Chapter 26

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"You have to make the announcement that you will not participate in this war. By having the head of the Van Helsing's refuse to take part, it will send out a message to all Vampire Hunters that this is a fruitless war. Nothing good will come out of it," Elizabeth explained to Kenric.

Kenric's back was to her as he stared out the window of his study area. Panic began to plague the area as his neighbor's started to divide, accusing each other of being a Vampire or a heartless Hunter. It pained the older gentleman to see the world like this.

"I couldn't agree more, Elizabeth," he turned to look at her, "I will call the press so I can make the announcement."

"Thank you."

"What's going to happen to you and Victor?"

"After Victor's done talking to his father, we're going to prepare to leave and try to find a more permanent safe haven until all of this war nonsense ends." Elizabeth looked out the doorway, where her gaze went to the area Victor was having a heated call with Vlad Dracula.

Kenric nodded, "Just be careful, I don't want to hear any bad news about my family."

She nodded and hugged him before returning to her husband. Things weren't going well for him, he was still healing, but the stress of the situation wasn't helping him in any way.

"I know what you think of them, but by you stating your refusal to act in this war would show that we are more reasonable than the people who simply lust for blood shed." Victor's voice range through the room, things were not going well with convincing Vlad.

Elizabeth watched him as he listened to the voice on the other end to the point where he growled then hung up his cell phone. She placed her hand on his arm, giving sympathetic eyes. He placed his hand over hers and rubbed it for a bit.

"He disagreed with our plan?" She asked.

"To quote him, 'my son has no right to tell the Lord of Vampires what to do.' I don't think he'll pull out, but he never really was in it in the first place. I think he just used it as an excuse to get his meals."

He grimaced at the pain in his shoulder before he brushed it off and turned back to Elizabeth. Her fingers brushed against his shoulder, almost trying to examine the healing wound by touch.

"How's your shoulder?" she asked.

He smiled, "Mainly just sore, you were right about getting some nutrition in me. It's definitely helping me heal faster."

"I am a certified physical therapist, I had to take the medical classes, so I knew the body heals much faster when at top performance."

His eyes were warm when she gazed into them. His hand slid into hers and he intertwined his finger with hers. She turned her eyes down and looked at the ground for only a moment before stepping closer and placing her free hand on his chest, while her head rested just below his shoulder. He wrapped his arm around her and held her close enjoying the moment of compassion.

"I love you," he whispered into her hair, stroking her head with his hand.

Her hand dug into his shirt as she tried to hold herself closer to him, "I love you too."

Why does it feel like this the first and last time I will be able to say those words? She thought to herself as she fought against the tears that began build in her eyes.

One dared to escape as she squeezed her eyes shut. Elizabeth felt Victor brush the water away and cradle her face with his hands. She opened her eyes to look up at him, he stared into her eyes with such passion that it made Elizabeth feel like she was about to melt. His face was inches from hers as a slow approach from him made her relax further into his arms.

Her eyes drifted shut when his lips pressed against hers. She wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him closer to her, and his hands rested on her back. The kiss was tender and sweet, a pulse of love rippled through Elizabeth. Every kiss she experienced with Edward was nothing compared to the ones she gained from Victor.

"We should get ready to leave. We're going through a battlefield, I need you to be cautious when we do," Victor said after pulling away.

Elizabeth nodded, still filling the sensation of the kiss on her lips. Wasting no time, they went back to their temporary room and began to pack the essential items.

"It would be better to travel light, we can move faster then," Elizabeth told her husband while zipping up the small bag beside her.

He nodded in agreement as he reached into a drawer and paused. Elizabeth bend over to try to see what Victor had found, but he turned quickly and held out his hand.

"Let me see your hand."

Confused, she placed her hand in his.

"Not that one, your left hand."

"You should have been more specific."

She placed her left hand in his and he tied something around her ring finger with lightning speed. After taking a closer look she saw simple yarn around her finger. It wasn't much, but it warmed her dead heart, causing her to smile.

"I guess there's at least one use for an inch of yarn," his eyes beamed with happiness.

Elizabeth continued to stare at the yarn before letting out a small laugh, "Well, you're wrong about one thing."

"And what's that?"

"That," she indicated to the yarn, "Is about three inches, not one. One is still fairly useless."

They laughed for a short while. Victor reached over and stroked Elizabeth's cheek. Leaning over to her, he pressed a small kiss to her lips before wrapping an arm round her shoulders, settling them in a relaxed sitting position. They were as ready as they could be at that moment, for once night fell the next day, they would flee.