Page 59 of My Master
As Damien smiled, a light shone behind him, like a bright white limelight. Antonio thought that this was when Damien would disappear, leaving him alone. But Damien opened his eyes in surprise and turned around. Antonio noticed that behind his brother, just below the light, a dark line had materialized. It was the outline of a body, roughly looking like a sketch until it became a silhouette. The darkness cleared, the air rippled, and the figure became the clear features of a girl. Much to Antonio’s surprise, she looked like Esmeralda.
He thought that she had made her way into his dreams again. But then Damien whispered in a startled manner, “Esperanza…” And he ran towards the girl frantically, like he was afraid that she would disappear into wisps of smoke. But when he reached her, he didn’t touch her, only stared.
Antonio got a good look at the girl. She did look a lot like Esmeralda, but he could tell now that she wasn’t. This girl had the same deep blue eyes and pale skin, but her hair was black and in pigtails down her shoulders. What was it that Damien had called her? Esperanza? He wondered who she was.
“It is time to leave, my love,”she whispered in a mist like voice that sounded kind of like a song, distant and evaporating.
He reached out, hesitantly, and touched her cheek with his fingertips. She leaned into his touch, smiling as she did so. A tear fell down her eye.
“Where are we going?” He asked.
“To the beyond…”
They both began to shimmer and fade, together. Antonio was gripped with sadness. “Wait!” he called out. “Wait, Damien!”
His fading stopped and he turned, concerned. “Yes? What is it, brother?”
“Will I ever see you again?”
Damien smiled and shook his head, slowly. “Probably not.” And he stepped forward, placing his hand on his brother’s shoulder. Up close, Antonio could see that his brother, for once, seemed genuinely happy. “But remember me, and I’ll always be with you, my brother.”
Antonio didn’t have to think about how cheesy that sounded, but it didn’t matter, because it was true. He pulled his brother into his arms and hugged him, their arms wrapped around each other with familiarity.
After a moment Damien parted and walked back over to Esperanza, and took her hand in his. “Brother, one last question before I leave. I’ve always wondered: why is it always the sunset?”
Antonio was caught off guard. But the answer was automatic. “I barely know myself, maybe it’s because it’s a mystery to me. I’m a Natural Born vampire, I don’t know what the sun feels like, I’ve only ever heard people describe it to me. And sunsets I’ve only ever seen in pictures, so dreaming about it, well, I guess it’s the closest thing I have to something real, the only thing I have in my life that’s tangible, you know?”
Damien shook his head sadly. “Oh, but how wrong you are,hermano. Sunsets come and go. Family, and the memories you create? Those are forever. Those arereal.”
And then both of them shimmered, disappearing, this time, for good. Antonio stared at the empty spot where his brother had been then turned back to the sunset that always used to last forever, never truly setting. But, as if by some miracle, it hid beyond the horizon and a warm darkness enveloped him and, for once, he welcomed it.
25
“Go get something to eat,” Antonio demanded, yet again.
“But—”
“No. I’ll watch over Isis, just go get some food, okay?”
She finally sighed in defeat when her stomach let out a loud rumble. She was hungry, she needed to keep her energy up for her child so she could grow up fast and strong then get the hell out of her. She didn’t like feeling like a small sack of potatoes was tied around her stomach. It hurt her back and she was constantly tired. Her mood was hardly any better. One minute she felt like crying and the next she felt like punching someone in the throat. With a sigh, Ezzy headed to the cafeteria and sat to eat.
After she ate she picked up a bottle of blood for Antonio and headed out to the room. As she rounded the corner she bumped into a familiar face. “Victoria!” Relief coursed through her. Last time she had seen Victoria, the woman was on the brink of death. She didn’t look too hot now; her face was still pale, her veins dark grey. There were circles under her eyes and she was wearing one of those hospital night shirts, the kind with no back. Definitely didn’t look too hot, but certainly better. Esmeralda had the urge to hug her but wasn’t sure if it would be welcome. “You look—”
“Like shit?” Her voice was hoarse, her cracked lips split open.
“I was going to say better.” Victoria snorted. “No, you really do look better.”
“Yeah, well, I don’t feel so hot.”
Esmeralda felt guilty. If it hadn’t been for her, Victoria wouldn’t have been stabbed by that vampire. She opened her mouth to apologize but Victoria interrupted.
“It’s not your fault, Ms. Ortiz. Well, not entirely. A number of things could have happened to me there and I had the misfortune of taking a silver dagger to the side. A giant pain in the ass, but a risk I’m willing to take on the job.” She reached out and ruffled Esmeralda’s hair. “But next time don’t putyourselfat risk, okay?”
Esmeralda bit her bottom lip and nodded. Then there was a growl behind Victoria. She turned her head then turned back.
“Speaking of pain in the asses, Terrance won’t leave me alone.”
Terrance materialized behind her, a scowl on his handsome face. “What are you doing up?” he demanded.
