“No, it won't,” I said. “I managed to put all my feelings for her in a locked box in the back of my mind at the hospital. I’m going to do it again now. Will you forgive me for all the things I said to Candace in the cave?” I asked.
“There’s nothing to forgive, you did nothing wrong,” she said.
I held onto to Cathy and closed my eyes. I just wanted to hold onto her and never let go
“You saved my life, you know,” she said. “If you hadn’t healed me I would’ve died or at least suffered a long time until I healed.”
“I couldn't let you die,” I said.
Eventually, I heard a knock on the door. I stood up, opened it, and saw it was Ms. Allen, my landlord.
“Hi Eli, you’re finally back home –where’ve you been?” the old woman asked.
“It’s a long story,” I said.
“By the way, here’s your cat,” she said.
She let Chester of her arms and he ran into the apartment.
“Thank you for watching him,” I said.
“You’re welcome, Eli, but rent is due on Friday,” she said.
I shut the door and sat back down with Cathy. She had Chester in her arms and was petting him.
“So do you really want to live here with me and the cat, once we get married?” I asked.
“Well,” she said. “Maybe for a little while.”
“How about we get something to eat,” I said.
“What do you have in the fridge?” she asked.
“Well, the day I was bitten I ate everything in there,” I said.
“Well we can go out to eat,” she said. “Why don't we go to the restaurant where you used to work?”
“Okay,” I said.
We left the cat some food and water and headed to the restaurant. Walking inside, I could feel her arm wrapped around mine. It felt good to know that for once I wouldn’t be eating alone.
A waitress I barely knew saw us and led us to a table. We were handed menus, and I tried to look at mine, but all I wanted to do was keep staring at Cathy.
The waitress came back and asked if we were ready to place an order. I already knew what they served, so I ordered the seafood platter with extra shrimp and plenty of cocktail sauce. Cathy ordered a lobster platter and a steak.
“Cathy,” I said. “What I’ve wanted more than anything else in this life, for as long as I can remember, is a special woman to love with all my heart who would love me back. Now I have that.”
I looked at her eyes and it seemed as if she was going to cry.
“You are all I need for the rest of my life,” I said. “I don't care where we live, what we do for a living, or what battles we fight. You are enough for me.”
She started to cry.
I saw the restaurant door open and Lizzie and Sarah came in. When they saw us they came over and sat down at our table.
“I thought you were supposed to be at the meeting, Sarah,” I said.
“I made it short,” she said. “I have important news for you.”
“What’s that?” I asked.
“Your future wife-to-be is officially my second in command,” she said. “And since you’re my son, you share my power and authority over this city.”
I thought about her words before speaking.
“I really don't want any power or authority,” I said.
“What do you mean?” she asked.
“I just want to live a quiet, peaceful life with Cathy,” I said.
“There are challenges ahead,” she said. “I will need you.”
“You know that I will always be there for you,” I said.
For the next half hour we talked and ate. Eventually, Ruby and Bobby joined us along with about a dozen other vampires. It turned out to be a celebration. Everyone, including Sarah, was glad that the queen was dead.
Ruby ordered wine for everyone, and we toasted our victory. We ordered and consumed all sorts of drinks, but I couldn’t feel them have any effect on me. When I asked Bobby why not, he said that vampires were resistant to the effects of alcohol.
Danielle was working that night, and Cathy mentioned to her mother that she was a friend of mine. Ruby invited Danielle to join us.
“I'm sorry, but I can’t,” she said. “I have to work.”
“How about you work for me?” Ruby asked her. “I own Mary's on 22 Street and I want you to be my new lead server.”
Danielle looked excited. Mary's on 22 Street was one of the most exclusive restaurants in town.
“How do I know you really own it?” she said.
“Goldie can vouch for me,” she said.
I hated that name.
“Goldie?” said Danielle.
“Oh, I mean Eli,” she said smiling.
Danielle looked at me and tried not to laugh.
“If she says she owns it, she owns it,” I said.
Danielle left briefly, then returned and sat down with us.
“I just quit my job,” she said triumphantly. “So, who are all of you?”
I wanted to tell her the truth very badly, so I looked at Sarah.
“Can I tell her?” I asked.
“You can,” said the new queen.
“Believe it or not, Danielle, we’re actually a bunch of vampires,” I said.
Danielle's eyes narrowed and a look of incredulity crossed her face.
“No seriously, Danielle – I know it’s hard to believe but let me explain,” I said.
I proceeded to tell her the entire story before making her swear to keep it all secret.
“How do I know you’re not making all this up?” Danielle asked when I got the end of the story.
“Cathy, would you show her?” I asked.
“Sure. Come with me, Danielle.”
Cathy stood up and walked her to the ladies room. A moment later, I heard a scream.
The two women came back to the table. Danielle looked rather scared.
“Don't worry,” I said. “We don't bite.”
Chapter 17
Several days later, Cathy and I were in her apartment planning for our wedding.
“You have to make up your mind, Goldie,” she said. “Do you want the wedding at Meg's house or at the beach?”
“I don't know,” I said. “There are pros and cons to each.”
“You better hurry up, because I'm tired of us sleeping in separate rooms,” she said.
“We’re going to have our entire life to sleep together,” I told her. “I want to make sure we do this the right way.”
“Thank you for being such a gentleman,” she said.
Suddenly, the phone rang. It was the new queen, Sarah.
“Hello, Mom,” I said.
“Eli, you and Cathy need to get to the beach house quick. We need to talk,” she said.
“Okay,” I said. “We’ll be there right away.”
We decided to run there. It was faster than driving. It was a bright day and it felt good to push my powers. Before long we were at the beach house. We walked up to the door and I entered. Sarah was sitting at a desk in the living room looking at a scroll.
“Read this,” she said, handing me the roll of parchment.
It was a note from the empress demanding that Sarah and I meet her in Atlanta.
“Why do you think she wants to meet us?” I asked.
“I'm certain it’s a trap,” she said.
“Can we just refuse her?” I asked.
“No,” she said. “If we do, she can easily take the city from me.”
“Then we’ll leave soon,” I said.
“I'm going with you,” Cathy said.
A few hours later, Cathy, Sarah, and I were packing for our trip. We didn’t know what we’d encounter or how long we would be in Atlanta.
“Just promise me one thing,” Cathy asked me.
“What's that?” I asked.
“That if you have to kill the empress, that you won't turn into a little green man from Mars,” she said.
“I promise I won't,” I said. “But you have to promise me one thing, too.”
“What's that?” she asked.
“That you’ll try to get along with my mom when you meet her,” I said.
Table of Contents
© 2013 Zachary Stone. All rights reserved.
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Ascension (Powered) Page 18