Shadows

Departure

“I need an answer Victoria”

“Well I need more time”

“You don’t have time” I rose from my seat to go sit next to Dante. He wrapped his arm around me and pulled me close. I didn’t want to be away from him… but knowing my luck, that was just about to happen “Hiding behind him won’t do anything. I know he is a good man… but you have a duty child. One that cannot be ignored, not anymore”

“I’m not hiding, far from it. I just don’t want to leave him” I snuggled closer into his chest and closed my eyes. Why was everything so forced? Why did I have any say… or choice?

“Vicki?” he muttered, tilting my chin so that I would face him “Go” his eyes were red, blotchy and very watery. It was paining him to let me go which was breaking my heart… why? Why did this even have to happen? Why did I have to go?

“No” I whimpered “Why can’t you come with me?”

“Because he is not royalty, and lordship counts for nothing I am afraid. Only those of royal blood and the servants that are there are allowed into the household. It’s drastic. I have no idea if that has changed but I am not going to take the risk. I shall give you a few hours together… then I’m afraid I shall have to return to collect. You’ll be gone for three months… so you may want to make your last few hours’ worth while.” I nodded in reply and remained silent until she made her leave. Once out of the door, silent tears began to pour down my face. Dante released me, rose from his seat and walked over to the window. His skin lightly illuminated by the dim lighting. He was truly beautiful.

  For the next passing hour we lay in each other’s arms. Made and declared love. Silent tears frosted on his ice like skin. My heart truly ached; this was a pain unlike any other, to be away from him now was like taking a life support system from me. I knew it would be only three months… but it would feel like an eternity. He brushed a hair from my face and smiled gently, he was putting on such a front yet I knew he felt so much worse than me on the inside. We were truly, madly and deeply in love with one another… Love is such a funny thing, it heals and it destroys but it also hurts in such an imaginable way. Silent tears trailed down my face once more, a lump in my throat rose… it threatened to make me sob and splutter, but  I couldn’t break the silence… it was sacred at the moment. Every scent, every touch, ever sight would have to give me the strength to face whatever challenges that I may have to face.

  The next hour consisted of more silence, getting dressed and packing my suitcases… again. His expression was solemn yet strong. I stopped packing for a moment or two and made my way over to him. I kissed him passionately on the lips before taking him in a warm embrace.

“I’m gonna miss you Vicki”

“Ditto” I looked up to him to see a single tear flow down his cheek

“I don’t think I have shed a tear in over 150 years… what the hell have you done to me Vicki?” he laughed

“I hope it’s a good thing”

“Oh it is, it means you’ve let me feel again. You hurry up and come back quickly ya hear?”

“I’ll text you every day if I can” I muttered, laughing at the same time. I broke our embrace so that I could continue packing. She would be here soon and then it would be off to Romania for three months. What would the king think? Would he even like me? Would he be horrible towards us both… did he know that Daniel was my father? Did he even know that I existed? Aurora did mention that she had disowned them… but surely she didn’t cut all ties?

  Once everything was packed, we placed it in the small corridor by the door before making our way to the kitchen to have a glass of blood and coffee. The blood was metallic and very dry to drink. He said he had never liked donor stuff as it tasted tampered apparently, but if it kept him at bay and in control, he said that he was willing to put up with it. I was still amazed at my own control for that matter, I didn’t even hardly thirst for blood… like I was supposed to… but I guesse that comes with having memory loss for god knows how many years… and being slightly more human than Vampire. I was probably going to have to drink loads more blood whilst in Romania… Aurora didn’t seem happy that I wasn’t drinking much, and it was meant to build my strength up… so I guesse it was a good thing if I did. Vampires were so confusing.

  Drinking the coffee separately I began to think about this so called ‘prophecy’. Was I the doppelganger? I thought the doppelganger was in my head… she told me to awaken the other side of me which was her, so it HAD to have been her really. But what did Aurora mean when she asked if I had wondered why I looked like her? I was her daughter, surely that means DNA is involved… and I had assumed that her being a Vampire meant that she had stronger genes than Daniel. I broke my chain of thought to look up at Dante, he was staring at me with a confused and concerned expression

“What?” I asked him

“You seemed a little lost that’s all” he mused “It worried me… but under the circumstances, it’s understandable”

“Dante, I’m sorry that I didn’t tell you about her… and my lineage”

“Hey, don’t worry”

“I will though… and I’m going to worry even more when I’m gone. You were an ass when I first met you mind” I laughed “What if someone better comes along when I’m gone… and you decide I’m old news” I choked on the last statement, I never wanted that to happen. Not ever.

“That’s not possible. I’m so in love with you it’s crazy Vicki. Precides I have chosen you as my mate… I can’t break that… it’s a vamp thing” I placed my cup down, and walked over to him, wrapping my arms around his waist and never wanting to let go… why? That was the only thing that spiralled through my mind.

   Finally, there came a knock on the door. I breathed deep and made my way to the door.

“Ready?” Aurora chirped, I sighed and turned to face Dante, gave him one last hug and kissed him tenderly. Our foreheads touched and we both closed our eyes.

I love you I thought to him. Images of us kissing and making love ran through my mind.

I love you too Vicki. Don’t forget that either.

I won’t. I swear to you.

“Victoria” Aurora insisted. I broke our touch, grabbed the bags that she hadn’t already clasped and made my way out of the apartment. Silent tears once more made their way down my face, yet I pretended that they weren’t even there. Instead, I held my head up high and stayed strong.

  A black Peugeot was parked outside the apartment. It had the stereotype of a typical ‘mom’ car which was totally cringe worthy. Thankfully the car was very comfortable so that minor detail was overlooked and easily forgivable. She had someone drive us there… I thought it was because she was a royal but in fact... it was because she owned her own law firm. I had a lawyer for a mother… always handy to know if I get in any trouble with the police I suppose. I remained silent and looked out the window throughout the journey, I knew things would feel better once I was distracted which was why… in some strange way, I was actually excited about meeting the royals of the vampire world.

  We arrived at Lasham airport about an hour or so later. Surprisingly it wasn’t that far. We were to board one of the planes in first class as Aurora preferred the space and luxury… no she was just snobby and didn’t want to fly with the ‘common’ people.

“Are you nervous?”

“A little” I admitted “What if they don’t like me?”

“They shall” she laughed “If they don’t, they’ll have me to answer to”

“When you said you became rouge… what did you mean?”

“Oh, rogues are those who do not accept and hate us… they normally team up with slayers, imposing them is easy… so the information is too”

“Is it dangerous?”

“Very”

“Then why do it?”

“Someone has to” she mumbled “Now, relax and enjoy the flight. You’ll be meeting your grandfather soon. And then everything starts” thanks for the reminder.