11 Chapter 11

(Charlotte's section)

'Broken because of belief, Sad because she bleeds from heart-wrenching agony.'

those words were in my favorite romance novel, how quaint. a poem to offset the pain, the agony of being betrayed, the feeling of emptiness, the tears wouldn't leave my eyes though, they wouldn't grant me relief from this horrible pain, it seemed someone upstairs had a grudge against me.

My pain was multiplied by the fact I now live with the constant reminder of my failure and my pain, The woman I once loved holding my brother's child. I miss Akira, I miss that time in the Library when she held my hands, I miss the mornings we woke up with each other...

I miss her...

But it wasn't real...I tried so hard to believe in it and I did love her so much...but it wasn't real...

but those few moments when she was looking in my eyes...it felt real...

I felt Love.

The light streaming in the bedroom stung my eyes and warmed the sheets, I blinked twice and winced at my dry eyes, five days of not being able to cry were killing me, I needed release, I needed to break down and sob, But I couldn't. I pulled myself out of bed and looked at myself in the mirror, even Akira would've run away screaming from what I looked like right now. I mentally cursed myself for thinking about Akira and went to the bathroom, a quick shower left me cleaner...but my mind still felt heavy.

I pulled on a sports bra and an oversized t-shirt and then laid back in bed, avoiding the copious amounts of cheap romance books. The ceiling particularly interested me as I lay on my back, kicking my feet, I felt like a teenager again. Grounded to my room after I was caught drinking Dad's scotch, great guy, bad scotch. I was deep in the many memories I made in my room when a knock pulled me out of them.

"Who's there," I asked, expecting Amelia or the maid, instead I heard a laugh "An old friend." A voice said, it seemed oddly familiar and a strange scent leaked in from under the door. "come in" I said quietly, fixing my blond hair quickly.

The door swung open and a familiar person...well...vampire, stepped in.

"Vee?" I choked out

"Present and accounted for Honeybee," Vee said, she teased out the nickname. Her glowing red eyes were fixed on my bare thighs, her brown hair was braided and limp on her back, and her usual deep neckline dress had been replaced by a tank-top and jeans. "You've changed," I said, studying her pale skin, a few new scars and a few new bits of muscle adorned her frame, gold jewelry gleamed from her hands and ears, and a large gold locket hung around her neck.

"Not as much as you have," she said teasingly, gesturing to my figure and inciting a blush, "How have you been?" she asked, flashing a toothy smile, her fangs gleamed. I sighed and flopped on my bed, "You haven't seen me since I was 10...That's a lot to catch up on" I said exasperatedly, that begged another question though "Where have you been?" I asked, Vee, sat beside me on the bed and laid down as well "I asked my question first" she said, her red eyes fixed on mine. "I'm...Fine" I said carefully, turning my head away, only to feel a cold hand jerk it back "Don't lie to me Honeybee." she said, her eyes narrowed and I felt weak for a moment, my eyes started to water as her arms wrapped around me. For the first time in weeks, I cried.

But it was in the wrong arms.

I kept crying until after a couple of heaving breaths I calmed down, I felt embarrassed beyond all belief that Vee had seen me like that, I looked up and instead of seeing disappointment, I saw something worse, Pity. "So why'd you leave," I asked, hoping to avoid looking at her, I was still against her chest so I heard her sigh. "My father was mad I broke one of his rules," Vee said, her red eyes suddenly became fixated on the wall, and she rubbed my tan back in gentle little circles "Which rule?" I asked, she sighed heavily again "Most of them? I don't remember, It was so long ago!" Vee said, I let the topic go, Vee was a stubborn Vampire and she could outlast me for years. We stayed cuddled like that until I accidentally shifted onto one of my books "Shitty Book!" I said, I threw it against the wall.

"Hey! Wait! isn't romance your favorite Genre?" Vee asked quickly, grabbing my wrist, I shrugged. "Not anymore." I quietly responded, Vee simply looked at me, "Someone broke your heart" Vee concluded, I sighed in fake annoyance, "I wouldn't be this heartbroken over a simple heartbreak-" I was cut off by Vee pulling down my shirt to reveal my red and painful mark, it started aching the second I left Akira's presence, her eyes widened and I saw a hint of pain, it was only for a second and it was quickly replaced with anger. "Your mate broke your heart?" She seemed enraged, she jumped up and started pacing, "It's not like that!" I said quickly, I jumped up too and pulled on a pair of pants, "Then what's it Like Charlotte? Huh?! Enlighten me!" Vee shouted, she walked out as I pulled on a pair of shoes, and I ran after her. "Vee! Wait!" I yelled, the cold air hit me like a hammer, it was a freak cold spell in spring but it felt freezing, I followed her back through the woods and started shivering. "Vee!" I kept yelling and repeating until I collapsed into the leaves, and my mark burned. "Honeybee!" Vee yelled back and grabbed me, holding me close "You're freezing!" she shouted angrily, causing me to chuckle

"You're one to talk frosty," I said through chattering teeth, she was about to carry me inside but I stopped her "No let's just make a fire" Vee gave me a confused look, "I've got plenty of books to burn in my room" I finished my sentence and she nodded.

The Pile of romance books was unexpectedly large, I grabbed the lighter fluid and threw some on, being sure not to get any on me. Vee handed me a lighter and I held it close to the bottom of the pile, the books went up easily and embers flew everywhere. I flinched and tripped into Vee, she wrapped her arms around me. For a moment I felt nothing.

Nothing.

Except for Vee's Cold lips on mine.

But that was when I knew it was wrong, maybe she did too.

At that moment we were simply two hurt souls sharing a kiss by a fire, not knowing the hell we just unleashed on us both.

'The heart wants what it wants

-Emily Dickinson