Elysium (29 page)

“So Cadeon was there all those times?”

“Yes, sometimes I couldn’t stay away, and when I sensed the change in you, I knew you wouldn’t be spared. I knew you would soon be a vampire. I needed to protect you, and, although I was an awful father, when you were younger, I hoped to try to make up for that now that you’re older.”

We stared at each other for a second. I pulled my hand away from his, and I saw his sadness. I moved toward the edge of the bed and wrapped my arms around his shoulders, letting my tears out, crying so hard into his shoulder, I shook. I think he was surprised at my actions, because he was tense before he finally wrapped his arms around me too. I cried for my mother, knowing I would never get to meet her. I cried for the love my father lost and for the heartache I felt. Sadness filtered through the room, but it was good sadness. I didn’t know what would happen now.

He pulled away and ran his thumb under my eyes, wiping my tears away. It seemed very paternal, and I felt my heart swell.

“If you’ll give me the chance, I’d like to start over, Meadow.” He smiled and cupped my cheek. “I’d like to be the father you deserve, if you’ll let me.”

I didn’t answer right away, just buried my face in the crook of his neck and cried some more. He didn’t rush me, just held me for as long as I needed him to. For the first time in a very long time, I felt like I belonged somewhere. Sure, Marie had made me feel that way, but deep down inside I knew I was missing something substantial in my life. As Mikhail, my father, held me tightly in his arms, I finally felt the connection I had been searching for my entire life. I pulled back, and I could see the hesitance in his gaze. “I’d really love that.” His smile was wide, and he crushed me to him once again. We stayed like that for so long my arms and legs started to cramp, but I didn’t care. I had never felt such overwhelming joy as I did at that moment.

We talked for hours after that, and Mikhail had said Rhyker was dead. He couldn’t ever hurt me or anyone I cared about again, but there was still that tickling, in the back of my mind, warning me of what
could
happen. I knew my life was just beginning. I now had a father, and maybe things might be different. If not, then that was okay, too, because I was surrounded by people who loved me, and whom I loved.

****

I sat on the front steps of Arcane Manor, watching the brilliant sun set beneath the horizon. Spring was starting to make the flowers come up, the newborn buds sprouting and accepting their new life into the world. Since my encounter with Rhyker, I had gotten a lot accomplished. I started coming outside, getting my vampire body used to the sun, so that I no longer felt the tingling of it on my skin.

Strangely enough, the only students who knew about what happened with me and Rhyker were Nik and Violet. Neither one of them had been too surprised by what had happened, but I suspected they were more accustomed to the unusual than I.

I didn’t tell them about Mikhail being my father, and to be honest, I don’t think I was ready to reveal that to anyone, yet.

Cadeon and I spoke about what happened, but any free time we got we ended up holding each other. Whenever I was with him, I didn’t want to think about the past, didn’t want to worry about what
could
have happened.

I heard the front doors open as the sun dipped below the mountains. I knew it was Cadeon before he said anything. He sat next to me, and his presence was a gentle reminder I was alive and here. I closed my eyes to savor the moment. When I opened them, he was still staring at me, his stare affecting me more than anything else in the world had.

He wrapped his arm around me, and I leaned my head against his shoulder, both of us staring at the sky and watching the pinks, oranges, and yellows melt into deeper and darker colors. I reached for his hand, and we twined our fingers together, just basking in each other’s presence, as the night unfolded in front of us.

“Meadow?”

“Hmm?” I looked up into his face, his lips pressing gently against mine in the sweetest of kisses.

“I love you.” His words were soft as he pulled away.

We looked into each other’s eyes, his words sinking into me and going straight into my heart. I reached my hand up and cupped his cheek. “I love you, too.” I leaned in and pressed my mouth against his. I ran my tongue over his bottom lip, hearing him groan in response and feeling my chest swell with emotions. I loved this man, loved him so much my chest ached. He opened his mouth, and our tongues touched. As our kiss deepened, I knew that this was where I was meant to be, right here in his arms, feeling all his love pour into me from just his kiss. When we finally pulled away, both panting, I knew as long as I had Cadeon, Mikhail, Nik, and Violet in my life, everything would be okay.

I rested my head on his shoulder, and we stared out at the grounds. “Maybe one day I’ll be able to see Marie and the kids again.” I was mainly just thinking out loud, but then I felt Cadeon’s arm tighten around me and felt him kiss the top of my head.

“I think after everything that has happened, that doesn’t seem like such a bad idea.” I didn’t respond, but I didn’t need to, because his chuckle when I grinned up at him was enough of an answer for me.

We kissed once more, just a light peck against each other’s mouths, letting the shadows wrap around us, like a blanket of protectiveness. I knew that as long as I had the people I cared about around me, everything would be okay.
Well, as okay as a vampire’s life could be.

The End

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