Iona's POV
I smiled as Trevor's eyes met mine,
"Hello old friend." I said waving.
"Honey! You won't believe this!" Trevor bellowed out in Sypha's direction.
"Can't you see I'm busy… Oh, wow…" Sypha looked at me, jaw hanging towards the floor. She ran up to me and gave me the tightest hug.
"It's absolutely wonderful to see you!" She exclaimed. A small smile spread across my face. I couldn't deny I was happy to see everyone. Trevor walked up to me, that's when I noticed the tiny human in his arms. I looked eagerly at them both,
"You guys had a baby?" Excitement teemed in my voice.
"This is our baby boy. There's no use in telling you his real name, everyone calls him Treffy." Trevor said annoyed but through an awkward laugh.
"May I?" I held out my arms to take the small child from him. I could tell he was nervous about letting me take his pride and joy, but Sypha elbowed him in the side and he gave up the tiny human to me. His little eyes were closed and drool escaped from his tiny mouth.
"He's beautiful." I whispered to them, "You both will be great parents." I added softly.
"Thank you." Sypha and Trevor said at the same time. I giggled, I extended my arms out to them, before Sypha grabbed Trevor's arm and started running,
"She has him! Run away before he starts crying!" I laughed at her absurdness. I took a few steps in Alucard's direction, noticing him looking at the young baby sweetly.
"They've both been so tired. I don't blame them for running away." He said to me.
"I get that." I replied, letting the frown return to my face. I caressed the young boy's cheek.
"I know, I'm sorry. My hands must be so cold." I murmured to little Treffy as he shied away from my hand even in deep sleep.
"Thank you for helping getting these people here."
"Of course. I'm glad I could be of service to these people." He responded softly, both of us not raising our voice any higher to try not to disturb the baby.
"Do you need anything?" Alucard asked after awhile. I shook my head no. My one need had been fulfilled by bringing these people here. Seeing everyone help each other was glorious. The smiles and laughter that I heard throughout the city warmed my pained heart. Kids were running around playing with each other and the elderly offered what little mobility they had to lend a helping hand.
"Beautiful, isn't it?" He asked me, breaking my train of thought.
"Yes…" I said smiling. Some of the little Targoviste kids who had begun to know me well ran up and showed me the fresh fruits they had gathered from around the city.
"Look Ms. Iona! It's so shiny and red! It's also sweet and sour! What's it called?" All the children looked at me with excitement. I brought myself to their level, letting their curious eyes look into mine,
"This is an apple," I smiled at them all, "But do you want to know something neat?" I said with a raised eyebrow.
"Yes! Yes!" They shouted. I put a finger over my lips to quiet them slightly,
"They come in all sort's of beautiful colors. Sometimes the different season's change the color of the apples harvest." I spoke to them with the wonder of the world they wanted to hear. They all whispered amongst themselves before running off to show other adults.
"You're very good with the kids." Sypha said happily, walking back up to me and pulling tired Treffy back into her arms.
"I've found I enjoy teaching them. The wonder that breems within them is always a joyful sight to see." I replied fondly.
"If you'd like to…," She spoke slowly, getting ready to ask me something, "We could use another teacher in the elementary school. There are now far too many kids for one adult to handle."
"I'd love to Sypha." I placed a cold hand on her shoulder, smiling.
"I'm going to head back up to the castle if either of you would like to join me." Sypha added before making her leave. Alucard followed suit, not looking to see if I would follow. His intentions for me here, I didn't quite understand, but I wanted nothing but to be alone for awhile and iron out my thoughts.
The sun set over the horizon and darkness covered the land. I hated the dark. I couldn't tolerate it any longer, but found myself not moving from it. I found a large tree and sat under it, letting my fears sink in. I didn't want to take a bed away from someone who needed it more than I, so sleeping out in the wilderness seemed suitable. The cold settled into the land, I hoped for everyone's sake that this years winter would be more tame than last.
I pulled out the spell book Alucard had let me take so long ago and flipped through it's pages. I had memorized and practiced these spells over and over again, but the pages felt like home somehow. They held the happier memories I use to hold dear to my heart. The memories of Alucard, Sypha and Trevor. The memory of my long dead parents, the smiles that used to warm my heart, and the words that used to fill my mind with joy. I missed that. I didn't feel those things anymore. And if I did, the world always found a way to punish me for it.
A lantern made it's way through the dark night and Trevor found his way to me.
"What are you doing out here?" He asked concerned.
"Trying to gather my thoughts." I looked at him as he sat beside me.
"I get that. I assume a lot has happened since you've been away, you don't have to go into it, but Sypha and I are here for you." His words were tender.
"You're a softy now that you're a father." I elbowed him ever so gently. He laughed, letting a hand rub the back of his sore neck,
"Yeah, it definitely does that to you. But your words earlier today were encouraging and I wanted to say thank you."
"I meant it. You and Sypha will be and are great parents. You both know so much, little Treffy will be a smart kid as he grows." I replied, flipping through the pages of the book.
"If you stay long enough for him to have you as a teacher, he will be set to teach the following generations after." He eyed me with sincerity. Trevor stood to his feet,
"If you need anything, I'm sure you know where to find us." His footsteps trailed off in the distance.
Once again the cold air was silent, but not too long after another set of feet could be heard in the near dirt if the forest floor.
"I brought you something to eat." I recognized the voice, Alucard's face appearing from the shadows.
"I'm not hungry Alucard." I watched as he perched himself on a branch of a nearby tree still in my line of sight.
"Your emaciated body say otherwise Iona. There's no longer a need to torture yourself anymore, everyone here is taken care of… Or..?" He paused, "Are you punishing yourself for things that are out of your control?"
"How about you go find someone else to force feed, please." I said softly.
"You can't live this way forever. Do you resent me?" He asked quickly. My eyes darted to him,
"Why would I resent you? I don't have time for these meaningless questions."
"It looks like you have time to me… That book only holds so much information." As we continued talking, both of us got continually angrier at each other. In the heat of everything, both of our swords were drawn, blades pointing at each other.
"Go to hell Iona." Alucard said to me harshly.
"I'm already in hell…" I replied, the silent streams of tears making there way down my face. I began using my magic and we fought each other. Blades clanking together and the batting of wings hitting the silent air.
At one point, Alucard disarmed me. My blade stuck deeply in the trunk of a nearby tree. We looked at each other before he charged at me, the point of his blade making contact with my chest. But no pained followed. With my arms weakly at my sides and my wings holding me in the air, I waited for death. I kept my eyes closed, hoping that the blade would sink deeper into my skin. Instead I was met with his lips on mine. I didn't move, I didn't fight, I just kept my lips pressed to his.
He pulled away first, speaking quietly to me,
"You really wanted to let me kill you?" The pain echoed through my ears.
"Yes, and by your hand would've given me peace in the afterlife." I replied, tired.
"But why?"
"I fight with myself everyday. I love you one second than hate you the next. I'm tired of battling myself everyday. You have to understand that."
"I do understand that. That's why i've been looking for you. I've decided living a life without you if far more painful than not knowing where my heart stands. My heart stand with you and when you left you took it with you." He took tentative steps towards me until he reached me, pressing his forehead against mine,
"I can't lose you again. Not like this. Not ever Iona." We closed our eyes and breathed in the moment,
"Come home dear." He whispered before kissing me again. Deeper and more tenderly this time. I let the words slide off my tongue, something I've been meaning to tell him since he found me,
"I missed you Alucard."
"I know Iona. Me too."