A Prophecy Fulfilled

Chapter Four

The next day, Lorenzo came to tell Vincent more information he had discovered about the Ball. The entire time, Lorenzo watched Vincent's face remain serious. As if what he was saying was of the utmost importance. He was glad that Vincent was in on his plan, but if this was supposed to be a mission of tomfoolery, then why was Vincent looking so stern and solemn the whole time? When Lorenzo finished speaking, Vincent was still silent. So he decided to break his friend's silence.

"Vincent, what's going on? Why are you so quiet?"

Vincent looked up, his eyes seeming to return from another world, a world in which Lorenzo was in no way part of.

"Something happened yesterday."

"Well? What is it?" Lorenzo questioned. For Vincent to sound as solemn as he did, Lorenzo knew it had to be something momentous.

"You have to swear you won't tell anyone." Vincent snapped.

"Vincent, what the hell happened?"

"I met a girl." Vincent answered finally.

"Why should that be such a secret? That's wonderful! Who is she?" Lorenzo asked these questions as if they were darts thrown one directly after the other. Nothing wrong with a few dirty details in his opinion.

"Because the girl I met is Andromeda Luminar. I'm sure of it."

Lorenzo looked at him, his mouth gaping. His face had gone pale with the shock.

Slowly, the shock wore off. Then he shouted at the top of his voice,

"What in the world are you talking about!? Don't you know what you're doing?"

"No, I don't." Vincent answered honestly.

"Of all the women you could have fallen for..." Lorenzo's voice trailed away and he shook his head.

"You didn't see her. She's beautiful." Vincent answered, floating again to another world Lorenzo could not enter. Lorenzo didn't know what to say. He had never seen Vincent like this before. If it was something he had an opinion on, Vincent defended it adamantly. He had given some defense, but not as much as usual. So he tried to enter the world his friend had slipped into.

"Alright. What happened?"

Vincent told him what happened. Lorenzo took a deep breath.

"She may be beautiful, Vince. But there is no possible way that you can be in love with her."

"What did you say the guests would wear to the Ball?" Vincent asked as though he didn't hear his friend's criticism.

"Vincent, didn't you hear a word I said to you?" Lorenzo asked, annoyed that Vincent, Lorenzo was convinced, had deliberately tried to change the subject.

"I did actually. But I don't really care." Vincent answered somewhat bitterly. He could understand why Lorenzo would feel the way he did, but he hadn't been with them the day before. Nor did he understand the anger and loneliness that he and Andromeda seemed to know and share. Lorenzo sighed and said,

"Ankle-length robes. I heard the robes were supposed to be made of velvet or silk, one or the other. The robes are supposed to have hoods, too."

"Now remember, you can't tell anybody about this."

"Why would I want to be the bearer of bad news? Your parents would kill you if they knew what happened." Lorenzo said worriedly.

"Precisely the reason we aren't going to tell anyone." Vincent stated a matter of fact tone to his voice. Lorenzo rolled his eyes, still unable to believe what Vincent had done. No sane vampire would ever fall for the enemy. But what could he do about it, after all? This had been Vincent's choice. And perhaps he was making something out of nothing. Maybe Vincent would go to the Midnight Ball and realize that he didn't like this girl after all. Besides, from what Vincent had told him, it sounded like they had met by chance.

Andromeda had no one to tell about her meeting with Vincent the day before. At one point she would have had a nurse. But she hadn't had one since she was fifteen. She knew there was nobody around her to tell, anyone she did tell would shout derision from the rooftops. But she had to tell someone. She had friends, but none that she could talk to at the moment. Andromeda felt like she had to tell somebody or she would just burst. At times like these, Andromeda wrote in her diary. In many ways, her diary seemed like a better friend than anyone she knew.

Andromeda sat at her writing desk, pulling her diary from the drawer. She took a deep breath before writing.

Dear Diary;

The strangest thing happened yesterday. One of the best, despite the strangeness. I met a man while out practicing. His name is Vincent. He is truly astonishing. I have never seen such blue eyes. A voice so soft and soothing that when he apologized for knocking me over, all my anger was gone.

The fact that I met him isn't strange. More that when Vincent told me his name, he only told me his first name was Vincent, nothing more. I didn't give Vincent my last name either. And I'm certain he didn't say anything for the same reason I didn't. He's from the Black family. But he was kind. Not like I've heard others from the Black coven to be. Perhaps he was trying to fool me, but somehow, I believe his kindness is genuine. And perhaps we're wrong about them. At least that's what I feel when I looked at Vincent.

Strange as this may sound, I think I'm falling in love with him. I'm not sure of what Vincent feels, but he asked when he could see me again when I started running home. So I can always hope that he may like me. So I invited him to the Midnight Ball. I can only hope for the best. I wonder how I'll know whether or not Vincent arrives. I'm sure I'll know when the time comes. How in the world am I supposed to keep this to myself? And how will I know if Vincent feels the same way? I guess I'll know when the time comes for that, too. The Ball is less than two weeks away, and I'm anxious already.

Andromeda closed her diary, feeling heat rush to her cheeks. No, she couldn't wait until the Ball, but she had to. But she didn't think she could handle the anxiousness much longer, either.