Forrest took Penelope for a long walk, holding her tiny hand inside his massive one. Things weren’t how he had remembered them, but he understood that he was no longer a child. He had matured, and he had also darkened with time. Whatever optimism he had known as a child had died.
But all it took to rekindle his love for Penelope was simply looking into her sparkling eyes. Her bashful smile brought a smile to his otherwise grumpy-looking face.
She continued to ask details of what had occurred during his life after they had parted ways, but he couldn’t force himself to share the things that haunted him the most. Of course none of those had haunted him like his fear of never knowing what had happened to her. None that he had found her, he didn’t want spoil the newness of their friendship or hopeful relationship by miring her mind with hundreds of vampire kills.
He’d rather spend the time explaining the changes in technology, which for quite some time he had found necessary, especially when large jets passed overhead or loud sirens blared in the distance, or the cellphones people had pressed to their heads. She acted like an innocent child and in some ways she was, which was why he didn’t want to rush things.
Finally, standing on the dock while watching the white-crested waves on the bay, he turned her toward him. Her sparkling eyes stared into his and she scrunched her nose in the cute way he had remembered from long ago. For several moments he feared this was a dream, that he’d awaken to find her gone, and his heart ached. He leaned down and kissed her. At first he thought she’d turn away, but she didn’t. She kissed him more passionately than he’d ever been kissed before.
When their kiss ended, he lifted her up and wrapped his massive arms around her in a fierce hug, whispering into her ear. “I love you. My world was so empty without you.”
Penelope didn’t reply. She simply kissed his cheek and wrapped her arms tightly around his neck.
People had a way of fading from one’s life at times. He thought about Lydia and how she had come to help and vanished once the task was completed. He didn’t know that he’d see her again. If he did, he wanted to offer his thanks, but he had a feeling that seeing her meant trouble was not far off. So perhaps, he’d be more pleased if he never got the chance to thank her.
Kailey rode in the passenger seat of the patrol car while Brady drove. “That was all you had found? Micah had left a note on the box?”
Brady nodded. “Yep. Said he’d be seeing me sometime in the near future and to be ready.”
“I never took him to be the violent type,” Kailey said, staring out the window.
“He never really was. He was always too passive.”
“Then what has changed?”
“Your guess is as good as mine. The best thing is that we no longer need to worry about Flora and Raven.”
Kailey nodded. “Yes. I am thankful for that.”
She looked out the window. For the first time in a few months she felt at ease. She didn’t need to watch over her shoulder, wondering when the next attack might come.
After Kailey had staked Raven, she worried that she’d be burdened by remorse, but she had no regrets. She had already accepted that Raven had lost her soul. She wasn’t the person she had lived with. A ruthless monster had replaced Raven and killing her was the best thing for society. She did occasionally recall Raven before she had been turned and some of the places they had visited while in Boston. The scariest part was not having known how Raven really was. But now she never had to worry about Raven. She was gone.
But she wondered what new monsters might emerge in Seattle, and what dangers she’d find herself in as she dug for facts to write about in her blog.
Regardless of whatever strange things she uncovered, she knew she had Brady to love her cares away.
Giving her heart to Brady placed her into a fragile situation, because most of the people she had treasured the most died. And with Micah’s solemn threat that vengeance was coming, she had new problems to fear. She could hope for a peaceful resolution, but she knew that was impossible. Werewolf packs were almost as territorial as rival gangs.
Brady had crossed the line that made Micah his mortal enemy. So now, instead of looking over her shoulder for Raven and Flora, she and Brady were waiting for Micah’s wrath to be unleashed. Until Micah or Brady was dead, this battle wasn’t over. The situation was almost like hers with Raven—friends that had become enemies. Kailey thought it strange how those who did their best to not look for trouble tended to be the ones who found themselves buried up to their necks with misfortune.
When there were no floodgates, nothing prevented or stopped the coming destruction. Death was coming and the casualties would be many.
The End