The Light Within Her - Book Nine

Ch. 12- Sunlight In Her Veins

"I have nature, art and poetry. And if that is not enough, what is enough?" –Vincent Van Gogh

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My father's eyes brightened with surprise, his dimples forming as I continued on my story. "So basically, I had the greatest idea to skinny dip in the ocean with the others and once we swam back to shore, our fucking bikinis were stolen and we had to speed our way back to the beach house!"

He tilted his head back and chuckled, then peered at me with the dad look. The one where he was about to tell me to be careful and all that nonsense. Just like old times back in Ambrosia. Here, though, my Father seemed to be more free. Maybe it was the sun that spoke in his very bones like mine did or that he spent the last few days catching up with me, I didn't know. It was amazing to speak with him again. "So not only were you drunk but stoned out of your mind? How did you manage to speed your way under the influence?" he laughed again, shaking his head. Wrinkles formed around his eyes which made me wonder just how long immortality would give him. Better not go on that road right now. "Better yet, how did you convince your human friend what she just saw?"

I rolled my eyes. We both sat on the couch while the sun was shining and waves crashing gently outside, making the breeze enter my house like a soft touch. Emmeline and Rosalind were out shopping for dinner tonight, most likely picking out the most expensive wine at the store. Bea, however, spent most of the day in her room and when I knocked on her door earlier, she said she was sick and needed to rest. I checked on her periodically but she just shooed me away every time and went back to sleep, something I will never understand. Human illness confuses me. "She was drunk out of her mind so she thought it was just the tequila talking. And before you ask, I feel really guilty about it. That's why telling her about what I am cannot happen."

"You love her, don't you?" he asked. "Because if you do, it will only hurt more when she finds out. Imagine down the line when she starts to grow old and you're young as ever. Are you planning on telling her, then?"

He locked eyes with me, waiting for my response. I sighed and grabbed my glass of wine from the table and took a sip, lowering it and facing my father again. "The thing is, Bea would be nothing but supportive for what I am. But there would be questions–stories that I would rather not tell. I mean, seriously, she's living in a house full of the most dangerous creatures in the world and I think a part of her would be terrified if she finds out. She would be scared of me."

My father nodded in understanding, taking a sip of his own wine. He wore a white button up and tan dress pants with white oxfords. His dark brown hair was now wavy from spending time here in the French Riviera, similar to mine. Though, my own was twisted into a braid down my back as I wore a black tank top and shorts, not bothering to wear any kind of shoes. His eyes met mine again as he gave me a soft smile. "Whatever you do, I'm going to support you either way. And the life you created here, it is beautiful and where you're always meant to be. Not only with the people you love, but in the sun and most delicious wine in the world. This place was made for you, Soari."

"Thank you, Dad," I smiled. "Now, you need to tell me something before I make you go on the highest rollercoaster in the world."

His eyebrow raised. "What?"

"Amias and Luc Guinevere?" I questioned loudly. "Your too hot friends that protected you in the past before you met Mom?"

My father grinned. "Those two lived here for years, Sor. How was I supposed to know that my two hot friends would watch out for you since you moved here? We don't exactly text each other on a daily basis."

"Please," I scoffed dramatically. "As if you know how to text!"

He pulled out his cell phone quickly, holding it up for me to see. "I've lived for six hundred years now and this is the most complicated device known to man." My father eyed me again, pointing at me. "And I'm the master of changing the subject, so, which one are you more fond of, hmm? I know Luc is the charming one but Amias is the sensitive one and I know how you like that."