Heart Me

20

She pressed dial, just to press red once more. She was torn. She did not know exactly what to do. Benedict was crossing a line she did not want to cross, and yet, it was important to keep him on her side. Iris stood on the deck watching the sea under the starry sky. She couldn't shake the feeling of regret that gnawed at her heart. In a moment of anger and frustration, she had hung up on him, cutting off any chance of help for her son. Now, as she looked at the silent phone, she knew the gravity of her mistake Tears welled up in her eyes as she wished she could turn back time and undo their error. Things would be much simpler if they hadn't succumbed to their lust. Iris took a deep breath and from afar, she saw Stone with Eddie on his deck. She did not know what they were talking about, but they were laughing.

"Oh, Stone..." She whispered, knowing her indecision was all because of him.

She did not want to hurt him more. She had heard him, and he was so right. She would also be so insecure if it were the other way around. But Zane had to come first. He had to come above anything. Reaching those thoughts while watching both men, Iris vowed to not let anything cloud her judgment again. There, she pressed dial and put the cell near her ear.

"You're back." He said quietly as he took the call.

"I'm sorry, Ben." Iris bit her lower lip. "It's just that..." She choked a little. "I don't understand why you say the things you say."

"I'm a vampire, Iris. I don't function as humans do." He laughed low. "You look so much like Meg's mother..." He confessed. "Even more than she does."

"But if Megan is your mate..." She insisted as she sat back on the swing chair. Her eyes fixed on the ocean and the starry sky.

"I was never interested in another woman since she entered my life." Benedict cleared his throat. "That night... I don't know... maybe it was the wine... maybe I went back a few centuries... we are creatures that do not forget... Diana was..." She heard him take a deep breath as he searched for the right word. "... magnificent..." He smiled. Iris smiled too.

"You killed her though." Her heart skipped a beat as she dared him. Her muscles tensed as she heard the heavy silence on the other end. But she could hear his breathing.

"I didn't kill her." Benedict responded after long silent seconds. "She chose to die." He sounded incredibly calm. "I offered her a community. A place to belong."

"As far as I know about this story, you ordered her lover killed." Iris insisted. "Chris told me my parents are them..." She smiled. "I find it to so hard to believe, but I'm so glad they found one another in this life. My parents are beautiful and the love they feel for one another is so real. I always thought I'd want what they have."

"I didn't have a choice." Benedict got up and started walking in circles in the dungeon. He usually hated to talk about vampire affairs, even to other vampires. However, he was so at ease with Iris. "I knew about James's mistakes but ignored them. They parented Megan. The thing is..." He ran his fingers over his hair. "...other vampires found out. James killed some important kin, and I was left with no other choice." A huge deep breath was heard. "I don't expect you to understand. You are not of our world, so you don't understand most rules. Did you find that love?"

"Yes." Iris affirmed as she too got up and approached the rails, leaning against them. "Stone is that love. I know this since I met him even if it was so confusing at the beginning." She giggled. "I don't want to bother you... with a boring story that is... for you..." Iris stuttered a little.

"I will help you with Zane." He told her, knowing he'd go against his own community, stepping on their rules. "I will not allow Olivia to transform him."

"Is it simple like that?" Iris asked.

"She is bound to obey me. Chris is her father and her Sire, but I am every vampire's sire..." She heard him softly giggle. "What do you do in Hawaii anyway?"