Almara’s PovRobert and I return home, empty handed once again. We step into the living room and I must say I’m a bit relieved to see it’s empty. I assume Roman is upstairs sleeping, I just can’t handle another hopeful look in his eye only to dim when we have to tell him we don’t have the potion, yet.It pains me just as much as I’m sure it pains him. I ascend up the long stairwell using the curved railing for support. I need to see Grace. I crack open the door and step into her nursery. The room is a shade of dust rose with painted clouds
Almara’s PovI’ve mostly come to terms with the very real possibility that Arthur is going to die, or so I keep trying to convince myself that I have.As of now he rests on this white armchair, cradling him the way I hold Grace in my arms. I’ve been watching as his breathing has become more and more shallow, his skin more and more cold no matter how many thick blankets I layer on top of him.I lay my head on his chest and listened to the rhythmic beating of his heart, until I
Almara’s PovMorning comes gracefully. For the first time in what seems like a lifetime, the break of daylight doesn’t feel like another pressuring race against the clock. Instead, I get the sense that this is a fresh start.I’m about to roll over and face Arthur and gently wake him up with a thousand soft kisses, but at the moment I move I feel his strong arm wrap around my hips and pull me into his side. He spoons me and nestles his face into my hair. He takes a long breath in and I press back into him.
Almara’s Pov“What did you just say?” I can’t even hear my own words through the shock running through my system. I see Cathy move her lips, but my ears are ringing as if a bomb just internally imploded inside me. I look at Arthur and he’s just as bewildered as I am.I grab for the couch, something to steady myself. “You risked your life for Arthur, for our family and that’s how you want to be repaid?” I ask making sure I understand the ridiculousness of her request.
Almara’s PovLater that same day Roman, Arthur, and I are compiled into a stuff waiting room at the local inmate holding center in vampire territory. I can’t help but compare the drastic change in how the day started to where it ended up.I blow some hair out of my face and shift in the cold metallic chair. Arthur puts a comforting, and protective, arm around my shoulder. Roman stands up, arms crossed, and refuses to back down from this staring contest with another potential inmate whose seated in the corner.The waiting room is exactly as I expected it to be; gray, cold, and small. The center is just on the outskirts of town, but it seems as if everyone left the town to come hurl obscenities as we arrived on the scene. The media also made the journey, shoving mics in our face and feigning care for Bess.Roman has his own body guard accompany us knowing the Council of Bloody Hollow would offer no sort of protection. It’s been thirty minutes since we notified the pale creature behind t
Almara’s Pov It’s been a week since Bess’s euthanizing, which means it’s been a week without joy. Even Grace seems to hold this vague sadness inside her, as if knowing if not for the life of Bess then she wouldn’t be here either. Though it breaks my heart to see, I can’t help but marvel as the wisdom that seems to be imprinted on her soul, a piece of Bess herself. Today in particular is the crux of sadness and acceptance as we attend Bess’s funeral as family. I always figured Arthur and my first outing with Grace would be happier and certainly not quite as important. I assumed our first outing would be normal, at least normal enough to get buried beneath the rest of our many days ahead. I almost want to apologize to Grace for what her first outing is as I button her fluffy black dress, but doing so almost feels disrespectful. Besides, something tells me that Grace actually doesn’t mind. I catch myself in this line of thinking and wonder if I’ve gone crazy. Can Grace really be r
Almara’s PovArthur and I sit across from the mystery lady, Chirstina, at a high end coffee shop. We’re separated from other guests by a velvet red rope and security guards. Arthur wanted to bring Christina here to remind her who she’s in the presence of, lest there be any tricks up her sleeve.Although, Christina seems to be at home in this elegant atmosphere. She stirs her tea precisely three times with her spoon before clinking the silver against the fine China and bringing the tea to her rosy pink lips. Arthur leans back with his arms crossed and I fidge
Almara’s PovLater that same night I recount to Arthur the wild tale that Bess, Robert, Roman and I ventured on in order to secure the ingredients for Arthur’s remedy. We lay in bed with Grace between us looking between her mother and father as we speak completely enthralled by our voices.To my surprise, Arthur listens to the story with a child-like interest. I tell him everything from running down the gate, to my unfortunate run-in with Claire. I half expected him to be concerned, enraged, or even embarrassment, but by the end of it all he cups my face and says
Almara’s Pov5 Years Later“Cheers,” Arthur sys clinking his mixed drink of vodka and lemonade with my non-alcoholic lemonade. I’m pregnant, again. This pregnancy is completely different than my first two, I actually get to relax. Which is exactly what we’re doing in the manicured garden of our backyard.We sit stretched out on zero-gravity pool chairs, sweat
Almara’s PovAfter a much-needed week of rest and restoration, Arthur and I are back on the vampire territory. I suppose that it can officially be called that again now that it has been reclaimed.My body healed magnificently after months of not only growing another being, but also fighting a war. It’s amazing what good rest and proper nutrition can do. Of course, the real healing ingredient came from the sacrificial love of my wonderful husband.Even though he suffered his own inju
Almara’s PovFinally, after several journeys back and forth from our homeland to the enemies we come to the final steps. We saw plenty of wolves making their expedition back home and there was a unspoken agreement that what everyone needs right now is peace.Thankfully, no one came up to us with questions, grief, or comments. It’s like we have this new kinship with the gammas in our world that we didn’t before. We seem to understand each other, or at least truly see one another.
Almara’s PovOn the way home we make a pitstop to a very special place. “Why are we seeing more dead bodies?” Grace asks, her tone telling me we are nearing a full-blown tantrum.“This body belongs to someone very important in our family,” I tell her calmly and hike her up on my hip. I’m not sure if my words got through to her, or maybe it’s her father's serenity as we ascend up one final hill to where Bess lays.Bess’s gravestone is set apart fro
Almara’s PovWith the vortex closed off and gone, the air becomes breathable again and the storm lessens. Still, my paws squelch in the wet terrain.Unfortunately, as I look around at the battlefield and see the piles of bodies slumped over one another, I think it’s more than just mud causing the stickiness.I try not to look down at the innocent blood shed on the ground. As I take careful consideration to step over and around the bodies, I tell myself they chose to come out and hel
Almara’s PovCathy and I weave through the castle, barely missing rubble crumbling off from the stony walls. We leap over counters, using everything we have in us to catapult ourselves past knocked over statues of gargoyles and shredded velvet furniture.“Catch!” Cathy calls out and reflexively I snatch a jagged shard of ceramic in my hand. I recognize it from a broken pot on the ground. Then out of the corner of my eye I see something else flying at me, though I don’t catch it this time, I duck.
Almara’s PovI’ve never seen Cathy look more confident and proud than she does at this moment. She stands tall, cuts strewn across her body, but they only add to her tough exterior. She’s covered in her enemy’s blood and she has a thrilling look in her eyes.“Have you seen Arthur?” I ask cutting to the chase. Cathy nods back towards tall white cabinet doors. I turn back to look at my mother who nods in confirmation. I rush over to the door and throw it open.
Almara’s PovI awake to a familiar beeping sound. It’s faint at first, like a distant call from far away until it’s suddenly blaring in my ears. My eyes shoot open and the blood in my body rushes to the important organs and I sit up with a jolt.“Where’s Grace?” I ask before I can make out anything else. “Arthur? Robbie?” I call out, hoping the sound of my distressed voice will cause Robbie to cry back.“Shhh,” a gentle voice says with
Almara’s PovArthur flings open the door, this time it breaks off the hinges. I guess there’s no changing our mind now. I keep Robbie wrapped up in both my arms and under my shirt.Arthur uses his body to guard mine, outstretching his arms and a puffed-out chest as he keeps his eyes zeroed in on every moving body around us all while moving us forward and falling in exact pace with each of my steps.We fight through sideways rain and vicious winds, it dawns on me that this storm isn&