The Game of Hearts

23. Gone

Taking a deep breathe once Rowan had disappeared, I glanced down at Alaric's body and gave it a small nudge with my foot. His skin became extremely pale in a matter of seconds, his veins turning black and showed through his skin. For a moment I couldn't really take my eyes off of him, until I turned my gaze to Aria who stared in shock at the lump that was once Alaric.

I kneeled next to her body as she stared in the direction where Rowan once stood. "Hey, it's okay," I murmured to her, placing a hand carefully against her shoulder as to not startle her. Aria's eyes flashed to mine. She had just seen the horrors behind the man, the monster inside Rowan. It wasn't pleasant. I lifted her by her arm, pulling her up into a standing position and letting her lean against me when her legs buckled. "We need to leave..." Aria swallowed hard before nodding up at me and straightening her back. It was as if she'd realized the situation, that things could go south further if we had stayed. I took a glance once again at Alaric, watching as his skin began to crack and collapse in on the body.

The house felt too quiet and I was grateful when she started walking out of the house with me in tow, I didn't want to look at Alaric anymore. My eyes wondered down her back, the brown locks lingering down to where her shoulder blades tensed against her spine. She shook, but kept quiet. We both got into the car and didn't speak for a while, I simply drove and didn't question her. I wish I could hear her thoughts. Listen to her, and know what to do to help her. I cast a glance across the car to her, but her eyes stared out the passenger window. Trees passed by, some cars, then a few urban houses.

"Liam..." she finally mumbled, sucking in a sharp breathe.

"Yes?" I asked softly.

"I don't want to be alone... not tonight anyway..." she breathed. She didn't want to be alone. Somehow that made me feel good. She trusted me enough to stay with me for an entire night, but I slightly understood where she was coming from. More than slightly, even.

"Of course... I'll take you to my apartment. Is that alright?" She seemed fragile in that moment. I wasn't going to ruin that. In the corner of my eye I noted the nod she sent my way. The rest of the way was silent until we arrived at my complex. Aria looked up at the building once she was out of the car, scoffing lightly.

"Didn't think I'd end up here for a while," she teased, but her voice shook quietly. She must've been one of those people that joked in a serious situation of such extent. Possibly, anyway. I shook my head though and smiled, playing along with her joke.

When we reached my apartment and walked inside, I turned on the lights but she didn't really look round. Instead, she sat on the couch and took a deep breathe. "I'll sleep on the couch and you can take my room," I suggested but she shook her head quickly.

"No, you keep your room. I'm okay with the couch," she sighed, staring off at the wall directly across from the couch.

"You're sure?"

She nodded.

I grabbed two blankets and a pillow for her, covering up the couch with one blanket then handing the other and the pillow to her. "If you need anything... wake me up. The kitchen is full of stuff so if you need to... help yourself..." I said, slowly sitting next to her. Aria looked at me, nodded again, then glanced down at the ground.

"I just can't believe... that happened..." she mumbled. It seemed like she was thinking of things, things she didn't want to think. I carefully placed my hand on her knee and squeezed slightly. "I just thought we were going to hurt him and run."

"Vampires, especially someone like him, are meant to die," I said simply. "We did it - he did it - for you. We protected you, and we were willing to do whatever it took," I admitted. She looked up at me and smiled slightly.

"I guess you're right... I just need to step back for a hot sec..."

I squeezed her knee one last time and she smiled a pretty smile at me before I went to my room, turning off all the lights as I did. The apartment was fairly small, it only took about five steps to reach my room from the living room. I heard movement on the couch, meaning she must be lying down or getting comfortable. I lied down, but I didn't go to sleep just yet.