Alejo [Vampire]

Epilogue

::Epilogue::

[Three months later]

 

It was good being on my feet again, but I had no love for sunlight. I'd had enough UV rays to last an immortal lifetime. It didn't matter that the island's cloaking devices made it possible for immortals to be outdoors in the day time. I wanted no part of it at the moment.

I slowly made my way to the private clinic in the east wing of my new house. The walking cane eased the dull ache of attempting to move around on my own. I'd been advised against it, but being wheeled around everywhere felt grating on my nerves. I was not used to being helpless. It was far slower, but my dignity was intact.

When I finally got there, I met with the doctor that Loki had sent to me. The woman eyed the cane with that thin lipped disapproval she often wore when she saw me on my feet. "See you're still prematurely up and about, Master Alejo," she said getting the machines ready for me. I said nothing. I never spoke unless I found it necessary. The vibrations in my torso when I spoke were painful to say the least.

"It's because he's a stubborn asshole and won't listen to good sense," Ria said from the doorway. I smiled as she walked past me to plop onto the chair she always sat at whenever I went to get detoxified. The residual UV in my bloodstream was potentially fatal and Ria never let me forget that it was my own fault that I was in this mess.

"Where's my hero?" I croaked and winced. Her features tightened. "Ahh. With the therapist," I guessed. Ana was no soldier no matter how much she'd disguised herself as one that day. I had a newfound respect for her now. Not only because she'd saved my life and taken Samuel out of the equation − effectively returning me to my old position of unquestioned power.

She'd found a uniform, mask and had her hair pinned up like one of my soldiers to infiltrate a war she had no business being in simply to keep an eye on her sister.

Anyone who would risk their life to save Ria was good in my book. Granted, Ria had been safe in a submarine far from the fight all along. Ana didn't know that though. All she knew was that she'd overheard Loki talking about how Ria was being allowed to go with me on what she thought was a suicide mission. She was brave, I gave her that.

Unfortunately, she was not dealing with the aftermath of killing for the first time very well. She was talking to someone and she was getting better about the situation, but things were still shaky. I was not deluded into thinking she did this out of any love for me. It was a split second decision made to save the life of her sister. She was very much aware of the backlash her sister would face if I'd died. Pets and Masters were a package deal like that. Still, Ana was no killer. It would take her time to heal from that.

"Have you gotten any sleep?" Ria asked running her fingers under my eyes when I sat on the bed. I nodded. I'd been doing nearly nothing but sleeping for months. It was out of pure will that kept me from curling up on this bed and going right back to sleep. "You look like a raccoon," she sniffed but she still placed a tender kiss under each eye, "Maybe you should get some more rest. You're worrying me."

"Don't. My body's simply not used to being ill. It's not exactly pleased about it," I sighed and settled into the pillows, "I'll be fine. Never fear, Little Red. Soon I'll be up for more than just a simple feeding" She blushed and glanced at the doctor who was studiously ignoring my insinuations. She cleared her throat all the same. "You are a menace," Ria whispered with a grin, "I don't know why I put up with you."

I shot her my most devil may care grin in return. I was aware how weak it must have looked, but she still rolled her eyes and pushed my hair back.

It had become pretty evident that Ria was not shallow. I'd seen my reflection lately. Pallid complexion, dark circles, lips chapped and a definite dullness in the color of my eyes and hair. The poison in my system could only be siphoned out in small amounts at a time.