It was just a normal day in the tunnels. Well, it was my birthday, but as soon as I turned 100, I got sick of them. I soon just started treating it like just a regular day. I had never been fond of my own birthday; it was just a symbol of another cursed year that went by, a year filled with thoughts of begging for death, dreams of committing suicide and succeeding.
This was no ordinary year, though. This was the year I found the one person that will stand beside me for the rest of eternity. I found the perfect second father for dear little Beth; the man that was more than I could’ve ever hoped for, my Jesse.
I walked along the main tunnel to get to a meeting with Avalis. I entered the twentieth door on the left; the room was pitch black, so I had the sense to feel the wall for a light switch. I found it and turned on the light, and a surprise jumped out at me from under the tables.
“Surprise!” Beth and Jesse screamed in unison, “Happy birthday!”
Jesse walked up to me and stood on his toes so he could kiss my cheek as Beth hugged my leg. I could hear music in the background, mellow and soft. The smell of vanilla and burning sugar drifted from the table. Streamers swayed from the ceiling like vines in a jungle.
“Before we start the cake,” Jesse said with urgency, “I have something to tell you both; actually, it would be better if I show you instead of tell you. I’ve kept this a secret my whole life until last November, when I told my family. As you both know, they didn’t take it very well. I kept it from you, Angel, because I thought you wouldn’t want to marry me if you knew.”
I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. What could possibly be so awful that I wouldn’t want to marry him? He’s the best thing that ever happened to me.
“Jesse, amour,” I whispered tepidly, “How could this secret possibly be so awful that I wouldn’t love you with all my mind, heart, body, and soul?”
“It would be better if I showed you.”
Jesse stepped into the middle of the room. His breathing was heavy. His eyes were closed in concentration. He was mumbling to himself’ his face blank and focused, not quite here.
A circle of fire appeared around him. I thought for a single second that Jesse was on fire, but the flame only circled him. His words were louder, more like chants.
A small light entered the room through the ceiling, a star. The ring of fire burned out, leaving no evidence of its existence. Jesse stopped chanting. The star bounced into his petite, open hands. Jesse walked with it and stood in front of a mahogany box with gold etchings that look like an ancient alphabet, like the etchings on the ring I gave him. The box opened by itself, and the star floated into it from Jesse’s hand.
“That was amazing!” Beth exclaimed, “I could feel the magic!”
“Happy birthday, my Angel.” Jesse said in anticipation, handing me the mahogany box, “If I ever leave your side and you start to wish I was here with you, just open the box, and I’ll be here before you can say ‘I love you.’”
He put the box in my hands. It fit right in my palm, and it was made of smooth, dark wood. As I examined its beauty, I felt Jesse’s hand gently massaging my shoulder. I embraced him with all my might.
“It’s beautiful, Jess.” I whispered, “Thank you.”
“Anything for you, my Angel.” Jesse replied.
“What did he give you, Father?” Beth asked curiously, “I know it’s magical, but I don’t know exactly what it is.”
“He gave me a star, ma fille précises.” I responded, awestruck, “He gave me a star. How many people can say that their fiancé gave him an actual star?”
“It’s just a drop in the ocean compared to what you deserve.”
“Now I feel rather mediocre.” Beth exclaimed, “All I was going to give you was this!”
Beth removed the sheet from the gift. It was a Technicolor painting of her sketch of Jesse and I, sitting by the fireplace, my hand on his knee, his head leaning against my shoulder. Beth’s arms were dangling over the back of the couch.
“I love it, Beth.” I said in awe, “It’s amazing! Let’s figure out where to hang it later.”
I bent down and kissed the top of her little blonde head. I studied her a moment. I noticed something I should have noticed long ago.
She looked almost exactly like Jesse. Her left eye was gunmetal blue, just like Jesse’s were, and her right was green, like mine was before my transformation. She had Jesse’s long nose and heart shaped face; she had that same sparkle in her eyes that Jesse had. Our skin tones were eerily similar, and her freckles were like Jesse’s. It was as if...she was our daughter. I immediately dismissed the thought.
“So...I’m the Starkeeper. Have any thoughts?” Jesse asked.
“Jesse,” I whispered urgently, “I love you no matter who or what you are. You accepted me, didn’t you?”
Jesse turned to look into my eyes. His eyes, though black like mine now, still sparkle like the stars he keep. He gave me the joyous, toothy grin that I absolutely adored.
“Yes,” Jesse responded, “Yes, I did.”
Jesse bit his lip, deep in thought. Suddenly, he let out a bloodcurdling scream and crouched onto the floor, gripping his head. I bent down to his side.
“What’s wrong, ma vie?” I asked anxiously, holding his crippled form tightly to me and stroking his back.
“He’s having his first daytime vision.” Beth explained, “It’s agony the first time, but it hurts less with each vision. He’ll be alright in no time.”
He continued to scream as I stroked his back and kissed the top of his head. I was caressing his neck when I felt something on the back of it.
It was a scar. The scar ran, as far as I could see, from the back of his neck swirling to his right shoulder. I kissed it tenderly, to show him just how much he’s loved.
When his screams stopped, he said just what scares me the most.
“They’re coming.”
YOU ARE READING
Unkillable (Monsters Series #1) (Wattys2014)
RomansaIn an alternate future in America, when his parents throw him over the Border River, Jesse Salvatier is rescued by Colonel Angel Harper of Liberal Ground, who can never die, and falls instantly in love with him. When his family comes knocking on the...
