[Lucien’s POV]
I just got off the phone with one of the surgeons and was informed that the date of Celeste’s surgery had been fixed and all the preparations to ensure the surgery was successful had been put in place.
A smile spread across my lips as I skipped up the stairs and knocked on her door gently, waiting for her to usher me in. I could perceive that she and Ryle were inside, and unless they were making out or something, they should have answered and opened the door already.
“Hello, I know you’re in there. Can I come in?” I asked.
What seemed like ages passed, and there was still no response, so I simply just opened the door and walked in.
To my surprise, Celeste laid on the bed, looking like a completely different person. No, it wasn’t just the ugly third degree burn scars that still looked hideous despite all the treatments she had undergone, including steadily taking her potions. She looked older, and wrinkles were slowly starting to show on her face, particularly on her forehead and under her eyes. She was also starting to have a little bit of grey hair.
“What’s wrong? What happened?” I asked Ryle, who just sat by her side, holding her hand and not saying anything.
“Lucien, it’s that time again. I need to take my masking potion,” she explained weakly.
I walked closer to her and sat on the stool beside her. “I understand, so? You’re strong enough to make a portal and get the main herb you need for it, not so? If you’re too weak, I could help you go and get it,” I offered.
She shook her head. “No, Lucien. You can’t get it. It’s been destroyed. All of it,” Celeste explained.
“What do you mean all of it? Fine then. We can just find another location where it might be,” I said, trying not to panic.
A drop of tear fell from her eyes. “No, Lucien. That was the only source. Have you forgotten? I searched for years and years for a different location and even tried planting the herb elsewhere, but it refused to grow anywhere else but there,” she explained.
I could understand what she was trying to say, but I wasn’t willing to accept it. I just couldn’t. I didn’t have it in me.
“Okay, I get you, but you must have stored it somewhere, right? Just try to remember. I’ll get it for you, wherever it is,” I said, desperately.
“I had some stored in my cottage, but it was burned to the ground by Tyler, remember?” she asked.
“Fuck it! That scumbag! So, what now? What is going to happen? What are we going to do?” I asked, just looking into her eyes with my heart trembling in fear.
“Nothing. My age keeps adding up by ten years with every hour that goes by. Lucien, I’m going to die. My time is up,” she stated, and then, she broke down.
I wasn’t the emotional type. I mean, I had seen a lot of people die over the years… acquaintances, colleagues, great men and women, but I lived through it and even though I remembered every single detail of their deaths, I was never fazed by it. However, this was Celeste we were talking about here. I couldn’t let her go. I had always thought that she was the one person that would be by my side until the end of time.
“You can’t die. I won’t allow it,” I stated firmly as I stood up from the stool, with a determined look in my eyes.
“Just stop it, Lucien. There’s nothing you can do about it. First, it was the fire, and now, this. It is my turn to die. It was as I had seen it when I looked into the Alpha’s eyes that day. He killed me in my vision, and it didn’t stop there. He killed you as well, so I guess it’s my turn. Just let me go in peace and don’t start any drama,” she said, wiping her tears with the back of her hands.
“Wait a minute. Do you mean Alpha Tyler had something to do with the destruction of the herbs?” I inquired, stunned.
She kept quiet and looked away.
“Answer me, Celeste!” I roared.
“Yes, he did! No one but him knew of the source’s location, not even the witches. I wasn’t too sure if he was the same person as he was in his past life, but for him to have remembered the location, it is indeed him. I made the mistake of telling him where it was in the past, and now, he was born with a different face and he came back to bite me where it hurts most,” she said.
“I don’t understand, Celeste. Who is he exactly? What role did he play in the past?” I asked, confused.
She heaved a sigh. “I can’t tell you, Lucien. It would destroy you. Just do me a favour and give me a befitting burial. Help me ascend and be with my ancestors. Pray that they receive my soul even though it’s been a long time and they despise me. That’s all I require you to do. Don’t get vengeance for me and just live peacefully with your lovely wife and son; don’t do anything stupid,” Celeste warned.
“You can save the information of how you want your funeral to be. You’re not dying anytime soon, and as for Tyler, he would feel the wrath of a vampire’s anger today,” I declared and turned around to leave, when I saw Nivera and Luca standing just by the door. Luca looked scared while Nivera appeared betrayed as tears fell from her eyes.
“How come you didn’t tell me Alpha Tyler was behind the fire that destroyed Celeste’s cottage and almost claimed her life?” she asked.
“We’ll talk later. I don’t have much time,” I responded.
“Whatever you have to say, say it now. I’m not letting you go without an explanation,” she stated, looking deeply into my eyes.
“Babe, now’s not the time for this. Someone’s life is at stake here,” I said, trying to make her reason with me.
“I can’t let you go. I had a terrible nightmare. The Alpha got me, and you were nowhere to be found. At first, I thought it was nothing deep, but seeing as he has somehow resurfaced in our lives, I can’t take any chances,” she explained.
“I understand, but please, I have to go,” I said, ignoring every ounce of common sense.
Nivera obstructed my path by standing in the doorway. “You’re not going anywhere!” she screamed at me.
“You really want to do this right now? Fine, watch me teleport,” I stated.
She held my hand, sobbing hard. “I don’t want you to fight Tyler. You don’t even know where he is, and you are only going to get hurt. Celeste said he killed you in her vision,” she reminded me.
I scoffed. “Visions aren’t always true. I’m not going to die, okay? I’m going to find Tyler and I’m going to kill him,” I said.
“For what exactly? It won’t change the fact that Celeste would… you know what I mean. Why don’t you spend her last moments with her doing what she loves instead of doing something that might cause you your own life?” Nivera asked.
“Actually, Lucien…” Ryle started, but Celeste cut him off.
“Shut up. Don’t say a word,” she said.
I turned to face Ryle. “Talk to me. What is it?” I asked.
Ryle brought out a small envelope from his pocket and handed it over to me, which I tore open immediately, revealing a small note.
“Apparently, Alpha Tyler and a witch named Jocelyn left that note at the source’s location, stating that they still have some herbs available and stating where you can meet them to get it. It means that if you find them, there might still be a chance to save Celeste’s life,” he informed me.
It was Nivera who spoke up. “Are you crazy? How could you even suggest such to Lucien? It is obviously a trap,” she screamed, almost at the top of her lungs.
“And I would gladly walk into that trap, if there is even a slightest chance that it means I would get to see Celeste alive and healthy,” I said.
“No, Lucien. Nivera is right. Let’s reminisce about old times and let me die a peaceful death. I can’t die knowing I probably led you to your death. Please, Lucien, do this for me,” Celeste pleaded.
“You heard her, Lucien! Let her go!” Nivera stated, fiercely.
“I can’t. She’s my best friend,” I said, then calmly pushed her aside and made to leave.
“How about me? If something happens to you, what do you want me or Luca to do? If not for anything, can’t you choose to not be reckless for once for our sakes? Can’t you?” Nivera sounded hurt, and when I looked at her face, I saw tears streaming down her eyes.
“Daddy, please, don’t go,” Luca said.
I didn’t want to leave them just like that, but then again, I knew I would never forgive myself if I didn’t do all I could to save Celeste’s life.
“I’ll be right back, big guy. Let me go just this once, please,” I said.
“You’ll come back?” he asked, doubtful.
I nodded my head in the affirmative. “I promise. And we can all have your favourite ice cream together and make fun memories when I come back,” I told him.
“Okay, daddy,” he said and hugged my knees tightly, then I lifted him up and ran my fingers through his hair, lovingly.
“I’m coming with you,” Ryle said, standing to his feet.
“No. Just stay with Celeste. I’ll be back soon,” I said, and then to Celeste, I said, “Hang on for me. You don’t have my permission to leave just yet.”
She gave a faint smile. “Yes, sir. These past centuries, you’ve been my family, friend and my whole world. Thank you, Lucien. Thank you for everything,” she said, and like that, we held each other’s eyes for a good number of seconds before I turned away.
I wanted to speak to Nivera, but she looked away, obviously still hurt by my words and actions.
I put Luca down, nodded at Nivera and Ryle, and with one final look cast on Celeste who had a smile plastered on her lips, I walked out of the room, then with a destination set in my mind, I teleported to exactly where Tyler was, waiting for me.