Destiny has left its mark (Vampire Romance) (Completed)

2 ~ Ghost

The day is warm and bright, the sun high in the sky, casting a shimmering reflection on the surface of the Olympic-sized swimming pool. The air is filled with the sounds of splashing water, laughter, and the occasional chirping of birds. The scent of chlorine mingles with the fresh aroma of blooming flowers from the nearby garden, creating a pleasant, relaxing atmosphere.Vampires love to swim on a hot sunny day. Quite different from the novels and movies out there, isn't it? Do they glow in the sun? No. Does the sun turn them to ashes? No. Abraham's parents built the large pool a few years before their death, and it has since become a favourite spot for relaxation and leisure.

"Sam fell in love," Ellie says as she rubs sunscreen on my back, her touch cool and soothing against my warm skin. "I wish I could fall in love again."

Abraham, who is lounging nearby, chimes in, "I fell in love too." I can feel his eyes on me, a subtle intensity in his gaze. Ellie clears her throat, breaking the moment, and he quickly changes the subject. "So, what is the plan?"

"You should be getting us something to drink," I say, my eyes flickering between the two of them. They seem to be hiding something, their expressions guarded.

"Will do." Abraham gets up and walks towards a table decorated with an assortment of alcohol, the bottles gleaming in the sunlight.

"I'm glad I came," I say, laying back on my chair. Ellie has moved to her own swimming pool chair beside me. The day before was stressful, as I had to face King Elijah a few times after our first encounter.

I hear Abraham greet someone with a touch of surprise in his voice. "Elijah, you came."

Elijah? I turn my head, and there he is, walking towards us with a girl whose hand he's holding. Seeing her shocks me to the core.

Ellie stands up to greet King Elijah, bowing slightly. "Your Majesty," she says respectfully. Abraham introduces us. "Elijah, meet two of my best friends. Ellie and Daniella. This is Beverly, my nephew's fiancée."

Beverly smiles, her expression warm and inviting. "It's nice to be informal for a change."

I glance at her outfit, taking in the expensive fabric. "Honey, could you rub some sunscreen on me?" She chooses the pool chair beside me and sits down, removing her white and blue floral kimono to reveal a blue bikini that complements her tanned skin and blonde hair. Even her brown eyes match the colour I had in my previous life.She's a modern replica of my past self. I look away, only to find Elijah's gaze on me, assessing me as I had been assessing Beverly. At that moment, Abraham hands me a drink, which I sip to steady myself. The sight of the man from my past is overwhelming. Will he murder her too? Or me? Why must I see him outside of work? A chill runs down my spine at the thought of his hatred before he kills me again. Elijah settles next to Beverly, taking the sunscreen from her. I close my eyes, trying to ignore the couple beside me.

The sun is warm on my skin, the scent of sunscreen and chlorine mingling in the air. The sound of water splashing and laughter fills the background, but my mind is elsewhere, lost in the turmoil of my thoughts. The drink in my hand is cool, the condensation dripping onto my fingers.

Elijah's presence is a constant weight, his gaze burning into me even when I'm not looking at him. I can feel the tension in the air, a palpable reminder of our shared past and the unresolved emotions that linger between us. The lyrics of Justin Bieber's "Ghost" echo in my mind, fitting our tangled history perfectly:*If I can't be close to you, I'll settle for the ghost of you. I miss you more than life.*

I take another sip of my drink, trying to steady my nerves. The alcohol burns slightly as it goes down, a welcome distraction from the chaos in my mind. I can hear Beverly chatting with Elijah, her voice light and carefree, completely unaware of the storm brewing inside me.

Abraham returns with another drink, his presence a comforting anchor in the midst of my emotional turmoil. "More?" he asks, holding out the glass with a grin.

I smile back at him, grateful for the distraction. "Thanks," I say, taking the glass and emptying it quickly. Abraham has always known how to help me loosen up, even if it means getting me a little drunk.

Ellie answers a phone call then returns. "I've got something that I need to take care of." She looks over at Abraham, who is sitting by the pool with Elijah. "Abraham, you'll have to take me." Someone is borrowing her car.

The two seem to be having a silent conversation, which is impossible because vampires can't do that.

Abraham says to Elijah, "Will you excuse me for a while?"

"Sure. Bev and I will be around for a little longer. We'll talk again if I don't see you today." Abraham turns to me. "Will you be okay?"

I nod, trying to reassure him. "I'll arrange an Uber if I need to. It's fine."

Ellie waves briefly before following Abraham, and they both disappear through the glass door that leads them back into the castle.

Beverly turns to me, her tone suddenly cold. "So, what's a reject doing with Elijah's nephew?"

"What?" I ask, totally blindsided by her rudeness. "Excuse me?"

Elijah intervenes. "Bev, you should go get ready to leave."

She smiles at him lovingly. "You're right. I still have a lot to do before the Ball tonight." She gets up, picks up her things, and kisses him on the cheek before going into the castle.

Elijah follows her but returns right after I throw a glass, breaking it in anger. Who does she think she is, anyway? She's not who I was and she'll never be! As I rush to pick up the pieces of glass, I accidentally cut myself. Elijah is by my side within seconds, taking my hurt hand without asking. "You should be more careful," he says sternly.

I pull my hand free. "I'm fine. Bev is probably waiting for you." The words are laced with loathing.

He suddenly grabs my other hand, his grip tight. "You don't respect your future queen?"

"No, I don't. She looks down on me, so why should I?" His grip tightens even more. "You're hurting me."

He looks at me for a few seconds too long, then leans in so that I can feel his hot breath close to my ear. "I'll forgive you this time." His voice stirs something within me, awakening a desire to be as close to him as possible. Images of our past life flood my mind, making me feel too hot. His eyes move to my mouth, and for a second I think he's going to kiss me, but then he speeds away into the house using vampire speed. I need another drink. And I'll never fall for anyone again. Definitely not Elijah James. And I need a plaster...