My Love, My Life

Kerry's POV

Asher doesn't return, and I doubt he will anytime soon. But his words keep echoing in my head. Something still doesn't make sense. It's hard to believe he would do all this just to get to my daughter.

"At the end, it's all about you," I say to my daughter with a sad smile on my face. The baby doesn't cry, not since Asher handed her back to me. I would have been worried about this abnormal behavior if she were... well, normal. I worry that she will get hungry very soon, and I have no idea what I’m going to do then. I don't think I can stand feeding her blood; it would freak me the hell out. It was one thing having to drink blood while pregnant, but a completely different case entirely to feed it to my infant child.

She looked so human too, except for the unusual crimson eyes. She was a beautiful baby, and there was no doubt she would grow up looking like her father. There would be so many expectations. Asher would come back, no doubt, and he would create more problems for me and my child, but I wouldn't let that fear stop me from doing everything in my power to stop him.

I don’t know how long I stayed in that room. Eventually, I would have to find a way back, now that Asher was no longer here to stop me. But I was so tired. It was already a miracle I hadn't passed out yet.

At one point, I was sure I had fallen asleep because, when I opened my eyes, a familiar figure was hovering over me, staring down at the sleeping baby in my hands with wide eyes.

"Silas?"

"Fuck, baby, I’m here," he snapped out of his daze and quickly reached down to lift me into his arms. "Your dad is outside. I had to come alone for fear that Asher might hurt you if he found out about our presence."

"How did you find me?"

"Your dad helped."

"He did?"

"Yeah."

I gave a nod and leaned further into his arms. Despite the nap, I still felt exhausted. Silas kept looking down at the baby, but he didn’t make a comment. Perhaps he was afraid I was unstable or that the birth was traumatizing for me, which it was. And it still would be. But for the most part, I was just thrilled to have my baby in my arms, even if she wouldn’t stay there for much longer.

"Kerry, are... you alright?"

"Not really," I answered honestly. Nothing was alright.

---

When I returned home, my mom was overjoyed to have me back; she was an emotional wreck. Bill was relieved too, but he had insisted on taking the baby so some examinations could be done on her, to ensure that she was fully healthy and that Asher's blood didn't have any effect on her. My mom and dad talked. It was the first time I had seen them together in years, and it all felt so surreal.

Mom might never be able to forgive Dad for leaving, but at least now she could better understand why he chose to do so. After all, Dad had fallen for Mom, literally. He had given up everything to be with her, and that was worth something.

Silas stayed by my side throughout my recovery. He was like a protective shadow, always looking around me, for fear that Asher might return for me.

"He's not coming back," I told him for what felt like the hundredth time that day. Silas merely crossed his arms and gave me a scrutinizing look.

"You sound confident."

"I am."

"Why?"

"He already got what he wanted." Even though now I wished it had been about me all this time and not my child. "He wouldn't have let me go otherwise."

"What are you not telling me, Kerry? We promised we would be honest with each other. I've been worried sick about you, and I feel like something worse is going to happen." Silas walked over and wrapped an arm around me. I didn’t meet his eyes because I was afraid of him seeing through me. "I will read your damn mind if I have to."

"You can't."

"I can't..." he said bitterly. "You're even stronger than I am now. With more training from your dad, you should be able to kick my ass."

"But I won’t... I merely want to be stronger so I can protect us. You, me, and Emily."

"Via? That's what you're naming our daughter?"

"Yep. I did have to go through months of pregnancy and labor in a few minutes to bring her into this world."

Silas chuckled and cuddled me. "Damn right..."

Speaking of Emily, my mom walked into the room with the baby in her arms. There was a soft smile on her face as she handed my daughter to me and walked out of the room. Silas brushed a finger against Emily's chubby cheeks with a happy grin on his face.

"Our Emily," he cooed. "She's perfect."

"Yes." I brought her close and placed a kiss on her cheek. As if sensing our gaze, Emily pried her eyes open and blinked at us. I felt feelings of love almost overwhelm me.

Yes, our Emily. She was indeed perfect, and we both would do whatever it takes to keep her safe. From the world, and especially from Asher. It was merely a matter of time.

There were hard times to come. Asher was still a looming threat. But at the moment, I felt the happiest I had ever felt. And everything I had been through felt worth it if only I could be with the love of my life and hold our child in my arms.