Here it is my lovelies. The final chapter. I hope you all enjoyed reading Renewed as much as I enjoyed writing it- and hopefully, you'll give my other stories a chance after reading this one. Thanks for all of your support on this- and don't forget to Review. I'd like to hear your thoughts!
Tyson pursed his lips and I resisted the urge to kiss him again.
"Yeah, get Kaleb and Reed" Tyson said gruffly. When Chace left (smiling like a madman), Tyson turned back to me with a small grin as he caressed my cheek.
"So, where were we?" He mused
I couldn't believe this had happened. The proof was there, sitting beside me on my bed, even more beautiful than the last time that I had seen him; but still. It was one of those things that was too good to be true.
Tyson reached for my hand idly as Kaleb, Reed, and Chace approached, and I graciously obliged.
It was funny to see the same looks etched on all of their faces that had been on mine.
Grief, Disbelief, Hope, Realization, Extreme Joy, Suspicion, Happiness again, and ending with an extreme sexual attraction (for me at least).
Seriously, it was taking a great deal of self control, not to maul him right there in front of everyone.
Each of the guys took turns hugging Tyson tightly, and I found myself trying to control the probably very creepy smile that was etched on my face.
"So what happened?" Kaleb asked when they had all finally calmed down.
"A lot" Tyson replied curtly "Any place where you'd like me to begin, in particular?"
"The sweet new tats, would be a nice place to start" Chace answered as he leaned casually against Declan's empty bed.
The smile that graced Tyson's lips was devilish and smug "Just something I picked up, on the way back down. I don't think they mean anything, they just make it easier to control changes, things like that"
"Mmhmm" Reed said under his breath, the look in his eyes making it obvious that he knew Tyson was holding something back, but didn't push.
"Okay, why not start on the part where you…"
"Died" Tyson replied with a sigh, he made a cringing face "Yeah, that was my bad. Kalona had been bothering me since he first saw Nova, something about him being threatened by her power, wanting her dead, yadayadayada. I didn't really pay much attention. That is, until I got this stupid, threatening letter telling me that all of those close to me will die, if the guardian does not- I knew that it was either from Neferet or Kalona, or both- so I confronted him about it. I warned him to stay away, and that I didn't take too lightly to threats- especially against my friends, and then the bastard just said 'Kill Nova and you won't have to worry about your friend's safety, otherwise I'll kill them off one by one- ending with the Guardian.' just really freaking blunt. Then he started rambling on about how I was the only one she trusted enough to allow to get close to her, how it had to be me, and so I interrupted him while he was having his little rant and said: "If you don't back off, I swear to the goddess Nyx, I will end you. The only way you're getting Nova is over my dead body"
Tyson pursed his lips as he thought "I didn't realize what a poor choice of words I had used until I was dead" he chuckled.
I rolled my eyes.
The hardest part of my life that I ever had to endure, and he's laughing about it.
"What next?" Chace prompted
Tyson shrugged "Well then I saw Nyx- and Erebus, surprisingly- then Nova stopped by for a quick visit. Then quite awhile after, I saw Kalona, who preceded to tell me that as long as Nova mourned me, she'd be in danger of Neferet's influence. At first I was like "Fucking-ay, does this guy ever not have something to freaking say?" It was getting beyond ridiculous. Then I realized that he was either pretending to help me or actually helping me. So I just tried to get Nova off of me for a little while until I could find out what was going on. I manipulated those oracle bones to try and get her put-off, but then she started looking for answers- not leaving the subject alone." Tyson turned to me with a tiny smile as he shook his head "I've never met a more stubborn girl in my entire life"
He turned his gaze downwards, just below my face and shrugged lightly "Luckily, my pushing worked in the end" He sighed, eyes on the locket hanging at the hollow of my throat. I scowled at him, squeezing his hand.
"Not nearly as well as you wish to think" I growled. The corners of Tyson's mouth twitched up, and he squeezed my hand back.
"So what about how you came back?" Reed asked.
Tyson shrugged "I don't know much about that either. I was starting to get…angry. Thinking that I would have to stay there forever. But then, Nyx appeared- literally out of nowhere, nearly scared the shit out of me- and she smiled and told me that I had been summoned. I didn't know what that meant, and I didn't ask, then she touched my stomach, where Kalona had shoved his hand and these silver marks appeared- didn't bother to ask about those either. Has anyone noticed that Nyx's answers are always very cryptic? Well after months of spending time with her, it starts to way on your patience. I wasn't going to sit there and wait out an explanation to her answer over a simple question like "what are those?" so I just kept quiet, and waited, and then I started gliding downwards, and everything is pretty much blank up until I arrived in the clearing with Nova and her new boy toy"
Again, I rolled my eyes.
"Well…" Reed started.
"That was very vague" Kaleb finished with a small smile. Tyson grinned sheepishly and winked.
"I've never been one to look at detail" Tyson admitted.
Chace let out a whistle of breath "So what do we do now? It's going to be pretty boring around here not having a bad guy to defeat"
We all nodded in agreement as a thought sparked up in my head.
"Well…what if I told you that I had a way that I could continue school, while we all fight bad guys too?" I ventured
This seemed to peak their interest, and I smiled delicately.
"Okay, so I was thinking- this whole lone Guardian thing- isn't really fair. Not to others at least- with different marks like mine. I kept wondering what it was supposed to mean, why their marks were different. Maybe, it's because they're supposed to be warriors too. I was thinking of creating a school, just for fledglings like us- where we could learn how to train and fight to become warriors- like the sons of Erebus, and you guys. Has anyone noticed that there are no female warriors? It's kind of ridiculous since the person we worship is a goddess- a female. So, I want to make a school for female warriors. And I want to do it in England." I said.
The room was silent as Chace stared at me disbelieving.
"Seriously, Nova. How long have you had to think this up? Is that what you've been doing when you lock yourself away in here?" He said. I smirked and turned to Tyson, Reed and Kaleb with hopeful eyes.
"What do you guys think?" I asked
"I think I better talk to Cressana about it" Kaleb sighed, probably assuming correctly, that I wasn't going to let this go.
"Why England?" Tyson asked curiously.
I shrugged lightly "I don't know. I like the architecture. We could find a really cool, really feminine looking school- that doubles as a housing area for masked vampire and werewolf vigilantes"
"Vigilantes- like batman?" Reed repeated, chuckling.
"Exactly," I replied "Like batman, and nothing like stupid, pansy-ass superman"
"You take that back!" Chace demanded.
We all laughed as I rested my head on Tyson's shoulder, feeling more at home there than I ever had.
I went to visit Xander in the infirmary the next morning, only to find that he wasn't there.
"I think he's at the front of the school" Cain's voice came from behind me "You can catch him if you hurry"
I smiled at him before jumping to the front of the school. There were several giant, greyhound buses parked outside and several familiar werewolf faces. Xander was among them.
I frowned at the scene in front of me as Xander walked over. He smiled when he reached me and hugged me tightly.
"I was hoping I'd see you before we take off" Xander sighed against my ear. I pulled away from him, frown deepening.
"Take off?" I repeated "Where are you going?"
Xander pulled away, shrugging slightly "Cressana was more pissed off about us going off alone into the forest than she let on" Xander chuckled "Besides, I guess all of our hot bods have been distracting the female fledglings from their work"
Xander paused to raise his eyebrows maniacally "Fun times though"
I snickered, shaking my head "You still haven't told me where you're going, dork"
Understanding flickered across Xander's handsome features, and he grinned "New Zealand. We've got to finish up our werewolf stuff. I here you're starting up a female vampire vigilante squad with werewolves as backup…" Xander replied.
I laughed "Already, words getting around? Yeah, you should look us up when you get done with your training." I teased.
Xander's voice darkened and he stared at me solemnly "Oh I plan on it. It's not everyday you get offered to join a group of teenage vigilantes"
I laughed aloud "Yeah, I'm starting to think that the only reason people want to get in, is because they like saying Vigilante"
"I admit, that may have been what tempted me…among other things" Xander shrugged.
We grinned wildly at each other before hugging again. It felt good. Everything seemed to be falling into place- and for the first time in a long time- I was happy.
"Before you go" I said softly, touching the necklace around my throat "I wouldn't want you to waste this on me- you should give it to someone who deserves it"
Xander didn't make a move to take the locket back, he just shrugged again, his eyes becoming calculating as he smiled at me.
"You do deserve it. You saved me. You saved all of us- and I'll be thankful for that until my last breath"
I tossed my wrist dismissively and rolled my eyes, a small smile tugging up my lips "Oh please, you did all the work"
Xander smiled back, the buses honking their horns behind him. "Yeah, what the hell was that about? Remind me to choose a different person to back me up when I join the vigilante group"
I laughed again and he pulled me into another hug, saying that he had to go.
I tightened my hold on him and whispered "I'm thankful for you too, Xander" before softly kissing his cheek and releasing him.
He offered one last golden smile before inclining his head and walking towards the bus.
"Later, priestess" He shouted once he reached the bus.
"No, Xander- you cannot grab my ass!" I yelled obnoxiously. He smiled again before disappearing into the bus, and soon, even the bus disappeared.
I stared after it for awhile, and didn't realize for how long before another bus appeared, and Tyson was beside me.
"Hey beautiful" He murmured against my ear, wrapping his arms around my waist. I pushed my hips against his own, before turning to kiss him feverishly.
This kiss was like our very first kiss.
Filled with just as much passion, honesty, and love as it had been the first time our lips touched.
"I love you, I love you, I love you" I chanted against his lips.
His smile was brilliant as he wound his fingers in my hair, traced circles along the flesh of my throat.
"It doesn't ever get old, hearing you say that" He said, resting his chin on my head as he tugged me close.
"Break it up love-birds. We've got to go house hunting. And there will be plenty of time to do whatever it is the two of you are doing, on the way to England" Chace said as he began packing suitcases into the bus. Tyson sighed, pouting slightly as I groaned against his chest.
I certainly hadn't expected the England thing to happen so fast. How had Cressana come up with the money it would take to fund all of this stuff?
"I hope you don't mind" Her beautiful voice came from behind- how did everyone manage to sneak up on me, lately? "I had another premonition about this, it happened the day I met you actually- and I've been saving up for it ever since. I believe the account has more than enough money to satisfy your financial needs. I've also taken it upon myself to give you full control over whom you choose to become the high priestess of the school as well as most of the staff- under one condition"
I was smiling like a freaking maniac now, as I waited for Cressana to continue.
"You have to take me with you" said a familiar British accent- Cain.
I turned to him and smiled "Of course. Also, if it's not too much to ask-" I turned back to Cressana "Would you mind being the high priestess of the new school?"
Cressana's face lit up as she smiled and clapped her hands together "I was hoping you'd say that. I suppose it's a good thing that our old leader of the dark daughters survived the change. I gave her the position of High Priestess of the Chicago House of Night two days ago"
I laughed as my friends approached.
Declan, Rogue, Jinx, Gwen- they had all decided to transfer and come with me and the guys.
But really, who am I kidding? No one would pass up the chance to call themselves a vigilante.
So, as we boarded the bus and talked amongst each other, I took one last look at the House Of Night- where my first real adventures had begun, and took comfort in the feel of Tyson's arms around me, knowing that the real adventure hadn't even started. Not yet.