Bitten – Episode 39

 

Chapter 39(semi final)

 

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Time is a curious thing. What may seem like a year to someone may seem like a day to someone else. For example, to me, six months felt more like six weeks. Funny how fast time flies by when you know you’re going to die.

 

 

Solomon did some research on Blue Bloods, trying to deicide if what Sebastian found out was true or not. We weren’t sure on whether or not his source of information was reliable, after all, none of the other Rutherfords had known about it until I told them. Unfortunately, and it didn’t come as a shock to me, Sebastian’s words were true. Fortunately, it wouldn’t hurt. The thought was scary, but my body would just shut down naturally, like if I’d died of old age.

 

Vincent stayed with me the whole time. Sometimes he was a little cranky, but he was surprisingly nice. It was pleasant, but I couldn’t help but notice he was holding back his sarcastic remarks. When I’d told him about it, he’d told me I was crazy for wanting him to snap at me. I told him that was the Vincent I loved. So that brought him back down to earth a little. Even though he didn’t say anything, I could tell he was getting more worried about me day by day. It was like he wanted to tell me to live, but couldn’t… which I was glad for. I didn’t want to change my mind.

 

Fiona was somehow managing to keep up with all her queenly duties while dealing with her pregnancy. As it turned out, vampires get an accelerated pregnancy, so I would be able to see her son or daughter before I passed away. From what she told me, the kingdom was dealing pretty well with the fact Fiona was replacing Sebastian instead of Vincent. It was a new era, as the people said.

 

As my days dwindled down to the very last few, my body grew weaker. I spent more and more time in bed, unable to go outside and visit Sebastian’s grave like I usually did once a week. That was probably the thing that upset me most about my body wearing out. I felt like I was turning into a cat- sleeping most the day and only waking up to eat and drink, and talk to Vincent for a little bit. Somehow I managed to keep myself completely calm with the situation.

 

On my birthday, an excited voice met my ears and I slowly opened my eyes, rubbing them to try and rid the bleariness from them. It took a few

 

 

moments for them to adjust to the light in the bedroom, but when they did, I noticed Fiona standing over me, something small cradled in her arms.

 

“Emily!” she chirped excitedly. “Good! You’re up!”

 

“Of course she’s up,” a disgruntled voice snapped. “You barged in here without even knocking and started making a racket!”

 

Sitting up, I waved my hand at Vincent, trying to ignore the drowsiness that was tugging at the back of my mind. “It’s fine. She’s here for an important reason,” I told him quietly, a yawn punctuating my sentence.

 

“Yep! Emily, meet your God son, William.”

 

“William?” Vincent repeated with a snort.

 

Fiona frowned at him. “Yes. That’s the name of the place Sebastian and I first met. William’s Pub.”

 

“Lame.”

 

She ignored him, taking a seat on the edge of my bed so I could see the sleeping baby. “He’s so cute!” I cooed gently, gazing at the infant in her arms. He was incredibly adorable.

 

“Isn’t he? He’s going to look just like Sebastian!”

 

“He has your ears though,” I pointed out, smiling at the cute little pair of ears on his head. “So adorable…”

 

Suddenly he opened his eyes. My heart skipped a beat. He had Sebastian’s eyes. Fiona smiled gently down at me. “Aren’t they the most beautiful eyes you’ve ever seen?”

 

I nodded. “Sebastian would be so proud…”

 

“He is, wherever he is,” she told me brightly.

 

Suddenly a wave of nausea rolled over me and I fell back into my pillow, grimacing. Vincent was at my side in an instant. “Are you okay?”

 

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“I’m fine,” I told him, trying to give him a reassuring smile. For some reason, I was finding it difficult to lift my lips.

 

Fiona frowned at me, her eyes starting to glisten. “It’s soon isn’t it?”

 

“Today’s my birthday,” I whispered, now finally managing to smile.

 

“Happy birthday,” she wished, her voice sounding shaky.

 

I swallowed, my heart clenching painfully. I wasn’t sure whether it was due to my feelings or my body. It was hard to tell these days. Tears threatened my eyes, but I somehow held them back. I didn’t want to show how weak I was in front of Fiona. It would only make her sadder. “Thanks,” I finally responded.

 

“Emily, are you sure you want to go through with this? I know you have something against becoming a vampire, but I don’t want you to go! Are you sure you’ve thought this all the way through?” she rushed, her eyes wide and imploring. “Please, I’m begging you to reconsider-”

 

“Fiona,” Vincent snapped, cutting her off. “Enough.”

 

She turned her green eyes to him. “Don’t you agree, Vincent? You want her to stay, don’t you? Tell me I’m right!”

 

He glared at her. “Shut up or leave right now.”

 

“Emily,” she tried again, turning back to me.

 

A lump formed at the back of my throat, but I swallowed it. I couldn’t change my mind now. I’d been so resolute up until now! If I chickened out I’d regret it later! No matter what anyone else wanted, I needed to keep to my word. It wouldn’t be fair if I lived while other humans just like myself would have to die.

 

 

I grimaced as a horrible pain shot right through my heart. My hand went up to my chest, squeezing my shirt. “Ugh…”

 

“Get out,” Vincent demanded, moving toward Fiona. “You’re stressing her out.”

 

“I’m sorry!” she apologized, holding up a hand. “I won’t say anything else!”

 

He scowled at her. “Fiona.”

 

“It’s fine,” I assured him, reaching out to grab his hand. “I’m fine. She can stay. I want her to stay.”

 

“Fine,” he grumbled.

 

“Oh! I forgot to tell you!” Fiona suddenly chirped. “I saw your brother the other day! It turns out he got into Harvard!”

 

My eyes widened. “Seriously? I never knew he was that smart!”

 

“I guess he is! Leah’s going with him too!”

 

Now I was really surprised. How had she managed that? “Wow, a lot of things can happen when you’re gone for six months…”

 

“I’ll say,” she agreed. “Just the other day I was at Sebastian’s grave and this little girl was there too. You know what she said to me? I want to marry him. It was too cute! I didn’t know even little girls fancied him! It’s impressive how much he affected everyone.”

 

I laughed. “Hmm, he even wooed the little girls? That could be taken a creepy way.”

 

Vincent rolled his eyes at me. “Sebastian wasn’t like that.”

 

“Duh,” I responded, sticking out my tongue.

 

He sighed. “Funny how you’re so energetic now that we’re talking about him. It makes me wonder if you secretly loved him all along.”

 

“I did,” I deadpanned.

 

“You… don’t joke about that,” he growled softly.

 

Fiona giggled. “Jealous, Vivi?”

 

He let his head drop backwards. “You still insist on calling me Vivi? Even though Joel’s in jail, he still does it and it still annoying the crap out of me.”

 

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“I don’t see why you’re still his friend then,” she responded simply. “You know, he betrayed us. And if he annoys you so much, why keep going to visit him?”

 

Vincent scowled at her. “Shut up.”

 

“He’s embarrassed to admit it, but he didn’t want to give up Joel’s friendship,” I told her, smirking. “He told me himself.”

 

“Emily!”

 

“He’s actually got a pretty good heart,” I continued, patting his chest. “I never thought he’d forgive something like that.”

 

He slapped my hand away. “Shut up!” When he realized what he did, he froze. “Sorry.”

 

I laughed. “It’s fine, Vincent. I’d rather you act normal than act like I’m some doll made of glass.”

 

Suddenly William started wailing. Surprised, Fiona stood up, bringing him to her chest. “Shh, it’s okay. Quiet, William!”

 

“That brat is too noisy!”

 

“Well sorry!”

 

“Take him outside!”

 

“I don’t want to leave!”

 

I wrinkled my nose. I didn’t like the sound of a baby crying.

 

Fiona must have known quieting him down was hopeless, because she sighed. “Alright, fine, I guess I have to go. I don’t want to bother you,” she said reluctantly.

 

I smiled at her. “That’s fine.”

 

“I guess I should feed him anyway… I…” She paused, her voice catching in her throat. “Thanks for everything, Emily.”

 

“It’s no problem,” I responded, scratching the back of my head. “I don’t know what you have to thank me for though…”

 

She pursed her lips at me. “Everything.”

 

“You’re welcome then,” I said, grinning. “Make sure William grows up to be a brave man like his father.”

 

She laughed quietly. “Of course. I’ll see you later then…”

 

“Hopefully not for a long time,” I replied, my grin dropping. “Bye, Fiona.”

 

“Bye, Em…” After a moment more of gazing at me, she turned her back and hurried out of the room.

 

Vincent sighed; sitting in the spot she’d vacated seconds before. “Finally. I thought she’d never leave.”

 

“I wanted to see Sebastian’s son,” I told him, frowning. “I’m glad she came…

 

I wish she could’ve stayed longer. He was really cute. Did you see his eyes?”

 

“Yeah,” he murmured, brushing some of my hair behind my ear. “I saw. I’ll see to it that he lives a long, prosperous life.”

 

I nodded. “Good.”

 

He leaned down and kissed me on the forehead. “Emily…”

 

I shook my head again, trying to keep my eyelids open. “I’m tired, Vincent.”

 

“Why don’t you rest?”

 

My hand reached out for his. He grabbed it and I squeezed tightly. “I can’t rest. Not yet.”

 

“Oh,” he said, knowing fully well what I meant. He scooted over on the bed so he could sit with his back against the headboard. After that he released my hand and gently pulled me up so that I could rest against his chest with my head on his shoulder.

 

My hand found his again and I interlaced our fingers, doing the same with my other hand. “I wish I had a chance to have children.”

 

“Emily…”

 

“I’ve actually always wanted to have children.”

 

He rested his chin on the top of my head. “Did you?”

 

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“Yeah, a girl and a guy. Preferably twins.”

 

“Why twins?”

 

I smiled. “I’ve always loved twins. They’d have matching names and clothes…”

 

“That’d be awful,” Vincent snickered.

 

Tears now gathered at my eyes now. “Vincent, I’m scared.”

 

“Don’t be,” he said huskily in my ear. “It’ll be okay, remember? Everything will be okay.”

 

I shook my head, feeling tears rolling down my cheeks. “No, I’m scared. What happens after death? I don’t know what’s going to happen. I’m going to miss you so much.”

 

 

His arms tightened around me, holding me closely. “I’m going to miss you too. You don’t have any idea.”

 

“I love you, Vincent,” I breathed, clenching his hand.

 

“I love you too,” he whispered, kissing my cheek. “I love you so much, Emily.”

 

My heart stuttered in my chest. My eyes were growing heavy. I knew it was soon. My body was just going to stop functioning. It wasn’t a surprise. I knew it was going to happen today. At least it wouldn’t be painful but…

 

My mind was suddenly filled with images of things I hadn’t done. Sky-diving, finishing high school, going to college, having children, buying my first house, getting a job, eating Indian food, even getting into my first car crash… An overwhelming feeling of sadness crashed over me. No, I couldn’t go like this. It wasn’t fair. This was an inhuman reason for going. I was human. It wouldn’t be fair for a human to die for an inhuman reason.

 

And what about Fiona? She didn’t want me to leave. Neither did Vincent; I knew it, even if he did put on a brave face like he’d been doing for the past six months. He didn’t know it, but I’d caught his longing gazes and tight jaw when he was holding back something he wanted to say. I was being selfish by deciding I would die. It would hurt more people than I realized…

 

“Shh, it’s okay, Emily,” Vincent shushed me, pressing his cheek against mine. “It’s-”

 

“I don’t want to die!” I blurted out. “I don’t want to die yet, Vincent! I’m too young! There’s so much I want to do! That I have to do! I thought I could handle this, but I can’t- I can’t!”

 

“Calm down-”

 

“I don’t want to die,” I sobbed, turning so I could face him completely. “It’s not fair!”

 

He set his jaw, swallowing. “Emily…”

 

“I can’t-”

 

“Calm down,” he ordered again, pressing his hand to my mouth. “Of course you’re scared. Just take a deep breath.”

 

I shook my head. “I c-can’t! I don’t want to die! Vincent, please. Help me!”

 

His eyes widened. “What?”

 

“I don’t want to die,” I repeated, staring determinedly into his sapphire eyes. He was the only one who could help me. “Please help me.”

 

“Do you mean…?”

 

I nodded. “Yes.”

 

“Are you sure?”

 

“I don’t want to leave you. Or Fiona. Or William. Or Solomon. Or Luella. Not even Joel. There’s too much I want to do. I’ve been too selfish, Vincent. I wasn’t thinking about anyone but myself… Even now my reason is selfish-”

 

He cut me off by pressing his lips to mine. “No, you’re not being selfish,” he said after he pulled away. “I was always hoping you’d change your mind.”

 

“You were?”

 

Grimacing, he nodded. “Seeing the girl you love choosing to die is a lot harder than you could imagine.”

 

“You’ve been doing a good job of hiding your emotions.”

 

“I didn’t want you to change your mind because of me,” he replied honestly. A hint of regret flashed by his eyes.

 

I chuckled quietly. “You’re a lot different than when I first met you.”

 

“I wonder who’s fault that is,” he responded teasingly, brushing his nose against mine.

 

 

Another wave of dizziness crashed over me and I let my head drop against Vincent’s shoulder. “How do you do it?”

 

“Just close your eyes,” he murmured, brushing my hair out of my face. “If you go to sleep it’ll be over before you know it.”

 

“I won’t die?”

 

“I promise,” he assured me, kissing me once more. “I love you, Emily.”

 

Sighing, I nestled myself further into his arms. “I love you too.”

 

His lips brushed my neck and I closed my eyes. Once I awoke again I knew that when I awoke again everything would be completely different… But that was okay. I almost chuckled. How ironic was it that the anemic girl who was once afraid of vampires was becoming one herself? It’d make a good story. Maybe I could write about it…

 

With that thought in mind, I closed my eyes, letting the fatigue take over me and lull me into a peaceful sleep, filled with dreams of what the future had in store for me.