Chapter Thirty-eight
Kyle smiled widely as he heard her sleepy voice.
"'Lo?"
"Mon joli ange. Êtes-vous éveillé ?" He whispered, smiling wider.
"Kyle?" She gasped as she scrambled to sit up in bed. "Oh…" She started to sniffle. "Kyle…" Her voice caught on a sob when she said his name. "Yes. Yes. I'm awake!"
"What's going on?" He asked, beyond thrilled to hear her voice.
"Nothing…" She replied sniffling louder, "…everything. Mostly, I miss you."
His heart hurt as he heard her words. "I miss you too." He continued to grin as he took a seat and settled in. "So. What have you been up to without me?"
Becky drew her knees up and rested her head against them as she spoke. "Watching Ella, studying, working at the bookshop and babysitting for Melissa." Her voice got quiet as she added. "And fighting with Maggie – if you could even call it that."
"Fighting? How could that happen? You haven't seen Maggie in forever." Kyle asked.
"That's exactly how it happened." She said sadly. "And now I ruined everything. I'm pretty sure she totally hates me."
"No one could hate you." Kyle insisted, his voice soft and full of love. "You're impossible to hate."
"Tell that to Maggie." Becky muttered.
He could imagine the look on her face and continued to smile. "I absolutely will. As soon as I come home."
"Which will be soon I hope." Becky replied with a sigh.
"Hopefully." He said, sighing back at her.
Becky had been so worried for so long she couldn't believe she was getting the chance to talk to him. "So. What's going on there? Are you OK? Is my Dad being a pain?"
"I'm fine." Kyle said, trying to keep his voice steady. "Things here are crazy. Your father and Caleb are out fighting together. I'm watching out for your Mom."
It must be serious if her father was leaving Kyle alone. Her eyes went wide with shock. "Are you serious?"
"Very. I'm learning so much. It's incredible." He smiled as he added. "And I think it's going to be alright now, Becky."
"What is?" She asked, confused.
"Us. You and me. Everything's going to be fine now. We'll be able to be together once I get back. Your Dad – Becky, you were wrong about him. He's so cool." He added.
Did he just say what she thought he said? "Are you sure you're feeling alright?" Becky asked then.
"I'm fine." He said softly. "I'm amazing." The ache in his heart grew as he added. "I probably should go. I just wanted to say I love you, Becky. I really do."
Becky reached up and wiped away the tears that suddenly found their way down her cheeks. "Oh Kyle." She said with a sigh. "I love you too."
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Rafe huffed out a breath as he stumbled away after slaying yet another vampire. "Four down and probably dozen more to go."
He swiped his brow with the back of his hand as he glared at Caleb. "I could kill you for this."
"So you keep saying." Caleb replied with a sigh. Always up for getting in a little dig at Rafe he added. "Just doing my part to help keep you in shape."
"I own a gym." Rafe muttered bitterly. "I don't need any help from you."
Suddenly, two more of Caleb's creations came upon them. Swiftly and expertly, Rafe took care of one while Caleb dealt with the other.
Breathing heavily, Rafe paused once more. "How many more, Vampire?"
"I have no idea." Caleb admitted.
"Well at least you admit it." Rafe replied, tired, impatient and utterly annoyed.
A shadow fell over both of them, the creature who came upon them suddenly spooked. He took off at a run and Caleb was on his heels in a heartbeat.
Tackling him and throwing him to the ground, Caleb began to pound him until his captive was helpless. And then, with one twist of his neck, he ended his life.
Rafe walked up to him slowly, almost in shock. He never in his life would have pictured this moment. Watching Caleb destroy one of his own was completely bizarre. But ultimately it was what had to happen. They both knew there was no other way.
"Is that it? Are we finished?" He said softly as he held his hand out to him, helping Caleb up off the ground.
As Caleb rose to his feet he looked into Rafe's eyes and whispered. "I certainly hope so."
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Livvie's mind was full of memories. She could see her whole life. Her life before Caleb and her life after.
It seemed she was always searching for something. First it was the truth about her family, then it was someone who would love her for who she truly was.
There were so many things that she had left to do, so many years left to live with him. Why was she so tired? Why couldn't she bring herself back to them? Rachel must be so scared. Rachel…
As Livvie lay still, Alison sat beside the bed and gazed at the woman who was once her best friend. She couldn't help but feel sympathy.
Tentatively, she reached for Livvie's hand as she whispered. "You have to fight, Livvie. You can't give up. I know that sometimes it might seem like it's easier, but you just can't."
"Rachel needs you. Colin needs you. You're their mother Livvie." Alison continued. "But. Most of all – Caleb needs you. He's going crazy without you."
Livvie thought she could hear Alison's voice but that couldn't be true. Alison hated her and with good reason. She couldn't believe that after all she'd done for her she would still help her whenever she asked. She couldn't understand that. She didn't know how you could let things go like that.
"Livvie. I know we haven't gotten along in forever. If you want me to tell the truth, I really hated you for a long, long time. But now I realize there isn't any reason to anymore. If I'm being honest, I'll have to admit that a tiny part of me will never ever forgive you but I know now that you can't hurt me. Rafe and I, we're together and we're stronger than we ever were. So if that helps you at all –if that makes you feel better…" Alison blinked back tears as she kept on, desperate to reach her long lost friend. "Know that I just want you to be able to live your life in peace, just like I've been able to live mine."
"Don't let whatever this is that's happening stop you Livvie." Alison said softly as she slowly drew away. "Right now. More than ever I think - Caleb needs you."
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Kyle stared at the phone for a few long moments after he'd hung up. The house was quiet around him. He watched as a woman in a tidy uniform carried a sleeping Rachel into her room with Mischief, the attack kitten, trailing behind.
There was still a chill that crept up his spine, there was still an uneasiness that he felt just being in this country or maybe it was being in this house? He couldn't figure it out. He understood what they were doing here but it was so surreal.
He knew was that it wasn't going to be easy. But this trip had been everything Kyle had hoped for. He'd learned so much by coming here. One of the surprising things he'd been able to learn on this trip was that Becky's parents had faced too many challenges to count. It was so amazing to just look at them. Even after so many years it was obvious. They were still absolutely crazy about each other.
Becky had already known that. It explained so much about her, why the little things were so important to her. Having spent this time with Rafe, Kyle now knew why he had been so difficult to deal with when he and Becky first met.
It was because Rafe protected those that he loved fiercely. Kyle knew now, from all he'd heard and seen, that Rafe would give his life willingly to save any one of them. And Kyle knew, without question, that when the time came, he would do the same for Becky and the family they would make together.
Kyle's luck seemed to be changing in front of his eyes. His family had fallen to pieces, and he'd begun to lose hope that he could ever have that kind of thing again. He knew now, more than ever, that he'd have another chance.
Becky would help him find his mother and his sister. He knew she's be standing right by his side all the while. Someday, he'd be able to call her his wife. Kyle had no illusions that it would happen anytime soon. He knew it was going to take a while. He was going to have to be patient. If he could just go slow he knew one thing for sure.
Someday he'd have a life like that with Becky. He knew that her dreams were simple ones. She wanted a home, a family. In a way he had a head start. He knew exactly what she wanted, all he had to do was get her there.
Kyle vowed then and there that he would make sure it happened. He would make sure of it if it was the last thing he did.
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The front door to the manor opened with a resounding bang. Rafe and Caleb walked inside, looking every inch like they'd been caught in battle for hours.
Alison heard the noise and got up from the chair she'd been sitting in. "Rafe!" She cried as she threw herself into his arms.
As much as he wanted to hold her close he found himself pulling away. "Alison, don't. I'm filthy."
"I don't care." She whispered as she dragged him back to her and hugged him tightly. "I'm so glad you're back."
Once she was convinced Rafe was okay she reluctantly eased away from him. She gazed over at Caleb and whispered. "You should go and sit with her."
"Is there any change?" Caleb asked, already knowing the answer was no.
"No." Alison confirmed. "But I think it would really help if you go and sit with her. She needs you Caleb." She said softly as she moved closer to him and patted his hand.
"There's nothing I can do." He replied.
"Sure. With that attitude there wouldn't be." Rafe muttered.
"Slayer – do me a favor. Take your little mascot and your doting wife and get the hell out of here. You came, you saw, you destroyed what I was trying to create." His eyes glowed red once more as he added. "You've had your fun. Just leave already."
"You helped destroy the mess you made because you know – as well as I do – that you don't have it in you at the moment to keep a crew like that in line. And you know, deep down, that I'm your only hope."
Rafe stood at Alison's side and took her hand in his, bringing it to his lips and kissing her gently. "We've done enough today. Let's go to bed. Kyle…" Rafe called out over his shoulder as he made his way to the stairs. "I'd appreciate it if you'd stay down here."
"Yes sir." Kyle replied with a nod. "You've got it."
All at once Caleb realized Rafe's intentions. "You have got to be kidding me. You are not staying here."
"Oh yes. We are." Rafe countered. He couldn't help feeling a bit of satisfaction in the fact that he was the one holding all the cards for once.
"Oh no. You are not." Caleb's voice gained strength even as it was draining from his body.
"Look." Rafe's voice was full of impatience. "We got through one phase of this horror show. The threat from other vampires is gone, but in your state? You are an easy target for slayers. As hard as it is for me to fully accept, you've got one on your side for the time being so…" He took a deep breath but still found himself speaking through clenched teeth. "Stop being such an idiot and let me do my job."
"Rafe." Alison warned. "Leave him alone."
"I can fight my own battles, Blondie."Caleb snapped at her.
"Oh that I wish you could." Rafe snidely replied, tugging at Alison's hand. ""Don't worry. We'll take any room. We're not picky. Just be sure to tell your staff that I like my eggs over easy." He said as they both ascended the stairs, leaving Caleb alone in the foyer.
Annoyed with her husband but sensing Caleb needed to be left alone Alison added. "Have a good night Caleb. We'll see you in the morning."
As he stood there in silence, one thing echoed in his mind. It should have never come to this, he thought to himself as he looked around his family's home.
Unfamiliar emotions flooded over him as he thought of all that had transpired in so short a time. Taking a deep breath he went to the one place he thought he'd find peace.
As he made his way into his bedroom he caught sight of Olivia, so lifeless and still. All of this, every bit of it was his fault. He thought guiltily. Caleb silently crept into bed beside her he drew her close.
"Please forgive me." He whispered in her ear as he buried his nose in her hair. "I always end up making this mistake. I always end up hurting the one person I'd never want to." Giving in to his own exhaustion, he curled his arm tighter around her as he finished. "I don't know why it is but no matter how hard I try to protect you, I always end up damaging you most of all."