Chapter 47 GOODBYE MY LOVE.

THURSDAY
Nicha continued applying the medicine to my wound. It was the awkward quietness that came with it that was unbearable. She resorted to taking her time when she worked, doing it slowly and quickly apologizing anytime I winced or groaned in pain.
My clan came to see how I was doing. I noticed glum expression but held back anything that had to do with her sister being a Lupine. I wasn't sure she was ready to talk about it just yet. Jhan told me that the adjudicator was shortly knocked out by Jereum after she hit me down from the cliff. A dozen wolves had attacked the higher court, killing most of the adjudicators that were brave enough to fight. Alzaraq met with our higher court and cleared that the wolves were not from his clan.
He had told them about Hardaj and his plans to dominate over the vampires. An official treaty was made that declared Lupine kind and vampire one and united but only to face the war ahead after which both species would go their separate ways. I thought about Dawn and how this war might affect her. She was only human and would not be able to survive if it escalated. My face tensed with all the thinking.
'Something bothering you?" Nicha asked, it was the first time she had talked to me since the day she kissed me.
I avoided her gaze this time. I didn't want another anonymous show of affection. I had regained most of my strength and was now able to move around on my own, but Nicha always brought me to lie down whenever she wanted to apply the liquid to my wound. Most of the gorge that was in my chest had healed when I was in that dream state leaving just the top muscles and skin to regenerate which had almost healed up completely thanks to the medicine I was receiving.
'It's just that so much has happened since and I've really of help. I feel—"
'Useless?"
'Yeah, that."
She placed the cloth back into the bowl and looked straight into my eyes. I looked back into hers. She brought her head down slowly to mine but not to kiss me. She whispered into my ears, 'You're good to go."
She got off me and I got to my feet. 'Thank you."
She didn't answer, she just looked at me. As I left the stone hut the people around looked at me with respect. They all must have saw or heard about what I did for their chief. I easily spotted Jereum and the rest, they were atop the cliff with the other wolves. Nicha caught up to me and we walked together.
'Hardaj's army will come from the west. There is a large clearing were we are supposed to collide."
We got to the base of the cliff. I grabbed her and pulled her tightly to me. She gasped and looked into my eyes. I held her by the waist and pulled her even closer to my body.
'Hold on tight," I said. She rested her head on my chest and sighed lowly. I leaped, clutching her tightly. I could only jump about fifty meters in my condition so I had to plant a strong foot to the side of the slope to push myself higher. We got to the top and I looked at the others. Nicha still had her head pressed to my chest but then drew away from me quickly.
Tia rushed to me, pulling me to a very tight hug.
'I thought you died..." I realized that she was actually crying.
'I miss you too. I'm sorry about night, how's she doing?"
'She'll be okay." Tia needed someone to talk to. I knew she was emotionally down but she seemed to be putting a good act.
Jereum looked at me then at Nicha. A small smile crawled to his lips and I pretendes not to see it.
"Where's Jhan?" I asked, noticing the absence of our leader.
"He is at the higher court, the wolf attack led to many more issues. Half the adjudicators that defended were killed and only two wolves were put down." Jereum said.
"Okay, where is Alzaraq?"
"Same place, the higher court. They are putting together an army of Lobo and vampire. Training them how to figt side by side," Jereum answered.
"Then what are we waiting for? Let's go join them."
Jereum looked at Tia. She returned his knowing look and I wondered what they were telling each other.
"Can you even run?" Jereum asked. Most of the energy in me was drained but I thought I could manage.
"Well... I should be able to cover half of the distance before I may need to rest." I reckoned.
'Don't worry, you can ride on us...'
And I from behind us three wolves climbed from the slope. Ash, reddish-orange and brown.
I smiled at them.
'Our people are forever grateful to you for what you did for our chief. We show our gratitude...'
And the tree wolves lowered their heads, bowing. But then I noticed. It wasn't only them, everyone standing in the village, wolf form or human form lowered their heads as well. I was surprised.
"Thank you. I hope from today onward, vampire will be able to work freely with Lupine!" I raised my voice to the highest yet it want still high enough.
"Okay, let's go to the higher court."
Everyone one was in front of me. Tia and Jereum even the wolves. I was weak, too weak to keep up. My legs were failing on me, I could feel my knees tuning to jelly. It was like my brain wasn't keeping up to the speed I was running at. I was dodging trees too late and it want long after that before I tried avoiding a tree that I had seen a bit too late, my shoulder slammed into it and I was throw cartwheeling through the air. I hit the ground and tumbled a long way ahead a great pain shooting through my body from the spot on my left shoulder where the adjudicator had stabbed me with her silver blade.
When I finally stopped, everything around me were spinning. I groaned as I regained my balance. I was sure now that I wouldn't be able to run again. There was an ache in my head and chest as well. I stood but fell neck to my knees my heart racing and my eye lids hurting.
I felt Jereum left me up and place me on something soft and furry. I glimpsed a blur of white and I knew I was on Nichas back.
'Hold on...' She thought to me and I grunted in reply.
She ran off, leaving thumping movement of her back acted like a massage to my whole body. I gripped harder on the fur on her neck, desperate not to fall off.
'Not that tight...'
"Sorry," I whispered to her.
She was fast. And I was sure this was what a horse ride would feel like.
We exited the forest in no time and there wasn't a spot tht I didn't see a watcher.
"Higher court must have tightened security," I shouted to Tia, who was running beside Nicha or should I say Snow.
We reached our house and I told Snow to stop.
"What you doing?" Tia asked.
"I have to see Dawn before I proceed. The rest of you can go. I'll catch up."
Tia gave me her usual look of uncertainty but I nodded to her and she dashed along with the wolves.
I walked in. Dawn pulled me into a deep kiss and I took I her warm smell. I kissed back even more hungrily and she groaned under her breath lightly. She pulled away from me, panting for her breath. Jhan was standing behind us, a bored look on his face.
I looked at her face, she was all healed up without even the slightest discolouration. Good. I raised up her shirr and looked at her side, same healer without a scar.
"Tia told me that you were injured, staked in your chest—"
"I'm okay now, I'm okay." I lied, there was still a small ache in m chest and I was weaker than my normal.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes." I said urgently.
I needed to do it now. I had had it in mind ever since but I hoped it wouldn't come down to it.
"Dawn you need to listen to me. You have to leave this town."
She looked puzzled.
"Like we can't be with each other again."
"Why?"
'Because being around me posed a threat to your life. Because it would never work out, our world's will never meet. Because you have to live your mortal life to the fullest while mine has just begun. Because I am a demon and you are an angel.'
But I couldn't tell her that, and I knew it wasn't because I did not want to hurt her, it was because I knew that I couldn't imagine my life without her and that fact hurt. I knew we couldn't be together. And I knew that once this war was over, if I survive, I'll never see her again.
"There's a danger coming, one that you cannot face. Take your family and leave."
"Danger? What is it?"
"It's the wolves. They attacked our higher court and they killed alot is vampires. I don't know when their next attack might be or where they will attack but this town isn't safe anymore Dawn and I can't loose you."
"The wolves? The ones that bit off your arm?"
"No, not the same one—it's too complicated to explain. But please just do as I say."
"But how about you?" She asked, concern on her face.
I heaved a tired breath.
"I have to stay, this threat is against my kind and I have to fight."
"Don't you have a military or army—"
"We are our army, some of us have been specially trained for things like this."
She put her head down.
"But what if you die?" She asked, "You are immortal not invulnerable."
"I won't die, when I still have you to live for."
She held my face in her hands, concern in her beautiful eyes.
"Promise me you will be safe."
"I promise."
There was a few seconds of silence between us.
"When do I leave?"
"Immediately."
"But how will I convince my parents to leave this town, they would have to be a good reason I could tell them."
"Don't worry, Jhan's has got that covered." And I glanced at him.
"I don't want to be without you," She said, her voice almost inaudible.
"I don't want to be without you either, but if you don't leave now, you will die. Those wolves will destroy this town."
"Then how about after that. How about after this threat is over... You said we couldn't be together. You said our worlds are too different."
She remembered what I said. I had meant it, and I still found reason to it till this very moment.
"Don't worry about what I said—"
"No, tell me. Would you still come back to me?" She asked, looking worried.
I had had it in mind to move away from here and find my mother. The woman whose image was constantly flashing through my mind. And now I even had a head start and her name.
"Yes." I lied. I knew I would never see Dawn again. Whether I could live without her or not.
"I'll be waiting for you."
She raised her heels and kissed me slowly and I savoured every moment of it, knowing it would be my last kiss with her.
"Goodbye," I told her.
"I love you." She answered.
"I love you more."
I followed her out the door and she stood on our threshold.
Jhan appeared at my side. I looked straight at her a knowing look.
"It will be okay Dawn. It will be like you never knew me." I told her.
She looked at Jhan, his eyes were already glowing.
"The night that I saved you will be erased, you'll remember what I wanted you to, a simple car accident that you survived. The scars on your neck, you'll think you got cut by the shattered glass of your windshield.
"All the things we did together, never happened. And till this very moment you have never known me."
She realized what I meant an it took only a second for tears to roll down her cheeks and drop from her chin.
"Being around me is just too dangerous for you."
"I thought you said you love me!"
"I do, and that's why it has to be this way. We can't be together forever Dawn and it's either you become a vampire, I become human or we never know each other."
I saw her eyes light up as her mind synced with Jhan's. She tilted her head back as Jhan worked his way through her memories, erasing every last bit of me.
"I love you Kaldar," She muttered as I left her for good.
"Goodbye my love..." I replied as a single cold tear dropped from my face.
She brought her head back down. Her eyes were closed and she seemed dazed. Jhan had gone back inside but I wanted to see her for the last time. She slowly brought her head up and looked at me. I looked at her blankly.
She was confused, I could see it on her face. Her bright blue eyes boring into mine. She didn't know me, at least not anymore. It was the only way I could live without her. Knowing that she didn't have to think about me everyday of her life.
I turned around to go back inside.
"Hey," She said, and my heart skipped a beat. Hadn't it worked.
"Are you Tia's friend?"
I nodded, relieved.
"Oh." I saw that look in her eyes, the confused state of a brainwash.
"I feel like I know you?" She asked.
I shook my head to either side.
"I'll see you around then," She said. In her mind she had just come out for a morning jog and stopped by Tia's place.
"No you won't," I said slowly, I turned around and went back inside. I was unsure if I wouldn't see her again. But I knew that for now this was the best I could do to ensure her safety.
I got in and watched her from the window. She walked away casting one last look at the house. I watched her until she left, until she was out of my sight and even if I knew that I may never see her again I still kept hope, hope that one day we may be reunited. The thoughts was satisfying and I sighed as I touched the pendant she had given me.