Chapter 2：The Elite

"We loved with a love that was more than love."

― Edgar Allan Poe

"Will you look at that, Meredith must be real important to get a visit from one of the elite," Antonio seems disgusted just at saying this as we walk into the coldness of the parlor.

"My name is Alexander and I've come here to keep you alive," Alexander bows his head slightly at me as I take in his charcoal black hair, like Salvador's, and emerald green eyes.

"Keep me alive? Sure, and Antonio is a lot smarted then most would think," I say with bitter sarcasm.

"I know it's hard to believe but it's true, ask Salvador, he of all should know it so."

"Relax Alex I forgot to tell her you were coming, that's all, but do keep in mind that she isn't like most."

"Now I'm the one that tells you to relax brother."

"I have a question" I say.

"What is it?" Salvador asks.

"If you're one of the elite, why doesn't Antonio like Alex but he likes you?"

"You should ask Antonio that, not me."

"Answer" I say.

"I'm not going to answer that, at least not right now," is all Antonio says before taking off.

"Well wasn't that just fucking great," I say as I go look for Annabel. She's in one of her dazes so I wait until she's done.

"What troubles you?" She asks without even opening her eyes.

"Why is Alexander here?" I ask unease creeping up in me.

"Didn't he tell you, his extra help?"

"Yes he told me but I don't understand why?''

"Because you and Luke are the last of my blood line, I cannot allow anything to happen to either one of you. You are both considered to be amongst The Elite."

"But you told me that he's one of my oldest cousins, not that he's the last guy in our damn bloodline and that I'm the last girl" I say as rage fills me like fire.

"What difference does it make, you are the last, and unless you and Salvador decide to reproduce it shall remain that way" she says as she stretches out her long legs.

"Why?"

"Ask Salvador."

"Why do you all keep saying that!!!?" I take off hoping that no one fallow's but like always, Salvador finds me.

"You're irritated," he says, keeping his distance as if I were a wounded animal.

"Is it that noticeable?"

"No, at least not at the first sight."

"Why is it that everyone thinks you have the answer to all my questions?" I ask splaying my pale white hands on his warm chest.

"I don't know," he says taking my hands into his own and kissing them softly.

"That's all you have to say?"

"For now."

"No!" I shout pulling myself away from him and walking closer to the edge.

"Why not?" he asks, clearly not wanting to start anything but knowing it's too late.

"Because you always say that. But when I ask something I'm sent to you, the one person that never has an answer." Before I can do anything he is standing right in front of me not bothering to keep his distance.

"I understand you're mad, but it's not my fault that they expect me to have the answers that you are looking for," He says this in such a manner that makes me wonder why he puts up with me.

"How can you be so calm?"

"I'm not always like this," he says, exasperation in his voice.

"I don't believe it."

"Why?"

"Because whenever I see you, you're really quiet and calm, rare is the time when you look mad or furious. The only look I tend to see at times is frustration," As I say this I realize that I'm always paying attention to everything he does.

"Really?" he asks with less exasperation and more humor in his voice.

"Yes."

"Nothing gets past you does it?"

"I try, but it's not easy."

"Yeah,'' He says before cupping my face in his hands and kissing me. With such force that it makes me melt at his touch. It's like nothing I've ever felt before; no one has ever kissed me like that. "You know, I was mad when you were going out with that loser."

"Really," I say, not wanting to move away from him, hoping to stay in this embrace just a little bit longer. Not wanting to go back.

"Yes."

"It didn't last" I say.

"I know, after all I did make sure that it didn't last."

"How?" I ask pulling back only long enough to see his amusement.

"It wasn't that hard, all I did was scare him away.''

"Again how?"

"I had help, Luke and Antonio, you know how they are."

"So that's what he meant when he said I had a crazy family."

"I guess."

"Oh, we're guessing now?"

"Yes."

"Ok."

"We should go back," he says.

"I don't want to go back."

"Why not?"

"I just don't, I want to stay with you."

"I'm not going anywhere, at least not anytime soon."

"I don't know that."

"Alexander came because I asked him too, not because Annabel summoned him, he is not my replacement."

"You're sure."

"Yes," Is all he says, as we takeoff leaving behind us the mountains. We reach the castle walls in only seconds.

"About time you two showed up, we have a problem and the little princess over there is the only one that can fix it," Luke says this as if annoyed at my disappearance.

"What's wrong?" I ask.

"You tell us" Luke says.

"Explain" is all I say.

"What is there too explain, except that you made a deal with the Damned," Antonio had a look of frustration on his face that I could not define.

"That? It's nothing."

"Really?"

"Yes, and it was five years ago why should it matter now?"

"Because they are coming to collect and there are only two things they take; your soul or the one thing you love the most. Sort of like making a deal with La Muerte herself."

"Is that all?"

"What do you mean is that all?" Antonio's aqua blue eyes turn a dark shade I've never seen before as he says this.

"Shut up and listen, they will not take anything for I already know what they want." I say glaring at him.

"Oh really, what is it?" Alexander asks.

"It depends on the agreement that you make with them. It seems the time has come for me to keep the end of my bargain. I have to kill the one that sired them."

"What?"

"Are you deaf, you know I don't like repeating myself?"

"Apparently he is," Mayana's dark and disruptive voice say's.

"It hasn't been that long, has it?"

"I don't think so. My brother says hi."

"Which one?"

"You know the one that saw you at the river," She says this as she studies Salvador's reaction but not just his, the others as well.

"Why did her brother see you at the river?" Salvador asks, in a I'm-going-to-take-his-eyes-out-of-his-head-when-I-find him kind of voice.

"Relax, she's just messing with you, right Mayana."

"Right, now they want to see you."

"When?"

"At the strike of midnight, you already know were to go. We'll be waiting and they can't come along," she points at the guys who give her a killer look.

"I understand." I bow my head and she does the same before taking off.

"You can't go alone…." Salvador begins but I cut him off.

"I know what I'm doing and they kept their end of the bargain, now it's my turn."

"But…"

"But nothing," Is all I say before going too my room and preparing myself for what's yet to come.

The sun takes too long too set, at least it seems that way to me. I dress in my usual hunting gear, black pants and a black corset. My sword at my side, a dagger strapped to my ankle and a bow strapped across my back. Though most wouldn't hunt with jewelry on, we do. A silver chain around my waist that has the trinket of a dagger hanging at the end, to the untrained eye it really would be just a pies of jewelry, but in truth, it's a weapon.

I feel his presence long before he enters my room. Not only that I feel his anger and pain as if he had just been betrayed. It's expected after all, not that long I was selfish enough to ask him to stay. Even after he assured me that he wasn't going anywhere. Out of fear, I dare not look at him for I don't know what to say. But then again no one ever say this would be easy. So I kill my fears and look at him, he looks so different. Full of rage and pain it is something I've seen before. In a past life, that doesn't seem that far away.

"I'm sorry," I say as if it would change anything.

"For what?" the rage burning in his eyes like fire.

"For not telling you, for asking you to stay."

"It is Madrid all over again," He says as if remembering and then releasing a growl.

"Not really, there is a difference this time," I regret saying this but it's too late to take it back. For that day in Madrid, I betrayed him with his brother.

"You're right it is different," He says, and I know that I hurt him at reminding him of such a betrayal.

"I cannot change what I did, but it won't happen this time. Not again, that I can assure you."

"Don't apologize for you cannot be sure that it won't happen again."

"What are you trying to say?"

"Nothing."

"It's not nothing, for I can tell that you lie."

"Really, just like you lied to me back then? how you didn't tell me that you made a deal with the Damned."

"Calm down, no one knew about my deal with them."

"Really, then how did they find out before me? Explain it to me!"

"Don't get an attitude with me, they found out because Mayana told them, I mean how else were they going to find out."

"That is your only explanation?"

"Yes."

"Then I'm out of here."

"No, what?"

"You can't leave not like this?"

"Just watch me."

He didn't give me a chance to say or do anything. It's too late to change what I'd done but not late enough to change his mind. I just hope that the Damned understand for it cannot end like this. Not again, not this time. I love him, I will not lose him.

"You want to go then go!" I shout at him as he's explaining something to Alex who seems startled at my sudden outburst.

"What?"

"You want to come with me right? Well then I hope you can keep up, for I'm already late, thanks to your little outburst," I say turning to leave when he says, "I don't want to go."

"I'll deal with you when I get back then. Alex, any messages for your dead girlfriend?"

"No, how do you know about her?" He asks apparently surprised.

"I know a lot of things.''

"I see. Then tell her I'm sorry and that I await her return."

"I will. Any last requests?"

"One. Don't get killed." Salvador, says as if actually meaning it, for if he does I can no longer tell.

"No promises. See you."

They weren't happy with my tardiness but it didn't matter. After all the man I love hates me all because of something that happened fifty years ago. And because Mayana couldn't keep her, mouth shut. I hope to get this taken care of as soon as possible for I will not die for they're sake. Perhaps Antonio was right; it's like making a deal with Death herself. Love sucks and life burns. After all those like me are condemned to a life of misery. My tears don't fall for I have none left. Their sire will pay for these.