“Well sis, is there anything fun to do in this ancient crumbling city?” Adam asked with his usual humor.
“Well... we could always go shopping,” I said baiting him.
“No, no, and more no.” said Adam with a scared look on his face. To this day Adam and for that matter Aiden too, both hate shopping. I always found it comical. I liked to shop and I liked history so Rome appealed to me. But not to my boring brothers who would rather watch football.
I looked at Jonathon shrugging my shoulders, “Any ideas?” I asked him.
“Why don’t we just hang around here?” He suggested with a shrug of his shoulders. Adam and Aiden exchanged a quick glance.
“Sounds good to us,” said Aiden before returning to the conversation with Danny and Mason.
I resisted the urge to laugh. Jonathon had flown my brothers out here to visit me and they were having more fun hanging out with Danny and Mason. It was like I didn’t even exist.
“Okay,” I said shrugging. I headed towards the kitchen to eat some breakfast. I was suddenly ravenous from dealing with annoying boys.
I picked around in the kitchen and produced a bowl, milk, and cereal. I sat at the table stirring the flakes until they were at just the right sogginess; not too soggy but not to crunchy either.
Jonathon sat at the table with me. He didn’t say anything letting me have some peaceful moments to think. From the family room I could hear my brothers’ laughter.
I was a little disappointed that they wanted to hang out with Danny and Mason, and not me, but another part was glad they liked my new family, even if they didn’t know my new family happened to be vampires.
I dumped my last bit of cereal down the sink and stuck the bowl in the nearly empty dishwasher. Since I’m the only one who ever eats it was always pretty empty.
Jonathon’s cold muscular arms wrapped around me. His cold lips kissed my forehead.
“You seem tense, principessa.” He said as a statement not a question.
“I’m just tired,” I said by way of excuse. I thought back to last night and what he had told me about bloodlust.
Suddenly I felt as if his blood was singing. It’s like it was calling to me. I thought I could smell it too; sweet but powerful. It was as if I could see his veins popping out against his pale white skin, the veins appearing like a bright blue.
I looked away quickly and when I looked back at him everything was returned to normal. I let out a breath.
“Are you okay?” He asked; worry etched onto the finely sculpted lines of his face.
“I don’t know;” I answered truthfully as he rubbed my arms.
“Will this bloodlust thing, ever go away?” I asked him.
“Only time will tell. We’re just going to have to wait and see.”
“I don’t know how much more of this I can take.” I said bowing my head slightly.
“I’m so sorry principessa. I wish you didn’t have to deal with this but it was the only way I could save you,” He whispered, choking on his words. I looked into his warm, welcoming, silver eyes. Tears that could not fall glimmered in his eyes.
“Oh, honey!” I began, putting my hand on his cheek so he had to look at me. “Don’t you dare apologize. You saved my life. True, it’s had its consequences but I’d rather deal with them and be here with you. It’s not your fault,” I said trying to reassure him but the frown that had formed at the corners of his mouth didn’t disappear.
“But maybe if I had gotten there sooner,” He began but I stopped him with a finger to his lips.
“No ‘buts’ Jonathon. You couldn’t have done anything any differently. It’s my own stupid fault for trying to block any thought of you,” I said, tracing the smooth marble contours of his face.
He chuckled. “How about this? It’s no one’s fault. Agreed?”
It was my turn to laugh. “Agreed,” I mouthed as he kissed me.
Chapter Four: Goodbye to You and You
The rest of the weekend past by in a blur of laughs and jokes. I enjoyed the small amount of time I was able to share with my brothers. Not seeing them every day had really taken its toll on me and I hadn’t realized just how much. Today I’d have to say goodbye to them again and it would be extremely difficult, when you don’t see someone often it’s so much harder to say goodbye.