Bitter Revenge

Chapter 37

(Stella King's POV)

I stared at the obvious couple, snickering which broke them out of their trance. The ache in my chest felt soothed by the people around me, I felt a familial warmth from each of them. "What are you guys looking at?" Scarlet spoke up, raising an eyebrow at us in an almost challenge. "You two have some clear history. So what is your guys' story? Mates, exes, hooked up, like each other but haven't said anything about it?" Cristina spoke up, seeing as she was probably the boldest of us all. Emma blushed and looked at her feet, still half turned to us. While Scarlet stared down Cristina for a minute or two, before sighing and looking at Emma. "If we don't speak up, Cristina will bug me all day about it. Thoughts?"

Scarlet had always struck me as the rather feminine, girlboss type of gal. But since Emma entered the room, she's maintained a rather carefree and almost masculine energy to her– which I found adorable. "I guess I don't mind." Emma muttered, sitting down on a chair next to Scarlet that was on the wall opposite to Fiona's bed and the rest of us. "Well, it's nothing special. I've only known Emma for about 30 years– before she was even a vampire. I'd know, I turned her." We all gasped, totally enthralled in the story now, all of us leaning forward to hear the tale.

"Emma used to live down in Florida, when I met her she was just a burnt out college student. At the time, I worked at a café right next to her university and I'd frequently see a bunch of those Uni kids. It was also convenient because Fiona had been sticking her nose in the area's business during that time so it allowed me to keep an eye on her. Emma often visited the café, to study and junk like that. I never spoke to her though, but I saw her so often that I knew her order by heart. It wasn't until this one day-" Scarlet now smiled, reminiscing in the story while Emma laid her cheek on her hand as she watched Scarlet tell their story. "She walked in and I had her order ready, and then she frantically tried to find her wallet only to realize she'd left it in her dorm. So I paid for her and she felt terrible, so she told me she'd make it up to me. A week– and a bit of chatting– later, after my shift was over, I found this note taped to one of the outside tables that said, 'Dorm room B302. Sunday 2pm sharp. And don't even try bailing on me because I know you don't work Sundays. I'll be waiting. -Mkin.'"

Emma giggled at what I assumed was a perfect retelling of the note. I couldn't wipe the goofy grin on my face, they both looked so happy. Their story was like a fairy tale you wouldn't find in the kids section. "So, Sunday rolled around and I dressed up, picked her up, and we went out. That same day I realized she was my mate, but the fact that she was human freaked me out. Humans don't live very long in comparison to vampires, so I did get scared. A couple days later, I searched the area for Fiona but she'd left– presumably to hunt closer to Devil's Corner which was a tiny bit farther up from where I worked, so I had to make my exit and fast to find her trail. But that also meant I had to leave my mate behind, which was a very difficult decision but in the end I knew Fiona was my responsibility so I left.

Without each other's contact info, I continued doing my job while keeping an eye out in case I ever did find Emma again. A couple years passed and I worked at Devil's Corner by then, Fiona did too actually– I later found out she'd been working there for a long time. Cristina knew I was a vampire but I asked her to keep it a secret for me hoping to keep an especially close eye on Fiona. One night, there was a huge accident in the club and 2 people ended up seriously hurt. Paramedics arrived on scene and, by some stroke of luck, Emma was one of the paramedics. I don't know if you remember that night Cris but I left with the ambulance." Scarlet looked up and Cristina just chuckled softly, nodding to confirm she remembered this.

"After finding Emma again, she had graduated and became a paramedic. She was... 28 at the time I believe. Since then we hung out, and after some time I told her about the supernatural world and her being my mate. Within a month, she had asked me to turn her. I did and then flew her out here to meet Queen Valerie. And then, turns out that the Queen had a feeling that Emma would be useful around the Estate. So Emma eventually decided she wanted to stay here, which caused a small argument between us because I needed to get back to Miami. We eventually agreed that she would stay here and I'd go back to Devil's Corner until I solved my problem. She would visit every now and then, sometimes she'd stay for a couple days and other times for weeks. And then, a certain red-head waltzed into Devil's Corner one day and flipped our lives upside down. In a good way of course." I smiled awkwardly as a blush crept up my cheeks.

Their story was beautiful, and I was really shocked to discover Scarlet's dedication to her responsibility as Fiona's protector. I wondered if I'd ever tell anyone about Fiona and I's story, I wonder how it'll unfold. We haven't had the most romantic story, it was mostly filled with a slow-burn to trust, then lots of conflict, and then there was our kiss. I blushed at the memory, remembering how gentle it was... and later on how gentle it wasn't before Queen Valerie intervened. I looked at Fiona and remembered all the time I've spent with her. Please heal quickly, I want to spend time with you. "You really like her, don't you?" I looked up to see Scarlet smiling at me, waiting for a response.

"I think I do. But I'm also worried. I haven't known Fiona that long, and for everything that has happened during that time... After what my aunt did to her..." I worry she won't want to be with me anymore. "Yeah you're right, you haven't known her all that long. But be real, love comes in all shapes, sizes, times, and sexualities. Just because these two lovebirds have spent 30 years developing their relationship, doesn't mean your relationship has to follow the same standards. I've never seen Fiona so... alive before. She smiled and joked and worked, but I could tell there was always something eating her up inside. But when I saw her after the whole 'almost got burned alive' thing; she was frustrated, scared, determined, worried... but happy.

"I could see it in the way she walked. She didn't drag her feet like she was holding the weight of the world on her shoulders, she seemed light as a feather. You caused that, and you should be happy about it." Cristina encouraged, reaching her hand out to slick Fiona's hair back like a mother. "She's right, you know? I've known her since she had blonde hair, and even then she was never interested in romance. Her whole world was her sister, and when she died well... so did Fiona. She closed her heart completely, only allowing those two-" Scarlet jutted her chin to indicate Grayson and Cristina- "close to her. But you? Don't think I didn't notice that her first reaction to iron being thrown at her was to protect you. I saw that. She'll happily be your mate, don't jump to conclusions so quickly Red."

They're right, who am I kidding? I'm talking about the girl who flung herself at a man who assaulted me before thinking twice, about the girl who joked about being burned alive to try and make me feel better, the girl who protected me when burning iron was coming in her direction, ...the girl I want as my mate.