I finally crossed the Strait of Gibraltar, swimming, and passed through different countries, from Morocco, Algeria, Nigeria, the Congo, etc.

I was so excited to finally return that I didn't stop to feed myself, but rather followed my almost linear path through the African jungles and savannas, looking at the stars and contemplating what my situation would be like upon my return.

"How will Nacho and Tomás be? How is Amalia dealing with the pair of clowns? Has Nacho told Tomás about his adventure with Luise?"

But above all things, I had to admit, I was thinking about Anastasia. "Will she be alright? Did she like Kaori and find someone else as I told her?"

I thought about all that, perhaps thinking that I wouldn't return or could have died, she probably would, Anastasia is the kind of woman who doesn't find it difficult to find candidates, so I mentally prepared myself, it was a strong possibility.

Part of me wanted her not to, to wait for me, but my situation was very precarious and my future was then very uncertain, many times I myself didn't know if I would make it.

The sun began to rise slowly on the horizon, and the butterflies in my stomach were unbearable. I breathed heavily and could see the cave, while running at full speed.

I could see Nacho and Tomás up from the hill, waving. Amalia came out of the cave to see what was happening and also greeted, but I wasn't at all prepared for what I would see, for Anastasia.

There I saw her, on her knees, exactly in the same place where I left her, clasping her hands, partially dirty with eyes completely glazed from thirst, surely she hadn't fed in months. This girl hadn't moved from the place where we said goodbye and my heart skipped a beat, I had never seen anything like it.

When our gazes met, I could see her beautiful golden hair, partially dirty and some of her clothes with mud stains, I couldn't believe it, she stayed there, for perhaps, months. I approached quickly and on my knees I said:

"Hello... My God, Anastasia! What are you.. doing.. there on your knees.. How long have you been there?

She gave me her striking beautiful smile and murmured:

"I prayed for you to return since you left, and God has heard my prayers, and from what I see, you haven't fed, so as I."

I took a sigh and stood up, remembering all the moments when I thought about her, about everything that had happened up to this moment. I delicately took her hands, saying:

"Come on, get up, I have something to tell you."

She stood up, but she seemed a little scared. Surely she thought I would tell her something about my vows or someone else. I asked her, as she looked at me, swallowing a bit of venom and both of us squeezing our hands.

"Do you still love me?"

She nervously smiled and said:

"Always."

I took a breath, and told her:

"I saw ghosts, demons, vampires. They tempted me, mocked me and us, and tormented me with our past. I even thought you might have gone with someone else, but here you are. Never.. never in my life.. had I seen someone that.. and here I see you, in the same place where I left you, months later, waiting for me." I began to sob.

She hugged me and murmured:

"Forgive me, I didn't mean to make you feel bad, I was just too worried and you know, I will always love you, no matter what happens, no matter the decision you have made, I will always respect it, I imagine you would do the same for me."

As I hugged her and admired her beautiful hair, I gathered my courage, moving her aside and kneeling down, and taking a breath to compose myself I said:

"My mission is over. We did it! But now I have a new mission. Do you know which one is?"

She looked at me very frightened, perhaps thinking I would go on another trip.

"Which one?" She asked nervously.

I gave her a smile and offering my hand, I said:

"Return home. Would you like to be my partner in this new stage of life?"

Anastasia took my hand and covered her mouth, obviously excited. But then she asked, hesitantly:

"And your vows?"

I smiled and said, "They are all now with the Lord on his grace, in heaven. My mission with the cure is over, and the Lord has allowed me to start a new life with you." I swallowed a bit and I added:

"My love.."

Anastasia began to cry while keeping her hand on her mouth..

"And?" I said nervously, trembling.

She nodded in affirmation, I stood up and we looked at each other. Finally, she threw herself at me and we kissed passionately, while the sun rose and illuminated our radiant faces. It was a kiss that seemed to last an eternity, but that we finally both enjoyed, after finally purging our souls and hearts that yearned so much for a new beginning.

"Wait," I said.

She stopped and startled a bit, then looked at me, again a little scared.

"No, no, it's nothing bad." I pointed to my eyes and hers, and said, "I think we need to hunt."

"Oh, right." She giggled with her beautiful and adorable voice.

I looked towards my cousins and Amalia, they gave us the signal and we could go, leaving my backpack with them.

As we ran and held hands, we were able to hunt a gazelle. Anastasia carried her diary with her, and as she hugged me, I felt how much she enjoyed my closeness.

We read every page of her diary, where she recounted every memory, no matter how intimate or horrible it was.

"This was me centuries ago, I'm embarrassed to show it to anyone, but Amalia helped me a lot. I showed her chapter by chapter and she never judged me, no matter how horrible the acts were, this is a reminder of what I was and what I should never become again."

I read about her past, the way Od raised her after becoming a vampire. The chapters where she described how she found me shocked me, but I noticed, comparing them with what I could see of her through Ivan and his letters and the notes from Darius, how alienated she was from her true self and how, after I had killed Od, she was able to reflect step by step on her actions, and how unnatural her behavior had been for centuries. But among all things, there was something she had always sought, a man who would understand her and see beyond her looks. Behind this beautiful woman was a very thoughtful person, with a vast universe to explore.

"Let's go back home, you have to greet the others," she said, giving me a kiss on the cheek, while I caressed her face.

As we ran back home, I said to her:

"You should write a book! You seem to have a good hand for writing!"

She looked at me, her eyes shining, and said:

"I'm working on it, although it's just for you guys! I hope you like it."

"I'm completely sure of that!" I exclaimed.

When we returned, Tomás gave me his typical bear hug with his mighty and big arms.

"Come here, you little rascal! You have to tell us all about the adventure! I'm sure this liar has made up a bunch of crap in the story to make himself look like a hero, I bet he did a lot of crazy and stupid things on your travels. And he still hasn't told me who Luise is!"

Nacho responded shouting:

"I told you I'm not lying! She's nobody! Gonza, see? all of this is your fault!" He exclaimed while raising his arm and looking at Tomás. Then he asked:

"I guess you're staying now, right? Now that Super Mario and the princess Peach are dating! Or is there going to be a honeymoon? Let me be the best man!"

"Ha!" Tomás exclaimed. "For what? To ruin their party with your tasteless jokes! I'll be the best man!"

"Come on, Gonzalo, pick me, your partner. It's a me, Luigi!" Nacho jokes using a higher pitched voice, putting his hand on his heart.

"Don't listen to him!" Tomás shouted. "He's a liar, he's taking all the credit for your adventures! I am the oldest one!"

"Silence, square face!" Nacho shouted back.

"Who is Luise! Tell me now little one!" Tomás demanded from Nacho.

"Make me!" Nacho exclaimed.

Tomás jumped on Nacho, and they started their wrestling routine again, breaking rocks and kicking up dust. As Tomás easily subdues Nacho with his might and started his attempts to make Nacho confess, Amalia covered her face and said to us:

"I'll take the pair of crazy ones shopping. Anastasia, can you show Gonzalo around?"

We went through the whole place, and Anastasia showed me each room. It looked better than the first time I saw it. Each one had their own room, and the walls were very well polished. There were no doors, and the lights they used were simple candles or lanterns.

We finally arrived at an empty room, there were several servers, cables, and a workshop with many tools.

"Nacho bought and rescued many things, in case you came back," she said. I thanked her gesture with a smile, and then we arrived at Anastasia's room.

The room had only one double bed, many books, and was all lit up with candles in the other place. The whole place was imbued with her characteristic sweet aroma, and the candles gave a very nice touch to the shelves adorned with books and simple decorations with a certain medieval air, and there I saw it among the books, almost like a divine sign:

"Dusk's Embrace: A Tale of Fanged Devotion... Are you reading this?" I asked her.

"Yes, it felt disturbingly similar to our story, or rather, to what I would have wished for us," she said with sadness, crossing her arms.

I hugged her and said, "Reality is always more complicated, sometimes the lines blur a lot. Don't worry, you know I've already forgiven you for everything."

She hugged me, and we began to kiss once again. The intensity grew bigger and bigger, I could feel the tension in the air. After stopping for a moment, and her stroking my hair, she asked me.

"Do you want to, do you think you can do it?" As we breathed heavily.

I smiled and said, "I think I'm ready now."

We continued kissing and went to her modest bed. I was nervous because I hadn't been so intimately naked since I was human, I hadn't had intimate sensations for two years. While I saw her there, I realize how ridiculously beautiful she looked, I was completely unprepared:

"Oh, I do not know..if I am..If I can handle it, if someone like me deserves to touch you."

She frowned and giggled, then approached slowly, saying:

"What you see here is nothing compared with how deeply you have touched me, in my heart. How you pulled me away from darkness. Your spirit and resilience shines in a way that I have never seen before, your actions and sacrifices make you deserve this and much more, you are my hero. my noble knight, let me be your princess, your healer, your muse, tonight."

Anastasia could sense my nervous, and before our union, she continued:

"Relax. You've been through a lot, now all you have to do is enjoy every moment with us, and with me, we all deserve it. Let me be the one to heal your wounds, and let this moment be the beginning of a life together."

And so, illuminated only by the candles, I lay down and surrendered completely to her love. During the union and the dance of my beloved, my mind finally had the synchrony it so desperately needed, a rest, a minute of silence amidst all the noise I had. No more battles, no death, no pain. All those sensations were drowned out by the melodious and passionate voice of my beloved woman. Finally, I found the silence and the peace I needed, I was happy.

We spent several days and nights in her room, talking and experiencing the advantages of being a vampire in intimacy. We also talked about the things we wanted to do from now on. After a while, Anastasia looked at me and said:

"Your cousins must be waiting for you, go and talk to them, I won't go anywhere. And I hope you won't either!" She laughed as she stroked me.

So after dressing, I looked at her, and as she blew me a kiss, I stepped out into the light to reunite with my family.