City of Fire

Chapter Twenty-Nine

"Zane"

He didn't feel the pain...

Didn't feel the cold...

He was numb...

His eyes hadn't left the closed door and in his mind he followed her across the destroyed graveyard to the church. She was so confusing, so irritating, why couldn't she leave him alone in his misery? He closed his eyes, the eerie laugh echoing inside his skull.

Ella...

The memories...

A sharp blast of pain leapt across his temple and he winced. Why couldn't he remember? What had they done to him? He reached up, his fingers going to the mark that had long ago faded.

Had faded because of what he'd done...

Something tightened around his heart, so violently that for a moment he couldn't breathe. He kept his eyes closed, focused on his breathing. His whole body was shaking, trembling. His molars lengthened and he felt his eyes changing, felt the need to draw blood.

Then he heard it...

"Have you made her yours yet?" The little angelic voice whispered beside his ear and his eyes flashed open.

He didn't move, didn't breathe. He knew that voice, would always know that voice.

"Ella," he whispered it, barely a breath leaving his lips but she'd heard it.

"I'm surprised you remember me, Zane," the voice was mocking, yet held a sweet, affectionate tone to it. Her breath was cool against the skin on his neck and he heard the soft patter of her feet as she lowered to the ground. He turned slowly, his breath catching in his throat when he saw her.

She was covered in a leather cloak, the hood drawn so that he couldn't see her face. Pale skin, rosy pink lips, an elegant nose, and high smooth cheekbones made up what he could see. He reached up, his fingers trailing the hood. She didn't move, but her lips pulled into a smile.

"Ella," he whispered it again and he thought he felt her tremble but he pushed the hood back. It spilled down to her shoulders, revealing large, dark eyes and black hair that was cut to her chin. He stared at her, not daring to breathe.

She was here...

In front of him...

"You look as if you've seen a ghost," she whispered her dark eyes never leaving his. "They really did it you, didn't they?" Her voice had dropped, as if she was speaking to herself but he'd heard it.

"Did what, Ella?" He stepped forward but she took one back.

"Don't," she looked up at him, her dark eyes bitter, "you killed me, remember?" Zane stared at her, confusion and anger whelming up inside him.

"No I don't!" He screamed and had to close his eyes to keep his hunger under control.

"You will, in time." Her voice sounded as if it was above him and he looked up, she hovered a few feet off of the ground, "And when you do, you'll understand." She grinned, showing white teeth, "Just remember what you're true purpose is," she giggled, "because if you don't," she pulled the hood up, "I will."

Then she disappeared...

Zane stared at the empty air, his heart like a chunk of ice inside his chest. He knew; deep down he knew what Ella had meant. He closed his eyes, sinking down to the cold floor. Memories, broken and distorted flashed inside his brain but he couldn't make since of them.

He sat there, the cold seeping into him once more. He stared at his bandaged hands, his mind playing the memories over and over again.

What was he?

Who was he?

He closed his eyes, spreading himself out so that he lay on his back. His eyes looked to the stars above him. Then they closed, and he slept.