Chp 21
~Chapter 21~
The next night at the airport…
Denise, AJ, and of course, Toni were waiting anxiously for her flight number to be called. Toni was very nervous. She was biting her nails and her legs were shaking. AJ noticed.
"Toni, what's wrong?" he whispered.
"AJ, I'm scared!"
"Of what?"
"I'm scared of air planes! Especially flying like a normal passenger! Like a human! What if they know I'm not human?!"
"They won't know unless you do something stupid like turn into a wolf or start chewing on someone's neck! So, relax!"
"That's easy for you to say! You've been on planes fifty million times already! This is only my second time! I've never before left Romania until I met you!"
"I'm sorry."
"That's not what I meant! I mean, what if it crashes?!"
"It's not going to crash!"
"But what if it does?!"
" *sigh* You're immortal, remember?"
"Oh yeah. But still…"
"Flight 543 to Bucharest, Romania will now begin boarding," said a voice over the intercome.
Toni's eyes widened.
"Oh that's my flight!"
"Toni, come here." He enveloped her in a hug. "Listen, everything's going to be alright. Trust me. Have I ever lied to you before?"
She looked him in the eye. "No."
'Then this will be the first and last time,' he thought to himself.
"Ok, then get on that plane, relax, and enjoy yourself. Oh and remember to put your tray up in the upright position when they tell you to. I forgot to do that once and when I was bending down to tie my shoe…well, it wasn't a pretty sight."
" *lol* AJ, only you are stupid enough to do that!"
"I know."
"Bye. See you next week. I'll try not to miss you too much," she said as she kissed him.
"You got my pictures?"
"Yes, right here and here," she said as she patted her pocketbook then her heart.
"Bye, Toni."
Then she proceeded to Denise.
"Good bye, Mrs. McLean. Thank you so much for everything."
"It was my pleasure, Toni, and you can call me Denise. Good bye, dear."
She hugged her, then started walking away.
"Oh, Tone! Don't get sun burned and don't fall for someone else, ok?!" AJ called after her. She turned around and laughed.
"As if!"
She waved to them then boarded the plane. AJ and Denise returned home being greeted by Valencia who was sitting on the front steps.
"Val! What are you doing here?"
She blushed. "I'm locked out."
AJ started laughing. "Oh my God! I'm so sorry! I keep forgetting you live here, too! Well, it's not like you've been around much, but…Anyway, I'll open the door for you."
He took out his keys and unlocked the door.
"There you go. Val, I'm SO sorry!"
"It's ok."
"Did you have to wait long?"
"No, I just came back half an hour ago."
"Oh."
They all entered the house. Denise said goodnight, then went upstairs. She remembered that AJ wanted to talk to her.
"Umm, Val? Can I talk to you for a minute? In the kitchen?"
"Sure, but why in the kitchen? Your mother went upstairs."
"Yeah, but I really don't want her to hear our conversation."
"Oh."
They walked into the kitchen. Valencia sat down, but AJ stayed standing, leaning on the counter.
"Ok, what is it?"
"Well, first of all, where did you go last night and why didn't you tell me anything?"
"I went to a military meeting ordered by me to talk to our soldiers about the tactics and plans for our battle that night. And I didn't tell you because I didn't want to wake you and it would've been unnecessary since you would not be fighting."
"Who said I wouldn't be fighting? Why are you excluding me in everything? I'm part of the God damn clan, too!"
"I'm not excluding you! I'm protecting you!"
"I don't need to be protected! It's like joining the army! I choose to fight for my fellow vampires and humankind!"
Valencia studied him hard.
"Alex, why did you send Antonia to Romania?"
"What? Why are you changing the subject and how did you know?"
"I can read minds, remember? And you're thinking about how she's doing and if she's alright, knowing how afraid she was to fly."
"Oh. Well, she's been away from her home so long and I just wanted her to go back and spend time with her---"
"Alex, that's a lie. You just told her that so she wouldn't suspect anything. What's the real reason you wanted to get rid of her?"
AJ was silent for a moment.
"You want the truth? Fine. The truth is I sent her away because I didn't want her to get hurt."
"What?"
"I was planning on fighting whether you liked it or not. I knew she wouldn't want me to or she would want to come, too. I didn't want her in the battle field. This is my fight, not hers, but she could be so stubborn sometimes. My mom understands my duty, but Toni doesn't. So, now she's on her way to Romania not knowing a thing about this. And in case I don't make it, she has some pictures to remember me by."
"Alex, you're a fool."
"A fool in love, Val."
"You're not fighting."
"Yes, I am."
"No, you're not."
"You can't stop me. I want to give a little back to the world what the world gave me, life in peace and happiness. I am fighting."
"No, you're not."
"Val---"
"No, and it's not because I'm going to stop you. It's because it's not necessary anymore."
"What do you mean?"
"They're not here anymore. In tonight's battle, we succeeded in driving them back to Romania. Florida is Daemoniacus free."
"Really? How can you be sure?"
"Damian retreated. When Damian goes, they all go. They're nothing without their leader."
"Oh. So it's over? For good?"
"No, it's never over. They've just taken the war else where. They feel more at ease on native ground. Alex, now you can live your life without worry. They won't bother you anymore. My work here is done."
AJ was silent. He had a thoughtful expression on his face.
"Alex?"
"When are you leaving?" he asked quietly.
Valencia looked at the ground.
"The sooner I leave the better. I just came back to say good bye."
"What, that's it? You're just going to leave?"
"What else can I do? I have to." She got up and walked over to him. Holding back tears, she kissed his cheek and whispered, "Good bye." She started walking out the door, but then turned around. "Stop it."
"Stop what?"
"Stop being so cute that you're making me not want to leave," she said smiling sadly.
He returned the sad smile.
"I can't help it. I don't want you to go."
Her smile disappeared, a single tear rolled down her ivory cheek, and then she walked out the door and out of his life.
Chp 22
Chp 20
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