Thicker Than Water....

Epilogue

The moon was high, with little wisps of clouds slowly drifting along in a summer night sky. I could hear Kula laughing as we entered the garden of her and Peter's home. I could also smell one of her delicious curries cooking on her Aga. I was so looking forward to our all being together again. Vittorio carried a large box containing various wines we had bought for them while we had been in Venice, celebrating our sixth anniversary.

A squeal came from the side of the house, followed by Kula's infectious laughter. I could hear the jingle-jangle of jewellery too. We walked round, tip-toeing not to spoil the surprise. Kula was facing our direction, she smiled when she saw us. She bent down to the flap of the two-man tent they had pitched in the garden. It was surrounded by little garden lights that changed colour every few seconds. "Hey! " she called into the tent. "Look who's here sweetheart."

A small head, with dark hair, emerald eyes and a wide smile popped out of the tent. "Mummy! Daddy!" Our daughter, Adelina, ran squealing with delight towards us. She was adorned in Kula's beads and bracelets. Vittorio bent down and she leapt into his arms. "Daddy!" She was giving him lots of little kisses all over his cheeks and then mine too as she hopped over to my embrace.

Another little head popped out of the tent. It was Kula and Peter's son, Matthew. They had decided to adopt. Matthew was seven years old, and Kula and Peter had made no secret he was adopted. He had been in and out of foster care for two years, before they had finally been able to sign the papers and make him part of their family. He was a happy boy, always smiling, except when Adelina forgot conceal her tiny little fangs in time, when they were playing.

Life was good, and our friendships were strong. Us adults made our way into the house and let the children play their games outside a little longer. We had just poured some wine and set the table for dinner, when an ear-spliiting scream had us rushing outside. Matthew and Adelina were running towards us, terror written all over their faces.

"What's wrong, darling?" I asked Adelina as she rushed into my arms.

"The man, mummy. The man!"

"What man?"

Vittorio and Peter searched the garden and round the sides of the house, while Kula and I comforted our children. They returned to us shaking their heads. They saw no-one. Matthew and Adelina were still shaking.

"Did you see him?" Matthew asked his dad.

"No, son. There's nobody there," Peter replied.

"There was, honestly!" the little boy was pleading to be believed.

"What did he look like den?" Kula asked the children.

"He was big! Huge!" Matthew said.

"He had such long fingers too," added Adelina.

"And his eyes," the boy added. They were horrible! They were like snakes eyes, mummy. Red with long slits." He clung to Kula.

We all looked at each other. A chill ran down my spine. It couldn't be. Not again!

"He spoke too," Adelina said. " He said, his name was....was..."

"Dante!" Matthew finished. "He said Dante."

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

****Author's note:    That was quite a task for me, I hope you enjoyed reading it.  If you would like to comment feel free.  Do you think I should try a sequel?    Thank you to all who have persevered with this.  I look forward to continue reading many other writer's stories.  You are all an inspiration.****