Epilogue

I rapped quickly on the door, seeing no bell. The sound seemed to reverberate in the air, so quiet was the neighbourhood. The place looked like heaven compared to the hell of my flat, and I couldn’t believe Carl had been so willing to throw it all away.

The young woman who answered was tall, pretty, with dark hair and eyes. She pulled open the door breathlessly, as if she had been waiting for someone. Her face fell when she saw me, a stranger.

“Can I help you?” Her tone wasn’t particularly friendly, but I put that down to stress.

“Maria?”

“Yes,” she said warily, looking at me through narrowed eyes.

“I’m a friend of Carl’s.” I watched fire spark in her stare and knew I had to tread carefully. “I need to talk to you about him. He’s… ill.”

“Ill? What’s wrong with him? Where is he?” Her anger turned to panic, and I knew she cared deeply for him. I only hoped it wasn’t too late for them.

“He’s staying with a friend. He wants to come home. He’s been… afraid. He had a bit of a breakdown, you see. He didn’t want you to see him like that, but I thought you should know that he’s been away from you through no fault of his own.”

I was almost certain I wasn’t lying. I had convinced myself that the succubus had gotten to Carl long before he truly succumbed.

“What are you talking about, a breakdown? At his age? What on earth does he have to break down about? I should be the one breaking down here!” Her voice rose into a shrill cry.

I wanted to run. “Look, all I can tell you is he’s pretty much mortified by his carrying on. He ended up with a bit of an addiction, and he’s been trying to shake that before he saw you again. He hasn’t been doing well. He even lost his memory.”

Her mouth gaped open. “Why isn’t he in hospital?”

“He was looked after by a… professional. Now, he’s recovering. I’m really sorry we couldn’t contact you sooner.”

“Why didn’t you?” she barked. “Why didn’t anyone come to me or his family?”

“Oh. Well, I told you. He lost his memory for a bit. It was hard to get anything out of him there for a while. But like I said, he’s getting better now. Maybe you could call him? Maybe let him come see you when he’s up to it?”

Her stony expression softened. “He’s not up to visiting? Is he okay?”

She believed me so easily. She latched on to any reason to forgive him. “He’s still quite weak,” I said softly. “It’s nothing to worry about. He just needs to build up his strength.” I played to what I figured was her personality type. “He probably needs someone to take care of him.”

“And that isn’t you?” Ah. I felt her jealousy in spurts, mixed between gratitude at my telling her about him.

I tried to laugh. “Definitely not me. He’s like family, but I’m not the one to take care of him. Don’t worry.”

We shared a moment then. Two women worried about the same man. Two women with very different places in his life. I was almost certain that once Maria claimed him, Carl would leave my world forever. I couldn’t blame him, and I couldn’t forget the fear and pain in his voice when he had finally opened up to me. He might not want me around, but I could hardly blame him. I had played an active role in everything that had gone wrong in his life. The least I could do was help him get back to the people who truly cared for him. The people who would never lead him into danger or suffering. It had taken more near-death experiences than I could count, but finally, Carl was seeing the light. It took more than enthusiasm to survive in the other world, the underground one. Only time would tell how much of himself he had lost in the darkness.

***

As soon as the taxi pulled into the sunny cul-de-sac, I knew I wanted to live there. A direct contrast to my flat, my destination was located in a bright, well-kept area of the city. It didn’t look like part of the city at all, and there was a feeling in the air of safety and protection. I guessed the landlady wasn’t human. Not that I minded.

A row of sweet little cottages lined the pathway on either side of the street, and I admired them all as I passed. The cottage I was looking for was at the very end. When I saw the number, I laughed out loud. Fourteen. Perfect.

It was a little dirty. It definitely needed a few repairs, as well as an industrial-strength lawnmower, but something about the place drew me. It attracted the sun.

I stood in the front garden while I took in the surroundings. A bit of paint and a lot of cleaning, and the cottage would be perfect. The walls were redbrick, and the paint on the door was peeling, but I felt excited about the house becoming my home.

“Is this my lost soul?” an elderly voice behind me croaked.

I whirled around, surprised that such an old woman could sneak up on me. She was tiny and haggard-looking, her back noticeably hunched. Despite her age, her dark brown eyes were clear and gave her a mischievous air.

“I’m Ava. I’m here to view the cottage.”

“That you are. I’m Mrs. Yaga, the landlady. Do you want to take a look inside?” she asked, squinting in the sunlight.

She opened the cottage to let me look around, but she waited outside. The home consisted of two tiny bedrooms, a miniature bathroom, a duck-egg-blue kitchen, a sunny space for a living room, and a sprawling back garden, again with the need for a lawnmower. A thick layer of dust and dirt covered the entire house, but I couldn’t wait to get stuck in.

“I’ll take it,” I said as soon as I went back outside to Mrs. Yaga.

She gave me a crooked smile with more gaps than teeth. “Don’t you want to know how much it is first?”

I glanced at the house. It was home. Nothing else mattered.

Two days later, I got on my knees and started scrubbing. Every inch of the house uncovered something about myself, cleared away something bad. All of the guilt and anger and self-pity, I washed it all away, convinced my new home was a fresh start.

I revealed a spotless cottage, and a new me, a me that was more than ready for a start over. It felt as though I had shed a skin. Everything was so much lighter.

Mrs. Yaga definitely wasn’t human, and I had a strong suspicion that she and the cottage had something to do with the change in me, but I felt only gratitude. All of my neighbours were a mixture of species and races, and there was something peaceful about the whole area. Security of the entire cul-de-sac seemed tight, and I felt no need to secure my own house.

I had a hard time packing. Leaving the flat terrified me. Change unnerved me. But I had been making some big decisions, and I took great pleasure in packing the blood bags into a cardboard box and dumping them off at Gabe’s bar.

“Tell him never to send me this crap again,” I told a bemused Finn.

With Peter’s help, I moved all of my things to the cottage—without a backward glance—as soon as the place was clean. I barely unpacked because I wanted to paint it first. Peter came through on that count, too.

“You’re going to have to stop being so dependable,” I teased as we gave the living room a second coating.

He flicked paint at me in answer. “What are you going to do next?”

“The kitchen, I think,” I said as I admired my handiwork.

“I meant in life, idiot.” More flicked paint.

“I’m going to dump the whole tin over your head,” I warned.

“I’ll shake myself off in your precious kitchen. Really, what are your plans?”

He looked so serious, I tried to think about everything I’d been conveniently putting to one side. I had a lot to consider, and my stress level automatically began to rise, but I hadn’t counted once since I’d found the cottage. I kept that to myself.

“Gabe’s got some work for me. I made some friends in Liverpool that I’d like to help.”

He faced me. “You’re going back?”

“If I have to. I kind of made a fae deal.”

He groaned. “Trust you.”

“It wasn’t like that,” I protested. “I want to help them.”

“Well, next time I’m coming with you. Drove me mad last time.”

I held his stare, wondering what he meant. “That deal kind of fits in with a deal I made with Gabe. I’m going to find an empath to help me with that mess. And I’m going to figure out a way I can be strong without drinking blood.”

He raised his eyebrows.

“I mean it,” I said vehemently. “I’m never drinking blood again, Peter. Never.”

He didn’t say anything for a few minutes, and I wondered if I had freaked him out. Then, he turned to me with a thoughtful look on his face. “You’re already strong. You’re going to be fine. No matter what happens.”

“Well. Thanks.”

He shrugged.

“For everything.”

His frown didn’t scare me. Much. “We’re not talking about that.”

“Coward.”

He stepped up to me, too close. My stomach somersaulted.

“Who’s a coward?”

“You are,” I whispered.

He took my hands, his paint stained thumbs swirling my skin in circular motions. “No succubi marks on me this time,” he said with a half-smile, but his gaze turned serious.

“There were never any marks on me,” I reminded.

He grinned, slipping his arms around my waist to pull me closer.

“Besides, she didn’t make me do anything I didn’t already want to,” he said softly. I lifted my face to his, feeling completely at ease for a change. His lips pressed lightly against mine, and the doorbell rang.

He grinned against my lips, and I pushed him away.

“The universe is seriously fucking with me right now,” he muttered as I hurried to answer the door, the butterflies in my stomach feeling as though they were on speed.

Esther and Carl stood on my doorstop. My mouth dropped open in shock. Carl grinned, holding up his hands.

“Don’t start,” Carl said. “I’m more than capable of walking.”

I bit my lip. “I wasn’t going to say a word,” I lied.

“You’re early,” Peter growled from behind me.

Esther kissed my cheek, then linked arms with Peter, asking him to show her around.

Carl shrugged at me. “Not a bit obvious, eh?”

“Not half. How are you?”

“I’m doing okay. Getting spoiled all round. Mostly thanks to you.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “I’m sorry about before. I needed a bit of time to deal with everything that happened. I didn’t handle it very well.”

“Don’t be an idiot.” I hugged him tightly, feeling the residue of the bond affect me with his embrace. “I wouldn’t have blamed you if you never spoke to me again.”

“I couldn’t do that. Who’d get you into trouble?”

I grinned, leading him inside.

“Besides,” he continued, “you’re like my bossy little sister. You’re cranky ninety percent of the time, but I’d miss your constant nagging.”

I punched his arm.

“See? We really came over to help out with the painting,” he said. “Have a little housewarming together. It’s the first time there isn’t an emergency going on.”

“Don’t jinx it,” I warned him.

After a lot of catching up, and very little painting, the four of us sat in the overgrown back garden to catch the last of the sun.

“You really need to sort this forest out,” Carl said, almost looking like his old self. His face had more lines, his hair had streaks of grey and white that managed to look pretty cool, and his eyes had a sadness in them, but he was still Carl.

“I’ll get around to it. What’s new with you?”

“I should be back at work soon.”

“Oh? With Maria’s father?”

He grinned, and he definitely looked like the old Carl. “Not exactly.”

“Oh, no way. Eddie again?”

“I need a job. Maria’s dad pretty much hates me now. I can’t sit at home doing nothing. Don’t worry. It isn’t for the same reasons as before. I’ve learned my lesson. And look.” He opened his shirt and revealed a massively intricate Celtic tattoo. “Blessed ink,” he said proudly. “Like Peter’s, only better.”

“I heard that, you big lunk.”

I listened to the banter between my friends and felt totally at ease for the first time in a very long time. I had finally found a place I could settle down in and friends who didn’t judge me, no matter how many stupid mistakes I made. Even Esther hadn’t turned her back on me, despite her brother’s urging.

A cool breeze blew my hair, and I smiled at the sensation. Maeve hadn’t left me for good either. I tilted my head to the sun and closed my eyes, savouring the moment because it felt like a perfect one. Life was never what I expected it to be, but I had made it this far, and it was looking good. I still had humanity, I had friends, I even had work to do that I believed in. Even better, I had discovered that family wasn’t always what you were given, but what you made it.

I had spent so long pining for a family of my own, and I had finally found it in a weird way. I’d wasted time looking for acceptance. There were people in my life who gave it freely, unconditionally.

I had a family after all, just a very different kind.