Serpent Twins: The Fall

Forget Me Not

Alexander’s POV:

It was 08:40 p.m., I was standing inside of her apartment watching Nicholas kissed her and she didn’t refuse at all, she just stood there with eyes closed. She gave no consent, but she enjoyed it.

How could she forget me that easily?

I relaxed my hands from clenching into fists, hearing Kimberly invited him in. My heart was in so much pain when seeing them with my own eyes, I was certainly sure Nicholas could feel it too just like when I could feel his pain when I let him to watch me visiting Kimberly. I tried to keep my movement undetected as I’ve noticed Nicholas had installed motion sensor cameras with laser microphone, thermal adaptive imaging sensor, and advanced micro power radar technology. A common vampire could be recognized by at least one of those sensors, so I was floating and maintain my movement slow and steady. Nicholas took this surveillance seriously, but he probably knew he really couldn’t stop me because of my invisibility.

“Gentlemen, do you like some coffee?” she offered to Nicholas and Peter after Peter brought Kimberly’s luggage and some plastic and paper bags inside.

Nicholas helped her to open her coat. She looked beautiful and chic, but tired.

“No, thank you, Miss Vanderwood. Good night,” Peter replied and gave a nod before leaving.

“I’m good too, Kimmy,” Nicholas answered while opening his coat and took a seat on the loveseat.

He called her Kimmy.

Kimberly went to the kitchen counter, taking an empty glass, then opened the tap water, poured it into the glass and drank it.

I have to give it back now. She thought, keeping me intrigued.

“Please wait a minute, Nicholas,” she told Nicholas and went to the bedroom.

I kept waiting near the kitchen counter, seeing Nicholas look up to the smoke detector and smirked.

Bozo.

I tried myself not punching his smug face.

Kimberly went out with a familiar paper bag. She sat next to Nicholas and gave it to him.

“Nic, I’m sorry to bother you, but would you mind giving this to Alex?” she asked softly.

Nic.

Nicholas stared at her, “What is this, Kimmy?”

“It’s a something I shouldn’t keep from your brother,” she replied low.

“May I open it?” Nicholas asked.

Kimberly nodded and my brother took a box from the bottom of the bag and opened it.

“It’s beautiful. My brother surely has a good taste. Kimmy, if it was meant as a gift, you couldn’t return it to him,” he said.

I knew he just gave a fake advise.

“No, please. I don’t want it. Well, I received another one, it was a gown, so I think it was more than enough and I don’t want him feeling insulted if I gave back a woman’s dress. But the watch is too much and after what happened...”

“Okay, I’ll give it back to him. Don’t worry, Kimmy,” Nicholas cut her off and put back the watch into the bag and placed the bag on the table, “Is there something else?” he took her hands, gazing at her.

“No, that’s it,” It’s the end of us, she said.

Nicholas took her hands on his lips and kissed them, slowly. I could feel Kimberly’s heart began to beat faster.

“I… have to sleep early, Nic. I’m sorry. You must be tired too. Thank you so much for everything you did for me. I... my mom and I are really appreciated and grateful,” she sheepishly smiled.

Nicholas stood up, “My pleasure, Kimmy. I enjoyed our time together anyway. So, I’ll see you on Wednesday evening, then.”

As Kimberly stood up, my brother pulled her into his chest and gave her a quick kiss on her cheek. I looked away. Kimberly escorted him to the door with my brother was holding her hand. He kissed her hand.

“I’m going to miss you tomorrow, Kimmy. Good night, Baby,” he said and left with a paper bag in his hand.

I couldn’t see Kimberly’s face as her back was on me. She held the door opened for a while and closed it slowly. She turned around, leaning her body against the door and suddenly sobbed. She ran to the bathroom. I quietly followed until her bedroom, waiting for her to come out.

How could you, Alex! This would be my last tear for you.

She kept crying while probably taking a shower. I heard she was using hairdryer. After twenty minutes inside, she finally got out with a towel wrapping around her body and slightly damp hair. She smelled wonderful, I tried to not inhale her body scent that I missed so much and closed my eyes when she dropped the towel to wear her pajama. She got out to take her phone and charged it from the outlet in the middle section of the nightstand next the bed and curled up in her bed with puffy eyes.

I hate you, Alexander. You broke my heart

She closed her eyes and tried to sleep, but instead of sleeping, she kept crying harder, called out my name until finally she got tired and fell asleep almost an hour later.

I love you, Kimberly.

My heart was broken into pieces, but I could see what Nicholas said was true as she didn’t reject him. She could completely fall for him and forget me, while I would have eternity to heal my broken heart or even make it worse as I have to see her at least each one-hundred year in The Winter Ball.

I came over, bending and carefully kissed her head and her slightly opened lips.

Then I teleported to my lab at Dawsonville.

Nicholas’ POV:

I was listening to her cries, how she still called out his name. I felt anger, but also slight relief as she promised herself that it would be her last time crying over my brother.

I told Peter.

“As you wish, Your Highness,” Peter drove the car to Lower Manhattan whereas Barbara informed that I have new building there.

“Have you place an eye in her building?” I asked him while looking at the paper bag next to me.

“Yes, we have, Your Highness. We assigned Elena on same floor with Miss Vanderwood,” he replied.

“Elena?” I asked.

The last time I know, she was assigned in Copenhagen.

“We got her post replaced as I think it would be easier and less suspicious if using a woman. My apology for not requesting for your approval first, Your Highness,” I could feel that his best intention was merely for my convenience.

“That’s very well idea. But there won’t be next time for uninformed change, Peter,” I warned him.

I don’t want anyone building a bad habit under my nose.

“Thank you for your consideration, Your Highness,” he stated and kept driving to the highway.

“And when will Christian be here?” I asked him.

I assumed that Christian used the long-range aircraft with flight duration below nine hours, so he has to make one stop for refueling.

“He departed from Perth at five, so he will land after midnight, Your Highness,” he informed.

“We’ll be waiting for him here, then. Just make sure I got my stuffs for the Botkin,” I told him.

“We did, Your Highness,” he replied.

After twenty-five minutes, we entered a five-story building with a large industrial style windows in quite prime industrial and commercial neighborhood. I raised my eyebrow.

Who would think that I’m going to use a modern building to torture a vampire?

I smirked. Christian will be here with the red haired, just in time after the torture room finished.

Anastasia’s POV:

I squealed in pain as the spikes of silver handcuff piercing deeper when someone pulled me out from the crate and carried me on shoulder. I couldn’t see as my eyes were covered in very thick material for almost twenty-one hours since I was moved out from their safe house in Perth.

I screamed in more pain when I was dropped on metal flat object and the thick fabric and the silver ball gag were harshly pulled out. My hands were brought above my head and legs were widely strapped into metal shackle silver spikes stinging my ankles. An unfamiliar face came close to mine. A very gorgeous vampire with medium long blonde hair and green eyes. I only could assume that he is Prince Nicholas. I’m fuckingdoomed. I closed my eyes in fear.

Am I in Europe?

“Look at me, Woman,” his voice was so close.

I opened my eyes slowly.

“I’ve seen that you’re healed. Do you want me to torture you until you beg me to end your life?” he grinned.

His eyes were cold, staring at mine.

I shook my head, “Please, Your Highness. I don’t know why I was here,” I have to try not to think as I heard that the direct descendants of The First have mind reading ability.

he spoke to me through my mind.

“Please. I really don’t know,” he couldn’t do that, my family might be lower in noble rank, but we’re still noble.

“Address with title, Woman!”

My cheek was burning in pain as the vampire who caught and tortured me at first time hit me hard. I glared at him. He should address me with my title too.

“Christian, we don’t hit women on their face,” I heard the prince scolded my capturer.

“My apology, Your Highness. She should be reminded of her position,” Christian answered.

I heard the prince hissed, “Leave us.”

Then I felt a hand wrapping my neck, “Anastasia, who turned your family?”

I was about to answer when I was feeling a pain on my neck as the prince sucked my blood, but he did it to hurt me so it felt so painful as I was screaming with his hand covered my mouth. I was feeling so weak and burnt. When I was about to give up screaming, he stopped.

“Ah, my uncle turned your family,” he licked his lips, “You do know that he could see through your blood? But I don’t want to drag him into your problem. Now, tell me. Why did you kill my envoy? Who killed our kind in Kerch? Do you have relation with the Tongass's murder too? Answer those and your family will be spared for your treason,” he said.

I can’t let the prince get him.

“You prefer the hard way, Red haired. Fine,” he went out of my sight and a second later already injected my wrist with a liquid from the syringe.

I felt an unbearable pain and blacked out, I was floating in my various memories from my birth until how I got myself captured at Fremantle, and suddenly I was knocking on the cabin door. The door was opened by Vladimir. I threw myself on him, hugging him. I tried to kiss him, but he dropped me.

“What are you doing here, Anastasia?” he seemed unhappy.

I pouted, “I brought you a visitor here, Vlad.”

I took his hand and pulled him out of the cabin to my car. I opened the trunk. A vampire was banded with metal ropes in a big plastic bag with no legs and arms, almost drown in his own blood. He was only staring at us as I gagged him with orange and wrapped a tape over his mouth until the back of his head.

“Who the fuckis he, Anastasia?” he was frowning.

“I caught him spying on you. He even has poor footages in his phone,” I threw a phone from my handbag.

Vladimir caught and looked into it, “Did he send this to anyone?” he asked.

“I already checked, no one yet,” I told him, “So, what will we do to him?”

“Well, you started it, you better ended his misery, Anastasia,” he threw the phone into the bag and dragged the bag down into his cabin.

“Where are you going now, Vladimir? Why don’t you go back to our home?” I asked.

“s**t. I’m going to miss this place,” he said while gathering his belongings into a big bag pack.

I lit a match to burn down his cabin.

“Wait,” he said.

I looked up to him.

“What?” I asked.

“At least we should kill him properly,” he came over to the frighten vampire, but instead of ripping the heart, he opened the tape and gag, “Why did you follow me?” he asked.

“I was hunting when I accidentally saw you. I promised I wouldn’t tell, but the lady over there wouldn’t believe me. Please believe me. It’s merely curiosity,” he said.

When Vladimir looked at me, the man bit his wrist hard and even chewed the flesh a little.

“Filthy werewolf!” he screamed as Vladimir ripped his heart with another hand and crushed it with his foot. The body turned into dust.

I lit the fire.

Then I fell down in the dark. When I opened my heavy eyes, I was sitting in a chair with hands and legs strapped onto the chair. I felt pain all over my body and as I saw that the veins on hands turned black, I started to get panic.

“What the...” I looked up and met the prince’s eyes.

He was grinning, “So now your whole family must die for hiding a werewolf,” he said coldly.

“Your Highness, I’m begging you, my father and sister, they didn’t know anything about that. Please. You may recheck it yourself. Please,” I cried out in fear.

I tilted my head to get him my neck.

“That will be my brother to decide, Red Haired. You will soon be sent to him, if you’re not completely decayed yet,” the prince said and left.

A different vampire came into the room to gag me. I tried to scream and squealed, but I was too weak. I couldn’t even feel my hands anymore.

Father, Alyona... I’m sorry. Vladimir, I love you.

Kimberly’s POV:

“A camping with Alexander’s brother? Spill me the juice, Girl,” Carla seductively said, sipping her ice tea.

I met her at hospital’s cafeteria to give a bag of souvenirs from my trip and also to ask her about the camping. It was actually quite rare for us to eat here as mostly I didn’t have time to eat together due to doing rounds on surgical ward didn’t match with cafeteria hours nor Carla’s.

“Ssh, lower your voice, Carla,” I looked around to our co-workers who were sitting next to our table.

“So?” she raised her eyebrow, challenging.

“Alex ditched me at Positano, his brother, Nicholas, came to be my company and offered me to meet my mom in Milan, so we did. But that’s it,” I held my breath.

“Why did Alex leave you there? Is this Nicholas as hot as his brother? How’s your mom doing?” she bombed me with questions, expecting me to explain it long.

I glanced to my wrist watch and sighed, “I have to meet my boss in fifteen.”

“So be quick telling me,” Carla commanded me.

“Nicholas is nice and the opposite of Alex and my mom is doing pretty well and happy there,” I told her.

“And Alex?” she asked.

“He’s already married, Carla,” I whispered.

“What? How could he lie to you?” she got angry.

“Technically, he didn't lie because I have never popped the question. But I assumed he’s single when he asked me out. And Nic told me that his marriage was arranged as he’s the eldest son so he should marry woman of his family’s choice.”

Wait, did I just defend him?

“Oh, dang. Kimmy, are you still in love with him?” she shook her head, “I don’t blame you, he’s too gorgeous,” she continued, raising her two hands up in the air, “But who married by arrangement these days?” she rolled her eyes in disbelief.

“I’m not... I wasn’t in love with him!” I blurted out.

“Yeah, right. You’re so infatuated with him. You rejected that Dylan Knight for him,” she rolled her eyes.

“Carla, I just... Okay, I like him so much. But it’s over now,” I sighed.

My heart was aching. I fell for him harder than I thought.

“Okay, you’re lying on my face,” she rolled her eyes at me, “so, what kind of person is this Nicholas. I’m not sure I want to go with the brother of someone who just broke my best friend’s heart and he came for the rescue was quite suspicious,” she gave me a skeptical look.

I pulled out my phone and scrolled over some pictures, opened the one with Nicholas at the pool, and showed it to her. Her eyes went widen in shock.

“Holyfuck! Kimmy, you didn’t tell they’re identical twins! But this Nicholas is slightly won because of his long sexy hair! Sweet Jesus. I say fuckingyes. Let’s go camping with this mother fuckinghot creature,” she said it too loud.

I snatched my phone from her and didn’t dare to look around, but she’s wrong, he’s cold. I finally chuckled myself.

“Okay, I’ll let him know later. I’ll call you later, okay, Potty mouth?” I got up and gathered my empty salad container.

“Wait, can I ask Jason instead of Tony?” she asked, “Did you make out with the hotter twin?” she gave me a dirty look.

“Sure, Carla. See ya!” I smiled and waved, hiding my blush.

“Oh, God, you did, Girl!” I heard Carla’s giggle from behind, I quickly went out to avoid drawing attention, thinking that the camping might be gone in wrong direction if we go as double date, so I will still call Tony so that he can come in between.

Now that Carla mentioned about Dylan, I didn’t reply his message coming last night when I was just arrived at my apartment with Nicholas. Dylan asked me out tonight, he said he has something to tell me in person. Nicholas told me that he has work to do and will contact me tomorrow for a dinner. I shook my head, confused with who will I prioritize to meet? But in the elevator when I was staring at my tired face, I decided to meet them both. I’m still young and free. I have the right to reselect my boyfriend or future husband. Let Alexander be my sweet bitter past. I pulled out my phone and replied to Dylan.

Hi, Dylan. Sorry for my bad habit of late respond. I’m in for the dinner. Please let me know when and where.

øøøøø

After having lunch with Carla, I directly went to the office of Dr. Paul Henry, the chief of surgery to discuss on patient with blood-clots heart. Then I touched my lips, remembered seeing blood stain on my lips when I woke up this morning. I tried to check my mouth and face, but found no blood, like it wasn’t mine.

On my way, surprisingly I met Detective Cole and his partner in the elevator. As there were other people in front of them, at first, I wanted to pretend of not seeing him, but as our eyes met, I gave him awkward smile.

“Doctor Vanderwood,” Detective Cole greeted me.

The last time we met, he called me by first name. They both gave me a nod as we couldn’t do handshake.

“Detective Cole and...” I tried to remember another one.

“Detective Hernandez,” Detective Cole reminded me.

I nodded and looked back to smile. I tried to look at front as the floor I want to go was already pressed.

As some people went out, Detective Cole came over me and whispered.

“We’re here to meet Doctor Paul Henry,” he whispered.

His partner cleared his throat.

“Coincidentally I’m actually going to meet him too,” I replied.

“Well, I guessed we have to line after you, Doc,” he said and smiled.

I sheepishly smiled, but I could feel that Detective Hernandez was glaring to his partner, yet Detective Cole completely ignored him.

“After you, Doc,” he offered me to get out first after we arrived to our floor.

“Thank you,” I muttered softly.

As we walked to the office, his assistant and a female nurse came out and let me in.

“Please, go on. We’ll meet him after you,” Detective Cole told me.

Detective Hernandez gave disapproval look to his partner.

“Thank you, please excuse me,” I muttered again and got inside.

“Kimberly, do you have schedule in OR this afternoon?” Dr. Henry asked as he tried to arrange some pile of medical records.

“Yes, Doctor Henry. About an hour. There are two detectives want to see you outside,” I told him.

“Yes, I completely forgot to tell them for a delay. Look, sorry about this. I’ll call you for another discussion, if it is okay?” he asked, staring at me behind his glasses.

I smiled, “Sure, Doctor Henry. I guess I have just to put the MRI result here?” I asked and put the folder on his desk.

“Good. I’ll check and call you later, Kimberly,” he said and smiled.

I went out and Detective Hernandez immediately got inside. Detective Cole suddenly held my hand and let it go noticing my shock with his touch.

“Sorry, Doc. I just want to confirm another thing,” he bent his body to whisper, “I found someone recorded interesting event in the nightclub. A fight. But it wasn’t clear and I have asked to Mr. Keogh and Mr. Harding, they didn’t remember about the fight. I wanted to show you the video. Do you have a minute?” he asked.

I was stunned, “A fight?”

“Yes. But I came for another case here, the crash one. So, can I meet you later?” he asked.

“Sure, Detective,” my voice was hoarse.

“I’ll give you a call, Doc,” he said and went into Dr. Henry’s office.

I stood up still.

Did the fight really happen like in my memory? But why others had no memory on it? And is there any progress on the crash case?

I walked back to the bank of elevators with troubled mind. I tried to inhale and exhale as I need to prepare myself for two surgeries.

Dylan’s POV:

“Sir, your tux has been sent to your penthouse,” Maya, my PA, informed me after my jet landed at Teterboro Airport.

I looked at her with a frown. She smiled.

“For tonight’s charity event at Senator Knight’s mansion?” she reminded me.

Oh, s**t. I totally forgot about this. I pulled out my phone and my mood instantly lit up after seeing Kimberly’s message. I tried to call Kimberly, but she didn’t pick up. I had an onboard meeting with my employees so I didn’t check my phone after an hour. I tried to think positively that she probably was performing surgery, so I replied to her message.

Hi, Kimmy. I tried to call you, are you in OR? Sorry I forgot I have to attend Charity Dinner Dance at my uncle Ben’s at 7, so I’ll pick you up at 6.30? Please let me know. I really want to take you there. Folded hands emoji.

“Maya, can you get me a proper dress for tonight, a woman at your age, size four, I think mid length will be better with no fitting as she is just around five feet one inch. I’ll let you know the address,” I told her.

“Yes, Sir. Do you want to take a look at the choices to decide?” she asked.

“No, just choose the elegant one,” I reminded her.

“I will, Sir,” she started to look into her phone after I thanked her.