A vampire's Choice

The fresh night air brushed against her heated skin, the coolness a welcome to the chaos inside. Lisa had sprinted from the room after Nix had announced she was Rebecca, they were one and the same, but it couldn't be true. That woman was evil, cruel and Lisa would never intentionally hurt anyone. Striding up and down on one spot, arms folded over her chest, Lisa replayed the words over and over, but the more she spoke them, the crazier it became.

"Let me explain." The now-familiar voice of Nix sounded behind her.

Twirling in her direction, Lisa dropped her arms to her side before pointing the finger at Nix. "You are lying. Why are you saying that." Lisa raised her voice, not caring she might wake up the pack.

Nix closed the space between them, wrapping her fingers around Lisa's upper arms. It happened too fast for Lisa to react, so she was forced to stay in her hold. "If you give me a chance, I could explain."

"No," Lisa shook her head violently, "I cannot, will not accept whatever you tell me. That woman was a monster, and I am not one."

"Shhhh...” Slowly rubbing up and down her arm, Nix pushed calming energy from her and watched as it did its magic. Lisa's frantic breathing slowed down; her roving eyes focused on Nix. Happy with the results, Nix tugged on her arm, leading Lisa to a table under the trees, the same one Roger and Vanessa had patched up their relationship. The irony was not lost on Lisa, but there were more significant concerns. Allowing her body to be led, she sat down and watched Nix walk around to sit opposite her. The silence was defeating, but Lisa refused to start, so Nix began.

"I can understand the confusion, and before I explain, I just want you to know. You and Rebecca might be the same soul. Know that you are not her. Roger killed the darkness within her that night, but you stayed. You are the goodness that she was before the darkness. She would have made a fine mate to Roger, but Deimos had sensed the evil and exploited it. What you and Roger have now is what he could have had but didn't. Don't you think he and you finally deserve the happiness denied to both?"

"I... Yes, but it is not that easy." Lisa didn't know if she could be with him after what she witnessed him do, even if he was under the influence of greater power.

"It is that easy. Life is all about choices: yes or no, do it or don't, do the right thing, or do the bad thing. As I said, no one is just good or bad; they choose one. Rebecca chose darkness, but you can choose the light. You can choose love." Nix explained.

Lisa pondered over the words. The knowledge Nix must have, the world she experienced. How could this being still have hope after the evil she has witnessed?

Nix sensed the wheels turning in Lisa's mind, knew she was thinking about her. "It is true, I have seen so much pain, even experienced it, but I believe the world can be good. I have too."

A hoot from an owl in the distance filled the silence between the two as Lisa took her time observing the higher being. The light Nix exudes brightened the space around them, making it feel like daytime. The night air lacked wind, but the golden trails of her hair softly whipped around her face and body, rustling the golden dress hugging her body. Words could not describe her beauty, the aura she produced, or the goodness radiating from her. Leaning closer, Lisa enjoyed the feeling of warmth she experienced from this God, wishing she could bottle it up and carry it always. Never feel pain or sadness again.

"I, too, wish for that. For the world to be good, but I have seen so much suffering. Hell, my childhood was filled with it."

Nix's eyes shimmered a golden hue as she listened to Lisa, heart breaking with her earlier years' confessions. So many humans and supernatural suffering as children, but she could not save them all. She is but one entity compared to billions. "I genuinely wish I could have saved you from that life but my powers are limited."

Lisa's mouth dropped open, "Limited. You just admitted to pulling my soul from a dead body, releasing it into the world to be reborn. That is impressive."

Nix smiled. “You do make it sound all-powerful, but after I did it, my powers were drained, forcing me into hiding for years until I had rebuilt myself."

"Then why did you do it? Why did you save me?" Lisa's head tilted slightly while observing Nix, trying to figure her out. "You must have known the cost."

"I did, but I was looking at the bigger picture. I saw the future that could be if I was not there to help, and it looked bleak. By saving you, I would be able to bring you back to Roger and the group in there, for only together we will stop Deimos."

"How am I able to help? I am just a human."

Nix rose and stepped out. Lisa did the same, scared she would leave before she got the answers she needed. Moving into the clearing with Lisa following, Nix basked in the moonlight, glancing up at the cloudless sky, admiring the world she is trying to save. Lisa stopped a few feet from Nix and watched as she glanced to the heavens, a smile on her face.

"Nix." Lisa tried to catch her attention, but Nix remained the same, watching the sky. She was also curious, so Lisa tiled her neck to look up. The dark sky blanketed her view, stars scattered everywhere and a half-moon illuminating the world. The peace she felt while admiring nature warmed her as she realized that Nix is a God, but deep inside, she probably also craved love and affection. Like all living creatures.

"Don't you just love the moonlight? The way it warms the air around us." Nix purred.

Keeping her eyes up, Lisa replied, "I do, but what does it have to do with my situation?"

Finally, Nix straightened out and looked upon Lisa. The movement caught the side of her gaze, making Lisa also look at Nix.

"Every little thing in this world has a purpose, from the grass to the wind. That spider you might be afraid of is there to eat the invading insects. That horrible experience you had weeks ago brought you to this moment, right here with me. Everything is connected, even if you can't see it right now, but you will."

"Nix, please use English. I am too tired for riddles."

"You are meant to be with Roger. The past is an indication that not even death can separate you, but it is up to you to decide what to do. To choose your heart or mind."

"But...” Lisa got interrupted with a rant she was going to give Nix, but she suddenly disappeared. One second she was there, her light everywhere. The next Lisa was left standing in the darkness, alone.

Twirling around, Lisa frantically searched for Nix, scanning the darkened hills for her light, but to no avail. With a loud huff, she marched back to the house, mentally preparing herself for the onslaught of questions from the others. To her surprise, the room was empty, only a single light her companion. Lisa was glad, for she could not answer their questions, for she still did not have them. Turning off the light, Lisa strode in the darkness, her eyes adjusting and enabling her to see the path. Making her way to her room, she threw her body onto the soft bed, pushing her head into the pillow, and let out a scream of frustration. They were no closer to stopping Luke or Deimos with everything they learned tonight and even further away from figuring out who she was.