After Hours (VAMPIRES PART 1)

Chapter 37

JENNIE

One Thousand Years Ago

I should have known not to come here. Known, that after what the Jacumes did to me, they wouldn't stop. Known that our love was cursed.

But love is a magnet, and I was doomed the moment I met her.

I snuck out of the manor long after the butlers had retired from their duties and gone to bed. It's close to midnight by the time I arrive at Jisoo's cottage.

She opens the wooden door and falls to her knees, her hand clasped to her mouth.

"Who did this to you?" she breathes through her hand. "I was so worried. A week, Jennie. An entire week and I don't hear from you. I'd no idea what had happened."

I try to smile, but the movement cracks my healing wounds open and a bead of blood billows up onto my lip. My face is a mosaic of purples and greens.

She reaches up, clasps my hands to hers and kisses my knuckles. "Who?" she demands. "I'll brew a curse."

But I shake my head. "It doesn't matter. I'm alive and I'm here. May I come in?"

She hurries me into her cottage, warmth envelopes me like a healing hug. She flutters around me, putting me in an armchair by the fire, the kiss of heat from the open flames a comfort.

"I don't have all my supplies, but I have enough," she says from the kitchen. There's a clattering of jars and glass. Her footsteps clacking against her cobbled stone floor. I close my eyes, relief that I'm finally here washing over me. I listen to the rhythm of her body sweeping around the cottage.

I must fall asleep because I wake to her placing an array of items at my feet. She kneels next to the armchair and begins applying the most potent-smelling herb mix I've ever smelt.

"What in the name of the gods is that?" I whine.

"Hush, it's powerful and it will remove most of the bruising by tomorrow. Now. Tell me who did this to you?"

"Why?" I say, leaning my head back against the chair.

"Jennie," she snaps. "What the hell do you mean why? I should think that patently obvious."

"Is it?"

"I swear on the witch-gods, I will slaughter them all. Was it at the behest of your mother? Did your father beat you? I will kill them. I'll spell them or torture them, but they won't get away with this."

I turn away from her, watch the flames dance, remembering the summer nights we lit fires by the river and danced till the embers flitted into the sky and turned into the dawn sun.

"You're a healer, you'll do no such thing. I came here because... because..." But I can't get the words out. They're clogged in my throat refusing to be spoken, because in my heart, I know I don't want to say them. I don't want to have to do this.

I turn to face her, tears streak her cheeks. I reach up, wipe the tears away with my thumb.

"I'll do it," she says.

But I shake my head. "You have to leave it... we... we need to end things. It's too dangerous. Our families won't allow this to continue, and I think that deep down, you know that too."

She chokes out a sob. Her whole body trembles now. She wipes her arm over her eyes and attends my face again.

"Is this because I'm a woman?" she asks.

That, at least, makes me smile. "If only it were so simple. Mother is livid about that too. But no. It's because you're a Jacume. Because our families know only hate for each other. We were never going to be able to live this life."