Chapter 105: Move
Nelly
The library of Blancvue Mansion was enveloped in a haunting silence, the air thick with the metallic tang of blood and the earthy scent of spilled vials. We were sprawled on the polished floor, our bodies battered and bruised, our consciousness fading in and out like a flickering candle. The battle with Alexandros had been fierce, a whirlwind of fangs, claws, and silver-plated darts that had left us on the brink of death. As Alexandros fell, more hunters from the Resistance emerged, leaving us drained and surrounded by lifeless bodies. I was grateful that Alexis was safely tucked away in the secure room with the servants, shielded from the senseless violence.
I stirred first, my eyelids fluttering open to reveal a hazy, unfocused gaze. I groaned, my hand reaching up to my throbbing head, my fingers brushing against something wet and sticky. Blood. Mine. I blinked, my vision slowly coming into focus, and I saw them. Vincent, Alec, and Quinn, their bodies lying still, their chests barely rising with labored breaths. Panic surged within me, my heart pounding wildly in my chest. I can’t lose them, not now. I put my hand on my stomach. I took in a breath, but it came out when I felt the baby move. Thank fucking god!
"Vincent," I whispered, my voice hoarse and weak. "Alec... Quinn..." I crawled towards them, my body protesting with every agonizing movement. I reached Vincent first, my hand cupping his cheek, his thumb brushing away a smear of blood. "Vincent, wake up," I commanded, my voice filled with more strength than I felt. “You have to wake up. Your children and I need you. Wake up!”
Vincent's eyelids fluttered, his gaze meeting mine, filled with a soft, sluggish affection. "Nelly," he whispered, his voice barely audible. "You... you're alive."
Relief coursed through me, my eyes filling with tears. "Yes, Vincent. We're all alive. And we're going to stay that way." I moved on, crawling to Alec and Quinn, who stirred at at touch, their eyes filled with the same mixture of relief and exhaustion. I cradled them, one by one, my heart aching with love, with fear, with determination.
"We need to leave, all of us," I said, my voice filled with a quiet, resolute intensity. "We need to start fresh, somewhere new, somewhere safe." I paused, my gaze meeting each of theirs, seeing the understanding, the agreement in their eyes. "We're leaving Blancvue Mansion, leaving Louisiana, leaving the Hunters behind. We're going to undercover and further south, to start a new life. Together."
The journey to Florida was arduous, a test of our battered bodies and weakened spirits. We traveled by night, hidden in the back of a smuggler's truck, our bodies cloaked in thick, heavy blankets to conceal our vampiric nature as our bodies healed. But despite the hardship, despite the fear, despite the uncertainty, there was one constant, one pure, undeniable truth - our love for each other. It was a beacon in the darkness, a guiding light, a promise of a brighter, warmer future.
Our new life in Florida was far from glamorous. We lived in a small, outdated Miami Beach apartment, immigrant workers by day, lovers by night. But despite our humble surroundings, despite our menial tasks, we were happy. We worked,lived, loved, and we did it all together. And it was enough.
One evening while Alexis was napping and Vincent’s and I’s son was playing in his playpin, the sun dipped below the horizon, casting the world in hues of red and orange, We gathered on the tiny balcony of our apartment, our bodies bare, our skin warm from the lingering heat of the day. We stood, silently watching the sunset, our hearts filled with a shared contentment, a shared love.
Vincent turned to me, his eyes filled with a soft, tender affection. "Nelly," he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. "Our life... It's not what you deserve. It's not grand, not... not like Blancvue Mansion."
I smiled, my hand reaching out, capturing his. "Our life, Vincent, it's perfect. Because it's with you, with Alec, with Quinn. It's... It's us."