Chapter 3

Enchantment

"Oh God!" Blaise jumped up in ecstasy, making the car shake as it hung limp in the air. He patted his body down, pulling all of his pockets inside out, cursing all the while. His eyes were closed, frustration evident. My eyes were hollow with horror, did this mean he no longer wished to marry me? Perhaps that's why he stopped asking. It all made sense now, I was too late, he wouldn't have me.

Touching my numb lips, I looked out into the bright blue sky, wondering why I even agreed to live with him now. Was he only stringing me along because I was his mate? I traced the outline of the now faint mark, wondering why he had lost his interest in me. Perhaps it was because I was too picky, we do fight often.

His heavy fingers wrapped gently around my face, tilting it up towards him. "Darling," he purred, his eyes filled to the brim with delight. His lips fluttered against my lips, the touch of a soft butterflies wing. "Don't frown, never be upset Faye. You thought," he laughed, hugging me tightly to his chest, "Oh dear, heavens no! I wasn't mad, no, I was just looking for this!" He opened his hand before me, showing the small black box I had seen numerous times before. "I'm just so happy, words can't even express what I feel right now. Of course I'll marry you! I would have married you had you said yes when I first asked you." He grabbed me tightly in a hug, squeezing me tighter than I thought possible. He kissed me over and over again, moving his lips all over my face in a matter of seconds. "God, I love you! I love this woman!" He was yelling at the top of his lungs in ecstasy, rocking the car we sat in.

"Blaise!" I squealed in delight as I was swung around in the air. Swatting his arms, I squirmed out of his grasp. "Oh Blaise! You'll knock me right out of this car and you wouldn't even notice because you're too elated with joy! Why, I'd hit the ground before you even gave a second thought about me, then who would you marry?"

He set me down gently, sitting me on the bench next to him. We both looked at each other with a smile. "Faye, I don't think you realize how happy I am. I never thought you'd say yes, you proposing was never even a thought in my mind. But now," he paused to kiss me. Touching my forehead to his, I looked into his eyes which reflected my own joy. "Everything seems so perfect doesn't it?" He held my face looking out over the edge of the cart as we began the descent downward, "Nothing can break me, not with you by my side. We'll live together forever, an eternity of bliss."

"An eternity," I whispered, awestruck by his words.

He smiled, brushing the hair from my face. "Does that scare you?"

Nodding, I hugged him tightly. "It seems too long."

His heart filled laugh caused several other park patrons to glance our way. "It does just seem to keep going doesn't it? Some things are hard when the world seems to keep going but you're stuck there; but as long as I'm by your side I'm sure you'll do fine. I think my first one hundred years were the hardest; it's then that we're most active in human society, and it's about after fifty years after our birth that we have to move on from that life."

"Isn't there a way to make people live forever? Like you'll do to me?" I stared up at him with curiosity, my eyes glimmering with hope.

He shook his head, only now refusing to meet my eyes. He probably knew what I thought, knew of the people I'd be letting go by choosing him. "I'm sorry dear, we can't change everyone's fate."

"So we're going to finish mating now?" My face blushed as I spoke of it.

Blaise's face reddened slightly as well, hugging me tightly as the ride jerked to a stop at the bottom. "You mean the binding?" Nodding, I hopped off the car as it came to a stop. Waiting for Blaise, I stood there patiently looking at the people in the park. They were so happy, but I was smiling with pride, because I was happy just like them. I took his hand as he climbed out of the car, and Blaise took off towards the park exit. "Yes, I suppose it's about time that we did make things more permanent."

His eyes glimmered with true happiness. Staring at him I couldn't help but giggle with glee, I finally felt like the luckiest girl in the world. Blaise was too perfect, too handsome; my knees still buckled when I was under his lust filled gaze. "Are you ready to go home now?"

Home, something new to me. I beamed up at him with glee, wrapping my arms around his body. "Let's go."

- o -

He was fiddling with the air conditioning, barely watching the road. I'd yell at him, but I didn't see the point. Blaise would never put me in harms way, he was not that careless. I looked at him with love and care, wondering what he ever saw in me that night at the club. I would forever hold a grudge against Charles for taking me there, leaving me to sit at the bar all night stranded. Blaise was my night in shinning armor; always there for me even when I least expected it.

Journey still played quietly in the car, my mind at ease with the pleasant sound. "I think I'll have to invite Allegra up for a few weeks soon. I'm sure she'll love staying with us. Maybe we could even fly out to New York for a few days, do a little shopping. Allegra will want to be along when I'm picking things out for the wedding, that is unless you already have everything planned?" I eye him with disdain. It would be just like Blaise to have everything already planned.

Shaking his head, he turns to look at me with a smile. "You think I would be that controlling? That hurts Faye, but no, I figured you would like to do that. New York would be a lovely idea as well, I was planning on going to Germany for a few days anyway."

I turned up my nose. "Germany? What do you have to do there? You were just there only a month ago. Don't tell me that you already have a mistress!" I giggle as I look away and out the window. The entire view is covered in trees, growing more green with beauty as we head north. "I hope this doesn't get to your head, but I hate it when you leave me."

He shook his head, trying to pay attention to the road now, his hands tight on the wheel. "It's only for business dear." He sighed, dropping one of his hands to hold my hand instead. "Do you only miss me when I leave? Or is it something more?"

I remained silent for a moment. My mind flashed back to the nightmares that once plagued my mind. The demon next to me was the only thing that stood in between me and the rest of his race. I was so terrified of Blaise then, afraid Blaise would harm me. Now I knew that there would never be anyone else who would love me more. It was a comforting thought.

Pursing my lips, I let out a sigh. "You left me that one night, and your brother took me. What if he comes back? If he's trying to capture your queen, then aren't I at risk? And since I'm your mate, that gives the other demons open season on me; I don't get to have the comfort of being a naive human anymore. Then there is also the fact that I'm worried about you, you always sound so distant on the phone when you're away."

"I miss you when I'm gone."

Looking at him I wondered briefly when he had to act in such secrecy. He didn't want people to know about me, I knew that. Only a hand full of his people actually knew that Blaise was mated to me, and I wonder if that caused too many rumors to go flying about back in his home country. Maybe all this secrecy was just more protection for me. Allister once warned me of the other elder demons; that they would not be as optimistic of my relationship with Blaise. I briefly recall Blaise telling me a story of his brother, that Blaise feared that perhaps it was of the elder's doing that he left. I don't know why Blaise would want to be one so bad, for I've only heard negative things of these men.

The perfect weather of the morning was turning sour, the sky turning into a murky gray color one often found when they let all their watercolors run together. I almost hoped that we could turn around and drive back toward the wonderful day we were leaving. I looked down at my hands which lay limp in my lap; they were the same as they had always been with the exception of the ring which now sparkled on my ring finger. I loved it, I loved Blaise. Closing my eyes I leaned back in my seat, wishing he'd kiss me again.

His thumb rubbed the back of my hand gently, letting me aware that he was trying to comfort me. He probably was wishing he could just hold me as well. "Perhaps I could take you with me then; we'll just have to make sure no evil demons are lurking around ready to kill you the second I go out for a luncheon."

Giggling, I leaned over myself and kissed Blaise lightly on the cheek. "I don't think I've made any of your many suitors mad lately, so we're safe for now."

I stared through the windshield, not expecting much. What I least expected was what I saw out of the corner of my eye. It looked to be a bear, coming barreling towards us at an enormous speed. Blaise caught sight of it too, his head whipping to his side to look out his window, hitting the brakes even though it was already too late. I remember from the one accident I was in before, every single second is captured frame by frame.

Opening my mouth I let out the shrill cry of fear that was bubbling in my chest as Blaise turned toward me, his arms already around me. The car was still flying forward at a high speed, the bear like creature feet away from our car. I was unable to do anything with myself, my body paralyzed with fear. If I could move I would grab onto Blaise and hide inside his large grasp. Somehow while holding me, Blaise was able to get the seatbelt I wore off of me, but that was all he was able to do before the beast hit the car sending it rolling on it's side.

My screaming grew louder as the car tumbled around, my sense of direction lost. Glass shattered all around us, falling like rain upon Blaise and I. Barely any of the debris hit me, Blaise taking all the damage he could. The car was still rolling, suddenly stopping as it collided with something, the car's roof caving down on us.

My ears rang as we sat there, huddled in the ruined car. I was trapped in the warped sheets of metal, Blaise unmoving above me. Looking around, I realized that I wasn't harmed at all, not even unfortunate enough to have whip lash. My mate was not as fortunate, he was groaning as he tried to wedge himself free of the car wrapped around his frame.

Gasping for air, I stared at him wide eyed. "What was that?"

He shook his head causing several little glass shards to land in my hair. "A demon," he coughed out, finally tearing a hole into the twisted metal, "at least that's what I think it was. Let's just get you out of here before you get hurt, I'll take care of him in a minute."

"But-" I was cut off as Blaise suddenly was gone. He was no where in my vision, and I was left to fall down onto the broken glass below me. The glass crunched beneath me, but I had no major wounds. Staggering up, I poked my head through the hole Blaise had just made to find that our car was now wrapped around a tree. "Blaise?" I whimpered. The area around me was vacant, the road we once were on was far away, hidden behind several trees. I was in the middle of the forest now, Blaise no where to be seen.

Climbing out of the car, I jumped to the ground and examined the damage. From here, it would seem impossible for anyone to survive the wreckage, the car was wrapped tightly around the base of a tree, the pile of metal no longer resembling anything like a car.

Fingering my ring, I glanced around me nervously. I reached into the twisted metal and sorted through the mess of glass to find my purse. It was hidden under the seat, covered in the shard shards of the broken windows. A loud roar from behind me startled me from the car, my feet scrambling backwards as I hit the ground with a thud. Looking in the direction of the sound I only saw trees. Taking my fear and hiding it inside myself, I got up slowly, heading in the direction.

My feet shook, my mind still seemed to be in shock from the accident. Staring forward I was surprised to find Blaise laying on the ground, his hand holding his side. He wouldn't look at me; following his gaze I saw that he was staring at another being. This time there was a man, who was most likely the bear that had attacked us. Hiding behind a tree, I watched in horror as the man leaped forward with sword in hand towards my wounded fiance. Blaise, however, was fast as lightning, changing to his demonic form to counter the attack thrown at him.

Don't move.

The voice in my head stirred my thoughts, silently whispering it's command. Gazing at Blaise I found his eyes cornered on me as he was pinned against a tree. Listening to his words, I stayed where I stood, my feet glued to the ground. And then they were gone, moving too fast for me to see. Don't die, I prayed. His short chuckle reverberated through my mind, letting me know he was still there.

"Why 'ello poppet." I gasped turning to see another bear like creature near me, his razor sharp teeth smiling in a jagged line. Stumbling backwards, I found myself foolishly pinned against a tree; trapped like a butterfly in a glass jar. "Wut's got you in a bundle? You act as though you've never seen a demon before."

Shaking my head, I looked around for a weapon of some kind, a rock, a branch, a large ferocious demon who was finished with the first guy. "Why are you attacking us? We've done nothing wrong."

He smiled, flicking a wrist towards the open field where I could see Blaise and the other figure as the dust settled, my heart sinking as I realized it to be Blaise on the ground with a large gash in his chest which was not healing. "Your friend there is rather powerful, now what would it say about us if we were to kill him."

Shaking my head, I tried to swallow my fear. Blaise was not being very careful with his threats, sending murderous thoughts to me in my own mind. I'd let him get away with the vulgar things since I wasn't sure if I'd even live at the current moment. "If you get any closer to her, I won't have any pity on taking your lives."

The demon towering over Blaise kicked him where the wounds on his chest bubbled with blood. "Ah, and what are you going to do about it? As far as I'm concerned, you're down for the count. Those pretty little wounds won't be healing."

"So the sword is enchanted," Blaise mused with anger. He spit out blood, his demonic form glowing with a mixture of anger and rage. "No wonder a couple of fools were able to kill so many, especially when no one uses swords any more. It's far more satisfying to rip out one's entrails with your claws."

The demon nearest to me clicked his tongue, advancing on me slowly. Blaise in response let out a ferocious growl, and I was all alone. All three of them were gone, I couldn't even hear them now. The wind picked up slowly, the trees flickering slowly in it's path. Humming quietly, I silently asked for Blaise to let me know something. He just laughed. This mind business was really starting to make me mad, especially since I didn't even know he could talk to me in my mind until a few minutes ago. These thoughts just increased the laughter.

His laughter stopped abruptly, and I looked down as a thud evading my ears. There in the dirt lay a severed demonic hand, which was shriveling up into nothing but bones. A screen escaped my lips, making me shudder with fear. The area was filled with sound all around me now, groaning and frustrated cries of battle.

The demon who was once before me, threatening my very life, now was several yards away imbedded into a tree. His hand was missing, red liquid flowing like a river out of the wound. "Alceste, fucking finish this!" His screams echoed through the woods, and soon the other two were visible, even though I wish the other demon wasn't. Blaise grabbed me and tried to shield my eyes, his demonic form hiding me from everything; however, it was too late. My eyes had caught the head rolling to the ground, the eyes rolling up into the back of the head. My Blaise had done that, and I was screaming with sheer terror.

The demon that was left cursed, but I could not see any more. My own demon was grunting in pain, his long black fingers trying to push me away from his deep wounds. "I'll be back for you, you bastard! And I'll kill your bitch too. There will be nothing left, I'll take what you love as you took my brother."

A moment later I found myself on the ground beneath a demon twice my size. Pushing up, I tried to crawl away, unable to do so with the weight of Blaise in his current state. Even if he were in his normal form, pushing him off me would be an impossible task. He rolled off me after a moment, letting out a growl of frustration. Now free, I was able to see the demon went, as well as the sword. "He's gotten away."

"Call Allister, and tell him to hurry." I nodded and called him as Blaise had asked. Allister answered, promising to find us in under an hour. Examining Blaise myself I grew worried, noticing that he was losing blood fast.

Sliding out of my shirt, I bundled it around my hand and pressed it to his chest trying to stop the bleeding. "Won't you change back to your human form? Perhaps then I could flag down a car and we could take you to the hospital."

He feverishly shook his head, looking at me with pained eyes. "I'll die in an instant if I did that. The wound's too deep." He growled as I slipped, putting too much pressure on the wound. Muttering an apology, I lay myself against his large muscular chest, listening to his heart beat. It was comforting, the sound of life. But that comfort was taken from me as he rolled over, curling up on his side around me. "I'll protect you, don't worry."

Tears slipped down my face, getting caught by Blaise's sharp claws. "Don't die Blaise, please don't die."

"Allister will be here soon, don't worry," his faint rough voice broke out. His breathing was hard, and I truly feared that he would die.