A Wind of Change(57)

“I left The Shade after my father turned me into a vampire, because I displayed… unusual symptoms. Symptoms that nobody else on the island had displayed in such severity. And I did something bad. Very bad.”

“What?”

“I murdered one of my own people.”

Wow.

“Most vampires are capable of drinking animal blood, however disgusting it is for them. But I was physically incapable of it. I couldn’t risk killing another person, and in my position, leaving was the only right thing to do. I swore that I wouldn’t return until I’d figured out what was wrong with me.”

“But, Ben,” I said, frowning, “you told me before that you know how to cure vampirism. Why don’t you just take that cure and turn back into a human?”

He paused before answering. “There was a reason my father turned me into a vampire. My birth… let’s just say that it was unusual. My blood as a human was deemed valuable by enemies of my parents and made me a target, and so I turned. But even if that threat had passed by now, I’m not sure I could live the rest of my life as a human. Almost everyone I care about—my whole family, except for my sister, and most of my friends—are vampires. I always expected to turn into one as soon as my parents agreed. Growing old and dying while everyone in my life lives on… ” His voice trailed off.

“How old is your sister?”

“She’s my twin,” he replied. “We’re both…” He stopped. “I think our birthday was just recently. I’ve lost track of the date. But I think we’re eighteen by now—although I turned when I was seventeen.”

I was surprised. He seemed older than seventeen.

“I’m seventeen, too,” I said.

I became quiet as I tried to process all that he’d just told me. Then he dropped another brick on me.

“There’s also something else I should tell you, River… as a half blood, you won’t age.”

“What?”

“You’re immortal. Just like vampires. You never age past the age when you were turned. You won’t pass away from this world unless someone manages to kill you.”

“Immortal,” I gasped. I couldn’t wrap my mind around the word.

It was still too much to take in at once. I felt overwhelmed. The implications of such a notion began to flood my brain.

“But… But my family. They are not immortal.”

Ben shook his head.

“I-I can’t be immortal. I can’t remain while everyone I love dies around me.” Just like you can’t die while everyone you love lives.

Ben lowered his eyes to the floor, his face ashen.

“How come you didn’t mention this before?”

“I couldn’t find the right opportunity,” he said.

“There must be a way for me to turn back into a human!” I stood up, the blankets falling to my feet. I looked at Ben in desperation. “There must be some way to cure me.”

He looked doubtful. “It’s possible that there is a cure. But as I mentioned before, it won’t be easy to find, and I have no idea what it might be.” He paused, wetting his lower lip. “But… I do know some people who might be able to help you. Back in The Shade. There are people there more knowledgeable and experienced than me. I’m not sure how to reach there from here, and I wouldn’t set foot with you on the island—”

“Why not?”

“I still have my own mysteries to solve… But I can try to help you get there.”

“You’d do that for me?”

He shrugged. “I can’t just leave you stranded like this.”

I fell silent, still trying to process everything he had just told me. Immortal. I’m immortal. That was insane.

The idea of never dying—never growing past seventeen—was terrifying to me.

But Ben’s words had provided at least some thread of comfort that perhaps there was hope for me. That we might discover a way for me to turn back into a human and return to my family who so desperately needed me.

I fixed my eyes on Ben’s stoic face. And once again I caught myself wondering why he would put himself out for me like this. I wasn’t used to this sort of kindness without some expectation in return.

I drifted off into my own thoughts, and, it seemed, so did he. We were silent for a long time, until finally I asked the question that had been at the back of my mind ever since we left The Oasis.

“Ben. Why do you think Jeramiah let us go so easily?”

His eyes darkened.

“I’m not sure why. But I hope we never find out.”





Epilogue: Derek





I looked around our long candle-lit table. We’d pulled it out onto the veranda to dine beneath the stars. Surrounding me were some of my closest friends and family. Sofia sat next to me on my right, Rose on my left, while Caleb sat on the other side of my daughter. Further along the table were Eli, Vivienne and Xavier; Kiev and Mona; Aiden and Kailyn; Gavin, Zinnia and Griffin; Ashley and Landis; Anna and Kyle; Corrine and Ibrahim; and, of course, the two guests of honor—Yuri and Claudia. The latter had just returned from their belated honeymoon to Paris and had successfully accomplished what they’d set out to do. Claudia was now officially pregnant.