It was pitch black in the bedroom, the only source of light was the soft glow from the moon casting through the blackout curtains.
Cameron sat on his bed, back pressed to the headboard as he stroked Winter’s hair softly, the gesture keeping her asleep.
She was currently sitting sideways in his lap, huddled up with him as if trying to keep warm, but he knew her body just wanted to feel him cradle her...
It helped her feel safe and secure...
And she was safe now... he would make sure of it...
He had placed some wireless, noise-canceling headphones over her ears, trying to block out any sounds that might’ve caused her to wake up. Instead, he put on a sleep sounds app, playing some gentle piano with a light rain in the background.
He knew this specific song and noise always kept her asleep, mainly because she listened to it every night on her phone when she had nightmares of her father or sister’s death...
But this was before she met Cameron... who could keep her asleep just by holding her like this...
She shifted further into him, and he raised his hands slightly so she had room to snuggle up, and when she relaxed into him again, he knew she was comfy, so he gently wrapped an arm around her back like he did all night, pulling a blanket up to her shoulders with the other.
And he pressed her head to his chest, lightly brushing a kiss along her temple and hearing a soft whimper that she let out from her dreams...
His eyes suddenly darted to the bedroom door that was shut, a soft sliver of white light glowing under it from the nightlights.
But two sudden shadows blocked the light from entering the room...
A pair of feet...
Cameron carefully slid his pistol out of his pants, a silencer screwed on the barrel of the gun as the door opened.
Thank God he decided to block all noise from Winter.
If she saw what was about to happen, she’d be screaming.
He pointed the gun threateningly at the figure who entered the room, watching him freeze in place when he recognized Cameron was in there...
“You think I would’ve left her alone after another one of your friends tried to hurt her today?” Cam said as if the guard was an idiot. “I’m never leaving her alone again.”
“Look...” the figure said, voice deep, “all we need is her. We’ll leave you alone.”
Cameron narrowed his eyes. “I don’t care about me. I only care for her, so get out and tell your friends to leave us alone.”
“He won’t hurt her,” the shadow said.
“He” as in “Dante.”
“Bull,” Cameron snapped.
“He just wants her to be his daughter.”
“I find that highly unlikely,” Cameron stated. “Get out.”
“Look,” the guard said, “just give me her. It’s not that hard.”
He stepped to the bed, but froze when Cam clicked off the safety. “Try it,” he growled, “I dare you.”
“He won’t hurt her,” the guard said again.
“Liar. You’re a Goddamn liar. I know who he is and what he’s done.”
“So you are Cameron...” the figure responded. “The one and only.”
“Yep,” he said, voice low. “And I want you to get the hell out of here before I blow your brains out. It’ll kind of ruin the walls, you know?”
“Why are you protecting her?” he questioned then, attempting to not seem phased by the threat, but Cameron noticed the slight shake to his tone.
He only glared, rage boiling his veins. “For reasons you selfish vamps would never understand.”
And the gun clicked, a bullet piercing in between the guards eyes and he fell to the ground, red, gooey blood staining the floors.
Winter stirred at the sudden boom! of when the bullet lodged into the wall after exiting his skull.
Cameron only looked to her, gently rubbing her arm up and down to keep her asleep. “Shhh...” he soothed despite her not hearing him. “Just stay asleep, my love....”
He picked her up then, holding her with one arm while lifting the guard with the other.
He could’ve set her down onto the bed again, but he couldn’t bring himself to let her go...
Not even when he was using his other arm to hide a dead body...
After hoisting it up with one arm, he threw the guard out the window, the blood flying upwards as gravity pushed the guard down, falling silently.
But after a loud thud of him hitting the ground, his body vanished into dust...
There was no trace of him ever being alive...
Usually, vampires were immortal, and they’d survive after a gunshot, and falling from this height...
There was only one circumstance when this wouldn’t have been possible...
They didn’t have blood in their system... When vampires were hungry, they were somewhat mortal...
Then that meant, that Dante wasn’t feeding them...
He purposely starved them so they’d feed off Winter, though Cameron didn’t understand why...
So Cameron stepped over to the bedroom door, checking outside the room for more intruders, though he didn’t hear or see any movement, so he shut the door, sitting back down against the headboard, Winter in his lap, once more.
She snuggled up with him again, still deep in her dreams but he let her, wrapping both arms, as well as a blanket over her...
He wanted her as comfy as possible...
“Send more,” he whispered, positioning the headphones over her ears so she couldn’t hear him speak, “I don’t care. You’re only going to kill them, and I love killing, Dante. Keep them coming. It’s only you who’s losing.”
He looked back down to Winter, who was turned into him, cheek resting on his shoulder as she took gentle breaths.
He pulled out a small bag of blood from his pocket even though he wasn’t hungry and downed it.
He had to be safe...
But after throwing the bag away, he watched her sleep so blissfully... like and angel in the night...
“You’re safe now...” he murmured, brushing some hair away from her face, “I promise....”
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*****
It was around nine in the morning, and Winter and Cameron sat in Kit-Cat Cafe, waiting for their waitress to come and take their orders.
“So...” Cameron said, making Winter look at him curiously, “how did you sleep last night?”
“Good...” she admitted, “why?”
He smiled then. “That’s good.”
“Why?” she said again, intending to get an answer.
He only chuckled. “I was with you all night. So I was just curious.”
Her brows drew together at his words. “You mean... you were holding me in your lap all night? I thought I just woke up like that....”
He exhaled a chuckle, though he didn’t respond.
And he didn’t have to, because the waitress came up to them again, holding a pad of paper and a blue gel pen in her hands.
By the sight of her long, brown hair and her large, gold eyes, Winter knew it was the same girl from last time.
Layla.
“Hey!” she said. “It’s you guys again! What a coincidence!”
Winter smiled up at her despite the jealousy coiling in her stomach again, but when she looked to Cameron, he was only focused on her. Not Layla.
“I didn’t catch your guys’ names,” Layla stated. “Who are you?” She aimed her gaze to Cameron.
He didn’t answer.
In the corner of Winter’s eye, she could see a vein pulse on Layla’s temple, and she clenched her teeth as if she were seething.
“What’s your name, Cameron?” she said again.
He smiled, though still focused only on Winter. “She just said it, didn’t she?”
Yep, they knew each other at some point…
And… was he purposely antagonizing her…?
Winter could practically hear Layla’s teeth grinding, confusion stirring inside her when she questioned why the waitress was so pissed.
She seemed kind of possessive... but in more of a selfish sense then Cameron was with Winter.
Layla spun around then, not even bothering to ask for their orders and stormed off...
Wow... talk about angsty teen...
Winter studied her, trying to see if she knew her, as well because she did seem familiar... though she couldn’t understand why...
After another look at her, it snapped.
“That girl’s from my school,” she said, a sudden shock of surprise rushing through her. “That’s why you probably recognize her.”
Cam looked at her quizzically as she watched Layla disappear in the kitchen. “How do you know that?”
“When you entered my Algebra class,” she said, “she was looking at you like she wanted to eat you up.”
He smirked then. “Jealous?”
“No,” she said almost defensively.
“I’m so sorry!” a girl yelled, running up to Cameron and Winter, stopping at their table and panting heavily.
She had long black hair that fell down to her waist and bright gold eyes that glistened with the lights in the room.
“I’m so sorry, sir. And you, too, ma’am.” She bowed as if she were apologizing to a king and queen. “That waitress has a bad temper. I’m so sorry! She’s done this multiple times. How would I make it up to you?”
“What’s your name?” Cameron asked curiously, though he was staring out the window, watching the cars pass by.
“Erica,” she said. “I’ll be your new waitress. Can I get you anything? Maybe some hot chocolate on the house...?”
What’s with them giving me free hot coco? Winter thought.
“That sounds good for her,” Cameron said, looking over to Winter with a small smile. “For me, though....”
“No, Cameron,” Winter said, giving him a stern look. “I’m fine. I don’t want anything.”
Whoa… she sounded way more pissed than she meant…
He threw his hands up innocently at her tone, but dropped it. “No, we’re okay.”
“Did you get anything?” Erica asked. “Do you want to get anything?”
“We got some chai a little a go,” Winter responded. “I thought I was hungry, but it kind of filled me up.”
Erica nodded. “Well if you’re sure....”
“I’m sure,” she answered, smiling softly, “thank you, Erica.”
The waitress nodded and walked off.
“Someone’s getting fired tonight,” Cameron muttered, laughing under his breath.
“Yep,” Winter responded.
She looked out the window, wanting to watch the clouds forming from the clear sky... there was a storm coming... but something caught her eye...
There was a girl there... leaning against a lamp post across the street, smiling menacingly with her lips painted a poisonous black...
She wore a black skin-tight hoodie, enhancing her curves, hips, and chest... the hood was drawn over her head, covering her eyes with dark shadows...
Her legs were covered in tight, black leggings, covering her all the way down to her ankles, and she also wore the same colored tennis-shoes.
It was clear she saw Winter’s eyes lock on her, because her lips tilted, smile sharpening.
Winter kept her eyes on the girl, afraid if she even blinked, she’d vanish into nothing...
But she reached over the small, rectangular table and nudged Cameron’s shoulder with her palm.
“What?” he said, sounding half-annoyed.
She knew he was probably watching the soccer game at the bar.
She pointed out the window, still seeing the girl in the hoodie there, who tilted her head to the side creepily.
Cameron narrowed his eyes, studying her...
Oh, good... so Winter wasn’t hallucinating...
She mouthed something to both of them, though she and Cameron knew what she told them...
Watch your backs, we’re coming.
And she pushed herself up from the post, stepping away from them and down the street calmly, but confidently.
“Cameron...” Winter whispered, “I need to start training again.”
“I told you we should take a break,” he stated.
“I know... but I’m calmer and well rested, I need to be able to protect myself.”
He watched her for a moment, studying her stance as she stared out the window, clearly scanning for other threats but found none.
“Alright, Snowflake,” he agreed. “But if you lash out like that again, we’re taking two days off, hear me?”
She nodded. “Deal.”
40Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlBvyrODUo3
*****
“You got me again!” Cameron said, laughing softly as Winter stood above him, pointing the wooden stick threateningly at him while he lay on the floor. “Alright, I’ll surrender.”
She took the pole away, throwing it to her other hand while she held out her free one, offering to help him up.
He smiled and took it, not putting too much stress on her and helped himself up. He was pretty heavy.
Though he just wanted an excuse to hold her hand.
They stood in front of each other then, Winter holding her sparring weapon, and Cameron holding his.
“Done?” he wondered.
“Maybe...” she answered.
They were silent, just staring into the other’s eyes.
Cameron’s were so warm even though they reminded her of the arctic... the blue so cold, but yet... so soft... Small veins protruded from his swollen muscles, contrasting the pale white...
“Winter,” he said suddenly, making her eyes shoot to his, “I have something for you.”
“What...?” she questioned, unsure of what to make of this.
“I want to give you something,” he said, chuckling.
“I know what you were saying,” she snapped then, narrowing her eyes while he smiled in amusement. “I’m not an idiot.”
He shook his head in defeat, but stepped over to her calmly while shuffling through his pocket.
As he got closer, his minty scent got stronger, invading her senses and she had to refrain from inhaling loudly...
His minty, yet earthy smell reminded her of peppermint... How it cooled the panic sweats from her anxiety, but kept her awake through finals...
But he stopped in front of her, and she stared down at his hand when he pulled out a white box from his pocket...
It was a jewelry box... the ones you get when you purchase earrings or bracelets from those expensive clothing stores...
She looked up to Cameron’s tall frame, craning her head back so she could see his face.
He clearly saw the quizzical look, and smiled. “Open it.”
She looked down to the box, feeling something hot, yet... soothing wash over her body, and she lightly took it from his hand...
He watched her stare at the box for a moment, as if she were afraid of opening it, but before he could tell her again, she grasped the lid and pulled open the small box, eyes rounding when she saw a necklace in there...
It had a long, silver chain, and it also had a red pendent that glistened from the lighting, surrounded by a gold frame.
Like dark blood locked in a glass cage.
She looked to Cameron then, eyes so wide they would’ve popped out of her head.
“Why?” she whispered.
He looked amused, but clearly knew she liked it. “Am I not allowed to give you gifts?”
She didn’t respond, just stared down at the blood pendant as if it was the most beautiful thing she’d ever seen.
“It’s an Angel necklace,” Cameron explained then, touching the golden frame around the pendent. “It’ll glow when danger’s nearby. Archangels used it to know when a rogue would be coming.”
“Does it only work when it senses demon blood?” she wondered.
“It only works when there’s someone nearby that intends to harm someone. You, a pedestrian. They could be a human, a vampire, and angel. It doesn’t matter. If they have malicious intent, it’ll glow.”
She stared down at the jewelry, watching it in awe.
“If it does glow,” Cameron said softly, brushing some hair away from her face, “and I’m not near. I had it altered so you can contact me even from far distances.”
“Even distances that our mind speak can’t reach?”
He nodded.
She was silent for a moment, breathing shallowly before the found her words. “Thank you....”
He smiled softly. “Of course, my love. Anything for my Snowflake.”
Her cheeks shaded... and she took a deep breath before whispering, “Cameron?”
“Yes?”
“I want to start fighting real things...” she whispered, “with real weapons....”
“You want to go demon hunting?” he questioned in disbelief.
“I didn’t lose control today,” she stated. “I brought you down a couple times. I think I’m ready.”
He sighed, dragging his hand down his face, debating whether or not he’d agree.
After a moment, he said, “Fine, but I’ll be around the corner. If things go south, I’ll be there to stop it, alright?”
She nodded, smiling giddily. “Alright.”
ns 15.158.61.17da2
