Isabella gasped at the revelation. She wasn’t sure what she had expected him to say, but this certainly wasn’t it. Now even without him explaining further, she understood. She understood why he had left. Although a part of her still wished that he had stayed… At least been in by her life a little bit more, but she understood.
“She died in front of me, Izzy” Travis continued. “And I couldn’t do anything to help her or save how. How could I? I was just a man. How could I stand a chance against a vampire? A creature I didn’t even know existed until that very night”
Isabella’s voice shook. “I didn’t… I had no idea. Why didn’t you say anything to me?”
“Because I was trying to protect you and you were too Young to understand.” replied Travis. “In my own way. That’s all I was trying to do. I couldn’t bear to let you go through what I going through and I wanted revenge. I got it. I killed the bastard and for a few minutes it felt good. I thought that just going after the vampire that killed your mother was going to be enough but it wasn’t. It didn’t make things better and it didn’t bring her back. I couldn’t stop either… Not after I realized that there were more of them. I ended up going after another… And then another until I couldn’t stop. I saw it as a way to help people. When Jeremiah Desmond came to me about his son’s death, I decided to team up with him because I understood what he was going through and I understood his quest for revenge because I have been there. I know what it’s like to loose someone you love just because some bastard killed them simply because they were hungry or careless. It was never my intention to Hurt you.”
He stared angrily at Samson before he continued speaking.”And that’s why you need to stay away from him. He’s one of them. I know that you think that you know him, but you don’t. He might have told you what he is, but that doesn’t mean that he’s any different from the rest of them. It is what they do and you can’t change that. Their instinct to kill is going to take over their reasoning one day and you don’t want to be around when that happens. They destroy every thing in their path and he will do the same thing to you if you don’t listen to me” He grabbed Isabella’s hand which was on the table. “Come with me, Izzy. We can be a family again. Just the two of us. Together we can work and get rid of this horrible creatures. I could teach you how to. No one is ever going to take advantage of you again”
Isabella stared at her hand in his for a while before she slowly withdrew it. “I’m sorry dad” she said softly, “But I can’t do that”
“Why not?” Travis demanded angrily. “Why won’t you? I just told you. They killed your mother. They took her away from us and ruined your chance to have a normal, happy family and you still don’t care? What exactly has this bastard here done to you?”
“Nothing. No one did anything to me.” replied Isabella. “I honestly don’t remember my mother at all, and nothing was done to me. You left so I found a way to cope without having a family. I made another with people I met after you left. They became my family. And I understand your need to do this, but you also have to understand that not every vampire is evil the way you see it. Just one person commited that crime, not all of them. And I can genuinely say that I know a few who are good people just like Samson and who would do anything to help and protect people instead of hurting them. I really hope that you begin to see it that way. Only then you be at peace and stop this quest for revenge. Hasn’t it ruined enough things for you? It ruined us and our relationship. Messed us up so now we seem like strangers to each other… And your friend… Jeremiah. He’s gone now too. Can’t you see, dad….. If there’s anyone who ruined what we were supposed to have as a family, it’s you”
“They killed a man right in front of you and you are still going to be on their side?” Travis fumed. “You are totally fine with something like that and you expect me to believe that they haven’t done something to you? I honestly can’t believe what I’m hearing here. You are not my daughter. No child of mine would do something like this”
Although Samson had promised Isabella that he would stay out of the way and let her handle the whole thing, he just couldn’t sit and let Travis played the victim and talk to her like that. For all he knew, he and his friend had started this killing spree. He banged his hand on the table before pointing his index finger angrily at Travis.
“You guys… You and your dumb friend started it” he said, gritting his teeth. You killed George damn it. You killed him for nothing. He didn’t do anything to Hurt you and yet you fucking killed him just because he was a vampire…. You and your friend deserve something even worse than death for doing that to that innocent kid.”
“He was a vampire” replied Travis carelessly and returning Samson’s stare. “Vampires Hurt humans to survive and we are simply doing the same. He deserved to die and so do you. I don’t care what you have told my daughter that has made her trust you so much, but believe me when I say this, I will fix it, by ending you”
“George was a good kid” Samson continued, Ignoring Travis treat like they meant nothing to him. “He might have been a vampire, but he did his best to help people and you killed him. I swore that I was going to make whoever was responsible pay. But your partner is dead already. Jacob Saunders might have been an asshole when he was alive, but at least he did us all a favor when he ripped out Jeremiah’s heart. The only thing that is preventing me from doing the exact same thing to you is that Belle….”