The Caged Bird

41. The Next Life

Summertime had settled on the territory, filling the air with the smell of honeysuckle and the song of insects. The air was heavy and humid but evening rain refreshed the rolling meadows and plowed fields. As dusk began to fade into night Lark appeared in the courtyard of the castle where she had first entered as a pet of the harem. The landscape was familiar and comforting. She walked through Ariane's flower beds and to the bench where she had sat with Madame Fawst over a year ago for her first lesson. She could still remember those early days when she felt trapped by the stone walls surrounding her. Now this place felt more like her home. But everything was different.

When her human life ended August had given her a second life. He turned her into one of his own kind so that she could experience the life of their son, who they had named Wren. Without his interference she would now be buried in the earth of this courtyard where only her memory would sustain the connection she had with Wren. Now that she had become a vampire her position was assured. The rival lords were satiated. Life could continue as it had before. Sara and Bernard were soon to be married and had retired from the castle to live a peaceful life. Lark had insisted on evicting Sara's brother from their parents' land and planned to return it to Sara and Bernard as a wedding present. As expected, Wren was growing quickly. He was developing quickly, much faster than a human child. At only six months old he could already be considered a toddler. Within ten years he would be fully mature. It was a difficult balance to keep up with his maturing body. His mind grew just as quickly and his curiosity was endless. But he still spoke very little. William assured Lark and August that this was to be expected. He had been the same at this age. His mind and body did not seem to catch up to one another until he was nearly ten years old.

Lark was adjusting with relative ease to her new life. She had finally achieved the freedom she had always craved. As much as she missed the warm caress of the sun and the soft summer sunrises of her human existence, she cherished the time she now spent in the dark. Wren and August had filled her with a sense of peace and belonging that made her feel complete at last. She regretted nothing about the steps she had taken to come to this point. Even sparing Vayn's life. She had been able to push Vayn's limp body away from her before feeding past the point of no return when she attacked her in the mountain estate. It had taken more restraint than had ever imagined not to consume her entirely. The rush of fresh blood into her body had been one of the most incredible sensations she had ever experienced. She now fed from willing donors among the castle staff. It was a much less distressing arrangement. Though Lark had developed the typical bloodlust and ferocity of all new vampires, the easy availability of blood had allowed her to remain more docile and in control. August had gently coached her through the side effects of her transformation and supported her moody behavior and quick temper following the change. She felt more grateful than ever for his love and empathy.

As she floated dreamily through the courtyard, her body moving with a vampire's grace, she heard King call out from overhead. It had been months since she had seen him. She called back with a sharp whistle that coaxed the raven from the sky to land on her shoulder. She leaned her head against him playfully as he picked at the hem of her dress with his beak. His wife and chicks cried out from a nearby tree and he called back stubbornly, not wanting to leave Lark's side. She ruffled his feathers fondly and he took off, carving an arc through the starry sky and back to the tree where he roosted most often. But after a moment he returned, a glittering gift held in his beak. He flew low overhead and dropped into Lark's palm before returning home for the night. She waved goodnight to him and held the gift up to see it in the dark. In the center of her palm was a small locket. The chain was missing but the intricate circular pendant was intact. Lark could see it required a key to open it. She rushed inside, hurrying down the long dark corridors of the castle to the room she shared with August and Wren. She retrieved a small box from the top shelf of her vanity and opened it carefully to reveal all of King's previous gifts to her. Among the small stones, feathers, and pieces of discarded jewelry was nestled a small silver key.

Lark was delighted to find that the small key and locket complimented one another perfectly. When Lark pushed the key into the locket and turned it sprang open easily. Her curiosity surged as she gently pulled the two halves apart to reveal what was inside. Inside was a tiny piece of delicate embroidery. A miniature bird with spread wings sat nestled in the beautiful golden frame. And beside it was a name. Ora.

Lark smiled, thinking of the many birds she had stitched while living within the confines of the castle. Perhaps there was a reason August had chosen her. She wondered if Ora had also longed for the freedom that Lark had always sought. She had never had the chance to realize her dream but Lark knew that Ora would have loved her child fiercely. August had still not recovered fully from the loss. Even with Wren at his side Lark knew he sometimes lost himself in memories of his past and the child he was never able to meet. Lark felt a sense of responsibility to ensure Ora's life was not in vain. She would help August heal and build a better future for the humans of their territory. It was her duty.

She ran a fingertip carefully over the tiny stitches hidden in the locket. Her new life had begun. And this time she did not want to run. She wanted to fight.