Hatred

Once upon a time, there lived a woman named Ivy and she lived with her father and his second wife, her stepmother Lilith who hated her. He remarried after her mom died when she was only ten years old.

From time to time Ivy would catch her stepmother looking at her with animosity and sometimes even disgust. She didn’t understand why she would look at her that way. During the years Ivy and her father would try to spend precious time together but Lilith would come along and drag him away to some party or on an errand. It seemed that she was trying to keep him away from her. Ivy was only a child but she wasn’t stupid. She had a bad feeling about her stepmother, but she couldn’t say anything to her father. He wouldn’t believe her so she just kept it to herself.

As Ivy grew up her father spent more time with her and less with Lilith, this really pissed her off so she decided to find a way to get rid of the girl without her husband finding out. Lilith went inside her closet toward the back where she pressed a button and a panel slid up. She went through and walked down some stairs. As she reached the bottom she stepped into a hidden room where she had a collection of magical objects. No one knew that she was a dark witch and she wanted to keep it that way. Lilith walked over to a large mirror decorated with gold and jewels. She stepped up to it and placed her hand on the mirror. The surface began to swirl as power started to gather. Lilith stepped back; the image of Ivy filled the mirror. She was holding her fathers hand as they walked through the woods. This was the day he was suppose to spend time with her.

This burned her to the depths of her soul. She needed to get the tramp out of the way. The image faded into blackness. As she peered into the darkness of the mirror an idea formed in her evil little mind. Lilith knew who to go to, and he owed her big time.

~

Wolves howled a greeting to the man that walked into their territory. He moved silently through the dense woods feeling at home, at peace, the moon lighting his path. His breath came out in white puffs as he moved deeper. His strides slowed once he reached the clearing. A sad smile spread across his weary face as he headed toward a solitary tree that stood in the middle.

A small headstone lay at the base of this tree. He gazed down upon the stone. It was engraved with his sister’s name and the year she was born. He didn't have the year she died because the pain was just too great. It was his own stupidity that…he stopped. He didn’t want to remember. He knelt down and placed a kiss on the cold stone. He stood as he tried to hold back the guilt that threaten to break his heart.

He headed back into the woods, back to his dark and dreary life. Day by day his soul grows darker. The witch holds it so she can control him. Rage consumed his body at the thought of it. He was such a fool, but he realized that there was no chance in hell he would find his light, the salvation for his damned soul.
~

When Ivy turned eighteen a small party was thrown for immediate family and friends. To Ivy’s surprise her stepmother was actually nice to her. Something was up, so she kept on her guard. When she sat down to open her gifts her stepmother placed a beautifully wrapped box in front of her. Ivy looked up and saw that her father and stepmother were smiling. Well maybe she’s changed ? She thought as she smiled back. Ivy opened the gift and screamed with pleasure. It was a digital camera, the one that she’s been wanting every since she fell in love with photography.

Ivy jumped up and hugged first her father then her stepmother. “Thank you both, I’ve always wanted this!” Her eye were bright with joy.

“We know,” her father told her laughing.

The rest of the evening was a blur. She couldn’t wait to break out her knew camera. After the last guest left, the mess cleared away, Ivy headed up to bed. Ivy was looking at her camera and reading the manual when a soft knock sounded on her door.

“Come in,” she said without looking up.

“Ivy?”

Ivy looked up and her stepmother stood just inside her room, smiling. Ivy smiled back, “Thanks again for this. I’m going to try it out tomorrow.”

“That’s why I came. I wanted to tell you that there is this empty house out by Landers creek that people say has the most beautiful flowers surrounding it.”

The excitement showed on Ivy’s face, “I know that place. I sometimes walk by and just sit and look at the flowers. I’m surprised no one lives there.”

“Why don’t you go by there tomorrow in the late afternoon. The sun would just be in the right position for the most breath taking photos.”

Ivy nodded her head, “thanks Lilith, I mean it. This day was the happiest of my life.”

Lilith smiled as she turned to leave. “I’ll tell your father when he comes in from work. Good night sweetheart.” Lilith closed the door behind her. As she walked down the hall she couldn’t help but smile, “Tomorrow will be the happiest day of my life when you’re dead.”
~

Ivy headed out around four o’clock. Once she arrived at the old house she set her bags down by an old tree and went to work.

Lilith was right, the light is great, she thought as she took her shots.

As time went by the light started to fade. Ivy looked at her watch and noticed that it was close to seven.

I better get going, she thought as she gathered her items.

As she turned to leave she caught movement inside the house. The first floor curtain was moved to the side and someone was looking out at her. Ivy had a strange feeling. She thought the house was empty. Curious, she walked up the stone path that lead to the large double doors. She raised her hand to knock but the door swung open before she had a chance too. Standing there was a very tall, handsome man. His hair was as dark as coal and his eyes were grey but they seemed to glitter like silver. His face carried a dimple on his cheek she noticed as he smiled down at her.

“Good evening.” His voice was deep and rich. A slight shiver raced down her back at the sound of his voice.

“I didn’t know anyone lived here,” she managed to say. She gazed into his eyes, lost in their beauty.

Gabriel Vondrack stared down at the beauty that stood in front of him. She took his breath away. “I don’t come here as often as I would like. My business keeps me away. My name is Gabriel Vaondrack.” He told her. He stared down into her dark eyes and felt something strange stirring inside him.

Ivy had to tear her eyes away. “My name is Ivy. I didn’t mean to trespass on your property. I just couldn’t resist taking pictures of the flowers.” She explained. Ivy was getting a strange vibe from him and it scared her. She started to step back, “well, sorry to take up your time. I...I better get back…” she lost her footing on the step and nearly fell.

Gabriel reached out and grabbed her hand and pulled her into his arms.

Ivy didn’t know what was happening. First she was falling now she was snuggled against a stranger’s body. She leaned in more almost craving his warmth, his touch. What’s happening to me, she wondered as she closed her eyes and let his scent consume her.

Gabriel held her close, enjoying the way her body seemed to harmonize with his. He slipped into her mind, which he found wasn’t as easy as he thought. He urged her to sleep. As he held her wilted body he thought about what Lilith told him. That if he killed this woman she would give back to him what she has taken. He had no choice.

Gabriel picked Ivy up and walked inside the house.

~~

“Where could she be,” Ivy's father stood by the window looking outside, scanning the night. Worry showed on his fatigued face as he turned to look at Lilith. It was well after eleven o’clock and Ivy hadn’t returned. Earlier he went to the old house along with the constable but the house was empty. Lilith lent her support and acted worried about the disappearance of Ivy, but inside she was rejoicing. By now Gabriel would have drained the tramp dry, she thought as she laid a comforting hand on her husbands shoulder.

~

As Gabriel walked into his room his eyes lingered on the bed. Ivy was still asleep. Dawn was approaching so he walked over to the windows and drew the heavy drapes closed. He reinforced the windows with a protection spell then he settled down beside Ivy and fell into a deep sleep.

Ivy opened her eyes and panicked. She couldn’t move because something was holding her down. She looked down and noticed an arm slung over her midsection. It took all her will power not to scream. Ivy carefully turned her head and saw that man lying down beside her. She nearly sighed at how peaceful and gorgeous he looked. Ivy snapped out of it and reached down and gently lifted his arm and slid from under it and placed his arm back onto the bed. The room was so dark she had trouble seeing so she had to go slow and feel her way. Ivy reached out with her hand and felt the knob with a sigh of relief she tried to turn it.

“Where do you think you’re going?” That same deep voice came from behind her. She didn’t turn around she just opened the door and ran out. She ended up running straight into something, but as she reached her hands in front of her she realized that it wasn’t a wall. She looked up and could see silver eyes glowing, staring down at her.

“What are you?” she whispered as she backed away.

Gabriel hissed and bared his fangs as he grabbed her. He dragged her back to him.
Ivy’s eyes widened in fear, her screams stuck in her throat. She started struggling to free herself but his hands were like vice grips, she couldn’t break free so she kicked him.

Gabriel howled in pain as her shoe connected with his leg. He has never had this much trouble before in all his four hundred years. He ran, faster than the human eyes could see and blocked her path. She yelped. Ivy slowly moved backwards then turned around. She ran into him again. Gabriel encircled her with his arms and pulled her close. He bent his head down toward her neck inhaling her scent, remembering it.

Ivy stopped moving. She felt his warm breath on her neck that brought a tingle to her toes.

“Don’t struggle,” he whispered in her ear before he sank his fangs into her neck.

The pain was white hot but it only lasted a second. A familiar sensation flowed inside Ivy as she leaned into his body, she let the feeling over take her.

Gabriel drank deeply then withdrew. Those feelings were stronger than ever as he picked her up. Somehow he knew this woman. He carried her down the stairs and into his study. With a wave of his hand a fire appeared in the hearth as he placed her on the couch. Gabriel cut a line across his wrist and held it up to her pale lips.
~

Lilith was seething with anger. It’s been a week now and no word from Gabriel. He was supposed to have brought her the girl’s heart as a souvenir. She tried to reach him telepathically but he was blocking her. She was pissed now. As her husband sat at his desk she made her way down to her secret room and consulted her mirror.

As she spoke her words of power for the mirror to show her where they were, the surface remained dark.

“That bastard, what is he doing?”
~

Ivy slowly opened her eyes. The hunger gnawed at her stomach but her body was too weak to move. As she sat up in the chair she saw that there was a roaring fire in front of her. As she stared into the flames she felt like something had changed.

“How are you feeling?”

Ivy turned her head and noticed for the first time that she wasn’t alone. As she looked at him she wasn’t scared. Something definitely had changed.

She pushed herself deeper into the cushion of the chair. Ivy stared at Gabriel and saw him. He seemed different to her. She wasn't sure why but...

"How long have I been here?" Her voice soft.

Gabriel could see her trying to hold on and understand what was going on, "a week." Gabriel saw the confusion in her dark eyes. There was no easy way to tell her, “Your stepmother wanted me to kill you. She wanted me to take her your heart as proof.” He told her. He could see the hurt wash over her lovely face.

Heaviness pressed on her chest. “I thought she finally accepted me. She was so…” She felt like a fool for believing she had changed. But now she had to face the facts. Her stepmother had tried to kill her. Anger began to build. The heaviness was replaced with fire.

Ivy looked over at Gabriel, “Well, why haven’t you?” She snapped.

Gabriel stood and walked over to the fire. His heart was beating a mile a minute. He still couldn’t believe what he had discovered.

“What have you discovered?” Ivy asked. Wait, he didn’t say anything out loud, did he? Am I going crazy?! She thought.

“You heard my thoughts as I just heard yours. No you are not going crazy. I was sent here to kill you." Gabriel sensed the tension inside of Ivy. He had to tell her.

"What she didn’t realize was that she sent my salvation.” He whispered.

“What are you saying,” Ivy stood and walked over to him.

He turned toward her and unbuttoned the top of his shirt. On his chest, over his heart, Ivy could see a blood red tattoo shaped like a Celtic cross. She could tell that it wasn’t exactly Celtic, but something older. Ivy’s hands went to her own t-shirt and pulled down the collar.

“What…” The same symbol appeared on her chest over her heart as a jolt of energy hit her hard. She staggered a little then dropped to her knees holding her chest.

Gabriel was by her side in a heart beat. His concerns radiated through her and warmed her heart.

Ivy reached up and caressed his cheek. She did know him.

Her light touch, the warmth of her eyes brought joy to his dark heart. He felt the warmth spread inside of him and he knew this feeling was coming from his soul. Tears glistened in his eyes making them shine.

His silvery gaze captured her dark eyes. “You are my light to the darkness in my soul. You are my salvation.” The words he spoke were sincere.

Ivy smiled at the emotion she sensed within him.

Gabriel helped her stand. He held on to her hand because he wasn’t sure if she was real. He never thought that he would ever be united with his soul mate. He thought it impossible once he met up with that witch Lilith.

“Lilith,” he snarled. He wanted to rip her heart out.

Ivy smiled up at him. “You will take her my heart.”

He growled in disagreement.

“Don’t worry she will pay for what she has done.”
~

“Lilith it is done,” Gabriel spoke with her mentally. He could feel her pleasure, it made him sick.

Lilith was rapturous, “take it to where I told you and I will return what is yours.” She told him.

She composed herself and went to her husband. She found him sitting in the garden. He had become a miserable shell of a man since his daughter went missing. “Dear why don’t we take a walk? It will do you some good.” She coaxed him.

He nodded and let her pull him to his feet. They walked hand and hand out into the woods to the place where Lilith told Gabriel to leave the heart. As they walked she steered them toward the rivers edge.

“What’s that over there?” she asked.

He looked in the directions then ran over to the edge. He dropped down on his knees and stared to cry. Lilith ran over and peered over his shoulder and smiled. In her husbands hand was a heart that was covered with Ivy’s jacket. Nice touch, she thought. She stared screaming and crying, trying to play the part of a grief stricken mother.

Two days later after the funeral for his daughter he couldn’t bear to be in that house. He decided to sell it and move to the city. On the last night Lilith was in her bedroom when she heard a tapping on her balcony window. She opened the doors and there stood Gabriel.

“Give me back what is mine,” he ordered.

Lilith laughed. She reached into her pants pocket and pulled out a silver chain that held a locket on the end. “You want this? You know I’ve been thinking that since you did a good job at killing Ivy, I should want you to stay around longer. In case I need you again.” She smiled and put the locket back into her pocket.

Gabriel growled and lunged at her but was stopped by an invisible barrier. This made her laugh louder.

“You are not welcomed here. Have you forgotten that you can’t enter?” She turned her back on him intent on going down into her secret room when a voice stopped her dead in her tracks.

“I can still enter. This is still my home,” Ivy told her stepmother.

Lilith turned around finding Ivy on the balcony. Horror spread across her face as she watched Ivy step into the room. Furious eyes turned to Gabriel, “You bastard, you turned her! You were supposed to kill her!” she shouted.

“What!” An angry voice boomed from behind her. “You had my daughter killed!” Ivy’s father stormed into the room. His eyes were bright with anger and they were directed at Lilith.

Lilith stumbled back until she was against the wall. Her eyes wide with surprise at the fact that she was busted. “Honey, it’s not what you think,” she stammered.

“I’m going to kill you!” he started toward her.

She smiled then held out her hand. Ivy’s father flew across the room and out the window. He fell over the balcony.

“Father!”

Gabriel went over the side and caught him just in time. They landed on the ground unharmed.

Ivy smiled. She knew Gabriel had her father. She turned her full attention to the witch.

Ivy hissed as she bared her fangs. “You’re going to die.”

Lilith raised her hand and started chanting words of power, but before she was able to complete it Ivy slammed into her. She drove them both back into the wall. Ivy held Lilith by her neck as she rammed her fist into her chest.

The witch screamed and flailed about. Ivy pulled her hand back and watched as she crumbled to the floor.

“You’re too late…” Lilith’s voice trailed off as she died.

Ivy wondered what she meant by that. Just then she heard horrible screams and howls coming from beneath her.

“Ok it’s time to leave,” she said aloud. She ran out the room and jumped over the balcony.

As she landed her father gathered her into his arms.

“I thought you were dead,” he whispered against her neck.

“We soon will be if we don’t get out of here.” She told him as he released her.

“What are you talking about,” Gabriel asked.

Just then the howling and screaming got louder, “the old hag had one last trick planned.” They all looked up and noticed a lot of dark shadows standing on the balcony looking down on them with glowing red eyes.

“She will not win,” Ivy stretched her arms over her head. She didn’t even know if this would work, but she was willing to take that chance. As she concentrated the night sky filled with dark clouds and they carried thunder. The sound was deafening. The lightening streaked across the night sky. Ivy began to chant and right before their eyes she began to glow. She lowered her hands toward the house just as lightened crashed down on the shadows on the balcony. Their screams of pain echoed throughout the night. Ivy commanded more lightening to crash down on the house. She planned on burning the house to the ground. The place was tainted with the stench of that witch.

As dawn approached, the house was a pile of charred wood. Ivy’s father turned toward the couple and smiled. He was told what happened and accepted the fact that Ivy couldn’t stay with him.

He walked over to Ivy and hugged her, tight. “I just want you to be happy.”

As he released her she walked over to Gabriel. Taking his hand she smiled, “I will be dad.”

Her father turned to look at the house one last time, but when he turned back around Ivy and Gabriel were gone. He smiled and thought I’ll see them again.