Call Of The Dark

Emma wore the dress she Shira had given to her—a white long skirt with a white blouse. She wore a thick brown sweater over it. "What happened to me?" she asked as she tied damp her hair in a high bun.

"You were… drugged. Heavily!" Shira let out a ragged breath.

Emma gasped. She recalled the amount of food she had eaten and Lazarus was the one who fed her. Did he drug her? The idea made her feel horrible, but she couldn't come to hate Lazarus. All she could think was of his well being. "And what about Lazarus?" She wondered if he drugged her just because he wanted to mark her. But that was a ridiculous thought. He always restrained himself from marking her

Seeing that Emma was silent for a long time, Shira turned over her shoulder and said, "Even he was drugged, but the effect of the drug on you two was different. He is a strong Lorean and you are a human."

Emma's shock was etched all over her face. "Even, he was drugged? How is he now? Where is he? Is he well or is he in a different room? Can I please see him?"

"Whoa tiger!" Shira stopped the barrage of questions Emma hurled at her. "Ease down. Lazarus is fine and he will return soon."

"Where is he?" Emma asked, anxiety surging through in waves. Why was it that she was feeling so crazily bonded to him? What was happening to her?

Shira shrugged. "I have no idea," she replied. "He said he would be back in two hours and it is three hours now!"

Emma crossed her arms across her chest with a defeated expression. "He has marked me and now he is nowhere for me," she lamented.

Shira frowned. She faced Emma and leaned at the edge of the table with her hips. "You shouldn't have allowed him to mark you."

"Well, I wasn't in the best of my senses, but honestly I don't regret it." Emma rubbed her neck and winced in pain. How long would it take for her skin to heal? "In fact, I like carrying his mark."

Shira shook her head as she laughed softly. "Foolish lovebirds," she commented.

"He doesn't love me…" Emma remarked.

Shira ignored her words. "Now that he has marked you, you have become his blood slave. You are his most prized possession and the two of you won't be able to stay away from each other."

Emma blinked at her. "Why?" The attraction that she felt for Lazarus was beyond words. It was as if she could breathe if he rejected her. She longed for him and every particle of her body gravitated to him.

"Because now you are his bride. You carry his scent and he has claimed your body and soul. And that means that in order to get back to him, his enemies will target you. Lazarus will have to keep you shielded till the end of the world. You see, by marking you, he has not only risked your life, he has risked his own. If you, he dies and if he dies, you die. You both will go the Fade together."

The shock of the truth jolted her and she slapped her hands over her mouth. How could Lazarus take such a risk? Suddenly, she felt an ache in her chest. She wanted to go to him and be with him. To make sure that he was safe.

Her lips trembled and all she could ask was, "What is a blood slave?" She thought she knew the answer already.

"When the male vampire marks his female while claiming her, she tends to become his blood slaves. They will depend on each other for their hunger. He can force you into doing everything, he can break you and yet you won't be able to protest. You will simply… do it. Sometimes, when the vampires mark females who aren't their mates, they do abuse their brides."

"Goddess!"

"But—" Shira said as her lips curved up. "I think Lore doesn't make mistakes. They are tethered to each other very strongly and no one can break that bond. It's like an invisible thread ties them to the extent that you both are going to feel each other's emotions. You both are mates and I think darkness chose you."

Emma let out a rough exhale, staring at Shira with disbelief in her eyes.

"All I can say is that you have to be very careful from now onwards." Shira picked up a bracelet from the table that had glassy blue eyes beaded all around. "Wear this," she said and gave it to Emma. "Whenever you are in trouble, all you have to do is touch this bracelet and remember me chanting, Ozvati Shira. I will come for your rescue."

"Why are you doing so much for me, Shira?" Emma asked, her eyes moist. She had made another friend in the Lore.

"I am doing it for Lazarus. That boy deserves a happy life." Shira cupped Emma's face in her hands. "Only you can give him that happiness. I have seen him suffering so much that it was unbearable after a certain time. He was led into thinking that only Maeve can be his salvation, but trust me Emma, that is untrue. You are his soulmate and only you can pull him out. I don't know how, but you have find a way. I like you a lot because of your grit and determination. Don't bend down to Maeve. She may be a goddess, but you are Lazarus's mate. And in itself is very powerful!"

Emma wanted to say a thousand things, but she stopped in surprise. Shira chuckled. She leaned forward to kiss her cheek. "You are a brave girl. I know you will find a way out."

Shira's words filled her with a lot of positivity. "Thank you…" she murmured.

Shira grinned. "My pleasure." She walked back to her table and said, "I think my work is over here and there is someone who wants to meet you desperately." She pointed at the window.