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Chapter Twenty-Two
Lilith
“That is what I need to do!?” Adrian gasped, with a disgusted look on his face, as we stood at the gate of the castle.
“That is what the witch said,” I assured him. “To make him disappear, you need to absorb him into yourself. Your light needs his darkness.”
He looked at me incredulously. “Are you sure there is no other way?” he asked desperately.
“I’m sure,” I nodded. “We have to hurry now.”
“What about Cass?” he asked.
“She should be with my father,” I assured him. “We need to be by your side, in case you need help.”
He nodded. “Now all we have to do is find him.”
“The castle is huge,” Caleb pointed out. “He could be anywhere.”
“I think I can sense him,” Adrian spoke, inhaling deeply. “I can’t explain it. It isn’t a smell. Or anything you can sense. It’s… strange. But I feel drawn to him.”
“Take us there,” I order him. “Now.”
He rushed in the direction of one of the chambers on the ground floor of the castle. We barged in through the door, all three of us at the same time, catching the doppelganger off guard. He stood up from his seat, facing Adrian. The resemblance was uncanny. They were the same person, after all. Defeating this sinister mimic would require a transformation I had never seen before in Adrian. He needed to turn into a vampire.
A part of me was afraid. I had never seen him in that form. Would he even recognize me as his wife? Would he be a threat to us all? I couldn’t think about that now. We needed to vanquish this unearthly being, at any cost.
“Stand aside,” Adrian told us, shielding me with his body.
My heart raced as I saw his determination take hold. His features began to change before my eyes. His skin grew paler, his eyes turned a deep crimson, and his once-normal teeth elongated into sharp fangs. The room seemed to hold its breath as the supernatural metamorphosis unfolded.
The sight of Adrian in his vampiric form was both haunting and captivating. His aura shifted, exuding an otherworldly energy that pulsed through the room. I could feel the latent power in him, a force that had remained dormant until this very moment.
The doppelganger, a twisted reflection of my beloved, stood frozen, its dark eyes widened in fear. Adrian, now fully transformed, moved with a supernatural grace. He lunged at the mimic, his fangs sinking into its neck. The room filled with a visceral tension, as the battle of life forces began. My breath caught in my throat as I watched Adrian drain the essence from the doppelganger. His strength grew with each swallow, while the mimic’s struggles grew feeble. It withered and weakened until it was nothing more than a vanquished specter.
I couldn’t help but feel a mixture of fear and pride as I witnessed the extraordinary power within Adrian. It was a transformation born of necessity, and it had given us the victory we desperately needed. It all lasted mere minutes, but I felt as if it dragged on into eternity, and now I was glad it was all over.
With the doppelganger defeated, Adrian slowly returned to his human form, and the room fell silent, save for our heavy breathing. The eerie shadows that had plagued us retreated, leaving behind a newfound sense of relief and accomplishment.
“Are you alright?” I asked him, noticing that he was still trembling.
“I will be,” he nodded. “Please… take me to Cass. I want to see her.”
I took him by the hand and together, we searched the castle for Cass and my father. Eventually, we found them in the library, oblivious to the battle that had just taken place.
The moment Cass saw him, her eyes lit up with joy, and she rushed toward him with arms outstretched. I couldn’t help but believe that she recognized him for who he truly was. She knew her father was home now, forever.
Adrian knelt down, his face filled with a mixture of relief and affection, as Cass leaped into his arms. He held her tightly, his embrace conveying all the love and longing that had built up during our separation. Tears welled in his eyes as he kissed her forehead tenderly, whispering how much he had missed her.
Cass clung to him, her small arms wrapped around his neck, as if afraid he might disappear again. It was a heartwarming reunion, a moment of pure love and happiness that stood in stark contrast to the dangers we had just faced.
“Daddy, I missed you so much,” Cass whispered into his ear, and he held her even closer.
My father looked at me, stunned. I couldn’t help but smile. “I’ll explain everything tomorrow.”
That evening, we all had a special dinner, in honor of our guest Caleb. My father proved to be a very patient man, as he agreed to hear about everything the following day. As for me and Adrian, our night ended when we closed the door to our bedroom, right after we put our daughter to sleep.
He lifted me into his arms and gazed lovingly at me. With a tenderness born of shared trials and unwavering love, we drew closer, our eyes locking in an unspoken connection. The weight of the world outside faded into insignificance as our lips met in a gentle, lingering kiss.
