Through my Blood

Chapter XLII: The Good Things

It was time for Remus to leave.

Serana and Sissel both stood at the entry way room to bid him farewell.

"When will you be back?" Sissel asked expectantly, looking almost eager to prevent him from leaving. Serana, more than she cared to admit, was pretty much the same.

"Maybe in three weeks?" Remus answered with a grin as he wrapped himself with his iconic dark red scarf.

Serana's brow twitched. "You said it'll just be for two weeks last night?"

"I said two and a half, mind you." Remus corrected with a smirk. "It's just the worst-case scenario. By the time three weeks is over, I'm already here."

"You promise?" Sissel chimed in with her little pinky held up, "Wrap your pinky with mine so I'd know you're serious!"

Both Remus and Serana shot each other a look before they had different reactions. Serana was quick to avert her gaze pretending to have seen nothing while Remus stifled a laughter.

"Where'd you learn about that?" Remus asked, pointing at the little girl's finger.

Sissel withdrew a little, and Serana caught a glimpse of sadness in her eyes even just for a few seconds. "I learned it from my mom! We always did it and she never, ever broke a promise! So, you should to!"

Remus exchanged looks with Serana again. The vampiress gave him a small smile and a slight gesture of her head, telling him to do it.

The man bent down and entwined his pinky with the little kid's. "Yeah, it's a promise."

Sissel immediately beamed with his response. "You better hurry up!" She lifted her head and gave both adults a confused look.

"Aren't you two going to kiss?" she suddenly asked. Her question had no motive behind it – it's just fueled with pure curiosity.

"W-Wha—Why would we do that?!" Serana stammered in response.

"I mean yesterday he said—" Sissel pointed at Remus as she replied, but she was quickly interrupted by the latter.

"Alright, alright." Remus nonchalantly answered before stepping closer towards Serana.

"What are you doing?" Serana asked, her eyes wide in both confusion and anxiety. Before Serana could react, Remus' lips shortly pressed unto hers.

She heard Sissel's soft giggle in the background as she tried to compose herself.

Serana and Sissel followed Remus to the stables. After donning his hood and mask, he mounted his trusty horse, Shadowmere. He turned his head to face them both – his eyes gleamed, indicating he is smiling underneath it all.

"I'm off."

"Safe travels!" Sissel waved her hand goodbye.

Serana was rather hesitant to say anything but managed to say "Be careful..." under her breath.

The man gave both of them a nod before setting off, Shadowmere speedily galloping eastward.

Serana remained rooted in her place, watching Remus' figure until he became a small dot in the distance. It was rather easy to say that she'd allow him to go alone, but she didn't know her heart would be this heavy once he'd left.

Suddenly, a small voice spoke behind her.

"Are you just going to stand there?" Sissel asked as she stared up at Serana.

"Oh... yeah, no. I'm sorry." Serana still struggled with her words as soon as she's met by the girl's bright emerald-green eyes. "Let's head back inside."