The old priest slowly reached out, placing a hand on my shoulder. "I understand, son, but I want you to know forgiveness isn't just all about forgetting or excusing what happened. It's about setting yourself free from the shackles of anger, hatred, and bitterness that bind you to the pain"
He smiled, touching his chest. "It's about choosing to let go of the past and embracing the present, not for the sake of the one who took something from you, but for your own sake. Your own good"
The priest stood up, and I followed suit. "I know the journey ahead won't be easy, but I'll be here to support you, for as long as I can" he paused, his tone growing sad. "At least until this property is sold off. You're welcome to come back and talk anytime."
He cleared his throat "Let us pray."
I shook my head, turning to leave. "Thank you, but save your prayers, Father," I muttered.
As I walked towards the door, the priest called out after me.
"Then I will pray for you, son. I'll pray that your heart and soul heal and that you find the strength to overcome this darkness."
I didn't respond, throwing the doors open and striding outside.
My eyes fell on the "For Sale" sign outside, and I dialed the number on the sign.
As I waited for someone to answer, I looked back at the church, my eyes taking in the pathetic structure of its worn walls and faded glass windows.
The realtor answered with a boring tone and I spoke. "How much for the church? I'm looking to buy"
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"It's been a week and some days," My mother said to her brothers, her voice filled with concern for me. "I'm worried"
I watched secretly from upstairs, hidden behind a wall.
She had returned from South Asia with Rafael after hearing about Dawn's death.
Geta sank into a settee. "He's grieving, Darcia. Let him grieve"
"Let him grieve?" She asked incredulously. "We can't afford to just stand by and watch!" She exclaimed. "He's dropping bodies, Geta. Just like he did when he was in his twenties"
"Not only did he lose the love of his life, he watched her die" Dacianus interrupted, sighing heavily. "Grief has consumed him and he's taking it out by killing. Luckily, Rafael's busy covering his tracks"
Geta crossed his legs. "At least he's targeting evil people, I hear. Murderers. Rapists. Thieves Pedophiles. It's not as if he's harming the innocent"
"But he did harm innocent people. He killed Cassius' friends"
"Yes, as payback. Justifiably so" Geta replied.
"But it's still reckless, and it's tearing him apart" My mother spoke again, her hand clutching the neckpiece she wore. "We can't keep ignoring the danger he poses to himself and others"
"What would you have us do? I tried speaking to him once and almost lost my head" Dacianus chipped in "Geta attempted the same thing and..." He looked at his brother "What was it you said Dragos did again?"
"Punched a hand through my chest, a few meters to my heart, and warned me never to speak of the matter again"
I smirked at the memory.
My mother exhaled deeply, turning in the direction of the stairs, and I shifted back a little so she wouldn't notice my presence.
"He won't even speak to me," she said sadly, gesturing towards my room upstairs, her voice lowering to a whisper. "And he still hasn't removed her body from his room. For Dragavei's sake, doesn't that worry you, at least?"
"It does" Geta responded "Although, it's quite strange that the body hasn't decomposed. Could it be because she's a unique type of supernatural creature?"
Dacianus shrugged. "It's possible, but we can't be certain."
"But if you look at it, with Dawn gone, we don't have to worry about other vampires targeting her as the Divine Purge anymore, or the reduction of our numbers. So, there's a silver lining, right?" Geta remarked, earning a glare from my mother.
"What? I'm just stating the facts" he replied defensively.
She shook her head. "You're not entirely right. Even if they're not after Dawn anymore, they could come for Dragos, especially someone like Cassius seeking revenge for the Dark Order massacre."
"But it's been well over a month"
"We didn't expect Cassius' attack" My mother pointed out.
"I doubt they will. I'm very sure by now, that news of Cassius and Elizabeta's death must've spread around. No idiot would want to cross him, especially not when he's still grieving"
"I'm still very much annoyed with you all for keeping Dawn's abduction from me and Rafael," my mother said. "What were you thinking?"
"Dragos didn't want to risk losing you too"
She sighed, turning to look at Dacianus "I don't know what to do anymore"
He rose from his seat, walking towards my mother. He placed a comforting hand on her shoulder and pressed a kiss to her hair.
"We're in this together. I'm sure he'll come around"
She pulled away from his touch. "Don't pretend to be saints now. I haven't forgotten what you, Lucius inclusive, rest his soul, did to Azrael" She shifted her gaze to Geta. "You're responsible for everything he became"
Before my uncle could respond, I decided to make my presence known. Walking back to my door, I swung it open so that it made a sound, catching everyone's attention.
My mother and Dacianus turned to face me sharply, while Geta leaped to his feet.
"Dragos..." She began, but I cut her off.
"I'm hungry," I announced, making my way down the stairs. "I need to eat."
"Of course, of course," she replied hurriedly, rushing to join me at the stairs. She held onto my arm, guiding me to the dining room.
My uncles followed silently, their eyes fixed on me as I took my seat at the table.
"Don't just stand there, join me" I said casually, pouring myself a glass of juice.
An unusual silence hung in the air but was broken by Dacianus' question. "Are you well, Dragos?"
"Of course, I am"
A new maid, recently turned into a vampire by my mother, busied herself with setting the table with food. As soon as she was done, I shoveled some scrambled eggs into my mouth, eating with gusto while the others watched in silence.
"Is the sight of me eating making you all uncomfortable?" I asked.
"No, not at all, honey" My mother replied, taking the seat next to her me. "We're just... surprised, that's all. It's been a while since you've eaten with us."
"Well, I'm here now, and I'd like you all to join me" I responded.
"Of course, Draga meu," my mother said. "Anything you want"
She exchanged a glance with her brothers as she began serving food on their plates.
"How are you holding up?" Geta asked, accepting a full plate from his sister.
I stiffened for a moment, then took a sip of my juice. "I'm fine"
The meal continued in silence until I noticed Rafael's absence.
"Where's Rafael?" I asked, scanning the room.
"Shouldn't you know? Especially when he's been busy cleaning up your mess" Geta responded, earning a sharp look from my mother.
I set my fork down, fixing my uncle a steely gaze but saying nothing.
"I know you're grieving" he continued "But you should stop..."
"Didn't I warn you never to speak of this matter again?" I cut in, my eyes flaming but I maintained my composure.
My mother chuckled nervously. "He's just worried about you, that's all."
I twisted the fork in my hand, ignoring my mother, my angry gaze still fixed on Geta.
"You'll get through this some other way," he said, and I cocked my head, a sardonic grin forming on my lips.
"I can't believe you're advising me on controlling my bloodlust. Mother's stories suggest that wasn't your strong suit"
My eyes didn't leave his. "You even murdered an innocent girl. Azrael's friend"
"That was Lucius' doing, not mine" he replied sternly. "He was the most brutal of us all, taking after our father"
I resumed my eating. "Don't lecture me. I'm doing the humans a favor by ridding them of evil individuals"
"Yes, but at what cost?" Dacianus questioned "Suddenly exposing our kind to the humans whose technology, by the way, surpasses what we could ever imagine, putting every single one of us at risk?
Imagine the Mayor seeking help from higher authorities outside Blue Cove... "
"That's enough, Dacianus" my mother interrupted softly. "We get it"
He picked up his fork. "They're evolving, remember that. This isn't the 19th century. Revealing our existence all of a sudden could lead to chaos, not unity"
"They won't find out" I snapped.
My mother ran her hand through my short, tousled hair and sighed.
"Oh, my Nicolae"
I turned to stare at her. "I didn't want to keep the hair anymore"
"Honey, I understand," she said softly, then took my palm in hers "Do you think we can bury Dawn's body now so she can rest in peace?"
I withdrew my hand from hers, pushing my plate forward on the table. "No."
"Why?" They asked in unison.
I shrugged "Because I don't want to "
My mother and her brothers exchanged worried stares.
"Dragos," she said again "Honey, you have to bury her"
"I'm not doing that" I responded calmly, pushing back my chair and making my way to the door, with mother and her brothers trailing after me.
"She's not finding peace this way, Dragos. You must bury her so you can find closure. That won't happen if you keep her in your room. Please, Honey"
Stopping abruptly, I spun around to face my mother. "She won't have to find peace cause I'm going to bring her back, Mother"