Reckless

Chapter 16 Part 8

Present Day

Character POV: Roxanne

"Now what?" Zahra asks from behind me, drawing my attention back away from the joyous display of the vampires. When I look at her and behind her, I see the neat lines of the witches, all of them looking at me as if they're waiting for their next order. It occurs to me then with a horrible clang that they actually are. I brought them back, gave them their powers back, and ended the war against the vampires. Their life missions are fulfilled now, and they are looking to me for direction.

I drag my gaze back to Zahra, to her fierce golden eyes and determined set of her jaw. She quirks her head to one side, arms crossing over her frame, as she waits for me to answer her question. When I look at her, I see the wisdom in her gaze, the steadiness that lurks there that I lack. I have no reservations as I tell her, leaning into Ariadne's embrace as she wraps an arm around my waist, "You were here before Drusilla, before the war with the vampires consumed all of the witches and our resources. You know what life was like for witches before, when they were able to make their own choices and have their own lives with families." She nods a single time in confirmation, but taps her foot impatiently on the ground, a clear gesture for me to get on with the point. "You knew all of these people before I did," I add, gesturing with a sweep of my hand to the witches assembled behind her. "You cared for them. So, I think that it's only right that you lead them."

Zahra's slow blink betrays her disbelief at the suggestion. She opens her mouth to say something, but Nitocris cuts her off. The other Egyptian witch is examining her nails as she says slowly, "The girl is right. And I didn't fight this battle, planning for it for centuries, just to go back to doing things the way that Drusilla did them. And, no offense," she adds, dragging her darker golden gaze to look at me, "but I didn't come back from the dead to follow an infant."

Her words take a long time to sink in because I've been alive for milleniums now, but then it hits me that I am nothing to her. She's from around 2148 BC if Herodotus is to be believed. Zahra is from around 3099 BC. Little ol' me and Ariadne are from around 48 AD. They're solidly two or three thousand years older than us. They have life experience that I lack, which is why I am choosing to hand over the leadership of the witches to someone who has seen all of the challenges faced by them since the beginning of time.

Zahra looks between her countrywoman and myself for a long moment, and then she shrugs and says, "I've done everything else these long centuries. Maybe having an actual job would be a nice change." She drags her golden gaze back to mine as she tells me with a very small smile gracing her lips, "I'll take over from here, Aoibhe. You've earned your rest after trying to keep the peace for centuries. Enjoy your retirement."

Some weight that had been on my shoulders since Ariadne told me the prophecy lifts from my shoulders. For the first time since I took Drusilla up on her deal, I feel like I can breathe. I feel like I am filled with light. In the warm rays of the sun that play on my cheek, I can feel the smiling presence of my sister in the other world. Somewhere, I know Boudicca is happy that I am free from Drusilla, that one of us won our battle against Drusilla and Romans. I lean into the sun for a moment, as if trying to convey to my sister, wherever she is, that I am thankful for everything she set into motion, for her example of keeping fighting no matter what, and for her forgiveness for going with Drusilla and her sending Ariadne to me.

Ariadne releases her hold on me, and I watch as she walks with that sway to her hips towards Zebulun. He stands a little taller as his leader approaches, his dark eyes fixed on her face. She smiles at him, something I'm sure he hasn't seen in genuine, and tells him, "Don't think I haven't noticed everything you've been doing with the vampires behind my back." He arches a brow at her, not sure where this is going as she lays a hand on his shoulder and says, "You've kept them going. And now that they're all sane individuals gifted with immortality, there's no excuses for bad behavior. They don't need a hedonist like me spoiling Aoibhe's gift to them. What they need is you. And what you deserve, Zebulun, is the space to become your own person."

"Serving and helping you has been the honor of my life," he replies roughly, reaching up and giving her hand a squeeze. "You've been my oldest friend, even if you've driven me mad sometimes. And you have earned this rest, the chance to be with the woman you love and have loved your whole life."

Ariadne pats his shoulder gently, stepping away from him. She glances behind him to where Sita is standing and says to her, "Make sure he doesn't take everything so seriously. If it gets too boring, I'm sure the vampires will riot. I set such an exciting tone, you know." She laughs, the sound rough and almost unhinged, but not actually unhinged like it used to be before the spell.

Sita smiles back at her, giving her a mock salute, and Ariadne just flashes her the middle finger which sends Sita into a giggle that has her doubling over. Ariadne looks back over at me, and that just leaves one more person. I glance over at my niece and say in a shaky tone as I reach out to her, "Locrina, do you want to come with us? You've been without your family for so long, now is a chance for us to bond without any pressure on any of us to act a certain way." My voice shakes as I ask her this, offering to be there for her when I couldn't be when it counted.

Her blue eyes flash, but she takes a step back away from me as she says with a small smile, "The bright side of eternity is time. Now that Drusilla is dead, I get to travel the world. I get to experience things on my own for the first time that most adults have been able to do. I want to explore, and you deserve some time with Ariadne without me hanging around." I feel a little deflated, and it must have shown on my face because she suddenly pulls me into a tight hug as she says, "One day soon, maybe you can show me around the globe."

I nod, pulling back away from her then. I press a kiss to the top of her head, pulling back away from her. I glance over the assembled witches and vampires, watching as those with less ties to Ariadne and myself pull back and step away. For a moment, I just stay here, absorbing every sight and sound, disbelieving that I have actually lived long enough to be free.

Slowly, I step back to Ariadne. I feel her hand entwine with mine, and I let her lead me away from the others. I wave back at them, watching as Zebulun raises a hand to me in farewell, as Sita blows a kiss in my direction. I keep it frozen in my mind, replacing as best I can the images of them about to die with this image of them so vibrantly alive. In this moment, everything is good, and it's about to get better.