November 8, 1491

"Elijah?"
He didn't respond, and I gripped the side of his coat tighter, trying to get his attention.
"Elijah?"
Again, nothing. He stared straight ahead, seemingly at nothing, and I felt he had forgotten that I was even there.
"Elijah!"
This time it wasn't a question, and it was spoken even louder.
"Good lord, Ana, what is it?" he snapped, looking back at me.
I released his coat in shock.
"I... Uh.. I want to go back." I said, shaking off his harsh tone.
"We aren't going back." he said, turning away from me.
"We're going far away, where you can't hurt your sister."
"I've told you, she deserves it."
That hot and blinding rage that filled me earlier was back, and with a vengeance. The only thoughts in my mind were those that told me to kill my sister, and they weren't going away.
"Katerina may have been a burden to you, but she does not deserve to die."
I laughed bitterly.
"It's her fault I'm a monster now."
There was silence for a few seconds as Elijah digested what I had just said.
"So you think we're monsters?"
The horse we had been traveling on had now stopped, and Elijah hopped off, facing me.
"Yes!" I said.
"We drink blood, and I bet you kill people to get that blood-"
"I don't kill people, Ana. It's inhumane and wrong."
"Still, what do you do? Do you compel them, Elijah? Because that's still wrong! They're innocent people, they don't know you're taking their blood without their consent, they have no idea!"
Elijah looked down.
"Do you think I chose to be a vampire, Ana?" he said quietly.
"I didn't choose this, just as you didn't. And what has happened to us is unjust and unfair, but we can't let our rage consume us. We just have to live with this, live with what has happened to us, and embrace the fact that we get to live and see cultures change, see ideas become reality, and experience every new thing that happens in the world. It isn't Katerina's fault, Ana. You're just taking your rage of becoming a vampire  out on her. She doesn't deserve that. It isn't her fault. And you aren't a monster. You're a beautiful girl, and you will stay that way, even as a vampire."
I didn't realize I was crying until he was finished talking, and I felt tears drop onto my hands.
Everything he had said was completely true, and I was just now realizing it.
I hopped off of the horse as well, so I was close to Elijah.
"Thank you." I whispered.
He took my hand in his and held it to his heart.
It was beating rapidly, and I could feel my own heart speeding up just touching him.
"Does a monster have a beating heart?" he said.
We were both quiet now, whispering when we spoke.
I wasn't quite sure why, considering that there was no one around, but I didn't mind.
Everything was just making my senses heightened, my touch, my hearing, my sight.
"Do you really think I'm beautiful?" I said to him.
We were slowly getting closer together. My hand was still on his chest, and my other was intertwined in his hand.
"You are the most gorgeous girl I've ever met." he said.
Our faces were now inches apart. I smiled slightly.
And it all happened so fast.
His lips were on mine and my hands were tangled in his hair as we kissed.
Sparks flew through my entire body every time his fingers ran up my back or across my neck.
As he finally gently let go, I was sure that my entire face was flushed.
He was smiling and looking down at me with his beautiful eyes and I was overcome with so much emotion that I could hardly breathe.
"Let's go far away from here." I said breathlessly.
"I just want to be with you."
And he agreed.