16 Discovery

Bridget

I go the stairs, still holding the picture of the woman that looks exactly like me.

The photo was taken in 1973, so it is definitely not me.

“Oh...Lucien...” I say, even though I’m not exactly sure if he can even hear me or not.

“I don’t know what to think of you anymore,” I say, then flop down in the chair. “I can’t believe that there was someone in this world that looks exactly like me, but what’s more interesting is the fact that you know that there was someone in this world that looked like me. That...oh, I don’t know...maybe she meant something to you? And perhaps now that she’s gone you think you can replace her with me? I’m sorry, but news flash, that can’t happen.”

I toss the picture on his nightstand and stare at his even breathing.

“But I told Karmen that I would try to bring you back to consciousness, and even though I’d rather that you stay like that so you can’t hurt me anymore, I respect Karmen,” I pick at my chipped blue nail polish.

I bite the inside of my cheek, wondering if I could say anything to maybe anger him back to life? No, that won’t do...

But if he can hear me, I’d rather him know my true feelings while he’s not able to react than when he’s awake.

This discovery is making it hard for me though. If Lucien actually thinks that he can replace that woman with me just because she looks like me, he’s wrong. If I actually come to a point where I might want him, I want him to want me for who I am. Not who that woman was.

I think for a very long time, wondering...just wondering...

Does Karmen maybe know anything about her?

I head out of the bedroom and down the stairs to the office front door.

“Carson,” I say, and Carson immediately opens the door. “No, Lucien’s not awake, but can you bring Karmen here?”

“Yes,” Carson says, then leaves the area. I stand by the door and wait on Karmen.

He comes quite quickly.

“Hey,” he says, and we both enter the office. I take him back up to the bedroom. I shut the door quietly.

“I need to ask you something,” I say, then walk over to the nightstand. I grab it up and hand it to Karmen. “Who is that?”

Karmen stares at the picture for the longest time.

“Elaine Harper,” he says, then looks up at me. “She looks just like you, doesn’t she? Everyone noticed that about you when you came here. We all thought for sure you’d be a vampire, but you clearly aren’t. Do you know if you have any relatives with the last name of Harper?”

“No,” I say, shaking my head. “I don’t know who my biological parents are. I never got to meet them.”

“Interesting,” Karmen says. “Elaine was of Lucien’s only loves. He deeply loved her, even though the rest of us thought Elaine was extremely toxic for him. She tried to suffocate him in his sleep to gain control of his entire mafia and coven, because he’s supposed to be considered a king, but he became a mafia guy, so Don is the proper title. Elaine wanted that for herself, and was even willing to kill her love for that. But with Elaine, it was never certain if she actually even loved Lucien. If you want my opinion, I think she never loved him. She just thought she looked good with him because he was handsome. I think she verbally abused Lucien. He hates it when someone rejects him as you already know, but he wasn’t like that until after Elaine.”

I stare at him for the longest time. “Maybe I’ve been getting the wrong idea of Lucien.”

“Maybe so,” Karmen says, then gives me back the picture. “But just play it safe, Bridget. Do you need anything else?”

“No,” I say, then look over at Lucien as an idea forms in my head. “Can you leave now?”

Karmen gives one last look to Lucien before nodding to me and leaving the room.

I sit down on the chair again.

I think perhaps singing with to him will work...

I take a deep breath, then begin.

"When did the scars over your heart, become your hiding place? When did the stars become so dark you couldn’t find your way? The light inside your eyes is fading out, but I’m not gonna give up on ya now. Don’t be afraid. I know you think you’re on you’re own, but you’ll be okay. You don’t have to go through it alone. Fall into my arms. Fall into my arms."

I take another breath and notice him stirring a little bit. I can’t believe this is working. “My Arms” by Jen Ledger has always been one of my favorites, but I never imagined singing it to someone else. In all honesty, I wasn’t even thinking of this one. It just came out.

And it just keeps coming out...

"So let me see the hurt underneath, I’m not a stranger to pain. Cause I believe in what you can be, I’ll never turn away. The light inside your eyes is fading out, but I’m not gonna give up on ya now. Don’t be afraid. I know you think you’re own your own, but you’ll be okay. You don’t have to go through it alone. Fall into my arms. Fall into my arms."

“Your voice is so beautiful,” his voice croaks out and my eyes fly open. “But you’re also one nosy girl.”