Destiny has left its mark (Vampire Romance) +

29 ~ Complicated

 "I have to go," Elijah says suddenly, his voice a strained whisper, then hurries away from me, his steps heavy with an unspoken burden.

"Elijah," I call after him, my heart tightening in my chest.

He pauses, but doesn't turn around.

"I now know you suffered after you killed Charlotte."

He looks back over his shoulder, his eyes a haunting shade of yellow, the same as they were in that fateful moment when Darryn and I watched him confront his father, grief and fury intertwining in his gaze. "Are you okay? The colour of your eyes seems different," I say, my voice trembling with concern.

"I'm fine. I just need to clean up." His words are clipped, masking the turmoil within as he walks away, leaving me staring after his retreating figure, my mind awash with worry.

Neo steps forward, his presence a comforting anchor in the sea of my emotions. "Everything alright?" He points to the dent in the brick wall left by his brother's fist.

"Yes." I force a smile as I turn to Neo. "Have you heard from Darryn and Josephine?"

"That's why I came looking for you both. They're waiting to tell us what happened. I'll go get Elijah."

"I know what you did for Charlotte." I blurt out, desperation lacing my words. Neo's eyes widen with surprise. "You sacrificed your own father, just to avenge her death. You and Elijah both."

His shock is palpable. "Did he tell you?"

I shake my head, tears welling up. "No."

"We would do it again," Neo says, his voice firm but tinged with sorrow.

"Your father's life was important. You shouldn't have let him die," I whisper, guilt gnawing at me.

"He didn't think your life was important, nor Elijah's. We both warned him when we saw him meeting with that witch. He didn't listen and was involved in many sinister things, including the death of our mother. We never thought he'd use her to try to kill you. Otherwise, we would have overthrown him already. He was a bad husband, father, and king."

"Does Elijah know magic?" I ask, the pieces of the puzzle slowly coming together.

"Yes."

"Is that why his eyes change to gold?"

Neo nods, his expression solemn. "He practiced for centuries, trying to bring you back. How do you think reborns started in Darres?"

I gasp, stunned. "He is the reason for that?"

"Yeah. But I never told you. You should talk with him when you get the chance." He frowns, his mind clearly troubled. "Why hasn't he really talked with you yet and told you everything?"

"It's okay. I was the one holding Charlotte's death against him and pushed him away because of that."

"I had to deal with that too."

"Are you okay now?"

"Yes. You know I'm here for you if you need to talk, right?"

"I know."

"Abe wants to meet with you. He misses you."

"I'd be happy to see him again."

"I'll let him know." Neo walks away, following the same path his brother took, leaving me to wrestle with the heavy emotions that linger in the air.

Both brothers suffered, and their pain, entwined with my own, weaves an unbreakable bond between us. 

I've taken a quick shower and changed into fresh clothes before entering the room. The air is thick with tension and anticipation, and I can feel the weight of the room's energy pressing down on me. Lady Agatha and her entourage are present, their faces a mix of curiosity and caution. Elijah, whispering to Josephine, stops as I step in. He appears more relaxed, having also showered and changed. His transformation mirrors my own, a signal of the calm before the inevitable storm.

Darryn waves me over, his eyes filled with a blend of relief and concern. "The guardians will not be chasing after Daniella anymore," he begins. "Guardian Green admitted that the spell worked, but he did, however, ask me about Daniella and how she handled it." His voice carries the weight of recent events, each word a testament to the fragility of our victory.

Penelope, her posture as always stoic, adds, "The guardians won't be chasing you because you did the spell. Guardian Green did, however, warn that we should not remove the lock on your magic." Her words are a cold reminder of the dangers that still loom over us.

Darryn leans in, his voice dropping to a more serious tone, "All eyes will be on you from now on. So we can't make mistakes." The gravity of his statement sinks in, a chill running down my spine.

Lady Agatha, ever the authoritative figure, asks me, "Are you going to become an agent?"

"I guess I am. What else can I do?" The words leave my lips with a mixture of resignation and determination.

Darryn's arm wraps around me, a gesture of comfort and solidarity. "That's great news, Ella."

"Ella?"

Josephine interjects, "We should leave now."

"Agree," says Elijah, his tone final and urgent. "Go pack and meet outside."

The drive to our next destination is a blur of memories and emotions. As we hurtle towards our uncertain future, fragments of my past life as Charlotte Grave come flooding back. I'm seated in the back of the car Elijah is driving, behind my brother who sits in the passenger seat, peppering Elijah with questions about the agency. My bag lies next to me, a tangible link to the life I once knew, now a distant memory.

From the front, Darryn turns to me, his voice cutting through my reverie. "Do you hear? Elijah has been the leader of the Agency all along."

He doesn't call him king. I smile at this revelation, noting the unexpected similarities between my brother and me despite our differences. "So, Ella. How was it growing up as a reject?" Darryn's question hangs in the air, laden with unspoken history.

"It was... never without a dull moment." I think back to when I was five, mocked by an immortal named Cassie Langdale, realizing for the first time that my life meant little because I lacked magic or the vampiric allure.

Sensing my reluctance to delve into painful memories, Elijah intervenes. "Let's not talk about the past."

"Yeah, I heard the agency has many great talents," my brother continues, a pause before he adds, "Is Cassie Langdale by any chance also there?" The question sends a shiver through me, my blood running cold.

"Yes."

"How do you know Cassie?" I ask, my voice tinged with the unexpected sting of jealousy.

We met a few times," he says, his tone casual, yet the implication heavy.

My brother, who spent most of his life as an orphan, met Cassie Langdale? Impossible. She was always surrounded by wealth and the popular crowd, who eagerly wanted him in their group because she had a thing for him.

"We hung out a few times after I went to live with Guardian Green. She still has my number and texts me sometimes," he continues, the revelation hitting me like a punch to the gut.

The guardians and agents sometimes work together if necessary. Geez, just keep her away from me.

The car comes to a halt. "We're here," says Elijah, getting out and walking to the trunk to retrieve his oversized bag and a smaller one.

My brother and I exit the vehicle, him grabbing a bag from the trunk. "Don't tell me the agency is underground," I hear him say, his eyes scanning the surroundings filled with nothing but trees and grass.

Elijah waves his hand, and suddenly, an enormous three-story building materializes before us, complete with large double doors that we follow him through.