Lazarus POV
I stand behind the council, watching as they perform the ceremony. She speaks when asked a question but mostly lays lifeless as the council crowns her. I want more time with her. Why she insists on not becoming a vampire when it could save her? I could have it done anyway. I could force her to transition. What was it, my mother said? I have to give her a choice. I cannot make the decisions for her.
When the council finishes, my wife is lying in our marital bed with a crown on her head, the crown of the fairies. She is now the fairy queen.
“I have something to say,” Willow speaks up.
“I give my crown to my daughter Mary. She is to be queen. The crown belongs to her and her alone. It is a decree,” Willow says.
“It is spoken and shall be that Mary shall be queen,” Rudan says.
“Now, will you transition?” I ask her.
“I do not want to be a vampire,” Willow says.
“You could live if you were a vampire,” I say to her.
“I do not want to kill to live. I don’t want that for myself,” Willow says.
“I understand,” I say.
I do not understand, but I will not force her.
“Lazarus, I want to see the babies one more time before I die,” Willow says.
“I will go get them,” I say to her.
As I leave the room, my father follows me out. “Laz, we can make her transition,” he says.
“That did not work out so good for you did it. I will not force her to transition,” I say to my father.
“No, it did not, but if I had not done then, your mother would have died. You would have never known what a wonderful person she was. I do not regret any mistake I made,” my father says.
“You had to give her up,” I say.
“I never gave her up. She gave me up. I saved her life,” my father says.
“Jackie, you broke her heart. I would never break Willow’s heart. I am not like you,” I say.
“I broke her heart, but she lived,” Jackie says.
I walk away from him. I can no longer tolerate any of his nonsense. I know what needs to be done. I need to follow her wishes. I need to be a good husband, but what about my duty to my children?
I go into the nursery to check on the babies. I will need help taking them to the nursery. Angel can help me carry them to see their mother.
“How is she?” Angel asks.
“She wants to see them. Can you help me?” I ask her.
“Yes, sir,” Angel says.
Angel picks up Laz. I pick up Mary and Abraham. Angel grabs bottles and blankets for the babies. We begin our walk to see their mother. I feel my heart sinking. I start to cry. I cannot stop.
“Sir, try to be strong for her,” Angel says.
I try to pull myself together as we approach the bedroom I share with my beautiful wife—the place where she will leave this earth. My heart feels as if it will explode as I open the door to the bedroom.
Tom is with Willow. “She is slipping, Lazarus. It will not be long now,” Tom says.
I nod my head. I cannot get words to pass my lips, even to say thank you. The council is still gathered with her. “Can you all please let me be with her for a while?” I ask the council.
They all shuffle out of the room except Rudan.
“Lazarus, we will help you raise the children if you need help,” Rudan says.
“Thank you, but I plan to do everything for them myself,” I say.
“There will come a time when you need our help. The children are hybrids. You will need special help with them,” Rudan says.
“I know. Until then, I will care for them,” I say.
“We will be downstairs. We are not leaving until she passes,” Rudan says.
“Rudan, would you go against her will if it was me?” I ask him.
“No, I would not. I know Jackie thinks you should, but she does not want to be a vampire. Don’t force her into that life. Everything that made her a fairy was sacrificed for those babies. Don’t make her be something she does not want to be,” Rudan says.
“I don’t want to lose her,” I say.
“Lazarus, go be with your wife,” Rudan says.
Angel and I place the babies in the bed with Willow. “We are here,” I say to her.
“I know,” Willow says.
“I can go wait outside,” Angel says.
“No, Angel, I need to talk to you,” Willow says.
“Yes, my queen. What can I do for you?” Angel says.
“I need you to help him care for them. He will be stubborn and hard to deal with; just do your best. I need you to be my voice for these babies,” Willow says.
“Yes, my queen, I will be here for them,” Angel says.
“Angel, I am making you their nanny. I do not want you cleaning the house anymore. Your only job is these three babies,” Willow says.
“It will be my greatest honor, my queen,” Angel says.
“Now for you, my husband, I need you to be good to yourself. This is not your fault. None of this is. I made the decision to have these babies. I need you to take care of them. I also need to know you will take care of yourself,” Willow says.
“I will. I promise,” I say to her. I kiss her hand then her forehead.
“Lay with me,” Willow says.
I lay behind her. The babies are lying with us in the bed. Our sweet family about to be ripped apart with her death, but for just a few moments, we all are together.
“Lazarus, I love you,” Willow says.
As she spoke the words, she took her last breath. “I love you too, Willow,” I say to her.
“Angel, take the babies out,” I tell Angel.
Angel takes two of the babies and comes back for Mary. I wrap myself around Willow. Her body is cold. Her soul is gone. I am left holding this frail carcass that was once my wife.
I do not want to let go. I want to stay with her holding her forever. I want her back. This cannot be real.