The Ghost Writer

HI Everyone,

Here is the next instalment of my own surreal adventure with the vampire characters from my Victorian Vampire novel, Knight of Swords, The Ghost Writer. Hope you enjoy it.

Sara :)


Chapter Two (cont'd)

The good looking refined fair features of Nathan's deadly rival for Juliet's hand in my series of novels, Gabriel Masters came into view. He was clothed in full Victorian morning dress. Very businesslike and as fastidious in his dress as Nathan. Just the way I wrote him. His two scary looking friends were similar but more sloppily attired. The first words that came into my mind were confusingly and insanely not ones of fear but, 'Didn't I kill you off in book Two?' I gave him a perplexed look as he stopped in front of us and a slow smile began to curve his sensuous lips giving his features a mocking grace.

'How long did you think you could hide her from me?' Gabriel challenged Nathan in a menacing tone.

'Forever. You have no business being here. She doesn't belong to you. She never did and she never will. It is not my fault you can't take a simple hint, Marcus. Then you were never too bright, were you?' Nathan's voice was heavy with sarcasm. ' You still don't understand that your advances are unwanted even after two lifetimes. It's incredible how dumb some people can be.'

Gabriel turned to look at both of his men on either side of him and laughed. He shook his head.

'Always so defensive, Nathaniel,' there was no mistaking the jealous malice behind his words. Still guarding her possessively like buried treasure. I see you aren't in this life with her. That must have been hard, having to give her up like that and to another man.'

'It's what she needed to do. To work out what you did to her, to help her move on and I will be damned if I am going to let you interfere with her journey.'

Gabriel or Marcus, I wasn't sure what to call him tensed for a brief moment and a flicker of regret and longing crossed his hazel eyes. Then they turned hard, determined again. That's when I noticed how much I was shivering with anxiety. I desperately wanted to know what they were talking about. I was in the dark about all of this weirdness.

'You are not going to win. I want her for my soul mate and I always get what I want . . .' Marcus firmly told Nathan with conviction.

'Always the spoilt child, Marcus. I want , never gets . . .'Nathan sneered.
'You stole her from me, remember? She was meant for me.'

'She was never meant for you. You just couldn't accept it. Now leave and go and look for your own soul mate before I do you some damage, Marcus,' Nathan finished his sentence with a hiss from his teeth.

Marcus's reaction was immediate. He bared his incisors and hissed back, his companions followed suit and my heart leapt into my mouth. In a rather brave, bold and daring move or a rather stupid, idiotic move, depending on how you chose to look at it, I decided to take control and stop the fight that was about to erupt in my bedroom. I held up my hand and opened my mouth.

'Right this is all very wonderful and Dr Who, two gorgeous men fighting over me, vampire characters from a book I wrote no less. It's the ultimate author's fantasy. I must have a whopper of an imagination or I am completely nuts. So I either need to wake up from this dream before it turns nasty or someone needs to tell me what the hell is going on here?' I demanded trying to muster some courage.

I was after all a woman of the 21st century and we didn't just get pushed around by men, especially nineteenth century ones, I sharply reminded myself.

Both Marcus and his men turned to look at me in wide eyed surprise. I made an effort to move away from Nathan to face Marcus Wainwright down myself. Boy was that a mistake. Nathan's arm wound tight around my waist as Marcus made a move to seize his opportunity and for want of better words grab me like a brass ring. I slammed backwards into the wardrobe door feeling Nathan's arm pin me there. I couldn't move. I dared not move again.

Marcus growled and then recovered his composure, another mocking smile lighting his face.

'She doesn't remember anything does she, Nathan?' he almost laughed when he ended his sentence.

Nathan was slow to answer. 'No she doesn't. I am here to remind her. Her recovery must begin and you must leave her in peace.'

Marcus tilted his head to one side and gave me a sympathetic look.

'No memory of anything. Helpless as a babe,' he said softly. He studied me with curiosity then I watched his eyes moisten for a brief moment and fill with love. I was overwhelmed, confused, distressed. There was no mistaking his feelings for me. My blank staring and lack of emotion seemed to suddenly test his patience and the moisture in his eyes dried quickly.

'It must be a cold existence without the memories of the past to warm your heart on these winter nights, my love. But we will use the experience as a fresh start. A new life and a fresh start for us together,' Marcus reached out to touch my face over Nathan's shoulder.

I jumped when Nathan caught Marcus by the throat and prevented him from completing the action.

'Don't touch her. Everything you touch, you poison and kill,' Nathan hissed.

Marcus began to struggle with Nathan and the other two men came at me. Nathan did his best to fend all of the men off and I did my best to keep them at bay. I aimed my pathetic small fist at one of them, naively hoping to land him one in the jaw. Imagine the surprise on my face when my fist went straight through the guy's face and only made contact with air.

There was nothing solid about him. His appearance was deceptive. I gave a loud frightened gasp. The man was a ghost, there was no other logical explanation. He might not have a solid form but the grip he placed on my arm to drag me away from behind Nathan was real and painful. Nathan tugged on my other arm to pull me back as he took a swing at Marcus but I was being dragged away. Nathan looked at me with concern and fear before ducking another blow. The man pushed me at Marcus and took his place in fighting Nathan.

I struggled violently but Marcus was wasting no time. He wound his arm tight around my waist and lifted me up on to my bed in one easy fluid motion. I heard Nathan call out to him to stop in fierce anger but Marcus paid him no attention. He began pulling me to the wall behind my bed that was a blaze with cobalt blue light again. I stared at it terrified. It must be some kind of door, a portal or something. This was madness. I couldn't have written it. Maybe it led to death . . . But before we reached it a bright blinding white light filled the whole of the room stopping us all in our tracks as we struggled to shield our eyes.