Echo - Chapter 14

Echo shot up out of her bed breathing heavily. The reoccurring nightmare of her twin self in the mirror with blood-red eyes haunted her once more. She lifted a hand and brushed away the stray black hair that had found their way in the line of her view. Her thoughts took another turn and focused on Cedric's earlier words. If she wanted to know what secrets lay inside the necklace, she would need to become that girl in the mirror to do so. How was she to make herself do that though if she could not even embrace her vampire half right now? Many questions were still left unanswered for her and turning would just create another complication.

Sighing, she slid out from the soft black covers that engulfed her and felt the cold flooring meet her feet.
"Good morning," Lucian greeted as he assessed her now combed hair and usual combination of dark clothing.
She nodded her head in greeting and strode toward the door.
"Where are you off to?" He questioned while leaning against the wall; his eyes following her still.
"I'm headed to the club, maybe I can find a vampire there who will give me answers?"
At this Lucian shook his head.

"Too dangerous, they will be on the lookout Echo. Maybe it is best you stay here."
"And do what?" She said turning and forcing herself to return his gaze while continuing, "I feel like I'm not contributing my part. I can't be stuck up in this apartment all day! I can handle myself, as I said before. I'm going to get answers my way; being a vampire slayer has its perks too you know."
She smiled as she said the last words and he frowned at that.
"Please let me do this, I'm fully capable of handling a situation."
"I realize that, but sometimes I don't think you realize the dangers you put yourself in. You are still half human you know."
He turned and walked back to the kitchen; taking hold of the situation, Echo stepped out before he could say anything more.

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The warm breeze that passed by her through the parking lot brushed its fingers through her hair as she made her way towards the door. Soft Jazz played through the building and the mingling of people chatting at the bar made their way towards her ears. Damion, the bartender, gave her small wave as he spotted her and ushered her over.
"Hey Echo, how you been? Haven't seen you around lately," he said in the husky voice of his.
"I've been good, and I know. I've been caught up in... personal matters."
"Hey, we all know how shitty life can get, right? No worries, I've got the goods that will temporarily take away your problems," he said laughing and holding up a bottle of liquor.

"No thanks Damion, not tonight. I'm actually here to see if you've seen anyone that could be of interest."
"Ah, so you're looking to have a good time? I think I know a person who may be interested."
She watched as his eyes dropped and his voice took on a seductive tone; he smiled tugging gently at his lips.
"You really are something aren't you?" She laughed, "No, I meant like someone who looks out-of-place."
"Well now, I suppose I am. But if it's someone like that you're looking for, why not try that guy over there?"

He jerked his chin forward towards the corner of the bar near a row of booths and she saw a shape make itself known. She turned and rewarded Damion with a smile and made her way over to the man, upon looking over his face she saw that Damion had not let her down and he was indeed a vampire. The man looked up and gasped sharply as his eyes found hers; the greens of his eyes widened and his mouth stood agape in horror as they met her silver ones. The man seemed to realize his face was like an open book and just as quickly as it opened it slammed shut. He stood and started making his way toward the door muttering darkly under his breath, silent whispers that she could barely make out. Rushing out the club after him, she grabbed his shoulder as he rounded the corner of the building. Lashing out, the man turned quicker than she could have imagined and before she knew it she was pinned against the brick wall of the building.

"What do you want from me?!" The man screamed into her face.
Echo was taken aback by the amount of hostility in his voice. Her eyes grazed over the deep gash on the right side of his face running from his eyebrow to his lower jaw. 'What could have done that?', she thought. Echo chose to stay as she was in her position; as vulnerable as she was, she wanted to seem as trusting as possible in hopes of gaining some information.
"Please, I just want to know some information," she managed.

The man held her by her throat. His gasps of breathe forcing their way out of his mouth along with the wild look in his eye gave him a feral look which made her contemplate the choice to stay in her vulnerable position. He slid his tongue over his cracked lips, a low hiss escaping his mouth.
"What's your name?" He said; his voice coming out like sandpaper.
"Echo, Echo Knight."
Despite her shocked state, she found herself answering his questions truthfully.
He hissed once more showing her his extended canines; his grip on her throat tightened and her hand twitched up in response to her growing need for air.

"It's just as I presumed... you are in fact of the Knight family. I should kill you now for the things you've done."
'What is he talking about?', she asked herself.
"I have not done anything; I have no clue as to what you're talking about."
"Don't lie to me child! Your family was my downfall, now tell me why you're here."
"I don't know what you're talking about. My father was a scientist who worked on his own projects with colleagues. My mother was a vampire, like yourself."
"He had a daughter?" He asked to himself, confused now.

He released her and stepped back running his hands through his thick hair.
"And you know nothing?" He turned toward her again and she could see that the deranged look had vanished from his eyes.
She shook her head.
"If you are lying to me girl, you will soon be gotten rid of."
"I'm not lying to you, now tell me why you hate my father so much," she said.
"I will not, if you are not mixed up in this mess, then I will not be the one to get you into it."

"I am already mixed into this mess whether I want to be or not, but if you did tell me then perhaps we can both benefit from it."
He shook his head and rubbed his jaw.
"Not here. If you want answers, it will be on my own terms."
"Very well, how can I get a hold of you?"
"I will find you."
She nodded her head and turned to leave.
"Echo."
At her name she turned back towards the man.
"You may not like the answers you will get. Your father... was not the man you thought he was."

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Echo walked into the silent apartment and headed to her room. She found herself staring at the maroon wall and found escape in it. She had never known her father to be someone else other than the man she thought he was; if she found he was in fact the opposite she would be devastated. He was all she looked up to. 'Could he in fact be someone totally different and all she knew about him... a lie', she thought. Soon the light of out her window turned to dark.

A faint sound at her doorway snapped her out of her reverie and she turned to find Lucian looking at her.
"Are you alright?" He asked in his smooth voice; the lines of his face turning up in concern.
She ran a hand through her hair and sat up straighter.
"Yes, I'm fine."
"How long have you been sitting here?"
He looked out of the window into the night and back at her.
"Not too long."
"Is that so? Because when I got here you were sitting like this and I came in again an hour later and you're in the same position. Tell me what's wrong."

"Nothing, I've just got a lot on my mind."
"Were you able to find any information?"
"No, unfortunately not. I may be going to see my mother's friend, Natalie, tomorrow."
His eyes narrowed as if he knew she was lying. The silence filled the room like a heavy blanket. After a few moments, he spoke again.
"You know," he said hesitating, "you can tell me things Echo. I may be able to help."

He walked over and she briefly noted the dark hood he wore, perhaps the same one he wore on the night they met. He looked down at her, his dark hair falling into his face and his eyes fixing on her stopping her for a moment. He reached out and she closed her eyes as the touch of his hand meeting her cheek; it lingered there for a moment before continuing across her lips. The warm feel it made her lean into it a bit but she stopped at realizing what she was doing. When it vanished she opened her eyes and found him looking at her as if concentrating; perhaps on her reaction.

"Sleep well."
These were his words to her before he left her alone with her thoughts. She found herself confused by her reaction also. She had never thought of Lucian as someone she could like in that way. By the time she was done thinking it over, only one question ran through her mind.
Was there a chance that she, a vampire slayer, could like Lucian, a vampire?

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Thank you again for reading my story guys, sorry it came out late there were some complications with the uploading. As always another will be out soon!

Comment Replies:

Kaiden: Thank you, I'm glad that you enjoy my writing.

Mary: Thank you! Yeah, Echo and Lucian are sharing a bit more chemistry now. Hope you liked the chapter!

Maree: Yeah, I tried to incorporate more in for Lucian's character here, still more work needed though. As for Echo's humanness, I'm still thinking.

Ace: Thank you, I'm glad you like the story.

Makkedah: Thank you for taking time to comment, I always love reading them. I'm glad you like the story, and again, still thinking on Echo being a vampire.

Tasha: Oh it's okay, I'm glad you commented though. I can't tell you how much I love reading the comments. Hope you like the chapter.