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The boy looked up from his book and caught her eye.
She put down her books. “I’m sorry to bother you, but…” she started.
“Yes?” he asked.
“It’s just…you look like someone I used to know.”
“Do I?” His lips were pressed together, almost as if he were trying to keep from laughing.
It was impossible, and yet…“It’s you, isn’t it?” she asked.
Jack Force smiled. For it was him, and Schuyler wondered why she had not seen it from the beginning. But it was as if a veil had been lifted, and she could see him clearly now.
She wanted to throw her arms around him, to embrace him right there in the middle of the library, in front of everyone. But she was too afraid that it wasn’t real, that maybe she was hallucinating. It was just too good to be true, and she could not bring herself to believe it.
“Where have you been?” she asked.
“Right here, always,” he said.
And now her heart was bursting in her chest, and she felt as if she could not breathe. Jack. Alive. She felt as if she could not breathe from so much joy.
“Come on,” he said, and led her outside to a park bench, their books forgotten.
“Hey,” he said, taking her hand.
He pulled her toward him and held her close. Schuyler was trembling all over. She wanted to cry, but she was too happy. She kept her hand on his, gripping it tightly, unable to believe what was right in front of her.
“How?” she asked. “I don’t understand. But really, where have you been all this time?”
“Looking for you,” he said. “I was gone, and when I woke up I was on the side of a road. Someone stopped and picked me up and took me to a hospital. I had no idea who I was. But it came back to me, slowly.”
“I saw you die.”
“I did,” he said. “But like all the vampires, I was given a choice, and I chose to return. I’ve been looking for you ever since.”
“I was right here, all this time, waiting,” she said.
She had led the Fallen back to Paradise, and in the Garden of Eden, the vampires had been forgiven. The curse was lifted, and the lost children of the Almighty were given a choice. They could ascend into Heaven, or return to mid-world and cont
inue their immortal life. But the path back home would always be open to them when they tired of their life aboveground. Paradise would welcome the just and the good among them, as it was for the Red Bloods. Redemption was in their hands now. Salvation an individual choice.
Most of the Fallen had chosen to go back home to the Garden they had lost so long ago. But Schuyler had decided to return.
She was half human. She still had family and friends, and she couldn’t imagine that Paradise would bring anything but sorrow without her love.
She brought Jack’s warm hand to her cheek and saw that he was still wearing his bonding ring on his left finger. Just as she wore hers. Their matching rings glinted in the sunlight.
“What happens now?” Schuyler asked. But somehow, she knew. They were together. They would have children one day. She was half mortal; she was blessed with the gift of procreation. Children. Hope. Blessings. There was so much to look forward to.
In truth, this was just the beginning of their story.
Then finally, they were kissing, and his mouth was on hers, and she felt his arms encircle her waist and she was sitting on his lap, and he was holding her and kissing her and she was kissing him back, and his head was against her chest and she ran her fingers against his soft hair.
Jack had returned to her. Jack was alive.
“I didn’t know,” she said. “I missed you so much. I didn’t know you would come back to me. I thought you were lost forever.”
“You made a sacrifice,” Jack said. “And Heaven rewarded you.”
