Two Breathes Walking; Chapter 9.5; A Short Lament of the Smallest Lie's
She didn't want to lie to him, no she cared for him to much for that…
Ever since she was young, Alexandria had always found a comfort in her brother. He was always there for her like a best friend and sometimes a father. He always talked with her when she was lonely or mom was away, he would play dress up with her, play with her in the garden and even let her sleep in his bed when she was afraid. He was like a knight always coming to her rescue,
She wished she go back to those happier days, with her family, her brother, her mother, her uncle and grandfather and everyone at the manor living together peacefully.
"You must swear to hold this secret, as an Aventis" that's what her grandfather told her
Yes she is, was an Aventis even if her last name didn't reflect. She had a duty, an honor in a sense, to uphold. That honor was forged in blood, edged into her bones until the day she turned to dust. That duty, that honor outweighed even the feelings for her brother.
Even now she felt the stinging pain of guilt, like metal stakes piercing her forged from the lies she had spoken in order to keep those 'secrets'. The first was regards to their relative's, even at a young age she knew of her lineage to the Aventis and there heritage as a Vampire family. Ai would have known too, if not for certain rules concerning birth rights. Because her brother was a demon/vampire mix and not a true vampire, the law stated he forfeited his right as an heir. But even with that their grandfather was willing to overlook it for his daughter and even if he seldom admit he like many others had grown to care for Ai. But even so many couldn't look past his demon blood, mostly due to the fact of their princess's grief having been abandoned by the demon general.
Even in the darkest times when their mother tragically died, when those remarks of Ai could no longer be suppressed, when they were turned away and left alone in the world and had to survive with only each other. Even then and even now she carried her duties as the named head of her family deep within her praying that it would never come to light and she could live at piece with her brother.
Her second lie, she knew of the trait, the Queens Blood. Before her grandfather left this world he told her of the details, little as they were. After Marionette passed many thought it had died with her, since it didn't seem to reside in Alexandria at all. But as fate would have it the trait lived on, surviving in its new host, her brother. In those times she was conflicted as a sister, an heir, a vampire, everything was building around her threatening to drown her with secrecy. She wanted to tell her brother, she wanted to scream and cry, but knew she had to be strong even if she had to deceive one of the only people she ever cared for besides her family and her mother.
When he smiled at her looking so much like their mother, when he protected her and loved her lifting her up in her darkest times those spikes would pierce her and call her a liar. When she pretended to be his innocent, naïve sister. When she removed the memories of those tragic years, taking snip it's from time to time.
And now…sitting on the apartment roof her brother had worked so hard to keep for them, working various jobs and doing the most menial of labor just to keep 'her' happy. It was almost too much to bare knowing all this sacrifice was for a liar and a deceiver.
"I've taken so much from him" she sniffled into her knees, "I'm terrible a human being" she scolded herself though she knew she was far from human. No she was a monster, a cruel lair and a monster.
"Damn it I'm not even human being!" she cursed, "All this time, I've taken so much time from him!", how many years had it been since then, a century, maybe more…she had taken so much. His time, his love, his memories, everything for what, lineage, honor, family.
"Are you happy now!" she yelled, "I did what you wanted! For what, what was the purpose of all this!" she cringed tears welling in her eyes.
"You made me do this! You made me deceive the most important person to me!" she broke down on the roof and began to cry.
"I want Ai! I want my brother!" she cried trying to rub the tears away, "I'm…I'm a vampire, over 300 years old, but I'm crying like a little girl", she joked through the tears. If her brother saw her crying like this he be falling over himself trying to make her feel better, that only made it hurt worst.
"I was supposed to protect him, but I failed" she sniffled, now that everything was out her brother would surely hate her, despise her for her years of lies and decent. Though she wouldn't blame him, she would hate herself to.
'I still remember that day' and she thought back to many years ago when she and AI were still living at the small village. Many of the townspeople were gossiping, perplexed by the siblings who had moved into the village. It was mostly due to Alexandria as she didn't seem to grow and remained the size of a young adolescent child. Words began to spread of odd happenings surrounding not only her, but her brother who only dismissed them having no reason to explain himself to them.
But some the paranoia grew and grew, until the seed took root and bloomed into a flower of anger creating a mob. In fear many of the townspeople became riled and soon came upon the siblings. They were dragged from their home and were to be executed for their abnormality, burned at the stake. Alexandria was first, she remembered being so afraid. Kicking and screaming as she was tied to a wooden pole, listening as slews of cursing was spat at her. Like always Ai had tried to save her only to be beaten almost to death, she could never wipe away the memory seeing her brother punched and kicked like a dog. But even though he was bloodied and bruised he screamed for his sister,
Their eyes met, both siblings with looks of desperation and fear, as the torch ignited the straw kindling creating a roaring fire under the girl. Climbing hire and hire, the girl struggled for freedom as the townspeople condemned her to hell, calling her a demon and abomination,
'Alexandria! Alex! Alex!' her brother screamed trying to reach her, to save her seeing the flames beginning to consume her as she cried feeling the heat growing on her skin.
The fear, the anger, the bitterness, the hatred, growing and growing like an inferno. With a howl that pierced the night, townspeople screamed as veins tore through the village taking everything with them devouring the blood like water.
She saw it all, the pure destruction of the Queens Blood, hearing the cries of its vessel to protect that which he held dear.
"Because of me Ai has to suffer, if I was stronger he wouldn't have to use that cursed trait" she gritted slamming her fist against the ground taking up pieces of concrete. After the incident she sniped and cut away at Ai's memories, like she did during every ten years in order to hide themselves. It was for both their protection, at least that's what she told herself, every time.
The worst lie of them all, was the one of Yui. Yes she knew her, everyone in the vampire world knew of Yui, the girl with that bitches, Cordelia's heart. It thought it was fate punishing her having her brother find her and having her live with them. Though she hated to admit she knew she had to report this to the 'king', Karlhertz. She didn't care for the vampire King, always appearing to hit on various females and males that peaked his interests. One of which happened to be her mother, which still left her unsettled to this day.
But Yui made her brother happy, after many years the love he had hidden away, the smile he seemed to have misplaced all those years ago had returned.
"That's why…" she wept, "It hurts so much" she clutched her chest tightly, as the tears slowed her demeanor seemed to change feeling a change, a presence that something was happened.
'Ai' something was wrong, she could feel it. He was fighting and losing…
"Brother" she clasped her hands leaning into her palms in prayer, she prayed to anyone who would listen to for protection not only for her brother, not only for Yui, not even for herself.
"Ai, big brother, please be safe" a final tear feel down her cheek
To Be Continued…..
I told you this was a short lament, please review the next chapter will be up tomorrow, Night!