One Last Kiss - R. Brownell (digital ebook reader .TXT) 📗

There was no going back now, I had made the deal with my father,-and I would kill the hunter’s son at midnight tonight. Our kind had been at war with theirs since the beginning of time. When I say my kind, I mean, nightwalkers, or as some people refer to us as undead, immortals, and the most well known vampires.

I only made this deal because of my position in the family. In order for me to be accepted, I had to prove my loyalty, by killing the head hunter’s son. It hadn’t occurred to me as I was making the deal that maybe it’s not what I wanted. Don’t get me wrong I really enjoyed terrorizing people, it was in my nature. I just knew deep down this assignment would kill me, not just literally, but emotionally too.

I had decided to spend my last few free hours at my favorite spot by the lake. It always calmed me to watch the moon dance along the water. I sat there with my legs pulled up against my chest, just staring out into the open water.

A noise in the brush startled me. Then the scent wafted through the air, I knew it hadn’t been just any human, it was him, the human who I’d been secretly meeting for the past year.

If only I could tell him, what and who I was it would make things easier. I told him my father banned me from dating. I also said my life was complicated, that this whole affair was not serious. I don’t know when it happened, but I had a feeling it had taken that turn, but now I’d have to break his heart.

He stepped out from the brush, with wild red roses in hand. I could see the outline of his muscular body in the moonlight. As he grew closer, his green eyes focused in on me, and only me. He always had done that, and it is what had me the first time we had met. I came so close to killing the poor guy, but instead the night ended in a kiss.

“Victoria,” he spoke my name so softly.

Without thinking about it, I bolted into his arms. I was angry with myself for what I was about to do. I had to end this what ever it was, and I had to do it fast. After tonight things would be much different, weather I kill the hunter tonight or he kills me everything changes at midnight.

He ran his fingers through my auburn hair, his fingers twirling the small curls at the bottom. He smelled of baby powder, and it was so fresh and clean. I took in the deepest breath I had ever taken.

“Zane, I have something I need to say,” my tone was serious.

He pulled me away to get a look into my eyes, and then held out his hand to give me the flowers. They were beautiful.

“Sh… let’s play that game we played the first night we met,” he said caressing my cheek with his thumb.

“What game was that?” I asked.

“Let’s be different people, forget about everything that’s going on in our life. You remember don’t you? You had told me you needed a distraction, and well now I need one, so please humor me Harriet,” his smile was irresistible. Buried under his light scruff were two dimples on the sides of his cheek.

“Oh Oswald whatever shall we do tonight,” I played back.

The first time we had met, I had a terrible run in with a human, whose brother I had killed. I was scolded by my father and needed a break from my life. We made up fake names and pretended to be a married couple. We said that we were successful business people, with two kids and a nanny. We had some good laughs.

“How about we have some tea?” he laughed.

“Oh, that sounds simply divine, but we should be quiet, mustn’t wake the children,” I joked pushing my nose into the air.

“Yes we must stay quiet,” his voice softened as he brought his pointer finger to my lips.

I had been so distracted by him; I hadn’t noticed my back resting on a tree. He placed one hand against the trunk, and the other on my right hip. My eyes focused on his red lips.

When his lips touched mine, they were warm and a live. The hand that had once rested on my hip, was now reaching towards my head. His hands tangled in my hair again. He moved his lips carefully against mine. He had some sort of control over the monster inside of me, although this kiss was sure enough to break me.

He pulled me in closer, while our mouths discovered more then each other’s lips.

“Zane I-,” I tried pulling away.

“No Victoria, shh,” he quieted me down with his lips.

I could not help myself; I found my lips grazing against his neck. Under my lips, I could feel the pulsing vein, and I could feel the monster inside of me screaming to come out. It was so hard to hold it in, I had been trying for so long-maybe too long. His pulse sped up and he moaned as I continued kissing his neck. No-Victoria, control yourself

, I kept saying in my head.

I could feel them, my fangs tearing through my gums. It was too late and I could not hold back any longer. It hurt, and my throat burned, I craved his blood. I heard the click of my teeth break the surface. I pulled my mouth away for a moment, but then the second my fangs had fully been revealed I leaned in and they punctured his throat.

Zane jumped back with fear. I knew my eyes were turning the color of blood. I could not help myself; the hunger grew every moment I was around him. I had finally snapped.

“I am sorry Zane, but I have no choice. I just had to tell you before I killed you how much I really do love you. I can’t control myself when the monster takes over.” I looked at him with pleading eyes.
“Victoria, I came here to tell you the same thing, I love you with all of my heart, but I have to do what is right,” he lifted his pant leg and grabbed a giant wooden stake.

My mouth dropped open; both of us had known this whole time.

“You knew who I was, but yet you still loved me,” I questioned. He nodded.

“Of course Victoria, I will always love you. You do to me what no girl has ever done, you were the one,” his eyes watered.

I could tell that he was telling the truth. It was not easy, but my heightened senses told it all.

“And you knew who I was but still loved me,” he repeated. I nodded as well.

“Well, I guess on three we’ll see who wins this,” I said.

“How about one last kiss, whoever strikes first will have won the battle,” he suggested.

I stood there for a moment, taking everything in. If this was my last moment here on earth, then so be it. I have lived in hell almost all of my life, stuck in the body of demon. I have done almost everything I had wanted to do, including falling in love. It had been a wonderful journey, that if it needed to end I would be satisfied with that.
Somehow, both of us refused to hesitate. I ran into his arms and he caught me. I heard him trying to hide the sobs that hung deep in his chest. I looked up into his eyes, either way it would be the last time I could. I wanted to remember it this way always. I wanted to remember loving him. He tilted his head towards me; I felt his warm breath against my quivering lips. Gently his lips came down upon mine and both slowly moved in-sync with each other.
“I want you to kill me,” he whispered.
His lips wandered close to my ear. I shook my head.

“No, I have lived for hundreds of years I am ready,” I said.

“What if I can’t do it?” he asked kissing along my collarbone. I tilted my head back in pleasure.

“You can,” I whispered.

It all happened too quickly; I heard him gasp for air and pulled away for a moment. He suddenly became loose in my arms.

“Zane,” I cried out just as a sharp pain coursed through my body.

A scream echoed in the distance, but in reality, it was my own. I had never heard a scream like that before in my life. I felt myself drop down to my knees still holding onto him. He seemed lifeless in my arms, and suddenly I began to feel even weaker. My body ached with a pain that took over my senses. It was over, there was nothing left. Off in the distance I watched as a group of hunters and another group of vampires ran for each other. The picture became blurry, from tears and from the death that was coming. I held Zane in my arms and finally felt myself let go.

Publication Date: 07-19-2011

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