“So, all that really happened then?”
“Yes,” he said; flicking invisible lint off his jeans so he didn’t have to make eye contact.
“Then, then my dad is. . .”
“Dead? Yes,” He said finishing my sentence. Tears welled in my eyes. “I’m so sorry; for everything.”
Those five words made me snap. “You’re sorry! Is that all you have to say Jonathon Pulmer! Honestly! You left me! You broke my heart! No, you shattered it! And all you have to say for yourself is you’re sorry!” I ranted; I could feel my face turning red.
He looked away from me ashamed.
“I thought if I left, if Selena thought I was leaving you that she’d leave you alone. I was wrong…”
“Well obviously you were wrong!”
“I thought it would be best.”
“Well it wasn’t.”
“I’m sorry Kylie. I thought I was keeping you safe but I only put you in more danger.”
“I had to watch my father have his head ripped off!”
“I know… You are so strong to have gone through that. I wish I could’ve gotten there sooner but you wouldn’t let me in your mind.” He said.
That stopped me cold.
“So that was real too? You talked to me in my mind?” I asked calming slightly.
“Yes, the first time I tried to you shut me out of your mind.”
“That… That pressure… that was you?”
“Yes. I could only get into your mind because you were thinking about… well… me. And that made you vulnerable. But you sensed me trying to push into your mind and you pushed me out.”
I remembered the first time I had felt that strange pressure in my head. If only I hadn’t pushed him out then. My dad would still be alive. I should have killed him myself. By shutting out Jonathon I had basically handed my dad a death sentence.
Jonathon seemed to sense my thoughts or maybe it was my facial expression.
“It isn’t your fault. Don’t even think that,” He said sliding a little closer to me; he could see that my anger was dwindling.
I tried to conceal my pain.
“Why did she have to attack my dad? Why couldn’t she just come after me?”
“Because she’s sadistic. She wanted to get at you… and me. She knew she could do that by attacking your family.”
“Why did her scratches burn me? I felt like my whole body was on fire.”
“It’s complicated but I’ll try to explain it as best I can. All vampires have two kinds of venom. Good venom that makes your prey feel no pain. Good venom is like a high for those who are bitten with it. And then there’s bad venom. The bad venom makes you suffer the most unthinkable pain. If a vampire bites you and uses the bad venom you definitely will die… unless you drink the blood of your soul mate. You receive healing properties from your soul mate’s blood and the blood heals the venom making it disappear. If a vampire bites you with good venom you may die if the vampire drains you but that’s rare because if a vampire is going to bite you with the good venom he usually isn’t going to kill you. Does that make any sense?”
“A little. But Selena didn’t bite me. She scratched me.”
“Selena wanted you to suffer for as long as possible. That’s why she killed your dad the way she did so you’d suffer the pain of his loss before the real pain started. When she scratched you she released tiny amounts of the bad venom into your skin all over your body. You would’ve died a couple days later but all that time you would have been raging with pain.”
“Wow,” I said. “I’m glad I finally let you into my head,” I said sighing at how easily we had been discussing the possibility of my painful death.
Jonathon gave a small chuckle. Suddenly serious he said, “Me too. I thought I was going to lose you.”
“I thought I had lost you. That’s why I didn’t want to think about you. It was too painful. I thought you didn’t love me anymore.”
“I’m sorry to have put you through that. I hope you know how sorry I am. I thought I was doing what was best for you. And you gave me the perfect opportunity to make it seem like I didn’t want to be with you anymore with your talk about not wanting to be a vampire.”
“So, it really was all an act?” I asked.
Jonathon slid down he bed to be as close to me as he could get, “Oh, yes principessa. I love you with all my heart and I always will. Nothing can ever change that.”
“Even the fact that I don’t want to be a vampire?”
“Yes. I will not lie to you; it does bother me that you do not want to spend forever with me but I will not push you on the matter. It is your choice and it will not change my feelings for you. I love you. I love you. I love you.”
“I love you. Now kiss me my vampire knight,” I said with a smile trying to clear the lingering darkness that had been left behind.
He leaned in and after months I finally got to kiss him again. The sparks were everywhere. Everything seemed ringed in gold. My soul was singing again. Finally we were together again. He broke the kiss and put his hand on my cheek and leaned his forehead against mine.
“Finally,” we said at the same time as we started kissing again.
Epilogue: A Funeral
Danny, Joseph, and Mason had recovered my dad’s body from the building we had been kept in. Jonathon told me that Selena had taken us to her house. The house where she had tried to turn Andrew into a vampire. The house where he had died. The house where Selena had sworn vengeance on Jonathon.
The guys said when they got there that Selena’s body wasn’t there. So either she had turned to ashes and blown away or she wasn’t dead.
I was willing to bet a lot that she wasn’t dead.
All the Pulmer’s and I were at the airport boarding their private airplane. We were flying to California to bury my dad. Patrick and Amelia were coming with us. Luigi had agreed to keep an eye on my mom. She was more stable now but not stable enough to be near humans.
I settled into the cushy leather chair on the airplane and Jonathon sat next to me. He grabbed my hand and squeezed gently to say that everything would be okay and with him here I knew it would be.
Since he had been back we were inseparable. I couldn’t even go to sleep at night if he wasn’t lying next to me. I was always touching his hand, his cheek, his hair, to assure myself that he was really here and he did the same thing with me.
The Pulmer’s had been even kinder to me; if that was possible. Even Mason was being nice. And Joseph wasn’t saying anything dirty about me and Jonathon.
I bit my lip nervously. I wasn’t looking forward to the funeral at all. I knew my brothers were suspicious about our father’s death and I knew they’d be curious about the Pulmer’s. I also knew that they’d probably drill Jonathon.
The plane took off and I felt like I left my stomach on the ground.
When we touched down in California it was after midnight. A limo was waiting for us to take us to the hotel.
Kelly had said I was welcome to stay at home in my room but I had denied her offer. The thought of being in a house with just Kelly made my stomach churn. But I did appreciate her offer. After everything I had been through I was seeing a lot of things in a new light. I knew now that my dad had been unhappy with his marriage to my mother for a long time and I had been to blind to see it. Kelly made him happy. Or did make him happy and I couldn’t deny him his happiness even if I once would have loved to see him unhappy. I was disappointed with myself that it had taken seeing my dad die to finally see things clearly. Everyone deserved to be happy. I was sorry that my dad’s had been cut so short.
On the ride to the hotel I fell asleep. I was exhausted and tomorrow was going to be stressful. The funeral service was at one o’ clock and the burial was at three o’clock.
We made it to the hotel and Jonathon and I both fell asleep.
The next morning I moved mechanically to be presentable for the funeral. I left my hair curly and dabbed on a little makeup. I slipp
ed into my new black nineteen fifties style dress. It had cropped sleeves and fit snuggly at the top then flowed down into a full skirt with a lavender bow at the waist.
I went back into the room from the bathroom to find Jonathon in a black suit looking dashing. His hair was still damp from his shower and in soft waves. His full lips were set in a grim line.
“Are you ready?” he asked. I nodded and we met his family in the lobby.
Danny, Mason, Joseph, and Patrick were all in suits similar to Jonathon’s. Amelia’s hair was hanging down loose and she wore a slim black dress with a red belt. Diana had her hair slicked back in neat up do. She wore a white v-neck knit shirt tucked into a black pencil legged skirt. She and Amelia both looked so effortlessly beautiful while I felt like I looked like a haphazard mess.
I tried to smooth my hair back with my hand as we got in the limo.
We arrived at the funeral home and a crowd was already there. I recognized several men my dad worked with. I saw Kelly and then my brothers.
When I stepped out of the limo hand in hand with Jonathon I saw them glance questioningly at each other then at me. Slowly everyone turned to look at us. I couldn’t blame them. The Pulmer’s were all beautiful. We moved as a group to join the others gathered around outside.
They didn’t know how my dad really died they all thought he died in a car accident in Italy because he was driving on the wrong side of the road. They also thought he was coming to visit me because I freaked out about him and Kelly getting married. If only they knew the truth.
Aiden and Adam looked older than the last time I saw them. They both had stubble and their eyes were blood shot. I hugged them both.
I turned and introduced the Pulmer’s. I noticed Aiden’s eyes lingering on Diana and I thought I saw a slight flush creep up her cheeks. I introduced Jonathon last.
“And this is my um… boyfriend Jonathon,” I said.
Aiden and Adam smirked at each other.
Jonathon extended his hand. “It is very nice to meet you Aiden. Adam.”
They took his hand and gave me a look that said, “we’ll talk about this later.” I knew the boys were bound to become even more overprotective and father-bear-like with me now that our dad was dead. I let out a sigh of relief though. My brother’s had managed not to embarrass me. For now at least.
We headed into the funeral home and I suppressed my urge to shudder at all the flowers and pictures of my dad.
My brothers and I walked around the funeral talking to people and thanking them for company. Many asked about the Pulmer’s and who they were. Every time I said, “They are good friends of mine and my mother’s and offered to come with me since my mom could not.”
Finally we settled in to listen to the service.
Adam and Aiden sat next to me and Jonathon.
The minister spoke first. He gave a lengthy speech on God and how that my dad was a good man and in heaven now.
Then Kelly walked up to the podium. She sobbed hysterically. “Michael was a-a-a won-wonderful m-man. I l-l-loved him s-s-so mu-much!” and then her tears and sobs consumed her and she could speak no more.
For a moment no one moved.
After that we dispersed to eat and then we were on our way to the burial.
The cemetery was lush and green. It was December but it was seventy degrees in California. The palm trees swayed in the breeze. Everyone gathered around the casket. Those who had brought flowers laid them upon the casket.
I leaned towards Aiden.
“You should speak. You’re the oldest and the best speech maker,” I said.
“No, I have no idea what to say.”
“Just speak from your heart.”
Aiden sighed and stood in the center of the crowd.
“My dad was not a saint. Nor is anyone. He was strong and fought for what he believed in. He was stubborn just like his kids,” Aiden said with a laugh looking at me. “At times I didn’t agree with my father’s decisions but I loved him no matter what. He may be gone but he lives on in his children’s hearts and he always will. It was a terrible accident that took my father from this Earth but his memory will live on through us all. Thank you,” He said and sat down.
Jonathon leaned down and whispered in my ear, “You should say something too. It’ll make you feel better.” I knew he was right but the thought of speaking in front of all those people was frightening. “Don’t be scared. I’m here.” Those two words gave me the strength to get up and speak.
I rose and saw Aiden and Adam’s shocked expressions. They both knew I hated public speaking.
I cleared my throat.
“I don’t have much to say. I feel Aiden said it all. But I want to speak for my own peace. I had always been close to my dad. Daddy’s little girl you’d say. But in the past months I have felt that I hated my dad. I felt like he betrayed his family. Abandoned us. But I know now that he didn’t. He did what was right for him what made him happy. Isn’t that what we all want? To be happy? Well that’s what he did and I can’t be mad at him for wanting happiness. Kelly made him happy and although I hate to admit it I have to thank her for making him happy. My dad was a great dad and I’ll always keep him close to my heart. I hope wherever he is that he knows I love him,” I said.
Everyone clapped.
As I turned to head back to Jonathon I saw a movement at the far end of the cemetery that looked like long black hair. It couldn’t be? I blinked my eyes and it was gone.
Great I was seeing things now.
Jonathon squeezed my hand and whispered in my ear, “That was amazing. I’m so proud of you.”
We spent the rest of the day with my brothers. They both seemed to like Jonathon. Neither one of them grilled him and seemed to accept him. I think they saw how connected Jonathon and I were.
We shared stories about our dad and laughed at the silly memories. It was nice to be with my brothers. But I was sad to say goodbye.
We were leaving to go back to Rome tonight.
“I’m going to miss you,” I said to both Aiden and Adam as I said goodbye to them at home. After the burial we had come back to our dad’s house. They hugged me back.
“You guys have to come to Rome.”
“We will,” they said in unison.
Aiden turned to Jonathon. “See you later dude. Keep an eye on her for us. Make sure she’s alright,” Aiden said in all seriousness.
“I will,” said Jonathon.
I hugged my brothers again and then Jonathon and I left to meet the others at the hotel.
I could see Jonathon was weak from being in the sun most of the day and I worried about him. He looked so tired and vulnerable. His skin had taken on a grayish quality and his eyes seemed sunken in.
Back at the hotel I changed into sweatpants and a sweatshirt for the ride home. I opened my suitcase to put my clothes in it. And found something that shocked me.
Another note and it was Selena’s handwriting.
You can’t get rid of me.
I immediately ripped the note to pieces and threw it down the toilet. I watched the little pieces swirl down into oblivion.
We left the hotel and got on the plane.
I kept the note to myself. I would tell Jonathon when we got home. For now I wouldn’t worry him. I put my head on his shoulder and he ran his fingers through my hair his strokes relaxed further proof that I should wait to tell him about the note.
As we flew over the Pacific I thought to myself, one thing was certain; Selena was alive and she’d be back. But this time would we survive?
Look for book two FORBIDDEN coming soon!
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Fallen (Fallen Series Book 1) Page 24
