I stirred as my alarm blared loud and clear for me to awaken, I groaned and smacked it off. I sat up slowly taking in the mid-day light that shown slightly through my thick curtains that lined my apartment. I liked it that way now, since there was no sense in seeing the light in the eyes I had so longed to look into. I never looked into Adrian's eyes yesterday, I sigh from frustration but also from the memory of the note on the mirror. Maybe I should have talked more civil with him, but it doesn't give him the right to target the most hurt spots nor did he have a right to tell me to come back. The only thing that would make me go back is if Vladimir was alive, but he isn't and he never would be again not with the way he was killed.
I finally managed to get the strength to leave my bed and get dressed, I examined myself in the mirror not sure if I could do this. I knew that my co-workers were counting on me, but I didn't want to do this today. I didn't want to wait on people and deal with their crap I had my own to think about, the only way I could free of that is to go back. If I went back I wouldn't have to deal with the human societies and the way they seem to run, being back home I would have free reign I could see the others again. Even so both Adrian and that bastard are there still, I can't go back if I am not strong enough to seek revenge. It wouldn't sit well to let him just live, I don't see how the others could let that happen either.
I sighed reading the note again, just great I'm stuck with a problem again. Was I a problem magnet or something? I put the note back in the envelope, and put the envelope in my journal. I walked over to my bag and placed my journal inside. I zipped it up and grabbed my keys and a sweatshirt as I made my way for the door, as I opened it I felt an odd presence I figured it was Adrian. So I just shrugged it off and locked my door up and headed down the hall, I couldn't stop to chat I had to work and I was already on my way to being late for that.
As I was unlocking my car door I heard a light tread of footsteps behind me, I tensed a little but I did not stop my movements. I threw my bag and sweatshirt to the passenger side and slid into my seat. I closed my door quickly I started my car up and as I pulled my seat belt over my shoulder I noticed the figure that was stalking me like a prey, she had long light brown hair -to at least her mid back - and very pale grey eyes. Her body was pale like mine, though the difference was that confidence radiated off her. She smiled a wide smile, so I could see her fangs my eyes opened in shock when I looked at her arm that was extended out to me with all of her bracelets and her long fingers with a deep violet color that matched her deep violet dress, and in between those fingers was an envelope. Just like Vladimir had promised, I rolled my window down slightly and she came over handed me the note and disappeared. With that I was left with my first clue, and I had to figure out if I was going to pursue this, Vladimir wanted this from me. I am going to tell him no? The one I wanted to keep safe and the one who is no longer in this world.
I looked around making sure no one was in sight, I locked my doors and slowly opened my note. This was the same handwriting as the last one, so is that how I will receive them? I shuttered, now I felt even more uneasy. I wasn't so sure this was from Vladimir, what if someone copied his handwriting to feign me into a plan. I opened it up and began to read it:
Dear, Alexandria.
You must go back to where we once lived,
I know the memories may be too much but you have no choice.
I know that you probably have left, it's time to go back.
More letters to come.
Love always, your Vladimir.
Reading these makes it hard on me I miss him so much, he knew me so well. Almost too well, how am I supposed to believe it's really him? What's if it's just Adrian playing jokes so I'll go back, I got so angry I threw the letter on the car floor and as I did so something fell out landing on my foot. I bent down to pick it up, when I had it in my hand I knew what it was: the necklace that Vladimir had made me. I looked at the crystal wrapped in sliver hanging by the black woven thread, it was him! Before he died I realized that a few of my things went randomly missing. He's giving them back to me, to show me that even though he's gone he's still with me...
I wonder how long he knew? He couldn't be still alive, I watched him die! I shook my head and placed the necklace over my head and around my neck, I placed that envelope with the other and started my car that had died while everything went on. I backed out of my space and drove off to work. It's a good thing I leave a bit early everyday if not I would have been really late, I nodded to Elizabeth as I walked past her to the changing room. Of course she followed me in, and as always had something to say or ask.
" This Guy came by earlier looking for you, very attractive might I say." She giggled, I sighed she was always chasing the Guys. I just hoped it wasn't who I thought because one-things will get complicated if she tries to go for him, and 2-he looks so much like Vladimir I probably couldn't stand seeing them together.
" Oh? And what was his name ?" I needed to make sure
" Adrian." Shit. She smiled when she said his name.
" I see, so not only has he harassed me at home but now he plans to at my work. " I mumbled.
"H'm? I wasn't listening. " Good, I think?
" Oh nothing, I was asking you what you'd like to get for lunch. " She smiled, this girl loved to eat which was unusual for her species.
" Oh yeah! It's my turn to pick! Yay! " She squealed as she did her little dance of excitement.
" Shouldn't you be out there taking people's o- " I was cut off.
" Elizabeth! " I spoke too soon." Get back to work, I don't pay you to sit around. "
"Daddy, you don't pay me at all!" She said with a pout. Yep, my best friend's father owns my cafe. He bought it from me when I failed to pay all the bills, it's nice to have a rich friend especially when she's so nice. I never expected to find such a nice water nymph, you could tell she was one. With the long flowing light blonde hair that was almost white along with her deep but light blue eyes with a twist of sea green in them and the way she walked with such grace. Her skin was fair not to light but not too dark, she was a natural beauty and guys loved her. Her personality made her even more gorgeous, even though I knew I could trust her I never told her anything. I didn't want to risk anything, if I put her life in danger I'd never forgive myself.
As I walked out into the cafe's upstairs to take orders, I noticed him sitting in a dark corner. I approached him slowly he was definitely familiar.
" What can I get for you today sir?" I placed the menu on the table.
" You, my dear. On a plane." He smiled a crooked smile that I knew and it made me falter, I stepped back. " Sorry sir, that's not on the menu." I almost froze solid. " I'll let you think it over and I'll come back when you're ready to order. " I turned away, I needed to get out of this conversation before it was too late.
" It'd be a shame if anything were to happen to doll face over there, wouldn't? " My eyes widened in anger and I whipped around, he wouldn't. Adrian may be a jerk at times but he has never openly declared liking to hurt others, if anything it was the opposite.
" How dare you!" I said in a low growl. " You wouldn't touch her!"
" Oh, I wouldn't but think of who would. " I gasped. " come with me Lex, our clan needs you." I pondered it and at last said.
" As long as you can guarantee Elizabeth's safety. No one can know she knows me, she can't even be mentioned to anyone back home. " He smiled, he was getting what he wanted why wouldn't he smile?
" But of course my dear, shall we go tomorrow then?" All I did was nod and walk away, well back to Romania it is. I sighed, as long as she was safe I didn't need to worry. I mean she can take care of herself but as far as friends goes she was one of the closest ones I had. I wanted to take her to Romania one day but I can't until that bastard is dead, the clan may be already dying at his hands. I have been so stubborn on living my own life that the lives of others I used to see daily may be gone. I went down to tell her, she needed to know I was going somewhere.
"Hey can I talk to you?" I asked her as we were changing for the night in the girls changing room.
"What is it?" She looked at me confused, I always kept to myself and to be honest this was odd behavior even for me.
"I have to leave for a little while, do you think you could be in charge for me while I am gone. Of course that includes your ever generous father, you two seem to have a blast running this place. I need to see a dying family member, they are in a really far country but I can't tell you. It's complicated, just know I will be back." She had tears in her eyes, she came up and hugged me letting me know she was there for me.
"I'm not stupid." She said between sobs. "I know what you are you can't die of illness's, so the next best guess is this loved one is mortal and I wish you all the luck in that." We chatted for awhile after that and then I loaded up my stuff and headed home, I made my way up to my apartment. Though as I got there something was off, I placed my key in the keyhole turning it. It was already unlocked, I slowly opened the door peering in I saw a figure standing in my living room. Their back was to me, they seemed to be staring out my window over the small bit of greenery that is able to been seen from my window. His silhouette and hair made my heart leap I slowly walked in.
"Vladimir?" All these notes were making me crazy giving me false notions he was alive. The figure's head turned and looked at me, those eyes were his. I would know them anywhere, I stared into for what felt like and eternity. I had to be dreaming, I walked up slowly but it was so dark I could barely make out his features. I reached for him but hesitated. "A-Are you real?" I felt choked up I shouldn't be asking that, I knew he was dead I saw it with my own eyes. So why then, why did I feel like it was him? He didn't answer, he never said anything in that darkness. My tears flowed on and off and I couldn't help but swarm him with questions. He seemed to keep distance from me for a bit until the last thing I said. "If this is a dream I might as well get this off my chest then: I miss you so much my heart aches and my soul feels like it's there in pieces. I can feel it but it's not really there, every time I remember I cry to the point I can't breathe. It's hell remembering it all and I wish I didn't but if I didn't I wouldn't remember my love for you. That would be the worst hell of all, the pain reminds me I got to love you." I took a step closer to him, he didn't move away or even look away. I swear he never even blinked, but maybe that was my mind or dream playing tricks on me. I reached for him and gripped his arm, I could touch him. I burst into tears once more, I couldn't hold back any longer I plunged into him. I wrapped my arms so tightly around him as my body was shaken with sobs that nothing could stop, I felt his warmth around me nothing could compare to his voice.
"Oh my love, how I've longed to hold you. I couldn't imagine doing this, you are so brave. I am so proud of you for doing what you have been." His voice calmed my tears, I wiped my face off looking into his eyes once more. They were really his, even in this low light I was able to see some of the color in his eyes. I leaned up kissing him, his scent engulfed me and I knew it was it. I knew this had to be a dream at this point, I knew he was dead. I knew and yet I couldn't bring myself to stop.
In the morning my head pounded like it does from a hard cry, with made my brow furrow in confusion. That was a dream wasn't? Maybe I cried myself to sleep and that's why I dreamt I was crying. I slid out of bed walking out of my room and into the living room I was him, but before I could call out he turned around.
"Ah, good morning sleepy head. I see you're up and feeling better now?" Was he here for some of the crying? I tried to shrug it off but I couldn't shake the feeling.
"I'm fine Adrian, when did you get here last night? I remember coming home and seeing.. No no, that was a dream." I shook my head laughing at myself.
"Oh, what was?" He asked.
"Uh, nothing. I'll tell you later, so when does our flight arrive?" I tried my best to pick up another topic, but I couldn't tell if he was going to do that.
"I think around four." He said as he walked over handing me a warm mug.
"Thank you, I haven't been consuming as much as I should. I forget I think and then I just lose the drive to want to find a way to get some." I was trying to rationalize why I hadn't been myself but I didn't need to, I lost my lover no too long ago. Long enough I can bury memories but not long enough to forget them all.
"Well we will need to change that won't we? We can't have you starving to death, our people need a strong leader."
"Whoa. Hold up I never agreed to that, you can't just throw that on me." I started to feel the fire of rage start to kindle in me slightly it was brought down quickly though.
"Yes you did, last night." Last night? I was asleep dreaming about Vlad- shit.
"That was you?"
"Yes."
"It wasn't a dream? It wasn't a dream of Vladimir?"
"No."
"You're lying." I stepped back, no. That was HIS scent, HIS eyes, EVERYTHING was him. It had to be a dream, as real as I know his story was compared to mine because Vladimir is dead. "It was a dream. I didn't kiss you."
"You're right, you didn't." He said shifting his weight from, I couldn't tell if he was lying to make me feel better or if he actually believed me. Either way I was going to take that as a way to end the conversation.
"I am going to go shower." I ran off before he could say anything else, when I got out all my stuff had been packed. "Did you really waste some powers on super packing?" I laughed as I entered the room to Adrian packing the last box.
"Hey you never know what you will miss or need always good to come prepared."
"That may be true but how do you expect all this to go on an airplane? I don't want it all lost, I can just take the smaller more useful things." We both laughed at this because there was no time it was already almost three-thirty which meant it was time to leave to get to our flight on time.
"You're right on that, also when we get there we have to set up rules and other things because you're going to need to train in battle and in people reading." I raised and eyebrow but he gave me 'don't ask' face so I left it alone for now. We grabbed our carry on bags and ran off to our flight, this was scary but also it felt right. I was finally going back, I gripped the armchair tightly as we were off the ground now and on our way home.