The news hit me first, a sudden, unwelcome chill delivered by my father in the cold, formal confines of his study. The annual gathering. Mandatory. No excuses. All the powerful vampire clans would be there. It meant I, along with Christian, Ethan, and Marcus, would have to leave. The sheer inconvenience, the disruption to our mission, chafed. But the deeper, more unsettling truth was the thought of leaving Krista.
I discussed it with Ethan and Christian later that day, the gravity of the upcoming departure heavy between us. We reviewed our contingency plans, focusing especially on Amelia and the ongoing orphanage investigation. We had to ensure the mission continued, even in our absence.
Later, we gathered after school, all of us who were privy to the truth: myself, Krista, Ethan, Christian, Jeremy, Marcus, Philip, and Anita. The easy camaraderie of our school friendships was now underscored by the serious determination of our shared secret. The air was thick with the weight of it all.
Christian, always analytical, was the one to break the news to the others. He looked unusually grim. Krista's face, usually so expressive, was a mask of perplexity as she absorbed his words. "You're leaving?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper, her eyes immediately seeking mine. I could see the confusion, then the dawning anxiety, flicker within them.
"We have to," Christian explained, directing his words to Krista, Philip, and Anita. "It's an annual event. All the powerful vampire clans will be there, and we'll have to go. No excuses."
"How long will you be gone?" Krista asked again, her voice laced with an anxiety that echoed the tightness in my own chest.
"It depends," I replied, the truth a leaden weight. "Two weeks, at least. But once or twice before, it went on for a month or two." The thought of being away from her for so long, especially now, felt unbearable.
Jeremy, ever the joker, tried to lighten the mood. "Hey! You'll be fine. Anita and Philip will be here with you. You won't be alone. You don't have to miss me that much." His words were meant to reassure, but I saw the concern in Krista's eyes deepen, highlighting the looming separation.
Ethan, practical as always, raised the most important question. "What about Amelia, though? Who'd take care of her while we're away?"
"She has been well-behaved lately," Christian said, offering a carefully considered assessment. "I believe it'll be alright as long as all three of you visit her together. That way, you can help each other out in case of emergency." He was referring to Krista, Philip, and Anita.
The idea of leaving Amelia solely to others, even capable humans, grated on me. "Maybe I can talk to my father and find an excuse not to go," I suggested, willing to defy tradition, willing to risk my standing for this mission and for Krista.
"No," Krista interrupted, shaking her head. Her strength, even in her worry, was admirable. "Christian's right. It'll be fine as long as the three of us go together. Don't worry." She even managed a teasing smile as she nudged Philip. "Besides, if anything happens Philip will protect us. Right, Phil?"
Philip, though clearly still apprehensive about Amelia, nodded solemnly. "Of course, I will. Don't worry about it."
That night, I found myself restless, a cold dread settling in the pit of my stomach. I sensed the subtle shift in the air, a premonition of something bad. I couldn't pinpoint its source, but the feeling lingered, insidious and unwelcome. A soft tap on her window, and the familiar shadow of my own figure on her balcony, was my signal.
I waited for her to open the door and let me in. She moved like a whisper in the dark, her bare feet silent on the floor. We sat on the bed, not speaking, simply gazing at each other for a long time. I tried to commit every detail of her to memory, knowing how long the separation might be.
"I don't want you to go," she finally said, her voice small, raw with emotion.
"I know," I murmured, pulling her closer. "I don't want to go either. But I have to. I'll only be gone for a while. I'll be back soon. I promise." My voice was thick with a sincerity I rarely allowed myself.
I felt her embrace me fiercely, burying her face against my chest. "Just take care of yourself," she said, her voice muffled, thick with sobs.
"You too," I replied, caressing her hair, allowing myself to luxuriate in her closeness one last time. I pulled back slightly, looking into her tear-filled eyes, and offered a teasing smile. "Don't you dare flirt with another man, especially Philip."
She managed a watery, fragile laugh. "Yes, sir. You should go and get some rest. You'll be leaving early tomorrow."
"It's fine. I can manage a few sleepless nights." Then I flashed her my most dazzling smile, hoping to etch it into her memory. "Now close your eyes. I'll leave after you've fallen asleep."
She hugged me tight, her body warm against mine, and I felt her lips lightly brush against mine before she finally drifted off to sleep, her breathing evening out. I stayed there for a long time, watching her, memorizing the rise and fall of her chest, the soft curve of her smile even in sleep. Eventually, when her dreams had taken her, I slipped away, a ghost in the night, carrying her image with me.