Reborn

Epilogue

Shadow and I were alone for five days before our friends came back, ruining the peace we had created. I didn't mind, not really. We'd both desperately needed the time alone together to work through our insecurities, but now it was time we got back to reality. We'd spent a lot of time talking and I honestly felt like I understood him better than ever before. He had never been so open with me, and now we were in a much better place. Even our sex life had gotten better, though Alec had been constantly teasing me since he returned when he found out that not only had we dented a wall but we'd broken a shelf and a table. It was mortifying.

Marl and Rose had been holed up somewhere, keeping away from the house because they knew Shadow and I had needed the time to ourselves, while the others had been at Benjamin's burying the bodies. Vince had called everyday, updating us on Lukas. According to him, Lukas had become less withdrawn and was speaking more, but only to him. Alec, Ric and Leah had made their dislike perfectly clear, though I could understand that to some extent.

That hadn't changed when they'd all ended up crowded in the house together. Lukas had even holed himself up in one of the rooms so he could avoid the continuous confrontations. Only Vince went to speak to him and though I wanted to as well, I held off. I wasn't sure how Shadow would take that. He still couldn't understand why I felt sorry for Lukas.

Although I didn't personally know Viktor, I knew enough about him to know that he derived pleasure from being an obnoxious, controlling asshole who cared for nobody but himself. It was because of that that I felt sympathetic towards Lukas; he was the exact opposite to his father. He was harmless, really. He preferred elaborate schemes where he could manipulate people because of his inherent fear of people. Oh, the irony. A vampire seemingly afraid of everything and everyone around him. Unless, of course, it was all just a pretence because I never could quite figure out his intentions. He had no true friends, no one he could count on or trust. There was a part of me that was happy to know he was, at least, speaking to Vince because he was the only person who could truly tell Lukas all he needed to know.

There was the journal I'd given to him but I'd been told Lukas had stopped reading it halfway through, unable to read another word. He'd been disgusted by his father's actions, Vince claimed. Just knowing that made me feel as though there was hope for him. I just didn't know what was going to happen next, considering Shadow refused to be in the same room as him and yet, he still allowed him to stay in his home. It wasn't even because of who he looked like ─ though that played a part ─ it was mainly because he didn't trust him around me. What he'd done was still too fresh in his mind and I completely understood. I even agreed; it would take me a while before I could trust him myself.

I did want to try though. He was lonely and I knew all too well what that felt like.

It had been awkward at first, seeing him again. He had apologised profusely for what he'd done and while I did believe he was being sincere, it was difficult to trust he wouldn't do it again if he wanted to. So many people had died because of him, Benjamin included, and that was something I just wasn't ready to forgive him for. Truthfully, I didn't care about Benjamin's friends but I had grown to care about him in the end. His death still weighed heavily on my mind.

"I'm taking you up on your offer." Vince announced, looking at Shadow with a smile.

Shadow looked at him. "Just make sure the house stays in one piece."

"I would like you and Violet to come with us." Vince replied. "With Alec and Leah taking off, Marl staying here with Ric and Rose heading back home, I think you two could use a vacation of sorts."

That was probably the hardest part about all of this. All of us had different plans now. Too much had happened, too many relationships had to be repaired. Alec still loved Leah, so of course he would want to leave with her to repair their relationship. Just because nobody else could forgive her just yet didn't mean he felt the same way. Marl would remain here with Ric, though I doubted he'd stay for long. I wasn't sure where he lived but he only came here to help with with Benjamin. Now that was over, he had no reason to stick around, even though I knew he did like being around all of us. I got the feeling friends weren't something he came by very often.