Chapter Nine

Leonard

The movie in the background was that background noise. My thoughts were far from it. Grace had excused herself to shower, leaving me sitting on the bed. My thoughts were my company. Thoughts of the past that Grace had shared with me, thoughts of her human life ending tragically, Blake and my former petty landlord's eviction notice, didn't even shine a light on what Grace shared with me. Everyone in Infernias had opinions on the woman in my shower, thoughts, and my guess, zero facts. Everyone looked at her in fear because of her position and power. I had felt the same fear towards her just by the rumors of those willing to spread them. A sigh escaped my lips as I leaned back, put my hands behind my head, and looked at the ceiling.

"Do you want to hit the gym downstairs or eat somewhere?"

"Whatever you're up to doing," I said, looking at her. She was dressed for the gym, her long crimson locks up in a messy ponytail, and her face lacked the dark makeup she had worn before. "You want to go to the gym? You look fit enough."

She looked at her clothes, then back at me. "I like to stay in shape, and with a rogue vampire roaming around, now is the best time to keep at it. If it were just my men, I wouldn't be concerned. I'm going to do extra to keep things from ending badly."

"Once again, Grace, you have me in your corner until the end, then you lose me. I wouldn't consider whatever I face as badly. We've had this time together, and I'll cherish it, no matter the outcome." She sighed, looking at the floor. "Just make me one promise." She looked back up at me. "The fear of death isn't something that scares me. It's the pain of it. Whatever you decide in that period, do it quickly."

She walked over to me and sat down. "I'm not making a promise like that, Leonard. No harm is going to come to you. I will be on guard. I won't leave your side until we deal with them. You have nothing to fear."

I looked at her with a smile. "Promise me, Grace, no matter what happens. I'm not going anywhere until you make me that promise."

She looked at me, confused. "Do you suspect something? Are you concerned about something that will never happen? You'll live to be an old man, Leonard."

"It's not something I suspect. I sense it. It's not fear. I see things that others don't, mainly my future. I see the visions. Everything is unfolding. I see shadows and hear the screams and see the blood-covered walls. That night, I asked you not to take part in the fight. I saw something would happen to you, so I don't just know my future but those I care about.

"You sense things?"

"Yeah, crazy, right? It first started as dreams and daydreams, then traveled into my nightmares. Now it's glimpses of things. I told no one of this. The news of the person's passing had become something I wasn't surprised by anymore. It still hurt, but the details I already saw it."

"You've heard of the things I have done, and you think you're the crazy one? You're a human with powers. Tomorrow we'll talk to Edgar. He could train you to understand these powers. My creator had said that only a few humans have a special gift, but he died before he could tell me too much about how to master skills like that. But you're not crazy, but I won't let you suffer since you envision this ending point in your life."

I smiled, sitting up. "I'm not hungry, and you want to go to the gym, so we'll do that. I always pick what we do. You should have a say so as well. This house has a gym?"

She looked at me. "It's in the home's basement. I saw it while you were showering earlier."

I stood up, stretching. "Well, you're ready to go at it. I'll watch for the night since I don't have any clothes to change into."

She stood up. "Darin delivered your clothes while you were in the shower. They are in your closet. I had asked him to pick you some exercise apparel, and he did that. Everything you need is in the closet or dresser."

"I bet that man is getting sick of doing my running." I chuckled. "I think he likes you more than a leader, follower sort of way. Surely you see it. He's not secretive about it. You two would be a better match. He could protect you better than I can. Why did you choose me over him?"

She looked at me. "We've tried. The two of us seemed like a perfect match, but the two of us were too much alike. We were both stubborn. Darin wanted to be my bodyguard, something women like my sisters would consider romantic and sweet. Yet, me being the non-romantic that I am, him being a bodyguard just seemed irritating, plus I don't bond well with my kind. Vampires don't interest me. We're all the same; you've seen one. You've seen us all."

"Oh, you two have already tried. You two didn't work out, so you chose second best. Your experience with Darin has nothing to do with being critical of your kind; come on, admit it, you've waded the waters in your 200 years."

I looked at her. "And like you haven't? Who are you trying to kid? I know for a fact that you had other girls before me."

"Hey, I'm not condemning you. We all waded in the water and stepped into the dating game pool. I won't go into a relationship expecting to be the first. I know there are exes, and it's a bonus when that woman has no kids, which is hard to find in a relationship. I'm not saying I don't want children. I'm saying I want my own, not someone else's."

"And here I thought the idea of lacking children was why you denied marriage. Good to know." She laughed.

"I think marriage could be fun, but I was against it because you barely snuck into my home and proclaimed marriage, no dating. You seemed like, I saw you, I like you, we get married tomorrow. In my defense, it was odd, not seeing a woman for years, and she appears and professes she wants marriage, and the fear of what would happen after that said conversation wasn't a good night for me."

"Are you considering marriage now?" She asked as I looked at her.

"Well, considering the position I've found myself in, if marriage is still on the table, I'd be willing to give it a shot. It would stink dying as an unmarried man, and it sucks dying at twenty-seven, but what can I do? I roll with the punches, letting whatever happens happen. I'm not a vampire hunter, so I don't picture vampires finding me threatening, more the other way around. Do you still want to marry me, or is it too."

"No, it's still on the table. I have waited a long time for this moment. I would have been willing to wait 1,000 years for you." I looked at her as she wrapped her arms around me. "You've made me the happiest creature. I promise to love you, honor you, and cherish you. I love you so much. Nothing is going to tear us apart, not death nor foe. I'm forever yours, forever and always."

I wrapped my arms around her. "Forever and always, I will love you, Grace." I kissed her hair, laying my head on hers, smiling as I felt tears fall into my shirt, and I held her closer.