Chapter 21
AVERY'S POV
"What is he doing?" Henry repeated as we watched Kalim try to awaken his father.
I knew he was not coming back. When I had died, I felt like I was coming back, I actually saw my father.
His height, smile, and allure could not be mistaken. I could hardly remember what he told me but I was certain I saw him. The only word I could hear him say was Orvinus.
My gaze went to the crystal skull Kalim was trying desperately to tap into and failing.
"Do you think he can bring him back?" Henry asked me.
Kalim was within earshot and I was sure he would hear. It would break his heart to hear what I was about to say but the truth was better.
"Fae's never died but they follow the cycle of nature, the same with trolls. A time to love and a time to die. His physical body is gone but his soul remains."
Kalim's sudden pause was a sure sign he heard me but he continued, the Sparks on his fingers vitalizing the tree that now stood in their living room like it had been there for like forever.
Henry walked up to Kalim as a concerned friend.
"Kalim! You have to stop!" He said in a firm voice.
The latter turned, his eyes glinted with fury. I sensed it but was too late to stop it. A round ball of light sent Henry flying.
"WTF!" Henry snarled, his eyes turning yellow.
If I did not stop this, a fight was going to happen.
"Stop it! Both of you!" I screamed.
"We should focus that boiling hatred on Legolas. He is the only reason all of this happened."
They both cooled off and I turned to personal talk to Kalim.
"I know how you feel Kalim, I've lost a lot of people but you have to bounce back from the pain. You can't stop being you."
I slowly watched Kalim curl up and bury his face on his hands. I could make out almost quiet sobbing but I let him be. When grieving, one had to let it out, Everything.
I made myself comfortable while Henry and I got talking.
"How's it like coming back from the dead?" Henry inquired, his lips puckered.
"Weird!"I admitted, "I don't know why but o feel like it was meant to happen. Like something had been deposited in the skull just for us."
Henry paused, almost like he was considering what I felt.
"Now that you mention it, I...think i-i met my father."
What he said grabbed my attention. I felt the same way.
"Me too. Do you remember what he said?" I inquired, hoping he had an idea.
"Destroy... Something. I don't remember."
"Avery!" My mind link antenna went on high alert. I had totally forgotten about Damian.
"What's wrong?" I sent it back.
"Is Henry safe? His mother is about to die with worry."
That was far from the question I was expecting but it had to do.
"He's alright."
The mindlink went blank.
"Were you talking to Damian?"
"Yes."
"Did you tell him anything about what happened?"
I nodded my head in disapproval. If Damian knew I died or was even close to death, his guardian line would go haywire but then I remembered something. I was the last pureblooded vampire and all other lines were sired to me. If I died, they followed...But I did die and Damian seemed to know nothing which means he did not follow.
What sorcery was this? Did the other vampires find a way to end me and preserve their lives? Did the blue moon have a different effect but similar to the blood moon? The questions I had no answer for were killing me.
"Is anything wrong Avery?"
Henry joined hands with mine in a bid to calm me.
"I have to see Damian. Like right now."
Henry had a confused look on his face and my worry seemed to have gotten the attention of the still grieving Kalim.
"Why?"
"Something is wrong and I don't know why," I replied.
DAMIAN'S POV
The house which had been in a huge mess and been cleaned by Henry's mother with the two beta's helping out. The front door opened and the little worry I had in my head cascaded. Avery was safe along with Kalim and Victor.
"Avery, Good to see you."
In truth, she did not look so good. Spying with my fatherly eye, she looked like a huge mess. Her Jean had been torn to shreds especially the thigh area and bloodstains covered the blue material painting it reddish-brown. Her blouse had a hole right in the middle was also stained with dry blood. I could hardly believe Henry would do this. I looked at him with disgust.
"Damian, I have something to tell you."
Her words only made my heart beat faster. I was wondering what in the world was going on and the mindlink wasn't doing any favors also.
"What?"
By this time, Henry's mother had joined in on the conversation.
"I-I died and nothing happened to the flock. Not even you. What's going on?"
I knew this day would come. Her father had begged me to keep this lie and he had also spread it until the whole supernatural world believed it. Only on a blood moon, the birth of all vampires could a pureblood's death be fatal and yet, it could not wipe the entire vampire line.
"I'm sorry Avery but your father made me doing it."
"Why?"
If I told her why she could hate me for all eternity but I couldn't keep lying to her.
"To protect you and..."
My mention of "and" changed Avery's expression and she looked worried.
"A seer told him to."
"A seer?" Henry's mother cut in.
"Could it be Ophiel?" Henry's mother inquired further.
Did she know Ophiel?
"Yes," I replied, still pondering on what she was getting at.
" Praise the moon goddess. Ophiel instructed me the his disciples to hide Henry from his gifts until the blood moon."
It was all pieced together. Ophiel had seen this coming and planned everything he saw to come to pass.
"Have you found the skull?" I immediately asked.
Kalim brought the fragile little thing for all to see.
"You've found it," I exclaimed, tears of joy forming at my eyelids.
"Ophiel knew this all along. We are going to win. Everything will change." Henry's mother blurted to herself.
I had to admit, we were indeed going to win and even if Legolas had tried so hard to stop this from coming to pass, he had unconsciously orchestrated it. Reckoning was coming.
HENRY'S POV
The night had quickly changed heads and it turned to a joyous celebration not as intended. My mother had ordered roast turkey and we all fed on it. They it all, Avery looked withdrawn and I promised myself I would ask why she was so gloomy on a joyous day.
The night grew old and the street had fallen into silence. Avery sat outside the house, sitting at the verandah and watching the stars. I walked up to her, a bottle of red wine in my hand and two glasses.
"Why so gloomy?" I queried. Making my presence known.
She gave a weak smile but that was far from enough to keep me off her back.
"Nothing just tired."
I could tell she was lying. Did vampires get tired? I hardly knew but this was for sure a lie.
"Well it wouldn't be nice for me to probe your mind so why don't you just tell me," I said whilst filling to glass with red wine.
"I don't know." She sighed, "I've just been thinking. If the seer knew what would happen this day, then he must have known the smell of fate awaited my father. Maybe my father even knew?"
"Well, he'd been living for centuries. Even immortals get tired of life don't they?" I joked, hoping to lighten her mood.
It worked and I witnessed her cheeks flush in color.
"Not with you around," Avery revealed, her cheeks turning red. She grabbed a glass from me and gulped it down, smacking her lips when she was done.
"What's that supposed to mean? I make things interesting?" I blushed slightly.
Avert didn't comment, she just stared into my eyes. Maybe it was the wine but I felt like I was meant to do something. It was funny when I leaned in and Before she could withdraw, my arms were around her, tight and not letting go of her. I felt a surging tide of warmth that me wanting more when we locked arms.
I bent back her head across my arm and kissed her, softly at first, and then with a swift gradation of intensity that made her cling to me as the only solid thing she could hold on to for unfailing support. My insistent tongue began parting her shaking lips, sending wild tremors along her nerves, evoking from her sensations I knew she had never known she was capable of feeling and.. she did it back. She returned the kiss.
