Sacrifice by Mayandree Michel Page B

Nikolas clinking bottles of wine in the cellar as he made his choice on one, became even more distinct and clear. I opened my eyes and every hue in the parlor was more vibrant. My heart beat in tune with his melodically, as if our hearts performed a duet.
    “I felt it. I felt you,” he breathlessly. “It’s as if we are one. I’ve been waiting for this moment for a long while now and I must admit that it was well worth waiting for.” Victor gazed into my eyes.
    He was gorgeous, simply divine, and I was intoxicated with him. I was at a loss for words and he knew it. I was transparent to him now and I didn’t care. All I wanted in the world, all I needed, all that would make everything right, was a kiss from him, right now. I wanted to taste him and drown in his arms. I leaned into him and took in his delicious fragrance of him – rich, dark, and sweet. I wanted him here and now. Just one taste, I thought. No.
    “No… I can’t–” I pulled my hand away and stepped around him as his face fell. Oh gods, that was close.
    “Delia, please,” Victor pleaded, reaching for me as I stepped past him. I kept my back to him.
    I fought not to clench my chest in front of him as the searing pain stabbed into it like a sword. The pain wouldn’t subside, as the blade seemed to slide deeper. I was almost out of breath. Oh, gods, why?
    “By the way, that pain, the one in your chest, will never cease. It may subside every now and again, but it’ll never stop. Not until you and I are together.” Victor said.
    I hated this – him knowing all my secret feelings – my intense attraction to him, but thankfully not my thoughts. He reached out and stroked my hair for a moment. I wanted nothing more than to turn around and let him grab me and make me his, but I didn’t turn around. Instead, I fought against the pain.
    “Then I’ll have to learn to live with it,” I said as I turned to face him.
    “We’ll see how long that lasts,” he challenged.
    “You better go find your sister, Victor.” My legs felt weak and wobbly. I took a deep breath, walked over to the sofa, and sat down.
    “Thank you.” He had his powers back and he was grateful for that and the fact that I had saved his life, but he was disappointed. He wanted me as much as I wanted him, actually more, but I had more to lose.
    “You’re welcome,” I said, trying not to look him in the eyes, but to no avail, I caught his gaze. “Now go find your sister and bring her to me,” I commanded, lightly.
    Victor nodded, turned, and walked away. He disappeared before he reached the archway to the foyer. I heaved a sigh of relief. My mind drifted to Evan, whom I have loved for such a long time. It seemed like he and I had always been connected. I was scared, so scared for the very first time that things would never be the same between Evan and I.
    After experiencing what I just felt with Victor, I needed to see Evan now. I wanted some reassurance that we were still a union and that we were still going to be together. I wanted it to stay as it had been – effortless. Evan loved me. That was a certainty. However, did he still feel the same after meeting Evangelia? My stomach caved and I grabbed the arm of the sofa for support, squeezing so hard that I felt the wood frame crack beneath my fingers.
    Things in the room were beginning to get out of focus. I could barely see the potted ferns in the corner or the chaise lounge across from where I sat. Thoughts of Evan touching her ricochet in my mind. If they had touched then they must have felt the surge that would merge them together forever. I felt the tears brimming and it was as if someone dear had died. I couldn’t catch my breath. I wouldn’t let Evan go.
    Then a revelation came to me. It had to be her. Evangelia had been the one he’d been seeing in his dream every night. The one he made love to. Oh gods, no! It was her – the hair as dark as a raven’s, the face that was as pale as Victor’s, and not olive-toned