Midnight Solstice

Chapter 17

Picture: Fern VonHeusen
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   When we got out to the gardens, we stopped. Katerina's mouth was wide with amazement. Her long burgundy locks framed her face and accented her blue eyes even more. I have to say I like her blue eyes better than her red eyes, but only because they show her humanity, but both sets are stunning.
"Wow...this is very beautiful!" She exclaimed.
"Isn't it? It's been here for many years now. I always come here when I need inspiration for my drawings."
   "You draw?" She asked.
    "Yep. I paint as well."
    "Cool. You'll have to show me your work sometime. I would love to see it."
   "Well, if you can't find me, I'll be in my art room on the other end of the castle. If you find yourself down there, I can show you some of my work."
   "I may just wander down there and get lost then." We both laughed.
   "Not too lost pet, we don't need you and Houdini wandering around here getting into things." The cat was positioned in Katerina's bag so that his little head was sticking out. His odd colored eyes wandered around the area. He meowed quietly at me when I said his name.
   "We wouldn't get into things. I would be too scared to. Everything seems pretty intimidating here, even the small things."
   "Does it? After a while, things get better and you realize that they aren't so scary after all. But it must be harder for all of you because you haven't been here as long."
   "Well, I can tell you that the other newborns have been adapting easier than I have. They don't have their old lives chasing after them." I sighed.
   "I know that you feel like no one really understands what's going on, and believe me, we don't have the slightest idea what you went through all of your life, but we are going to try to understand as best as we can. And once this ends, you'll get to move on."
   "You talk an awful lot about when this ends; you seem pretty sure that it will. But even after the mission ends, it's moving on from it all that's the hard part."
   "And I'm going to be right there with you through all of it, from now, until you can go to sleep at night knowing that the worst is over."
   "But what happens after that?"
    "Then we can smile and say it's in the past. And even after that, I'll still be around. You won't be getting rid of me that easily."
   "Well that's a relief. Who would be brave enough to to be my partner in crime other than you?" Katerina nudged my arm lightly as we walked forward.
   "I don't know. We didn't get much of a choice being paired together. But I can't say that it's a bad thing."
    Yeah, we didn't get much of a choice being paired together is right. We are secretly mates and you don't know it! Aren't I such a charmer? Not!
   "Yeah, I could think of worse people to be stuck with." She bit her lip. "Listen, I'm sorry I flipped out on your sister earlier. I should have just kept my mouth shut. I guess I just get really defensive sometimes."
  "Don't worry about it pet, she's been acting really...Oh I don't know...bratty lately. It's like I told you before, ever since Aro put me on this mission, she's been acting like this. Normally I would just ignore it and defend her when things got bad, but this time I can't. It's almost like I think she's getting what she deserves or something! And I'm feeling really guilty that I think that, but maybe she is."
   I can't recall a time where I would rant so much to anyone besides Jane. But Katerina has always been able to make me open up more. I feel like I can talk to her easier than I can talk to anyone, even though it's hard talking to her because I'm scared that I'm going to completely embarrass myself in front of her.
  "Well, I haven't known her as long as you have, but I can tell she isn't always like this. To me, I think she's just jealous that you are getting big missions and stuff. Not to mention that I got a big mission as well in my first few days of being here. I can understand why she would be angry about that."
   "I can see why she's angry about that, not that I think the same, because I don't, but I can understand her view point."
  "You just don't get why she's angry with you?"
  "Yes! I figured she would be happy for me or something, but now, we barely talk, I don't see her as much anymore, and now she's acting all jealous and angry and its just too complicated."
  "Well, if it makes you feel any better, I'm very happy for you. And I know you and your sister will work things out."
   "You think so?"
    "I don't think so, I know so." She stopped walking for a moment. "Look at those poor roses..." Katerina pointed her index finger at three red roses that looked very wilted.
   "I imagine the gardeners will get rid of them soon and replace them." I told her. She frowned.
  "No, they won't have to." She walked forward to them. I followed.
   She placed her hand underneath one of the flowers and closed her eyes. I watched in amazement as the wilted rose began to grow and become more vibrant in color. The green leaves grew bigger and the red petals spread out in a formation more beautiful than it had been before Katerina ever touched it. There was a slight glow around the flower as she healed it. My eyes widened as she did the same to the other two. When the glow from the flowers faded, she looked back at me with a huge smile on her face that caused me to smile as well.
  "Ta da." She said quietly.
   "That was amazing Katerina! Why didn't you show me that sooner?"
  "I figured you were busy enough without having to worry about additional things with my gifts. I already have that one down pretty much."
  "I'm never too busy for you." I blurted. She blushed.
   "That's very sweet of you to say, but I know you have a lot on your plate right now. Besides, it was just a small detail anyway."
  "Small detail! Katerina, if you can do that, who knows what else you can do! Maybe someday, you can make vines grow out of the ground or something to trap your enemies! Or set someone on fire with just one glance!" At that point I was so excited that I began talking with my hands. "You could blow someone away with just the flick of your wrist, or wash a person away with water! Katerina, the possibilities are endless. You've specialized in all of the elements! You can do anything!"
   "Alec! Cool down for a second!" She told me, laughing. It was then that I realized that I was standing on a wooden bench a couple of feet away, waving my arms around like a maniac.
  "Oh, whoops. I guess I got ahead of myself there." I said sheepishly as I sat down on the bench. I patted the spot next to me and Katerina came over.
  "You're right though, the possibilities are endless. Every element comes with a lot of abilities, but having to worry about all four...its scary. It's just a lot for one person to handle." She sat down next to me.
"You can handle it. I know you can. And do you want to know how I know?" She nodded.
"Because you are a very smart, and strong woman who doesn't give up."
Her eyes wandered to the ground. I gently turned her face back towards me and held her chin between my thumb and index finger. "It's true, don't doubt it for a minute. You can do anything you set your mind to, I've seen you do it."
"Do you really think so?"
"I don't think so, I know so." I said, coping her words from earlier. She giggled. I took my hand slowly away from her face. I wanted to badly to just cup her cheek in my hand and never let her go.
Ok Aleczander slow down. You've only known her for three months, three months. That isn't a very long time. Is it?
"Okay." She leaned back on the bench. For a while, the only sound I heard was our breathing.
"You sang beautifully tonight by the way." I told her, breaking the silence.
"Thanks, I haven't sang that one in a while..."
"Well it was absolutely beautiful. You have a voice like an angel's." I mental slapped myself on the forehead. I know she has the voice of an angel, but that's not the type of thing you say on the first date. Woah, date? This isn't a date is it? No. At least I don't think so.
"Really?" Her blush was back. Oh well, it's out in the open. I might as well roll with it.
"Yes, I haven't heard a voice as angelic as yours in all of my years." She smiled and bit her lip.
"Well thank you Alec. I think that's the best review I've ever gotten after a performance."
"Your welcome." The comfortable silence came back for a moment, and then I got an idea. "Would you like to go hunting with me?" She raised an eyebrow.
"Hunting? Heidi just brought in the fishing yesterday."
"Yeah, but what's life without a midnight snack here and there?" Katerina thought about that for a second.
"Alright, but I have to drop this little guy off first." The cat looked up at Katerina and meowed. "Yes, I'm talking about you." She told him.
   We made our way back inside and walked to her room. Houdini made quiet noises as we walked. It was almost as if he were having a conversation with himself.
   "Hang on Houdini, I just have to get the door open." Katerina told him as she unlocked the door and walked in. Set her bag down on her bed and the cat jumped out. She turned back to me. "You can come in you know." I walked in, but not too far. Her scent hit me as I got farther in the room. The familiar smell of raspberries and vanilla consumed me.
"Hey kitty, be careful with those. I'm pretty sure those pillows cost more than a college tuition." The cat was currently pouncing all over the large assortment of pillows on Katerina's bed. When she spoke to him, he jumped down onto the floor and ran.
   He stopped in front of me. I crouched down and scratched his head and he purred and rubbed himself on my hand. Houdini then put his front paws on my knees and sniffed my clothes. He sneezed, causing Katerina to laugh quietly.
  "I think he likes you." The cat meowed.
   "Well, I think I'm going to like him too. Isn't that right little kitty?" He rolled onto the floor with his stomach facing up. I began to move my hand across it when he wrapped his little paws around my finger and bit it. I fluffed up the fur on his stomach as he kicked at my hand with his back paws and bit my finger with his teeth. It didn't hurt though, due to my granite like skin. After a while of that, I stood back up.
"We'd better get going if we are going to make it back before dawn." It was only midnight, but I wanted to use up every moment I had with her before the dawn.
"Yeah, I don't think the humans will like it if we approach them sparkling like disco balls." Katerina changed into her vampire form and we left.
The two of us made our way out of the room, much to Houdini's displeasure. We found our way to the front entrance to the castle, and exited quietly. If someone heard us leave, there was no doubt that we'd be pulled back inside.
We weren't supposed to leave the castle without Aro's permission but I didn't feel like approaching him again today. And I've done this plenty of times myself. He just checks my thoughts and pretends he didn't see me leave. Hopefully he'll do the same for Katerina.
We took off into the woods, running at top speed through the trees. It's was almost as if we were invisible since it was dark, and we were moving so fast that I doubt anyone but a vampire could see us. After a couple of minutes, we were a couple of towns west of Volterra, which was good, because hunting in Volterra is prohibited. The two of us walked out of the woods, and into the city. The night life was very active, since it was Friday and the weekend was just about to begin.
"Alec, I've never been hunting before...I have no clue what to do." Katerina whispered to me.
"Then I'll teach you. Your natural instincts will kick in also, so you'll get it." I assured her. She didn't look convinced, but nodded anyway.
"We can't just pick humans out of the street though, right?"
"Not unless you want to end up being the top story on the news with the headline RUTHLESS BLOODSUCKER KILLS INNOCENT MAN." I said, using my best impression of a news broadcaster. She laughed.
"Very funny Alec. But I still wouldn't quit your day job to become an impressionist."
"I think I would be a great impressionist."
"Yeah, when pigs fly."
"No. Watch, I'll imitate you." I took a second to compose myself. "Hi, I'm Katerina. I can dance and sing and kick someone's ass with the four elements." I had no idea I could make my voice that squeaky, but I did.
"I do not sound like that!" She said in between laughs.
"Yes, you do." I said squeakily, even though I knew she was right. She giggled.
"Okay then." We ran forward a couple of yards. We were still on the edge of the city, so we could see the humans, but they couldn't see us.
"Come on, up there." I told her, pointing to the first large building that I saw. I ran forward and jumped up to the top. The roof was flat, so it was a good place to walk on. Katerina soon appeared behind me.
"Well, there aren't any humans up here."
"I know pet, but if we're higher up, we can scope out the humans easier."
"Oh...I get it!" I walked over to the edge of the building and looked down into the alleyway. No humans were around.
"We need to go farther." I told her, jumping off of the ledge. I took a ahead start and leaped to the next roof top. I looked back at Katerina.
"Are you coming?" I asked her. She nodded and jumped over to me.
   We took off running over the rooftops. Soon it became a race to see who could move the fastest. We were moving so fast it was as if we were running on air. She looked over at me and smiled, causing me to do the same and we were both laughing. In this moment, I felt free, like a bird that can fly to anywhere it wishes. I forgot all about my ties to the Volturi and now it was just the two of us soaring over the city. Just the two of us, the way it should be. I stopped once we were far enough in. From here, we should be able to catch some ignorant humans who wander around.
   "That was so cool!" Katerina exclaimed, spinning around. "We were all like "whoosh" and we were going so fast and...wow!" I chuckled at her enthusiasm. I like it when she gets excited over small things like this.
   "Yes, wow is right. I can't remember a time where I've done that."
  "Me either, but now what do we do?" I walked over to the edge of the roof and crouched down.
   "Come here." I told her quietly. She came over and copied my stance near the ledge.
   "Wow, we're squatting on a rooftop, cool." Katerina said sarcastically.
   "You don't want the humans to see us, do you?" She shook her head. "Then we have to stay low. If they see us, things don't end well."
   "How do they end?"
    "It's very messy."
     "Oh..." She bit her lip. "I'm known to be quite messy, just to forewarn you. I think it comes with the clumsiness. It's a miracle I didn't trip running over here."
   "I know. That doesn't matter right now though, what matters now is that we stay quiet." I turned my attention back to the brightly lit space between the two buildings. Nothing came. And I thought the night life was active. But no, now it wasn't. One human did walk by, but he was too drunk and nearly fell down with every step. The blood of a drunk human doesn't taste as good as the pure blood from something else.
   "Alec, I don't see anything coming." Katerina murmured.
   "We need to try a different approach." I thought for a moment. "Are you willing to be bait?"
   "Bait? What do I have to do?"
    "It's easy. You just have to stand down there..." I pointed to the space between the buildings. "And look pretty." She frowned.
   "I don't know how to look pretty." I laughed.
   "All you have to do is stand there and be your beautiful self." She would've been blushing if she were in her fae form. "And I'm certain that some humans will come up to you and then you can lead them in the alley. I'll come down and then we'll feed. Simple."
  "Not simple. How am I supposed to lead humans into the alley?"
   "Well...that's up to you." She groaned.
     "Fine." She stood up and jumped down into the dark part of the alley. She walked forward into the light. She looked up at me and waved before she walked onto the sidewalk and stood under a street light. She let a couple of humans pass by.
"You actually have to talk to them to lure them, pet." I thought. I could see her roll her eyes.
   "They didn't have good blood Alec. The first two were on drugs and looked stoned. The other lady was pregnant and I certainly was going to eat her. And you said I just had to stand here anyway."
  "Well scratch that and.."
   "Aw shit.."
   "What?"
    "Two guys are walking towards me."
    "Good."
     "What?! That's not good."
     "Yes it is, they smell fine from here." Two men came into view, the first man was tall and had a decent build, the second man was shorter but was still just as muscular as the other man. Both men couldn't have been more than twenty.
   "Hang on one second." She ran back into the alley, pulled her shirt down a little, revealing the tops of her breasts, and flipped her hair.
"What are you doing?" I questioned.
"Well, you said I had to lure them into the alley, and guys like women..."
"So you are going to try and seduce them?"
"You don't think I can do it?" She raised an eyebrow skeptically.
   "You are too innocent to do that."
    "You think so, huh?" Katerina walked back out under the street light and leaned against it.
   "Are you lost?" The first man asked her.
    "Uh, I think so. I've never been here before." She responded.
   "Well, why don't you come with us?" The second man said, shooting a glance to the other man. The two smiled.
   "Yeah, we know our way around here."
    "Well actually, I was waiting for my friend. He went down there..." She pointed into the alley. "A little while ago. I tried to go down there, but it's too dark and I'm kind of scared." She bit her lip nervously. "Will you two help me find him?" She frowned and batted her eyelashes. I don't know about those two, but if I didn't know better, I would have bought into her act.
   "What do we get if we help you?" The second man questioned. Katerina smiled and batted her eyelashes some more.
   "I'll give you whatever you want." She said with a wink. You've got to be kidding me. So much for innocence. The two men caught on to what she meant and their eyes widened with excitement.
   "Let's go." The two men told her in unison. She giggled and grabbed their hands. Katerina began skipping into the alley. I couldn't help the small ounce of jealousy that ran through me. I didn't like how friendly she was being with the humans. I attempted to shake the feeling out of my head and watched Katerina bring the two men farther away from the light. Once they all were in the dark, she stopped.
  "Consider that your cue." She told me. I climbed up onto the ledge and jumped down. I landed on my feet without a sound.
   "So uh, he went down here?" 
    "Yeah, he said he had some business to take care of, whatever that means." She turned around and faced me. She smiled and squealed. She let go of their hands and ran towards me. Katerina threw her arms around me and I couldn't help but wrap my arms around her petite figure.
   "Thank goodness I found you! I was beginning to get worried!" She exclaimed.
"Told you I could do it." Her voice said in my mind.
"Yeah yeah, now is not the time for gloating." She let go of me and turned back to the men.
  "Now, say goodbye to your friend and let's go. You have some payments to make." The first man told her. Katerina and I looked at each other for a long moment and laughed.
   "Well technically, you didn't find him, I did." She inhaled sharply.
   "Which one do you want?" I asked her.
    "Hmmm...I don't know. Maybe that one." She pointed to the second man. "The other one is too tall for me. I don't think I'd be able to reach his neck." I chuckled and we stepped forward. The men began to back up.
   "Hey...what's going on?" The first man asked.
    "What do you want?" The second man added.
  "Now what do we do?" Katerina said to me, ignoring the men. Her red eyes danced with thirst. I felt almost attracted to this, but at the same time I felt a little bit scared of her. Her usual innocent demeanor was gone and left a blood thirsty predator in its place. Of course, I found myself feeling the same thing and the small feeling of fear fled my body, as if fear itself was scared of the monster inside of me.   
   "Your instincts will tell you. Just make sure it doesn't scream." And then came the chaos.
   Katerina ran forward and pushed the second man up against the wall. She covered his mouth with her hand and began to feed. As soon as I knew she was all set, I caught the other man. He was trying to run away. Stupid human. I wrapped my hand around his neck and crushed his windpipe. I bit down on his neck once I found his pulse as quiet gurgled screams filled the air, accompanying the muffled screams of the other man.
  Once we were finished, we dragged the bodies to the dumpster at the end of alley and threw them in. I took a silver lighter out of my pocket, and set the corpses aflame.
   "Do you always carry a lighter with you?" Katerina asked me.
  "Yep, you never know when you need to get rid of a body." Suddenly, we heard a woman scream behind us. I turned around quickly. A blonde, middle aged woman stood a couple of feet away, her slender hand covered her mouth.
  "Oh my God!" She screamed in horror. I looked to Katerina.
   "Do you want to spilt this one with me?" She shrugged.
    "Sure. She's got to go now anyway." We rushed forward before she could even think about screaming again.
    After we got rid of our unlucky witness, we added her to our body pile. We then had to wait for the bodies to burn. I stared at the flames for what seemed like a really long time before I felt Katerina's eyes on me. I glanced over at her. She smiled.
   "You seem awfully quiet."
     "I was just thinking." I told her.
    "About what?"
    "Everything."
    I took a second just to admire how beautiful Katerina was. My eyes wandered to her mouth. Her plump lips were surrounded by blood. I moved closer to her. I cupped her cheek in my right hand and moved my thumb over her lips, cleaning the crimson liquid off of them. I held my hand there for a moment before moving it away and licking the blood off of my thumb. My eyes never left hers.
   "I told you I'm messy." She whispered.
    "It's okay." I whispered back. For a while we just stood there and looked at each other with the light of the flames illuminating us. I wanted to do so much more than just stare at her, but for now, I'll take what I can get.
  "Are those guys done burning yet?" She asked. I walked away and looked in the dumpster. The bodies were just about gone and were nearly all ashes.
   "Yeah, pretty much. We should probably start heading back before someone notices our absence." I shut the lid to the dumpster and jumped back up on the roof. Katerina appeared by my side and we headed back to the castle.
   It was about 3:30 a.m. when we arrived. I walked Katerina back to her room since I figured it was the gentlemanly thing to do. When we got to her door, she turned and faced me.
   "Thanks for taking me out tonight, it was fun! We should do it again sometime."
   "Yeah, definitely!" I exclaimed. I guess things went better than I thought they did!
     "Okay, well...goodnight." She said quietly.
     "Goodnight." Katerina came up to me quickly, and kissed my cheek lightly. She smiled and quickly disappeared into her room. That left my standing there dumbfounded. I felt a smile creep on my face as my heart melted. My cheek tingled where her lips touched it. Maybe there is hope for us to be together after all.
   "She just kissed your cheek Aleczander, calm down, would you?" A man's voice said. I turned to the voice and saw the last person I would expect. It was Alucard, the Kind of the Fae.