Chapter Nine

R ook sat at his antique writing desk, quill in hand, staring at the blank parchment before him. The faint glow of pre-dawn light filtered through the heavy curtains, a stark reminder of the limited time he had left. With a deep, unnecessary breath, he began to write.

"My dearest Jenny,

By the time you read this, I will have met my final dawn. Please don't be sad—our time together, brief as it was, brought more joy to my undead heart than I ever thought possible. You've given this old vampire a reason to smile again, and for that, I am eternally grateful.

I know you're probably furious with me for making this decision without consulting you. What can I say? I'm a sucker for dramatic exits. (Vampire humor—I hope it doesn't bite too hard.)"

Rook paused, a rueful smile playing on his lips. Even in his final moments, he couldn't resist a good pun. He continued writing, pouring his heart onto the page.

"In all seriousness, Jenny, I want you to know that letting you go is the hardest thing I've ever done. But it's also the right thing. You have so much life ahead of you, so much to offer the world. I refuse to be the anchor that holds you back.

Remember when we first met, and you were so determined to fix that car and get out of Beastly Falls? That fire, that drive—it's what made me fall in love with you. Don't ever lose that, no matter where life takes you.

I have lived for centuries, Jenny, and in that time, I've done things I'm not proud of. Things that, until I met you, I thought had damned me beyond redemption. You showed me that even the darkest soul can find light, can find love. For that alone, I owe you more than I can ever repay.

So go, my love. Chase your dreams. Fix cars, revolutionize the industry, show the world what Jenny Cortado is capable of. And on quiet nights, when the moon is full and the stars are bright, maybe spare a thought for the vampire who loved you.

Always and forever yours, Rook

P.S. I'm positive you'll do great things. After all, you've already proven you can drive a stake through a vampire's heart. (Too soon?)"

Rook set down the quill, reading over his words one last time. It wasn't perfect, but then again, neither was he. He folded the letter carefully, sealing it with wax and his signet ring—old habits die hard, even when the vampire doesn't. Someday, when the curse was broken for the town, Jenny would get this letter. He'd leave instructions for Xavier to track her down and give it to her.

With the letter placed prominently on the desk, Rook moved through his house, touching familiar objects, saying silent goodbyes. Each item held a memory—some centuries old, some as fresh as yesterday. But none were as precious as the memories he'd made with Jenny.

As the sky outside began to lighten, Rook felt a strange sense of peace settle over him. He had lived a long life, longer than any human could dream of. He had seen empires rise and fall, witnessed the birth of nations and the death of kings. And in his final week, he had known true love.

It was enough. It had to be.

Rook opened his front door, stepping out onto the porch. The cool morning air caressed his face, carrying with it the scents of dew-damp grass and blooming flowers. He closed his eyes, savoring these last sensations.

As the first rays of sunlight crept over the horizon, Rook spread his arms wide, ready to embrace his fate. He thought of Jenny—her laugh, her smile, the way her eyes lit up when she talked about engines. A single tear slid down his cheek.

"Goodbye, my love," he said to the brightening sky. "Be happy."

The sunlight touched his skin, warm and gentle. Rook braced himself for the searing pain, the feeling of his body turning to ash.

But nothing happened.

Confused, Rook opened his eyes. The sun was definitely up, its golden light bathing the world in warmth. And yet, he remained solidly un-disintegrated.

"What in the name of Dracula's dental floss?" Rook muttered, staring at his hands in disbelief.

Before he could ponder this miraculous turn of events further, the sound of screeching tires broke the morning quiet. Rook looked up just in time to see a familiar Camry careen into his driveway, narrowly missing the grumpy garden gnome he'd had for centuries.

The car had barely stopped moving when the driver's door flew open. Jenny tumbled out, her hair wild and her eyes wide with panic.

"Rook!" she yelled, stumbling towards him. "Rook, don't you dare be dust, you melodramatic bloodsucker!"

Rook stood frozen on the porch, unable to believe his eyes. "Jenny? What are you—"

His words were cut off as Jenny launched herself at him, nearly knocking them both over. Her arms wrapped around him tightly, as if afraid he might disappear.

"You idiot," she said, her voice muffled against his chest. "You stupid, self-sacrificing idiot. Did you really think I'd just drive away and leave you to die?"

Rook's arms came up automatically to hold her, his brain still struggling to catch up with events. "But... your dreams. Your future. I thought—"

Jenny pulled back just enough to glare at him. "You thought wrong. You're stuck with me." Her expression softened, tears glistening in her eyes. "I love you, you moron. How could I choose anything over that?"

Before Rook could respond, Jenny pulled him down into a fierce kiss. As their lips met, something extraordinary happened. The air around them began to shimmer, tiny sparks of light dancing in the morning air. A surge of energy coursed through him, warm and bright and full of promise.

When they finally broke apart, both were breathless and wide-eyed.

"What... what just happened?" Jenny asked, looking around at the fading sparks.

Rook laughed, a sound of pure joy and wonder. "I think, my dear, you officially just broke my curse."

"Let's try it out," Jenny said, her voice low and full of promise. "Give me your special vampire kiss."

Rook hesitated for only a moment before lowering his head to her neck. His fangs sank into her soft flesh, and Jenny's blood—sweet and intoxicating and full of life—flooded his mouth.

The sensation was beyond anything he'd ever experienced. He could feel Jenny's love, her desire, her complete acceptance of him flowing through the bond. It was overwhelming in the best possible way.

Jenny moaned, her fingers tangling in Rook's hair as waves of pleasure washed over her. He knew his bite was far from painful. She pressed closer to Rook, and he was suddenly very aware that they were still on his front porch in broad daylight.

With a Herculean effort, Rook pulled away from Jenny's neck, licking the small wounds closed. His eyes, when they met hers, were dark with desire.

"Inside," Jenny growled, already pushing Rook towards the door. "Now."

They stumbled into the house, shedding clothes as they went. By the time they reached Rook's bedroom, both were naked and panting with need.

Jenny pushed Rook onto the bed, climbing on top of him with a predatory grin. "My turn to stake a claim," she said, before sinking down onto him in one smooth motion.

Rook groaned, his hands flying to Jenny's hips. "Terrible pun, my love," he gasped as she began to move. "I've never been prouder."

They made love with a passionate intensity that left them both breathless and trembling. The mate bond hummed between them, amplifying every touch, every sensation. When they finally collapsed, spent and sated, the sun was high in the sky.

"I'm a day walker," he said in awe.