Chapter 29: White Lies.

§ Lucy §

"Please... I... can't... breath. I have to... stop." I said, my breath coming out in short pants. I was afraid that my lungs were literally on fire. It could not be possible that running half a mile would cause such a burning sensation, could it?

Well yes, it probably could. I have a record of how many times I'd skipped P.E.

And now, cruel fate had it that I'd have to make up for all those missed P.E. lessons during the past for years in barely a week.

My laziness had finally bitten me in the butt.

"Oh come on, this isn't so bad. We haven't been running for long." Logan said to me in a perfectly calm voice. While I was sweating my body mass in sweat, he seemed perfectly at ease.

"Easy for you to say... you've got your super-vamp stamina." I told him, still utterly breathless.

"Yes, and now we're trying to build yours. You need to remember that vampires are considerably stronger and more agile than you, so you need to make up for these disadvantages somehow. And you do that by having a strong stamina. If someone is running after you and you can't attack him or her, you need to run away. Now the question is, will you be able to outrun them?"

I wanted answer that question with a reassuring yes, but that would be an act of hubris on my part. I was not ready. Not even close. And to make it worse, time was running out. What I would do during this one week will have repercussions on Sol's life. I could get the Drake the information that they desperately needed and secure Sol's life, or I could fail miserably and that would lead to many more complications.

However the latter was not an option. I owned Solange my life. Without knowing she had saved me many times. Whenever the thoughts of attempting suicide came to my mind, I'd come to her home and she'd wipe them out of my mind without even trying, just by being my one and only real friend.

Secondly, I could never live knowing that my dad was out there. The man whom I had put on a pedestal all my life was nothing but a mere coward afraid of death, who's hubris had driven him to turning his entire family into monsters, rogue vampires, the likes that Montmarte created. I clung on to his memory, hoping that he hadn't truly left us. No, he did much worse, he went against his very humanity, and he expected me to follow willingly in his path.

Well he was sourly mistaken if he thought I would. And he'd find out just how mistaken he was when I would plunge that stake into his cold, dead heart.

"Very good, Lucy, if you keep up this pace you'll have much improved." Logan said to me with a small smile. I looked next to me, but he wasn't there. I had surpassed him by a good ten feet. The power of anger could truly do miraculous things.

After our run, I found myself horribly soar, but it felt good in a way because I knew that it meant that I was giving it my all. I went in Solange's bathroom next to her room to shower and came out feeling much more relaxed. With a towel wrapped firmly around me, I went in her room and I reached for the bag of clothes I brought with me from my old house. I hadn't noticed that I wasn't the only one in the room.

I felt a pair of arms wrap themselves around me. Fresh and awake after my shower, I turned around swiftly and pushed the intruder backwards on the bed. When I heard the familiar chuckle I relaxed, however I didn't get off him.

"I see you've really been training. You honestly took me by surprise." Nick said huskily. I felt tempted to lean down on those few inches and let our lips touch, and I knew that was the reason in the first place why he came into the room, but I knew that wearing nothing but a pair of panties under a towel was not only risky, it was walking on extremely dangerous grounds so I got off him. His small pout of disappointment was about the cutest thing in the world, but it wouldn't distract me from my goal.

"You look awfully distracted today, is something wrong?" he asked me as he sat up on the bed.

"No, absolutely nothing. I was just wondering about stuff." I answered vaguely as I gathered a pair of shorts, a top and a bra. I went back inside the bathroom and discarded the towel and put on my bra and shirt.

"Stuff? What kind of stuff? Because I know that some of the stuff you think about is downright scary." he asked me with alarm written all over his voice.

"I was just thinking that it was about time that we put our plan in action. We have about a week till Sol turns. Don't you think it's about time to meet my father?" I asked him as I fiddled with my pair of shorts in my hands. Just as I had finished the question he burst into the room. I yelped a bit in surprise.

"No, I don't think so. You shouldn't even think about this. You've been training for two days, do you think that's enough to turn you into an able fighter?" he asked incredulously.

"I don't plan on fighting him. I want to talk to him, get an idea of what he wants me to do and perhaps get small titbits of information." I said calmly as I tried to put on my shorts. Unfortunately, two was a crowd in the small bathroom and I lost my footing as I tried jumping around to put on my shorts. Thankfully, Nick was quick and steadied me, catching me by the hips. However, he didn't let me go after I had regained my footing. He kept his hold on me, and with one hand he held me tightly against himself and with the other he took hold of me by the chin, making me look up in his eyes. I looked down, knowing that he was going to try to guilt me into going back on my plans.

"Lucy, look up. Please." he said, an edge of frustration clear in his voice. I did as he told me.

"Why? Why do you want to put your life in danger like that? There is another way and yet you, you obstinate, proud girl, you want to take the hard road. You may think that you want to kill your father, but I know you. I know how much you loved him.

Even if by some miracle you manage to kill him, it's going to permanently scar you. Please, I beg you, Lucy, give it up. Don't risk yourself. If you won't do it for yourself, do it for me. I can't bare the consequences that this will have on you." his voice was low and raw with emotion. His words affected me in ways I did not want to deal with. The made my plans, my revenge, waver and falter for one dubious moment.

It broke my heart, seeing him so torn by my decision. But I couldn't back down. Not now, not when Sol's live could be saved from Montmarte.

There was but one thing that I could do.

"You're right." I said, trying hard to sound as defeated as possible.

"I know how much this- wait what? I'm right?" He asked me, his voice turning incredulous. He removed his hold on chin and I rubbed the spot where he had held me. He mumbled a small 'sorry', but he regarded me with a look of utter suspicion. I had to make it believable.

"I don't want to hurt you and revenge is not as important to me as you are. We will find another way, right? We will protect Sol together." I said with a small smile. The small frown between his brows was slowly disappearing, which meant that he was starting to trust me.

"Yes of course. Um... thanks Lucy, I'm glad I could change your mind." he said sheepishly. I bit my lip at the cute expression on his face. I hated myself for doing this to him.

I went next to him and hugged him, because at least I wouldn't have to look in his eyes while doing so. He kissed me on top of my head and buried his nose in my freshly washed hair, tickling me softly.

With every passing moment, I realised just how much I didn't deserve him.

"Aw, you two are honestly the most adorable thing ever!" Sol's voice interrupted our little moment. She was just outside the bathroom in her bedroom, looking sweetly at the two of us.

Nick let go of me, and I could see the tale-telling shade of red spread over his pale cheeks. That reminded me, he was probably due for blood.

We both were not used to acting like a couple in front of his family members. It was weird for both of us.

"Just came in here to get some rest, and you two should too. It's almost dawn, you know." she said. "I don't want to disturb though, so if you want a few more minutes I can go downstairs for a while."

"It's okay, Sol, go to bed. We'll be coming soon." I said as I took his hand and led him out of the bedroom.

"Wait, guys I hate to rain on your parade but don't sleep in the same room, at least not on your own. You know what mum and dad said, you shouldn't be left on your own, especially not in those situations," she said cautiously. Nick look scorned but grunted in agreement, I on the other hand was glad that she brought that up, I felt too guilty to sleep, let alone in suck proximity to him.

"We won't sleep in the same bed, don't worry. I'll be right here, in a moment." I told her before dragging Nick into his room.

"What, couldn't sleep before I kiss you goodnight?" Nick asked me with a small smirk on his lips. I smiled back. "No, jackass. You look really pale, I just thought that you'd need blood. Come on, we don't have much time." I said as I shifted my hair to one side of my shoulder and tilted my head to the right angle.

His grimace was clear on his face. "What? don't deny that you need this."

"I just don't like it. I don't like how much we both like doing this. It's dirty, Luce, I'm using you like some donor." he said guiltily.

I shrugged. "I honestly don't mind."

He snorted at me. "Of course you don't you love it. You're addicted to the morphine in my saliva. Addict." he teased. I shook my head at him and sat down on his bed. He followed me; the traces of a faint smile still clear on his features.

As usual, he never bit down at once. No, the good old Nicky, the one who like to tease me was still in there, somewhere. He would breathe softly down my neck, sending chills rocketing throughout my body and then I'd feel his soft lips on my neck. If he were feeling particularly cocky, like just about now, he'd lick my neck before the bite, making me blush.

I felt the small pressure like two small mosquito bites. He took some blood, however, being the gentleman he is, he never took as much as he needed, so that I wouldn't feel dizzy afterwards.

He kissed my neck softly before licking the bite marks, making them heal at once.

"I'm going to miss you tonight. The bed doesn't feel as soft as it does when you're in here with me." he said huskily in my ear. I closed my eyes and bit my lip, trying to stop him from tempting me.

"I'll miss you more," I said. Stupid, stupid, stupid! I would have never said something so cheesy, at least when I had a clear conscience.

He must have noticed that too because he frowned slightly at me before kissing my forehead softly. I took that as my cue to go. I bid him goodnight and left, straight to Sol's room.

Sol smiled once I entered the room, glad that I had actually listened to her. She was a light sleeper, but she fell asleep quite quickly. I lay in bed for hours, but my troubled mind wouldn't let me sleep. I kept thinking about my plan, about the consequences it could have. But I felt it in my bones. I had to do this.

I got up and dressed quickly in a pair of jeans and a tee-shirt. I grabbed a jacket since it was still quite early in the morning and the air was chilly. I put on my army boots and looked down at Sol's sleeping form.

For you Sol, for everything you've ever done for me.

I made my way to Nick's room. Thankfully he was fast asleep. I searched around his room for his car keys and was quite glad when I found them. I leaned down on his sleeping form and kissed ever so softly the top of his head.

"I love you." I whispered softly, fighting back my tears from falling. "I'm sorry."

I exited the room and went directly outside where his MG was. I inserted the key in the ignition and started the car; at first driving slowly so that I could get out of the Drake's drive way unnoticed.

He'd kill me if he ever found out that I was driving it, so I was taking a really huge chance here.

However, that didn't matter now, because I was finally going to meet my monster of a father.

XXX

DUN DUN DUN! SHE LIED :O

Yes, I am finally back! WOOHO! 24 exams in a month people! O Levels are freaking hard but they're finally over and I'm finally getting around to continuing this story. It's nearly coming to an end.

BTW, interesting fact. Some of you may know that I'm not a native English speaker, and I've just learned the difference between laid and lay. I know for a fact that I've always written 'laid' as in past of lie (as in lie on the couch). I've finally learned the error of my ways.

To those of you who want to keep reading my works after Unforgivable Decisions:

Since this story will be soon coming to an end, if you guys want to keep in contact with me and my writing, now's the time to do it! On my profile there's the link to my Wattpad page where I write my original stories. I write 2 Teen Fiction Stories called 'Rock 'n' Roll ruined my Life' and 'Once Upon my Polka Dot Undies, both equally humorous.

And in the future I plan on writing a kick ass fantasy story featuring a werewolf protagonist.(none of that "The alpha just rejected me as his mate so I'll go screw the first loser I see to make him jealous" crap. I hate that werewolf cliché. If you got to know me over this story you know that blood and gore is my thing, mixed with humour and a bit of romance too :)

I also like science fiction but I don't want to start too many projects at once.

Just for those of you who wanted to know!

Tell me what you think about this chapter! I love hearing your opinions! Until the next time my Nicholas-loving lovelies :D