Marker of Hope

by Nely Cab

  Once in a while, I’d think of Eros. He disappeared after he killed Olympia, leaving my head full of questions. I would never truly know whose side he was on. I often wondered what became of him.

  Our family was somewhat back to normal, though incomplete and scarred. Alezzander took over the highest seat on the Council with Galen and Eryx residing beside him. Caelum and Earth were at peace once again. Funny how humanity didn’t even realize it was ever in danger to begin with.

  After some research, Dr. Gunn came to the conclusion David and I weren’t immortal and our transformation was in retrocede. My face no longer morphed. David and I seemed to be pretty much human, except for our extra-sensitive senses and strength.

  Nyx showed concern at first, because what immortal mother wants to lose their son to mortality? But David explained Faith deserved to have a normal human life. With a sad smile on her face, Nyx agreed. We knew the day would come when David and I would have to part ways with his family, but we didn’t talk about it.

  And as the days passed, though slow and painful, life became tolerable. I learned to live with the pain of loss and to welcome happiness. I learned what it was to be human again.

  And life went on…

  CHAPTER 42

  A year and two months after Claire’s death, I danced under a summer sky in a white dress with my dream boy. Though, now, David looked more like a man than a boy. Galilea got her wish and coordinated the wedding. She filled the entire backyard gazebo with pink roses and fragrant tuberose, honoring Claire’s wishes. Apparently, they’d talked about this wedding many times before all the madness befell our lives. Faith served as our flower girl. She was the cutest flower girl in the world. At least, she was to David and me.

  My dad, Samuel, walked me down the aisle and danced the father-daughter dance with me. My mom would’ve loved it.

  On stage, Galilea’s favorite band, Hot Wired, rocked out their latest album’s hits. They really knew how to put on a show. I clapped as one of their songs ended. David kissed me, and then from the crowd, I saw the Steven Tyler walk up to the stage.

  “This one goes out to the happy couple,” Steven Tyler said. “You are royalty! Hit it, Hot Wired!” He sang one of my favorite ballads as I wept into David’s lapel. How I wished Claire and Hector could’ve seen this. But even without my parents by my side, my new family—though unconventional, and yet, perfect in a way—made me happy. And at least I still had my granny Eva. She sat at a table with Andy and the rest of my friends, watching David and me dance. I wiped my tears as she waved at us. I waved back. I wished she’d reconsider moving in with us. But she said she liked living on her own and wouldn’t hear of it.

  Samuel tapped David on the shoulder and asked David if he could dance with me. Nyx was already waiting to dance with David. After a few minutes, the dance floor crowded with couples. An old man with white hair tapped Samuel’s shoulder, asking to cut in. I’d never seen him before.

  “Are you having a good time, sir?” I asked the elderly man. I was curious to know who he was.

  “So, so. But the question is,” he said in a French accent, “are you, my sweet?”

  My feet stopped moving. It couldn’t be…

  “Eros?” I asked, looking into his gray, wrinkled eyes.

  “Who else?” he asked. “I’m glad to see you’re doing well after your mother’s passing. I’m sorry I couldn’t stop Olympia in time. I didn’t foresee her actions.”

  “If you came to ruin my wedding…” I lowered my head. “You’ve been playing games with me since I met you. You cost me my mother’s life. Haven’t you had your fun? Why do you insist on coming back?”

  “I felt the need to clear your doubts,” he said. “You think I was on the Council’s side, but I’ve only ever been on one side, my sweet.” He paused. “Yours. I was Frederick’s main informant. Didn’t he tell you?”

  “More lies?”

  “Look at me, Isis.” He stared into my eyes. “What man sacrifices his youth, his beauty, for a woman? I’ll tell you…” He smiled. “A man in love.”

  “You’re not making any sense.”

  “Do you remember the witch I made a pact with?” Eros asked. I waited for his explanation. “She became young, did she not? My barter was my youth for her help. And voila!” He spun me around. “David lived. And here I am, old as life itself.”

  “You didn’t have to do that for me.” I looked over my shoulder at David, who was laughing with his mother.

  “I wanted to. But I bet you’re wondering why, eh?” he asked. “Simple. Because I knew you loved me too. Or was I wrong?” I stared at his aged cupid eyes, not saying anything. “I wasn’t wrong.” He smiled. “Love knows all. Could I ask you for one thing before I leave?”

  “What is it? More deals?” I raised an eyebrow at him. “You want me to run away with you again? Sorry, but I’m a little busy. It’s my wedding day, if you haven’t noticed.”

  Eros chuckled. “No. It’s much simpler. I’d just like to hear the words coming from your mouth. Tell me… I’m an old man. I doubt you’re into the elderly, so you have nothing to worry about. But my heart, it won’t rest until it hears the words it’s longed to hear.”

  I glanced at David, who was looking at me. I loved David. I had no doubt in my mind David was the one I was meant to be with. David was my forever. But somewhere in my heart, there’d been a love I couldn’t deny.

  “I did love you, Eros,” I said. “Then.”

  “And now?” he asked softly.

  I sighed.

  “No need to answer. I already know,” he said. “But I will love you forever, my sweet.”

  Eros twirled me once more and bowed. I watched as he walked off the dance floor, tipping his head at my grandmother, who blushed and giggled.

  I felt David beside me. He took my hand and pulled me close to him.

  “Who was that?” David asked.

  “An old friend of the family’s,” I said. I wasn’t lying.

  We danced until my feet blistered and the moon was high in the night sky. The next day, we’d board a plane and head to Greece for our honeymoon. Maybe this time, I’d actually enjoy it. That night, before bed, I documented my thoughts in my journal.

  June 23, 1:04 AM

  Of all the things I’ve learned in life, the most valuable of these lessons is love, for it is unconceivable to live without it and essential to acknowledge it. Yet, I’ve met those who’ve forgotten how to feel empathy, and how to be kind. And while I fear future generations will forget what it is to love, I hold on to the hope that my struggles and my losses haven’t been in vain. From my parents, I learned the best kind of love—unconditional. In my own parents’ memory, and as they taught me, I vow to never turn into a person who poisons the world with words and actions. And, as a promise to myself, I will always remember how Faith was born of love, and how she will give birth to the new humankind who will be kind once again. I will teach my child these rules until my time has come to fly in the sky where the universe meets eternity, where angels greet the worthy, where dreams and wishes go to play. And as my body withers with age and reaches death, my hope will never wither or die, for it was hope that brought me love.

  EPILOGUE

  EROS

  “So?” the Graeae Witch asked from the passenger seat of the rental car. She was quite the pain in the ass, this one. “What happened?”

  “It was simply beautiful, love. We danced. We laughed. She said the words, as I said she would.” I smirked. “You made it too easy, Deino. I’m the god of love. You can’t compete with me.”

  “But… But, Eros, I have a suitor now. You can’t take back youth from me. Not yet.”

  “Deino, I’m sorry. I truly am… because I have to see your ugly, old face again.” She pouted as I turned the key. The car revved to life. “Don’t give me that look, love. You know how these barters work, oui? It’s inevitable. A deal is a deal. Besides, I don’t enjoy having wrinkled balls.”

  “I hate you.”<
br />
  “No, you don’t,” I said, driving off. “I know these things.” I felt Deino’s hand on my lap. “Er, Deino… I feel I should warn you—sometimes, love is lethal.”

  THE END

  ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

  To my assistant, Judith Lauren Frazee, aka Joood Hooligan of Platypire Reviews, I thank you for believing in me and sticking with me through writer’s block and healthy brain function, through mass obsessiveness and dumb rants, through the occasional meltdown and excessive caffeine highs. You’re a true friend.

  To my editor, Elisabeth Kauffman, who took me under her wing and taught me her literary ways. Thank you a million stars! I couldn’t have finished this series without you.

  To my beta readers, Angela Pratt, Bekah Pratt Smith, Autumn Wrought, Bianca Calin, Krystle Mendiola, and Judith Lauren Frazee, thank you for your feedback and having my back.

  To my readers, thank you for being so patient. Now I know how Pinocchio felt when he turned into a real boy; you guys made me a real writer.

  To my friend Jhanet Loria and my brother Juan M. Mendiola, Jr., thanks for your medical knowledge and for walking alongside me with the gods in Greece.

  To my family and friends, thank you for your support and enthusiasm for my work.

  To Steven Tyler who I met at an Aerosmith concert and who said to me, “You are royalty!” after he inquired about my married (Mayan decent) name, thank you for your musical inspiration. And as promised, and per your request, you are written into my story.

  To Clean Teen Publishing, the CTP reviewers, Editor Cynthia Shepp, and the entire team of awesome who make the magic happen, thank you.

  To my God, thank you for this wonderful life and for allowing me to fulfill my dreams.

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Nely Cab is a Writer of stuff, a Master Coffee Drinker, a Food Maker & Eater, an Imaginary World Conqueror, and an Air Breather. She talks to herself—a lot—in her South Texas home while she plots stories about fantasy worlds and sips coffee from a pitcher. She's known for cooking far too much food and has a tendency to overdo…well, everything. It is rumored that she is fabulous. Nely Cab is the best-selling author of the Creatura series.

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