They are dancing the waltz.

I spot her from across the room, standing against the wall. Even with the cover of a mask, I know it is her by the way that loose strand of hair falls over her eyes.

Fear fills me, panic in thought of what I am about to do...

I step forward, my feet keeping time. In pattern with those around me, I make my move, taking her by the arm and sweeping her out onto the dance floor.

I swing her, three steps around the room.

“Colin?” she asks through her mask.

“Hold on,” I reply, spinning us through a doorway and out of sight. I take her hand and lead her down a hallway through the furthest door, which appears to be the kitchen. I shut the door and place a cabinet in front of it for good measure.

I turn to her. She is staring, her mask lowered, her eyes large. I pull a ribbon to release my mask and it falls to the floor, shattering.

I rush forward and grab ahold of her.

“Bree,” I sigh with relief, holding her close.

"You are here," she replies smiling, embracing me. I return it with a kiss, long, tender and passionate.

I wish for a split moment that I could be lost here in this kiss, stall time somehow, knowing of what is to come...

“We will go away,” she announces, pulling back to face me smiling, her voice giddy in hope. “Far from here, not having to worry about the restrictions that they are placing on us, the opinions and motivations of the others. We can go anywhere, Colin, do anything. We will be together so it will work, you’ll see it.”

“No,” I murmur. She stops, her smile diminishing. I stare deeply into her eyes with a look of longing and regret on my face. She places a hand to my cheek and I shut my eyes against it. No, this can't be the time for that. I open my eyes again, just one more moment of solace spent tucking that strand of hair behind her ear. She stares back, a grave look of concern in her
eyes.

“We are not going away, Bree. Not together.”

She lowers her gaze, a shadow falling across her face.


"Listen, love, there is not much time," I tell her, trying to keep my voice calm. She places a hand to her mouth as she holds back a sob, only the first breathy sound of distress escaping her lips, staring back at me, plea in her eyes. "I am leaving, Bree,
from Drakesheath, tonight." She lowers her eyes, tears escaping down her cheek. "I... The power of the vampire, it is in me, a part of me, and greater than I had thought possible. I don't understand it. I can't control it, not the way I need to control it. If I don't leave, go to find more about who I am, learn more about controlling what I could do... I can't hurt you, Bree. I had those dreams, every night, even before I was poisoned, and in every dream you... you die." She stares up at me, her eyes large.

“There has to be another way,” she says defiantly.

“No,” I reply. “This is the only way.”

“It is not.” I open my mouth to protest, but before I can say a word, she raises a shaking hand, pulls her long mane of hair to the side, revealing her soft, exposed neck. I close my eyes.

“No, Bree... never.”

“Take me with you,” she pleas. “If you do this.. and you can do this and we will be together…" I took a deep breath, holding her hands in my own.

"I read in this book Jeeves gave me... ‘Being a vampire is not a key to immortality. It doesn't keep one safe from death, only extends life’. This is true, Bree. Life, it is never eternal. But you, Bree… Your light…it IS eternal. I love you... so much. You are full of such light, and hope, and promise. That light, Bree… I will never have that, and… and I could never take it away from you.” She lowers her eyes.

“So our story ends here then?” she says softly, numb.

“No, Bree... us, our story... it will be with me, with you, with these people here who witnessed it..." A lame reply, but I don't know what to say here. I can’t tell her what she wants to hear.

"Why?" she cries, staring up at me with sincerity.

“Because it has to be like this,” I say, holding emotions in check.

“It doesn’t have to end!” she throws back angrilly. “We can find a way! Why can’t you believe in us, that we can be together?”

"Because there are powers at work here that are stronger than us!” I shout. “I can’t do anything that will hurt you. I won’t! This... us... it could kill you, so I have to end it now, before it is too late.”

“So you just stop fighting?” Bree counters angrily. “You just give it all up? These 'powers', they took a hold on you before. You stopped it then, you can stop it again.”

“No, I can’t! I couldn’t do it alone. I am not that strong!” She holds out her arms to her side.

“You are not alone.” I shut my mouth, staring. “How can you let us go?” she sobs.

I pull her against my chest, holding her tightly against me.

Pitwick is motioning frantically from outside for me to follow. I can hear loud pounding from outside the kitchen door. Bree sobs in my arms, defeated, and I am a wreck, waiting for absolution that I cannot ask for, knowing the path that I must take.

Once again, chaos fills the space around us, and we stand in the center of it, holding each other.

She pulls back.

"When will you return?"

"I do not know,” I replied. “I can't promise you that I will be back... if I can't figure this out, this power inside… then I can never see you again.”

"But.. butI love you," she whispers through tears.

"And I love you," resting my forehead against hers.

"Colin... this isn't the end."

The sound at the door was growing louder, and suddenly, the cabinet flies forward, the door itself falling to the floor. Both of us look in surprise at the figure standing in the doorway. Bree drops an arm from my side, cocking her head in his direction.

“Woodward?”