Snack food

[Lovely]

August 2003


Sara steps out of a shadoow and slaps Seth "Pig!" She glares at him, mustering what strength she could to be angry with him. "You kick my boyfriend's ass and then just drop me like a sack of potatoes! I thought you liked me!"

"Ah, darlin'.. didn't know you really cared the way you let on... of course I like you. What makes you think I don't, hm?"

"You think I didn't care? Seth I am sorry if I couldn't just jump you...there were complications...as you saw that night you followed me home."

"Complications gone, pet... and where's Seth? Getting yelled at. I like you, Sara.. I f*cking adore you. I couldn't stand what he was doing to you.. regardless of how you felt about me. I told you to run... and thank god you did. But I expected you to come back. You didn't."

"You told me to leave! So I left! I did what you asked...and you're holding it against me?" She wrapped her arms around herself shivering. "I didn't even make it to the end of the road...I slept in my car for godssakes.."

"No, I meant afterward... here... this place. My god, Sara... since I walked in here that first day.... I see you at the desk and it's more than I can handle sometimes... you just.. you just do me that way and I'm sorry.. I can't help it." He looked at her, his words rolling over hers. She what?... "You what? I'm sorry.. what?"

"How was I supposed to come to work with my face looking the way it did?" She looked up at him. "I slept in my car...for two days...I had no where to go. Seth, there are reasons I didn't leave that bastard a long time ago...like having not one person who would take me in and face him being angry.."

"Runi," he whispered.. "She would have.. she's done it before. Sara.. I'm sorry.. I didn't know. I'd hoped you would come back here.. you're safe here.. with Jorden.. with me. I lost my temper at you and I'm sorry." He leaned, looking away from her, truly sorry that his anger was turning him into something little better than what he'd destroyed for her.

She looked away, feeling weak. The two marks on her neck would show clearly why she wasn't feeling well. She seemed paler than usual. "I'm sorry too, I don't feel very well...I am going to go..." She didn't say back to her car to sleep...it's where she had been staying. No wonder she didn't feel well, who could rest in that cramped car? And her dreams, like nightmares really. But strangely exciting, the woman with flame red hair...Sara put a hand to her forehead. "Seth?" She said a little weakly. "Would you mind...helping me there...my car...I just need a nap or something..."

Concern etched his face and he stepped forward quickly, "Sara? Are you alright?" He rested and arm around her. Then it hit him. He was only newly turned, but he knew.. he could smell it on her. "Sara, maybe you should come with me, have a lie down upstairs for a bit, hm? You're very pale. I don't think your car is the best place right now."

Her legs were wobbly, she leaned on Seth a bit heavily. "My clothes...Everything's in my car....never went back..." Her head tilted up and she smiled softly. "Upstairs with you?" Her eyes closed. "I don't want to impose...I'll be fine...haven't slept well...dreams...nightmares."

"Shhh... it's okay, darlin'. Seth's here. Let's just take it easy, okay? One step at a time. When's the last time you ate anything, hm?"

[Lovely]

Sara paused, she hadn't been home. She shook her head. "I um...before...havent been back..." It had been days at least, since she had a decent meal. She bought odds and ends at the convienence store, but only nibbled, things did not seem to want to sit right. Sara blamed it all on her nerves, she was half expecting to see KC around every corner.

"Think Sara.. have you had anything to eat or drink that you don't normally? This is important." Someone had been helping themselves and not telling her what was going on. And not caring what marks were left behind to show it.

Sara gazed at him a bit blankly, she shook her head. "I haven't eaten barely anything..." She looked at him, seeming confused. "No...dreams..." She murmured. "Odd dreams..." Her hand came to his chest to help support herself. Her hands were a bit raw, scraped up, she seemed to notice for the first time as she brought them up to look at them.

She may or may not notice the stillness in his chest as her hand rested there, the coolness of his skin. Taking no chances of her walking and stumbling, he scooped a hand behind her knee, carrying her the rest of the way up the stairs. "Tell me about your dreams, Sara," he said coldly, a steely grey stare meeting her eyes that she hadn't seen from him before.

She looked at his eyes. "Are you angry with me?" She asked softly. "I'm sorry I didn't come back here." She leaned her head against his shoulder.

"No.. not angry.. not at all, Sara," his tone was hard to discern, his eyes steely as he gazed at her. He could feel the shivers run through her, but this was different. Something was warring within her. Whoever had left the mark was familiar to him, yet...

"Good.." She murmured, her hand starting to go limp and sliding off his shoulder. "Why...my...dreams?" Sara drifted away and then back to the living. Her eyes fluttering. "Dreams...a woman...red hair...ivory skin...red red lips...beautiful....a man...as well...."

He fumbled to open the door and get her inside. Laying her swiftly upon the bed, he returned, closing the door and bolting it. He was losing her. He or she'd weakened her enough that she needed to feed or they needed to feed on her and complete their game. "Red hair? Go on.. I'm listening."

Sara closed her eyes, she was so tired. "Red...not that orange-ish some girls have. She was so beautiful..." Had he or anyone gone to her car they would have been witness to the mess that lie there. Blood smeared on the fender, windows and hood, handprints and lines where her fingers trailed down...She flinched as images from her dreams flashed before her. "Seth...please..." She whispered, wanting to be reassured that KC would not come for her. "You won't let him...make me go back...will you?"

"No. Never, darlin'... you're safe.. KC's not coming back," he said, although not certain he could save her from whatever had been done to her so far. If she was weaker than he realized, he could kill her in an instant. If he let her go, she could die anyway. He could still smell it.. him.. her.. whoever they were. They were strong like Jorden.. they smelled like Jorden, but... older? ... how? Who were they?... "Sara... do you trust me?"

Her eyes opened to look right to his. Weakly she nodded her head. "Yes..Seth....I trust you."

He couldn't hide the tear. Before, he'd wanted her... to play, to explore, to learn and adventure with. Then he'd learned of KC and his anger and hatred for the man fueled his desires more. Now, knowing... what he'd learned... what he'd become... he didn't wish to take her to his depths.. she belonged in light places and happier dreams. She'd already been to the darker places where he now chose to live. Was it his right to take that light back from her now? He couldn't let her die, either.. he still cared far too much. "Sara..." He said, clasping her hand in his, kissing her lips softly.

Her lips moved under his, responding to his, though not strong enough to do much more. What strength she had mustered was expelled in making her way from her car to the inn then to slap him and her first few words.

He dug into his arm with his fingernail. It had to be enough... to get her to hang on. The gash swelled with his own blood, thick.. almost black. He'd not fed in a while himself, but he had to do something. "Sara... I'm sorry... " he said, taking his finger to the blood, placing it to her lips.

"Sorry?" She asked not understanding what he could be sorry for. Her words brushed against his finger the blood smearing and trickling onto her tongue. She started to turn her head away. "Seth..what...why?" Even as she subconciously licked the blood from her lips, and it sparked a strange hunger. She question what was happening. Something flicked and curled in her stomach as she turned her head and began suckling his finger. She pushed his hand away when she had 'licked' it clean. Looking at him with questioning eyes.

[Lovely]

The tear in his eye sparked another that rolled down his cheek. He pulled away a moment and reopened the gash on his arm, more deeply and rested it for her to lick or drink. "Please... it will help you feel better.. get stronger."

She could already feel that, with the small taste she had. She trembled as she leaned into him, first flicking her tongue over his arm. The blood felt soothing and warm rolling down her throat, she moved her mouth, sucking at his arm with growing force.

"That's it, darlin'.. take your time. You'll be okay.... " he said, hoping he was right. Whoever'd started would probably be back to finish.. and older.. meant stronger. He'd have to find her something more suitable. He let her gain enough strength to sit up, then pulled his arm away. He'd need to feed soon as well.

She looked at him with wide eyes, her fingers came to her lips to wipe away the last drops. She licked them from her fingertips then looked back at Seth with a slight blush. "Seth.." Her voice was stronger. "Please tell me what's happening?" She seemed afraid, but most certainly not of him, as she reached for his hand.

"Shhh... it's just a bad dream, Sara... just keep telling yourself that. It's just a bad dream," he said in a soothing tone, quietly as he took her hand to his lip, kissing the back, then turning it palm upward, he let his teeth graze her wrist, then puncture lightly, off the vein. A single drop is all he took, then licked the wound closed. "Do you still trust me?" He flashed his teeth a moment.

A tear slipped down her cheek. "Always." She whispered, looking him in the eyes.

His demeanor changed back to how she knew him best. He let go of her wrist and ran his fingers down her cheek, catching the tear. "Then stay here, and don't open that door. I'm sorry, Sara.. you don't belong in this world.. but now that you're here, I'm glad. Let me help you, ok? You need food.. so do I. I'll be back soon, okay?"

She nodded, lifting a brow at him. "You won't be long?" Her eyes shifted nervously towards the windows. Things she thought were dreams suddenly seemed too vivid and fresh in her mind.

"Unless you feel you're strong enough to come with me."

"Where are you going?" Her voice was soft and she did not wish to be left alone.

"Hunting bunny wabbits,"he said in a coldly humorous fashion. "Not for the faint of heart... you'll need to tell me how strong you're feeling. Do you think you can run?"

"I..I think I can...Seth are we really chasing rabbits?" She was returning to her former self, to the woman who crossed his path the day he arrived. There was a slight light returning to her eyes as she gazed at him.

He shook his head softly as 'no', but held his hand on hers, reassuring her, "Game a little more challenging, I'm afraid. C'mon."

She nodded then looked down at her clothes, realizing how tattered she really was. "I am a sight, aren't I?" Her sweet voice whispered softly to him. "Do I have time to change?" Then realizing she had nothing with her, all was in her car..she shrugged.

He reached into his closet and pulled out an older button down that seem to have shrunk, "This should help.. I can't do a thing about the jeans, though. And you're not going to your car, so don't even think it. You've got a special treat ahead... you've never been on my bike, have you?"