Chapter Eighteen

Chapter 19

With his eyes closed, he looked almost peaceful, quite vulnerable in fact. It would have been easy to finally kill him as he lay there, unprotected. I had hunted recently, a few hours ago, in fact (that was the other reason why Cara told me to arrive late. She knew me well), so snapping his neck would have been easy. I could have killed him, but I didn’t. I simply didn’t want to. Was it my curiosity that drove me to follow him out of that party? Maybe.

Those moments we spent together on the dance floor… I don’t know how to describe them, but it was as if nothing else mattered then. There was just me and him and the music. No missions, no horrifying tasks, no distant memories, just us.

It felt so normal, so right. I guess I have been running from the truth for so long. Some part of me still cared about him; that is why I couldn’t bring myself to murder him right now.

I thought I would be able to forget what I felt after he killed Eddy, but I just cant. It is as if he is some kind of poison running through my veins. My hand still tingled where his kiss now lingered.

As if by instinct, i felt a tug at my heart when my thoughts started to wander. Zayden mentioned that he would like to join the party tonight, even though he wasn’t invited. I haven’t seen or sensed him around though. That would make my job easier- it’s hard enough to tear at all my old wounds, ripping them open and exposing them to possibly even more damage, but playing with a guy’s emotions would be easier without a jealous boyfriend watching my every move.

I swept a lock of hair out of  Seth’s eyes, and at that moment, they fluttered open. I froze for a split second, as if I were a child caught trying to steal a cookie. Instead of pulling away as I expected him to, he rested his head in my hand.

“Sorry about that. I guess the party was a little too rough for me.” I chuckled at his statement.

“You clearly haven’t been out much lately. Masquerades don’t exist anymore, dear Seth. I think they went out of fashion a few decades ago. This is the new way of partying up a storm.”

“Such a pity. Whatever happened to class and refinement?”

“That doesn’t matter to anyone anymore.”

“But it matters to you?” I went quiet, and he picked up on it.

“There are many things that used to matter to me Seth, but I’ve learned to live without them.”

I saw him flinch at my words, and I knew that he knew I was talking about him.

“Aralynne…that, well, whatever we had, died a natural death. Just let it go.” His voice lowered a few decibels.

Though his words hurt me, I knew they were true. They angered me, but not enough to truly motivate me into action. Yet, after years of experience, I knew that I could make him believe the opposite. It was time to pull out all the stops, and watch his reaction.

I pretended to compose myself before speaking, so as not to ‘scream’ at him.

“Love never dies a natural death. It dies because we don’t know how to replenish its source. It dies of blindness and errors and betrayals.  It dies of illness and wounds; it dies of weariness, of withering, of tarnishing…”

The more I talked, the more I felt like crying. Years of bottled up emotions soon formed moisture in my eyes, and for a moment, I was glad that the girls bought waterproof mascara. But I didn’t plan on crying, not in front of him, even though it would make the act more believable, so I swallowed back the tears.

When I looked into his eyes again, it was as if the mask was pulled away. For a change, I could read his emotions; concern, fear…

“Aralynne, why did you follow me?”

I mentally paged through my arsenal of possible replies.

“I need answers Seth. I want to know why you keep acting the way you do. You seemed so interested in  Cara a few days ago, now you act like she doesn’t matter. What happened? Aren’t you going to kill her?” question after question bubbled to my lips, but he let me work out my frustration.

“I am so confused. I don’t know what to think or to feel anymore. So I want you to tell me; am I wasting my time trying to get close to you again?”

“I don’t want to answer that.” Emotionless, as before.

“I need to know. For once in your life, be honest.” I pressed.

He closed his eyes and bit his lip, as if in pain, before continuing.

“Aralynne… we are not right for each other. I can’t let you in my life again. I’m a monster, I will only hurt you.” I blinked in surprise. Hurting me has never bothered him before. I wasn’t going to give in until I know for sure that he doesn’t want me. I’ll be persistent.

I took one of his hands in mine and examined his palm, gently tracing the lines with my index finger. I smiled at the first two.

“You have a long life line, oh, and this one, means you are shy.” He moved in a little closer, to watch what I’m doing. I decided to go on, but remain quiet for a few seconds, enjoying the feeling of his warm hand in mine.

“That’s funny. I don’t see any.” I said, as if speaking to myself.

“What don’t you see?” he sounded so human, his nosiness matching that of a child.

I looked up from his hand, and directly into his dark eyes, holding his gaze for a few moments.

“Monster lines. Not a single one.” As I said this, I smiled at him and wondered how he’s going to react, but instead of staying, I got up and turned my back on him.

I knew there was one more line I had to deliver before curtain call- one last thing I had to say to tug at the heartstrings of his, something to truly make him think.

“Seth, don’t say were not right for each other because the way I see it, we’re not meant for anyone else.” And then I walked off into the night, knowing he will follow me.

Maybe this plan was just crazy enough to work after all.