The Vampire's Sweetheart

Chapter 34

The Vampire's Sweetheart

Chapter Thirty-Four

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Numb. Empty. Weightless. Floating. Floating? I am floating. No. Dying. Yes. I am Dying.

My eyes ripped open, and I stared into nothingness. My mind was blank.

Where am I? Who am I? What am I?

A sudden flash of bright light caused me to shut my eyes tightly, as I felt my body being lifted into a different dimension. Dimension? No, stage. Yes, a different stage of death.

I smelled it first. A sweet, pine scent made my nostrils flare open, as I allowed the peaceful aroma to fill my lungs. I embraced it. Allowed it to influence me into opening my eyes. I blinked.

I was in a forest, a forest filled with life. The trees stood tall and proud, as their dark green leaves decorated them so beautifully, a slight shimmer to them implying it had been raining moments before. The ground, where I lay, was not wet however. The sky was strange, breathtakingly strange. The clouds were full and clumped together as the sky was a brilliant purple, soft and inviting. The flowers swayed as if dancing, and invisible birds chirped happily as if singing. I sat up.

Lightheaded. Dizziness. I sat up too fast or too slow. I wrapped my arms around myself, realizing I was in a light, blue gown. I attempted to move my lips, but they were so chapped it nearly hurt. I swallowed a bubble of air, my mouth too dry to form a descent wad of spit. I looked around observing what I believed to be the afterlife. I stood up.

I let my arms fall to my side and gazed more into the clearing. A soft breeze kissed my face, and I would have smiled if able. I began walking, slowly at first, then faster as the need to explore grew in the pit of my stomach. I stopped as I came to the edge of a pond, the water clear and sparkling. I knelt and cupped my palms together forming a bowl that I then lowered into the water. The coolness pricked at my skin and I brought the liquid up to my mouth and drank greedily, dumping my hands back in the water to repeat the action. I splashed some of the generous water on my face, blinking as droplets clung to my eyelashes. I smiled.

Quickly, I stood and looked around with a bright smile on my face. A noise left my lips at the sight of a curious doe staring at me from behind a thick bush. A noise I soon realized was a laugh. I laughed more as I walked towards the doe, who tilted its head at me. I raised my hand a bit and waved slightly, to which the doe's eyes sparkled before running off. I chased it.

I was twirling. No, I was dancing. Yes, I was dancing. I lifted the skirt of my frilly, blue gown and spun in a circle, my eyes wide and gleaming with joy as I smiled at the purple, strange sky. Free. I was free. Free from what? I stopped mid-circle as an unfamiliar ache struck me. I felt empty.

Weightless. Floating. Yes, I was floating. No, dying. Yes, I was dying.

I crashed to my knees as I felt water running down my face as the leaves began to die and flowers began to tilt. The sky once a brilliant purple, now frowned in a dark grey. The birds stopped chirping. Alone. Yes, I was alone and dying. I wept.

"Why do you weep, child?" The soft voice was nearly a hum, as it spoke from in front of me. I looked up from the shade of my hands, and bit back a sob as my throat bobbed. The woman, so young yet so old, beautiful, peaceful, and mother-like. Yes, this woman was a mother. My mother.

"I am dying, mother." I responded, my voice filled with grief, complete and utter sadness. My mother smiled at me, not phased by the tears that swelled up in my eyes.

"That is because you are not attempting to do anything else. You have not attempted to live, so you are dying Novienna." She spoke with wisdom and experience, the way she used to speak when she lived.

My chest felt heavy as I attempted to stand and make eye contact with my mother, "I was murdered, mother. I have no choice but to die." A noise erupted from the back of my mom's throat, as she titled her head back with a brighter smile.

"There is always a choice, child. Do you know where you are?" I shook my head. "You are not dead, Novienna, but you are not alive either. You are merely existing in a world between the two."

"How do I get back?" I rushed. My mom gave me a softer smile.

"That is why I have come. To give you a choice. I can send you one of two places. You can go to the afterlife, with me, your father, and some of your dear friends, who I have come to love like children of my own." My eyes stung with the knowledge that not only Raven had given her life to protect me. "Or you can return to before, with your beloved, your other friends, and your enemies. I can not decide for you. I am afraid my decision would be biased." She gave me a playful wink, and my heart warmed at the thought of spending eternity with her, and my father, my uncorrupted father.

My beloved. The vampire, the broken and angry vampire. Locaine. My sweet Locaine, who I could see myself learning to love. "How is he?" Her eyes dimmed a little, but her smile did not falter.

"Your father is mending. His soul is scattered, but he is attempting to piece himself together to be a good man. I believe he is able to do it, if he truly wishes to."

I nodded, swallowing harshly. "Does he hate me?"

My mom's eyes widened and quickly shook her head, she moved as if to hug me but stayed in her place. "He loves you more than he would ever dare to express." She froze, as if listening to something. "As much as I wish I could sit and talk with you forever, it is time for you to decide, little bird. Where do you wish to go?"

My hands began to tremble slightly. "I would like to hug you, mom." I mumbled, through quivering lips.

Her eyes were lined with silver, tears threatening to spill. "I would love nothing more than to wrap you in my embrace, child. However, to do so would require you to choose death. Stupid laws." She gave an attempt at a laugh, as she tossed me a broken, pitiful smile, a selfish one that begged me to hug her.

My mind raced, as I wrapped my arms around myself before raising my head to meet her eyes. I placed my hands to my side and took a deep breath before giving her a reassuring smile.

"I choose to be brave. I want to go home. I want to live."

My mom, though pained deeply by my decision, smiled proudly at me, her skin starting to shimmer as the scenery around us began to fade away. "You have made me so proud, little bird. You are so much stronger than you think. You have the power of love. Use it. Do not be afraid. I am watching you always, daughter. I love you more than I ever had time to express."

My vision began to blur as everything around us started spinning putting me in a trance. "I love you mother." My lips were numb, as I fell.

Numb. Empty. Weightless. Floating. Floating? I am floating. No. Living. Yes. I am Living.

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