Chapter 553
I’ll never forget the day my sister died. Even now, eight months later, sitting outside of Jamie’s operating room with Brandon’s hand in mine, every time I think about what happened that day, I get tears in my eyes. So many things could’ve gone differently, if only one of us would’ve made a different choice. I’ve spent a lot of time reflecting on what I could’ve done differently myself that day, and even though everyone tells me there’s no point in dwelling on it, what’s done is done, it still haunts me sometimes when I’m trying to fall asleep at night, when I can so vividly see Cadence hanging there in the air before she plummeted to the ground, the whoosh of power that left my hand just missing its mark.
The new Hunter Leader is a guy named Daniel Bower. He came in from California a few months ago. He’s awesome. I’ve known him for a while. He’s the one who helped capture Professor Stewart after the Vampire had opened the Blood Moon Portal. It’s kind of cool not being related to my boss, even though I’m going to miss working with my sister—assuming there are ever any more threatening Vampires to go after.
Aaron stepped down a couple of weeks ago, which isn’t surprising considering the circumstances. He’s got a lot to deal with right now. I’m sure it will be hard for him to let it all go, but it will be for the best. It’s kind of funny that Jamie’s sister is his boss now. Margie is a beast, and it’s great to have her here, even though I’m sure Jamie is a little uncomfortable. He’ll get used to it.
Jamie and Ashley got married recently, so he’s got that going on now, too. Oh, and there’s the baby. Ashley named her son after her father, so that means the baby’s name is Scott Joplin. In case you’re not into ragtime music or not a history buff like me, Scott Joplin was a composer. He wrote The Entertainer--you know that song the ice cream truck plays? Little Scott is adorable, and I love spending time with him whenever I can. It’s been good practice, something I’m going to need really soon.
Brandon and I are closer than ever and haven’t had a single fight since we got back from Hungary. Well, not a serious one, anyway. He does get a little upset when I put my foot down and demand we eat Mexican or Chinese food every once in a while. But I’m pretty sure that doesn’t count.
I think the situation with Cadence made my mom appreciate me a little more. She’s been way nicer lately, and my curfew is 12:00 now, except for on school nights. My dad seems relieved that we aren’t fighting anymore. He’s been working to perfect that crossbow that Christian prototyped, the one that would’ve left Aurora bald if Jamie wasn’t so quick to throw his blue light—well, usually so quick.
Elliott and Amanda are talking about getting married as soon as she finishes medical school. Brandon is super excited about it, but he is trying to pretend like he’s not. I can’t blame him for not wanting to get his hopes up and have them shattered again, but I’ve never seen Elliott this happy before, and I’m pretty sure this is meant to be.
Lucy finished her training and is now a full-fledged member of the team, which will be great if we ever go on another hunt. And Emma went ahead and Transformed, even though she plans to finish high school in Shenandoah and go to college before beginning her training. I’m still praying she’ll take over Christian’s position when she graduates, and since I’m pretty sure Margie has hit her limit with Christian, I can see that happening. Right now, Christian is obsessed with figuring out precisely how Daunator turned those people into half-Vampires/half-demons. Even though Jamie’s serum worked and we were able to save a lot of people, including Dala, Christian just can’t seem to let it go. At least it keeps him busy and out of everyone’s hair. Turns out the reason he was so obsessed with getting Daunator is because Christian was the third Guardian to come through the Blue Moon Portal, and the Vampire he brought back with him happened to be Daunator. As shocked as I was to make this discovery, I wasn’t too surprised to hear someone had murdered Christian.
Over all, the situation is different around here now, but there are a lot of wonderful things happening, a lot to be excited about. And most promising of all was the fact that I was about to be an aunt.
The sound of a baby crying on the other side of the door had us all jumping with excitement. I looked at Brandon, unable to control my face. On his other side, Elliott said, “Hot dog,” like he was just as thrilled as I was. My mom started crying, and when I looked at my dad, I thought he had tears in his eyes, too.
I was ready to burst through the door, but I knew it would be a while. I wished I could leap into Jamie’s head to see what was going on, but I’d promised to give them some privacy. Every second that ticked by felt like an eternity.
It had only really been about ten minutes before Hannah opened the door and went into the room. When she came back out, we all leapt up out of our seats and huddled around her, but she pressed us back. “Remember, he’s tiny. Give him some space.”
He looked so much like his parents, it was unbelievable. Wrapped in a blanket, still gooey since Hannah was taking him to wash him and get him dressed, he wiggled and yawned, and I instantly fell in love.
“Hi, Cadon. I’m your Aunt Cassidy,” I said, once I got a chance to look him in the eyes. “Can you say that? Aunt Cass. Aunt Cass.”
“All right, lil girl. Let his uncle get a gander at him,” Elliott said, scooting me aside. “Hey there, big man. You gonna be one of them stuffy types like your dad, or you gonna be a real man and watch football and eat Cheetos?”
“Technically, Dad, I think you’d be his great-uncle,” Brandon said, peering over my shoulder. “Since, you know, if Cass and I get married, I’ll be his uncle.”
“You be his uncle, and I’ll be his funcle,” Elliott replied as my mom tried her best to get Hannah to hand the baby over. The Guardian refused. “You know, his fun uncle.”
“I’m fun,” Brandon argued.
“All right, I’ll go clean little Cadon up, and you all can relax. It’ll be a few minutes before you can go in.”
“What’s taking so long?” Elliott lamented, falling into his seat. “Why is having babies so hard?”
“As if you’re the one pushing,” I said, sitting back in my chair. There were other team members who wanted to get a look at the baby, but Hannah was pretty good about keeping them back.
I was still smiling, thinking about Cadon, when another cry filled the air a few minutes later. This one sounded different—more agitated—and I thought my niece certainly had a set of lungs on her.
Hannah came back with Cadon not long after Josephina was born. “Can we go in now?” my mom begged.
“Let me see.” Hannah opened the door to see what the situation was.
We all cooed at the baby, but none of us rushed over yet. We had to be good if we were going to get to enter the room.
Hannah drew her head back into the hallway. “Immediate family only,” she said in her matter-of-fact voice.
Of course, we knew that included Elliott and Brandon. I tried not to bounce as I made my way to the door, but it was hard, I was just so excited.
