Chapter 16 - Loss

The morning after the party, Jasper came downstairs to find Celeste already digging into her breakfast.
'Morning, Cescie.'
'Mmphomnomph'
'Listen, I just got a call from Mum. Something bad's happened.'
Celeste looked up from her bowl and sat down normally, shooting her brother a quizzical glance. He continued.
'Mum and Dad were out hunting with Grandma and Grandpa's pack during the full moon last night. They got into a fight with some other vampires.'
'Oh my God, are Mum and Dad okay?'
'Yeah, they're fine. But Cescie, Grandma and Grandpa died.'
Celeste was speechless. She stared at Jas with her eyebrows raised and, despite her never having met her grandparents, she began to sob quietly.
'I know, Cesc. Here, it's okay.' Jasper wrapped his arms round his sister. 'Mum was pretty upset. They're just sorting some paperwork and should be home tomorrow morning. We should clean up the house and make sure everything's back to normal here.'

So, after recovering from the news, Cescie woke and fed the twins. Helena was becoming a very lively little girl. She tottered around the house asking anyone she came across for food. She always seemed to be hungry! Lydia, however, was pretty quiet. She was much more reluctant to learn to speak than her sister and preferred to play by herself.

Jasper took Colin aside and told him the bad news but he seemed indifferent to it, being the odd, quiet boy he was. However he agreed to help the older two clean up and prepare for our arrival home.

I was still reeling from the news when we got back into town. It had been such a lovely reunion the morning we arrived, all 'WELCOME' banners and hugs and apologies. My parents had gotten so old I barely recognised them and I immediately felt sorry for holding a grudge for so long. My mum cried when she saw me, telling me over and over how she should never have sent me to France and how she'd missed me so much. My dad had a few tears in his eyes too and enveloped me in a huge embrace. They were all over Dayvid too and spent most of the time asking him about their grandchildren.

All we'd intended to do is go out for a moonlit hunt for old time's sake. Dayvid came along too. Vampires and werewolves have always been enemies but my parents' pack was lovely to him once I explained our relationship. We were just about to cross the city border into the countryside when our path was blocked by a group of vampires. Bridgeport vampires were notorious for preying on late-night partiers who stumbled down the wrong alleyways but they rarely confronted werewolves.

'Well, well, well! What do we have here then?' One said.
'A vampire? With these mongrels? Oh dear me.' Said another.
'You shame the vampire race by associating with werewolves.' A tall, white-haired woman said as she walked slowly towards Dayvid, who instinctively put his arms around me. 'Oh? Oh! So it's worse than that. You're in love? Tut tut. We shall have to do something about this.'
Dayvid stepped forward. 'Please. Leave us alone. We're not harming anyone.'
'Oh but you are, my dear. You're harming the dignity of vampires.' She said as she traced his chin with one slender finger. She gave a small, sad smile. 'Begin.'

After that, everything was a bit of a blur. I know there was a fight. A big one. I was knocked out by a vampire pretty quickly and the next thing I knew I was lying on the sofa in my parents' apartment. Dayvid was looking down on me. He held me close as he explained the situation. My parents weren't the only ones to have been killed. There was a casualty on the vampires' side and injured in both parties. 

I couldn't explain how I felt if I tried. My parents were old and I hadn't seen them in years, but they were my parents. We had to sign heaps of paperwork but all I wanted to do was come home. Katie was in the process of selling her house so couldn't come and meet us so it was a great relief when Dayvid finally pulled up outside our house.

A few weeks after we returned it was time for a birthday party. First up was Colin.

He certainly looked like his dad. He still didn't appear to have inherited anything from me but his hair colour.

Next was Helena. She seemed very excited to blow out her candles!

She too grew to look like Dayvid. She had his hair, face shape and skin tone, though it wasn't silver as she was a werewolf like me. She also had my eyes.

Jasper also helped with Lydia when it was her turn.

She grew to have my face shape and Dayvid's hair, eyes and skin tone. She needed glasses due to the large amount of reading she did.

Hazel too was due to become a toddler. She would be able to move into the nursery now the twins had outgrown it.

She was adorable! She had the perfect mix of her parents' features. Her hair and face shape she got from my side but she had Dayvid's silvery skin and golden eyes. My gorgeous little girl had become even more gorgeous!

With the inheritance money we were finally able to pay off our debts and were able to build an extension on top of the garage for the twins to sleep in. They helped to design it and settled on having one room split into two - one half for Lydia and the other for Helena. Helena's half was fairytale themed and even had its own jelly bean bush.

Lydia wanted what she called a 'library themed' bedroom. It was a warm red with scattered rugs and a large bookshelf.

In the meantime, Cescie's relationship with a certain young fairy was thriving. He had returned to the house the night after the party and left a bouquet of pink roses outside the front door. Since then they hadn't really left each others' sides!

I had a feeling this was the start of a beautiful relationship.

To my delight, Colin finally made a friend! 

Well, perhaps a little more than a friend. Her name was Emilia and she was perfect for Colin! They were besotted and would meet every day after school.

I was out tending the garden one night when I got a call.
'Hey Katie!' I said.
'Hello, darling. How's my Lizzykins?'
I chuckled. My sister always spoke like that. 'I'm very well, thank you. To what do I owe the pleasure?'
'Well, you'll be pleased to know that we're moving! Mimi, Jake, Brett, little Jolene and I are all coming down this weekend! Will you come see us?'
'Of course! I'm so happy. This is perfect, especially since Mum and Dad-' I stopped as a lump rose in my throat.
'Yeah, I know Lizzy. It's okay. In less than a week we'll be together and everything will be fine.'
'Yes. Oh, I really am glad. I'll see you then!'
'Bye!'

Finally, my family would be complete.



Sorry about the late post, guys. Thanks for sticking with me and have a really wonderful Christmas!