Disclaimer: Same as last time...*sobs quietly in a corner*
Chapter 2~I Won't Be Home For Lunch
~October 19, 1863 Horsecreek, Georgia~
"Elizibeth! Your mamma be needin' you in de kitchen! Hurry up en pull your robe on!" Clarice called from the stairs.
"I'm coming Clarice! Tell mother I have to go meet Delia in the market today!" Elizibeth lied as she tumbled out of bed. And reached for her robe. She pulled it over her head and looked in the mirror.
'What was I hit by in my sleep?' Elizibeth thought as she grabbed a comb and brushed the tangles out of her red-brown mess of hair.
"Liza! I need my corset set!" Elizibeth hoped that her maid heard her. If she didn't have her corset set tight enough her mother would give her a talking to she would never forget. Not to mention she hoped to catch Xander McCleron's eye.
Xander was a well-suited young man. He was sixteen, came from a wealthy family and was quite a looker to boot. Elizibeth adored his deep brown eyes that blended well with his pale skin and black hair. Elizibeth admitted she fancied him; alas she was too young to be betrothed.
"Ms. Elizibeth?" Liza said as she politely knocked on the door.
"Come in Liza. You know where the corsets are. I want the smallest one" Elizbeth said as she picked out her newest dress.
The dress was maroon with white lace sleeves that began at her elbows and a white lace fringe on the bottom and the collar that dropped low on her chest. When she was dressed Liza placed two comb hairpieces one on either side of her head in her hair. Her hair curled at its bottom's and fell to her shoulders.
"Dismissed. And tell my mother I won't be home for lunch" Elizibeth said as she admired herself in the mirror. When she decided she was as beautiful as she could get she walked down stairs to the kitchen.
*****
The kitchen air was muggy and smelled of cinnamon. Elizibeth noticed the sweat that fell from her chin and caught it with her fingers. Her mother had gone into one of her baking moods.
Bianca was wearing her old pinstriped gown and her hair was pulled up in a messy bun. Elizibeth had always thought her mother was beautiful no matter what she wore or how her hair looked. For as long as Elizibeth could remember her mother had loving blue-green eyes, hair as red as the sunset and a face that seemed never to age. Her mother put down the pan she was carrying and turned to greet her daughter "Elizibeth, my precious, there you are! Clarice called you nearly an hour ago. Now would you- oh, yes... you're going out to the market aren't you? Well, be home for dinner, alright?" Bianca looked as though she were disappointed; nevertheless she let her daughter go.
"Indeed I will be. May I have a pastry for my morning meal?" Elizibeth knew how to work her mother.
"You may, but eat it here. Make sure you clean your dish!" Bianca called after her daughter, who walked into the dining room.
In the dining room Elizibeth sat next to her oldest and favorite brother, Evan. He was twenty-one and unmarried. He talked with Elizibeth about his job and the things he did that particular day. Elizibeth would often tell him of eligible young women she knew who would gladly sell their souls to the devil for him. Yet every time he blandly said, "No, she is far to young for me" or "Like Mr. and Mrs. So-and-so would let their daughter court, much less marry me!"
Evan was Elizibeth's favorite brother because he was beautifully sculpted as if meant to be in a royal family. He had small almond shaped violet eyes, dark brown hair that came over his eyes and his broad shoulders were that of a kings. His words rolled of his tongue like melted chocolate and his voice was almost seductive.
Evan was reading a book when Elizibeth sat down. When he felt her shake the table to sit down he reached for his bookmark and looked down to her "Ah, Elizibeth, come to talk?"
Elizibeth swallowed the part of her breakfast in her mouth "Actually, yes. I was wondering if you knew my friend Delia. She asked me nearly month ago if you were courting. When I told her you weren't she asked me if you wouldn't mind courting her. So...?"
Evan smiled when she mentioned the girls' name. "I'm currently courting... She didn't tell you?"
"Tell me what?"
"Now, don't tell me you haven't figured it out."
"Huh..?" Elizibeth gasped.
"You are not! Why didn't you tell me?! I mean, you really are?!" Elizibeth nearly shouted.
"Yes, I am. Two weeks ago she asked me. I cordially accepted. She is a lovely young woman. I plan to meet her in, oh dear, less than a half an hour. Well, I must be going. Adieu." He said softly as he stood and began walking towards the coats.
"Wait, I'll come with you I was going to meet someone as well. I'll tell mother I'm leaving" Elizibeth grabbed her plate and entered the muggy kitchen.
"Mother, I can't wash my dish! I'm leaving with Evan. Au revoir!"
"Elizibeth! Come back here! ...Fine! Be home for dinner! Tell Evan!" Bianca never could keep her daughter in line 'That's a good thing I suppose. Especially if Aubrey ever does come back...'
*****
Outside Elizibeth and Evan talked as they strolled to the market in town.
Elizibeth, still eating her pastry, spoke between bites "So, where do you and Delia plan to go today?" Evan shook his head, his sister's curiosity made him laugh.
"What is so funny?" Elizibeth gasped, "How dare you laugh at your sister?! Hmph! Fine, laugh all you want! I don't care!"
Evan loved his sister's 'rich girl' attitude. It only made him laugh harder. Elizibeth stared, open mouthed at her rude brother.
Still laughing Evan said, "Well, Delia and I plan to go to the park and then and then walk down to Licies. She insists on making a vest for me. Between you and me I'm probably never going to wear it. I've seen her seam work and everything looks like it would fit a doll. Do you swear not to tell her?" Evan did look serious now. He apparently was serious with Delia.
"Sworn on word of blood, to my brother and me. Never to be told to he or she!" Elizibeth chirped loudly as she watched her brother take her right hand and cut a diagonal line in her palm with a pocketknife. She then took the knife and made the same cut opposite to hers in his left hand. They then shook the bleeding hands. It was promise they'd come up with when she was younger. She only used it with Liza, and her three brothers. Everyone else probably had no idea the promise even existed.
It was her brother's turn to ask, "Well I've been wondering why you could be going to the market. A certain Xander McCleron maybe?" Evan grinned evilly. He knew Elizibeth fancied him. He could tell in the way that she talked about him.
"Wouldn't you like to know! Well, actually yes and no. I got a letter from mother's friend Aubrey. He said to meet him in the market at four o'clock, so I figured I'd come down early and try to catch Xander." Elizibeth knew Xander would be there. They'd been courting and planned to meet that day. They both convinced their parents they were going to the market to meet friends.
"Elizibeth, I hate to be a downer, but you really are a bad liar. Not meaning to pry into your life, but I knew you have been courting him. Don't worry, I didn't tell father. He hasn't the fuzziest notion. Well, Here we are. I bid you adieu, dear sister." With that Evan walked toward a smiling Delia.
The green eyed, brown haired girl nearly leapt into Evan's arms when he approached her. They politely kissed and strolled off. Elizibeth stood bewildered. She'd never seen her brother kiss anyone before. A kind of jealousy rose up inside her.
*****
Being lost in her jealous thoughts Elizibeth didn't notice Xander coming up behind her.
"'Lizibeth, Luv, What are ya thinkin' about?" Xander wrapped his arms around her waist and pressed his chest to her back. His heavy Irish accent broke her chain of thought.
"Nothing in particular. How have you been?" Elizibeth said dully.
"I've been well. Yerself?" Xander loosened his grip so she could turn around.
"Quite well, thank you. So where are we off to today? Perhaps the vendors downtown?" Elizibeth hoped he'd noticed her dress. If he didn't she would probably scream for the sake of it.
"Wherever your heart desires, ma Luv." He bent down to kiss her when he said
"'At's a luvly dress yer wearin'. Red brin's out yer eyes." Once he'd said what needed to be said, He leaned down and their lips met.
Several kisses later Elizibeth pulled away and asked what time it was. Xander let her go to look at his watch.
"'S about twelve-thirty, Luv. Why d'ya need ta know?"
"I need to go meet some one today at four o'clock. It's one of my mother's friends." Elizibeth didn't feel she needed to say much more.
"Mind if I come with ya?" Xander tended to be protective of her when it came to other people.
"No, not at all. I'm sure they won't mind either."
*****
Over the next three and a half hours Elizibeth and Xander went to the park and downtown vendors, Licies (fabric shop), and the local café for lunch. By four o'clock the streets were practically empty and it began to feel cold. Elizibeth and Xander waited, huddling, in the windy market for Aubrey. Within the next few moments a tall man with black hair, pale skin, and a black and white suit came into the market. He looked about in his early twenties, late teens and made Elizibeth feel weak.
As he approached them casually, Elizibeth noticed that his eyes were black as well. That thought made Elizibeths stomach churn for an unexplained reason.
When the man reached them he introduced himself formally "Good afternoon Ms. Tamm, I assume you know I'm Aubrey. And this is?" Aubrey stared at Xander like he didn't know him.
Yet in truth, Aubrey knew the brat like the back of his hand. Xander had double-crossed many of Aubrey's kind, including him. Xander was a blood bonded human directly from Kendra. The brat had been all over the world on vacations because of Kendra's care. She babied him too much as far as Aubrey was concerned.
Elizibeth seemed intent to explain. "This is my friend Xander McCleron. He was around so he offered to stay with me. So, what exactly did you come to talk with me about?" Elizibeth seemed curious to find out what the stranger wanted.
"Well, you see I need to discuss this matter with you alone. That is, if Mr. McCleron doesn't mind stepping aside." Aubrey would normally hit the boy until he babbled about pink elephants in the sky for having even associated with Elizibeth. Yet due to her presence, Aubrey controlled his temper.
"Well, I don' see why ya can tell Ms. Tam somthin' en no'tell me. Bu' if she wishes it, I'll leave for the time bein'. 'Lizibeth?" Xander desperately wanted her to tell him "you should stay", but he already knew his fate.
"Xander, I would like to discuss this matter with Mr.-What's your last name?"
"Please, call me by my first name." Aubrey hated her stupid questions, but she was right he had'nt told her his last name and he didn't intend to.
"So, I'll see you later Xander. Au revoir." Elizibeth said as she turned to Xander.
"Adieu, Luv." Xander turned from Aubrey and Elizibeth and thought 'If you harm a hair on her head, Aubrey, I swear I will hunt you down and kill you. On word of blood.'
*****
"So you need to talk to my mother as well, then?" Elizibeth and Aubrey were walking back to Elizibeths' home.
"Yes. I have not seen her since you were born. We have many a thing to catch up on. I've known your mother since your eldest brother was born." Aubrey wasn't sure how many brothers Elizibeth had now, but it couldn't have changed too much.
"You mean Evan, right?" Elizibeth was pleased to know her mother had old friends.
'Evan? He's here as well... Bianca has made many friends I see. And he's posing as her son... He must have fallen for Elizibeth.' Aubrey thought as he replied "Yes, but that was many years ago and times have changed."
'I sound like my grandmother...' Aubrey thought to himself.
"Well, here we are. I trust my mother is in the garden. Shall we?" Elizibeth held open the white picket fence to a full-flowering garden as large as the house. They walked into the fragrant garden and the scent of roses filled Aubrey's nostrils. The smell reminded Aubrey of when he used to play hide-and-go-seek with Bianca there.
'The good days.' Aubrey thought as he followed Elizibeth further into the garden.
Elizibeth lead Aubrey in by the hand. "I know just where she'll be."
Elizibeth pulled Aubrey's hand, but he didn't follow. "As do I. Take your route and I, mine; then we'll see who knows where she is. GO!"
Aubrey raced down the hedge-lined path to the left and right, back and forth. Elizibeth took the opposite path and hoped to beat Aubrey to her mother.
Bianca was crocheting when she heard a familiar voice. 'Aubrey? It can't be... he left thirteen years ago...'
Bianca heard the hedges shake around her and suddenly on her right appeared Aubrey and to her left Elizbeth.
"Mother! Did you see who won?" Elizibeth looked for her mother's advice while gasping for air.
Bianca shook her head and laughed, "It was a tie!"
Aubrey shook his head in disbelief "Not possible! Bianca you know I can easily outrun any human! Oh-Uh... oops." Aubrey had just spilled the beans.
"Any human? What do you mean?! You're not human?" Elizibeth said still catching her breath.
Bianca stood and said, "Both of you come and sit. Elizibeth, it is time you knew about Aubrey and me."
*****
Over the next two hours Bianca and Aubrey explained to Elizibeth that Aubrey was a vampire, he swore to come back and take her away from her spoiled life when she was old enough, her brother Evan was a vampire, Xander was a blood bonded human, Bianca and Aubrey had been together for three years before she was born and that that night she would leave her humble home with Aubrey. Her mother swore to come and find them when she could get away.
*****
At about one-thirty in the morning Elizibeth was packed up and holding all her precious possessions tight. When Aubrey transported her down to outside when he father intervened.
He was waiting outside with a rifle in his hands. "Elizibeth, come over here. That man is dangerous."
"No, daddy, he's not! He's just-"Her father fired to the sky and Elizibeth screamed.
"Step away from him now!" her father was aiming for Aubrey when Evan jumped from his bedroom window on the third floor. When he landed he fought for the rifle with Elizibeth's father.
"I have been way too lenient with you, old man. I should have ended your life a long time ago." Evan said coldly as he raised the gun to the man's head.
"NO! Evan please!" Elizibeth cried with tears in her eyes.
"For your sake, love." Evan lowered the gun and thought to Elizibeth 'Now you know the truth. I love you more than I should.'
Elizibeth stood in shock from Evans words and what happened next.
Her father took a revolver from his vest and fired at Evan as he said, "And I should have killed you before you even stepped foot on my property!"
Evan took two shots in the stomach and two in the chest. Elizibeth screamed and fell as Evan collapsed backwards and blood spurted from his wounds. He lay on the ground, grimacing in pain, but still alive. Elizibeths' father now raised the gun and aimed for Aubrey.
Her father shot and Elizibeth stood up to let the bullets hit her.
Four shots were rang out before her father realized what he was doing. Bianca came running outside in her robe screaming, her two sons with her. Bianca fell to the ground and created spots of moist soil around her. Elizibeth, with barley an ounce of life left in her, had one last request. "Aubrey, change me..."
Chapter 2~I Won't Be Home For Lunch
~October 19, 1863 Horsecreek, Georgia~
"Elizibeth! Your mamma be needin' you in de kitchen! Hurry up en pull your robe on!" Clarice called from the stairs.
"I'm coming Clarice! Tell mother I have to go meet Delia in the market today!" Elizibeth lied as she tumbled out of bed. And reached for her robe. She pulled it over her head and looked in the mirror.
'What was I hit by in my sleep?' Elizibeth thought as she grabbed a comb and brushed the tangles out of her red-brown mess of hair.
"Liza! I need my corset set!" Elizibeth hoped that her maid heard her. If she didn't have her corset set tight enough her mother would give her a talking to she would never forget. Not to mention she hoped to catch Xander McCleron's eye.
Xander was a well-suited young man. He was sixteen, came from a wealthy family and was quite a looker to boot. Elizibeth adored his deep brown eyes that blended well with his pale skin and black hair. Elizibeth admitted she fancied him; alas she was too young to be betrothed.
"Ms. Elizibeth?" Liza said as she politely knocked on the door.
"Come in Liza. You know where the corsets are. I want the smallest one" Elizbeth said as she picked out her newest dress.
The dress was maroon with white lace sleeves that began at her elbows and a white lace fringe on the bottom and the collar that dropped low on her chest. When she was dressed Liza placed two comb hairpieces one on either side of her head in her hair. Her hair curled at its bottom's and fell to her shoulders.
"Dismissed. And tell my mother I won't be home for lunch" Elizibeth said as she admired herself in the mirror. When she decided she was as beautiful as she could get she walked down stairs to the kitchen.
*****
The kitchen air was muggy and smelled of cinnamon. Elizibeth noticed the sweat that fell from her chin and caught it with her fingers. Her mother had gone into one of her baking moods.
Bianca was wearing her old pinstriped gown and her hair was pulled up in a messy bun. Elizibeth had always thought her mother was beautiful no matter what she wore or how her hair looked. For as long as Elizibeth could remember her mother had loving blue-green eyes, hair as red as the sunset and a face that seemed never to age. Her mother put down the pan she was carrying and turned to greet her daughter "Elizibeth, my precious, there you are! Clarice called you nearly an hour ago. Now would you- oh, yes... you're going out to the market aren't you? Well, be home for dinner, alright?" Bianca looked as though she were disappointed; nevertheless she let her daughter go.
"Indeed I will be. May I have a pastry for my morning meal?" Elizibeth knew how to work her mother.
"You may, but eat it here. Make sure you clean your dish!" Bianca called after her daughter, who walked into the dining room.
In the dining room Elizibeth sat next to her oldest and favorite brother, Evan. He was twenty-one and unmarried. He talked with Elizibeth about his job and the things he did that particular day. Elizibeth would often tell him of eligible young women she knew who would gladly sell their souls to the devil for him. Yet every time he blandly said, "No, she is far to young for me" or "Like Mr. and Mrs. So-and-so would let their daughter court, much less marry me!"
Evan was Elizibeth's favorite brother because he was beautifully sculpted as if meant to be in a royal family. He had small almond shaped violet eyes, dark brown hair that came over his eyes and his broad shoulders were that of a kings. His words rolled of his tongue like melted chocolate and his voice was almost seductive.
Evan was reading a book when Elizibeth sat down. When he felt her shake the table to sit down he reached for his bookmark and looked down to her "Ah, Elizibeth, come to talk?"
Elizibeth swallowed the part of her breakfast in her mouth "Actually, yes. I was wondering if you knew my friend Delia. She asked me nearly month ago if you were courting. When I told her you weren't she asked me if you wouldn't mind courting her. So...?"
Evan smiled when she mentioned the girls' name. "I'm currently courting... She didn't tell you?"
"Tell me what?"
"Now, don't tell me you haven't figured it out."
"Huh..?" Elizibeth gasped.
"You are not! Why didn't you tell me?! I mean, you really are?!" Elizibeth nearly shouted.
"Yes, I am. Two weeks ago she asked me. I cordially accepted. She is a lovely young woman. I plan to meet her in, oh dear, less than a half an hour. Well, I must be going. Adieu." He said softly as he stood and began walking towards the coats.
"Wait, I'll come with you I was going to meet someone as well. I'll tell mother I'm leaving" Elizibeth grabbed her plate and entered the muggy kitchen.
"Mother, I can't wash my dish! I'm leaving with Evan. Au revoir!"
"Elizibeth! Come back here! ...Fine! Be home for dinner! Tell Evan!" Bianca never could keep her daughter in line 'That's a good thing I suppose. Especially if Aubrey ever does come back...'
*****
Outside Elizibeth and Evan talked as they strolled to the market in town.
Elizibeth, still eating her pastry, spoke between bites "So, where do you and Delia plan to go today?" Evan shook his head, his sister's curiosity made him laugh.
"What is so funny?" Elizibeth gasped, "How dare you laugh at your sister?! Hmph! Fine, laugh all you want! I don't care!"
Evan loved his sister's 'rich girl' attitude. It only made him laugh harder. Elizibeth stared, open mouthed at her rude brother.
Still laughing Evan said, "Well, Delia and I plan to go to the park and then and then walk down to Licies. She insists on making a vest for me. Between you and me I'm probably never going to wear it. I've seen her seam work and everything looks like it would fit a doll. Do you swear not to tell her?" Evan did look serious now. He apparently was serious with Delia.
"Sworn on word of blood, to my brother and me. Never to be told to he or she!" Elizibeth chirped loudly as she watched her brother take her right hand and cut a diagonal line in her palm with a pocketknife. She then took the knife and made the same cut opposite to hers in his left hand. They then shook the bleeding hands. It was promise they'd come up with when she was younger. She only used it with Liza, and her three brothers. Everyone else probably had no idea the promise even existed.
It was her brother's turn to ask, "Well I've been wondering why you could be going to the market. A certain Xander McCleron maybe?" Evan grinned evilly. He knew Elizibeth fancied him. He could tell in the way that she talked about him.
"Wouldn't you like to know! Well, actually yes and no. I got a letter from mother's friend Aubrey. He said to meet him in the market at four o'clock, so I figured I'd come down early and try to catch Xander." Elizibeth knew Xander would be there. They'd been courting and planned to meet that day. They both convinced their parents they were going to the market to meet friends.
"Elizibeth, I hate to be a downer, but you really are a bad liar. Not meaning to pry into your life, but I knew you have been courting him. Don't worry, I didn't tell father. He hasn't the fuzziest notion. Well, Here we are. I bid you adieu, dear sister." With that Evan walked toward a smiling Delia.
The green eyed, brown haired girl nearly leapt into Evan's arms when he approached her. They politely kissed and strolled off. Elizibeth stood bewildered. She'd never seen her brother kiss anyone before. A kind of jealousy rose up inside her.
*****
Being lost in her jealous thoughts Elizibeth didn't notice Xander coming up behind her.
"'Lizibeth, Luv, What are ya thinkin' about?" Xander wrapped his arms around her waist and pressed his chest to her back. His heavy Irish accent broke her chain of thought.
"Nothing in particular. How have you been?" Elizibeth said dully.
"I've been well. Yerself?" Xander loosened his grip so she could turn around.
"Quite well, thank you. So where are we off to today? Perhaps the vendors downtown?" Elizibeth hoped he'd noticed her dress. If he didn't she would probably scream for the sake of it.
"Wherever your heart desires, ma Luv." He bent down to kiss her when he said
"'At's a luvly dress yer wearin'. Red brin's out yer eyes." Once he'd said what needed to be said, He leaned down and their lips met.
Several kisses later Elizibeth pulled away and asked what time it was. Xander let her go to look at his watch.
"'S about twelve-thirty, Luv. Why d'ya need ta know?"
"I need to go meet some one today at four o'clock. It's one of my mother's friends." Elizibeth didn't feel she needed to say much more.
"Mind if I come with ya?" Xander tended to be protective of her when it came to other people.
"No, not at all. I'm sure they won't mind either."
*****
Over the next three and a half hours Elizibeth and Xander went to the park and downtown vendors, Licies (fabric shop), and the local café for lunch. By four o'clock the streets were practically empty and it began to feel cold. Elizibeth and Xander waited, huddling, in the windy market for Aubrey. Within the next few moments a tall man with black hair, pale skin, and a black and white suit came into the market. He looked about in his early twenties, late teens and made Elizibeth feel weak.
As he approached them casually, Elizibeth noticed that his eyes were black as well. That thought made Elizibeths stomach churn for an unexplained reason.
When the man reached them he introduced himself formally "Good afternoon Ms. Tamm, I assume you know I'm Aubrey. And this is?" Aubrey stared at Xander like he didn't know him.
Yet in truth, Aubrey knew the brat like the back of his hand. Xander had double-crossed many of Aubrey's kind, including him. Xander was a blood bonded human directly from Kendra. The brat had been all over the world on vacations because of Kendra's care. She babied him too much as far as Aubrey was concerned.
Elizibeth seemed intent to explain. "This is my friend Xander McCleron. He was around so he offered to stay with me. So, what exactly did you come to talk with me about?" Elizibeth seemed curious to find out what the stranger wanted.
"Well, you see I need to discuss this matter with you alone. That is, if Mr. McCleron doesn't mind stepping aside." Aubrey would normally hit the boy until he babbled about pink elephants in the sky for having even associated with Elizibeth. Yet due to her presence, Aubrey controlled his temper.
"Well, I don' see why ya can tell Ms. Tam somthin' en no'tell me. Bu' if she wishes it, I'll leave for the time bein'. 'Lizibeth?" Xander desperately wanted her to tell him "you should stay", but he already knew his fate.
"Xander, I would like to discuss this matter with Mr.-What's your last name?"
"Please, call me by my first name." Aubrey hated her stupid questions, but she was right he had'nt told her his last name and he didn't intend to.
"So, I'll see you later Xander. Au revoir." Elizibeth said as she turned to Xander.
"Adieu, Luv." Xander turned from Aubrey and Elizibeth and thought 'If you harm a hair on her head, Aubrey, I swear I will hunt you down and kill you. On word of blood.'
*****
"So you need to talk to my mother as well, then?" Elizibeth and Aubrey were walking back to Elizibeths' home.
"Yes. I have not seen her since you were born. We have many a thing to catch up on. I've known your mother since your eldest brother was born." Aubrey wasn't sure how many brothers Elizibeth had now, but it couldn't have changed too much.
"You mean Evan, right?" Elizibeth was pleased to know her mother had old friends.
'Evan? He's here as well... Bianca has made many friends I see. And he's posing as her son... He must have fallen for Elizibeth.' Aubrey thought as he replied "Yes, but that was many years ago and times have changed."
'I sound like my grandmother...' Aubrey thought to himself.
"Well, here we are. I trust my mother is in the garden. Shall we?" Elizibeth held open the white picket fence to a full-flowering garden as large as the house. They walked into the fragrant garden and the scent of roses filled Aubrey's nostrils. The smell reminded Aubrey of when he used to play hide-and-go-seek with Bianca there.
'The good days.' Aubrey thought as he followed Elizibeth further into the garden.
Elizibeth lead Aubrey in by the hand. "I know just where she'll be."
Elizibeth pulled Aubrey's hand, but he didn't follow. "As do I. Take your route and I, mine; then we'll see who knows where she is. GO!"
Aubrey raced down the hedge-lined path to the left and right, back and forth. Elizibeth took the opposite path and hoped to beat Aubrey to her mother.
Bianca was crocheting when she heard a familiar voice. 'Aubrey? It can't be... he left thirteen years ago...'
Bianca heard the hedges shake around her and suddenly on her right appeared Aubrey and to her left Elizbeth.
"Mother! Did you see who won?" Elizibeth looked for her mother's advice while gasping for air.
Bianca shook her head and laughed, "It was a tie!"
Aubrey shook his head in disbelief "Not possible! Bianca you know I can easily outrun any human! Oh-Uh... oops." Aubrey had just spilled the beans.
"Any human? What do you mean?! You're not human?" Elizibeth said still catching her breath.
Bianca stood and said, "Both of you come and sit. Elizibeth, it is time you knew about Aubrey and me."
*****
Over the next two hours Bianca and Aubrey explained to Elizibeth that Aubrey was a vampire, he swore to come back and take her away from her spoiled life when she was old enough, her brother Evan was a vampire, Xander was a blood bonded human, Bianca and Aubrey had been together for three years before she was born and that that night she would leave her humble home with Aubrey. Her mother swore to come and find them when she could get away.
*****
At about one-thirty in the morning Elizibeth was packed up and holding all her precious possessions tight. When Aubrey transported her down to outside when he father intervened.
He was waiting outside with a rifle in his hands. "Elizibeth, come over here. That man is dangerous."
"No, daddy, he's not! He's just-"Her father fired to the sky and Elizibeth screamed.
"Step away from him now!" her father was aiming for Aubrey when Evan jumped from his bedroom window on the third floor. When he landed he fought for the rifle with Elizibeth's father.
"I have been way too lenient with you, old man. I should have ended your life a long time ago." Evan said coldly as he raised the gun to the man's head.
"NO! Evan please!" Elizibeth cried with tears in her eyes.
"For your sake, love." Evan lowered the gun and thought to Elizibeth 'Now you know the truth. I love you more than I should.'
Elizibeth stood in shock from Evans words and what happened next.
Her father took a revolver from his vest and fired at Evan as he said, "And I should have killed you before you even stepped foot on my property!"
Evan took two shots in the stomach and two in the chest. Elizibeth screamed and fell as Evan collapsed backwards and blood spurted from his wounds. He lay on the ground, grimacing in pain, but still alive. Elizibeths' father now raised the gun and aimed for Aubrey.
Her father shot and Elizibeth stood up to let the bullets hit her.
Four shots were rang out before her father realized what he was doing. Bianca came running outside in her robe screaming, her two sons with her. Bianca fell to the ground and created spots of moist soil around her. Elizibeth, with barley an ounce of life left in her, had one last request. "Aubrey, change me..."