Innocence - Chapter 24

FAST FORWARD 1 WEEK~

I had been dreading this day for about a week. I didn’t think I could handle it. How was I supposed to go through with this lie?

I starred at my reflection in the long mirror. My long brown hair was tied on the back of my head in a bun. A floor length, black dress flowed down to the floor, almost trailing behind me. My arm was convincingly in a cast that did not need to be there. It was only a disguise. We had to make everyone believe that I was in an accident.

There was a knock on the door. It was Aden. “You ready?” he asked from the other side of the door.

“As ready as I’ll ever be…”

He poked his head inside. “They’re waiting.” He came all the way in and shut the door.

I sighed. I knew they were, but I wasn’t ready for this. “I just want everything to go back to normal. I want to be normal.”

Aden put his arm around my waist and stepped in front of the mirror with me. “I’m not normal--Definitely not normal.” He kissed me softly on my forehead.

I smiled a little at his joke.

“I took care of the book.”

I made a pouty face. “No more powers?”

“No more powers, and no more evil vampires.”

“What did you do with it?”

“Does it really matter?” He raised his eye brows at me.

“Yes.”

“Trevor burned it.”

“Good.”

There was another knock on the door. Mike limped through the door, trying to keep his weight off of his right leg.

Mike was in worst shape than me. Way worse. His injuries were actually real. His left arm and right leg were in casts. His head was bandaged and he had a broken rib. He left the hospital just for this day.

“Hey Aden.” Mike said cheerfully to Aden, “Can I talk to Candace for a sec?”

“Aden patted Mike on the back lightly and said. “Sure, I’ll be down stairs.”

I gave him a weak smile before he left.

When Mike was sure Aden was gone, he looked me in the eyes and asked, “Are you really okay?”

Seeing in his eyes he knew I was not doing okay, I broke down. All of the emotions bubbled to the surface and spilled over. I couldn’t control myself.

Mike took me in his arms and sat me on the bed. He slowly rocked me back and forth, stroking my hair lightly.

A few minutes later, after I calmed down, I stood up and wiped my eyes. “It’s been a lovely week.” I said sarcastically, laughing a little.

“No kidding.” Mike said, standing as well.

After a long pause, I started to head for the door but Mike caught my arm. “I have to leave in a few days. My parents are coming.”

“I know--I just don’t want to think about that right now.”

Mike’s face fell. “Do you think we could talk later? After the funeral I mean.”

“Yeah, of course.”

He smiled a little and followed me down the stairs. We enter the large circular entryway. It was filled with crying, depressed people. Yah, just what I needed.

Two older ladies ran up to me and Mike and took us in a hard embrace, crying.

“Oh—I can’t even believe…” One of them sobbed.

“What would have happened if all of you…” cried the other.

“We are so glad you two are alive.” The younger of the two said, wiping her eyes. “If all of you…” She started to cry again.

I assumed that these two women were the mother and grandmother. I had met them before, but only when I was still in shock from the whole thing so I didn’t really get to talk to them.

Someone was clinking their glass and everyone went quiet. Aden was standing on one of the couches pushed up against the wall.

“We are all going to walk to the burial grounds. Tom and Susan will lead.” He gestured toward a very small woman with large, poofy hair and a larger man with a dark grey suit on.

They both started for the door and most of the people followed besides, Aden’s family and Mike. We all stood there for a moment not knowing what to say.

“What a week…” Trevor said half smiling at me. I knew he felt guilty for all of this, but I didn’t blame him.

“Look…” I started. I had no idea what I wanted to say. I just wanted them to know how much I appreciated them. “I…Thanks”

Aden, Ryan, Clark, Trevor, and Amy all looked embarrassed. All they were doing was protecting a family member.

Aden came closer to me and took me in a tight hug. I hated funerals.

All of a sudden, I was being hugged by everyone in the room. When I looked up, I saw Mike hanging back. He had been talking with all of them for the past few days but he still hated me being here. He did want what was best for me, but he still loved me.

I was pretty sure I loved him too.

I broke away from the mass of vampires and gave Mike a tight hug. He was surprised at first but then relaxed. He put his arms around me and hugged me back.

I buried my face in his chest and said, “Thank so much for coming up here. I don’t know what would have happened if you didn’t.”

“I think you would have been just fine.” He said. I could tell he was upset. “I didn’t do anything.”

I looked him in the eyes and said, “You obviously don’t know me as well as you think.”

He gave me a half smile, half grimace. “I know that now.”

Aden came and touched my arm. His cold fingers made me jump a little. “We better get going if we don’t want to miss anything.”

I nodded and headed out with both of them. The others had already left. I was sure they wanted us three to talk.

When outside, Mike asked, “Where is Marissa?”

Aden’s body subtly tensed. I was sure Mike hadn’t noticed.

“Gone.” He said, his jaw clenched.

“And the others?” I asked. I hadn’t gotten around to asking him so I thought I would now.

“Two got away but I don’t think they will come back. They had lost their leader.”

“Good…”

“After this, we have our own little funeral to go to. Just you and me—if that’s okay.” He looked up at Mike in question.

“Whatever floats your boat. I don’t think my leg could take anymore walking anyways.” Mike answered. He seemed to be telling the truth.

“Where is it?” I asked. I knew what he was talking about.

“A special place.”

We got to the burial grounds a minute later. The pastor was already talking. We tried to be subtle as we weaved through all of the people, trying to get to the front of the crowd.

“…these two lives have been taken from this earth but they will never really be gone. They will always be in our hearts. The car cash wasn’t fatal for all. Two people did survive this so called ‘bump in the road.’ Candace and Mike did survive and tried to save them but God had other plans. They are now in a better place. There is no more pain for these two sisters.

“Maryana and Tatyana, rest in peace.” The pastor finished and nodded at one of the men that was standing near the caskets. The man started to lower the caskets into the graves slowly.

The two women that came up to us earlier were sobbing on the other side of the graves.

They couldn’t stand it anymore so they left with the rest of the crowd to go and have a big dinner.

As I watched the caskets get lowered I whispered to the ground, “I don’t get it…”

“Don’t get what?” Aden said.

“How could you kill your own sister?”

Aden sighed, going back towards the road. I followed, hoping he would explain what his problem is.

“You have no idea how hard it is…” Aden whispered. It was just loud enough for me to hear. “…being what I am. Every minute with you is torture. I have to fight my instincts, my thoughts, my mind. When you are new born like Maryana, you can’t fight those instincts. They are too strong, you just act, you don’t even think about it. That is why she attacked you.”

“Why did my arm heal up when I got those powers?”

“Because witches use to make spells that heal wounds. Since you had a cut, the cut sealed itself back up. Now the venom…I am a little puzzled by that. Trevor believes that the venom was dumped out of your cut with the little blood that did spill. I guess that is the only situation possible.”

“Oh.”

"I still think you have some left in you though."

"Really?"

"Yeah, but not enough to do anything."

"Are you sure?"

"Positive."

I didn't know if it was a good thing or a bad thing. Maybe I wanted the vampire venom to run through my veins. Maybe I wanted to be just like him.

“We are very dangerous creatures.”

“And I don’t care.” I said, crossing my arms stubbornly.

“But you should!”

“We have already had this conversation, actually.” I said, snootaly.

“I just don’t want to hurt you.”

“You aren’t going to. If you left me, you would be hurting me.” I knew he was trying to talk himself out of this relationship. I was not going to let him do that.

Aden sighed, giving up on the topic. “We’re here.”

I looked around and saw we were at the special place. Our special place. There was a very small stone by the big oak tree a ways in. I walked closer, trying to read the inscription.

Addison Henderson
A beloved wife, vampire, but
most importantly, a hero.

This was going to be Addison’s grave. She really was a hero. If it wasn’t for her, Marissa would have killed me in a second. With her there, everything played out.

Seeing her grave, her actual grave, made me cry. I couldn’t believe what had happened over that past week. It was more drama than I needed in a lifetime.

Aden came and knelt down beside me. “I thought this was a good spot.”

As soon as I calmed down, I remembered something; something Marissa had said. “Why aren’t you dead?” I asked a matter of factly.

Aden seemed offended by my question. “Should I be?”

“Addison died.”

“I know, but what does that have to do with me?”

“Didn’t you love her?”

He seemed uncomfortable about this new topic. “Once…”

“So don’t you die when the person you gave part of your soul to does?”

“Yes but that wasn’t Addison.”

“But you loved—“

“That’s just it.” He interrupted. “Loved. I love you now. Plus, it only works when you are a vampire. I wasn’t a vampire when I loved her.”

“So…I have part of your soul?”

He gave me a small smile. “Yes.”

I was perplexed by this. “Then I can’t ever leave you.”

“That’s a good plan.”

“I don’t think you get it. I mean forever, forever.”

As soon as he got what I was talking about, his face fell into a look I had never seen before. It was so harsh, I stepped back from him.

“No.” he said sternly.

“Why not?”

“Haven’t you been listening to me?” he asked. He was angry, I could tell but I wasn’t going to give up.

“Yes, but if you are there with me I am sure I can get through it.”

“Why?”

“Because I love you…”

“No, I mean why do you want to become a vampire? How is that appealing to you?”

“It’s not, you are.” I whispered embarrassed.

“What about your family, Mike?” He asked, his tone softening.

“They will understand.”

I was finally breaking him.

“And if they don’t?”

“Then I’ll have you—forever.”

Aden sighed. He ran his fingers through his bark brown hair. He had no idea what to do. He wanted me to be with him forever too.

“I hate being without you. It kills me.”

“What if I kill you?” His face was screwed up. He had no idea what to say or do. He was torn.

“I know you won’t. I trust you.”

After a minute of pacing, Aden knelt down beside me on the floor. He looked me in the eyes, his green ones bright as ever. “This is really what you want?”

I couldn’t tell on his face what he was thinking. “Yes.” I said breathless.

He leaned in and kissed me. This wasn’t a usual kiss. It had meaning inside it somewhere.

When we broke apart he whispered in my ear, “Are you sure about this?” His cold breath on my neck made me shiver.

No sound would come out of my mouth so I nodded.

“Life will never be the same.”

“As long as your there…” I managed to say.

My whole body was trembeling with anticipation.

Aden leaned in closer to me, pressing his cold lips to my neck; then…everything changed—forever.