“And the fruit looks yummy,” Corrine murmured.
We slowed down, just so we could take it all in. Flowers the size of our heads looked down at us. Their wide petals opened outward, displaying a dazzling array of colors, from all kinds of yellows and pinks to pure white and bold streaks of blue, surrounded by flat, waxed leaves. All the trees had flowers in their crowns. Those already shedding, however, wore fruit pods instead, hanging heavily from their elastic branches.
A plethora of ferns and wildflowers skirted the trees wherever we looked. The path ahead was narrow and grassy. This place hadn’t been touched in decades, at least.
“You know, the kids said there were ruins somewhere to the northeast,” I said. “We should check them out while we’re here.”
“We could take some samples and even some artifacts, if any have survived,” Corrine suggested. “They might shed some light into what kind of creatures used to populate the planet.”
“We don’t know what made them disappear in the first place, do we?” Lucas asked, frowning slightly. Knowing him, he was probably navigating different dark scenarios in his mind. He’d experienced enough in his lifetime to know that some of the most beautiful places hid terrible secrets. Our most recent example was Neraka.
“No, but it doesn’t seem to have been anything biological,” Corrine replied. “No pathogen, no plague or anything like that. The planet itself is pristine.”
“So why would anyone leave it?” Lucas wondered.
“Maybe they didn’t,” I offered. “Maybe they died out. Extinction doesn’t discriminate. Or maybe there was a pathogen, but it, too, perished with the people… Who knows?”
Xavier then shushed us and stopped. “Look over there,” he whispered, pointing somewhere to the north. “Is that… What is that, actually?”
I focused my attention on the creature he’d spotted. It stood quietly just fifty yards away, its long neck and small head poking out from a shrub. It reminded me of a giraffe, except that it was more like the size of a small horse.
Its coat was made of short, light brown hair, with black streaks on its back. Its eyes were big and round, like those of a young doe. There was a flicker of fear in them, and for good reason, too. We were, after all, hunters.
“Are there more like it?” I asked, then looked around.
“I don’t think so,” Xavier replied.
“Then let’s leave it alone and focus on getting some of those deer, instead,” I said. “I’d hate to be responsible for the death of a nearly extinct species or something.”
Lucas scoffed, slightly amused. “Just admit you’re getting too old for the hunt. That creature does look like a runner.”
Liana and Claudia giggled.
“I’m perfectly happy to prove my physical prowess, if you wish,” I shot back with a smirk. “You old fruit bat.”
“I’m physically younger than you,” Lucas replied.
“But you’re technically older. Also, me vampire, you fae, in case you forgot,” I held my ground, reminding him of the time lapse when he was in the Underworld. Physically speaking, yes, Lucas did have a few years under me. But he had been born before me. He was and always would be my older brother, and I did have fun reminding him of that once in a while.
“My previous circumstances exempt me from that consideration,” Lucas retorted with a childish pout. “Not my fault I kicked the bucket and spent two decades in limbo.”
Sofia laughed lightly. “Well, actually, it was very much your fault.”
Lucas grumbled, just as Marion ran her fingers through his hair and gave him a warm and loving smile. “For what it’s worth, mon cheri, I’m sure you were a very handsome and capable villain in your early days.”
“Yeah, he was quite a handful.” Xavier chuckled.
“You sound almost nostalgic,” Lucas replied. “Shall I give you a taste of the old me, then?”
“I thought you barely remembered that old version of yourself,” I chimed in, stifling a grin.
Lucas smirked, then gave Xavier a quick wink. “I’m okay with digging through the old drawers of my memory if Xavier misses the bad ol’ Lucas,” he said.
“Nope. Nope. Hell, no,” Vivienne replied. “Some things are best left in the past.”
“We agree, then.” Lucas sighed, then dropped a kiss on Marion’s temple. “Besides, being a baddie is quite the hassle these days. We’ve outgrown our old selves. I think a revival would be downright bland, if not pathetic, compared to the fiends we’ve dealt with recently.”
“You can say that again,” Claudia muttered. “He was dead by the time we got there, but Shaytan sounds like the worst of the worst. Do you think he’d put the Elders to shame?”
That question brought back memories of much darker times. But it was a good question to ask, because hindsight was always 20/20.
“I think so,” Sofia replied. “The Elders only had themselves and their formless evil to work with. Shaytan had swamp witch magic, which he’d learned to adapt and modify. Thankfully, he never connected with the Word, otherwise it would’ve been a hell of a lot worse. I think Azazel was just as bad, though he never had the chance to unlock that kind of power.”
A small herd of Stravian deer was grazing in a clearing just sixty yards to our right. I motioned toward them and exchanged glances with Cameron, Yuri, Xavier, and Vivienne. From our group, we were the most frequent hunters. We enjoyed the chase the most. Sofia and the others were more content with just drinking the blood. This was just one of the many ways in which we completed each other, as couples, as friends, and, most importantly, as a family.
“There will always be evil in the world,” I said. “It will take different forms, some more powerful than others, but, in the end, it will always be vanquished. Provided, of course, that we face it head on and together, just like we’ve done in the past.”
“United, we’re unstoppable,” Xavier added, setting his sights on one of the deer.
“It’s dinnertime, kids,” Aiden replied, then dashed toward the first deer.
One by one, Xavier, Yuri, Cameron, and Vivienne followed. The others spread out and around the herd to keep them from scattering away. We moved fast, whizzing by like fluttering shadows, our feet light on the ground.
Leaves rustled. Twigs crackled.
Then our claws came out. We went straight for the larger deer—the bigger and heavier they were, the harder it would be for them to run away. We gave the others, particularly the offspring, a chance to survive.
I had to admit, it was thrilling to hunt on foreign land. It added a different dimension to the whole process. We focused on four of the bulkier males and quickly took them down. Corrine and the others picked some fruit, as well. We had quite the feast ahead of us.
Sofia
I watched as Derek and his sister, along with Aiden, Xavier, Cameron, and Yuri caught four healthy-looking deer. Corrine cast a preservation spell on the creatures. We then carried them back to the resort, where the firepit was hot and blazing, waiting for us. I took a deep breath and thanked all the stars for being there. We were about to feast and spend the rest of that first night together, as friends, as brothers and sisters, just like in the early days.
We gathered around the firepit and tucked in to our meal. The resort came with a fully fitted kitchen stocked with food. Our kids had thought of literally everything.
Sated and utterly relaxed, we leaned into our lounge chairs and stared at the flames for a while. Something moved in the darkness nearby. Derek instantly let out a soft, low growl as he noticed the creatures. There were three of them, eerily similar to the panthers we had on Earth, though these were much bigger specimens.
They stilled, watching us with big, curious blue eyes. Their fur was short and light blue, almost turquoise. They could’ve easily dismembered a full-grown human with just their giant paws.
“I think they caught a whiff of the blood,” Aiden said, his gaze fixed on the creatures.
“We knew there were predators around,
” Lucas replied with a shrug, somewhat unimpressed by their presence. “They were bound to show up.”
“I doubt they’ll get closer,” Derek said. “They can see they’re outnumbered.”
“Maybe they’re just hungry,” Marion murmured, frowning as she stared at the Stravian panthers.
Lucas sighed, then picked up a large chunk of meat and calmly walked toward them. The panthers lowered their heads, growling, but took several steps back. They recognized Lucas as potentially dangerous. It was a good reaction to have, as Lucas could’ve easily burned them to a crisp within seconds.
Lucas stopped in front of them, then slowly got down on his knees and put the meat a couple of feet in front of him. He waited, patiently, while we watched. I had to admit I was a little nervous. Even with Corrine, Ibrahim, and our vampire blood handy, I hated seeing one of our own get wounded.
“Everybody, keep quiet,” Lucas muttered, maintaining eye contact with the predators. One of the panthers sniffed the air, then reluctantly came forward. “That’s right, buddy.”
Lucas rested his palms on his thighs, keeping his breathing even, despite his thundering heartbeat. The panther moved closer, checking the meat out and occasionally looking at Lucas, who didn’t move a muscle.
With one swipe of its paw, the blue panther pulled the meat back, then caught it between its large fangs and ran off, accompanied by the other two.
“I think that’s a mother with her cubs,” Lucas said, matter-of-factly. “Notice she’s the bigger one in the group, and the other two didn’t move an inch without her.”
“How are you not shaking like a leaf?” Corrine gasped.
Marion was pale, but relieved. The rest of us were amazed, not only by Lucas’s courage, but also by the animals’ behavior. He was probably right.
“Excellent self-control,” Lucas replied flatly, his face straight. “Though I may need to change my underwear now.”
Xavier snorted, then motioned for him to come back. “Come on, bad boy. Get back here before the mother changes her mind and decides to come back and tear you to shreds.”
“I think she liked me.” Lucas huffed, then did as asked, and resumed his lounge seat next to Marion, who gave him a worried frown.
He smiled in return, then leaned out and gave her a soft kiss. It was enough to get her to instantly relax. Marion loved Lucas with a fire and intensity rarely seen in this world, or any other, for that matter. They’d had their fair share of ups and downs, but, in the end, Marion had accepted Lucas for who he was, but also for who he had been. Women like Marion were not easy to come by.
“That was awesome,” Claudia said, her eyes wide as she watched the panthers disappear behind some shrubs, farther away from the resort.
“I find Harper’s initial assessment of Strava to be faulty,” Lucas said. “She said there was no intelligent life here, but she clearly left out those weird blue panthers.”
“Well, she did mean actual civilizations. But they were beautiful, though,” I murmured. “And I guess that coat helps them blend in with the environment better.”
“I’ll bet they’re fabulous swimmers, too,” Ibrahim said. “They probably hang out in lagoon-type areas, where other animals come to the shore. The ocean water is barely salty here, so I don’t think the critters would have an issue drinking it.”
Claudia grinned. “Normally, I’d laugh at you for drinking seawater, but you’re right. It does taste different here.”
I couldn’t help but giggle, watching us all gathered around the fire like this. It was enough to get their attention.
“What is it, honey?” my father asked me, the flames twinkling in his eyes.
“We’ve all come such a long way from our first days around one another,” I replied. “I mean, look at you, Dad. You’ve gone from vampire-hating hunter to one of the biggest fanged softies I’ve ever come across.”
“Oh, yeah, imagine what this vacation would’ve been like ninety years ago!” Corrine gasped, then burst into laughter. “We would’ve been at each other’s throats. Derek would be running around trying to keep Sofia safe from Lucas. Aiden would be hunting Derek and brooding all over the place about how ‘vampires must be eradicated,’” she added, lowering her voice to mimic Aiden.
Vivienne chuckled. “Sofia and Claudia would be clawing each other’s eyes out.”
“Ugh, I still regret what I did to Ben,” Claudia muttered.
“Long time ago,” I replied. “Water under the bridge. Albeit bloody water, but, still, it’s all gone now.”
“Trying my best, here,” she said.
Derek cleared his throat, smiling. “I know. We all know. But, to be honest, I tend to agree with Sofia here. This vacation would’ve been virtually impossible a few decades back.”
Lucas grinned. “I bet Xavier, Yuri, and Cameron would’ve been the first to die, if we did this ninety years ago. I had such an issue with your number one fans, Brother.”
“I would’ve loved to see you try.” Xavier scoffed.
“I’m pretty sure I did a couple of times,” Lucas shot back. A warm smile settled on his face as he took a deep breath and looked at his sister. “Although, to be honest, I’ve always had a soft spot for you, Little Sis. I think what really bugged me the most was the way you chose Derek over me, all the damn time.”
Vivienne nodded slowly. “You didn’t give me much of a reason to pick you in the battles we had.”
“I know. I was a mess,” Lucas replied.
“Join the club,” Claudia chimed in, raising a hand. “We all remember my greatest hits, right?”
“Like boinking my husband?” Marion retorted, raising an eyebrow while stifling a smirk.
“Hey! Ancient history!” Claudia said. “Besides, you two weren’t even a thing at the time.”
“I know, I know.” Marion giggled. “Besides, I had my own skeletons in the closet when I met Lucas. Heck, we all had something wrong with us in our pasts somehow, didn’t we?”
Corrine shrugged. “I don’t know. I’ve been more or less the same.”
“Your sass almost got us killed a few times over the years,” Ibrahim replied bluntly.
It was enough to make us all laugh wholeheartedly.
“All in all, everything changed when Sofia came in,” Derek then said, his hand gently covering mine. “I was moping and wallowing in my nature, unable to see anything good coming out of my existence. She was my light during that long, dark night.”
“Yeah, Sofia had a wonderful effect on The Shade. On all of us, for that matter,” Vivienne agreed, then gave me a warm smile. “By the time Lucas made it back into the world of the living, we were all already on to something much better.”
I had nothing but love and admiration for each and every one of these people. Even my father, who’d abandoned me as a child to go hunting for vampires, had turned his life around. They’d all overcome the worst challenges that life had thrown at them, and they’d all come out beaming and defiant.
“The potential was always there,” I murmured.
“True, but you were the catalyst, Sofia,” Yuri replied. “You’re the one who talked sense into Derek and got him to embrace his nature and make the most of it. You’re the one who helped turn The Shade into what it is today. Had you not been brought there, we would be an absolute mess, to this day.”
“The Elders would still be alive,” Vivienne said, her gaze darkening for a moment as she remembered that whole ordeal.
Corrine sighed. “Azazel would still be ruling Eritopia, tearing it down, brick by brick. Twenty planets doomed to nothing but bloodshed and misery.”
“IBSI would still be hunting down innocent supernaturals and doing all sorts of nasty stuff on top of that,” Claudia added.
“And Neraka… The Exiled Maras and the daemons would still be tormenting and wiping out the Imen,” Derek said. “Looking back now, Sofia, I don’t deserve as much credit as I’ve been given. None of us do. Not as much as you do, to be precise. Because your ar
rival at The Shade was the life-changing fallen domino piece that put everything else in motion.”
Lucas then exhaled sharply. “I mean, sure, you got me killed in the process, but yeah, new me, so… silver lining.”
I teared up, touched by the appreciative glances I was getting. I knew they were all being sincere by acknowledging my contribution to The Shade’s transformation. Deep down, I had to admit that they were right. Had I not met Derek when I did, had I not fought to break him out of his misery and show him the better parts of life even as a vampire, none of us would be here now.
“Point is, we’ve been at this a long time,” I said, smiling. “We’ve all got our more-or-less sordid pre-Shade histories, and yes, we would’ve torn each other apart had we taken this vacation fifty years ago. But we didn’t. We’re here now, and, frankly, I’m looking forward to spending as much time with all of you as possible.”
“Hear, hear!” Corrine exclaimed.
Derek gave me one of his “I adore you!” looks, then poured a couple of glasses of blood, offering me one.
“I think the part I love most about The Shade today is its diversity,” he said. “It’s not just a haven for vampires or other pure breeds. It’s a cluster of all kinds of hybrids, and I’m genuinely in awe of it. I didn’t think most of our Shadians could have children outside their species, but I keep being proven wrong!”
“We’ve grown big and strong, too,” Xavier replied. “Personally, I’m looking forward to seeing what kind of a supernatural Voss will grow up to become.”
Lucas scoffed. “If he turns out to be a winged wolf, we’re all screwed.”
“Conceiving hybrids has been risky for many of the couples, though,” Corrine interjected, frowning slightly. “I’ve done my best to ease the process, but there are things that even I can’t fix.”
“You’re talking about Jax and Hansa, aren’t you?” I asked, remembering my last conversation with Hansa, during the kids’ engagement party.
“Yeah. Her silver blood is toxic to Jax. It could even kill him if ingested in large quantities,” Corrine explained, her shoulders gradually dropping. “Even if they do conceive, there’s a high chance she won’t be able to carry the baby to term or, worse, will die.”