The Vampire Council

Confessions from the Heart

ARIES

It's been almost a week, and I have been locked up at Erica's house, undergoing a series of rituals with Lily.

I tried to focus on what was happening, but my mind kept returning to Natalie. The fact that she saw me as a monster was more than I could handle. If only she had allowed me to explain.

I was deep in thought when I noticed someone calling.

"Arie," Erica's voice cut through my thoughts.

Sitting at her dining table with her. Lily was sleeping, preparing herself for the final day. The day I was supposed to drain her dry.

"You've been distracted lately. And you've hardly touched your food," she said.

I sighed, knowing she was giving me a chance to tell her, but she already knew.

"I miss her. And I wish she would've given me a chance to explain."

I didn't need to tell her who and what I was talking about. I was pretty sure she knew.

"It's only right to miss her," she said, and I frowned at her words.

I looked at her and caught that glint in her eyes that meant she had let her words slip.

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"I mean that she misses you too, and she hasn't been eating since the day she found out from Cole that you drink animal blood," I tensed at her words.

"Why the hell didn't you tell me, Erica?"

"Because I didn't want to worry you. I needed you to concentrate. But you failed to anyway. Tomorrow I need your mind in one piece. So please, go and see her, make peace and come back before sunrise," she finally said, and I smiled.

I didn't need to be told anything more; I shot out of the chair, walked out of the house, left the car, and decided to run. Running was faster and more discreet than a car.

As I ran, all I could think about was her. I don't know what to do if anything ever happens to her.

I barged into the house using the kitchen door, and Leah screamed.

"I'm sorry, Leah; I didn't mean to startle you."

"It's okay, child," she began, then said, "she is in your room."

I nodded gratefully at her and used my vampire speed toward my room. I paused for a minute behind the door, listening to her heartbeat.

I finally walked in, and the sight I saw made me feel worse. She was seated on the floor in one corner, my pillow clutched tightly to her chest as she continually told it she was sorry. At one point, she actually asked it to kill her. She begged it to punish her because she had been a horrible person. I almost chuckled at how stupid that sounded and how delusional she was sounding. Did she imagine me as that pillow?

"Nat," I rasped.

All her movements froze. She looked up at me. Her eyes had bags under them, and she looked like she hadn't slept in days.

"Aries," she began but stopped as sobs wracked her body.

I walked over to her and picked her up in a bridal style.

"It's okay if you want to drop me."

I looked down at her.

"Now, why would I want to do that?" I asked, trying to hide a small smile.

"Because I deserve it. And any other punishment you want to serve me," she said sadly.

I put her down on my bed and kissed her forehead.