Dark Light (The Dark Light Series)(55)
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As I mentioned before, your delayed ascension was part of a spell to protect you and your new family. However, that is only part of it. All magic comes with a price. You will not have the ability to grow old after you ascend. You may age from the use of magic but you will never age naturally. Because of this, it may be impossible for you to lead a normal life. The Light was afraid that your unique mix could potentially create another enemy race if you were to consort with the wrong type of force. With the Dark. The law of the Light forbids this type of behavior, hence my harsh punishment for said transgression. I am so sorry.
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So what is she trying to say? That I can never have children? Have a family?
I bound up from my bed and stick my head outside my bedroom door. “Mom!” I call out.
Donna comes running just moments later.“What? Is everything ok? Are you alright?” She’s frazzled and looking around wildly. I instantly regret alarming her.
“I can never get pregnant?” I ask with wide eyes.
Donna’s shoulders immediately slump, both relieved that there seems to be no threat of imminent danger and remorseful of my discovery. It confirms my suspicions.
“So it’s true. I’ll never have a baby.”
“Honey, I’m so sorry. But they were afraid of what you could create, what power you could hold with that ability.” She’s dancing around the truth. The Light didn’t want me to procreate because my offspring, if mixed with more Dark blood, could destroy them. “How do you feel about that?”
I think about the question carefully. “I don’t know. I’ve never thought about having children, really. I can’t even wrap my head around my own life, let alone be solely responsible for someone else’s,” I shrug. It is peanuts compared to finding out that I’m some Light-Dark hybrid.
“Ok, honey. Do you want to talk more about it?” I shake my head and give my mom a reassuring smile. She lightly kisses my forehead and returns to her task.
Whew! Talk about dodging a bullet. I had been secretly chastising myself for having unprotected sex. What was I thinking? Yes, we all have those ‘caught in the heat of the moment’ incidents, but we didn’t even use protection the second time around. Yet, I’m still not off the hook. STDs are a very real threat, and it’d be a shame if I, the abomination of Natalia and Alexander, were struck down by such a mortal hazard. I shake the thought from my head. Is that even possible?
Before I can harp on my impending immortality any more, my cell buzzes to life. To my surprise and delight, it’s Jared. I had been worried that things would get weird between us and was furiously hoping we could go back to normal.
“Hey you!” I greet with genuine enthusiasm. Just the thought of him puts me in a jovial mood.
“Hey, Beautiful! Whatcha doing?” His deep voice is music to my ears.
“Nothin’ much. A little reading. What’s up?”
“So there’s a rinky-dink fair in the parking lot of a strip mall with our names on it. Whadayasay? Funnel cakes? Cotton candy? Overpriced games? Ridiculously high Ferris wheel that can’t possibly be safe?” he chuckles.
“Sounds great!” It actually does. The sun is shining and there’s nothing like a greasy, fried funnel cake covered in powdered sugar to make you feel like a kid again.
“I’ll be over in an hour. Tell my other girlfriend I miss her oatmeal chocolate chip cookies.” He means Donna. Jared is such a charmer; he’s always playfully flirty with my mom whenever he comes over.
“I’ll tell her. You know she’ll have a batch ready for you when you get here,” I chuckle.
After we hang up, I jump in the shower, throwing on some feel-good music on my little iPod dock in the bathroom. I belt out my favorite tunes and let the hot water soothe and relax my muscles, which are a bit sore from the sexual acrobatics from the night before.
Dorian.
I can’t help but think about the odd moment we had in the car earlier. He seemed so puzzled, as if he couldn’t figure out how someone like me could make someone like him happy. Or was it that he couldn’t believe that he could even be happy at all? Why would he feel that way? Surely he’s had relationships in the past. With his remarkable sexual abilities, I’d hate to think his experience was solely achieved through meaningless one-night stands. Oh crap. Could I have been just another one of those said meaningless one-night stands?
I decide to go casual, letting my feet recover from the previous night’s platform-heeled tryst, and opt for Chucks, jeans, and a hooded sweatshirt. I tie my hair back in a ponytail and use just a little light makeup for a natural look. Jared has seen me at my very worst and he’s one of the few people whom I can be totally comfortable with.