I promised to stay.
That was the thought that came into my mind when I opened my eyes.
I couldn't remember clearly, but I was sure I had dreamt of something. It left a bittersweet feeling within me.
Such a feeling could have made me feel uneasy and filled with discomfort, yet it made me feel relaxed.
I recalled what we shared the night before, turning to the side of the bed, but it was empty.
Knowing Lily, she left the moment I passed out, which was only natural. I touched my neck, where she sank her fangs into me, and it didn't feel painful. I couldn't find the exact spot where she marked me.
I checked the time, 4:21 am.
Twilight, Vesper, I remembered.
How coincidental that I awoke at the time she used to define herself.
I woke up, then walked to the mirror. Tilting my head, I looked at my neck. There were more marks than I expected. Though painless, I wouldn't forget them so easily.
It was like she was trying to own me, brand me.
I shivered at the thought, remembering the marks branded on her skin. It made me frown and clench my fists.
The hatred I had for Taylor only increased by the day, and I wanted strength. Overwhelming strength to punish him.
He had to face retribution, and since it wouldn't be now, I had to give it to him in the future.
I would have turned into a vampire if this were a fantasy, but the truth was vampires didn't infect others like their race was a virus-infected group of rejected humans. And even if that were possible, Lily wasn't a true one, so she wouldn't make me powerful from her bites.
I washed my face, then went to look out the window. Twilight, or Vesper, had a strange calm, but before I could appreciate it, Lily's voice floated into my mind.
"This is enough for me, I won't ask for more."
She said this before falling asleep, but for some reason, it made me want to be with her once again.
She needs me.
Once again, I was forcing myself to believe she needed me.
With this thought, my body moved on its own. The door opened and closed, and my feet transported me to her room.
My hand knocked on her door, and after a moment, I opened the door, and my feet moved me inside.
I didn't feel like myself. I craved her presence too strongly.
The room was empty, and though it was my first time being in her room, I didn't pay attention to any details. I don't remember if the room was black, white, pink, or red. I don't remember what stood out in the room, because when I didn't see her, I left the room.
I heard the car start. Taylor was leaving the house, though earlier than usual.
I went out and searched the garden. It was empty.
My next location was the back of the house, where I first saw her monstrous side, but I hesitated briefly, and that brief hesitation let me catch a glimpse of something on the roof. It was strange how I noticed something so small on the colossal building, but that was the answer I needed.
"Lily."
She was walking on the roof calmly, and she looked ethereal, almost like a fairy. White skin contrasted with a black dress.
I'll stay by your side.
I entered the house and found my way up. Up to the roof, where everything changed for the two of us forever.
If I knew something like that would happen, I would have tied her to myself while she was in my bed. I would have assured her strongly, and I would have given her a greater promise.
IT was also my first time stepping on the roof.
"Lily," I rasped, breathless from rushing my way up. She turned around calmly, but she didn't smile, and she wasn't her cool self.
She looked...pained and sad.
My smile faded. "Why do you look..."
Lily frowned at me, and this was nowhere close to what I wanted to see after we shared such secrets.
No, she shared a part of herself with me, and I took it. I gave her nothing in return.
"You should still be sleeping, so why are you here?" She sounded angry, and this was the same voice she used on our first meeting. My heart thumped.
"Lily, why are you acting like this?"
"You didn't answer my question!" She shouted.
"Lily, you're not being yourself," I stepped forward.
"And what do you know? You don't even know what I am, so don't preach about what I should do!"
Her words stung. I really didn't know her, but she didn't have to say that.
"I promised to stay."
"You can't do that for me! Leave!"
Her voice was loud, fragile, and cracking, and I was focused on how bad it made me feel. It didn't make me think of how she felt. I felt like she was breaking our promise to each other.
And maybe if I weren't blinded by the excitement of being needed by her, I would have realized I was the only one who made a promise to stay with her.
She never even agreed, nor did she make a promise as well.
I was a fool again for not noticing how relieved she looked and sounded when she told me, "I've confirmed it. I'm not one of them. I can die."
I was also a fool for not understanding that she still didn't belong anywhere.
And finally, I was lost in my thoughts, not noticing she was standing too close to the edge.
"I hate you."
She smiled weakly.
"I hat everyone."
Desperation.
This was what filled my mind, body, and soul when she said those words.
It made me move towards her, and that was when my heart was crushed.
She took the final step back.
The sun peeked in the distance, and I screamed something, maybe her name, as something snapped within me.
Desperation.
I threw away all mentality and jumped.
Lily grinned, then laughed manically. The wind stung my skin, but I was numb.
"You still want to stay with me? Fool!"
Yes, I was a fool for Lily.