The truth hurts

Here we go again; this is a dream that’s for sure…

I was walking in a long corridor, I looked down and I saw that I was wearing that dress again. Music…I hear music so I walk towards it. It becomes louder and I can hear people talking and laughing too.

On my way I catch my reflection in the mirror and I stop to look at it. I look beautiful and then I see my medallion, I smile at the thought of having it around my neck, it was an important present and it had to be with me at all time, it was special.

I kept walking and finally found the place where the music and voices were coming from…it was a ball dance.

People turned to look at me when I came in, I received a lot of smiles and praising comments, I felt really happy it looked as if tonight was going to be a special night.

I walked towards an old man that hugged me and kissed my cheek when he saw me.

“Thank you very much for allowing us to use your home for our celebration” I said to him

“It’s an honour Miss McGraw; you well know that he’s like a son to me” he said with a huge smile 

“He’s not here yet but I can’t find Christopher either”

“He must be on his way, not to worry” I smiled at him, lowered my head in reverence and walked away, away from the room, away from the noise and into…huh oh! This room again.

I was in a big and bright room with big golden curtains and a huge bed, princess style, there were many paintings on the walls, like the ones you see in the times of kings and queens. I was making myself more beautiful for the night sat in front of a mirror. My dressing table had all this perfumes and golden combs plus lots of jewellery. 

I shivered suddenly, something was about to happen. I heard a scream from one of the rooms and I ran towards it to take a quick look. I saw one of my guards being attacked by something, I gasped but I couldn't move then my eyes met its red eyes and I screamed as that thing snapped the head of the guard and flew across the hall, through the door and into my room.

Its red eyes focused on me but I could now see his face, Leonard…his glance focused on my neck? No, on my medallion. Gabriella he said and then he showed his canine teeth at me furiously. He walked towards me so fast that it was a blur, in no second he was in front of  me, he ripped my medallion from its chain, opened his mouth and leaned forward….I yanked my eyes open this is seriously getting intense

“Are you ok?” I almost screamed I forgot he was still in here and he was in the same place I left him last night, by the window.

“Yes, I just had a nightmare”

“Gabriella?”

“Yes”

“What do you actually see?”

“Everything…is like being sent to the past in a time machine, everything is so clear that it scares me” he sat on my bed.

“What did you see today?”

“I saw again the night she died, but this time it started earlier. I usually get into the dream a few minutes before she's attacked but this time I got to walk around your house and I saw your father”

“You saw my father?”

“Yes...what is this?” I said pointing to my medallion “she was looking at it a lot”

“I gave it to her” great just great “I found it close to her body and I gave it to her family…to your family”

“Gabrielle?” said Jeremy from across the door “are you awake?”

“I’ll be down in a minute Jeremy”

“See you later” he said kissing my forehead and disappearing from my room. 

After cleaning up I went downstairs but Jeremy wasn’t there just Elizabeth.

I sat in silence eating my cereal, she was reading the papers. It actually was a good moment to ask her about a few things but I hesitated a lot, so much that she was about to leave when I reaccione.

“I wasn't going to ask you about it because I didn't care... but now I want to know, I need to know why you abandoned me.” She sat back down and looked me in the eye

“I never did”

“You never did? Ok...now is your chance to explain”

“I know from Jeremy that you've been asking about our family, as you can see they're dead is just us now and you've seen what happened in St. Martyr’s day and this days more than ever... this place is dangerous I wanted you out of here and that's what I did”

“As your father did with you, ok I can understand that but why didn't you come with me?”

“I couldn't… I have a commitment with this town”

“And what about your commitment with me; your daughter! Did you ever ask dad about me? You never even called”

“I don't hope you to understand now... but you will”

“Don't hold anything back, this is the first time we are really talking about this...so if there's something you are not telling me cause you are protecting me or something don't you think I'd be better off knowing what it is so I can fight against it?”

She stared at me for a while

“I can't... whatever I've ever done and I'm doing now is to protect you, I don't want you to think never again that I didn't love you that I abandoned you cause is not true...you are the most important thing that has ever happened to me” her eyes started watering that made me feel uncomfortable but I kept asking.

“Then why you never told me? Why did you let me step on you like I did?”

“Maybe I deserved it. And it was your decision anyway, I wasn't going to use it as excuse to get close to you,  it was your decision to want to know...to ask about it. And I'm glad you did... do you think there is a chance of a hug here? now?”

I let her hug me and it was cool.

“Gabrielle please be careful, I might not be around for much longer”

I was about to protest but she hushed me, she wanted to just enjoy the moment and I did too, so I gave in.

Anyway she gave away much more than she thought. She is protecting me from something…now what’s that something. Oh god does she know??

After our mother-daughter momentum she left and I was left alone with my thoughts again.

She said she was protecting me...from this place? Yes… but there's more and if she won't tell me I'll find someone that will.

I wanted to ask Christopher about it but he holds things on me, I feel like he's over protecting me, as if he didn't want me to know the whole story and that irritated me, always editing information. But I knew someone that would tell me...I needed to see Leonard, and I needed him now otherwise this intrigue would leave me without air.

It’s strange, now that I think about it it’s been ages I haven't hold my breath, I don't feel the need for that pain again.

I wonder where I can meet him without Christopher knowing otherwise he won't let him tell me.

I called Leonard hoping he would meet me, the last time we spoke it was painful for him but this is not about Gabriella is about Elizabeth and what she is hiding from me. So I called him and told him that I needed to talk to him, it was an emergency and that Christopher shouldn't know about this.

He agreed to meet me "outside town there is place where I usually go is quiet and Christopher doesn't know about it" he said, so I drove to that place.

It was a beautiful lake in a meadow with lots of docks and colourful flowers.

When I pulled over I saw him feeding them, it was a really sweet picture to take.

I wanted to scare him as he couldn't hear my thoughts it shouldn't be difficult, so I left the door of the car partially open. It was a beautifull but deserted place covered with lost of trees almost hidden I doubted there were people around, and if there were people Leonard wouldn't let them take my car.

I walked really slow making just tiny movements so it wouldn't make noise, glancing at the grass form time to time so I wouldn't trip with anything or over anything and when I looked back up…he wasn't there anymore.

I looked around looking for him but I couldn't find him, I stood there for a few seconds I swear he was here and he suddenly grabbed me from behind lifting me in the air as if I was a doll

"I can't hear your thoughts but I can still hear you" he sniffed from my hair "and smell you mmh...roses" he finally put me down.

"Hi"

"Hello Miss Thomas" and he made a reverence like they used to do in the old times "what can I do for you?" he was being really nice and it was weird, I didn't know if to like it or not. I hesitated for a bit I didn’t know how to start

"Can we seat somewhere?" He took my hands and pulled me down to seat on the grass I looked at him frowning

"You said somewhere. well...talk"

"What can you tell me about Elizabeth?" I said straight away

"Your mother?" For the first time it didn't disturb me that much to hear somebody address her as my mother

 "Yes"

"What are you really asking what do you want to know? And why this has to be a secret?"

"Christopher wouldn't tell me if I ask him and wouldn't let you tell me either, and about Elizabeth...does she know about you? Being a vampire I mean"

"Christopher didn't explain you the situation?”

"No...He didn't. what situation?"

"I see...this is going to be fun"

"I already knew that he was hiding things from me but I never thought he would hide something that involves Elizabeth, I thought he just didn't want me to know about the past"

"This involves the past and I'm rethinking if I should even tell you"

"Please not you Leonard" he looked at me and then up front and started talking.

"It all starts with Gabriella" is incredible how everything takes us back to her, so much for not wanting to hurt him

“By the time she...died they already knew about the existence of vampires here in Zoneville.  There were rumours about people drinking blood, so when they found her body they guessed they had a vampire in Zoneville..." He hesitated a lot I think he was still debating if he should tell me or not

"Your family started with the hauntings, my family Christopher’s dad and friends followed them...we turned into vampires hunting vampires" he said with a playful smile "and then everybody else followed, now days just a few people still remember and protecting town, just a few people keep risking their lives to save Zoneville… your mum is one of them... she hunts us" I felt like I was being hit with a hammer as that information got in my brain " the reason why the members of your family are dying is not because of accidents or animal attacks as you might have already guessed but because they are coming back to take revenge of those who hunted them back in 1703"

I told him to tell me everything he knew and like I expected he did.

He told me that it all became more secret, that before, everybody knew about them but they were hunted till extinction or at least that was what they thought, that as time passed and the attacks stopped they starter to minimise the knowledge in people about vampires.

Just one member of each family would know about them to protect their families and to protect the town. But not all the families just the McGraw's family (that’s my family), Martyr’s family (Christopher’s), Julian's family (Sam’s), Sheridan's family (Ben’s) and William’s family.

Those people are the members of the town's council too.

My grandma was a member of the council, when she died my grandpa took over luckily enough both of them knew about vampires but before she died she let Meredith (Elizabeth’s older sister) know about it too.

After gram's death grandpa sent their kids to California and when he died they came back because Meredith needed to take over.

As he told me all this, my thoughts were getting in order bit by bit. I was trying to put together all the information I’ve been catching since I came here. For what Jeremy told me Meredith got in the council cause she was the oldest sister, as well as in the other families, the next generation is always created by the first child of each member so when they went to California Meredith already knew... while Elizabeth and Jeremy were living their lives as if everything was normal she already knew the secret, so when they got back to Zoneville she took over, but then she died probably hunting and…she told Elizabeth about it just in case something happened to her?? And something did happen so Elizabeth now knows!!! Aaah headache

“Does Jeremy know yet?” I asked Leonard very nervous 

“Probably not… I don't think so”

“But in St. Martyr’s day he went hunting”

“Yes, like the rest of the man in town. But the council goes their on way so what the rest of the people really hunts are animals” *sigh* ok...this is so confusing

“This has been going on from the 17 century and it will go on till the end of the days Gabrielle. They want revenge and some day they will get it, as you can see they are taking every family of the council out, member or not, there will be a day”

“When nobody will know” I said under my breath

“Exactly and vampires will run free over town”

I started to feel breathless, dizzy; my head was spinning around like a noria. 

“Are you ok Gabrielle? You don’t look good” He put his hand on my forehead “*sigh* there’s no use, I can't know if that's your real temperature” so he tempted to take his hand off but I put it back on my forehead and closed my eyes.

“It feels good” it was true, his hands were ice cold exactly what I needed… we looked into each other eyes for a moment and then he seemed annoyed.

“I shouldn't have told you”

“No! Is worse if I don't know” my eyes started moistoring without previous notice “she knew” I said while tears started derramandose off my eyes

“What?”

“That's why she sent me away oh my god… but she never told me anything how was I supposed to know?” Leonard took me into his arms and hugged me, he was cool but I needed his hug for a while.

“I’ve been so mean to her and she was protecting me”

“Is not your fault, you didn’t know”

“I need to go home; I have to talk to her”

“She can never know what you know Gabrielle”

“I know, I won’t betray you don’t worry”

“That’s not what I...” my phone started ringing and I picked it up

“Hello….hi Brook how you…what? I’m on my way”

“What’s wrong?” Leonard said

“Come with me I’ll explain in the car”

This was our opportunity to start saving people but we needed to hurry.

Once in the car I drove off to Brook’s house…she just drew another one of her weird sketches and this time she wanted to do something about it.

On our way I explained everything to Leonard, he wasn’t surprised and he already knew about witchy Jenny too. It didn’t seem fair that the cousins knew about my friends but then my friends didn’t know about the cousins, we needed to do something about it.

Anyway we got to Brook’s house and she was already out her door with Jenny waiting for me.  I saw from far their surprised expressions when they saw me coming with Leonard. I told Leonard to wait for me in the car and I walked towards the girls.

“What is he doing here?” Brook said

“He was with me when you called”

“Did you tell him?” said Jenny

“That’s the least of our problems, don’t worry ok? What's this new sketch about?”

 Brook opened her file and showed the sketch to me, I looked at it for a while and as I checked on every detail I realized that I knew that room

“Gabrielle what is it?” said Brook, I didn't answer I was still looking at the bed, the window, the wardrobe, the desk with the computer and specially the two people standing close the window

“Gabrielle!” Jenny insisted

“Is my room”

“What?” they said at the same time, I glanced at Leonard in the car and he was looking right at me.

“This is my room girls, those are my sheets, my desk and computer…this is my room, it’s my house….Elizabeth!” I ran to the car and they followed after me, oh god please don’t allow this to happen, not her not now.

Leonard called Christopher while I was driving.

“You need to calm down if you want us to get there in one piece” said Jenny

“I can’t… I need to hurry, if something happens to Elizabeth it would be my fault I invited him in!!”

“What are you talking about?” I turned the wheel drastically, which made the car swing around the corner and it made the girls scream, I couldn’t think about anything else, I needed to get home as fast as I could. And Jeremy? Where is he? Oh please, please…

As we arrived to the door Christopher materialised in front of us

“What the heck is that!!!” one of the girls said but right now I didn’t care if they saw something they weren’t supposed to see. Leonard and I got out of the car.

“What's going on?” asked Christopher “Gabrielle calm down, what is it?” when I was about to talk we heard something breaking from my room. I didn’t think I just ran towards the house but Christopher pulled me back.

“Wait here!” he said and got in the house, then Leonard followed but he suddenly stopped at the door.

“You need to invite me in!”  He said annoyed 

“You can come in”

“What’s happening Gabrielle?” said Brook and I could see her questioning eyes, but then I heard a scream and I ran into the house and upstairs as fast as I could, Brook and Jenny behind me.

When I got into the room everything was like a huge déjà vu…everything was exactly the same as Brook’s sketch, my sheets were pulled over almost on the floor, my little lump was broken and you could see the glasses scattered on the floor. Elizabeth was in front of the window facing the door and behind him was that vampire, he had her in front of him as a shield and as in the sketch his hand was putting pressure on her throat…everything was exactly the same except that now Leonard and Christopher where in one side of the room ready to attack and Jenny, Brook and I were by the door. I could see Elizabeth’s face, I’m sure she was wondering what the cousins were doing in my room but she smiled at me.

“Run!!” she said and in no second that vampire yanked his teeth on her throat and jumped with her thru the window.

“Nooo!” I screamed and ran towards the window but Christopher held me back while Leonard Jumped out and then Christopher followed.

I was paralysed for a moment; I couldn't believe what I just saw, what just happened.

I couldn't believe that I just had her and I lost her again.

Tears started pouring off my eyes and I felt light headed, I was hyperventilating and I started shaking…I ran to the window and I cried out loud “Elizabeth!!!....mother!!...mum!!!”

END OF PART 1

Safe

Talking about Gabriella with the girls helped me a little.

If what Jenny said about our connection was true, I could understand why Gabriella was trying to warn me.

In 1703 she was caught in a love triangle in between not just two man but two vampires that were so in love with her that ended up killing her.

Now in 2010 me, Gabrielle knows them both…but I’m not in love with both of them, I know who they are so I know my risks. And the most important thing…I’m not her.  

*********************************************************************

It was time for me to go home…Jeremy called me earlier to let me know they would be late but I couldn't stay at Jenny’s any longer because her family was having visitors and Brook was leaving town with her mum.

Christopher was out of town and I didn’t have Leonards number to tell him I was going home, that I would be alone, to please come and stay with me now.

I was actually scared while driving home; it wasn’t dark yet but it didn’t help matters.

Christopher said that a vampire’s been coming to the house...often, I just saw him once but he said often, which means that he might have been in my room more than once or that he might have been walking around the house while we were all sleeping, I could not imagine being in that house on my own anymore.

I was driving again where those weird trees started to appear, I hate this area is really sinister; I had to put music so I wouldn’t hear those weird noises coming from the woods, I tried to accelerate but instead my car stopped. Great, just great now what?

I didn’t want to come out of the car, but I couldn't stay in either. I tried calling emergency so they would pick me up but I didn’t have signal, I even opened the window and stretched my hand out with my phone but still no signal. I stayed in the car for a while checking if I was going to be lucky and another car would pass through this road but nothing. It looked like I had to walk…

It would take me 30 to 40 min to walk home and it wasn’t a good idea. I got out of the car still trying to get signal. I was a few paces away from my car when I started having that feeling again, something was following me.

I stopped and looked back a few times and didn’t see anything, but I knew better...so I started running, running for my life. I could hear it closer and I kept running. Suddenly somebody appeared a few steps ahead in front of me, I couldn't see properly so I started stepping back.

“It’s me Gabrielle!” said the voice

“Leonard?” as I walked closer to him I noticed something estrange, even from far this shadow looked taller and bigger.

It wasn’t Leonard, It couldn’t be him…I ran in the other direction as fast as I could but in no second he had me and dragged me into the woods.

He carried me with no effort and I felt like flying as I couldn't feel the ground, the wind was wiping my hair and the trees were just a blur.

I screamed, I yelled at that thing to let me go, I even bit him but he didn’t even notice what I was doing. I was starting to get dizzy, I could even feel my stomach complaining…what was that smell? Something smelt like….decomposing.

He finally stopped and threw me on the floor next to a body.

When I looked at it I realized that it was of the corpse of the guy everybody was looking for, the missing one. Oh my god! He’s been dead since then, he’s been decomposing in here!!! I felt like puking but I couldn't take my eyes off him. He had the famous two wounds on his throat and he looked disgusting. I’m sure this vampire's been keeping him here to get his blood till he drained him out…am I next?

That man walked towards me, I never saw him before…he was tall and big and blond, his eyes were pure red and I could see the thirst in them…the need of taking me.

I closed my eyes while he got closer and then I heard a strong noise, the two rocks smashing noise. When I opened my eyes that man was on the floor and Leonard was on top of him.

The man pushed Leonard away with one hand and smashed him against one of the trees, ouch! That must’ve hurt a lot, then the man turned towards me and in no second he was on the floor again receiving a few hard punches from Leonard but the man got him out of the way again, there was no competition here, this guy was bigger than Leonard, if he really wanted to and concentrated in Leonard instead of in trying to kill me, he would’ve killed Leonard already.

But that was his weakness because this time when he turned towards me, Leonard did something that man didn’t expect, he got one big sharpened branch and thrust it through his back and into his heart, making the branch come the other way out his chest, the man stopped moving but he didn’t become ashes as I thought it would, instead he just became a statue and then in no second his head was rolling towards my legs. I screamed of course but Leonard took the head into his hands and it became ashes along with the body.

“What was that!!!?” 

“You are a troublesome girl” he said with an annoyed expression

“What did I do now?”

 “Didn’t I tell you not to be out here alone?”

“Weren’t you supposed to check on me earlier?” yeah…it looks like our relationship is getting better by the second isn’t it? Oh that smells!!

“C’mon” he said offering his hand to me, I took it and he helped me up but I felt a stinging pain in my ankle ouch!!

“Are you ok?”

“Is my ankle, I think I twisted it again”

“Like I said, troublesome…let me help you” he carried me into his arms effortless and started walking away

“Are we leaving him here?” I said pointing to the body of the missing guy “his parents have been looking for him all over the place…please” He sighed and looked at the body.

“I’ll come back for him”

“Thank you…for saving me too” he walked really slow and careful with me in his arms, we stayed in silence for a while but then as always I started with my questioning.

“Do you hate me because I look like her?” he just kept looking up front not stopping with his pace

“I know what happened to Gabriella” I felt his hands tighten on me when I said her name “and I know it was an accident so you can stop now blaming yourself and Christopher”

“What did he tell you?” he finally spoke

“That you both loved her and he made you both loose her”

“I’m the one who lost her, because she chose me”

“Ok I wasn’t there, so I can’t judge but correct me if I'm wrong, as far as I know you took her from him”

“That’s what he always said but it wasn’t true, you cannot make somebody love you…even if I wanted to take her from him, I wouldn’t have been able if she didn’t want me to”

“Are you saying that she didn’t love him?”

“I’m saying that he misunderstood gratitude with love, he saved her and she felt attached to him because of that, but she didn’t love him. She loved me”

After that we stayed in silence again for a while and I got lost in my thoughts. Till now I always thought that she loved them both, that she might have been playing along in this triangle game but it never occurred to me that all could've a misunderstanding, that it could've been a one sided love... I remember in my dream in the bright living room feeling attracted to both of them, but was she really just in love with Leonard? Why didn’t she tell Christopher from the beginning? *sigh* I told Christopher already about my dreams…should I tell Leonard too?

“There’s something else I have to tell you about Gabriella…I’ve been having flashes of her life through my dreams”

“What is that suppose to mean?”

“How to tell you this…I saw you in my dream before you came from Italy I just didn’t know it was you…hold on a minute” my eyes widened with realization and I removed myself from his arms to look at him and he looked at me with a frown.

“… you tried to kill me! I mean her”

“What are you talking about?”

“The first night I spend in Zoneville I had this horrible dream, I was getting ready to go somewhere and then I heard a noise coming from the corridors, when I looked out I saw red eyes and something came into my room”

I could she his eyes widened and full of remorse, he knew what I was talking about

“He said Gabriella, and when it was about to kill me I woke up…is that what happened? You were waiting for her outside and then you turned into something and you got her?”

“*sigh* he didn't think of the consequences when hi did that to me. He didn't know that by condemning me he was condemning himself too.

We were always together he should have known that my changing would affect me while being with her”

“But he lost her too, you need to forgive”

“If it was a reversed situation and it was you hurting would you forgive…would you? Be honest! You would have eternity to hate and probably get revenge would you let it go?”

“Revenge is not justice”

“What do I care? I'm going to hell anyway”

“He's your family”

“And she was going to be my wife” ok maybe I shouldn’t have started this conversation; he’s full of pain I can’t stand it.

After calming down he came closer to me and lifted his hand to then put it on my cheek I didn’t expect that move at all and it gave me chills that I shouldn’t be feeling.

“I've worked so hard to try to forget, I even treated you bad to keep you away from me… but here you are image and likeness of Gabriella...Gabrielle”

He put his other hand on my other cheek making me look straight at him and I could see it then....this was a torture for him

“It does hurt you to see me doesn't it?”

“It does more than that, it makes me want you” what did he just say? And why is my heart beating so fast, stop it!! Calm down…he’s looking at you, oh god what to do

“I think we better go, c’mon I’ll carry you” he kneeled to take me

“I’m ok”

“Don’t be silly, you can’t walk” and he finally carried me. We walked in silence for a long time and I was so relieved that he couldn't hear my thoughts cause I was really going through a tornado of thoughts and emotions and I couldn't stop thinking about the way Gabriella felt in the car whenever he touched her hand…this is madness.

I don’t mind being in silence you know, I like quietness but this was awkward, I needed noise so I started asking again.

“Why didn’t that man become ashes when you nailed the branch in his heart?”

“Cause that wasn’t enough to kill him”

“Is the whole stick through heart a myth?”

“No. we can die if the stick is kept in the heart for a longer period of time but you would need to tie a vampire up to keep it there”

“What?”

“I’ll explain, a stick through the hurt paralyses us for a few minutes, enough time to rip our head off and kill us, or to tie us up and leave the stick were it is…it will kill us period”

“Why are you so complicated, where did all those easy tricks go? And I guess holy water, garlic and crosses don’t work with you either”

“If people knew the real ways of killing a vampire we would all be dead by now…here we go” we already got out of the woods and he put me down beside my car.

“Is not working” I said to him looking at my car when he put me down

“You won’t need your car…your family will pass here in a few minutes. I’ll be in the woods looking after you till they come…don’t worry I won’t let anything happened to you” and he disappeared, I looked around trying to guess from were he was looking at me but I couldn't see anything… like nothing was moving around.

Today is been a crucial day for me, I’ve finally been able to understand why he is the way he is. Why he acted like that around me, but both of them did the same, both of them tried to keep me away because they were afraid of what could happen if they didn’t.

I remember when Christopher asked me to stay away so he would be able to prevent me from hurting. Is this what he meant? Cause I'm not hurt but confused. This entire Gabriella thing is driving me crazy and the ones hurting are them.

But anyway today’s chat with Leonard had helped us; I just feel like I could talk to him about anything but being close to me really hurts him.

I think is going to be better if I stay away from him for a while to help him get his feelings in order, he needs to think of me as Gabrielle and not Gabriella otherwise he’s going to suffer.

A few minutes later I saw a car coming towards my direction, I made signs for them to stop but I guess they recognized my car from far anyway cause Jeremy came out of the car even before it stopped and after him Elizabeth, looking around like expecting something to happen. It actually made me laugh to think about everything I’ve gone thru these last days and that they don’t know.

“Get in the car” said Elizabeth while Jeremy helped me in.

“What happened to you?” said Jeremy a bit alarmed when he saw me limping

“My car ran out of gasoline and I tripped while walking away” both of them were really tense.

“What happened? Are you going to tell me where you guys went?”

“We were following a lead…somebody said they saw Dave Rogers around Watertown” Dave that’s his name…well they will see him again soon enough, if Leonard doesn’t forget to pick him up.

We finally got home…I was so tired that I didn’t even want to have dinner.

My ankle was a lot better so I went upstairs on my own, had a shower and put a bit of relaxing cream on my swollen ankle. Everything that happened today was still so fresh in my mind that it scared the hell out of me to think another vampire was out there, waiting to get me.

I kind of walked from one side of my room to another, thinking on ways to protect my family from them but not holy water neither garlic or crosses worked, so then what?

“Why don’t you sleep?” said a voice that made me jump “are you going to say again that I don’t scare you?”

“ok you scared me, there you go” I said with a heart beat that left me without breath...he's in my room again

“Good…why aren’t you sleeping?”

“I had a hard day”

“Leonard told me about it…you should rest”

“I can’t”

“Why not?”

“Cause I’m scared”

“You don’t have to, I’ll be here”

"All night?"

"Unless you don't want me to"

“Won’t Byron tell you off?”

“I’m protecting you so I’m working”

“Aren’t you tired? You’ve had a long day too”

“Don’t worry about my sleeping habits and just sleep”

He walked towards the window and stayed there, I wonder what he was thinking about…after a few minutes I started to doze off, slowly started getting into unconsciousness.

TO BE CONTINUED….

Confessions

Even though Christopher was the one I liked I couldn’t stop dreaming and thinking about Leonard.

It wasn’t a dream that belonged to me thought but Gabrielle’s feelings were being transferred to me while dreaming and they were intense.

After the almost kissed night, I haven’t seen Christopher, it looks like he’s avoiding me, he hasn’t been going to school either which makes me confirm it, gosh I would like to know how can this two ditch class so much and still being the teacher’s favourite, I don’t understand.

Today’s plan was a sleepover Jenny’s.

Elizabeth and Jeremy would be out of town till tomorrow evening and they didn’t want me alone at home. I didn’t want to be alone at home either so I happily told them that I’d stay at Jenny’s.

After class I had to go back home cause I forgot Gabriella’s picture, I decided to show it to the girls tonight. I’ve been hiding them a lot of information and I don’t think they deserve it. I wasn’t really sure of telling them about the cousins yet, because it doesn’t just involve them but their whole family…I don’t know what to do, I’ll have to think about it.

I got the picture and connected on-line for a while, I really wanted to talk with Zoë and Miranda, even thought I wasn’t going to be able to tell them much but at least I could moan about Christopher’s absence with them. I wanted to talk to normal people for a chance…but they weren’t there. I don’t know what they are doing but I feel like they’ve forgotten about me.

I switched off the computer and got my stuff to get out of the house before it got dark; I didn’t want to be out in the dark, alone.

So I started walking downstairs and I heard a noise, I didn’t want to call out names because I knew they left already the house so it couldn’t be them. I got down and I saw nobody around but he could be in the living room so I went in the kitchen, left my backpack on the floor and got a big knife. When I was about to go to the living room I heard steps coming towards me, I hide behind the door but then he called my name.

“Christopher?”

“You can come out now” he said as if he knew I was there all along, I came out of the kitchen with my big knife in hand

“Were you going to attack me with that?” he said with a mocking face

 “What are you doing here?”

“I can leave if you want”---“no!” he gave me one of his teasing smiles “why are you so jumpy?” he said still smiling

“Where have you been?”

“Again?”----“Christopher”-----“*sigh* It was my turn to make my ronda, a vampire is been coming near this area often… in fact he’s been in here”

“Yeah… I kind of invited one in”

“What?! Didn’t you hear what I told you about invitations?”

“I didn’t know he was a vampire and it was before you told me about it anyway?”

“Have you seen him again?”

“Yes…he was in my room last week”—“what”—“but Elizabeth came like the night you were there and scared him off”

“Did she see him”---“no, and I told her it was a nightmare and that’s why I screamed”

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Cause you said it was hard for you to be around me, I didn’t want to because you more pain having to be my bodyguard”

“Believe me when I say that nothing would cause me more pain than yours” I can’t believe what he just said, is he being serious?

“If your family is leaving what are you going to do? You can’t be alone”

“I’m staying at Jenny’s tonight and how do you know they are leaving?”

“Cause I’m leaving too”----“Where?”----“another day Gabrielle”

“Here we go again, Christopher…you can’t keep doing this”

“Not now Gabrielle…let’s go, I’ll take you to Jennifer’s house”

“Wait here” I went into the kitchen to get my stuff and then we got in my car and he drove off, he did bring his but I guess he would later come back and take it.

We were again in silence for a moment; I was starting to feel annoyed again, not information, no kiss I don’t like this situation…

“I saved her” he said, not taking his eyes from the road “From another vampire, he was about to drain her out when I took her from him, by that time I was already surviving on animal’s blood and I was trained by Byron to control my thirst. I was strong and fresh so the other vampire took off”

“And what happened” oh my god she turned into a vampire!!!

“Gabriella was faint, for the shock I guessed. I saw the two wounds on her throat; he didn’t have time to pierce deep so she was going to be ok but those two wounds were bleeding…at that moment I wanted to drain her out myself”

He looked at me with a crooked smile waiting for my reaction I guess but I just told him to keep talking. 

“She smelt like roses, if my heart were still beating, at that moment it would’ve gone fast cause when she turned her head I paralysed…she opened her eyes and smiled at me before shutting  them back down. She had the most beautiful marrones verdosos eyes I’d ever seen, I was frozen looking at her and then I realised that I couldn't hear anything.

I could hear people talking from far away, I could hear the soft breathing of the sleeping kids, I could even hear rats walking underground but I couldn’t hear a thing of what was going on inside her head. Like what happens with you Gabrielle”

“And then?” I insisted, I wanted to understand their love although it didn’t please me much the way he talked about her and then he continued talking.

“I took her with me to my house and explain father what happened, of course I didn’t say the whole truth, just that somebody attacked her, that I scared him off and she faint. It took a lot of me to resist the temptation of taking her myself while carrying her but all I could think about was in her smile…that smile that brought me happiness.

After that she started frequenting the house…we started dating, we were in love or so I thought. Everything was perfects but then Leonard came from one of his trips from Italy and he started flirting with her…I should’ve seen it coming. He never had respect towards me, he thought he could take whatever he wanted from me and he did. She fell in love with him and left me again falling in the darkness where I should’ve stayed in the first place. They were happy, and they made their engagement official. At that moment I wanted to die. It was the first time I really thought I was damned since I turned into what I am now.

I was furious, I wanted revenge so I pay a visit to the town’s witch and I embruje Leonard…it was suppose to last a few minutes, enough for him to not recognize her, to reject her in front of everybody. I didn’t think I didn’t know there was a transition a transformation period where he would loose control. Because he was a vampire it affected him in a different way, he became something else.

He was with her when that happened, on the night they were going to announced their wedding date, and he killed her” He stooped the car; I could see the pain and regret in his face, even though he was trying to hide it, I could still see it his hands became fists. It broke my heart.

“Because of me, he killed her, because of me none of us could have her” I wanted to erase his pain, to ease his frustration, but what could I do? I just stood there in silence till he looked at me. He stroked my face and with a smile said “but here you are now”

“Yes and I looked exactly like her…but I’m not her” he pulled back and looked at me with a frown “I don’t want you to be her, is that what you think? That I'm getting closer because you look like her?

“It did cross my mind a couple of times…yeah”

“Then you don’t understand my feelings for you”

“Do you actually feel something for me?”

“When I saw you the first time I knew you weren’t her so I tried to be as far from you as possible, I feared that I would fall for Gabriella again, for that appearance just because you look alike but you are not her, you are stronger and stubborn as you can’t imagine, so without realising it I started liking you and the fact that you know what I’m and it doesn't bother you makes me be more secure about my feelings for you”

I stood in silence for a while ignoring his glance, I knew he was looking at me waiting for my reaction to all that but I couldn't talk I needed to think to process all this new information. But he was impatient “what are you thinking about?” he said

“I’m swallowing all this information”

“You can’t imagine what I’d give to know what’s in that head of yours; you always seem to be thinking, working your brains out”

“Believe me; you don’t want to know what I’m thinking”

“Yes, I do…so you are telling me now that you haven’t been telling me what your real thoughts were?”

“I’ve answered all your questions”

“But that’s not what I'm asking you” I was in silence for a bit when he started again “you see…you are doing it again”

“I have to put my thought sin order to be able to deliver them to you”

“But what do you have to think about so much?”

“I don’t know because I don’t even understand them myself ok? I should be running from you but instead I'm getting closer”

“You must have a huge chaos going on in there”

“Maybe…but I don’t care if I get to stay with you” I could feel his eyes on me again but I just looked ahead not meeting his eyes “if that means that I'm insane and that’s what it takes to be with you…I’ll accept it”

“Are you sure about this? You don’t know what you are getting yourself in to”

“You’re wrong, that’s the only thing I see clearly in my head” and it was true, I knew what I was doing, I knew he was dangerous…but I didn’t care, the only thing I could see clearly was that I loved him.

He started the car again and drove to Jenny’s house, an awkward silence stood with us thru the whole drive. We just confessed to each other but there was nothing there to make it official, I still felt ignored or avoided as always…this was not what I expected. He stopped the car in front of Jenny’s house and we stayed in for a while longer, of course in silence.

“I’ll send Leonard to check on you tomorrow” and he got out of the car

“Ok…” I got out of the car too and walked toward the house.

“Gabrielle!” he called after me…good!! But when I turned he was just showing the car keys, I forgot them. I took them and then continued my way towards the house again.

“Gabrielle!” he called after me again from his side of the car but when I turned he was just there making our faces stay a few inches away from each other. I don’t know how it happened or when it started but in no second I was being kissed…he pulled my body towards his and I could feel his cold hands putting pressure on my back to hold me closer, my ear drums were beating, my heart was jumping, I could feel my face getting red and hot, my lips were burning and my whole body was shaking…what a sensation, by the time he let go of me I could barely stand.

“Sweet dreams” he said in my ear and then disappeared in a blur, aaaaah!! I can’t believe he just kissed me oh my gosh now that’s what I was expecting.

“Gabrielle!” somebody called my name, I couldn't make out who it was because I was still atontadada

“Gabrielle! What are you doing there? Come inside” it was Jenny. I finally moved and walked into the house.

“Hello Gabrielle is nice to see you again”

“Thanks Mrs Prado”

“Brook is upstairs, let’s go” said Jenny pulling my hand on the way.

In the room Brook was on the floor drawing and rock music was playing in the background.

“Hey Gabrielle, what took you so long?” she said

“Sorry girls, I couldn’t find what I was looking for”

“And that is?”  Brook continued, I quickly pushed Jenny so she could seat on her bed and I locked the door.

“What is it?” Jenny said and I got the painting from my backpack and showed it to them. They did react to it but not as I expected.

“Wow! Good outfit” said Brook

“Yeah where did you get it from?” said Jenny

“That’s not me…turn it around”

“1703?” said Brook; I could see Jenny’s thoughtful face and something was going on inside her mind.

“What is this about?” Brook continued

“To tell you the truth I'm as lost as you are” I thought of telling them everything I knew about her but it would involve the cousins so I decided to go for what my family knew.

“But let me start from the beginning…this is something I never told you cause I didn’t think it was real or something that could have an explanation but now I’m looking for one cause I'm freaking out”

Brook had narrowed eyes listening intensely but Jenny was clamed, as if nothing was happening and I continued explaining.

“Jenny…what can you tell me about déjà vu’s?”

“Well…my grandma says that déjà vu's are flashes of your past life that come to your present to warn you about something, why?”

“I've been having a few déjà vu's lately, more than a few and really realistic dreams or nightmares”

“And what does this has to do with this woman?” said Brook pointing to the painting

“I saw this painting for the first time in my life three days ago but I’ve been seeing this woman ever since I came here, and I’m not talking about my reflection in the mirror. The first time I saw my house, the one behind the woman in the picture, I felt like I knew the house…like I had been there before and my nightmares started as well…I saw who I thought it was me in that dress that she's wearing, with the medallion that I’m wearing. Every little detail that you can see on her in this picture…I saw it before. Now tell me that that’s not weird”

“Maybe all in all together is trying to tell you something. Maybe you are really seeing your past life…remember I told you? I couldn't see your past because it didn’t belong to you” said Jenny

“Her name was Gabriella, what a difference huh? And what I don’t understand is why do I see her? Why am I so connected to her I can even feel what she feels when I'm dreaming, she's been dead for centuries, if I'm her reincarnation…lets say it like that, am I not supposed to not remember anything?”

“Wait a minute…are you saying that she's is you, you are her, the same person?” Brook said.

“They share the same soul” said Jenny again with that weird glance of hers “different mind but same soul…she's warning you about something, that’s the only explanation”

“Ok but why now?”

“Cause this is your home… Think about it as you've told us you never had this déjà vu's and dreams before, it all started when you got here… is cause of this place, maybe something happened to her in here and because you are her family, because you are connected in many different ways, she’s trying to warn you maybe the same thing is going to happen to you” wow I didn’t like that…She was killed by Leonard because of Christopher’s Jealousy I learnt that tonight…bad thing really bad thing.

“She was killed here in 1703” I finally said

“Maybe that’s it…you are the last of her linage maybe she wants you out of here” said Brook and after a moment of silence she continued talking “have you asked Elizabeth why she took you away from this place?”

“Why she abandoned me you mean?”

“No...I don't really think she abandoned you”

“Are we really going to keep talking about this?”

“Hey, I see things in a different way she told me that didn't see” Brook said pointing to Jenny

“Don't use that as an excuse”

“No seriously Gabrielle, I think there's something deeper behind it there's more here that we are not seeing...ask her!!”

“O…k, I will. But there’s something else I want to talk about”

“There’s more?” said Brook----“Yes, and it involves you”

“What have you seen my past life too?”----“Don’t joke with that”---“o…k”

“Do you remember the sketches you showed me in your weird stuff file?”

“What's with that?”

“Did you see Mary Alice’s body in the woods in St. Martyr’s day?”

 “Yes” she said hesitating “so what?”

 “Is it not familiar to you, the settings, the way she was laying on the grass?” she was uncomfortable I could tell that she noticed it.

“Where are you going with this Gabrielle?” said Jenny.

“What I’m trying to say is that I think she can see who’s going to die thru her

Sketches” they both looked at me but not as if I was mad or something, they seemed to believe quite easily. Of course Jenny is a witch and I’m seeing my past life’s life thru my dreams so why couldn't Brook be seeing things thru her paintings?  

“I have something to show you…” said Brook in a really serious voice huh oh!! “I did notice something when I saw Mary Alice in the woods but I didn’t think it was that…till I draw this” she opened her folder taking out a few sketches and then he picked up one and put it on the floor so we could see what it was.

“Whose whim?” said Jenny

“I didn’t know who he was when I draw it…as you can see the faces are not well done because I don’t see them. Two days after I draw this…Sam Julian died”

TO BE CONTINUED…….

Gabriella

Even though I'm not a coffee drinker, today I had to take it whether I like it or not.

These last days I haven’t been able to sleep, I didn’t know my nightmares would follow me out of the dreams like Freddy Krueger.

Before I used to dream about a vampire attacking me but now I had a real one after my throat, even though I’ve seen him just that one night, I haven’t been able to sleep…is just impossible for me to close my eyes and I can’t tell anyone about it. Well I could tell Christopher but he already told me that being around me was hard so I didn’t want to drag him with me in my nightmare.

Just imagine how nervous I am and now drinking coffee is worse but what can I do?

“How many coffees have you taken today Gabrielle” said Jeremy, I guess he noticed my shaking hands.

“A couple”

“I thought you didn’t like coffee”

“And I don’t but I haven’t been able to sleep…you know nightmares”

“Right”

“Are you leaving today too?”

“Yes, would you like me to stay?

“Yes!! I mean no, forget it…is cool” he was about to stand up when I remembered about the history project “Hey Jeremy do we have any information about our family back in the days when Zoneville was founded?”

“Are you doing the history project?”

“How do you know?”

“I see that Mr. Kent still does the same project”

“You’ve done it before?”

“Yes”

“You attended St. Martyr’s high school?”

“Which other high school have you seen around here?”

“Right…give me yours then”

“No! You do yours”

“Tsk…have you ever been out of Zoneville?”

“I lived in California once, with Elizabeth and our older sister”

“You had an older sis…? She’s dead” he nodded this is just so depressing…

“California was cool so I understand your hatred for this place”

“I don’t hate Zoneville, I don’t particularly like it but I don’t hate it either…not anymore”

“Why because of the Martyr boy?”

“It has nothing to do with him…why did you leave?

“Our dad sent us out of Zoneville, out of the danger after mum died. She was part of the council as Elizabeth is today. After mum died, dad took her place in the council and sent us away. Then he died and we came back. Meredith our older sister took his place in the council and after she died Elizabeth and if she…well I’d be next in the council”

“And if you...”

“You’d be next…come follow me” this is scary, why so many deaths!!! We went upstairs to the attic. It was so dusty and there were lots of old stuff in it.

“Why does our family have to be in the council?”

“They never really told me but is from back in the days, it happens with all the families in the council, the youngsters take over after the elders are gone”

“But is just a towns council why isn’t it per vote, why so much mystery?

“Ask your mum, she knows more than I do” then I don’t know why but I felt like asking him about when I was born, initially I thought that Elizabeth lived in California with her parents but they were here and her mum was already gone so Jeremy must have known. “When did she find out she was pregnant?” he looked at me for a minute “ask your mum” and then he walked away opening some dusty boxes, why did I even bother asking him about it when I knew what he was going to say…

I started looking around, you sure could open an antic shop with all this stuff and you would be reach I’m telling you.

 I examined the old desk and there was a medium size painting on it that froze me in place.

I had to take it and look closer to make sure it was real…I almost dropped it on the floor but I caught it with my other hand and put it back on the table.

“Who’s this? Cause is not me, right?” I said with a trembling voice, Jeremy came over and when he saw the painting, he started laughing.

“Of course is not you, although you look exactly the same, you could be twins”

“How is this possible?”

“She’s our ancestor; the owner of that medallion of yours…her name was Gabriella” a big DANG!! For that, Gabriella of course….wait a minute

“Is that why you used to call me Gabriella?”

“Yes, when I saw you at the airport I was so shocked that I thought I had her in front of me and not my little niece”

“That’s why you were looking at me like that…why didn’t you tell me?”

“I dint give it much thought, we are family after all” yes we are but this is really weird “here is the information you want, take whatever you need I’ll see you later” he said and left. I stayed for a while looking at the painting and this wasn’t good, this wasn’t good at all, is not ok. She was wearing the same dress the Gabriella of my dream worn, now how the hell was I suppose to know about that dress when I never saw this picture before huh? What about that? Freaking déjà vu’s and the house behind her… oh my god! She used to live here? And the medallion was hers!! What the…I turned the painting around, there was something written behind it, it said the house of our dreams for Li…Le…something and me, I couldn't read the other name and at the bottom 1703.

1703 ok they were here…they must’ve seen her, they must’ve known her. I have to go I have to know.

I got into my car as soon as I put my shoes on and drove off.

What was this all about? Am I the centre of some joke or something? This town is playing with my mind, vampires, witches, wolfs and now this? No freaking way, I have to make sure.

It was the second time I was here and as the first, this time as well was to get information, confirmation more than anything else.

I got out of the car and practically ran towards the door but Leonard opened it when I wasn’t even close yet…he waited till I was at the door to start talking.

“What are you doing here?”

“I need to talk to you?”

“To me?”

 “Yes and to Christopher, is important”

He had a serious face, the poker face Christopher used to carry around all the time was now always on Leonard’s and I could tell he wasn't going to let me in so I took another step getting extremely and uncomfortably closer and I begged...

”please” he was immobile for a moment just staring at my face; I could see his eyes running thru my features; my eyes, my cheek bones my lips. For a moment I felt that I knew him, that I knew those blue eyes as well as he knew me and frowning he let me in. He led me into the living room, that huge living room filled with antic stuff; it looked like my attic but cleaner and organized wow wow wow!!! Triple déjà vu what the hell! I felt so dizzy that I would've fell on the floor if he wouldn't have gotten me on time. I shivered at his touch not for coolness -even though he was really cold- but because of the fire that burned me inside…didn’t actually know why.

It was as if electricity ran thru me giving me chills but this feeling of repetition was so weird so real.

“Are you ok?” He asked me, but I couldn't answer just stare at him, he sat me on the couch and he sat beside me. He said that Christopher would be with us in a second and he did come in a second. He materialised in front of me out of thin air. He looked at both of us with a frown and then looked at Leonard in a strange way. Leonard gave him the same look and then Christopher walked towards the window, I felt the need to go to him but Leonard started talking to me, this feeling of repetition never living my side.

“What was so important?” Leonard said looking at me with questioning eyes but strangely enough he was now acting politely with me, kind of sweet when it NEVER happened before which makes it weirder.

“There's something I want to show you, I found it this morning and it surprised me” I took the painting from my backpack and put it on the table, I could see Leonard’s eyes widened but he was stiff like a rock.

“Did you know her? because that's not me”

Christopher’s voice sounded closer than I thought I never heard him leaving his side by the window when he said her name “Gabriella” under his breath and they both looked at each other. I could feel the tension building up around me, both of them had their hands turned into fists they knew her and they looked like about to fight.

I stood up and asked them again; maybe talking would ease this a little.

“Did you know her? I've been told she's our ancestor the owner of this medallion am I right?” I looked from Leonard to Christopher and when I looked back to Leonard he was gone.

“What did I do?” I asked Christopher, he told me that it was a long story that he'll tell me about another time, evasive like always and like always he asked me to leave. I didn't want to, didn't come all the way here with such an urgency to go home empty handed I needed answers and I wanted them now so I stopped before him in our way out of the living room.

“What's wrong with Leonard?”

“Is nothing” he said but I knew better. Mysteriously now I could remember my dream in the car, the first time a dreamed about the house were this beautiful young man kissed my hand and had my heart dancing with joy, my eyes widened with realisation and I could see Christopher's eyes on me, wondering what I was thinking perhaps? I knew something was weird and then flashes of images came to me so quick that it made me dizzy again:

In the cafeteria when Leonard looked at me, he wanted to come to me but Christopher pulled him down back to his chair, in the corridors looking at me with wondering eyes always with pain.

“He loved her” I said under my breath, Christopher’s cool breath touched my face, I almost forgot he was with me, I tried focusing on him and I saw that he was leaning over me almost carrying me, was I about to fall down again?? I could see frustration in his face, he called my name again and again but I couldn't answer. In a way it was the first time I had him hugging me this way and I didn't want him to let go of me but I couldn't stop thinking about Leonard either. I could now see his face perfectly he was the black haired blue eyes beautiful man seating beside me in the car. Suddenly another voice really deep and a bit scary called after Christopher.

He was still holding me when that man got closer

“Byron” Christopher said in my ear and I understood. He was the one who turned them into what they were now, the man his father Stephen Martyr trusted to cure them, the man that turned them into vampires.

He was a tall pale man, maybe in his 30's with long black hair and deep black eyes, he was sinister and he was looking straight at me.

“Gabrielle…impossible…but true” he said in a penetrate whispering tone. He came closer to me but keeping distance, he never smiled just stared.

“I've heard a lot about you it was time for us to meet, my name is Byron” I just nodded

“I’ve noticed we can't hear your thoughts either, coincidence?” I didn't answer didn't know if he was asking me or not, then he looked at Christopher that was still by my side kind of carrying me and he suddenly let go of me and situated a few steps away from us. He was frowning too like thinking about something, like fighting internally when Byron started talking again.

“I understand you know about us...about what we really are and I'm not going to say I'm angry but I'm not happy either. This knowledge is dangerous for you and for us, I'm sure you can understand why. We've tried to be as far as possible from people even getting them afraid of us so they wouldn't get close, so they would be safe” then he started raising his voice

“You knowing about us is more of a problem that you think, you of all the people should've been the last to know!!” Christopher hissed and Byron looked at him, I'm sure they were talking mentally and then Byron continued

“But what can we do about it? You already know” he smiled for the first time showing his white teeth and that disturbed me a little

“Thinking about it I can make sure you never tell anyone” he looked at me with dark eyes but a smile in his lips I could see Christopher from my periphery trying to walk forward but he stopped in place at his first step, as if something invisible was holding him back, I didn't react to any of that I wasn't really scared...I should’ve been but I wasn't, I just felt like he might as well turn me into a vampire right now and nobody would care about me going missing, it was so normal in this place to loose somebody that way that I wouldn't even run from it.

Even my heart fluttered a little bit at the thought of being a vampire, Christopher would finally be open to me and at last kiss me and I wanted that more than anything. He’s never tried though; he's always looking from the distance, treating me like a fragile doll, he says he feels like I'm going to break any time. Does he actually like me? That’s what I want to know… I got lost in my thoughts when I heard Byron talking again.

“Do you agree?” I focussed on him, I didn't hear what he said and he looked at me frowning...and repeated again.

“Do you agree with me that is the best?” I still couldn't answer to that cause I didn't know what he was talking about.

“You not coming here...ever again” he said as if answering my question, he was still frowning looking straight at me

“We are lots in here and we can't be in control all the time” I understood then but my brain didn’t register it, I didn't care about the danger

“You don’t need to be concerned about my safety” I said a bit afraid

“Oh I'm not, I'm concerned about ours. If you ever come here and something happens to you we'd be exposed and believe me you wouldn’t want that because as much as we are vampires and they are fighting against us, if we leave town nobody would be safe. They would be all exposed to the ones out there and you'd be really sorry, am I wrong?” He wasn’t, they are protecting town and if they leave we are lost so I agreed.

“I won't come again” Byron made a reverence just lowering his head and disappeared of the room.

I could hear hisses from above me and when I looked up I saw three vampires looking at me from upstairs one of them was Leonard that after a few seconds left without a word and the other two were those blonde girls I saw in St. Martyr’s day. Then all of a sudden Christopher was in front of me again grabbing me from my arm and dragging me outside.

“C’mon I'll take you home”

On our way to my house he drove my car, I asked him how he was supposed to go back but he told me not to worry about it. That was the only thing he said in a while.

He wasn't talking neither looking at me so I just kept quiet; I had a lot to think about anyway.

I was 100% sure that Leonard was the young man of my dreams and after our little momentum in the living room I considered for the first time that the woman in my dream might have been Gabriella and not me with a different name as I’ve been thinking. But why was I dreaming about people I didn’t know? That’s a mystery…I’m going to need a witchy session with Jenny.

And she loved him I could feel that much, but why was he so...he thought I was her?? But that's just ridiculous she should be ashes by now unless of course she was a vam...I couldn't bring myself to think about it.

Christopher was glancing at me from time to time and I wondered if he thought the same so after a few seconds debating internally if I should or not, I asked him.

“Did you think I was her when you first saw me?” I could see his hands tighten on the wheel but he said nothing so I pushed it a little harder.

“That's why you looked at me that way… you thought I was her, is she a vampire?” He kept looking ahead I could tell he wasn't going to talk and that irritated me a lot.

“You can't keep hiding things from me Christopher sooner or later I'll find out!!”

“I prefer later that sooner” He said with his irritating poker face. Then I remembered how he looked at Gabriella in my dream, yeah that dream in the bright room, the two cousins and the old man…DANG!!! Again for that, that’s the reason why they always fight.

“Oh my god you loved her too” His teeth clinched “is that why you two are always in tension? You guys thought I was her and...” he stopped the car so suddenly that I bounced against the chair, thank god I had my seatbelt on and he seriously needs to stop doing that.

“Do you even care about what I'm going thru, I know theres something more that you are not telling me, what is it!!?” I lost it there and then he got out of the car asking me to get out too. I didn't realise it but we were at my house already so I got out. I looked at him waiting for something an explanation...the minimum reaction but he just stared at the darkness of the woods and I finally walked away and into the house very angry. But I didn't want to be, not with him and he looked upset too. I just have to know what's going on. This is not just about them anymore, my god I’m seeing my ancestors life thru dreams, them both are the two mans I’ve been seeing all this time in my dreams I think I have the right to freak out a little bit.

I went upstairs to work on the history project, I really didn’t feel like doing it but I learnt a lot about this family and about Zoneville.

According to this files and notes Gabriella was about to marry a member of the Martyr’s family…they bought this house together for their live after marriage. Now which of them was going to be the lucky one? I started thinking about my dreams and in the car with Leonard I felt good, secure in love…but then in the living room with both of them…what did I feel? I tried hard to remember my feelings well…Gabriella’s feelings but I couldn’t.

Time passed really fast while doing my homework. By the time a finished Elizabeth and Jeremy were getting home.

I felt the need to ask them about Gabriella but what would they know about her? She died centuries ago the only ones that would know are two annoying cousins.

After having shower I got down for dinner, this was becoming a boring routine. Jeremy asked me if I was ok a few times, and a few times I had to lie. It looked like I was hiding my frustration pretty bad. Elizabeth asked me about my day I told her I was researching our family, even though we talked a little more now I was still trying to keep it at minimum. After that I went to my room, feeling really uneasy, I hated this feeling.

Would he talk to me tomorrow when everything was calmer? I just wanted to know about the mystery that surrounded Zoneville and my family. And Christopher avoiding my questions was making it harder for me to understand.

I finally got ready to go to bed, I went to lock the door as I always do but didn't manage to do it because I felt something like a cold wind behind me and when I turned around Christopher was standing there, in the middle of my room. We were in silence for a while looking at each other when I finally manage to talk

"How did you get in here?"

“Through the window" I couldn't work it out, through the window? So I went to check if there was any stairs hanging out there or something…but I didn’t find anything, of course there wasn't anything idiot…he's a vampire what did you expect to find there!! So I turned and nodded

"Sorry, did I scare you? I told you once you invited me in I would be able to"

"Get in I know… you don't scare me Christopher you shock me" 

"Do I?" He said with a teasing smile, something I never saw before. He slowly got closer to me, taking my hand into his, I gasped as his other cold hand touched my cheek, my heart was about to come out of my chest, his lips were getting closer to mine and as he pulled my body towards his, the door flank opened and he was gone.

I looked around confused but he was nowhere to be found and Elizabeth was in my room… again

“Don't you knock?”

“Are you ok?”

“Why wouldn't I be?”

“I just heard noises...why are you still up?”

“I was about to go to bed when you opened the door” I said showing her my blanket that was pulled off my bed so she could believe I was about to get in.

“Ok sorry, good night” When she closed the door I took a deep breath I almost got busted and I couldn't help by laugh at that thought. But why was she here again? Isn’t she paying too much attention to my room? The first time I understood because I did scream even though it was weird that she got into my room so fast and with a weapon but still, what is she doing? Suddenly a noise coming from out the window caught my attention. I went to take a quick look and it was him, so bright in the darkness, he smiled and then ran towards the woods so fast that it was a blur.

With all the Elizabeth issue I almost forgot he was in my room before…aaah he was about to kiss me! You see I knew it, he does feel something for me and all that attitude and rudeness was just a façade. I just wanted it to be tomorrow already so I could see him again, but this sudden change won’t keep me from asking if that is why he almost kissed me…we’ll see.

TO BE CONTINUED