Sorry for being late... again. New years has me all caught up in IRL stuff. Anyway, enjoy the chapter!

HAPPY NEW YEARS!

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LaYuza: Muchas Gracias! Me alegro que te haya gustado!

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"Okay, any minute now," I said, excitement bubbling in my voice as I guided Alex along by the hand, weaving through the crowd of masked revelers. Yes, I knew it was a little impolite to rush my date like this, but I was certain she'd appreciate it when she saw what I had in store.

We zipped along the edge of the Venetian Lagoon, the sound of laughter and music filling the air. The lanterns floated on the water, casting a magical glow, and I could feel the energy of the carnival all around us. I glanced back at her, and her eyes were wide with anticipation. I couldn't help but smile. This was going to be unforgettable!

"Where are we going?" Alex laughed, easily keeping up with me.

I finally stopped and whirled around at the question, reaching the perfect spot. Her brows went up at the sudden stop as she looked up at me.

"Right here," I answered with a whisper.

"And where is here, Beau?" She asked, looking around, confused. "This is a beautiful spot, but not very exciting compared to the rest of the carnival."

"Well, that's why we're here. No one is around really - no one to bug us," I said looking around as well to make sure I wasn't lying. There was a stray couple, here and there, but most were back in the main streets, and canals, having fun.

"Why do you want us away from the humans?" She asked. I pulled her hand and tugged her over to the railings overlooking the water, and pointed a finger out into the distance.

"Because of that!" I said my excitement at its peak. "Do you see it? That barge?"

"Yes," she said slowly, glancing at it.

"Keep your eyes on it… well, keep your eyes about… a thousand feet above it," I guessed, pausing for a moment to think. I watched as her head tilted back, and her eyes scanned the sky.

"What am I looking for, Beau?"

"It's not there yet, but any minute, you're going to see something amazing," I whispered dramatically. "Do you remember my last visit, when you told me you wanted to see more of the world; that you were curious about how humans have evolved and shaped the world; the things they've invented?"

"Yes," she answered, amused. Obviously, she did.

"And do you remember the few things you wanted to see in particular?" She gave me a little nod. "Well, you're about to see one of them," I said.

Her look turned curious, and her eyes flicked back and forth between the sky and me. After a moment, a little gasp left her red lips as she realized what I meant.

"Are you showing me fireworks, Beau?" She asked quickly.

I nodded fast, squeezing her hand. "You said you've only seen them a handful of times, but that they were like magic. I thought you might wanna see them again."

She eagerly leaned over the railing, looking up at the twinkling stars that were about to light up with explosions.

"When are they meant to go off?" she asked, her excitement palpable.

"Literally seconds… six… five… four… three… two…" I counted down, glancing at my watch. The anticipation hung thick in the air.

Just as I looked back up, I heard the sound of a distant whistle, and a streak of gold raced across the sky. Alex's gaze was fixed on it, her awe lighting up her features as the first explosion erupted, showering the night with brilliance.

"Wow," she breathed, her voice barely above a whisper. Another burst followed, mirroring the first, and the colors danced above us—reds, blues, and shimmering whites filling the night.

"Venice only last year allowed the carnival to do this," I whispered, my gaze fixed on her face as it transformed into a picture of beautiful, astounded awe. "Apparently, there'd been a lot of back and forth over legal issues or whatever, but this is the first time in history that the Carnival of Venice has gotten a show like this."

Her eyes widened even more, reflecting the bursts of color above us, and I could see her excitement growing with each explosion. It felt special to share this moment with her, knowing how rare and magical it was.

"It's amazing," she whispered back.

"I agree," I laughed softly. "Fireworks are really cool."

"That's one word for it," she replied, her laughter mingling with the sounds of the crowd blocks behind us, sounding breathless. "I would say enchanting."

She wasn't wrong. With our eyes, we could see every contour of color painting the sky. How it danced with the moonlight and lit up the ground below. It is one of the most amazing things I've seen as a vampire.

I nodded. "That is a much better word for it."

Her eyes kept lighting up to match the color of the next fireworks. The red in her iris glowed with blues, gold's, and greens. I don't think she noticed me staring at her, being so captivated by the display, but the beauty and joy I saw reflected in them, was even better.

It made me feel like I wasn't a complete failure at showing my friends a good time. These little outings with them didn't usually go so well when it was me who was in charge of planning them.

But it was a thousand times better when it was Alex I was succeeding with. I wasn't sure why, but seeing her happy made me ecstatic. Like when she was happy, I could be too. For a little bit at least.

It reminded me of the feeling I got with Jules. That balm of comfort and ease that made the usual pain go away.

I was going to get Riccardo a really awesome birthday present next year for giving me the idea.

"How long does the show last, Beau?" She asked me wistfully. I imagined she wanted it to go on forever, but it was only going to last for a couple of minutes. Which I told her.

"It's got about five minutes left," I answered.

She nodded silently, and in that moment, I wished I could freeze time, to hold onto this a little longer for her, but all I could do was enjoy it with her while it lasted. Her head fell on my shoulder, and for the rest of it, we watched; committing it to our endless memory.

I watched as the last one lit up her eyes, the dazzling blue mingling with her deep red… it made them look almost violet… She was breathtaking.

"That was amazing. Thank you for bringing me, Beau," She said softly, holding my arm between hers and her body.

"It was my pleasure," I said, my grin coming back full force. "But that was just the beginning. We've still got a lot more to do before the sun comes up!"

"What's next?" She asked, biting her lip.

"I was thinking of shopping. As much as I'd rather see your face the entire night, you should probably grab a mask before someone notices your eyes," I said with a tiny bit of regret, but she smiled, and nodded, this time dragging me along back to the rest of the carnival.

She pulled me between the humans, the same way I did earlier, and led us down the streets and canals, only stopping once we reached this grandstand that held a menagerie of different paper and porcelain masks. We got in line behind a couple of other humans who were tourists like me, and Alex leaned into my side, putting her face in my chest.

"You're gonna need to buy them for us, Beau. We're not running around anymore so the man behind the register might see my eyes," she whispered. I put my arm over her shoulder and pulled her closer. She laughed.

"Of course, I was gonna buy them. Everything's on me tonight," I whispered back with a grin.

"You know every one of the guard are wealthy, right?" She teased.

I booped her nose, and said, "Yeah, I figured, but I'm no slouch with my finances either. Tanvir helped me out, and told me how to get rich quick."

"Oh? And what did he tell you?" She asked with teasing skepticism.

"Mostly on how to steal from other people who are rich."

"And you listened to him?"

"Absolutely not," I laughed. "He helped me, because Ivan overheard him, smacked him, and told me how to get into real estate."

"That's what I thought," she chuckled as it became our turn. Alex looked down at her feet, making sure to keep her head tilted into my side as I smiled at the man behind the counter.

"Two masks please," I said in Italian. He gave me a duh look.

"Ah, right, sorry," I said while Alex giggled. "That one," I pointed, choosing a white mask with black stripes running down from its eyes. "And that one," I said, pointing to a beautiful gold mask with what looked like red eye shadow for Alex.

He handed them over, and I quickly paid, the excitement bubbling within me. We walked away with purpose, and I slipped my mask on first. It fit snugly against my skin, instantly transforming my look and making my look pop with the dark contrast from my dark suit.

Alex gracefully adorned herself with her mask, and I couldn't help but admire how it perfectly mirrored the smooth lines of her jaw and cheeks. She looked breathtaking, the gold highlighting her features and adding an air of mystery that made my skin tingle.

In that moment, she looked like a vision from a dream, captivating and enigmatic. I felt a surge of excitement—this night was full of endless possibilities, and I was grateful to share it with her.

"Now we're ready for the carnival," I said, a grin spreading across my face as I caught her gaze. "You look great."

"Thank you, Beau," she said, looking at me through the thing. Her eyes blended easily with the bit of red paint around them… it made her look quite… smoky.

"You're welcome," I said with a breathless laugh.

"Are we going to be doing any more shopping, or are we going to go dancing now?" She asked

"Whichever you'd like."

"Hhm… take me dancing, Beau," she said with a whisper, her mask barely muffling the exquisite huskiness of her tone.

"As you wish. Let's go make some memories," I said, feeling the thrill of adventure wash over me as I took her hand and led her into the vibrant chaos of the carnival.

We walked around for about thirty minutes, looking around at the same time we were searching for one of the better places to dance in. The Carnival had dozens - some that were loud, and explosive with energy… which wasn't really Alex's scene, nor mine. Others were quiet but busy with other couples in love.

Eventually, we found a perfect spot. It was a small courtyard, tucked away in a maze of alleyways, far enough from the throngs of people that we could feel like we were in our own world. The cobblestone floor was laid out in a mesmerizing circular pattern, and above us, a canopy of golden lights twinkled like stars, casting a warm glow that felt almost magical. The soft strains of an orchestra floated through the air, emanating from speakers hidden among the bushes and crevices, wrapping us in a cocoon of sound.

"May I have this dance?" I asked Alex, taking a couple of steps ahead of her and holding out my hand, a mix of excitement and nervousness fluttering in my chest.

"You may," she replied, her voice smooth and inviting as she took my hand. She led me to the center of the square, where the lights twinkled above us like tiny fireflies. I placed one hand on her hip, the warmth of her body radiating against me, while the other held her hand, our fingers intertwined.

As we began to sway gently to the music, I let her guide us, feeling the rhythm of the night pulse around us. Our eyes locked, and in that moment, it was as if the world beyond had faded away. It was just us, lost in each other's gaze, the soft music wrapping around us like a warm embrace. I could feel the butterflies in my stomach, the way her presence ignited something deep within me—a longing, a connection that felt both thrilling and terrifying. One that I hadn't felt in a very long time… one that wasn't nearly as powerful as the first, but most certainly there.

"Isn't it beautiful here?" she whispered, her voice more beautiful than the music playing. It carried a weight that made my head feel light.

"It is," I breathed, my eyes never leaving hers. "But you make it look even better."

She laughed lightly as we spun slowly, her joy illuminating the courtyard around us. "I was about to say the same thing to you." Her easy turn of the complement sent warmth through me, but I could see how much she appreciated my words.

"No one has called me beautiful for almost a century," she said, a soft smile playing on her lips. "Thank you for making me feel that way."

"Well people are blind because you're beautiful," I said effortlessly, as if the words had been waiting to escape for far too long.

She met my gaze with a mix of surprise and delight, her eyes sparkling like the lights above us. She didn't say anything else for a minute, but eventually asked in a surprisingly timid voice, "You really mean that?"

"Absolutely," I insisted, feeling the truth of it resonate in my chest. "You have this way of lighting up everything around you. It's hard not to see how stunning you are."

She nodded slowly, as though she was contemplating the truth of it. "Even with me wearing a mask, you still consider me so?"

"It's not just your face that's stunning, Alex," I whispered, pulling her a little closer, which she easily let me do. "It's everything about you… your grace, your kindness. In every way that truly matters - you are one of the most beautiful women on the planet."

I would have never ever, not in a million years been able to say that aloud when I was human. I would have been a stuttering, blushing mess, and tripping over every other word. But after going through everything I have, it just felt dumb to not tell someone this amazing, how truly spectacular they are.

Her eyes turned teasing though as she softly purred. "Hhm, then let me ask, Beau… are my eyes beautiful?"

"Yes," I said instantly. Didn't even need to think about it.

She paused again.

"Really?"

"Yep. One of my favorite features of yours actually… the way you look at some things… it's like watching magic through someone else's eyes."

"Do you not care about my diet?" She asked. She was confused, obviously - we've had a lot of debate back and forth on our two lifestyles.

"I do, but that doesn't make you any less beautiful," I answered, moving my hand to her back.

"But you said my beauty comes from more than my features… wouldn't me killing humans be something ugly to you?" Her hand on my shoulder ran down my arm, gently caressing me as we moved in perfect synch.

"Just because I think you are doing something wrong, doesn't mean I think you're any less gorgeous. You're a vampire - you are literally wired to kill humans. A literal addict who hasn't realized it's wrong yet."

"Will I at all, do you think?" She asked with a smile in her voice. It was teasing, but just as curious as her other question.

"Eventually," I said, smiling back with my eyes.

She gave a gentle hum. "And why do you believe that?"

"Because you're kind," I said softly. "And because I learned a new trick recently."

"A new trick? Like a magic trick?" She laughed.

I paused for a second. "No," I said slowly. "I was thinking of something else."

"And what would that be?"

I took a deep breath.

Slowly, like stretching a rubber band, I pushed my ability - my shield as Kirill called it - around Alex. This always gave me a headache, but it would be worth it.

Her reaction was immediate. Her breath caught in her throat, and her eyes behind the mask widened, her expression shifting into something close to disbelief. I could feel her body stiffen as my shield wrapped itself around her.

She let out a breath, her eyes went wide

"Beau…" she said breathlessly, stopping our dance, her grip on me getting suddenly tight. "What is this?"

I chuckled at her wide eyes. I now wish more than ever that the masks weren't necessary. I really wanted to see her face.

"That is what I feel all the time," I answered with a grin.

"W-what? Explain yourself, please," she whispered.

"You know I don't really get that overwhelming urge to eat people? How I don't need to give in to the thirst?"

"Y-yes," she breathed.

"Well, it's because of my ability… mostly, I like to think it's a bit of my willpower as well," I laugh, shrugging. "And for the last little bit, I've been practicing to develop it… sharing it. You can kind of imagine it like a bubble, and I can expand it to share with others."

"Thats… thats…"

"Incredible?" I asked with a laugh, moving my feet again, and spinning her slowly.

"That's a good word for it," she laughed breathlessly, laying her head on my chest. "I… I've never felt this way before."

"It's nice, isn't it? The Denali clan - Riccardo especially - tells me it feels like… being normal. I don't really know the difference." I shrugged.

"Neither do I. I've only ever felt the burn before," she said quietly. "Beau, I may very well become addicted to this."

Addicted? Hhm… the small, selfish part of me wouldn't really mind that. Hopefully, she wouldn't with the tiny, super unimportant question I had to ask.

"Well, that's good, because… I was thinking about… maybe kind of… staying with you for a little while?" I asked, looking away bashfully, nervous as all heck. "Or maybe you could come with me, you know… I could show you some of the world. More fireworks."

She stopped our dancing again and stared at me with wonder once more. "You want to join the guard?"

"Well, that, or you could come be a nomad with me for a little while," I said. She very quickly took off her mask - I couldn't help the little bit of relief at seeing her again. I felt a little childish at it, but it was whatever. I took my mask off as well.

"You're serious?"

"Absolutely. I miss having more permanent friends," I whisper.

"Sulpicia will be thrilled!" Alex yelled, throwing her arms around my neck. "Oh, this is wonderful! We'll have so much fun going on proper missions together, and exploring Italy, and oh… oh… this makes me so happy, Beau."

I quickly hugged her back, grinning like an idiot. "I take it that means you want me to be a guard, instead of you traveling with me?"

"A nomad's life isn't for me, I'm sorry," she laughed, brushing her nose against my neck.

"Nah, it's fine, I get it," I shrugged, not caring in the slightest. "It's gonna be weird settling down like this though."

"How long are you thinking of staying, Beau?" She asked quickly, pulling back. "If it's longer than ten years then you can stay in the permanent guards' wing with me!"

My smile turned bemused as I watched her quickly becoming flustered. It was rare - incredibly rare to see Alex of all people looking bashful like that, but it was so much fun to see.

"I'm sorry, I don't mean with me, I merely meant as neighbors," she said, biting her lip.

"I knew what you meant," I laughed. "But unfortunately, I don't think I'd be able to stay that long… I'm more of a free spirit."

That, and I wasn't sure how long I could go without my usual distractions keeping me from thinking about old ghosts. Alex looked disappointed but mostly happy.

"That's alright. I will cherish all the time I have with you, while I can," she said, hugging me again. "We can get you settled in when we go back."

"Oh," I said quickly, pulling back. "Sorry, I do want to join, and I definitely am for a bit… but there's one thing I have to do before I can."

"What do you mean? What thing?" She asked, frowning impatiently. It was cute.

I let out a sigh and looked down at my feet. "I'm helping a friend out with something… I'm tracking someone."

"Your tracking? Who and what for?" She asked, her tone suddenly becoming serious, and more soldier-like.

"Another vampire - goes by Marshall. He's one of the generals who fought in the southern wars, and he's a massive jerk." I frowned thinking of the guy and his smug look.

"Are you tracking a soldier… a leader of one of the newborn armies?" Alex asked her words ice.

"Yeah," I answered simply.

She quickly hissed and pushed me back a step. "You fool! Do you have any idea how dangerous they are? The guard wiped them out centuries ago - the only ones who managed to survive were the dangerous ones! The best of the best, and you're hunting one?"

"I have to," I said with a shrug, helpless. "He's hurting people… people who my friends care about… he's hurting my friends. I can't let it continue."

"Who is he harming that's worth risking your own life for?" She hissed angrily.

I didn't say anything for a moment.

"Who Beau?" She snapped.

"Well, for one, he's hurting Louie," I answered

"Who's Louie?!"

"A friend," I said, taking her hand to hopefully calm her down. The enchanting night we'd been having was slowly slipping away… just a bit… and I minorly regretted telling her about this. Not because she didn't need to know, but because it was making her unhappy. "He was one of Marshall's soldiers. He was tortured."

"So? Why does this constitute jeopardizing your own life? You said this man was hurting your friends? Is this currently going on?"

I flexed the fingers of my free hand and tilted my head side to side in a kinda fashion. "Marshall is hunting someone as well… a much… much older friend of mine."

"Who?" She asked simply.

"Another one of his soldiers… his number one in fact," I whispered. "A woman named Jessamine."

Alex paused. "As in Jessamine of the Cullen clan?"

"You've heard of them?" I asked curiously.

"In passing - Sulpicia mentioned them a few centuries ago," she said dismissively. "If this Jessamine is in danger, why not just warn them? They're a large enough coven. They'll be fine."

She didn't ask that in an accusatory way, just in a way that questioned my sanity. Which was fair, all things considered.

"I'd… rather they didn't know about me. We didn't part on very good terms," I said shrugging. Not very true - but not totally untrue. I just didn't want a certain someone, to know about my new status in life.

"Then why do you care if this Marshall hunts her," Alex asked.

"Because she's still a friend, even if we haven't exactly been… friends. I can't just leave them without trying to help." And there was every risk that my angel could get hurt in an attempt to help Jessamine herself. Which was unacceptable.

Alex didn't say anything for a moment. She just stared at me angrily… well, not angrily, just with an intense concentration. She was thinking hard.

"Has this Marshall broken our laws at all?" She hissed.

"Not that I know of," I shrug.

She hissed again, biting her tongue. Another moment of silence. "Then I have changed my mind."

My eyebrows scrunched together. "About what?"

"I shall join you in your nomadic lifestyle… and I shall help you tear the head off of this enemy," She said, turning around with my hand still in hers, quickly walking us back out the way we came.

"What?! Absolutely not!" I tried to say, scrambling to keep up.

"It is either you allow me to help you, Beau, or I will go on my own and be done with him myself."

"Come on! You are my friend just as much as they are, I'm not going to let you put yourself in danger like that!" I said, quickly exasperated. She put her mask back on as we started weaving back through the crowds.

"Hypocritical much?" She asked, shaking her head.

"It's not when you don't have any stake in this fight! My friends are in danger, not yours." I tugged on her hand and forced her to stop. She whirled around to look at me, her eyes ablaze.

"Do not be foolish. Your life is in danger… and that means that I have much more to lose than you, Beau," she hissed. "You are the only true friend I have… the only one. I will not allow that to be put into jeopardy!"

"Alex," I breathed, looking at her helplessly.

"I'm helping! Now come on! We're going back to Volterra. I am informing Sulpicia of my momentary departure, and then we'll dispense of your pest!" She tugged on my arm again, stomping with grace, trying to get back to where I parked the car.

"But we didn't even finish the date," I said looking around at the carnival goers - some of whom were looking back at the two of us and our scene. That got Alex to pause. She whirled back around.

"What else did you wish to do?" She asked impatiently.

I held a hand up uselessly, gesturing to the rest of… just everything. "I don't know, I… well… I don't know, just whatever you wanted to do," I said flustered.

She paused for half a second before she stepped closer to me. "There was only one thing that we didn't do that would have made this night truly magical for me… other than that, it was the epitome of perfection."

She said that with such sincerity, that I was kinda stunned. I didn't think that I did all that great of a job making this special for her… but I guess… I don't know. I guess I did a decent job, other than that one thing.

"And what would that be?" I asked with the hope that we could keep having some fun before we had to leave. Before I had to go back to hunting.

"This," she said simply. She put her hands on my face, leaned into me, and pressed her lips to mine.

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