Chapter Seven and Epilogue

CHAPTER SEVEN: LOVE IS PAIN TURNED BITTERSWEET

            When Cedar returned, I was already at the house, seated on the couch and waiting for him. He looked exhausted and, when I probed further, I found he was pained and confused. “What’s wrong?” I asked, biting my lip. I was surprised when, instead of giving a sarcastic comment or ignoring the question, he gave a totally different answer. “I’m confused. We need to talk.”

            “I don’t know how you feel about me. I don’t know how I feel about you, either. So tell me. Friends, enemies, or what?” I gulped in a shaky breath. “I, ah, I’m still wondering, um, what you….” Then I just stopped. I halted fighting the feelings I had for him. I started crying and shaking. “I love you, Cedar. I want you to love me, too. I wish I wasn’t so selfish as to love you, but I am. I love you.” Cedar turned from deep depression to an unerring calm content feeling. “Funny you should say that,” he said softly, moving towards me. “I love you, Hazel. I love you with all of my heart.” Then he kissed me, and I lost myself in his touch.

            When we pulled away, I saw pure happiness in his eyes. “I love you,” I repeated, and he replied the same. Those six words made our dark lives a little brighter.

            The next morning, however, there was a note. “I’ve gone out. If you find my body, remember that I love you. I will keep you safe. They won’t kill you. Stay here and I’ll be back within two weeks’ time.” I sighed deeply. “He went to kill Dominic,” I said to the empty house. “I thought he was just going to leave it be, but no – impulsive Cedar had to go to him first.” I fathered some of his belongings to get his scent – though I was sure I knew it well enough already – and began to track him. No way was he going to kill himself just to try and protect me. Screw the two weeks thing – I was going now.

            I started the hunt that night by going immediately to Saroph’s lair – the start of these troubles. He wasn’t there, although it seemed Terrace had moved into Saroph’s lair. He didn’t bother to greet me or offer to help in any way, mostly because I left so quickly. I followed the nearly non-existant scent trail to the cave where Anna’s murder had occurred. It was there that I found him. He must have taken a different route to make it harder for me to find him. Looking around briefly, he walked into the cave. I followed him briskly, trying to make as little noise as possible. When he stepped into the moonlight at the end of the tunnel, I hid behind the stone wall and watched him.

            “Dominic Regan,” Cedar said, his voice clear and strong. “I order you to come out here and face me now!” Dominic stepped out from behind a large cage with wolves on either side of him. “Well…Cedar Tristifico. The Latin word for ‘causing sadness, is it not?” His voice was mocking. “Yes – much like the sadness you’ve caused me. I’d hope that we could both walk away unharmed, but there’s no point. Today is the day you die.” Rather, night, I corrected in my head, noticing the moonlight that filtered through the cave opening. And he might not die…. Certainly, there was a high chance that Cedar himself would die. But he was beyond caring now.

            Cedar readied himself to fight. He knew Hazel – hopefully but not likely safe at home – would not approve of what he was about to do, but he didn’t care. There wasn’t anything that meant more to him than Hazel now. He had to keep her safe, always and forever – even if it meant he died trying.

            “Cedar, are you ready?” Dominic asked mockingly. “To try and kill me? I hope you know, I’m stronger than you are. There’s no chance of you beating me. You’re going to die if you try, you know. You have no chance whatsoever.” Cedar growled in reply, then leapt for Dominic’s jugular. Dominic twisted out of the way. Cedar flew by him, landed on his feet, and turned, panting. Dominic merely laughed. “If that’s the best you can do, you’re really crazy if you think you’re going to beat me.” Cedar stubbornly dropped into a crouch. “Does it make a difference?” He asked rhetorically. I saw a flash of the old Cedar in his eyes – patient and eager – before bloodlust completely overcame the tiny spark. Cedar would die, I knew for sure. I so wanted to help him, but I also wanted to wait until Cedar at least injured Dominic. So I waited. Sure enough, Cedar dealt Dominic a hard blow to the head and leaned over to tear apart his neck. Of course, Dominic wouldn’t take that. He shoved Cedar off of him and leapt agilely to his feet. He wasn’t laughing anymore. “Moronic vampire,” he said, growling out the words. Cedar glared at him, still crouched on the ground. I stepped out from behind the cave wall, ran silently towards Dominic, and jumped. My teeth sank into his neck at the same time as I landed on his back. He screamed, but it was too late. His head rolled on the stone floor at my feet, tinged with blood. I looked over at Cedar, bleeding from already-healing wounds. He smiled weakly, like he had when I’d killed Leonard. “And again,” he whispered. He didn’t need to say more – I knew what he meant.

            I was a little nervous about the werewolves, but as soon as I’d come out of hiding, they had ran back behind the cage. When I killed Dominic, they’d changed into human form and come out with their hands in the air “Don’t hurt me,” the taller one whimpered fearfully. “No,” I muttered after a moment. “I won’t; you can go back to your packs now.” They nodded gratefully and scampered off. I watched them go, feeling a little unsure. First Leonard, now Dominic – who would be next?

            “I never wanted it to be like this,” Cedar said, apathy the only emotion in his voice. “But it’s better.” I merely nodded. “Yeah, well, what’re we going to do? We can’t let ourselves die!” Cedar nodded at me, not acknowledging my hidden meaning: “ I can’t just let you die.” He half-smiled at me from the ground. “Oh right,” I said to myself. “You need help.” I grabbed his wrist and hauled him to his feet, still full of adrenaline. “Thanks,” he said, hugging me. In my ear he whispered, “for everything”.

            We walked at night, going slowly, in no hurry to return to our lives. We were happy again, not plagued by wolf troubles. Before, even after I was accepted, we weren’t happy. That reminded me of when he’d jumped me that night. “Cedar,” I asked as we walked one night. “Why did you attack me the night we saw the pack?” He grinned suddenly, widely. I opened my mouth to ask again, but his expression turned to horror and I heard breathing behind me. Cedar yelled my name – it was the last thing I heard before I passed out.

            “The girl,” the wolf breathes. “Is she dead?” “No,” the human replies. “Nor is the other one.” “Question her,” the wolf growls. “Then bring her to me.” The intent of the hungry wolf was clear. The girl vampire would not leave the cave alive.

            I awoke to a serious problem – my head hurt. To a nearly indestructible vampire, this proves a dangerous foe. The person who hit me caused serious damage. A chill rushed up my spine. If they could knock me out with one hit, they would do much worse. “Wolves,” I muttered under my breath as I struggled to sit up. “Damn!” Swearing, I rubbed my head where I’d hit it on the low overhanging ceiling. I heard a scuffle of paws on the dirt floor, which confirmed my suspicions. I stood up gingerly, my body tense and prepared for a fight. What happened, however, I was not prepared for at all.

            A lone black wolf stumbled into the makeshift cell. “Who are you? Where am I? Why am I here?” I fired my questions at the wolf. He growled, stood on his hind legs, and returned to human form. “I am Wolf. You are in our territory. Come, follow me, and you will speak with Master.” Reverting to the small black form, the wolf led me out of the cell and into a series of tunnels. I remained tense and wary, unsure of where this was going and where Wolf was taking me. I knew better than to ask.

            The dark echoing caves announced our traveling to anyone paying attention. I forced myself to look for an escape, even though I knew it was pointless. Wolf growled when I slowed my pace and I hissed as I walked faster. We arrived in a dingy, dusty part of the tunnel, and Wolf barked. I stopped instantly, crouching in preparation for whatever was coming. Footsteps too slow for a wolf came closer, getting louder as they did. A tall man, brown from the sun and wrinkled from hardship and scars entered the dirty makeshift room. I crouched lower, getting ready to spring, until he said my name. “Hazel, half of the only vampires to escape our wrath. A pleasure to meet and destroy you. But first, I need answers. Where is Cedar?” I spat at him. “He’s where we found her. Or in a house near there,” Wolf – in his human form – said. I hissed, accidently letting them know he was correct. “Ah. We’ll let him be. Once he knows she’s dead, he’ll die, anyway. One more, then…and you must answer me this time. Hazel…why did you run? You made it so much harder for yourself. Once you’re gone, the wolves can start to take over. No one else dares to overtake us, anyway. We’ll force the vampires into our service – or death. Now Wolf, guard the entrance. Goodbye, Hazel.

            Cedar walks towards me, arms wide open. He smiles as I run to him, embracing him for all I’m worth. “Sorry. I have to go….” The words aren’t mine, but they come out of my mouth as such. His lips brush my forehead. “We’ll see each other soon, I promise.” He says, and I nod into his chest. “I love you,” we say together. I’m pulled from him as my soul leaves my body, and I enter the darkness and the light.

Epilogue: Cedar

            The wolves’ footsteps crunch on the leaves. It’s been two days since they took Hazel, and I absently wonder if they’re here to take me too. A small black wolf follows a tall, scarred, dark man with blood on his hands. The scent belongs to Hazel. Tears fall from my eyes and roll down my cheeks as I fall to my knees. “Sorry,” the man lies, and I want to scream but my voice is lost under the crushing weight of my sorrow. “Hazel,” I whisper brokenly. “Please. No. Hazel, I love you….”

Four Months Later

            I stand poised with a shotgun aimed at my temple. Under normal circumstances, this wouldn’t kill me, but the saliva from the wolves, kept in a vial around my neck, would. I prepare to pull the trigger of the gun with the bullet bearing Hazel’s name – my reason for life and for death, for love, for the bullet – lodged deep inside, coated with wolf saliva. Irony was a dark gift. She was killed by a wolf, and in a way, so would I be. My trigger finger twitches, and out loud, calmly, I say, “I tried. I love you.” The blood pours from my skull, and I speak my last words: “We’re both dead now.”

            Hazel walks towards me, arms wide open. “I knew you would come. I waited for you,” she says, and together, hand in hand, we enter the afterlife. Together, in a different type of eternity.