So where was the knowledge? Where was the completion?
As Gavreel looked deeply inside himself, he realized he did feel complete, he did feel whole. But it was Chandra, and his love for her which completed him. He recalled all his studying on this temple, they believed in one true love, in the completion of one’s soul and the special bond only merging one’s soul could bring. They understood fleeting enjoyment, but they were focused on the fuller relationship one could gain understanding from.
Everything revolved around love, he realized. Love for oneself, a deeper understanding of who one was. But this also felt linked to that special closeness one could only experience when one opened themselves to love, when one took the risks of loving and being loved in return.
Gavreel smiled.
The rune of knowledge was not a holy grail, was not some mystical, magical talisman. It was the end of a journey, but the realization it brought meant the start of a much deeper, more meaningful journey.
To travel far and wide, to find one’s heart’s desire, he repeated to himself. One needed to go on the journey, to follow the paths and roads, but instead of some magical solution waiting at the end of the road, one had to sit and look inside oneself, realize that it was the gaining of knowledge, yes, but it was the self-acceptance, the finding and cherishing of love that was the ultimate journey.
Gavreel opened his eyes only to find Chandra holding the stone in her hand, gazing intently at it. He paused a moment, as she seemed deep in thought.
“Look inside,” she repeated softly, looking up at him. “When I look inside myself, I only see love for you. A thirst for knowledge, a hunger for study, but mixed in with everything is love. That’s the whole point, isn’t it? Without love we have no knowledge, we have nothing to thirst or hunger for.”
Gavreel smiled widely and stepped toward her, wrapping her in his arms.
“That’s right, my love. The Rune is a means to an end. It is the biggest red herring of them all. By focusing on the Rune, by going down that path and exploring that journey, one gives oneself the confidence and time to realize the real journey before them, the one of love.”
Chandra smiled at him and looked back down at the small stone she held in her hand. She turned, picked up the box from where he had placed it on the table earlier. She returned the Rune to the box, and placed it back in its hidey-hole.
The moment the box sat in its place, the table closed itself, and vanished.
Gavreel cocked his head, curious.
“I think we should leave it here, let someone else discover this journey. We have fully and completely learned our own lessons, although it took a while. We have each other. We can live without the prestige of this particular story. I know I have a number of interesting papers on the back burner. This certain one refuting an arrogant claim that the male vampire existed before the female vampire…”
Gavreel chuckled to himself, kissed Chandra before he felt tempted to throttle her.
“Oh Dad, that is so not cool,” came a well-known voice from the back of the room.
Gavreel pulled away from Chandra, astonished. The familiar voice of Michael jarred him from his lusty thoughts. What the hell was his eldest son doing here?
Gavreel turned, found Michael in the corner of the room, opposite where the door should have been, his arm around a stunning young blonde woman with interesting purple eyes.
“Michael?” he said still feeling shocked. “What in the five hells are you doing here?”
“Chasing after my old man. But I could easily return the question. Why the hell are you kissing Chandra?”
“Uh…” For the first time in centuries Gav felt at a loss as to what to say to his eldest son. When he saw Michael grin, obviously teasing him, Gavreel heaved a sigh of relief as Michael changed the topic.
“Chandra and I…” he started to explain but then shook his head. Centuries older than his son and he felt like a youth being called to account for his actions. “We’re compatible, and fell in love. We’ve merged our Soul’s Circles.”
Instead of amazement, which frankly considering his volatile previous relationship with the vampires he felt would be perfectly justified, Michael merely grinned hugely, his wide smile splitting his face.
“That makes the set of us then. Just wait until you catch up, Dad. Simeon and Clare, Ruthie and Rylan—”
“Rylan and Ruthie?” Gavreel couldn’t help but interject. If Michael had suddenly sprouted three heads he could not have been more surprised. Michael merely laughed and changed the topic.
“Si has been having a cow he’s so worried about you—you realize it’s over ten weeks since you checked in?”
Gavreel frowned, and tried to count the weeks back. Had it really been that long?
“Think about the time differences and add on the amount of shipping time you’ve had,” Chandra added wryly.
Gavreel quickly added the days and nights together and felt a flush of embarrassment cross his face. Before he could think to say something, Chandra had left the shelter of his arms and was walking over to Michael. She shook hands, and Gavreel knew Michael could feel the connection between the two of them.
Gavreel walked over himself, carefully looking over the stunning young woman. From all accounts it seemed like he hadn’t been the only one falling along the road of love recently.
“I’m Gavreel,” he introduced himself, sticking out his hand, “Michael’s father and sometimes a doddery old vampire who loses track of time and keeps his mind closed to everything except his study.”
The woman smiled, her startling purple eyes warming perceptibly.
“I’m Phoebe. Michael hired me to help guide him here. It just so happened I knew of a, uh, back entrance so to speak.”
Gavreel raised his eyebrows, surprised but intrigued by this young lady.
“I don’t suppose you can return via this ‘back entrance’ of yours, can you?”
Michael laughed. “I had hoped so, but apparently not. Looks like we’re rooming for a few days on the ship home.”
Chandra snorted in laughter, and Gavreel could picture his return home stretching out into infinity. No more sex in the copilot’s seats then, and it would be a squishy hoverski ride back to the port, he concluded sourly.
On the bright side, Gavreel noticed that at least Michael and Phoebe didn’t appear to have any luggage. Thankfully, Chandra had bartered for the larger model, so while they would be uncomfortably close, they would all fit together.
Gavreel sighed.
“I knew I was forgetting something,” Gavreel muttered darkly to no one in particular.
Michael just smiled. “You should have spoken to Simeon earlier, Dad,” he chided gently. Gavreel wondered when his son had become so wise.
“You know how he frets,” Michael seemed to enjoy adding for good measure.
Gavreel just nodded, knowing his middle son well and also aware that his eldest son was correct.
“And I suppose Rylan got trashed at the Desperate and Dateless ball?” Gavreel asked, trying to subtly figure out what date it actually was.
“Nah,” Michael said cheerily, shooting him an amused glance, thoroughly enjoying catching his father up with the family gossip. “Well, not totally trashed. He and Si are getting properly into their heat phases. Both of them completed their Soul’s Circle. Vas, on the other hand, got himself completely and utterly wasted and spent much of the following week feeling like he had died, but that’s a different story entirely.”
Gavreel felt his eyebrows rise.
“All three of you really found your partners?” he asked, incredulous. When Michael merely shrugged, he felt his head spinning slightly.
“Did you find the Rune?” Phoebe asked as she looked about the room. Gavreel glanced at Chandra and decided to be honest.
“We did, but it’s not magical or mystical, or not in the manner many people would understand. It’s the end of one journey, and an indicator of the greater life journey one should be
taking. It’s a talisman, which indicated the ending and subsequent beginning, much like it appears we are all doing—ending one path and beginning down a new one.”
All four of them paused for a moment, recognizing the truth of that statement. All of them had ended certain cycles in their lives over the last few days, and all of them knew they had just set foot on the beginning steps to a new path, a new circle of their life, a new beginning.
Michael acknowledged that Simeon and Clare, Ruthie and Rylan, as well as Vasili and Lea if he knew his old mate well, were all also in the same transitionary phase of their lives, all of them also were in the middle of endings and new beginnings.
“We decided to leave it here for the next set of people to come looking for it,” Chandra added softly, drawing everyone out of their own musings.
Phoebe nodded, a glint of understanding in her purple eyes. Gavreel linked his arm through his new daughter-by-blood, and led them over to where his and Chandra’s packs rested on the floor.
“But what say we head home?” Gavreel asked everyone and no one in particular, “I think we’ve done about all we can here.”
Phoebe laughed, and Gavreel let go of her arm to bend and pick up his pack, swinging it over his shoulders. Chandra bent beside him, picking hers up as well.
They caught each other’s eyes, and smiled at the love and laughter residing there.
Gavreel took Chandra’s hand in his, smiling to see Michael had already taken possession of Phoebe’s.
“Shall we head on out?” Gavreel asked the small group. When everyone nodded, he turned to Chandra, “Well, my love, lead the way.”
Laughing, they headed out the door.
Epilogue
A few years later…
Gavreel enjoyed the sensation of the warm suns upon his face. He felt determined to enjoy the suns’ warmth here and now, as he knew all too soon they would set, and the pale blue moon would rise, indicating his growing family would all head off to their respective homes, and his grandchildren would all be tucked safely into their beds.
He leaned against the sturdy tree, enjoying this rare moment of peace and calm. Lea stood a few paces away from him regaling Alderic, Ruthie, Clare and Michael with an amusing tale of the latest wet crop-shirt competition at Scooper’s. Lea had found herself addicted to the atmosphere of Scooper’s Pub, much as the rest of the gang had, and she frequently spent her spare time down there with them all.
Gavreel couldn’t help chuckling as Lea vibrantly complained about the fact she had only come second this year to some “skanky hobitch” in yellow lace panties who had obviously blown the judges previous to the competition in order to win.
Gavreel snickered at her genuine outrage, but was far more interested in watching his family’s different reactions.
Clare, although he knew she was listening and could jump into the conversation at any time, had her eyes firmly glued to her twin sons, who ran pell-mell throughout the large oval in the recpark they had almost needed to cordon off for their picnic.
Ethan and Zebadiah, who grew more and more like Simeon each day, screamed as they played some twisted form of tag with their cousins and father.
The two little boys were identical—but easy enough to tell apart if one knew how—had straight, dark brown hair, and very dark brown eyes, almost the spitting image of Simeon. Yet where Zeb was cautious, weighing everything inside his genius little mind, Ethan was a roughish charmer, almost scarily like how Rylan had been at that age.
Clare was right to watch her two little boys carefully, Gavreel mused, as between the two of them they caused enough trouble, noise and mess for ten little boys their age.
Ruthie had her back to the children, knowing Rylan watched out for their little Rhian, a young girl who knew precisely what she wanted and how to get it. Gavreel had no doubt at all in his mind that one day the imperious little woman would rule the known galaxy, no question.
Even at barely two years of age she ordered everything—even attempting to organize her cousins, a task doomed to failure, no matter what. At this precise moment she seemed to be generally holding court with the recpark. Rylan stayed close to his little princess, conversing with Vasili, Simeon, Phoebe and Chandra.
Phoebe seemed the least fretful of the lot of them with good reason. She and Michael’s son, Nico, was the most serious and intriguing of the lot of his grandchildren. A wisdom beyond his years, and a thirst for knowledge rivaled by many of Gav’s associates, little Nico was an astonishing young vampire.
Gavreel loved each of his grandchildren, but it was Nico whom he kept on coming back to, wondering what it was exactly that went on in his mind.
He grinned widely, and knelt down to Nico’s level as his young grandson ran toward him, something clenched in his fist.
“Grandpa!” the young man called, “Grandpa, I need your help!” he called out.
Gavreel smiled, loving the name of “Grandpa” more than he had ever thought possible.
“Well, my young Nico, I am always here to help you,” he said soberly, meaning every word he uttered. And he had always been close at hand to help his family, he admitted silently to himself. Since his quest for the Rune, and his spending so much time with Chandra, they had both limited their travels to the strictly necessary. Why would Gavreel want to trail around, following other people’s journeys, when his own here at home was far more fulfilling and rich?
Gavreel chuckled slightly as Nico opened his fist to reveal a slimy stone, caked in a metallic blue fungus of some sort. Obviously the boy had been playing in the lake again. Gavreel kept his face serious.
“What’s its species, Grandpa? I know you know everything, and I need to label this and know its name.”
Gavreel smiled. Nico was almost certainly a young academic in training, though Gavreel would never push the child in one direction or another. All his grandchildren were surrounded by love, by extended family, and had more than enough support. He didn’t care where they turned or what they did, the Montague clan protected and cherished their own, and he only wanted his offspring to be happy.
“Hmm.” Gavreel studied the rock carefully, not wanting to lie, but refusing to not take his grandson’s query seriously. After a moment, he looked into the serious young eyes of his grandson.
“I do believe you have found a species homus, Nico, a homegrown species. It has alae bleuverd on it, that’s the slimy stuff, and all up I believe this will be a remarkable addition to your growing collection of rocks.”
Gavreel smiled back as his grandson beamed at him, truly excited.
“Oh, man,” he said happily, twirling around, “just wait ‘til I tell Mom!”
Gavreel snickered as the youngster ran back to Phoebe, his little legs pumping excitedly. Phoebe would smile graciously and add the rock to the collection, while wincing internally, he felt sure.
Gavreel stood up as Chandra crossed over to him, a large smile on her face.
“You are incorrigible,” she said, a smile in her voice as she shook her finger at him. Gavreel laughed.
“Not so,” he insisted, “the boy wanted to know about the rock, and as he says, I know everything.”
He smiled and felt his soul warm as Chandra gently pressed her lips upon his. Even a few years later, he still hungered for the taste of her mouth on his.
“You happy?” she asked softly, dreamily.
Gavreel nodded. Not a question or doubt in his mind.
“Oh yes,” he said softly. “Looking for that Rune, with or without the pressing of Lea and the Force, even though they grilled us both afterward, finishing the end of my old life and beginning anew with you was so worth it. Look at my children and Vas,” he added, pausing as he watched them all one by one. “Each of them started down a new and exciting path, their lives happier and more fulfilled than I could even have dared hope for. How could I not be happy?”
Gavreel and Chandra both watched the extended family laugh and play in the warm sunshine, the enviable sound of ch
ildren’s squeals and laughter rocking through the recpark, the happy murmur of adults talking, at ease with one another and love singing through the air between them all.
As Lea shouted out, calling to Gav for he and Chandra to umpire an argument that had sprung up over what should be allowed as acceptable bribes in a flashing contest, he caught the laughter in Chandra’s eyes and they headed over to act as benevolent Elders.
Aspects of one’s life might end, but new and bright beginnings were always just around the corner, and Gavreel knew beyond any doubt that fate would have it no other way.
About the Author
Elizabeth Lapthorne is an Aussie girl, born, bred and living in Melbourne, Victoria. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science from Melbourne University and wrote her first story while looking for a job. Two and a half years later, with a Research position in a lovely company and seven published works, Elizabeth is still slightly dazed at how everything fell into place.
She had written a well-received series about the Rutledge Werewolves, and is often amused at fans/reviewers commenting on how “popular” her series is. Very recently she started to tell people about her writing career and even confessed to her parents (though she did chicken out with the explanation of what “Romantica”® is). She still finds it incredibly strange to be able to order paperbacks written by herself, and is shaking with nerves at what the hell she’ll write when finally asked for her first autograph.
Elizabeth is completely addicted to Tim Tams and chocolate, and barely ever goes a day without one or the other. She loves email, is a self confessed bookaholic, and has been known to buy books instead of food for herself, much to the teasing of her brothers and good friends.
She was astonished recently to be asked to do an interview…and spent a long time chewing over her responses. She loves people and adores going out for a girl’s night for nachos and margaritas (unless she’s designated driver, and then she eats chocolate mousse for dessert instead).
Secret Fantasies Page 17