Chapter 24

Eyes the color of freshly spilled blood. In most cases, someone with these eyes should be feared. Someone with bloodlust. But, Kira wasn't afraid. She was far from it. For she didn't see any danger in these eyes. She saw a deep sadness, a lingering sense of lost. She found it alluring. No one's eyes had ever enchanted her like this before.

The figure slowly inched toward hers and a gasp espaced her lips. There was Alexander, his hair now cut to the top of his ears, staring right at her with tear filled eyes. His signature trenchcoat billowing in the wind. She should be running away from him. But, she couldn't force her feet to move. She had never seen someone look so broken. What had happened to him?

"What brings you here?" he asked her flatly.

She clutched the bounqets tigthly in her arms. Should she trust him? Was he going to attack the first sign she showed weakness? Somehow, she didn't think so. "I'm here to visit my father."

"I'm sorry for your lost. But," he pointed to the flowers in her arms, "Why do you have two sets if you're only visiting one person?"

She should have seen this question coming. But, she wasn't expecting the flood of emotions that overcame her. Stinging tears poured down her face. One question crushed all her walls. She became a vunerable little girl. The prefect target. She expected to feel him stab her through the heart and end it all. But, she found him wiping her tears away with hands warm as a fireplace. Thumbs caressed her cheekbones. "It's okay. Tell me. It'll be a secret between you and me." He moved one of his hands to her eye level, holding out his pinky finger.

Her shaking finger wrapped around his own. He had long fingers for a man. Musician's fingers. She silently led him to the Galeheart grave area as she thought everything through. Why was she trusting him so much? He was trying to kill her, wasn't he? Yet, like her, both of their guards were down. He obviously lost someone close to him, whoever that may be. He needed a friend. Even if she was his worst enemy.

When they finally reached the site, she nearly fell to her knees. Two small tombstones sat side by side. One belonged to her late father Kyle. The other... "Annabel Galeheart. She was my older sister. Only eighteen when she pasted. She died in a car crash with some of her friends ten years ago. Drunk driver drove them off a cliff. She was my everything." She placed the lillies on her grave. "They were her favorite..."

Alexander's free hand gently rubbed her arm."I lost my brother also ten years ago. Suicide..."

"Alexander, I'm so sorry."

"Don't be."

"But..." She intertwined the rest of her fingers with his.

He looked her in the eyes, aquamarine meeting ruby, and smiled. "I'm moving on every day." He touched one of her curls. "Your hair's like mine."

She blushed bright pink. She completely forgot about the curly mess she left her hair in. He laughed, a trilling tenor. "You embarrass easy. It's all right though. I like it like this better actually. But, it's too short. Why don't you let your hair grow out?"

Butterflies flew in her stomach. "I'll always kept my hair short." When he wasn't trying to kill her, Alexander was a good guy. She would even date him. But, they were destined enemies. It could never be. Could it?

His next move surprised her. He kissed the curl he held in his hand. "You shouldn't. Your curls would be gorgeous long."

She had no words for this. What was going on? But before she could answer, Alexander turned his head to the nearby forest. "I have to go." He quickly glanced back at her. "Good night, good night! parting is such sweet sorrow! That I shall say good night till it be morrow!" He kissed the hand he held and ran off, a blur hidden in the fog.

As a light drizzle of rain touched the earth, she also quietly quoted Romeo and Juliet, "Good night, good night. As sweet repose and rest. Come to thy heart as that within my breast."