His Moon

VIII

Selene watched as the monster spit out acid and she created a barrier around them. Alucard glanced at her before launching an onslaught of attacks on the monster. Selene kept the barrier up, deflecting acid from the monster. Greta looked at her gratefully.

Alucard successfully killed the monster and he went back to them.

"Are you alright?" Selene asked him and he nodded. He offered her his hand with a smile. She hesitated but took it.

Selene looked at her hand in Adrian's hand. He held her hand tightly, refusing to let her go.

Selene laughed as Greta insulted the castle.

"It's ugly." Greta commented bluntly and Selene laughed. "And it's sad. And it's cold. Bad things have happened here."

"That's my childhood home you're talking about." Alucard replied unamused.

"Well that explains a lot. Sorry." Greta continued and Alucard turned to the laughing dhampir. "Some places just bring a chill to them."

"It's also your childhood home, you know, Selene." Alucard commented which made Greta smile at the female dhampir. Selene felt an arm wrap around her waist and she looked up at the man she loved, her laughter gone.

"I'm aware, Adrian. It doesn't make it any less funnier." Selene replied, turning her gaze to the castle she used to call home.

"Maybe my people and I can warm it up a little." Greta commented which made Selene smile softly.

Selene got out of Adrian's hold and went to Greta, taking her hand. Selene ignored Saint Germain's rumbling and she led Greta to the castle as Adrian bowed and welcomed them. Selene let go of Greta's hand and smiled at the woman, encouraging her to go ahead.

Selene walked back to Adrian who was staring at her intently.

"So? You're going to beg, huh?" Selene asked him with a smile as he stood up straight. He faced her and looked down at her.

"If I have to." He told her honestly.

"You do." Selene replied and Adrian wrapped his arms around her.

"Welcome home, my love." He whispered. "I will beg if you want me to beg. I will do anything for your forgiveness."

"Maybe a bath first." Selene teased. "You smell depressing. Come." She got out of his embrace and took his hand.

They walked by Greta who gave the two a knowing smile. "Have fun you two!"

"Make yourselves at home, Greta!" Selene replied laughing as the male dhampir followed her like an excited puppy.

Selene led him to the bathroom and told him to strip and get into the tub. She used her magic to summon water and a fire to warm the tub. She went through the cabinets and got some soap and shampoo.

Adrian followed obediently and watched Selene go beside the tub. She poured some shampoo onto her hands and lathered it before she started cleaning his golden hair. Adrian sighed in content, loving how her fingers felt going through his hair and massaging his scalp.

"Do you wish to join me?" He asked hopefully as she cleaned his hair.

"After you answer my questions." Selene replied and he frowned but nodded.

"What happened?"

Adrian knew that she was asking about the twins who had seduced and betrayed them.

"I was at my lowest. I was already contemplating if I still wanted to live since it felt like I had lost everyone I loved. At the time, I thought I had already lost you long ago. I was incredibly lonely and the foreign twins sought my help." Adrian said as he looked down. "I found purpose, teaching them and helping them. And one night, they entered my bedchamber."

Selene inhaled sharply but didn't say anything. Adrian hesitated.

"They came onto me, and then they attempted to kill me." He said and exhaled. He felt like a thorn was removed from his heart. "When you returned, I forgot about them, the pain they brought me, their betrayal because I was too happy that you had come back to me, that you're alive. When you told me how you've kept your promise to me, that you had stayed faithful to me after everything, I realized what a horrible mistake I made for letting them come to me and giving in to them."

"Adrian."

"I'm sorry, Selene." He said as he turned to face her. "I know that I betrayed your trust. But I will do anything to prove to you that you're the only one I love."

Selene sighed and she took the soap and started to clean his body.

"I love you, my moon." Adrian whispered which made Selene's eyes widen and tears started to form. She cursed her heart for reacting so wildly to his words. Adrian has always called her his moon. The first time he had told her he loved her, he had called her his moon.

Adrian gazed at the beautiful woman with love and longing. He hated seeing her cry and knowing it was his fault even when they were children.

"I will make it up to you, I promise." He whispered as he placed a hand on her face.

Selene looked at him and nodded. She gave him a small smile. Adrian was surprised when she started to remove her clothing and she went into the bathtub.

He didn't waste his time as he got the shampoo and started massaging it into her hair. They didn't talk, they just quietly took care of each other.

After their bath, Adrian helped her get dressed. He had found that her old room in the castle was left untouched. He had taken some of her old clothes for her to wear.

"You look beautiful." He told her as she brushed her hair.

"You always tell me that." Selene replied with a smile.

"Because it's true." Adrian replied walking to where she sat. He got on his knees and Selene looked at him. "I want to be with you. I want to be the one who wakes up to you. I want to be the one who sees your smile the most. I want to be the one who will wipe your tears away. I want to be the one who will spend eternity with you." He took out the ring she used to wear out of his pocket. "I only wish that you would want the same thing as me." Selene gave her left hand to him and he gently slipped on the ring on her hand. His eyes watered and he placed a tender kiss on her hand.

"I have forgiven you, Adrian." Selene replied with a soft smile. "Even before I knew it for myself. And I want everything you wanted."

Adrian's eyes widened and he wrapped his arms around her. She returned it tightly and placed her lips on his. She felt him smile into the kiss. Selene pulled away and smiled at him.

"Can we go to our ledge?" She asked and he nodded.

They sat above, watching the humans going about their day.

"I missed this." Selene replied, looking up at the sky. "I missed you." She looked at Adrian who looked at her with a soft gaze. "For years I wished everything was just a nightmare, and that I would wake up beside you."

"I'm sorry for letting you suffer because of me." He replied placing a hand on her face.

She gently shook her head. "It was my choice to intervene."

She looked down at the people below. "For a while, I contemplated exchanging my life for your mother's, maybe then so many would have been spared, including your father."

Adrian's eyes widened as he heard her admission. "Selene..."

"In the end I used my magic to speak with her. Aunt Lisa." She said as she kept her eyes below. "She made me promise to not attempt something as dangerous ever again. She told me that she was proud of me for protecting you and that she was proud of you too. She told me she loved both of us and she believes in us."

Selene closed her eyes, pushing back the tears threatening to fall.

Adrian wrapped an arm around her, reassuring her that he was there for her.

"I love you, Adrian." She whispered as she leaned her head on him.

"I love you too, Selene."