C20 Eli

“Hold your breath this time, or the wind will take it again.” She pushed my shoulder, laughing. I have taken her all over Paris at the speed of vampire today, and each time she pulled back, heaving like an asthmatic. It was very ungraceful, and yet she was still beautiful. Each time I threw my head back and bellowed in laughter, and she would scowl at me with a hint of a smile that burst into laughter. I could barely speak through my laughter. I have lived a little over a century and never laughed as hard as I have today. But then, I had only just begun to meet Amelia Rose.

“You say that, but you never give me a warning!” Her laugh echoed through the park as she pushed my shoulder again, gently this time. She leaned into me; the vibrations in her vocals against my arm sent chills through me.

“I’m warning you this time; if you have another asthma attack, you might pass out,” We were both hunched over our knees, leaning against each other, trying to catch our breath. No one had ever made me laugh so hard I couldn’t breathe. She was my light in the darkness, my hope. She was also my love. Pure and true. I love her. I LOVE HER! My heart pounded, and bumps formed all over my body at the thought.

I gave her the most ominous smile I could fake, lifted her into my arms, and ran. My wicked laugh could be heard from America to Europe, and so could her terrified screams. I stopped and let her down. Amelia Rose clung to me, her arms wrapped around my neck. Her heavy breathing against my neck stopped abruptly. “You ok?” She didn’t respond or loosen her grip. I don’t think she was even breathing anymore. Zeroing in on her heart’s beat, I sighed, relieved it was still beating. I tried to pull her away, but her tight grip gave me pause. “Amelia Rose?” When she didn’t respond again, I forced her grip apart.

“Wait, please.” She whispered it so low only vampiric hearing could have heard it.

“What is it?”

“Three people-inside your house staring me right in the eyes.”I knew who it was when she said, three people. I tightened my grip around her waist and lifted her legs.

“Hold your breath.” We were about a block away when I stopped. I grabbed both of her hands. “Where do you live? Go home now! Maybe you should catch a cab. They may follow if I take you. I’ll go back to my house and make sure they stay here. I hate to leave you on the side of the street like this, but that’s my family, and well, you’re a smart girl; I know you know why it’s not a good idea for you to meet them, at least not yet. Besides-”

“Breathe, son, we will not deprive you of this-” She paused either for dramatic effect or because she was choosing her words wisely. If I know her at all, it’s for dramatic effect. “-beautiful young woman.” I dropped one hand and turned toward the voice, positioning myself between the voice and Amelia Rose. “We know better than anyone how hard it is for you to curb your appetite.”

The smile looking back at me pierced through me and went straight to Amelia Rose. “She must be superb for you to save her for later. When did you learn such restraint, dear?” Amelia Rose’s grip tightened around my hand. Her other hand made its way to my shoulder. Her heart thumped through me. She was breathing deeper and faster, her chest rising and falling against my back. She was hiding.

“Hello, mother.” Amelia Rose’s chest locked up against me, her breath caught. I couldn’t look her in the eyes and see the fear I placed there. My heart dropped. This was her life now, fear. Constant fear. How could she ever be happy with me? I bring death with me everywhere I go, like a smartphone I can’t put down. Even if I want to purge, I just can’t. It’s a part of me now, and I have never been strong-willed. No amount of magical travels can ease the eerie presence of a blood-thirsty vampire family. I have to let her go. “How did you find me?”

“In all your impulsive behavior, you’re still quite predictable. Now stop being rude and introduce me to this beautiful friend you’re hiding behind your back. You can’t possibly think I would ever,” She paused again; this time, I think she was calculating her word options. “Deprive you of your privacy” She smiled, but she forced it through tight lips. “We missed you.” My mother was growing annoyed. I had little choice but to introduce her to my family and hope for the best.

“She knows, mother. She offered. You don’t have to talk in code around her, but know she is under my protection.”

“Protection from what, dear?” She walked toward us. “I don’t know what he has told you, but if you’re his friend,” she smiled, showing her straight teeth this time. “Or girlfriend, surely not his wife, or he would have told his mother, right Eli?” She looked pointedly at me, still smiling. “You’re safe with us; if you’re under his protection, then you’re under the entire family’s protection.” She grabbed Amelia Rose by the hand and pulled her out from behind me. Amelia Rose turned her head, searching my eyes, more like pleading. I looked at the ground, her fear unbearable.

“It’s ok; she won’t hurt you.”

“I can see what my son sees in you. You’re by far the purest of them all. In beauty, heart, and mind, too. It radiates off of you. You’ll be a most wonderful sacrifice.”

“Sacrifice!” Amelia Rose’s eyes shot open. She met my gaze silently, begging me to deny it.

“I’m kidding dear, Eli would lose his mind if I hurt you. Just look at how tense he is right now. His shoulders are so bunched up; he is scowling, for evils sakes. He looks ready to pounce on his prey, and I don’t mean you.” My mother turned her gaze from Amelia Rose to me, studying me, then back to her, studying her. “What have you done to him? I have never seen him so-”

For the first time in my life, my mother was speechless. After a long moment of silence, my mother blurted out, “If you’re that important to Eli, you must meet his brother Luka and his Father Ethan.” She motioned for us to lead the way.

My mother sidled up next to me and whispered, “I can see she means a great deal to you. Have you discussed the turn with her yet?” She stopped to peek at Amelia Rose behind us. Amelia Rose was staring at the ground, scrunching her fingers together so tight they were turning white.

I hated seeing her that way; all the strength we had built seemed to be falling away, my shoulders slouched. I rubbed my forehead, knowing where this conversation was going. “There is no way your father will bless this arrangement of protection for a mortal without guarantee of an addition to the family.”

“I know. I’ll think of something.”

“Like what?” Amelia Rose had stopped walking with us and was now backing away. “Eli?”

My hands trembled, and I scrambled to find the right words to comfort her, but I didn’t have any. Her heartbeat pounded in my ears. After meeting my mother, the scent of her sweat grew stronger by the seconds. My mother is sweet yet calculating. She is understanding through and through, but fiercely loyal to my father. He, on the other hand, is a savage business man. He turns into a Ken doll for my mother, though. Anything she wants, he makes sure she gets it.

There was no real way to pinpoint how my father would react to my clear love for a mortal, or Luka for that matter. My thoughts were getting away from me. A hand gently grasped mine, and I calmed. At least until I realized it was my mother steadying me. Amelia Rose was running away. I flinched, gearing to go after her, but my mother’s grip tightened.

“Let her go, son.” She pulled me into a hug. “She isn’t ready to meet your father, anyway.” It was true, but that wasn’t what I was worried about at that moment. I was concerned about her. I was concerned about the disappointment in her eyes, that look of betrayal. Her brown eyes were searching my soul for something, anything, to hold steady too. And I gave her nothing. I gave her silence; that was as good as saying I was forging a plan to turn her into a vampire. In truth, I was forging a plan.