Free Heavy Metal Heartbeat by Ambear Shellea

expression.
    “Where is that, exactly?”
    “That’s easy. We are between everywhere and nowhere; the place where everything and nothing exists.”
    He tilted his head to the side and stared at her perplexed.
    “ OK, I am confused.”
    “No worries, where we are is irrelevant. What you accomplished is what is important.”
    He held up his hand to stop her advance in the conversation.
    “Wait , this is real? I haven’t lost my mind?”
    “ No, you haven’t, and yes, it’s very real.”
    He felt light as a feather as the weight of his burdens lifted from his shoulders when he sighed with relief.
    Thank God, I am not going crazy.
    He turned his gaze back to the woman.
    “Can you explain what is going on?”
    “ Yes. We shall start at the beginning of your quest. You were lying in the grass with Paige. Do you remember?”
    Where it began? What quest?
    He thought back for a second.
    Wait..Oh!
    “ Yes. It was wonderful until Sebastian showed up.”
    “ He was part of your journey.”
    He rubbed his temples as he tried to understand.
    “But I killed Sebastian.”
    “Yes, and Perry.”
    He studied her face. She looked to be enjoying this ‘lead the horse to water’ game. With each answer he gave, her eyes grew brighter and her smile widened.
    “I don’t want to be rude, but can you just tell me what’s going on ? This is crazy, and I am sure there is a benefit to leading me to the answer, but I just really don’t feel like playing along.”
    He never saw it coming. His body rolled groggily onto the ground and a few feet away. He lay just outside of the gold glow. It was cold and dark. The side of his face ached from the slap and his back felt like he landed on gravel.
    Ow!
    Moving onto his side and elbow, he looked to Jewels. She sat with her hands resting on her knees and a witty look upon her face. Her words cut like that of a whip.
    “I am here to help you. Therefore, you will show respect. I am over two-hundred years old and have seen and lived through more than you can imagine, so quit belly-aching over there and get back in the glow, so we can continue.”
    He shook the daze from his head and crawled back into the golden center.
    “Sit crossed-legged with your hands on your knees!”
    He did as instructed.
    “I apologize. Please forgive me. I am confused, frustrated and on the verge of losing it.”
    “I understand. Before your flippant tone, I was about to explain. May I finish now?”
    “ Yes, please.”
    “ You have power, lots of raw and untapped power, Ozzie, more so than your ancestors. Thanks to the company you keep…”
    “ What does that mean?”
    “ Be patient. I will get to it. First, take off that shirt.”
    He looked down and saw he was indeed wearing clothes, jeans and white T-shirt. Hand on each corner of the shirt, he pulled it over his head, dropped it to the ground and looked back to her.
    “Now , get on your knees.”
    He followed along. His heart beat fast at the unknown. He took a deep breath and calmed his nerves.
    Can we get on with it already?
    “Place your hands at your sides , and make sure you leave them there.”
    Swallowing his comment, he slapped his hands at his sides. Jewels moved to her knees and faced him. The golden glow grew warmer.
    “When your journey started, you were with the love of your life. The vampire Sebastian showed up. Explain to me what happened and I will explain why.”
    “ Paige wanted me to bite her and I refused. She begged, even going so far as to tease the fangs in my mouth…”
    He absent-mindedly rubbed his teeth, checking for fangs.
    Oh, thank God, no fangs.
    “I still refused…”
    “Why did you refuse to bite her ? She asked for it.”
    Biting back his attitude, he replied, “Because I’m not a vampire!”
    “But you attacked Sebastian and ripped his throat out. Are you sure you’re not a vampire ? That was a pretty vampire thing to do.”
    “ No! I refused to bite Paige because she doesn’t want to be a vampire, she can’t