The Embrace (46 page)

I had to think about that carefully. When I had been crafting my plan I had thought about killing Gabriel myself, but in the end it didn’t seem right. I didn’t want to bow down to my sire’s level. Killing a vampire is the ultimate crime and I had already rashly taken Dahlia’s life. I didn’t need any more marks against me.

Ending his life myself wouldn’t make me any happier, but knowing that Emma and Robert had been avenged seemed like a noble act. After this, I didn’t want to think about Gabriel ever again. This was the only solution I could come up with, and it meant that both Aiden and I would finally have peace.

I took Aiden’s hand, disregarding whether or not he was comfortable with that level of intimacy. “I’m giving you the chance to do this for both of us, if you want to.”

Aiden paused for a moment and then gave a small nod. That was all I needed. The plan was now in full effect: Robert’s belongings were safely stored away in case I ever returned to London, although I had sent a few of his books on to my next destination so that I would have a momento of him close by; Now Aiden had agreed to take matters in to his own hands. The plan was finally coming together.

“Ok then.” I said, struggling to hold back my smile. “I guess I’ll take you to him.”

I hadn’t expected to return to my childhood home. It held many memories for me, both good and bad. My family had been massacred there and I had spent years caring for my alcoholic mother, but I had also fallen in love with Gabriel at this place and I had been turned in to a vampire within it’s walls. First it reminded me of those happy moments, and then it reinforced the fact that they had all been lies.

I let go of Aiden’s hand as I could tell he disliked my contact, and I began to run in the direction of my former house. It had been several months since I had been there, but I knew the way without even thinking about it. The location would likely be etched on my memory forever.

Aiden ran with me, keeping up without much effort. I occasionally glanced over at him and saw him growing more excited as we neared our destination. He had been waiting for so long to take Gabriel’s life, to finally face up to him, and now he was about to get the chance. I don’t think the reality of the situation had truly sunk in yet.

It took us a long time but eventually we reached my old home. It looked exactly the same, in fact the entire neighbourhood did. I had expected the door to be criss crossed with police tape after Penny’s murder, but it was long gone. Gabriel never left any evidence of his presence at a crime scene, and I knew that meant the home was probably not a priority for the police anymore.

We stood outside, side by side, staring at the house. For Aiden this was a chance to plan his attack, to work out what he was going to say to the creature who had ruined his life. He had so much pent up frustration, the result of years of seething rage. I could hardly imagine what he was going through, but I knew he was the perfect vampire to defeat Gabriel once and for all.

This pause gave me a chance to reflect on everything I’d been through. I had spent 8 years of my life, my entire adolesence, dreaming of Gabriel. He had seemed so perfect that I had spent every waking moment dwelling on him. I had been so enamoured with him that I had even let him take my life.

Over time he had inflicted deep wounds. He had played with my mind, making me fall in love with him and then using this love to drive me mad. He had punished me for things beyond my control, as if I was his pesky student. He had even brought another woman in to our home.

I had also found real love. I had met Robert and even though we had only spent a few weeks together, I knew that he was special. He had more honesty and passion than anyone I had known. He had loved me for who I was, and he had been open with me, telling me his life story right from his days as a human in France. He had been everything I once thought Gabriel would be.

I knew true love couldn’t last forever. I had lost Robert too soon, but I was finally on my way to starting the life I deserved. By the time the sun rose I would finally be free of Gabriel, and I knew that Robert would always be watching me. I was going to carry on living, just as I had promised him.

“I can’t believe this is really happening.” Aiden said, chuckling in disbelief. I think he was just as surprised as I was with the way everything had turned out.

There was nothing else that needed to be said. We both knew how significant this moment was without uttering a word. I was sure that Aiden would always be part of my life, purely because of the link Gabriel had created between us. I would never forget him and I hoped he would never forget me.

He began the walk towards the front door. I had no idea what his plan was but he seemed confident, even cocky, and suddenly all of my lingering doubts were wiped away. For the first time, I was certain that everything was going to be alright.

I could have stayed to watch Aiden complete the plan. I even could have waited outside to make sure that he left the home in one piece, but I trusted him and so I decided to go. I hadn’t wanted to kill Gabriel myself, and so I didn’t need to be there.

I turned away from the home one last time and walked slowly down the street. I felt as if a weight had been lifted from my shoulders. I had found, and lost, my true love but I knew he wanted me to carry on without him. I had promised him that I would go on living and that was just what I was going to do.

I didn’t have a clue what the future held, but I knew my next step. I was going to make my way to Paris. Robert had said it was one of the few places which had significance for him, the place he was perfectly matched to. If it was good enough for him, then it would be good enough for me. I would be there in a few nights, ready to start my new life on the same streets Robert had once walked.

I continued down the road, walking towards my new life. I didn’t need to turn around once during my journey. My old life was long gone, miles behind me. I had nobody watching me over my shoulder anymore, waiting for me to slip up. I was completely free. I smiled to myself, knowing that whatever happened I would be ready for it. There was nothing left for me to fear.