Chapter Three- Semper Sodales
 "So, what you're trying to tell me is that, you're a vampire?" Brent asked confused, choking back on a laugh.

 It was dark outside now, the sun fell behind the mountain range hours ago, and even after all this time, even as Sara explained everything in detail and with such passion, he still didn't believe her. Vampires were just a myth. surely this was just some silly prank, after all Halloween was just a little over a week away.

 Frustrated, Sara slammed the old weathered book shut and got off the couch, burying her face in her hands. "No!" she yelled, on the brink of tears. How could she make him understand, to make him realize she wasn't playing tricks on him. Sitting back down, she went to grab his hands, then stopped herself and turned her back to him. "Brent, please... Just, try to understand would you?"

 Brent watched her for a moment, and even though the tiniest part of him believed her, the more logical part of him would not let this get out of hand. Seeing the frustration and pain on her face though, he sighed and nodded. "I'll try to, but, I still think you're just joking."

 Rolling her eyes, Sara pulled open a drawer under the coffee table and produced three pieces of paper. Birth certificates. One was for Elena Miller, the other for a Stanley Lockwood. The dates of birth on both were 1823. The last was her birth certificate. Elena and Stanley were the parents written on the lines, and the year of her birth was 1991.

 "My mom and dad were vampires. We are not your usual vampires that people make books and movies out of these days. Were slightly more elegant, and unlike what people believe, we do have a choice."

 Again, Sara explained that any vampire family who has children can raise them as normal humans, or at a young age, divulge into their more ancient history. At first, most families would go into their long and strange history, but as the years went by, and society became what we know today, fewer did this, so fewer and fewer vampires were brought into the world.

 "You see, I wanted to become like them. To live, to spread my knowledge, my love to the world. But, my parents were killed when I was eight, and for the ritual of becoming immortal, you have to be fifteen. So, I never got the chance." She sighed, and looked down at her hands folded in her lap, twiddling her thumbs.

 If any Elder found out she was spilling all of this to a human, it would spell trouble for everyone. This was supposed to be secret, no one could know. But, it was the only way she could make him see and understand why she was the way she was with him.

 Brent listened, and as she went on, he found it too crazy to believe. But, then she mentioned her parents. Sure, his parents were absent in his life and he grew up not really knowing them. But, they were still here. Sara had no one. She couldn't just pick up a phone and call her mother to talk about boys, hair, clothes, or whatever it is girls did. She didn't have a strong person in her life to protect and provide for her like a father should. He could only imagine how her life was, how she had to raise herself, teach herself everything parents are supposed to teach their kids.

 She certainly had to learn to be strong for herself, because she had no one. "I'm sorry, about your parents," he said softly, wanting to reach out and hold her, to comfort her. To be there for her. "But, I still don't see how this really explains what happened between us."

 Sara laughed softly, shaking her head. "In our history, vampires had a special bond to one, and only one other. Be it human, vampire, frog," she said, somewhat jokingly. "It was a beautiful thing called Semper Sodales. Roughly, it translates into Forever Soulmates. When one of our kind found their soulmate, it was magical. It was like two entities became one, two souls bodies and minds joined together forever. It happened a lot years ago. But as the world grew bigger, it happened less and less."

 She paused and looked over at him. His face was somewhat amused, but interested. She wanted him to believe her. Because, as much as she hated to admit it to herself, this was true. He was her one and only. "But... This didn't happen until today, so why were you so angry and well, sort of bitchy with me all this time?" he asked, leaning forward, his hair falling into his face no matter how many times he tried to shove it back behind his ears.

 "When we ran into each other, I had a suspicion. I felt a weird feeling when I saw you. You made my skin hot, but my blood cold. You made my mind stop working, but my heart race a million miles. It was confusing, and scary. I didn't want to admit it, but I liked you since that first day." She stopped herself when she saw the ray of hope glisten in his eyes. "But, I can't be with you. I can't let myself like you. I have too much planned with my life, and I'd never be around much."

 Just as Brent began to have his hopes up. Instantly, she crushed them. Couldn't like him? But, a part of him understood. If he truly wanted to be a musician, he would be on the road a lot as well. He wouldn't be able to stay in one place, and he surely wouldn't have much money to provide to start with. He would be a poor choice for someone to be with. 

 "I understand, Sara," he said softly, even though he felt his heart breaking. "I'd never ask you to choose between me and your dreams." He got up slowly, about ready to head out when her hand wrapped around his wrist and pulled him back down to the couch.

 "Brent, I appreciate that. I'd never ask you to choose, either." She smiled softly, feeling a little better about getting this off her chest. Even if he didn't understand and only thought it was a joke. She leaned forward, pressing her lips to his cheek softly, feeling warm tears well up in her eyes. "I'm sorry, but this would just never work in the end."