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Just when I wondered where Snow was, she came from behind the house with little creatures. Mice, squirrels, and a family of raccoons.
“Ssi-bal! Squampire.” Tank hollered like a frightened little boy and kept his distance.
Laughter rent the air.
Even the vampires seemed keenly aware of the animals. The creatures used their teeth or claws to cut the corners of the wood, and the horde of squirrels carried the logs like a furry river.
Markane, Abacus, Gorgo, Abagail, and Kyle went to the kitchen area and cemented the bricks. The pounding from the metal tools was music to my ears as I directed my team on how to seal the wall and how to layer the roof. All thanks to Peter’s teachings.
Peter and Mother would be so proud.
Something warm coated my heart and I felt grateful. I had isolated myself because of who I was. I had taken a chance at love with Simone, but that didn’t go well for me. But at this moment, with these amazing beings, some stranger than others, I called them my friends.
Thanks to our supernatural speed and strength, it only took the afternoon and until the sun went down to rebuild the home. The structure was a little bit bigger, and we added a room for a possible nursery after Abagail married.
Gorgo pitched a campfire and we sat under the apple trees near the stream. We had filled our stomachs with apples and some rabbit meat Markane and Abacus had caught.
Dawn tossed a stick into the flame and embers floated in the wind. “What’s your plan, Michael, since you’ve declined the king’s offer?”
I grabbed my only shirt off the boulder and tugged it over my head as I leaned back against the tree trunk next to Snow, who was petting a squirrel and the two mice on her shoulders cuddled in her hair, napping. Tank sat on the opposite side of the campfire, staying clear from us.
No time was a good time to let my sister know I was leaving. Might as well do it now.
“I’m going out of town for a while, but I plan to be back.” My gaze met Snow’s as I finished, “But perhaps I don’t have to go alone.”
Snow’s hair rustled in the soft breeze and I wanted to run my fingers through it and kiss her. I probably looked like a love-struck fool ogling at her, but I didn’t care. I would never pressure Snow, but I would love her company and to share this experience with her.
Life was too short. Peter’s death and the battle reconfirmed it, and I wasn’t shy about letting her know what I wanted. Though I would be disappointed if she didn’t come with me, I would understand.
I had told Gorgo before he escorted Abagail back home about me leaving town, and I had asked him to look after my sister, the reason why he didn’t look surprised like everyone else.
“Auntie Abagail.” Kyle tugged on her shirt, sitting next to her on the grass. “You can come live with my mom and me.”
“How about …” Abagail tapped Kyle’s nose. “You and your mom come live with me here. The home we built.”
“Really? Yes.” He nodded eagerly. “When the soldiers kidnapped us, they burnt our homes. Mom said we have to go back there and I don’t want to.”
“You don’t have to.” Abagail draped an arm around his shoulder and gave him a sideways hug.
“Where would you go?” Markane’s dark eyes turned crimson for a moment when a sudden breeze passed through.
“I have no plan. Faith will guide me.” I glanced up at the bright full moon and the twinkling stars.
Abacus tossed an apple core into the fire. Flames hissed and danced in waves. “Well, when you return, you are welcome to join Victus’s army.”
Speaking of joining … I tossed a pebble over their heads and into the stream with a plop. “Keep an eye on Kristoff. He asked me to join his army as well. I have a feeling he’s up to something.”
Markane and Abacus said at the same time, “We know.”
“Well, it’s getting late and we should take Kyle home,” Abagail said, slowly shifting Kyle’s head off her shoulder.
Gorgo lifted him up effortlessly.
I helped my sister up to stand and she just stood there staring at me as she blinked away the tears. “I’m going to go home with Gorgo since the house isn’t ready to be lived in. And I understand why you need to leave, but will I ever see you again?”
“Of course you will.” I rubbed a thumb across her eyelashes before her tears could fall, and my voice cracked as something sliced through my heart. My baby sister. I didn’t want to leave her, but I had to go for my own sanity. “I love you, Abagail. Please stay safe. Gorgo will look after you.”
“We will too,” Tank said as he placed out a hand to Dawn to help her up.
