Epilogue

(Amaris)

“HAPPY ANNIVERSARY, lovebirds,” I whispered after lighting the candles I brought. I stared at the names on the tombstone. Until the end, their relationship remained solid. Together, they went on a journey and discovered the road towards eternal life.

I caressed the roses surrounding the tombstone. According to the people guarding the graveyard, those roses suddenly grew around the tombstone. They were amazed by the roses because they never withered. They were white, just like my mother’s favorite color.

The roses may have thorns, but they never wounded me or my daughter Jamie, unlike the others who grew curious. Those people tried touching the roses, but they ended up hurt. The droplets of their blood were still on the tombstone and they remained fresh.

According to Uncle Erasmus, those roses symbolized my parents’ love for each other. It was beautiful and pure, but it was thorny and dangerous. They were a part of the Witches’ curse. He said that all the doppelgangers’ tombstone had the same roses surrounding them to serve as a warning to others. And that was to never repeat the mistakes of the past which rooted from Acantha and Xenos’ betrayal so that no other humans would suffer.

“It must have been hard for you, Mom,” Jamie said. She was my only child, and she was thirteen now. “I’m sure you’re missing Grandma and Grandpa so much. It’s just unfortunate that your birthday is also their death anniversary.”

I smiled and glanced at her. Her hands were playing with the roses, too. “Actually, I don’t miss them.”

Her brows furrowed. “Really? How come?”

“Your grandparents never gave me the chance to miss them, Jamie. Because I always feel their presence around me. Sometimes, I feel like your grandparents didn’t die at all. I don’t see them, but I know they’re just around.” I closed my eyes and tried to enjoy the soft wind. “I could feel them through the wind. Sometimes I’d feel them when the weather is sunny or whenever a rainbow appears. When it rains, I see them, too. I see them in my mind… dancing together.” My smile widened. “I could either see Dad carrying Mommy or spinning her in the air.

“When I hear a music, I could hear them, too. When it rains, I feel like I could hear them singing. They love the rain, Jamie. I can even see them through the flowers in our garden. Your grandparents were the one who planted each and every flower there.” I opened my eyes when the wind blew again. “There, I could feel them again, Jamie. I could feel their love. Mom and Dad are here with us.”

“I don’t understand, Mommy. How did they die? You haven’t told me about it yet. You once said that when I’m old enough to understand, only then will you tell me their story. Can’t you tell that to me now, Mom?”

“One day, when my future grandchildren asked about me, don’t tell them I died. Tell them that I was traveling with Brianna. We just didn’t want to be seen traveling,” I remembered my Father requesting that to Uncle Erasmus. That was one of the memories Aunt Ellen shared with me. “Because that’s the truth. Brianna and I… we are always alive.”

“Come here, honey.” I gently embraced Jamie when she sat beside me. I was also thirteen years old when Uncle Erasmus and Aunt Ellen told me the truth that’s why I believed that Jamie would now also be able to understand our family history. “It was a very long story. And it all began back in 1681…”

“YOU SEE, the greatest love story didn’t happen when the Beauty kissed the Beast or when the handsome Prince found the owner of the glass shoe. Because the greatest love story happens when two people love truly and deeply. That was the most important lesson that I learned from my parents,” I said after telling Jamie everything. “Even death wasn’t able to separate the two of them.”

I glanced back at the tombstone. Mom’s remains were there along with Dad’s ashes. I wasn’t able to see them, but I was lucky enough to constantly see them in my mind with Aunt Ellen’s help. She and Uncle didn’t want me to call them ‘Mom’ and ‘Dad’ because they said they didn’t want to take my parent’s places.

I could always feel my parents inside my heart. Brianna and Ingram will always remain as the best parents for me. Because they made sure that I didn’t grew up feeling inadequate because they filled me with so many memories that could last for a lifetime. Besides, they gave me the best adoptive parents.

I was always loved. And I want Jamie to feel that, too.

“Does this mean that after three hundred years, Grandma and Grandpa will be born again through another doppelgangers?” She asked, wide-eyed.

I laughed and pinched her cheeks. “Well, I’m thirty-nine now so make that 261 years, honey.”

Jamie looked crestfallen. “But they will die again because of the curse.”

“They won’t,” I quickly replied. “When I was your age, Xanthus visited us. He informed us that Sullivan died from Sangue Debolezza, those are Italian words that mean blood weakness. It’s a rare Vampire disease—the only disease that could kill a Vampire, although its origins remain unknown. Xanthus later on discovered that the doppelganger curse was connected to Sullivan’s life. It turned out that the Witches linked the curse with Sullivan’s life. That’s why the curse was automatically lifted when he died. But the doppelgangers’ story will continue. And this time, no one will hinder their love for each other.”

Jamie’s face lit up. “Oh, that’s great, Mommy! I wish I could see the doppelgangers one day. It’ll be like seeing Grandpa and Grandma in person. But that would be impossible, right?”

“Of course not. You will be able to see them, honey.” I may only be a half-Vampire and so was Jamie, but our lifespan could reach up to five hundred years. “We will find the doppelgangers together, Jamie.” I promised her.

“When the time comes that Amaris can fully understand things, tell her that God is real. Because today, he has shown mercy towards me and her mother. A miracle happened. She was born. Tell her that fairytales are real. Tell her that love indeed, conquers all.” I looked up at the sky as Dad’s words echoed in my mind.

“Thank you for the timeless love, Mom and Dad.”

I will wait for my parents’ doppelgangers to be born. I feel like I’d only be able to rest eternally the moment I see them and touch them. That was my dream. Because Jamie was right. Seeing those doppelgangers would mean seeing my parents, too.

Just 261 more years… I took a deep breath. “Next time, you’ll be able to love each other in peace, Mom and Dad. The curse is gone now. Both of you are now free. Happy anniversary to the both of you, and happy birthday to me.”

-THE END-