Blood and Shadows - Chapter Twenty [Final]

Hey everyone. Like I wrote in the description, this is the last chapter of 'Blood and Shadows'! It was my fault, at first I thought "Yeah, there's definitely going to be another two chapters till the ending because of how much I've written." But no I was tricked by myself and there was less context than I thought there was and the result is this is the last chapter! But as I wrote in the description, there is a massive chance I'm writing a sequel to 'Blood and Shadows', though it might not be the same title so please look for my stories and read the DESCRIPTION because I will definitely tell you guys if it is the sequel to 'Blood and Shadows' if it has a different title! Please enjoy the final chapter, I'm a bit sad to end it but I'm excited for the sequel, and please comment on the last chapter! Oh and at the end where Lexi is thinking that line is a tip-off to a new sequel, probably. Anyway let's stop me babbling and once again, enjoy, chapter twenty!

Thanks for everything and I hope you continue reading my stories. Love Caelia.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The wind was actually cold for once, actually I think it was just the sad feeling inside me which made it cold. The brown dead leaves crunched noisily under my feet as I inched forward towards my parent's graves. The wind whipped my hair around my face wildly. I gazed silently at their marble tombstones. My mother's read her name, the dates of her birth and death and an inscription: "Kind to all and she was as warm as the sun. Don't forget her smile that brightened your day. She shall be loved forever.". My father's one had details and also his own inscription: "Never hesitating to protect those whom he loved. Even as he's gone, remember that he still watches over us to keep us safe from harm.". The gentle aching in my heart throbbed louder in my chest but it wasn't uncontrollable unlike the pain I'd felt from Demetri. I bent down and placed the white roses I held, on the ground between their graves. The fresh grass brushed against my skin, a nostalgic energy seemed to flow through me. I smiled at their graves.

"Thank you, for giving me life and for protecting me." I whispered. A tear rolled down my cheek but that was it. I rose to my feet and walked over to Demetri. He stared warily at me. I looked up at him and held his sapphire eyes to mine. A slow smile spread across my face as I slid my hand into his.

"Let's go." His answering smile was kind and understanding. He understood what I needed, it wasn't guilt or pain from him but happiness and reassurance. I breathed into the cold air around me. It felt as if another huge weight had been lifted off me. Cliched and corny, but true.

So we left the cemetery where my parents had been buried properly and quite beautifully at that. I didn't think my mind or body could take much more excitement. I just wanted to sleep it off like last night without thinking about anything except Demetri. But I had messes to clean up, even if it wasn't huge like Demetri's but still, they counted as messes.

It was regrettable but Demetri had to talk to the vampires he worked with to see how everything was going and to see if there was chaos. Once I was alone, all my thoughts that had been locked away somewhere in the corner of my mind ambushed me. I felt like I'd aged twenty years in just a few nights. It was taking a toll on me. I didn't want to be old, that included feeling old. My friends' faces eventually popped up as well, Lucas' especially. What would happen in a few decades? Would I stand by and watch as Lucas, my friend who was like a brother to me, died of old age? I could feel a deep sadness run through me like electric currents. My body froze up. Was I that foolish and naive? I'd known this would come if I chose to walk a path with Demetri...didn't I? My frozen fingers began to move, slowly they clenched into a fist. I couldn't be helpless yet again. What could I.

"Lexi?" Ian's voice broke through my train of thought. I spun around, not wasting any time. He stood around ten feet away from me, his right foot stepping out in front of him, seeming to want to stand closer to me. I didn't really know how to act. He'd killed innocent people, put my friend's lives in danger and betrayed my trust...Demetri had also done those things but I loved him more than anyone else. But Ian had confessed that he knew Helios was no god, no one to ever look up to, he didn't harm my friends and he'd changed sides as soon as he was permitted by Demetri, no he'd felt he'd been wrong since the start and had wanted a different way of life but just couldn't find one. Whilst these thoughts had been rushing in and out of my head, Ian stared at me steadily, not the usual cocky you're-hot-and-I-want-you way but a sad guilt ridden way. He'd been this way ever since that night. I understood the feeling he had right now, I'd felt it from Demetri but Ian's feelings were less stronger than Demetri's had been. He stood there silently, not daring to speak a word, so I spoke. I sighed.

"How's your hand?" I asked, trying to find something smarter to say but failing. He half smiled at me and stepped closer, seeming to know I wasn't mad at him not right now.

"Fine, I heal fast. Vampire remember?" He held his hand up and turned it both ways, to show there wasn't even a mark left. I smiled absent-mindedly.

"Right. I'm not apologizing for that though." I said, I felt kind of guilty for saying that but Ian deserved it at that time.

"You don't need to, actually I wouldn't blame you if you put a hole through my stomach. I put your life and your friends' lives in danger. I knew there was a high chance you'd be killed, even so I did it. I swear, I'm really sorry"

"Stop. I know you did that only because you were ordered to and it's in the past now. So don't ever do anything bad like that again and you're forgiven." I smiled and nudged him with my elbow. He smiled at me in defeat, as if he couldn't keep up with my pace or something.

"You're a really weird audacious human, you know that?" He chuckled, his smugness and cockiness seeming to return slowly. I shrugged and grinned.

"What did you expect? I was raised by vampires." I said, sounding overly mortified. I laughed and he joined in.

"True, but you know you're also the most special human I've ever met." He looked at me deeply, I was slow but I understood his words had a double meaning. I felt sad all of a sudden.

"All I've done so far is tease you and flirt with you. I'm serious though, Lexi. I've been completely captivated by you. He touched his fingers to my cheek. It didn't hurt, it just felt unusual and strange, it only really felt right when Demetri did that. Unconsciously my eyes shifted away from his face, but I could still feel his penetrating stare on my face.

"Ian..." I hesitated, biting down hard on my lip. I wasn't exactly sure what to do or say, but whatever it was, I had to reject him at the same time as not hurting his feelings. Okay, I'd watched movies and well I'd never seen a rejection being carried out without someone being hurt, it was stereotypical. He smiled, sad and defeated. He then sighed, seeming absolutely troubled himself.

"I know you're in love with Demetri and I know that won't change, since you're the type of girl who chooses one person and sticks with them forever, so I'll give up. Okay, yeah it doesn't feel good having you choose someone else but I'd rather that, than ruin any relationship we have. So I know this whole thing sounds very cheesy, especially coming from me, but, friends?" He stuck out his hand and waited. I couldn't deny this much from him and it's not like I hated him. I took his hand and shook it.

"You're right it does sound cheesy, but yeah, friends." I mused, smiling like a silly girl. He laughed and I joined in. Everything was becoming more and more normal, well as normal as things in the shadow world could become. My mind was rambling on and somehow I got back to the topic of my friends and my future. What did I have to do?

"Ian! You are needed elsewhere." Annelise appeared out of thin air and stood at the front door, she wore a dark look that seemed more directed at Ian than me.

"Haha calm down miss maid. Well sexy Lexi I gotta run, but I'll see you later." Skipping a heartbeat he kissed me on the cheek. I clenched my fist and without wasting another second swung into his gutt. But missed.

"What the hell, Ian?! You just said you'd give up!" I screamed and rubbed my cheek with the back of my hand.

"Oh. So cold Lexi. I want to keep our friendship but doesn't mean I'm not going to do some harmless flirt. You know me I'm a ladies man." He laughed, waved and quickly scurried out to catch up with Annelise. I groaned and turned around to leave. I walked right into Demetri's hard chest and jut before I could fall on my butt, he caught my arm and pulled me to him.

"Hey." I mumbled stupidly, in awe of his radiant beauty. He looked much better than the night I'd spent with him. He chuckled, loosening his embrace on me to stroke my cheek.

"Hello there." He greeted me with a smile that stung my heart. Before I even had time to say anything, he pulled me closer and met his lips to mine. I felt myself slowly melting in this soft and gentle yet compelling kiss. Someone cleared their throats from behind me, so Demetri pulled away reluctantly. I frowned and turned around to see who it was. My cheeks flushed candy apple red and I felt evidently embarrassed when I saw my friends standing there. Alec who had his arm around Lily's shoulders laughed, while Lily grinned at me, Cyrus smiled at me simply then shifted his gaze elsewhere and Lucas winked and laughed along with Alec.

"Hey guys." I said shyly as I walked over, I was sure Demetri was trailing right behind me.

"Hey Lexi, hope we weren't disturbing you." Alec said in between laughter. I shrugged, trying to seem cool and calm about it.

"Nope." I smiled innocently. He laughed again.

"Anyway..." Lucas interrupted with a broad silly grin on his face. I turned my attention to him, wondering what he was going to do now.

"I'm going back to the human world. And for now I'm going to lead a normal human life." Lucas turned his solemn eyes to me. He wore a smile but I could see he was just as sad as I was. I pulled away from Demetri and walked over to him.

"I'm going to miss you Lucas." I mumbled roughly against his chest. He laughed, I could feel the vibrations from his chest against my head.

"Yeah, but you know I'm always there for you if you ever need me Lexi. Just a call away alright?" He pulled back and grinned at me, the bright warm sun-like grin I'd always admired. I was sure whoever was in Lucas' life would always have something to warm their hearts even in the darkest times. I nodded and smiled back. He chuckled again and ruffled my hair.

"You have the puppy look on your face Lexi." He laughed and pulled away. I rolled my eyes.

"I do not." I said, unable to conceal my smile. I returned to Demetri's warm arms that had been waiting for me eagerly but patiently. There was a soft smile on his face as he looked at me. I averted my attention to the wolves, afraid I would get caught up in his enchanting sapphire eyes if I looked any longer.

"And what about you guys?" I asked the wolves. Cyrus was the one to speak this time.

"We're going back to the human world as well but we'll come back and visit you occasionally and tell you if there's hunting work to be done." Cyrus didn't smile which made him seem cold, but his eyes were sincere and friendly. I smiled.

"Definitely." I acceded, I felt a brief sadness wash through me, but I would see these guys again and I would stay friends with Lucas even if he wasn't involved with the shadow world and its inhabitants anymore. Moreover I was with Demetri, that meant I was happy, it was a little selfish of me to think that way but why be negative after everything that's happened. I looked up to his face. Once again without fail his beauty took my breath away. His perfectly structured face, lit by the luminous chandeliers hanging above made his skin seem not pale white but a beautiful olive tone, his blonde-brown hair appeared like a beautiful gold-bronze. He looked down at me and smiled, this angelic person seemed too real, so I clutched on to him tighter, making sure he would not fly away. He took a lock of my hair and pressed it gently to his lips. I could feel my embarrassment beginning to show itself. My cheeks were probably flushed candy apple red and my heart was already speeding away on its own pace, it felt like it was about to jump out of my chest. I could hear the snickers and laughter of my friends so I snapped out of my daze and couldn't help but hide my face.

"You're cherry red, Lexi!" Lucas boomed, suddenly erupting with laughter. Everyone joined in, even the seemingly always calm and collected Demetri. Then as if it was contagious I joined in the laughter myself. This was a peaceful period in my long life. I didn't know what was ahead of me but whatever it was everything would turn out fine, at least I think so.