Chapter 97: Horror Stories…

***Albert.***

***Present day…***

“Raoul suffered post traumatic disorder for a year.” 

Memories of that horrific year flashes. I recall how I stayed with Raoul, reminding him of who we used to be. Of who we were. I remember how I had to re-train myself. 

“How did you learn to use your left hand?” Selene asks.

I raise my eyes to her, my memories streaming in.

“For one year, I had to be rehabilitated here; Raoul and I.” A feeling of wistfulness floods me.

A knowing look crosses her face. I give a dry laugh, seeing her disbelief. 

“You knew of this place back then? No wonder Dr Woodsburg reminded Raoul he should know how things are here.” She remarks.

I smile. 

“Yes. He found us.” I reveal.

“What do you mean?” Selene asks, confused. 

“He said he was led to me and Raoul by the spirits. That we needed help. So he took us with him and brought us here.” 

“Spirits? And the navy allowed it?” She asks, astonished. 

I shrug, casually. “We were already a lost cause. I was depressed, suffering traumas and so was Raoul. Raoul was worse. Was mute, before Dr Woodsburg found us.” 

Selene looks astonished. 

I grow thoughtful, thinking of how I suffered all those months and dad hadn’t even bothered to check me. I recall how I felt ashamed, that he didn’t respond to my calls or texts, when I needed him to see me.

“My father never came to see me. Never picked a phone to ask of my well-being, even when he had been told.” The words slip out, before I can hold them back.

I don’t know, somehow talking with Selene, eases the wistfulness I feel in my heart. A wistfulness long harbored.

“Why? What was his reason?” She asks, thoughtfully. 

I shrug again. Even if the pain hurts me, I wouldn’t let it rule me. It has eaten me deep for years, knowing I meant nothing to the man. Knowing I was nothing more than his heir. 

“Perhaps he saw me useless, once he knew I no longer had workable fingers…He always saw me as useless. Never liked me. I never knew his reason. And I never cared.” I shrug again.

The old pain surfaces. Selene holds my hands in hers, her eyes sorrowful.

“Perhaps it was his loss. You have us now. You are useful to me and Isabel. You are our treasure.” Tears roll from her eyes, the pain I see in those eyes, causing an ache in my heart.

The earnestness in her words, gripping me. Making me see into her heart. The love she has for me. And I wonder, am I worth her love. I have never been worth any girl’s love. A weird sensation settles in me as I accept her love. I want to be worthy of Selene’s love. 

No more secrets. I want Selene to choose me, because she wants to and not only because of Isabel.

My throat tightens as I push myself to say the next words that lay on the tip of my tongue. Words held back for so long.

I clear my throat, drawing closer to her. It’s 11pm now and Isabel is long asleep. We’re alone and I want to really be with her. I want to lose myself in Selene.

To bask in the love, I know she has for me. The love I currently see in her eyes. However, before that I have to tell her my truth. Allow her make a decision. Choose me from her heart, not from the judge.

“I want to tell you something which you deserve to know. Something I have hidden from you for so long, because I didn’t have an answer myself.” There’s a tremor in my voice, my insides shuddering with the reluctance I feel in confessing this to Selene.

“I…I know Dr Woodsburg told you about the silver bullets. But when Alia shot me…”

“Alia?” She echoes, frowning.

I nod, holding her hand tightly in mine to calm her. 

“What do you mean she shot you?” Selene cries, her lips pulled in a tight line. 

“That is a matter for another day. But she knew me, well…Alia knew I was allergic to silver bullets.” I stress, painfully. 

“Allergic? I never knew that…” Selene wistfully confesses.

I struggle, searching for the right words. I struggle to say this in the best way that wouldn’t hurt Selene. But there’s nothing best. I only have to say this as I can. 

“I’m a vampire Selene.” Am watching the look on her face. Her expression changes from wistful to confusion. “I just found out recently that I’m a vampire.

Something I had no idea about. I don’t know how, I never put any meaning to the cravings I used to have…I never bothered. I only recently found out who I really am.” 

Selene pulls her hand from mine, looking at me in disbelief.

“You’re joking right? Vampires? Vampires don’t exist. Werewolves…All those are only horror stories told to kids…” Selene laughs, dryly.

I shake my head.

“I used to think so myself, until I realized the truth for myself. Vampires, werewolves and dragons, they are all real. They all exist. I know that, because I have them under my employ.” I reveal to her.

She looks at me, searching my eyes and I think she sees the seriousness in my expression. 

“You never had nightmares. All those shadows you saw; those nights you woke up sick, they were all my fault.” I start. 

She looks at me, baffled.

I swallow anxiously. “Just like I made Caprice insane by my replicas and I sleeping with her.” I watch as a knowing look crosses her face. “In the same way I

had sex with you; my replicas and I. And I almost rendered you mindless, like I ruined Caprice. That was the reason I broke up with you in Amsterdam, because

I didn’t want to ruin you like I ruined Caprice.”