Chapter 21

As the door opened Lexi was met with bright lights being pointed at her. Her eyes burnt from the suddenly change in brightness. Lexi lifted her hand to shield her eyes then she suddenly noticed a figure to her left. Lexi noticed her father straight away and rushed to his side. "What the hell is going on?"

"I'm giving you a chance Elexis." Lexi stepped back silently. Her mind hurt with confusion. "All you have to do is prove that you're still loyal to me."

"I know. Otherwise I die and if I don't I live…." Lexi looked at her wrists. "Well as much as a person without a pulse can live." She shifted her head slightly then looked back to the tall man stood in front of her. She then realised there was only one chair. Lexi frowned at her father. "Do you not expect me to do it?"

"It's not that. If you pass the test. You take my place." Lexi choked on her breath. "Tonight." Lexi felt her legs start to shake beneath her but kept her balance. She steadied herself and took a deep breath.

"What do I have to do?"

"Simple. Just kill one innocent." Lexi laughed slightly.

"That's it? Jesus you didn't have to go through all this. You could have just told me to kill someone and I would. You know that." Hunter turned his face away from her.

"Well I had someone particular in mind." Lexi stopped silently. Suddenly another light clicked on and Lexi turned to see a body slumped in the middle of the room. In the centre of the spotlight was a boy around seventeen. His hair lay across his face in a disorganised mess. His body was laying out behind him and he was supporting himself on one arm.

"Stephen!" Lexi cried. Lexi was about to step towards him but then froze and turned back to her father. "Wait. You don't mean." Hunter turned to glare at her. Lexi felt as if someone had gabbed her heart. She looked back to the boy on the floor who at this point was now looking directly at Lexi.

"Lexi." Stephen's voice was weak and shaky. "What's going on?" Lexi looked between him and her father. Lexi turned to the doors and saw several vampires armed with stakes were stood in front of it. Lexi turned towards Hunter.

"Why?"

"I found that you had a weak spot for him."

"But why do you want me to kill him? What did he ever do to you?"

"He took my daughter away from me!"

"Hey! You're the one that sent me on that job, so don't you dare blame anyone else for this being messed up!" Lexi pointed her fingers directly at her. Hunter grabbed her wrist and tightened his grip. A large sharp pain shot through her arm and through her shoulder.

"Don't disrespect me like that. I am giving you a chance to live and save your friend here from a fate worse than death." Suddenly he threw her towards Stephen. She managed to regain her balance as she reached him. She managed to help him stand up again and when she looked back at her father she saw a man she realised from the circle handing her a large blade. Lexi had seen it but never in action. Lexi was about to take hold of it when a hand appeared on the man's wrist. "No. She was born like me, she hunts like me-" Hunter looked coldly at Lexi. "-and now she can kill like me." Suddenly something hit Lexi hard. At first she thought she had been physically hit but she realised her body was not in pain. It was her mind. She felt a sudden wave of knowledge flow over her. Suddenly it stopped and she gasped. She then glared at her father with tears in her eyes.

"You want me to kill him. Just like you did my mother." Next thing Lexi knew, her feet were not touching the ground but she was being lifted by her throat which lay in Hunter's hand.

"And like I'll kill you if you don't get on with it." He threw her at Stephen again who caught her. She turned quickly out of his grip and stood staring at him directly in the eyes silently for a few moments. Lexi could feel herself trembling. She felt her fangs drop instinctively as she took a step forward. Stephen didn't flinch or try to move but just stood staring at her. Lexi grabbed Stephen's hand in order to pull his wrist to her mouth. A warm sensation suddenly passed through her from her hand to the rest of her body. The feeling felt even more intoxicating than whenever she fed. Lexi closed her eyes for a second and could suddenly slip into Stephen's mind. She saw memories of him and Luke as children, playing the their garden whilst their parents sat talking nicely with the neighbours over their fence. Lexi saw Stephen, as a young boy, running through their kitchen and slipping. He spent several minutes curled up but never cried. Lexi could then see him again, only days ago when she had first seen him looking as young and venerable as ever. Smoke surrounded him although he never once cried. Suddenly Lexi was inside his mind then and could see out of his eyes. He looked up as a beam moved from the doorway and in it's place stood a tall beautiful girl. Her hair hung around her waist and floated around her as she moved towards him. Surrounding her was a feeling of cold that first shocked then soothed Stephen's skin. Lexi suddenly realised she was seeing her the first time they had met. The smoke surrounded them but never once made contact again. Stephen couldn't take his eyes off of the girl's beautiful large blue eyes. She lifted him until he was standing and helped him out. The memory was suddenly gone and another took it's place. The time they were in the hallway and Lexi was arguing with him. Lexi saw how sad she really looked at that time. She felt the pain that was rushing through Stephen's body as it floated through from his mind to hers. She then realised that he was seeing her past and speaking to her though their connection.

All those people. Just because you thought Quinn was dead.

I couldn't just forget him could I?

You thought it was your duty. You never enjoyed it. The only part you ever enjoyed was the blood. I can taste how you taste it. It's like ecstasy but more powerful. it's like it's giving me fresh air.

Well it is kind of how we breathe. Lexi was suddenly aware of the surrounding world and pulled herself away from him. Lexi opened her eyes and realised they had been closed for longer than she expected. She stared back into Stephen's eyes and this time didn't just see his but Luke's and Quinn's and Ash's and Thierry's and Poppy's. She suddenly saw them all and felt a large feeling of regret. She then saw Stephen again and did something she shouldn't have. She pulled him towards her and kissed him. She felt the electricity pass through them but it was no longer a shock. It was part of them. It was as if a circuit had been fixed and was once again flowing. Lexi felt Stephen relax more and felt his arms around her back. She pulled away but kept her forehead against his. She felt a tear roll down her cheek but didn't make any effort to wipe it away. She laughed slightly. Stephen opened his mouth to say something but was interrupted by the sound of clapping. Lexi turned suddenly remembering Hunter who was now sat in the chair applauding them. The sound of his hands hitting each other was the only sound in the room. Lexi suddenly realised what she had done.

"Oh no." Lexi turned towards Stephen who was frowning at her.

"What's wrong?"

"And I thought the bible was stupid." Lexi looked at the ground. Stephen stepped forwards and lifted her chin.

"What do you mean?" he asked.

"Betrayed by a kiss, my boy." Hunter's voice chilled Lexi to the bone. She turned back to the man and no longer saw her previous father figure but what everyone else saw. A crazy blood driven man whose heart was colder than Pluto. Lexi pushed Stephen behind her and put her back to him.

"Stay away from him. This is between you and me. Let him go!" Lexi felt panic surge through her.

"Why dear if I did that then I wouldn't be able to do this would I?" Suddenly the man was gone and Lexi heard a sound behind her. Lexi turned quickly and saw Hunter had grabbed Stephen's head and had started biting his neck.

"No!" Lexi screamed. Suddenly Lexi saw Stephen's mouth move. She thought he was about to speak but instead his lips drew back from his teeth and he bit Hunter's hand. Hunter pulled it back and snarled at him. Lexi dived forwards but was too late. By the time she had gotten there he had already snapped Stephen's head. He hit Lexi in the side and she landed and the ground next to Stephen's body. Lexi sat up quickly an moved to where his body lay. Lexi felt more tears streaming down her face. "Why?" She screamed at the man. "Why are you always so-"

"Evil? Because that's what we are! You can go and play happy families all you wanted but it wouldn't have changed this outcome Lexi. He was going to die because of you!" Hunter's words angered Lexi so much that she was about to leap at him. Suddenly she heard a crash ad a large amount of light came shining into the room. Lexi heard loud voices yelling but couldn't see as her eyes adjusted to the light. Lexi felt herself being pulled backwards and another door opening with footsteps leaving. Lexi's eyes had adjusted just in time to see Hunter run out surrounded by hundreds of vampires. Lexi was about to chase after them when the person pulling her grabbed her and spun her around. She saw that holding her was Quinn. Lexi stopped fighting and hugged him instantly. She heard more voices as the others surrounded her.

"Where's Stephen?" Poppy asked. Lexi quickly stepped away from Quinn and stared at the floor where Stephen's body lay. Lexi slowly walked over to it and knelt next to it. She felt more tears fall down her cheeks and she let out a shaky breath. Suddenly Lexi felt a hand on her shoulder and Quinn appeared crouching next to her. Lexi rested her head on Quinn's shoulder for several moments and stared at Stephen's body.

(P.s- don't worry the end is only in a couple of chapters maybe the next one so please just keep at it. Sorry it was so long. x )