Finally I saw my sister and brother-in-law in a corner. To my relief, Xavier was sitting upright, holding Vivienne in his arms and stroking her forehead. He looked up at me and gave me a weak smile. Her eyes were closed, but she seemed to be conscious. Her expression was serene, her cheeks rosy, as she soaked up the sun’s rays.

It was the first time I’d seen my sister as a human for almost five centuries. While her skin was still pale, I knew she’d be glowing with a warm tan soon enough. She opened her eyes and looked up at me, smiling.

“Derek,” she whispered.

I crouched down and examined her face more closely. Her eyes had changed. They’d lost their hint of violet and had turned to a clear sky blue. She was beautiful as ever. I smiled back, remembering how good it had felt to have warm blood flowing through my veins when I’d turned all those years ago. Part of me still missed it, and I knew Sofia did too.

“Are you all right?” Sofia asked.

Xavier nodded slowly. They both looked weak, but they were alive. The worst was over. I picked up Vivienne and carried her toward the exit, while Sofia and Xavier followed behind us. She had her arm around his waist and was helping to support his weak knees.

As we walked through the exit, Vivienne nestled her head against my chest and whispered, “Now I know why you stayed a human so long.”

* * *

Patricia, one of our witches, helped speed up Vivienne and Xavier’s recovery immensely, and after a full day of rest, they felt ready to take off. While they’d been resting, Sofia, Aiden and I had been busy making preparations. We’d made sure that the submarine was serviced. Aiden had provided them with cash, while Sofia had prepared food for them to take on their journey. We didn’t know how long it might take for them to reach their first destination.

The morning of their departure, Sofia prepared a breakfast that was more like a ten-course dinner. She’d asked them what they’d wanted to eat most while they’d been vampires and cooked it all. Even with Xavier and Vivienne eating hungrily, we were left with pots of leftovers. We packed the least perishable items up for them to take with them along with the other food Sofia had organized for them.

Vivienne and Xavier returned to their penthouse one last time to make final preparations. Then we walked with them to the Port. We’d already arranged for their belongings to be loaded into their submarine. As we stood at the end of the jetty, the hatch of the vessel open, all that was left was to say goodbye. A large crowd of other humans, vampires and werewolves alike gathered round to see them off.

Vivienne was close to tears as she looked around at all her well-wishers waving goodbye. Sofia hugged her, kissing her cheeks.

“Stay safe, Vivienne,” she said, before turning to Xavier and embracing him too.

Once Sofia was finished with my best friend, I gripped his shoulder… perhaps a little too hard. He winced. I wasn’t used to human Xavier. I pulled him toward me and hugged him.

“Take care of my sister,” I said as he drew away.

“Derek, you know I will. With my life.”

Of course I knew he would. There wasn’t a person in the world I would have preferred Vivienne to end up with than Xavier. But as her brother, I couldn’t help but say it anyway.

Now it was my turn to say goodbye to Vivienne. Her tears moistened my cheeks as she kissed me and held me tight. “I hate leaving you like this,” she said.

I looked down at her sternly. “Sofia and I have each other. We’ll make it through this. You’ve sacrificed enough for us already. Promise me that you won’t feel bad while you’re away. Enjoy yourself and don’t think about us. Can you promise me that?” She bit her lip. I brushed my hand against her warm cheek. “Please, promise me.”

She gulped and nodded. “I promise I’ll try.”

She kissed me again and then climbed through the hatch with Xavier. Sofia and I walked to the end of the jetty and watched the submarine disappear into the water, its shadow getting further and further away until eventually they passed the boundary and disappeared from view. From this dark island. From all the sorrow and uncertainty. I just hoped that they’d return to a brighter scene than that which they’d left.

* * *

Chills ran down my spine as Ben, Sofia and I crossed the courtyard and entered the Sanctuary. It was empty now, since Corrine and Ibrahim were still away, and it was the most secure place for me to turn Ben. If Ben was anywhere near as strong and wild as I was, the wooden structure of our penthouse wouldn’t be secure enough. Iron would have been preferable, but granite would do.

We all seemed to have lost our voices as we made our way to the innermost chamber of the witch’s temple. The same chamber where I’d woken from my four-hundred-year sleep all those years ago. I swallowed hard as I looked around the room. Memories of my first meeting with Sofia washed over me. The thirst. The hunger. The sight of her standing among four other girls. The spark she’d ignited within me. The longing for a humanity I’d forgotten. Then my loss of control. The fragrance of her blood. My body crushing her against the pillar, just a few feet away from where I stood now…

I looked at Sofia. Now my wife. A vampire, just like me. And standing here with our son… it was uncanny. Despite all the years that had passed, this chamber still looked very much the same as it had. No electricity. As I lit the candles, their light cast dancing shadows on the walls.

Here in the center of the temple, the noises outside were dulled. We were surrounded by only our own uneven breathing.