“I’m going to assume that you forgive me?” Seth said,
resting his forehead against mine, and for the first time in decades, I saw him
smile- not one of the fake smiles that we have learned to plaster on to try and
hide our true feelings, it was a genuine smile.

“You know, I’m quite reluctant to let go of you, Aralynne.
How do I know you won’t run away from me?”

“I won’t, Seth,” I promised, “besides, I have to stick
around a while anyway. You and I have a plan of action to work out- how exactly
am I going to destroy Dimitri? Time is running out, and though I have inside
knowledge now, I still need to prepare for the actual battle.”

“I figured the least expected method of disposal would be
the....traditional ones.”

I shuddered. He was referring to our medieval methods of
killing vampires, long before I obtained my dagger infused with the shard of
the Sword of Angels.

I’m not referring to wooden stakes, they will merely stop a
vampire from functioning, and only when plunged directly into the heart. The
vampire still needs to be destroyed afterwards.

The other methods of destruction, though gruesome, were
pretty effective, and a different one for each bloodline existed.

A Belial had to be hung by its feet, have its throat slit
with a silver blade and have it drained of any and all blood it might have
recently consumed.  This method is
effective against any Fallen bloodline, but is most effective against a Belial.

Once a Ba’al was stopped, its head had to be removed,  and buried in a separate case from its body
far beneath the ground. Many Ba’al, because of their mindcontrol powers, have
been revived by a progeny who managed to reunite the head with the body.

Since the Moloch are the most dangerous and bloodthirsty of
all the Fallen, their method was a bit more complex. The blood should be drained
from their body into running water, and then be burned and the ashes scattered.
The ashes have to be scattered into water that has a current, since still
waters will not prevent the beast from reviving.

“Seth, I have developed my own methods for a reason. Those
methods are old fashioned... primitive, even, and none of them are sure
anymore.”

“Aralynne, I know you think these methods are more cruel
than what you usually do, and I don’t blame you for thinking so, but keep in
mind that it’s most likely just your inner Belial speaking. You have always
been filled with a sense of remorse over what happened centuries ago. You
weren’t there to prevent your ancestors, my dear.  Their mistakes aren’t yours.”

“I know that, Seth... It’s just... I saw my master
destroyed, remember? Seeing the person you swore your life to being destroyed
isn’t exactly pleasant. You should remember, too. You destroyed him.”

“Aralynne, I was the protector back then, remember? You said
it would be fine. He never treated you well, anyway. Besides, marrying him
would have been creepy. Aren’t you glad that I saved you from that?”

“Yes...I am but....” I stammered, trying to find the words.

“He was the closest thing to family that I’ve ever had, no
matter how he treated me, but you’re right. The world is much safer without
him. I guess I just find it a gruesome way to die, and the Moloch’s method of
destruction is the most complex. I guess I just don’t want to feel like a
murderer again. How ironic, huh? I’m built to kill.”

He hugged me even closer. I guess it was time to get used to
physical contact between us again. It will be awkward at first, but I’m sure in
time I will be completely comfortable around him.

“Hmmm, quick question, what exactly is our title now,
Aralynne?”  His question caught me off
guard. We weren’t dating yet, were we? I had to sort things out with Zayden
first, and then there was the little matter of him actually being on a
different side than I am, he fought to help darkness thrive, I tried to walk
the path of light...

“Seth, I think that, before we go and let what happened
earlier run away with our imaginations, we should sort out a few things. For
example, one of us will have to change career, remember? We are supposed to be
enemies, and there’s  the matter of my
current boyfriend to consider, too.”

Seth nodded.

“I understand. Aralynne, if you don’t want to be with me,
I’d understand that too. I just want to be a part of your life....your
future...even if it means I have to continue lurking in the shadows. Yet you
have a point, one of us will have to change sides. I will have to work with you
again, or you will have to join me, but whatever happens, we will never part
again....that is a promise”

As soon as those words left his lips, his mouth was on mine
once more.

Yet somehow I couldn’t allow myself to be completely drawn
into this kiss as before. Nothing has changed, I just had the strange feeling
of being watched. The sound of glass shattering and a few unmentionable words
being spoken confirmed my suspicions. Seth and I weren’t alone.