Hey! Thanks for being so patient and thanks for all your support. I should have the next installment, which is... probably one of my favorite chapters up on Sunday. This chapter is very important - it highlights the main plot, other than Eric and Ronnie's relationship and incorporates a lot from other chapters. Characters are mentioned, events etc. so if you have forgotten or not read previous chapters, I suggest so, otherwise you might find yourself lost! Please keep reading/commenting/liking etc. Enjoy. Patricia x
Misunderstandings
Alexander doesn't hesitate to open the doors and we quickly find ourselves inside the castle. We leave the dark and gloomy outdoors and walk into the castle's bright, modern and luxurious outside; the stone outside being no match to the beauty we find inside. It is not what I had in mind; Eric's nest as I remember was untidy and dark inside, but I can imagine Alexander's home to be light and open during the day, its large windows infiltrating light into every corner of the room.
He leads us directly into the castle's dazzling entrance. The room is white, with two open doors to each side, the right one leading to a small, oval shaped poor with sinking steps whilst the one to the right is closed. Symmetrically, white pillars with fine black detail hold the building up, both beside us but also towards the end of the room, beside the large staircases that lead to an upper floor.
Alexander stops in front of us, putting his hand on one of the curving staircases and I cling hardly on to Eric. He squeezes my hand, smiling down at me and reassuring me with his every look.
"I hope you will both be happy here," Alexander says, though he looks specifically at me. He extends his hand towards the room, scanning through every single detail ready for the human eye.
I scan the room over and over again. From my solitary experience growing up I can't imagine ever experiencing a room as grand as this one; it is brilliant – the room has the romantic look, the expensive look and the aristocratic look. It looks young, once again unmatched to the outside of the castle.
On the walls, expensive and colourful paintings that look like original copies bring colour other than white to the room; rosy pinks, pale oranges, bright creams and most of all, darer blacks and blues.
The castle is just so grand, so magnificent that it gives a new definition to the meaning of 'vampire'. For a minute, I question why Eric, having 1,000 years on him doesn't live in these types of luxuries. But I know how Eric differs from Alexander; he has never had things done for him. Eric has had to fend for himself, move in the world and most of all, he enjoys it. He's a nomad… I just don't know if I could live his life of never settling down, even though I have been living it for all of my life. I could easily become accustomed to Alexander's lifestyle; I would make exploring this castle never ending as every day would become history.
I can't help but smile at Alexander as I think about his home over and over again. It is the most beautiful building I have ever seen and the closest I can imagine to a royal home. He instantly smiles back and continues to speak, as if to aid me in my explorations.
"I had this built for me just over 1,500 years ago," he continues. Eric doesn't speak and I am far too eager for him to continue. "I have lived here since. It was quite new when Eric first visited, I must say. It's changed a lot since then."
"Yes, I remember it quite differently," Eric speaks up. "It was less white."
I laugh, breaking the tension in the room, and as Eric looks down at me, he joins me too because the irony is too great to ignore. The room really is white. Pale. Alexander makes no notice of us, ignoring us as we laugh and cuddle in front of him, but his following words quickly determine his hatred of laughter… of friendship.
"Antoinne brought you," he says.
His words instantly stop both of our laughter, bringing shivers down my back. Eric feels me beside him and he brings me closer to him, positioning himself slightly in front of me. A thought quickly rushes into my mind. Does Alexander know that I killed Antoinne? I step even further back.
"Is it true, Ronnie?" he begins, blaming me with his sole stare as his eyes search for mine. "Is it true you and your hunter friends ended his life?"
His voice is only a murmur, a soft, musical tone speaking the deadliest of words. I can't help but feel hatred towards him at this very moment. He is too quick to judge me, not understanding my reasons for the kill.
"He killed my mother!" I say, almost a shout.
"Ronnie," Eric whispers, trying to calm me down. As I look at Alexander, I can see that my tone of voice has startled him. It's infuriated him.
"No, Eric. He should know," I say as I step in front of Eric. "Antoinne killed my mother. He killed my mother," I repeat.
Alexander growls and snarls at me and Eric, pushing me behind him for the second time resumes his post in front of me. This time however he crouches, also growling at Alexander. Eric's arm circles me and I grab his hand for further protection. I only relax when Alexander sighs and returns to his standing position. Eric does not let his guard down and continues to stand tall in front of me.
"Ronnie, I am truly sorry about your mother. I really am," he says. "I'm just surprised you're here, that Eric let you live."
Alexander smiles an apologetic smile, but a vivid account of what has just happened – his growls – prevent me from smiling back. He is more different to Eric than I thought; he's savage.
"I love her Alexander," Eric replies. "She is everything to me." Eric slightly brings me forward beside him, so that he can grasp me closer as if proving his love for me to Alexander.
"I don't remember you this weak Eric. When I met you a millennia ago, you did not seem to be one to fall in love this deeply."
"People change, Alexander. I see you haven't."
"I never will, Eric. But maybe, the only reason why she is alive is because you weren't loyal to your maker."
Eric immediately flies from my side, my hand dropping beside me before I can feel it empty. He has attacked Alexander and has his arm across Alexander's throat, holding him against the staircase. I don't understand the meaning of Alexander's words. Does he want me dead?
"I loved, respected and trusted Antoinne. I was the most loyal out of his children. Revenge wasn't the answer Alexander, and if that is why you have brought us here, I can tell you I will protect Ronnie with my life."
Alexander pushes Eric away strongly, and as he collapses on to the floor I find my feet rushing me towards him. I crouch down on to the floor and with him, I rise again.
"Eric, she is a Healer. I, like you, want to protect her."
"She is mine, Alexander. I can protect her." Eric's voice is firm beside me.
"Do you even know what's out there?"
"What's that supposed to mean?" His question knocks me off balance.
"I have been informed Eric, that you are being followed."
A happy image of Carter – in fact the last image – rushes into my mind. That night, in Jones' store, there had been a vampire killing. Eric had been told there was someone after him.
Eric's face drops suddenly, no longer presenting an argument. "I thought that as you had called us to come," Eric pauses and I know where this is going. "I thought that it had been you."
"No Eric. They are many; an army. Human hunters and vampires, joined together to exterminate the one species that is unknown to both kinds."
I catch on.
"Healers." My voice is a quiver
"Yes."
"What? How?" Eric shouts, his eyes enlarging as he can't believe what he is hearing.
"Eric, do you know why Antoinne was at Ronnie's house that night he killed her mother?" Neither of us responds. "Antoinne had found another Healer. He intended to kill both Ronnie's parents, just so that he could taste her blood."
Even though I am clutching tightly to Eric's hands, my legs give way and I fall on to the ground, just like my tears fall from my eyes.
"No, no, no, no, no," I cry. Eric falls beside me and surrounds me with his love, whilst Alexander runs towards me, placing his soothing hand on my back. "She died because of me, because of what I am."
"You mustn't think like that," Alexander cuts in. "Her death won't be in vain. This army is large. The hunters are experienced and the vampires are fuelled by anger. Antoinne had informed them that a Healer lived, and ever since they have been conspiring and planning a kill. We will stop them."
"I don't understand why they have joined causes for this. Why do they want her?" Eric says. My tears, upon hearing his words pause as if to listen and I find myself once again returning to the conversation.
"With Ronnie's blood, you are invincible Eric. They think you will be an abomination, just as Antoinne was during his last decades. You did not see him for much of his late life, but he was obsessed with Healers. He said he lived for them; that the next one would be his."
I wipe away my tears with my hand, slowly telling myself that I have to stay strong. I must be strong; if Alexander is right, and both hunters and vampires are after me, we will have to unite to protect Eric and me. I stand up, nestling by Eric's chest as he continues to pat my back softly.
"I am sorry. This has probably come as much to both of you, but Ronnie, I would like you to meet one last person before I let you sleep." I don't answer him, glancing around the room to see who the mysterious person is. "Roxanne," he shouts, moving his solid gaze from us to the balcony from the floor upstairs. "You can come down now."
For a second there's complete silence. Then, a Goddess is staring back at Eric and me and her beauty suggests she is Alexander's wife. She is dressed in a fine pale orange tunic, tight until just below her breasts. It descends in A-Line down her body, trailing at the back and giving her the most luscious curves. Her hair, which is long and wavy is down, with golden beads and a diadem decorating it. Her make-up is golden too and everything else about her is just envious.
"Eric," she says, stepping towards him and kissing him lightly on the cheek. "Welcome back." He nods at her and smiles; she smiles back.
She catches sight of me and also smiles warmly at me. "You must be the Healer. Everyone's been so excited about your arrival. Welcome, I am Roxanne."
"Ronnie," I say and she too kisses me lightly on the cheek.
As she smiles I remember Eric's strict portrayal of her when with Antoinne; 'ruthless and savage'. Just like Eric, I decide not to trust either of them yet. They are not my family nor my friends; if what Alexander says is true, then I will have no option but to collaborate with them, but as I glance at Alexander now, his careful glance at me indicates that he wants me for a reason other than what he's said and I must not trust him.