IT HAS BEEN A WEEK since we got back from the short trip to Cas’s house, and today is the day we are laying Alex to rest. A day that has been simultaneously anticipated and dreaded.
Raya has been in two minds all week. A part of her is not ready to let him go. She doesn’t want to accept the fact that he is gone and not coming back, meanwhile, the other half of her understands she needs to let him go and move on with her life. Of course she will never forget him and will cherish every moment they shared together, but either way, it isn’t easy saying goodbye, and trying to get on with life almost feels like . . . defeat. In a way.
Paradise Bay. A place I’d never heard of, but one that held a special place in Alex’s heart. I visited his family and compelled them so that they are not fretting, or wondering what has happened to him. Not that they seemed to be in touch, or very close at all. Raya seems to be breathing a little easier either way, knowing they are at peace.
Waves crash into the cliffedge of the cliff I stand on. I peer over the side, down at the jagged rocks below. I shift, making sure the umbrella I’m holding is keeping Raya covered. It is an unusually bright and sunny day. This is what this place is apparently known for – it’s perfect weather year-round. Or so the tourist websites say, anyway.
Alex wanted to be cremated and have his ashes spread over a beautiful place that people can stop by to remember him at. So, that’s what we are doing.
Paradise Bay is a charming, small coastal town with golden-sand beaches and turquoise water that makes me crave to disappear into the water for a while.
‘Farewell, Alex,’ she says softly, gripping the urn like her life depends on it. ‘My best friend. My family. I love you, and I miss you.’ Sniffling, the tears pool her eyes, drowning out the darkness for a moment. ‘I hope you’re happy, wherever you are.’
Chewing on her lower lip, she gazes out at the water, tears streaming down her cheeks. When she grows silent, I look down at the urn.
‘Goodbye, Protettore. Although we may not have gotten along for the most part, I always appreciated you, and what you did for Raya.’ Inhaling, I place a hand on the urn. ‘Rest easy.’
‘Protettore,’ Raya murmurs. ‘What does that mean?’
‘Protector,’ I say, pushing the sleeves of my shirt up to my elbows. ‘He protected you, and was there for you when you needed it most.’
Inhaling sharply, she sobs. Gently, I pry the urn from her hand, kissing her tenderly as I do.
‘Are you ready?’ I ask.
Nodding, she unscrews the lid. We spend the next few minutes silently scattering the ashes. The only sounds are the crashing waves and the birds chirping in the trees. It truly is a beautiful, peaceful place.
The sound of a stick snapping has us both whirling to look behind us. Cora hovers under a tree, seeking its protection from the harsh sun. Raya freezes beside me, and I feel the tension crackle in the air.
‘What are you doing here?’ Raya seethes through clenched teeth, visibly shaking in anger as she glowers at her sister.
Cora is silent for a moment, fiddling with her fingers as she glances at me, before looking back at Raya.
‘I wanted to pay respect . . . to Alex . . .’ she trails off, swallowing, looking pale, and weary. Dark circles line her under eyes, and her expression blank. Considering vampires are meant to have smooth, unblemished skin, she must be feeling extreme exhaustion to look like this. I feel for her. I really do.
‘You are the reason he is dead!’ Raya shrieks, her voice breaking with a sob, and her knees buckle. I swiftly reach for her, managing to keep her upright as I juggle to hold the urn, the umbrella, and her bag all resting on one arm.
‘Easy,’ I murmur, trying to soothe Raya. I can feel her emotions roar inside her, threatening to unleash and detonate all of us. The fierce fury washes over me with such a force that I stagger. An angry scowl mars Raya’s normally kind, relaxed face. ‘She didn’t mean anything by it. You know this, Raya. You’re just overwhelmed.’
‘Don’t tell me how I’m feeling,’ she snaps, her eyes darting to mine for a moment and I jerk back a little in surprise, as if she slapped me in the face. My jaw flexes. The instant regret flashes across her face but she yanks the urn from my hands and stalks away from us, her dark hair billowing behind her in the breeze.
‘At least take this,’ I say, quickly handing her the umbrella, my heart tearing at the agony in her eyes.
‘Thank you,’ she mutters, grabbing it and covering herself.
The urge to go after her fills me so intensely that I take a step toward her, but I force myself to stop, and let her cool off.
It only takes a few seconds for the itch and burn of the direct sunlight to spread across my skin. I hastily step into the shadow of the tree, joining Cora. She stares out at the water, her lips spread into a thin line.
‘I can’t do anything right,’ she says flatly.
Sighing, I drop to the ground and after a moment of hesitation, Cora joins me. Throwing her head back, she rests it against the tree, looking up at the leaves. Drawing her knees to her chest, she flings her arms over her knees.
‘I understand what you’re going through. I really do,’ I say. ‘But she is going through a lot, too. This isn’t easy on either of you.’
‘I’m sorry for what I did to Alex, but it was necessary.’
‘I get it,’ I murmur softly.
‘She doesn’t.’
‘She does. She just feels guilty, and blames herself. It’s going to take time.’
Cora flicks a glance at me as she bangs her head softly back against the tree, chewing her lip. ‘She hates me.’
‘No, she doesn’t.’
‘She does,’ she insists, and this time, her voice cracks. My stomach tightens at the pain and sadness deep in her voice.
None of this should have happened. They didn’t deserve this fate.
‘Cora,’ I say, turning to face her. ‘Raya loves you, she just is trying to work out how to go forward, after everything that has happened. You need to be patient. You may not have known Alex, but he meant a lot to her. He was her family when she had no one. You must understand that this is a serious loss for her, and obviously . . .’ I swallow, and she faces me, eyes red-rimmed as they narrow, waiting for me to continue. ‘She is still mourning the loss of your mother and the loss of you in her life.’
‘I know. I am well aware of what I have done to her. Yet, no matter how much I try to make it better, I only make it worse.’
Deciding not to reply, I look forward, exhaling heavily.
‘It’ll all work out,’ I say eventually.
‘Yeah,’ she mutters, wiping the tears from her cheeks.
When my phone vibrates against my leg, I quickly reach for it, wondering if it is Raya. My insides curl when I read Lucy’s name on the screen. The texts and calls from Theo have died off. I’ve been meaning to reach out to him, to sort things out, but it’s been a pretty crazy time. Guilt stabs at me. I should always make time for him.
After a moment, I answer.
‘Hunter!’ Instantly, I register the fear and panic in Lucy’s voice, and I sit bolt upright in alarm. ‘I need your help.’
‘What’s wrong?’ I ask, clambering to my feet, my heart lurching into my throat at the thought of something happening to Theo. A million thoughts whirl inside my mind, recalling our last conversation, and how we ended things.
‘You need to come back to Red Thorne,’ she says urgently, hardly audible as she cries. ‘Right now.’
‘What’s happened?’ I demand.
‘We need to find him.’ She hiccups, barely getting the words out. ‘They’ve taken Theo,’ she whispers. ‘They’re going to kill him.’