Hello Everyone! This is the moment you have all been waiting for so I hope it is worth your while to read. I won't ruin it for you but this is what everyone wanted to see happen. Harsh critiques are welcome. I struggled with this chapter. Also very long so beware...

Happy Reading

**Edited as of Sept. 21**

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CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Over the next few days, I try to submerge myself in school, focusing on the unimportant instead of residing back to the chaos that conspires every evening when the Coven comes together. Rebecca is getting bolder; her verbal attacks on Philip frequent and merciless, leaving the Coven gasping at her audacity. Yet Philip is stronger than ever, keeping the Coven whole. I caught him once preaching to one of Rebecca’s followers, pleading with the member to retreat from her wickedness and return back to the Coven.

But the Manor is no longer a safe-haven. I catch many of my kind sulking along the outskirts of town, finding refuge with the Bonded members that had long ago chose a life of freedom away from the Coven. I, however, have no family relation to run to. Carmen and Nora are inseparable, constantly together, which I understand. Carmen has always had a protective nature and he watches Nora like a hawk over it’s young. Yet the memory of Carmen and I in the car and him thinking that Isaac…I shake my head, kicking up dust as I reach the end of the gravel driveway. A car cruises by and I pause, glancing back at the Manor partly covered by trees. I wonder if the Coven will truly implode in on itself and we will be left broken and scattered. Rebecca knows that the cracks are widening, the doubt growing in all of our guts. I can picture her face from her last public display of animosity. It had been twisted and distorted in her hate for Philip. And it still sends shock waves through me. I can’t understand her loathing when Philip is our leader, our saint. He is never without compassion, never without love.

Another car zooms by, pulling me out of my thoughts and back into the present day. I sniff, wrapping my arms across my chest, feeling suddenly chilly in the late evening air, my arms feeling bare in my tee shirt. I suddenly remember that it is Friday. School has ended for another week and I am stuck at the Manor all tomorrow. I groan at the ugly thought. It is truly depressing to think of the hours stuck in my room, hearing random shouts from Rebecca and the commanding, soothing voice of Philip as he retaliates.

I know what I will do—spend my hours at the lakeside.

So the following day I strike out early in the morning, even before Nora stirs. I peek out my window and feel the heat of the day. It will be humid and I smile; perfect for a dip in the lake. So, pulling on my swimsuit under my jeans and tank and throwing a towel over my shoulder, I leave for a well-deserved day to myself.

I take my time getting there, weaving aimlessly through the trees. The buds are plump, ready to sprout into lively green leaves. I breathe in the aroma of fresh earth, wet moss, and the crispness of the breeze. It leaves me feeling refreshed and revived.

At the lake, I take a moment to just admire the view. The lake is shimmering in the sunlight as the sun nears the end of its ascent into the sky that is cerulean in color and free of clouds. The lake is smooth like an immaculate mirror.

I spread my towel out on the beach of pebbled rocks worn smooth from the tide. I then strip down to my bikini and stride into the water. It is chilly and I wrinkle my toes in response. But I don’t retreat, diving headfirst into the water. I swim beneath the surface, my body streaking through the water like a torpedo; my legs a mere blur as I paddle as quickly as I can. My hands are stuck together, thrown out in front of me, slicing easily through the water like an arrowhead.

I reach the center of the lake as quickly as a boat would, emerging into the air and spraying water droplets everywhere. I float on my back and allow my mind to travel back to Carmen. I did miss him; there is no denying that. He has been there from the beginning and I feel like I owe him some sort of explanation of what is happening to me…and with Isaac.

There isn’t anything going on with Isaac! my voice of denial screams in my ears.

Oh yes there is, sister, and you better get ready for that explaining you will be doing, my reasonable side argues.

I sigh, waving my arms and legs to create a water-angel, so similar to the ones I can create in the snow. Ripples roll from my body, expanding wider and wider until disappearing completely. Part of me seems to want to have something with Isaac. And yet another part of me wishes for me to return back to the average vampire that I was years ago.

Finally, the cold water persuades me to return to shore. I swim to the bank in record time and wash up onto the smooth rocks like a discarded fish lost in the tide. The sun dries my body, fighting against my eternal temperature of thirty-degrees. I feel the water sizzle and evaporate into the air, making me smile, the effect tickling my skin. I let a giggle escape my lips and another voice joins me in laughter. I jolt, leaping to my feet in one swift movement that leaves the intruder speechless. We stand, just staring at each other until the intruder speaks, “Jeeze, Sophia! I didn’t mean to scare you.”

“Isaac,” I breathe, my limbs turning to jelly as his face breaks into a smile that would melt even the coldest of hearts. “What are you doing here?”

“I was hoping I would find you here. All week you seemed sort of lost but I was afraid to ask you in front of your friends.” ‘Friends’ referring to Carmen.

“Oh, well…” I trail off, suddenly tongue-tied.

“I wanted to talk.” He inches steadily closer and his eyes fall away from my face. I am immediately aware of my scantily clothed body and race to my towel. I can feel his eyes piercing my back, leaving a sizzling-hot trail along my spine. When I turn around, his face is blazing with ripe color, his cheeks looking like little cherry blossoms in full bloom. His eyes are avoiding me as I wrap the towel securely around my waist. “Talk about what, Isaac?” I ask, returning to stand only a few feet away from him before sitting.

“You. Why you have been acting so weird lately.” He perches beside me, stretching out his legs in front of him. He flashes me another smile that creates odd feelings near my belly button. “You have been acting weird, you know?” He winks coyly.

“I know,” I reply, slightly frustrated with his perceptive nature. “I just have been really…busy.” I trip over my words, praying that he will let the subject drop.

But Isaac is determined, his eyes set. “Busy? Meaning…?”

“Meaning…busy,” I say firmly.

He frowns. “What does busy include, Sophie?”

“Many things.” I keep my responses vague, fearing his compassionate eyes and attractive voice—low and compelling.

“Many things?” He sighs. “I guess that means that this subject is off limits.” I detect the hurt in his voice and peer over at him. His eyes are on the horizon, the sunlight illuminating his handsome features. His mouth curls into an inviting smile without turning to face me and I know that I have been caught staring. But I don’t turn away and he cranks his head to look at me. His eyes search mine—Nordic-blue and emerald-green intertwining together.

“I know something bothers you. But I won’t bug you about it. I can see that you don’t want to talk about it. Just know that I am here for you.” His voice is sincere, and I smile weakly. His hands smoothes over mine and pulses of warmth shoot up my arm making me gasp. Isaac doesn’t seem to notice as he lifts my hand staring at it as if it is alien to him. His eyes trace every line, every knuckle, every bluish-black vein. “So strange…even in the heat your skin is always cold.” I freeze at this remark.

Isaac is too intelligent for his own good, I think, my face slacking in surprise. “Why is that, Sophia?” His eyes skewer me, narrowing into slits. I try to pull myself away from him but his hand tightens on mine, keeping me frozen in place. His eyes soften as they move over my face. “There are so many mysteries about you, Sophia…so many that I want to solve.” I swallow hard, starting to shake in terror. What if he solves my biggest mystery of all? What if he already knows!? My mind is in turmoil, part of me screaming at myself to run, to escape. But the other part compels me to stay, to hold his hand, which scares me more than anything else. I shouldn’t like him like this. I shouldn’t want to hold his hand, to look into his eyes forever. The feeling is there, though, that wanting to be with him. He is the friend I always needed, especially now that Carmen is gone.

But I don’t just want to be his friend…

I glance down at our fingers laced together, his dark skin strangely golden against my deathly pale pigments. His thumb traces up and down my wrist; his touch sends waves of warmth filling me along with little sparks of energy that widen my eyes. I know that he feels it too for he pauses, his thumb stilling. His eyes meet mine again.

“What are you, Sophia?” he finally utters, his brow pinched with the urge to understand. “Extreme speed, cold skin.” His thumb resumes it’s trailing of my wrist. “Eyes that change color…” He takes a deep breath, and I fear that I have stopped breathing all together.

“How do you know that I have extreme speed?” I eventually ask, trying to play it off as if I think him to be crazy even though my long-deceased heart pounds with a new rhythm as if suddenly alive.

“For example, when I scared you. It took you a half a second to get to your feet prepared to attack me!” Isaac chuckles softly. “I’ve never seen anyone move that fast.”

“I’m just fast,” I defend, careful to keep my voice steady even though my muscles’ twitch with the instinct to run.

“Sure.” Isaac lets that subject drop, rolling his eyes. “Do you have explanations for the other things? Such as your skin…” This time, his lifts his other hand and cups the side of my face.

Bad, bad, bad! So bad!

My face sparks with electricity and warmth, his fingers fanning out across my cheek. I feel my eyes darken with hunger when his scent washes over me; he isn’t wearing cologne today. His scent is so sweet…so lovely…so unbearably tasteful that my mouth starts to water. Isaac’s eyes widen when they meet my own; I know that my eyes are a gleaming dark brown, hungry for the taste of blood…his blood.

“Your eyes,” he stutters but I am surprised when there is little fear in his voice, only fascination. His hand on my cheek moves to trace underneath my lids, and my jaw falls open as his scent consumes me with a wanting so strong that I fear I won’t be able to fight it. I start to pull away from him, but Isaac drops my other hand and holds my face firmly between his. Warmth, electricity, and his heady scent shocks my senses and my eyes slip closed, a moan escaping my lips.

“I see it in your eyes, Sophia. I feel it whenever you look at me. Like yesterday in Baking when your eyes brightened into the clearest green I have ever seen and then I kind of fell into a…trance.” My eyes fly open at this comment and my limbs start to tremble again. Isaac feels this and sighs, his hands loosening on my face but still not allowing me to leave. His face is inches from mine, his lips so close that I could move forward and press my own to his. Wait! What am I thinking?! There it is again, the wanting to kiss him. It’s like a battle with my vampire self and the human self that is slowly resurfacing. On one hand, I want Isaac in the most unnatural way—the need for his blood. And on the other, I want him in the most human way, which is so strange to me…yet, so good.

“What are you, Sophia?” he asks again but his voice is softer, barely a whisper. And I realize before it happens that I am to be tested, my vampire self against my human self. His lips land on mine, at first the softest of caresses and I have to open my eyes to make sure that he is actually kissing me. But then my body is ignited with a hidden fire, burning with unrestrained flames. I catch his face in my hands and press my lips to his, molding over them. His taste is delightful and I can’t control my tongue from slipping between them. I feel more than hear Isaac groan against me and the fire intensifies; however, the fire isn’t just hunger for his blood. Another fire, stronger and more powerful, burns inside of me. It is a wanting for the being in front of me, for the boy that I am kissing, not for his blood that runs through his veins. But the blood-hunger is still there trying to overpower the other one.

The battle is on.

Unconsciously, one of my hands slip to his throat and my fingers hit his pulse, strong and pumping against his neck. I can hear his heart in his chest, thumping like a drum. My blood-hunger for him grows and my lips leave his to trail along his jaw. I hear him moan again and my wanting for him as a boy mounts. But when I feel his pulse again, I freeze.

Images of the past—of the dark-skinned man, of his blankly staring eyes—flash through my mind and I scramble away from Isaac until I reach the waters edge. Once there, I curl my knees towards my chest and hug them tight, rocking back and forth. My breathing is labored but nothing compared to Isaac’s behind me, the breath whooshing out of his throat in huge mouthfuls. I block out the sound and pull my knees tighter up against my chest. That’s when I feel my skin and am shocked to realize that it is hot beneath my fingers; I pause to contemplate this discovery.

Then Isaac is there, his scent stronger than ever, his blood mixed with adrenaline from our kiss. It makes me pound my forehead into my knees, praying that I have enough control to send him away before something bad happens. I don’t think I could live with myself if I took him, if I satisfied my thirst. Because now I know the truth…that I care for him more than friendship goes.

“Sophia?” His voice is like a child’s—fearful and vulnerable. I stay mute, knowing that if I speak it could come out as something that would draw him in, not to turn him away. “Sophia?” he says again, his voice stronger and that’s when I feel his hand on my shoulder. I flinch and race away, faster than I should have. I hide behind a tree a few yards away and see Isaac’s shocked face. I watch as it abruptly splits into a smile and he leaps to his feet. “No one can run that fast, Sophia! No human, anyway!” His tone is excited and it sends fresh shock waves through me. Has he gone insane?

“No,” I croak. “Just go, Isaac!” My throat is still raw with the hunger for him and I swallow hard, clutching at my neck, fighting against my two halves.

“I’m not going anywhere!” Isaac yells, his tone stubborn. “I want to help you, Sophia.” A sob escapes my mouth at his gentle voice and I press my fingers to my lips. What is wrong with me? That’s when I feel the wetness dripping from my eyes and collapse to my knees. “I’m falling apart!” I cry out, hugging my arms around myself.

“Sophia!” Isaac comes into view and when he sees me on the ground, he rushes forward.

“Stop!” I shout, holding up my hands and falling backwards onto my back. He halts in surprise. Scrambling away still on my back, I plead, “Please, Isaac! I’m a monster…just go!” More droplets of water fall from my eyes and I wipe them away, horror gripping me. I see Isaac’s face soften and without another word he crouches down and gathers me into his arms. His scent is still strong, still heady, but the feel of his arms around me, of the safety I suddenly feel overpowers that need for his blood and I bury my face into his neck, water pouring freely from my eyes now. Isaac holds me tight, his fingers strumming my back soothingly. It makes my human self soar with joy and I relish the feeling.

Finally, when the water halts, I pull back. His scent hits me again and I grit my teeth, fighting it. Isaac sees my struggle and narrows his eyes, clearly bewildered. “You have to tell me, Sophia. I want to help you. But I can’t if you won’t tell me…what you are.” He smiles apologetically, and I shake my head from side to side, moaning softly.

“I can’t, I can’t,” I repeat.

“Sophia, please.” He entraps my face in his hands again and forces my eyes to his. He looks so sincere, so helpful, that water pools in my eyes again.

“Isaac, don’t ask me to do this. Please don’t.” I know what will happen if I tell him. I know that he will run from me, tell all his friends; I would frighten the hell out of him. And I didn’t want him to leave me; I didn’t want him to fear me. I want him here with me, here right now holding me.

But he is slowly coaxing it from me with his eyes, with those gorgeous blue orbs. I try to fight it, pulling away and squeezing my eyes shut. His grip tightens until I open my eyes again. “Sophia!” He says my name sharply, and I flinch at the harshness of it. “Tell me know,” he orders, his gaze pinning me there.

“I can’t, I can’t,” I sob, shaking my head again. “You wouldn’t understand.”

“Try me.” My eyes shoot upwards at this, and his face is serious, waiting patiently for an answer.

I stutter for words. “I’m not…”

“Human?” He whispers the word; I nod. “So…what are you?”

“A…a…” I cut off, unable to continue. I can just picture his horror-stricken face, his clear disgust if I were to tell him about me.

“A what?” he presses.

“You’ll hate me,” I cry out, hanging my head.

“How could I hate you, Sophia?” I look up to meet his gaze. “You are so unbelievably funny yet so driven. You care so much about others. I love when you smile at me, when you laugh at my jokes.” His fingers slowly trace my features on my face as he talks. When they reach my lips, his fingers move over them and my mouth falls open. “I could never hate you,” he whispers, his heart pounding again.

I swallow hard, and he removes his hands from my mouth. “I’m a…a…Coven member…I am a…!” But I clamp my jaws together, unable to say the word.

“A Coven member? What’s that?” Isaac asks. When I don’t answer, he continues. “Come on, Sophia. It can’t be that bad. It’s not like you’re a witch or…or a vampire.” He chuckles as if it is the craziest thing in the world. But at that word I freeze, eyes open in shock. He sees this, brow furrowed, before enlightenment enters his eyes and he finally understands. I pull my chin towards my chest and snap my eyes closed, fearing the worst. I hear the breath catch in his throat and then I am shocked to hear laughter erupt from him. I glare at him, and he coughs, trying to cover it.

“You’re kidding, right? I mean, you can’t be what I think you are…a…vampire?” he finally says but at the seriousness of my gaze, his body stiffens. I sigh. Here it comes. The running and screaming and terror.

But it never comes.

I peek up at him. He does look shocked. He does look surprised. But there is no fear in his eyes. “Wow…I thought all those tales…but they are myths…”

“They are all real,” I say firmly, my eyes drying of the strange water droplets.

“Wow,” he says again, running a hand through his hair and falling back onto his heels. He scoots unconsciously further away from me, his hands gripping his hair. “I just… wow…you…?” He stops, staring up into the sky, his face frozen in concentration. Then his eyes meet mine. He takes in the sight of me and shakes his head, more firmly this time. “You can’t be,” he whispers.

I close my eyes and nod firmly. I hear him groan and then, “So…do you like…” he halts and I know the question he wants to ask.

I breathe deeply, thinking that if I have gone this far, I should go the rest of the way. “Yes.” I hold my breath, waiting. All is quiet, still. And then I feel his fingers beneath my chin, raising my head to look at me. “That explains almost everything,” he says softly, his lips parting into a wild smile before it dies. I tilt my head, suddenly worried, his expression stern. “I know all the stories, about the hunger for…”

“Blood?” I finish for him, slightly surprised at my calm voice.

“So, can you not like…touch me? Or…”

“It’s your scent that makes it hard for me,” I explain, and he frowns.

Closing the gap between us, I inhale his scent. “Each human carries a scent mingled with their blood.”

“Do I smell good?” he teases, his eyes twinkling and I am astonished that he can poke fun at such a serious thing.

“Very good,” I admit with a sheepish smile.

“But that kiss…was that real? I mean, did you really want to kiss me?” He blushes to the roots of his hair, and my limbs turn to jelly and feathers tickle my stomach. I hesitantly reach up and cup his face in my hands, loving the warmth I feel from his flaming face.

“Isaac, that kiss was real…I don’t know how to explain it to you…I mean, the wanting for your—“ I cut off, but his eyes are soft, wanting to understand, needing to. “And well…I wanted you.” I smile and the need to kiss him is there, making my lips tingle. But my wariness is there also and I don’t know if I am strong enough to fight off the blood-hunger.

Isaac seems to read my thoughts. “You don’t have to…if it is too hard for you.”

I smile. “But I want to.” His heart pounds in response. My lips touch his softly and I feel his need for more. I smile against his mouth and laugh quietly before pressing my lips harder against his. His hands come swiftly around my waist, hugging me too him.

Big mistake!

His scent burns in my nostrils and I have to push him away. His face is instantly apologetic. “I’m sorry…I won’t do that again, promise.” I laugh and bury my face into his neck.

As we walk back to the clearing where my towel and clothes are, I peer up at Isaac. His arm is looped casually around my waist. I can’t spot any disgust, any loathing for touching me. His face is bright, his smile wide. I lean closer into him but his scent is heady and I have to force myself away again.

****

“So you aren’t scared?” I ask him as we lay on our backs, looking up at the starry sky back on the beach. He flips onto his side to better face me and softly blows a few stray tendrils of hair back into place on my head. His fragrant breath makes my eyes flutter closed but I fight the eternal struggle, hoping that he can’t see it.

“No, I’m not scared,” he answers truthfully. I see it in his eyes that he speaks no lies.

“Even about the blood thing?”

“No. So what if you have an interesting diet. I can live with that,” he teases, his eyes shimmering with delight. I know I should warn him away, I know I should push him aside and run. But my body instinctively moves closer to him, laying my hand over his heart. I hear him sigh contentedly, and I smile into his shirt. My mind travels to my Coven, the thought of them discovering Isaac, of him knowing our secret. I should be fearing it, to be wary of it.

Tonight, however, I feel none of this because I’m with Isaac.

And I am safe.