Helena's POV
Helena rummaged through her stuff lifting and shoving the contents to the sides."Where is that stupid thing? " she muttered to herself. An A4 sized map book normally sticks out above everything and shouldn't take a long time to find. She fully knelt down on the earth when her thigh muscles began to ache then emptied the entire contents on the ground. Subconsciously she had known that the map wasn't there but her mind had refused defeat and insisted on her searching. "Aw great", she spoke through gritted teeth. Could anything else go wrong? Clearly she was unwanted here and now she had to tell him that she had interrupted his moment for nothing. How was he going to show her where she was, without the map. She looked up for a second to think, biting her lower lip. Nice!!! She thought to herself, momentarily getting distracted by a glimpse of part of the inside of the cabin. She could see some blue satin curtains embroidered with black floral appliques, a single black leather couch and glass table sitting on top of blue and black carpeting. The distraction was short lived with the realization of her reality. She remembered holding the map when purchasing her water and placing it on the countertop to get her wallet from her bag. Anything after that was a blur. "Aren't you coming in?"a deep, alluring voice came from inside. When she had met him a few minutes ago, she had felt elated to the point of wanting to embrace this stranger but that was understandable considering the circumstances. What didn't make sense was this same reaction to the sound of his voice. "In a minute," she answered feeling self-conscious. After roughly packing everything back, she stood up with her bag then braced herself to face him. Her heart was racing in an unusual way. Why?? Had it been one of her employees at work who had pulled such a blunder, she would have reigned fire on them. Was she afraid of being scolded by him? She proceeded slowly, only stopping when she reached the couch. Her eyes briefly searched and her heart began to drum loudly when they rested on him walking towards her. She hadn't seen his face in the dark and had to swallow to moisten her fast drying mouth. In front of her was a shockingly attractive man. There was nothing beautiful about him, only strong sharp features accompanied by dark wavy hair that cascaded down to his shoulders. His hazel eyes locked with hers and at that moment there was an unfathomable knowing, a deep and profound unprecedented epiphany. She knew with such clarity that they were destined to have many passionate nights ahead. Out of the hundreds of possibilities that one can think of during an encounter with a stranger, this is what her intellectual and highly practical brain could conjure up? This was completely out of character for her. She would have never had such impure thoughts, even towards celebrities. "hmmm", she cleared her throat, breaking the intense eye contact. "I don't know how to say this", she began. He paused her with a hand gesture then went past her and sat on the couch with his arm rested along its back. His unwelcoming almost suspicious gaze looked intently at her then he urged her on. "I've misplaced my map.. Do you happen to have another one?" she hated being in a vulnerable position and having to rely on someone else but right now she really had no choice. "Why do you need a map?" he asked the dumbest question. Couldn't he see her predicament? He had done the exact same thing to her in the woods when she was asking for his help. "because I need you to show me where I am so that I can get home", she decided to answer him. She reasoned that she was the one who needed help therefore her patience would pay off. If he didn't have a map, she would also push her luck by asking him to drop her off at the gas station with his truck. "You don't know where you are?"Aw God, what is wrong with this man? What made his dumb questions worse was the fact that he seemed as agitated as she was. "No I don't otherwise I wouldn't be asking would I?, "she dropped the decorum. Was he doing this intentionally or was this how he was at all times. " This is your cabin. I changed everything", he informed her, completely confusing her. "Huh? " she paused. " What do you mean? "she asked looking around. Next to the couch was a large fridge with an ice dispenser, a Victorian style tub at the front corner, a queen size bed at the other side of the room with a dresser next to it. The only familiar things were her camping light on top of the dresser and her clothes folded on the bed. She noticed the huge furry jacket that the man had been wearing lying next to her clothes and she frowned. I wonder which animal died for you to look good, she thought to herself. Then again this was a hunting town so killing animals was nothing to them. She pretended to look around some more, not because she didn't recognize the place but because she knew she was in trouble. She had wrongly assumed that the cabin had been abandoned and now it's owner had returned. No wonder why he had given her the cold shoulder when he met her. Her day today was so full of surprises that kept on getting better and better. "Do you now know where you are? " he asked in a mocking tone. " I'm not sure. Everything seems so new to me", she lied feeling ashamed. The truth was, she had nowhere else to go. This cabin had been godsent after spending a night under the stars with completely nowhere else to go. She inhaled then looked back at his handsome face. If she could explain to him how she was actually a successful homeowner who had been driven out by vampires then maybe he would let her stay. Um no! On second thought it was better to leave the vampire part out. He was probably going to think that she was a deranged, desperate person who was looking for free lodging. "Listen I know you are probably upset about finding me here""Probably??? I am definitely upset about finding you here", he cut her off in an angry tone. "I had no other choice", she tried to explain but he was already up and walking away towards the door." You know what, I'm not ready to listen to you right now. There's hot water in the bath. I'll make dinner outside."Okay?? Stupefied to silence, she stood in the middle of the room watching his movements. He had every right to be angry but this was not the reaction she had expected. He should have listened to her then either ordered her to leave or allowed her to spend the night. Instead he had told her to shut up and take a bath. He lifted up a portable gas stove then carried a basket along with him, slamming the door behind him. Geez whats wrong with this guy? He was a little too emotional and she could tell that his feelings were actually hurt. Maybe the cabin held some sentimental value and she had intruded in his personal space. Feeling a little guilt, she dropped her backpack next to the couch then walked over to the tub. "I would give anything to soak in this water", she spoke to herself. Ever since moving here, conversations with herself had become a habit."Should I do it?" she asked herself, conflicted over the action. He could easily walk in on her while bathing but for some reason, the thought of him seeing her naked didn't feel so bad and she didn't mind seeing him as well. Throwing caution to the wind, she tore off her clothes and entered the welcoming steamy, hot bath. She could feel the pain from her bruised feet and her sore muscles slowly numbing away as the water gently swayed under her chin. Not only did her body respond but her mind as well. Even though she was faced with potentially being kicked out, she felt a sense of peace and that everything was going to be okay. Twenty minutes later, she wiped herself down with her face towel then used her clothes as a shield as she raced to the side of the bed. Her jeans and T shirt were on the bed but where had the underwear disappeared to? Should I ask him? She questioned. He was still outside, probably nearly done with the cooking. After putting on her T-shirt, she decided to search for it. It was after all her underwear and he had moved it without her permission. She quickly scrambled for the underwear drawer and yes! There they were, her silk and lace panties neatly folded, mixed with his boxers. "Aw my god!" she paused starring at them. What did this mean? Why would he fold it and mix it with his as if they were a couple. He was normal wasn't he? Her entire experience with him began to play in her head and she collapsed onto the bed. She was dealing with a madman, possibly a serial killer. This awful feeling of discovery was all too familiar to her. Back at her parent's house after leaving her apartment, she had ordered one of those wifi home security cameras with the intent to catch whoever had left her the note. On the day it arrived, she had decided to test it by placing it in the lounge in her parent's house. Afterwards she had driven two miles away, parked her car outside of a shopping mall then watched as the camera rolled. Soon after, her mum had appeared in full view followed by Aaron behind her which was odd because at that time, she hadn't yet introduced the two. Her mum had mentioned something about being home alone and it being safe to talk. The two had discussed something to do with medical supplies then an argument had started. She had observed in horror as her mum shoved Aaron hard and Helena clearly saw the sharp vampire teeth on both of their faces. An image that had haunted and given her nightmares for many nights.That feeling of your knees growing weak, the tight knot in your stomach, that lump in your throat that she had felt that day was exactly what she was currently experiencing. She walked to the door, opened it slightly and peaked at him. He was seated on a log, one muscular arm holding the pan and the other stirring with a wooden spoon. Nothing about him looked insane. "What a waste" she shook her head. She had two options. To pack her bags quickly then make a run for it. He would probably chase after her and her escape would depend on who was faster. The problem with this was that if she succeeded in escaping, she would now be at the mercy of wild animals. Besides finding out about her family, spending that one night outside had been the most terrifying night of her life. The second option was to wait until morning, withdraw some funds, then take a bus somewhere and begin a new life. The problem with that was she would be alerting her family on her whereabouts. She returned to the bed and sat there thinking. Unlike the incident with her mum, she wasn't terrified, probably because he wasn't a blood sucking vamp. If he tried to do anything she would kick him in the nuts and show him what years of karate looked like. She decided to spend a bit more time with him to know more about him. Maybe she was overthinking things.Xander's POV... It's her! It really is her!!! In great shock and disbelief, Xander sat on a chopped tree stump with his palm covering his forehead. Everything had been too sudden and his mind was yet to process the fact that it was now over. After six years of searching every inch of the realm, he had found her in the least likely place, the human realm. Though Griff had abandoned him, he was grateful for the way he had convinced him, against his wishes to come here. She was exactly how he remembered her, the feisty red hair, her captivating eyes and insatiable full lips. They had been inseparable in their previous lifetimes so why had she decided to break the cycle? Was he no longer good enough for her? Why choose to be reborn in the human realm where he would never find her? She had also done a good job at suppressing her inner being and could easily pass as a human. I'm so stupid! he beat himself up in his head, remembering his last conversation with her. He should not have le
Helena's POVThe next day, Helena eyes slowly opened then dropped back shut again. Savouring the soft cushioning beneath her and the gentle caressing of the silk that surrounded her, she felt glued to this position unwilling to miss out on a single moment of this orthopaedic heaven. The delicious smell of bacon, eggs and curried beans tickled and tugged at her senses tempting her to follow it but she didn't want to move, needed just a few more minutes of this pampering. Eyes still closed, she felt Xander's presence as he came close to the bed, standing above her and he seemed to place something on the side table. Helena's stomach growled in response to Xander and she knew why he was standing there, towering above her. She had misunderstood him last night, thinking he was some kind of a psychopath but he had proved otherwise, not attempting anything during the night and she felt bad for it. What more could she want? A roof over her head, this luxurious bed, the wonderful food and he
Helena's POVThe moment Xander mentioned leaving, her paranoia set in and she remembered that she was being pursued. She was going to be alone again. "I've left some money next to the bed. Use whatever you need, " he instructed but she couldn't hear him. Her mind was already contemplating her next move. Remain hidden, protect yourself and find Tithen as quickly as possible. As he drove off, disappearing at the bend, Helena realized just how relaxed she had become. His company was important, not because she needed his protection but just him being there with her made a difference. She finished with her laundry then with one swing, threw out the soapy dirty water that was in the bucket. Her hands felt cold and clammy so she carelessly wiped them against her thighs using her trousers. For a moment, she noticed just how much the cabin had been transformed. Xander had added one of those portable toilets outside and she could see six solar panels on the roof. The yard had also been swe
The moment Joe walked into the cabin two hours later, Emma got up quickly from the couch where Helena and her were seated, took the rifle from his hand and helped him out of his jacket. Joe was clearly the man of the house, the breadwinner and she was the typical housewife who served and waited on him. "Joe there's a poltergeist!!! Sasha is missing and Junior was screamin and screamin!!! " Aw god, why did I tell her? Helena thought to herself after observing the woman's frightened state. "Wait a minute. What you sayin Emma? A poltergeist?" he looked at his wife as if she was crazy then noticed Helena in the room. "Aw hi Miss Helena" "Hi", she gave a wave and a faint smile. Emma tugged at her husband's shirt, panic written all over her. "Joe listen, I'm tellin the truth.""Emma,"he held her by her arms. "Stop talkin about ghosts, you are scarin our guest here."Right! If only he knew that she was the one who had put those ideas in his wife's mind. " No, she knows, she saw it too
Xander’s POVElbow leaning against the countertop, Xander focused his gaze on the ground as he listened silently. One mistake, only one and they would be needing a spatula to scrape off this humans' remains from the walls. "Next time you need anything, just come by and get it, on the house of course", the human offered Helena with a nervous grin pasted on his face. What exactly had he walked in on and why was she trying to hide it? The more he thought about it the more he got agitated., his being releasing bouts of anger and demanding war on the entire human race. Helena stood next to Xander, receiving dozens of books and magazines on the house and he just stood there without saying a word. Stop it, he gave a silent command to his being. Luckily he had sealed himself before returning otherwise this would have been a whole different scenario. Xander walked alongside Helena to the car, clicking it open then opening his door. She opened the back door first on her side, leaned over t
Helena’s POV… That night, thoughts of him refused to leave her head and as much as she tried to brush him off as a stranger, her mind constantly returned to him. It didn't help that he was asleep, in full view, across from where she was. A full on fight was not what she wanted, only for him to respect her boundaries and to mind his own business but he had taken it personally.One thing was for sure that she was not going to apologize. She had done nothing wrong. His views were, after all, very outdated and she didn't have to agree with them. After seeing how upset and absent he was, she had tried to be the bigger person by attempting to break the ice but he was adamant on being pig-headed. Should she let him be and allow him to calm down by himself or should she keep on trying to talk to him? Even though his beliefs contradicted hers, he still was a very generous guy and disregarding his efforts would be very ungrateful on her part . She remembered the way she had hated waking up
Helena’s POV… She could feel his eyes boring into her back and she wished she could just run away and hide. How could she do that in front of him? What exactly had gotten into her? He already had high moral values so he must be thinking the worst about her right now.He had to be repulsed by her, why wouldn't he, when she had shamelessly fondled herself in front of him. If the roles had been reversed and had he been the one to do it, she couldn't imagine what she would have thought of him. Thinking about it made her skin crawl and she shivered.She inhaled the cool breeze, traces of mist rising from her exhale. It had only been two months since she left Aaron, in fact just five days ago she was heartbroken and pining over her lost relationship but overnight he had become insignificant. Something was wrong with her and she was slowly losing her mind. If anything, this was a clear sign that it was time to part ways with him. After a while, she was relieved to find him fast asleep, w
Xander’s POV.. What is the meaning of this? he questioned in his head. Was she seriously afraid of those dead animals or was it just an act? No it couldn't have been an act. The fear, the watery eyes and the way she had spoken were all too real to fake it. If it wasn't an act then what did it mean? He remembered the incident at the gas station and her response to it. She seemed to be unaware of who she really was and her behavior towards him was very confusing. Is it possible that she had lost her memories, did not recognize him and that he had completely misjudged her? He raised his document to cover his face so that he could take a peek at her and she was seated deep in thought, picking at the eggs on her plate. He had long finished his breakfast and yet she was still stuck on her third mouthful. What was she thinking of right now? She looked up from her food and he quickly avoided her, setting the eight page contract back on the table then returned to his work. He really h