11 Surprise Confrontations

Painted in pale beige are the walls and a darker shade on the floor. One is adorned by a chimney which in my opinion may not be fitting in a place like this, yet it gives a homey feeling. I bet it has never been actually lit up. Around it couches all plain white with brown pillows on.

A dull gray rug lays on the center and ends all through the other side where an office table with two chairs in the front settled. Each piece of furniture has been selected exquisitely and in line with an antique taste.

"This room is...beautiful," I whisper low, there is a pang in my chest. My mom loves antiques too, old and old-fashioned things.

Dimitri and I decided to wait for Meredith at her office. I took all the time looking for something odd than normal. After my talk with the handsome vampire, I am bothered, to say the least.

"Yeah, aunt Meredith set this up in 15th-century classic. She has this odd liking for old fashion things." Dimitri chuckles, lifting an old wooden clock, the size of a book.

"Strange. Mom used to love these too." I say, thoughtfully. "You said your aunt is an old acquaintance of mom, was it?"

There is a bookshelf on the other corner attached to the wall. Even the books look old, dated as old as they can get. Some covers are worn out and fading. I trace my fingertips on one book, loving the roughness as I glide it through the others.

"Yes." Is his simple reply.

"Can you tell me about it?" I frown as I notice Dimitri tense. He is guarded again. I inwardly roll my eyes, hating how he wants me to trust him yet he is no different.

"If you want me to trust you, you have to trust me first." I look him in the eye, unblinking.

"Touché." A small smile forms on the corners of his lips but he turns his back to me and busies himself with what looks like a stack of papers on the desk.

"They use to be good friends you know." He says, sending me a glance over his shoulder.

"Were they?"

"They were." He turns his head and winks. I roll my eyes, debating whether to throw a book on him. Such a flirt.

"Then what happened? I can't believe mom never told me about her." Mom and I don't hold secrets. We used to do things together. We used to be so close that I never thought tables would turn as they had.

"Ah, something...came. Things changed I think, maybe it was meant to be that way from the beginning." He took a deep breath just as the door opens and Meredith walks in, head held high and dressed in a floral dress below knee length with buttons in the front and a belt.

"Amber. It's a pleasure." Her smile is too bright as she squishes me in a tight hug. I arch my brow at Dimitri to which he shrugs. She feels so warm yet I feel uncomfortable with her. Like a nagging feeling she is too sweet and caring but then again maybe I am overthinking.

"How have you been dear?" She asks enthusiastically.

"I've been good. Thanks." I glance at Dimitri, sending him a secret message in a glare.

"Meredith, are we taking Amber to the meeting?" He asks, walking towards us and stopping at my side.

"Why yes. In fact, we should get going." She looks at her wristwatch and sighs. "Strange. I told Harrison to call me about this time. Oh well, let's go. He must have forgotten."

Meredith led the way out and we saunter into another elevator right in front of her office. Dimitri offers his hand for me to hold as I am still not used to fast pace rides. I flatten my hand at the wall instead for support.

‘Stay away from that boy, I don’t want him touching you at all.’ those words kept repeating in my mind.

Dimitri's forehead creases but didn't say anything.

"I am so sorry for what happened to your dad. I heard. I should tell you sooner this will happen." Meredith looks genuinely apologetic.

"How did you know this will happen?" My ears perk up at that, she totally got my curiosity whirling inside my head.

"Dimitri must have told you already, he is coming for you Amber. The one who killed your mom I'm talking about. Vampires never let their victims or witnesses live once you saw their face."

"Why would he go for me? For mom? What did we do to him in the past to target us?" I ask eagerly, letting all my questions flow. "Did mom know too that these creatures exist?"

"I can't tell dear. I’m afraid I may not be the right person to tell you, that is why we invited you here." Her eyes brimming with unshed tears. "Maria went beyond to avoid this organization and live without a trace of her past, she refuses to believe in what I tell her, but I have faith in her, to see beyond what is unseen."

Her tears fell and she wipes them with her kerchief.

"Just who you are to mom? Why do you care for her this much?"

There. I let the words come out and had no intent on bringing them back. Mom would hate me snooping but I need to know. Everything happened so suddenly, and the need to know the reason behind it all is burning inside of me. And maybe, I want to get revenge too, for mom.

"There must be a reason she tried to forget you her whole life. If she didn't, she should have at least told me about you." I blurt, too late to take it back.

The elevator clicks and both Dimitri and her step out but I stand my ground. "Tell me, who are you, Meredith Knight?"

She focuses her eyes on me for a moment, as if reading my mind. Then she straightens her back and acknowledges me with the same fervor. Gone are her tears. "I'm afraid you already know I lied before, thus, explains your ill-treatment. You are right, I am not a relative of yours. But what Maria and I are thicker than blood. She was a sister to me."

Her eyes soften a bit but she narrows them again. "One last thing. You got my name wrong. It is Meredith Iris Knight."

I feel all the colors drain on my face, gulping as realization sets in. My stomach twitches uncomfortably, quite not believing what I think I heard.

"Choices may have separate us but I am telling you dear...she has never forgotten me." Were all her words as she turns her back to me and disappears into the hallway.

Her words sank in, with a newfound heaviness.