It was Elias.
“I promise,” her father swore, voice breaking, his gaze locked on Penelope without any of the rigid pride that had ruled him for so long. “I will never again force my will on you. I was wrong.”
Penelope looked to Elias and smiled, her eyes turning the deepest shade of red as the final strands of her hair went white.
“I swear it, Lamb,” he whispered, carving his vow before her. “I will never again let you go. You are mine now—mine—and until the sun sets upon this world for the final time, I will hold you. Even if the heavens fall. Even if the earth crumbles. You will be mine in this life, and every life after.”
Penelope tilted her head back, a gentle smile spreading across her lips. “I suppose you will be the one teaching me now,Vampire.”
23
PENELOPE
Six Months Later
There are men whose only purpose is to kill.
Not the body—at least not always. Instead, they seek the softer frailties of life, the things unseen by others. They kill the soul. They strangle dreams. They grind down that fragile sense of worth a mother sculpts as though it were her finest piece of art.
But as long as those men existed, there would always be women who would fight back.
Penelope Adams, was such a woman.
Orange leaves scattered the streets, dressing the cobblestone path in all the colors of fall. Though Penelope’s heart no longer truly beat, Elias had a way of making her feel as if it were racing.
After Elias had scared off Henry, it wasn’t long before they realized that Autumntun would no longer be safe for them. After only just reuniting with Eleanor, it was a bittersweet goodbye. Still, Penelope always found time to write to Eleanor, chronicling their travels.
“Lost in thought?” Elias asked, tipping the black umbrella back so he could see her eyes clearly.
The fox trotted between them, occasionally running off into the alleys to chase a rat.
“I was thinking about Autumntun. About Eleanor and Osiris. Surely by now Henry has returned with his cavalry.”
Elias hummed. “Well, knowing them, they are taking care of the beings.”
“Do you think we can ever return?” Penelope asked.
“One day, I am sure. It will take time for both of our people to change. Until then,” he mused, “I quite enjoy what we are doing now.”
Penelope smiled as an echo of warmth filled her chest.
It had been months, yet they had done so much. Their lives were not perfect. And there were times, of course, that it was hard. But for the first time, there was no sorrow in her music. Only the love and care that Elias had filled her life with these past few months.
As they walked down the street, a man clanged about a rusted bell, waving his hand painted sign.
Elias and Penelope shared a look before approaching him. He was short in stature, and his graying hair was scruffy and unkempt. His clothes were tattered and torn, likely from the days of standing on the thoroughfare, shouting his gospel-soaked warnings.
“Vampires!” the man yelled, eyes searching the crowd for any that would pay him mind, until his eyes landed on them. “Vampires walk among us!”
Elias shuffled his hand in his pocket, producing a silver coin which he tossed into the man’s hat.
“You!” the protester shouted. “You are a believer in vampires! Be warned! They walk among us!”
Elias smirked, linking arms with Penelope. Offering the madman a polite nod, he began to lead her away. “Oh, you have no idea.”
Penelope laughed as they continued along the street. The town reminded her of Autumntun, though in a distant, almost uncanny way—the branches of the trees seemed to reach down into the street, and the clouded skies hung low above. She almost found comfort in it.
It only took a few moments for them to arrive at their destination. The tavern had been well dressed as opposed to the others that lined the streets.
