Chapter 14: Reunion

            I spent the rest of night alone.

            Dante’s feelings were so badly hurt that he went downstairs to the living room and turned on the TV, watching blankly.

            I felt a little bad but I don’t want to take any chances anymore, I’m sick of being hurt by men, especially the ones that promise me things and completely go back on their word.

 

            When it was finally late enough in the morning and I thought it would be okay to wake up, I walked down the large staircase cautiously.

            I turned to my right to look into the living room and once again saw my Dante curled up on the couch, arms tightly around his knees, sobbing lightly.

            I wanted so much to run over to him, to put my arms around him, to tell him I trusted him, to look into his amazing eyes and believe every word he was telling me.

            But something told me to stay where I was.

            I heard a light sigh escape his perfect lips and he whispered, “I’m not him.”

            I began lightly shaking where I stood, the wetness I was now accustomed to once again filling my eyes and running down my blushing cheeks.  I felt terrible.  I had broken him.  I should be able to trust Dante, if anyone.  I’d been with him for how long and now is the time I decide not to trust the man of my dreams???

            What the hell is wrong with me?  I have everything I could ever want and I still find a way to destroy it.  I’m no better than my father.

            I whispered back after I had found something to say, “I know you’re not, but I’m messed up, Dante, I don’t think like normal people do, you have to understand this about me.  I’m sorry, I love you, but right now, I just don’t know.”

            “How can you not know?  I love you; I completely and utterly love you, Victoria.  I know that people in today’s world….or rather in yesterday’s world abused that word; but I am not one to do that.  I use it as I feel it; and right now, I feel it as strongly as ever.”

            “I feel it too.  But, Dante, I just….” My voice trailed off.  I didn’t know how to make this better, or if I ever could make it better.  I walked slowly to where my love was sobbing, taking very small steps, thinking out the best way to approach him.

            “You just what?  You don’t trust me, there’s nothing else to it.”

            I stopped in my tracks.  I was sure he could see my reflection in the TV screen, tear-stained cheeks, shaking, unsure of what to do.

            I felt defeated.  I racked my mind, thinking of anything to say that could make it better and still not seem like I was lying.

            After my dream, I felt completely unsure about everything.  My father was there to warn me about Dante, is that the reason he was coming here now?  I couldn’t help but believe it was so.

            But then again, why should I believe my father?  I just got done explaining to Dante why I hated him, why I’d never believe him, so why was this time any different?

            Damn thoughts.  I can’t escape them yet I can’t just let them go.  I need to seriously think of this right now, think of what I want, what I need.

            But, right now, I knew, I needed Dante, and he was all I needed forever.

            I walked faster to him now, sitting next to him on the floor, placing my arms around his tightly-coiled body.

            “I love you.  I’m sorry, I shouldn’t believe him now.”

            He shot me a look of confusion.  “What are you talking about?  Have you talked to him?”

            “No, my dream last night, I mean.  My father was there, warning me about you and telling me not to marry you.  He tried to pry your hands off of me but it was no use, he was screaming and so were you, fighting over what was supposed to be best for me.”

            Dante looked into the air now, in deep thought over the information I’d revealed to him.  His mouth moved slightly as he quietly said his thoughts to himself.

            He looked at me now, worry in his eyes.

            He uncoiled himself, pulling me up onto his lap, hugging me tightly, placing his head on my chest.

            “I will protect you, this I promise, my love.”

            I nodded.  I knew he’d protect me….but from what?  I wasn’t quite sure of.  Was my father coming to take me away?  What exactly is his excuse for seeing me now other than my coming of age?

            I guess I’d have to wait a few hours to find out.

 

            Dante and I spent most of the afternoon lying on the couch, curled up next to each other.  I was glad he had hunted the other day because it always made him much warmer than when he was thirsty.  I rubbed my nose on his forearm as he cuddled me from behind, rolling my eyes in the back of my head at the scent of his skin.

            He was such a beautiful man, and he was all mine, forever.  And the best part of all of this was, he felt the exact same way about me.

 

            Completely consumed in the emotions of my love for him, I almost hadn’t heard the door bell ring when it did.

            Dante jumped up, startling me, and ran to the door, lightly whispering, “Don’t worry.”

            I slowly walked to the door as I heard the first of the conversations starting between my father and Dante.

            “Welcome, Damien,” Dante extended his arm now, waiting for a hand shake, always so polite.

            “Hello, Dante,” my father answered blankly.

            I finally reached the door and saw my father for the first time in years.

            I’d forgotten what he’d looked like, but he looked surprisingly younger than I’d remembered.

            Light cinnamon hair that curled slightly and hung down to the bottom of his small ears.  His eyes were a bright aqua, like mine, but they held a chocolate ring instead of a forest green.  My father was the definition of “tall, dark, and handsome.”  I now understood why my mother had always said she’d never find anyone who could even stand next to the beauty of my father.

            He wore a blue and white striped button-down shirt and jeans, nothing special, although he looked better in it than I had ever imagined.

            I had to remind myself how to breathe with these two glorious men standing in front of me, both staring at me, both breathing heavily in curiosity of how I would respond.

            I finally whispered, “Hello, dad.”

            My father jumped to me now, taking me tightly in his too-strong arms.  I gasped for air as he backed off a little, looking into my face, a large smile growing on his.

            “God, I missed ya, kid!”

            “Uh, yeah, good to see you too, dad.”

            He let go of me now, standing in front of me, staring.  Dante walked to my side, putting his arm around my waist, pulling me toward him slightly.

            “I know this is a surprise and you’re probably more than mad at me for leaving you and your mother, but you gotta understand, Vic, I did it for your safety.  I wasn’t the same man that I am now, I couldn’t control my emotions.  And once you were born, it continued to get worse and worse.  Your mother couldn’t stand it….and neither could I.”

            “Okay,” was all I could say.  I’d already heard this explanation from Dante; he’d have to do a little better than that.

            “Would you like to have a seat?  I’d imagine you’ve been traveling for quite the long time.  We have plenty seating in the living room, Damien, make yourself at home.”

            “Sounds good, my daughter and I have a lot to catch up with, anyway.”

            We all walked slowly to the living room, Dante and I taking our normal seats next to each other on the black leather sofa and my father taking his seat on the small black leather chair (matching set), turning it to look in our direction.

            He sat on the very edge of his seat, hands clasped together, large smile staying on his face.

            “So, Vic, how have you been, sweetie?  I’ve missed you so much centuries couldn’t tell you.”

            “Uh, I guess I’ve been fine considering the fact that I’ve turned into a darkling, everyone and everything I ever knew and love has been destroyed, and now my bastard father is sitting in front of me.”

            The smile that lightened my father’s face now fell into the darkness of his sadness and he looked to his hands, fumbling his fingers around.

            “Listen,” he looked up into my eyes, “I know that I can never make up for the time lost with you and your mother, but I will do whatever I can in my power to try to make this right again.  I’ve changed, and so have you.”

            I gave him an evil glance as he said the word “mother” and balled my hands up into tight fists.  I ground my teeth as the TV turned to static and I heard the light cracking of the beautiful vase that stood on the mantel.

            Dante hugged me from the side, whispering in my ear, “Calm down, I know I have a lot of things to break but I like some of my material possessions.”

            “Sorry,” I whispered back.  I controlled my mind now, making me calm as I continued to stare at my father.

            “Listen, dad,” I strained the word, “yeah, you left to try to protect mom and me, right?”

            “Yes, of course.”

            “Well, you didn’t do a very good job because, my mother is dead, you bastard!  You didn’t protect us from anything!”

            Sadness overwhelmed my father’s face as I looked angrily into his eyes.  Bet that made him feel like the crap he is!

            “I….I had no clue, Vic.  I’m so sorry, I had no idea.”

            “And what did you think when you found out I was living with Dante?  That I just found a nice vampire boyfriend and decided to settle down?”

            “Well, honestly, yeah, I guess.  Vic, I haven’t seen you in so long, I didn’t know the type of woman you’d turned into.”

            “Well, now you do.  I’m a bitter darkling teenager who needs some damn answers!”

            “You will get your answers in time, Vic, but right now, I’d like to talk to you privately, if that’s okay.”

            Dante and I looked at each other now, worry swarming through both of our eyes.  His forehead wrinkled and I knew he was thinking the same thing I was.

            He’s going to try to convince me to leave.