'love?' when you live as long I have, 'love' is a surprisingly rare occurrence, something that many would have given up on. Yet, as I look into the eyes of the man in front of me - his innocent blue eyes filled with hope of what life holds and fear...
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Because I would do anything to protect our family.
The night before the Masquerade ball
(Outside the hospital)
The night was cloaked in darkness as Elena reversed her car, the soft hum of the engine filling the air. Suddenly, a jolt shook her vehicle as it collided with something—or someone. Heart racing, Elena stepped out into the dimly lit street, her eyes scanning the surroundings for any sign of what she had hit. But to her bewilderment, there was nothing there—no trace of the impact she had felt just moments before.
Just as confusion began to cloud her thoughts, a figure materialized before her with a swift, almost ethereal motion. It was Isabella, her presence as unexpected as it was intimidating.
"Drive much?" Isabella's voice dripped with sarcasm, her words cutting through the silence like a knife. Startled, Elena's gaze flickered up to meet Isabella's, her mind racing to comprehend the situation. "Who are you?" she demanded, her voice tinged with uncertainty.
But Isabella's demeanor shifted in an instant, her expression hardening as she took a menacing step forward. "You drove a dagger through my sister Rebekah's back, Elena. It hurts," she hissed, her fangs gleaming in the dim light as she loomed over Elena, a threat hanging in the air.
Before Elena could react, Isabella's grip tightened around her throat, sending a chill down her spine. The air grew thick with tension as Isabella's gaze bore into Elena's, a silent warning of the consequences that awaited her.
But just as the situation seemed to reach its breaking point, a new presence intervened. Elijah appeared with a quiet grace, his commanding presence cutting through the tension like a blade."Elijah," Isabella's voice held a hint of defiance as she addressed her brother, her eyes flashing with unspoken resentment.
"Leave," Elijah's command was firm, his gaze unwavering as he stepped between Isabella and Elena, his hand poised to strike.
Reluctantly, Elijah released his hold on Isabella, his eyes never leaving hers as she met his gaze with a steely resolve. "Are you challenging me?" his voice was laced with warning, a silent threat lingering in the air.
But Isabella remained unfazed, her sarcasm cutting through the tension like a knife. "You're pathetic, both of you," she retorted, her words dripping with disdain as she turned on her heel and disappeared into the night.
As Isabella vanished into the darkness, the echoes of her words lingered in the air, a haunting reminder of the sibling drama that had unfolded before Elena's eyes. And though the night had returned to its quiet stillness, Elena couldn't shake the feeling that this encounter was only the beginning of something far more tumultuous.
