Allure Of The Night

Music Recommendation: A new name... a new life- John Williams

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Eve opened her wet eyes with a slight surprise because this was the first time he called her name and didn't refer to her as daughters or calling by Marina or Nerissa's name. He said to her,

"I have always wanted to meet you again. To cherish those moments that had faded in my memories when you were born."

With Eve's palms on Anchor's back, she saw flashes of memories that passed before her eyes. In one of the flashes, she saw Anchor and her mother… her mother Rebecca Barlow. She whispered,

"You were always my father…"

Anchor pulled away from their embrace, and he said to her, "I had to make sure that you were safe. I was always with you, Eve."

Eve's eyebrows furrowed because she hadn't expected her father to be Anchor in both of her lives. She pursed her lips because if he was always there, he could have protected them from the beginning then waited until now. She asked him,

"Why didn't you come sooner, father?"

Anchor offered her a sad smile, "I belong to the sea. It was hard to come the way I have now, and it is possible because the sea is so close but only for a little while. Like I shadow, I have been trying to follow you, hoping and praying for your well being. You have gone through the trial of life, and you have come through so many times. I am so proud of you for it."

Eve didn't know how Anchor found Rebecca and knew that she was going to be born to them, but she was happy to see him as more tears spilt from her eyes and pearls fell on the ground. A rush of memories of when she was Marina and Nerissa made its way into her mind, and she sniffed.

"I have missed you, father. So very much!" Eve hugged her father back, who gently smiled at her words.

"And I have missed you. I cannot tell you how long I have been waiting to talk to you and it's finally time, isn't it?" Anchor whispered the last words before adding, "It is time to come home."

Vincent's eyes narrowed at Anchor's words, and he said, "She's already home."

Anchor pulled away and turned to look at Vincent. He said, "I want to kill you with that blood that runs in your veins."

"Father!" Eve turned startled and went to protest, "Y—you—"

"I won't kill him," Anchor replied to Eve. It was evident by the look in the man's eyes that he wasn't fond of the pureblooded vampire because of his past bloodline. He said, "I will spare you, only for the reason because you have protected her until this very moment. Nerhys obviously thought you were worth letting near one of my daughters. But everything that leaves, should return to where it belongs. Do you not agree?"

The look in Vincent's eyes hardened, and he said, "I don't think we share the same views. Eve is not only my wife, but the woman whom I bonded with. Not once, but twice. She will be staying here."

Anchor said, "We sea creatures are meant to be in the sea, where our kind resides and never on the land for the amount of pain and death it has caused."

"Sometimes it is not about where you belong but where the person's heart lies, and if you have truly followed Eve like the shadow as you say, then you should know better than anyone what she truly wants," Vincent replied to Anchor, who stared back at him.

When Vincent looked at Eve, he noticed the torn look on her face. On one side was her father, and on the other side was him, who loved and needed her by his side.

Anchor didn't wait as he turned into mist and disappeared from there as if he had been called back to the sea and his ghost body couldn't hold its strength on the land anymore.

Eve's golden blue eyes met Vincent's red eyes in silence. She said, "I don't want to do it either…"

"Then don't," Vincent's voice came strong because he could see the sadness in Eve's eyes.

"You remember what was told before," Eve's words were a whisper which was influenced by the siren. She said, "The dagger needs to be used to end the curse."

"You know I will burn the world to keep you beside me. I don't care how many more times I need to die to keep you alive with me or fight others," Vincent's gaze burned into hers, and his words brought a sad smile to her lips.

"I know," Eve replied, but they both knew this was supposed to happen. She and her sister's souls were supposed to return to the sea… just like her father mentioned. Though they were given the vial, neither knew if it would truly work or if it was the same vial that was lost many years ago.

When there was a moment of hesitation in Eve's eyes as if she weighed back the consequences of not finishing the curse, suddenly, her body emitted energy that shot up to the sky and pushed Vincent away from her. The wind moved so quickly that some leaves detached themselves from the trees, while some had broken branches.

"I knew my sister would have second thoughts," it wasn't Eve who spoke, but Nerissa. She said, "I promised her to not take your life, but I shall take her back with me."

"NO!" Vincent shouted, pushing himself to reach where Eve stood, but Nerissa had already pierced her mother's dagger into Eve's chest, and she said with blood dripping from her mouth,

"This ends the curse…" and her body started to turn faint as if it started to evaporate.

Vincent had used his command ability, but it had no effect on her, and by the time he reached her, wanting to grab her hand, all he did was grab the air as she disappeared in thin air without a trace.