The End Of The Beginning

The After

"Oh, hi Vanessa. What are you doing here? Someone could see you." CJ says out his window. I was sitting on a tree stump just outside it. "Trust me. No one saw me." I smiled, then heaved a big sigh. "It's been really crazy lately." He scoffs. "You're telling me. You're a freaking vampire!" "Not what I meant, but that's involved. The vampires and demons just had a big war." He frowns and looks out his window at the sunny sky. "It was in the Underworld." I tell him. "Oh." He nods. "Sure. I'll just act like this is completely normal, since you seem to think so." CJ says. "I didn't even know demons were real." "Oh, their real alright." I sighed again. "Anyway, the boys and I went down to hell and fought off the demons. Ruben killed the Devil!" I said. CJ frowns big time now. "The Devil?!" I smiled and nodded. "Yeah! But that made the leader of the demons, the Devil's son, really mad." I didn't want to tell him everything that happened in between that. "Some stuff happened and Ruben ended up not making it." I said, getting sad again. "Oh." CJ says, sitting on the couch just below his window. "That's too bad. I liked him." I nod solemnly. "Yeah, he was a good guy." I started crying. Again. But CJ didn't laugh or make fun of me. He crawled out of the window and gave me a hug. It kinda surprised me, but it was nice.

The battle was over. We had won, but it didn't feel like a victory. I couldn't believe I was looking at his grave. I never thought it would happen. I never wanted it to happen. My life had changed for the better, yet this was a consequence. And how he'd gone was the worst I could've imagined. It was like losing every family member you had, including your boyfriend and friends. He was all.

"How is Zaiden holding up?" I asked Dalton. "He's...been better." Dalton and I look over to Zaiden, who's leaning against a nearby tree, staring at nothing. "He took it so hard." Dalton sighs, and looks to me now. "He always felt like he and Ruben were blood brothers. They were the best of friends. You couldn't see one without the other." I sighed and looked to Zaiden again. "And how are you holding up?" I ask Dalton. He doesn't answer for a long time. "I don't know." Is all he says. "How come demon blood does...that to us?" I asked. "It's not compatible with vampire blood. You can't have a demon-vampire. Vampire's and human's blood is compatible, though. Take you for instance. Humans can become vampires. But it doesn't work that way with us all." "So if I had bitten Kyler-" "You both would have died in...that way. It would have been like drinking poison. And for him, like being injected with poison." Dalton looks me in the eyes. I looked to the ground.

"Why did Ruben even bother?" Dalton grabs my hands. "Any one of us would've done the same. And besides, he felt like he owed you." I frowned. "He owed me?" Dalton nodded. "You saved his life, remember? When Christopher bit him. You gave him your blood." I sighed. "He didn't owe me. Not this much." Dalton leans down and kisses me. I kiss him back, then pull away. "I wish...I wish I could go back in time. If I knew that becoming a vampire had this outcome, I never would've wanted to be one." Dalton grabs my face in between his hands. "Hey. It could've happened no matter what you were. Don't you even think for one second this is your fault." I look to Zaiden. "Does he?" "No. I know Zaiden. He'd never blame you. In fact, he'd think of some way to blame himself."

"You guys want anything? I'm going hunting." Zaiden spoke for the first time in a day. "No thanks, Zaiden. You get all you want." I said, smiling. He nodded, still somber, then left in a flash. Dalton looks to me with a smile on his face. "Whoa, haven't seen one of those in a while! What's going on? I can't seem to stop crying." I said. "I'll give you something to cry about." What does that mean? Is he gonna punch me? Or break up with me or something? But he kept smiling. He clears his throat. "So...there's a reason Ruben had mentioned you being apart of this family. And why Zaiden's out hunting." I frown and wait for any clue as to where this is going.

Then Dalton gets down on one knee.

My undead heart beats faster and faster until I thought it'll jump out of my body.

"Vanessa Kay Hickinson, I know we're both so young," He smiles, "but let's face it, we're not getting any older." I laugh and feel tears swelling up. AGAIN. "And it's not like we can invite many people, but..." He looks deep in my eyes. "Will you marry me?" I exploded. "Yes!" I yelled and hugged him the second he was standing up straight. He laughs and spins me around in a circle. Zaiden walks in the front door, smiling. "He was waiting forever to do that." He says. I laugh and smile at Zaiden. It was so good to see him smiling again. "Oh my gosh! This is amazing!" Dalton slides the ring on my left finger. "It's beautiful." I breathe. "Fitting for you." Dalton said. "Although that ring is nothing compared to you." My heart melted. The ring was a beautiful silver with an emerald green stone in the center.

"So when's the lucky day?" Zaiden asks. "July 23rd." I state quickly. Dalton and Zaiden look to me with wide eyes. "Any certain reason?" I smiled. "No reason at all." Dalton nods. "Ok. July 23rd it is."