ADRIA’S POV.
Did Derek know it was Lucien? Did he leave me to deal with the trouble of Lucien catching me sucking a human’s blood? No way.
Derek couldn’t do such. We were friends. We hunted together, we went everywhere together, and drank blood together, so how could he just leave me just like that?
Thinking back on the events of the night, I recalled Derek had sniffed something, and had raced for it, telling me he’d be back.
I closed my eyes, and shook my head. He was probably going to return, and search for me.
“It’s obvious.” Lucien replied, still holding on to my hand, as he led me out of the forest, and as we walked, I sensed a presence—Derek’s presence to be precise.
He was watching us, I just didn’t know where he was watching from. He had seen everything, and had not interrupted, had not helped.
I couldn’t even say a word, I just began to cry afresh. He was my friend. How was I to believe he wasn’t good? How was I to believe he had never considered me as a friend?
Lucien drove us to his house, and he put me into a guestroom, instead of his room, and that showed just how bad our relationship had gotten. Then, he leaned against the desk.
“Countless humans have lost their lives ever since you joined that vampire. He has been using you as an excuse to eat as many humans as he wants, and you fell for his trick. Tonight, if I hadn’t known you any better, I would have come, and met you about to eat Stacy, a helpless human. I’d have taken you, and you’d have paid for all the dead humans. Both the ones you ate, and the ones Derek ate. You’d pay for them all.” He started, as he folded his arms.
“That’s not it. Derek is not like that.” I replied, even though he had been watching us, as we left the forest.
“He really brainwashed you, uh?”
“What do you mean?” I asked.
“He manipulated you. A fresh vampire who knew nothing. He brainwashed everything you know. The dos and don’ts. If you were a human, and you were taken by a vampire, would you be happy? If you suddenly had life taken from you while you were still young, healthy, and ready to experience life, would you call that fair?
“Humans hunt animals because they are meant to be hunted. Animals cannot talk, and all they do is eat, take care of young ones, and reproduce. Humans have dreams, futures, aspirations, hopes, hearts, and people who would die a million times if anything went wrong with them. If the vampire you walk with, ate your mother some day, would you call it fair? You are nothing but a murderer.
“It doesn’t matter the way you killed them, or why you killed them. You took lives that weren’t yours to begin with, and you delighted in their pains. You, Adria, have blood on your hands, and you expect me to stay? You expect me to flock around you, and tell you pretty things? You expect me to overlook the monster you’ve become? Why, that’s impossible, Adria.
“You made mention of me leaving you, and said you became a monster because I did. So, I take all the blame now? How is that true? You’re just using that as an excuse, a way to justify yourself, but you’re wrong, Adria. There’s no justification for everything you’ve done. If you had known what you were doing, you wouldn’t have allowed yourself to be brainwashed, rather you would have proved yourself worthy to walk with me.”
His words hit me right In the spot, and tears ran down my face even harder. All I ever wanted was to be with him, and now that he seemed to really despise me, it felt like my world was crumbling.
I didn’t want to be alone. No matter what happened, I didn’t want to walk my journey alone, and I wanted Lucien to walk it with me. I wanted us to be together in everything that happened.
“This is your last chance, Adria. Any more killings by you, and I won’t sit back. Right your ways.” He said, and began to leave.
“I’m sorry. I was a fool. Please… please stay. Please stay with me. I beg you. Help me become better.” I cried out, with hot, large tears streaming down my face, and I ran to him.
I held his arm like if he left me, I would die, and he stood there without saying a word.
“Please, let’s do it together. Help me to be better. Help me to control this insane urge for blood. I need you, Lucien. Please don’t leave me again. I’ll become a vampire who acts just like a wolf. I swear I’ll never drink from a human again. I promise! You have my promise, Lucien!” I cried desperately, holding on to him even tighter.
“Adria.”
“I know a vampire, and a wolf cannot walk together, but we can. I assure you, we can. Please, don’t leave me again.” I cried, and something in his eyes changed, as he gazed down at me. If he left me again, I didn’t know what would become of me.
Depression would be the end of me.
“Why didn’t you do this earlier?” He asked, with confusion in his voice. “Why did you have to hurt so many people before you realized you needed someone to guide you? Why didn’t you talk to your mum? Why didn’t you show me your sincerity earlier?” He asked, and more tears flowed down my cheeks, as I cried out.
“I’m sorry. I really am.” I cried, and he hugged me, holding me close to him, and I closed my eyes, crying into his shoulder. I felt really pathetic. Why had it taken me so long to realize my mistake? How had I been so blinded? When did killing humans become such a natural thing?
“Don’t see him again. We’ll find how to help you out. I promise we’ll find a way.” He promised, and I hugged him tightly.
I trusted so much in his words, and I knew everything wrong was going to become right.
I was sorry for all my victims, so I vowed to be the better person. Making sure no one else fell into a vampire trap was going to become my priority, and with Lucien, I was going to make it possible.
At the moment, my only joy, and comfort, was having him back.