Love Of A Vampire (Book 2)

Chapter 13

"Rozalina?" I knocked softly on her bedroom door. Bram cornered me during school, insisting I fixed whatever was wrong between me and Lina. "Lina please?" After a moment I heard the door unlock and Lina's soft footsteps walking away. Pushing open the door I nearly fell to my knees. Rozalina's face was pale, paler than normal, she had dark circles under her eyes, and she looked so pathetically small. Walking slowly to her bed I paused. She gestured for me to sit, so I did. Reaching out I brushed her cheek with the tips of my fingers. "Lina what happened to you?" Slowly she faced me, her lips cracked and bleeding. When she finally did speak her voice cracked and was filled with so much sorrow.

"Life happened to me."

Alexander's P.O.V.

"How could you let that filthy thing into my home?" I growled.

"He's here to help." Bram said simply.

"Help? Help!" I jumped over my desk and crossed the small length of the room to stand in front of my brother. "He is one of the reasons she's acting like this!" Bram stepped around me and sat on the edge of my oak wood desk.

"So, they need to talk. Maybe if they tell each other how they feel and all of that crap she'll feel better." I ran my fingers through my hair.

"I don't like it." Bram snorted.

"You don't like anything with a functioning penis anywhere near her." I shot my little brother a 'go to hell' look. "Look, all I'm saying is maybe this will help her." He eyed me warily. "Maybe you should try talking to her as well." I shook my head.

"No."

"Why not?"

"I'd scare her away."

"Why do you say that?" I turned to him, his eyes light with curiosity.

"You wouldn't understand." He folded his arms over his chest.

"Try me."

"I've never felt this way about anyone before, even when I was alive. She drives me crazy, the way her eyes light up at the mention of something she loves, the small smile she has when simply at peace, when she's nervous her nose scrunches up and she looks down at her hands. Her eyes, they're not just green, up close she has gold around her pupils that shoot out and make it look like the sun is being born. And her hair, it shimers in the moonlight, falling over her shoulders in waves that remind me of the wheat fields my family used to visit when I was human. She's beautiful inside and out. Rozalina's laugh is music to my ears and when she talks its as if she's on the outside looking in. She understands things that others don't, and that far away look she gets when she's thinking. I'd trade away all of my years just to have one day with her, one day in the sun, doing whatever she pleases." I looked away, I just poured my thoughts out that I've kept locked tightly away. Bram was quiet, too quiet.

"You've changed." I turned to face him. His lips turned up in the corners. "You've changed so much because of that girl. I'm glad I got to meet her." A smile cracked along my face.

"She's changed me Bram, for the first time in forever I've felt alive. I would give anything and everything to see her smile again."

"Then let her talk to him." Bram placed a hand on my shoulder. "These things have a way of working out, you shouldn't have such little faith in her." I nodded.

"Perhaps you're right." He snorted.

"I'm always right."

Rozalina's P.O.V.

Mike sat on front of me, his hands twisting in his lap. He's been like this for a while, quiet and fidgety, to be honest it's pissing me off.

"Is there something you wanted Mike?" I loathed the way my voice cracked. His eyes found mine and whatever insult I had died on my lips. Pain was the first emotion I registered, then regret, and longing.

"I just wanted to say I'm sorry Paley." My heart felt like it was being squeezed at the sound of my long forgotten nickname, the one I used to hate but now it sounded like home.

"I'm sorry Mike. You know, sometimes I wished Ashley hadn't insisted we go to the mansion. Maybe then we wouldn't have been caught up in all of this crap. Maybe we could have lived a normal life."

"Oh Lina, you were never going to have a normal life." I looked at him confused. "You are the type of girl that sucks the oxygen out of the room, a girl who looks beautiful without trying, who brightens people's days just with a flash of a smile or a witty retort. You have no clue the effect you have on people and that's what makes you special." I was speechless, did he really feel that way about me? A blush bloomed across his cheeks.

"I did it to protect you."

"Huh?"

"I stopped talking with you and Ashley to protect you, just because I'm mixed up with the affairs of vampires doesn't mean you have to be." Mike reached out and grasped my hand softly.

"Lina, we're your friends, Ash and I are supposed to be there when things go wrong, and believe me, things are supposed to go wrong."

"I just don't want anyone getting hurt because of me." I heard him sigh. He leaned over and cupped my cheek.

"We will always be here for you Lina, you can't get rid of us that easily." I smiled shyly and he flashed a grin. "You'll come to school tomorrow?" I nodded and let my hair fall in my face. He chuckled and placed a fleeting kiss on my forehead. "See you Paley."

"Bye Mikey." He waved and left the room. I sighed happily and fell back on the bed.

"Bram!" I yelled

"Yeah?" He called back.

"Food!" I could hear him laughing from the other room.

~~~

When do we attack, Mistressssss?

"Soon. We will attack on prom night."

Why ssssssso far awayyyyy?

"This gives us time to prepare. Now, fetch my phone, I have a call to make." The creature scuttled out, only to return moments later. Unlocking the phone she dialed the number.

"Hello?" The male voice asked.

"Garth." The woman smiled. "Get ready, I'll be collecting Rozalina soon."

"Yes ma'am. I've got my best people on it. Just remember your promise."

"I know, you get to have a little fun with her." Garth made a pleased noise in the back of his throat. "I'll be in touch. Goodbye Garth."

"Goodbye Vivian." She tapped the end call button and set the phone on her desk.

"No longer will I cower in the shadows. I will have what's rightfully mine, and I'll make the little human pay for getting in my way."