A Shade of Vampire 77 A Fate of Time - Bella Forrest Page 0,89

done your parts. What are you still doing here?” Widow said, his arms still crossed. I could’ve sworn he was smiling beneath that gimp mask, but even Varga couldn’t see through it—and not for lack of trying. That leather was special.

“We’re going to miss you,” I replied, trying not to laugh. “But I guess you’re right. It’s time we part ways.”

“Take the pink waters back to your world,” Death advised us. “Think of Earth. It’ll feel like a longer journey, but you will get there, eventually.”

Phantom bolted from the Reaper crew and wrapped her arms around Taeral, surprising us all—especially Taeral, who was downright speechless. “I will miss you, Fire Star Prince. Messing with your head was so much fun.”

“I hope it never happens again, but… okay, thanks, I guess?” He chuckled awkwardly.

It felt weird being here in the presence of Death and Reapers. Amazingly, some weeks ago we didn’t even know they existed. Now, we were tight buddies, so to speak. The nightmare had ended. The cult of the Hermessi would take a while to clean up on each of the planets in the GASP federation, but we’d get them all eventually. The damage done by the Hermessi would be fixed, as well.

But the hurt they’d caused us all… that would never go away.

At least we were safe now. We were free. There was a future ahead of us. Taking Raphael’s hand, I found myself eager to start a new chapter. To fill in the gaps between reality and Phantom’s dream. We had much work ahead of us, but with this newfound strength, we’d push through, as always.

Zeriel

I refused to let go of Vesta.

Holding her tight in my arms, her body soft and lifeless, I couldn’t bring myself to leave her. Even as GASP people came through, some wanting to help or comfort me, I didn’t even look at them. My eyes were hazy with tears. I’d never cried this much in my life. In fact, I didn’t even remember crying before Vesta came down from Vikkal’s cut-and-spell move, back on the Fire Star.

I heard familiar voices around me. Draven and Serena, at first, followed by a throng of murmurs and gasps from Kailani and Hunter, Jovi and Anjani, Jax and Hansa. I caught something from Arwen about opening the crystal casings and allowing the fae’s close relatives to come in and be with their loved ones.

“Ben…” Sofia murmured. She cried, and so did River, as Arwen took the casings down from Ben and the other Novaks. They’d all died, and there wasn’t anything we could do about it. I knew that. I knew it all too well. I just didn’t want to let go of my Vesta. Not yet.

River was absolutely broken. She knew what she was coming to see here, but still, it wasn’t at all easy. Lawrence and Field held her up. She’d lost so much. She couldn’t even speak as Derek and Sofia helped bring Ben, Grace, Caia, and Vita closer together on the marble floor. As soon as she laid eyes on them, she collapsed, screaming. “No! No… NO!” she cried out, her voice piercing my very soul.

No one tried to stop her. She kept screaming, losing herself in agony, faced with her dead family. My vision was hazy, as another round of tears made their way up. Watching River like this tore me apart on the inside. She let it all out. The grief, the anger, the pain and desperation… screaming until her voice faded, hoarse and exhausted. There wasn’t anything anyone could do for her.

Sofia’s self-control, on the other hand, was incredible, despite the tears streaming down her cheeks. She was definitely in better shape than poor River. Maybe it had something to do with losing Ben before—but he wasn’t the only one who’d died, in this instance. Perhaps her composure was sort of mandatory, given her leadership position in GASP. Derek was devastated, as well, his eyes red and all cried out. But they both kept it together. Even with all this happening, they kept it together. I could think of no one better leading the federation, or The Shade, for that matter.

Sofia looked at me, and my heart shattered all over again. She felt my pain. They all did. River managed to take her eyes off Ben, their daughter, and their granddaughters for a moment, and she, too, understood me. I could see it in her eyes—that single second of clarity she had, before she shattered herself once more, too