Chapter 13
Wake up
Wake up
Beca, wake up!
The first thing that hits her is the soft dripping noise of what may be some sort of pipes leaking from above then the shuffle of heavy footsteps somewhere in a distance. Her blurry vision finds a blinding light slowly growing bigger until it bathes her completely. Then it's when things start to settle wrongly, she feels it in her gut. Her gut had only been wrong once. It certainly wasn't right this very moment.
She tries to move her aching body but she finds that it's impossible with the restraints tying her hands down the arm rest of a steel chair. Now, Beca is no stranger to restraints—not to be confused with sexual related restraints. That's another topic to be discussed on a much lighter scenario. On this case, as a matter of fact, she escaped not once, not twice but thrice when she was being held in such position. Unfortunately, whoever was behind this knows her so well to keep her ankles chained to the ground, leaving no room for escape. Damn it. The cons of being famous in the business.
However, within all the haziness her thoughts start to fully focus at the sound of small whimper. She feels a fast rhythm of a familiar beating heart, filled with so much fear and anxiety that her own instinctively matches its beat, trying to softly calm it down. This awakens every fiber of Beca's system instantly. She jerks her head up, fists balling up as she finds those scared bright blues looking back at her.
"Chloe," she whispers, barely audible and only meant for the Vanderbilt's ears alone.
"Becs," the soft reply comes, spilling out of trembling lips and it stirs something deep inside her she thought she had gotten rid of. She had buried it a long time ago, burned it away from her mind and tore it away from her heart.
She doesn't understand it at all so she quells it down and lets the anger and hatred about the situation consume her instead. The rattling of the chains keeping her bound as she tries to break free from it.
"You know that's not going to work, lovey," a hoarse voice whispers just right into her ear from behind, a hand placed at the side of her head to keep her in place.
The second she hears it, her blood quickly runs cold, every inch of her body stiffening as her chest tightens. The shock turns to anger which evolves to rage in a matter of seconds. The emotions wash over too quick and too hard that she starts trembling, her breathing becoming laboured as the owner of that familiar voice steps out of the shadows, circling around her so she can finally see him fully.
Ştefan Sala.
He crouches down in front of her, almost kneeling as he smiles. The sickening sight makes her want to claw out that face with her own nails. A face she thought she'd never see again. Obviously, he has matured through the years already being somewhere in his late twenties, his dark hair, which had grown from the last time she saw him, and his stubble making him look even older than his age.
"It's nice to see you again, lovey. Missed me?" he asked in a nice tone, as sickeningly as the scar right across his blind right eye. A scar crafted by no else but her very own hands. If there was an art form she was very proud of, it had to be that very scar.
"How's mommy and daddy?" he asks with a mockingly innocent look, scratching his chin before pausing to form an 'oh' on his lips.
"Right, my bad, I almost forgot. They're gone," he clicks his tongue as he shakes his head and finally stands up, straightening his white polo shirt, another scar peeking from underneath those open buttons. Another scar Beca is proud to claim as her doing three years ago in a mission gone wrong in Kosovo. She'd been blindsided by his presence that she had abandoned her target and went rogue instead, blind with rage as she chose to finish the man who caused some of the nightmares in her head. She lacked control that time. A mistake that caused grave repercussions as he stands in front of her, still very much alive.
He walks a couple of steps in front of her, pacing around for a bit before pouring himself some whiskey and turning his attention back to her. "You know, I don't really blame you for hating me when I killed your mother. I totally understand the feeling. Beautiful woman, your mother. She wasn't really supposed to die but things happened, you know how it works, collateral damage," he says before taking a sip and Beca was tethering so closely to the edge, almost falling down to that side of hers that even she is scared of.
"But your father—no, our father," he cocks his head to the side with a smile on his face as he points a finger at her. "C'mon I did you a favour there, didn't I? He wasn't really a good father,"
He then grabs a chair from the side, placing right in front of her before he takes a seat. "But you know what?" he says as he rests his elbows on his thighs as he looks at her intently. "You probably already know this but being close to death really has a way of showing people's true colours. You know, it's that moment when you figure out who they really are," he glances over to the side as if trying to remember something.
When he finally looks back at her, there's a glint on his eyes Beca already recognizes. He has something for her. Something that could destroy her.
"Do you want to know what Darius told me before he took his own life? 'Cause he'd rather die than give away what we wanted from him. Admirable, really, but do you want to know what he said before he plunged a dagger to his heart?" he eggs on, inching closer. The feet of his chair scrapping on cement as he does.
"He said," he slowly begins. "He said that, 'You think you've won? My death won't be the end. For every death, for every withering petal, a new bud grows and this time it's going to bloom more beautifully than the last. A perfect red rose. It's better, stronger and much more powerful than you and I. Unbreakable and untouchable. The crown will never be yours, you may take it, take everything along with it but deep down you know, it all means nothing when they all bow down to another because you're just the grass growing underneath those red petals'," he chuckles, looking down as his shoulders shake. When he gathers his bearings he focuses back on her once more.
"And then he said just before he chooses to jump to the dark, 'Finally, my love, I shall be with you for all eternity'," he scoffs as he stares back at her deep blue irises with his dark brown ones.
"It took me awhile to realize that he was talking about you all along, his rose,"
It only takes a second, a wave of dark blood red washing out the blue and the white while sharp canines slide down to form sharp fangs, lunging forward with an angry growl rumbling from her chest. The chains rattle badly, looking like they'd give way but they don't. Of course, pure silver and diamond engraved in the chains, making it harder to break. The man quickly leans back, laughter erupting from his lips once more.
"I will rip you apart, slowly. I will enjoy every single minute of it and I don't care… even if you are a Du Pont," she lets out between gritted teeth.
"There it is, the monster hiding underneath the veil of royalty," he says before standing up. "Now, let's see if daddy dearest was right about you. I mean, you did kill half of my army in one night. That, itself is already an impressive feat but let's see how far can you go," he snaps his fingers as the door opens as three of his men enter, wheeling in a small table filled by tools nobody wants to encounter when they are tied up and held against their will.
"What are you going to do to her?" Chloe asks, panic lacing her words and maybe Beca couldn't bear to look at those teary-eyed baby blues, knowing well how things like this work.
"There's a vault kept underneath the king's room of the Corvinn Castle, the home of the royal council. Inside of it, every precious artifact about our race, all the treasures of our government since the very first of our kind, the crown, the royal seal, every list of every agent and dark assassin, active, inactive and rogue, a list of all the possible royal successors in line to the throne and every single secret and hushed controversy the council has quietly documented for hundreds of years," Ştefan continues, ignoring Chloe.
"It is kept behind three ancient gates only crowned royalty can open. But what everyone doesn't know, the crowned king or queen cannot open it by themselves. Because everything is divided between their successor to make sure that nobody can break into the vault. The first gate needs two different fingerprints which will only work if the owner of said fingerprints is alive, the second needs two different codes and finally, two secret patterns until you can open the vault," he walks, stopping in front of Beca.
"Fingerprints won't be a problem now. Your father has activated his and now we have yours," he looks down on her ring finger and exhales. "It took a while to get the codes and the pattern out of him, killed all of the council members for it until we threatened to behead the grandchildren. And now we only need your set of codes," he says as if it was such a simple thing.
"So, there's no need for violence now. You know what's best for you. Besides, we are after all, family," he whispers.
She looks at him before spitting at his face, "Sorry," she smirks sarcastically. "I thought I was talking to a toilet, your breath smells like one,"
He nods, wiping his face with a cloth he was given. "I heard your father toughened you up in Russia. Well," he exhales. "I'm not father and this isn't Russia," he says slowly in a deep tone while he rolls up his sleeves.
"Welcome to your worst nightmare, little sister,"
He slams on a button, sliding open a circular window to let the sunlight flood down in on Beca, weakening her as he slaps her hard on the face with the back of his hand, following it with another stinging slap and hard knuckles straight to her stomach as she buckles forward, lips bleeding.
"Stop it! You bastards!" she hears Chloe scream through the ringing of her ears, fighting through her own restraints and kicking at the people who are trying to keep her down.
"What is the code and the pattern?" the question comes again as she slowly sits up again.
"You know," she says in between laboured breaths. "It's not so bad being a toilet. Everyone needs a toilet. You've been so important to the whole world. A hero. Catching all that shit, you know," she adds, sounding wasted. Well, there's not really any difference at this point.
Incoming blows follow, much harsher than the first ones and all she could hear is Chloe's screams and truthfully, it actually sounds even more painful than the punches they kept throwing at her. It hurts and Beca didn't know anything could still hurt her like this.
Chloe isn't familiar of this part of the world, her world. She doesn't know any of the unspeakable horrors Beca sees and feels every day. The subject of all her nightmares. Chloe whose only problems consists of surviving college, figuring out how to acquire funds for her charity in a creative way, what to wear for the university gala, her performance in the play she'd been rehearsing months for and other mundane stuff that are all just children's play in Beca's world. Chloe, who lives in such comfort and protection from the things Beca faces on a daily basis, is now finally opening her eyes to what could scar her for her the rest of her life.
Nobody deserves this.
Especially not her.
"No! Stop it! Please!" Chloe cries out, tears streaming down her cheeks as she pleads desperately and unfortunately Beca could feel all of it. It's almost hard to breathe.
Sometimes, Beca wished she could go back in time to undo everything. There's too many but she was sure about what to undo first. The very first mistake she'd ever made. It was eight years ago, near the lake, by the weeping willow underneath all the stars wrapped in all the warmth she once was blessed with. She almost forgot what it felt like.
"Shut her up," Ştefan's voice brings back Beca into focus as she realizes that he was motioning over to Chloe. One of the men takes a piece of cloth which he intends to tie over the Vanderbilt's mouth but with Chloe fighting against him, one of his companions step in as well to hold her steady.
"You're the one who needs to shut up," Beca groans, eyeing Ştefan, "Your shitty breathe is polluting the atmosphere. It's already hard to breathe with Shrek over here farting all over place," she jabs, side-eyeing the third guy standing next to her.
Shrek gives her a huge punch on the face for it, clearly offended by her comment. But they always say that one should speak how they feel. She was just telling the truth! People and their stupid insecurities.
Ştefan ignores her comments as he walks over to the table, slipping what looks like brass knuckles around his fingers. He then returns to her, grasping a fistful of her hair and pulling it backwards to look her in the eye, the sunlight above making her squint, her body weakening at the glare of the sun. At this point, she may already be looking like a bloody mess.
"What is the code and the pattern?" he repeats for probably the tenth time.
"What's the point?" she puffs out. "You're going to cut off my head anyway," she smirks. She would've given him a smile if it weren't for her cheeks hurting.
Her words earn a couple more hits to the stomach, making the room spin and the images all around her blurring. In between the messy swirl she seems to be spiralling to, she hears a lone guitar strumming a familiar tune from a far.
It's happening again.
Oh c'mon. Not again
"Maybe we shouldn't be doing this," Beca say softly as she nervously watches her best friend try to pick the lock of Darius Du Pont's private office. She glances left and right, making sure nobody was coming their way before focusing on Chloe once more.
"This is a bad idea," she whispers, fingers fidgeting at the ends of her sweater as Chloe hushes her to silence.
Another tense minute passes and by some miracle the lock clicks open, both of them looking at each other in shock and excitement.
"I told you, I could do it," Chloe proudly as they slip inside the one place in the house that Beca hasn't stepped foot at. She may have gotten a peek back when her mother was alive but never really entering as it was the room where some of her father's most important meetings take place. Clearly, a room where every child finds boring.
"Alright, you are very skilled, congratulations. Now, hurry and tell me the name of that thing again," Beca quickly says as they start looking around the Victorian styled office.
"Epiphyllum oxypetalum and I don't think he keeps it out in the open. He has to have a secret room or something," Chloe answers back, eyes intensely focusing at the array of books before opening every cabinet she passes by.
Pausing to glance over her best friend, she sighs, "I know I'm French and some people have this misconception that they could just throw very hard to pronounce words at me like I could absorb it easily but you know it doesn't work that way so please tell me it has an English name,"
Straightening up, Chloe finally turns to her, obviously unable to find what they are looking for, "It is also called the 'Queen of the night' or Gekka Bijin which means 'Beauty of the moon' as they call in Japan or Kadupul in Sri Lanka which means 'The flower from heaven',"
"Or the flower so rare to find because it has suicidal tendencies," Beca jokes while Chloe shakes her head.
"It's rare because it only blooms once a year at night and wilts before dawn. It's a special, beautiful flower that takes a year to bloom and when it finally does, it gives its all for just one night. It's magical," Chloe corrects her and honestly, it still doesn't change the idea Beca has of it.
"Sounds like my cousins," Beca muses. "Extremely hyper at night then sleeping like the dead by dawn, yup, that's them," she voices out, unconsciously fiddling with the old lamp on top of one of the cabinets. It's so old that its light doesn't flicker open when she pulls the small chain down. What opens instead, is the wall behind the huge painting of a beautiful landscape.
They both gaped at the new discovery before Chloe speaks up, "You didn't tell me about this secret room,"
Stepping forward to open the door wider to find a dim room, Beca answers distractedly, "That's because I've only just found out about it now,"
They enter as Beca fumbles for the switch, light filling the room instantly as they look around. There were old large books stacked perfectly in a tall book case next to a table where a bunch of important documents and maps were laid out, expensive paintings and polished swords line up the walls. There was also a clear glass cabinet filled with all sorts of seemingly rare objects, some kept in small chests, generations of heirlooms of the Du Pont family.
Beca gingerly opens some of them, admiring the intricate designs of heavy gold lockets, gems and very rare clock works while Chloe slowly flips through old family photos of the entire Du Pont family tree.
Running her fingers on a couple of items, Beca pauses to find another small chest box. It was at the very end of the cabinet and without a thought, she opens it carefully to find a vial of light brown liquid. She slowly lifts it up, inspecting its contents. Her eyes widen as she finds a small inscription at the bottom written in elegant script handwriting.
She whips around towards Chloe who was now pulling open a couple of drawers, holding the bottle up with her hand, "Chlo, I think I found the suicidal flower," she excitedly says.
Her best friend immediately straightens up at her words, turning around and quickly walking towards her. She hastily grabs Beca's hand to closely look at the vial. When her baby blues look back Beca, a smile slowly forms in her face.
"This is it, Becs! We found it!" Chloe almost bounces happily.
"So are you going to tell me now what it's for?" Beca asks as they hastily make their way out the room.
The only answer she gets however is a meaningful smile followed with cryptic words that would only heighten her curiosity in the most frustrating way as she wraps her hand around hers.
"It's for—
That's enough
Wake up!
Ice cold water stings every nerve in her skin as she jerks awake coughing. She feels a rough hand gripping the back of her neck, holding up her head. An image comes to view as she groans.
"And here I thought my nightmares were scary. You're so ugly up close," she mumbles, weakly chuckling. She earns another slap for that.
"Give me the codes and the pattern, Rebecca," Ştefan slowly says and it feels more like a warning. "It's no use prolonging the agony,"
His men move behind and Beca hears wires and equipment being set up. She already has an idea what's to come next but it's not enough to make her budge. Her lips shall remain sealed as the vault underneath Corvinn Castle.
Her breathing deepens as they begin to place metal attached to wires around her wrists, ankles and neck. She swallows down hard, eyes glued to the floor, refusing to look at Chloe even though nobody was currently standing between them.
Ştefan comes up by her side, leaning down to speak out the same words he has been demanding from her, "What are the codes and the pattern?"
She slowly turns her head to him, slightly trembling not because of the cold but because of the anticipation of what's to come next, glaring at him as she responds, "Eat your cake of shit, shit catcher,"
He pulls down a lever and bolts of electricity surge through the wires, coursing all over her body. She grits her teeth hard, eyes tightly shut closed as a new level of pain enters her system.
"You think everyone's going to see you as a hero?" Ştefan asks in a low tone, his breath hitting her ear. "That rebellious Du Pont girl with all her love for black leather jackets, women, alcohol and a magnet for trouble. You think you're going to leave some kind of legacy?" he mocks, shaking his head.
"Nobody," he hisses, leaning closer to emphasize every word. "Cares about you. Nobody would even remember you. Everything you've done," he slowly laughs. "All these years, tearing down the enemies of the council, putting a stop to every threat and saving lives yet sadly, I bet all they'll remember is a selfish, cold, ruthless assassin,"
He shifts, a hand reaching towards the lever again. "All this suffering you are going through, for what? For the good of our race? For our people?" he exhales heavily. "Why?"
She leans back, eyes boring right through him. "Because," she starts, hands gripping the arm rests as she sits up straight. "I am a queen," she smirks. "I bow down to no one. This is my land, they are my people and you? You're just the grass underneath my thorns and that's all you'll ever be,"
A lever goes down heavily and with so much force. Electricity travels as quick as lightning. A whimper escapes her lips as her eyes shut tight, the pain unbearable that she almost collapses again. Melodies and symphonies float around her faintly from a distance, rising then fluctuating as she remains conscious, her body twitching even as it stops and her head hanging low.
Her lips quiver as she tries to utter a word.
"What was that?" Ştefan asks, bringing himself close to her, straining to make sense of her mumbling.
Finally a word comes clear in spite of the tired and breathless tone, "Happy,"
Ştefan looks at her confusion as she slowly slips away, her mind switching from dim to clear, consciousness to dreams, illusions to reality and memories that cut deep into the center of her heart.
"When skies are gray,"
"She's lost it," Ştefan mutters in annoyance. In a corner, right across Beca, Chloe's sobs come to a halt, tear stained baby blue eyes quickly looking up at her jumbled words.
"You'll never know dear,"
A look of clarity forms in the redhead's face, the words she wanted to say muffled by the cloth they gagged her with.
"How much I love you,"
"You are wasting my time!" Ştefan growls as he grips her jaw but that does nothing to stop her, eyes fluttering close and lips moving to the notes lingering in her head.
"Please don't take my sunshine away,"
His eyes cloud with anger as he quickly pulls out a metal rod, electricity sparking from it. "Give me the codes!" he booms threateningly, holding the metal close to her face, only inches away from her skin.
"I'll always love—
"If you aren't comfortable about this, it's okay. We don't have to go through with it," Chloe uncertainly voices out, twisting her fingers a bit as she anxiously looks at her. She eyes the tattered and rusty coloured book as they stand underneath their weeping willow.
When she looks back at her best friend, only one word comes out her lips, "Binding,"
It sounds more like a question but she needed to clarify things first.
"Of the soul, yes," Chloe slowly says, nodding as she does before she quickly rushes out an explanation. "It's like the soulmate bond but not as deep! Well… we both hate parting for so long so… I just… I thought maybe I can do something to… solve it? Like, really solve it this time. A-And this is the closest solution I can think of," Chloe continues, hands flailing around rapidly with every word. A habit Beca knows she has whenever she was nervous, anxious or too excited.
"My grandfather tells stories whenever we go visit him and I remember this one story of centuries ago, soldiers of royal families doing this sort of thing. They found it effective to have their best soldiers, knights, paired up together through binding in defeating their enemies. The brotherhood or sisterhood becomes stronger, the connection they have helps them perfectly eliminate enemies. Besides, it's like hitting two birds with one stone. Pairs that have this bond move as one so they didn't have to train every single soldier, a pair counts as one, so less effort. They just have to strengthen it to perfection or else the connection weakens," Chloe finishes, waiting for Beca's reply anxiously.
"So, you're saying," Beca begins, slowly tapping her finger on the book as she gazes in a distance. "That once we do this… you and I can communicate no matter how far we are?"
Chloe inhales before shifting closer towards her, "We can also feel each other's presence easily so no more sending cryptic letters that could get us caught. We'd know where to find each other already! And… well, if we practice enough, telepathy can be achieved, at least according to one entry of this soldier," she motions over at the book.
"And this… thing. Is it forever?" Beca asks again and Chloe nods.
"Unless, we try to hurt each other and separate forever,"
"Which is never going to happen," Beca quickly adds.
"I mean, we can't obviously do the sire bond like your parents because, obviously, we're both vampires already and we can't do the soulmate bond because you know… that's like… marriage," Chloe shrugs as Beca lets out a heavy breath. This isn't a small thing after all but then deep down her chest she already knows what her answer would be. Ready physically, emotionally and mentally or not, Beca only has one answer when it comes to Chloe.
"Okay,"
The Vanderbilt simply blinks at her, "Okay? You mean…"
"Let's do it," Beca answers without a doubt, straightening up as she prepares what is needed.
"Are you sure?" Chloe presses on, a hand gripping Beca's arm to catch her full attention.
"Yes, Chlo. I am. Are you?" she asks back, gazing intently into those beautiful swirl of baby blues. The redhead meaningfully looks at her for a while, nodding firmly before they both lay out what they need.
A concoction of different special herbs Chloe had secretly stolen from the storage room of her uncle's apothecary shop and the vial of the 'Queen of the Night' flower they took from Beca's father's secret room. There was one more requirement and this last one makes them both nervous to be honest.
Chloe checks her watch and looks up the sky, stars scattered beautifully in the dark night. "It's time," she says, breathing deeply as they both stand in front of each other, holding all they need. Chloe with a glass, a mixture of the herbal concoction and three small drops from the 'Queen of the Night' and Beca with another glass filled with the same dark liquid.
"Ready?" Beca asks anxiously as she steps closer towards her best friend who visibly swallows hard. "Bottoms up,"
They both take a drink, the bitter mixture making them both frown as they finish all its contents. Once it's done, they both awkwardly look at each other, hesitating for a moment. There was one final step needed to seal this bond.
Beca slowly opens her arms, a small smile forming in her lips and it easily calms down the anxious redhead as she doesn't hesitate to slip into her arms, hugging her tightly.
"Hey Chlo," Beca begins, embracing the Vanderbilt tightly. "You're the only friend I'd do this with," she admits and a soft rumble emerges from Chloe's chest as she chuckles. It widens the smile on Beca's lips.
"I'm your only friend, Becs," she teases, resting her chin on Beca's shoulder.
"True, but I mean it, Chlo,"
"I know, Becs. Me too,"
They dissolve into silence for a few seconds with only the sound of fireflies dancing across the lake creating a lovely yellow glow flickering around. Beca closes her eyes, keeping her focus steady as she tries to conjure a place within her that has never been let out on purpose. Her heartbeat heightens as her body welcomes the slightly uncomfortable change. It felt different yet liberating at the same time. Against her, she could feel Chloe experience the same thing.
When her eyes flutter open, the deep blue of her irises drown in blood red. She lets out a shaky breath, her lips parting to show white sharp fangs. Both of their chests heaving from the change, already draining half of their energy. But all that is forgotten as Beca's ears pick up the throb of the pulse on Chloe's neck, the sound filling up the silence of the place until it's all she could hear. The Vanderbilt's scent was very fragrant, a mix of freshly picked flowers and sweet smelling chocolate cookies. It was too enticing, too tempting and all her impulses are pushing her to take a bite.
Blood has always been abundant in the every vampire family's household. It was like wine that is always required on the dining table whenever needed. For over a century, vampires stopped preying and hunting on live humans for blood. In order to keep the secret of their existence, they've created connections to blood banks and hospitals in order to keep the blood flowing. Which is why Beca has never had the experience of drinking straight from the vein. It's the same for all until of course, you reach a certain age where pleasures of the flesh demand you to do so. It is such a special and intimate affair. Among vampire teens it's an exciting experience and is usually talked about along with their first deep kiss and other kinds of firsts.
Beca almost loses herself until the second Chloe's lips touch the skin of her neck. She pauses, an internal battle bubbling inside of her as she takes quick and shallow breaths. But she was sure, she knew what choice to make. It had only been one. Chloe has always been the only one she completely trusts. So she reaches up, a hand on the back of the Vanderbilt's head slowly pressing her closer as she tilts her head, stretching her neck towards her.
She feels warm moist air hitting her skin followed by small sharp pain which grows as Chloe's fangs sink deeper. She gasps, her body stiffening at the feeling. Her fingers slowly move at the nape of Chloe's neck as she sweeps off the red wavy locks away before she sinks her own fangs deep into smooth skin. Chloe gives a quick tight squeeze and Beca presses her tighter to her as the taste of fresh warm blood passes through her own lips.
It was nothing like she has ever tasted. Blood from a container was far different from right out of the vein. It was delicious, addicting and she wanted more of it. She's never thirst for something like this, not even water.
"Becs…"
Chloe's soft voice breaks her reverie as she finally realizes what is happening. She quickly pulls away in shock as they both stumble apart from each other, falling weakly down the ground, both disoriented and confused.
"Ouch," Chloe groans, mirroring Beca's heavy breathing. It's like emerging from the water to gasp for air after almost being in the brink of drowning.
Beca's heart is still racing yet something feels weird. Something's definitely changed and it's making her dizzy. When she finally finds her balance, she weakly crawls over to her best friend's side, worry rising rapidly.
"Chlo, you okay? Did I hurt you?" she instantly asks and only lets out a sigh of relief when she shakes her head.
"No, you didn't. I'm just feeling tired and… fuzzy," she says, leaning her head on Beca's shoulder. Leaning her own head against the Vanderbilt's, it takes a minute or two before Beca finally tries to makes sense of what just happened.
She hesitates for a while, debating on what to say first until she settles with, "Think it worked?"
Her question makes Chloe lift her head up to look at her and by look meaning stare really intently that it makes Beca self-conscious.
"What?" she asks, leaning away a bit from Chloe. If her best friend had gone crazy because of that crazy concoction and vampire bite Beca would surely panic but when something strange starts nagging inside her chest she withholds the panic attack for a moment to figure out what it is. Tilting her head a bit to side, her eyes widen in realization before they both blurt out at the same time.
"You're hungry,", "I'm hungry,"
It takes another couple of seconds of them staring at each other before they both burst out into laughter.
"Becs, I think it worked!" Chloe exclaims in between giggles. "It's a little blurry but it's there!"
"I think it's your stomach talking," Beca says, wiping tears that had formed at the corner of her eyes when they were having a case of the giggles.
"I'm serious!" she protests, slowly standing up as she looks down at Beca. She doesn't say anything and only takes a step back and another, then another until the distance between them stretches.
It's not supposed to feel like someone was taking away something important from her every time Chloe takes a step away from her and it doesn't feel good at all. It's like something being ripped out of her chest. She puts a hand over the spot where her heart is at the exact same time Chloe does. Her heart beating in a new rhythm as if it was matching perfectly to the tune of another. In seconds, she's scrambling up to her feet and almost running towards the Vanderbilt.
"Believe me now?" Chloe smiles.
"Yeah, just don't… go too far," Beca says as she wraps her arms around the redhead before mumbling. "It doesn't feel right,"
"I know. I felt it too. It's horrible," Chloe admits as they both walk hand in hand.
"So, we should never do that again," Beca emphasizes before a thought comes to her, footsteps coming to a stop as Chloe looks at her.
"Now we'll never be truly apart, Chloe. Forever connected to each other," she says and it feels as if she's reminding herself than to her best friend, as if letting it all sink in.
But Chloe smiles at her knowingly, an assurance that it is real, "Always and until the end,"
With their hearts feeling light as a feather they continue to walk until they stop once more at the same time, Chloe looking at her again already sure that she has another thought to speak out.
"Chlo, I think we forgot about the part where we actually don't live in one house and have to sleep apart? Several streets apart, to be exact," Beca voices out in a worried tone as their matching hearts feel like they are about to sink down terribly low. Chloe's shoulders slump for a while before they straighten up again as a new idea pops out of the blue.
"Baby otters?"
Sleepover?
This has to end
Beca's screams fill the room along with Ştefan's frustrated growls, the same words rolling out of his tongue for what seems like the millionth time. He paces around, patience clearly running thin as he angrily throws stuff at the wall and almost rips out his own hair.
Hours, it has been at least 8 hours and yet Beca remains resolved to bring all of the information he desperately wants down to her grave. Blood that had dripped down her thighs where he had stabbed her repeatedly, pooling underneath her seat.
But instead of wavering she gives out another smirk, "How about if you suck your own dick right now then I give you the code," she says in between broken chuckles. "Because this is all… getting so boring. Back in Russia, they at least have classical music and every equipment they had was so… so, brand new, yup, new, sharp, shiny stuff," she reminisces, her head rolling from side to side.
Ştefan who seemed to have calmed down a bit at this point silently walks back in front of her, a finger tapping his lips while his eyes gaze down the floor, head seemingly deep in thought. To be honest, it's a look that actually worries her. Being in the underworld business, you pick up small hints here and there sometimes and this look he is sporting doesn't settle well with her.
He proceeds to walk towards her side, crouching down to level her gaze, "You know the truth is, I believe you and I are more alike than you might think,"
"We thrive in pain and suffering. Our affinity to destroy and self-destruct, to spiral out of control in our own madness. It shouldn't really be a surprise, we share the same blood after all, even though we aren't entirely of the same species," he murmurs as he places a hand over her bounded wrists.
"My existence was a mistake. He was young and so was my human mother. At that age, you think you have the world right in your hands. It's all fun and games until a baby comes into the picture," he exhales heavily. "He left without a trace and for six years, even until cancer claimed her, she sought for him,"
"When she died I was left in the system. Being born half of something I couldn't even understand, acceptance was hard. The only thing left of me? My father's name," he laughs bitterly before gazing far away. "I was sixteen when I finally tracked him down, my hopes were high and yet they easily crash down the ground the minute I see him. He looked extremely well, holding his wife by the hand as he carries you, his little princess. You all looked so… happy," his eyes turn to her, years of resentment hidden beneath them.
"It was unfair," he laughs with bitterness again. "Then I finally found out that I was half vampire. I was stronger and faster than most people, my eyes change colour but I don't have fangs, I can walk in the sun even though I feel stronger at night and I couldn't drink blood even though I can smell it from a mile away. I wasn't accepted in both worlds. I was weird and strange to humans while I was insufficient to vampires. What vampire doesn't drink blood, they say," he shakes his head sadly.
"All I really wanted was for him to look at me and recognize me as his son and not some kid he owes money to. He promised me financial support, a house and everything else I needed but that was it. That was all, because I wasn't a real vampire. I was a mistake, after all. A stain to his reputation and name. I was his embarrassment," he says in disgust.
"I just wanted a father! I wanted a family to accept me, a home to belong," he says, voice rising.
"And you? You, all innocent smiles and wide happy eyed princess without a single problem, you, were going to be his heir, to have all of what he owns, all of his privileges, all the trust, care and love belonging to you and you alone. Even when you were young, everyone looked at you so fondly, even eyeing you to be next in line to the throne, 'the next leader of the council' they'd whisper. Darius would parade you around for all to see, his pride and joy, his precious rose," he spits out.
"I wanted him to be miserable for what he did to my mother and I wanted you to feel what I felt," he says, looking up to reminisce a memory. "My mission had been so easy, getting in wasn't a problem. His blood still flows in my veins so the doors opened for me," he leans even closer, gripping her by the neck as his lips presses against her ear.
"Then I killed your mother to break his heart and for you to know what being alone feels like but then," he pauses, slowly lifting his head up as he releases her and panic starts to bubble inside her chest. She watches him step away from her until he stops, reaching out to tangle his fingers with soft red locks and Beca freezes, her heart beating wildly.
"You came into the picture," he kneels until he is with eye-level to the squirming redhead. "Chloe Beale from, surprisingly, the Vanderbilt bloodline. How scandalous," he mocks.
He unties the gag hindering Chloe from speaking as Beca's body screams to be set loose, "I knew about it, this little puppy love of yours. It was very obvious, how happy you still were despite everything that has happened,"
"However, like I said, you and I are alike. Truly, it's our curse to live a life of misfortune," he smiles. "I didn't even have to do anything and yet this pretty little bird still flew away. In the end, she left you," he looks at Beca as he says this, each word a stab right at her chest.
"You see? Nobody cares about us. They're all the same, Rebecca. All those people you are protecting, they don't deserve it. They don't deserve all of your suffering, all your sacrifices, they don't deserve you,"
"Don't listen to him—!"
Chloe's words cut short with a single hard slap from Ştefan. The Vanderbilt whimpers in pain, lip bleeding from the abuse.
"Shut up, bitch! I'm talking here," Ştefan yells before walking over to the table with purpose, rummaging around until he finds what he is looking for. He motions at his men and quickly they unlock Chloe's chains from the steel bars it was locked into. With rough hands, they shove her down to her knees in front of Beca as Ştefan returns with a large machete blade.
"We don't have to fight against each other. We've both lost everything. Join me instead, Rebecca. We're going to rebuild this rotten kingdom into something much greater. We're going eliminate all of those who hurt us and rule. We still share one blood despite everything," he proposes before focusing on Chloe, the Vanderbilt visibly trembling as he lifts up his blade.
"And as a proof and sign of my good will, I'll destroy the woman who lied and broke you apart. Such disloyalty needs to be given its just punishment, death," he aims the blade right at the back of Chloe's neck.
"Becs," Chloe starts, voice shaking as she looking up at her with tears streaming down her cheeks while Ştefan raises his brow questioningly.
"He was right about everyone not deserving you because honestly… you're one of the good ones, the very few good ones. You're a gem one needs to travel so far for and place a tremendous amount of effort to get. But that's all he was right about because… it was real," she confesses. "The friendship, us, all of it and I'm sorry. I'm sorry it took me this long. I'm so sorry, midnight. I can't go without telling you this. I hope someday you can forgive me," she sniffs in between sobs, looking at those deep blue eyes she loves to look at.
"Please, don't let him win. You're not alone, you know. Emily cares about you, and Stacie, and Stella, and Jesse, and even the twins. I care about you, always have and always will. We're all rooting for you," she slowly smiles before looking down at her shaking fingers, eyes slowly shutting close.
"Lies," Ştefan interjects. "The absurd things people say as they face their end,"
He lifts the blade up higher, preparing to slice it down with all of his strength and end—
"Queen of the Night, 0, 3, 1, 9, 9, 1, 1, 9, 5," Beca speaks out, stopping him completely.
"That's the code," she says calmly, eyes never leaving Chloe. The shock of her words were apparent as the redhead looks up at her in disbelief.
Bright sky blues meet deep ocean blues as a warm feeling envelopes them. Beca could feel it. It was familiar, comforting and mellow. It had been eight years since she had felt this. The time, the distance and the pain had weakened it but never completely killing it.
In spite of everything, their connection remains, loosely bound through the years. Silently waiting for the time they'd finally, truly reunite once more.
Turning to Ştefan, Beca continues, "You kill her and you'll never get the pattern to the third gate,"
Lowering and disposing his blade, Ştefan scoffs. "Unbelievable, you're really going to give up everything, for her?" he shakes his head in disbelief. "You'd endure torture yet you easily crumble in front of her? How pathetic,"
Ignoring him, Beca proceeds to hand out the last card she has left, "I'm here to bargain," but then she hasn't fully presented her proposition when Chloe cuts her off, already knowing what she's about to do.
"Beca don't! He's going to kill you once he opens the vault! He is going to kill you!" she screams as his men hold her down. But her pleas fall on deaf ears.
"You let Chloe go and once I am assured that she is safe and that you'll never touch her after this, I'll give you the pattern. I'll even do it all myself. Then you can kill me, do whatever the fuck you want, I don't care,"
Ştefan dials on his phone and when it connects he holds it in front of her, "Tell them the code first. When the second gate opens then we have a deal,"
Beca repeats the code without any hint of hesitation just as Chloe bites one of her captors' arms and kicks at the other one. Momentarily breaking free from their hold, she rushes to Beca, tenderly holding her face. Behind, Ştefan motions for his men to leave it and let them be.
"Becs—"
"I know, Chloe. I know," she softly replies as Chloe leans her forehead against hers.
"But we all have to protect ourselves, even if all the pieces we have are broken. Especially, if those broken pieces are all we have left," she mumbles sadly as the Vanderbilt searches her face, unable to fully understand what she meant. But there was no time to explain as Ştefan receives a call, a smirk forming in his face.
"I guess we have a deal then," he says before snapping his fingers at his men who move to pry Chloe away from her.
"No! Beca! Please, don't!" Chloe cries out, trying to fight them off and holding on to her. Beca stares down her feet, refusing to look at the pleading Vanderbilt. It's easier that way.
I can't let you go again, midnight
It catches her off guard, turning her head towards Chloe. She could easily dismiss it as a hallucination but those broken baby blue eyes are enough to convince her that she did hear it inside her head.
"Go. Go home, Chloe. That's an order. My final order. When you return to safety, our blood contract will end. You're free," she says firmly despite all of Chloe's protests and cries.
Chloe's hand slips from her arm to her hand as they pull her away, Beca's name in her lips. In the end, Beca's fingers weakly wraps around Chloe's, squeezing it lightly one last time before letting go.
The last piece of Beca's heart, bleeding at the loss.
Goodbye, my sunshine.
A/N:
Hello, I'm just passing by to slowly break your hearts then yell from a far a very quick "Sorry"
But anyways, I am thankful for a lot of things and two of them are certainly Anna Kendrick and Brittany Snow for giving us Bechloe. I am also thankful to you guys reading this fic! You all are awesome, really and I'm so sorry if I am bringing the mood down with this chapter. Regardless of whether the next chapter is continuing down the dark path or not, I hope you guys still stick around until the end.
Sa0621: Glad you love the Staubrey plot line! I'd really want to write more about them so expect that on future chapters. I'm also glad you think that of Beca in this fic. I was worried that I might mess up with the characters and disappoint people. Thanks, this feedback means a lot.
kimmania : Of course, my Stacie has to be as romantic as the French... if it is true what they say about the French. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
justgottadoit : Thanks, I'm working hard on creating the best for the story and its characters.
Yuzu-chi01 : Puppy Chlo loves Kitty Becs. A Harry Potter crossover? I don't know. If I do make one it has to be really comical. A romantic comedy, yeah. Staubrey is progressing and will progress even more, that I can assure you. Hopefully Stacie doesn't mess up and that Aubrey finally melts. I hope I don't mess up~
Comiiksde : Emily and Scott are like cute baby bears in love. Yup, thank you unicorn almighty indeed. Oooh! Let's blow some shit up! It sounds really fun! Oh and yes French and bodily fluids in one sentence is going to be... quite... interesting... especially if Staubrey is involved.
Parziwolf : Yeah baby alien language will kill people with cuteness overload especially when said by a baby red panda and a baby otter. I'm afraid Chloe's pretty sky blue eyes aren't going to work this time around. Stefan is blind in one eye so, that's probably why. Exchanging fluids... hmm... you'll probably... maybe... get a glimpse of it? I don't know, just keep reading! Ah yes, I like a very romantic and confident Stacie. A Chloe buffet! God, Beca's going to secretly love that~
Thanks! See you next week! Hope you had a great Thanksgiving with your loved ones!
Kasia143 : Eww. Double eww. Oh! I want to read that book! I love a good crazy and scandalous story especially when it involves rich, noble and royal people. Wished my history class was this interesting. Don't the Russian soldiers get sick drinking that stuff from the tanks' engine? I am so in love with so many fictional characters it's insane. I'm also in love with people who are famous and I'd have no chance of even meeting. I guess, it's time for you to read a happy one-shot now. Staubrey! Everybody seems to waiting for steamy Staubrey scenes. I'm taking note of all that. Baby Becs and Chlo are the cutest and I just want to squish them both. See/Write ya next week too!
Thank you to everyone who favorited, followed and commented/reviewed Midnight Sunshine! I love and appreciate all of it. Write to you all next week. Until then just keep being awesome and don't forget to cuddle your otters and pandas! If you don't have one then... uhh... go out and get one!
