Chapter 12：The vampires heart

Alexander takes Marie's Hands and places them in a bowl of water, her feet in a tub of water and places a crown of daisies on her head. "We need to keep you calm." He gives Marie a pat on the shoulder. Alexander places some different oils and herbs into the bowls as he chants. Soon she finds it difficult to keep her eyes open as Alexander continues to chant. He stands, removes her hands from the water, lays her on the couch and brings her feet onto the couch as well. He looks at Max "she is sedated, just in case." Alexander picks up a book and finds the page he needs. Soon he is finished whispering an enchantment and covers Marie with a white silk sheet. "Now it is up to her." He whispers to Max as he sits next to his alpha. Max hopes for the best as he watches Marie slumber.

Marie feels the air rushing through her hair as she runs. She has nothing but joy as she dodges trees and follows a smell she knows by heart. It is her fathers scent. She bursts through the bushes as she laughs and pounces on another wolf. She laughs and plays all day with him as their fathers watch them. Her father makes a sound for her to follow him and they run through the trees to a cottage, where her mother sweeps the patio in a long red dress. She has long dark hair and her eyes are gold. Marie jumps into her mothers arms as she changes back to a little girl.

Her mother goes to the little village with them riding on her fathers back. There she watches them as her father and the other man talk seriously they cut their palms shake hands and her mother chants as a paper writes itself in red ink. They smile and look to the children as they look at each other slightly confused. Her fathers voice tells her someday she will be a beautiful bride, and her future husband is a great fit since they get along so well.

Marie's father comes to get her out of bed, takes her to the car and they drive. She asks where they are going and her mother smiles as she tells her everything is fine. A boulder hits the road in front of them and her father swerves to avoid it. Her mother grabs Marie and whispers in her ear as more rocks hit the road. The car Is rolling now and her mother screams her name as she is thrown from the car. She watches as her mother and father roll away in the car.

Soon a woman comes to Marie as she sits crying for her parents. The woman chants for a short time and Marie wakes up in the hospital. She is introduced to her foster parents, the woman who found her on the road.

Marie is now standing in a dark cavern with a brick wall blocking her path. She just watched her whole childhood in fast forward and now she knows what she needs to do. This wall is the spell that has kept her in the dark and she needs to tear it down. Marie starts pulling brick after brick from the wall until it finally falls. A bright light comes rushing towards her and she puts her hands up as she screams.

Marie starts screaming and throws her hands in the air. Max and Alexander rush to her to try and wake her. She finally sits up as she pushes them out of the way. She feels like she is going to throw up.

Max pats her back as she leans over the couch, watching her heave like she might throw up. When she finally stops he helps her to sit, she smells different, like a wolf. "What happened?" He watches her with curiosity and concern.

"It wasn't my mother. We were in a car crash, there were rocks coming down on the road. Then a woman came and wiped my memories. It was my adoptive mother." Marie looks at Max. "I remember watching our fathers make the contract, and playing in a village."

Max nods. "There were no rocks or boulders on the road where your parents crashed."

Max nods.

She now knows her parents were murdered, but why? "Why would she want us dead? Why save me?"

"Do you have any pictures of your adoptive parents?" Max asks.

"Yes, in my wallet I think."

Max brings her her wallet and she pulls out a picture with her parents. Max looks at it, hands it to Alexander and asks "Why does she look familiar?"

Alexander looks over the photo and shakes his head. "That is Madam Lucinda. She used to be the head of the witches council, until Marie's mother took over. I also believe she may have killed your parents because she did not believe it was right to marry what you are not."

"So why didn't she kill me if I'm a product of what she thought was wrong?" Marie gazes at Alexander.

"That, I don't know. Max we must protect Marie. I'm sure Lucinda can sense her spell has been broken." He starts looking through his books. "Give me the anklet you put on her."

Max sits at Maries feet and pulls the anklet off of her. "What are you doing doc?" He asks as he hands it to Alexander.

"I'm placing a protection spell so you are the only one who can track her. She will be hidden from everyone else." Alexander places the anklet in a bowl and places some items in with it as he chants. When he is done he hands it Back to Max, who places it back on Marie's ankle.

"Where is Vale? I want to talk to him, see how he is doing?" Marie looks at Max with pleading eyes.

"I don't know where he is right now. The night you were brought back to the house he left." Max looks away from her sad eyes.

"Did you call him?" She asks.

"He left his phone at the house. He'll come back when he has sorted out his feelings." Max stands and walks over to Alexander. While they talk one of the body guards hands her a cup of warm tea. While the two men talk Marie drinks her tea, at this point she feels like she could sleep for a year. As she looks around she realizes that the glass is no longer reflecting light onto the walls and looks out the window. It is dark, she hopes Vale is alright. Max puts his hand on her shoulder, she gives him her hand and he helps her up. They drive back to the house in silence.

Vale wakes up with a deep sigh. Should he keep going or should he say goodbye first? He lays there pondering for a short time and decides he should say goodbye to Marie at least. This can't be easy for her either. Vale starts for home as fast as he can.

When they pull up to the house, Max parks in the garage. Marie looks in Vale's room to see he hasn't returned and continues to her room. Max wakes her to eat and hands her a plate. It has a steak, mashed potatoes with gravy, and a salad. She looks at him curiously and he shrugs as he sits in the seat facing her. He's going to watch her eat she realizes and rolls her eyes. When she finishes eating Max looks satisfied as he sits next to her. "We have to go today. Now that Lucinda can't track you she might check everywhere she knows you have been." Marie nods and looks at him sadly. "If he isn't back soon he wont be back anytime in the near future. The sun is almost up." She nods and gets out of bed. As she heads to her closet her and Max hear a thud in the front room. Max sniffs the air and waves for her to follow him. "It's Vale." Marie quickly follows Max, what will she even say to him? When they get to the living room Vale looks up and snarls. He looks quite feral, Marie steps forward to try and calm him, what has he been through these last couple of days? Without any warning Max pulls her back as Vale lunges forward. Max looks worried now and Marie can sense his wolf getting ready for a fight. "Do you know when he last ate?" Max asks without taking his eyes off of Vale, who is circling them as he stares at Marie.

"No." Marie responds quickly.

"Do you trust me?" Max squeezes her hand. He looks conflicted.

"Yes, why?" Marie responds confused.

"He needs to eat, you are going to let him feed on you." Max tugs her closer to him.

"What!?" Marie is definitely worried now.

"Trust me, I won't let him hurt you." Max looks at her and she nods her approval as fear has now taken her voice. Max lets go of her hand and gently pushes her forward.

Marie steps forward and puts her hand out for Vale, hoping she can somehow reach him. He snarls as he grabs her hand, pulls her, pins her to the wall and bites into her shoulder. Marie whimpers quietly as his fangs sink deep and he begins to feed. Soon everything is dark.

Max watches as Vale pins her. He stays close so he can see Marie, when she closes her eyes and seems to be sleeping he grabs Vale by the shoulders and pulls him back. When he tries to go back for Marie, Max pins him, slaps him across the face and yells at him to stop. Only when Vale has returned to himself does Max let him go. Max rushes to Marie and checks her over quickly. She is already healing and her pulse is strong. He picks her up and carries her to her bed, tucks her in and goes to get her another meal.

Vale walks into the kitchen and looks at Max confused. "When did I get here?"

"Not to long ago, when's the last time you fed?" Max sounds upset.

"I'm not sure." Vale rubs his face.

"You just fed off of Marie. How could you let yourself get to that point? Especially having her here!"

"I just fed.. oh no! Is she ok?" Vale sits on the floor.

"She's fine, her natural healing abilities have kicked in. We are leaving as soon as she eats. I'll have some of the guys come get her stuff when we figure out where she will be staying."

"Do you think she will want to say goodbye to me?" Vale looks at Max desperately.

"Guess you'll have to stay up and find out." Max doesn't say another word as he finishes cooking, puts the food on the plate and grabs a glass of orange juice. "Wait in the hall." He tells Vale as he brings the food to Marie's room. Max places the food on the side table and sits next to Marie. He gently nudges her to wake her. "Marie, you need to eat." He nudges her again, she blinks and jumps back. "Marie it's alright, your in bed. Calm down." He takes her hands and watches her carefully. He hands her the orange juice as she calms down. Max watches as she drinks half the glass, places her plate in front of her and moves to one of the chairs. "Vale wants to see you, is that ok?"

"Is he ok?" Marie looks worried.

"Yes, he wants to see that you are ok."

Marie nods and continues eating, she hasn't been this hungry for a long time. Max pulls out his phone and types something. A moment later Vale comes into the room sheepishly. "Hey, I'm so sorry for what I did!" He takes a step closer to Marie and she tenses slightly. Vale stops in his tracks, drops to his knees and looks at Marie sincerely. "I know you might never trust me again and I am sorry if I hurt you. I hope you can forgive me, but it's ok if you don't."

"It's not that." Marie looks away. "I knew what you were, it's just hard to say goodbye." She takes a deep breath, pulls the ring from her finger and holds it out to Vale.

"I would never dream of taking that back. It is yours, so is my heart. If you ever need me, I will be there, even if it is just as a friend. Also I wanted to tell you I will be traveling for a while." Vale stands and closes Marie's fingers around the ring, kisses her hand and walks to the door. "Take care Marie."

"You too Vale." She whispers as she holds her closed hand to her chest and tries not to cry.

Max watches as Vale leaves the room and Marie sets her plate to the side. He sits beside her and hugs her as she takes deep breaths. Once she is calm Max moves her hair and checks her shoulder. When he sees she is completely healed he smiles. "We need to go, are you finished eating?"

"Yes, I'll finish packing my bag." Marie smiles as she gets up and packs some clothes. Max takes the bag from her to carry when she zips it up. Marie takes her dishes to the sink and cleans them, follows Max down the steps to the waiting car, and is ushered into the back seat with him.

Marie thinks over all the changes she has had recently as they drive. She would have never known the truth if she had not gone to that party. Would she be better off? Would fate have made it so anyway? The only thing she can do is move forward, one day at a time. Marie sighs as she looks at the ring she holds in her hand fondly, the vampires heart.