Blood and Love: Chapter 20

Tear after tear flowed from my eyes and I sobbed heavily. A week of stoic pretence had collapsed in a two minute encounter with Dan. Suddenly, my cell buzzed. I wiped my face and looked at the screen.

"Want to know the truth about Alex? He's not back for the right reasons. If you want to save everyone you love; if you want to save Dan, meet me at the Mysticus Grill at 8PM."

I read the message thrice trying to grasp the meaning. Thinking hard I finally got up. Guess I was finally going to the party tonight.

*** Sean's Story XII

"You okay?" Evan asked me and took my hand in his left while steering the wheel. I looked away from the edge of the woods passing by and turned to face him. His eyes were filled with concern.

"Yeah! I'm fine." I manage with a half smile. "It's just Aaron you know. I'm worried he's suffocating himself. It's always so with him. He doesn't like to be seen as vulnerable and so locks away all his sadness. I can tell all his cold indifference is just a defense mechanism."

Evan pressed my hand gently. "I understand Sean. But there is no point in worrying endlessly. Things are complicated right now. But as they say Time will heal. After that kidnapping and then Alex, you really need to relax, Sean. Tonight, you'll forget everything and enjoy yourself. 'Kay?"

I looked up at his expectant face with an assuring smile. My heart melted and I felt a burden lifting from my mind. "I don't know what I'd do without you. You make everything seem so easy."

"And I love how much you care about everyone." He said as pulled into the grill's parking zone. His hand moved to my face and he bent to kiss me.

"I love you." He mumbled through the kiss.

"I love you too." I replied with radiant eyes when the kiss ended.

As we stepped into the grill, loud music and the smell of teen spirit hit us. I felt myself loosening and relaxing as my body started responding to the beats of the DJ. As always, Tyler was DJ-ing. Evan and I found Rachel surrounded by Rebecca, Stephan, Chris, Rose, Daniel and Alex. They seemed to have just arrived and were exchanging wishes, gifts and jokes. I noticed that Dan seemed grim and uneasy. He and Evan exchanged looks. I hugged Rachel and handed her our gift.

"Happy Birthday Rach!" I shouted over the music. Evan wished her too.

"Thanks guys! Help yourselves around!" She shouted in response and then headed elsewhere. Rose and Chris hit the dance floor while Dan and Evan started talking to each other. Clearly something was up but I chose to remain at bay. Alex stood looking at the crowd thinking something.

"Great party, right?" Rebecca said handing me a martini.

"Rachel always outdoes herself at bashes." I replied sipping the drink.

"How is Aaron? He isn't coming?" She enquired.

"He says he is fine. No, he's not coming. Guess he's got an assignment or something."

"Are you sure he's not coming?" Rachel asked again.

"Yeah! Why?"

"'Cause he just entered the grill."

"What?" I turned to look at the entrance and there stood Aaron. Well, the sweats had been done away with and he was dressed in his best jeans, a black vest and a leather jacket. He looked mighty handsome and I guessed the post heart-break phase was finally over. He caught me looking and with a grin came to us.

"Hey there!"

"I thought you were not coming." I said.

"Change of plans. The house was boring. Hey Rebecca!"

"Hey Aaron. Good you came!"

"Hi Alex!" Aaron spoke to Alex with raised eyebrows and a sardonic smile.

"Aaron." Alex acknowledged narrowing his eyes and with a hint of a sarcastic smile.

I sensed crackling animosity between them. But before I could enquire Aaron checked his cell and said.

"I gotta go. See you in sometime." He left.

Alex looked at Aaron going. Then went to the bar and sat down for a drink. Rebecca and I exchanged looks. Before I could dwell on this any further, I felt an arm wrap around my waist.

"Let's dance." Evan whispered in my ear.

I beamed at him and we moved to the dance floor.

*** Aaron's Story X

I made my way through the crowded dance floor and towards the door that led to the staircase to the roof. I entered and shut the door behind me. The music was still echoing but at a lower decibel. The staircase was lit with a faint red light and a tube light that kept on flickering. I made my way up the filthy staircase and finally emerged onto the roof.

As I stepped on the terrace, a cold wind hit me, making me shiver. I quickly zipped my jacket and looked around. The terrace was dark. There was no source of light except the faint light from the billboard of the grill. However, I could still walk easily and saw who seemed a woman standing near the terrace edge.

"Hello? Did you text me?" I spoke, a little too loudly. I guess I was nervous.

The woman turned to look at me. She was middle-aged, probably in late thirties with gothic make-up. I hazarded a guess considering she knew about vampires and dressed in this fashion.

"Are you a witch?"

She looked at me for a minute before nodding.

"And you know the secret that Alex is hiding?"

She nodded again.

"So? What is it?" I asked slightly annoyed at the lack of conversation.

She simply stared at me, scrutinizing. I got slightly frustrated.

"Listen, if you really don't want to say anything then please don't waste my time."

At this she smiled a malevolent smile. I felt shivers going down my spine.

"My name is Diana. As you smartly guessed, I am a witch. Now about Alex. Well, I worked for him. Or let's say I work for him, considering he doesn't know I'm spilling the beans to you." She answered in a matter of fact tone.

I felt the ice in her voice.

"So what are you going to tell me?" I uttered.

"Well, Alex is the master mind behind everything that has been happening. He sent Ruth Morris. He sent the assassin who tried to kill Sean. He got Sean kidnapped. He wanted to get Sean. And he wants to destroy the Damien brothers, especially Dan. Oh and also, you're on his hit list priority." She added with a smirk.

"But? Why is he doing this? What does he want with Sean?" I was perturbed.

"Well, I don't really know. But he needs Sean for something. There is a prophecy involved. The prophecy is the reason that the Nocti attacked the town in 1850s. If you can find out about the prophecy then you can find the motive."

"Okay." I let the information sink in. "Why are you helping me?"

"Because she wants to die." I froze in my tracks as I heard Alex's icy voice. It happened in a flash. He came out of the darkness, ripped Diana's throat open and threw her off the terrace into the woods behind the bar. He turned to look at me. His slit pupils were radiating a red aura while blood dripped from his fangs, smearing his jaw. He smiled menacingly and in a nonchalant manner wiped the blood.

"So, I see you've been informed." He spoke in a quiet voice.

I stepped back towards the door but he turned up at the exit with his vampire speed. I had no option but to step to the centre of the terrace.

He gradually stepped towards me and we stood face to face. I had no option except to face him. It was our face-off now.

"Yes, I know stuff about you, Alex!" I spoke with as much contempt at possible.

"Such contempt Mr. Pretentious Righteous. You are no saint." He smirked.

"Shut the fuck up! Why the fuck are you betraying Dan? Don't you see he fucking loves you, you bastard!" I shouted in rage. "And don't you dare touch Sean!"

He laughed loudly at my outburst. The more he laughed, the more my rage grew.

"You are a funny guy, Aaron. You are alone here, with a vampire and threatening him. I could rip that loud throat of yours in a second!" He laughed.

"Laugh as much as you want to. I will tell Dan everything about you. I will expose you! And then Kill you!" I responded in a cold but much controlled voice.

He sensed the determination and the cold threat in my voice. That made him stop laughing and he turned to stand inches away from me.

"And you think he'll believe you? He's been under my control for 170 years and you've hardly known him for 170 days! Have you forgotten how he left you the moment I came? He will never listen to you. And Sean, well he is going down. I've waited for this moment for more than a century now. The Gellar line would have been eliminated in the 1850s itself but for unavoidable circumstances. It will be done now." He spoke with menace shining in his narrowed eyes.

His words fuelled my anger further. If given the chance I'd have impaled him there and then!

"I will give Dan the evidence needed and I will prove your crap to him. I will expose you and then all the love that you're thinking he has for you, it will be gone with the wind. Your 170 years of influence on him was shattered by my 170 days of courting! Your influence has long gone, bitch! Dan will kick your ass the moment I expose you!"

I stopped to breathe after my angry rant. We glared at each other. In a swift motion he grabbed my throat and banged me against the wall hanging in mid-air.

"You need to be alive to talk!" Alex screamed and bared his fangs.

I don't know what got into me. Perhaps, it was an adrenaline rush. All I remember is that my hand moved and grabbed an iron rod hanging near the wall; and in one swift motion thrust it into Alex's skull. Blood gushed out and he let me fall. I fell to the ground and looked up. Alex was stumbling back. With a scream he took the rod out leaving a gaping hole and blood.

"BITCH!" He screamed and attacked me again. Only this time I was prepared. I pulled out the pocket knife I had in my pocket and thrust it into his right eye. His screams became louder and more horrifying. He retreated and fell. I knew the injuries would heal soon so I needed to leave. I walked up to his writhing figure. I bent down and pulled his hair to make him face me. He looked at me through his left eye.

"Listen to me Bitch! In one week I will expose you. You are in for the fight of your life! I am not like Sean or the Damiens. I know how to deal with your likes! Your days are numbered. You started the game and I will end it!" I spit in his face and pushed him away.

As I reached the door and pulled it open I heard him laughing softly, only to cough blood and stopping.

"Fine Aaron! Let's play this seven days game. You will lose everything! In fact, the losses have already begun!" With that he stretched on the floor and laughed harder.

With a last look of disgust I banged the door shut.