Ever After

by Heather McBride

  “Are you ready to go? I am sure you don’t want to be here with me any longer than necessary.” He slowly got up, still refusing to look into my eyes. He quickly wiped the tears off his cheek. I knew he was hoping I didn’t see them.

  “No. I’m not going to go William.” He looked up at me suddenly, his eyes wide in shock.

  “What?” he gasped, sitting back down hard. Snow swished out from the bench as the icy wind picked up again.

  “I love you William, for who you are.” I scooted closer to him, pulling his shaking hand from his coat pocket, and placing it into mine gently. “You are all I ever need or want in my life. I do not care about anything you did in your past, no matter how bad. I have loved you since the first time you looked into my eyes by the river. I have been yours since that very day. I will not abandon you because you are different. I don’t want to hear anything more about why we cannot work through this, whatever it takes. I will not lose you. You are my life William and you are my world.” I looked into his eyes, locking them with mine, my strong steady gaze further proving my fear of him was indeed gone, only my love remained. I could see the relief wash over his beautiful face. He leaned over hugging me, burying his face into my long wavy hair as my hat slipped off.

  “Oh Corrine, thank you.” He pulled me tighter to his chest. “I don’t know what I would have done if you had sent me away.”

  “Never would I do such a thing.” I whispered into his ear, nuzzling his coat collar.

  “Are you certain you are okay with all this? I mean… with me?”

  “Yes Will, we will get through this. Whatever happens we can

  handle it.”

  “I have a lot to explain to you, it’s really complicated.” He sighed and smiled slightly.

  “I expected that.” I looked at him more closely. “I have a lot of my own questions too, ya know.” I smiled at him. “I do have one quick one to ask.”

  “Shoot.” He winked at me.

  “It’s cold out here, so uh… why does it bother you? I always heard vampires were naturally cold or something like that.” I pursed my lips thinking hard. “Oh, and shouldn’t your skin be cold or something too?”

  “Ah…the movies, the folk tales.” He laughs softly.

  “Yes, the cold shouldn’t bother me and yes my skin should be much colder than a normal person’s.”

  “What?” I shook my head totally confused now.

  “You see, I am not a full-blooded vampire.” He smirked. “Pardon the pun there. When I was changed to a vampire my body, by some genetic fluke or whatever, rejected a majority of the venom or it was not strong enough to fully change me.” He squeezed my hand gently, still smiling at me. “I retained many human qualities thankfully, but I also have many vampire traits as well. I’m a half-breed, if you want to call me something… I guess.” He shrugged his shoulders as he blew the air out of his mouth loudly.

  I was not sure what to think. A half-breed vampire? Did that mean he didn’t really like blood? I had so many questions, but I didn’t want to overwhelm him. He seemed in a fragile state of mind as he held onto my hand tightly. I could feel him shaking; it was very cold, but I knew better. He was still very nervous after telling me his secret. I knew I had to be strong for both of us now.

  I had to reassure him. I was not ever leaving, and I was trying to keep a handle on myself. I had to prepare for all the extremely weird and freaky things I was about to face being in love with a half-human, half- vampire. Getting myself to even accept such a thing was real, was going to be my first hurdle for sure.

  “You have to be freezing.” He smiled, rubbing my hands gently.

  “Sort of but I don’t want to leave you.” I shrugged stubbornly. “I’m afraid you will disappear on me into a cloud of smoke or something.” I was only half joking, after all I had just found out he was something that most people only make up stories about, like a fictional character.

  “No sorry… that’s not on the list of things I can do, but I can do a lot of other weird stuff.” He winked at me, his stunning blue eyes sparkling. “But no clouds of smoke or disappearing acts.”

  “Oh well that’s good news, because I am freezing to tell the truth.” My teeth chattered now rather uncontrollably.

  “I see, well, your shaking is hard to miss.” He smiled at me as he pulled my hood up, blocking the wind. It was getting stronger now.

  “I just want you to remember what I said. We can work through whatever comes along, and I promise you that.” I could see my words touched him. He squeezed my hand and pulled back my coat sleeve slightly to expose my wrist. He softly kissed it.

  “Sweeter words I could never have hoped to hear pass through your beautiful lips.” He pulled me up to my feet as we decided to leave before we both got hypothermia.

  Chapter 13

  Dealing with it

  I had been processing all the information William had given me. I no longer had to convince myself I was okay with what he was. I had accepted it and no longer was second-guessing myself and my decision to remain with him until the end. It was odd how easily I was able to accept it, but then I knew I truly did love him.

  I had been studying hard the weeks following the afternoon at the sledding hill. Soon spring would be here and a close to another school year. I had to pass all my courses. I wanted to start my junior year on time and on track this fall. I had been working very hard lately. My eyes ached from reading, but my headaches were getting worse. I tried to hide them. I had to make excuses to get to my room so mom, Gran or Sara wouldn’t know.

  I had started popping pain pills again just too dull the searing pain in my head. William and Gran had been asking many questions about how I had been feeling lately. I was trying not to let it slip, about how bad it was. I didn’t want to have to take any medicine, but the pain was just too much to handle on most days.

  William was over at my house on our typical Friday night movie date. I had a rough day, spending half of it in bed with yet another lovely headache. I was thankful this one ended a few hours before he got there, and we could enjoy the movies he had rented. I was able to get Gran to believe I had a stomach bug, so not too many questions were asked.

  “Are you feeling okay, Corrine?” This was William’s greeting to me as I opened the door that night. “You look pale.” He stroked my cheek, concern filling his eyes. “Tell the truth now. You have been sick, haven’t you?”

  “Kind of, just a stomach thing nothing major.” I tried to play it off as if nothing was wrong.

  “I knew it. I had a feeling you felt sick today.” He pulled me close rubbing my back.

  “I’m fine William it’s nothing.”

  “I don’t know. You have been very pale lately, and quiet. You seem under the weather a lot.” I looked over the videos he rented for a minute, all my favorite chick flicks. I was hoping he would forget this conversation.

  “Did I forget any?” He grinned. “Do I get a kiss for that, by chance?” I launched myself at him, wrapping my arms around his shoulders. I pulled him in for a well-deserved kiss.

  “Of course you do, silly. I would give you one even if you forgot to bring the movies!”

  I was relieved when he did not bring up the headache subject again. We settled in to watch one of the movies he had brought. I hadn’t realized I dozed off on his chest long before the movie ended. I had obviously overdone the pain pills, and my head was foggy when he whispered in my ear.

  “Grandma is home. Better, sit up love. She might think we’re up to something in here.” He kissed the top of my head, laughing.

  “Oh I didn’t mean to fall asleep on you.” I yawned, stretching out my arms. “I must have been more tired than I thought.”

  Gran walked through the living room, humming a tune to herself. She was always bubbly and happy. I loved that about her. “Hey kids, everything okay?” She chirped, holding her needlepoint in one hand and a Coke in the other.

  “Sure, Gran we just finished watching a movie.”r />
  “Was it any good?” She took a sip of her drink, smiling down at us.

  “Not too bad.” Will gave her his trademark boyish grin. She nodded, smiling at him.

  “That’s good.” I noticed her studying William intensely. I knew why. I had seen her do that a million times. She had been having visions, and they all involved Will.

  “Uh… William, could I speak to you in private. If it’s not a bother to you two?” She was clutching her Coke can hard. I was getting nervous now. I was mortified she was going to give Will the “talk,” no hanky-panky, she would say. She was always warning me to behave as a lady. I wanted to die right there on that couch.

  “Uh… Gran, we’re fine, ya know. Nothing is going on. You don’t need to worry or anything.” I rambled on nervously, hoping she would go on upstairs.

  “I know that dear, but I have some things I need to discuss with William. I really do not want to wait to speak to him about it, sweetheart.”

  “It’s okay, Corrine. I have plenty of time.” He winked at me. I knew why. It was our inside joke, with him being immortal and all time was not an issue. “Gran, I would love to talk to you.” He got up, still smiling at me and moved toward the door were Gran was standing. “Lead the way, Madame.” He bowed like a gentleman, which caused Gran to giggle and blush. Will, had a mesmerizing effect on all women. I sighed, watching them leave the room.

  They left me alone, with a hundred million thoughts running through my head. I hoped she was not talking to Will about anything too embarrassing. I knew better though, it had to involve a vision. I had seen that look in her eyes before. It had come to her as she looked at William.

  I couldn’t drive myself crazy waiting for them to come back in here, so I picked up the popcorn bowls and soda cans, and fluffed up the throw pillows. I bent over to pick up a throw blanket and my head spun. I dropped to the floor, holding my head. I took deep breaths until it passed, praying Will and Gran wouldn’t walk in and see me on the floor.

  I got up as soon as my legs would hold me and went to the bathroom to fix my hair back and get a hold of myself. My vision was blurry for a few seconds as I rubbed my eyes. I instantly regretted the eyeliner I’d put on earlier that night, trying to look nice for our date. It stung as my eyes watered. I quickly wiped it off, and smoothed out my hair, trying to look as if nothing happened.

  Chapter 14

  William and Gran’s Conversation

  Gran led William into her study, a small cozy room just off her bedroom quarters, the windows covered in heavy drapery. The walls were lined with bookshelves all nearly overflowing and dusty. The large carved oak desk was lined with family photos, many of them Corrine when she was a little girl, many of her mother. William studied them all, quickly noticing the one of Corrine and her mother.

  “That’s Corrine’s mother there. That is one of my favorite photos I have of them together.” Gran said with a smile as she offered Will a chair in the corner next to a blazing fireplace. Two armchairs were nestled in a cozy fashion.

  “I’m shocked at how much Corrine looks like her mother.” Will leaned in to look at the picture.

  “Yes. She does. I think that pains her father sometimes. He loved my daughter very much and he still does.”

  “I can understand how that feels,” he said in a soft voice as he looked over Corrine’s childhood photographs.

  “You see William, Corrine is very fragile. She has had a very bad year. I trust she has told you all of it?” Will nodded looking down at his hands, not knowing what to say.

  “Yes. She has told me.”

  “Then you can see why she is so delicate. I feared we would lose her just a few months ago. She wanted to kill herself. It was a difficult time for us all.” Her voice wavered and she looked toward the fire, her eyes damp as she watched the flames dancing.

  Gran pulled a throw blanket over her knees and sat back staring into William’s eyes. He didn’t even blink as she did so. “I know you,” she said softly. She smiled slightly as she could see William tense up and his breathing pick up as well.

  “Uh… we just met a few months ago? If we met before I am sorry I have forgotten it.” He shifted uneasily in his chair. Gran’s eyes were locked on him unwavering.

  “No…no child. I know what you are to be specific. I had a vision of you coming into her life many months ago, always I sensed there would be something different about you, but I could never put my finger on it. I have been watching you ever since Corrine brought you home to meet us. I have seen how attentive with her you are, so very protective. That pleases me very much. I also see she is madly in love with you. You have her very soul in your hands, and you could destroy her if you ever leave. I am an old woman, child. I have seen many things in my lifetime, and I have been told a great deal by my ancestors. Stories have been passed down for generations by my tribe.

  “Gran please, let me try to explain….” She quickly held one finger up to her lips to hush him from speaking. He did.

  “No need. I have known many of your kind for years, as did my ancestors. I know very well of the two coven groups that exist. I know you are from the light coven. I also know your parents very well, and you’re Grandfather too. I have faith and trust in the light coven, they have been honorable in the past and still are today. I trust you do not waver in the rules of your own coven. Is that right William, for Corrine’s sake?”

  “Of course…. I follow; yes. I would never ever hurt her in any way.” William was watching her warily. She could throw him out of the house on his butt, because of what he was. She could destroy the heavily guarded secret lives of his family and their coven, but he knew she trusted them.

  “That is good. Corrine needs one like you to protect her, and love her. A mere mortal man could not love her with the power you do, that I know. I have heard of relationships such as yours.” She nodded and took a deep breath. “You both may have very tough choices to make someday, but your love for one another will keep you both safe. I have spoken to your mother Lydia. She worries about you and Corrine, but she will be accepting once she meets her. I also spoke to that old grandfather of yours—Doc. He is as ornery as ever.” She grinned and shook her head. “He has been a dear friend to me for a very long time; he already adores Corrine, just from seeing her in the hospital.”

  William was in shock and relieved all at once; it felt like a big relief to have Gran on his side. The realization she had known of his kind and she knew his own coven was amazing to him. Gran poured some tea into a dainty china cup and offered it to him. He watched her tiny frail wrinkled hands maneuver, in silence.

  “I also know you are not a full-blooded vampire.” She glanced at the tea on the table. “Doc told me of the many human traits you have, so I know you do enjoy eating and drinking somewhat.” Will smiled as he took the cup carefully. “Be careful though, that’s an antique. I know you are extremely strong.” She laughed as he sipped the tea.

  “Well not very much stronger than a human, but I guess you could call me an antique though.” He flashed a wicked grin and winked at her.

  “Ahh yes. Lydia did say her only baby would be twenty this year, or rather twenty going on over 100!” Gram laughed as she patted Will’s knee.

  “This will be something; my granddaughter’s boyfriend is older than me” She sighed, sitting back in the armchair still laughing with Will. Gram’s face got serious suddenly as something crossed her mind.

  “What is it?” Will noticed her grim expression.

  “Oh well… here I have forgotten the real reason I needed to talk to you. I had a vision when I came in to see you and Corrine tonight, this vision…” She took a deep breath, dreading having to speak of it. “I feel Corrine is going to be in grave danger very shortly.”

  “What from me?” gasped Will. “I would never harm her. I would sooner kill myself than hurt a hair on her head.” Will blinked hard in shock Gran would turn on him so quickly.

  “No William, not harm from you. I cannot see who
m yet, but someone wants to hurt her very badly. I feel it and tonight it hit me hard that the danger is growing closer.” She rubbed her eyes, exhausted and clearly upset.

  “I will not let anyone or anything hurt Corrine. You have my word on that, Gran. I would lay down my life for hers.” Will got up and put a hand onto her shoulder. He knelt down at eye level to her. “I will guard her. I promise you and as soon as you have a clearer vision, call me anytime day or night, together we will keep her safe.” Will found a pen on her table and wrote his cell phone number on a piece of paper for her.