(Chapter 19- Don)

"Conservare questo luogo circondato. Non voglio che nessuno riesca a passare." I heard a familiar voice say.  

" Sì, signore, voglio vedere che si occupa di." Another person said.

Where am I? I rubbed my eyes and slowly opened them. As I took in my surroundings everything that happened came rushing back to me. I suddenly started to panic and my breathing be came heavy. I quickly searched the room with my eyes. I was in a very nice room with red walls and by the looks of it I would say we were still in Italy which was a big relief to me. At least I wasn't far from Chase, this should help his Chance's in finding me.

I stirred beneath the covers just before raising out of the bed. I heard the voices still talking and could tell they were coming from outside the door that was slightly standing open. Once my feet hit the cold floor I shivered from the sudden temperature change. As my feet got used to it I finally stood but noticed I was wearing a long white gown, and panicked again. How did I get into this gown? I am going to die if it was Don. I heard the sound of the door shutting and I instantly looked up. Don stood there with smile on his face before coming to my side.

"I'm glad to see you're up."

"How long have I been here?" I asked.

"A day and a half." He stated.

"Would you like to explain this?" I hinted by grabbing hold of my gown.

"Yes well I couldn't let you sleep in your clothes for almost two days now could I?" He smiled.

"How did I get into the gown Don?" I asked with anger seeping in my words.

"Relax it was a woman staff member."

Well at least now I know it wasn't him and that made me feel a lot better. No one but Chase has ever seen me like that and that's how I plan to keep it.

I stood there Awkwardly as Don and I just stared at on another. I was a bit embarrassed at having to stand there in a gown while being alone in a room with Don. I don't feel we know each other well enough for this situation. As I shifted again waiting for him to say something to break us from this awkward silence he moved to another door in the room and pulled out some clothes.

"Here I'm sure you want to get cleaned up." He said handing me the clothes. I slowly grabbed them without taking my eyes off Don.

"Thank you." I mumbled.

"You're welcome darling." He smiled. "The bathroom is just through that door over there. When you are through getting ready I will come to take you down to feed, you must be thirsty."

To tell you the truth I hadn't even thought about it until he brought it up. I nodded my head and headed for the bathroom. The thirst in my throat was growing rapidly as I realized it had been almost two days since I feed. I looked in the mirror trying to calm myself down before I went mad and tried to hurt someone. I breathed in and out slowly until I had mostly calmed down from my thirst.

I stepped into the shower and turned on the hot water. As it touched my skin I instantly relaxed enjoying the feel. Slowly I washed off my body taking a lot longer than I normally would in the shower but oh well it felt nice and I would just have to face Don again anyway.

As I got out of the shower I dried off than proceeded to dry my hair. Once that was done I went back in the room to put on my clothes. Picking up the clothes off of the bed I noticed it was actually a beautiful pale yellow dress with a silk band around the waist and I loved it to. I had to give him props for the awesome dress, he chose well. I slipped on the dress and admired myself in the mirror until there was a knock on my door.

"Come in." I called while still at the mirror.

Don stepped in the door before freezing to look at me. His eyes lit up as he smiled beautifully. Whoa where did that come from? He kidnapped you there is nothing beautiful and him.

"You look gorgeous."

"Thanks." I blushed. Once I realized what was going on I got my head on strait. "Lets go, I need to eat."

Don kindly offered his arm to me. I was just about to take it when I remembered the last time I was offered his arm. He tricked me into spending time with him without revealing his identity. I thought he was just another person at the palace.

Oh no the palace, the family. I can't believe it slipped my mind. What happened to them? Were they hurt? Are they OK? I bet they were out looking for me everywhere and here I am playing dress up with the guy the abducted me. I'm an awful person.

"What's wrong Bello?" He asked gently.

"What's wrong?" I yelled. "You took me from my family and husband. You brought me here against my will."

The look in Dons face as I yelled at him was not what I expected at all. Instead of looking angry of yelling back he looked hurt and sad. I don't know why but I really wanted to comfort him. Is really made me sad to see him that way. I fought with myself on what to do before giving and placing a hand on his shoulder.

"Look I'm sorry for yelling at you but you did kidnap me."I explained.

"I know but that's the only way I could get you here." He said sadly. "If I would have asked would you have come on you're own?"

"No, I guess not but why do you want me here?" I asked curious.

"Because you are my first love, my soul mate if you will." He admitted.

My jaw just about hit the floor. There is no way that we are soul mates because me and Chase are. I don't know a lot about this stuff but I'm pretty sure a person only has one soul mate. Chase told me so himself.

"How could I be, I've never met you." I stated.

Don looked saddened by this. "I know."

"Then how could I be yours if I'm already Chase's?" I asked. "Shouldn't you already have someone."

"Yes I did. Arianna." He stated.

"Then explain this to me because as of right now I am really confused." He looked at me for a minute before taking my hand at my side.

"Ok come with me." He said.

I don't know why but I followed him. It must have been because I really wanted to hear what he had to say or else I wouldn't have.

Don led us down to a huge den with a fireplace and chairs. They were several book shelves scattered around the room and mini bar in the corner of the room. The overall atmosphere of the room was very nice. I took a seat in one of the chairs before Don called for the butler.

"Bring us two of the best." He said.

"Right away sir." The butler bowed and left the room. 

I was a little confused as to what Don was referring to until the butler walked in with two humans at his side.

"This one is for you." Don said leading the girl to the couch. I felt bad for having to hurt her he but I was really thirsty right now. I looked into her eyes and and reached into her mind.

"I am going to take some your blood be don't be afraid I wont kill you. After I am done I want you to forget this ever happened OK?" I watched her eyes as they became transfixed on mine and she nodded in understanding.

I easily sank my teeth in her flesh with out her crying out. I guess what I did worked. I drank her blood eagerly taking in every drop. The blood on my tongue made me crave more and more. Just as I was about to loose control again I remembered what Chase said about listen for the heartbeat so you don't kill the victim. I quickly placed my attention on her heart and noticed it was slowing down at an unhealthy rate and found the will to pull away.

"Thank you, you may go now." I said excusing her. When she got up to leave I saw Don was finishing up as well so I waited for him.

"Thank you Gene, would you please see these people out please?"Don said.

So I guess that the butler has a name. That's good I found out so I wouldn't have to go around calling him butler every time that I needed something. That would just sound out of place.

"You know you really surprise me." I confessed.

"Surprise you, how so?" He asked genuinely interested.

"I just pictured you to be a heartless monster out for a kill, recent murder included."

"Is that what my brother had you believe?" He laughed.

"No everyone seems to share the some opinion."

Don looked at me for a minute before letting out a frustrating sigh. "I don't know what they have been telling you but I will gladly set the record strait."

"Then please do." I said leaning in.

"Where do you want me to start?" He asked. Looks like I am finally going to get some answers.

"How about Arianna."

"Alight well it all started when I went to go find my brother." He started. "He had been missing for quite a few years and didn't know about our fathers passing. I searched for him a long time before I found him. He was living a in a village with Arianna for the past few years. Once I saw her I fell for her instantly. It was like our souls called out for each other."

"When I explained to my brother that she was the one for me and I loved her he got angry. He claimed he loved her first and was planning on marrying her as soon as he brought her back home. Well obviously I couldn't have that I told him he would have to give her up but he refused. He told me we would fight to the death and the winner would get her. I agreed and thus began the fight."

"Wow." I said in disbelief.

"Me and my brother fought long and hard until he got the upper hand on me by stabbing me with a silver dagger. I pushed him off with great force only for him to run at me again. Just before he made it to me Arianna jumped in front of the blade to protect me from getting hurt but placing her self danger. Before either of us knew what happened Arianna was stabbed and killed, it was the worst feeling anyone could imagine. In that moment it felt like my very heart was literally being ripped from me chest. After I came to terms with what happened I swore to my brother I would not rest until he was killed for what he had done."

During his story I hadn't noticed I was crying until I felt a tear drop hit my hand. I lifted my hand to my face to dry them. I honestly have never felt so bad for someone before. I scooted closer to Don and reached out to grab his hand.

"I'm sorry you had to go through all of that." I said sympathetically. "Can I ask you something though?"

"Anything." He said quietly.

"You were a vampire and your brother wasn't so why didn't you just kill him then? Why let someone else do it?" I questioned.

"Because he was my brother and I couldn't bring myself to do it. I thought he would never turn on me the way he did. When we got back to the palace for the trial he revealed I couldn't lead anymore because I was no blood relation. I don't know what hurt more. The fact that he denied me being his brother or that everyone sided with him."

" That wasn't right. They should have never treated you that way." I said a little angry.

I couldn't help but be a little mad on his behalf. The title was rightfully his and they took it from him like it was nothing. I could see how that would hurt him.

"So why did you end up killing him anyway then?" I asked remembering that Augusto was dead.

"I still couldn't kill him myself so I had someone else do it for me. Justice had to be served. If the courts would have done there job in the first place I would not have had to do it myself." He said seriously.

I hated that Augusto was dead despite everything but in a twisted way I could see where Don was coming from. If they courts had done what was right then none of this would have happened but I 'm glad it did though or else I wouldn't have had Chase in my life. I wonder what he is doing right now? I really miss him.

As I sat there thinking I remembered something. He stole his Brothers gift but never mentioned it. I wonder why.

"When did you steal Augusto's gift?" I asked.

"I didn't." He confessed.

"What do you mean? He lost his power." I stated. "Are you not an element controller?"

"I am but I received my gift naturally, I didn't take it. Augusto has been the gift snatcher all along. He was afraid to tell anyone because he thought he would be banished so he lied. That way when he was being asked why he had no gift he could say it was stolen."

"He lied to his whole family?" I asked shocked.

I can't believe Augusto would do something like that. He always seemed to be such a good guy. I never would have suspected that. Just then it hit me. How do I know if all of this is true or not. He could be making up whole gift snatching thing. How could I know the truth?

"I'm just having a little trouble with this. How do I know you are telling the truth?" I questioned.

"Come with me and I will show you." Don got up and took my hand pulling off the couch. I followed him out of the room and walked to an office. I gave him a confused. What were we doing in here? How was this room going to prove anything?

"This might shock you." He warned.

"Show me." I said impatiently.

Don released my hand and walked over to the wall where a picture hang with a sheet covering it. He gently took the corner and pulled the sheet off of the picture.

"This is Arianna." He said proudly.

When I laid eyes on the picture in front of me I nearly fainted. The person in the picture starring back at me was myself. My breath hitched in my throat has I backed up slowly in shock.

"H...how?"

"This is you. You and Arianna are the same. When you die and your first love lives lives you are reincarnated. That way you can find each other again." He stated.

"But how, I don't feel the pull toward you?" I said confused.

"That's because you died and I didn't. Everything changed for you but not for me. If you allowed yourself to feel something for me freely on your own then that would start the connection back that we once had." He explained.

"How do I know all of this isn't a trick?" I asked.

"Remember how I said that Arianna was with Augusto?" I nodded my head. "Well if I was lying why didn't he tell you about all of this the second he saw you?" He questioned.

I guess he had a point but how do I even know that this Arianna girl is really me? This could be some fake picture he had made up. I needed more proof.

"I need more." I stated.

"Ok. The book that you were looking at in the parlor the day I took you had a missing picture. Chase has them both. Go to him and see that the pictures match up for your self. I left the picture there that day."

"Your letting me go?" I asked shocked.

"Of course. I don't want you to but I don't want you to hate me for forcing you to stay here. If I was going to do that I wouldn't have bothered to explain things to you and I would have just force you to be with me but I didn't. The only reason I took you to began with is because I needed a chance to explain but I knew you wouldn't come on your own. I'm sorry I had to do that to you." He stated.

I couldn't help but think of how opposite he is from Chase. When Chase told me that I had to come with him and be a vampire he didn't give me a choice. He just said that is how things are. I hated him for it then but now I'm glad because I got to experience an all consuming love from it.

I sighed knowing what I need to do. I need to see if the pictures match and if anyone else knows about this. If I found out Chase knew anything about this than I am going to be mad.

"Thank you. I'm ready to leave now." I said.

"I will have the driver bring the car around." He gently grabbed my hand and kissed it. "Thank you for listening."

"Thanks for sharing." I replied.

"I really hope you come back." He said sweetly.

With that Don left the room leaving me standing there alone with my thoughts. I can't believe he is really going to let me go. None of this has gone the way I ever thought it would. I never expected Don to be so kind and polite. I couldn't help but wonder if he really was telling the truth. I guess I will know soon enough.

"Ashlyn the car is waiting." Don led the way down to the vehicle before telling me goodbye. "Take care and make sure you comeback if you feel like you want or need to. I will be here waiting."

I smiled at him and got in the car. As we drove off I watched Don's face turn into one of sadness. It actually hurt me to see him like that. Soon I would know the truth and see if he was lying. I don't know what has come over me today but for some reason I trusted him and that's the very thing I was never suppose to do.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Author

There it is guys what did you think? Do you think Don is telling the truth? What about Chase do you think he knew anything about it? Is this maybe all just a trick to get Ashlyn's power?