Snippet #2245900

Isabella's features, which had grown a little peeved, softened dramatically when Aleksei spoke to her. His tone was so gentle as he addressed her, soft and saccharine as opposed to when he spoke to Mina or Lorenzo. For a moment she almost swore she recognized the tenderness in his tone, as though it were a distant memory. The breeze swept over the trio, carrying the girl's scent like a perfume. Lorenzo took one breath, his eyes closed, as though indulging in its sweetness. When they reopened, his yellow irises were glowing like the rays of the sun. His handsome lips parted to reveal his budded canines, and he inhaled deeply one more time.

"Oh, on the contrary, Avalon," he hissed, intensely satisfied. "The fact that I am an Italian royal means she will have to choose me... Remember what the treaty calls for."

Isabella whirled around to face Lorenzo, bewildered at his statement. She then averted her gaze to Aleksei, though she stared at him helplessly, her mouth slightly parted in shock. Her soft dark hair was billowing in the wind that had decided to pick up with the chill of the morning. When Aleksei stepped toward her, she retreated from the both of them.

"Wait, what? R-royalty?" she stuttered, turning to Aleksei. "What is he talking about?"

"Oh, forgive me, princess," Lorenzo apologized mockingly. "In all his endeavors to keep you safe, did your escort forget to mention the importance of your lineage?"

He approached her, though showed no signs of threat. His eyes were still glowing as he indulged further in her fragrance. He could see she no longer felt safe, but a bit betrayed.

"Did he also forget to inform you about a woman named Maria?" Again mockingly, he shook his head, imitating a 'no' she might have answered him with. "No? Well do you have your grandmother's journals, or has he kept those a secret from you also? She did will him to give them to you, afterall..."

When Isabella looked back at Aleksei, she seemed on the verge of tears. Here she was, ready to trust him with her life like her grandmother had, but yet he had been keeping so many secrets from her. She couldn't help but feel a bit of betrayal.

"Is this true, Aleksei?" she asked, her voice shaky.

"Amore mio, come with me, and I will teach you everything this man has failed to," Lorenzo began, uncharacteristically gingerly and soothing. "Let me take you to-"

"And you! You are no better! How many secrets are you keeping?"

She retreated once more, her steps threatening to burst into a full sprint toward the school house where the battle still raged on, unbeknownst to her. Her heartbeat quickened, an alarming song filling both of the purebloods' ears.

"I have no secrets, just information I am trying to share with you," Lorenzo contended, his arms raised. "So, who will it be, principessa? who will you choose?"