Where The River Flows Red

Eleven

Alan Walker- Faded

    "You're going to take the car. Amelia. I don't care what anyone thinks," my dad proclaimed when the car pulled up the front of the office building. I hadn't walked out yet and now I want too, much less. 

    "Dad, I'm not taking that thing," I shook my head, turning around to face him. I decided that being mad is not going to be the only feeling I feel from now on but man are they testing my patience. 

    "Why not? Your brother's car is twice as expensive. Is that's why you're not taking it? You want a better one?"

    "That's not the issue, dad," I let out a sigh knowing he wasn't going to drop this.

    "You've known how to drive standard since you were nine and were able to reach the pedals," he added.

    "Dad, that's the kind of car that screams look at me. I don't want anyone looking at me. I accepted your apology already, I don't need this," 

    "Amelia, you're no longer living under my roof. You're under the protection of the very things I have protected you from. Let me do this one thing for you. I don't want my daughter riding around in a BMW or worse a..." he looked away lowering his voice. "A Mercedes," 

    "You're a snob. You know that?" I glared at him. He shrugged. 

    "I insisted on a helicopter but your mother thought it would be too much," he smirked. I looked down at my shoes shaking my head. I held out my hand and he placed the key pod in it. He pulled me in and kissed the top of my head. 

    "Thank you and yes it would have been too much," I sighed heavily hoping that maybe one day my sanity will catch up with me.

    "I know you think so but It's not nearly enough from where I stand," 

    "I love you too, Dad," I smiled at him. He gave me a single nod before he walked away. 

    "This is your first time away from me," Silas stepped in. Both of us watched our dad go up the glass elevator. 

    "We'll be fine," I shrugged, looking up at him. "Until I can talk to Godrick Lockwood we have to compromise," 

    "Be careful. Call me, for anything. Even if it's because you can't sleep or want to meet for late-night chicken nuggets. I don't care. I want you to call," 

    "I will," I promised. 

    "Ivanka brought this for you. She said it has your essentials," he pointed at the luggage sitting next to the doorman. "I'll see you in the morning. Try and get some sleep," he smirked motioning me to go. "I love you,"

    I pressed the button when I was standing next to the door and jumped when the door opened on its own. The doorman laughed placing the duffle bag on the passenger side. He came around and held out his hand and I handed the key to him. 

    "This one opens the door. This one closes it and locks the car. This one turns it on. It goes there," he said pointing at something on the center counsel. 

    "Thank you," I laughed. 

    "I'll see you tomorrow, Ms. Bourne," he bowed and went back to the door. 

    I climbed in and it all came back to me. My dad had taught Silas and me to drive when Silas had wanted to get his license at seventeen. He made me get it at that age as well and took us out to practice on the track every chance he could. That is until Silas began to get into trouble and girls were the only thing on his mind. I drove to the address in my notebook. Silas had been right. This place is not just a common apartment building. The man in the parking box got out looking the car over and that was exactly why I didn't want it. The car ahead of me drove up. 

    "Who are you here to see?" he asked a little dazed. 

    "Cassidy Sterling," I answered. "She gave me a code," 

    "Oh," he said looking at me. "Right. I was told a new resident was coming in today. Code?" 

    "Twenty-fourteen," he walked back into the box and came back out with what looks like my car key except this is gold. 

    "This unlocks the gate. The elevator and your penthouse," he said. "Just press the button. Your parking spot is on the top floor. Doesn't matter which, you can choose,"  

    I pressed it and the automatic gate opened on its own. I drove in and went all the way to the top just as he had instructed. There were three other cars parked up here. A Lamborghini Aventador. An Ashton Martin One-77. A Bugatti Veyron. Silas would melt. Dad had gotten him a Veyron when he was accepted into Havard Med but the Aventador was one of his favorites. Dad has two. He stopped letting Silas use them when he crashed mom's Ashton Martin into the side of Rolls Royce one night when he came home drunk. 

    "It suits you," I jumped at the sound of his voice. I got out with my bag. "I thought I was seeing things when you pulled up behind me," 

    "That was you?" I asked.

    "Yeah. Let me help you with that," he said pointing at my luggage. 

    "It's okay. It has wheels," I waved him off before pulling the handle up. He nodded. I pressed the button on the key and the door shut. The car locked. 

    "Come on. We can walk up together," he said and I followed. 

    "Is it just you?" I asked. 

    "No. Analyse is here. The Aventador belongs to her," of course. "Are you still angry with me?" 

    "I'm not angry with you," I answered truthfully. "I'm angry at myself. I'm not often taken by surprise. I'm not as docile as I seem. It's just been a hell of a year. I need to get my head together and I lash out when it gets a little hard for me to do that. I'm sorry if I offended you or made you feel bad. You've been nothing but helpful to me," 

    "I understand. I feel the same way," he tightened his lips together before glancing at me. 

    "I want to thank you, Elijah," I continued.

    "But?" 

    "No buts. Thank you," I chuckled. It did feel like there was going to be a but in there. Even to me as I got the sentence out.

    "This was my mother's idea. She thinks you being friends with my sister is a great idea. So does my dad," 

    "Why is that?" 

    "You're Godrick's sister. Everyone wants to be friends with you. Everyone wants to be close to him," 

    "So, no other reason?" I asked feeling uncomfortable. He took a deep breath and released it slowly. 

    "Cassidy isn't like other girls. She doesn't like having friends for the same reason you don't. It's hard to tell who your friends really are when there are money and power involved. It's why we don't choose who we marry because of trivial things such as love. It's the same for our kind. We may love with everything we are but for them, it can be the fact that we provide something more than average. Cassidy likes you and it's weird for her to do so. She doesn't like anyone," 

    "That actually makes me feel better," I admitted. 

    "My parents are very protective of her. She has the potential to be spoiled but isn't. She doesn't see things like my parents do. I'm almost certain she'll take the Daywalkers oath," 

    "Can you explain some of that?" I asked. The elevator stopped, the doors opened and I followed him out. 

    "You don't have to make the choice," he smiled, looking back at me. 

    "Yeah, I was told but I still don't understand," Godrick told me that. He nodded stopping in front of beautiful massive double doors. I pressed the button and the doors opened automatically.

    "Analyse," Cassidy shouted. We walked in. It's like walking into a whole new world. 

    "Cas," Analyse shouted from somewhere. 

    The two of them were laughing but nowhere to be seen. A whooshing sound made me react like I had never before. I pulled Elijah behind me barely moving out of the way myself. An arrow hit a pillar right by my head. I looked back over to where it had come from to see Analyse holding a crossbow. 

    "s**t," she shouted, putting it down. 

    "s**t," I mimicked. She jumped out from behind the bar and came over to us. 

    "I am so sorry," she rushed out nervously. Her hand shot out and caught another arrow from thin air. "Cas," 

    "Yeah?" Cassidy popped up from behind a couch. Her eyes went wide. "Oh, my gosh. I am soooo sorry," 

    "We're okay," I laughed, taking the arrow out of the pillar. A nervous laugh left my lips when I handed it to Analyse. 

    "I didn't know you'd be here," she cleared her throat. For a second I thought she was talking to me but she's looking at Elijah. 

    "My mom sent me to make sure Zach can't get in," he shrugged, not really meeting her eyes. He walked in making himself at home. 

    "Okay. Freak out over. You're actually here," Cassidy beamed, looking me over. "Come on. I'll show you your room," 

    I looked up to see Analyse pouring herself a drink. This place is amazing. It's like walking into an old Victorian home. Redwood aligning the walls, leather victorian furniture, dark winter colors blending in perfectly. This place looks like a damn vampire lair. The building outside looks like it's modern, from the bricks down to the toilets. 

    "This is your room," she caught my attention before pushing two doors open. Everything gold and white. creamy white and grey marble. This place looks like something out of a movie. I am expecting a creepy butler to show up at any minute to ask if I need anything. "Do you like it?" 

    "This place is...." What word do I use for this? "Beautiful," 

    "Yeah, my mom had it built to mimic our house. It was built in the seventeen hundreds. Godrick sent a woman to you or us I guess. Her name is Alice. She and Joffrey are our house staff," A woman appeared behind her making me jump. One blink she wasn't there and the next she was. 

    "My lady," she whispered, kneeling in front of me. I looked up at Cassidy and she shrugged. 

    "You don't have to do that," I giggled. She stood up and smiled at me. 

    "He was correct. You are the living image of her," she said her eyes soft. "If you require my assistance all you have to do is press this," 

    "Another remote," I said when she handed it to me. This one is just a small circle with a black button on it and a little loop to attach to my keys I think. 

    "Press it anywhere and I'll find you," I jumped again when the only sound she left behind was a swooshing in the air. I looked at Cassidy a little shocked. 

    "You'll get used to that. Joffrey is a lot worse," she said. "You hungry? I was waiting for you to get here so we can eat together," 

    "Yeah," I lied. I had eaten with my family. 

    "Cool. Want me to get someone to put your things away?" 

    "No. I want to see what's in it. Ivanka packed for me," 

    "Ivanka Romanov?" Analyse asked from the bar. I nodded. 

    "Is she your driver?" Elijah asked. 

    "No, she's my nanny's niece. We grew up together," I said. They looked at one another. 

    "Your nanny was Matilda Romanov?" he asked pulling a seat out for me. He motioned me to sit. Analyse sat down across from me. For a couple of engaged people, they're very distant from one another. Elijah took a seat next to me. 

    "She was," 

    "Do you see why our people believe as they do?" Analyse asked. "Let us tell you a little about your nannies. Matilda Romanov is Russian intelligence so is Ivanka. When they mistakenly fell into our world they were recruited by the Russian Hunting Party. They aren't like your family," 

    "What are they then?" I asked thinking back to the night of the party. 

    "They don't play by the rules Bourne's do. They aren't under a blood oath. They can do whatever they want or better yet, whatever they're paid to do," Alice placed a plate of spaghetti in front of me and another in front of Cassidy. An older man came and brought a plate for Elijah and another for Analyse.

    "I've had a couple of run-ins with Ivanka," Analyse said bitterly. "Your little friend Ebony as well,"

    "She hurt you?" I asked. She looked at me and gave me a sad smile. 

    "I rather not say," she sighed softly. 

    "Why don't you tell her the truth?" we all looked back to see Zach walking in. He took a seat next to her. "Tell her Garrix Stark held you down while Ebony Stark branded you with a hot poker," 

    "How the hell did you get in here?" Elijah growled. My eyes stayed on Analyse her eyes turned cold almost empty. I didn't even see her try to move but her elbow came up almost slamming into his face. Zach stopped it with one hand. 

    "Please, as if you could try to hurt me," he laughed. 

    Before he could do anything to hurt her, Elijah was pulling him out of the chair before shoving him out towards the front doors. 

    "You were told to stay away from here," Elijah hissed.

    I was about to get up when both of them turned to look at me. Elijah's eyes are completely red. Like blood had flooded his eyes and were about to bleed out. Zach's eyes turned a pitch black. I jumped out of my seat and backed away from all of them. 

    "You've done it now big E. If you being engaged to her sister's girl wasn't enough realizing that you aren't always as pretty, should do it," Zach taunted.

    "Shut the f**k up," Elijah growled, pushing him out. Cassidy came over to me taking my hand. Analyse walked out with them. 

    "I'm sorry I ruined your dinner, baby," Zach shouted as Elijah gave him a harder shove.

    "I'm sorry. He's not supposed to come near me," Cassidy cried. I looked down at her to see tears in her eyes. 

    "Are you okay? You're okay," I don't do well when people cry. I pushed her hair out of her face. 

    "He knows he's not supposed to come near me," she's really crying. I pulled her into me. 

    "It's okay. He won't again," I tried to reassure her by wiping her face.

    "My lady," I looked up to see Alice coming over to us. She helped me get her to sit on the chair. 

    "I still think we should eat," I tried pulling the plate to her. "We haven't eaten and Matilda always says going to bed without dinner is a crime against the universe," 

    "It's hard to believe that she can be nurturing," Cassidy chuckled, taking the fork. 

    "It's hard to believe that Zach's eyes go full-on demon and Elijah's go, knight of hell," I shook my head, She laughed. 

    "That's one way to show what Clan you're from. When you take the oath, you vow to be what you are. Daywalkers have red. Nightstalkers have black. You binge SPN?" her mood is completely different now.

    "Ebony and I used to love watching it together," I sat down and tried to eat as much as I could. Not that I wasn't hungry. I feel hungry all the time now. Even after eating.

    "I'm sorry they scared you," she said when we were done eating. 

    "Did they all leave?" I asked. She nodded. 

    "Elijah, text me," she said showing me her phone. "He and Analyse say good night," 

    "Are you okay? You kind of froze when Zach came in. Has he hurt you before?" I asked. She shook her head. 

    "He would never hurt me. It's just things are different now. I'm coming of age and everything is going to change. I have to choose a Clan. I'll need..." she looked away. "I don't want to talk about this right now," 

    "Are you okay to be alone?" I asked. She looked up at me her eyes filled with tears once again and she shook her head. "Great because I'm not either. We can check out what Ivanka considers essentials together," 

    "Okay," she nodded wiping the tears from her face. 

    Hello, genetically inherited mess. I never thought finding blood relatives would lead to this kind of drama. Then again, I didn't think I'd be a vampire either. It never once crossed my mind. I'm starting to believe my dad when he said he was just doing what was best for me.