Epilogue #2
“Oh, pipe down, Beth. If he wanted to bite you, he would’ve done so the last time we were here,” Henrietta says, tugging the shard of glass from her hand and reaching for a napkin, wrapping it around the wound.
Once she secures it in place, she rounds on Logan, her fingers pressing into his chest. “And you, you lied to me.”
He snarls at her, and I yank him backwards, putting more space between them, but Henrietta’s not to be deterred, and she steps into his space, poking him again. “I don’t like liars.”
“It’s just as well because I don’t like you either, Little Demon,” he snaps.
“Well, I’m glad we’ve got that cleared up,” she says, weaving past us and heading for Edie, while Elizabeth edges toward the door. Viktor beats her there and quickly removes his shirt to make a sling, offering it to Elizabeth.
“Please, just take this at least.”
She snatches it from him, crying out as she throws it over her head and rests her broken arm in the material. Blood drains from her face, and her knees buckle. Before she can hit the floor, Viktor swoops her up into his arms.
“She’s passed out. I need to lay her down,” he says.
“Take her to the living room. We’ll follow.”
When Elizabeth finally stirs, Henrietta’s fury has cooled, Logan sips blood from his glass, Viktor is watching Elizabeth intently, and Edie rests quietly in my arms.
“Edie?” Elizabeth murmurs, her eyelids fluttering open.
Edie rushes forward, dropping to her knees beside her. “Does it hurt terribly?” she whispers, smoothing a lock of hair off Elizabeth’s face.
“My arm’s broken. Of course it hurts.”
Edie winces. “I’m so sorry.”
“We need to get Elizabeth to a hospital,” Henrietta says, swooping down to grab her purse. “I can drive her.”
“That won’t be necessary. She can have some of my blood. It will heal her,” Viktor offers.
“What?” Elizabeth and Henrietta exclaim in unison.
“Perhaps you should have some of mine instead,” Edie suggests.
“What do you mean, have some of yours?” Elizabeth asks, pushing upright. She sways a little, her eyes pressing shut, and Edie takes a seat next to her, wrapping her arm around Elizabeth’s shoulders.
“A vampire’s blood has incredible healing properties,” Viktor explains.
“Okay, but what has this got to do with Edie?” she asks, rounding on her. “You said I could have some of your blood.”
Edie heaves out a sigh, then she opens her mouth and lets her fangs fall.
Henrietta’s eyes widen. “Jesus-fucking-christ.”
“No,” Elizabeth whispers, her shock rendering her speechless for a moment before she snaps her head to me, her eyes narrowing with disgust. “You did this to her? How could you?”
“No, he didn’t. I did this. I chose this,” Edie quickly says.
“You chose to be a vampire. Why?” Her voice trails off, and she shakes her head in disbelief. “I can’t even believe this is real. How is this real?”
“Believe me, I know it’s a lot to take in. Will you let me explain? Please, Beth. I love you. I won’t hurt you, and neither will Viktor. He’s a good man. He was a doctor. He saved people’s lives.”
“And what about them?” Elizabeth snaps, glaring at Logan and me.
“I don’t believe Logan will hurt you,” she replies, giving him a soft smile that makes my gut knot with jealousy. “And Dorian, he’s the man I love. He won’t hurt you, not ever.”
“He’s a vampire,” she accuses.
“He’s that too. His blood brought me back to life.”
“What do you mean, he brought you back to life?”
Edie reaches up and cups Elizabeth’s face. “Because I died,” she whispers.
Elizabeth’s expression crumples, and her shoulders drop. “You died?”
“Yes.”
“Oh, Edie...” Elizabeth’s lips wobble, and a tear drips from her lashes, slicing down her cheek. “How? What happened?”
“Heal first, then I’ll tell you everything. All of it,” Edie replies, before nicking her finger with her fang.
“I can’t drink your blood. That’s not normal.” She shakes her head, eyes wide with horror.
“Beth, nothing about this is normal. Just drink her blood,” Henrietta says, flopping into the seat next to Viktor before reaching over and downing the glass of wine she’d carried in with her earlier. She eyes Edie, then says, “Wait, does this mean you’re no longer perimenopausal?”
“I’m not human anymore, Henrietta,” Edie points out.
“Well, damn.” She cocks her head, a mischievous grin spreading across her face. “If that’s what comes with the fangs, sign me up.”
“How can you be so calm about all of this, Henrietta? Your best friend, my sister, is a vampire.”
“I won’t hurt you,” Edie says. “I’d never hurt you.”
“See, all good,” Henrietta says with a shrug.
“You can’t seriously be okay with this—”
“I don’t know about anyone else, but I’m done with this drama tonight,” Logan interrupts. “If I were still human, I’m sure I’d have a fucking headache by now. So, if you’re not going to take Edie’s blood, take mine.”
Henrietta opens her mouth to speak, then slams her mouth shut and folds her arms across her chest when Logan shoots her a glare.
“I’m pretty certain Henrietta will throw a hissy fit if I do that,” Elizabeth says.
“I would not,” Henrietta argues. “He can do what he wants. I don’t care.”
“Suit yourself,” Logan replies with a shrug.
“You’re welcome to mine,” I offer, but Elizabeth shakes her head.
“No. Absolutely not. I still haven’t forgiven you yet.”
“Then that leaves only me,” Viktor says, shifting onto his knees in front of her. He pierces his finger with his fang, a droplet forming on his skin, offering it to her.
“I don’t know. This is… gross. I can’t just drink your blood.”
“I understand.” Viktor moves to stand, but Elizabeth grips his arm.
“Wait. Will I become one of you?” she whispers. “I can’t... I won’t... My daughter.”
“No, that can only happen if you drink a vampire’s blood on the verge of death. A small amount will be enough to heal a broken arm, but if you’d prefer, I will accompany you and Henrietta to the hospital and ensure you receive the appropriate care. Dawn won’t rise for hours yet,” Viktor offers.
“If I go to the hospital, I’ll need a cast. Nina will ask what happened, and I don’t want to lie to her, but how can I possibly tell her the truth? She’ll be terrified.”
“Then take my blood. Your daughter need not know any of this until you are ready to tell her.”
Elizabeth and Viktor exchange a look, and for a moment, I think she’ll deny him. Instead, she takes Viktor’s hand, then slowly draws his finger into her mouth. Viktor shudders, and Elizabeth’s eyelids drift shut, humming around the taste of his blood, which is as potent as our saliva.
“Talk about erotic,” Henrietta says, her smile dropping when Logan bares his teeth at her. “Oh, back off, Satan. Don’t go being all territorial now. You’ve made your feelings perfectly clear.”
Elizabeth’s eyes snap open, and she shoves Viktor’s hand away, her cheeks and neck colouring a deep pink.
“Are you okay?” Viktor asks.
Gingerly, Elizabeth slips her arm from the sling, bending and flexing it. Surprise flickers in her eyes. “It doesn’t hurt anymore.”
“That’s good.” Viktor rises to his feet and sits down on the sofa on the opposite side of the room. He seems troubled, but I don’t ask him why.
“Are you ready to hear our story?” Edie asks, reaching for her sister’s hands and cupping them in hers.
“No, but tell me anyway,” Elizabeth replies.
By the time Edie finishes her story, an hour has vanished. Silence settles over us as Elizabeth stares at her, stunned. Then, suddenly, she throws her arms around Edie, clutching her tight. “I’m scared, Edie. Everything’s changed.”
“I’m still your sister. I’m still me.”
“Except you’re not. You’ll never grow old... You’ll watch us... You died, Edie...” A sob snags in Elizabeth’s throat, and I notice Viktor turning away from her sorrow, his face shadowed with pity.
“Let’s not think about that just yet, okay? ” Edie says, stroking her hair.
“What about Nina? She’ll want to know why you can’t spend time with her in daylight. She’ll ask questions, and I won’t be able to give her any answers.”
“We’ll figure this out together. You’re my family. That hasn’t changed,” Edie reassures her.
“And are they your family, too?” Elizabeth asks, looking between us.
“We are,” I say. “Edie is the love of my life, and whoever she loves, I love too. So that makes you, Nina and Henrietta, our family. You don’t need to worry about the rest of my clan. They won’t hurt you.”
“And what about that creature, the Upyr?” Elizabeth asks, shuddering.
“It’s been over a century since I’ve heard of a sighting. It’s no threat to you,” I say, not knowing in a few short months I’d be eating my words.
The End.