Oh no. Oh no.She placed her hand against her mouth to hold back her sobs as her father continued to stare at her. And then, his eyes cleared, and his jaw went slack before a smile spread across his lips. He’d stared at her for so long because he didn’t recognize her; she also looked alotdifferent than the last time they saw each other.
“Daddy,” she croaked.
She staggered the last few feet separating them and flung her arms around him. When his bones pressed against her, a torrent of tears poured from her as her heart shattered. Unable to remain upright, they collapsed onto the ground together.
Despite his frail form, he crushed her against him. The stench he emanated only made her cling to him harder.
“It’s okay, Jelly Bean. I’m okay.”
The use of her childhood nickname caused a choked cry to issue from her as she buried her face in his neck.
“Shh now, shh,” he soothed as he ran his hands over her hair.
She didn’t know how long she clung to him while sobbing, but eventually, she got herself together enough to lean back and look at him. Her gaze fell on his missing ear, a present she was sure she would have received if she were still in the cabin. She stroked his cheek as he bowed his head to rest it against her forehead.
“I’m a little uglier, but I’m alive,” he said.
For some reason, that made her cry again. “I did… I did everything they asked. I found everyone they asked me to so they wouldn’t hurt you. I dideverythingand still… still… they did this!”
“Shh,” he said as he clasped her cheeks. “They were going to hurt me no matter what you did because that is what theyenjoydoing. This isn’t your fault; I know you did your best. Are you okay?”
She wiped the tears from her eyes, but new ones spilled free. “Yes. Saxon found me and took me away from them.”
“Is he one of these guys?”
“Yes.” He was so much more to her, but her father would find that out soon enough.
“You’re so thin,” he murmured.
“That’s the pot calling the kettle black.” She tried to sound teasing, but it fell flat. “We should get you inside.”
“Yes,” her father said.
Elyse helped him to his feet, and when she looked around, she realized only Saxon remained with them. He came forward and helped lead her father into the cabin. Her father’s gait was awkward as he walked on the insides of his feet to compensate for his missing toes. She glanced down at his feet and winced when she saw what a mess they were.
“Dad, this is Saxon,” she said to distract herself from the suffering her father had endured.
“You were the first one who came into my room,” her father said.
“Yes,” Saxon replied.
“Thank you.”
“Don’t thank me. There’s nothing I won’t do for your daughter.”
Her father gave Elyse a questioning look. She smiled at him as she squeezed what remained of his hand in hers. They had so much to tell each other, but there was plenty of time to catch up now that they were both safe.
“How did you get past those monsters?” her dad asked Saxon.
Elyse gulped as she realized they would have to get this out of the way now. There was no point in dodging the question when she planned to join Saxon soon. “Saxon is a vampire too,” Elyse said.
Saxon heard the accelerated beat of his heart when Raymond’s eyes spun toward him.
“It’s okay,” Elyse rushed to assure him. “He’s not like them. No one here is.”
“No one here….” Her father’s distressed eyes returned to her. “Are theyallvampires?”
“Notallof them, but many of them are. I didn’t believe it was possible for any vampire to be decent at first either, but theyaregood, and they’re going to keep us safe.”
