Immortal Embrace (17 page)

“This is my promise to you forever,” he says with a smile.

“Nate, it is the most beautiful thing I have ever seen!”

“Then I guess you have never looked in a mirror.”

“I love it, and I love you! Thank you so much.”

Nathanial brushes the ring on my finger with his thumb and then brushes my cheek, running his fingers through my hair.

“I love you more than life itself.” he whispers and leans in to kiss me.

I pull him closer for another. How could things get better than this? I now understand why people wait their whole lives to find that perfect one. It has taken me many lifetimes to find mine.

I am so caught up in the moment that the full meaning of the words Nathanial spoke,
“This is my promise to you of forever,”
didn’t register in my mind at first, but now all I can think of is
only a vampire can love you forever
. I’m just so full of emotion, so full of happiness that I never experienced before nor ever thought I would. Moving to Wenham has fulfilled every dream I’ve ever had. I have a great best friend, the most incredible man ever, and accepting family members on both sides. Who could ask for more?

Chapter Forty

Bonding

It’s only two o’clock, and it’s already the best Christmas ever. Nathanial and I pack up all the gifts for his family and place them in the trunk of his new car.

“I can’t wait to show my brother everything. He is going to be so jealous. I got all this great stuff, and the best part is I got the girl.”

“I think our families will enjoy each other,” I assume.

“Who couldn’t love your family? Plus, this is just the first of many more celebrations together.” He seems so enthusiastic.

My family brings some gifts for the McCord family and some wine to go with dinner. Both families greet each other with open arms.

“Please come in. Thank you for joining us,” Mrs. McCord says. “My name is Nikole.

This is my husband Arthur and our eldest son Luke. It is a pleasure to meet the family of the young girl who has stolen my son’s heart.”

Nathanial grabs Luke and they head outside to check out his new car. “Dude, you have got to see this.” The rest of us kids join them. Alexander begins telling them all the vehicle specs and all the car talk. The adults stay inside to become acquainted with one another. Although I notice them peeking outside at us from time to time with smiles on their faces.

“I don’t believe this. Are you sure you don’t have an older sister for me? How about it, Mati? Want to go out on a date?” Luke jokes.

“I would be honored, but I am spoken for!” She winks at Alexander.

“Yeah, I know. I am just teasing, Nate told me you and Alexander are a couple and not actually siblings. Alexander, you are a lucky man.”

“Yeah, I am. Thanks, man.” Alexander pats Luke on the shoulder, and Nathanial shakes his head.

“Bro, you are such a player!” Nathanial punches Luke in the shoulder.

“No, man. I am just jealous. I would give anything to find the right girl. Don’t get me wrong, I have had fun, but you found what Mom and Dad have, and I can only hope I will find it someday too,” Luke admits, hopping into the passenger seat.

“You will. I can feel it. You have a great soul.” Matilda offers.

“So are you gonna let me take it for a test drive?” Luke requests.

“Sure. Why don’t you go with Alexander? He can tell you all about it! We’ll wait out here for you to go around the block,” Nate agrees.

“The block? I want to open this puppy up.”

“Another day. It’s Christmas, and we have guests!” Nate argues.

“So right, little brother. Excuse my rudeness,” Luke agrees, and the two older brothers leave for a quick test drive.

While waiting for them to return, I can overhear the conversation going on inside the house.

“Florence, Elijah, it is way too much. We will never be able to repay you for the car,”

Arthur says.

“There is no need to worry. Our family is extremely privileged, and we enjoy sharing with those who come into our lives. This is a gift from our family, and if there is anything you need, please do not hesitate to ask. Sophia is happier than we have ever seen her. She has come out of her shell, and it is all thanks to your son. We can never repay you for that,” Elijah insists. “Our families are now joined by love, and to us, that is as good as blood,” he adds.

“Thank you. Our children have fallen fast for each other, but we believe it to be true, Nikole and I fell in love at first sight and have been together ever since,” Arthur admits.

“We completely agree. It has all happened very fast, but we believe in true love as well. Our kids are soul mates, meant to be together, and it will only improve with our support,” Elijah encourages.

Constance and Florence help Mrs. McCord put the finishing touches on dinner. By the time they finish, every counter in the kitchen, as well as the table, is filled with delicious-smelling food.

“Please fill your plates and have a seat wherever you can find room. It is a little snug, but try to make yourselves comfortable,” Nikole encourages.

I love this, even more perfection to the perfect day
, I think as I take a seat next to Nate on the floor in the family room.

We enjoy the evening, opening yet more gifts, talking, and playing games. I will remember this day for all eternity. Not only do I love Nathanial, but I am falling in love with his family almost as fast as I did with him. Our two families seem to fit so nicely together, I hope to have at least a few more Christmases like this before having to move on.

“Thank you so much for a beautiful evening. I trust you will all be joining us for New Years?” Isaac asks.

“Yes of course. We would not miss it. Is there anything we can do to help?” Nikole responds.

“Not at all. Just the pleasure of your company again will be enough. Please do not hesitate to bring any guests of your own. We have more than enough room and would enjoy meeting any of the townspeople,” Constance adds.

Nathanial and I just look at one another without saying a word. I know we share the same thought: elation that our families fit so well together. I am now not only protective of Nathanial, but also of his entire family, and they all mean so much to me. It is very overwhelming. To fall in love at first sight with my soul mate was one thing, but his family is even more unexpected!

We exchange hugs with the McCord family and thank them again for a wonderful evening.

Nathanial sees us to our cars. “I promise to be over in the morning to finish with the party plans.” He reaches out to me, and we share a small kiss. “Sweet dreams, my love.” He closes the car door, only to stand and watch us drive away.

Back at home, my family raves about the wonderful family we just got to know. I think this could be a wonderful union between mortal and immortal.
This may work out
better than I ever expected,
I thought to myself.

Chapter Forty One

Revisiting

We are having a little down time, and I think maybe this is the right time to talk to my family about Caspian again. I just don’t know how to bring him up. It has only been a week or so since the last time I spoke to them about him and how I want to find him.

“What about Caspian?”

“Alexander! Sometimes I really hate it when you do that. You do know that don’t you?”

“Sorry. I can’t help it.”

“What is it, though, Sophia? What about Caspian? We know he has been on your mind lately,” Florence asks.

“I have wanted to tell you for a few days now. Nathanial and I saw Caspian in the park the other night when we here delivering the New Year’s party invitations,” I begin to explain.

“What do you mean you saw him?” Constance questions.

“Caspian was the in the park, close enough for me to know without a doubt that it was him. I called to him, but he ran off. He is here. Caspian is in Wenham!” I announce excitedly.

“He’s here? He came back?” Matilda shouts.

“I didn’t see this! I must not be connected to him anymore. He has been gone too long. Maybe, if I had touched something that was his.” Constance lowers her head with disappointment.

“Constance, you can’t see it all. Don’t beat yourself up over it. Let’s leave his return up to him,” Isaac wisely suggests.

“So he ran off when you called to him?” Elijah confirms.

“Yes. I started toward him and called his name. He turned and ran into the woods.”

I explain.

“Well, we will have to keep an eye out for him. This is the closest he has gotten.

Maybe he is as ready to come home as we are to have him home. That said, I do not want to push him.” Elijah reaches for my hand to comfort me.

“That’s it? We just watch for him?” I question.

“My dear that is all we can do. It is up to him when he comes home. All we can do is make it known that he is welcome back,” Florence adds.

“What if I try to approach him? He doesn’t know me and might not run off,” Danika suggests.

“That may work, but I still do not want to push him. If he is watching us, I am sure he’s aware that you are a member of this family. That may intimidate him more, since he does not know you,” Elijah explains.

“I understand. I just want to help. I hate seeing the sadness it brings you to not have him here,” Danika says, showing some understanding.

I’m shocked that Danika wants to help us. She is becoming a more trustworthy member of the family. Still, I have that odd gut feeling about her, as if something is amiss. My feelings for her are just as torn as they were for Nathanial before I let him in.

Alexander interrupts my thoughts, privately between us. “I can feel how concerned you are about Danika, but she really hasn’t done anything to warrant your concern.”

”I understand that. It’s just a feeling I’ve always had, like she is going to be trouble for our family.”

“Sophia, we’re all here to support her, and she has been very successful so far. Just try to forget about it. I will keep an eye on her.”

“Okay. I’ll try.”

“What secrets are you two sharing?” Matilda jokes.

“Just talking about how bad your hair looks tonight,” I answer with a smile.

“What? Are you kidding?” Matilda jumps out of her seat and runs to the restroom to check, then yells, “You’re so funny, Sophia. I’m gonna get you for that.”

The entire family bursts out laughing. Poor Matilda thought she did not look perfect for a moment.

We continue to speak about Caspian for a while and decide there’s not much more we can do.

Alexander adds, “I will try to connect with him so he knows he is welcome.”

“And I will try to search my visions for him some more,” Constance announces.

After we finish, I go to my room and listen to my new music collection. Sitting in the chair in my room with my legs draped over the arm, I start to relax. I could sit here for hours, thinking about my brother and admiring my new ring. It is so beautiful, just like what Nathanial and I share. I think this is the best Christmas I have ever had. At the very least, this is more meaningful than any past Christmases. After over a century, I finally feel at peace, and this feeling confuses me. I’m meant to be tormented for the rest of eternity. I guess that will come when I finally lose Nathanial. I can’t think of that. I need to enjoy this feeling while I still can. Today, I’m the luckiest being on Earth.

Chapter Forty Two

New Years

The day we have been planning for is finally here. It is time for our big New Years Eve party. Everything looks excellent. The decorations are amazing. We added fresh white roses around the house. The family ensures the finishing touches are complete, and Florence even added a WELCOME mat to the front step. The kitchen is filled with enough food to feed all of New England. We even have kid-friendly food for all the little ones that might be joining us. The hired staff members are starting to arrive, from a bartender and wait staff to the nanny and clowns for the kids. The DJ begins setting up in the family room, and the valets are outside, ready to park the cars.

As I peer out my bedroom window, I notice Nathanial and his family are the first to arrive. Everyone is dressed so dazzling. I’ve just finished dressing and start walking down the grand staircase toward Nathanial. I am wearing the cocktail dress Matilda gave me for Christmas. The white bustier and black above-the-knee skirt with crinoline is very retro! I finished it with a black pashmina and black heels. The low ponytail I have in my hair is tickling my back, and I smile. I feel stunning.

By the look on Nathanial’s face, my guess is that he’s in full agreement. My guess is confirmed when he says, “Well there is the most beautiful woman I have ever seen!”

Nathanial smiles, and his brother and father both nudge him in my direction, as if he was frozen in place.

“Now this party is going to be fun. I am glad you are here.” I greet my love with a kiss and proceed to his family. I smooch each one of them on the cheek. “I’m happy you could all make it. Please come in.”

“Thank you so much for inviting us. You have a marvelous home,” Mrs. McCord replies.

“It would not be the same without you,” Florence interjects.

“May I help you with anything?” Nikole offers.

“I would love it if you help me have a good time. We have finished everything, and the staff will take care of the rest.” Florence smiles.

Our guests are beginning to arrive. The house is filling quickly with the town residents, and everyone is mingling, telling each other about their Christmas. The wait staff is busy serving drinks from the bar, including any kind of cocktails, beer, champagne, juice, soda, and Shirley Temples that someone might want to order.

Everyone will be taken care of and able to enjoy the party.

This is a great opportunity to meet and get to know the townspeople, especially since there are over a hundred guests. I’m enjoying talking with some of Nathanial’s friends from football and school, along with their girlfriends. I glance around to see what my family members are all doing. Constance and Isaac are visiting with coworkers, and Florence and Elijah are meeting all the parents. Everything is going great. People are dancing to the music, and the kids are enjoying all the crafts and games we have set up for them. It seems to be a typical mortal party.

Nathanial starts to introduce my siblings and me to the students from school that made it to the party. Over the past weeks, we had met a few, but no one really wanted to interrupt us at the lunch table at school. We have a tight group the six of us along with Danika, and she is always around somewhere, which isn’t too bad. I’m beginning to feel like I am truly experiencing high school for the first time. I am even able to talk to some of the football team members and their girlfriends; they are a lot less judgmental than I first assumed.

Ebony and Matt finally arrive and join in on the conversation.

“Hey, Ebony! I am so glad you are here,” I say with a hug.

“Hi, Ebony,” a few of the girls say. I am glad we didn’t invite Mel; the girl Ebony had the run-in with at school. I would have ended up ripping what she has of a heart out of her chest.

“Hey, everyone! How are things going, Sophia? Sorry, but we got a little held up.

Eliza had an outfit meltdown,” Ebony explains with a chuckle.

“Well, she looks great. Crisis averted, I see.” I wink at her.

A group of us head to the dance floor and start dancing the night away, laughing and having fun without a care in the world. The DJ is playing an array of music, but everyone seems to really get into things once he starts to play the top hits from the eighties. Who doesn’t love Duran Duran and Michael Jackson?

Some of the girls from school notice my ring that Nathanial strategically placed on my left hand ring finger, causing more than a few questions.

“Oh my! Your ring is beautiful! Is it from Nate?” asks a pretty, petite girl whose name I don’t recall.

“Yes. It was my Christmas gift. It really is lovely, isn’t it?” I reply.

A girl named Paige, who I remember as the girlfriend of one of the football players, asks, “Wow! Does it mean—?”

I stop her mid sentence. “It’s just a gift from my boyfriend that I am wearing on my ring finger, it even matches my necklace.” I point out.

“Sorry. We didn’t intend to pry.”

“You did, but it is alright, and I’m sorry for my rudeness!” And we giggle.

Everyone is warming up to me, and I am warming up to them as well. I will admit there is more than one teenage girl whose head I’d love to rip off. I can hear a few of them whispering and such. I guess I’m no different than other high school girls, and we can’t all get along. It’s getting more and more like real life every day.

“Are you alright, Sophia? You look like you could use a drink,” Nathanial says.

“I think you’re right. Please excuse me for a moment.”

“Do you mind if I join you?” Nathanial politely requests.

“Hey, can I come too?” Ebony asks.

“Sure, I...um, I guess so,” I agree reluctantly.

I lead the two downstairs to the cellar, where we have a hidden room to store all our blood products.

“Why is it you keep all food, per se, down here?” Ebony asks.

“We only moved our supplies to this room because of the party. We did not want any wondering eyes finding it,” I reply.

“Your family thinks of everything,” Nathanial says with a chuckle.

“So Nate, I am just curious, how did you know I needed to get away and have a snack?”

“I could feel the frustration you’re feeling, and I know every laugh line and freckle on your face. When I saw your eyes turn a darker shade of green, I knew it was time to get you out of there.”

Ebony holds up a bottle. “Is this the one you need, Sophia, from the juice jug?”

“Yeah. Just a small glass would be great. Are you both sure you want to stay here?

Neither of you have seen me feed or drink before,” I say nervously.

“Really, how bad can it be? We pour you a glass, and you drink it like any other beverage,” Ebony says with a hint of sarcasm.

“It is not really that simple. If I am able to control the features like my fangs and eyes with the smell, once I taste the blood, I will not be able to control it anymore. Are you sure you are both ready to see me…the real me?”

“Sweetie, we know the real you and look at the real you every day,” my beloved reassures.

With a slight reluctance, I take the glass of blood that Ebony pours for me. I turn my head away from the two of them and take a small sip. I feel the ache as my fangs come out and the burn of my eyes as they go black.

Nathanial turns my head back to them. “Sweetie, please. You don’t need to be ashamed, and we accept you for everything you are. We are bound to see this more than once in a while, and I must say you look beautiful.”

I quickly finish the rest of my drink and relax myself to return to the party. I slip in to the restroom and brush my teeth.

“I just want to thank you both for being so supportive of me. I could never ask for better people around me than the two of you. I love you both. Are you sure you can both handle seeing me like that?’

“Nate is right, Sophia. We are fine. We are here for you, which is why we came with you. Now let’s get back to the party.”

They both put their arms around my shoulders, and we returned to the festivities and celebrations once I relax enough and my features return to normal.