A Stranger in the Night

Alex had been gone for a while no, which left me feeling nervous. I remember that he was here before I dozed off to sleep but was unsure of how long he had been gone. Nerine had been with me for a couple hours now and I was enjoying her company, but my meeting with the Council still urked me and plagued my thoughts. I knew Alex was upset about it too, even without him saying a word. Even Nerine seemed on edge. She was fussing a lot more than normal this evening and kept looking towards the door with every sound we both heard. "Are you okay Nerine?". I must have startled her when I spoke, as she spun around on her toes and stared directly at me. "Yes, of course dear. Just wondering where Master Alex is.". Weren't we both.

Claude had recently brought in a new tray with goblets filled with freshly drained blood again. My hunger was still ravenous and I gulped every last drop down from both goblets within moments. Although I more than enjoyed drinking it, it still made me queazy to think about where it had come from. I tried not to think about it and instead headed towards the bathroom. "I have drawn you a warm bath Miss.". Nerine said, gesturing towards the bathroom. "Hopefully this will help you feel better about the days events.". I nodded gently and made my way past her. I could only hope this was enough distraction for me to relax for a bit and forget about it. As I began to undress, the door swung open with Alex just standing there. His frame filling the door way before he slowly approached me and wrapping his arms around me and giving me a deep, long, passionate kiss. As he pulled away, he ran his hand down my cheek and placed a kiss on my forehead. "I love you Luna. Nothing will ever change that. I promise you, I will never let you go.". His words struck a cord in me. He knew something and I wanted to know what it was.

I pushed myself back from him and demanded he tell me what was going on. I knew from his body language that he was rattled as he slumped himself down into the dressing chair in the corner of the room. I wrapped my robe around me and made my way over to him, sitting myself on his lap and laying into his chest. He rubbed his hand softly along my back as he lowered his head down onto mine. "My Mother's has guests arriving tomorrow morning and we will need to be ready to go and greet them once they are here. However.....Mother wants to meet with us before we greet them.". He was eluding something and I could see he didn't want to talk about it, but I was not letting this go. "Alex," I said as I softly grabbed his face, pulling it towards me, to make his eyes meet mine. "Please talk to me...I need to know what's going on...this is killing me!". He sighed deeply and kissed my cheek again. "Mother knows what Alaric saw...". I shoved him hard, "Well, of course, I already knew that by her reaction. Did she tell you what she saw?". He nodded slowly. "Well come on! Out with it! You promised no more secrets Alex!". I stood up and began to walk away from him. He grabbed my hand and spun me back around to face him. "I know who you truly are...I know who your family is...".

What the hell was he on about who I truly am? Who my family is? I have no family. I was taken in by my aunt when my parents died and cast out when I was young because even my aunt didn't want me round. I was "too much drama" for her. "Luna, I know what your aunt did to you was awful, but I also know there's more to the story.". I pushed his hands off me. I hated when he read my mind, especially after todays' events. "I'm sorry but your thoughts are so loud that I can block them out. Anyway.. this is hard for me to say, and I don't know how to tell you this...". Again he was frustrating me to the point I could feel the ice in me ready to explode. "Luna! Don't! I'm trying to tell you something important. Just give me a minute!.....No! Stop! Luna! They are the guests arriving tomorrow! Your parents are arriving tomorrow.".

For a moment what appeared to be snow blasted out through the room as I stumbled, trying to catch my breath. Alex rushed to me and picked me up in his arms. "What did you just say?". I said as I slumped into his arms. He carried me back to the lounge chair and held me tightly. "I'm sorry... I didn't want to tell you this way. But Luna, please, there's more I need to tell you.". I looked up into his piercing emerald green eyes and could see the sorrow in them. "They will want to see you when they come. I've told Mother that I will only allow them to see you, if they agree to tell you why they did what they did. It needs to come from them. You need honesty.". It was all so much to take it, I didn't even know what to say. I've spent the last 30 odd years of my life thinking my parents died in a car accident, to only find out that they've been alive all this time. I felt broken and unwanted. "You are far from unwanted. Luna, I wish you could feel the amount of love I have for you, that my family has for you. There will be no way you will ever be alone again or that I will let these people ever hurt you again.". It did bring a small smile to my face to hear him say that, but right now, I wanted to shut off. He moved forward towards me and wrapped his arms around me holding me tightly. "It will be ok Luna. I promise you.".

Alex left me to my thoughts and a very long soak in the tub. Drained and exhausted, I simply slipped into bed, not wanting to face the world or dinner time with Alex's family right now. Alex stayed with me not wanting to leave me alone for too long in my fragile state. Nerine had left to attend errands, so it was just Alex and I. I wrapped myself up in the cosy blanket on the bed, not that I was cold but feeling the need for it, like a child snuggling into their favourite blanket. Alex sat up in the bed beside me, with me all cozied up beside him. He sat there, reading and holding a book with one hand, whilst the other played with my hair. I had shut off the hurt feelings from before and was just trying to focus on enjoying my time with Alex. But then the thought slipped in my head again about Alaric and what he saw in my head. "Don't worry about that now darling. We will handle this together and more will be explained tomorrow. I promise.". He was trying his best to be reassuring and comforting.

A loud knock came at the door and Alex went to the door to see who it was. He stood there talking for a few moments before he grabbed them and pulled them in the door, giving them a huge hug as he did. The second person toddled in to the room behind the first and Alex hugged them tightly as well. I was too drained to pay too much attention till both guests jumped on the bed beside me. It was Draven and Jess. "You ok kiddo?". Draven asked, rubbing his hand along my back. Alex who was nearby let out this ghastly sound, almost a growl at him, I'm assuming for touching me like that, as Draven laughed hysterically. "Calm down brother. I'm just checking on this little one. Nothing else. Besides I got me my chick.". Jess blushed, wiping her hair off of her face, when I caught the sparkle of something on her hand. "Wait....is that....". Jess nodded eagerly. "Yes! It is! Draven has asked me to be his bride and I said yes!". I sat up and hugged her with all my being. "Oh my gosh! I am so happy for you! I know you both will be very happy together.". I hugged Draven as well before he stood up and embraced Alex again, who looked the like proud big brother he was. The smile that cast across his face made my heart melt. "So I assume you told Father and Mother about this?". Yes, we did it before the Council meeting this morning, but with all the drama, haven't really had a chance to talk to anyone. Also, whilst I am here Brother. The wolf pack will be assisting with the escorting of the guests and staying here at the House till all matters resolved.". Hey! Wait! The wolf pack was coming here? Why would they need the pack to escort them? Was Lucas coming too? Alex's demeanour changed quickly, "Yes Luna. He will be.".