Chapter 32
Relief
“I’m so glad you are alright, Danika Don’t you ever do that to us again, young lady!” Florence throws her arms around our youngest member.
“I’m so sorry, Mother Florence. I wasn’t thinking straight,” Danika says with remorse.
Walking toward Danika, I open up, “I know you’re new to this family, but we care about our members very much. I’m sorry for always being so hard on you. I’m just taking my fears out on you. I’m sorry I was so mad at you tonight. I’m going to try to let go of the anger and show you I care.”
“Thank you, Sophia. That means so much coming from you. I’ll try to make you proud.”
I notice her bite her lip at the end of that sentence. I have to wonder if that is earnestness or guilt. It doesn’t matter, as long as she understands that the family was worried about her.
Everyone takes their turns informing Danika of how we feel about her and what our family means to each of us. She sits in front of each of us, and I can see her pain. She has only been a vampire for about a year and a half now, and in this time a new vampire goes through all the emotions of a person diagnosed with a terminal disease. Being that she is also a teenager, she is bound to act like one.
Florence brings in some blood tea infused with a little rum. “We had a little scare tonight, and I think a little relaxation is in order. Everyone needs to let go of these emotions we are having.”
“Each and every one of us is so lucky to have you in our existence, Florence. Thank you for everything you do.” Elijah leans in and kisses his wife.
We nod in agreement and enjoy our tea.
“I think it is time we turn in for a little rest,” Florence encourages.
S S S
I decide to go upstairs and clean up a bit. I take a shower and get into my most comfortable pajamas. I turn on my stereo and lie down on the bed, trying to relax and enjoy the music. It’s classical tonight. I don’t need much sleep, but tonight I’m mentally exhausted. As I lie there in bed, I begin to picture the music, the notes dancing across the bars. It is beautiful to imagine the music coming alive like this. Music is an amazing thing, from the first note to the final melody. Until I met Nathanial, the arts were my one true passion. It has always been consistent and has always been there for me to turn to. I slowly relax and enter a deep meditative state, drifting off to sleep with the hope of seeing Nathanial in my dreams.
“Nathanial, NO! Please! I beg you...don’t ever be like us. I want you to experience everything I never could,” I plead.
“I want to be with you forever, Sophia, and this is the only way. I’ll find someone to turn me. We’ll be happy and will always have each other,” he argues.
“I’ll leave before I ever let you be Embraced,” I threaten.
“I’ll never let anything tear us apart, my love. I will love you forever and always. Even if you leave, I’ll find a way to Embrace and walk the Earth searching for you. This is what I want and nothing more. How could I ever miss out on anything if I have you?”
“How can you do this to your family? To lose you would destroy your mother.”
“My family would understand and support my choice.”
I awake and sit up in bed, wondering if what I just dreamt could possibly happen. I don’t want this for him. Being a vampire has it perks, but it is treacherous never growing or changing, cursed to walk the Earth forever. He won’t do it. Nathanial would never do that to his family. I calm myself from the dream and drift back to sleep. As fast as I fall back asleep, the dream is forgotten.
Immortal Embrace Page 32