I feel really bad about this chapter. It is kind of a wierd twist and let me know if it is too much from the last chapter.

Well, hope you enjoy it!

Happy Reading!

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CHAPTER FIFTEEN

The next morning, I wake and stretch luxuriously. Sitting up, I see that I am still in my bathing suit but I have on a large long-sleeved shirt with only three buttons done. Immediately, I know whose it is for the scent is intoxicating. I smile and then glance to my left. Isaac is curled up on his side, sleeping quietly. His chest is bare and I quickly tuck the towel snugly around him. Then, slipping on my jeans, I walk off along the water’s edge, my head unnaturally light. I cross my arms across my stomach, feeling the odd sensation of beating wings inside my stomach. I kick a stray stone, sending it flying into the lake. It makes a loud Plop! noise before sinking silently to the bottom. I concentrate my attention on the ripples, watching them widen and stretch. My mind finds its way back to the problem with the Coven and I think of Rebecca, of the ripples she is creating amongst my people. How they are widening with each verbal attack on Philip, and I sigh.

Reality hits me with a hard blow to the head and I stagger. Spinning on my heel, I spot Isaac still sound asleep, unaware of his surroundings. I think of the night before. He has solved my biggest mystery. He knows my nature. He knows what I am. I fall to my knees, my legs no longer able to keep me standing. I hold my head, feeling suddenly sick.

Philip will find him. It surprises me that Carmen hasn’t already shown up with Michael, ready to enforce the law. I shiver, glancing at Isaac again. He looks so peaceful, his face clean of any worry lines. He has a life, a family, a home. And if it weren’t for me, he would also have a future. I gaze up to the sky, shot through with pink and silver. I let my lids close and the wind blow through my hair. I know what I must do but I loathe doing it. You’re being selfish! my sensible side chides me. You know what you must do! If you care for him so much, you will let him go.

Last night had left me feeling unnaturally happy as if there was no care in the world. Isaac and I had just laid on the rocks and stared at the stars, sharing everything with each other, the good and the bad. It had been so magical, so right that I never imagined it would end. But now I know that if Isaac was to have a future I couldn’t be included in the picture.

Swallowing down the bile that is rising in my throat, I straighten and slowly make my way back to where Isaac rests. As I walk, I remove his shirt, taking one last sniff of his heavenly aroma before throwing it onto the rocks. I trip over a couple of loose stones in my hurry to reach him and the pandemonium awakens him. His lids fall open to expose those beautiful blue eyes, the gateways to his soul. He smiles up at me and stretches his arms high above his head. When he sits up, the towel falls away, exposing his bare upper half. His muscles are chiseled and defined on his chest and abdomen and I have to tear my eyes away from his figure. Swallowing again, I speak. “Isaac, I have to go.”

The smile dies on his face. “What?” He struggles to his feet, towering over me by a good five inches.

“I have to go,” I repeat firmly, meeting his gaze with stony eyes. I see the shock on his face but keep my expression cold. Guilt gnaws at me from the inside and I hate myself for hurting him but I know that what I do is for his own good.

“Why? I thought—“

“No, you thought wrong,” I tell him frostily before spinning on one heel and marching away.

“Sophia!” he calls out and I hear him scrambling up the hill after me. “Sophia!” I don’t respond, keeping my pace swift. “Sophia, stop!” His hand latches onto my upper arm and whips me around to face him. “What is going on?” When I don’t answer, I see the anger flash in his eyes. “I demand to know!” he shouts, gripping me with both hands now.

“I have to go,” I say again.

“I know that!” he yells in frustration. “But why in the hell do you have to?” His anger shocks me into silence. “Dammit, Sophia!” He shakes me, and I cave.

“I just have to, Isaac. I’m sorry.” I hang my head, unable to look at him. I feel his hands fall away from my arms and he takes a step back from me.

“So you’re going back to Carmen and your little family, right?” His words cut into me, leaving me raw and bleeding. “You’re just going to ditch, gonna run when things gets tough.” He closes the gap between us, holding my shoulders and lifting me easily off the ground. I gasp and meet his gaze. “Well, Sophia, I’m not gonna let you. I’m not gonna let you go that easily.”

“Isaac, don’t do this,” I plead with him as he sets me back on the ground. “I don’t want to hurt you.”

“You would never hurt me, Sophia. I know it because I see it in your eyes. You would die before you would hurt me. Just like I would without you.” He stops, and my eyes widen at this proclamation. What just happened? Did he just say what I think he said? “I’m not leaving, Sophia. Not now and not ever.”

“Isaac, I can’t be with you.” The words shoot from my mouth, hitting him squarely in the chest.

“Why not?” he asks, and I hear the hurt in his voice.

“You know why.”

“The hell I do!” he yells again.

His anger makes my own flare. “What do you think my family would do if they found out I told you?” I shout, pushing myself away from him.

“So Carmen and—“

“Yes! And it is forbidden for me to tell a human about us. And last night, I broke that rule.” I breathe deeply. “They’ll find out eventually. And when they do—“ I cut off, unable to continue.

“I don’t fear death.” He sounds so brave, so courageous. But I see it in his eyes, I smell it in his sweat and I know that he is lying.

“I won’t let them hurt you because of me. I wouldn’t be able to continue. You’re right. I would rather die than have anybody hurt you.” I clutch at his shoulders and kiss him soundly, leaving no doubt in his mind that he is the one that I want and the one I would die for. But when I pull back, I see that I have gotten my tears on his face. “And for that reason, I have to let you go.”

And without another look back, I sprint into the forest using my unnatural speed, leaving Isaac standing in my dust. My vision blurs as I run and I wipe furiously at my eyes, frustrated with my weakness, my weakness for him. Why did I have to fall for a human boy? Why couldn’t I be satisfied with my own kind, with the men that inhabit my home? No…not me. I had to go for my adorable, carefree, sweet Baking partner who happens to be mortal!

When I reach the house, I escape up to my room not slowing down my speed. Slamming the door behind me, I bury underneath the covers and sob in peace.

“Sophia?” Nora’s voice makes me jump and a hiccup escapes my mouth. “Sophia,” she chuckles, pulling the covers away. Her face becomes pained when she sees the river pouring from my eyes. “Oh my god! What’s wrong?” She perches on the bed beside me.

“Nothing, Nora,” I sniff, sitting up and wiping at my nose.

“I can see that,” she says with a sarcastic smile. “Tell me, Sophia. The only time that our human natures surface is in the direst situations. So I know something is wrong.”

“I can’t tell you.”

“Why?” Her eyes narrow.

I hurry to think of something to say. “Isaac and I had a fight.” I decide to tell the truth…at least part of it.

“Oh.” Her face relaxes. “About what?”

“I told him I couldn’t see him anymore.”

“Why is that?”

“Because it’s bad for the Coven. Especially now when we are all so agitated.”

Nora smiles. “You’re growing up, Sophia. I’m proud of you. And you should be proud of yourself. You did Isaac a favor.”

“Yeah, I guess,” I mumble, rolling over to my side.

“Get some sleep. You’ll feel better in the morning,” Nora assures me before treading back into the hallway, closing the door behind her. Sighing, I squeeze my eyes shut. Nora had said that I did Isaac a favor, that I had kept him safe, that I did the right thing.

But if I did, then why do I feel so horrible…