CHAPTER ONE

Vampyre Heart The Story                                                   

It was the middle of winter. A year had passed since I had lost my husband. I had buried him in the grounds to our old manor, his body lying silently in the stone mausoleum. Every morning I would go down to his resting place and say good morning my love, but never having the strength to go in. Deep inside me it was like there was an over powering feeling not to enter, that this was Sebastian’s sacred ground. I would then brush the leaves away that had fallen from the old oak tree that we had planted together on our wedding day. My heart still aches for his arms to hold me, just one more time. Thankful for these memories I hold; it seems that my heart will never beat the same again.

Away in the distance I could hear the sound of a storm coming. I grabbed my cloak and pulled on my boots, and began to secure the old shutters that protected the windows from the power of the storms. The rain was gushing down and the cold sent a shiver right through me. The old manor stood alone in the centre of a large wood with not another house for miles.

All of a sudden I felt afraid.  My love was not here to protect me. There was a strange weary feeling about this night, the sky was black yet the full moon seemed to light my way, the tree’s hissed and the old Iron Gate had come loose and was banging against the stone wall. I ran down the driveway to bolt it shut, but slipped on the mud and fell into a huge puddle. As I lay there I could feel eyes watching me. I turned around and Dakota was standing next to me. She was my wolf. She made me jump but then began to lick my face. She was just like me, a witch’s perfect companion, and she sensed what I had sensed. At night she would lay by the mausoleum protecting Sebastian’s cold lifeless body. I knew she could still sense his presence; it was as though she still walked the grounds with him, and I stood up and pushed the Iron Gate shut then pulled the bolt across.

I turned around to head back to the manor but Dakota had gone. I called for her, “Dakota, Dakota, here girl”, but she was no where to be seen. The rain was coming down so hard; it was pounding on my face. I pulled the hood from my cloak over my head and held it with my hand. I could hear Dakota howling behind the Manor. Struggling to walk against the wind, I could see her by the mausoleum; the doors were open and banging so loud. The blue neon lights lit up the mausoleum but there was a fear that made me stop in my tracks. She ran over to me grabbing my hand with her mouth, and pulled me over to the mausoleum. The doors were so heavy it took all my strength to push them shut. I couldn’t shake off this feeling of fear that had settled inside me. I could feel Sebastian, his presence was so strong.

I was born with this gift of witch craft, being able to read the minds of the living and the power to understand the thoughts of the dead. I grew up not knowing any other way of life but after I lost Sebastian this gift of being able to still feel him was one I cherished and never wanted to loose. I grabbed Dakota’s collar, the storm was getting worse. I just wanted to get back to the Manor where we would be safe. I opened the front door pushing Dakota inside; we were both soaking wet, and I was shaking where I stood, I was so cold. I took some towels off the radiator, they were nice and warm. I laid Dakota’s on the floor by the open fire, and she rolled around on it drying herself.

I could still feel a presence around me and as I wandered into the entrance hall I could feel a draft rushing through me. I was still spooked by this fear that I had felt before. There was something about this night, My sense’s seemed all messed up, my psychic vision’s had always warned me of danger, but at this moment I didn’t know what I was feeling. All I knew was I could sense Sebastian more now than ever before.

I grabbed some dry clothes off the radiator, pulling Sebastian’s fleece jumper over my head. I only seemed to wear this when I felt afraid and alone. I walked around the Old Manor turning on all the lights so the shadows would disappear. Dakota was nudging me with her nose, so I warmed a bowl of milk for her then made a cup of hot chocolate for myself, I lit the candles in the lounge as this seemed to calm me. We both snuggled up on the settee in front of the open fire, Dakota keeping my feet warm.

As I reached for my laptop I knocked my hot chocolate over onto the coffee table and it spilled onto the floor. I jumped up and ran to the kitchen to get a cloth. I was a writer and I had nearly finished my sixth book. The poetry I had written so far was so deep and dark, intriguing to those who read it, like an emotional roller coaster of adventures, full of love, pain, sacrifice. But most of all it was all about the lessons of life and how I see and feel each day. The hot chocolate had spilled all over the pages I had printed out earlier that day. As I ran into the kitchen something startled me, I was used to seeing ghosts. As a psychic witch I had been giving readings to people for many years now. Talking to the dead was normal for me, but there were occasions when this made me feel afraid and uncomfortable. I screamed out loud but by this time Dakota was by my side. She was licking my hand as if to reassure me that this was someone I knew, but my heart felt like it was going to beat out of my chest. I had goose pimples on my arms. I screamed out, ‘Who are you?’ ‘What do you want?’ I could feel this was not a spirit of the dead but a person. I shouted ‘show yourself.’

Holding on to Dakota’s collar, I grabbed for the gun that I kept in the side drawer in the kitchen. Sebastian had taught me how to shoot years before so I could always protect myself. He always kept one in the kitchen and one by the side of our bed. My hands were shaking and the fear was running through me, but there was a smell in the air, a smell that I recognised. Dakota was howling and trying to get free from my grip, but I was afraid to let her go in case she got hurt, What if I shot her instead of this intruder?

My mind was in a state of turmoil, I didn’t know what to do. It was then that this figure stepped out into the light of the kitchen. I froze. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing, Dakota pulling at my arm trying desperately to get free from my grip. I screamed out loud shouting’ No! No! It can’t be’. Blinded by an emotional roller coaster of fear entwined with the tears that rolled down my face, Dakota got free. She ran to him but she didn’t attack him, instead she sat by his feet and stared at me.

I could read her mind, she was trying to tell me that it was ok, that this was real, it was Sebastian he was alive. I turned around and ran through the entrance hall, up the stairs, tripping on the steps dropping the gun that I had clenched in my hand, leaving it behind as it rolled down the steps. I looked back and saw Sebastian standing there. He had not changed a bit, his long dark hair was dripping wet from the rain, dressed in his long black leather coat that I had buried him in. Water dripped of his coat on to the marble floor.

He held out his hand to me and with a voice that I thought I would never hear again, he said ‘Electra please don’t be afraid, it’s me, its Sebastian.’ I screamed ‘no it can’t be your dead. I buried you.’

My heart raced as I reached the top of the stairs. I could hear the sound of his footsteps running behind me, shouting ‘Electra please wait, listen to me, don’t be afraid let me explain.’

My Manor was huge and the corridor leading to the bedroom seemed to go on forever. I ran into my bedroom. As I went to close the door Dakota ran in and pushed up against my legs, locking the door behind me, I stumbled to get the phone, but the charger was empty. Earlier that day my Agent Gothic Paul had called. We had been discussing the layout of my new book and I had gone downstairs to get a cold beer, and I had left the phone on the kitchen side. Now I was trapped.

The old vine that grew outside my window was my only escape, but it was too windy to climb down and for all I knew, he would be outside waiting for me. We had always been able to read each others thoughts, so why would now be any different. But just as I thought this, he shouted outside the door. ‘Electra please don’t climb out the window it’s to dangerous, please, I’m not here to hurt you, please my Angel, let me explain.’ His words paused my thoughts, my mind racing, not knowing what to think. ’My Angel, I love you‘, was the last thing he said to me.

On that day he had left to chop fire wood in the forest, it was a winter’s day, but the sun beamed down and the sky was so clear. That was the day he took his last breath, and was the day my love died. How could this be? Was this real or was this just a bad dream? My whole mind seemed to drown in complete turmoil of what I had just seen, of what I had just heard. There was an old picture frame on the bed side table. It was of our wedding day. I picked it up and held it close to my heart. Walking back to the bedroom door I could hear Sebastian begging for forgiveness, pleading for me to listen to what he had to say. I could feel his love, it was so over powering. I took a pillow from our four poster bed, the black satin and lace drapes hanging the same as they did when he was alive. I placed the pillow on the floor in front of the door, and then sat on it leaning my back up against it. I could feel that Sebastian was sat doing the same, I could sense his pain, his heartache. It was as though I could feel the tears rolling down his face. I turned my body and placed my hand upon the door. I could feel him doing the same. I could read his mind but the visions were so fast I couldn’t take them all in; they made me feel dizzy and sick so I had to stop. For the first time since he had died my aching heart skipped a beat. Still unsure of what was happening I needed time to take all of this in. I had longed for him to love me, to kiss me, to hold me, just one more time. Now he was here and my fear had turned to anger. ‘Why Sebastian, why? I don’t understand I buried you.’ He replied softly. ‘ Electra I had to stay away, I had no choice, how could I expect you to understand when I didn’t understand myself, I needed to make sure that you would be safe, I didn’t trust myself, I needed time to learn to control this power I had been given, to control this person I had become. I have a lot of explaining to do but first I need you to help me understand what happened that day. I know you can feel me, I know that your heart is telling you to trust me. Please Electra I need you to tell me about that day. How did you find me?

You can keep the door locked, you don’t have to open it, and I need to know what happened that day before I can explain what happened to me. Then the choice will be yours. It will be up to you. If you want me to leave I will leave but if you think that you could find it in your heart to let me stay, and then I will never leave you again, I promise. Electra, once we have spoken it will all make sense.’ He went silent and in my mind I didn’t know what to say or how to answer him, but I needed to know.

 I needed to hear why he had to keep this secret from me, so I replied. ‘Sebastian that was the worst day of my life and there is not a day that goes by that I don’t relive it.’ I thought back and began to tell him.

‘It was nightfall when Dakota came home alone, she was howling at me grabbing at my hand with her mouth. It was as though she wanted to show me something. I looked into the yard to see if I could see you, as you were never far apart.’ The most cold and empty feeling came across me, but I began to tell Sebastian the story like I was talking to a stranger.

I had been cutting the roses in the garden to put in the dinning room for dinner that evening. We had guest’s coming to dine with us, my heart racing I dropped the wicker basket, screaming his name, over and over, but there was no sign of him. I ran inside and grabbed my cell, but there was no signal. Sebastian’s phone was out of range. Dakota was going crazy so I pulled on my leathers and ran to the garage. The fastest way to get to him was to ride my Harley. She was a beast, a Harley Davidson Sportster Sport 1200. Her paintwork was the blackest black and her chrome shone like diamonds. She had leather studded saddle bags, mid controls and highway pegs to rest my legs on for long journeys. Her number plate read Electra 666. She had ape hanger bars and icier grips with leather tassels hanging down. She was the perfect Gothic ride. I called her my Vampyre Hog. When we first moved to the Old Manor, Sebastian had arranged for a concrete path to be laid right through the woods, so we could ride in the summer down to the stream. I shouted to Dakota, ‘show me, show me, show me were daddy is.’

I followed her down the drive then into the woods, the leaves from the trees had covered the path and the Hog was sliding, so I had to slow down. I was desperate to find him but didn’t want to chance loosing the back end on the way. That ride seemed to last forever, we had ridden this route many times before but never before did it seem to take this long. I could hear the birds in the trees; there was a dear and her baby lying by an old tree that had fallen down on to the grass. I loosened the grip on my throttle as I didn’t want to startle them and for them to run into my path. Up ahead I could see the entrance to the stream. Sebastian had made an archway for the entrance, so it would mark our special secluded spot. It had honeysuckle and ivy vines growing over it with a plaque on the top. And in the middle written in old style English handwriting it said Sebastian & Electra our love will be eternal.

It was there I saw Sebastian. The sun had set a few hours before, but the moon seemed to light the forest. I shone the headlight from the Harley on to Sebastian. He was lying there, lifeless, slumped upon our huge rock where we used to lay and watch the stars. Blood dripped from his neck and Dakota was howling a cry I had never heard from her before it sounded like her heart was breaking. As I ran over to him I realised that his heart had stopped beating. He had turned so white. I tilted his head back and tried to breathe for him, pounding on his chest with my hands, desperately trying to get his heart to beat. I was screaming ‘come back to me, come back to me, don’t leave me, Sebastian, Sebastian.’ I knew that Gothic Paul would be at our house by now, so I shouted at Dakota to go get him. ‘Go get help’ I screamed. I knew he would know we needed him to follow Dakota. The minutes felt like hours. Still trying to breathe life into him, my arms ached from the pounding on his chest. Through the distance of the forest I could hear the sound of Pauls trike getting closer and closer, the ground pounding with the sound of her engine. Shining his headlights on us he ran over. He could see he was too late. He grabbed me from behind wrapping his arms around me, telling me to stop. ‘He is gone,’ I was covered in his blood; my screams could be heard echoing through the forest. Crying the tears of a river it took all my strength to help Paul carry him over to the trike.

His trike was the perfect Gothic ride, her chrome gleaming. It had a single seat at the front and a wide double one at the back. It was the shiniest black with red leather seats, with studded edges. The gear shift was a skull with piercing blood red eyes. Her detail was like no other I had ever seen. He named her his summers eve, as she gleamed like the sun and rode like the breeze from a mid summers eve.

Paul tried the cell again but there was still no signal. I sat in the back seat with Sebastian laid across me, his body was so limp. I held him in my arms, cradling his head against my breasts. With Dakota running behind us, Paul rode us back to the old Manor. He pulled up in the paved driveway by the Angel fountain that Sebastian had built for me on our first wedding anniversary.

It was the most amazing statue I had ever seen. Its middle was a stone carved wishing well with two dolphins on either side. The water came out of their mouths, falling back into the bucket of the well; it had the most beautiful angel on the top. She was holding a witch’s pentagram in her hand and was reaching for the sky.

Every anniversary Sebastian would take me out to the statue and hand me a penny to throw into the well. He would tell me to make a wish, and every year the wish was the same, that we would be together for ever, that I would hold his heart within mine, and he would hold mine within his. Paul ran inside to call the Paramedics. He then pushed the button to open the iron gates that protected the Manor. I sat there sobbing begging Sebastian to come back to me, to take a breath, to breath life, but his body lay lifeless, his enchanting eyes empty. The woods had gone silent. The presence of death was all I could feel. Solitude was upon me. My love lay dead in my arms, his blood covered me, and his heart no longer pounded on my chest, the warmth of his lips would never kiss mine again.

I gazed up and saw Paul standing there, his face looked so blank, I could see the tears in his eyes, I knew it had taken all his strength to hold back his own pain. He loved Sebastian like his own brother, between them they took care of me, watched out for me and gave me what ever my heart desired. The power of three was our destiny. This is what made us whole, made us feel so alive and so free and now our lives would change forever.

I could hear the sirens come up the drive, the blue flashing lights, followed by the only black van I hated the sight off. The only black vehicle I had a fear off, The Jet black Coroners van.

Paul was talking to the Paramedics, and then they started to walk towards me. I had hold of Sebastian so tight; my hand pressing up against his neck, trying to stop the blood from the wound but it had stopped bleeding when his heart stopped beating. Although in my pain I had not noticed. One of the Paramedic’s said ‘my name is Lucas we need to get to him, you need to let him go,’ but I couldn’t. My hands were white from the strain of holding him so tight. The Coroner came over pulling a trolley behind him. There was a black rubber bag folded on it, and through my tears I watched him as he unzipped it and lay it out. Their voices were like echoes in my head, nothing was making sense. They were asking what had happened. I said ‘I didn’t know but his neck was bleeding.’ Lucas wiped the blood from his neck; it looked like there was no more blood left to come out of his lifeless body. It was then we saw the two bite marks. Straight away he said ‘it looks like he has been bitten by a snake.’ The coroner agreed. Crying I struggled to get my words out. I shouted ‘I don’t want his body touched, don’t take him to the morgue, no autopsy, I don’t want him cut open.’ The coroner looked puzzled and pulled Lucas to one side. They were talking and called Paul over. Paul explained that Sebastian had built a Mausoleum within the Manor grounds and that in the event of his death he did not wish to be embalmed and that his body should be placed in a coffin and laid to rest in the Mausoleum. He explained that Sebastian had made him promise that in the event of his death that everyone should respect his wishes. The coroner looked hesitant, but agreed to release the body as cause of death was in his professional opinion a snake bite to the neck, something he had seen a lot during the past few months. He didn’t see any reason to take him to the morgue, just a tragic accident that could have happened to anyone. Paul grabbed my hands loosening my grip, then the coroner and Lucas lifted Sebastian and placed him in the black bag, then on to trolley. They wheeled him into the Manor through the kitchen past the huge pine table that stood in the centre of the room. Now our dinner guest’s were arriving their face’s blank, white and expressionless, and some I remember with a look of sheer horror on there face. They helped to clear the table so that Sebastian could rest there, then they were asked to leave. My Mother and my best friend Lisa had stayed to help. My Mother and I were like best friends. We were very close; I can still remember the sound of her cries. Sebastian had been like a son to her. Lisa was my partner in crime; we got up to all sorts of trouble together. We drove Sebastian and Paul nuts with our wild days out, she was like a breath of fresh air to me, she always stood by me, no matter what, and she was always there if I needed her. All I had to do was yell, we used to ride all summer together, and then we would sit out on the patio under the porch to the Manor laughing about our day and drink a cold beer or two. Sebastian would come over and shake his head at us, asking us what we had been up to. At the same time we would grin and reply “nothing just riding, oh and here is your credit card back thanks for the new boots.” He would walk away mumbling “hmmm your welcome I think.”

By this time the Police, Paramedics and Coroner had gone, now Sebastian lay silent on the table. I was covered in his blood. I rested my hand on the top of his head, but could only feel the black bag he lay in. Then my Mother guided me upstairs and told me to take a shower, she said “I love you, I’m so sorry, I will ask Paul to call the funeral home and arrange for a coffin to be brought to the house and get him out of that bag.” She could see I hated him being zipped up in it. “Come down when you are ready.” She then headed back down stairs to help Paul and Lisa. But I could hear her at the top of the stairs crying, saying “why, why, why Sebastian?”I reached into the shower turning it on. I took off my clothes and placed them on the black tiled floor, they were covered in his blood. I stepped into the shower, placing my hands on the tiles, the water running onto my head I looked down at my feet. The blood had turned the water red as it flowed down the drain. I reached for the shower gel; Sebastian had these black iron baskets made to hold my toiletries in. He also had a special tiled mirror hand made with gold leaf around the edges. In the centre was a picture of a waterfall set in the forest. He had put so much thought into the perfect bathroom. He had placed cream candles in the black iron candle holders for when we laid in the Jacuzzi at night. He would pick the roses from the garden and place them in the black gold leaf vase that sat on a glass shelf in between the candles. My heart was breaking. As I dropped to my knee’s, with head in hands I sobbed like a baby, clutching the face cloth like a baby clutches its blanky. Going over and over in my head what had happened that day, how could I live without my Sebastian, I felt like I would never be able to smile again. Pulling myself to my feet I turned the shower off, wrapped the soft cream bath towel around me, stepping out of the shower. I paused for a second starring at the blood stained clothes that lay on the tiled floor. As I walked into our bedroom I could see the security lights on full. It was so bright outside. Normally the Manor would be lit by the electric blue neon lights that were set under the guttering around the whole building, not too bright but just enough to keep the Manor lit at night. I walked over to the French doors, pushed them open and stepped out onto the balcony. I could see Paul and Lisa jet washing his trike; it was covered in Sebastian’s blood. The red stream ran down the driveway into the drains. I could hear a car coming up the drive, it was Zack’s truck. He was the guy that cleans and details our bikes. Paul didn’t want me seeing the trike with Sebastian’s blood all over it, so he had called him to come straight out. They pushed it into the garage, and then Lisa started to head back into the forest. I shouted down to her, ‘where are you going”? She looked up at me and said “I’m going to get your Vampyre Hog, we can’t leave her out there, you have left the keys in her,” I told her “leave it I don’t care,” she said “no Electra I need to clear my head, take all this in, I might as well go get her,” I shouted “take Dakota she will show you were I left her.”

I went back in and got dressed, then made my way downstairs. I could hear voices in the kitchen, and as I walked in I saw Sebastian lying on the long kitchen table. My Mother and Lisa had taken him out of that horrible bag and bathed him. It didn’t seem that I had been in the shower that long; she had even dried his long hair and placed it back in a pony tail just as he liked it. I went back upstairs to go get his favourite white biker t shirt and his black stretch jeans. The intercom buzzed, someone was at the gates. Paul checked the cameras. It was the Hurst with Sebastian’s coffin. He pushed the button to open the gates. Unknown to Me Sebastian had discussed with Gothic Paul in great detail how he wanted to be laid to rest, even down to the coffin he wanted. He had given Paul the number to the funeral home for when that time came around, Paul would know what to do, so I left it in his hands. I was too shocked to even think, let alone try and deal with this side of things. My eyes caught a glimpse of a penny lying on the kitchen side. I picked it up and walked outside to the wishing well. With my eyes closed I begged for the powers of be to give me the power to turn back the hands of time, to be able to change this day, to relive it so Sebastian was still alive. I could hear the sound of my beast in the distance. I looked up and I could see her headlights coming towards me. Lisa rode her straight into the garage, and then I saw Zack coming towards me. He reached out his arms and hugged me. With tears rolling down his cheeks, he said “I have no words, I’m so sorry, if you need anything just call me.”He turned around and got in his truck to leave. As he drove down the drive I watched the red neon’s under his truck, Sebastian had the same on his. I could hear the old clock in the hall strike midnight. The past hours had gone so fast. I walked back through the kitchen door and my Mother handed me a coffee. I placed it on the side and took a beer out of the fridge. I pulled the draw open to get the bottle opener but I was in such a daze I was just starring at the open draw. Paul came over and took the bottle from me; he opened it for me and then placed it back in my hands. We all stood there in silence, none of us knowing what to say. Then Paul and Lisa carried the coffin over to the table and placed it on the floor. It was a shiny jet black, with four huge chrome handles on the sides. They lifted off the lid and rested it up against the wall. The inside was lined with red ruffled satin material. They lifted Sebastian off the table and placed him inside, and without a sound we each took a handle and lifted the coffin back on to the table. As they went to put the lid on I shouted “wait.” I ran outside and cut a single white rose from the rose bush. It was the only one still alive from the summer. I took off the thorns and placed it in his hands, kissed him on the lips and said “good night my sweet, rest in peace.” Dakota was lying under the table whimpering, she looked so sad, but she knew he was gone. I knelt down and kissed her, her big blue eyes starring up at me.  “Thank you, thank you for coming home and getting help, Sebastian would have been so proud of you.”

We placed the lid on the coffin and turned out the kitchen light, heading into the lounge. Lisa lit the candles in the black Victorian iron holders and we sat there in silence.

I curled up on the settee cuddling Sebastian’s black fleece jumper. I closed my eyes but all I could see in my mind was Sebastian laying on that rock, the echo off my screams still going around in my head. I felt like I had cried a river and there were no more tears left. I felt like my heart had been ripped out. I felt so empty, so alone. I could hear them discussing what they should do tomorrow, Paul suggested that they get up at first light and arrange Sebastian’s funeral. Lisa said she would call around our close friends and let them know what had happened. My Mother said she would take care of the flowers, but Paul just whispered, “I just want Sebastian back.” Then I heard him break down, his tears of sadness were overwhelming. I opened my eyes and he ran out of the room. Lisa ran after him. I looked at my Mother then said “mum, can we lay him to rest at sunset,” she looked at me and said “my child, if that’s what you want then that’s what we will do, I’ll ask Paul to go down to the mausoleum in the morning and get it ready, is there anything else you would like Electra?” ‘Yes I said the tall black iron candle holder in the entrance hall, the one I had made for him last year, I want it to be put in the Mausoleum.” It held seven candles as this was Sebastian’s lucky number, the candles were black but had red wax inside so when they burned they looked like they were weeping blood. They were Sebastian’s favourite candles. He loved the way they lit the entrance hall at night, they made him feel at peace. She asked about the flowers, I just said “roses, only roses.” She got up, kissed me and said she would go check on Dakota. The next thing I knew it was morning. I had fallen asleep on the settee; they had placed a blanket over me and left me to sleep. Dakota was lying on the floor next to me.

I had been sat on the floor for hours telling Sebastian this story then I went silent. Dakota was scratching at the door with her paw wanting to go out. “Electra “Sebastian said, “Open the door let me in.” I stood up holding the door handle, hesitant whether I should open it. It was then that everything started to make sense, the images that I had been seeing this past year, the poetry and songs that I had written, the way Dakota was with the Mausoleum. She wouldn’t let anyone go inside, not even me. She would pull me away, howl at me like she was asking me not to go inside, so I never did. I thought this was her way of dealing with Sebastian’s death, so I had a little wooden house made for her, so she could shelter herself from the rain. I even had little blue neon lights put around the top so it lit up just like our old Manor. Then I remembered the bite mark on his neck, it had punctured two holes just like fangs would of. I turned the handle, my hands shaking I opened the door, Sebastian was standing there, tears rolling down his face, he reached out to me but I stepped back. “Don’t be afraid my Angel I had to be sure that I wouldn’t hurt you before I could tell you what happened that night, I had to make sure that you would be safe.” I backed into the bedroom, Dakota had run downstairs to go outside, and then he said, “If you don’t trust me then trust Dakota she would have attacked me if she thought you were at harm.” He then followed me into the bedroom. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. He placed his hand on my face. It sent a shiver of warmth right through me. He wiped the tears from my eyes and kissed my forehead, the warmth of his breath as he placed his cheek next to mine. It was then I knew I could trust him, it was then I knew in my heart that Sebastian was home, and it was then that I also realised that I knew about the creature he had become.