Chapter Twenty-Eight

-listen-

I stared down at the small piece of plastic in my hand. This can't be happening. I'm 17. My hands shook so hard I nearly dropped the test. What do I tell Lauri? What do I tell Reece?! I braced myself on the sink to keep from collapsing. Lauri had come home from work not too long ago, and I'd locked myself in here saying I felt sick again. At least I know why now. I took a deep but shaky breath and opened the door.

The house was eerily silent.

"Lauri?" I called to the empty room. Leaving the  bathroom door open I stepped outside into the front lawn.

I turned another corner and felt my heart drop into my toes.

I screamed. Lauri's body was slumped against the house, a clear knife wound stained her clothes red. 

"Lauri! No!" I screamed again moving to get closer.

A pair of strong arms caught me around the waist, holding me back. Fear pummeled my stomach into the same place as my heart. I screamed again, my voice cracking into sobs.

"LET GO, LET GO OF ME!" I shrieked trying to twist out of the man's grasp. The arms turned me around.

"B-Blu?" The familiar face stood before me. I couldn't help but glancing down at my last family remaining family member.

"No, no, no, no, no." I sobbed, starting to sink to the ground. Blu and his arms followed.

 "Vinnie...don't look-" His arms held me again as I shied away from Lauri's body, burying my face into his vest. I cried into his chest, my lungs and throat ached.

"This isn't happening. This isn't happening!" I cried over and over hysterically.

"Vinnie you need to get out of here." Blu said firmly.

"My aunt is dead! What are you talking about?!" I felt so utterly destroyed and he didn't seem to care. The time-jumper pulled my chin up.

"You. Need. To. Leave." His green eyes stared into mine. "You are in incredible danger and if you don't leave right now, you'll never see anyone you love ever again. Do you understand me?" I nodded, gulping in air to breathe. He pulled me in for a tight hug.

"You'll be okay." He murmured. I felt a tear from him hit my neck. "Go to the train station, there should be a backpack there for you." I didn't respond.

"You can do this." He said, pulling away. "Goodbye little sis, just run." I stood up. He whispered something in my ear before disappearing.

And I ran. I didn't stop to think about what he had just said to me. I didn't grab anything from the house. Not my phone or anything.

 I love you. He had said.

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I had found the backpack alright, I dropped onto a bench. Pulling Reece's sweater closer I inhaled his scent. I missed him horribly.

"Excuse me?" An elderly woman stood in front of me. "May I sit here?" I wiped my eyes.

"Sure." I responded hoarsely.

The woman and what seemed to be her granddaughter sat beside me. 

"My dear, are you alright?" The woman leaned over. 

"Oh yes, I-I'm fine." I replied, sitting up.

"You seem like a sweet girl, you got a nice young lad back home?" The lady said with a smile. A tear raced down my cheek as I thought about Reece. I shut my eyes, fighting back a sob.
"I do. I mean, I did." My fingers ran over the fabric of his shirt.
"Oh, did you break it off?" She wondered. "I don't mean to pry."
"No, he's..." I wiped my eyes again. "Dead." She gasped, her dark green eyes widening. I don't know why I said it, but it felt right. I'd probably never see him again. VINNIE! A voice screamed in my head, startling me.
"Dear, I'm so sorry to hear." The woman said.

"You remind me so much of my daughter. Maddison was her name." She said. I raised my eyebrows. "She and her sister ran off to Bridgeport many years ago. I haven't heard from them since." I gasped, my heart rate spiking as I pieced the clues together.
"Maddison? Was..was her sister named Lauri?" I asked, my voice breaking.
"Why yes. How do you know?"
"I-" Something in my mind told me to lie, so I did. "knew Maddison's daughter." A smile grew across the woman's face.
"A daughter? My Maddy had a daughter? Oh do you know where they live? Do you know the girl's name? What does she look like?" She gushed, wanting to know every detail. Part of me wanted to tell her they were living happily, but the other cried for the truth.
"Her name's Vinnie. She has brown hair and green eyes. They live in Bridgeport." I lied smoothly. "I haven't seen them in some time so I'm not sure of their address."

 "This is just wonderful news!" She cried. "What's your name-" She was cut off my the sound of the train. The woman stood up to board the train, giving a wave as the door closed.
"My name's Vinnie." I cried to no one, waiting for the next train.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

"You know what I haven't thought about in awhile?" I said from my spot on the couch. It was Friday night and the three of us had gathered for a girls night.

"What? Or who?" Lauri asked, her blue eyes glued to the screen.

"Abbey."

"That bitch." Kaya grumbled.

"I mean, we had our whole lives together and she just threw it all away to be popular with Maria." 

"What...what do you think she would say if she heard about...you know." Kaya mumbled as she pulled her knees closer.

"I don't-" I sat up suddenly.

I wrapped an arm around my stomach and slapped my hand over my mouth. My stomach churned and I scrambled off the couch. Lauri and Kaya watched as I tripped over my feet rushing to the bathroom.

"Vinnie?" Lauri called as I shut the door behind me.

After emptying the small contents of my stomach I propped myself up on the rim of the toilet, arms shaking. Kaya banged on the door.

"Vinnie are you okay?" 

"Uh yeah. Must have caught something from someone." I called weakly. I moved away from the toilet and sat against the wall, breathing heavy.

It felt like someone was punching my stomach repeatedly. I ran a hand through my hair, white strands twisting around my pale fingers. Lauri shouted something through the door but her voice felt so distant. The tiles beneath my feet sent shivers up my legs and I shakily stood up.

I opened the door to two serious faces.

"Jesus Christ Vinnie, you look like hell." Lauri exclaimed, looking me up and down.

"Maybe you should lie down." Kaya said worriedly. I sighed and stumbled over to the couch.

"I'm fine," I lied. "Must be some 24 hour bug." I let Kaya and Lauri fuss over me for a few minutes before shooing them away.

I pretended to be asleep, listening to their conversation on the back patio.

"Lauri what's wrong with her?"

"I don't know! I highly doubt she has a 24 hour thing, the only people she's been around for weeks is you, me, your boyfriend, and-"

"Reece." Kaya gasped. "You don't think?!"

"No she...she wouldn't. She isn't."

"I don't know, it all adds up."

"Oh my god. Look just, be normal around her okay?"

"Alright." The door slid open and they stepped inside.

"Get some sleep." Lauri whispered. I couldn't believe what I had just heard. They think I'm pregnant! Do they really have that little faith in me?

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The next morning I put myself back together. Threw on a dress, tights, and a hat. Lauri had caught the first train into Twinbrook for a family problem and Kaya was spending the day with Axel, so I was finally alone. Just as I left my room there was a rapid knock on the door.

"Coming." I groaned.

 The second I opened the door Reece threw himself against me, kissing me fiercely. I pushed him off gently, his gold eyes searched my face worriedly.

"Well hi." I gasped.

"Are you okay?" He sputtered. His hand brushed a stray hair away from my eyes. I grabbed his wrist and lowered his hand.

"I'm fine." I reassured him. Reece sighed and leaned his back against the door, running a tired hand through his hair.

 "Calm down, I don't need saving every ten minutes." I joked with a smile, sliding my hands around his waist. His eyes narrowed for a moment before his expression relaxed and he pulled me closer.

"I know, I know." He sighed, placing a gentler kiss on my lips.

"Wanna move over to the couch?" I murmured.

"Yes." His breath mixed with mine as he lifted me off the ground.

I kissed him again in agreement as he stepped toward the couch, lowering me down to my knees.

"I've missed you." He said between kisses. I closed my eyes and pulled him closer, I didn't want to talk about the weeks earlier events. Reece moved his lips down my jaw to my neck and I slid off the couch, I felt his fingers tense at my waist. Instead of the kiss I was expecting, a hot pain slid into my neck.
"Reece..?" I said, not hiding the fear in my voice. He didn't respond. The pain grew slightly worse and I tried to push him away, but he was too strong.

"Reece!" I felt blood dribble down my neck, I'd never seen this side of Reece. His grip tightened, crushing my body against his. 
"Reece! Stop, you're hurting me!" I screamed, pushing against him. My cry seemed to snap him out of it and he let go, I dropped to the ground.

"Oh my God. Oh my God!" I cried, holding a hand against the bite. Reece fell to my side, his hand hovering by shoulder.
"Vinnie, I'm so sorry! Oh my God, I just....I just bit you!" I looked up through tears at his face, watching as streams of red faded out of his eyes. I jumped back and kicked him away.
"Get away from me!" Reece stood up in shock, a stream of blood my drying on his mouth.

"Vinnie I didn't mean-"
"Get OUT of here!" I shrieked. When I looked back up at him he was gone, I pulled my hand away from my neck.

It came away dark red. I closed my eyes, exhaling heavily. The bite itself was shallow but my neck was smeared with blood. I hurried to the bathroom to clean up before anyone got home.

I couldn't get the image of Reece's eyes out of my head.

Chapter Twenty-Six

 

"Bye Lauri, I'm going out for a bit." I called. It's been two weeks since the party, my scars have healed and I've begun to think more and more about what Blu had said to me. I had never put much thought into my family history, my parents never told me anything, so I figured the library was the best place to start digging.

As soon as I arrived I turned on one of the prehistoric computers. The city kept an ancestry website to keep track of all of it's citizens, why they have this, I don't know. I typed in my surname 'Matthews' and waited for the page to load. My parent's images jumped up almost instantly and I watched as a huge tree snaked it's way up from them. But I never showed up. I glanced through the images of all of my family members, I shared no characteristics with any of them. No striking green eyes, no white hair, no pale skin. I turned off the computer, suddenly thinking of a better source.

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 "Yeah I'm pretty sure Axel's parent's have your parent's old things. Diaries, letters, you name it." Kaya said, suppressing a yawn. "You need this why?"

"Just...curious." I lied. Kaya shrugged and led me to the study, pushing open the large wood doors I stepped in.

"I'm gonna go back upstairs and get dressed and...whatever." She said, slipping out the door and leaving me in peace and quiet. There were boxes shoved into the corner labeled "MATTHEWS", I grabbed the first few boxes and began my search.

My mother's diary was the first thing I saw, I immediately flipped to the beginning and saw the date: December 16, 1985...

    "You came." I whispered, pressing my face into the back of David's jacket. He inhaled sharply at my touch and turned to face me.

"Maddie, we can't do this, I'm 22 for crying out loud." He sighed, his breath visible in the cold.

"I'm almost 18!" I cried defensively.

"Yes, emphasis on 'almost'. Why can't you just find some boy your age." Hot, angry tears splashed down my cheeks.

"I don't want some boy my age! I want you! I-I've saved myself for you. Not anyone else?" I sobbed into his chest. True, I am only seventeen, but I loved him. His finger found my chin and lifted it so he could stare into my eyes.

"Do you really want me to be the one?" He asked. I nodded and grabbed his hand.

"Yes. You...tonight." His eyes widened slightly but he leaned down and placed his warm lips on mine. I wrapped my arms around his neck and he lifted me off the ground, carrying me to my bedroom. I slipped out of my clothes, feeling slightly self-conscious, I'd never undressed in front of a boy before. David nodded and smiled, holding out his arms. I straddled his lap and continued kissing him, the intimacy growing each minute.

   I didn't care that I was seventeen and he was twenty-two, all that mattered was that we were together.

I couldn't help but smile as I flipped to another page, feeling tears pricking at my eyes.

January 8, 1986

David and I are finally married. It was in the backyard of my childhood home and snow fell around us while we said our vows. Although I didn't wear heels, I felt beautiful and completely amazing with David.

I skipped ahead a few years, hoping to see a mention of me. Just reading the words that my mother wrote made me feel somewhat better, though not entirely.

October 5, 1992

 The ride home from the hospital was hauntingly silent. The moment we reached the house I collapsed on the couch and sobbed for two hours. What's wrong with me? This baby was supposed to be the finishing touch to our family, and....and I ruined it. David said it wasn't my fault, but I know it is. I carried it. I nurtured it. I failed as a mother. I guess we could adopt, but I am going to try and convince David to try again. Just one more time.

I flipped ahead even further and spotted my birthdate.

October 25, 1995

 Around 10:00 at night, David and I were watching TV, when a loud bang sounded outside our front door. I screamed into a pillow and David went to investigate.

"Maddie! Jesus Christ! Get down here!" I raced down the stairs and outside, imagining there to be a dead body, but I saw David, holding a baby girl.

 "Read that note." David instructed as he held up the baby. I looked down at the note.

Dear Maddison & David,

 You do not know me or my child, but she is in a desperate need of a home. I cannot take care of her for I will be dead soon. Do not worry about me. Here is all you need to know about my beautiful daughter, Her name is Vivienne and she will need immense protection. Our family is...special. In her future two men will come for her. DO NOT no matter what let them take her. They WILL kill her. Please, love and nurture her as though she were your own. Do not tell her that she isn't your own, she must believe that she is yours.

 Thank you.

"David." I said.

"Hm?" David cuddled the baby and she giggled.

"We have a baby." I smiled, walking over.

October 25, 1999

 "Happy birthday sweetie." Vinnie smiled up at me, her shock of white hair still confused me, but we loved her anyway. She was a true blessing, some days I think about her real mother and father and wonder if she has siblings or what her life would be like without us. But all that matters is that she is my darling daughter.

I dropped the diary, my hands shaking and tears spilling over. My parent's weren't...real. They weren't mine. Everything, everything was a lie. I cried out and sobbed into my hands. Who am I?! Who are my parents?! Who are these people who raised me.

I hunched over, my breaths were shallow and my throat hurt but I couldn't stop. With a scream I threw the diary away and hugged my knees to my chest, falling into hysterics. All these years...NO ONE ever told me. Not Mom. Not Dad. Not Lauri. Hell, they aren't my mom and dad, Lauri isn't my goddamn aunt! A hand touched my should and I shrunk away. The hand moved to my chin, pulling me up to face someone.

"Vinnie, what's wrong?" Reece sat in front of me, his gold eyes filled with concern. My voice wobbled.

"I-I-everything is a lie!" I cried, fresh tears spilling out. I thrust my arms out and pulled him close, crying into his t-shirt. He wrapped an arm around my back and held my head to him with his other hand.

"Why...why didn't they tell me?!" I sobbed quietly. Reece said nothing, he just held on and kissed the top of my head. I felt the necklace sting my skin slightly as a voice drifted into my thoughts.

"Thank you Harold, I just had no space for their old things."

"Don't worry Lauri, it must be hard." 

I squeezed Reece tighter.

"Shut up! Make them shut up!" I nearly screamed.

"Calm down Vin, just focus on me okay? I'm here." Reece said softly.

The question still lingered in my mind:

Who am I?

Chapter Twenty-Five

I stirred slightly, keeping my eyes closed but slowly waking up. Reece breathed quietly beside me, I felt his skin beneath my hand.

I wiped my eyes and sat up halfway, Reece's hand slipping off my shoulder. Blinking as sunlight streamed into the room I sat up. I looked down at Reece then down at myself. All of last night's activities came tumbling back into my mind.

Oh shit.

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I crawled off the bed and over to the dresser. My dress, shoes, and necklace lay in a pile beside the bed. I pulled the draws open as quietly as I could, and pulled out an old sweater of Reece's. I slipped it on, inhaling his scent.

Feeling a small rumble in my stomach I decided to look for the kitchen. If they had one. Did Reece eat? Shaking the thoughts away I pushed the door open into the living room.

"So you're sure?" A voice drifted out of the..bookcase. I stopped and moved forward, curiosity getting the best of me.

"Yes brother, Vivienne is most definitely dead." I froze at the mention of my name. My heart began to pound. It couldn't be.

I looked through a small gap in the bookshelf.

"Thank God, we don't have to worry about that silly prophecy." The unknown man said. Prophecy?!

"What was it again?" Koran asked lazily.

"What the prophecy? It was

Black and White

Green and Gold

Different as Night and Day

But when brought together,

Will combine the

Night Children and the Mortals.

Bloodlines will be lost."
The man who I guessed was Reece's father said. My stomach dropped.

"Well it's damn good that she's dead. How'd you even figure out it was her?" Koran walked over to stare out the window.

"Reece told me about some girl he was infatuated with. Then he showed me a picture. The white hair next to Reece's black. Not to mention the eyes." He explained. Koran turned back with a sneer. "Honestly I didn't expect Rohan's daughter to get involved, but then again she is his daughter."

"That girl was a piece of work that's for sure."
"So how is the boy?" Koran asked.
"I don't know. He's had that warlock friend of his enchant his door so I couldn't hear inside. Thankfully I had that boy's father do the same to my office. Not sure how well it works."

I didn't listen anymore. They think I'm dead?! And there's a prophecy?! I stepped forward uneasily before making a break for the door, and Reece's bedroom.

I threw open the door and slipped back inside. Looking around Reece was no where in sight. I let out a shaky breath, do I tell him? A pair of arms wrapped around my waist and tickled my sides.

"Gotcha!" Reece's warm breath on my neck made me shiver.
"Ack! Let go!" I laughed, swatting at his hands. I turned around in his arms and wrapped mine around him.

"That sweater looks much better on you." He said, touching his nose to mine. I couldn't help but smile.Staring into the gold of his eyes I couldn't help but think of the prophecy that his father had mentioned. Since I'm not dead does that mean, it will come true?

"Whatcha thinking about?" Reece murmured.
"Nothing." I lied. "I should probably be getting home. You know how Lauri is." Walking over to the pile of my things I pulled my dress on underneath his sweater and headed towards the door. Reece followed.
"Just...let me know when you get home." He said, kissing me softly. I nodded and closed the door behind me.

And then I ran like hell.