OHMAHGOSHES! IT'S THE LAST PART TO THIS STORY! D': Haha! :) So if you never reviewed on my story before, now's the time to do it! Also, I'd like to mention that the new character, Amy, is based off of my new, very good acquaintance who I believe to be quite phantasmagorical: Evanescence-in-Constantinople! :D Thanks everyone for your devotion and reviews. I hope this is a satisfactory ending for all of you fantastic readers. :)
Epilogue
When Myrnin set them down, Oliver looked as if he was ready to murder Myrnin, but then Panthea wiggled her way through and clamped onto Oliver's waist like she'd done earlier. Only this time, she wouldn't let go. Her face was plastered with a grin too large for her face, and she refused to dislodge herself from her father.
Everybody laughed as the little girl beamed at her family, and not just her mother and father.
Everyone else in that room was her family as well.
2 years later
Silver moonlight spilled over the land as if someone had accidentally splashed a cup of milk over the desert. It bleached everything, making Tank's silver eyes even more transparent as Panthea gazed at him. She smiled and wrapped her arms around her mate's neck. The two twined tails for a moment before turning to look down into the valley. They could spot the Glass house in the distance, its windows ablaze as everyone prepared for the big event.
Panthea twisted around to give her pack a nod before heading down the hillside toward the house.
(SPACE)
"Hand me that brush, Claire," Eve ordered absently as she tried to tame the little girl's hair that she was struggling to arrange. The girl perched on the seat of Eve's vanity table was named Amy. She was Amelie and Mrynin's adopted daughter. The couple had found the poor vampire child while they'd been away on a trip. She'd been one of Bishop's victims. It was amazing she'd survived so long on her own.
Claire gave Eve the hairbrush so that she could continue hacking away at the child's uncooperative, dark curls. However, Claire's mind was far away in a land full of Shane. He'd recently proposed to her, and she still hadn't completely recovered from the shock—which irritated the stew out of Myrnin when he needed her help with an experiment but she was off daydreaming of Shane.
"Hurry, Auntie Eve! I see the Darklings coming!" exclaimed Amy. Claire blinked and noticed that it was true. Through the window, Claire could clearly see the outline of the horde of Darklings—led by Panthea and Tank who were now its leaders—approaching the house quickly.
"Stop squirming!" Eve commanded. She was struggling with Amy as the six year-old bounced in her seat excitedly. "Just one more flower… There!" Eve threw her arms up in triumph. Claire admired Eve's masterpiece. Amy's sleek, dark hair was now crowned with freshly-picked daisies. In the next moment, however, the little vampire was shooting out the door toward the stairs. "Don't mess up your hair!" Eve called. She pouted a moment, glaring after the little girl. Claire laughed and patted the other girl's shoulder.
"You can't expect anything more from a child," comforted Claire.
"Yeah, well, Panthea wasn't like that."
"Panthea was…special."
Eve rolled her eyes, but Claire saw the corners of her mouth twitch up in a smile. Eve loved to complain about Amy simply because she adored the little creature. It was her way of expressing her love.
Just then, a knock sounded at the door. "Is it safe to come in? All females clothed and everything?" It was Michael. He poked his head around the door, eyes peering cautiously. Eve smirked and stepped over to ruffle his hair. He tried to defend against her reaching hand exclaiming, "Hey, whoa there! I just finished doing my hair!"
"Oh, please! You could wake up, slap some dirty clothes on, and you'd still look presentable!" Claire chided.
Michael laughed, but behind him, a voice whined, "What about me?" Michael stepped in to let Shane through. He had a mock-pouty face on, and was giving Claire his best puppy-dog eyes. Claire giggled manically, moving closer to him. She had to admit, he looked pretty sexy in his suit, though he refused to tuck anything in or wear a tie.
Standing on her tiptoes to reach his ear—though Michael probably heard anyway—she whispered, "You'd look good in anything, especially nothing."
Shane smirked proudly and slithered an arm around her waist. He placed a hot, aggressive kiss to her lips.
"Okay, enough PDA from the future spouses," Eve complained. She was cuddled in Michael's arm. He hadn't proposed to her yet, but everybody expected it to happen really soon. Eve's temper had become unusually short ever since Shane had proposed to Claire. Claire expected it was because the Goth Queen in her lacy, black dress and stiletto heels was growing impatient. But Michael seemed hesitant. Claire thought it might be because of the whole I'm-an-immortal-vampire-and-you're-a-mortal-who's-going-to-die-someday thing.
Shane rolled his eyes but followed Michael and Eve downstairs, Claire still clinging to him.
At the foot of the steps, a crowd had formed in the living room. While Claire had been helping Eve, Athena and Oliver had arrived along with their new son, Wendell. He looked just like his father, though he had more of Athena's delicate nature. He was very shy and tended to stick to his mother's side like a bur. Though he'd only been born half a year ago, he looked to be about Amy's age. Other than them, Theo Goldman and his family stood in the corner, conversing with several vampires Claire didn't recognize. Panthea, Tank, Thomas, Meresna, and Penny walked toward Claire, Shane, Eve, and Michael when they spotted them.
Immediately, Thomas reared up and pawed at Shane affectionately. "Good to see you, too, Tommy," Shane said, grinning. Thomas's eyes brightened at hearing his old nickname. It'd been a while since the pair had seen each other. Thomas had been busy setting up the Darklings' camp. He was second in command of the pack, now.
Panthea hugged all of them—which was slightly difficult due to the little vampire girl hanging off Panthea's deep blue dress. Amy had always been very attached to Panthea.
"Child, quit bothering Panthea. You're going to rip her dress!" scolded a velvety voice. Myrnin, very sleek and formal in his tuxedo, appeared to detach Amy. The little vampire didn't seem angry, however. She twisted around in Myrnin's grasp to snake her arms around his neck, shrieking,
"Daddy!"
Myrnin chuckled. Putting her down, he said, "Go play with Wendell, okay? I'm sure he's waiting for you."
It was true. Ever since he'd been born, Wendell had some strange fascination with Amy. She was the only other person he wasn't shy around besides his parents. Claire had a sneaking suspicion they were going to end up together.
Amy streaked off toward Athena, Oliver, and their son. When she reached them Wendell's eyes lit up, and he let go of his mother's dress. Claire noticed Myrnin's eyes glow as he gazed after his daughter. He and Amelie really loved that girl as if she were their own. They even took great care in naming her.
See, they used the first two letters of each of their names to give her hers. Since there's an overlapping 'm' in both their names it's the middle letter of Amy's name. 'A' is the first letter of Amelie's name, and 'y' is the second letter of Myrnin's; hence Amy.
From the front door, a voice called, "It's time! Please come choose your seat."
Myrnin disappeared in a whisk. Claire hurried outside. She'd known what the layout was going to be before, but when she reached the porch and looked out over the yard, she had to catch her breath.
To the left of the porch, dozens of chairs faced a large archway spiraled with beautiful white and blue flowers. A white carpet sliced a path through the chairs. At the end of the path stood Myrnin. The moonlight washed everything in its silver breath, turning Myrnin's hair and tuxedo a softer black.
Claire hurried to stand beside Eve next to the arch, and Athena joined them a moment later: the maid of honor. Michael came to stand alongside Myrnin as the best man. Myrnin didn't have many men he was close to so he'd asked Michael since Oliver had blatantly refused even before Myrnin had had the chance to ask.
People filed into their seats quickly. Michael strapped his guitar in place. He was the band and best man. Soon he began to play a calm, beautiful melody. Amelie had chosen a short ceremony, skipping the walking of the bridesmaids and groomsmen. Instead, she opted to make it spectacularly breathtaking.
And it was.
As Michael continued to play, Amy came skipping down the aisle, tossing rose petals with Wendell close behind bearing the ring.
Then Amelie came floating through the crowd.
She wafted as if on a breeze. She was stunning. She wore a pale blue dress with intricate, white embroidery. Her hair lay around her shoulders in a blanket of ice, but she'd carefully woven blue flowers into the pale strands.
Claire heard gasps from all around, and was sure she herself had gasped, too but was too entranced by Amelie's beauty to be aware of it.
When Amelie reached the front, Myrnin took her hand, his eyes wide is awe. They turned to face Theo Goldman who they'd asked to perform the ceremony.
Amelie had considered a long ceremony to be, quote, "unnecessary since I've waited this long." So they skipped right to the vows.
Myrnin went first. Gazing deeply into her eyes, he breathed, "My dear, sweet, Amelie, the day I met you—though I was a bit off my rocker—I knew I wanted to see you made happy. Now I have the chance to make that come true. I hope that this declaration of my love will make you eternally happy because I know it will make me."
Amelie grinned beneath her veil, her eyes misting. "You've been there for me, Myrnin, through it all. My dearest friend, my closest ally, my only love. There were times when we ignored our feelings or put them aside or simply became distracted from them. But they always came back. On this day, I want to make it clear that never again will I stray from you. That is my vow."
Claire was amazed by the thought and feeling in their words.
The couple exchanged rings and then Theo pronounced, "You may kiss the bride." He gave Myrnin a wink as if to say congratulations, you sly dog.
Then Myrnin lifted Amelie's veil, cupped her face, and placed a delicate, almost fragile as glass kiss upon her lips as if he were afraid of breaking her. Everyone cheered and clapped Myrnin and Amelie on the back.
The night was full of joy and warmth as Michael played his guitar and everybody danced under the smile of the lustrous, full moon.