Shadow Kissed: The Vampire’s Chosen One

Chapter 2: First Meetings and Painful Discoveries

-ERIC-

Taking the previous night off was just what I needed. I feel rested for the first time in weeks. I sigh. I’ll need to head over to Luxe. A Sheriff can never rest for long, at least, not in this godforsaken city. Scrubbing my hand down my face, I pause my hand at my chin while looking at the laptop sitting on the nightstand.

I wonder if Gabriel is having fun on his date with the Slayer? I can’t help but shake my head at the thought. One thing that Gabriel and I have in common is that once we have something in mind to pursue, we don’t stop until it’s ours. I imagine the Slayer having to knock him around a little thinking he would eventually stop…but it will only spur him on. Hell, it would me! I enjoy a challenge. Speaking of Slayer...

Reaching over, I grab the laptop. I never looked at her profile and I’m curious about her. After opening it up, I log into the secured Crypt program created by Gabriel’s IT team that houses private information and a way of communication between our most trusted allies. Then I log into my personal file, only meant for my viewing pleasure. I click on my charges tab, which gives me the profiles of all the charges I’ve had, frowning when I see the picture of Samantha. Her picture has been updated with the word DECEASED at the bottom in big capital red letters. She was a nice girl and a great charge. Her life shouldn’t have ended like it did. She deserved better.

“I will find out who did this to you and make them pay...this I vow to you.” I say to myself. Guilt is not something I experience often, however, Samantha and I had spent quite a bit of time together and I enjoyed her company. She wasn’t all business like a lot of Watchers and knew how to have fun. Not to mention she handled L.A.’s Hellmouth pretty well…a lot better than most.

I break my gaze from Samantha’s picture to find the newest addition to my charges. “Hello Elena Grimm.” She’s a pretty girl, that’s for sure. Blonde hair and blue eyes, just like her mother. I click on her profile which takes me to a page with several tabs. “Hell, you’ve been a busy girl.” I click on her locations tab, not surprised to see all her previous charge stations have been at Hellmouths, the most recent being Rome. The Watchers Council seems to move her around the Hellmouths about every two years. “You must be a glutton for punishment.” I say with a smirk, knowing just how big of a pain in the ass Hellmouths are to manage. “That or you’re the most qualified for the job.”

I then click on her Kill Record tab which provides an estimated number of her vampire kills, along with any specific names of importance. “f**k me.” I say, looking at the four digit number recorded. That is impressive, especially for a Slayer only twenty-four years old. Sadly, the number doesn’t include all her kills, otherwise it would be much higher...but still, an impressive achievement nonetheless. I skim through the names of importance, recognizing a few. “Took out the Hiroshi twins did you? Wish I could have been there for that.” The Hiroshi twins were Asian identical twin sisters, vampires of course. They had a rampage in China, slaughtering about a hundred humans in a small village. The sisters were trained in the art of the samurai, curtesy of their father who met his demise about thirty years ago. I had the opportunity to meet the twins many years ago, needless to say I won’t be missing them. Spoiled, entitled princesses and I do not mix well. Good riddance.

I stop when I reach another name on Elena’s kill list. Gorro the stone troll of France. The fucker was fifteen feet tall and made of stone, to which if you were lucky enough to take a limb off him, he could just summon the damn thing right back and it would reattach like nothing happened. Immune to magic. Sharp and blunt weapons didn’t do much damage against him. A tough enemy, no doubt. I’ll have to remember to ask her how she managed to take him down. Likely, an interesting story. It would seem that the Watchers Council didn’t just station her at Hellmouths, but if there were enemies causing havoc somewhere and couldn’t be taken care of by other charges, they sent Elena to finish the job.

I click on the Skills tab on Elena’s profile, not surprised to see it quite lengthy. “Damn, your father did a real number on you.” It makes me wonder if she had any sort of normal childhood. The fact that she’s mastered several forms of martial arts as well as a large range of weapon training makes me think not. She’s also fluent in multiple languages, no doubt something she learned from her archeologist mother.

I scan through some of the additional pictures of Elena on her profile as well as some of the video attachments. The Watchers Council no doubt has a superb IT department comparable to mine and Gabriel’s. It looks as though they hacked whatever cameras were available in the area to retrieve the footage of Elena fighting. To be honest, she’s quite spectacular. I haven’t encountered a Slayer or Hunter near her level in my lifetime. No wonder Gabriel is so eager to get into her pants. She’s a catch, that’s to be sure. Speaking of Gabriel...

I pick up my cell phone as it starts ringing and the British vampire’s name pops up on the screen along with a British flag that he so slyly added to his contact picture on my phone.

“Hello?” I say as I take the call.

“Aye! I’m in need of some assistance.” Gabriel’s voice comes over the phone.

I smirk. “Is a Sabbat nest too much for you to handle in your old age?”

“No, the nest is cleared but we ran into another issue...a Lizarmin crawled its way up out of the sewers and now me and the Slayer are without clothes because of its bloody acidic venom.”

Lizarmin? What the hell is it doing all the way on the other side of the world?

I chuckle. “I thought your goal was to get the Slayer out of her clothes.”

“Trust me, I am enjoying the view.” At this moment, I imagine Gabriel not so subtly looking over Elena and her giving him a look that could kill. “I could bloody care less if I walked through the streets starkers, however, I feel the Slayer doesn’t appreciate showing off her wares to everyone.”

I release a sigh. “Alright, I’m at the penthouse. I’ll leave in a few minutes, I’m in the middle of something.” Of course I’m not in the middle of anything but I hate to let Gabriel think he can call me and I’ll come running. It’s a game we play with each other. Unfortunately, little Elena is caught in the middle. Here’s to hoping she ends up breaking some of his bones if he gets handsy.

“Right. Stop tugging on it and get a move on, old man.” Then Gabriel hangs up. As if I need to pleasure myself when I have a phone full of willing women who will jump at the chance to be in my bed, just as he does. I roll my eyes. Prick.

I move to the walk-in closet in the master bedroom and get dressed, throwing on a pair of blue jeans and a black t-shirt along with a pair of boots. I look around my closet for something for the British vampire and my charge. The posh fucker isn’t getting one of my suits. Not that he’d have the muscle mass to fill them out anyway since my build is bigger than his. I settle on a pair of black sweats and a black t-shirt. What the f**k do I get Elena? “f**k it.” I grab a second pair of black sweat pants and a black t-shirt. This will have to do. It’s not like I keep a closet stocked full of womens clothing.

~~~~~

-ERIC-

Twenty-five minutes later, I pull the Lamborghini up behind Gabriel’s black Lyonheart K, a sports car that he had imported from England. It’s a sleek looking ride, though I would never admit it to him. I turn the engine off and grab the clothes from passenger seat before climbing out of the car, shutting the door behind me. As I make it to the sidewalk I begin to smell the same alluring scent that I had noticed back in my office at Luxe. It smells likes vanilla, mixed with something floral and something unique. Whatever it is, it has my beast stirring again. I walk up to the entrance of the abandoned apartment building, overhearing Gabriel and Elena’s conversation.

“So, when do we go after the Lizarmin? A demon that sprays acid can’t be roaming around the streets.” Elena’s pleasant voice carries over my hearing.

“We don’t. I’ll send my men after it.” Gabriel thick accented voice replies.

“Come again?” I can imagine Elena having raised eyebrows and looking at the British vampire like he’s crazy since she is a Slayer and it’s her job.

“I happen to like your pretty face the way it is, I don’t fancy it turning into the likes of a melted crayon if the demon gets lucky enough to spit on you again.”

Elena scoffs. “Well, thanks for your concern.”

Gabriel chuckles. “You’re welcome, Blondie.”

I open the front door and stroll in, not surprised to see Gabriel casually leaning against the wall playing on his phone, naked as the day he was born and bearing a full hard on. I shake my head. He didn’t even try to cover up for the poor girl’s sake. No doubt, enjoying showing off what he has to offer her.

Gabriel looks up from his phone at me. “Well it’s about bloody time! We haven’t got all night!”

Rolling my eyes, I throw him the clothes I brought him. Gabriel holds up the sweats and frowns. “Sweatpants? Do I look like a bloody sweatpants wearing vampire to you?”

I smirk. “You look like you don’t have much of a choice.”

Gabriel grumbles and starts muttering a string of curses at me under his breath while pulling on the clothes with obvious distaste. I look up right as Elena walks around the corner of the wall. It’s like time slows down when she approaches me. The scent...it’s her! f**k! She smells amazing.

And now that I’m here in person with her, I see why Gabriel is so hard up for her, pun intended. She...is...gorgeous! In a girl next door sort of way. Elena is tall with sun-kissed skin that spoke of a life outside of her nightly Slayer duties. Where she found time to enjoy a normal life, I have no idea. She has long blonde hair and big blue eyes lined with naturally dark lashes. My eyes trail down her slender, toned form. Starting at her pretty face, down over her slender neck, the cleavage of her breasts that peaked up over the black lace bra that she wore, over her flat toned stomach, the delicious curve of her hips and down her long slender legs. I feel disappointed that I’m not able to see the flesh hidden by her bra and panties.

“If you’re done shagging her with your eyes, I will formally introduce you to your new charge, Sheriff.” Gabriel breaks me out of my thoughts and I now realize that Elena has stopped in front of me.

“Sorry.” I say, knowing she watched as I practically eye f****d her. Am I sorry though? No, not at all. It would be a sin not to look over that kind of perfection...and I know plenty about sinning.

Elena smirks at me. “It’s alright. I’m used to it.”

I bet she is. It would be hard for any straight male not to look her over. “I see you survived almost thirty minutes with Gabriel near naked. Did he behave himself?”

Elena giggles while she pulls my t-shirt over her head. It’s too big for her, stopping at her mid-thigh. “Well, it wasn’t for his lack of trying.” She pulls on the sweat pants next which are of course, too big for her. I watch in amusement as the blonde ties a knot at the side of the sweatpants to keep them from falling down. “Thanks for the clothes.”

I smile. “They look better on you anyway.”

At this, she blushed. f**k. I didn’t think it was possible for her to be more beautiful. Unfortunately for me, my attraction to her is going become obvious as I can already feel my pants tightening like a f*****g school boy.

Thankfully, the Brit interrupts. “Look at us, twinsies!” Gabriel exclaims, looking at both his and Elena’s clothes.

“Yes, twins! With clothes. Much better than before.” The blonde replies to the British vampire.

“You can admit it, you like me naked.” Gabriel winks flirtatiously at her.

“Well I guess that answer will stay between me, myself, and I.” She replies, winking back at him.

Gabriel smirks then turns his attention to me. “Right,” he gestures to me with his thumb. “This wanker right here is the Sheriff, Eric Ashford.” Then he softens his gaze and looks at Elena. “And this beautiful creature standing before you is Elena Grimm, your charge.”

I hold in a chuckle when Elena rolls her eyes as Gabriel introduces her. She holds out a small hand and says in a business-like manner. “Nice to finally meet you. I look forward to working with you.”

I give her a charming smile. “Likewise.” I take her hand in mine with the intention of shaking it, however, as soon as our hands touch an intense tingling sensation followed by a pleasant heat that shoots up from my hand and fills my body. I meet her wide eyes and realize she feels the same thing. Suddenly, my beast tries to emerge to the surface. What the f**k is happening!? I manage to get control and push the beast back with only so much as the noticeable tension in my body. That’s when I realize I’m crushing Elena’s hand and she’s wincing in pain.

I quickly let go of her hand to which she shakes it and says. “That’s quite the handshake you have.”

“Sorry.” I apologize, meaning it this time. I’m not sure what the hell just happened. And then I hear it from the beast that is still fighting me for control. Chosen One!

I look at the blonde woman in front of me in disbelief. No! It can’t be! And then, as if I needed help confirming what I just heard...the f*****g beast inside me begins to eagerly chant...Chosen One...Chosen One...Chosen One!

I take a cautious step back from her like I just touched something that burnt me. “Well, I need to go. I have business to take care of.”

Elena grins. “A Sheriff’s work is never done on a Hellmouth.”

I force a small smile trying not to show the struggle I’m having with my beast right now. I nod in agreement. “As is a Slayer’s.”

Elena sighs. “You got that s**t right.” Then she looks at Gabriel. “You still offering that ride?”

Gabriel smirks, holding out his arm like a gentleman. “Only if you take my arm, m’lady.”

Elena rolls those beautiful blue eyes of hers and sighs heavily. “Oh, for Pete’s sake!” She laces her arm through his. “Lead the way, m’lord.”

Gabriel chuckles as they make their way out of the building. I walk over to a window and peak through the boards nailed across the broken glass. I’m jealous at the sight of Gabriel and Elena touching...and his continuous flirting with her...with my Chosen One. I watch the two of them climb in Gabriel’s English sports car and pull away.

Turning around, I lean my head back against the wall. This must be some sort of sick f*****g joke played on me by the Fates! A Slayer as my f*****g Chosen One?! f*****g bastards!

“f**k!!!” I roar into the empty building and smash anything close to me with my fists. After about ten minutes of remodeling the entire first floor of the building, I finally slump against a still intact wall and slide to the floor holding my face in my bloody hands.

A Chosen One is gifted to every vampire by the Fates. It is their other half that completes them in every way and they are only gifted one in their entire existence...like a mate to a werewolf. The Chosen One bond is sacred amongst vampires. The Fates gifted me a Chosen One but they gifted me a Chosen One that cannot be turned into a vampire...you see, Slayers and Hunters are immune to these changes because the Fates knew that combining such strong physical changes with a Watcher would create a being too powerful.

“f**k!” So instead of living with my Chosen One for eternity like most immortals...I will simply get to watch her die.