Chapter 22: Preparation
Aaron woke up and flew down from the cave ceiling. The light was dim outside, and he could tell the sun had almost completely set. He fluttered down to the ground and turned back into a human. He heard the loud rush of water crashing down into the stream below him, and he hoped Elizabeth had been able to sleep well. It was always a given that he would sleep. But he knew half vampires did not slip into the almost mandatory coma-like sleep that came over all vampires. All the noise had to make falling into a deep sleep difficult for her.
He went to Elizabeth and was surprised that she was still asleep. She typically slept less than him. He could sleep twelve to thirteen hours, whereas she only needed between seven and eight. She was still in human form and curled up in the fetal position. Her head rested on her arms. Aaron watched her for a moment as she rested so peacefully. He didn't want to wake her. But he knew they needed to move on quickly. The sooner they found Kyla the better. He believed in Elizabeth's dreams and knew they had been accurate so far. A part of him believed Kyla was already dead. But if there was even a chance that they could save her life then they needed to hurry.
He gently woke Elizabeth by rubbing one of her shoulders. She yawned and slowly opened her eyes. She looked up at him and gave him a radiant smile.
"Good evening, Liz," he greeted warmly. "I think it's time to get moving." He leaned down and kissed her gently on the forehead.
"Not yet," she replied. She stuck her hand into her pocked and withdrew the IFFD.
Chapter 23: A Plan in Action
Aaron and Elizabeth stood in front of Kyla's body. They were both in tears--particularly Aaron. Kyla had always been one of his favorites. He had hoped to have her in his life for eternity. As he continued to sob for several minutes, there was no doubt in his mind that he had loved her. In a way, she had been his first love, even though that love had been platonic. Thousands of years after their first meeting, he couldn't help but think, It's true what they say. You never forget your first love.
Elizabeth, on the other hand, cried for the same reason Aaron had cried when Ren died. Aaron cried because Kyla was crying. And now Elizabeth cried because Aaron was crying. She couldn't help but think, Love is painful.
Once they had pulled themselves together, Elizabeth locked eyes with Aaron. He told her with his eyes that now was the time. Elizabeth screamed loudly. The whole island could probably hear it. Anybody within the force field definitely would have heard it.
"I can't take this anymore! You're destroying me," she screamed. "Kyla is dead because of your pride. You can't let anyone else have your girl. Ren and Kyla didn't have to die. You could have just voluntarily given me up. This is your fault!" She sunk down next to Kyla's body and wept over it. The tears were no act, though everything else certainly was. She hoped their dialogue would fool the agent and not sound too contrived.
She could hear the rustle of alarmed birds and other animals. This was good. Surely that secret agent had to be on his way soon.
"You're hysterical!" Aaron yelled back at her. "But you're right. If I can't have you, then no one will."
He charged her. She had already dipped her throwing knife in Kyla's blood. One she stood up, she leaped at Aaron and pretended to stab him with the blood knife. He fake moaned and clutched at the knife against his chest. He drew his coat around him and fell to the floor convulsing. He then lay still, face down on the ground. Elizabeth hoped the agent wouldn't think to turn him over. Aaron's porcelain skin, so healthy compared to Ren's purple, asphyxiated face, would have been a dead giveaway for their ruse.
And then she heard someone approaching. He was coming from behind Aaron's body. She held her breath and her heart beat jumped up into her skull. The agent was fast approaching through the trees. She could make out the outline of his body. This was no ordinary person. He moved so quickly she could barely see him even with half vampire eyes. He moved fast enough to rival even Aaron. She gripped the tazer in her pocket. But the mystery agent suddenly stopped behind Aaron's body. She saw him perfectly. And then she screamed out, "Gar???!!!"
Before Gar could get even a word out, she drew the IFFD and tazed him. The force of the taze knocked Gar to the ground. Aaron sprang up onto his feet and quickly moved to Elizabeth. They couldn't ask any more questions of Gar or how he came to be there. The alien spacecraft had already shown up, shot down a beam of light, and Gar was fast moving up into the sky. When Gar's body disappeared into the spaceship, Aaron and Elizabeth thought it would soon leave. But the spaceship still hovered. Just when they both started wondering what it was still sticking around for, it quickly zipped away. A letter lay where the beam of light was. Aaron opened it and they read it together.