Excerpt: Neoma

The city came into view as the sun began to descend. Dmitri slowed his pace and looked over his shoulder at Natty.

“Are you still there?” he asked.

"Yes. I am not leaving you.” She replied. “Your shoulder—”

"Is fine now. You do not have to stay. You are only guaranteeing yourself to be caught.” Dmitri seriously wanted her to leave. He had shown too much of himself to her already and he feared that he would fall for her. If she stayed . . .

"No it is not. I saw you stemming blood from it before we left and again two nights ago. It has not healed, Dmitri.”

"Does not the smell tempt you?”

"No. I told you that I attack only once or twice a year, and even I can not explain why or how it happens.” She snapped. “And why do you suddenly decide to make conversation after I have tried to for days? I should no even be talking to you.”

"I did not invite you to follow me!” he shouted, stopping. “You are more of a burden on me that I could have possibly thought. You nearly kill me and apologize over and over again like a small child who broke a vase. What if I had not recovered my composure as quickly? I would have tried to stake you if it were not for the fact that I was in shock. I could not hate you more! I was on my way to find out that everyone I loved was dead and I had nowhere to go except the only town where I was born and exiled from at the age of five! And to add to the fact that I was in pain and at risk of infection when I found out, too, is hard for me to bear. And yes, it still has not stopped bleeding. It is very easy for me to open it up and I do not know what you put in there but it bothers me to the ends of the earth that my would- be- almost- killer is following me.”

Natty was stunned. She stood there, wide- eyed and watched him turn and walk in the opposite direction into the sunset. She felt broken inside and angered. Like a flame if flared inside her and it quailed almost immediately.

“I am so sorry . . .” She whispered into the wind.