Notes:
- English is not my first language, forgive me for any mistakes.
- After so many requests I finally decided to give this fic a sequel, and closure.
- I hope you enjoy it and don't hate me yet. TVD fans will probably know what happens next (don't spoil it! 😯).
- Your likes and reviews are always appreciated.
San Francisco, California - June 2, 2022 - 7 AM
*beep* *beep*
Kamilah stopped the alarm, barely opening her eyes. Then, she did the same routine she was forced every morning. She opened a secret safe hiding behind a poster on her bedroom's wall. Lily Spencer gifted her that poster right before her move to the West Coast. It was from a game, named "Vampyr". She typed a password, "6-0-2-2".
*password correct* flashed on the small led display.
She retrieved a syringe from inside. She still had enough for... two weeks, she rolled her eyes. She sat on the edge of her bed, injecting the red liquid in her upper arm. Adrian's serum had been improved to the point it lasted 24 hours. She could spend the entire day out in the sun, living a normal life. Or almost normal, she was still a vampire after all. The only side effects she had to deal with were a decrease in her special abilities, but it was no longer a problem. The Vampires in California were far less problematic from the ones in New York.
After a quick shower, she got dressed and drove to a hospital nearby. Discretly, she walked to a small door at the side alley. She knocked three times and pronounced the secret code.
"I came for the strawberry jam."
A young looking man opened the door, with a smile on his face.
"Good Morning, Kamilah."
"Morning, Luc."
"What is going to be today? B-, AB+ or the regular O+?"
"Anything, after 2067 years they all start tasting the same."
He handed her a paper bag, containing a bag of blood inside.
"Have a nice breakfast."
Kamilah entered her car again, following to a large property in Napa. Zahra Institute of Botany, a sign hanging in the main building indicated. She parked her car at the usual spot. The spot reservated to the CEO. Inside her office, a cheeful blonde woman awaited for her with her favorite coffee in hands.
"Good morning, Kami! Did you have a good night? Did Luc..."
"Louise, I'm fine. Yes, I've had a good night of sleep and your husband provided the blood bag I needed. Thank you."
A couple of months after Kamilah decided to leave New York, her former protegé, Louise, came seeking for her help. Her husband, and bound, Jean-Luc had Stage 4 Cancer and she wanted him to be Turned. It was his only chance of surviving. As Kamilah's blood was more pure than Louise's, the chances he wouldn't turn into a feral were higher. After being Turned and properly branded, both of them decided to start a new life in the United States, which was really helpful for Kamilah at that moment. Now, after selling Ahmanet Financial, she ran a botany institute along with Louise. She'd spend most of her time doing what she loved, studying, researching and photographing different species of plants and their properties.
"Did you take our... daily medication?" Louise asked as soon as she sat on her desk, referring to Adrian's serum.
"Of course," Kamilah rolled her eyes. "Otherwise I wouldn't be here right now."
She accessed some files on her powerful computer. Her most important project was far from complete. She hoped that using natural ingredients only, she'd be able to achieve the same effects as the serum's.
"Damn it," she complained aloud. "I received the latest results and they failed. The tested Vampires were only able to stay out in the sun for 15 minutes and they got terrible sunburned."
"How much of the serum we still have left?"
"To supply all of us? Only enough for two weeks."
"Uh oh," Louise bit her lower lip, giving Kamilah a questioning look. "Does it mean you need to go back New York... right now?"
Kamilah sighed, angrily.
"Don't give me this look, okay? I'll find another way... I'll convince Adrian to ship some across the country. I'll make up some excuse."
"He'll never forgive you for missing out his wedding."
"Can we not talk about it?" Kamilah abruptly stood up, grabbing her camera.
All she needed was to spend some time alone in her gardens, with her rare flowers. The last thing she wanted to have in mind right now was Adrian's wedding. Or... Amy's wedding.
Raines Corporation, New York - June 8, 2022 - 8 PM
Inside the elevator, Kamilah inhaled deeply for four seconds, then exhaled for another four. She was nervous, she couldn't deny it. It wouldn't be easy to face the woman she loved, her soulmate, again. Especially now she was engaged to her best friend. She couldn't just pretend it was all okay.
The elevator stopped. As the doors opened, she spotted an empty desk at the lobby. Through Priya, she learned Amy was no longer Adrian's assistant. He insisted she should go to business school, as she had a lot of potential to help him to run Raines Corporation when she became his wife.
It was so unlike her, Kamilah thought. Once she confessed she dreamed to have her own restaurant or a cafe, as she enjoyed cooking, and eating too. Now, because of Adrian, she'd be pursuing a carreer she didn't even like.
She knocked at Adrian's office, when he opened the door a huge grin appeared on his face.
"Kamilah," he involved her in a tight hug, "long time no see. I thought you weren't coming."
"Actually... I came here for something else. Me and my Clan in LA, we're running out of the serum."
"I'll provide you some. But aren't you staying for the wedding?"
Without an answer in mind, Kamilah swallowed dry. She wondered if that situation could've been prevented if she told Adrian Amy was her bound, or even confessed her feelings for her. But everything happened too fast, in a blink of an eye, they were already dating.
"I-I... I've been busy," she lied. "There's this research I'm doing that cannot wait. I need to monitor the species cycle very closely."
"What about your partner, Louise? Come on, Kamilah. You're like a sister to me. All I wished for was to have you by my side in this moment. After everything I went through with Eleanor and Celia... I've finally found love again."
"But..."
Before saying anything else, Kamilah reminded of how much pain Adrian felt when Celia died. For months, she had to look after him, making sure he'd not go back to what he was before, when he was still Gaius servant.
Then, she remembered his words on that cabin, sharing his darkest secret. The trauma of losing his beloved wife and son. Now with Amy, he never felt lonely again. He was always happy and relaxed.
Upon that, she was unable to say no.
"Okay. I'll stay for your wedding."
Adrian hugged her again in pure gratitude. She almost could feel happy for him. Almost. If only he wasn't marrying her bound.
"There's one more thing..." before he could finish his sentence, the door opened.
"Adrian? You were taking so long to go home, I was getting worried."
Amy entered the office, when she noticed Kamilah was standing there, her expression quickly changed.
Kamilah hadn't seen her since her move. Everytime she had to visit Adrian to pick up the serum supply, she chose times she knew Amy wouldn't be at his office. She avoided even pictures online.
Amy hadn't changed a bit. She was wearing worn-out jeans, a shirt and All-Star shoes. She was still that same girl, from four years earlier.
They gazed into each other eyes from what seemed like an eternity. That feeling. That same damn feeling returned. Stronger this time, as they consummated their bound. And Kamilah knew she was able to feel it too.
"Hi, Kamilah," Amy finally cleared her throat. "It's uhh... nice to see you. We thought you weren't coming, as you never confirmed our RVSP."
"Sorry, I've been too busy. I wasn't sure."
Another uncomfortable silence settled over the room. Amy didn't want Kamilah to be there, she could sense it. It made her highly anxious. She began to wonder if she actually told Adrian they had slept together, twice.
"So Kamilah," Adrian spoke. "I was saying... there's one more thing. I need to attend a conference in Chicago. I should stay there for a few days. Would you mind keeping an eye on Amy for me?"
"Adrian!" Amy complained, wrapping her arms around his waist. "I don't need a nanny, okay? I told you, I'm safe with Lily. The Baron won't be bothering us."
"I know, baby. But after I stopped providing him and his Clan the serum, who knows what he'll be capable of?"
"This is sweet of you, but... Kamilah said she's busy."
At this point, Kamilah had already stop paying attention. She wondered how many times she rolled her eyes in a row. They were so romantic, so cheesy, so... perfect. Her mouth stiffened in rage.
"She's taking a few days off, until our wedding. Remember?"
"Oh."
Amy wasn't thrilled to know she'd be forced to be around Kamilah for the next few days. Was she afraid? Did she have any doubts about her feelings for Adrian? A hint of satisfaction appeared on Kamilah's face and she forced a smile.
"Don't worry, Adrian. I'll take care of her as if she was my own bride."
Although it was being too much too handle, Kamilah was hiding it well. She always acted supportive, calm and composed. Visiting the wedding site, checking if everything was fine with the buffet, giving her opinion about the decoration flowers... All of that was driving her insane, thinking she should be the one marrying Amy and giving her the wedding of her dreams.
While she waited for Amy, in one of the last trials of the wedding dress, she went to her car and called Louise.
"I can't do this anymore. I seriously don't know how I'll even react when I see her in that dress."
"Relax, Kami. Do it as I told you, when the Priest asks if someone has any objections, you get up and..."
"Louise, no."
"Then why don't you just tell her? About the bounding thing, your feelings..."
"Taking another wife from Adrian's life. That sounds very fair."
"Does it sound fair that you'll spend the rest of your eternity locked inside a recluded property in Napa, researching flowers to avoid thinking of what could've been? She's your soulmate, Kamilah. Not his. She'll never feel complete by his side and... She's a mortal. She won't have all the time in the world to change her decision."
"I'll think about it, okay? I need to go now. She wants my opinion on that stupid dress. Bye."
When she entered back the boutique, her heart started pulsing weirdly. Her stomach stiffened. The view of the woman she loved in that wedding dress caused a feeling she had never experienced before, and she thought, that after 2067 years, she had felt literally everything. Amy looked back at her and smiled, she couldn't help smiling back.
"So, what do you think? I trust your fashion sense. You're always so well-dressed and elegant."
"You look..." Kamilah was still speechless, "perfect."
Amy's face suddently changed. She sat down and started crying. Intensily.
"W-What's wrong?" Kamilah asked, sitting right beside her. "Was it something I said?"
"No... I just..." Amy took a deep breath and wiped out some tears. "I'm not sure about this wedding anymore. I'm not even sure about my life anymore! I hate college, I hate Adrian is never home, I hate his rich friends... Oh my god, please don't tell him that. I'm only confused. It must be stress."
"I won't, I promise."
"I wish I had your strenght, you know? When you got fed up of that financial company of yours, you left everything behind to pursue what you always wanted."
"I've gotten used leaving things behind, I guess."
After Amy returned to her casual outfit, they were ready to leave. She still needed to speak to the band that was going to play at the party.
"I don't feel like going," she cried in the passenger seat. "Take me home. I'm not feeling well."
"I have a better idea."
Without telling Amy her plans, Kamilah drove to the nearest Ice Cream shop.
"Wasn't you that once told me Ice Cream heals everything?"
Amy let out a small laugh.
"Do you still remember?"
"Of course, I even adopted it as coping mechanism. You should see my freezer in San Francisco."
"You really have changed."
"For better, I hope."
Kamilah ordered them both the largest bowls of ice cream they had avaliable. She asked extra topping for Amy, assuming that could help to cheer up her spirits, but she was still quiet, introspective.
"Can I ask you a question?" She broke the silence after a long pause. "Why did you really move to San Francisco?"
"I wanted a new beginning," Kamilah answered, taking a spoon of ice cream.
"Uh, you usually wish for a new beginning when something ends."
"Exactly. I had nothing else keeping me at New York anymore, so I started something new."
Amy let out a chuckle, where Kamilah noticed a hint of sarcasm.
"New state, new vampire companions, new company... What about a new lover?"
"Lover?" Kamilah rolled her eyes. "Oh please, Amy. You know me, love isn't for me anymore. I'm not capable of feeling..."
"But you were," Amy interrupted, raising her voice. "That night in Adrian's cabin, the other night in your office..."
"Then you started dating Adrian."
Kamilah looked away, avoiding Amy's eyes. It was like she was confessing somehow that she only went away because she couldn't stand the idea of seeing the two of them together.
"You finally admitted," Amy shook her head. "I knew it all along, and I couldn't even tell Adrian!"
"Of course, he wouldn't be happy to know we had sex, so you omitted it."
"What's your problem, Kamilah?! One night, you say you were searching for me, then you disappear for two weeks. You don't call me, you don't text me, we never talk about it again."
"It was an important business meeting, Amy. I had to leave the country for two weeks and when I returned, you were already dating him. You never considered how I'd feel about it."
"Now this is my fault? You never cared about me. You never showed you cared. For you, I was only a sex toy. You aren't that different from Priya, you know? Now Adrian, he's always by my side. He's supportive, loving, gentle... He brings me flowers and takes me on the most perfect dates..."
"And yet, you were having second thoughts about your wedding five minutes ago, before you start dwelling on a text I didn't send you four years ago."
Amy remained silent for minutes, staring at her furiously. Kamilah would never understand mortals, why did it still matter so many years later, when she was about to get married?
Maybe Louise was right. That was the perfect moment to open up, to tell her everything.
"Know what I think, Amy?" She spoke softly. "You don't want to marry Adrian, you're frustrated and you're blaming it on me. Blaming it on me because we still have unsolved feelings. Would you... Would you like to talk about it? I have something to tell you, I quite don't know how but..."
"Do you know what I want?" Amy slammed her fist on the table. "I want you to go away. I don't want to ever see you again, Kamilah. You never meant anything to me! You were just... a girl crush I had. Once I found true love those two nights became meaningless. I-I could never love you... you're cold, selfish, arrogant..."
"As you wish, Amy. I promise you'll never see me again."
While Kamilah paid for the order, Amy left the shop. Without saying goodbye or even looking back.
She spent a long time inside her car, reminiscing about Amy's last words. The last time words hurt so deeply in her heart was when her brother's death was informed.
If only she wasn't scared of her feelings... If only she hadn't debriefed her all those times... If only she hadn't deleted that damn voicemail, four years before...
Suddently, her chest started feeling tight, her heart rate accelerated and it was getting difficult to breathe. It wasn't only that, she felt deeply sad, empty, like if a part of her had been ripped off. Maybe Amy's negative feelings for her were the key to break the bound. Now she was finally free to live a long and happy life with Adrian.
Kamilah started driving, headed back to the hotel. She'd return to San Francisco immediately. Later, she could find an excuse for Adrian. The traffic was slower than usual. It would take minutes, maybe hours to arrive at her destination.
"I really miss San Francisco right now," she told herself while turning on the radio. Some music could help her to calm down a little bit.
When she was able to move a little, she started feeling thirsty. It should be that smell in the air, the smell of blood... fresh blood. A little further she could see the lights, police cars, an ambulance, a bus... As she passed through the accident site something on the floor got her attention, a bracelet. The same bracelet Amy was wearing that afternoon.
Kamilah got out of the car, desperately trying to find her. Ignoring guards and paramedics, she passed through the yellow tapes. Following her advanced senses she looked around, attempting to find her. But she wasn't anywhere... Until...
She looked under the bus and there she was, lying face down in a puddle of blood.
"Amy!" Kamilah yelled, as a guard dragged her away. "Do something! Save her, please."
For the first time in centuries, tears started streaming down her face. The paramedics carefully removed Amy from under the bus. As they gave her the first examinations, Kamilah could hear them whispering:
"There isn't much to be done."
But her vampire ears still could hear it. Her favorite sound in the world. Amy's heartbeats, getting weaker... and weaker... until...
Silence.