April, 2019

The Kanzan flowers were in full bloom as I walked through the St. Mary Magdalen Churchyard to Bermondsey Street. Screaming clusters of pink starkly contrasted against the hazy blue sky, but the people in the park simply paid the petals no mind, as though the cherry trees bloomed every day. Stealing their attention instead was the balmy air that the gathering humans threw their heads back in, basking in the sun like lizards, as the warmer days threatened to come.

I had barely made it through the churchyard though when my phone in my pocket began to buzz.

Knowing I was running late, I simply brought it to my ear without checking who was calling, assuming it would be her. "I'm almost there," I greeted.

"Almost where?" a deep voice replied back, yanking my feet to a halt.

With a shaky hand, I pulled the phone away from my ear to check the screen. Eyes closing as I saw his name displayed, I brought it back and whispered, "Sorry, Stephen... I thought you were someone else."

"It's okay. It's... been a while." There was an edge to his voice... almost a reluctance.

"I know," was all I managed to get out. Because what could I say? It had been more than a while...

"Is this a good time?" he went on when I didn't.

"I, uh," I started, warily glancing down the road towards the cafe I was supposed to be heading to. But guided by guilt, I pivoted on my heel back into the park. "Of course. What's up?" I asked as I sat on a nearby bench, the sun casting a gentle prickle on my skin. It was not warm enough yet that I had to avoid the outdoors... but a hot spell was surely coming within the next month.

"I just..." It seemed even Stephen was at a loss for words. "I'm coming to London at the end of this week," he stated.

"Oh... okay." I wanted to ask why, but it didn't feel like my place.

"Would you have time to see me?" he followed with.

Heart pounding in my chest, I stupidly nodded as I wondered if he even had to ask that. But once I realised my wrong, I then blurted, "Yes, of course."

"Okay, good. Because we... I have some things I need to discuss with you."

I wasn't sure if his stilted speech was a result of the lack of contact we had made over the past eight months, or if there was something more... concerning brewing here, whereby talking in tongues and riddles was an essential for phone communication due to potential listening ears. "We can do that. When will you be here?"

"On Friday. I'll text you the address of where to meet me on Friday morning, if that's okay?"

"Sounds good."

A pregnant pause filled the space as neither of us made a move to hang up. And as the silence continued to grow, thankfully Stephen eventually broke it.

"I hope you're well, Lukas," he said.

"I... I am," I breathed, almost regretfully. Because... was I? Was I truly okay now? And if I was... would that bother him?

"I'm glad to hear that," he said, voice sounding sure, but that edge still lingering in the undertones.

"I hope you're well?" I echoed his earlier sentiments.

But all he gave me back was, "I'll see you Friday." Then the line cut off.

· · ───── ∘☽༓☾∘ ───── · ·

"I don't know why I even bother to make plans with y—" Erica started to grouse before I even sat down, but her words faltered as her eyes scanned my face. "What happened?" she then immediately side-stepped.

Shaking my head, I picked up the menu. "Let's just... order."

"Lukas," she reproached.

Menu dropping to the table, I heaved a sigh as I met her worried midnight gaze. "Stephen called me on my way here."

"St... As in—"

"Ben's dad? Yes."

"Oh..." Was all she said for a moment, eyes glazing over as she seemed to be lost in her own processing of the news. "What did he want?" she asked when she finally returned.

"To meet up."

"Why?" she whispered, as though it were top-secret information.

"He didn't say..."

Her lips pressed together. "Did you want me to go with you?"

I shook my head. "He asked to meet with me."

More moments of silence passed as she seemed to think through her words. "I'm sure he's not mad—"

"He hasn't spoken to me since he died, Ri."

"And you haven't spoken to him."

"He said he'd call me."

"And he hasn't been in his right mind."

My mouth opened to give back the familiar retort, but already knowing what card she'd play after that, I decided otherwise. Snapping my jaw shut, I picked up the menu again, trying desperately to use it as an excuse to hide from my emotions. But quickly I realised, "My appetite is gone." I let the menu clatter back on the table as I ran my hand through my hair.

"I'm sorry," Erica quickly mumbled. "I didn't mean to upset—"

I cut her off with a wave of my hand. "It's whatever."

While life continued to bloom around our table—the chinking of knives and forks against plates surrounding us, and the loud chatter filling the cafe—an awkward silence quietened the air between us once again.

At least until Erica changed the topic. "Did you hear there's been another death?"

"I feel like we are fighting an impossible fight here..." I muttered. "Their disease spreads faster than we can stamp them out."

"I'm crossing my fingers that they are also adverse to UV rays. Come summer, all we need is a week of heat and—"

"And you lose all the vampires helping you," I finished for her, stamping out that idea before it festered into a plan.

"That doesn't mean we'd lose—"

"They're too fast, Ri. Too fast and strong for witches and sirens to take them on. And with just Emma on your side, taking her as your only defence into their nest would put her life in danger. Together, they'd take too much blood. And I won't let you do that to her. We just need to... keep trying to pluck them off one by one when they're hunting."

Lips pressed together, she leaned closer. "But... there is a way we could make this plan work."

"And how's that?" I asked, doing my best to resist the eyeroll that was beginning to come with it.

"If we had another Terra Fairy—"

I sat up at once, the legs on the chair grinding in protest as I looked at her in shock. "How many times do I have to tell you, Ri—"

"I'm sure she wouldn't mind us getting in touch if it were import—"

"Leave her alone," I said forcefully.

Her arms crossed over her chest. "Why must we all listen to you—"

"It's what she wanted. She wanted this life with all of us in her past, and—"

"People are dying, Lukas," Erica hissed at me. We were desperately trying to keep our voices hushed, but if anyone glanced at us, for sure they'd know whatever our discussion was, it had passed the point of being civil. "Her pain and anguish at losing Ben and whatever mess of a relationship you two had is moot at this point. That is all child's play. We need her help. We need as many Terra Fairies—"

"Then ask Emma for others. She knows more. But leave her alone."

We continued to stare each other off across the table, a chill now sweeping into the spring air. I was sure for a moment that nothing would break out standoff, until—

"Hi! Are you ready to order?" the chirpy waitress asked.

I waved my hand at Erica before crossing my arms over my chest and looking away.

So the witch in front of me ordered a ridiculous amount of food—causing the waitress's eyes to blow wide—until finally the lady turned to me. "And you, sir?" she said.

Eyes quickly skimming the menu, I rattled off the first small thing that would give me a reason to sit here with Erica before it was finally just us two.

"You're really not going to eat?" she pressed.

"I told you. I've lost my appetite."

Heaving a sigh, her gaze drooped to her hands. "Fine," she whispered. "I'll leave her alone."

"Thank you," I muttered back.

"So order something, okay?"

"You know I can't stay long. I have a class at two."

Shaking her head, she said, "This is why you need to be on time."

"Yeah, yeah," I muttered, and just after another awkward silence swept over us, our drinks finally arrived.

As I sipped at my peach tea, a coy smirk started working its way onto Erica's face.

"What?" I deadpanned.

"A little birdie told me yesterday that you can't kiss them anymore." I could see the satisfied gleam shining in her eyes—one that said she was equal parts proud of herself for finding a topic she knew I wouldn't lash at her over, but also, "Seems you two are getting pretty serious."

"I... I guess so," I mumbled, feeling a familiar heat wash my face as I glanced down to the table cloth, picking at a fraying thread.

"You don't seem... happy about it?" she said.

"I am... I just... I'm—"

"Scared?"

Eyes finally meeting Erica's knowing gaze, I gave her a brief nod. "I don't want to get hurt again by rushing into it or not doing it fast enough... I... I just want my happy ending."

Pressing her lips together, she thought my words over for a while before stating, "You know, there's a lot of darkness underpinning the original fairy tales. And just because the prince gets his bride doesn't mean they have the best relationship."

"Well... I guess I want the Disney version then." One side my mouth tugged up.

Erica rolled her eyes. "Don't let your mum hear that. I swear the Brothers Grimm's folktales are a staple to German upbringings."

"You're not far from it," I muttered.

"All I'm saying though is... there's no point wishing for a happy ending, Lukas, because they belong to fairy tales. They're fictional. There is no 'happily ever after' in the actual tales when you consider the gruesome things the characters must go through to get their peace, and... just because a story stops doesn't mean the couple don't face struggles after. Relationships are a lot of—"

"Oh no. Pessimist Erica is out."

With a scoff, she replied, "This has nothing to do with my breakup with Faye."

"Does it not?" I smirked, wondering if she realised that she jumped to that conclusion first.

"No. I'm just... as hesitant as you are. Believe it or not, I don't want to see you get hurt again either."

My eyes danced around her worried face, and, in the end, I couldn't help but reach across the table, capturing her small hand in mine. "I'm so lucky to have a friend like you, Ri-ri."

Mirroring my smile, her hand turned over in mine, fingers giving mine a squeeze. "You must have saved a whole country to have landed me as a bestie."

"Too right," I agreed.

Her hand then retracted from mine. "But just don't get caught up in the bond-whipping nature of it all and think a little with that head of yours first. Bonds are permanent, you know."

Gaze narrowing, I gave her an 'are you kidding me' look.

Brows shooting up, the realisation of what she said spread across her face. Because, after that day many months ago when I first met Emma, I did go straight home and tell Erica about my history with her. Right after taking care of the made-vampire, that is.

"Well... for most people they are," Erica corrected herself. "Guess that's why you're so reckless."

These Lukas chapters are honestly some of my finest work... especially the third one in this part ;) (Let me toot my own horn for a moment).

Anyway, some exciting news I want to share here first. I'm waiting for the marketing package before posting it on socials and all that, but considering its thanks to the lovely readers of this series that I've made it this far, I want to let you guys know first. 

As of this month, I'm a Wattpad Creator! This means you'll continue getting regular updates from me!

I'm not far off completing Part 2 of this book, but it still might be two weeks until the next chapter is released as I finish the last chapters and polish it up. But once it is done, expect weekly uploads again.

Let me know your thoughts on this chapter and predicitons for this part of the story! 

Thank you guys so much for your continued support through reads, votes, and comments!