The Rapture

Vivienne looks at me with a wide, predatory grin. “This is going to be so much fun, the three of us.” Her words hang in the air, heavy with a chilling promise of twisted games and dark challenges to come.

Alistair finally dismisses Vivienne’s disturbing comment with a wave of his hand. He turns to me, his gaze softening slightly. “You must be tired, and and in need of rest,” he says, his voice surprisingly gentle. “Stay here while you both heal.” motioning to Arlo, “I will have my driver take you three tomorrow evening back to Moonlit Beach. Feel free to go anywhere you please; I know you enjoyed the library on our last visit.”

A wave of relief washes over me. A night of rest, a chance to process everything that’s happened, it’s exactly what I need. And the library... the thought of losing myself in those ancient books, seeking answers in their dusty pages, it’s a tempting offer.

But even as I nod in agreement, a sense of unease lingers. This mansion, this world, it’s all so unfamiliar, so dangerous. And Vivienne’s words echo in my mind, a chilling reminder of the darkness that surrounds me.

I glance at Arlo, his face pale and drawn in the moonlight. He needs rest too, more than I do. I’ll make sure he’s safe, I promise myself.

Alistair rings a bell, and three men materialize, their movements swift and silent. They approach me and gently lift Arlo, his body still limp and unresponsive. My heart aches as I watch them carry him away, his sacrifice a heavy weight on my conscience.

We are led to a luxurious guest room. The men lay Arlo carefully on the plush bed, his pale face bathed in the soft moonlight streaming through the window. I sit beside him, my fingers instinctively reaching for his hair. The silken strands feel cool beneath my touch, a stark contrast to the warmth that once radiated from him.

“God,” I whisper, my voice barely audible, “I don’t know if you exist in this crazy world, and I know I try to usually do everything myself, but please, I beg you, do not take him from me. I know he believes in you, please... I need him.”

Tears well up in my eyes. This desperate plea, this acknowledgment of a higher power, it’s a foreign sensation, a vulnerability I’ve never allowed myself before. But in this moment, faced with the possibility of losing Arlo, I am willing to surrender my pride, to beg for a miracle.

Vivienne saunters into the room, and I immediately fix her with a glare. She raises her hands in mock surrender. “Don’t shoot me,” she quips, a nervous smile playing on her lips. “I know you must be angry at me. I won’t lie, I envy you and what you have with Arlo. My emotions got the better of me.”

Despite her attempt at reconciliation, hostility still simmers within me. “You kidnapped us?” I accuse, my voice laced with bitterness.

She shrugs a nonchalant gesture that further ignites my anger. “I had to,” she explains. “Alistair told us to go get you both. But it was I who saved his life. I told Alistair that Arlo was too important to me, and if he cared for me, he wouldn’t let him die.”

Her words hang in the air, a twisted confession of her possessiveness over Arlo. The revelation that she played a role in saving him only adds another layer of complexity to my already tangled emotions.

Vivienne, undeterred by my hostility, asks to sit next to me. As she approaches, she senses my reluctance and instead takes a seat on the chair across from us.

“Look, I am not going to go easy on you, Evie, during our training,” she declares, her voice firm.

“Wait, you aren’t training me,” I retort, surprise and a touch of defiance in my tone.

“Well, we both know that I will be,” she says with a knowing smile. “Arlo loves you, a kind of love I have never felt, so it is difficult for me to understand. But what I do understand is that he hasn’t given you real consequences to force you to master your aura. You haven’t even learned to fight yet.”

Her words sting, a harsh truth I can’t deny. I glance at Arlo, his peaceful slumber a stark contrast to the turmoil brewing within me.

“Arlo will try to protect you as he did today,” Vivienne continues, gesturing towards him, “even risking his own life. You cannot keep relying on him to save you, Evie. You may one day have to save him, have to save everyone.”

Her words hang heavy in the air, a sobering reminder of the stakes. The realization that I am not just a pawn in a game, but a potential savior, sends a shiver down my spine. The weight of responsibility settles on my shoulders, heavy and unfamiliar.

Vivienne continues a hint of vulnerability creeping into her voice. “I want us to get to know each other better, Evie. We had only met a few times before all this, but I think we all had fun at the Pier bar hopping and at the Viel taking that viral photo.” She smiles a genuine grin that softens her sharp features.

The memories flood back, warm and comforting. It’s true, those nights out had been filled with laughter and a sense of camaraderie I hadn’t expected from a vampire like Vivienne. Arlo’s warnings echo in my mind, but I push them aside for now.

“Yeah,” I say, my voice softer than I intended, “those were fun times.” A small smile tugs at my lips, a fragile truce forming between us.

But even as I acknowledge the shared memories, a wariness remains. I can’t forget her role in my kidnapping, and her eagerness to train me in ways that may push me to my limits.

I’ll keep an open mind, I tell myself. But I won’t let my guard down.

At that moment, a soft moan escapes Arlo’s lips, his first sound since his sacrifice.

“Arlo,” I whisper, leaning closer, afraid to disturb his slumber. “You’re okay.”

Relief washes over me, a wave of warmth amidst the lingering tension in the room. My gaze flickers to Vivienne, a silent question hanging in the air. Is this a turning point, a chance for us to forge a genuine connection?

Vivienne rises from her chair, a newfound warmth in her eyes. “I will leave you both to catch up on everything,” she says softly. “But tell him I am very happy to see he is okay, and thank you, Evie, for saving him, even from himself.”

Her words are filled with genuine gratitude and a hint of vulnerability. The kindness takes me aback, and for a moment, I see a different side of Vivienne, one that’s not consumed by competition and coldness.

“Thank you,” I manage to say, my voice thick with emotion. It’s a simple gesture, but it feels like a bridge between us, a fragile connection forged in the aftermath of a tumultuous night.

As Vivienne leaves the room, I turn back to Arlo, my heart filled with a mix of relief, hope, and a lingering sense of uncertainty. The path ahead is still shrouded in darkness, but perhaps, just perhaps, there’s a glimmer of light on the horizon.

A few moments later, Arlo stirs, his eyes fluttering open. Confusion clouds his features as he takes in his surroundings. “What? Where?” he mumbles, his voice raspy with sleep.

Then, his gaze lands on me, and a wave of relief washes over his face. Without a word, he pulls me into a tight embrace, his arms wrapping around me like a lifeline. He peppers my face with kisses, his lips soft and warm against my skin.

In that moment, nothing else matters. Not the looming threat of the supernatural war, not the complexities of our new existence, not even the lingering tension with Vivienne. All that exists is the warmth of his embrace, the reassurance of his touch, the overwhelming joy of being together.

We remain entwined, lost in the comfort of each other’s presence. Time seems to dissolve, the worries of the world fading into the background.

“Evie,” Arlo whispers, his voice husky with emotion. “I love you.”

His words fill my heart with a warmth that defies the coldness of my new existence. I lean in, capturing his lips in a tender kiss, a silent affirmation of my feelings.

“Let’s rest,” I murmur against his lips. “We’ll deal with tomorrow evening, tomorrow.”

For now, we’ll bask in the stolen moments of peace, savoring the love that binds us together. Tomorrow will bring new challenges and new revelations, but tonight, we are safe in each other’s arms.

I awake to the comforting warmth of Arlo’s arms, his body now fully healed, a testament to the resilience of his vampiric nature. Leaning in, I press a gentle kiss to his lips, a playful gesture meant to stir him from his slumber.

He stretches luxuriously in the soft moonlight, a contented smile gracing his lips. “Evie,” he murmurs, his voice thick with sleep, “you are the best sight to wake to.”

I can’t help but tease him, “Hopefully, all the time, silly.”

His smile widens, but then my expression turns serious, and the playful atmosphere shifts. “Arlo, honey,” I begin, my voice heavy with concern. “Alistair sent me on a test to save you, which we sort of saved each other. He counted it as a fail of sorts on your part for not training me well over this past week.”

Arlo’s face, moments ago filled with warmth and contentment, now reflects worry and a hint of frustration. His brows furrow and his smile fades. The gravity of my words sinks in, casting a shadow over the peaceful morning.

“He can’t take me from you. I won’t allow it,” Arlo declares, his voice filled with fierce protectiveness.

I hug him tightly, drawing comfort from his strength. “No, I passed another one of his tests at the end because you have been honest with me. So, we get to leave together now that you are healed. But Vivienne will be living with us and aiding in my training, as Alistair thinks your love for me has made you soft as an instructor.”

His expression darkens further at the mention of Vivienne’s involvement, but then a tender smile graces his lips. He cups my face in his hands, his eyes filled with unwavering love. “As long as I am with you, Evie, my love,” he whispers, his voice a soothing balm to my anxieties.

His words fill me with a sense of hope and determination. Together, we can face whatever challenges lie ahead.

At that moment, Vivienne walks in with Alistair. Alistair’s voice breaks the intimate silence, “Glad to see you are both awake. When you are ready, the driver is ready to take the three of you,” he gestures towards Vivienne, “back to your car, Arlo, at the Moonlit Beach. I expect each week to have the three of you at my parties and give me updates on Evie’s training. This arrangement, if done well, should only be temporary as Evie, you start working at the hospital in three weeks.”

As they leave, Arlo’s gaze locks with mine, a silent promise passing between us. “I will do everything I can to get us out of this mess,” I say, my voice filled with determination. “I promise.” He seals my vow with a tender kiss, a reassuring touch that calms the storm within me.

“Well, let’s get dressed and take it one step at a time,” Arlo says with a gentle smile. “Usually best with Vivienne. I’m sure she’s already planning something for us.”

Despite the uncertainty that hangs in the air, a flicker of hope ignites within me. With Arlo by my side, I know we can face whatever challenges lie ahead. We’ll navigate this treacherous new world together, one step at a time.

We leave the room, a stark contrast to the luxurious surroundings. Our burnt, blood-stained, and torn clothes serve as a harsh reminder that a night can change everything. That a night can transform your life forever, a night of celebration turned into a nightmare.

Looking at us both, I can’t help but laugh. It’s a hollow sound, tinged with disbelief and a touch of hysteria. I will take control of this nightmare.

We find Vivienne and Alistair waiting for us in the large foyer, their postures radiating an air of expectancy. As we approach, they rise in unison.

“Now remember,” Alistair’s voice cuts through the silence, soft yet laced with an undeniable authority. “Be here for next week’s Masquerade in four nights. I will want to see her having made progress, Arlo.”

His words hang heavy in the air, a reminder of the expectations placed upon us. The pressure is palpable, a constant undercurrent in this new reality we’re navigating.

The three of us, Vivienne, Arlo, and I, step out of the mansion and into the waiting car. Arlo and I settle into the backseat, the luxurious leather a stark contrast to our disheveled appearance. Vivienne takes the coveted shotgun position, her presence a silent reminder of the challenges ahead.

The car purrs to life, and we glide away from the imposing mansion, leaving behind the echoes of the night’s events. As we journey back to Moonlit Beach, a sense of anticipation hangs in the air. The world outside the window is familiar, yet everything feels different now. The ordinary streets and buildings hold hidden depths, a supernatural undercurrent that I’m only beginning to understand.

The drive is mostly silent, each of us lost in our thoughts. Arlo reaches for my hand, his touch a comforting anchor in the storm of emotions swirling within me. I squeeze his hand gently, drawing strength from his presence.

Vivienne remains quiet, her gaze fixed on the road ahead. I can’t help but wonder what she’s thinking, what plans she’s already formulating for my training. A shiver runs down my spine, a mix of fear and excitement. The future is uncertain, but one thing is clear: my life will never be the same again.