The Healer's Guardian

A Chapter by Phoenix

The Contraband - Chapter One

Jeremiah's POV

Jeremiah glanced at the clock. "I'm bored." He told his cousin, Frederick. Frederick smirked at him.

"Oh please! You're the Prince of the Castle. You can have anything and anyone at your mercy within an instant." Frederick said. "You should not be bored. If I had your power," a gleam went through Frederick's eyes, "I would..." He begins but trails off and clears his throat.

The talk of power was most certainly not a topic to talk about with the Prince. Frederick continued the conversation as though he'd made no mistake. "Well, go on," He urged eagerly. "Be creative."

Jeremiah shook his black locks. "Yeah, okay." He snarled. "I think I'll pass and go for a swim."

"You do that Mr. Boring." Frederick said disappointed. "I thought you'd give us a show."
"Nah, not today." Jeremiah said. "I'll be gone."
"It'd be nice to know where you go." Frederick pointed out.

Jeremiah glared at him. "I'm the Prince of this Castle, so I don't have to say anything."
"You're only Prince because your dad was the one with the idea for this and created Duskand." Frederick pointed out. "And what a dumb name too- Duskand?"

"I actually kind of like it." A cold and snake-like voice says from behind Jeremiah. They both turn to see Jeremiah's father, King of the Castle Theodore. "And what better name for a Land of the Dusk?"

"Yes, of course, uh, I totally agree your highness." Frederick bows down.
"I doubt that." Theodore frowns. His face has a jagged scar across his left cheek, on from the burn of the fire that once killed his wife. It was so deep that it refused to heal. "Children these days are so immature and ungrateful."

"Not like in the past," Jeremiah finishes.
"I'm past fifty years old - I think I deserve some respect here." Frederick says annoyed with the two of them.
"Yes, you're seventy-three. Wow, so old and wise." Theodore says sarcastically. "I am so honored by your presence." His silver eyes pulse and Frederick takes a step back. "When you've lived through what I have and can still manage to raise your child successfully I'll respect you then."

Theodore stormed out of the room with that statement. Jeremiah followed through the door and smirked at Frederick. "Cousin I think thy best if thy does not contradict thy King."

Frederick flicked him off and Jeremiah sped away. He arrived at the crystal waterfall seconds later. It had cool waters and the warm wind swayed his disheveled hair. He stripped off his shirt leaving only his pants and jumped from the cliff, falling down the waterfall.

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Amelia's POV

The waitress hands me my burger and I smile at her. My stomach growls in anticipation. The service here were slow, but the food was amazing and definitely worth the wait. "Thanks." Caleb says.

"Let me know if y'all need anything else." She instructs, walking away.

Caleb smiles at me his perfect smile. He himself is pretty attractive - he's got dark tan hair and bright green eyes that seem to look right into your soul. He's pretty bright too, actually, almost scary smart. Not very athletic, but still in shape. However, we've been best friends since forever, and there is nothing between us.

"So," I say swallowing my food and washing it down with some Sprite, "What's up?"
Caleb had called me an hour earlier asking me to come meet him here. I agreed even though it was already nine at night, since he said it was urgent. But now he seemed to be dragging the wait out. "Well..." He begins.

He looks me in the eyes. "I got you something for your birthday."
I glance at him confused. "My birthday was two weeks ago." I point out. "And I thought it was urgent?"

"Yes," He nods, "But I was out of town and didn't get a chance to give you your gift. Plus, I was impatient." He smiles at me and I have to laugh. "So here."

I take the blue wrapping paper and unwrap the gift. There's a small gold chain and on it a strange, pulsing yellow topaz. "It's your birthstone." He explains. "I got it in... on my trip, and I wanted you to have it. But you've been busy with exams, and all..."

It was true. I hadn't seen a lot of Caleb at all this month. I had been getting worried he was upset, and was glad he wasn't. "Thanks." I say. "It's wonderful." I put it on and feel a shift in the air. A strange feeling took over me.

"You're okay?" He asks me, worried.
"Yeah, I'm fine." I reply. "I just need some air." The weird feeling got stronger as I got up.
"Okay." He agrees.

I leave, and go behind the trash cans, worried that I'll puke. I hear the back door open and close behind me. The feelings disperses and curious, I peek out. I see two buff men in dark clothes leading Caleb out.

"Are you serious?" He hisses. "You're doing this now - when she's so close?"
"Don't talk. Get in the van." The one with brown hair instructs. The bald one shoves him into a navy blue van.

Fear clenches my gut. What do I do? Call the police? No. By the time that they got here, it'd be too late. As the van's engine started I did the only thing I could.

Seeing my black VW parked not to far down I sneak toward it and start the engine. As the van drives away I follow it. I look at the license plate - but they've covered it with duct tape. I swear. What was Caleb doing with this guys? More importantly, what were they going to do with him?

I bite my lip as I drive. My car follows a good two cars behind them. I once again contemplate calling the police but my phone's on the seat. If I reached over to get it I could get in an accident or lose sight of the van... I shake my head. I have to keep following them.

We drive for what seems a long time. We take many twists and turns. I'm worried that they'll notice me behind them, seeing as there's only one car between us, but nothing happens. I calm down. Maybe I imagined it... maybe Caleb wanted to go with them... no, that was not what had happened. I sped up slightly.

I catch a glance of myself in the review mirror. My copper hair is in a disarray. My crystal blue eyes look scared. I shake myself once again. "Pull it together." I tell myself. "For Caleb."

For a brief second we're still on the highway. And suddenly we're not. A thick fog rolls around, and I feel a shock go through my body. When it stops, we're in a mountainous area. I gasp, finally realizing how serious this was. They're going to kill him! I reach for my phone, but lose control of the wheel.

The car spins through towards the mountains, into the forest. I grab the wheel, the police long forgotten. I try to swerve, but I end up driving off a cliff, and scream loudly.

The car hits the ground beneath, landing smack against a tree. I feel warmth leave my body and the world goes black.

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Jeremiah's POV

Jeremiah zoomed out of the way as a black car flew down the cliff. He heard her piercing screams, and immediately zoomed out of the way. The war landed against the heavy tree and began to flare up. He saw her bold red hair and her limp body.

Do I save her? He wondered.
He walked over to her. He could smell the blood and barely controlled his fangs. Jeremiah saw her eyes flutter and managed to look into her crystal blue eyes. A brief shudder went through his body. He shook himself. The car was getting hot. The hood was now flaming.

He had to make his choice now. Save the human or let her die. He hated humans, that was a fact. But this one looked so helpless... Jeremiah shook himself. He ripped off the car door and pulled her limp body out of the car.

He zoomed away from the fire and towards the cave behind the waterfall. The others would smell her blood soon. He needed to stop the bleeding. He brushed her hair away from her neck and gasped.

On her neck was a necklace that he hadn't seen since the beginning of the eighteenth century when he was just a boy. She was brought here as a means of food. His fangs pierced his lips once again. He bit his wrist and let her drink his blood.

Her lips were chewed badly, as though she'd been worried. Jeremiah curled his lip. She was so weak and feeble... she slowly swallowed the blood. He placed her on the bed against the wall. Frederick had wondered where he went. It was here he hid.

It was his sole escape from the power-hungry-blood-thirsty individuals in the castle he reigned as Prince. He sat across from her. Now what? He wondered. Just as he thought that, her eyelashes fluttered again.

They parted to show her clear deep blue eyes. She was awake.

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