Vampire Shadows
Chapter 28

"Nathan isn't dead! and you are the only person that can save him." Josh said.

"What?" she asked as she slowly let go of me.

"Yes, he's severely injured, but he's still alive, Nathan is alive!" I said as she released me fully. I looked at her sapphire blue eyes that now had a darker shade, anger was visible in them, but behind the anger, hurt.

"We can help Nathan, but we need your help," Layla said, surprise covered Jasmine's face, probably because she had never heard her mother ask for her help.

"Please," Layla added.

"How? How am I supposed to help,?" She asked.

"We need a vampire with the water element to heal Nathan," I said, trying to make her understand.

"Correction I am a half vampire, and I don't even know how to use my powers, I just figured out that I had water element a few days back." She said.

"And you didn't tell me about it?" Layla asked. It is weird that her daughter would hide such an important information from her.

"And you are?" Jasmine's sarcasm got us.

"Your mother!" Layla barked,

"Since when?" Jasmine said again sarcastically. She looked around the place and went straight to where Nathan was laying, she held his hands and started weeping.

"We need to replace a vampire with water element as soon as possible if that's the only way. You guys weren't even looking for one where you? You all just gave up on Nathan." Jasmine said from where she was seated.

"Jasmine, of course, we didn't give up on Nathan, what are you saying? He's my brother" Josh yelled from where he was standing, it was obvious that he was pissed.

"Yeah, if he really is your brother, then why aren't you looking for a vampire that can cure him, you all just don't care about Nathan that much," she yelled back. And I could see Josh losing the last string of serenity he had on.

"Well, yeah, what part of 'you are the only vampire in the whole universe that can save him' don't you get.?" Josh fired.

"You are the same bitch who tried to kill us a moment ago with your water powers and now that we need your help, Nathan needs your help, you are acting all powerless and hopeless." He paused then continued.

"Shit, I feel like going back to the castle and getting the Prince to help. I'm sure there'll be more hope with him." He left the room mumbling to himself.

"Jasmine, what Josh is trying to say is, vampires with your element are extinct, and we are really surprised that you have such unique powers, but it isn't the time to discuss or fight about it. Right now we need to save Nathan." Layla said in a pleading voice.

"Only you and the vampire prince have this healing power, that's making you the only option we have" I added, trying to convince her. I know she would love to save Nathan, but there was fear in her eyes. Maybe she's scared she won't be able to do it.

"But, I told you, I don't even know how to use my powers well," she said.

"Don't worry about that Jasmine, I have books in my room about healing. I'm sure you would be able to learn how to heal with your powers." Layla said, and I could see Jasmine lighten up a bit. She shook her head in approval and that made me rush to her, giving her a tight hug.

"That doesn't mean I forgive, you are still the reason Nathan is in this condition." She hissed at me, and I let go of her immediately. Moving back to where Max was standing. He gave me a cheerful look, that made me smile.

"Alright now, everyone should go to bed, we have a long day ahead of us tomorrow," Layla said and started walking towards her room.

"Actually, can you hand me the books now? I think I need to start working on it if I really want to save Nathan." Jasmine said. Layla gave her a warm smile before heading to her room.

Max went out, probably to replace josh, and I followed him.

"Hey," I said from behind and he stopped in his tracks.

"Just wondering where Joshua is," he replied to the question that I didn't even ask.

"Ohh... How's your wrist?" I asked touching it lightly, but to my _not so_ surprise, there weren't any chain marks, as if he was never chained up.

"It healed" he replied awkwardly

"Ohhh" was the only thing I could say.

That was when I realized how distant I was from Max, I was too busy thinking about saving him that I totally forgot that he was almost like a stranger to me. We never actually bonded, not like how Nathan and I did.

"How do you know Nathaniel and all these witches, and how sure are you we can trust them," Max asked.

"Well, Nathan happened to save my life after you got caught. He said he knows Mom and that's why he's helping." I replied, totally ignoring his suspicions. Why shouldn't I trust the guy who risked his life to save my sister?

"And the witches?" He asked looking at me intently as if I was putting myself into a mess I wasn't aware of.

"Of course I trust them,"

"But you do know that witches and vampires don't get along right?"

"Yes, I know that, but I think the witches treat me way better than the vampires have."

"Don't be too sure.." He said coldly.

"Whatever Max, at least they didn't try to kidnap me, or kill my mother." This time, I was battling the tears that were trying to force their way out.

Max must have noticed it, cause he faced me and gave me a warm comforting hug. His hug was nothing like Nathan's, which made me feel safe. No, his hug was giving me butterflies.

"By the way, if Layla hated vampires that much, I don't think she would give birth to one," I added after fighting the tears.

"No wonder she loves her vampire daughter a lot," Max said in a sarcastic tone. Obviously trying to make a point.

And that is when it hit me. Layla doesn't like Jasmine because she is a vampire.

"Is that really surprising to you?." Max said, making me hit him on the chest.

"Stop reading my mind, you eavesdropper," I said, and then I remembered all those times I had suspected and adored Max when we were back at home does that mean he could hear me the whole time?

"Hey, easy there, I don't just go around reading people's minds all the time, I believe in privacy too you know." He said and something inside of me choose to trust me.

"Now let's head back and get some sleep, I'm sure you are exhausted from all the saving me stuff." He said and started dragging me to the tent.

.

The place was quiet when we returned so I walked quickly to Jasmine's room.

I met her there, going through a bunch of books.

"Hey, I know you can do it," I said and she raised a brow at me.

Then she said, "What if I can't, what if I fail, what if I lose Nathan? I'll never be able to forgive myself. "

"You can do it, I know you can." I said giving her a hug, and surprisingly, she didn't push me, instead, she said, "Nathan is the only person who has ever cared for me. My mom didn't want anything to do with me after giving birth to me. Nathan was the only reason she agreed to raise me. Well technically, he did almost everything. And now seeing him in this condition breaks me. And if I'm not able to save him, I'll follow him, cause he's the only home I've ever had."

"It's alright, Nathan will be fine, I know it," I said, trying to comfort her. We drifted to sleep a while later.

.

"I think you should talk to her Layla, she needs to eat," I said while peeping at Jasmine, she has been in Nathan's room all morning trying the healing skills she has learned from the book. But it doesn't seem to be working, and with every failed attempt, I could see the anger, frustration, and fear in her increasing.

She hasn't eaten anything, and if you ask me, she isn't thinking straight right now.

"Jasmine, why don't you take a break," I said, moving close to her. But she glared at me in a _don't come any closer_ way and that made me stop in my track. I gave Layla a pleading look, so she could give me a hand but she shook her head in disapproval.

"Jasmine listens to only one person in the world. And that's Nathan." Layla said, that made me give up. I walked back to where Layla was sitting and started small talks with her. She's really good with conversations. And the way she talks about mom warms my heart. According to her, my mother was a really stubborn vampire, she always does whatever she wants and that kinda reminds me of Kendra. At least now I know where kendra got her bad ass attitude.

The thought of Kendra made me feel moody, although Max assured me that the Prince would not hurt her, I can't help but wonder about the kind of horror she's going through right now.

"Miss Layla," Max said, drawing my attention to him, he was with Joshua and they looked like they wanted to say something important.

"Yes?" Layla said simply.

"Since Jasmine is starting Nathan's treatment, we know that he's in good hands. We'll like to take our leave" this time it was josh speaking.

"Why would you leave, it's safer here, I don't want you getting into another mess," Layla said, worry apparent in her voice.

"Exactly, but we need to bring an end to this whole shit. And we need to save Kendra." Max said.

"And how exactly are you going to do that?" Layla asked not convinced.

"Well, the reason the prince is after Kara is that he needs the stone of light which he thinks is with her. Once he replaces out it is not with her, _which he will anytime soon._ he'll start searching for the stone and once he replaces it, we will be done for. " Max said firmly.

"So, you want to get to the stone before him?" Layla asked not really expecting an answer.

"Exactly," Josh said. "That's why we need to go and search for it, replace it, and hopefully end this war. We need to leave"

"When do we leave? " I asked, joining the conversation.

"You are not coming!!" All three of them said in unison.