Sentimental
I didn’t have too much confidence in my promised ability to take down Elfin, so I wanted to tie up any loose ends. Which meant both of my parents. I encouraged Brook, Ezra, and Eli to have dinner with G-ma and Jenkins. Eli ad Ezra were hesitant but agreed. The battle was only days away and I was treating these days like they were my last.
Brook would actually go home tonight, considering our house was way past capacity. I had forgotten she didn’t live there with us and I think her parents were almost convinced she moved out without telling them.
Dinner went smoothly and just as I remembered. Sometimes I wish I could take back these parts of my life, but I knew I would regret that. After this whole thing… if I survived… I should be good for at least another hundred years. Before we left I did the whole long hug and ’if anything happens to me, I love you’ thing. They were scared for a second but I told them I was just feeling sentimental.
“Addi everything will be fine.” Eli said in the car on the way home. “It’s just one day we have to get through and the rest is ours.”
That was almost comforting. A nice way to look at it I guess. We just had to manage to fight through this one day. Surely with vampires it would not go past a day. We were too impatient. Either someone loses or someone loses. Everyone was determined to win, though. One day… just one day and the rest is mine.
Something Ezra told me sprang into my head: “The lose is damaging to our existence.” A lot of ours would die in this as well as his. A shadow of of sadness was cast over me as that dramatizing thought. I couldn’t save them all. All I could do was take down the leader who was causing so much madness.
When we got back home I was hungry for some real food, and decided I should ask Rachel and Colin if they wanted to hunt with me. Who knew who would make it out of this. I had forgotten Colin wasn’t like us but he came along anyways.
“You know Addison the other are talking.” Rachel says as we pull off in my car.
“About what?”
“You/ What is his interest with you?”
“What do you mean, his interest in me?”
“Well it’s no secret he sent others to your school. And the principal. Ezra always has something new to tell us only after he is with you. After a while you start to notice things. Not like we have anything better to do.”
Ezra was a little too open with them. Common sense tell you, you give too much information without a source, people are going to start guessing. I’d have to talk to Ezra, but I didn’t know what to tell them first.
‘Don’t tell them who you are Addi. Just say you don’t know and ignore the rest. They will let it go’ Colten whispered in my head.
“I don’t know what to tell you guys. Me and Ezra are best friends we talk a lot.” I told them shrugging my shoulders.
‘It’s ok Addi, almost all the vampires there don’t even know what a Soul Seer is.’ Colten whispered.
Maybe the reason I should tell was also because no one would get it and ask a million question I didn’t want to answer.
The hunt went interestingly. Rachel was well aware of the fact I didn’t hunt humans, so she needed more blood than me from the animals. After having them around for a while I guess I was getting used to them. I wasn’t so irritated when Colin was asking me questions. Think now I felt they were not trying to be my parents but just my friends. My message had gotten through that I didn’t want new parents. The thought that this could be the last time we spent time together made me feel… bad for all the time I spent mad at them or avoiding them. Soon Rachel could die and Colin would be heart broken. And all I’d have to remember her is this night and the times I was upset. Like she had read my mind Rachel came over to us. “Those animals are great! They put up quite the fight.” she smiled. “Addi” she turned to me “I’m glad you asked us out tonight, there is something I’ve been wanted to give you.” She reached around her neck and pulled out a heart shaped locket. “I know this is a battle. Which means we can lose. If I don’t make it out of this, I want you to have this.” she pulled the chain over her head and placed it around my neck. I picked it up and opened it. On one side was a picture of her and Colin on their wedding day and the other was a picture of her holding me in the hospital bed. She was looking down at me with those loving eyes; the ones I always dreamed of. I remembered what Colten had told me about she couldn’t stop crying, and they didn’t have anything. A painful realization hit me. They love me. It hurt so bad but it felt like I have been missing this tiny piece for so long. That love I always wanted was right here in this moment.
“I love it.” I looked up at her wishing I could cry to complete this moment. I hid it in my shirt and held her hand as we walked back to the car.
This whole thing had me feeling sentimental. But I knew I wouldn’t stop until the day we were all waiting for had passed. I could feel it in my body, the days passing as the one got closer. I made it a point to spend time with my best friends and Eli all individually. There was no way this friendship could end like this. Although I knew something would happen to someone. It always does.
Colten got more and more irritated because the closer the day got, the less he could see. I had no idea what that meant for him and neither did he. He said for two hundred years the day of the battle was the last day he ever saw. It made sense not that it was closer things got more blurry. I ended up spending more time with him than I thought necessary after school. He was practically panicking everyday cause he would miss things in his visions. I wasn’t dependent upon his visions, but he thought I should be. He just dove me crazy pacing and talking to himself about how he missed things and blah blah blah.
After I left Colten I felt I needed to be with Brook. I borrowed (stole) some money from Ezra and took Brook to dinner alone. I was sure Ezra told her some things that were going on, but I was sure he spared her feelings on a few things.
“So… Brook how are you feeling about everything?” I asked as she sipped her soda.
She poked her lips out and spared a moment to think “I don’t know. There’s a lot going on that I don’t understand.” she admitted.
“Well your aware that there will be a battle, right?”
She nodded “Yea judging by the amount of vamps in the house, it’s something big.”
“What has Ezra told you?”
She sighed “Some things here and there, but I try to stay out of the loop.”
“Brook look. Sometimes staying out is good but sometimes there are things you should remain informed about. Whether you like it or not.”
“I know. But I’m scared shitless right now. I wanna keep my knowledge to a minimum.”
“Brook. I love you ok and that why I am telling you this. If anything happens to me, your like the sister I never had/ I wouldn’t trade you for another one ever. You have to realize that anything can happen. Anyone of us may not make it out of this. This battle is meant to be devastating so you have to realize that one of us or all of us may not come back.”
I could tell she tried not to think of those things as she stared at me. Her eyes were questioning. Ezra hadn’t told her anything. She was so confused.
“Addi, what should I do?” she asked.
I sighed trying to think og the best answer. “Spend every minute with us like it may be our last. I don’t have much confidence in my fighting abilities, but I have to fight.”
“Addi no you don’t.” she began to tear and immediately wiped it away. “You don’t have to do anything!” she banged her fist on the table. “Things weren’t supposed to happen this way! You cant go, I wont lose you! This is Eli’s battle, let him fight it. For months I have watched you agonize for his simple mistake. Its not fair.” she couldn’t wipe the tears away fast enough as they were coming.
‘It’s time to tell her.’ Colten whispered in my head.
I reached my hand out to hold hers “Brook, I have to fight, I am meant to be in this battle. There are things about this world that I know, that many others don’t. I have to do this. Not for Eli, but for everyone… and one day you. This battle, Brook, is a big deal. According to my source I’m the only one who can win it.”
“Addi please there is no way you could convince me that you are meant to do this.”
“Brook I have trouble convincing myself. But so far I have not been steered wrong.” I sighed “Brook I’m what they call a Soul Seer. I can see vampire souls. That is they guy I was trying to get you to see a while back. I’m the only one who can see him. Ezra know the history of other like me. But I am meant to win this battle. There’s a lot to understand and I only have so little time, but be confident in our side. Even if something happens to all of us I will still haunt you ok.” I smiled at my attempt to make her feel better. She fake smiled like I needed convincing.
“How about we let this go for now and enjoy dinner. I mean this battle is still weeks away isn’t it?”
“Brook” I gave her a questioning look “it’s down to days. Colten is still trying to pin point it.”
Her eyes swayed back and forth “Colten?”
I cleared my throat “I wasn’t kidding about the souls. He is the soul that was chosen to bond with me. He is the reason I’m always gone. There is a lot to the story you don’t understand, and I don’t want to explain until after this is over with.”
Her eyes widened in confusion and curiosity but she let it go. I think because she assumed it was more than she could handle. I didn’t doubt Brook’s abilities at being able to handle the truth in its entirety, but a human could only handle so much.
Dinner went smoothly and it felt just like old times. It was a Wednesday night and I had this feeling everything was going to be over before school Monday morning.
I took Brook with me to see Colten before I went home. I’d never admit to him and anyone but I missed being able to see him as much as I missed Eli.
Brook was completely freaked out by the idea of me talking and interacting with myself. But after this was all over she would have to get used to it.
I had told Colten how I was feeling. He didn’t give a day but he said ‘The sun will be at it’s highest and we will be waiting for them. They will not expect our numbers.’
No day again, just at noon. Id I was there that only left Saturday and Sunday.
After I dropped Brook off at her house I went to tell Ezra and Eli what I knew. The time was all collapsing and standing there in front of Eli… I just wanted to be close to him. But in the back of my head Colten was there too. I felt so wrong wanting both but it was more than I could control.
Thursday came so quick. The time was coming. I was glad to have no friends, but Ezra on the other hand; I didn’t know how to explain that one if he didn’t return. Wow I was being so negative! This whole thing was scaring the crap out of me and completely changing how I think.
School ended fast. I had no idea of anything that happened in any of my classes. Some how I felt like Colten’s feelings were hot wired to mine. I was feeling so anxious like there was something he wanted to tell me. Since there ware way too many vampires attending my school at the moment, he just passed his anxiety to me. As soon as the final bell rang I meet with Eli, Brook and Ezra.
“Are you ok?” Eli asked me “You seem… on edge.”
I tried to sound as calm as possible “Um yea. I think so. I’ll let you know in a little while.”
He looked at me suspicious but grabbed my hand and pulled me along. I had a hard time focusing on where I was going; nothing was registering as we walked to the car. I stood there at the car waiting to get in.
“Addi?” Eli caught my attention “You drove today.”
I looked surprised as I dug the keys out of my pocket. “Oh sorry. Something is up. You drive Ezra.” I tossed him the keys.
The second we were out of the school parking lot Colten spoke to me. ’He’s here! Ot he will arrive tonight. Saturday Addi. Saturday he will attack.’
My jaw dropped and my anxiety ceased. “He will be here today. Saturday he will attack.” I announced.