I still remember the world

From the eyes of a child

Slowly those feelings were clouded

By what I know now

The sun was almost rising in the jet-black sky of Budapest. One by one, the stars were extinguishing as the sky was changing, taking some shades of cobalt, going to azure, then to slightly mauve, to finally become of a crimson tint of pink.

The fog surrounding the many ordinary buildings of the city was dissipating in the cold atmosphere due to the cool breeze that was beginning to blow. A few ordinary people were returning to their ordinary daytime routine, striding and stirring, as some ordinary cars were passing by every now and then. Let's just say that the morning life in Budapest was more quiet and less agitated than the nightlife there.

One of the less engaged streets of the city was Fereciek Square, as it was referred to be a very standard place to find oneself. On this specific street was also located an ordinary apartment building populated by ordinary human beings.

Only humans?

A key penetrated into the knothole of apartment 510 and a few seconds later, the door opened, revealing a tall light-brown haired man wearing a black t-shirt, brown jeans, and sneakers, a faded expression on his face coming along with him.

Also, a young woman with short shoulder-length black hair followed him in, wearing a black leather outfit and a long black coat.

As Michael clumsily engaged himself into what he called the living room of his apartment, Selene followed awkwardly behind, taking a few glimpses around the place. She had already been here before. In this average human home, where some average articles laid on the average shelves, used in an average, everyday life by a being who had already been one of those average humans.

Exactly like herself. Even though the same, awful circumstances were now uniting Selene and Michael, they were still worlds apart. They have although gone through the same events, lately.

An ordinary human, who had once suffered the death of his lovely wife, had somehow become involved in a war. He was first bitten by the very mighty Lucian, and then by a Vampire - Selene herself, who had saved his life - to finally become what he was now and forever: a hybrid. 

And the beautiful Selene was once a human as well, so many decades ago. Her family murdered, butchered, by what she thought were none other than the Lycans she'd been thought to hate and exterminate, until only a few hours ago. Those few hours, when she devastatingly learned the awful truth about what she'd lived for.

Where has my heart gone?

An uneven trade for the real world

Oh I, I want to go back to

Believing in everything

And knowing nothing at all

Her beloved family was not murdered by the Lycans, but by Viktor, the only one whom Selene trusted more than anybody else. But in the end, it turned out that even Viktor had come to betray her. And as far as Selene was concerned, life had betrayed her.

Both Selene and Michael had suffered many losses. Love and mortality for one, and family and trust for another. And here they were now, hiding from everyone, everything, in a tiny apartment of a small building. Together, surrounded by quiet and serenity. At last.

The blinds were cautiously and completely shut to prevent the sun from getting in the room. Selene sighed with relief, even though she had the impression that they had always been shut. And even though she didn't want to admit it to herself, deep down inside, she knew that Michael was the kind of person that was now living in the dark. Just like her, but in a different way.

Walking across the room, Michael lifted his head to examine the damages that were done a few days ago, when he and Selene were assaulted by those beasts he'd been once part of.

"Gees," Michael whispered while striking his still wet hair. And right in front of him was the wall he'd been thrown against by no other than Selene herself. He could still feel her hand around his throat. An unwilling, but slight smile appeared on his handsome features as he remembered that she was in fact here, with him, in his own apartment.

"Is it her?" Selene asked softly, as if she wanted to bring Michael's attention back to her. Michael turned his head and saw Selene standing in front of his desk, looking at one object in particular. The crossbreed stepped towards where the Vampire was standing and took a look over her shoulder.

Michael suddenly felt his heart pound in a very painful way as he let out a silent sigh, "Yes. It is," he said after a pause.

There was a frame with a picture of Michael himself holding a young woman by the waist. Selene's eyes went from the woman to Michael, Michael to the woman. To her surprise, Michael had a large smile on his face, and so did his mate. They were happy together.

I still remember the sun

Always warm on my back

Somehow it feels colder now

Selene suddenly felt her eyes water, tears burning them with regret and compassion, something she hadn't felt in centuries: compassion for anyone. Pride finally took over the emotion as she turned away from the frame and to Michael, who was still there, lost in his thoughts.

"As soon as the sun sets tonight, we're off," Selene announced, her long coat graciously wavering behind her slim body as she turned around.

Michael's gaze followed her around the room. "Wait, what about eating something first? You must be hungry," he said.

"I'm fine," Selene said sternly. Even if she was hungry, she preferred to not let him know.

"You're not fine, you haven't eaten since long ago," Michael persisted, his caring side taking over him. Selene turned around to face him and slightly tilted her head on her right glancing at him as he looked back at her with a persistent yet caring expression on his face. "I'm out of blood, sorry," Michael said to tone the atmosphere down.

"Then I'll do without it," Selene said. "We don't have any time to lose, Michael. As soon as darkness falls, the Vampires will be out looking for us, for sure. That's why we just can't stay here."

Michael stared at her once again in admiration. "You seem to have one hell of a plan in mind," he said in a stern and demanding voice. "Any idea of where to go?"

"Wherever we go, it'll have to be far away from here, I told you," Selene repeated as stepping towards him. We're not safe, here. I killed the most powerful Elder of the Vampires and you have become---"

"What Viktor had dreaded forever, a blend of a Vampire and a werewolf, I know! I know that story," Michael said exasperatedly. He then brought his hands to his forehead and dumped himself on the couch against the wall. "Gees, why me?" he sighed. "What have I possibly done to deserve this?"

Again, this feeling of compassion that was so unfamiliar to Selene took over the ex-Death Dealer as she found herself staring at Michael with pity. A poor human who'd been unfairly dragged into this bloody war between Vampires and Lycans, that's been raging for centuries. Selene began to believe that despite all of their differences, both their fates were actually identical.

And maybe for the first time in her immortal Vampire life, Selene felt like sharing her feelings with someone. "I know how you feel," she seemed to whisper very softly.

Michael raised his head from between his hands and took an astonished look at Selene. There she was, standing arm-crossed in front of him, looking at him straight in the eyes. He then remembered the very first time they had locked eyes. In the metro station, it was.

Michael was coming down the stairs as people were rushing in every direction. But through the dense crowd, he somehow managed to locate her. And he was seeing only her. Her pale face, her gorgeous features, and her beautiful slim body fully clad of black leather from head to toes. And she was also looking back at him. He was the only thing she could see. Then again, her pride took over and she turned away, as Michael faded in the crowd. Not for long.

Michael slightly shook his head and got up, "You're right, we've got to find a way to leave this country," he said, back from his memories.

But Selene was still stuck in hers. Images of her past, of her family, right before this whole massacre started. Her nieces, her sister, her mother, her father, they were gone, her life was gone. Everything was now gone. And then Viktor came into the picture, has treated her like a daughter for a hundred and twenty-seven years of her eternal life, and has betrayed her.

Where has my heart gone?

Trapped in the eyes of a stranger

Oh, why? I want to go back to

Believing in everything

Tears started to fill her eyes and slightly dropped down her pale cheeks.

Michael certainly realised it, and knew what she was thinking about. He also knew how she felt. He stepped towards her and wiped her tears away. "Don't cry," he said softly. Selene's eyes – who, up to now, had been staring into emptiness - locked with Michael's. "I know how you feel," he said, reminding her of what she had told him before.

They were getting closer and closer, and at the end, their lips locked. Michael remembered when Selene first kissed him, back at the safe house. Back in his Lycan days. It was somehow different, although. This time, he could tell it was real. And Selene --- she could try to deny it to herself as long as she wanted, but deep down inside, she knew she felt different. She could also tell that it was real.

Real love.