Chapter 33 ∣  You're Leaving?

-Tamsin

"You can't be serious..." my voice trails off, Lucette and I sitting on the tree branch that we have done many times as children, her white hair resting in front of her chest. When she looks at me, she offers me a weak smile, but I know she is going to be happy to get away...

...to be with the one she is meant for.

Lucette appears thoughtful and says, "Perhaps you'll be allowed to leave too?"

"Doubt it," I sigh, my thoughts drift back to just hours ago when Rook had visited for the first time in years, the moment Lucette and he saw each other, it was like a light switch flipped on. Though we had all grown up together, it was a good six or seven years since we'd had anyone visit, the threat of rogues becoming more aggressive, unsatisfied with the treaty that was made between the vampires and hunters. That's one of the leading factors that turned a lot of vampires on their covens, disagreeing with Locaine and Orion's decision.

It doesn't matter to me, to be honest, if someone decides to attack our coven, I'll kill them in a heartbeat, no questions asked. If they truly don't like that we have peace for the first time in many years, then they can all go jump off a cliff and land in a pit of spikes.

Yes, it must have been a fascinating time when vampires enslaved humans and this entire world under their control. But really, what type of world is that? I'm glad I didn't grow up during that time, I know how controlling my own kind is, now imagine that on a mere human...

I'm not buddy-buddy with any human and I probably never will as after that treaty, Lucca never allows humans to set foot in the coven. He won't allow slaves, because everyone looks to him for influence...about the only positive impact he has made, other coven leaders following his actions. There are those, that use their right to keep slaves...

...just not killing them.

Rook and Lucette are perfect for each other, they are exactly alike in their own awkward way.

"I had another one last night," Lucette breathes out softly, her breath forming in front of her face, the cold set in for winter. Thankfully, it looks like we aren't going to get any snow anytime soon, and if Lucette really does leave with Rook back to his coven in Portland, Oregon, who knows what the weather will be like for her.

"Another what? Your visions?" I ask. It is no secret anymore, at least not between her and I. Though I remained silent after all these years, just dealing with my pain on my own, it is nice that she trusts me enough to open about her little...gift.

She nods her head, "It was Maverick..."

"What about him?" It feels like centuries since I'd last seen him, but he'd kept quiet, no news of his whereabouts reaching Lucca's ears.

At least he's doing something right...

"I don't think it was a vision...because it couldn't possibly be ever true," Lucette sighs heavily, throwing both of her low ponytails behind her shoulders, jumping off the tree branch as her white boots hit the ground.

Now I am even more curious.

"A wishful dream I take it?" I continue to sit on the branch, Lucette turning around and leaning on the bark with her forearms, "No happiness can ever be found here..."

"And humans fantasize about being a vampire," Lucette laughs, "it's not all it's cut out to be...I'd almost wish to live a simple human life..."

I push her shoulder and laugh, "No you don't! You'd never let your strength go, miss all powerful pureblood princess."

She laughs again, her eyes smiling back at me as she states, "You got me there," coming down from her laughing fit, she looks at me sideways and asks, "Would you like to know what my fairy tale dream entailed?"

"I'm always up for a good dream," I lean on either side of the tree branch with the palms of my hands, "beats having nightmares." I still get bad dreams from the night at the lake, reliving what my parents had done. I've started talking to them again, though it is short when we do speak. I never let them back into my personal life, keeping practically everyone at a distance so that I won't get hurt again.

"Well then," Lucette smiles, eyes drifting off while she looks up into the leaves of the tree, "we were all together again...though...that can't be possible because one, Maverick is a rogue now and two, Rook opened a portal to hell."

I chuckle, "Now that is a silly dream, I mean could you imagine? Rook's not some type of witch or anything like that and Maverick..." my voice trails off, wondering if I really will see him again and if will be under good circumstances.

I never see Lucette's face, but I do detect something in her voice, almost sadness. I know her brother being gone makes her wonder how it would have been growing up with him. I was lucky, able to spend more time with him, but for her, I know she wanted more.

"Lucette?" I haven't heard that voice in so long, turning on the branch to see Rook. He's changed so much, just like everyone else. His citrine amber eyes looking from the two of us, his white hair pushed back away from his face. He is wearing a heavy coat and dark jeans, Lucette instantly lighting up when she sees him.

At least she won't be that far...living a state away from her makes it a lot easier than her moving across the country.

Surprisingly, it is Locaine who follows Rook out, Lucette looking to me before she whispers, "Don't try to kill Arlynn..."

"I won't make any promises I can't keep," I roll my eyes as she laughs, ducking down under the tree branch and walking toward her grandfather and beloved.

"Your father has agreed...finally," Locaine starts, "that you can leave with Rook. You will no longer be bound here, though you'll always have ties to your bloodline."

I furrow my brows.

Bloodline?

Does that mean...?

Can't be...

...does that mean Maverick technically will always have ties with his family?

If that's true, this must have slipped everyone's mind.

Lucette wraps her arms around Locaine's chest, both embracing each other tightly before they pull away and she smiles, "I love you."

"I love you too," he replies, motioning to Rook and then inside, "your mother and father are waiting to say their goodbyes at the door. Go ahead, we'll miss you, but no one will hold you back from being with the one you love."

Lucette's eyes are filled with joy, I've never seen her so happy. She thought it would be obvious that Lucca would make her stay, his last child not wanting to let her go and next in line to lead the coven. But he's agreed to let her leave with Rook, who I know will love and look after her. He is so hard to read sometimes, but he really does care about everyone, more importantly, Lucette.

"It's nice to see you, Tamsin," Rook acknowledges me and I salute and wink at him, "Likewise. Look after her."

He chuckles and replies, "Always."

Rook and Lucette make their way through the back door of the mansion, leaving Locaine standing there, his eyes falling on me. He's constantly been trying to understand what happened and I can't blame him, because if he knew, I'm not sure what he'd do.

Would he hurt my father?

Would he blame his escalated rage on that one incident, that perhaps it was that that finally sent Maverick over the edge?

He sighs, placing his hands in his pockets and begins to walk toward the tree.

Here we go...

...another interrogation session.

His tactics change slightly when he walks around the side my legs are hanging from and asks, "Are you going to tell me what has been eating at you all this time?"

"Nope," I reply, getting ready to jump down from the tree, but he removes his hands from his pockets, grabbing onto the branch on either side of me.

"Let's make it a game then," I see something in his blue eyes, and it makes me slightly uneasy. I do enjoy games, mostly because I win...every time against Arlynn when she challenges me.

I ask, "A game?"

"Yes," he replies, lifting away from the branch and he smirks, "You fight me. If you win, I'll leave you alone and never ask again."

"If I lose?" Both my hands are resting on my lap, picking at the fabric.

"You'll tell me what you're hiding," he finishes. It doesn't matter how much he cares about me, I am worried he'll flip and do something he probably will regret. On the plus side...if I won, he'll let it be and not bother me anymore.

I nod and reply softly, "Deal."

"Oh, hell no!" It is Annika's voice that startles me, her figure appearing near the back door to the mansion, her outfit matching Locaine's dark cargo pants and combat boots, though she isn't wearing a coat, just a long sleeve shirt. Her white irises flash with anger as she states, "Don't you dare play games with him, you're way out of your league."

"Little hunter, come on," he sighs, watching as she storms toward the two of us.

"Don't you 'little hunter' me, you're being an asshole, knowing you'll beat her," she stops in front of him, looking from the two of us, "what deal did you just make?"

"A secret of mine..."

"One that should be kept I am assuming?" She locks her haunting eyes with mine and I flinch at her words.

I glance away and reply, "Yes..."

Truth is...part of me really wants to tell someone, anyone, at least one person who has an outsider's opinion.

"Locaine!" She growls at him.

"Let her be, she's old enough to make her own choices and if she had any doubt, then she should have said no," he shrugs his shoulders and Annika fumes, bearing her fangs at him.

Is he really that powerful?

I've never seen him fight anyone, he never trains, never goes up against anyone, and the only time he did do anything, was to stop Maverick from killing Lucca.

"Tamsin, go inside," Annika orders, but I just shake my head no in reply. Her eyes widen and she scoffs at me, "Don't say I didn't warn you." She leaves, walking toward the side of the mansion and leans against it.

Oh, so I guess she is going to make sure he doesn't kill me then?

Fantastic...

"I'll give you one last chance," he eyes Annika and she just glares at him, his eyes pulling back to mine, "if you don't want to do this, tell me now."

"I want to," part of me is perhaps praying that if he does beat me, I'll be forced to hold up my end of the bargain.

Then I'll be obligated to tell him...

...then I might not get in trouble if anyone else finds out.

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The Rogue Pureblood Vampire by K. A. Young.

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