Chapter 20
(Ingram)
“WHAT do you think awaits us after death?”
My vision was getting blurry when I looked up the sky after hearing Erasmus’ question. The sun was about to rise in a few minutes which meant that he and I were about to die in a few minutes as well. After thirty-four days of being exposed under the sun, our marks had faded completely.
“I don’t know, Erasmus. I wish I could tell,” I replied. “All I know is that heaven is only for humans. For creatures like us that everybody thinks of as monsters, heaven is right here.”
Erasmus was too weak to respond anymore. When the sun rose, I closed my eyes wearily. My body burned quickly. It was hell but I couldn’t even scream out of pain. I have no more energy left in me. Do I have regrets? Nothing. Because after living for many centuries, I believe I’ve already reached the heaven. And it was Brianna. She was my heaven. I only wished I was able to tell her that.
I could hear the sound of death banging on my door when the burning sensation suddenly stopped. But the pain remained, it was spreading in my entire system. What’s this? Am I dead already?
I opened my eyes when I no longer felt the chains around my body. I felt… freed. But I wasn’t able to savor more of that freedom when I passed out.
When I opened my eyes again, I was already lying on the bed with Erasmus beside me. He was now fully awake as well. But he was in a daze while looking at something beside me.
“What’s wrong?” I asked in a croaky voice. My throat was still as dry as before. Instead of answering, he just pointed something. When I turned around, I saw a man sitting on the couch on my left side. He was wearing a brown trench coat. He was staring at me. His eyes surprised me the most. I’ve never seen such yellow eyes before.
“You were the one who saved us,” I said. “How did you do that? Are you a Vampire, too?” His aura was unique. I couldn’t tell what kind of creature he was. “Were you the one who removed the silver daggers on us?” he nodded. “How did you do that?”
“The black satin was the one who saved the both of you,” he replied in a deep voice. “It was a shaman's gift to me. I’m glad the satin’s power of protection is still working until now. About the silver, it doesn't really affect me just like the sunlight,” he tossed two blood bags in my direction. “Have a drink.”
I caught the blood bags and gave the other one to Erasmus who was still too dumbfounded to speak. “What the heck’s happening to you?” I asked when I noticed his trembling hands. “Why are you acting like that? Do you know him?”
“He’s Xanthus. He was known as ‘the man who can’t be moved’,” he finally answered as if the man he was talking about was not around.
My forehead creased. “What do you mean? He saved us. Is he your friend?”
“No. I only knew him through the rumors. He was known as the greatest destroyer of all time. Even the Council couldn’t fully restrain him. Everybody thought that he died when he suddenly disappeared one day. But the one in front of us couldn’t be a ghost. Xanthus is a Vampire-Wolf hybrid. He found us. And I don't know whether to shout for joy or to shout for help.”
(Brianna)
I STOPPED walking when I felt uneasy as if someone was watching me. When I scanned the area, I saw a pair of eyes watching me from the other side of the highway. For a moment, I felt like my heart leaped out of my chest. I wanted to cross the distance between us and run towards him, but I stopped myself.
I clenched my hands tightly and continued walking. I was still hurt and angry. I was hurt because it was like Ingram purposefully hid the truth about Levana from me. I couldn’t help but think that I was just a rebound. That the reason why he searched for me was because he wanted to be with his first love through me. I’m angry because try as I might, I couldn’t understand our situation.
“I told you, you make my heart feel something. That was the first positive emotion that I’ve felt after a thousand years. And I want to take advantage of that feeling. Marry me and I’ll heal your mother. Say yes to me and your mother will no longer feel pain. She will live as healthy as you want her to be.” Sullivan’s offer three days ago suddenly flashed in my mind.
I have no doubt about Sullivan’s identity. That was proven when he shared his memories with me through a kiss. Since he was older, that meant that he was stronger, more powerful, and more capable as a Vampire compared to Ingram, Kiara, and Erasmus. Maybe he could really help me.
And it frustrated me. I felt… trapped in the situation.
“Then don’t hesitate anymore. Say yes. You’ve dreamt to be with your mother for a long time. If he could help you, then I don’t see anything wrong with it. Who knows? Maybe he’s the one who can cure your broken heart,” Ellen said when I told him about Sullivan’s offer. Both of us tried desperately to go back to the lives we had before we met Ingram and Erasmus since we weren’t sure if they were coming back.
Ellen had a point. Sullivan’s offer was tempting. And I really wanted to say ‘yes’ to end my mother’s suffering than be afraid every day. Every time we talked, it seemed as if she was already saying goodbye to me. But there was a small voice inside my head that was saying ‘no.’ It was Kiara’s voice who reminded me to be wise in making decisions.
I really don’t know what to believe in. If Sullivan was Ingram’s friend, then why did he offer marriage even if he knew that I was his friend’s girlfriend? As for Ingram, why wasn’t he saying anything? He only showed up now after disappearing for more than a month and yet, he was still on the other side of the highway. Just like me, he was also walking while looking at me.
What was he doing? Why couldn’t he read the situation? I’m beginning to regret going out today. I should have just stayed in the mansion than stroll around. But I felt suffocated inside. I was afraid to see my mother. I was afraid to make an impulsive decision.
When I couldn’t control my temper, I snapped and turned to Ingram’s direction as I stopped walking for the second time. “For crying out loud, Ingram, what are you doing there? The last time I checked, you’re still my boyfriend even if it seems you’ve forgotten about it. Aren’t you even going to say something?” I ran my hand through my hair out of exasperation. “Where did you go? What did you do? Aren’t you going to ask how I’ve been while you were away? Don’t you think I deserve to know what happened to you? Damn it. Why are you being so insensitive?”
When I remembered my mother’s situation and what happened to Kiara, all the pain and fear I felt rushed to the surface. “I hate you! You didn’t even tell me about Levana! Am I just a second choice to you? That because your beloved woman died and I happened to be the one available, you came to me since she and I looked the same anyway?” I was about to say more but I was astonished when Ingram appeared right before me in a blink of an eye and claimed my lips.
Ingram was kissing me as if he was punishing me, as if between us, he was the one who had the right to be angry. Nevertheless, I kissed him back with the same intensity, but I couldn’t bear to do it longer. Tears kept rolling down my cheeks as I pushed him with all the strength I had in me.
“How dare you kiss me as if nothing happened? I still hate you! You owe me an explanation, Ingram!”
“The very moment I had been informed about what happened the last thirty-five days I was gone, I wanted to hate you too. You doubted me just because Sullivan appeared. I’ve wanted to talk to you since this morning, but I had to wait for the night to come because I no longer have the ability to see you during daytime.”
I was taken aback by the pain in his voice.
Ingram smiled sarcastically. “Sullivan came and offered you help, didn’t he? And you suddenly thought of him as your new superhero. I did the same thing three centuries ago. You’re acting like that because when he appeared, you realized that he could provide you with something that I couldn’t: the cure. But that superhero of yours was the same man who tried to kill me and Erasmus. He is also the reason why Kiara died, why we separated, and why we’re cursed.”