Witch Apprentice

Tina spread her arms, shut her eyes, sucked in her breath, and jumped. Her flaming red hair, which normally hung to her waist, fanned above her head. Tina had deliberately worn figure hugging, black, stretch pants and a matching blouse for this wondrous moment. She wanted to look her best after her planned victory.

Her slim body sliced through the bitter winter air. There was still a fair distance to cover and... nothing happened. Panic gripped Tina as she continued to fall. Not like it made a difference during her descent from Ocean’s Peak, a lethal volcanic formation that caressed the clouds in the center of Mid Ocean and was only visible during the moon’s last quarter. Rocky sections of the sea bed were exposed beneath her. Few beings hung out in these parts. She was out of range of being summoned by the Elders, and there was little chance of anyone witnessing her practice session, unless she counted the marine life.

“It’s too soon.” Tina grimaced. Jagged blue-black rocks taunted her from below, poised to break every bone in her body. As if that wasn’t enough, she’d have to live with the shame of not being able to master something as simple as a free fall while the Elders nursed her. Damn.

“Help.” Tina doubted anyone would hear her feeble plea in these remote parts. Heck she’d even accept help from a mortal, if they were brave enough to venture here.

“Somebody. Anybody. Please, help me.” She’d followed the instructions in her training parchment. So why couldn’t she fly? Tina pressed her eyes together and begged gravity to have mercy on her.

At least let me have a fall I can recover from alone.

The senior witches would never let her live this one down. Her face heated as her imagination ran wild. Her apprenticeship would be ruined. She’d be publicly humiliated.

Tina thought of her surrogate mother, Moira Caster, a senior, childless, Blue Blood witch who had offered to tutor Tina when the others had flat out refused. Nobody wanted to train a walking disaster. The Elders were amazed at how Tina had been born a witch when she clearly lacked the grace and charm for which the Blue Bloods were renowned.

“Help,” Tina squeaked. Gravity tugged her. Her faith failed her. She realized now that learning to fly from a training parchment wasn’t such a brilliant idea. She braced herself for the impact.

“I’m sorry, Moira,” Tina cried out as she neared the final stage of her fall.

***

Vincent Yates paced the uneven Ocean bed.

“Well, Vincent? What do you propose we do?” Arnold De Mer demanded. “You’re the head of our security. How long are you going to tolerate the abuse against our kind? Isn’t it time you did something?” Arnold fixed the three hundred year old vampire with hard eyes. “If you do not propose a solution in the next twelve hours, we will have to replace you.”

Yates shook his head. Strands of overgrown shaggy dark hair escaped from beneath his hood briefly blocking his vision.

“I will think of something.”

“Twelve hours,” Arnold repeated. “We cannot risk the exposure of our Coven.”

The Ocean Vampires belonged to the oldest Coven in existence, dispelling the myth that brine could destroy their bodies.

“We’ve lost another member of our Coven to the witches,” Arnold reminded Vincent. “The Coven is holding you responsible.”

Vincent narrowed his gray eyes but kept his thoughts under control. He could silence the Coven here with a single blow to their age old heads if he had any guarantee that it would knock sense into their moldy brains. Or he could just shred their dried up bodies and set them alight before they regained consciousness.

The deceased vampires had all been new initiates. They’d been briefed on the rules, but they still decided to break them. Rule number one: Stay away from the witches’ territory. It was easy enough to follow that rule until you smelled one. Witches’ blood had a hypnotic effect on his Coven. It made Ocean Vampires mad with lust and hunger. The new initiates’ deaths had been justified. At the end of the day all the Ocean Vampires wanted was a peaceful existence alongside the witches. The Coven refused to accept the glaring truth. If you broke the rules, you paid with your life.

“I’ll have an answer for you in twelve hours,” he told them. The urge to launch a violent attack threatened to overwhelm Vincent. “Until then I need some time out.”

“Very well.” Arnold rose, and his cronies followed his motions. “We will meet in twelve hours to assess the validity of your suggestions.” He wrapped his ash colored robe around his shoulders and walked into the Ocean, disappearing into the waves taking his cronies with him.

Vincent sank to the rocky sea bed. He’d have opted for suicide. Better to be remembered as a coward than for being fired from his post. He looked at the sky. He’d recently taken to conversing with the Heavens. He wondered if anyone listened to him. Vincent didn’t expect much, seeing as his soul had already been damned to eternity when he’d been transformed into a vampire.

“Help me!”

Vincent shot to his feet. A woman’s voice? Here? Women were not allowed on Ocean’s Peak. Their mere scent was enough to contaminate his territory. The undersea mountain range had been the sacred meeting place of the Ocean Vampires since the Universe formed eons ago. Vincent closed his eyes and tried to avert the intruder’s invasion. He held his hands out and chanted.

Seconds later, something landed ingloriously in Vincent’s outstretched arms, knocking him off balance. Had his random conversations with the Heavens finally yielded an answer? Damn. His answer was heavy, and soft. Its scent intoxicated him, clogging his nostrils and setting loose pheromones in his vessels only satiated by blood lust. His eyes adjusted to the afternoon sunlight. Vincent groaned and rolled the woman out of his arms.

How was this possible? Her scent would haunt him until he fed. Initiates had paid with their lives for giving in to their greed after sniffing the same hypnotic blood. Vincent shook his head. Didn’t this witch know better? Hadn’t she read the rules governing territorial rights?

What have I fallen into now?

She had every right to wonder, Vincent thought after zoning in on her mind. He was one of the gifted few who could read a witch’s thoughts.

“Who are you?” He stared at her. She winced from the impact of the jagged rocks against her ribs.

“I’m Tina.” She flinched when he walked toward her. A tiny part of him softened at her fear. She tried to hide against the rocks but flinched when their sharp edges jabbed her back.

Loose rocks tumbled out of place as he strode toward her. She’d remain still if she knew what was good for her. The witch didn’t stand a chance against him if he attacked her.

“What are you?” Of course he already knew the answer. His instincts, the very foundation of his being, recognized what she was. He needed a formal confirmation in case there was need to defend himself, providing she gave him reason to do so.

“I’m a witch,” the petite red-head whispered. “What are you?”

Vincent ignored her question and tossed off his cloak instead. He grinned when she sucked in her breath at the sight of his bare torso. He was six feet five inches of pure, deadly muscle and proud of it.

Her mind was a mess of thoughts. First, she tried to recall what her precious parchments mentioned about confrontations like this. Next, she debated mentally over whether she should attempt an escape or not. Vincent half smiled as he walked toward her purposefully. Reading the witch’s thoughts was far more amusing than he’d initially assumed.

He could get used to the way she sucked in her breath. It was damn sexy and hardened his cock in an instant.

“Which clan?” His eyes roamed over her full breasts straining her tight black blouse. She had a flat stomach, narrow waist, and slim long legs, all showcased by her choice of suggestive attire.

“Err...B-Bl-Blue Bloods.”

I knew it. His three hundred year old instincts had never been wrong. Ever. “What’s your status?” It was best if they talked. Her unique scent tantalized him. He was on the verge of sinking his fangs into her tender flesh. If he didn’t hurry things up, he risked bleeding her dry.

“Apprentice witch.”

“Shouldn’t you be in class or something?”

She flushed. “I’m a private student.”

It was the first time Vincent had heard of private tutoring amongst the Blue Bloods. She was lying. “What are you doing here then?”

Tina tried to stand and ended up falling backward onto the uneven section of exposed sea bed. “I was trying to fly.”

“You were trying to fly?” He paused. Vincent’s mouth broke into a smile. “I thought all Blue Bloods were blessed with flight at birth.”

Tina stared at the rocks. “I wasn’t.”

His prior blood lust gave way to amusement. “How come?”

Tina shrugged. He felt her fear slip off. “Genetics, I guess. There’s always a one in ten thousand chance of a female being born a dud.” She blinked furiously. “I’m that dud. I would’ve died if you hadn’t caught me.”

She assumed he’d been with his arms outstretched to save her from near temporary disability. Vincent couldn’t resist laughing as he read the witch’s thoughts. Blue Bloods didn’t die from a mere fall. The young witch made him forget his earlier anger with his Coven.

“Are you a pure Blue Blood or part human?”

“I’m pure.” Tina looked at his face.

He stared at her in disbelief. “A pure that can’t fly?” He was stunned.

“I told you, I’m a dud.”

A beautiful, sexy dud, Vincent admitted as his eyes raked over her body. That didn’t excuse the grave mistake she’d made when she’d trespassed on his territory, however unintentional her actions were. “Do you know what the punishment is for trespassing on our property?”

“Um...no. I have no idea who or what you are anyway.” She sucked in her breath sending the familiar thrill of excitement racing through his veins. “Who are you?”

“I suppose you have a right to know,” Vincent said, baring his fangs. “My name is Vincent Yates, and I’m an Ocean Vampire.”

Vincent wasn’t surprised when the witch’s eyes widened as she looked him up and down. Blue Blood witches were not used to seeing muscled, bronzed vampires because the male Blue Bloods were the exact opposite – pale and skinny in built. He liked the way her eyes swept over him from head to toe, skimming over his broad shoulders, chest, and narrow waist. His figure hugging denims did little to cover the distinct bulge of his cock through the thick fabric. Her mind raced with indecent thoughts. If she’d paid attention to the legends the Blue Bloods were fond of narrating, then she’d know he had a sexual appetite that matched his toned body.

He shut his eyes for a second and tried his best to block out the scent of her blood and the enthusiastic pumping of her heart. Tina’s blood rushed through her veins charging the air around her with erratic energy. Everything about her was so full of life that he had to restrain himself from sinking his fangs into her tender flash. He hissed more in warning to himself to control his urge feed on her precious blood. Vincent retreated a few paces when the witch shrank back in fear. Shame filled him when images of a venomous reptile flashed in the witch’s head. Ah, the downside of reading minds. It never failed to reveal what others truly thought of vampires.

He shrugged off the brief regret that’d taken his mind off his main goal and advanced toward Tina. She was either a coward, or she had really low self-esteem. Any other witch or being would’ve tried to run by now. The poor witch continued walking backward like it was going to get her away from him. There was only one way out and that was up. Why did she have to be so stubborn? Whoever had convinced her she couldn’t fly had done a damn good job.

Vincent paused when he caught the scent of adrenaline. Any moment now. He hissed, bared his fangs, and cornered Tina. She stared at him for a moment before she leapt into the air. Vincent hissed even louder as her leap turned into flight.

“Sweet Heaven,” she murmured. His insides warmed at her amazement at achieving something she’d never thought possible.

Their eyes locked when she looked down at Vincent. He retracted his fangs and claws.

“Ha!” She mocked. “Can’t catch me now, can you? Did you expect me to compromise my morals and honor by letting you seduce me? Or did you honestly believe I was going to let a barbaric brute snack on me?”

Brute. Vincent’s dangerous expression threatened to be replaced with an amused smile at the witch’s assumptions. He’d heard many descriptions of himself, but a brute? Then there was the issue of the dud’s honor and morals. Like they could save her if he decided to drain the life out of her. Vincent laughed. This dud sure had guts to mock him.

“You want to bet on that?” he asked.

“Only cowards bet.” She flew faster with each passing second.

“Hmmm.” Vincent laughed at her before he ascended in a breath and grabbed her. “You were saying?”

“What...” The witch uttered in disbelief much to his amusement.

“Even a fool knows Ocean Vampires can fly better than any witch. How did that slip your mind?” He grinned at her.

“Let go of me.” He let her struggle to break free from his embrace even though she didn’t stand a chance against him.

“No, witch. You owe me.”

“What?”

“I said you owe me.”

“For?”

“Teaching you how to fly.”

“What? You didn’t teach me anything.”

“Really? Do you honestly believe I wanted to drink your dud blood? Think about the consequences, witch. I haven’t survived three hundred years to be executed for drinking your dud blood.”

“No need to insult me.”

“My apologies. I had to remind you of your recent inability to fly. Now back to you. I used an age old trick to get you up there.” He pointed skyward.

Shock therapy.

“Exactly.”

“You read minds too?” Tina asked. “If you’re so self-sufficient, what do you want from me?”

“Now you’re talking, witch.” Vincent smiled. “As I said, I helped you fly. Now you owe me.”

“What do I owe you?”

He closed the distance between their bodies enjoying the effect he had on her. Her nipples were visible through her shirt. Her breathing was slightly ragged, and her face flushed.

“Let me spell it out to you, Miss Witch. I saved your ass. Now nobody will have to find out you almost crippled yourself on your first flying attempt. No witch has the right to call you a dud anymore.”

Tina smiled. “You’re right...” Her voice trailed off. “So how do you want me to repay you?” He followed her gaze and realized it was fixated on where his muscled abdomen met the waistband of his jeans. Did she expect him to ask her for sex?

“I’m not short of female company. Besides, you’re hardly my type.” It was a lie. He hadn’t seen a female vampire in months, but she didn’t need to know that. “Am I your type?”

“Um...”

She was a virgin. Her scent was too desirable. He could smell her hot pussy juices and groaned inwardly. Standing so close to a young, desirable witch and not being able to fuck her was sheer torture. “You’re a virgin,” he stated.

She looked away from him. “Yes.”

“Your kind will wipe out my Coven if I so much as lick your pussy.”

“What else could you possibly want from then?”

Vincent freed her from his embrace. “I want you to play along with me.” Her eyes met his, confusion swimming in their depths. “In a few hours the senior members of my Coven will arrive here. They will question me, and you, my sweet dud, will agree with everything I tell them.”