First of all, I want to apologize to those readers that loved Maxine. I wouldn't have put him in that 'death' situation if I've known that so much people liked him. I seriously had no idea so many people actually liked Maxine until the reviews showed up. I admit I was shocked. Second, I am really grateful for the reviews. At least 'til the end I know how much Maxine in my story is worth. And at the begining I had thought that no one would actually liked him! Last but no least, I want to thank all those that reviewed. So, hope you all enjoy this chapter! Please review at the end!

Chapter 19: Don't Leave Me

"God looked down on your body,
So tired from hanging on,
From a life that was overwhelming you,
And wanted back His son.
So he took away the air you breathe,
And gave you what was best,
A place to be at peace,
A final place to rest."

Maxine looked at me with the saddest eyes I could've ever seen and he smiled sadly, "That's beautiful…"

"I know."

"Smile, Adele…"He chuckled and he lifted his hand to wipe off the falling tear, "I am finally free…"

And all that was left was just ashes.

"Yeah…" I smiled slightly, "Finally free."

I don't know which is more horrifying; Maxine's blood all over me or Horatio's.

Horatio tried to attack me and failed, again.

But this time, blood gushed out from his mouth and it flowed right into my open mouth. I gagged and I felt strong arms pulling me from underneath him as he turned to ashes. I looked up to see Julian with an unfathomable look holding me up. Victor, the Horatio look-alike, stood watching as we all were but he had something that looked like a wooden stake in his hand.

"Your mouth is bloody." Victor said; his fangs fully extended.

I looked at him, "He bled onto me."

"Well, did any go down your throat?"

"Probably," I used the back of my hand to wipe off the blood on my mouth as I eyed him with narrowed eyes. He seemed awfully calm for someone who just murdered your own father.

"What are you going to do now?" I asked no one in particular.

No one said anything at first.

"You are all free to leave."

Everyone turned to Christopher. He had a pained expression on and Grace was practically clinging onto him. "Anyone of you, if you want to leave this place…I won't stop you. There's too much memory here, I understand…but I am staying." He turned to me, "Adele, you were right when you said I will be free…now you're free too. You can stay here with us, human or not," then he smiled at Julian, "or you can go free."

Dominic turned to me; his sapphire blue eyes finally meeting mine, "Do you want to leave?"

Is he pleading with me?

"I…" Julian's grip on my shoulders tightens and I looked up to meet his emerald green eyes. Pleading eyes; why do the both of them have to look at me with those eyes? My heart clenched and I looked away, instantly Julian's grip on my shoulders loosens but he didn't remove them.

Dominic's gaze fell on the hands on my shoulders and he looked away, a hurt look.

Great, now he looked like a kicked puppy.

Does Dominic really want me to stay? But, why? He doesn't love me so why? Unless…

Edwin was the one to break the silence, "How 'bout you stay overnight and think things over? The rest of us can have some rest too, before we decide whether to stay or leave tomorrow." He smiled at me, his fangs slightly revealed, "And you definitely need a bath."

I smirked at him, "Oh, look who is being old and wise."

He smirked back at me, "Those bloods are so turning me on."

"Gross."

Christopher sighed, "Edwin is right, you need a bath. Maybe Grace could help you?"

I shook my head and gave him a cheesy smile, "No, I can manage just fine. Anyway, I was thinking of taking a nap after the bath so I'd prefer to be left alone. Besides, I think you need her more than I do. Thanks for the offer though."

"We will be doing a little funeral at the backyard for Maxine and father," Christopher looked at me and Grace placed a hand on his arm, "So if you want to join…"

"I will be there."

"You don't have to--"

"No, I want to." I smiled slightly, "After all, I owe Maxine this."

Everyone left the remaining Donahue brothers alone so they could talk. Without saying anything to Julian, I went to my room and shut the door behind me. I pulled the blood-stained clothes over my head and headed straight to the shower without bothering to take clean clothes with me. As soon as the warm water hits my skin, I relaxed immediately and without realizing it myself; I cried.

Yes, I freaking cried in the shower.

I just knelt there at the floor, with the shower overhead running, and crying all my bottled up emotions out. I cried about everything; Maxine, Horatio, my parents, Julian, Dominic and me myself. Everything was so f-up now; a part of me was glad that everything ended this way with Julian and me safe alive, but another part of me dreaded this. I didn't want Maxine dead, I couldn't care less if Horatio stays alive, and I am torn apart in whether to follow Julian leaving this place or staying behind with the Donahue brothers.

Either way one of my decisions will end up hurting the other.

If I do leave with Julian, my soul mate; I know I will be happy with him, but a part of me will always feel the dread of leaving the Donahue, leaving Dominic.

If I stayed, I will still be happy; but a part of me will hate myself for choosing the Donahue over Julian, my soul mate and I will regret making this choice one day.

I don't know why every time I thought about Dominic, saw his hurt but understanding blue eyes; my heart will clench up and I felt as if I will suffocate. I don't know why he affects me so, it is not him that I love but his effect on me is bigger than Julian on me. Which I find terribly weird, and it really annoys me. This stupid feeling is making me feel like such a bitch.

Well, I am after all Julian's bitch.

I don't now how long I sat there in the shower floor, with the shower still running but growing cold. I pushed myself up, my legs feeling numb. I looked at the blurred mirror caused by the water vapor and effortlessly I wiped at it, clearing it so I can see my own reflection.

My eyes were swollen from crying, my wet naturally reddish-black hair plastered to my face and I looked like I could use some sleep. I placed a hand at the mirror and smiled to myself, "Hey, what should I do?"

My reflection didn't say anything back, obviously. I merely sighed and used the fresh clean towels to dry my hair before going out to my room. Remembering that my clothes were no longer in the shelves but in my suitcase, I walked over to under my bed and pulled out my suitcase from underneath. I simply took out a gym shorts and slip on an oversized shirt without bothering about the colors. Stumbling a little, I fell on the bed and as soon as my head touches the pillow, sleep welcomed me.

But it wasn't long that I woke up, drenched in cold sweat.

The first thing I did on instinct was to jump out of bed and to the door.

But of course, I didn't get there.

"Leaving, already?"

I froze on my tracks and turned slowly to face the speaker hidden in the shadows. It was dark and the only light was from the slightly parted windows. I recognize the voice and on instinct I let out a low growl.

"Victor."

He stood out from the shadows and the moonlight bathed him in a beautiful glow. It's a wonder that in this kind of situation that I still find him mesmerizingly beautiful. He had on a smile of menace and I shuddered as I backed away from him.

"I was right when I guessed that you did take in father's blood."

"And my gut was right when I felt something was wrong with this picture; so it really was you, huh." I backed further away when he glided closer, his sickening smile still plastered on, his fangs slightly showing.

"Yes, I figured I should pay you a visit since you'd probably find out the truth from Horatio's memory."

Everything that Horatio said was done by him was a lie.

It wasn't him.

He was pure innocent.

He was covering up his son's doings.

Victor's doing.

I glared at him, "Then you shouldn't have killed him and he won't bleed onto me. But I guess you didn't think that far."

Victor nodded, apparently he agreed with me, "He was a loose end I had to get rid off, and my chance came by when he attacked you. So to them, I might be saving you; but to me, I am merely just cutting off a loose end. But who knew he'd bleed onto you to leave his memory with you."

I smirked at him since I know the truth, "It wasn't a coincident."

"What?" Victor stared at me wide eyed.

"He knew you'd destroy him as soon as he tries to tell the secret, so he just thought of a better way to let the rest know without having to open his mouth up and speak." I smiled devilishly at him and he snarled in return, "By bleeding into me. He told me that."

Victor looked vicious as he mirrored back the same smile I had on, "All I have to do is to get rid of you, then."

I held up a hand as he strode towards me and he stopped halfway, "What?" he snarled.

"I want to know why."

"Is this how you're trying to delay me so they would come to your aid?" his red eyes danced with menace as he revealed his extracted fangs, "Sorry, but they're all too busy at the funeral to notice anything bad is about to happen to their little princess." And he lunged towards me.

I dodged just in time; my reflexes faster probably because of the vampire blood in my system. Victor hissed in annoyance when I managed to dodge two of his attacks. But I wasn't very lucky anymore.

Victor had finally caught me by my neck and pinned me down on my bed effortlessly. I hissed and trashed, but it was no use; he was a full vampire, and a full vampire is strong. He laughed manically as he hovered over me, his hands pressing down harder each minute and I struggled for air. I clawed at his hands, feeling weaker with the lack of oxygen.

Flashbacks from Horatio's memories kept coming back to me and it was hard trying to focus on the guy who was strangling me while trying to push away those flashbacks.

Then an idea hit me.

Focusing on my remaining strength, I focused all of Horatio's memory towards the one person I know that will be able to receive them.

And true enough, he came.

The door burst open and instantly I felt the weight being lifted off me. I was already blacking out from the lack of oxygen as I felt strong arms, holding me and asking me whether I was ok. But I was too tired to answer or care for that matter, what the heck are all those people around me fussing about. My eyes were closing and the world was spinning. All I could hear was loud annoying sounds of things crashing and massive shouting's going on.

The last thing I remembered was a pair of blue eyes and a silent 'Please don't leave me'.

Ok, what do you all think? Review, review, REVIEW!!