First things first though, he would have to kill the three descendants so he could find the witch and exact his revenge. Except, he had watched several episodes of the doctor’s television show, and he had to admit, she was exceedingly skilled at saving lives. And the teacher, the way she treated the children, the way she looked over her own kids, something made him hold his hand against harming her.
Samuel might as well face the truth, he wasn’t a killer, not a meditated one anyhow. There were always accidents, and he could make the women have accidents, but again that was far too close to murder. Also, he didn’t know if the kill counted if he didn’t do it himself.
Shoving his hands into his pockets, he hunched his shoulders against the rising cold. He was running out of energy again being so far away from the city, and mortal issues were bothering him more and more. He would have to replenish his power soon, or he wouldn’t be able to protect Sara if the witch came after her for freeing him.
His heart sank as he remembered she wasn’t his to protect anymore. Her smile would never again brighten his day. He would miss the feel of her soft skin as he embraced her and the tender way she looked at him when she thought he wasn’t paying attention. He would never get to tell her how much she meant to him.
He was alone.
Samuel stopped in the middle of the sidewalk and swiped his face. He hadn’t felt alone since Sara entered his house. Sighing, he knew he would adjust to life without her, the endless cyclical monotony. The thought of ending it all crossed his mind for the thousandth time in his life, but since it was impossible to kill himself, he had no choice but to exist.
Blinking, he dropped his hands as his eyes widened in shock. He wasn’t immortal anymore. Why didn’t he remember these feelings of loneliness and despair earlier? Because he had something to live for then.
He walked again without a care for his destination. He mulled over the memories of these forgotten feelings. At one point he wanted to die, so why was he worried about the idea of death now? Again, he thought Sara was right, life had no meaning if you didn’t live. All the things she told him she wanted, Samuel wanted to give them to her.
Looking around, it surprised him to find himself standing at the foot of the driveway to their house. Muscle memory must have led him back here while he was wallowing in his own self-pity, but the sight cemented his resolve. If he were going to die like a mortal, he would live like one first.
Samuel took a deep breath and walked up to the front door, knocking on it with a steady rap. Chico went wild on the other side. He placed his shoulder against the doorframe, waiting for her to open it.
After a moment, he heard the dog quiet, and the lock click before Sara pulled the door open. She looked adorable in her tank top and Mickey Mouse pajama shorts, and he couldn’t help but smile at her. Seeing her now, even though he’d only been away from her for a few hours, he knew he made the right decision. She stepped back, with the door open, to let him in.
“I guess you need your clothes and stuff.” Sara sounded dejected.
Closing the door behind him, Samuel noticed her puffy red eyes and gasped in mock horror. “You didn’t think I would come back, did you!” Sara’s bottom lip trembled, and she sniffed, refusing to look at him. He reached out for her, drawing her into his tight embrace and burying his face in her hair. “Oh, Sweet, I may have been alive for a very long time, but I didn’t start living until I met you.”
Finally, she looked up at him, her eyes full of tears, and he smiled softly while brushing her chin with his thumb. “Dying is scary, but the thought of never seeing your smile again is worse. You were right, I may not need you, but it turns out I want you.”
“You’re going to stay?” The hope in her eyes when she asked him, this fierce and spirited woman looking so vulnerable, melted his heart.
“For as long as you will let me.” Cupping her face, he pulled her closer, running his lips across hers with a tenderness he thought he didn’t possess. She clung to the shirt under his jacket, refusing to let him go when he pulled back. “Until we are old and shriveled and our seven children bury us side by side in matching coffins.”
Sara laughed, rubbing her nose on a tissue she pulled from her pocket and stepping back. “Cremated, graveyards creep me out. Also, we may have to discuss this seven kids thing. I was thinking two-point-five.”
“You would cut one of our kids in half?” His eyes grew wide in horror before he laughed as well.
She rolled her eyes, but the smile never left her lips. “I hate you.”
“No, you love me, as much as I love you.” Samuel stepped forward, scooping her into his arms before she could react, and carried her into the bedroom. After throwing her onto the bed, he jumped on top of her, pinning her to the mattress.
“I do have two things to ask of you though.” His expression turned serious as he watched her.
“What?” She looked crestfallen as if he would take back everything he just said.
“Tomorrow morning, we pack up everything you need to survive for several weeks, your computer, clothes, and the dog. I will close off the cellar, and we will leave this house and move to the city. I have too many bad memories associated with this place, and I don’t want to start a new life with them hanging over us.” He didn’t tell her about his fears of Rebecca returning as he didn’t want to scare her. If the witch ever came after her, he would protect his Sara, but there was no need to make it easier for her.
She considered him then nodded. “I’m not that attached to this house. What is the second thing?”
“We start on those two-point-five kids as soon as possible, like tonight. We should get married too. I’ve heard life is short. I refuse to waste one second of it.” Samuel took Sara’s laughter, as she wrapped her arms around his neck, as a resounding yes.
EPILOGUE
Samuel stood looking out the windows of the top executive suite overlooking the best view of the city, his domain, below. With his hands clasped behind his back, he exulted over the power he held in his grasp. He owned this section of the city, most of the politicians in Congress, and the most powerful men in the world.
“Daddy!” A small towheaded girl squealed as she came tearing through the door to his office. He bent down, lifting her into his arms, before standing and tickling her. She grabbed at his hands to stop him as she pressed her face into his chest.
“Good morning, Munchkin. Where is mommy?” Samuel asked her, brushing the curls which had fallen out of the pink headband behind her ears. She looked towards the door expectantly.
A heavily pregnant Sara came around the bend into the room, out of breath and frowning at the little girl. “Aelia,” her eyes narrowed, “convinced your secretary to give her all the candy on her desk and started eating it before I could tell her no. I think it’s time you teach her how to use the skills she seems to have inherited from you.” Though she played upset at their daughter, he could see the corner of her lips twitching with a suppressed smile.
Samuel walked over to her, running his hand over her stomach before bending to kiss her lips. “Of course, Sweet.” He winked at her. “But first, lunch.”
Samuel woke with a start, blinking against the bright sunlight streaming through the open French doors overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. He sat up, frowning when he found Sara missing from the bed next to him. Shading his eyes against the glare, she saw her standing against the railing, holding a mug as she looked over the expanse in front of her.
Watching her, he cleared the dream from his mind, but couldn’t help smiling. In reality, they had married in a small ceremony a few weeks before. Only Ash and her family attended. None of his old acquaintances could be located, but he didn’t miss them. He whisked Sara away for a tour of Italy, France, and Spain after convincing her to take a retreat from work once she finished with her last client.
They had been in Europe for a little over three weeks and found several of his stashes, including his main horde. Two of them were cleaned out,
but the rest seemed to be intact. He removed the most valuable things, sending them to Ash who was staying in their apartment in the city to appraise and sell. As a wedding gift, she agreed to housesit and watch the dog for them while they were gone. Samuel knew Sara felt better leaving Chico with someone the dog knew and she trusted.
Throwing the covers back, he got out of the bed and walked up behind Sara. He placed his hands on the railing, trapping her between his arms, and kissed the back of her neck. Sara tilted her head to give him better access before turning around and smiling at him. She looked happy for someone who had been so sick over the last few days. The exotic food and travel weren’t agreeing with her.
“Good morning, you look better today.”
“While you were sleeping I went down to the corner market to see if they had anything to settle my stomach.”
“It seems to have worked.” Samuel smiled at her, standing up straight. He didn’t fail to notice her admiring the view, and it pleased him to know she was still wildly attracted to him.
“Yes, well…” She blushed a fierce red, and his eyebrows snapped together, wondering what was going on. “Turns out it’s not the food.”
He raised his eyebrows, wondering what was wrong when she pulled a long piece of plastic from the pocket of her shorts and held it out to him.
“What’s this?” He studied it, seeing a picture and words next to the two lines in the little oval and froze.
“I’m pregnant.”
Samuel looked at her in shock, his mouth opening and closing though no words came out, before pouncing on her and wrapping her in his arms. He held her tightly, his face buried in the crook of her neck so she couldn’t see the tears of happiness glistening in his eyes.
“If it’s a girl, we should name her Aelia.” The twinkle of her laughter burned into his soul, and he wouldn’t have it any other way.
AUTHOR’S NOTE
Thank you so much for taking the time to read this story! It was a fun one to write and I will miss these characters!
For now… Bum bum bummmm!!! Keep an eye out for Ash’s story, can’t let that pesky Rebecca get away, amirite??
Again, you all are the best!
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