“I’m not sure,” I admitted, deciding to be honest with her. “Annie and I are both going to speak on your behalf. And Annie is on the Council for the time being, so hopefully there won’t be too harsh of a penalty. They got their hands on you early—hopefully they’ll believe you aren’t too tainted.”
“And if they do think I’m tainted?”
Cory and I were both silent. Neither of us wanted to be the one to tell her, but it was obvious from the look on her face that she already had an idea of what might happen to her if the Council rallied against her.
“Nothing is going to happen to you,” Cory said, breaking the silence. “I won’t let it. I promise.”
“We should probably get out of here. I don’t want to keep Finn and the Council waiting any longer than I already have.” Cory hesitated, not moving or letting go of Beth. His eyes flicked from me to the open door, and I tensed. “It’s not worth it,” I said slowly. “You won’t make it far, especially with Finn waiting outside.”
“I have to try. I won’t just lead her back like a lamb to slaughter.”
“If you run, you’re both dead for sure. Don’t force the Council to send me after the two of you…” I pleaded.
His shoulders slumped and he sighed. “Alright. I shouldn’t, but I’m putting my faith in you, Ronnie. Don’t let Beth down.”
“I’ll do my best.”
Cory and I helped Beth to her feet, and together the three of us walked from my house. It had started to get light out, and the sun was just coming up on the other side of town. I could see the darkness giving way to the soft orange glow of morning, and I took it as a sign that things might finally start getting better.
Finn was waiting just outside the front door. He had one hand on the back of Alan’s neck, refusing to let him run into the house. I was touched by Alan’s concern, but that quickly took a backseat when I saw the look on Finn’s face when he noticed me.
He let go of Alan and ran over, picking me up and swinging me around in a gigantic bear hug. He buried his face in my neck and inhaled deeply, and I felt his entire body relax. I wrapped my arms around him, holding him as close as I could. “It’s over,” I said.
“I’m so proud of you,” he said quietly, for my ears only. When he let me go, he looked down at me, all joy and happiness gone from his face. His eyes roamed over my face, searching for something, probably a confirmation of my mental wellbeing. “How are you feeling?” He must have noticed the look on my face because he hurried on. “Stupid question, but I thought I would ask anyways.”
I sighed. “I’m not really feeling much of anything right now,” I confessed. “I’m glad it’s all over, I guess. But I’ve spent so much time and energy focused on this, I feel kind of lost now, like I have no center. There’s nothing to keep me grounded.”
“You won’t be lost for long,” Finn promised. “You’ll find yourself again eventually. And I’ll be right by your side the whole time.”
“Aren’t you getting sick of me yet?” The question was out before I could think better of it. It hung in the air between us for a long stretch of time, neither of us sure what to do. I wished I could take it back, but Finn didn’t look annoyed or confused like I thought he would.
“Ronnie, I love you,” he said finally, as if he couldn’t believe what he had just heard. “I will never get sick of you. I may get angry with you, or maybe sad because of you, but never sick of you. You mean too much to me for me to ever be sick of you. I love you, and I’m going to help you through whatever this numb feeling is.”
“Finn, I love you, too, but the things I’ve seen and been forced to do can’t be magically fixed by your love.”
“I know,” he said softly. “But it can be a constant reminder that I’ll always be here for you, willing to do anything I can to make your life easier. It’s a promise that I’ll never give up on you.”
I smiled. “Thank you.”
“Ronnie?”
I turned to find Jessica looking up at me with wide eyes. “Was that girl your sister? She said she was.”
“Beth isn’t my sister, but the girl that was forcing her to do bad things was. She’s gone now though, and Beth is back to normal. She won’t hurt you guys.” I looked over her head at Alan and Susan, who were hovering anxiously nearby. “I’m so sorry you guys had to get dragged into this, but it’s over now. Tabitha’s spirit is gone and nothing can ever bring her back. You’re safe.”
Alan studied me while Susan held Jessica close, stroking her hair like any loving mother would do. “Are you going to be okay?” he asked.
His words settled over me, forcing me to really think of an answer. “I killed my father, killed my sister, and now I banished her soul for good. And my mother moved on to the afterlife. My whole family is gone, and it’s all because of me. My sister never really had a chance, and instead of finding some way to help her…I killed her. My own sister, the only family I had left.”
Jessica grabbed my hand and squeezed tightly. “I’m your sister too, right?” she asked, staring at me wide-eyed while she waited for answer. She looked confused as to why I would even say I didn’t have any family left.
I smiled down at her, more grateful for her presence than I was for anything else in that moment. “Yes, Jessica, you’re my sister, too.”
She hugged my leg tightly. “Are you going to stay with us this time?”
“I can’t, Jessica.”
“This is your home,” Alan said firmly. “You’re always welcome here.” Susan nodded in agreement.
“Thank you,” I said, touched by their support. “But my place is with them now,” I nodded to Cory and Beth. “I may have things to take care of, possibly consequences to face.”
“What are conse-ck-ck—” Jessica tried to ask.
“Don’t worry about it,” Alan said, shushing her. He looked at me, a frown crinkling his forehead and adding ten years to his face. “You’re not in any trouble, are you?” His eyes flicked over to Finn, like he still didn’t fully believe Finn was a good guy.
“I don’t know yet,” I admitted. “The Council doesn’t trust me, or most other necromancers. Now that my usefulness is at an end, there’s no telling what they might decide to do with me.
“Ronnie, I don’t like the sound of this.”
“I’ll be alright,” I said, crouching down to Jessica’s height. “I promise I’ll come visit you when I get the chance, okay?”
“Okay,” she said, nodding eagerly. “Will you read to me?”
“Whatever you want.” I hugged her tightly before pulling away. “Bye.”
Finn, Cory, and Beth were waiting for me by the door of our car. “Three guesses as to who wants to see you,” Finn said, tucking his phone back into his pocket.
I sighed, feeling like this day would just never end. “Let’s get this over with.”
Epilogue
The feeling of dread I felt deep in my gut worsened when I stopped before the Council. Annie didn’t smile, even though I knew she had to be glad this was all over with. That right there told me this meeting probably wouldn’t go over too well. She caught my eye and gave a slight shake of her head.
My heart sank.
“Veronica, this Council wishes to thank you for the services you’ve done for us. Nobody else could have done what you did, especially with as little damage and loss of life as you did,” Lisa said, opening the meeting.
“I hear a ‘but’ coming,” I said, clenching my hands tightly.
“But,” Lisa continued, “there are some loose ends that need to be tied up,” she concluded.
“By ‘loose ends’ you mean our lives,” I said darkly. “Why don’t you just come out and say it. You’re thinking about whether or not to kill us.”
Their silence was all the confirmation I needed. The knowledge burned through me like a wild fire. “I can’t believe that after everything I have done for this Council, you can still treat me this way.” I was so angry the words would barely come out and I wa
s shaking from head to toe. “After everything I have given up—”
“The Council recognizes what you’ve done for us,” Marcel interrupted. “This Council does. The High Council doesn’t know you like we do, Ronnie. I’ve spoken on your behalf, and they’ve agreed to let me take responsibility for you and your future actions, albeit reluctantly.”
Understanding hit me; it was like a light bulb went off over my head. “They’ve agreed to spare me, but not Beth.”
She whimpered next to me, moving closer to Cory’s side. He put his arm around her protectively. He glared at the Council, as if daring them to touch her. At least he was smart enough to keep his mouth shut, knowing his anger would do him no good.
“Beth’s alliances were not clear when she arrived here,” Lisa said. “Her powers and her desire to use them haven’t been properly tested. There’s no telling the harm Tabitha’s influence has caused her, and she could turn into a huge problem later on down the road. The High Council feels its best to act preventively, rather than waiting for something bad to happen.”
“That is the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard!” I exploded. “You’re talking about murdering a child for something she hasn’t even done, but because she might someday? How is that a logical option?”
“Ronnie—” Annie warned.
“Don’t silence me!” I shouted, startling her. “I deserve to be heard.” She looked away, and I turned my hostile gaze back to Marcel and Lisa. “How can this be an option?”
“The only reason you’re not in the same position is because Marcel was willing to speak on your behalf,” Lisa said coldly, as if she didn’t approve. “He was wiling to take full responsibility for you and your future actions. If you ever step out of line, Marcel will be punished as harshly as you. Taking responsibility for someone is not something to take lightly in our world.”
Her words began to sink in, cooling some of my anger. Marcel was willing to put his life on the line to give me a chance? He must have believed in me more than I thought. “Won’t anyone speak for Beth?” I asked, already knowing the answer. “Annie?”
“I can’t, Ronnie,” she said sadly. “It’s nothing personal, but I can’t risk my life and future for a girl I don’t know. I’m sorry.”
“And if nobody will speak for her—” Lisa began.
“Me! I will speak for her. Beth will be my responsibility. I’ll test her, I’ll teach her, and it will be my fault if she ever does something wrong. This way, if she ever does screw up, you can kill two birds with one stone,” I said, narrowing my eyes at Lisa.
Marcel leaned forward. “Ronnie, this is serious. If Beth ever steps out of line, it will be your neck right up there with hers. Don’t take this lightly.”
“I’m not,” I assured him. “I’ve seen the good in Beth, and it far outweighs the bad. I’m willing to take a risk if it keeps her from being murdered.”
Lisa was completely unaffected by my hostility, which was no surprise after dealing with Kevin for as long as she had. “You do this at your own risk,” she warned. “From now on, she will be your responsibility, and only yours. You will teach her and watch for any signs of treachery. And if you even sense a seed of evil, it is your duty to report it at once. Failure to do so will result in a meeting with the High Council, which I assure you, you do not want,” Lisa advised.
The Council went silent, staring at us impassively. “Is that it? Are we free to go?” I asked slowly, waiting for someone—probably Kevin—to jump out and scream “April Fools! You’re gonna die tonight!” But that didn’t happen. Kevin didn’t appear, and the Council didn’t dash my hopes.
“Yes, Ronnie. You’re free to leave. Go and live your life. Just try not to make us look bad in the process,” Marcel said with the hint of a smile on his face.
“Thank you.” I turned and motioned for Beth to follow me out before the Council could change their minds about anything that had just happened. As we reached the door, Lisa called out after us. “We’ll inform the High Council of your decision to speak on Beth’s behalf. Let’s hope they agree with you that there’s more good than evil in her.”
Her words sounded far more threatening than I expected them to. But I refused to let them get to me.
“Lisa, all of us have darkness in our heritage. Every single one of us. Whether it’s demons in our past or our family’s pasts, we all have something evil to atone for,” I said, looking at each of the Council members one at a time. “And I’ve done that. I’ve atoned for my family’s sins, and I won’t be made to feel responsible for it anymore. I’ve given everything I have for this Council other than my life and you people won’t get that, too.
“You can have my heart, my mind, and my soul, but I plan to spend my life doing whatever I can to help others, and you can’t stop me, even with your thinly veiled threats. Beth will be just fine, and so will I.” As of right now, my life had officially begun. I had no evil family members coming after me, I had no enemies to hunt down, and the only thing I had to worry about was the High Council cracking down. And I only had to worry about that if Beth screwed up.
And I just wouldn’t let that happen.
Finn slung his arm around my shoulder, pulling me closer. I got the feeling he was immensely proud of me. The double doors swung shut behind us, and outside in the hall, Ezra, Tanya, and Holly were waiting for us. Tanya squealed when she saw me, and she threw her arms around me, hugging me tightly. “That was a great speech. Are you okay?”
Her lovely turquoise-colored eyes looked me up and down. They zeroed in on my bicep, which Beth had bandaged earlier in the car. It was tied off with a strip of Finn’s shirt sleeve, but the blood had dried and turned crusty, and it was beginning to itch a little.
Her long, thin fingers deftly peeled aside the makeshift bandage, examining the wound underneath. It wasn’t too deep, but it throbbed painfully, and it burned a little, just like a mosquito bite. She clucked her tongue in sympathy, and she pressed her fingers to it. Immediate coolness spread through my arm, dulling the burning itch. The wound closed up as I watched, sealing it shut as if it had been stitched closed months ago. I flexed my arm, testing to make sure I had my full range of motion.
“You’re getting really good at healing” I said proudly. “Your lessons are really paying off.”
Tanya beamed happily, her beautiful blue shimmering wings fluttering behind her. The wind she kicked up disturbed Holly’s hair and the vampire moved to my other side, out of the path of destruction. “So, what now?” she asked.
“I’m not sure what we’ll do from now on. But right now, I want to get some rest.” I looked up at Finn. “You coming with me?”
“Do you have to ask?”
After a hug from Tanya, Beth walked over, looking very shy and out of place amongst my friends. Her eyes were full of tears. “Thank you, Ronnie. I’ll never be able to repay you for what you did for me in there.”
“Don’t worry about it. We necromancers have to stick together. I’ll give you tomorrow off, but after that, morning lessons start in the morgue. Okay?”
She nodded. “I’ll be there.”
Finn and I were finally free to head back to the security of my room. People looked at us as we walked past, but I ignored all of their stares, instead focusing on Finn’s presence at my side.
Two Socks was curled up on my pillow when I closed the door behind me. He opened one amber colored eye to look at me sleepily, but didn’t seem too interested in moving to greet me. I stroked his head and he chirped at me lazily. He settled back down, with only one annoyed, tiny growl at Finn.
Finn—to his credit—didn’t growl back. He grumbled a little as he sat on the other side of the bed, as far away from Two Socks as he could get. He patted the spot on the bed next to him, and I kicked off my shoes and jumped into bed with him. He pulled me close, tucking me safely under his arm. I felt happy and content there by his side, feeling the warmth he radiated.
He kissed my temple, his soft lips lingering against
my skin. “I love you,” he said, his voice husky and thick. He hesitated, and I could tell there was more that he wanted to say, but he wasn’t sure if she should or not. “I think you’re it for me, Ronnie,” he said quietly.
“You’ve told me that before, more than once.” Before I had really accepted Finn’s feelings for me as genuine, he had tried numerous times to convince me that he wanted me to be more than one of his normal flings that were always short, meaningless, and entirely physical. He had told me plenty of times that I was “it” for him, but he hadn’t shown me that yet, since he had still been fooling around with other girls.
But he was different now. He and I had both changed, and his words carried far more weight this time around. But this felt even more different, more serious than before. Could he possibly be saying what I thought he was saying?
“Ronnie, I want you to know that someday I’m going to ask you to be my mate. I just want you to be prepared for when that day comes. It won’t be anytime soon,” he said, chuckling nervously. “but you’ll have a very big decision to make someday.”
I snuggled closer to him. “It’s already been made.”
The smile on his face was the most wonderful thing I had ever seen. Knowing that it was just for me made it even better.
Finn grabbed the remote for the tiny TV I had and waved it at me. “So, which episode did we leave off on?”
Taking the remote from him, I smiled.
The End.
Other Books by Samantha Hoffman:
The Arena Wars (Arena Wars #1)
War of Hearts (Arena Wars #2)
Consumed By War (Arena Wars #3)
Zombie Island (Zombie Apocalypse #1)
Zombie Country (Zombie Apocalypse #2)
Zombie World (Zombie Apocalypse #3)
Tales of Terror from Survivors (Zombie Apocalypse #3.5)
The Awakening (Daray Hall #1)
The Protector (Daray Hall #2)
Dark Heritage Trilogy Page 60
