CHAPTER 17

Malus opened his eyes. The sun shone overhead, and the blue sky was clear but for a couple of white clouds here-and-there, and the soft grass below him was one of the best things he could ask for. He tried to move his fingers, and they moved! He raised his arm and it rested on something next to him. A light grey horse sat beside him. It's mane and tail was a mixture of grey and black hairs, and it had black markings on it's hind and fore legs. The horse nuzzled Malus with his muzzle. "Nephalitheous..." Malus said, stroking the horse's mane. "Have you been set free too?"

The horse nickered as though it were for a response. For the first time in weeks, Malus laughed.

"Nephalitheous is the name Dracula gave to your darkened form..."He murmured. "But as of late, I shall name you Morning Star."

"Morning star, eh?"

Malus turned around. On the meadow's fence sat three figures: One was Carrie, the second was Reinhardt and the third was Henry.

"We found you unconscious in the forest, carried on the back of this horse." Reinhardt said. "And he has never left your side. He is quite loyal to you."

He introduced his companions. "This is Carrie Fernandez, and you might already know Henry Oldrey. I am Reinhardt Schneider."

"My name's Malus Crescent. Thank you for rescuing me!"

"You're certainly welcome! And I think Henry here, might have found a few of your friends too..."

Malus turned around. Children played in the meadow. He could see familiar faces through the crowd of them, but there was one he missed...

"Where's Edward?" Malus asked Henry. "Did you see another boy around my age? He had black hair and glasses and wore a cross around his neck."

"I don't remember seeing an Edward..." Henry said slowly, thinking back. "At least not one by your description..."

"I see..." Malus looked to the ground as tears started to fill his eyes. He hugged close to Morning Star.

"I am terribly sorry, lad..." Henry said, placing a hand on the boy's shoulder.

Epilogue

Winter had come in late December. Cold air whispered across the hills and the trees were bare from their leaves, but covered in snow. The white powder covered the land and hills for miles, while a fresh blanket fell from the cloudy grey sky. A month had passed since the death of his family and Edward, yet two weeks had passed since he had become free. Of course their memories were still there; like a wound or scar on his heart that would never heal, or an empty and missing place that could never quite be filled. He stood in front of four gravestones that bared four empty graves. He had stood there alone for an hour, clutching the cross his uncle had given him, to his heart with his eyes shut. Whether he was praying or not, no one would tell. Finally, he opened his eyes. He replaced the cross around his neck and looked toward the villages beyond the hills. Children played in the snow and the smell of baked goods and supper rose from the chimneys. Mother and Father would be waiting for him... The young boy turned to his horse that sat in the snow beside him.

"Come on, Morning star. Let's go home."