Page 51 of Into The Light

Two rows of salespeople lined up to greet us in the fully lit store. Having closed to the public hours ago, we had the place to ourselves. Row after row of designer clothes, purses, and shoes glimmered in the lights, all pulled out special for Emilia’s tastes per Mark’s instructions. She stared in awe at the fashions, her eyes wide while she surveyed the scene. I barely noticed the assortment of fashions, being far more interested in the joy radiating from every inch of her face.

“Please, take a seat,” Rachel said, gesturing us over to two plush chairs positioned right in the center of the spectacle. A dazed Emilia stumbled behind her and I followed just a few steps in tow. We took our seats and two gentlemen dressed in tuxedos presented two glasses of champagne to us. Emilia took hers with a thanks; I shook my head and watched the champagne whisked away from my sight.

It was such an odd-looking liquid the way it bubbled and fizzed, and I had to admit I was curious what it tasted like... what all the fuss was about. I’d had ale and wine before I had turned, but it had been six hundred years since anything other than blood had passed my lips. Ever after all this time I still could remember the taste. It paled compared to Emilia’s blood, but there was something about it I still craved. Perhaps it wasn’t the taste, but the feelings it evoked when I remembered drinking it.

It brought me back to nights sitting around the fire, my family and friends laughing and singing, telling stories of days long past and adventures that kept us keen to listen. My little sister, Annella, would dance to the music, and my mother would sit on my father’s lap, her fingers stroking his long hair while she listened to his tales and laughed at his jokes. I remembered my first sip of ale, my oldest brother, Caleb, had slipped it to me when I was only ten. Having idolized him my whole life, sharing in that moment was a memory I would cherish for all of eternity. He had laughed when I’d choked, struggling to force the bitter liquid down. His death had hit me hard, losing him and my parents to the curse within hours of each other had torn through me and left wounds that would always ache.

“Mr. Mackay?” a gentleman asked, snapping me from my thoughts.

I cleared my throat and straightened up, realizing everyone looked at me expectantly. “I’m sorry, what was that?”

“Shall we begin?”

“Of course,” I said. The salespeople jumped into action, each rushing to the racks and pulling out pieces of clothing and lining up in front of us.

“Aiden, I can’t believe you did this,” Emilia leaned over and whispered, her breath brushing against my ear. A shiver snaked up my spine, startling me more than it should... it wasn’t the first shiver she’d caused me.

I turned to meet her gaze. Those soft blue eyes shimmered beneath the lights and the joy dancing in them made every second of this evening worth it. “It’s your birthday. Please, choose whatever you like.”

“I can pick something out of anything here?” she asked, her voice tentative and soft.

“Whatever you want.”

“It’s going to be so hard to choose one! This is so generous of you, Aiden. I’ve never celebrated my birthday before and this... this is just too much. Thank you, Aiden. For everything.”

Her gratefulness shone through her eyes, and she reached out and touched my hand. I inhaled a sigh, holding it fast in my chest while I savored the warmth of her skin. Placing my other hand over hers, I squeezed. She didn’t pull back, but left her hand resting on mine.

“I think you misunderstood.” A smile tugged up my lips. “You don’t have to pick just one thing. You can have as many things as you like. In fact, you can have it all if that’s what will make you happy. There is no limit to what you can leave here with.”

Her face dropped and her mouth fell open. I watched while she struggled to form words.

“To start, we have this lovely pair of Louboutin’s that are not yet released to the public,” the first salesman started, stepping forward to present a pair of sparkling silver heels. Emilia remained frozen, searching my face.

“Anything and everything you want,” I said, gesturing to the glimmering shoes. Her head slowly turned toward the stilettos, and a dazed nod tipped her head up and down.

“Those are a yes,” Rachel said, rushing the salesman off the floor to make way for the next gentleman in a tux. He held an elegant black evening gown with a plunging neckline that dusted the floor when he stepped forward.

“May I present you with this one-of-a-kind Versace gown?”

Emilia looked to me and searched my face once more.

I glanced at the gown and then back at her. Tonight was about her, but I’d love to see her in that dress. “We’ll take it,” I said.

“That’s a yes,” Rachel repeated, the salesman scurrying after the first one with the dress in tow.

“Are you serious, Aiden?” Emilia asked while the next salesman stepped forward.

“Joking isn’t really in my repertoire.” I shrugged.

“Aiden, this is too much. I couldn’t possibly accept all this.”

“You can, and you will. You said yourself that you’ve never had anyone celebrate your birthday. We have a lot to make up for.”

Her dazed smile transformed into a grin that could illuminate even the blackest night. It certainly lit up my heart, the one I long since thought to be the darkest thing on Earth.

“Don’t hold back, Emilia. Mark won’t forgive me if I don’t come home with a jet full of new clothing. You don’t want to see Mark upset with me, do you?”

She shook her head.