I miss you, Lizzy. The words didn’t leave her lips but Helina heard them loud in her mind. Lizzy smiled brightly and Helina knew her sister had heard regardless. A low hum started to fill Helina’s mind and slowly got louder. Soon that noise encompassed her whole being. Lizzy was in front of her before Helina could even blink. Helina closed her eyes and sighed when she felt the vampire’s arms leave her body. Helina fell to the ground, her legs no longer strong enough to support her weight. The rich, earthy smell of the dirt wafted all around her. Helina wanted to run her hand through it, but any movements just seemed too much work. Slowly opening her eyes, Helina smiled when Gaijryc appeared out of the trees. His attention wasn’t on her, but on whatever was behind her. Although death was undeniable, Helina was glad she had been able to see the two people she cared about the most. Tears fell from her eyes and she was relieved that the end was near.
They stepped through the clearing, the commotion ahead of them catching their full attention. They watched in amazement as two females fought fiercely. Gaijryc could easily tell that one of them was Lucie, her strawberry blond hair whipping wildly around her face. The other female he had never seen, but her fluid movements and graceful actions proved she was a DarkShine. He stepped forward, ready to stop the two of them when Ryce’s arm shot out, stopping any further advancement.
“What are you doing?” Gaijryc’s voice was fierce, anger resonating through it and directed towards Ryce.
“Just wait.”
He stared at Ryce, about to object when he saw an expression on his face that spoke volumes. Pride shone brightly on Ryce’s face, a look Gaijryc was surprised to see. He turned back to the fight, watching Lucie swipe her hand across the other female’s face. Three deep puncture wounds appeared, and blood dripping from them. He was surprised when her movements didn’t falter—when they actually seemed to become stronger. The dark-haired female’s hand shot out, easily gripping Lucie by the neck and throwing her against a tree. She held her there, suspended off the ground as she applied pressure. Lucie’s hands went to her throat, trying desperately to get them free. Horrible sounds came from her withering form until finally she closed her eyes and passed out.
Everything happened so quickly that Gaijryc didn’t have time to react. The dark-haired female pressed her hand against Lucie’s chest, her grip still tight on her neck. A light breeze blew over her hair. Gaijryc’s breath lodged in his throat, his body so still he could hear the frantic beat of his own heart. As the wind whisked by him, he picked up the very distinct smell of blood. It was the very smell that lit his blood on fire and had his heart racing. He turned toward the smell, his eyes immediately taking in the small form on the ground.
He was by Helina in the next second, his hands running all over her body to check for injuries. How could he have missed her? How could he have been so careless as to not sense her from the moment he stepped through the clearing? Helina looked up at him, her movements slow, her energy draining right before his eyes.
“I’m glad you’re here.”
“Shhh, be still, love.”
He framed her face, moving down to lay a gentle kiss on her cold lips. “I’m so sorry, so very sorry for all those things I said. Please stay with me.” How could he have said those awful things to her? The very words that were supposed to protect her had led her to this event. It was his fault she was dying right before his eyes. “Please, forgive me. I only meant to protect you. Please don’t leave me.” He didn’t care how weak he looked, didn’t care that tears started to flow freely down his cheeks. She smiled up at him, even that looking like it took too much energy. Her face was so very pale, almost translucent in its appearance. Her hand started to move, lifting toward him. The beds of her nails were blue, so frigid when he quickly grasped it and brought them to his lips and kissing every finger.
“I love you, Gaijryc, so, so very much. I wish we had more time. I know Lizzy’s waiting for me. I saw her. She had the most beautiful dark dress on. She was an angel, her curls a halo around her face.”
She smiled at him again, a smile that brought his tears streaming faster. “Stay with me, Helina, please. I can make it so we never have to part.”
Her smile faltered, confusion setting into her face. “Really?” Her words were becoming quieter, her eyes starting to drop lower. “I am so tired, Gaijryc.”
“We can be together forever, just you and me. We can go anywhere you want, see anything you want. Just say the word and I can make it come true.” He pleaded with his eyes, with his words, needing her to say that is what she wanted.