Blood Lust

Chapter 12

The cold breeze brushed against Aurora's face, sending shivers down her body. The park was such a quiet place once the sun had set, and was probably one of Aurora's favorite places to be.

She walked along the edge of the pond, the water becoming a thin sheet of ice. It was cold, very cold. only being half vampire, she could feel the air changing around her. She still had every aspect of a human but was just special in her own way.

"Remember when I first met you here?"

The voice startled her as her head whipped around to see Zachariah, bundled up and looking cozy with a soft smile on his lips. His blue eyes seemed to glisten as he walked towards her.

Yes, I do," she said, turning her whole body to face him. "It's a whole new world, not just a reflection. What about ice though?"

He laughed at her question, finally approaching in front of her. 

"Well, Ms. Vierna, maybe that world is trapped from of then, or maybe that world is so amazing that we are not allowed to view it 24/7. Maybe ice separates their reality from ours."

Aurora smiled at his words, that whole day repeating itself in her head. He was different then. Zachariah wasn't a vampire to her then.

"Aurora," Zachariah said, his eyes now on her. "I know you felt what I felt the day I first laid eyes on you. Just one look into your eyes and I felt something different. I didn't feel like a normal vampire. You could even say I felt like a human, and I haven't felt that way in such a long time."

He started walking along the edge of the ice, Aurora following behind. The air was cold and crisp, just like any other winter night,

Zachariah stopped in his tracks. Aurora hadn't noticed and bumped into his back. She lost her balance and started to fall back, but before she hit the ground, two arms wrapped around her waist and held her up.

Aurora looked up to see Zachariah holding her, their bodies close with each other and his face just inches from hers. His crystal blue eyes looking into hers. 

"You have to be more careful, Aurora. You let the clumsiness of being a human take over the vampire in you it seems," he said, laughing and lifting her back on her feet. 

He walked her to a nearby bench, sitting her down and then taking a seat next to her. He took a deep breath and looked toward the sky, the stars starting to come out one by one.

"I miss feeling the cool air on my skin. Being a vampire for as long as I have, all those things you feel as a human; they just slowly start to fade away in your mind. As for you though, you get to feel all of that, and get perks of being a vampire as well."

"Being half vampire isn't a perk, Zachariah, especially after learning that every vampire known wants me dead for their own personal gain."

Zachariah looked at her with sad eyes, but Aurora looked passed the sadness. She didn't want anyone to feel sad for her. All she ever really wanted was a normal life, but being even only half vampire, she knew deep down that her normal life would come to an end.

"I want to be completely honest with you Aurora, and I will be, but you must hear me out before you make any decisions. That's all I ask right now."

Aurora nodded her head in agreement, anxiety running through her body. She wanted to hear what he had to say, but she was also terrified of what it might be.

"You know of what I've done to that innocent girl. I was a darker person then. I was just like my father. I was hungry for power, and I wanted it more than him. He was generous enough to forget his wants and gave me that life in hopes that I would have all power in my hands by now. I was like that for the longest of time, until I witnessed how it affected my mother. She abandoned me and left me with my dad. My mom gives me a strength that I've not felt with anyone else. I love her, and she is family. My dad is nothing but mass destruction."

"If your mother left at the time of all of this, does that mean she is also a vampire?" 

Zachariah nodded his head in agreement. "I bet you're wondering how she is able to go out in the sun and teach at the school. She knows -knew- a warlock who enchanted an item that made her immune to the sun. You would think a lot more vampires would do this, but they aren't allowed. It's considered dark magic in order to do so, and usually, no warlock is stupid enough to go against their own beliefs. Vampires are nightwalkers and should always remain that way."

"I should be surprised to hear there are still warlocks in this world, but considering we are vampires, it shouldn't be such a big announcement."

Zachariah couldn't help but laugh at Aurora's comment. It made her smile to hear that sweet laugh of his. 

"Her necklace gives her that power. I have only known her to have such power without the evil doings that I have done. As I've said, most warlocks wouldn't do such a thing, but he loved her. My mother always thought that it was such a secret, but I could tell from the way he looked at her. They were very close until his dark magic caught up to him. He let it consume him, and it eventually killed him."

"I'm sorry to hear that," Aurora said, her voice seeming more soft than usual. 

"It's fine, honestly. We were friends, and he always looked after my mom in a way my father never could. He made sure she was safe, no matter what lengths he would have to go to. Sometimes, I wish my mom would have left my dad for him. All I ever wanted was her happiness. Honestly, he would probably still be alive today if they did end up together. She brought out the best in him in those times."

Zachariah grabbed her hands, which startled Aurora at first. His skin was extremely cold, though she knew he couldn't feel how cold he was. "We aren't here to listen about my centuries of walking this earth. I am here to answer anything you want to ask, and to convince you that I am not the bad guy here."

Aurora got caught up in the moment. She let it all sink in: his hands gently grasping hers, his beautiful eyes staring back at her, the British accent that came from his lips... It was all perfect to her.

Soon, she snapped back into reality. She pulled her hands away, tucking them underneath her arms for warmth. She looked away from him and up at the star-filled sky. 

"Is that all it takes?" Aurora asked, shaking her head in disapproval. "A vampire just drains me of my blood, and they obtain all these powers that can enslave all of the humans and what I thought was only vampires? Apparently, it's more than just that though. What else are there Zachariah?"

"Everything that you have learned to believe as a fairytale, it's all true: werewolves, fairies, everything. You were raised to only believe in vampires more than likely for your safety. Alec is a good brother to you, Aurora. I know what my dad did to your parents was awful, and honestly, I would not blame you if you even held myself at fault, but know I never was in any part of that."

He stood up from the bench, Aurora following his actions. 

"Aurora, I have to be honest. At first, I came here to bring my family back together, no matter what costs. I even had thoughts of bringing an end to you, because I wanted my mother safe, but that day I looked at you, you made my dead heart jump. I knew I couldn't do it, not even for my own mother."

Aurora was speechless. Zachariah originally did plan to kill her, all for his family. It made her think he was a monster, but deep down, she knew he was just trying to do right by his family. 

She turned and started to walk away from Zachariah, but he soon followed in her steps, walking at the same pace as her. She sighed deeply at her lost thoughts. 

Suddenly, a figure appeared in front of her. There was Zachariah, holding her by her arms. Aurora kept her head down, too afraid to look Zachariah in the eyes, but soon she felt a hand go to her chin and left her face upward. Zachariah was staring down at her.

"Aurora, you have my word that I would never hurt you. If I truly wanted you dead, I would have let my father killed you, but I did everything to protect you. I can't vouch for my father, but my mother and I would never hurt you. I know you heard us that day in school, but she only wants peace, and she also believed your death would bring that to our family."

Zachariah pulled Aurora close to him, embracing her in a hug. Her head laid against his chest, but there was only silence. She lifted her arms to wrap around his waist. He was telling the truth, and Aurora had no doubt in her mind.

Aurora pushed herself off of Zachariah, the cold air flowing between them again. 

"Can you walk me home, Zachariah?"