Chris shook his head slowly as he gently pressed and stretched the skin of her ruined tattoo. “I’m sorry.” He gave the space under her ribs a delicate pat and her a reassuring smile. “We’ll fix this. Don’t you worry. And hey…it’s on the house.”
“Oh no, that’s not necessary-”
He held up a hand and gave her a wink. “I’m in a ridiculously good mood with all this sun. Don’t kill my buzz.”
She smiled as she watched him finish off setting up his station.
“Ok, it’s gonna be really tough to go over the name again and have it look the same, so we’ll have to get fancy,” he said, leaning back in his chair. “What did you want me to do?”
“The same concept with a few alterations,” she replied.
“You sure?”
“There has been so much new stuff happening to me lately. This is the best way to honour it.”
As she told him the words she wanted, she meant it too. She got the original tattoo to remember Nick but he was alive. Her boy was alive. She had saved him yet never realised.
She wanted the tattoo redone as a reminder to her that Nick sparked whatever the hell was inside her. Maybe it was always meant to be, or maybe she just couldn’t stand losing someone she loved so much. Wherever he was, he was welcome to come home to her for a hot meal and a hug she would struggle to let go of. But Dante had ignited what she needed to soar. Right when she felt the lowest she ever had. She now understood why magic couldn’t have restored him. Masonian had told her they couldn’t use magic for selfish gain. And she now understood in the universe’s eyes, not his, her request to bring him back would have been seen as selfish. Dante had sacrificed himself for the greater good, ensuring others may might live in peace. To reverse this action would only adhere to human feelings of mourning and grief.
This was the first of many harsh lessons Alex would have to learn: accepting death. The universe would always have the final say. No matter how powerful she was.
“So, it was the words between the pair of Valkyrie wings.”
“The, well…yeah, but what? Weren’t they originally angel wings?”
“Nah. Angel wings have a softer tone. These are edgier. I can make them angel ones if you want. You just seemed like a Valkyrie girl.”
Alex smiled and lay down on her side. The needle buzzed away, yet Alex didn’t think it hurt as much as before. What would happen from here on out, she didn’t know. She had been given something incredible, and she needed to figure out how to use it to help people. So many questions, so many possibilities.
She got up and stood in front of the mirror, looking over the work. Tears formed at her pride as she thought of all that had happened, all that she still didn't know. She focused on the addition to her work and smiled.
She wasn’t alone. She held hope in her heart as she gazed upon her inflamed skin. The red V was drawn behind the words “Whatever It Takes…” A part of it yet separate. Backing them up. Supporting them like she would ensure it would the people of Sydney.
Epilogue
Melina walked slowly towards the edge of the grass cliff. She gazed down at the crashes of waves, white froth spewing up, mocking her as everything now seemed to. How dare the world keep spinning when her own had stopped. There was no point anymore. Why go on?
"I forbid it..." a voice said behind her.
Melina cringed. She feared he would find her. "I don’t care," she replied through gritted teeth, trying to move but his words, just those three, prevented it.
"Save your energy. Fall to your knees." She crumbled just as his quiet command echoed through the night. "You will not die tonight, my dear. You have much more to do."
"Leave me be, damn you! I did what you asked! I left Alejandro all those years ago. I was never there for him during his first years as a vampire. I was with Julian! For you! Because it would crush Alejandro! Whatever Julian said. Even the Go Deo. I knew what Julian was hoping with it and I still did it. FOR YOU! You said if I didn’t you would kill Alejandro.”
"That is so..."
"Well he's gone now. You wanted me to hurt him for two hundred years and I have. Punished every night after what you did to me. To us both."
"I gave you eternal life," he said as she felt his cold, clawed hand snake onto her shoulder. "You are mine to do with as I please. You both are." Melina refused to cry. "Fuck you. Kill me. Don’t kill me. I don’t care anymore. He was the only thing I loved. You wanted us apart and now he's dead. There's nothing more you can do to hurt him."
He chuckled at this, gripping her tighter. "My sweet plum, you truly think this is over? You think I would let this come between me and my plans? Death is not the end. It's merely the intermission..."
:
Alex will return in Peace Keeper
Psst…
Hi there. I just wanted to send you, yes YOU, a quick but heartfelt thank you. I hope you’ve enjoyed Pack Master and the Undeadly Secrets so far. I couldn’t have gotten this far without my amazing fans, so here is a reminder about how to keep in touch with me. I’m always around and only too happy to have a chat, and a laugh…and sneak a
