Destiny has left its mark (Vampire Romance) +

13 ~ Love me like you do

Ellie and I arrived at work together that morning. The reason we were together was that I ended up sharing her bed the previous night; it was a bit unexpected but not entirely unwelcome. After Elijah left, I joined Ellie as she warmly greeted her date, and I took the opportunity to fill her in about the altercation between Neo and Elijah that had taken place at my house a short while ago. It felt good to talk about it, especially since I could see she was ready to lend an ear. After our conversation, she casually invited me to sleep over again, and I eagerly accepted. That night, as I fell asleep, I dreamt that I was Charlotte Grave once more.

In my dream, I couldn't tear my eyes away from the strikingly handsome man who had just entered the room. He was undeniably the most attractive man I had ever seen, and my heart raced as it felt like I was destined to be with him in some way. Neo was by his side, and they appeared to be making their way toward me and my friend Ellison. I found it curious that Ellison resembled Ellie so much; it was almost uncanny. Just then, Ellison leaned in and said with a hint of excitement, "Prince Elijah is here." The name hit my ears, and I couldn't help but wonder why it sounded so familiar. My thoughts were interrupted when I caught Neo's gaze fixed on me. Feeling a rush of emotions, I turned around and set down my empty glass, trying to gather my thoughts. Unfortunately, just as the scene was becoming clearer, Ellie's alarm abruptly woke me up, pulling me from the dream into reality.

Abraham is inside by the reception area when he spots us, a bright smile spreading across his face. He walks over, holding a steaming cup of takeaway coffee, which he offers to me with a casual air.

"Why are you here so early, Abe?" Ellie asks, her voice curious as she unlocks the heavy double doors of the library, the sound echoing slightly in the quiet morning.

"I had a meeting. Guess who's the newest member of the mission?" he replies, excitement glinting in his eyes as he leans in slightly, clearly eager to share the news.

"Are you allowed to say?" Ellie pushes open both doors with a flourish, and Abraham and I follow her into the warm, inviting space filled with the scent of old books and polished wood.

"Lincoln Flint," he announces, his voice low but filled with anticipation.

"The Lincoln Flint?" Ellie's eyes widen in surprise, her expression a mix of disbelief and intrigue. Abraham nods, clearly enjoying the moment and eager to see her reaction unfold.

"Why would he be joining?" she asks, her tone shifting to one of concern, which is unusual for her. Normally, she's the one who keeps her cool, no matter the situation.

"Because Beverly uses magic," he answers matter-of-factly, as if that explains everything.

"Who's Lincoln Flint?" I interject, my curiosity piqued as I lean in closer to hear more.

"A very powerful witch," Abraham explains, patting me gently on the back as if to reassure me. "Someone all vampires and witches know not to cross if they've done something wrong. He's not someone to take lightly."

"I have something I need to do," Ellie suddenly says, her voice firm as she turns to leave the library, her expression determined.

I notice Abraham frown slightly as he watches her walk away, a flicker of concern crossing his features.

"Something wrong?" I ask him, sensing the tension in the air.

He glances around the library, using his vampire hearing to ensure we're completely alone before leaning in closer to whisper, "Ellie is not who we thought she is."

I smile, thinking he's joking around. "This is a joke, right? You can't be serious."

He shakes his head, his expression grave.

Not who we think she is? My mind races as I recall my dream from the previous night. "I dreamt I was Charlotte Grave last night, and Charlotte's best friend was Ellison, who looked a lot like Ellie."

"Interesting," he replies, his tone thoughtful. "Keep wearing that necklace. It was personally given to Neo by Lincoln, who has been secretly helping us for weeks now."

"This?" I hold up the necklace, my fingers brushing over the cool metal. "Okay, I'll keep it on."

"Just be careful around Ellie," he warns, his voice low and serious.

"You talk like you don't know her," I say, feeling a twinge of confusion.

"Don't tell her about the necklace," he insists, his suspicion of her evident, but I can't make sense of it. Just then, Ellie walks back into the library, her presence commanding as she heads straight for her laptop. Abraham hugs me quickly and whispers, "Keep wearing the necklace. And don't tell her."

As Abraham walks past Ellie, she looks up from her work. "There's someone waiting for you outside," she says casually before returning her attention to the screen, checking for book orders.

It feels wrong to keep secrets from Ellie; she's my best friend, just like Abraham is. He's known her for much longer than I have—what could possibly be wrong with him? I accidentally knock the takeaway cup to the floor, spilling hot coffee everywhere because I wasn't paying attention to what I was doing.

"Are you okay?" Ellie asks, her concern evident as she glances up from her laptop, her brow furrowing.

"Yeah," I reply quickly, grabbing some tissues from the counter before bending down to clean up the mess. She swiftly brings over the bin, and I toss the cup, lid, and used tissues into it, feeling a bit embarrassed.

As I stand up, Ellie suddenly tries to compel me, and I feel a jolt of shock course through me. "You will tell me if you know anyone suspects me of anything," she commands, her voice firm. I recognize what she's doing; my mind feels strange and foggy. Then it abruptly stops, and she smiles, continuing her compulsion, "You will never remember our past."

The desk phone rings, and she turns her back to answer it, her focus shifting entirely. I can't even hear what she's saying because she actually tried to compel me! I thought I could trust her completely. "I'm going to get breakfast," I say, my voice steady as I grab my purse and make my way out of the library, my heart racing.

As I step outside, I spot Elijah pulling up in front of the building, just like he does when he visits the Governor or when he comes for meetings or to grab books. He gets out of his car and approaches me, a curious look on his face. "Leaving the job already?" he asks, his tone light but with an underlying seriousness.

I pause and look at him, trying to gather my thoughts. "I haven't had breakfast yet," I reply, feeling a bit defensive. After a moment of silence, I add, "Did you know Ellie was Charlotte's best friend?"

"Yes, she was Charlotte's best friend," he confirms, his expression serious.

"What happened between them?" I press, needing to know more.

"Charlotte became suspicious of her best friend," he explains, his voice heavy with unspoken emotions.

"Do you know why?" I ask, my curiosity getting the better of me.

"No, I don't," he admits. He continues, "Do you remember Charlotte's life?"

Flashes of Elijah killing her come to mind, vivid and painful. "I remember how she died," I say quietly, the weight of the memory pressing down on me.

He looks filled with regret, his expression pained. "And I've suffered for it for over a hundred years," he replies, his voice low and filled with remorse.

I want to leave, to escape this conversation, but he grabs my arm gently, holding me in place. "I'm sorry," he apologizes, his voice sincere. "It won't happen again."

"How can you say that?" My voice is laced with disappointment, frustration spilling over. "Vampires do as they please, not caring how they hurt others."

"You'll never forgive me?" he asks, a hint of desperation creeping into his tone.

"You're not the only vampire, Elijah. I realized today that a reject will always be vulnerable to your kind," I respond, trying to free myself from his grasp, but he won't let me go. "Let go of me."

He finally releases me, stepping back slightly. "I'll never give up," he declares, determination in his eyes.

I take a deep breath and walk away, feeling the weight of the conversation lingering in the air behind me.