The sun slowly rises on the horizon, as it does every day, but this morning isn't just any morning. Today, I see again the man who changed my life forever.
"Nacho, little Gonza! I love seeing you both again!" Tomás rushes out, and the three share a heartwarming hug after more than a year of not seeing each other together, a truly emotional scene.
"Tommy, as stylish as ever!" Nacho quips while eyeing Tomás' outfit. Nacho puts his arm around Gonzalo and cheerfully adds, "You missed Gonza's grand entrance; he even had the luxury of flying with his princess in his arms, just like Superman!" Nacho laughs.
"What a gentleman, Gonza boy!" Tomás chuckles, while Gonzalo merely smiles faintly, trying to keep his composure.
Tomás gave a gaze toward Nacho's outfit and said:
"A flannel shirt with a black t-shirt? What does your T-shirt say? Omg! You need to get rid of those jeans!"
Nacho laughed and said proudly "Dude! Fiskales Ad Hoc? Seriously?"
Tomás, neither I, or better to say, nobody had a clue what Nacho was talking about.
"Ok, just forget about it." He said frustrated.
Gonzalo smiled. "Is Nacho's favorite punk rock band, please Tomás, you hurt his feelings."
"Thank you Gonza, I love you man!" Exclaimed Nacho happily pointing at Gonzalo and touching his own heart.
Nacho and Tomás were truly charismatic guys, each in their own way but equally charismatic. Tomás always had that radiant and infectious smile that lifted spirits just by his presence, while Nacho, on the other hand, exuded a certain wild magnetism, evoking respect and admiration.
Nacho approached me slowly, glanced at me for a few seconds, and after a pause said, "The amber color really suits you much better than the ruby." He shook my hand and added, "I won't forget what you did, but I won't be a hypocrite either. Since Tomás and Gonzalo have forgiven you, as their cousin, I'll do the same."
"Thank you, it means a lot to me, truly," I responded, shaking his firm hand in return.
"Respect is earned, not demanded," he added, winking at me.
"I also love your newly amber eyes Nacho. It contrasts very well with your hair and skin." Remarked Amalia, with a radiant smile and bright eyes towards Nacho and he seemed truly flattered and even nervous, I found that cute.
Amalia, Nacho, and Tomás glanced at each other; there was much to tell, but they discreetly stepped away, leaving Gonzalo and me alone. They surely wished that the moment would be as calm as possible, considering our tumultuous history.
There he was, wearing his hood to shield himself from the sun, as he always did—it seemed like a habit by now. I approached slowly, feeling nervous, and as the sun rose, he said:
"Hi..." Swallowing a bit of his venom.
"Hello..." I replied, with a very nervous smile.
We had an awkward pause. He looked at me, and I noticed how his pupils dilated, as they always did when he saw me.
"How have you been with Tomás and Amalia? I hope Tomás wasn't too pesky," he joked, trying to break the ice.
I smiled and said, "They've been quite kind, just like Amalia. I had a notebook I used as a diary. I wrote things there, as therapy. You know, things to reconsider about myself, things. But with the collapse, I'm not sure if I still..."
"Here it is! I got it! I haven't read it! I promise!" Tomás shouted from a distance.
"Shut up, idiot, let them talk, and don't peek at the book!" Nacho scolded him.
"Ups, busted!" he yelled again.
Gonzalo and I laughed again, nervously. The moment was indeed quite uncomfortable for both of us.
"Let's go somewhere else," he suggested, this time a bit more serious.
"Sure," I replied, trying to hide my over cheerfulness.
We walked away and sat behind a tree, gazing out over the steppe. I could see how he watched my hair dance in the wind, and pointing to his head, I asked, "May I?"
"Okay?" he said, a little lost.
I simply removed his hood, appreciating his wavy hair, and getting a better view of his face.
As his pale and endearing skin glowed in the sunlight, I said, "I think we can talk better like this, don't you think? Here, you don't have to hide your face; there are no humans for miles."
"Yeah, you're right," he added.
I began to recount my diary, my experiences in Africa, the people, and my interactions with the local humans, experiences I hadn't had for centuries. I told him about my experiences with Tomás and Amalia, our conversations, and what it's like to live in the African savannah.
"I can tell it's a unique experience; this landscape is tremendous! It's equally beautiful at night! I recognized several constellations, but as you know, I couldn't enjoy it much because of the urgency of coming to see you and intercepting the Egyptian coven," he explained.
"You know, I, before I met you, didn't appreciate the simple things in life, well, not always. I was always on the move, constantly afraid." I said
Gonzalo took something from his pocket—it was the lock of hair I had given Ivan. Then he pulled out a kind of bone; I recognized it from the way it was adorned—it was from Baba Yaga.
As he handed them to me, he said, "Forgive me. Back then, I was consumed by rage. I don't think that boy deserved to die the way he did. I knew I recognized his scent as yours. After what happened in Santa Maria, I traveled again and found the boy's house, where he had drawn and written about you. He seemed to be simply a misguided soul, much like I was. As for the woman, it felt like she knew who I was or was waiting for me. At that time, I was seeking answers after what happened in my homeland, but what she asked for in return chilled me to the bone, and I couldn't let her come down from the mountain to seek more innocent lives."
I took the bone Baba Yaga used as an ornament, but I returned the lock of my hair, saying, "Let it be a reminder of our mistakes, never to repeat them again. I understand about Baba; I admire that you have the courage to do the right thing when it's needed. I never had it, not when I was with Od, nor when your family was in danger. What I did was horrible; I'll never forgive myself."
Gonzalo paused and muttered, as if talking to himself, looking at the horizon.
"It's useless to live thinking about the past or the future; life is now. Everything that happens, happens as it should, and if you look closely, you'll find that it's like that."
I took a pause and replied, adding:
"If the heart perseveres in serenity, joy, and peace amid adversity, that is love."
Gonzalo furrows his brow at me. "Who said that phrase?"
"Saint Teresa of Ávila, I read it in a library near the market. I confess I've been exploring my spirituality a bit since I came here. It reminded me a lot of you when I read it. Whose phrase is yours?" I inquired.
Gonzalo replied, "Marcus Aurelius. I began reading him after I accidentally encountered my singer, I couldn't save her. But God gave me a second chance to redeem myself, it was difficult, but I barely made it."
"I'm really sorry. I can imagine it must have been a strange and difficult experience," I responded, feeling uncomfortable and amazed. I encountered my first and only singer so far, Gonzalo himself, after centuries, and he had already lived through the experience twice in such a short time.
"Well, now I understand somewhat what you felt when you found me, let's say I could partly understand it. I tried everything to control myself, but I couldn't, so since that day, I swore to myself not to fail humanity again, and I didn't fail my second chance." he said, looking me in the eyes.
I slowly approached his face and tried to comfort him with my hand, caressing his cheek. I hugged him, trying to comfort him, but his scent was unbearable sweet, and I could sense his breathing increasing, I could feel how he smelled my neck and immersed himself in a trance. As I kept kissing softly his cheeks and slide my lips through his, we started to make out, and I could not stop kissing his sweet lips. He gathered strength and said softly
"Stop. I've been with someone."
My chest filled with pain, and I closed my eyes. The sentence that came out of his lips hit me like a dagger in the heart. It was unexpected and caught me off guard. Over a year of waiting and this happens? What does he mean? Does he love another? Is he still thinking about her? Did he just come to make peace and go back to her arms?
"I deserve this, I really do," I thought. I was too naive. How could I forgive myself and come looking for him after all I did to him? After the hurt I caused him, he probably found solace in someone else's arms, and she could treat him the way he deserved.
"Forgive me for saying this in this way," he said, putting his sweet little hands on my cheeks. "But I didn't know what to expect when we met again. You know? Things have been so chaotic lately that everything has happened so suddenly. I wasn't even sure what the next day would bring, but I think you needed to know everything before we get into the other topics we'll have to discuss with the rest."
I composed myself, not wanting to appear too vulnerable in front of him to avoid causing trouble. I needed to hear what he was going to say before jumping to conclusions.
Gonzalo began to recount:
"I met her while on a mission. It started as a mutual convenience alliance, but things got more complicated as we navigate obstacles and dealt with dangers, and I was in a pretty complex situation."
He paused and continued.
"When it was clear our paths would lead us in different directions, we decided it was best to end the relationship and make peace. I wanted to visit her once more, but seeing that a couple of vampires threaten her coven because of me, it became clear that seeing her again jeopardized what she had built and fiercely defended in her country. So, currently, I learned that she's with another vampire she herself rescued. I'm at peace knowing she is no longer a target because of me. Visiting her and trying to mend the relationship was pointless."
I felt sorry for his misfortune, but I won't lie, I was filled with hope that maybe there was a vacancy in his heart. However, something didn't fit; something scared me.
Looking me in the eyes, he asked seriously, "Do you really still love me?" He smiled for a second, realizing that we kissed, then murmured "What a pretty stupid question huh?"
My heart jumped with joy, but I didn't understand where all this was going. I was afraid to respond. After looking him in the eyes, seeing his pupils dilate again and my chest tighten, I finally gathered the courage and said, "Always."
Gonzalo looked once again toward the horizon, took out a photo of his family, and then a crucifix he had hanging around his neck.
"After what happened when you turned me, especially after I learned about the existence of vampires, my conception of the world I knew in my human life was shaken, and I didn't know what to believe anymore. I had made a vow of celibacy to my wife, to honor her memory. Then my attempts to return to a relationship and the danger that entailed made me realize that my destiny isn't tied to romance, but to a different purpose. Humanity depends on my powers, just as my powers depend on humanity. I can't, Anastasia. I can't go back to anyone else. My path is a thorny one, and I must bear the cross alone. My abilities attract enemies, and the more I expose myself, the more I risk you and my friends getting caught in the crossfire. My ability is my curse, but also my blessing. I found God again, and he has given me this revelation," he said, looking at the crucifix illuminated by the sunlight.
I observed him with a resigned face. "Why are you doing this to me?" I thought, but I had to be strong, to stand my ground. I had come too far, and I wouldn't make the same mistake again.
"I have kept my celibacy vote to my wife until now, and I will keep it, for her, for my daughter, and now, for God and humanity." He added finally.
Gonzalo stood up, looked me in the eyes, and took my hand delicately. With a radiant smile, he finally said, with a hint of jest. "Let's go, my golden princess, there's work to do."
"Alright my noble Knight." I answered with a smile.