Dust to Dust Read online

  Melanie just smiled and, still holding Scott’s hand, started down the tunnel that led back to the world of freedom and goodness.

  And when they left the catacomb behind at last, Rome was quiet, with a beautiful moon glowing in the sky above.

  Epilogue

  I Am

  The headlines across the globe following that summer night of the full moon were fairly uniform. In various languages, they declared in bold print: TOXIC FUMES CREATE HAVOC ACROSS THE WORLD; GEOLOGISTS SCRAMBLE TO PREVENT A SECOND OCCURRENCE.

  It was absolutely fine; it was the best possible scenario since the world, divided in so many ways, would never accept the truth: that a minor earth demon had done exactly what many a dictator had done before him. He had tried to rule the world through fear and, in doing so, bring about its destruction.

  As we talked about events after that night, we realized just how much Bael had preyed upon the minds of so many. He knew the secrets of controlling not only the dead and the undead, but even the weakest among the living. As we continued to research the many prophecies about doomsday, we found references that described him as a wily demon, but certainly not one as powerful as the devil himself, under whatever name.

  One of the biggest lessons was that fear can be far more potent than any weapon.

  And then there’s the importance of free will.

  We could, I believe, have chosen to run. What that would have meant over the ensuing years—because, of course, the struggle to prevent the apocalypse is far from over—we’ll never know. Lucien believes that our immediate role in this has been fulfilled. There are others who must take on the next threat to the world, and whether that will come in the form of air, water or fire, we don’t yet know. He is ready, however, and waiting. He has accepted that he is now the Oracle, and he will be on guard. And the rest of us will all still be around, too, of course.

  Bael played upon our personal fears so well. He seeped into Melanie’s mind and tried to convince her that she was a monster, that no one could love her. I still don’t entirely understand the world of the vampires, but Bael did. He knew where to attack, where she was vulnerable, and since we haven’t really figured out how to get along as human beings, it’s easy to see how Melanie could have been afraid that I might loathe her.

  I’ve decided to dedicate my life to proving to her that quite the opposite is true.

  Anyway, here’s the aftermath. Sister Maria Elizabeta was given a quiet Catholic funeral, just as she would have wanted. Her sarcophagus now rests over the trapdoor to the catacombs below, guarding that gateway forever. Sister Ana has taken her place within the convent. She doesn’t have a special title; she simply seems to have a special wisdom, and the others often turn to her.

  Rainier is planning a trip soon; he wants to visit the ruins at Chitzen-Itza.

  Sean and Maggie returned to New Orleans and their family. And Celia, who seemed to become more peaceful after Bael’s demise, will eventually be returning to New Orleans with Lucien and Jade.

  As for me…

  I still don’t have the answers as to why I, of all people, was chosen to receive such extraordinary powers. I don’t think I’m meant to live forever. The time may come when I know it’s my turn to clutch someone’s hand and pass on the power. Sister Maria Elizabeta knew that she was weak and dying, and she passed her power to Lucien. In the meantime, though I know it sounds a little strange to say that I was chosen to help save the world, I believe that to be true. There will be another group of three to face the next challenge, but they may need us, as well, so we’ll all have to be alert and on guard until then. Whatever comes, I’ll be ready.

  Which brings me back to L.A.

  Judy Bobalink and Blake Reynaldo have joined the fight. Anything to do with the Alliance—which I was finally invited to join, by the way—is of course under the radar. But they both earned their entrée into the world most people don’t know. Anyway, it never hurts to have a seasoned cop around. And Judy’s place is a new kind of safe house for anyone from our side who might need it.

  As for me…

  I know I can never go back to the life I used to have, and these days I don’t want to.

  I want to go forward.

  I’ll never forget the day I asked Melanie to marry me. She turned those beautiful blue eyes on me and tried to tell me that I shouldn’t love her, but I just told her that there are powers on the earth over which we don’t have any control—and love is the biggest of those. I told her the only thing that would prevent me from haunting her to my dying day—whenever that might be—would be her telling me that she hadn’t fallen in love with me. Pretty cocky and presumptuous on my part, maybe, but luckily it worked.

  So, on a beautiful late summer morning, we were married. We had the ceremony in L.A. My family and friends came from New Orleans, Melanie had people in from everywhere, and all our new friends from California came, as well. Maggie was Melanie’s matron of honor. Since I didn’t want to hurt either Zach’s or Emory’s feelings, I asked Lucien to be my best man. That way, the Luckless Three could play for both the ceremony and the party we threw afterwards.

  The Unlucky Three have never played more harmoniously.

  In fact, it was all so perfect I felt as if we’d walked into a dream.

  But it was real when she said her vows to me, and very real when I returned them. And when I kissed her, when we were man and wife at last, nothing had ever been more real, more life affirming and more beautiful.

  Our friends surrounded us—the living and the undead—and as they applauded, Bruno bayed and Miss Tiffany yapped. It was perfect.

  We took off that night for the South Seas.

  We had a bungalow right on the beach, and that night, when she smiled, and drew me to her, it was indeed heaven on earth.

  ISBN: 978-1-4268-3525-4

  DUST TO DUST

  Copyright © 2009 by Heather Graham Pozzessere.

  All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including xerography, photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher, MIRA Books, 225 Duncan Mill Road, Don Mills, Ontario, Canada M3B 3K9.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

  MIRA and the Star Colophon are trademarks used under license and registered in Australia, New Zealand, Philippines, United States Patent and Trademark Office and in other countries.

  www.MIRABooks.com