What Happens in the Dark

Chapter 30

"Trust me Seven. You are a woman of leadership. You do not believe in your self enough and you need to fix that." Esther said placing her hands on my shoulders. I looked into her eyes and saw so much hope. I wanted to do this, I truly do, but I am so scared of messing up. Monroe grabbed my hand pulling me out of my worry.

"Thank you, for your help." He smiled at both Esther and Merellie.

They nodded as he closed the old wooden door behind us. He lead me through the misty grass and onto the trail as we left the witch house behind us.

"What's going through your head?" Monroe asked concerned putting his arm around me.

"I'm terrified honestly, yesterday I was nobody and today I have this great big destiny?" I sighed slightly raising my arms up in frustration.

"I didn't want to bring all of this into your life Seven. I really didn't." He said in a sad tone. Now I felt bad. I don't want him thinking that I wish he never came Into my life, I just wish I was built for the things everyone is asking me to do.

"Monroe you heard Esther. Your grandmother brought us together. You cant possibly blame yourself." I said as I faced him. "But we can get through this, together."

He looked up at me with soft eyes instantly filling with regret. "I wish a better life for you though."

"We're mates apparently, so that's what we're supposed to do. Go through the ins and outs." I murmured.

"Well don't get so enthusiastic" He laughed.

"No trust me, I'm happy. It's just so fast." I said faintly. Of course I felt things for Monroe that I have never felt before, with anyone. Being with him was like a burst of dopamine and serotonin throughout my body. The idea of being meant for each other is exciting yet terrifying.

"I know, but what I also know is that you have made my dark and lonely life significantly better, and maybe it's true misery loves company," He teased, "but you are the exact opposite of misery. in fact, you're the exact opposite of me, in the best ways. To hear my grandmother chose you for me makes me want you even more." He tucked a piece of hair behind my ear.

I smiled up at him looking into his icy eyes. His jaw line was illuminated completely by the moonlight, while the other side of his face was a softer gray.

I wrapped my arms around his neck,"I'm not far." I said in a boyish voice mocking what he said to raymond that day I found out he was a werewolf.

"Haha, you have jokes." He smirked.

"A few." I smiled continuing to walk beside him when he suddenly wrapped his arms around my waist. I stood on my tiptoes to reach his lips.

"I can't wait for you to meet my family. They'll really be of aid through all of this and although I can not speak for Lacey, they will be thrilled to meet you." He said gently.

"I really wish your sister would like me." I sighed, "I mean I get I called her a bitch, but I didn't know she had super sonic hearing."

Monroe let out a laugh, "She is a bitch. I've called her much worse, I promise she'll get over it. She's just complicated. I should probably fill you in on my families abilities so you know what to look out for. "

"Yeah you probably should before I impulsively do something stupid as I usually do, lay it on me." I said bracing myself for even more vampire information, I'm surprised I haven't reached my wits end yet .

"Well My Step Mother Evelyn, is an empath. She can make people feel what she feels, in order to show them things in a different light. My father can manipulate electricity, such as lightening, that's as far as it goes with him other than light bulbs, and fixtures, not solar energy though. Elijah can hit the ground and it will shatter, his powers are obviously life threatening to anyone around him including himself, if he uses it, so he doesn't. Sterling is a human shield. He can surround himself and those he chooses, with a force field to protect them. Lacey can communicate with anyone telepathically, which is another reason she is always so miserable. She can only read the minds of vampires. Lacey yearns to be a human again. She hates being immortal, she hates the idea of being happy living as a vampire. Which is why she refuses to look for her mate and see a glimpse of happiness." Monroe explained. His family are like superheroes, all these abilities and powers. Meanwhile I was just a human. Why couldn't one of them be chosen for this? Hearing about Lacey, however put things into perspective for me. Even someone as beautiful and powerful as her, wants nothing more than to be normal. I felt bad for her suddenly.

"And that's why she's with Leonardo?" I asked.

"Yeah, and he is cool with the family, but they fight constantly. I'm not sure why he doesn't want the relationship between wolves and vampires mended, but a lot of wolves and vampires feel that way. We see each other as evil. Even though we're all evil. Especially our Elites."

"Elites?" I asked confused.

"Those are the eldest vampires that are founding members of specific clans, still alive today. Atobali is the founder of the first Vampire Clan in Egypt. It is still functioning to this day and it is called Meit Al-Zalam. Which is Arabic for the dark dead."

I nodded my head digesting all of this,"So you are apart of the Egyptain vampire clan?"

"My mother was human, and had me human, so no. I am apart of my father's clan, when a vampire weds with another vampire, the woman always joins her husband's clan. Without a wife, you can't be an Elite. I don't know why, that's just tradition. Wolves do things a bit differently, since their packs are more family oriented. Before decisions are made, Wolves take a vote between their packs and majority rules, like the democracy, here in America. Vampires leave the decision making up to our Clan elites, and we just do as told. There are no set rules for us to follow, other than not allowing humans to know of us. You are my mate, that is the only exception." He explained.

"So what happens if a vampire tells a human or if a human catches them in the act of doing something vampire-ish?" I asked stepping over a large branch as we continued walking down the trail.

"That human would be put to death back in the day when we weren't so good at living among them, but today, a vampire can be executed if too many humans find out, but compelling is the first option, however it's still possible." He sighed. "Our clan has 8 Elites that are apart of our court. The oldest is over 700 years old."

"That's an extreme amount of time to be alive." I couldn't imagine being alive that long nor do I think I would want to.

"Yes it is, which is why they are considered the most wise and honorable. They only interefere with our clan if something bad is going to happen, if a certain decision could cause a riot or a rebellion they step in and do whatever they deem necessary." Monroe said rubbing the back of his neck.

"How do you think they'll feel about what I am destined to do?" I asked nervously knowing damn well trying to mend a rivalry could potentially piss some old vampires off.

"I think they will not be pleased, but I also think they will do what they think is best for vampires as a whole, and right now we are being slaughtered, betrayed, turning on one another over this rivalry that is pointless. My grandmother got a lot of shit from Atobali's clan for trying to mend the relationship between witches and vampires. She continued to accomplish and undo what he did and she succeeded." He continued.

"Yeah, but she was a pharoah. Do you really think they are going to listen to a human?" I sighed feeling hopeless.

"You are not just a human, Seven. You were chosen by Pharoah Bereneice. Esther is a great Haitian witch, along with Merellie, they both come from a line that you do, they listened to you, they knew your potential before you did." Monroe said stopping in his tracks to look at me.

"You're right, im just so nervous." I said as we continued to walk again.

"I am too, but I promise that my family and I will protect you." He said reassuringly. I wanted to believe him, but all of this seemed impossible.