Stop the Sun: Chapter XIX

Chapter 19

Galen’s face is exhausted, washed over by sweat and dew. For the first time in a long while he looks truly happy, almost like he did something good for the first time in his life. Even without his wry smile, you could tell he was beaming. Phoenix looks beat too. But he’s survived. He knew that he could die, but he still wanted to bring Galen back. I thought he was a goner.
"So what...will" Phoenix manages through shallow breaths, "you...do now - now that...you’re alive?"
"I...don’t know... I guess...not die," he laughs.
Phoenix smiles, "Welcome back, old friend."
"Phoenix," I stammer, "Someone or something is here - and I don’t think they’re friendly."
Already our intruder had acquired some allies as the dark shadows raced around the clearing. They are silent and probably deadly. Now is not the time for an ambush; Galen and Phoenix are much too weak.
In the light of the moon the figures seem to merge as one only to spread apart again. How many are there? I wonder. Then, slowly, out of the mist appear two figures. Even from a distance I could tell who they were; Nathalie and Darius made even a wicked movement seem graceful. Blessed with the looks of an angel but cursed with the brutality of a demon, these sisters were equally deadly. They had lured many a night’s meal with their beauty and the promise of something more.
Phoenix’s voice fills the silence of the clearing, "Nathalie, Darius, leave this place now or feel my blade!"
They turn to each other and laugh. "Phoenix, you poor rat," Nathalie calls, "we’re here on business, so how about you leave? Our brother is on his way."
Daine turns to me gradually. "Brother...?"
"Galen, watch out!" Phoenix’s warning came too late as an angry Kale ran from the shadows. He had Galen down in seconds, fangs bared to his throat.
"Ah, you’re mortal now. Your blood is mine!" Kale’s fangs pierced flesh and Galen let out a cry of pain, a feeling he hadn’t accurately felt in years.
Phoenix lunged at Kale, a knife clenched in his shaking hand. Quickly, he pulled the vampire away. I ran to Galen’s flank as fast as I could. He hadn’t lost much blood, but it must have been a shock to him. His own fangs had pierced innocent flesh so many times without any remorse; it must have startled him to be on the other side of the incident.
"Leave him be!" Phoenix demanded.
"He drew my blood long ago, remember? Now it’s my turn!"
Darius and Nathalie appear behind Phoenix. Nathalie lashes out and has him instantly pinned to the ground. Rushing forward, Darius pulls me away from Galen. I try to get away, but she’s too strong.
I watch in horror as Kale sinks his teeth into Galen’s throat once again. He struggles so hard to break Kale’s grip. His life was just returned to him and now he’s on the brink of a true death.
Daine slowly rises to her feet and stealthily approaches Nathalie. The knife is in the vamp before she even realizes it. A soft whisper is heard from Daine. Phoenix gets back up and the two of them continue the hunt.
Disappearing into the night, Darius runs. I steady myself with Daine’s help and watch Galen gasp for air as Kale also retreats. Finally, the fight is over.
But, as I realize just how wrong I am, Kale reappears behind Phoenix. "Phoenix, he's behind you!" Daine screams to her partner.
Kale twists Phoenix's head and a crack resonates through the cloudless sky. Phoenix collapses. Somehow Kale vanishes in time to avoid Daine's blade. She falls on her knees, holding Phoenix's lifeless body in her arms. His life destroyed in the blink of an eye, she weeps for her lost love.
Crawling to her side, Galen looks at his hero with new respect. The first real tears in nearly four hundred years fall one by one onto the dead foliage. Silence takes the place of screams, paying homage to the brave witch. Daine must really blame herself... I know I do.
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The loud heavy metal music sounds off along the halls. Training harder than ever, Daine viciously attacks the punching bag. Cussing as she fights, she finally collapses against the bag, crying with everlasting tears. How long till those tears run dry? I wonder.
"Daine, are you okay?" I venture to ask.
"How can I be okay?" she cries. "He's dead, Wren. It should have been me..."
"Don't say that! What good will that do? He wouldn't want that."
She turns up the music and starts training once again. I really do envy her; she's so strong, physically and mentally.
"Daine?"
"I just need some time alone, Wren."
"Okay... But don't beat yourself up. It's not your fault."
"I know," she whispers. Maybe she's more fragile than I thought.
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"So, how are you feeling?"
"I'm sore," Galen manages to say. "I forgot how it felt - how it feels."
"Mother says you can stay as long as you like," I offer. "I think she's starting to trust you... She knows you've changed a lot."
"Physically and mentally - I feel a lot weaker now."
I admit that he looks different. His black eyes are now a pale blue, but his hair his still black. His figure has grown lanky and his skin sickeningly fair. I still find him beautiful, though he lacks that edge he once had.
"So, Wren, I want to say thank you."
I tell him, "You don't have to."
"Believe me, I do... and I had to tell you before I left."
He's leaving? "You're leaving?"
"Tomorrow. I'm going to see the world - I wanted to long ago." He can't go. He can't... "I was hoping you could come with me." His voice sounds so mature, yet juvenile at the same time.
"I..." I didn't know what to say. Yes? No? I wanted to say yes. "I... I suppose I could do that."
"Great. And maybe you could teach me to hunt sometime?"
"Maybe," I nod. "Maybe..." Quietly, I walked down the hall back to my room. So he did like me - at least as a friend - and we're going to see the world together. I couldn't wait! My sleep was filled with dreams of lovers from opposite sides of the tracks... like a vampire and a witch.
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When morning came, Galen was waiting by the door for me. I thought of teasing him about his attire, but decided against it. He looked like a real teenager in the red t-shirt, long shorts, and hi-tops, though his arms and neck retained the scars of his past.
"You ready?"
He smiles and nods. "Yeah, I'm ready."
"Okay then," I hear myself say. "Let's get this show on the road."
"Okay... Meet you at the corner," he shouts as he sprints out the door. Boys, I think. But he is not a boy. He is a man, a wonderful man...
"Hey, wait up!"
By the time I got there, he had already slowed down. He looked tired but carefree. "I thought you said you were going to beat me to the corner," I say, slowing myself down as well.
He looks up at the sky. "It's so nice out..." One by one his fingers intertwine with mine. "Besides, I thought we could walk it together."

THE END... FINALLY, EH?