"They never told me I was adopted."
"If they had you would've spent your whole life asking questions, they weren't ready to answer."
"You're defending them."
"No. While it's true they could have told you sooner, I can't help thinking it merciful of them to want to give you some kind of normal life."
As much as she hated to admit it he had a point.
"Say that I believe you. That she and I share the same soul. What's so special about Angelina Dracos."
Evander grew silent for a moment, thinking of the right words.
"The Dracos come from a long line of powerful vamp mages. Angelina was the most powerful. Since you carry her soul, you would likely inherit those same abilities. Dangerous abilities if not used correctly."
Angel stared at him dumbfounded. Out of all the things this man has said this took the cake.
"Bullshit."
"Excuse me?" The evident shock on his face was almost laughable.
No one ever expected her to have a potty mouth. Despite her sweet and innocent appearance Angel could out curse any sailor. She had loads of frustrations and words like "I beg your pardon?" and "you can't be serious." didn't do justice. All of this, from her adopted parents, the death of her birth parents, her reincarnation, to the reveal that actual vampires are walking the earth is absolute bullshit.
"You expect me to believe that Vampires exist?"
"We teleported here using magic and vampires is what stumps you?"
"How can I be the descendant of a vampire. Vampires don't procreate."
"Okay, here's everything you humans know about vampires." He balled his right hand into a fist as an example. "And here is the window." He drew an imaginary window in the air and pretended to throw his fist through it.
"We humans? Are you implying that you're a vampire as well?"
"I am." He said simply.
Angel shook her head.
"You're not. You know how I know?"
"Enlighten me."
She lifted up her pant leg revealing a small scratch on her right knee.
"I've had this the whole time, and you haven't noticed."
"I noticed. I would have suggested treating it sooner had you mentioned it. Otherwise, I would have to explain how I knew about it."
"Then how come you're not affected by the smell or sight of blood."
"Who says I'm not?"
Her eyes widened.
"Relax. Only a newbie vampire would get excited by such a small scratch. It's not even bleeding anymore."
Angel couldn't believe she was even having this conversation. It was unreal and yet it all made sense.
"How old is a newbie vampire?"
"All vampires are considered newbies or fledglings until their 300th birthday."
"So, then that would make you..."
"Older than 300 years old."
"400?"
"Nope."
"1,000?"
"In my day we wore Chitons."
"Chitons. Didn't ancient Greeks wear those?"
"You know some history. Many humans tend to confuse Chitons with Togas."
"But that would make you over..."
"Hard to keep track. I made the transition some time 600 B.C."
"You don't look a day over 20."
"22 actually. At least that's how old I was when I turned."
"And you're an Instructor at Stratos Academy. Is that a school for vampires?"
"Vampires and the like."
"And you want me, a human to enroll there."
"It's the only way to unlock your abilities. You'll need it if you're going to avenge your father and defend yourself against Gorgons."
"They want to kill me?"
"They want your soul. They don't exactly need you alive to get it."
"How long do we have until Gorgons find me?
"We aren't 100% sure. We suspect they're waiting until your 18th birthday."
"Right. Okay. Listennn...I'm sorry what should I call you?"
"At the academy you should address me as Instructor. Here you can call me Evander if it makes you more comfortable."
"Okay, Evander you do understand how this sounds right?"
"I do."
Angel nodded to herself, fighting hysteria. She was known to pace when she felt like this. Walking from one wall to the other Angel contemplated her options. Trying her darnedest to comprehend the information she'd just been given. Whenever she thought of a possible way out of her predicament she'd stop in front of Evander with a faraway expression, her hands on her hips. Nope that won't work either, she'd think and resume her pacing.
Evander watched the girl pace, deep in her thoughts. Her ridiculously loud thoughts. Out of all his gifts telepathy was his least favorite. It took centuries to master it, so that now he had to actually try to listen to a person's thoughts to hear them. With the usual exception of someone pointedly pushing their thoughts towards him. Even then he could block them out. Angel thoughts were different. She knew nothing of his telepathy and her thoughts weren't directed at him. Yet they projected toward him all the same. The loud inner ranting focused completely on her circumstances and how to escape them. She was lost. Normally Evander would never listen intently, but he was worried she'd do something silly. If he could help her sort out her thoughts this whole process could go much smoother. Angel's thoughts flooded into his mind like syrup.
Each idea was more farfetched then the last. She no longer doubted that she was the incarnate. Instead, she doubted her capabilities. She feared she wouldn't live up to the expectations this town has for. That it would lead to her death. When she stopped in front of him a fourth time, her eyes caught his. Her thoughts redirected to him in an instant. He should block her thoughts. It didn't matter what she thought of him. A single name makes him pause.
Van.
How could she know? Only one person called him that. His Angelina. He had been trying so hard to see Angel for who she was and not the soul with in her, but now…his mind and heart were at war.
When he first laid eyes on Angel, he felt relief. The girl looked nothing like the Angelina he knew and loved. When she spoke, there was a difference in personality as well. Angelina was an elegant vixen that demanded the world kneel before her. Angel was a defiant teen who simply wished for normality. The poor girl would never be normal. Angelina…was dead but her soul lived on in this girl's body. He told Jax and the others that he was fine and that his past would not affect his ability to train and protect her. It was not a lie. He only left out how he still greatly missed his lost love. That a part of him had hoped to bring her back. Privately he conducted his research on soul dualism. He learned there was a way for Angelina's soul to take control. Right now, Angel believed that their souls were one in the same.
The truth was more complicated than that. Right now, Angel and Angelina's soul coexisted in the same body. He didn't expect to successfully bring her back completely. All he wanted was to speak to her and have her speak back. For her to call him the way only she could. He'd recognize the soul shift no matter the change in her appearance nor the tone of her voice. He just knew it. No matter what, he wholeheartedly believed in their bond. Even when logic would discredit it. Even when Jax and the others would discredit it. For this reason, he had not told them. They would only insist Angelina's love for him was never real. His desire to speak to Angelina once more was a selfish one but even he knew better than to bombard the girl with questions. As far as he knew she has no idea who he was to Angelina. That then left the question of the pet name. Could Angelina be slipping into her consciousness already? At any rate he couldn't ask of which was never spoken out loud. For now, he would wait patiently.
Angel stared blankly at Evander. The name Van simply didn't fit him. Evan was more fitting, she thought. Evander brows furrowed slightly. He must be weirded out by her staring.
"You must be wondering what I've been thinking this whole time."
The creases in his forehead melt away leaving behind an amused expression.
"Certainly. Do tell."
"You'll be happy to know that I've decided to go along with all this." She waved a hand in the air for emphasis.
He started to speak but she held up a hand.
"I'm not finished. I have conditions. First being, my mom…Dalia. Whatever the training is. I don't want her part of it. Second, if I run off DON'T come after me. I'm more of the self-healing type. My misery loathes company. Lastly, under no circumstances am I to be compared to miss thang over there." She gestured to the statue. "I go by Angel not Angelina and don't forget it. I don't care if Angelina liked her coffee black. I like mine with extra cream and sugar."
"Anything else?" Not in the least bothered by her sassiness.
She crossed her arms. He observed her body language and nodded to himself.
"You won't have to worry about unwanted interaction with Dalia. She has decided to reside elsewhere. Something about giving you the space you needed."
Angel swallowed hard, a lump in her throat.
"Second condition won't be an issue as well. Jax has a permanent foot in his mouth and knows it. Sebastian couldn't care less about your feelings, anyone's feelings, really. As for me, I only went after you to explain things. That and it's too dangerous for you to be alone until you've undergone training. You didn't seem bothered by Demetriou's company."
"Hm…that almost sounds like my business."
Evander held his hands up.
"I was just going to say that he is one of few you can trust in this town. He'd make a good friend for you."
She might be imagining it, but Angel could of swore there was a tad of emphasis on "friend". She rolled her eyes. The last thing she needed was some ancient vamp snuffing out any chances she had of romance. Not that she had even considered Demi as a potential boyfriend. She didn't get any flirty vibes from him either. She didn't like any of the guys at her old school. Despite being a downer about literally everything else. Angel considered herself a helpless romantic. None of the fairy tale crap or the toxic stuff. If there was a chance, she could die it would be after checking some things off her bucket list. Everything was ranked by priority. A boyfriend was #7 on the list but desperate times called for desperate measures, and it was now #2. #1 the newest entry and the most important, was finding her father's killer. Her eyes narrowed on Evander. Weeks until her 18th birthday and not so much as a first kiss. She wasn't going to let some ancient vamp stop her from finding true love. He returned her glare for a moment before clearing his throat and walking over to the bookshelf.
"Shall we get started then?" He said picking a tattered book off the shelf.
"Not until you agree to all of my terms."
He fingered through the pages of the book as if searching for something. For a moment she thought he was ignoring her request completely. He stopped skimming suddenly, looking up at her with such contempt.
"Shall we get started then Angel?"
The hostility in the air was unmistakable. It wasn't nearly as hostile as Sebastian's warm welcome, but it was there. If these were the people responsible for her safety…speak of the devil. He walked with his pelvis first. Walking into the room as if he owned the place. She immediately zeroed in on his shirt. More than a few buttons were undone, revealing smooth skin. He caught her peeking and winked.
"Getting started without me?"
"Your late." Evander answered. He held out the book to him.
Without breaking his stride Sebastian plucked it from his fingers and took a seat at a long table. Funny, Angel hadn't even noticed the table.
"That's because I, until 5 minutes ago, wasn't coming."
"Then why bother?" The words were out of her mouth before she could stop them.
"Excuse me? Is that any way to speak to your instructor?" He challenged.
Angel looked to Evander, but he too seemed to be waiting on her response. That was just fine. She said what she said. He was there to protect her, wasn't he. So then why act as though he didn't want to be here? More importantly this was her home now.
"You're the instructor and that's fine but this isn't the academy. It's my home. So, my question is to you; Sebastian, if you don't want to help me why not just leave?"
Evander grew paler, his face turning grim as he stared down at his folded hands. "Tell her…gently." He said to Sebastian.
"Relax I'll be gentle." Sebastian ensured. Though his smile said otherwise.
He pushed out a chair and waved Angel over. She sat down slowly, trying not to show how uneasy the atmosphere made her.
"Just tell me. I'm not some delicate flower. Whatever it is I can handle it."
"You're a big tough girl and you can make your own decisions. Is that right?" asked Sebastian.
"That's right."
"Got a strong moral compass. Always do the right thing?"
"Yup." She answered without hesitation.
"So, then a decision like this should be easy for you then. All you have to do is the right thing. You can handle that. Right?"
His eyes laughed at her. Like there was some kind of joke but nothing was funny.
"Right."
He rolled up a sleeve on each arm and held up his wrists to her.
"What do you see?"
She looked at his bare forearms puzzled.
"Nothing."
"Grab my wrists."
She was too intrigued to ask questions. Scooting closer to him she reached over and took hold of his wrists. At first nothing happened. Then his veins glowed faintly. She peered closer and they glowed brighter. Her palms grew warm. She watched as red glowing chains lifted from his skin and encompassed his wrists. Startled, she tried to let go, but Sebastian flipped their hands so that his were on top, holding her in place.
"What is this?"
"You wanted to know why I don't just leave."
"These chains are keeping you here? Can't you break them?"
He laughed.
"If only. This curse was placed by a Dracos. Only a Dracos can break it."
"Me? Well, how do I break it?"
"Not so fast, dear. You don't even know the stipulations."
She frowned.
"You have two choices. A: Don't free me and I'll remain shackled to your side. Forced to obey your every command. I will protect you. If I don't these chains will sap me dry, and I'll die. Or B: Set me free. I'll get as far from this damn town as I possibly can. But if you choose B you'll die."
Her heart sank.