“Yes, it was. Drop by any time. You’re always welcome,” said Daisy, smoothing her hand down Robin’s arm. Her white-blonde pixie cut shone in the moonlight like snow. Her eyes were heavily made up with black eyeliner in the same way they had been when Evie had first seen her imprisoned in Nico’s basement. But her face was clear of bloody tear stains and instead held the inner light of a young human.
“Thanks,” replied Robin, easing out of the hug. Alexander grinned and ruffled his messy hair in a way that hit Evie right in the gut.
Alexander and Daisy watched from the front door as Robin plodded down their path, head bent and hands plunged in his pockets. He turned and gave a final – slightly awkward – wave before they shut the door.
Varsee let go of Evie and veered out of sight. Evie followed, hearing Robin’s soft footfalls behind her as he crossed the road.
“So, how is he?” asked Varsee eagerly when they were hidden.
Robin shrugged. “He’s alright.”
Varsee’s face fell. “He’s alright? That’s all you’re going to give me? I send you over to check up on him every couple of weeks and all you have for me is he’s alright?”
Robin spluttered, cowering a little at her sharpened tone. “Okay ermm, his job at the shop is doing well.”
When Alexander had returned to the Crimson Moon to pick up where he had left off, they had refused him. They had no use for a human dancer who couldn’t even get bitten by the punters. He was a serious health hazard. And so, after several weeks of searching, he had landed a job in a retail shop that specifically catered for regulars at vampire bars. He said he felt right at home amongst all the leather and chains.
Robin scratched his head as Varsee continued to stare down at him expectantly. “Oh! There was one other thing.”
“What?” asked Varsee, eyes bright.
Robin grinned, a mischievous grin not unlike Alexander’s. “Daisy’s pregnant.”
A rush of air suddenly whooshed out of Varsee before being quickly sucked back in. She threw her hand over her mouth her. Red brimmed her eyes.
“Are you serious?” she muffled through her palm. Her voice wet and shaking.
Robin nodded vehemently.
“He’s going to be a dad. He’s going to be a dad!” she exclaimed. Then Robin was forced into another hug. His face was lost in a mass of blonde hair as Varsee threw her arms around him. “I can’t believe it!”
A sound behind her made Evie spin around. Caius was approaching from a shadowed alleyway, a white plastic bag swinging by his side. His eyebrow quirked up in question at Varsee.
Evie smiled. “Daisy’s pregnant. Alexander’s going to be a dad.”
Caius blinked, slightly baffled, and then when Varsee finally unravelled herself from Robin and turned in his direction, he smiled and opened his bag.
“Well then, I guess that’s a cause for celebration.”
Evie helped him distribute the blood bags between the four of them. They all held them aloft like glasses, the red liquid inside gleaming like rubies.
“To Alexander,” cheered Caius.
“To Alexander,” echoed Evie and Robin joyfully. Varsee was too overcome with emotion to speak but smiled widely, releasing tears. They all tapped the caps of their bags together before unscrewing them and drinking.
Evie looked silently from one person to the other, feeling a swell of warmth inside her. She may have enjoyed her century alone with Caius, but she had always felt deprived of having that feeling of belonging to a family. She didn’t feel like that anymore.
The cure may have opened up opportunities for her to have had a normal, happy human life but she didn’t want that anymore. Now it felt like just a silly little phase in her life. Like when, once upon a time, she had despised her red hair and had wanted to be blonde.
Evie had a family now. Her own vampire family. And she loved each and every one of them. Eternity with them wasn’t long enough.
The Progeny Page 59