December, Lilly and Moira blushed at the scene that developed before them, as Moira coughed conspicuously.
When they pulled apart, Ruby and Monty grinned at each other and giggled like a couple of love sick teenagers.
"Do you remember what Michael said, Mother?" asked Moira quietly and Ruby nodded.
"I'll be set free when I find true love.... and it was right in front of me, all this time. I just had to wait for the old man to die," she chuckled.
"Less of the old..." laughed Monty as suddenly they both squinted, holding their hands in front of their eyes.
"What's that?" asked Ruby.
"I'm guessing that's for us, love. I guess we're supposed to go into it..." said Monty as they both turned to their family.
Moira's bottom lip quivered and a tear dropped from her eye.
"Mom?" she said, sniffing.
"Oh darling, it's time for me to go. I've been a burden to you all these years and now I can go and leave you to get on with your life," she smiled, moving forward to put her arms around her daughter.
Moira felt a strong warm feeling like she'd never felt before. "I will miss you so much. Be happy... both of you," she said as Monty hugged her too.
Hugging the girls before they stepped into the light, Ruby said, "That Jack is such a nice looking young man, Moira... I think you should ask him round for dinner....." and then they were gone.
Moira, December and Lilly all looked at each other and laughed, each wiping away the tears that wouldn't stop falling down their cheeks.
CHAPTER FIFTY-THREE
A gentle breeze blew as Jack and Lilly walked slowly through the graveyard quietly pondering everything they had been through.
"You know I've never been here before," said Lilly, glancing around at all the beautiful flowers that seemed to surround them, everywhere she looked.
"You never came when you got back from England?" he replied, looking at her sadly.
She shook her head and pursed her lips before saying, "I couldn't bring myself to come... not without you."
Jack smiled while he led her to the two graves that were positioned beside each other. Lilly knelt down and placed the two yellow roses by the headstones of her mother and her sister. Jack knelt down by her side and they held hands for a moment before standing and walking away, smiling sadly.
As they wandered back towards the car, they took a quick detour to pay their respects to those that had perished in the fight against the Nephilim. Next to Monty's headstone stood another, slightly smaller one with the words:
Eric
A Royal Hero
"That's nice," whispered Lilly.
"He is a hero. He saved over a hundred people," said Jack.
"Why a Royal Hero, Dad?"
Jack smiled, "He told me he was a butler for royalty... he was one in a million," Jack replied while a tear rolled down his cheek.
"Yes, he was."
"We should go... the girls are leaving soon."
Turning away from the headstones, father and daughter were startled by the sudden appearance of a familiar face.
"Hello, Lillian and Jackson," said Michael, stepping forward out of nowhere.
"Michael?" exclaimed Lilly, "We thought you were dead. We... we looked for you... but we...."
Michael held his hands up and smiled. "I cannot die, not really."
"Then why? Why did you leave us in the middle of the fight?" she asked as her dad looked on and listened.
"I only came to your family and friends to reassure you that you could succeed. You did not need me."
"But we did..."
Michael shook his head, "You merely thought you did. You succeeded without my help."
"I'm sorry, but who are you?" asked Jack.
"He's the Archangel we told you about Dad, Michael."
"Oh, of course. Thank you. Thank you for making them believe that they could do it. I wouldn't be here otherwise. None of us would"
Michael smiled again and nodded, before he turned and walked away. His body slowly faded as he went, until he had vanished completely.
Lilly and Jack watched him go before they walked back to their car where Oliver stood waiting patiently.
"You okay?" he asked his girlfriend who smiled and kissed him on the cheek.
"I'm fine. We're fine."
Climbing into the car, Oliver started the engine and pulled away from the kerb, away from the graveyard.
#
"Thank you, Calliope. Thank you for choosing us instead of them," said Jo as she quickly hugged her new friend. "But, you don't have to leave."
Calliope nodded, "Yes, I do. I don't want these powers any-more and down there, they are useless. That's why I do have to leave, Jo. There is also a chance there might be others still down there, trapped. If there are, I need to be the one to help them. And there is the matter of the Nephilim that escaped. Zalea and Tiffani have invited me to live with them in their home. Plus, they are going to need all the help they can get in finding their way back home," she smiled at the two faeries who beamed beside her.
"Which is why I'm going too," said a voice from the back of the crowd as Sammy walked to the front, carrying a bag with all his belongings.
"You're... leaving, Sammy? But... but why?" asked Lilly, aghast.
Smiling, he turned to look at Tiffani who grinned, "To help them find their way home... and" he gulped, "because I love her," he gushed, his cheeks turning pink as Tiffani rushed to his side and held his hand.
Lilly's shocked and saddened expression softened and she smiled, even though she felt like she would cry.
"I understand, but I'll miss you. We all will."
"I'll miss you too, Lilly. Maybe we'll see each other again."
"I hope so," she said, as he leaned forward for a hug.
"Take care of him, Tiffani," she whispered, saying goodbye to the two faeries.
"Zalea," said another voice. Jack stepped forward and smiled at her. "We've been through a lot, you and me," he said, squeezing his hand, "You saved me."
"And you saved me, Jack. I will never forget you."
"And I will never forget you. Stay safe. Goodbye," they said as they held each other in a long hug.
The small group made their final goodbyes to the rest of their friends, as they began their journey which would start at the crater where Ben's veterinary clinic once stood.
"How are they getting back?" asked a voice from the crowd that had gathered there.
"Calliope's power will get them to the bottom of the crater but the moment she steps foot on the ground, her power will disappear. Then it's up to them to find their way back to Moharth," answered Jack.
"Moharth?" asked the voice.
Jack smiled, "The silver forests of Moharth is where the Malean faeries live," he replied, smiling and waving as the group slowly made their way home, floating down the middle of the crater.
CHAPTER FIFTY-FOUR
"Aren't they just the most beautiful bride and groom you've ever seen?" sighed Tabitha, taking a long sip of champagne before turning to look deep into Zoltan's eyes. He laughed quietly and moved forward so his lips just brushed hers. "One day, babe... one day..." he said before they shared a long lingering kiss.
Lilly and Oliver sat with their hands held under the table, watching as the bride and groom shared their first dance, a waltz that slowed into a bit of a smooch to the Carpenter's We've Only Just Begun. When the song changed, Jack walked over to his daughter, "May I have this dance?" he asked with a grin.
Lilly laughed and jumped up, holding on to her father's hand as they walked on to the dance floor. Lilly giggled, tripping over his feet a couple of times before they finally found their rhythm, moving in time to Mariah Carey's Hero.
"I can't believe it's finally over," said Jack, looking at her and smiling, holding her tight.
"I know... after all these years. We can live our lives the way they were meant to be. Well, kind of," she sighed. "I wish Mom and Neleh were here."
"They are here, sweetheart," he said, placing both their hands over his heart. "They'll always be here," he smiled. "And when the house is built... finally... we'll feel like they're with us every day," he added. "I'm so glad Oliver has offered to help me to build it. It'll be nice to keep it in the family," he winked. "And speak of the devil...."
"May I cut in?" asked Oliver as Jack smiled and handed his daughter over to him and they continued to dance across the floor.
"How are you feeling?" he asked, looking down into her face.
She smiled at him, her eyes lighting up, "Relieved, happy, content, sad...."
Oliver smiled back, "I know," he said, "I know."
As the music changed to something more suitable for everybody to get up and have fun, the dance floor filled with the young and old, humans, vampires, werewolves, witches and other weird and wonderful characters. Laughter could be heard, mingled with the sounds of the Beach Boys as the elders and all their friends celebrated. They celebrated not just the union of two vampires so completely in love, but the defeat of the Nephilim, the return of so many lost souls and the newly formed secret friendship with the people of Powell River. But more importantly they celebrated life.
THE END
Chck out Witch Hunt by K Blake. Available April 2012 from Amazon.
“There she is!”
The scream sliced through Starr’s tired brain. She winced behind designer sunglasses. It was too early in the morning to deal with random yelling. If she had it her way, no one would be allowed to do more than whisper until she was totally awake and in a good frame of mind. She had parked in the school lot across from the massive gray stone building. Baycott Academy: the finest private school on the east coast or so the brochure claimed. You wouldn’t know it by the way the some of the students behaved.
She slammed the car door and almost lost a book off the short stack in her arms. She balanced them on her hip long enough to tuck the keys into her purse. Her long tawny-colored hair caught in the zipper. Wincing, she tugged it loose minus a few broken strands. At least she’d found a good spot for her car and wouldn’t have to walk a mile to reach the school’s front doors.
After she got her possessions under control, she glanced around.
Curiosity turned to cold dread. Several students with tight, angry faces charged her from the left, arms cocked, ready to launch some sort of artillery. They weaved around the parked cars. She didn’t have time to wonder what they were going to throw at her. Somehow she didn’t think it was flowers.
“Get her!” shouted another person.
Her head snapped around. Kids came at her from the right too. They were trying to box her in. If she didn’t get out of there, she was going to be slaughtered, maybe even literally. The books in her hands seemed to put on weight, and she almost dropped them in her haste to escape. Feeling numb from head to toe, she forced her legs to move.
She took off as fast as she could, heart thundering, grateful she’d worn sneakers instead of flip-flops today. She held her school books tight to her chest. Her purse bounced at the end of a long strap dangling off one shoulder. She made it out of the parking lot alive, but before she could congratulate herself on a job well done something struck the side of her head. A frightened cry burst through parted lips. Her hand went to the injured area and found it wet. Was it blood?
Multi colored balls flew past her. A yellow orb exploded against the sidewalk near her feet. Water sprayed her sneakers. The out-of-town students were throwing water balloons at her. She should have known this was going to happen, should have been prepared for it. Of course they hated her; she’d gotten their favorite teacher fired. Mr. Brighton had been selling test keys to the out-of-town students. She’d collected the evidence and handed it over to the headmaster yesterday, right before the school paper printed the story.
Frantic, she sprinted for the double glass doors at the top of the stairs. Her best friend Lily poked her head out and yelled, “Hurry! Run!”
Starr raced up the stairs, milliseconds ahead of rapid balloon-fire. Flashbacks of the war documentary her father had made her watch last year sprang to mind. Balloons hit the ground behind her like bullets from a machine gun. During the past two years working on the school paper she had been the recipient of dirty looks, vague threats, and an occasional well-placed kick, but she’d never had half the school out to get her.
Lily reached out, grabbed her arm, and yanked her inside. “I thought you were dead for sure.”
“Me too,” Starr said, gasping for breath. The adrenaline rush left her feeling shaky. Safely inside the school now, she stopped to take inventory. The plaid mini-skirt had been spared, but her black peasant blouse was soaked on one side. She raised the dark sunglasses until they held her hair back like an expensive headband.
She turned to look out the transparent doors. The angry students headed back to the parking lot. At least they weren’t mad enough to bring it inside and risk getting expelled. She was going to have to watch her back for a while.
A smattering of applause caught her off guard. She nearly jumped out of her skin. Eyes wide, she turned to find students crowding around her. The rich kids might want her dead, but the locals seemed to appreciate her efforts. A boy said, “Good job, Hughes. I hated Brighton.”
“Yeah,” someone else said. “He failed me last year, but every single stupid bussed in student passed his class. Now we know why.”
A girl added, “The headmaster fired him last night.”
Another said, “They should have put him in jail.”
A few more students congratulated her before moving on.
And that was the problem with Baycott. There were three main groups at the school. The locals hated the snobbish outsiders staying in the dorms. They were known as out-of-towners. Some called them the bussed-in-students, and they hated the locals even though most of their parents had money too. When they weren’t avoiding each other, they were fighting.
And the third group hated them all.
The It Squad. There were only three of them left after graduation last year. They were the minority, but somehow they ruled the school. Kids respected, feared, and envied them. Teachers wouldn’t say a word against them. It was weird. For years she’d tried to find a logical reason for their untouchable status, but this particular story somehow eluded her.
Lily checked her face in the mirror hanging inside their locker while Starr tried to get her stuff out. Sometimes Starr wished she hadn’t insisted on sharing the small storage box with her best friend. It got kind of crowded.
Someone bumped into her arm, almost knocking her into the locker. She spun around, cutting remark on her lips. Then she saw who it was and froze. Dylan Winchester. He was one of the Squad members, the one she most wanted to get to know.
Those incredible blue eyes enveloped her.
Her heart beat faster.
“Did you shower in your clothes this morning?” he asked.
What? She saw his lips moving, heard the deep timbre of his voice, but couldn’t understand a word. For a moment she lost the ability to process the English language. She blinked at him. Lily insinuated herself between Starr and Dylan. Twirling dark hair around two fingers, the other girl said, “Some of the rich kids threw water balloons at her.”
“Want me to kill them?” he asked Starr, neutral expression so she couldn’t tell if he was joking. “Break their legs? No? Well, you let me know if you change your mind.”
“O-okay,” she mumbled.
To say Dylan was totally gorgeous was an understatement. The guy was so hot he could set off the inside sprinklers if he stood too close to them. His brown hair was always a mess, looking like he’d just rolled out of bed. Sometimes the urge to dive into that hair with her fingers was near-impossible to resist. Then there were his eyes, eyes so blue they made her forget her very own name.
And if all that wasn’t enough to make a girl’s knees weak, he was tall and lean with a surfer’s body, well-toned and muscular. She?
??d seen him without a shirt a few times on the beach. He had a clearly defined six-pack that…
Fingers snapped in front of her face.
Startled, she nearly leaped out of her skin. “Huh? What?”
“Earth to Starr,” Lily said. “I’m supposed to be the boy-crazy one. Remember?”
Dylan was halfway down the hallway. Starr stared after him. He looked almost as good going as he did coming. Sigh. If she had it her way, the two of them would be a couple by Christmas. She gave Lily a look that clearly warned her to shut-up. Lily knew darn well there was only one boy Starr wanted to be with.
It drove her nuts, wanting to talk to him and not being able to. She could go up to anyone, get in their face, ask personal questions or make threats if the situation called for it, but every time she got within five feet of Dylan her throat closed and her tongue got tied in knots.
“I don’t get it.” Lily leaned back against their neighbor’s locker and pulled a red sucker from her mouth. “You like him, so why don’t you get all up in his business like you do with everyone else? Find out what makes him tick. Snoop around.”
“Don’t you think I’ve tried? His school records are practically blank. Someone scribbled over the most interesting parts with a black marker.”
Lily gasped. “Oh my gosh! I’ve seen that done in a movie. The guy was a secret agent and they didn’t want anyone to know.”
“I don’t think Dylan Winchester is a secret agent.”
“No, but he could be related to one. Or maybe he’s in the witness protection program.” Lily’s mouth and eyes grew wider by the second. Excited, she bounced on the balls of her feet. “No, no, no, no, no, wait. I think he’s a narc. That’s why he’s so mysterious. He’s undercover. That is so cool. I wonder who he’s after. It couldn’t be me. Could it? You don’t think he’s here for me, do you?”
Starr sighed. She looked down the hallway again and watched Dylan joking around with his friends. “He’s not a cop, Lily, and he’s not after you. But they are up to something, all three of them, and I’m going to find out what. And if it’s something bad, hence illegal, I’m going to expose them.”