Chapter 19

“IT WAS like a movie. It’s repeating all over again. Only it wasn't you who was ill. This time, it was your mother. But the scenarios are almost the same.” I rubbed my temples when I remembered what Kiara once told me.

“What are you saying? Kiara, if you know something, please tell me.”

“Ingram told me not to tell you anything. And I have always been loyal to my master, Brianna, regardless of what might be happening to him right now. I’m complying with his order because I knew he was right. There is danger in knowing the truth, Brianna. All I know is that when the time comes that you need to choose, don’t let your emotions get the best of you. That’s the problem with the humans. They always follow their hearts and disregard logic. You should listen to both sides, Brianna.”

“What does she mean by that?” I muttered while looking at my mother who was sleeping beside me while embracing me. I softly kissed her forehead. Stella takes care of her during daytime. My time with her was at night.

After what happened to Kiara, I returned to my mother’s place. I don’t think I could stay there anymore. The silence and anxiety were killing me. I don’t even know what happened to her or who made her like that. I don’t know where to go. It’s been one month and two days since Erasmus and Ingram left. I’m starting to lose hope and so was Ellen.

I couldn’t push away the possibility that she could be right. Maybe the men we loved were really gone now. And it only meant one thing. It’ll be my turn to die soon.

But my heart rejects the idea that this was as far as Ingram and I could go. And now, I’m about to lose my mother, too…

When I couldn’t sleep anymore, I carefully released myself from my mother’s embrace. I stepped out of the room and went to the balcony to get some air. It was cold but I didn’t mind. I gazed at the sky. I wish you could give me even the slightest indication that we’re still under the same sky, Ingram.

“You didn’t have to wish upon a star to get what you want. I’m right here.”

My heart almost jumped out of my chest when I heard that voice. When I looked around, I caught a tall man staring at me. He was a few steps away from me and he was casually leaning on the baluster. The lights were on that’s why I’m sure that he just arrived because no one was around when I got here.

I stepped back. “Who are you? Where did you come from? How could you suddenly show up in someone else’s house and—”

“Relax,” he raised his hands as if he was trying to appease me. “Do I look like a bad person to you? If you say yes, that would really be embarrassing but I promise I’ll disappear.”

A gentle smile curved on his lips. Well, he had a point. He doesn’t look like someone who’d commit a terrible sin. He was more like a model or an actor. He possessed the most beautiful face I’ve ever seen in my life. He had a jet-black clean-cut hair. I think he was as tall as Ingram. They also had the same muscular built. He had creamy skin and smiling blue eyes.

“Why are you here?” I asked, still confused.

He looked relieved. “Based on your reaction, it’s safe to say that you didn't find me a bad person. Who am I? Hmm… Take a guess. I know Ingram. You could start your guess from there.”

“You’re a Vampire, too?” I exclaimed.

In a blink of an eye, he was already in front of me. He covered my mouth. “Shh,” he said in an amused tone. “Don’t yell. You’ll wake the entire neighborhood. And the next thing we’ll know, people will be all over me, asking me to bite them just to prove I’m a Vampire. And I can’t do that, not yet at least. I’m still full.”

My eyes went round which made him laugh. He was looking at me quite fondly as if he’d never seen someone like me before.

“Come on, I’m just kidding,” he released my mouth and extended his hand. “I’m Sullivan Owens. Ingram and I...well, we’re almost like friends. That’s the reason why I know everything about you, Brianna Perez. Just like before, he beat me in finding you first. He came here first. It’s the doppelganger thing, I guess. I wasn’t able to show up right away. I enjoyed watching you from afar.”

His smile widened when I accepted his hand. I was surprised when he took my hand to his lips and kissed it. “I was told you’re a romance writer. My curiosity made me buy all your books. You are different out of all the doppelgangers. I honestly think that you’re even better than the original version of you. I like how you view the world. It was dark and thrilling. I actually have no plans of appearing before you yet because of this,” he said as he pointed his chest.

“What do you mean?”

He shook his head. “I also don’t know. Something big happened. After more than a thousand years, this heart was able to feel something again the very first time my eyes landed on you. I’m nervous and I hate feeling this way because my subordinates would certainly laugh at me over this. It’s just that your eyes are too gloomy earlier that I had to show up.”

“I don’t understand what you’re saying.” I pulled my hand away from him and put some distance between us. “Do you know where Ingram and Erasmus went? They’ve been missing for more than a month now.”

“I don’t know about Erasmus, but you don’t need to worry about Ingram. He’s usually out of reach around this time. Maybe he went back to Illinois since it was Levana’s death anniversary.”

My brows knitted. “Levana? Who is she?”

“Oops. Me and my big mouth.” Sullivan slapped his mouth. “If Ingram didn’t inform you about her, then I have no right to tell you.”

“But I insist. Who is she?”

Sullivan sighed. “All right. Since my heart is weak when it comes to women like you, then for you, I’ll put my friendship with Ingram on the line,” he playfully winked at me. “Levana was Ingram’s first love. And you’re Levana's doppelganger. That was the reason why the two of you looked exactly the same. That was also the reason why Ingram desperately searched for you.”

I stiffened. Ingram didn’t tell me about Levana. He just told me that we’re bearers of the curse that originated from Acantha and Xenos. I’ve forgotten the fact that for me to be born meant that there was a woman before me who would be the same age as Ingram’s if she was alive.

“I don’t believe you. You’re lying.” I said after a while.

“Be thankful. I’m naturally a boy scout,” Sullivan replied, he didn’t look offended by what I said. “I came prepared,” he added before kissing me on the lips.

I tried to break free at first, but I stopped after seeing countless images in my head. I saw Ingram with a different hairstyle and clothing. He was inside a big old house. Not long after, I saw a woman who could pass as my twin. Ingram brightly smiled. He stepped towards the woman he called as Levana and tenderly kissed her on the lips. They looked so happy.

I witnessed a couple of things they did together before I pushed Sullivan away. What does those images mean? Why did Ingram keep his first love’s identity a secret? Why didn’t he tell me that she and I were the same? Our height, figure, and even our voices were the same.

I glanced at Sullivan who looked like he was bitten by a snake.

“I don’t understand,” he said in a voice filled with disbelief. “How come the touch of your hand and the taste of your lips are different? Your blood, your scent, and everything else are different. How did it happen?” he stared at my lips and swallowed hard. “I’m not supposed to feel anything, damn it! I hate it when I don’t understand myself. I’m sorry, but I need to leave now—”

“Why did you come here in the first place?” I asked just when he was about to turn his back from me. I’m so confused, I don’t know who to trust anymore.

He was about to jump from the balcony when he stopped and looked at me. “Right. I almost forgot what I came here for. I’m here to help you.”