First we had to catch the attention of one of the witches to let us inside, something that wasn’t difficult to do. I guessed my parents must’ve told the witches to keep an especially sharp ear out in anticipation of our return. I wasn’t sure if the jinn might have been able to break through it, but I wasn’t about to ask them to try. Something told me that the witches would not take too kindly to learning that their spell had been knocked out by our jinn, whom they already held an innate hostility toward.
Corrine arrived quickly, her eyes sweeping over the jinn and fae. She performed her regular checks on all of us—though I couldn’t help but notice she spent longer on each of the jinn—before allowing us in.
As we descended to the forest ground, Corrine gushed over how relieved she was that we had returned safely. Then she asked in a low voice, “Do you think the jinn will be staying?”
“I think so,” I replied. “At least for a while… maybe permanently.”
My heart felt like it would burst with happiness as our feet landed on the soil. There were so many people I wanted to see now that I was back. But first, I needed to visit my parents. I asked Corrine to fix somewhere for the jinn to rest, as well as offer them refreshments, before I raced with River up to the Residences. I had intended to head straight for Vivienne and Xavier’s apartment, which was where my parents had been staying, but passing my parents’ tree, we found ourselves gazing up at a brand-new penthouse, fully restored to its former glory. The witches must have worked on it since we’d been gone.
We hurried up to the front door, where I knocked hard. It was my mother who opened the door.
Joy and trepidation filled her expression at once, though the latter I quickly ended. “We did it,” I said before she could ask. “We completed Sherus’ task.” Among other things…
“Oh, thank God!” She pulled me into her arms, her cheek squished against mine as she held me close. My father arrived behind her and pulled me in for a hug once my mother had moved on to embrace River. Then my sister rushed out.
“You did it!” she squealed, colliding with me before wrapping her arms around my waist.
“Come in,” my mother said, pulling us inside.
Vivienne, Xavier and my baby cousin were here too. I hugged my aunt and uncle before leaning down to kiss the baby’s forehead. I never could have done that as a vampire.
“Are you hungry?” my mom asked River and me.
“Yes,” River said. I could only imagine how hungry and thirsty she must be—I doubted she had eaten for at least a day. I was about to shake my head when for the first time I realized I was actually hungry. Really hungry. I didn’t even know if fae could eat normal food. If not normal food, then what? I’d gotten so habituated as a vampire to my body rejecting everything other than human blood, the thought that I might be able to eat real food again was beyond exciting.
We headed into the kitchen and sat down at the table.
“I made macaroni and cheese casserole less than an hour ago,” my aunt offered. “It’s still hot in my oven. It’ll be faster if I fetch that than your mom making something new.”
Xavier offered to fetch it, and in the meantime, River and I chugged down glasses of water while everyone bombarded us with questions. When Xavier returned with the dish, a delicious smell filled the room. My mouth salivated. I’d practically forgotten what food tasted like. As I spooned the first bite into my mouth, relief rushed through me. It didn’t taste like cardboard. It tasted like my aunt’s scrumptious cooking. I’d never thought I could appreciate casserole as much as I did then. I relished every texture, tasted every herb and spice. As hungry as I was, I chewed slowly, not wanting to rush the flavors swimming on my tongue.
I glanced up at River and my family to see that they were watching me.
“Well, one piggy sure is enjoying himself,” Rose commented, grinning.
I grinned back.
I realized as I munched that every part of my life would be enhanced from now on. It seemed I, like almost everyone else on the planet, had to be deprived of something before I could truly appreciate it. And appreciate I would; I vowed I wouldn’t let a day go past without feeling gratitude for every aspect of my life. From the people I loved, to the food on my plate, to the sand beneath my feet.
For dessert, my mother announced chocolate cake and homemade berry ice cream—made from berries plucked from The Shade’s own forests. Once River and I had finished that, we leaned back in our chairs, looking at each other with satisfied smiles.
My mother could hardly keep her hands off me throughout the meal. She’d been sitting next to me, reaching out and touching my hair or arm every few minutes, as if to reassure herself that I was still real. Still here. Still solid. I smiled at her now, and kissed her cheek. “It’s okay, Mom,” I said to her. “I’m here.”
She gave me a teary smile, and I could see how much she appreciated my words. Then she addressed my sister. “Rose, can you go fetch River’s family? Nadia’s been as anxious as me.”
“Sure.” Rose got up and sped out of the apartment.
We shifted to the living room and continued recounting everything that had happened since we had last seen them. Then Rose returned with Nadia and River’s three siblings. They had a gushy reunion before Nadia came to greet me.
They settled down with us, and we talked for hours, until River could no longer hide her sleepiness. Her head began to nod on my shoulder. Truth be told, I was feeling exhausted too. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d slept properly. And the huge meal we had just eaten did not help.
“River and I should get some sleep,” I said, bracing River’s shoulder gently with my palm.
“The apartment is set up like it was before the fire,” my mother said. “Even your old room.”
We bade everyone good night before I carried River to where my old bedroom had been. A double bed was in here now.
As I stepped inside with River and closed the door, I was fully aware that finally, we had time alone. But ironically, as I laid River down on the mattress and we curled up together beneath the covers… we really did just sleep.
Ben
When I woke hours later, I felt bewildered as to where I was. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d slept in a soft bed, much less with River beside me. My stomach filled with an instinctive dread, a dread I’d been accustomed to waking up with ever since I had turned into a vampire. It took me several moments to remember the reality.
I had reached the end of the tunnel. I was out. Free. Back home.
All was well.
River was still fast asleep in my arms, her right cheek pressed against my chest. Grazing my lips over her forehead, I took a moment to admire her before gently detaching myself and sliding out of bed.
As my feet touched down on the soft carpet and I gazed at my familiar surroundings, I wasn’t sure I’d ever felt so alive. So excited for the day ahead. So happy.
I moved to the window and looked out. This bedroom had a magnificent view of the back of the forest and the waves beyond. I gazed out toward The Shade’s boundary to see that the sun had risen beyond it. I glanced at the clock. Six AM. I drew open the window and inhaled the fresh air. A breeze ventured in, carrying with it the fragrant scent of damp soil. Pearls of water dripped from the redwood branches by my window. It had rained overnight. I breathed in deeply, filling my lungs with the pure air.
Then I headed to the bathroom, where I brushed my teeth and took a shower. Gazing at myself in the mirror, I wasn’t sure how long it would take me to get used to seeing myself in this body. Though I looked mostly the same—my eye and hair color, and the general structure of my face—my features seemed to be slightly sharper in appearance. The tips of my ears for example, were more slanted… rather elvish. And then there was the fact that my body literally glowed. It had a faint, almost golden aura to it. I smiled to myself, remembering how River had mistaken me for an angel.
Once I had dressed in jeans and a T-shirt—which my mother
had thoughtfully left for me in the closet—I glanced at River again. She had turned over, her face buried in a pillow. Still fast asleep. That suited me fine. I had things that I wanted to do while she was still asleep.
I needed to have another discussion with my parents, but first, I needed to talk to River’s mother. Properly.
Leaving my bedroom, I found my mother roaming around in her nightdress. I wondered if she had gotten even a wink of sleep, or whether my return had made her buzz too much. I hugged her good morning.
“I need to go out for a while,” I said, drinking down some water. “I should be back within an hour. And then I need to talk to you and Dad.”
“Okay,” she said, eyeing me curiously. She was obviously wondering where I was heading off to, but didn’t ask. She would find out soon enough…
I left the apartment and descended in the elevator, even as I reminded myself that I could just fly… but I’d had enough of drifting for a lifetime. I wanted to enjoy the walk through the forest to the Vale, feel the ground beneath my feet.
The town was still quiet when I reached it. Beautifully quiet. I passed the gushing fountains in the cobblestone square before heading down River’s road. I had considered that River’s mom might still be asleep at this time, but if Nadia was anything like my mom, she would in all likelihood be up.
I was right. Pressing my ear against the front door of their townhouse, I heard talking from inside. It sounded like Nadia and Jamil.
Standing up straight, I cleared my throat, feeling suddenly nervous. I reached out and rapped on the door. The conversation faded and footsteps approached the door. It swung open to reveal Nadia standing in the doorway. Her face lit up as she laid eyes on me.
“Ben!” she exclaimed, opening the door wider. “Come in, come in. Where’s River?”
I stepped inside. “She’s still sleeping.”
I followed her through to the kitchen, where Jamil was sitting, sipping from a glass of orange juice. He stood up and shook my hand, smiling broadly.
I sat with them at the table, both of them eyeing me curiously.
I cleared my throat, feeling on edge… and incredibly exposed. Just get on with it. God knows you’ve had to do harder things than this in the past year.
Forcing myself to maintain steady eye contact with Nadia, I confessed, “I’m in love with your daughter.”
Warmth rose in Nadia’s cheeks, encouraging me to go on.
“I wish to marry her. In fact, I have already proposed to her. I don’t believe River had a chance to tell you before we left; and I hope you’ll excuse me for not getting your permission first.”
I could see Nadia’s full set of front teeth through her beaming smile. Tears glistened in her eyes. She glanced at her son, who was also smiling.
She stood up, and pulled me into a hug, kissing my cheek. “All is excused,” she said, her eyes twinkling. “The happiest I have ever seen my daughter is when she’s with you. You have my blessing, Ben, from the very bottom of my heart.”
“Thank you,” I said, breathing an internal sigh of relief. I wasn’t sure why I had been so anxious. Maybe it was because this was all such unknown territory for me. I’d had a number of girlfriends before River, but I’d never gotten anywhere close to even thinking about marriage in a distant future. Proposing to River, however, had felt so natural that it had slipped from my lips before I’d even fully thought it through.
Jamil pulled me into a hug and clapped me on the back. “And the unhappiest I’ve ever seen my sister is when you were away.”
My heart soaring, I thanked them both once again, before leaving the townhouse. I raced back through the forest to my parents’ apartment. The door was unlocked, and the kitchen and living room were empty as I strolled in.
“Mom?” I called softly, still not wanting to wake River in case she was still asleep. “Dad?”
The door to my father’s study opened. He stepped out and beckoned me inside. I walked in to find my mother sitting at my father’s desk along with Jeriad.
“Would you prefer to converse alone with your son?” Jeriad asked my parents, always the gentleman.
“We would, actually, Jeriad,” my father replied. “I’m sorry; if you could just wait in the living room we’ll be with you shortly.”
“Certainly,” Jeriad said, strolling out of the room.
Alone with my parents, I took a seat in Jeriad’s chair across my father’s large wooden desk. This desk… This room… A wave of nostalgia rolled over me. Standing in this room and writing a hurried note was one of the last memories I had of this island before leaving in the submarine all those months ago. I remembered how much it had killed me to write it; I’d known how much pain it would cause my family to leave. When I’d made that decision, I never could have imagined in a billion years what a ride I was about to go on.
“How are you feeling?” My father smiled, looking me over. It must have been so strange for my parents to have their son leave and return months later as an entirely different species.
“Better than I’ve ever felt,” I replied. “I just went to see River’s mother, actually.” I paused, wetting my lower lip. “I asked her for permission to marry River.”
My mother positively squealed as she leapt from her chair and smothered me in a hug.
I guess that’s a sign of approval…
“Oh, Ben,” she half sobbed, half laughed.
I checked my father for a reaction. His smile had broadened, and he was eyeing my mother in amusement.
“It seems that your mother is not going to give River the tough time that I gave Caleb,” he said to me.
“Why would I give River a tough time?” my mother shot back. “I couldn’t imagine a better match for our son.” Her green eyes gazed into mine. “I’ve seen how much she is willing to sacrifice for you. She loves you, truly, Ben.”
I nodded, even as my throat tightened a little. “I know she does,” I managed. “As I love her.”
My mother drew away to allow my father to approach. He planted his hands on my shoulders and looked me straight in the eye, still a hint of amusement playing across his face. I didn’t get the impression that any of this had come as a surprise to him at all.
“So… you think you’re ready for married life, huh, son?”
I grinned. “I’m ready for any life with River.”
He nodded approvingly. “I can see that.” He withdrew his hands and stood up straight, looking down at me as I remained seated. “Well, I may not break out in tears like your mother, but trust that I’m just as thrilled as her. River is a strong, courageous young woman. A woman deserving of a Novak… And I recognize happiness in my children when I see it.”
My mother slipped her arm around my father’s waist, resting her head against him as she looked down at me, still glowing. “With you married, that will mean both of my babies have flown from the nest… both around the ripe old age of eighteen.”
“The same age you got married,” I reminded her.
She nodded. “Guess it runs in the family.”
“You know, it’s a funny coincidence,” my father said thoughtfully, changing the subject. He and my mom retook their seats. “You know what Jeriad was just in here talking to us about?”
“What?” I asked, leaning forward.
“He was just telling us that in recent weeks, a number of dragons have proposed to their girlfriends. And while we were away, the dragons started to discuss wedding arrangements.” He paused. “First, how soon do you want to get married?”
I hadn’t thought about a date. “Uh… I haven’t discussed it with River yet… as you can imagine.” I smirked. “We haven’t exactly been rich with time. But if it was up to me, it would be as soon as possible.”
My father smiled, and stroked his jaw. “Well, back to the dragons… They all wish to return to their home country to get married, The Hearthlands. Now, I don’t know how you feel about a joint wedding, and I’ve never been to The Hearthlands myself so I do
n’t know what it’s like, but from what Rose has told us it’s quite a magnificent place. The dragons plan to return as early as tomorrow with their fiancées, and as I understand it, the grand wedding will take place a couple of days after that.”
My mind lit up with excitement. A wedding in The Hearthlands. That sounded pretty epic. I imagined that River would be thrilled at the idea. “Let me talk to her,” I said, jumping from my seat. “I’ll let you know.”
“Yes,” my mom added, “Because if we are going to tag along, we have a lot of arrangements to make in a very short time.” She turned to my father. “We’ll also need to be sure Jeriad doesn’t mind, though I can’t imagine he’d object.”
I left the room and was about to rush straight for River’s door when I paused. Wait, not yet. I’m not ready.
As my parents came out of the study and began conversing with Jeriad again, I told them, “I forgot that there’s something I need to do first.”
With that, I hurried back out of the apartment. I wanted to do things in a little more orthodox fashion this time… and that would involve seeking out the best jeweler our island had to offer: Corrine.
River
My eyelids felt like lead as they lifted. I stretched out, expecting to feel Ben next to me, but he wasn’t. I got out of bed and, after brushing my teeth and sweeping my hair into a ponytail, I left the room and wandered through the apartment. It appeared empty. I padded into the kitchen to get some water and munch on an apple. I noticed a note on the table:
“Come outside.”
Is that Ben’s handwriting? I wasn’t sure if I had ever seen his real handwriting. The last note he’d left me had been written with Shadow’s paw.
I finished my apple quickly and walked outside the front door. On the doorstep was another note, this time drawn with chalk.
“Keep going.”
Next to the writing was an arrow, pointing to the elevator.
Frowning, I stepped inside the elevator and descended to the ground. Here, yet another arrow had been drawn into the soil, pointing to my right.
A Bridge of Stars Page 14
