Elizabeth
2005 October

They were lying under the stars, and Alex was pointing the different constellations out.
-That's the Andromada, named after a Greek princess, who was chained and sacrificed to a sea monster.
-Poor girl.
-Don't worry, Perseus saved her.
-What about that one?
-Oh, that one's called Cetus.
-Do you think that Tira can see these same stars from that island?
-I think so, yes. You miss her, don't you?
-Terribly. It has only been three weeks, but I haven't been apart from her for hat long since we met. How did you do it? Leave her?
-It was hard. I loved her, and she took care of me. But we wanted different things. I wanted to travel and learn. She wanted to stay here, for Edward, and to meet you. First it was easier. I had my friend, Manny, for the first eight years. Then he found his mate in Egypt and he decided to stay there. I was all alone, for the first time in my life. Even as a human, I always had my mum and my siblings. But that time was an important part of my life. It was hard, yes, but I was doing what I wanted, even if I was alone.
Lizzy squeezed his hand.
-You don't have to be alone anymore.
-Thanks to you. Hey, in a week there will be a bunch of comets. Best visible in northern Canada. It's a very rare event. Do you want to go up there? And after that, we can stay there for a few days, look around, see the sights. Maybe we can even taste beavers.
-I don't know. I would love to go, but maybe this isn't the right time to leave Julieta alone. She isn't saying it, but I know she struggles with Tira leaving.
-Maybe it's a good thing she did. Maybe it's time for Julieta and you to find your own way, your own aims, and goals.
-I will talk to her. Look, a shooting star! Wish something!

2005 October
-Come on, Julieta, it's only two weeks! It's not the end of the world.
-I'm not happy about this. Do you have to go right now?
-Yes. The comets don't wait.
-Well, if you really want to, then I guess, go.
-Stop it!
-Stop what? I just said that you can go.
-Stop this passive-aggressive emotional manipulation. I know that it's hard for you that Tira isn't part of our coven any more. But guess what, it isn't easy for me, either! But things change. Maybe it's time for us to change. We have been together since the 50s. We grew so close, so dependent on each other. And it was great, to always have my sisters there for me. But now I want to travel with Alex. Or maybe do some things on my own. Get over my fears, try new things. Tira and you will always be my sister, but it's time that you start treating me as an adult, not a little girl.
Julieta sighted than walked over to her and kissed her forehead.
-I'm sorry, Lizzy. I know that I can be hard on you. It's just isn't easy. First Tira, then you. But you are right. And I'm happy to see you with Alex. He is a nice boy. Come on, I'll help you pack.

Julieta
2005 October

Tira was on her honeymoon, while Lizzy was away in Canada with Alex. It's harder than she thought it would be. She loved her sisters, and she knew that when they found their mates everything would change, but still, she wasn't prepared for this. At least she had Luke. Sweet Luke, he meant more and more to her every day. Maybe with him she can adapt to this new situation. Maybe it can even be good. As she is running towards their meeting point, her head is filled with happy thoughts. He had to trave to his aunt for a week. It will be nice to see him again. They will go for a swim than she will paint the wolf. That's when she smelled blood. She changed directions without even thinking, and she doubled her speed as she chased that sweet smell. It's a hiker, who scraped his knee. He can't even scream before it's all over. His blood is the best thing she tasted in weeks, she finishes sucking it out within minutes. It only dawned on her then what she did.
-Fuck. Not now.
She looks at the body: he is fairly young, maybe in his thirties. Poor guy. She hid the body, then composed herself. It was just an accident. Luke will understand it. She continued towards their meeting, although much slower. She tried to forget about what just happened and concentrated on the thought that she will meet Luke soon. He is right there, standing next to his car. He notices her and smiles, and it warms her cold heart. She ran into his arms.
-Hi – she leaned in to kiss him, but he stepped back.
-Your eyes are red. And is that blood on your shirt?
She didn't notice before but there were red spots on her collar. Julieta sighted, knowing the argument that they had many times before was inevitable. This was supposed to be a nice afternoon but she can goodbye to that now.
-Can we please not get into this?
-You just killed someone! Do you expect me to pretend that everything is okay? To kiss you when you probably still have blood on your lips?
-Oh, you did just fine pretending so far that I'm some innocent girl. I'm a vampire, for God's sake, don't be surprised when I act like one.
-I thought you were doing the whole vegetarian thing, you promised you would try.
-I did try it and it isn't working for me.
-It has to work! You just need more practice. Please, give it one more try.
-Have you tried living on bread and water for months? And if after long weeks of it a juicy steak is put in front of you, can you be blamed for eating it?
-Humans are not steaks.
-Why not? What makes them so different from animals? This is nature, this is the food chain. They eat animals, I eat them. You can't blame me for doing what I was made for.
-Humans are much more than animals. They have loved ones, goals, dreams. You were one, or did you forget it?
-I haven't been a human for a very long time. Face it, Luke, you are not human, and neither am I.
-Maybe I'm not human, but many of my friends are, my mum and my little sister are humans. What if you killed one of them?
-You knew I was a vampire when you asked me out. You knew what were you getting into, so don't try to pretend that I'm the one who should be blamed for everything.
-It's not like I choose to imprint on a vampire!
Luke suddenly went silent, like he said too much.
-Imprint on a vampire? What does that mean?
-Babe, let's just forget about this.
-Don't babe me. What is imprinting?
-Imprinting is a sacred thing for wolves. It only happens once in a lifetime, sometimes not ever. When you see your mate you imprint on them. It's like love at first sight, but so much more at the same time. Like nothing matters, just her.
Julieta was stunned. So many emotions were going through her at the same time, surprise, love, but mostly fear. Being everything to someone is terrifying.
-So that's why you didn't kill me.
-Yes. The moment I saw you in the lake, I just knew. I didn't want to tell you right away, because I didn't want to scare you away.
-You can't just keep something like this a secret for months!
-I'm sorry, I should have told you. Please don't freak out.
Mates? Love of his life? This is some cosmic joke. Julieta didn't do relationships for a reason. She wasn't the type to settle down and play house with someone, not even with Luke. She was tempted to give this another chance, to just forget about this conversation and continue whatever this was between them, but than she looked into his eyes. She couldn't do this, not even for him.
-I didn't sign up for this, Luke.
-Neither did I, but it still happened. Most of my pack doesn't trust me, heck my dad almost throw me out when he learned about you.
-Well then maybe you should find another girl to imprint on.
-It doesn't work that way. And I'm not sorry that you are my mate. I love you, even if I hate that you kill others. Nothing can make me not love you.
-This isn't love, Luke. This was just a fling.
-Please don't say this.
-I'm sorry. I shouldn't have… I'm truly sorry, Luke.
She ran and didn't look back, because she knew that if she did, she could never leave. She wished that she could at least cry, but her cold body denied her even the smallest relief. After hours aimless running she found herself at her apartment. That's when she realized: she can't stay here. Not in Forks, maybe not even in the US. Not when Luke is right here. She knew that if they met again if he looked at her with those beautiful eyes and asked her to give this another chance, she would. And she can't do that to him. So she booked a ticket on the earliest flight to England and started packing. That's when she heard a knock on the door. Julieta panicked for a second, thinking it was Luke, but quickly realized that the smell wasn't his. She opened the door, and Alice was standing there.
-What are you doing here?
-I had a vision. You were on a plane. What's going on, Julieta? – she glanced inside – Are you packing?
-Come in.
Alice sat on the couch and looked expectingly at her.
-I'm going to England.
-As in a vacation, or...?
-I'm moving there.
-But why? I thought you and Luke were getting serious.
-There is no Luke and me anymore.
-Oh, I'm so sorry. That's probably why I didn't see clearly what happened. My visions are blurred by the wolves. What happened?
-Nothing. It just wasn't meant to be.
-Look, I know I said mean things about him and werewolves, but it seemed like he genuinely loved you. And I thought that you felt the same way. Maybe you are overreacting. Give yourself some time to cool down. Even if you two broke up, you don't need to travel to Europe because of it. You have Tira and Lizzy here, and us.
-Tira found Edward, and from that moment she belonged to him. And Lizzy will be fine with Alex. I'm just in their way. Just please don't tell them. I will give them a call, but I don't want to ruin the honeymoon and Lizzy's trip.
-Okay. Are you sure there isn't anything more to this? I saw that vegetarianism is hard on you.
-Maybe your family is right, maybe they aren't. I don't know. But I know that I can't do this anymore. I can't pretend to be someone I'm not. It was nice to meet you and your family. I know I mostly acted like an asshole, but you aren't half that bad.
-You weren't an asshole. Okay, maybe at the beginning. You just wanted to protect your sisters.
-I have to go, Alice. The plane departs in two hours. Do me one more favor, please?
-Of course.
-Don't tell Luke where I went.
The flight is a long one. Julieta keeps replaying the afternoon in her head, and with every replay, she regrets her words more and more. She already misses Luke.
-Ladies and gentlemen, we are landing in London Luton Airport. Please fasten your seatbelts.
Julieta looks out to the city under them. She is all alone again.