Daphne glared at Loxley, “Both Nick and I have already been shot. We’d prefer to heal. Besides how did you manage to avoid getting shot?â€Â
“The slayers ran interference and had most of the fun,†Loxley said grudgingly.
“I’m going to have a sleep, and then I’ll consider kicking some vampire butt.†Nick told going back into the spare room and closing the door.
That left Daphne and Loxley alone in the living area. “I'm going to get dressed,†Daphne said keen to get away from Loxley while she was minimally dressed.
“Wait,†Loxley said taking a step forward. She stopped and looked over her shoulder. “I’m sorry about the way I’ve been behaving. I know I’ve been rather over the top. I-I think it’s probably due to the Luna Eclipse. Also it’s because Thomas asked me to protect you if anything happened to him.â€Â
Daphne froze at the mention of Thomas. Daphne had been deeply in love with him, as he had been with her. But Thomas had been killed 8 months ago when he’d been looking for his sister, Tina, who had gone missing. Thomas had been the first body found mummified and with blood red eyes. Daphne shuddered as she remembered. Thomas’ beautiful blue eyes had been replaced with ones from a horror movie.
Thomas and Loxley had been good friends. Even then Daphne had known that Loxley had been envious of his friend’s relationship with her. “When did Thomas ask you that?†she found herself saying.
“I tried to go with him when he went to look for Tina but he was determined to go alone. He told me he wanted me to stay behind in case something happened to him and that he wanted me to look after you if he didn’t come back.†Loxley told as he reached into his pocket and retrieved a jewellery box, “He told me to hold onto this for him. He was going to give it to you when he came back.â€Â
Daphne took the jewellery box and opened it. She bit her knuckle to stop from crying, it was an engagement ring. She lifted it out of the box to examine it, inside was inscribed To Daphne, Love Thomas.
Loxley took a step forward, “I should have given it to you sooner, but I had been waiting for the right moment.â€Â
Daphne sat down on the lounge with the ring in her hand staring at it in shock. Loxley sat beside her watching her intently. He lifted his hand to brush a tear from her cheek with his finger. She turned to look at Loxley, “Why did he have to go?â€Â
Loxley didn’t know what to say, “No one could stop him, not even me.†Loxley said as he recalled actually punching Thomas in an effort to knock some sense in him. They all knew that Tina was dead, a slayer by the name of John who was said to be a vampire human hybrid had gloated about taking her out.
Daphne felt her lip quiver but she’d already cried many tears over Thomas, she didn’t want to cry anymore. Loxley touched her shoulder and watched her. “Thank you Loxley,†she said quietly, “it gives me something to remember him by.†She stood up and left Loxley on the lounge while she went to get dressed.
Loxley sat on his own knowing he’d done the right thing but he didn’t feel any better for it. He knocked on Nick’s door and opened it, “You sure you don’t want to go hunting?â€Â
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It was like thousands of voices cried out for a sequel and were suddenly silenced...