Forever (Fallen 3)

“I love you,” I reached up, playing with one of his blond curls that made him look more like an angel than a vampire. “Nothing can ever change that.”

We stayed the rest of the week in Greece. Just before we left though, I decided to retrieve the book of prophecies. Something kept urging me to get it but I still refused to open it. It now sat in the bottom of my suitcase wrapped in a scarf that I never used. There was something about the book that frightened me. I couldn’t pinpoint what exactly it was about the book that scared me… No, I did know. What scared me about the book was what its pages might hold about my life. Gabriel obviously thought, and Jonathon too, that the book contained predictions about me…us. It was powerful. That was blatantly obvious. And Gabriel said he had stolen it. Stolen it from The Originals themselves. I’d never met The Originals but from what I had heard about them they terrified me. What I had been told about them coincided with the stereotypical vampire. I hoped I never did meet them.

From Greece we went to Egypt. I had always wanted to see the pyramids and museums. It was more than I ever imagined. I felt like I walked around the whole time with my mouth hanging open which in turn entertained Jonathon.

We left Egypt and went to Spain. First to Barcelona and then to Madrid.

I couldn’t believe that I was actually getting to see the world.

We soon left behind Spain for England where we stayed in a little cottage that looked like it was straight out of a movie. The cottage was close to London so we traveled there for a little while. After England we toured the rolling hills of Scotland and Ireland. I took picture after picture of every place we went. On our last night in Ireland Jonathon whispered in my ear, “Now, it’s my turn.”

“Your turn?” I asked.

“It’s time for your surprise, which also results in my turn to pick where we go.”

“And are you going to tell me where we’re going?”

“No,” he replied simply.

“Of course,” I rolled my eyes. “Heaven forbid I should ever know anything.”

He laughed, “That’s right.”

“Yippee, I’m so excited,” I snapped sarcastically.

“You should be,” he grinned, kissing the top of my head.

So, the next morning I got up and packed with no idea where I was headed. All Jonathon said was that it would be a long plane ride with no stops. I rubbed my eyes and boarded the private plane for what felt like the hundredth time. I had lost count so maybe it was.

Jonathon was right. It was a terribly long flight but at least I was able to move around and there was descent food to eat. I finally crashed; I had been determined to stay awake in the hope of figuring out our destination but that soon proved impossible. I awoke to Jonathon carrying me off the plane and depositing me into a white Range Rover Evoque. No more than he had started the car, I fell asleep again. I don’t know how long we drove but when I woke up Jonathon was turnin

g down an impossibly long driveway studded with palm trees on each side. Judging from the light shining into the car despite its darkly tinted windows I figured it had to be in the afternoon. He kept driving, not saying a word, while I tried to figure out where we were.

“Am I allowed to know where we’re at yet?”

“I suppose so,” he drove around a curve.

“Well?” I prompted.

“Home,” he said and then I saw the house.

Chapter Six: Homecoming

The house was a small two story with loads of character. It had white shingled siding, dark blue shutters with flower boxes filled with red flowers, and a wraparound porch. Two white rocking chairs set off to the side of the red front door. I heard the ocean and I was positive that from the back of the house you could probably see it too. Jonathon parked the car in the driveway, there was no garage and turned to me. I had yet to say a word.

Looking hurt he asked, “Do you like it? If you don’t like it we can sell it and get something else?”

I still couldn’t say anything. I was in shock.

“It’s okay if you hate it,” he said. “Really, it won’t hurt my feelings.”

“Jonathon,” I said around the lump in my throat. “It’s perfect. You’re perfect. This… This is amazing,” I wiped away the tears of happiness.

“Principessa, please don’t cry. I don’t want you to be upset.”

“I’m not crying because I’m upset. I’m crying because I’m just so happy!” I wiped at my face while Jonathon’s hand rubbed soothing circles on my back and shoulder. “I’m sorry. I don’t know why I’m so emotional.”

“Don’t ever apologize for crying, principessa.”