The Vampire Assassin

Chapter 11

     On my way back to Giovanni's I got stopped by my brother. Darius looked to be in a strange mood. Lately he was all happy ever since he found Alex. Now it looked like he was disappointed. He had his arms crossed and his face was turned into a frown. Alex was nowhere in sight, which I thought was strange. 

     As I walked up to him I asked "Hey what's wrong?". Darius just stared at me, calculating. I looked into his eyes "Darius, what's wrong? And where's Alex." I repeated. Finally he uncrossed his arms and addressed me. "Where were you last night?" He asked me with a bit of anger in his voice. Oh crap I thought, I never told him about Niccolo. I began to get nervous and was concentrating more on a rock on the ground than Darius.

     What was I supposed to tell him. That his little sister has been keeping a secret lover behind his back. That she was making out with a human. Its not good for vampires to be with humans. Darius learned that the hard way. Even worse I would have to tell him that I love Niccolo. What would he say to that? Darius just wouldn't understand. I couldn't lie to him either. He probably smelled Niccolo's scent on me already. 

     "Well?" Darius pressed, breaking my train of thought. Finally I looked up and simply replied " I went to dinner." "For the whole night?" He was going to get everything out of me, he wasn't going to simply let me walk away. I opened my mouth to say something then Darius cut me off, "Who Rosa?". I sighed. Might as well tell him everything. "I went to dinner with my friend Niccolo and stayed the night." I quickly spit out.

     Darius wasn't satisfied and raised an eyebrow. Once again I sighed and explained to him my love life from the past few days.

     When I finished explaining Darius seemed to relax a little bit. Not sure if that's a good sign or not. He stared at me for what seemed like forever. "You love him?" He asked. "Yes." I responded immediately. Darius seemed to wince at my answer. It must be really hard for him to think of me going through the exact situation as he did. "Rosa... This relationship is going to hurt you. Your going to hurt him and never forgive yourself." I thought about this. He was right of course. This relationship really will not work out, or ever for that matter. But I couldn't hide my feelings for Niccolo. They were real and here and true.

     "I know Darius. I know. But I just can't,I love him. If anything just let me enjoy this feeling I have for him. If it turns for the worst then I promise you i'll get out of his life before I hurt him." I explained and pleaded with my brother. I never had to experience falling in love and now that I have I don't want to give it up.

     I looked back at the ground and bit my lip. For some reason I was really nervous about sharing my feelings with Darius. I didn't know what he would let me do. All of a sudden he came close and enclosed me in one of his giant bear hugs. I hugged him back and could feel tears streaming down my cheeks. Finally he spoke, "Its OK, its OK." He repeated over and over. "Be happy, but don't hurt him or yourself." My brother kissed the top of my head and held me closer as I cried, now tears of relief.

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     "Giovanni is there anything for us to do?" Piero yelled. Back at the hideout Giovanni was giving the boys an assignment it seemed. Darius told me that Giovanni wanted to talk to me. I had said bye to Darius as he had to go back to Nicarus. He only had a few days off, but he said that he would return as soon as possible.

     Alex was standing beside me. She wasn't to happy with Darius leaving but knew that he had to go. "Now, now boys." Giovanni silenced everyone, "We have some trouble with our secret. Word is getting out that the men in white robes are meant to hurt this town. So I want every single one of you to go around town and possibly others if needed. Take down the posters and bribe those who speak ill of us. Kill any if who have to. We need the people to know that we are on there side. Understood?" All the boys nodded in unison. "Very good. Now, go." Single file everyone went down the stairs and out the building. Even Alex left.

     "Ah Rosa there you are." Giovanni smiled and drew his attention to me. I smiled back "Yes. My brother said you needed me?" He motioned for me to sit down and walked over to a desk. "That would be correct. Darius left right?" I nodded. "He said he would return soon." Giovanni smiled again and walked over to me with a letter. "A man came by last night and told me to give you this."

     Curiously I took the letter and ripped it open. There was no return address on the front. The letter was written in elegant script. "It's from Nicarus." I said aloud and began to read the letter. As I continued reading I got more and more annoyed.

     Finally I just tore up the letter in frustration and threw it on the ground. "What's wrong?" Giovanni asked. my head shook in frustration. "Nicarus wants me back to train a new guy!" I said. I was furious, not only was I mad at Nicarus for giving me this assignment but this means that I will have to leave. Leave Niccolo and Giovanni and Alex and the boys. I didn't want to leave yet. These vampires were starting to be my new family.

     You better go." Giovanni said after a while. I looked up, "What?" He had a sad expression on my face. "I know what Nicarus is like and if you don't listen to his demands then there will be consequences." He was right. Nicarus was not one to fool around with. "Will you tell Alex and the boys goodbye for me?" I asked Giovanni. "Of course." He replied.

     With that said I said farewell to Giovanni and walked slowly over to Niccolo's house.

     I waited on the porch for him to return. When he finally showed up his face lit up and ran over to me. "Hey beautiful." he greeted me with a kiss on my lips. Honestly, I didn't want to leave. I would rather stay here and hide with Niccolo for ever. "Hi." I replied.

     Niccolo sat down next to me and asked "What's up?" "I have to go." I revealed to him and his face fell. "What? Why? Where?" He bombarded me with his questions. "I came to visit and now I need to go back to my brother." I lied. Of course I did have to go back but not because of my brother.

     He thought about this. "OK then i'm coming with you." I was shocked by this. "No Niccolo you can't. I mean... you have work here and stuff to do. It'll only be for a little while I promise." I hated saying this. I would love for him to come with me but it was to dangerous. "We'll keep in touch right?" Niccolo finally asked. "Of course. We'll write to each other."

     With that said, he gave me a goodbye kiss, well a bit more than just a kiss, and I was on my way back to Nicarus once again.