Dark Paradise

Four

Third Person POV

Knocking roused Jaxon from his dreams, which invariably featured the elegant blonde, Rebekah. It had become routine for him, as habitual as opening his eyes to find her gazing down at him.

But now, unlike before, he no longer feels scared, annoyed, or even upset by her presence. It's become comforting to him. "You do realize that staring is creepy," Jaxon stated, yawning and stretching his limbs like a cat before rising.

Rebekah rolled her eyes, as she always did when he said that, and replied, "It's not creepy, it's romantic. And it's not as if I could do anything else, considering you still haven't packed a bag for Chicago."

"I already told you, I'll go when summer starts," Jaxon pointed out, giving her a look that made Rebekah groan and pout. "But that's so far away."

"It's in two months. You've been my shadow for 17 years; you'll survive," Jaxon said, rolling his eyes. His annoyance grew with the persistent knocking, prompting him to put on a shirt and walk downstairs.

As he swung the door open, he groaned in annoyance at the sight of his sister's boyfriend on the other side. "What do you want?" Jaxon asked rudely, on the verge of slamming the door in his face.

"I want to see Caroline," Matt stated, his eyebrows furrowed as if that would compel Jaxon to comply. "Oh, well, that's too bad," Jaxon said with a feigned smile before slamming the door shut and locking it.

"That was rude," Rebekah said. Jaxon shrugged and replied, "I don't care. He thinks he has the right to see my sister; I'm just here to show him that he doesn't." Rebekah rolled her eyes and muttered to herself that Klaus and Jaxon are more alike than she would admit. She then followed Jaxon's gaze and saw Caroline approaching them.

"Thank you so much, I don't know what to say to him," Caroline stated. Jaxon responded, "How about, 'Hey Matt, I don't like you anymore, goodbye.'"

Caroline immediately hit him, saying, "Jaxon, stop it. I'm serious. I love him and I don't want to break his heart, but now I'm a vampire."

"Tell her that dating a human while being inexperienced will just end up with Matt getting hurt," Rebekah said. Jaxon nodded his head before speaking, "Rebekah said that if you continue to date Matt, he will end up being hurt in the end."

Caroline averted her gaze, a mix of hurt and indecision in her demeanor, prompting Jaxon's expression to soften. He became earnest as he spoke, "I may never fully grasp your feelings, but I understand the impact of an event changing your life. Both of us have died and been reborn differently, leading some ties to weaken and others to strengthen."

He placed his hand on her shoulder, adding, "All you need to do is figure out which bonds have changed, as I have. Then, you'll flourish." His comforting smile was met with a slight one from her, in return.

Jaxon was about to walk away when Caroline's shriek stopped him. "Jesus Christ," she gasped, leaping into the air, shocked, as she stared at Michael who had just appeared.

"I am the Chief Archangel, not the Son of God," Michael said, shaking his head, almost disappointed that she did not recognize him.

Jaxon, accustomed to Michael's literalness, ignored his statement and threw his hands up in the air, exclaiming, "Where the holy hell have you been all this time?"