Chapter 3

I tried my best to leave, but my body wouldn't seem to move. My eyes were stuck on him and my ears wanted to hear what he had to say. Frozen, I stood there. 

"Firstly, I want to thank everyone for coming tonight. I know it's not easy for most to get here given our busy schedules. Tonight, I'm finally twenty-one. I can't believe time flew by so fast. It feels as though just yesterday I was playing with legos, video games, and watching a ton of sci-fi movies," Brandon says chuckling, "I remember what fun times those were. I had such fond memories of my youth. Well, some of those memories were between twelve to fourteen. They were one of the greatest adventures I had. Now, here I am, twenty-one. Surprisingly, I turned out well. I've got my own business aside from the family's, I graduated college, and I have plenty of projects and achievements. I've done all that thanks to this… strength I have in here." He pointed at his heart and continued, "For some strange and unexplainable reason, something in here just kept me going. Something felt alive even though everything seemed dead. Past aside, I look forward to spending the rest of my life thriving! Thanks for joining me tonight! Here's to many more years of friendship!" He raised his glass as everyone did and they sank into their cups. 

I looked at him one last time and gave him one last smile before I turned my back and left. My heart felt heavier than it should. I guess that's understandable. I'm still human after all. I'm just a human frozen in time who can't ever die. His speech wasn't horrible and he seemed happy. I guess that's more than enough to leave and carry on with my life. I sighed as I walked in the corridor, appreciating the paintings that hung on the walls. 

"Hey!" someone called from behind, sounding out of breath. 

I turned to face him. 

Meeting my gaze, he stopped running and started walking slowly towards me. Once he reached me, he grinned, extending his hand to shake mine. "I'm Brandon," he introduced, "You must be my brother's friend. Forgive me for following you. You just really remind me of someone."

"Alexandra," I accepted his hand, shaking it firmly. "It's a pleasure to meet the host of the party."

He smiled, shaking his head as though he was trying to push back thoughts. "Sorry, but you really look familiar. Your hand…" he says, holding it firmly. 

I withdrew my hand, bowing my head lightly. "We've never met before, Brandon," I said, "Perhaps some time ago by chance, but I don't really recall it. I have to go. I'm not feeling well. A glass too many I think. Oh and happy birthday."

He grabbed my wrist, pulling me back. Our eyes locked instantly and I just couldn't look away. Why? 

"Aubrey," he said, his other hand making its way to my cheek. 

I'm scared. I couldn't move and my heart was about to explode. I didn't plan this. I should've known that I couldn't go undetected. At least not with him. I didn't want to disrupt his life by showing up like this. I guess I couldn't help but be selfish for wanting to take a peak from their new life. 

Before he could yank the mask off my face, I stopped his hand with mine. "Sorry, Brandon, but I think you've had a few too many drinks tonight. From what I heard, the girl you wish to see has long been dead," I said, pulling back from him. "You'll only disappoint yourself by pulling my mask off. I'll save you the disappointment. Also, since it's been years, maybe it's time to move on."

He didn't say anything. He just stood there staring at me with empty eyes. It took a minute, but then he said, "Sorry if I jumped on you like that. You're right. I've had a few to drink."

"Happy birthday," I said before getting in the elevator. As I got out, I looked up at the moon. It wasn't full, but I suppose that'll do. I'm breaking this bond tonight. It's a good thing the rooftop is closed tonight due to "technical" issues. No one's coming in to interrupt the ritual. 

"Ms. Aubrey," Ric, my manager knocked on the table. 

I glanced at him, acknowledging his presence. "Did you get it?"

He nodded, handing me a Ziploc with a few strands of Brandon's hair. In addition to that, he had a glass that he used earlier at the party. 

"Very good, Ric," I said, handing him a cash envelope. "For your service."

"Thank you, Ms. Aubrey," he said. He bowed in respect and fled the scene.

I sighed staring at the moonlight. It was the only source of light there was right now from up here besides the stars. The ritual was simple. I have to light two candles tied together with a rope. The rope should be infused with something from us—be it blood, hair, whatever. Before lighting it, I have to chant a disenchantment—the opposite of the words I used to bind us. 

"What the hell are you doing?" asked a confused Brandon, startling me from my concentration. 

I dropped the glass, breaking it by accident. "Shit," I cussed. It's fine. I suppose a strand of his hair will do just fine. 

"I asked you a question," he said, walking forward. "What are you doing?"

"I should be the one asking you that," I argued, "The rooftop is closed. No guests are permitted to enter. Now, leave!" I got up and pointed at the door. 

He pushed my hand away, saying, "What about you?"

"I happen to own the building, Brandon," I said firmly, "Now leave. I don't want to ruin your night by calling security on you."

"I know who you are," he said, grabbing my wrist and yanking me forward. "Aubrey."

"You're delusional," I said glaring at him. 

Without warning, he untied my mask and dropped it to the floor. "I knew it was you," he said, his eyes never leaving mine. 

"How?" I asked, folding my arms over my chest. "Johnathan didn't figure it out. How did you? What gave it all away, Brandon? My English? I suppose that was my fault. I should've spoken to you in French like I did with your brother; it fooled him."

"You smell sweet like vanilla—the very same scent you wore back then," he says picking up my left hand. "And this is the same bracelet you wore when you were nineteen; rose quartz for love." Dropping my hand, he pushed me down making me sit on the sun bed. "I saw how you laughed and heard the manner of words you spoke with my brother."

"Enough," I said not breaking eye contact. "I get it. You know me so well; that's what you mean, right?"

"What happened to you?" he asked. "Why are you here? Everyone presumed you were dead! Why didn't you reach out to us? Why are you so young?" His voice roared in anger and it felt as though venom was dripping from him. He was angry. No, he was full of rage. He looked like a demon-possessed. Not receiving an answer from me, he grabbed me by my arms and gripped me tightly. "Answer me!"

I wish I could. But how can one explain the supernatural? It's unbelievable. It's unreal. It sounds like a lie a child would make. Knowing him, he wouldn't believe anything I'd say. He believes in logic and science; not this. 

I pushed him off me and grabbed the stick in my hair. It was sharp and made to double as a weapon and a headpiece. Without another thought, I stabbed my left arm and sliced it open. Blood spilled out immediately, dripping all over the floor. 

He was quick to take the stick from my grasp and throw it across the rooftop. "Fuck," he cussed, "Fuck, fuck, fuck!" He pulled me towards him and yanked my arm to inspect it. "This is a deep wound, Aubrey. Why would you do that? Did you literally just try to kill yourself right now?"

I pulled away from his grasp and held his hand. "Look at it again," I said, showing him my arm, "It's healing. It won't leave a scar."

"What?" he asked in confusion and worry. 

"You can stab me right now if you'd like and I still won't die," I said, "If you want to hurt me… If you want to unleash your wrath, I'll let you do that. I'll let you release all that anger right now."

"Aubrey, I would never do that to you," he said, his eyes softening. "I'm sorry for reacting that way."

"You don't have to be," I replied, "You can feel rage; it's part of living. Since you now know that I'm alive, you should also understand why I disappeared all those years ago. I can't die, Brandon. I can't age either. If I stayed, people would put me in a lab and do experiments on me. I wasn't about to drag you into that mess. We're friends; I don't want anything horrible to happen to you. You're like my little brother."

He tried his best to process everything I just said. It was an understatement to say that he was confused and shocked. "Little brother," he said. 

"Is that all you have to say after everything I've told you?" I asked. 

"You know what, none of this matters," he said, taking both my hands. "I'm just glad that you're alive. I knew you weren't dead. A girl like you can't die that easily." With that said, he pulled me into a tight hug. 

I could feel his heartbeat against mine. Closing my eyes, I hugged him back. He was warm and he felt like home. God, if he only knew how hard it was to be alone. Pulling back from him, I said, "The reason why you could feel that I was alive was because our souls are tied. Remember that time we were in the room and I was playing around with "magic"? Well, as it turns out, all of it is real. So, now, our souls are bonded."

He looked at the table and instantly he knew what it meant. "You want to break the tie that binds our souls together," he said. 

I nodded, "Correct. Doing that tonight will set you free from me. I'll no longer be constant in your thoughts and you won't feel me—that I'm alive. This frees you of that burden."

"I disagree," he says, "I think that the reason I think of you is because of our friendship and not that spell."

"You still refuse to believe in magic even after you've witnessed my flesh heal itself."

He shook his head. "No, I refuse to believe that the spell is the reason."

"You really think nothing will change after I burn this?" I asked. 

"Burn it," he said confidently. 

I tied his hair to the rope and dipped it in my blood. After that, I tied the candles and lit them on fire. I didn't understand. Minutes passed and they were still not burning. What did I do wrong? 

"Something wrong?" He asked, placing his hand on my shoulder. 

"The rope was supposed to burn," I explained, "I said the chant. I did everything by the book. Why is the rope not burning?"

"Maybe it's because our souls weren't tied in the first place," he replied, making me face him. "A few years ago, my grandfather told me a story about our lineage. We have angel blood running through our veins, Aubrey. Enchantments, spells, and hexes don't work on us."

"Ah, yes," I nodded, "I've heard about people like that. Hybrids."

"Just like you are, I assume," he says, "You must have angel blood running through your veins. Every few generations, a person in my lineage possessed the same fate as you. I thought it was just a legend, but seeing you now proves my grandfather correct."

"You may be right, but there's something you've got wrong," I say, "I'm no angel. Demon blood runs through my veins, Brandon. I'm more dangerous than you think. I could kill you if I wanted to."

"Perhaps," he nods, "But even the devil was an angel once. In fact, he was once the favorite of God."

"You don't believe in religion," I said, "You don't believe in any of this."

"But seeing you now proves me wrong. I guess you can call me a believer now," he says cheekily. 

"Brandon," I said with the most serious face I could make. "Tonight is the last night you're ever going to see me. I tried to sever the bonds between us; that's the only reason why I came—to break the spell binding our souls. There's no reason for us to keep in touch."

"What are you saying?" he asked. 

I replied, "I'm saying that this is goodbye. Our story ends here. You were and always will be one of the best brothers I'll ever have. You were a good friend who often saved my ass when I was in trouble. But things change. I have all of eternity and you have… what? Less than a century to live? There's no reason for us to keep in contact. Besides, you finding out I'm alive was never part of the plan. I was supposed to remain dead."

"You can't do that," he said, grabbing me by my shoulders. 

"But I can, Brandon," I said, planting a kiss on his cheek. "Goodbye, old friend." 

And that was the end of it. No more bonds. No more casualties. It's just me. Just Aubrey. Alone for all eternity.