Chapter 48: The Inquisition (Part I)

I was covered in the stench of garbage, a smell so foul it made me feel ashamed, yet the person holding me didn't seem to care at all.

The sound of rushing water filled the air, and a damp mist began to spread. I caught the scent of a familiar body wash. My world was pitch black, but I wasn't afraid.

The zipper on my back was slowly pulled down, and my cold body shivered slightly.

"Cass..."

I reached out and grabbed his hand.

He placed me into the water; it was neither cold nor scalding, the temperature was just right.

"Cass, is it you?" I tried my best to open my eyes wide, but not even a sliver of light could penetrate the darkness.

A warm, large hand slowly covered my eyes, as if the person couldn't bear to look any longer.

I obediently closed my eyes. "Cass, why aren't you saying anything?"

"Cass, why won't you speak?"

Silence.

He merely washed away the filth from my body with great care, his movements so light it felt as if he were afraid of hurting me.

"Cass, I have so many things I want to ask you..."

"On my birthday, why did you suddenly disappear? Do you know I've been looking for you? I've been waiting for you..."

"You knew I was waiting, so that's why you came back... right?"

"But why does everyone say you are a priest of the Inquisition?"

"Cass is a priest of the Inquisition, and Aurora is a vampire. We... why did we end up like this?"

"Cass... Cass, I don't even know who I am anymore..."

"Cass, can I... can I still be your Aurora?"

Silence, save for the sound of the water.

I was wrapped in a soft bath towel and fell once more into that warm embrace.

"I'm so scared..."

"Cass, I'm so scared."

"I'm afraid the former Queen will steal my body, I'm afraid Solano will find me, I'm afraid to see the heartbroken look in Albus's eyes, I'm afraid Cass will disappear..."

"Cass, Cass, you are Cass, right?"

With great care, he laid me down on a soft bed.

I tightly gripped the large hand that was holding me. "Cass, Cass, you won't just vanish again, will you?"

My words were incoherent; I didn't know what kind of assurance I was seeking.

Finally, a soft sigh reached my ears.

"Sleep, Aurora." He lay down beside me and held me.

Resting my head on his arm, tucked away in his embrace, I stared blankly with sightless eyes as tears streamed down my face.

He said, "Sleep, Aurora."

I had finally... found my redemption.

Aurora, I am Aurora.

I am still Cass's Aurora.

In that warm and familiar embrace, listening to his heartbeat, I felt so happy I would have preferred to die right then and never wake up.

"If the end must be death, I'd rather the one who kills me... be Cass." Holding him tightly, I spoke softly. "If it's Cass, I can accept death."

Back when the Inquisition invaded the Demon Realm, I had said those words to him.

Now, I said them again.

If the ending was inevitable, I would rather sleep forever in Cass's arms.

"Sleep."

He said.

So I obediently closed my eyes and entered a dream.

The person beside me moved slightly, and I startled awake. I instinctively kept my eyes closed, pretending to still be asleep, forgetting that even if my eyes were open, I still couldn't see anything.

Panicking slightly, I felt the spot on the pillow next to me; it was already empty.

I fumbled my way out of bed, tripped over a cabinet, and fell forward. My fingers touched the sensation of sunlight—it felt very warm. Was it morning? The sun must be shining through the glass window.

The sound of hurried footsteps followed, then a "swish" as the curtains were drawn shut.

I looked up in confusion, blinking my eyes, but it was still a vast expanse of darkness where I could see nothing.

"Cass?"

Sitting on the floor, I pricked up my ears, trying to sense Cass's presence.

A very soft breath, but slightly erratic.

Following the sound of that breathing, I fumbled my way toward him. Sure enough, I had barely taken a step before his chest moved to meet me.

Hugging him, pressing my head against his chest, I listened to his heartbeat.

"I'm a Daywalker, I'm not afraid of the sun," I said softly, the corners of my mouth curving upward.

Was he afraid just now?

Afraid that I would crumble into ash under the sunlight?

Afraid that I would vanish?

Everything felt as if it had returned to the very beginning. I was still the girl Cass had picked up from the trash heap; without him, I couldn't move an inch.

This is good, truly good.