Chapter Thirty-nine
The place was crawling with people, but not with guards as would be expected. There was so much commotion going on at the mansion, it was nearly too easy.
Looks like Joshua planned quite a party. It was odd, though. The place that looked most like where a wedding ceremony would be had no chairs. It didn't look like there'd be much of an audience for that portion of the festivities. I guess he was planning a huge reception instead, Livvie thought with a shiver.
She may have come to hate Alison - but even she knew that a life with that creep was a fate worse than death.
Using Abby's instructions, and the powers she now possessed, Livvie appeared in the exact location where Abby had seen Joshua hid the vial. Her heart beat faster, the anticipation of making Caleb whole again almost too much to bear.
She reached into the urn, her hand closing on the treasure inside. She was halfway to realizing her dream.
She needed to get to Caleb and complete the task.
*********
Alison looked at herself in the mirror. She blinked back tears. She was dressed for her wedding, a day most women thought of as the happiest of their lives. It was a day she'd always dreamed of.
But this man who she would marry tonight was nowhere near the man of her dreams. Joshua was her very worst nightmare come true. She'd never been more miserable. She was sure she wanted to die.
She had been trying to find a way - a way she could defeat Joshua and regain her dream. But she had come up empty. Now that he'd decided they'd marry tonight, she had run out of time.
Oh God. Rafe.
She pushed thoughts of Rafe away, sure that if she thought about the wedding she'd dreamed of with him she wouldn't be able to stand up at the altar.
Joshua could go ahead and drug her now - it wouldn't matter. At least she hadn't failed Rafe. She had saved him, but she couldn't save herself.
After tonight, she'd be dead anyway. Once he'd made her his wife, Joshua would turn her into a monster. She'd welcome drugs to numb the pain of knowing she'd become something so horrible.
Her eyes scanned the room and fell on a bouquet of roses - appropriately, they were red as blood. They were the ones she would carry in her hands tonight.
She had always loved roses - pink ones most of all. Though she had wanted to keep them away, just the thought of pink roses brought the memories flooding back.
She remembered the night before the wedding she was supposed to have had with Rafe all those months ago. She'd sat and written a letter to their child; a child who would never be born now.
She had been trying her best not to cry, but the pain she felt was far too strong. She had lost so much in such a short time. She had been so sure it would happen. She would marry her soul mate and they would start a life and a family together. If you'd asked her back then if she thought there was a chance that they wouldn't go through with it she'd have said you didn't know them at all.
But then Caleb's cruel joke tore their dream to shreds. They had just started to get it back when Joshua came along and made sure it would be gone for good.
She would write another letter tonight. She would tell Rafe all the things she wanted to say so he would know - without a doubt - that even though she'd had to do this - she did it because she loved him.
If she didn't survive, Jamal could make sure he'd get it.
She opened the desk drawer and took out a sheet of stationary, her eyes falling on something gold and glittery as she did. Her heart soared, the thought of saying goodbye gone in an instant.
Would this actually work? Could she pull it off? To be with Rafe again she'd try anything.
It would be a pleasure to succeed.
Alison carefully took the letter opener from the drawer. As she did, it struck her as odd that something that looked so like a stake could be found in a place a vampire called home.
She held it gently in her hands, running her fingers over the length of the blade, nearly pricking her finger on the sharp tip.
She picked up her bouquet and took her newfound weapon in her right hand. She carefully slipped it into the center. She turned it around, looking at the blooms in her hand from every angle. She could see nothing but flowers. Oh my God, she thought, not able to believe it. It would work.
Her next thought was whether or not she would actually be able to do what it would take. Her thoughts turned back to Rafe, to the dream that they had fought so hard and so long to achieve. She would do it - gladly. She'd walk down that aisle. She'd stand before Joshua, she'd let him say vows to her and she'd say hers to him. And just when he'd thought he'd won, she'd stab him in the place his heart would be if he had one.
And kill him - dead.
**********
Running into a clearing as fast as she could, Livvie called out.
"Caleb! Caleb!?"
An arm reached out and grabbed her, a hand closing over her mouth.
"Olivia." He whispered in her ear.
"Don't do that!" Livvie said punching him.
"Well, then - don't go screaming my name and draw attention to us. We have work to do."
"Yes - we do."
"Did you get it?" he asked, his voice hopeful.
"I did." Livvie answered as she gazed up at him, her smile beaming.
Caleb rolled up his sleeve, his blood pounding, he was nearly coming out of his skin. He couldn't wait to become complete again, to regain his power.
Livvie looked at the vial and syringe she held tightly in her grip. As much as she wanted to turn him, she was suddenly scared.
Caleb saw the change in her expression.
"What? Olivia - what's wrong?"
"What if it's not what we think it is?"
"What?"
"What if this is a trick? It would be just like them to tell us that this is the antidote when they really mean to destroy you."
Caleb had already considered this. It was a hard thing to grasp, but he'd realized one thing. Rafe may always want to destroy him, after tonight, he may try again. There was only one thing that could stop him from trying and that was Alison.
"Olivia. I know that it is hard for you to understand - but my instincts are right with this. Give me the needle. This is the answer we've been looking for."
Her hand shook as she handed it over. She shut her eyes as he plunged it into his arm.
Caleb stumbled as he felt the drug coarse through his veins. He sat on the ground and as he did, Livvie sank beside him. He shook his head to clear it. A few minutes past. Livvie held Caleb in her arms as she felt him come back to her. He turned and looked into her eyes.
"Come to me, my love. It's finally time." He said, his voice a raspy whisper.
Livvie licked her lips. She had waited so long for this moment, to return the gift he had given her. In moments they would have back everything they had lost. She bared her fangs and sank her teeth into the sensitive skin of his neck.
He was whole again.
**********
Alison paced back and forth. She was unbelievably nervous. Rafe always told her he thought she was brave. She certainly didn't feel brave at the moment. She was sure that this was her only option. It was a chance she'd have to take.
She heard a knock on the door and jumped about a foot.
"Come in" she said softly, cringing at the thought of having to see Joshua. She had hoped she could wait until the ceremony. She didn't want to lose her nerve.
Thankfully, it was Jamal who entered.
"Oh my God. Jamal." She said as she ran into his arms.
Jamal held her tightly, placing a kiss on her hair. Even on a day like today she looked gorgeous. He could feel her shaking with nerves.
"Spunky? You alright?"
"No. Oh God no - Jamal. I'm not alright - I'm about to marry a vampire."
"I know it seems hopeless right now. But trust me, OK? I have a feeling it'll all work out."
Alison knew that the only chance of that was her successfully killing Joshua herself. She took a deep breath as she said "I hope that it will."
Jamal wanted to tell her about their plan. That Rafe was waiting outside, that he was here to save her but he knew her. If she knew he was there she'd try and race out that door in a second. She might be able to get away, but then Joshua would still be here, starting this whole sick cat and mouse game again.
It needed to end.
"I'll be right there with you. I'll be right there, baby girl. You know I'll always have your back."
Tears filled Alison's eyes as she looked at him. "I know. I know." She hugged him again. As much as I hate what they've done to you, Jamal. I know that. I'm so happy you're here with me. You don't know what it means to have you here. Before we go, though, I need you to promise to do something for me."
"Anything."
Alison stepped out of the safety of Jamal's arms and moved to the desk. She picked up the envelope lying there.
"After the wedding, after Joshua turns me - I know for sure I won't ever see Rafe again." She blinked furiously, hoping to keep the tears from falling. If she started to cry, she knew she'd never be able to stop.
"Ali - you don't know that." Jamal protested.
It was amazing to him. He had been so in love with her once - but for the first time he could clearly see for himself just how much in love Alison and Rafe were with each other. He had thought their love had been strong, but compared to the love the two of them shared - it was deeper than he ever imagined. Jamal now knew for sure that they had been destined for each other. Realizing that fact made the regret he'd always felt about how things had ended between them nearly melt away. As much as he'd loved her, as much as he missed her, Rafe was the person she truly belonged to.
"I do. If Joshua turns me, there is no way Rafe and I can ever be together again. I need you to make sure he gets that. I need him to know what I did so he can understand."
Alison's eyes continued to plead with Jamal. He took the letter from her hands and slipped it in his pocket. He took a deep breath, hoping with all he had that he'd never need to deliver it.
"OK. I will."
"Thank you." She nearly whispered, then took a deep breath to steady herself. "Now. Let's get this over with."
Picking up her bouquet, and gripping it tightly she said a quick prayer and turned to walk out the door.
***********
Livvie held Caleb's head in her lap, her fingers rhythmically running through his hair over and over again.
"Come back to me" she pleaded quietly, "Please Caleb, come back to me."
His crystal blue eyes slowly opened. His gaze intently focused on her as he sat up.
"Caleb?" There were thousands of questions implied in the way she spoke his name.
Caleb took a deep breath to steady him self and as he did, he moved his tongue moved around inside his mouth as he felt the sharpness of his fangs.
He pulled he face to his and kissed her passionately, and though he'd technically just died he felt more alive than he had in weeks.
"Caleb?" Livvie asked again as he finally broke their kiss.
He looked at her and gave her a wicked grin. "It's good to back."
The place was crawling with people, but not with guards as would be expected. There was so much commotion going on at the mansion, it was nearly too easy.
Looks like Joshua planned quite a party. It was odd, though. The place that looked most like where a wedding ceremony would be had no chairs. It didn't look like there'd be much of an audience for that portion of the festivities. I guess he was planning a huge reception instead, Livvie thought with a shiver.
She may have come to hate Alison - but even she knew that a life with that creep was a fate worse than death.
Using Abby's instructions, and the powers she now possessed, Livvie appeared in the exact location where Abby had seen Joshua hid the vial. Her heart beat faster, the anticipation of making Caleb whole again almost too much to bear.
She reached into the urn, her hand closing on the treasure inside. She was halfway to realizing her dream.
She needed to get to Caleb and complete the task.
*********
Alison looked at herself in the mirror. She blinked back tears. She was dressed for her wedding, a day most women thought of as the happiest of their lives. It was a day she'd always dreamed of.
But this man who she would marry tonight was nowhere near the man of her dreams. Joshua was her very worst nightmare come true. She'd never been more miserable. She was sure she wanted to die.
She had been trying to find a way - a way she could defeat Joshua and regain her dream. But she had come up empty. Now that he'd decided they'd marry tonight, she had run out of time.
Oh God. Rafe.
She pushed thoughts of Rafe away, sure that if she thought about the wedding she'd dreamed of with him she wouldn't be able to stand up at the altar.
Joshua could go ahead and drug her now - it wouldn't matter. At least she hadn't failed Rafe. She had saved him, but she couldn't save herself.
After tonight, she'd be dead anyway. Once he'd made her his wife, Joshua would turn her into a monster. She'd welcome drugs to numb the pain of knowing she'd become something so horrible.
Her eyes scanned the room and fell on a bouquet of roses - appropriately, they were red as blood. They were the ones she would carry in her hands tonight.
She had always loved roses - pink ones most of all. Though she had wanted to keep them away, just the thought of pink roses brought the memories flooding back.
She remembered the night before the wedding she was supposed to have had with Rafe all those months ago. She'd sat and written a letter to their child; a child who would never be born now.
She had been trying her best not to cry, but the pain she felt was far too strong. She had lost so much in such a short time. She had been so sure it would happen. She would marry her soul mate and they would start a life and a family together. If you'd asked her back then if she thought there was a chance that they wouldn't go through with it she'd have said you didn't know them at all.
But then Caleb's cruel joke tore their dream to shreds. They had just started to get it back when Joshua came along and made sure it would be gone for good.
She would write another letter tonight. She would tell Rafe all the things she wanted to say so he would know - without a doubt - that even though she'd had to do this - she did it because she loved him.
If she didn't survive, Jamal could make sure he'd get it.
She opened the desk drawer and took out a sheet of stationary, her eyes falling on something gold and glittery as she did. Her heart soared, the thought of saying goodbye gone in an instant.
Would this actually work? Could she pull it off? To be with Rafe again she'd try anything.
It would be a pleasure to succeed.
Alison carefully took the letter opener from the drawer. As she did, it struck her as odd that something that looked so like a stake could be found in a place a vampire called home.
She held it gently in her hands, running her fingers over the length of the blade, nearly pricking her finger on the sharp tip.
She picked up her bouquet and took her newfound weapon in her right hand. She carefully slipped it into the center. She turned it around, looking at the blooms in her hand from every angle. She could see nothing but flowers. Oh my God, she thought, not able to believe it. It would work.
Her next thought was whether or not she would actually be able to do what it would take. Her thoughts turned back to Rafe, to the dream that they had fought so hard and so long to achieve. She would do it - gladly. She'd walk down that aisle. She'd stand before Joshua, she'd let him say vows to her and she'd say hers to him. And just when he'd thought he'd won, she'd stab him in the place his heart would be if he had one.
And kill him - dead.
**********
Running into a clearing as fast as she could, Livvie called out.
"Caleb! Caleb!?"
An arm reached out and grabbed her, a hand closing over her mouth.
"Olivia." He whispered in her ear.
"Don't do that!" Livvie said punching him.
"Well, then - don't go screaming my name and draw attention to us. We have work to do."
"Yes - we do."
"Did you get it?" he asked, his voice hopeful.
"I did." Livvie answered as she gazed up at him, her smile beaming.
Caleb rolled up his sleeve, his blood pounding, he was nearly coming out of his skin. He couldn't wait to become complete again, to regain his power.
Livvie looked at the vial and syringe she held tightly in her grip. As much as she wanted to turn him, she was suddenly scared.
Caleb saw the change in her expression.
"What? Olivia - what's wrong?"
"What if it's not what we think it is?"
"What?"
"What if this is a trick? It would be just like them to tell us that this is the antidote when they really mean to destroy you."
Caleb had already considered this. It was a hard thing to grasp, but he'd realized one thing. Rafe may always want to destroy him, after tonight, he may try again. There was only one thing that could stop him from trying and that was Alison.
"Olivia. I know that it is hard for you to understand - but my instincts are right with this. Give me the needle. This is the answer we've been looking for."
Her hand shook as she handed it over. She shut her eyes as he plunged it into his arm.
Caleb stumbled as he felt the drug coarse through his veins. He sat on the ground and as he did, Livvie sank beside him. He shook his head to clear it. A few minutes past. Livvie held Caleb in her arms as she felt him come back to her. He turned and looked into her eyes.
"Come to me, my love. It's finally time." He said, his voice a raspy whisper.
Livvie licked her lips. She had waited so long for this moment, to return the gift he had given her. In moments they would have back everything they had lost. She bared her fangs and sank her teeth into the sensitive skin of his neck.
He was whole again.
**********
Alison paced back and forth. She was unbelievably nervous. Rafe always told her he thought she was brave. She certainly didn't feel brave at the moment. She was sure that this was her only option. It was a chance she'd have to take.
She heard a knock on the door and jumped about a foot.
"Come in" she said softly, cringing at the thought of having to see Joshua. She had hoped she could wait until the ceremony. She didn't want to lose her nerve.
Thankfully, it was Jamal who entered.
"Oh my God. Jamal." She said as she ran into his arms.
Jamal held her tightly, placing a kiss on her hair. Even on a day like today she looked gorgeous. He could feel her shaking with nerves.
"Spunky? You alright?"
"No. Oh God no - Jamal. I'm not alright - I'm about to marry a vampire."
"I know it seems hopeless right now. But trust me, OK? I have a feeling it'll all work out."
Alison knew that the only chance of that was her successfully killing Joshua herself. She took a deep breath as she said "I hope that it will."
Jamal wanted to tell her about their plan. That Rafe was waiting outside, that he was here to save her but he knew her. If she knew he was there she'd try and race out that door in a second. She might be able to get away, but then Joshua would still be here, starting this whole sick cat and mouse game again.
It needed to end.
"I'll be right there with you. I'll be right there, baby girl. You know I'll always have your back."
Tears filled Alison's eyes as she looked at him. "I know. I know." She hugged him again. As much as I hate what they've done to you, Jamal. I know that. I'm so happy you're here with me. You don't know what it means to have you here. Before we go, though, I need you to promise to do something for me."
"Anything."
Alison stepped out of the safety of Jamal's arms and moved to the desk. She picked up the envelope lying there.
"After the wedding, after Joshua turns me - I know for sure I won't ever see Rafe again." She blinked furiously, hoping to keep the tears from falling. If she started to cry, she knew she'd never be able to stop.
"Ali - you don't know that." Jamal protested.
It was amazing to him. He had been so in love with her once - but for the first time he could clearly see for himself just how much in love Alison and Rafe were with each other. He had thought their love had been strong, but compared to the love the two of them shared - it was deeper than he ever imagined. Jamal now knew for sure that they had been destined for each other. Realizing that fact made the regret he'd always felt about how things had ended between them nearly melt away. As much as he'd loved her, as much as he missed her, Rafe was the person she truly belonged to.
"I do. If Joshua turns me, there is no way Rafe and I can ever be together again. I need you to make sure he gets that. I need him to know what I did so he can understand."
Alison's eyes continued to plead with Jamal. He took the letter from her hands and slipped it in his pocket. He took a deep breath, hoping with all he had that he'd never need to deliver it.
"OK. I will."
"Thank you." She nearly whispered, then took a deep breath to steady herself. "Now. Let's get this over with."
Picking up her bouquet, and gripping it tightly she said a quick prayer and turned to walk out the door.
***********
Livvie held Caleb's head in her lap, her fingers rhythmically running through his hair over and over again.
"Come back to me" she pleaded quietly, "Please Caleb, come back to me."
His crystal blue eyes slowly opened. His gaze intently focused on her as he sat up.
"Caleb?" There were thousands of questions implied in the way she spoke his name.
Caleb took a deep breath to steady him self and as he did, he moved his tongue moved around inside his mouth as he felt the sharpness of his fangs.
He pulled he face to his and kissed her passionately, and though he'd technically just died he felt more alive than he had in weeks.
"Caleb?" Livvie asked again as he finally broke their kiss.
He looked at her and gave her a wicked grin. "It's good to back."