Reclaimed

“What happened to the house? I’m trying to remember. Oh, right, a tornado took it down.” Isaac blushed and looked away. “Are you blushing? Why in the world would you be blushing?” And suddenly, it dawned on her. She gasped out loud and exclaimed, “It was you! You caused the tornado, didn’t you?”

He grimaced and nodded. “I hadn’t yet learned how to control my emotions. I’d been moping about the house, and the next thing I knew, a tornado came ripping through. Luckily, no one had been inside.”

“Don’t feel bad. It’s not your fault. It’s not like you do these things on purpose.”

“No, I don’t.”

“Can you do it on purpose? Cause tornadoes?”

Isaac paused and studied her. “I’ve tried to create tornadoes here and there. I’ve gotten close, but it’s not easy. It takes a lot of energy to produce a storm from willpower alone. When I’m angry it just kind of happens. That’s when it’s dangerous, because I’m not in control of the situation. When I’m purposely causing a storm, or wind, I can decide how strong I need it to be. If I lose control, or my emotions cause storms, it can be devastating.”

She paled, and bit her lip nervously. “So that’s what made you nervous earlier.”

“Yeah, I didn’t want to bring a tornado on our heads.”

She nodded. “Is there anything I can do to help?”

“Hmm…not look, or feel, so good?”

She scoffed. “Not possible, sorry.”

He smiled. “I didn’t think so. Now, back to bed for you. Hopefully your dreams will leave you alone for once.”

Sabrina’s head spun busily with all the new information she’d learned. And he wanted her to sleep? Was he insane? “I’ll never fall asleep. Are you crazy?”

“I think you’d be surprised. Lie down and close your eyes. If you can’t sleep, I’ll stay up, too. Just try for me?” he pleaded.

“Fine,” she gave in. “But it’s not going to work, so be prepared for a late night.”

She fell asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow.

***

Elijah studied the turbulent waters below as he perched on the edge of the cliff. It’s not like he needed to worry about falling in. Hell, if only it were so easy.

Hunger gnawed at him, yet he didn’t feel in the mood for hunting. He liked to wait as long as he could, to deny the beast in him what it most wanted.

Blood.

It tortured him alone, yet he still persisted. He enjoyed the pain it brought about, enjoyed feeling something. Something besides the misery that always plagued him over the loss of Amelia. And now, Sabrina too. She had chosen Isaac, and he’d been left to wander the world alone and miserable once more.

When she had come back into his life, he had seen a light at the end of the tunnel. He had pictured a future, bright and sunny, by her side. He’d change her into a vampire, of course, because life without her would be meaningless.

He damn well wouldn’t have watched her die again. Hell no, he’d seen it already. And never, ever again would he watch that.

But in one sure move, she had ripped those dreams from him by falling in love with Isaac. And really, he couldn’t blame her. Isaac had always been much purer of heart than him. He was a monster, after all. One who should die. This brought him back to his earlier thought—death.

He stiffened as he studied the water. Someone approached, and he knew exactly who. He’d recognize her stench anywhere.

“Come to push me in, Louisa?” he asked, not bothering to turn around to face her.

Her laughter tinkled through the air as she approached. She stopped just short of arm’s reach. She might be confident, but she was not reckless enough to stand on the edge of the cliff.

Not like him.

“Now, why would I do that, Elijah? To ruin a beauty such as yours would surely be a sin.”

“The fact we exist is surely a sin,” he growled in response.