Chapter 8



Aden's mind looked just like his eyes. Blue, swirling with grey. Everything was bright, shining, beaming with light.

She felt him trying to go into her own. Aurora receded, trying to break the connection.

~Please, don't.~

His mental voice was strong and languid. It hurt her to pull away, but there was so much she didn't want him to see . . .

~I want to see. Please show me.~

Finally caving, she let go and opened her mind, pulling him inside.

The first scene was from a time when she was with Circle Daybreak. The day she had been given her choice. She was reliving it, the pain of her wounds filling her body. She could see Thierry and Oren sitting beside her, waiting for her decision. The void feeling came back, from hearing that she may never live again. The knowledge of knowing that Oren needed her. The desperation to continue to help Circle Daybreak. She heard her voice come out slowly and quietly. "Do the change."

~You've always been such a strong person, Aurora.~

She was warmed by Aden's thought. Another scene was blending with the last. The day she watched the new girl stake Oren. She hadn't been able to stop her. Then Thierry letting the girl go, saying that she had been confused and scared. She had claimed that Oren had looked just like the vampire that had killed her brother. Aurora protested, crying, begging someone to take her life, as well. Thierry had shook his head sadly as Rashel and Keller had held her down, trying to drag her to the hospital. Keller had accidently scratched her. She knew it had been an accident, but it had only enraged Aurora even more. She had put all of her mind control into a shockwave of power. The next thing she knew, everyone in the room was stunned into paralysis.

She had ran as fast as she could, getting away from the people who had let her down, away from the people who's weak hearts would end up their demise.

The next scene was running into Garnet Redfern. She had explained that she wanted to put an end to Circle Daybreak and join the winning side. Garnet had taken her to the Council, where they made Aurora prove her hate by killing a Daybreaker, a friend of hers from Las Vegas. She could still see Cherish's body lying lifeless on the floor.

More scenes flashed through her, quickly, giving only previews to the horror she had committed. Slowly, they all faded away, and Aden's mind receded from hers.

She sat on her heals, in the room once again, waiting for his response. She expected him to get up and walk away, to leave her alone forever.

Instead he grabbed her and held her close. Gripping his shirt, she sighed, letting out all of the worry that she had been dragging with her all day. He loved her.

But she knew love would never be enough.

She stood slowly, shaking out her body. She needed to feed, it was going to be a long trip.

He had joined her at her side, not knowing what she was doing. Looking into his eyes, she kissed him lightly. She had to do this. She couldn't be his death.

Pulling away, pushing back the remainder of her tears, she gave him a soft smile. "I love you, Aden. I'm sorry."

There was a brief flash in his eyes of . . . what? Understanding, that was it. He returned her smile with a sad, boyish grin.

She turned to the door, opening it. Just before it closed, she sent him one final thought through the connection . . .

~I'll be with you in the next life . . .~