Innocent Darkness

Epilogue

Demarcus let out a cackle as if he was proud of something he had done before he used his vampire speed and zipped off so quickly it was as if he just vanished from where he stood. Liam had even turned around to look at me and I continued to stare at everyone just as confused as they were.

"He is lying, right? You would have been able to sense it?" Alexander spoke first, moving closer toward me.

I shook my head as I tried to dig deep for some glimmer of an emotion or feeling that would tell me the truth. I hadn't felt anything since the explosion in New Orleans. I couldn't remember any connection to Trent since that night but several times I was told that if two vampires were bonded then if one died the other would suffer some sort of mental break. What if I already went through it? What if it was delayed and hadn't fully happened yet? Or what if he wasn't dead and somehow something was keeping us from feeling connected.

I felt a hand come to my chin to pull my gaze up into theirs. I was staring deeply into Liam's grey eyes as if he was trying to help me find the answers within me as well.

I gave him back a sad expression as I couldn't give everyone a proper answer.

"Liam," I managed to finally utter. "Please, I am scared."

I generally was scared. A few of the dreams, or nightmares really, that I had after being bonded to Trent had a few glimpses of Demarcus. I also learned about a brief history of this first vampire from a few books across the many places I had lived at since becoming a vampire. Everything had one thing in common, this man was a vampire boogeyman.

Demarcus killed everything, anything, and everyone in his path. He enjoyed the thrill of blood running at his feet and if you did not enjoy it with him then you were against him. He killed for enjoyment because it was fun. When he figured out how to create more vampires, he was set on creating the destruction of the world. However, he did not account that the other vampires did not share the same vision he had. They enjoyed their new-found power, but Demarcus and his destructive nature threatened a peaceful eternity of youth, power and life for the generations that came after him.

It was Trent and other Elder Vampires that worked together to lock Demarcus away. I couldn't find out why he couldn't be killed or why the option wasn't considered, and only those that locked Demarcus away would be able to answer that question.

I closed my eyes as I tried to hold back a tear I could feel building up. I am a vampire, we aren't supposed to cry or even get scared. I suddenly felt Liam's hand leave my chin and both of his arms enveloping me into a tight embrace.

"I will keep you safe, Young One. Never worry about that, I promise." He whispered into my ear. "I forgive you." He also added.

I wrapped my arms around him, accepting his embrace as I felt a cold tear run down my cheek. I didn't want Alexander at all. He ruined my life and while he caused me to be on a path to be brought into a world I had only hopped existed, I still would have been apart of the supernatural world. Instead he put me through a slow torture so that he could selfishly keep me to himself. And even if there was the tiniest possibility that Trent was still alive, he abandoned me. Everyone but Liam has always abandoned me in my life and for once I am going to stick by the person who still wanted me back.

After several hours, a handful of arguments and me having to break up a fight between Liam and Alexander. Everyone was now on the same page of me staying back with Liam at his estate again. I was now standing in the driveway face to face with Alexander who was delaying his departure from the estate hoping I'd change my mind at the last minute.

"You can't be possibly be happy living with these dogs?" He asked me, shooting a glare back to the house before looking back to me.

I gave a nod and smiled at him. "I'm happy here. I feel more comfortable and myself here than anywhere else, Alexander."

Alexander wrapped his arms around me tightly. I half expected him to try to throw me in his car and speed off. He pulled away and snapped his fingers. The diver of the car got out and walked around the trunk of the vehicle.

"Well, you are still a Nosie. You are still a major part of higher vampire society. And because of such, I have a duty to make sure that you are at the very least kept fed as one." He said as he went over to the back of the vehicle as well and I followed. He assisted the diver in pulling out a small black cooler with a different crest on it. I knew this crest though, it was an interlocking O and C with vines around it. I remember seeing it in the Orlando Tower, which meant this was something direct from the Orlando Council. I watched Alexander open up the small cooler to reveal several bags of blood in it.

"Not a whole lot to make you full, but you can call me if you need more for that. I'll have deliveries about two to three times a week to ensure you always have a fresh supply. I won't have you choking down animal blood just to barely stay alive and sane, is that understood?" He looked at me with a stern gaze that softened into a smile when I smiled back at him.

I picked the cooler up with little effort and moved away from him as both Alexander and the diver climbed into the car and pulled out of the driveway. I turned around and made my way back toward the house thinking of what I should cook for breakfast in the morning for the guys. I'm sure they are dying for a decent meal again.

"Well isn't that just touching. Alexander once again walking away from the thing he wanted most in his wretched little life."

I heard the voice and I couldn't believe it. A chill zapped my spine and I froze, unsure if I was finally hallucinating and having that mental break or if I turned around and Trent would truly be standing behind me.

I saw the front door open as Liam was stepping out.

"I heard Alexander's car drive off, just making sure he didn't try to kidnap—" I saw the expression on Liam's face as he looked past me.

I sat the cooler down quickly and turned around to be now face to face with Trent as he wrapped his arms around me to bring me into a passionate kiss.