Chapter 20

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"I knew that was going to happen." Elizabeth's head was dropped in depression.

Victor watched her in her sorrowed state. He kept her hand firmly in his as they slowly traveled to Kenric's home. The dark streets began to dampen with a small rainfall surrounding them. He glanced up to the sky for a moment then carefully pulled Elizabeth under a nearby awning. She was still silent.

"I'm sorry that happened," He said to her, keeping his eyes to the sky.

Elizabeth let out a sigh, "It wasn't your fault."

"Yea, but I still feel bad that she treated you like that."

"She had her reasons."

Victor glanced to his wife, who still looked depressed. Movement caught his eye as he noticed she was playing with the wedding band on her finger. He reached over and covered her hands with his, stilling the movements. She looked up at him, her eyes never failing to show her sadness.

"Why did you kiss me?"

The question was sudden, causing Victor to jump back slightly. He thought for a moment, trying to recall what happened but quickly remembered.

"It was the best way to calm you down at the time. Covering your mouth wouldn't have silenced your breathing, in fact I think it would have scared you more. And I figured that the action would hopefully calm you down enough to keep us safe." He said sincerely, "I'm sorry if it made you uncomfortable, but I ask that you let that, and any other action similar to it, not bother you. I don't do it out of my feelings completely, but I mainly do it for your safety."

She looked down and nodded. It relieved Victor that she understood his reasoning. He caressed her cheek with his knuckles for a short time until he pulled her down into a crouching position and covered her with his own body. An arrow whizzed past them and it the brick behind them.

"Idiot, you missed." Victor heard a Hunter shout to another.

"Do you know how hard it is to shoot an arrow straight in the rain?!"

Victor didn't wait longer to hear anything else they said. He simply grabbed Elizabeth's hand and ran out into the rainstorm, hoping he could get her to her childhood home unharmed. He didn't hear the small ringing of metal hitting the pavement, but he did realized that Elizabeth fought for only a second on leaving.

The next thing Victor knew was that he was knocking on the hard wood of Kenric's home. He and Elizabeth were drenched from the storm that grew steadily to pounding rain. After waiting for a few short moments, Kenric opened the door with tired eyes. It was late, but once Elizabeth's father saw them, he was wide awake.

"Goodness," he opened the door wider and let them in. "What on earth happened?"

"The war is continuing, and they started at our home," Victor quickly explained, helping Elizabeth into the warmth of the house.

Kenric looked them over, "It looks like you two walked the whole way here."

"Hunter's rigged the cars to explode once started." He kept his hands resting on his wife's arms, guiding her further into the home. "Does Elizabeth have a spare change of clothes here?"

"Yes."

"Alright, Elizabeth. Get into something dry and warm up."

She nodded and walked down the hall to where her room was.

"You should probably change to Victor. I have some—"

"That won't be necessary, I'm going back out to try and end this." Victor's eyes never met Kenric's. Instead, his eyes had followed Elizabeth down the hall.

"You can't be serious."

Victor's gaze left the door Elizabeth had entered and went to his father-in-law. Nothing changed in his facial features, not a smile, or even a gleam in his eyes.

"It's suicide!" Kenric shouted, "What would Elizabeth think?"

"If it means her ability to live, I am willing to die for her."

Victor heard a small click as Elizabeth opened the door lightly. She only opened it enough to glance out and observe the situation. Victor let her though, if she wanted to listen, she could.

"I just want her safe." Victor's shoulders slumped slightly. "I'll go and find where the Vampires and Hunters are confronting, and try to prevent a bloody massacre. If I don't make it back, but the war was prevented, I'm fine with that."

Kenric looked to his watch and let out a rough sigh. "It's even more dangerous if you go because sunrise is in a few hours."

"I know."

Victor walked over to the door and opened it once again, allowing the sound of rain fall to enter the home. He paused for a moment and thought to himself. This may be the last time to walk into this house and see Elizabeth again. He took one step before stopping at her voice.

"Victor."

He didn't show it on his face, but he was deeply grateful that she had come out. He turned and looked at her. She was hugging her arms. Her steps were fluid like motions as she walked up to him. She hesitated, then looked up at him.

"Be careful."

Victor lips twitched into a small smile, "I'll try to get back before sunrise."

He gently place his hands on her shoulders and kissed her wet hair. Before any other arguments could happen, he ran back out into the pouring rain. Victor let the rain lash against him as he made his way to where he thought the confrontation would be. His greatest fear was possibly going to happen that night. He didn't stop, but it did filter into his mind.

I don't want to die.