We're back! Tis me and Jess here.
LIKE A FISH!!!! its our new response to everything.
We organised a whole weekend dedicated to writing just for you guys. So enjoy the chapter.
Jess wrote most of this... and is very impressed at how much she wrote… so apologies to its length.
I read it through for the grammar and spelling mistakes etc but if I missed any I'm sorry.
We missed you guys! And writing this!
But we just really haven't had time.
We have exams coming up soon but after that we should have more time to write. XD
But yeah… go read!!
Chapter 21- Mocha LatteThe soft wind blew, brushing over him, ruffling his short golden hair, his green eyes stared intently at me, holding me, the crisp and unique fragrance of his blood cascaded over me, enveloping me and infiltrating the air. I stared with disbelief, pulling away from the man's hold before it fully enticed me. My baffled stares brought a similar confused expression to the man's face, his eyes crinkling like crows feet and his mouth twisted with a seemingly amused smile.
"Its me, Ivan," he chortled, stepping forward, causing me to react and step away. "Don't you remember me?" My mind twanged with the anguished that spread across his face, his broad shoulders slumped. The obvious notion that this man knew me sparked inside my brain, without the urge to gain knowledge on my past I acted on instinct.
"Ivan! Of course I remember you how have you been?" the fake smile and chipper tone came out without hesitation and with great effort I managed to relax my body from its rigid stance. Instantly he imitated my over exaggerated expression.
"It's been so long, I haven't seen you since you left the orphanage. God that must have been what… almost two years ago." Each mention of my past engaged thousands of nerves, searching and prying the depths of my mind and yet I still remained unaware of who I was.
I took a quick glance of him, he was shrouded in a long dark coat, which hid any indication of his physique, however he stood above my petite figure. His hands were firmly tucked into his pockets, and a scarf was wrapped around his neck. Which pressed the issue of me wearing a little amount of clothing in the cold weather of a Samara winter. The red of his nose, stood out against his simple face, he had high cheekbones and thin lips that were an unusual shade of blue.
"Cold out," I said trying to fill that awkward silence that was ultimately building, and forcefully rubbed my hands together to add to the act.
"If your cold we can grab a cup of coffee, and you know catch up." With the immense desire to gather further details on myself I didn't hesitate and nodded my head. He smiled again, the steam from his breath filling the air as he lightly pressed his hand on my back leading me further down the street. With his added touch, which I still could feel through the layers of clothes and gloves, I clenched my teeth and bared the strain and wish to kill him.
As we moved slowly through the town the streets became less dense, and my anxiety grew, I didn't know where we were and barely knew the man whose touch still grazed my back. I knew he could never harm me, as from the smell of his blood it was obvious he was human, however the automatic instincts of being a woman overpowered the drive to discovery my history. My mind churned with the many situations that could follow as he led me deeper into the unknown streets of Samara, each thought ending disastrously. Finally, as his touch eased his other hand pointed towards a small sign, my vision easily allowed me to read each word of the board – Samara coffee-house. The store was hidden between two old office buildings; it held a quaint and tepid atmosphere. Ivan continued to smile as he walked through the crisp white door, the bell ringing vivaciously, holding it open I tentatively walked through, smelling the mix of cologne and blood seeping profusely from his body.
If it had been a restaurant or any other establishment, I would have lost control and been in a similar position as before when at the hospital, however the overwhelming pang of coffee smothered the air and gave a great sense of relief to my burning throat. I barely noticed it as Ivan directed me towards an empty booth at the back of the coffee-house, I was too engrossed in the surroundings and overwhelming feel of closeness and the cosy atmosphere that the room exhaled. Couples, groups and people on their own covered the crowded room, their chatter meeting a high crescendo by my hearing standards. Each word of each conversation was clear, some topics where dismal, or uninteresting however as various words or sentences met my ears I turned my attention towards each new person. Coats and winter garments covered the back of chairs as the consumers warmed themselves. The steam from the clanging coffee machines covered the air and built on the windows. My senses were overcome with the vibrancy of the room. The dark mahogany wood counters and tables, red cushions and tables clothes added to the warmth and comfortable element of the room.
I sat down admiring each detail, feeling the peaceful commotion move around me. The smells and tastes blended together, mixing and churning with the sights and noise to give it a cosy and homely unadorned sense. My attention wavered repeatedly, each new activity alerting me. It took me a while to notice Ivan's absence until he was in front of me holding two steaming cups of coffee.
"I got your favourite, a mocha latte with extra foam," he seemed extremely pleased with his efforts placing the two mugs onto the table, the boiling liquid spilled over the edge splashing his now exposed, glove-free hand. Cursing his pulled the scorched skin into his mouth, moistening it before giving a signal and indicating towards the napkins at the counter. I watched confused at the quickness of the situation. Staring doubtfully at the cup of coffee in front of me, I knew I couldn't drink it but had no idea had to get rid of it. My eyes darted back and forth from the foreboding coffee and Ivan. As he turned to return back to the table I rapidly grab the steaming mug and threw its contents into the plant pot next to the table.
"You drank that quickly," he said as he sat down, removing the many layers he adorned.
"I was cold," I mumbled fiddling with the cup handle and diverting my eyes from his warm gaze.
"So how have you been?" Staring into the dark brown of his cup he stirred into slowly. After giving no reply he looked up earnestly, his eyes giving a soft plea. Then I realised that this wouldn't be so easy, how could you tell a person about the things you didn't remember.
"Listen Ivan… the thing is…" my eyes searched his for a sign of recognition, wanting to remember, as he waited for me to finish, "I haven't exactly been entirely honest with you." Like before his face twisted with confusion, "I don't remember who you are. I have amnesia, everything that has ever happened to me I don't remember. That includes everyone I've ever met."
He sat back thoughtfully. Looking at me with disbelief, he opened and closed his mouth, but seemed to find it difficult to form a sentence.
"Well… that's… different." Chuckling he continued to stir his coffee. "You where always one for diverging from the normal."
"What do you mean?"
"When we were in the orphanage together you were very much your own person, never going with a click, being unique I suppose," he said smiling.
"You keep going on about an orphanage… I don't remember that. I'm sorry."
"No need to be," his friendly tone and genuine smile drew me in, giving me relief in the awkward space of this never-ending unknown that was my life. "You came there when you where almost 10 years old, seems so long ago," he paused taking a sip from the frothy cup, "You never really told me anything about yourself before you came there, and you remained pretty secluded."
"Where is this orphanage?"
"A couple of miles to the east of here but it was burnt down a year or so back. Soon after you left actually, you never told me that you where going to leave."
"Seems like we were really close."
"We were really good friends," smiling, he took the cup again bringing it to his lips but stopped and laughed to himself, his eyes held a far off look as if remember a past event. Sighing I lent back, everything seemed to shrink and tighten around me, the added pressure and overload of information being crammed into my brain, added to the tormenting fact that what Ivan talked about I had no recollection of. Looking to Ivan I saw the condescending sympathetic look that Lilly would sometimes give me, as he saw the pain that I held over the loss of my past.
"Maybe this might help," taking his coat from the back of the chair he removed a black leather wallet and from inside pulled a crumpled, aged photography. Gently sliding it across the table towards me, I saw the burnt and rough edges of the tattered picture. The picture showed a large, dilapidated building, the bricks where crumbling and filthy, the windows paint was cracked and an off yellow, but the light falling across the stairs that lead up to the doors seemed inviting, like a second home beckoning. In front of the building was a young Ivan standing next to a young woman, her brown hair flowed softly down her back, bathed in a pool of light, her face was unmistakable, it was mine.
The flames flicked furiously, building and thriving as it fed on the open air. The smoke rose, blackening the sky as the darkness set in. Billowing and suffocating the air, I admired the ferocious beast as it grew and flourished, cascading over the buildings on either side. From this distance I couldn't see the infinite detail as the windows smashed under the pressure of the fire, and as the walls crumbled, but the sickly smell and roaring sirens still reached me through the hotel window. My reflection caused by light bouncing of the window mixed with the image of the inferno building below me, from the reflection I saw the pain present in my eyes but doubted its authenticity. Feeling his presence in the room; I tried desperately to show no emotion but some how he still saw through my façade. Placing his cool hand on my shoulder I drew my eyes away from the enticing flames.
"I know it's hard to let go of the past, but this was for the best." His deep voice echoed around the empty room. Tilted my head back I looked towards him.
"Anastasia!" My eyes lifted from the picture, and found Ivan inches from my face. His scent was so close and so concentrated, the unnecessary breath caught in my throat. Wanting to protect Ivan and myself I reacted and my vampire speed and strength propelled him across the room. Each person seemed to now be staring at me as I sat there hyperventilating, trying to control the urge to rip into him, but also the anger that I had for myself for acting so foolishly and drawing attention to myself. Ivan had an almost the exact look of each other face in the coffee-house, his mouth hung open slightly and his eyes where wide with disbelief.
"Not to repeat myself but… well that's different," he said as he slowly rose, tentatively as if I had terrified him beyond belief, he scrapped his chair back towards me, "I said you where unique, but you have sure changed a hell of a lot." Laughing he tried to shake of the awkward and strangeness of the situation. I remained rigid as he came and sat back down again, however sitting a few inches further away.
"So… well…" he stumbled over his words, what had just happened was hard to take in and get over. The mumbles of the voices around me as they commented on what has just happened, screamed and mixed together.
"Want to get out of here?" Taken aback by my words Ivan looked around seeing the same thing as me, heads leaned in together and eyes flicked towards our table.
"Sure," he said smiling doubtfully. Pulling money from his wallet, he threw it onto the table and carefully replaced the picture back in. As we walked out he seemed to give each table an apologetic smile and nod of his head. As he again placed his hand, now on the lower of my back, the desire to turn and hit him became stronger, it was taking everything in me to not eat him, the added feel of his pulse was inviting.
I quickened my pace and rushed through the door, the cold air hit me and the claustrophobic atmosphere instantly swept away into the wind. The bell jangled as I was half way across the street, and I heard the hurried footsteps of Ivan.
"Anastasia, wait up," turning as I reached the other side of the street, I saw him jog towards me. "Don't worry about what happened in there, people are just gossips."
I turned away and began to walk, unintentionally using my vampire speed to get away from the coffee-house, as fast as possible. Even with his longer legs Ivan still had to perform a strange looking walk-jump-jog to keep up. It wasn't until I could no longer smell the now disgusting smell of coffee that I slowed.
"So…" he began to say, trying to fill the silence.
"You know what annoys me," I burst out "… people." Again he stumbled on his words, not know what to say at my rash exclamation.
"Well yes I suppose they can be rather annoying."
"Of course they are! They just go around and do what ever they please, and are just rude and obnoxious and… and... Argh!!!"
I continued to walk, mumbling and cursing under my breath, but Ivan stopped.
"What?"
"Thought I might you know… give you some space… if you catapult me across a room for being too close… I wouldn't want to be close when you're angry." He titled his head, an amused smile spreading across his face as I just stared. We both laughed, and as the motion of it and the feel that it gave me, I felt relieved and at ease. It had been so long since I had felt like this that I was grateful for Ivan showing up so unexpectedly.
"You are a very random person Anastasia," he said, joining me as I continued to walk.
The silence no longer felt awkward as we strolled together through the now less dense streets. The road was long, allowing me to reflect on everything that had happened recently. Becoming a vampire had been so new and having not known about myself made the process so much more difficult. Now with the relief of not having Mallik breathing down my neck and Lilly smothering me with her motherly ways. I smiled broadly and admired the simple surroundings.
"Look…" I faced towards Ivan and followed his outstretched arm. The glittering lights illuminated the ice rink. The crowd of people around it watched fascinated as the skaters danced or stumbled across the ice.
"I remember when we used to go ice-skating. There was a rink not far from the orphanage," this new memory caused a spark in his eyes. "Want to have a go?"
I hesitated not feeling comfortable with another new situation being thrust upon me. I didn't know how the amount of people would effect me. I looked around awkwardly as I racked my brain for an excuse.
"I... erm… I think I should be getting back soon, I was only meant to go out for a walk."
"Oh," disappointment spread across Ivan's face, "you're staying with people?"
"Yeah, just a few friends," I mumbled, not wanting to give any indication of the coven, but even with my minimal amount of information, at the word friends Ivan's face brightened up dramatically.
"Okay, how about we go tomorrow instead. I can even come and pick you up if you like," he continued to smile, staring incessantly at me, his eyes wide and engaging.
I considered his request for a second, he seemed determined to meet again and if we went tomorrow, I could hunt tonight and then the immense amount of people wouldn't have such an impact, as it seemed likely that there would be just as many people there tomorrow as tonight.
"Yeah, okay, that sounds nice."
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Anna and Jess
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