignoring or not noticing the green cat eyes that watched the movements of all of those people. For this entire time, Nikolos had managed to keep all of aura from the others from leaking all over him. Then he felt it. An aura that was all too familiar.

She was here.

Nikolos tensed slightly and glanced around the room trying to look as inconspicuous as he could. Then he saw her. She was sitting at a table with a group of creatures around her. She was smiling and laughing, her eyes seemed to be glowing with amusement. He watched her for a moment. She tossed a strand of her deep, navy blue hair over her shoulder and laughed again. A presence moved towards her and Nikolos watched as a vampire placed his hands on her shoulders. He whispered something and she stood up. He sat down in her chair while he pulled her onto her lap. Nikolos felt a slight sting of pain while he watched her sit with another man, a vampire nonetheless.

Terra Vola shifted her eyes away from the drinks and the people at her table. Those large golden eyes somehow shifted directly towards Nikolos. They mad eye contact across the room and everything seemed to slow down. The music died out and the people seemed to stop moving. Nothing else matteredd as long as their eyes stayed locked. Terra felt her heart start to pound in her chest as she stared across the room at Nikolos. She wanted to run to him.

Terra leaned over and whispered something to the vampire she was with. He narrowed his eyes and gave her a look. She merely rolled her eyes and stood up. The world seemed to fall back into place as Terra made her way over to the wall where Nikolos stood. The vampire watched her go, his face almost turning green with envy. A companion placed a hand on his shoulder and smiled a sadistic grin, fangs flashing in the club lights.

“Think nothing of it Odin, she belongs to you and you know that she will never leave. No matter who is it.” the companion hissed. Odin smiled as he watched Terra make her way through the crowd.

“Too true, my friend, too true.”

Terra pushed her way through the masses of flesh, struggling not to get caught in a wave of skin. Nikolos watched her the entire way, ready to move at any moment if she should need help getting through the crowd. Terra finally made her way through and she stood before Nikolos. Even in her three inch heals, he was still at least half a head taller than her. She looked up at him and smiled.

“Hello Nikolos.” her voice was sweet and friendly. Nikolos could only smile back at such a tone.

“Good evening, Terra.” he replied. She smiled at him. Then, quite suddenly, she was shoved up against him by the bodies. Pressed against his body, Terra felt her heart start to pound. He made no attempt to push her away, he merely leaned down and whispered in her ear. “Let us go outside and talk.” She felt a lump grow in her throat, to have his lips so close to her ear, his breath dancing along her skin, she felt goose bumps rise on her arms. She nodded in response and let him lead her out the main part of the club.

As soon as the night air brushed up against her skin, Terra felt herself shiver without even thinking about it. She folded her arms and the wind blew again. Her body betrayed her and she shivered again. Nikolos narrowed his eyes at her and touched her shoulder.

“I’ll be right back, all right?” he asked. Terra looked up at him.

“All right.” she responded as he walked back into the club. She watched him enter the building and then she glanced out into the night. The moon was high and the sky was clear, a perfect night for a walk and not having to worry about lack of light. She smiled slightly, It has been a while since I last saw him she thought. It doesn’t seem like he has changed at all, all of these years and he still has not changed. She smiled and sighed happily, I hope he’s happy...

Warm cloth slid over her shoulders and she turned to see Nikolos putting a coat over her. He smiled at her, but kept his hands on her shoulders.

“You looked cold...so I went and borrowed a jacket from the coat room for you.” he stated, as if it was nothing. Terra, on the other hand, was completely taken back.

“You went and got a jacket for me?” she asked, her voice hinting at the fact that she was indeed shocked. Odin never would have done that for me...he would have just told me to suck it up and move on. Nikolos nodded and shrugged.

“It was nothing Terra, now shall we?” He removed his hands from her shoulders and offered her his arm. She stared at his arm for a moment and then looked up at him. He just smiled and she could not help but smile back. She took his arm and they started out into the silent park that lay in the center of the city.

For what seemed like centuries to both of them, they strolled in silence with nothing but the sound of their own breathing and the gentle click of Terra’s boots. Neither of them seemed eager to start the conversation, so the thick silence hung in the air. Terra pressed her lips together and looked at the ground.

“What are you doing in the states Nikolos? I thought you were living in London this time.” she said, her voice was very quiet and the wind seemed to carry it away whenever it would blow. Nikolos shrugged and glanced down at her.

“I felt the need to visit some American states and...” he smiled, “...hopefully run into a familiar face.” Terra looked up at him and felt her cheeks start to burn. Why am I blushing? He said nothing that should make me blush.

Nikolos smiled when he saw her pale cheeks turn a light rose colored. I made her blush...a comment like that should not have made her blush. Terra shifted and looked back up at him.

“It is really great to see you again Nikolos.” she smiled at him and then looked at the ground, “Are you still chasing that warlock friend of yours? What was his name? Jedrek?” Nikolos stiffened at the mention of Jedrek’s name.

“Well...in some ways I suppose I am...though I have had my eye on someone else for quite a long time now.” he replied and added quickly, “A bench, shall we sit?” Terra blinked at his eagerness to change the subject. That was quite odd...

Nikolos gingerly put an arm around her waist and they sat down on the bench deep in the city park. The moon was full and bright above their heads and the stars twinkled in the endless void of a midnight sky. They both looked up and admired the sky for a moment, spellbound by the sheer beauty of the night. Nikolos kept his hand around her waist and pulled her small body closer to his. Terra made no attempt to move away from him or resist him as their bodies touched.

“What about you Terra? Who was that in the club with you?” Nikolos asked attempting to keep his voice as neutral as he could. Terra shifted in his arms and looked at her hands.

“You mean the vampire? That is Odin...we are kind of going out I suppose.” she said quietly. Nikolos swallowed,

“I am glad you found someone...” he replied with such a convincing tone that he had himself fooled for a moment. Terra turned and looked at him, gold eyes meeting green and holding contact. They stared at each other in the darkness for a moment, no words were uttered and the only sound was their steady breathing and the beating of hearts. Terra stared deep into those green jewels and felt her heart skip a beat.

“Are you really?” she whispered, her voice intense and soaked with emotion. Nikolos felt a lump grow in his throat. She could see right through him and there was no use lying.

“No, I am not...” he replied. They stared at each other for a moment longer before the space between them began to close. Their noses touched and intensity slid into the eyes of each person. Nikolos leaned in and touched his lips to Terra’s ever so gently.

The kiss was so very soft, just barely a touch of lips, though that small touch of flesh seemed to throw open so many doors of bottled up emotions, emotions locked away for years. The second kiss was longer, deeper and more passionate. Terra moved her arms around Nikolos’ neck while he wrapped her small body in his arms and held her to him. Terra opened her mouth and accepted Nikolos’ tongue returning its caresses with her own. Terra moved a hand to Nikolos’ head to deepen their kiss even more.

He shifted and they started to lie down on the bench. Terra clung to him as they went down. He pulled away from her lips and moved them to her neck. Nikolos breathed deep taking in the scent of her body, the taste of her skin, the way his skin began to tingle as she pressed herself against him. Terra moved her head to the side revealing more skin for Nikolos to touch. She let out a slight moan when his tongue flicked out and touched her skin. She dug her nails into his shoulder blades and Nikolos let out a sound that sounded like a growl. He moved his hands to the base of her shirt and moved it so he could touch that perfect skin. He pulled away from her neck and stared at her face, eyes closed, rose lips parted ever so slightly waiting to be kissed, strands of dark hair lying all about like a pillow of velvet. He leaned down and kissed those lips again and savored her taste.

Terra felt Nikolos’ lips on hers again and her heart pounded. There were so many emotions, so many feelings behind that kiss. There were emotions that she could not even begin to comprehend. Such deep feelings. And yet...she shared those feelings. That same need that he possessed, the same deep, burning desire for love. What can I do? I need to get away from him, these emotions are too much for me to handle. I cannot do this. I cannot let myself give into this need. I will not let myself get burned. Terra broke the kiss and opened her eyes, meeting those emerald jewels that seemed to drink her in. She pressed her lips together and looked away from him. I will not look into his eyes...I will not.

“Nikolos...I cannot do this...” she whispered. Nikolos felt every muscle in his body tense. He stared at her, resisting the urge to let his jaw drop.

“What...?” he asked, voice unsure. She did not look back at him, she continued to look away from him. She did not answer him with words, though when she started to slide out from under him was answer enough. She does not want this? I felt her need...why is she turning away from me? He moved to let the woman get off the bench. She wrapped the coat tightly around her shoulders. She still did not look at him.

“It...was nice seeing you again Nikolos...” she stammered and started back in the direction of the club. Nikolos sat dumbfounded as he watched her go. Back to the club, back to her vampire lover and his fiendish friends, back to her life and he back to his. She faded into darkness and Nikolos stood and walked the opposite way, hands in his pockets. Tomorrow he would get on the first flight back to London, away from this city and away from that moment. A moment that he both hated and would treasure always.

Though he knew that there was no sanctuary waiting for him back at home nor was there waiting for Terra when she arrived back at the club. There was nothing waiting for them at both of those places. He knew it and down the road the opposite way, she knew it too. There was nothing waiting for her. There was nothing waiting for him. Nothing that remotely resembles real happiness, the only comfort that either knew was that moment, those minutes, when they held each other.

Comfort in the arms of the other. That was peace, that was where they belonged, that was their sanctuary.

~fin.

05/29/03

Eh, yeah. This is all right I guess. No one really understands where this is coming from, but that’s okay I guess. Oh well, I’m over it and I got that out of my system finally. Nikolos Vecchi and Jedrek are property of Kaycee Klekas and I claim no right to him or his background. Terra Vola and all other characters are property of me. No stealing. © 2002-2003.