Darkness (21 page)

“That was unexpected.” I said and glanced up at him.

He agreed and then became fixated on something in the distance. A figure in the shadows. I squinted and saw that a man, or more like a teenager, was lingering by some trees. He was wearing a zipper front dark hoodie, very much like the one Oliver often wore. The hood was back, revealing the boy’s brown hair and light skin. He had on dark sunglasses very much like Oliver and Felix wore.
Vampire.
He spotted us watching him and disappeared behind some bushes. It was hard to tell, but he didn’t look like anyone I knew. And definitely not a friend of Lilly’s. But, something, something very strange went through me. A feeling. Not of recognition but something familiar. Like comfort, but none I was used to and that didn’t make sense. I couldn’t explain it and it only lasted a moment and then it was gone. I shuddered as it faded and Oliver asked if I was cold. I was but I’d been ignoring it the best I could. “Do you know who that was?” I asked as he wrapped his arms around me.

“I believe so. But it’s nothing to worry about.” He smiled down at me and out of the corner of my eye I saw Felix head in the direction where the boy had just been.

I rested my head against Oliver’s chest and let the sound of his slow heartbeat soothe me as I watched the group of people who had come to tell my aunt goodbye trickle out the gates of the cemetery. I watched Kiera examine Carter’s face once she finally got him to remove a borrowed pair of Oliver’s sunglasses. I watched her raise a petite hand to his face and he shied away but she didn’t give up; she gently took his face in her hands and said something that made his body relax. He was so afraid she wouldn’t love him with his scarred face like she had loved him before the attack. He closed his eyes as she ran her fingers along the scar beside his eye and then, stretching up on her toes, she kissed it, then sank back down to her regular height and looked up at him. He stared down at her and smiled warily as she took one of his hands and gazed up into his eyes. Her parents called after her then and she quickly pecked Carter on the lips and followed after them to the gates. I watched him for a moment as he watched her go. He was afraid of what his future held. Afraid for not only himself, but for her as well. He caught my stare and smiled coyly at me and then trotted off towards Felix who was returning from his secret adventure.

When only our original party remained, the cemetery crew began clearing chairs and Zoey and Hayden gathered all the flowers and pictures and began taking them to the cars. But not before Zoey brought over a small card off of a bouquet of, ironically enough, lilies. It had my name scribbled on the front of the thick white envelope and it was sealed with one of those wax seals I’ve only ever seen in old creepy movies. The seal cracked when I opened the envelope and I pulled a matching thick white card out with curious fingers. I opened the card and began shaking as I read the words that had been written inside:

My Dearest Delaney Josephine,

I have heard of your loss and my heart bleeds for your pain. Lillian was a wonderful woman and the best substitute of a mother for you. She loved you so very much and was so proud of you.

I wish I could be by your side to comfort you but sadly, I cannot. I am sure you are in good hands.

I love you my beautiful daughter.

Your father,

Draven F. Alexander

I felt my entire body begin to shake. Of all the times to contact me. Of all the places…I felt anger start to boil inside of me. The woman he had entrusted me to had just been brutally murdered and all he sends is a freakin’ card with some flowers! I felt myself growing hot with rage. Oliver took the card from my hands and slipped it into his inside jacket pocket then wrapped his arms around me so that my face was buried in his chest. I took several deep breaths and found that his scent easily calmed me. He said nothing about the card or my anger. He just held me and I was grateful for it.

Once I’d calmed down as far as I was going to at that time I noticed an older couple that had been lingering in the cemetery. I had seen them in the mess of people after the service, but I didn’t recognize them. They were heading toward the gates as Zoey was making another flower run to the car. The couple stopped her and asked her something. The woman pointed to the picture in Zoey’s hand and Zoey gestured to me. The couple looked up at me then and stood there staring as Zoey walked away. Zoey shot me a glance just before she left the gates.

I was still bundled in Oliver’s arms and the rest of our party was busy stacking the flowers when the couple began making their way towards us.

I felt my knees buckle but Oliver had a hold of me and kept me from falling. I felt the world pushing down on me. I didn’t even know they were still alive. It had been so long since Lilly had spoken of them that I had actually assumed they’d passed away years ago. I guess I just assumed they were dead like everyone else. They examined me as they got closer. The man, my grandfather, held his wife’s, my grandmother’s, hand as they approached. They stopped about ten feet away from me, and Oliver released his grip on me as I turned to face them. I saw the rest of our party stop and watch as the scene unfolded.

The woman grasped her husband’s arm with her free hand. “My God, you look just like…” She then covered her mouth with her hand and tears filled her eyes.

I was so confused. Why were they here now after so many years of not being a part of our lives? Why didn’t I know anything about these people? Why had I never met them? I glanced at Felix who wasn’t too far from me. He took a step closer and said, “Mr. and Mrs. Hallisey, this is your granddaughter, Delaney.”

The woman began to sob and the man smiled at me.
So confused.
I attempted to return the smile but I’m sure it was pathetic.

The man pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and handed it to his wife. She wiped her eyes and gave me her own attempt at a smile. “We haven’t seen you since you were a baby.” She began to cry again. I was full of more confusion, and I was sure it showed across my face.

“Your parents brought you out to see us only once, not long after you were born,” the man said. “Your father was concerned for you and your mother’s safety. That is what your mother had told us was the reason why they didn’t come back.” I was still so baffled. He continued as his wife sobbed into the hanky. “Your father had gotten mixed up with some bad fellas and he took you and your mother into hiding. We lost almost all contact with our daughter then. We receive an occasional update through the channels.” He glanced at Felix and back to me and I felt even more bewilderment smack me. I gave Felix my own glance as I continued to listen to my mother’s father. “The death of your mother was the last time we saw you. You were two and your b-.”

“Sir,” Felix cut in, “There are still reasons to be concerned for your family’s safety. I would appreciate it if you could please focus on what you’d like to say.”

My grandfather’s eyes widened at Felix, as did mine, and he apologized. I didn’t know what for but I pretty much had no idea what was what at that moment.

Then the man continued, “You were two the last time we saw you. When your father requested Lillian take you in, she called us. We wanted you but he wanted her to raise you and she wanted you.” He chuckled, “She had always been adamant about not wanting kids. She had only seen you one time, at your mother’s funeral, and she fell in love with you. She gave up everything she had ever worked for to raise you and she never regretted it. She stayed in contact with us through the channels your father provided.” He glanced again at Felix and I felt my brow knit together. “You are all we have left, Delaney, and we hope that now that you are an adult you can decide on your own to have a relationship with us.”

I heard Felix release an enormous sigh. “I don’t understand,” I said to Felix. And I didn’t. I had no idea why on earth this man, that was my grandfather, kept looking to Felix as if he were the channels he kept referring to. I watched Felix pinch the bridge of his nose like all of this was giving him a headache. “Why does he keep looking at you when he talks about my father?”

“I spoke to your grandfather about this when I called and notified them of your aunt’s passing. Your grandfather explained that your father had some concerns with your safety and that he and your grandmother hadn’t seen you or had contact with you since your mother passed.”

The woman sobbed harder at the mention of both of her daughters passing. The man stood silently as Felix spoke to me. “You are an adult now Delaney, and it is your choice if you’d like to have a relationship with your grandparents.” I shifted a quick glance in their direction. “But, since your aunt is not here to give you the reasons why she never told you about them I suggest you make your own judgment call on this one.”

I stared from him to them and felt my body begin to give. From behind me I felt Oliver’s arms wrap around my waist for support. I had no idea why my father felt we needed to be protected. And was it from my grandparents? Should I be afraid of them? I mentally directed the last two questions at Felix and he quickly shook his head as I heard his deep voice bounce around inside my head “No.” Okay, so maybe my father was a nut job. I caught Felix shake his head again and I wasn’t sure if it was directed to me or not.

There had been too much for me to take in. I felt like my brain was being overloaded as I played around with a couple responses. With a little more mental encouragement from Felix we settled on, “Felix has your contact information. Once things have settled back to some form of normal I will call you.” They both smiled at me, relieved. My new-found grandmother held her arms out in question of a hug and I felt a small nudge of encouragement from behind and I nodded to her. She closed the gap between us and wrapped her arms around me. After a moment I returned the hug of the woman who gave birth to my mother and my aunt. She smelled like Lilly and she felt like her. It hurt. I felt myself choke up again. I couldn’t speak. I knew I would cry. She made me remember all that I’d just lost and I pulled away before she was finished. She had shock in her face as I stepped back against Oliver. “I just need time.” I was able to choke out. She held the balled up hanky to her face and nodded. Her husband placed an arm around her shoulders and began to guide her towards the gates.

Oliver’s arms slipped around my waist and he whispered, “Another unexpected moment.”

“Did you know about this?” I was ready to be pissed if he had and hadn’t told me.

“I had no idea,” I felt myself relax a teeny tiny bit. I shot Felix a significant look and he turned and walked away. We would be discussing this at a later time. A little spark of joy, a miniscule spark, but a spark nonetheless, was ignited at the prospect of having grandparents. But so many questions remained. So many questions I didn’t even want to think about right then. Because at that moment the two remaining cemetery workers lowered my aunt into the ground and I sank against Oliver. It was a good thing he was there to hold me up; to support me. He’d carried most of my weight that day. I couldn’t have done it without him. Unfortunately, in the back of my mind, a small voice reminded me that I probably wouldn’t have had to do it if it wasn’t for him. But another little voice piped up and reminded me of what my grandfather had just said about my father fearing for our safety. Maybe Oliver had saved me from something that had nothing to do with him…

I was shaking all over from the cold, remorse, anger and confusion as we walked to the car. It was this mixture of emotions that consumed me as Oliver opened my door and I slid into my seat. Thankfully we rode home alone and I was cried out by the time we got back to the house.

The others took longer to get back due to Felix having to take Zoey home. We had some alone time before they arrived but it didn’t have the same meaning anymore. Now alone time meant I could cry. But that night while we cuddled in the quiet with Lola being the only other life in the house, sleep came to me quickly in the arms of my vampire.

Chapter 28 - Fairies

I sat on the bench outside Hayden’s bedroom window, shaded by a trellis that was covered in light pink climbing roses. The blanket my aunt had made was wrapped tightly around me. My aunt that I’d just recently put into the earth. I’d decided I needed more of her with me. I’d go to Lilly’s and once I got there, I’d figure out what I would do to make myself feel her near me.
That just sounded crazy.
She was gone. Gone forever. But I needed answers. Why had she never told me about her parents, my grandparents? Why had my dad requested they not be in my life? Would she still be alive if Oliver wasn’t in my life? Hayden stepped out of a mass of rose bushes just off the side of the house and my thought process was ended. She smiled and sat beside me on the bench.

We sat in the silence of the morning for some time before Hayden finally spoke. “My mom came back last night. She’s begging Oliver to let her come home.”