Black-Bloods and Vampire Keepers by DeMeritt Amy

Author:DeMeritt, Amy
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2022-10-17T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty

Elena

As Francesca leads me by the hand, I look back at the beautiful, young children, sitting around playing with toys, giggling, and talking about anything and everything. My entire being longs to remain here and continue playing with them. But their playtime is nearly over and they’ll begin their studies soon.

When we get outside, I tell her, “That was not fair of you to do to me.”

Francesca pulls me to a stop and caresses both of my cheeks while giving me a kiss on my forehead.

“I gave you something you have always wanted. How was that unfair to you, sweetie?”

“Because it makes me hope for and long for something I cannot have.”

“At the present, no. But in the near future, yes, you could have children. And the longer you’re here, and you come to know the other Delegates, you’ll come to know their children as well. This isn’t the last time you’ll see them. Family titles are flexible here, just as they are among humans. You’ll soon be accepted as an aunt to many children.”

“I’m hearing you when you say Sabine and I will finally be able to have children of our own, and I can see that it’s a reality here, but it’s still hard to believe. I’ve been free for over a hundred years, and I’ve considered settling down with a human more times than I can count just so I could have children, but I couldn’t get myself to do it. I’m not human. I wouldn’t age while they aged. And I had to move too often to remain free. I couldn’t sentence a child to a life on the run, and I knew I’d never be able to abandon my child. I have obsessed over every possible scenario of trying to have children, and every outcome ended in heartbreak.”

Francesca’s eyes tear up as she leans in and kisses me on the forehead. “Even here, sometimes it ends in heartbreak. Our immortality isn’t absolute, as the word implies. However, that heartbreak won’t come as quickly as it would outside of the protections of the governance.”

“I’m sorry, Francesca. Losing my daughter when I was human,” my jaw tenses and I shake my head, “nothing else compared to that pain, and I have suffered so much in both my lifetimes. I cannot imagine how deeply compounded that pain is for the many children you’ve lost, especially after you were able to raise them and get to know them. I didn’t get that chance after my daughter was born.”

“You will. I promise.” She takes my hand and we start walking again. “Is that why you liked being a librarian?”

“Yes.” I smile as the memories of reading to children and helping them find new written adventures floods my mind. “A library tended to be the safest place for me to work, and it allowed me to interact with children on a daily basis.”

She squeezes my hand, and guesses, “You grew close to some of the children you left behind in Atlanta.

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