Of Fate & Forbidden Desire (The Gatekeeper Duet #1)

4. Chapter Four

Chapter Four

What do you do when your heart pines for a monster? How can you run when your heart says no? - Charleene.

T urning over, a small groan of disappointment slipped past my lips, as my hand ran over the cold spot on the bed and I woke up alone. Blinking my eyes open I find nothing but a small piece of paper on the pillow next to my own. I suppose I should be grateful that the mysterious Dina had left early, after another dream of the man ripping into my neck with his sharp teeth had plagued my sleep again. What the hell is wrong with me? I wondered and not for the first time.

When the dreams had first started, I’d believed they were real, that someone was coming into my room in the middle of the night and savaging my neck. Only for there to be no marks when my foster parents came running in to find out what had upset me so much. Mr and Mrs Daniels had been lovely at first, reassuring me that I'd just been dreaming. Then after the first year of “the terrors”—as they'd dubbed them—they sent me to a therapist, and after the second year with no change they'd finally had enough and taken me to a group foster home.

No one has teeth like the man in my dreams and no normal person drinks blood as if it was the best beverage they'd ever tasted. I told myself silently. Things like that are only real in horror films and books, they don't happen to regular people, I thought with a shiver. The quilt bunched up as I hugged it tightly to my bare chest, focusing instead on last night and the dark haired woman.

Seven Nation Army by the White Stripes rang loud and clear, accompanied by a vigorous vibrating as my phone danced across the night stand, making me jump a mile in the air and clutch my chest to keep my heart beneath my ribs. Damn alarm, I cursed as it declared seven am, and dragged me back to the present. Goosebumps raced up my arm as I reached over and snatched the offending device to silence it. Shaking my head at myself, I couldn't help but wonder why the dreams had returned. Leaving the note where it lay, I flicked the quilt back, exposing my body to the chilly air.

I’d been staring at my reflection in the mirror for the last ten minutes. My gaze slowly going over every place that Dina had touched last night. I’d been with women before but never had I woken the next morning feeling so sore and satisfied. And never had I craved more of that person’s touch. But Dina, the dark haired beauty, had woken a monster in me last night and all I could think about was Dina’s fingers teasing my nipples and then sliding through my wet pussy.

With a small smile I watched my own hand trail down my stomach and slip between my legs. Fuck, I’m so wet . I think as my finger slides over my still swollen clit before working it’s way down to push inside myself.

My eyes close and I let myself imagine it was Dina’s finger, pumping in and out, making me breathless and panting, while my other hand braces against the cold glass of the mirror. Sliding in another finger I imagined Dina’s lips caressing my neck softly. Moaning, I pump my fingers in faster and harder, making myself wetter.

I imagine Dina’s mouth sucking hard on my nipple as I use the palm of my hand to rub against my clit. Tingles swoop low in my stomach, my orgasm coming closer and closer until I was screaming it to the empty room around me. Cum coating my hand as I removed the two fingers from my pussy, with a contented sigh.

My smile grew as I rested my head against the cool glass, who was she? I pondered, before telling myself it didn’t matter, no matter how much I needed to see her again, it was a one night stand. Opening my eyes, my gaze darted to the bed and the small unassuming piece of paper still sitting on the pillow. Almost skipping across the room, I gently picked it up, like it’s the most precious thing in the world. My eyes raced over the elegant script, devouring each word .

With a goofy smile, I searched my bed, looking for my phone. Finally my fingers grazed the hard cold plastic, before they gripped and removed it from the twisted quilt. Double checking the digits, I typed in the mobile number that Dina—what a strange name—had left, saving it into my contacts under the name: Mysterious Girl. Maybe I'll text her later , I thought, before putting the phone back on the nightstand. Grabbing a towel and wash stuff from the shelf, I found myself dancing all the way to the communal bathroom. Not quite ready to have my fantastic mood shattered if Dina decided to ghost me. I couldn’t force the grin from my face if I tried as I showered and dressed before grabbing my heavy backpack.

The lecture hadn't been all that interesting, important yes, but not interesting and whispers had hissed through the air. Another young woman had gone missing. Trisha had left her friends to walk home on Saturday night and she hadn't been seen since. A shiver raced through me as I realised that could easily have been me

She was the third woman to disappear since term had begun in September. Fear coursed through the university and the city, as the other woman hadn’t been found alive and the papers were reporting that the “Dracula Murderer” had come to York. Leaving the lecture theatre I sped past a gaggle of crying girls, before ducking into the library, as my most recent nightmare repeated in my mind. Would poor Trisha be found like the other one, dead in the river? Or had she just simply wandered off and got lost? I found myself pondering sadly. Pressing the button to call the lift, my left foot taped impatiently on the carpet, as my fingers stroked the screen of my phone.

I wanted to see if Dina's number was real, my heart tripled its beats when I thought of it, while my head kept worrying that it wasn't or that she'd want nothing to do with me. All the while hoping that the swirling feeling swimming in my stomach would settle down.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the lift dinged and its doors opened. Stepping in, my thoughts once again turned to the mysterious murders that had started in Scotland before moving down to Newcastle, and I now suspected the papers were right and they’d hit York. It had taken far too long for the police to link the victims, mainly because each force’s department said there was no link. Male, female, the killer didn't seem to care. Even the ages of the victims had changed from year to year. The only thing they seemed to have in common was they’d been drained of blood. What monster could do something so senseless and horrific?

“Are you getting out?” A polite voice questioned, making me spin on my heel in surprise and stare at the two women, who were watching me with kind smiles. Giving them a quick nod I vacated the lift, not looking at what floor it had stopped on as I went to find an empty study room.

The library was always a busy place on campus, almost as busy as the Student Union bar. Students milled about, talking loudly as they ignored their books. The murmur of voices went unchallenged by the receptionists downstairs, as they knew they wouldn't be listened to. However the noise made me uncomfortable as I glanced quickly into the small study rooms, my heart sinking a little each time I found them occupied. All I wanted was a quiet place to study and write my latest essay, before my shift later. Steeling myself for disappointment I looked into the last room and my stomach fluttered uneasily. I’d always been attuned to the emotions of those around me—an empath my last foster mother had said—but today they seemed to be bombarding me much more than normal.

Looking in through the small square window, I found that the room was dim and I hoped that I’d finally found an empty one. However as I pushed open the door sadness flooded me and made my eyes prickle.

There on the chair furthest from the door sat a lass around my own age, with tears streaming down her cheeks. “Sorry to interrupt,” I gasped, taking a step backwards out the door I'd just walked through.

“No, please,” the lass hiccupped, shaking her head and swiping at her cheeks, “I was just about to leave anyway.”

“Are you ok?” I asked, unable not to as I looked at the distraught lass .

“I'll be fine,” she replied as fresh tears ran down her cheeks and I knew as well as any woman, that when someone said they were fine, they were most likely not, especially when they had tears streaming down their cheeks.

“I don't want to pry, but if you want to talk, I'd be happy to listen,” I said gently, against my better judgement and secretly hoping the lass would refuse.

“I'm scared,” she answered instead, wiping at her tears again. “Trisha was on a night out and now she's missing. It could happen to any one of us,” she whispered.

“Did you know her?” I asked, closing the door behind me and walked slowly towards the crying woman.

“No, not really, we shared a couple of seminars, but I still feel awful for her friends and family.” She sobbed, as I nodded along and lowered myself into the chair next to her.

“They must be terribly worried,” I agreed, feeling sorrow for those close to the missing woman. “However it will do us no good getting upset, we must hope that Trisha is found safe and sound,” I found myself saying, even though I didn't believe the words myself.

The lass nodded firmly, before gathering her books and giving me a small smile, leaving with a softly muttered, “thank you.”

Sighing in relief at finally being alone, which I then immediately felt guilty for, I leant back in the hard seat, letting the unwanted emotions from the lass run their course. At times like this I always imagined that the energies of others left my body through my feet and returned back to the Earth, leaving me feeling empty for a few minutes until my own emotions returned. I was tired and angry at my lack of sleep and concentration in this morning's lecture, so I yanked out my notebook, and pencil case a little more forcefully than I'd intended to. Slipping in my headphones, I selected this morning's lecture on Moodle and pressed play, listening to what I’d missed.

Scribbling furiously, I didn't realise the time slipping away until the two hour lecture finished playing, my tutor’s calming voice cutting off as I looked over my new notes, which looked vastly better than they had earlier. Smiling to myself I finally felt as though I'd been a productive student for the first time in days. On a high from being so productive, I slipped my hand into my jeans pocket, and closed my fingers around Dina's small note. My smile grew wider as I pondered if eleven thirty would be too early to message her, not everyone was an early riser and I hadn't got round to asking what Dina did for work.

Giddiness replaced the small tendrils of doubt as my thumb hovered over the small blue message icon on the homescreen. What the hell, I thought, pressing the icon and selecting Dina’s number.

Me: Good morning, it's Charleene from last night. I had a lovely time with you and wondered if you fancied grabbing a drink later?

Before I could chicken out or over think what I'd just typed, I pressed send as my heart beat thunderously against my ribs. Both satisfied and nervous, I laid my phone on the table beside my notebook, and attempted to read ahead, trying to understand the philosophy of education I needed for my studies. However, my eyes kept straying to my phone as I waited for Dina to respond. After the third time checking it for a message that hadn't come, I shook my head in exasperation. Laughing at myself, I pushed the phone away. I was acting like a silly school girl and grinning like the Cheshire Cat. When was the last time I'd felt this happy and terrified over sending a text message? Never, was the answer I was searching for, but then I'd never really felt this way about anyone before either. Especially not after just one night. I couldn't get Dina out of my head.

Forcing myself to focus, I finally made copious notes, allowing my phone to be forgotten. I let out a small yelp when it suddenly vibrated, dancing its way across the desk. Grinning like a fool, I snatched it up eager to see who’d messaged. My grin widened, making my cheeks hurt as I saw that “Mysterious Girl” had sent a message. Quickly tapping on the message I noticed that it was now one in the afternoon; I’d been so immersed in my studies that I hadn’t noticed the time whizzing by.

Mysterious Girl: Good Afternoon, sorry for the late reply I’ve been sleeping. I’m sorry but I’m busy this evening. :(

My heart plummeted as I read the message twice. It was so formal that I didn’t really know how to take it. Is she brushing me off? Or was she actually busy? Hesitating to respond, I reread the message a few times, my heart aching more and more, which was stupid, we’d only met last night. Tears stung at my eyes, making the screen blurry as a second message came through.

Mysterious Girl: But I would like to see you again.

Those eight words made my tears slip free as my heart began beating again, filling with hope that maybe, just maybe, I’d finally found someone who wanted to be more than friends or a one night stand. Whoa, my mind screamed at me as I began to get carried away, Calm down girl.

Me: That would be nice.

I responded, tampering down my hope and excitement, trying to play it cool like my mind suggested. No one liked someone who was too keen after all. Unable to wipe the smile from my face or return my focus back to the textbooks, I decided to call it a day in the library and shoved all my things back into my battered backpack. Clutching my phone tighter, I couldn’t stop the small giggle that slipped past my lips as it vibrated against my palm.

Mysterious Girl: What about tomorrow at 8pm ?

After this evening's shift I thankfully had two nights off work, which before now, I’d been planning to fill solely with more studies, however meeting the mysterious Dina sounded a lot more interesting.

Me: That works for me. :)

Almost skipping to the door, I attempted to once again tamper down my excitement so that I could make it back home without looking like a total idiot. But when my phone vibrated again I quickly raised it to read the new message.

Mysterious Girl: I’ll pick you up at 8pm tomorrow.

Me: It’s a date.

Pushing the button to call the lift, I swallowed down the scream of delight and instead opted for bouncing on the spot in my watered down version of a happy dance. I was still wiggling my bum when the lift dinged and its doors opened to a thankfully empty lift. Stepping inside I quickly pressed the ‘G’ button for the ground floor and continued my happy dance as it descended. I have a date. Wow, tomorrow I have a date. I repeated happily in my mind, as I walked home.

The rest of the afternoon sped past in a blur of clothing being thrown onto the bed as I debated what to wear for my date. I wanted to look sexy but casual at the same time. However nothing in my meagre clothing options presented that option. I still hadn’t found anything that I wanted to wear when my alarm blared those chirpy bell sounds from my phone, reminding me that I still had to get ready for work .

Crap. I cursed in my mind, looking at the chaos and deciding I could sort it out tomorrow. Stuffing the clothes back inside the small wardrobe without hanging them, I hastily grabbed my black work polo top and a pair of black trousers and yanked them on. Tugging a tight bobble around my hair, securing it into a neat high ponytail, I was ready for my shift in ten minutes flat. Five minutes after that I was in the darkening street, locking the front door and smiling as I turned towards the city centre and the five hour shift that awaited.

Work had sucked balls. From the moment I’d walked in the door a harried waitress had called my name, rushing me to store my things in the small cubby locker that I’d been allocated and almost running back to the main floor still tying my apron strings. From there it had just got worse as the evening went on.

More and more tipsy students entered, the lads with their ridiculous posturing and the girls that mangled the menu’s options to fit whatever fad diet they were on at that moment. For all my running to and fro, my tips sucked and my temper was just beginning to flare as the last table’s food came out from the kitchen and yet another drunk lad thought he had the right to make fun of my damn job. One of these days I’d pluck up the courage to put them in their place, but tonight wasn’t that night.

Suck it up buttercup, I told myself sternly, only another hour till home time.

“Nearly there, Charleene,” Oscar the head chef chuckled, as I grabbed three plates and plastered on my sunniest smile.

“One hour that’ll feel like two,” I joked back, before strutting through the swinging door as he laughed in agreement.

“One Rainbow Bowl?” My customer friendly voice chirped as I stood beside the last table of the night and waited for the blonde to raise her hand before turning to the guy to her right, “One Butterfly Burger and a fully loaded chips,” I continued, placing each dish in front of the right person, “Enjoy your meal,” I finished with a smile and left them to it.

“Tonights been mental,” Emily said when I stepped around the bar area and grabbed a tea towel to help her polish the cutlery so we had any hope of leaving on time. Other than Lily, Emily was the closest thing I had to a work friend. We’d both started on the same shift and had worked the majority of the same ones since. She was easy to work with; she always had a kind smile or sympathetic whine after a busy shift. She even went as far as to invite me out with her, like Lily did.

“Tell me about it.” I said, giving her a conspiratorial smile, even though my mind had already turned to thoughts of my date tomorrow night.

“What has you smiling like a loon?” Emily’s laughed comment drew my attention back to the present and the fact that I was indeed grinning as my fingers polished another fork.

“Nothing.” I tried brushing it off, with a small glance at her. I’d always been a very private person at work, mainly because unlike the other waitresses I didn’t really have much of a life outside work and uni.

“Come on, I need something to get me through the mountain of cutlery we still have to polish.” She smiled sweetly at me and picked up the last spoon on the tray just as the pot washer placed another full tray down, that had us both groaning.

Glancing over at my last table I took note of the barely eaten food and caved, “ok, I have a date,” I whispered.

“Eeekkk,” she squealed in delight, almost dropping her new batch of knives.

“Sssshhhhh, I don’t want everyone knowing.” I hushed her quickly as the bartender glanced in our direction with a raised eyebrow and we both dissolved into stifled giggles. “I feel so silly and giddy,” I confessed after the fit had subsided.

“That’s completely normal and part of the excitement. So where is the lucky man taking you?” She asked innocently.

“I don’t know where she’s taking me to,” I told her.

“That’s even more exciting,” Emily said, smiling devilishly at me as her eyebrows raised. “So who is she?”

“I met a woman last night,” I confided.

“The dark haired woman from Society?” she asked, nodding .

“Yeah, it’s just a date but…” I trailed off not really knowing how to end that sentence.

“But you're excited about it,” Emily filled in, smiling over at me.

“Charleene, looks like your table wants something.” Derek’s voice interrupted us. Nodding over at him, I left Emily with the cutlery and made my way back over to the table in question.

“Is everything ok?” I asked cheerily, smiling down at the trio.

“Can we have the bill?” The dark haired lad asked politely.

“Certainly,” I answered, reaching for the two empty plates, and hesitating at the salad which had barely been touched, “was everything ok?” I asked the blonde.

“Oh, yes, it was lovely but a little too much,” she responded, flashing me a quick smile, as I piled it on top of the rest.

“Can I get you anything for dessert?” I asked, praying that they’d refuse so we could finish cleaning up.

“No, just the bill please Sweetheart.” The other lad smirked, giving me a wink that made my skin crawl.

“No problem, I’ll be right back,” I explained and left.

“Urg men,” I grumbled, shoving inside the kitchen and dropping my plates next to the sink.

“Pig-headed jerks again?” Oscar asked, raising one of his thick eyebrows that looked like a hairy caterpillar.

“Nothing I can’t handle,” I smiled back at him, “They don’t want dessert.” I told him, making his smile grow as he announced they could finish cleaning down.

“That’s right lass, don’t let ‘em get to you,” he told me as I pushed back into the restaurant. Printing off their bill, I walked back to the smarmy lad and his friends.

“Is it card or cash?” I asked sweetly, placing their bill folder down in the middle of the table.

“Card, please,” the dark haired lad answered before his obnoxious friend could speak. Nodding, I spun on my heel to collect the card machine, and returned as the blonde caressed the dark one’s arm. “Would you like to split it?” I asked, ignoring as her hand slid lower.

“I’ve got it,” Slimeball retorted with another wink in my direction.

“Fantastic, that’s ￡36.50 please.” I answered politely, typing in their total amount and holding it out to him so he could tap his bank card against the top. I waited patiently for the beep, “great that’s all gone through, have a lovely evening.” I smiled at the group and left them alone to grab their things and leave.

“How about you come join us, you look like you need a good time?” Slimeball’s voice called to my back. Resisting the urge to shudder I looked over my shoulder, running my eyes up and down his body. He was obviously a guy who took pride in working out.

“You’re not my type,” I threw at him with a tight smile, leaving him slack jawed and amazed at the refusal. Definitely not used to being told no, I laughed in my head and re-joined Emily and the ever growing pile of cutlery.

“Well you certainly told him,” Emily giggled quietly, as I picked up my tea towel and got back to work.

“They never learn,” I muttered under my breath, as they walked past the bar and out the door.

An hour later, my fingers hurt from polishing but I was finally pushing through the door into the cold October air. “You heading home?” Emily asked, rubbing her arms as the chill took hold.

“Yeah,” I answered around a yawn, “You?”

“Nah, I’m meeting Harmony and some others,” she said nodding in the opposite direction I was going, “you want to join?”

“Nah, my feet are killing me.” I told her, wiggling my toes that were burning.

“Fair enough, get home safe,” she wished, turning away and walking towards the nearest bar just before the bridge.

Breathing in the frigid air, I held it in my lungs for as long as I could before beginning the walk back towards home. I’d never really been bothered with socialising, it had always felt like too much effort, but this evening I wasn’t looking forward to returning to my empty house.

Watching the ground pass under my feet, I followed the now familiar route home. I'd just turned into the Shambles, an historic street with small wonky looking tudor houses that had been turned into businesses over the years as they leaned over the thin cobbled road. Tourists absolutely loved this area of the city and I could see why. It was quaint, historical and had a magical feel to it. Almost as though you could close your eyes and be transported back in time while walking the tiny winding street and the market square behind it.

A shuffle and muffled groan to my right snapped me out of my daydream. I was certain it had come from somewhere among the empty market stalls, stopping dead. I strained my ears to hear anything and was about to walk on when I heard the low groan come again.

“Hello?” I whisper shouted, feeling like the idiot everyone screams at in horror movies. You know the one that follows mysterious sounds before ending up dead. “Is anyone there?” I continued, just to have some noise in the quiet streets. Tiptoeing around the first row of market stalls I glanced underneath and found them empty. Another groan, this time further away to my right. Picking up my courage and pace, I walked briskly towards where the food vendors trucks would be and froze.

My mind whirled at the sight before me;; a man in a navy tracksuit, who was sorta sitting on the cobbled floor, his legs twitching every now and then as someone with dark hair seemed to be fastened on the side of his neck. No, No, No, Not real! My mind screamed at me, my eyes tracking the thin line of red liquid which ran from beneath the second person’s head, down his neck before disappearing beneath the man's shirt. His greyish blue eyes looked distant as another weaker groan left his lips and he tried to shuffle away.

“What in the world are you doing?” my horrified voice shocked me as it rang clearly through the abandoned marketplace .

The dark haired one shifted as if I'd slapped them with my voice alone and when they looked up, I couldn't contain the scream that had been lodged in my throat, as I met Dina's beautiful face. However, her beautiful dark eyes were gone, replaced by red ones that almost glowed. Protruding from her mouth, were a pair of fangs with blood dripping off the tips, before she ran her tongue over them capturing the man's blood.

Slapping my hands over my mouth to stop myself from screaming again, I turned and fled, running without paying much attention to the streets racing by, until my palms slapped against my blue front door. A sob finally escaped me as I shut it behind me and slid down the smooth wood, until my bum hit the floor and I realised I was shaking.

It can't be real? I silently repeated to myself. It couldn't be! People didn't do that, they didn't bite other people and suck their blood. That was a thing of story books not reality. My thoughts went round in circles as I fell apart sitting on our shared doormat and let my tears coarse over my cheeks.