Forbidden Blood

Chapter 28: Vincent

"Zoë told me about how she became a vampire." Clara says to me as we walk through the woods.

"She did?"

"Yeah," she hesitates, "Is that really how vampires are created?"

I nod, "So... you know?"

"About what?"

"How I became a vampire."

"No, she only told me about her. I didn't ask about you..." she bites her lip as if she wants me to say more. I'm not sure if I'm ready to tell her yet, but I don't think she'll let this go.

"I... I was a human before I became a vampire."

"You were?" she looks confused.

"I'm a lot older than you Clara. I've made mistakes that I can't take back. And when people lie to you or don't tell you the whole truth, things like this happen." I shrug. "I've already accepted my mistake. I hope you will, too."

"Who was she?" she says in a sad tone.

"She lived in my old town where I grew up. No one knew that she was a vampire. She liked to keep it a secret and 'recruit' humans whenever she could."

"By... letting them..."

"Yeah." she goes silent, and I can tell that she's upset. Finally she manages to croak out a few words.

"And you drank her blood?"

"I didn't realize what I was doing. She tricked me, Clara, you have to understand that. I would never have done it if she hadn't compelled me to." she doesn't say anything else. "That's why I didn't push you any farther that night. I knew what would happen if we got carried away. I couldn't bear to see that happen to you."

"That night that I asked you to make me a vampire, after Adriana told me what would happen... you knew, didn't you? How close we came to it actually happening?"

"I wouldn't have let you, Clara, you have to understand that."

"But you didn't tell me what you knew."

"That's because I didn't want you to know."

"So you were lying to me, too, and I didn't even realize it?" she starts to get upset.

"It isn't like that. I knew it would do more harm than good if I told you." I put my hand on her shoulder. "I'm sorry I lied to you. I really am."

She frowns, "I just want to walk by myself right now."

"Okay," hurt pulses through my body as I lift my hand from her shoulder. I walk a little faster to catch up with Rina, and walk with her instead.

"That went well." she says.

"Don't even start."

"Oh cheer up, V. As soon as we talk to the witches and get them to exile Adriana and Tarynn, this'll all be over and you can have Clara all to yourself."

"I don't want her all to myself, I want her to be happy."

"Man, you really love her, don't you?"

"I love her so much. Even when it's so hard to keep loving her, I do."

"She's a lucky girl." Rina sighs, "And no matter what the odds, you two will be together for a long time, I can tell you that."

"Thanks."

We reach a flat area where the grass crunches under my feet. It becomes slightly warmer and I see the moon shining above. All of a sudden Agatha stops.

"This is it!" she says, excited. "Clara and I will go talk to our elders and see what we can do about Tarynn and Adriana."

Zoë nods. "Great. We'll wait here for the others to bring them, and hopefully we can get everything over with."

"Okay." Clara says as she and Agatha walk into their village. Before she vanishes, she looks back at me one last time with a disappointed look in her eyes, and I can tell that she is still thinking about what I said.