A vampire's Choice
Chapter 22

As if out of nowhere, bodies appeared. A dark smoke came first, shifting until it took the form of three people: Roger, Rebecca, and an innocent. Watching the setting manifest, Roger shook his head as he stepped back, scared to witness it again. Before, he was himself, but now he stood from outside, watching in.

"Is... is that me?" Lisa asked, confused at seeing her double standing in the ring of fire while holding a knife.

"No, that is Rebecca," Roger replied, keeping his gaze fixed on himself.

"She looks just like me.” A gentle touch to his shoulder drew his attention from himself, and he turned, seeing Lisa right next to him.

"Don't worry. It is not. That creature is a vile, evil thing and got what she deserved." Sliding his hand over Lisa's as it rested on his shoulder, Roger gave it a light knead, forcing her eyes to his. As soon as she looked at him, Roger cupped her cheek, holding her tight. "Whatever you see today, please know that I was a different person. I have changed."

Tilting her head into his hand and closing her eyes, Lisa relished in his touch. Soft sparks brushed her face, the sensation now a norm and one she loved. "Don't worry, I know. Nix explained it to me."

"Why?"

Lisa opened her eyes, making Roger's knees weak. The sight of her abnormal eyes shook his heart, making it grow double the size. The glister he saw as she looked up at him reaffirmed that she was not Rebecca, for that whore had no soul left. The woman in his grasp was his true mate.

Stepping back, Lisa regretfully allowed his touch to slip away before turning to the drama before her. "Nix said that we would find the answers from that night. Both of our questions."

"What questions do you have?"

Watching the bodies shuffle around, Lisa grabbed his hanging arm and intertwined their fingers. Letting out a sigh, Roger built up the courage in him and turned to watch what Lisa was seeing.

"You will soon find out." Lisa whispered, "Nix said to look at the bigger picture if that helps."

Grasping her hand tighter, Roger took the first step as they entered the memory. As they passed through an invisible barrier, the silence from before became replaced by the surrounding. The flickering and cracking of flames sounded all around, the heat from the same source washing over them. A soft wind brushed around their clothes, the feeling so realistic as if they were there. The sound of bugs and trees rustling came from a distance, and Roger peered around, taking in the details. This place is exactly like he had remembered, and he suddenly wished he could pull Lisa away: away from the darkness she would see.

"This is for you, baby." Rebecca proudly proclaimed, lifting her arms in the air and twirling around.

Roger kept watching but felt Lisa jerk as she watched herself. The need to protect her grew stronger as he sensed her emotions, but the pull for answers was stronger.

The old Roger moved towards Rebecca, grabbing her around the waist as she twirled, pulling her into his body to plant a kiss on her lips. Rebecca gladly embraced him, throwing her arms around his neck, pulling him closer. A moan escaped her lips as his hands grabbed her behind, holding her still as he ground his stiff shaft into her core. Suddenly, Rebecca pushed him away, the suddenness from her actions making him go.

"Why did you stop?" the old Roger asked, a smirk on his face. "You know you want me."

Rebecca just smiled as she stepped away from him, making her way into the woods, away from the light. "Stay there," she instructed him, and like a fool, he listened.

Chains rattling along with muffled voices began in the darkness, and all three froze to watch Rebecca return into the light as she dragged a big bag behind her. A normal woman could not do that, and standing outside of his body in this memory, Roger could finally see her for what she was; a devil.

With a plop, Rebecca dropped the bag, wiping her palms on her baby blue dress.

"And what is that?” The big smile the old Roger had faltered slightly, and Rebecca noticed, for she hopped closer to him, grabbing his hands.

"That, my dear, is how we can be together forever. We are mates, as you called it, and I agree, but for us to be together, we need to do this." Rebecca smiled up at him.

"And what is that?"

Lisa became intrigued and stepped forward at the same time the old Roger moved closer to the bag. The movement came from inside but stopped as soon as he bent down and grasped the bindings, pulling one side. As the bag fell open, a scared pair of eyes looked up at him.

Seeing the woman shocked Lisa, making her stop. Twisting her head to look behind her, she noticed the fear in Roger's eyes, and putting two and two together, she realized the girl was more than a gift: she would be a sacrifice. "Did you...” She couldn't even bring herself to ask the question.

Their gaze met for an instant, and with the silence following her question, Lisa knew. She felt disgusted by the realization he was a killer. Sure, he needed the blood of humans to survive, but killing one in cold blood was unspeakable. The sparks stopped as soon as she let go of his hand, moving away from him.

Roger watched her step away, disgust and regret burning in him. Sooner or later, she would find out about his past, which came with being a mate, but he wanted to be the one to tell her. Instead, he only murmured. “What you are thinking is true, but not how you think."

"I will be the judge of that," Lisa whispered, focusing on the rest of the scene.

The old Roger's eyes doubled as he saw the woman, tied up and gagged, tears streaming down her face. Twirling around to question Rebecca, he stepped back. The woman he loved was standing with a smile on her face while holding a knife.

"For us to be together, you have to sacrifice an innocent."

"But we are together." The old Roger fought back.

With crazed eyes, Rebecca lurched forward, grabbing him by the shoulders. "He said we couldn't fully be together until you do this."

"No.” He shook his head. "Who said that to you?"

"My God. Don't you see, by doing this.” The tip of the knife pointed towards the bound woman, his eyes following the direction. "He will grant us immense powers. Both of us."

"No true God would demand sacrifice.” The old Roger stepped back and over the girl, keeping her between them.

"Did you see that?" Lisa interrupted, forcing Roger's eyes away from Rebecca and onto her.

"See what?"

Lisa stepped closer to him, lifting a finger at whatever she saw. Following her direction, Roger could not believe it. A ball of power hovered between the trees, the branches hiding their form. As the realization hit, the scene changed, but only slightly. There was suddenly a connection between the ball of power and Rebecca. A thin, barely visible line connected the two, small static shocks traveling from it to her. Following the line, they both finally saw Rebecca for who she was: a puppet. Before, there was no aura, but it changed to a dark glow about her.

"The thing made her do it," Lisa spoke out loud what he just realized. She had been used, just like him.

"She was innocent, all this time, and I...” The hand on his chest stopped him in his tracks as Lisa noticed something else.

"There is a second line." Lisa watched as it shot from the ball of power, landing on Roger, giving him the same dark aura.

"He made me..." Roger was shocked. The answers he needed appeared. He was not the demon he thought he was, and she was not as evil as he believed. This changed everything.

"Don't fight it, darling. Do you not see, this is for us. When you do this, we can truly be together. Nothing can stop us." Rebecca spoke while caressing the old Roger's cheek.

Roger and Lisa watched with new eyes as the knife appeared in his hand, with Rebecca maneuvering the sharp tip to point down at the woman. While she moved behind his back and rested her hands on his shoulder, the dark aura from them both merged, becoming blacker than the night sky.

Roger remembered this moment so clearly, for that is when he lost himself, giving in to the darkness.

"You will sacrifice her to Deimos, the only true God," Rebecca whispered before stepping back to watch the show, a cruel smile on her lips.

"STOP!" Lisa yelled, but it was no use for this had already happened. She ran forward to grab his arm but fell through, hitting the ground hard. Their bodies disappeared into smoke before coming back together. All she could do was watch as the knife flashed through the air, sinking quickly into the woman's flesh. The bindings blocked her screams, tears returning as pain crashed into her. Blood gushed from the wounds as the old Roger yanked out the knife, sending a spurt over his feet and darkening the ground with the thick liquid.

"Fantastic, baby." Rebecca purred as she stepped up behind her, wrapping her arms around his waist.

Lisa saw the pleasure in his eyes from her position as the old Roger marveled at the feeling. His eyes black with his fangs extended, this monster was nothing like the one she loved, but would it change how she felt.

"There is one final step." Rebecca purred as she turned him around to face her. Dropping her hand to his, she grasped the one still holding the bloodied knife and lifted it to his mouth. "Taste the blood of innocence, and the power is yours."

A pink tong shot from his mouth as saliva dripped down the edges, the smell of fresh blood begged to be tasted, but he stopped. A voice was speaking in his head, telling him this was wrong.

Roger watched as the internal battle made him rethink his actions. He had relived this and knew what was coming next. "Vanessa," he whispered.

Right as if on cue, a figure burst from the woods, sword in hand.

"Stop this," Vanessa yelled.

"Fucking bitch." Rebecca sneered as she stepped around Roger to face the witch. "Always meddling where you are not wanted."

Vanessa pointed the sword at Rebecca. “You die tonight."

"You can try." Rebecca charged forward.

"Rigescunt Indutae." Vanessa cast the spell. Power flowed from the tips of her fingers before shooting at the running Rebecca, but it was useless. She did not freeze or even falter.

"You die tonight." Shooting out her hand, Rebecca wrapped her fingers around Vanessa's throat, crushing her windpipe as she lifted her in the air.

Vanessa tried to use her magic, but with the restricted air, all she could do was grab onto her hands to try and pry her away, but it was useless. Her feet dangled in the air, slowly moving as her life slipped away, receiving the same ending as the woman from the village.

Spots appeared in her vision, and with the last of her energy, Vanessa looked down at the monster, just in time to see a dark blade sliding into her body, the tip protruding from her chest. The hold on her neck vanished, making Vanessa drop to the ground, coughing wildly at the same time as she greedily pulled air into her chest.

Blood gathered in Rebecca's mouth before rolling out at the sides. The sharp pain from earlier vanished, replaced by coldness. Turning around, she saw Roger standing in front of her, tears in his eyes. "Why?" the word gurgled out. Before he could answer, Rebecca's body crumbled to the ground, dead.

Lisa did not know what to say. She had silently watched the scene, not even suspecting what was happening, but this was not it. He had killed his mate to save others, sacrificed himself for others. Looking around, she spotted him next to the body of the innocent woman, bend on one knee as he cried. She ran to him, wrapping her body around his, bringing him comfort.

"I killed her, both of them. Me,” Roger confessed.

"Shhhh, it is okay." Lisa grabbed his arm, forcing him to stand. She tried to make him face her, but he refused. "Look at me, please."

The desperation in her voice made him turn, knowing he needed to face her. "I am a killer."

Reaching up and wiping away his tears, Lisa took hold of his chin and said, "You saw with your own eyes tonight; both of you were controlled. It was not you, but that thing."

"I... I..."

A golden ray washed over them, making them turn to the source. Next to Vanessa and Roger appeared Nix, in all her glory.

'Who are you?" Vanessa asked, hand around the tilt of the sword, ready for anything.

"I am Nix, mother of witches. And here to help you."

"She was there that night," Roger stated, shocked to the core.

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