Page 93 of Destined for Eternity
She shook her head, long ponytail swishing. “Nope. It’s happening today. I’ve prepared myself for this, and I’m not backing down.”
Melena rolled her eyes. “She’s always had more courage than sense.”
“That’s rich coming from you,” Kariann replied, bumping the sensor’s shoulder.
“I only risk my life for good causes.”
The vampire grinned. “And this isn’t?”
Cori liked to think of herself as brave, but Kariann had her beat by a mile if she really intended to walk into the sunlight a few minutes from now. “Thanks for doing this.”
“No problem.” She glanced at the clock on the wall. “It’s almost time.”
They all took turns giving her hugs. Sure, they hoped the tattoo worked, but on the off chance it didn’t, they wanted to know they’d said their goodbyes.
Derrick clasped the vampire tightly in a bear hug. “You make me proud.”
Melena took her turn next. “Try not to burn,” she said, blinking back some suspicious moisture in her eyes. “With demons on the loose, we need you here, especially if you can walk in the sun. I might have a job for you in the future.”
“Don’t be tryin’ to steal her away,” the werewolf growled, though there was a humorous look in his eyes.
Bartol just shook Kariann’s hand, managing not to wince as he did it. Every day he improved a little more. It helped that he’d been going to visit Eli at the compound regularly and would continue to do so since the psychologist planned to keep his office there even with the nerou gone. Almost all the other instructors had left, their jobs and obligations to the archangels over. For most of them, it had been a punishment, and they’d not been allowed to leave Alaska without permission. Now, they were free to live their lives again.
Cori stepped forward and embraced Kariann. “You’re an inspiration to womankind. You’ve got this!”
“I believe in you,” the vampire said, lifting her chin. “Otherwise, I wouldn’t take the chance.”
“The sun is coming! The sun is coming!” Ginny’s girls sang in chorus as they ran into the house. Through the open door, the sky was turning pink in the distance. In a minute or two, it would be too dangerous for regular vampires to be out there.
“Sorry.” The pixie mother sighed. “They’ve been cooped up lately, and this is the most exciting thing to happen since the baby was born.”
Kariann smiled at the girls. “It’s okay. They’re cute little people, so I can forgive them.”
She rubbed each of their heads once for luck and then led the way out the door. Everyone followed quietly behind, as if they were moving through a funeral procession. They stepped onto the porch while Kariann continued down the steps. She had her head up, shoulders straight, and she looked straight at the horizon where the sun would rise. The woman didn’t show the slightest bit of hesitation.
When Derrick had asked for volunteers among his staff who Cori could respect enough to give them viable tattoos, not one man had raised his hand. They’d been too scared after hearing about the failed attempts—not that she could blame them. Kariann was the only vampire who lifted her arm high and offered to take the chance. She’d said something along the lines of “screw the weaklings too scared to give it a shot.”
Everyone held their breaths as she stood there, and the rays grew brighter. The sun still hid well behind the high trees, but it had to be peeking over the horizon beyond the vegetation. Cori squinted, swearing she caught steam coming off the vampire. She wanted to run and cover Kariann with her body, but she couldn’t. It wouldn’t do any good at this point. Once the burning started, it couldn’t be stopped.
“The tattoo is doin’ something. Other vampires would be in flames by now,” Derrick said, trying to reassure them all.
He had a point. They had already gone through this process a couple of times, and the others had been dead within a minute. It was encouraging Kariann remained alive, but Cori still worried about the steam coming from the vampire. Could it be that the tattoo merely slowed down the process?
Kariann raised her arms, turning toward them. “It doesn’t hurt.”
“But the steam…” Cori began.
“It’s nothing,” the vampire said, lifting her face to the heavens.
The sun rose higher, and still she didn’t light up in flames. Steam continued to roll off of her, thicker than before until they could barely see her face. She just laughed and danced around the yard, uncaring.
Twenty minutes passed, and the steam abated until it was finally gone. They muttered among themselves, wondering what it was and why it had been there at all. Kariann was fine. The sun was fully up, and she’d survived, but they were still baffled by how it went.
“Maybe it’s a sort of purification process,” Melena offered. “Like the sun and tattoo work together to burn the curse off of her.”
Kariann nodded. “That’s what I think, too.”
“I’m just glad you survived.” Cori hugged the vampire. “You have no idea how much I was worried.”
