Chapter 2
"What are your plans today Rei?" Vasili asked to break the growing silence."I received a letter from the council stating that they may have a lead to whoever killed our parents," Andreios replied solemnly. Both Krysta and the brothers' parents were killed by vampire hunters when they were ten and eleven. Since then they fended for themselves and sort of silently made a pact to look out for each other. Since then the three have become family. They did not let the Night World find them foster homes, instead they moved city to city until they finally settled in this one. They trained hard so one day they could avenge their parents' deaths. It was Andreios though who was sometimes the only wisdom of the group when all Vasili and Krysta could think of was training. He made sure they kept contact with the Night World. If they didn't they wouldn't know that one of Krysta's distant relatives, a powerful man in the Night World council, Hunter Redfern, had died recently. More importantly, they wouldn't have any traces to who had murdered their parents. "Tell me.. Rei," Krysta said sarcastically using Andreios' nickname as if daring him to respond to her the way she did about using her nickname, "what do you plan to do when you do trace those vermin?"
"I..." Andreios replied slowly but confidently, "I'll leave that up to the council to take action as they see fit."
"And afterwards? What would that give us?" Krysta questioned with a mocking voice.
"Peace of mind," Andreios stated assertively.
"Wrong!" Krysta retorted loudly, "you haven't been inside my mind! No peace will ever reside there. The closest to peace I'll ever have is when I see the blood of my parents' killers in my hands." Through all this Vasili was silently sitting letting Krysta have all the fun of teasing his brother. When he deemed that the conversation had gone long enough and he was getting bored he stood up and gave Krysta a knowing look willing her not to get caught up with the issue. Then he spoke. "We will help you Rei, in tracking down the vampire hunters in any possible way. But once we have tracked them down I want myself and Krysta to be the ones to end their pathetic lives," Vasili said to conclude the discussion. "You could fight with us too brother," he continued, "but I doubt that you would want to hurt a vermin." He gave the both of them a smile that would send chills down a human's spine and walked off. "Call me if you need anything Krys," Vasili added as he left.
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As if suddenly remembering how to move, Andreios jolted forward towards Krysta with his hand extended. He was still standing near the door and Krysta was still sitting on the floor. "May I please help you up Krysta?" Andreios asked with barely a hint of frustration in his voice, he was growing tired of his efforts being turned down. But he was going to love her no matter what. "Please, there's no need to act all tough, now that Vasili is gone," he continued with a hint of annoyance towards his brother. Krysta hated herself for being so mean to Andreios, and again reminded herself to not let her guard down but she does allow herself to be a little kind especially to Andreios. "Look Andreios, I'm sorry. I guess I was a little worked up from the training," Krysta answered. Then as if the kindness in Andreios affected Krysta, she accepted his hand. "I'm glad to hear the news about finding a lead to the vampire hunters," she added as he helped her stand up. Andreios was clearly happy to be having a normal conversation with Krysta. "So..." Krysta spoke again, "can I come?"
"Huh?" Andreios replied quickly, "to where?"
"To the Night World Council office thing," Krysta stated knowingly, then paused. "Oh, I read your mind," she continued a bit ashamed and making a small laugh. "Sorry." I get points for being so nice and so unlike me, she thought to herself.
"Oh, that's right," Andreios responded clearly surprised, "I forgot to mention it while Vas was still here. I got carried away with.. um.. our conversation," he said with a small smile which grew as Krysta smiled back. "Don't worry Rei," Krysta assured Andreios, "I already told Vas telepathically. I'm sure he'd want to come too. We'll meet back here tomorrow at this time. I'm going hunting for now and rest. I suggest you do the same Rei. I'll be in my apartment if you need me." Krysta turned around and began walking towards the door when she turned her back slightly and said "take care of yourself Andreios, there are harsh creatures in this damned world." She turned around again but walked slowly and silently knowing she would receive a response if she waited.
"Wait." Andreios spoke. Krysta turned around and met Andreios' eyes; they were a shade of lighter brown than Vasili's crowded and stormy eyes. While she waited for Andreios to gather enough courage to tell her something she looked at his mouth and his body. Perfect teeth and lips like hers and Vasili's, he is slightly smaller than Vasili, but they both have the same build of body. Andreios then continued, "Krys, did you mean it when you said I can't call you by any other name other than Krysta?" Andreios kept looking at Krysta; his eyes wouldn't let go of hers. He knew that if he looked into her eyes he might be able to see the truth. Might. Krysta frowned a little at the question. She didn't really mean it when she said it but she can't be too nice to Andreios. She wanted to hold him and be with him, but she had to be strong. She quickly assessed herself whether her self-control is so strong that she could lie when looking into her secret love's eyes. "I did," she quickly and harshly said accompanied with a sarcastic smile then walked away leaving Andreios stunned.