Chapter Three - Treachery

It was the summer before they were to go off to college.‭ ‬She had already enrolled in the local university.‭ ‬She couldn't see herself going away to college now.‭ ‬Not when everything she loved was right here where it belonged.‭ ‬Everything was perfect.‭ ‬Her and Aidan had been seeing each other for a little over two years now.‭ ‬Longer then anyone had expected them to last.‭ ‬Her father still wasn't happy about it,‭ ‬but seemed to have accepted the inevitable.‭ 1

They had a date tonight.‭ ‬Aidan was picking her up at six,‭ ‬and taking her out to dinner.‭ ‬Even being together as long as they had she still got nervous before every date.‭ ‬She guessed it was a good sign that he could still make her feel so out of it.‭ 2

He'd been trying for the longest time to get her to stay the night with him at his place.‭ ‬Rhiannon hadn't been comfortable before because she felt like she would be invading his personal space that,‭ ‬and the fact that it seemed weird with his parents being home had stopped her from giving into his request.‭ ‬She had decided how ever that if his parents were okay with it then she could be too,‭ ‬after all they were both mature adults.‭ ‬She was going to surprise him with the news tonight.‭ 3

Rhiannon heard the doorbell just as she was putting the finishing touches on her make up.‭ ‬She headed down the stairs just as her father opened the door.‭ ‬Figuring she would save them both from forced polite conversation,‭ ‬or awkward silences,‭ ‬she kissed him on the cheek,‭ ‬and said‭ " ‬Goodbye papa.‭" 4

Although Aidan was grateful that she had intervened,‭ " ‬There was no hurry.‭ ‬You could have finished getting ready.‭" 5

"It's okay,‭ ‬I was done anyway.‭" ‬She replied.‭ ‬She knew he felt like he had to be polite where her father was concerned,‭ ‬and as much as she appreciated the gesture,‭ ‬Rhiannon knew it wasn't right to put him on the spot because of her.‭ 6

When they arrived at their destination she became a little confused.‭ ‬She had thought they were going to a restaurant for dinner.‭ ‬Of course this was more romantic.‭ ‬He had a table set up on the pier with champagne and candlelight.‭ ‬It was the perfect setting,‭ ‬but then again it always was whenever Aidan planned something.‭ 7

" This is beautiful.‭" ‬She exclaimed,‭ ‬as he pulled out her chair.‭ 8

Once he was seated across from her,‭ ‬someone she assumed was their waiter for the evening came over to pour their champagne.‭ "‬I will return shortly with your meal.‭" ‬He told them before retreating back the way he had come.‭ 9

"I know you were probably expecting something a little more fancy,‭ ‬but I just didn't feel like sharing you tonight.‭"‬Aidan told her.‭ 10

" No,‭ ‬this is better than anything I could've dreamed of,‭ ‬besides it doesn't matter where we go as long as I'm with you.‭" ‬She replied.‭11

‬Before she could tell him that she had decided to go home with him the waiter reappeared with their meal.‭ ‬Once again,‭ ‬she was surprised by his choice.‭ ‬She had expected something simple yet romantic,‭ ‬as was his style.‭ ‬He had pulled out all the stops tonight though,‭ ‬with Lobster Paella instead and it was exquisite.‭ ‬She knew it was expensive,‭ ‬and would have panicked if he hadn't told her that his family was as rich as hers,‭ ‬they just didn't flaunt it like everyone else.‭ 12

As they ate,‭ ‬they discussed their plans for the future.‭ ‬She couldn't believe it when he said,‭ " ‬I'm thinking of going away to college.‭" 13

" What do you mean going away‭? ‬I thought we would stay here,‭ ‬and attend the local university together.‭" ‬She had to admit that she was a little hurt that he had waited two weeks before they were to start to tell her his plans.‭ 14

" Don't get upset.‭ ‬It was just a thought.‭ ‬Nothing is set in stone.‭" ‬At least that is what he would let her think for now,‭ ‬but his mind was made up.‭ ‬He had to end it soon.‭ ‬He had a week and a half till he turned eighteen and then they would be over anyway.‭ ‬It would be on his terms this way.‭ ‬She might be hurt,‭ ‬or even hate him,‭ ‬but at least this way he wouldn't have to see the look of disgust on her face when she found out what he really was.‭ ‬Part of him hoped he was underestimating her,‭ ‬but he wouldn't chance it because her rejection of his true self was more then he could bear.‭ ‬She may care for the mortal boy he was now,‭ ‬and that would be all she was taking with her when this was over.‭ 15

They had both been lost in their own thoughts as they finished their meal.‭ ‬Heading back to the car now,‭ ‬she decided it was time to tell him about his surprise.‭ ‬She waited until they were both in the car before saying,‭ " ‬I want to go home with you.‭" 16

He was quiet,‭ ‬but he started the car and headed in the direction of his place.‭ ‬By the time they got there his parents were already in bed,‭ ‬so they went straight up to his room.‭ ‬She had been there many times before,‭ ‬but it seemed different this time.‭ ‬Staying the night made it seem more real,‭ ‬and filled her with a sense of permanency.‭ ‬She lost all train of thought as he walked up behind her,‭ ‬and put his arms around her.‭ ‬As he leaned down to kiss her neck she couldn't help remembering the many times they had made love before,‭ ‬and the way he always put her pleasure before his own.‭ ‬She decided that tonight it would be different.‭ ‬He would come first.‭ ‬Turning around in his arms she began undoing the buttons of his shirt,‭ ‬only stopping to run her hands over the hardened planes of his handsome chest.‭ ‬Pulling it free of his pants,‭ ‬she slid it down his arms,‭ ‬finally freeing him of the garment completely.‭ ‬Pushing him down on the bed,‭ ‬she could tell that he was a bit shocked by her aggressiveness,‭ ‬but continued on her mission to get rid of his clothes.‭ ‬Undoing his belt and trousers,‭ ‬she had the rest of them off in one swift swipe.She leaned in to kiss his chest then slowly began working her way down.‭ ‬As realization hit him,‭ ‬he put his hand on her shoulders,‭ " ‬You don't have to do this Rhiannon.‭" 17

" I want to,‭ ‬just lay back and enjoy it.‭" ‬She told him as she continued on her downward journey.‭ ‬She took his swollen shaft into her hand,‭ ‬and swirled her tongue around the tip of it.‭ ‬When he sighed with pleasure,she knew she must be doing something right.‭ ‬The sigh turned into a full blown moan when she took the whole of him into her mouth.‭ ‬She couldn't describe what it meant to her to know that she could give him this after all he had given her.‭ ‬She continued exploring him with her mouth until he pulled her up into his lap.‭ "‬Enough.‭" 18

Looking into his eyes she told him what she had known in her heart for awhile now.‭ " ‬I love you.‭" 19

" I love you too,‭ ‬Rhiannon.‭" ‬He told her as he entered her.‭ 20

Making love this time was different then before,‭ ‬normally they took it slow‭ ‬,‭ ‬building to the point of no return.‭ ‬This time however was frenzied and intense as if they were both desperate to reach that place where nothing else in the world mattered but the two of them.‭ 21

They said no more after that.‭ ‬She fell asleep in his arms.‭ ‬While he laid there thinking that this was going to be so much harder now that she had confessed that she more then cared for him,‭ ‬she loved him.‭ ‬He knew he shouldn't have said it back‭ ‬.‭ ‬Yet,‭ ‬he couldn't bring himself to regret it since it was so much more then he had ever hoped to experience in his lifetime being what he was.‭ 22

As he drifted off to sleep his last thoughts were that he would never again utter those words to another person,‭ ‬and mean them as he had that night.‭ 23

He only had two nights left until his heritage took over.‭ ‬They had spent every night together for the past week.‭ ‬Aidan had been trying to make as many memories as possible to keep with him.‭ ‬Rhiannon would be arriving in about an hour.‭ ‬She had planned to go home and spend a little time with her parents then return and stay the night with him again.‭ ‬After she left,‭ ‬he had told himself it was just one more night,‭ ‬but he knew if he didn't end it now then he would lose his nerve.‭ ‬Then it would be to late.‭ ‬It would have to be done tonight.‭ ‬He had decided to wait until after they made love.‭ ‬He knew that was cruel,‭ ‬but he had to make it hurt enough so that she would hate him for it,‭ ‬and never look back.‭ 24

She had already had dinner with her parents before she came back,‭ ‬so they headed upstairs to watch a movie together.‭ ‬Once it was over he made love to her as slowly,‭ ‬and with as much passion as he could muster.‭ ‬He wanted to drag it out and make it last but he still knew it was wrong.‭ ‬When they were finished he stood and put his pants back on then sat on the edge of the bed.‭ " ‬Rhiannon,‭ ‬we need to talk.‭" 25

" What about‭?" ‬She asked,‭ ‬his face was so serious that she was suddenly very worried.‭ " ‬Is something wrong‭?" 26

He exhaled slowly,‭ ‬then said‭ " ‬I've been accepted to college in NewYork.‭ ‬I leave tomorrow.‭" ‬He couldn't bring himself to look at her.‭ 27

In that one moment she had felt her life shatter into a million little pieces.‭ " ‬What do you mean you leave tomorrow‭? ‬What about us‭?" 28

" Its been fun,‭ ‬but we're both too young to be tied down for good.‭ ‬I want to be able to explore my options.‭" ‬It was a lie,‭ ‬but he would be the only one to know it.‭ 29

She had heard the words,‭ ‬but didn't understand,‭ " ‬But you said loved me.‭ ‬How can you be telling me now that it's over‭? 30

Aidan had turned away from her then so she wouldn't see the pain in his eyes as he said:‭ " ‬I lied,‭ ‬I was caught up in the moment.‭ ‬Look babe,‭ ‬we had a good ride.‭ ‬I'm sorry if you thought it was more then that.‭" ‬Sensing the water works coming he told her he was going to take a shower.‭ ‬Part of him was hoping she would be there when he came back out,‭ ‬but he knew she wouldn't be.‭31

‬Listening as she shower came on,‭ ‬she was to stunned to move.‭ ‬So,‭ ‬she just sat there in the bed where they had just made love.‭ ‬She hadn't known then that it would be the last time.‭ ‬They were so in love,‭ ‬or so she thought.‭ ‬Now it was over just like that.‭ 32

He was leaving because he wanted to explore his options.‭ ‬Rhiannon didn't care about how young they were.‭ ‬All she knew was that her heart was being ripped in two.‭ ‬It was a blow she didn't expect.‭ ‬If there had been signs,‭ ‬She'd missed them.‭ ‬Everyone had told her from the beginning that it wouldn't last,‭ ‬but they'd been happy enough.‭ 33

Still in tears she got up,‭ ‬and somehow managed to pull her clothes on.‭ ‬She had to deal with this,‭ ‬and would figure out exactly how she was supposed to do that later.‭ ‬Right now she had to get out of here,‭ ‬she knew she couldn't bear to face him again when he came back.‭ 34

Aidan was watching her as she left,‭ ‬she didn't know it,‭ ‬but then she was mortal,‭ ‬and couldn't sense things the way his kind did.‭ ‬When she looked over her shoulder,‭ ‬he thought maybe she knew after all,‭ ‬but she never even looked at him.‭ ‬The look he saw in her eyes said it all though.‭ ‬She had already started to put up walls around herself.‭ ‬That one look told him she would hate him for what he did to her.‭ 35

Even though it was killing him to let her go,‭ ‬he knew it was for the best.‭ ‬She might have loved him,‭ ‬but she would never be able to accept the person he was cursed to become.‭ ‬Up till now he had lived as any mortal man would,‭ ‬but all that would soon change.‭ ‬His life would be completely different after tomorrow.‭ ‬He'd always known he was different,‭ ‬and that when the change came he wouldn't be accepted by mortals.‭ ‬That was why he'd always been the loner type.‭ ‬He hadn't wanted to face the rejection when the time came.‭ ‬Yet,‭ ‬he couldn't stop himself from falling in love with her.‭ ‬Now he was paying for it,‭ ‬as he would for the rest of his life.‭ ‬Unfortunately he was damned to live a very long one.‭ 36

She couldn't stop herself from calling him the next day.‭ ‬Hoping with all her might that he had changed his mind.‭ ‬His mother had answered to tell her that he had left over two hours ago to catch his plane.‭ ‬Thanking her,‭ ‬Rhiannon hung up the phone.‭ ‬It sank in then that it was really over,‭ ‬he was gone.‭ ‬That part of her life was over now,‭ ‬she had to move on.‭ ‬She was strong,‭ ‬she would get passed this.‭ ‬Her and Deirdre had both been accepted to the local university,‭ ‬so at least she wouldn't be alone as she embarked on this new chapter in her life.‭ 37