“I am not going to allow this, Jonas,” Sara says and emphasizes each word with ice cool clearness.

My body is stiff with defiance as I spit back my reply. “What?”

Sara’s eyes squint as a result of my unusual defiance. “I thought your only interest in this Human female was to understand the visions and to solve and end this puzzle. The way that you were watching her in her office tells me that this has evolved into something beyond mere curiosity. Grocery shopping with a Human,” Sara roars.

Quickly, she collects herself and comes over to lay her hands on my shoulders. I resist the impulse to shrug them off. Even her hands feel cold to me and the chill seems to burrow deep into my flesh.

Sara’s next words are not as icy but the assertive tone is still there. ”It is one thing to lust for and to enjoy Humans. Believe me, I have enjoyed my share. This, however, is completely out of the question and it has to stop.”

“What has to stop?” I brave.

I can feel my heart pounding in my chest and the blood rushing to my muscles. If I don’t calm down I will go into feeding mode and I can’t let that happen. This is my sister and not my intended prey. Sara must have felt my muscles expanding under my shirt for she drops her hands and takes a few steps back to assess my reaction. By the front door, Mara remains immobile but her watchful eyes stay locked on the two of us. She is ready to intervene if need be.

Sara waits patiently to speak until I have regained control over my temper. “This, what you are doing and what you are hoping for, has to stop. It is too dangerous to let a Human get familiar. If you lust for her, fine, take her. But, you cannot develop any feelings for her and you cannot allow her to get close enough to develop feelings for you.”

Without reservation, I utter the words that I know will without a doubt set Sara off. “I love her, Sara.”

Sara doesn’t react the way that I had thought that she would. Instead of exploding, she simply grins. Her coolness and composure scares me even more than her anger would have.

Her voice is calm when she speaks. “What do you think you are, a normal man? What do you expect will happen? Are you envisioning the two of you falling in love, moving in together, getting married, and having babies?” Sara sneers with a laugh. “You are an immortal monster that feeds on her kind. Long after she is dead and buried, you will still be roaming and looking for your next prey.”

Each of Sara’s hard words slap me across the face. I had been hoping and dreaming for exactly these things: love, relationship, joint living, and marriage. I want to be a normal man and I want to live a normal life with Eliza. I resent Sara at this moment but I know that she is right. I am not able to speak. It is too painful so I just nod in agreement. Sara looks smug and proud of herself as if she has once again saved our family. Mara reaches out as I pass her and her facial expression has lost its composure. Sweet Mara, always wanting me to be happy regardless of the cost.

My legs are heavy as I move up the stairs to my room. I walk out on the balcony to the exact spot where Eliza had stood. Everything was so sunny and calm yesterday. Now, the sky is grey and thick angry clouds are beginning to build. The wind is also escalating. Maybe a storm is heading this way. I should shift and let myself drift to wherever the wind will take me. Just drift far away to where pain can no longer reach me, if there is such a place. I am not sure about that anymore. I remove my clothes and toss them recklessly aside. Out of the corner of my eye, I catch my reflection in the mirror. The man that last night had looked back at me is no longer there. That person had felt hope and the love that he had started to feel for a woman named Eliza had radiated from his eyes. This perfect shell now glares back with contempt and animosity. I am even worse off than before I met Eliza because I had been unaware that there is something else, that there is something better.

“Jonas, can I come in?” Mara asks.

She doesn’t wait for me to answer. Seeing me standing naked in front of the mirror doesn’t embarrass or shock her. It scares her.

“Don’t shift,” she pleads. “I’m afraid you will lose your way and never come back to us again. It will not solve anything, Jonas.”

“I can’t stay here, Mara,” I say. With hopelessness, I look at her through the mirror. “I don’t know what’s happening to me.”

“You don’t have to know everything, Jonas.”

“I’m a Brother of Present,” I state absolutely.

“Some things, you’re not supposed to know, only feel. There is nothing wrong with feeling,” Mara says slowly. “Please, give it till this weekend. By this weekend, you will know if she is worth it.”

I frown at my wise and forever collected sister. “If she is worth what?”

“If she is worth breaking all the rules for,” Mara adds.