Unkillable (Monsters Series #1) (Wattys2014)

Chapter 21: Deja Vu

“Father?” Beth called, “Are you back already? Are you with Granny Liz?”

“Yes he is, Betty.”

A chuckle slipped from my lips before I could stop it. I couldn’t help myself. Betty was an absolutely ridiculous nickname.

“Betty was a very common name back in the day, Angel.” Liz explained as if she read my mind, “I couldn’t say the same for yours.”

“What’s wrong with my name?” I argued.

“Nothing! It’s very...pretty. It’s just that, with your name, Jesse doesn’t really need a pet name for you.” Liz responded, “He just needs to put “my” in front of it, and he’s good to go. It’s too easy.”

“I thought you liked me.”

“I do. I’m just messing around with my future son-in-law.” she explained, pinching my cheek, “I was only joking.”

“Alright.” I said, “Can you warn me before you start “joking around with me” again?”

“That seems fair.”

We shook hands to solidify the deal. All subjects from then on turned toward the wedding. I discussed all the plans with Jesse and Elizabeth.

“Have you two set a date yet?” Elizabeth asked.

“The sooner the better.” I answered instantly and surely, “I can’t wait too long.”

I looked into Jesse’s sparkling eyes, grinning in breathless delight, and squeezed his hand. Jesse smiled back, stealing all words from my tongue. I could feel Elizabeth’s confidence in us swell like a balloon.

As if we were stuck in a time warp, a second Nevaeh ran in, screaming about a security breach. Then she noticed Elizabeth sitting with us.

“What is she doing here?” the second Nevaeh yelled, “Don’t tell me she’s the officiate!”

Jesse, Elizabeth, and I looked from the first Nevaeh to the second. It took them awhile to notice each other.

“Uh, oh.” the first Nevaeh stammered worriedly.

Elizabeth started to chant in an ancient language that, before that very day, I only heard from Jesse’s lips. The first Nevaeh turned into a face that I knew all too well.

“Adolphe.” I whispered.

“Hello, Jacque,” Adolphe responded, “and its Jasper now, as yours is Angel now, I’ve heard.”

“But you...you died.”

“So did you.”

“Touché.”

We stood in awkward silence for several moments. Adolphe, Jasper now, hasn’t aged at all since the Reign of Terror. I hadn’t either.

“What are you doing here?” I finally asked.

“I was sent by Deacon to give you a message, since your computers don’t accept email from across the Border.” Jasper responded.

“What’s the message?” I asked coldly.

“Deacon apologizes for his...aggressive display,” Jasper reported, as if the news would be painful, “and that Adelaide and Damien came to “rescue you” on their own accord. He says he’s sick of preserving what must change, much like the soldiers in the South that had fought to keep their slaves had tired. Deacon, reluctantly, I can assure you, gives you his blessing. He assures you that Adelaide and Damien will come around once they know they’ve been defeated. That’s it.”

We all clapped and cheered as Nevaeh and Jasper stood watching in shock, the news probably not sinking in. I noticed them share a look, a suspicious look. Jasper gave Nevaeh a nod. It was then I knew the meaning of Jesse and Beth’s dream about the sea and the volcano as if it struck me down. I was ready.

I was ready.

By the next day, everything was set; the music, the venue the flowers, the ceremony, my vows, everything was in its proper place, but I was prepared for the worst. I had broken an extra wine glass, took the sharpest piece, and put it in my breast pocket, along with my lucky pocket knife, just in case. I had an aching feeling in my chest. What worried me the most was that Nevaeh and Jasper were nowhere in sight. It didn’t help my nerves.

“Just relax, Angel.” Avalis commanded severely, “You’ll be fine. Just repeat after me. I am the luckiest man in the world...say it!”

“I am the luckiest man in the world.” I mimicked, “I am the luckiest man in the world.”

I repeated this mantra in my head until I was at the end of the aisle next to Britter and Avalis. I took a deep breath as I stroked the mahogany box that Jesse had given me. Suddenly, it vibrated under my fingers, warning me of some danger.

The piano finally started playing and everyone stood to look down to the beginning of the aisle. This was it. This was the day I will start never being lonely again, and it was, just not yet.

The minute the doors opened, I knew something was wrong. Jesse’s coloring was all wrong, and his hands were too large. His dazzling aura was nonexistent, replaced by an eerie, sinister air. Jesse stood in front of me now. One more error in his features finally pushed me over the edge.

His eyes weren’t sparkling black, symbolizing his sacrifice of his humanity to be with me. They were but an unremarkable, flat blue. I knew what I had to do.

I stuck my knife into the pretender’s heart.