The Soulmates

Isabella wished more than ever that she had never been involved with vampires in her 18 years of existence. Her life was complicated enough without the supernatural presence, but there she was, entering the mansion full of vampires, known as the royalty of the species, after being convinced to help her idiotic ex-boyfriend, who at one time, believed that she might have actually killed herself because of him.

The idea of killing herself for an ex-boyfriend had always been ridiculous to her and this was confirmed at that moment. Granted, she had done some foolish things after having her heart broken by the vampire, but none of them really involved the will to die. She liked to live. She wished to live forever, but that part had also been destroyed by Arvin's departure six months ago. Her love had turned to hate, and the only reason she hadn't said no was because she still had a soft heart that kept her from letting the unfortunate vampire kill himself for her sake. If there was one thing she wasn't willing to carry, it was some sense of guilt for letting Arvin die, thinking that she herself was gone too.

As soon as she was led into that room full of vampires, Isabella held back her sigh and the enormous urge to run out.

Arvin was also holding her arm, which prevented her from running or at least getting some space of her own, making the situation even more awkward.

When she located the trio of vampires ahead of them, clearly from royalty, she was surprised to find that they looked younger than she had imagined, although they were probably decades old.

Curious, she looked around, noticing a few vampires around, as if guarding the trio's safety. Why anyone would be innocent enough to break into that place full of vampires to try to kill one of them was a mystery to Isabella, but she wouldn't be opening her mouth in that place to say anything unless they asked her opinion, which she was beginning to doubt would happen.

The only woman among the three kings approached and finally Isabella managed to keep a bearable distance from Arvin, letting go of him discreetly, feeling a little less suffocated, despite the situation she was in.

Isabella even tried to follow the strange conversation, which involved Arvin admitting that there had been a mix-up and misinformation, but suddenly she had a strange feeling, and the human was more concerned about the stare she felt from someone on her. One of the vampires could not take his eyes off her, and was in doubt whether or not to look for the source of those sensations that were aroused at the same time.

She then heard her name being said by the woman, but as she turned her face, she finally found the vampire's location. He was standing on the right side of the room, his arms behind his back, in a position of respect and at the same time showing he didn't care about her presence and the vampires who dragged her into this situation. It was as if they weren't worthy of his attention...at least the vampires weren't. When she met his gaze, Isabella found herself caught in his gaze and he finally relaxed his posture, as if he had found what he had been looking for for a long time.

She wanted to ask him, to talk to him, but Arvin nudged her and Isabella had to concentrate on the vampire and her questions. She tried as much as possible not to show her annoyance, especially with Arvin's unnecessary interruptions, and when they were released to go, it made her realize that she had finally learned to lie, at least a little.

When she let her eyes roam that space once more, she felt calmer as she realized that the mysterious vampire was still looking at her, watching over her. It was a strange thought to have in that place, with those supernatural beings, but the dark eyes of that tall, strong man didn't seem to pose any danger to Isabella.

She then felt her lips act on their own, smiling at the vampire, before she turned to the vampires beside her and finally managed to leave. She couldn't see the vampire's reaction, but something told her that he had been surprised. She was only a human after all.

Isabella kept as quiet as the vampires would allow with the constant questions if she was okay. She would be much better off if she hadn't been dragged into a place full of powerful vampires who could kill her in the blink of an eye, but she managed to control herself before she said that or worse things, which she wanted very badly.

Isabella managed to fall asleep inside the plane, dreaming of black and blue eyes at the same time, of a man with fangs, who looked at her adoringly, seeming to want more than just to hold her like a pet. He wanted her. He wanted her for himself. He liked her. And it was with those delicious images, that Isabella endured that trip back, as calmly as possible, without an uncontrollable urge to throw them out of the plane and the car, so they would burn... they didn't really burn, they had some help from powerful people for that, but in Isabella's imagination it was happening.

When they stopped the car in front of her house, Isabella sighed, relieved, and got down as fast as she could, her mind still clouded by sleep.

"You can go now." Isabella said, trying to turn her back on them, but saw Arvin approaching and had to stop him. If it were up to her, he would never have the chance to touch her again.

"Isabella..." he tried to speak, at least respecting the distance he put between them.

"No, Arvin. I don't want anything more to do with you, or your family. I just want you to stay away from now on."

He opened his mouth, but Isabella was no longer willing to hear anything from him, so she went into the house, ready to make a special dinner, as an apology to her father, after having to disappear with Layla, to save a stupid vampire. Isabella couldn't forget the stupid thing she had to do.

But even though she didn't want to disappoint her father anymore, she knew that she would have been unable to deny help to someone, especially when that someone could die.

And so, after returning from Austria, Isabella tried to live as if nothing had changed, but the vampire family were back in town and all eyes were on her and Arvin, all curious and anxious to know if there would be a reconciliation. If it were up to her, the answer would be no.

Unfortunately for Isabella, the time away from involvement with vampires would be short-lived, after all something else had changed after her visit to the mansion in Austria, not with everyone, but with a special vampire, who she herself had had the chance to lay eyes on, feel the attraction and turn her back on, walking away as if nothing had happened... unlike in reality. Of course the human was not really to blame for this, after all only vampires feel the pull, the connection of mates and if they are lucky enough to meet their mate, or mate in Isabella's case, still in human form...

the connection unfortunately takes a little longer to complete, at least for those vampires with honor, who prefer to make their mate aware of the situation and give them a choice.

Perhaps this was not really the case for Demitri, if he had not seen the human next to the kind of vampire he hated so much. Stubborn, as only he knew how to be, the vampire made no move to act and declare Isabella his. In fact, the vampire chose to live in the corners of the mansion, trying to ignore the pain in his chest, which after a week had become constant, ever since Arvin, Layla and Isabella had left. He knew Isabella was the culprit, or at least suspected it, if the sudden attraction and the tug that seemed to pull him to her as he stared into those green eyes was indication enough. He relaxed as he met her eyes, his heart seemed to speed up as he saw her smile at him, leaving him surprised and with an overwhelming urge to return the smile. He was not one to smile, so there was enough evidence to help him understand.

"Demitri, are you all right?", asked Alicia, looking genuinely concerned, as she saw one of her best soldiers lean over slightly, seeming to hold back a groan of pain as he held his own chest, as if the squeeze was enough to make the pain go away. She knew those reactions, but she believed that the man would not be so foolish to hide the fact that he had found his mate... she was wrong.

"I am fine, master. What do you want from me?", said Demitri with more effort than he thought he would need. But the vampire had called him on a new mission and had work to do, so there was no possibility to stop and reflect on the fact that the discomfort and pain was becoming more and more present, constant and strong.

"We have strong suspicions that a vampire, with a peculiar talent, is prowling around Seattle. I need you to eliminate him, as soon as possible, before he causes even more damage."

"A peculiar gift? What do you mean?"

With his interest aroused, Demitri managed to put Isabella aside, away from the center of his thoughts, at least for a moment. It was almost a relief.

"He is turning vampires into humans. His gift is to bring vampires back to life. No chance of a comeback, it seems."

Demitri stared at his master in shock. He did not believe that this would be possible, or permanent. It was surprising.

"Master Alicia..."

"I have reliable sources, Demitri, and I trust you to eliminate him... if it's really as good as you say."

"I'm f... Ah!"

Demitri collapsed, feeling as if his chest was opening. Something was pulling him, making him suffer for the distance and scream in pain now too.

"Demitri, that's enough! You found your mate, didn't you?" said Mauricio, approaching him and helping him up.

Demitri stared at him, nervous, knowing full well what this vampire was capable of, but nodded, giving up on being strong.

"Who was it?" asked Gustave, curious.

Everyone was surprised to see the emotion flash across the face of the oldest of the Ventrue brothers, the one who had lost his mate a few decades ago and still hadn't been able to get back on his feet. Gustave was the perfect example of what losing a companion could cause.

"I think it was... Isabella Flowers", confessed Demitri, not surprised to see the shock on everyone's face.

"Why didn't you say anything? They've been gone for a week!", said Alicia, annoyed to see one of her best guards suffering, for sheer stupidity, if she was honest.

"She left in the arms of that spoiled vampire. If she came here for him, then maybe she is like him."

As he said this, Demitri felt something inside him twitch. His heart didn't agree with her words, and perhaps not even his rational side did. He was afraid, of what having a human companion might represent. He didn't want to end up like Gustave, even though he respected and admired him.

"She could just be being deceived or was persuaded to come. I saw her mind Demitri, and Arvin was not well received by her", said Alicia, almost smiling when she saw a glimmer of hope in Demitri's eyes.

"I'm sorry Alicia, I didn't think about that possibility."

"That's because you judge her without knowing her, your own companion. We can be considered tyrants and insensitive, and while that is almost true, you must act Demitri, or this pain will get worse, until there is nothing left of you", said Gustave.

"Go after hers and get your mate, and that's an order", said Maurice.

"But what about the vampire?" asked Demitri, remembering his initial mission.

"Take her with you to get him. She will be a shield, she will make your job easier", Alicia said, making him laugh as he saw her return to being the old vampyre who wished for the best by her side and defending her, before nodding and saying goodbye to everyone.

But despite the orders and the desire in his heart, he knew he needed to reverse his missions. He wouldn't feel like himself if he didn't finish off the vampire who was harming his people first. Isabella could not be his priority at that moment, not if he wanted to show that he was still able to act and fulfill his duties.

Despite his desire to be a good soldier and do his job as quickly as possible before going after his companion, Demitri had fate on his side, willing to make him see the right way, or in this case, walk the right way.

As soon as he set foot in Seattle, he was hit with a new pain, which made him lean over, clutching his chest, without the strength to keep walking at that moment, shocked by the force and his lack of control, which only served to keep him from falling.

"Are you all right?", asked a strangely familiar female voice that Demitri had not been able to forget.

Demitri then tried to stand up, but as he looked at the woman in front of him, he gave up being strong. It was her. Isabella was standing right in front of him, worried about him, apparently. She looked more beautiful since the last, and first time, he had laid eyes on her.

Between the pain and sudden admiration, Demitri was speechless.

Isabella was ready to go home when she saw that man almost fall in the street, looking in so much pain, there was no possibility of simply moving on without offering help. But when their eyes met, she felt the connection and recognized him immediately.

He was the vampire who kept staring at her while she was in that vampire mansion. She remembered him, she couldn't forget him, not when he appeared too often in her dreams, sometimes innocent, sometimes not.

"You're not well", she said, dispelling the indecent images of her dreams, as she realized that the man was speechless, staring at her, no matter how hard she tried to rise.

It was then, despite her fear, that she found herself taking his hand and pulling him along. He let himself go, looking even more shocked.

"Come on, I'm sure you'll feel better sitting down", Isabella said, as they reached her car. She opened the driver's door and motioned for him to get in.

"Why do you want to help me?" asked Demitri, finally finding his voice.

"I'm too good to be mistaken for an idiot... I didn't think it was right to move on, seeing someone in need of help."

She winked, drawing a sincere smile from the vampire.

Demitri could hardly believe his eyes. The pain faded with every second he stood in front of Isabella, breathing in her sweet scent, and he had to admit to himself that he couldn't walk away now, even if he wanted to. He obviously didn't want to.

"So... what brought you to Seattle?" Isabella asked, now sitting behind the wheel beside Demitri.

He stared at her, wondering whether he should tell her the truth or not. Despite what they were, what they had become to each other, he didn't know if he wanted to involve her in that problem.

"I have a mission here. I need to eliminate a vampire", he finally answered, seeing the fear in the human's brown eyes.

"Is he really that dangerous?"

Demitri took her hand, amazed that she didn't even shiver from the temperature difference, just as neither of them seemed to feel strange about the contact.

"You're just causing problems with the vampyres themselves. Don't worry, Isabella."

"You can call me Isa."

Demitri smiled.

"I think Isabella is much better. It's almost Italian."

Isabella smiled, and he saw her blush for the first time.

"I have to go home. I prefer to avoid being too late, now that I know what's lurking in the darkness", she said, after a comfortable silence between them.

Demitri hesitated, but knew he had to try. He was there for that too, after all.

"Do you want me to come with you to your city? For safety, against vampires who are in the dark", he offered, seeing the surprise in the human's eyes.

"Why would you do something like that?"

"Because I want to."

"Demitri... Are you here to see if I am really going to become a vampire?"

Demitri growled, unable to hold back his anger at the sight of her doubting him.

And before she could run away, he pulled her back into the car.

"I don't need to lie. If I were here to make sure those idiots do their part, I would. I'm not those..."

"All right! I believe you."

She stopped him before he offended even more the vampires, who, after all, had been part of his life at some point.

"Will you let me accompany you then?"

Isabella sighed, but said nothing, just buckled her seat belt, started the car, and drove home.

The entire trip was made with both of them in silence, with only the sound of the music that the young woman had turned on.

Parking behind his father's car, Demitri finally heard his companion's voice again.

"How stupid am I to show you where I live?", she said, making him laugh.

"I'm a tracker, Isabella. It wouldn't make any difference", he replied, still smiling, confident.

"Can you use your power on me? I thought it wouldn't work. Those others who tried..."

"I'm not like them."

"Have you tried?"

Demitri was about to answer, until he realized that he hadn't tried. Isabella smiled at his silence.

"I have to go in. Thank you for coming here with me when you didn't have to", she said, and he nodded.

The two got out of the car and after saying goodbye, Demitri tried to pull away from her, only to be hit with a pain, as if they were trying to rip his dead heart out of his chest.

He tried not to show it and to move on, but he had already understood that Isabella Flowers was too observant, for her own good.

"What's the matter with you?" she said in shock, walking over to him and holding him. Demitri realized that he couldn't get away from her hands.

"I can't leave. I just can't!", Demitri confessed, defeated, feeling something dripping from his eyes.

As he saw her reach out and wipe his face, he realized that for the first time in all eternity he was crying.

She sighed, seeming to struggle against her conscience.

"Leave me in the forest", he asked, watching her try to move him.

Determined, she nodded, but surprised him by starting to guide him to his house.

"Isabella, no. You don't want me inside your house."

"That's for me to decide, and you are coming with me."