10.3 Ends and Beginnings

I had used the time between hunting Dorian to perfect one painting and one painting only. I didn't dare travel with it, for fear of loss or damage, so I kept the painting in a vault at Prague, returning to it when I could. Now it leaned against the wall in the hotel room I shared with Dark Dorian. Neither of them left my sight.

This was it.

The time had finally come...

"How did you know what to paint? How did you know... what he looked like?" Hands in his pockets, Dark Dorian, studied his twin drowning in endless waves.

"Wasn't difficult," I replied, leaning against the wall, arms folded. "I see him. Every night. In my dreams... Work you magic, Double D."

"And if I refuse? You're small, I can take you."

"Sure. But one phone call and in twenty-four hours every hunter in England will know you're in the Czech Republic. Try me."

He grumbled and sucked his teeth at me, but gave in. Palms sweating, heart racing, I watched Dark Dorian approach the painting. He rubbed his hands, rotating his neck and shoulders, as if saving his other half wasn't as simple as reaching through the canvas and pulling him right out...

Dorian landed on his knees, head bowed, dripping head to toe, covered in seaweed and algae. Dark Dorian ripped apart his crusty, rusted chains like they were nothing, and stepped back with a flourish.

"Dorian, can you hear me?" Fingers shaking, I reached out and stroked his hair. "It's okay now, I found you--you're home."

He lifted his face. What I saw was more shocking than anything I had ever fought with Imogen or come across my days on the road.

His face was demonic - bulging red eyes and black, popping veins. His teeth were bared, lips pulled back in a horrible grimace dripping foam. Growling like an animal, Dorian swiped at me. I leaped back, hands raised in defense.

"Dorian, it's me! It's Amelia!"

He rose to his feet and staggered forward. Months in the sea had withered his limbs but not his resolve. Dorian lunged, cold, wet hands seizing my throat, squeezing until I could hardly breathe.

"Dorian," I wheezed. "It's me. Please. Stop."

He drove me backward, slamming me into the wall, lifting with both hands until my feet kicked the air. His grip tightened. Even as he choked the life from me, I couldn't bring myself to hurt him. Not after everything I had done to save him. I touched his face. Between the floaters dancing in my vision, I saw the clouds lift from his eyes. His grip loosened...

He finally dropped me and we both fell. I coughed, lungs on fire, clutching my throat with my hands. Dark Dorian stood over us, the hotel telephone he had struck the other Dorian with dangling from his hands.

"I don't understand," I rasped. "What's wrong with him?"

"What do you think?" He chucked the phone aside. "He spent months underwater, with only the sea grass for company, dying over and over again. It's enough to make anyone mad."

Sniffing back tears, I crawled forward on my hands and knees, sliding the hair from Dorian's pale face. It was no longer demonic, but how long would that last?

"Amelia." Dark Dorian laid a gentle hand on my shoulder. "You can't bring him back to the Village. Not like this."

"You think I don't know that?" I snapped. "Damnit!" Dark Dorian helped me to my feet; i dragged my fingers through my hair, helpless, defeated. "I swore I would save him."

"Amelia, you traveled to the bloody ends of the Earth to find me. I know you'll save him." He took me in his arms, his chin resting on my shoulder. Startled, I froze, then hugged him back. "What will you do?" he asked.

"The same thing I was going to do for you." I swallowed. The lump in my throat grew larger. "Before Genesee died, she gave me a gift - an enchanted paintbrush. She said to save it for when I had nothing left to give but myself. I think that time is now."

Returning to the Village, and my old life, was a challenge, but not for the reasons I expected.

"Nervous, are we?" Dark Dorian grinned as I adjusted his tie. Our new penthouse apartment was furnished with everything you could possibly imagine - but nothing dazzled like his smile.

"For the grand re-opening of Salt by the Sea? I spent a year and a half hunting monsters. I think I can handle this."

"Without him?" he quietly replied.

I fell in place at his side, studying our reflection in the tall, standing mirror. My slip dress was nearly the same shade yellow as his gold-printed suit.

I smiled. "You'll do."

He turned to face me. "But you still wish it were him here, not me. I know taking his place wasn't exactly what you had in mind, but I'll do my best to play the role." He winked.

"No one can know the truth, D. I made a promise. If the hunters find out I let you go we're both dead."

"I know. It's supposed to be me in that painting. What do you think he's up to?"

"I'm not sure. But he's safe at the manor. And if anyone can get through to him, it's Emily. Living by the sea, breathing that fresh air every day--it might help. Until we can fix him."

The re-launch of the gallery was an unbridled success. I knew it wasn't the money poured into the event, the mysterious past of the new gallery owners, or Dark Dorian's grin that filled the place. It was the dedication to the previous owner.

I raised my champagne glass to the crowd. "To Miriam."

"To Miriam," they said.

Together we drank.

Later that night, when the party was dying and the drinks had stopped flowing, Dark Dorian joined me at my side and handed me fresh champagne, tapping my glass with his in cheers. Together we observed the painting on the wall. The lights on the manor were bright yellow. A couple stood on the beach below, hand-in-hand, their back to us, watching the waves crash and the sun set.

"Well, it seems congratulations are in order: tonight was a smashing success. Despite our sordid little pasts, we filled up the place. You might as well have put a giant blimp in the sky flashing the words "We're Back". The Begays will have our heads."

"I'm a hunter now." I sipped my wine. "I don't do anything without good reason. I want them to come. I'll be waiting."

"I know you blame them for what happened. To be honest, I'm simply glad I got more time on the outs... with you."

I could feel his gaze on mine, but my eyes were glued to the painting.

Dark Dorian sighed. "I just hope you don't regret this one day."

"Regret sacrificing myself - using the enchanted paint brush to put my soul in the painting, so he wouldn't be alone? Not even a little." I nudged him with my elbow. "And I would have done the same for you."

"Keep flattering and maybe one day I'll believe." He chuckled and kissed my cheek. "Come..." Dark Dorian wove his fingers through mine, pulling me along. "They want photos of the new owners for the paper. Let's show the world our pretty faces."

I glanced behind me one last time. The girl in the picture had moved. Long, dark curls streaming in the breeze, her head was now turned to the side, revealing her demonic features. She wasn't pretty. She was dangerous and determined - a dark object, who would do everything in her power to protect the ones she loved. And there was one thing she believed, above all...

The end is never really the end.

La Fin.

Thank you to everyone who made it to the end of the story! I'm so grateful for your time and support! This definitely isn't the end of Amelia and Dorian's journey - stay tuned for updates! For other stories that take place in the Harbor Village Universe check out Herculean, How to (Not) Date a Popstar, Shimmer, and Faetality. See you soon! <3