Chapter 16

"Love takes off masks that we fear we cannot live without and know we cannot live within."

- James Arthur Baldwin (1924 -1987)

"Now, I have a message to send to your so-called maker. If he ever threatens me or the Matthew brothers ever again, I will find him and destroy him." Kyra warned her. "Before I release you from my hold, I have another question for you. What is this maker's name?"

"His name is Dominic and he knows more about the Matthew brothers than I do."

"How does he know them?"

"I heard that he was friends with them when all of them were human. That's all I know." She told her and quickly, left the forest when Kyra fully released her.

Kyra stood there and stared down at her clenched hands. Apparently, she has some questions for her dear old friend. And will get her answers one way or another.

Tristan knocked on Kyra's door a couple of times and waiting for a response but he didn't hear anything, he opened the door and saw that the room was unoccupied. Everything seemed to be alright but her bed and desk untouched. "She must still be at Hagrid's," Tristan thought.

He closed the door behind him and lay on her bed. He closed his eyes for a moment and let himself relax. However, something soft but hard hit him at the face. Tristan opened his eyes and saw it was pillow on his face. He pulled it away and saw Kyra standing near her door, her hands at her hips. "What have I done now?" Tristan asked, letting his head fall back down.

"I got another visit from a newborn today," Kyra said as she dropped her bag on her chair and walked around her bed while Tristan looked at her. "Apparently, the newborn I killed before was her brother and it was interesting because she didn't want revenge. Both of them were messengers. It was the same message that her brother gave me."

"What was the message?" Tristan asked her, trying not to get upset that she didn't tell him this before.

"Do you know someone by the name of Dominic?" Kyra asked.

She watched as Tristan's surprised expression quickly changed. "I don't know anybody by that name," Tristan told her.

"I thought we were the past the lies, Tristan. I thought you said you trusted me."

Tristan ignored her and asked, "What did the newborn tell you?"

"That this Dominic knew you and Adam when you were human –when all three of you were human." Kyra said. "He must be pretty important if you knew you and Adam that long."

"Not really."

"Tristan…"

"Kyra, what do you want me to say?" Tristan asked her, sitting up. "Please tell me what I should tell you."

"The truth, Tristan! The first messenger told me and I quote, 'As long as you have each Matthew by your side, you're doom. Be smart and get out before trouble truly finds you.' What does that mean, Tristan?" Kyra asked him.

Tristan didn't look at her and got off the bed, ready to make his escape but Kyra pushed back to the bed, her body standing in front him. Her golden eyes staring hard down at him, "You are not leaving until I get some answers, damn it!"

Unexpectedly, Kyra was now lying on her bed with Tristan above her, his hands gripping her wrists. His human blue eyes finally gone, replacing his vampire violet eyes and he looked pissed. "Are you forgetting how much stronger I am than you are, Kyra? Do not threaten me. I don't like threats."

"Yet, you like making them." Kyra reminded him.

"If I have to. Don't put your nose in my past, Kyra. I'm not ready for that yet."

"Well, you have to because I think this Dominic guy is going to send more of his newborns to send me the same message over and over again," Kyra told him. "Or maybe next time I should just go to him, make his life a lot easier."

"You will do no such thing!" Tristan snarled at her and pinned her down harder on the bed. Kyra forget that Tristan can put up a good fight if he wants to since he is older and stronger. "He is dangerous and you will stay away from him."

"Funny, that's what she said about you and Adam."

Tristan didn't say anything to her but stare at her astound. Her head spread around and her golden eyes staring at him with irritation and confusion. Tristan shook his head, rolled himself on the other side, and sat up. He didn't look at her as he spoke. "I don't want to lose you, Kyra."

Kyra lie still on her bed and couldn't help but whisper, "Then, stop pushing me away. All I'm asking for is the truth, Tristan."

Tristan finally looked at her, his violet eyes showing watery tears. "You don't understand the consequences," He whispered softly. "I don't want anything bad to happen to you. And I'm sorry for pushing you away all the time but Kyra," he cupped her cheek with his cold hand, "You mean everything to me, Kyra more than you will ever know."

Tristan bent down, his lips brushed against her forehead, then the hollow of her cheekbone, and finally inches away from her lips. Kyra lay there still, staring at Tristan as his thumb stroked her cheek. Slowly, he leaned in and kissed her gently on the lips. She didn't fight or protest. Instead, she kissed him back more carefully like she wasn't sure if this wasn't right. But inside, the vampire knew it was right because it felt right.

Tristan was the first one to let go of the kiss as he looked down and felt a slight wave of happiness race through him that he couldn't suppress. Kyra stared at Tristan's violet eyes showing a hint of happiness. She has seen this emotion before in his eyes before. He kissed her again with more passion this time and moved his hands to cradle her head. Tristan's hands fell away from her face, their fingers linking together as Tristan brought them over Kyra's head. Kyra angled the kiss, deepening it further and more passionately.

"Tristan," Kyra breathed as their lips parted.

And at that, moment woke Tristan up. Abruptly, Kyra watched as his body slammed against the wall and his eyes widen surprised what they have done. "I'm sorry," Tristan said in a hoarse tone as his violet eyes turned darker than before. "I shouldn't...we shouldn't have –I'm sorry."

"Why are you apologizing?" Kyra asked him. "You shouldn't be apologizing for something that already happened, Tristan…unless you regret it."

"Do you regret it?"

Neither said anything for a while as the silence took over the room and Kyra felt uneasy. For the past two years of her new life, she would always flirt and tease the other vampires or human males but never actually kissed them on the lips. She never dared to. She doesn't even remember if she had her first kiss or how to kiss. The feeling she had with Tristan was something different…and she likes it.

Kyra opened her mouth to speak but both vampires heard Adam calling for his brother. Tristan looked at Kyra apologetically and could tell he wanted to say something as well but he already left the room when Adam called for him once more. Kyra pulled her knees close to chest, lie on the bed in a ball, and cry the water out of her eyes.

Can a heart still break once it's stopped beating?

Adam knew something was bothering his younger brother. He didn't have to have that 'family' instinct, he just knew because he knows his brother. Tristan didn't respond to anything Adam had been saying about the vampires attacking muggle people in the muggle world. Tristan sat across from the fireplace, watching the flames and Adam noticed there was something in his eyes.

"By the way, I'm getting married," Adam added in and saw no reaction in his brother's movements. This was unlike him. "Tristan!"

Tristan looked at his brother, "I kissed Kyra." He blurted out.

"I don't know if it's my old age but I think I just heard you say that you kissed Kyra." Adam said and saw his brother nodding his head. "You kissed Kyra!"

Tristan covered his brother's mouth with his hand and looked around, "Say it any louder the whole school will hear you. Come with me."

Both brothers went to the Astronomy Tower and Adam waited for his brother to continue in the dark night under the stars. Adam had so many questions to ask but knew he had to wait if he wanted Tristan to talk. "A newborn gave Kyra a friendly message about Dominic." Tristan blurted out and Adam stared at him in shock.

"What was the message about?"

"The message was about us and how…she should stay away from us because we're dangerous." He told him. "How does Dominic know where we are?"

Adam groaned, "How does Dominic know anything? How does this fit with you kissing Kyra?"

"It just…happened." Tristan shrugged. "We were in another argument about my past and…the tension and the passion…it just happened."

"Yes, that makes sense." Adam mumbled but couldn't help and smile. "So what happened after the kiss?"

"I left."

"You what?"

"You were calling me," said Tristan and dodged the smack from Adam. "And she asked me if I regret it."

"Do you?"

"…I don't know." Tristan finally said.

Adam sighed as he put his hands over his face then went through his hair. "You are my brother and I love you, you know that? But if you hurt Kyra one more time, I am going to hurt you. You better give her an answer tomorrow, little brother or else…I have no idea what's going to happen between the two of you."

"That's what I'm afraid of." Tristan whispered, hearing Adam leave the Tower.

A/N: COMMENT!