Cliff’s Descent by Dianne Duvall

Chapter Twenty-Seven

It took a moment for Emma’s beleaguered mind to catch up with what Cliff was trying to tell her.

She sucked in a breath. “You mean… you think the poison destroyed the virus?” she asked in a whisper. The fear that had consumed her the night Cliff had gone into battle returned full force. If what he said was true, then they were out of time. Everyone knew the vampiric virus came with a fucked-up catch-22: kill the virus and you leave the vampire or immortal who’d been infected with it with no functioning immune system.

“Yes,” Cliff answered solemnly.

Bastien took another step toward them. “Are you sure?”

“Pretty sure, yeah.”

“What did Melanie say?”

“I didn’t tell her,” Cliff admitted. “I wanted to spend whatever time I had left with Emma. And I knew if I told Melanie, she’d want me to stay at network headquarters so she could run tests and—”

“So she could stop it,” his friend said, looking as alarmed as Emma felt.

“She can’t stop it, Bastien.”

“You don’t know that,” Bastien nearly shouted.

“Yes, I do!” Cliff shook his head, then motioned to his face. “Look at me. Saying goodbye to Emma is wrenching my fucking heart out. Do you see my eyes glowing?”

Bastien scoffed. “That could be the sedative’s influence.”

“And the fact that I no longer have superspeed or strength? No preternaturally enhanced senses? No fucking fangs?”

His fangs were gone, too?

Despair filled Emma. Cliff hadn’t chosen to die tonight.

He had been dying ever since he’d returned to network headquarters.

He had simply wanted to spend his last moments with her as soon as he’d realized it.

And she’d yelled at him for it.

“Cliff,” she said, full of remorse.

Bastien pointed at her. “No. He isn’t dying.” Then he scowled at Cliff. “You don’t know that the poison killed the virus. What if it merely suppressed it? Or counteracted the most notable symptoms?”

Cliff gave him a sad smile. “You’re grasping at straws.”

“No. Those are valid fucking questions.”

Cliff held out his arm. “Do you smell the virus on me?”

Frowning, Bastien gripped Cliff’s wrist and brought it to his nose. He drew in a deep breath. Held it. Let it out. “No. But I’m not an elder. I can’t always smell the virus on vampires and immortals.”

“You can’t smell the virus because it’s gone.”

“You don’t know that,” Bastien insisted.

Emma bit her lip as the two stared at each other, apparently at a stalemate. “Maybe we should call Aidan.”

Seconds later, a tall, dark figure abruptly appeared right in front of her.

Shrieking, Emma stumbled backward.

“What happened?” Aidan demanded. “Your watch called me. Are you hurt? Is Cliff okay?”

Shit. She’d forgotten they’d programmed her watch to call him if she ever spoke the words Call Aidan. “I’m okay,” she told him. “But Cliff needs you.”

Aidan turned to examine the scene.

Cliff stood placidly while Bastien gripped his wrist.

“What’s going on?” the ancient Celt asked.

Bastien thrust Cliff’s wrist toward Aidan. “Smell this.”

Aidan’s eyebrows flew up. “What?”

If Emma wasn’t so damn distraught, she would’ve laughed.

Even as upset as he was, Cliff cracked a smile.

Bastien’s face, however, remained dark and angry. “Smell him. Tell me if you smell the virus.”

His expression saying he questioned Bastien’s sanity, Aidan accepted Cliff’s wrist and sniffed it. His brows drew down. Then he sniffed again, drawing in a deeper breath. “What the hell?” he muttered. Palming a dagger, he sliced open Cliff’s palm.

Cliff hissed in pain.

Emma cried out and started forward, but Cliff thrust out his other arm and stopped her.

Latching onto his hand, she gripped it in both of hers.

Aidan brought Cliff’s bleeding palm to his nose and drew in another deep breath. His eyes widened. He looked at Bastien, then Cliff, his face full of… confusion? Fear? “I can’t smell it. I can’t smell the virus.”

Cliff tugged his hand free. “Because it’s gone. The poison destroyed it.”

“What poison?” Aidan demanded.

“The poison that coated some of the blades that cut me at the military base.”

Aidan shook his head. “Poison doesn’t affect us.”

“This one does,” Cliff snapped. He held up his hand. “The wound is still bleeding and is showing no signs of healing. My eyes no longer glow. My fangs are gone. And I no longer have enhanced senses, speed, or strength.”

Dread filled Aidan’s features. “If the poison killed the virus…”

“Then I’m dying.”

“Seth,” Aidan said.

Emma jumped when the Immortal Guardians leader appeared beside them. His hair was shorter than the last time she’d seen him, stopping above his shoulders.

Seth took in the tableau—the devastation on her, Bastien, and Aidan’s faces—then turned to Cliff, his face solemn.

“It isn’t what you think,” Cliff said. “They didn’t call you here to kill me. The poison already did that.”

Seth frowned. “What poison?”

Cliff sighed as though he’d grown tired of recounting it. “Some of the blades loosed by the fail-safes were coated with poison. I don’t know what kind it was, but it killed the virus in me.”

Aidan nodded. “I can’t smell it on him. I can’t even scent it in his blood.”

Seth met Emma’s gaze. “Release him.”

She did so immediately, hoping Seth could help him. If Bastien was right and even a tiny shred of the virus remained…

Seth rested a hand on Cliff’s shoulder. A look of concentration overtook the powerful immortal’s features.

Emma’s pulse thudded in her ears as she awaited his verdict.

Seth’s frown deepened. Moving to stand beside Cliff, he released his shoulder, then rested one hand on the center of Cliff’s chest and touched the fingers of the other hand to Cliff’s forehead.

Birdsong twittered from a nearby tree, reminding Emma that sunrise approached.

“You’re right,” Seth murmured. “There’s no sign of the virus. At all. It’s been completely eradicated.”

Cliff felt no surprise at Seth’s proclamation. He hadn’t needed the powerful Immortal Guardian leader to confirm it. But the others had.

Bastien and Aidan looked utterly devastated.

And Emma…

He swallowed hard.

Biting her lip, she regarded him with glistening eyes full of anguish.

How he wished he could’ve spared her this. Cliff knew if he asked her what she would change if she could go back in time and do it all over again, she’d say nothing. Not one damned thing. But awareness of the grief she’d suffer after he was gone tore him up inside.

Heat arose at the points Seth touched him. When Cliff lowered his gaze, he discovered Seth’s hand on his chest had acquired a golden luminescence.

“It wasn’t the poison,” Seth murmured.

Emma blinked. When tears spilled down her cheeks, she absently wiped them away. “What?”

The golden glow faded, as did the warmth. Then Seth stepped back. “It wasn’t the poison.”

Cliff frowned, confused. “If it wasn’t the poison, then what was it?” It sure as hell hadn’t been the tranquilizer.

Seth glanced at Emma, then at Aidan and Bastien as if he wasn’t sure he should disclose it.

Emma sidled closer to Cliff and slipped her small hand into his. “Please. If Cliff is going to die, we should at least know why.”

Seth rubbed his palms together, almost as if doing so would magically conjure the answer he sought. When that failed, he sighed and placed his hands on his hips. “That’s just it. Cliff isn’t going to die.”

Shock rippled through him. “What?” How was that possible? “Why?” Network researchers unanimously agreed that the virus destroyed vampires’ and immortals’ immune systems.

Seth shrugged. “Because it would appear my father healed you.”

Bastien’s and Aidan’s mouths fell open.

Cliff was pretty sure his did, too, as the most absurd thought flashed through his mind. “You have a father?”

Emma looked up at him. “I’m so glad you asked that, because I was thinking the same thing.”

Seth laughed. “Yes, I have a father. One whose powers make mine seem paltry by comparison.” He smiled at Cliff. “And apparently your willingness to sacrifice yourself to spare me and members of my Immortal Guardian family pain, injury, and even death made an impression on him. Because he not only eradicated the virus, he reversed the brain damage you suffered and fully restored your immune system.”

Cliff tightened his hold on Emma’s hand as his heart began to pound. “You’re sure?”

Seth’s smile widened. “I’m sure. You are now a wholly healthy human, Cliff.” His brow furrowed. “Although you’ve lost the greater regenerative properties the virus gave you, so you will age now.”

Awe and wonder swept over Cliff as he turned to Emma. “I’m going to age now.” Joy made his chest swell and his heart expand. “We can grow old together.”

Smiling through her tears, Emma nodded. “We can grow old together.”

Elation filling him, Cliff swept her into his arms and buried his face in her neck. When that wasn’t enough, he swung her around. He was free of the virus! After years of struggling and suffering, of fighting and desperately clinging to hope, he was human again!

And they could have their happily-ever-after.

Emma laughed and cried at the same time while Cliff wept against her shoulder.

They could have their happily-ever-after!

Lowering her feet to the ground, he raised his head and stared down at her, reveling in the love and joy that lit her beautiful features, knowing she saw the same in his. “This is who we are,” he murmured, thinking of the photo she had taken of them so long ago in which they’d been so happy.

A tear slipped over her lashes and trailed down her cheek. “This is who we are, honey. Now and always.”

Smiling, he dipped his head and kissed her trembling lips, pouring all of the emotion that overwhelmed him into it. He couldn’t believe his long battle was over. Couldn’t believe that he was once more that man in the picture. Couldn’t believe this was real.

He lifted his head. His smiled faltered as fear and dread slithered through him. “Wait.” Releasing Emma, Cliff stepped back and regarded them all with dawning alarm. “This is real, isn’t it? It’s not a delusion or a hallucination or”—he looked at Seth—“false memories you planted?”

Seth winced. “No, I only did that the one time, Cliff, and realize now the error of it. This is real.”

Cliff looked at Aidan.

“It’s real,” the Celt told him, his voice gruff with emotion.

Bastien nodded as he closed the distance between them. “Real enough that I need to get my ass inside soon because—unlike you—I still roast in the sun, you lucky bastard.”

Cliff laughed with relief as Bastien yanked him into a hearty hug.

Then Aidan hugged him.

Cliff shook his head as he stared up at Seth. “I don’t know how to thank you. Or your father. You’ve given me…” Taking Emma’s hand, he twined his fingers through hers. “Everything.”

Seth clapped him on the shoulder. “You deserve it, Cliff. You’ve had a long, difficult journey that robs all others like you of their honor. But you clung to yours with admirable tenacity and deserve every ounce of happiness you find now.”

Skillet’s “Monster” filled the air as the sky began to lighten.

Seth fumbled in his pocket for his phone. “Yes?” He was quiet a moment as he listened. His gaze slid to Bastien. “I know why you’re calling, and everything is all right. Bastien and I will be along shortly to explain.” He listened another moment. “We’ll be there momentarily.” He pocketed his phone.

Cliff smiled. “It’s weird not being able to hear both sides of the conversation now.”

“That was Melanie,” Seth told him. “I believe she’s discovered the absence of the virus in your blood work. She said she needed to see me immediately and sounded panicked. Bastien and I will let her know what happened.”

Unease trickled through him. “How are we going to explain this to Stuart and the other vampires?” And how would the other vampires react to the knowledge that Cliff had been healed but their struggle would continue?

Guilt suffused him.

“I don’t know,” Seth said. “We’ll speak to Melanie in Chris’s boardroom so the vamps won’t hear us. We need to bring Chris into the loop anyway.” His countenance turned contemplative for a moment. “Maybe he can help us figure out a way to reunite you with your family as well.”

Cliff stared at him, eyes wide as he tried not to get his hopes up. “Do you think that’s possible—that I could see my dad?” His mom had died of cancer when he was a boy, and his dad had never remarried. So it had just been the two of them, with his grandparents visiting as often as they could to try to fill the void.

Bastien snorted. “Are you kidding? Reordon is like Seth. With him, anything is possible.”

Seth nodded. “But we’ll need time to come up with something.”

“That’s fine,” Cliff assured him.

Seth looked at Bastien. “Are you ready to go?”

“Yes. Melanie doesn’t know I’m at Emma’s and will worry if I don’t get my ass back before sunrise.” He looked at Emma. “I’ll return for the car tomorrow.”

“No need,” Aidan said. “I’ll drive it to the network for you. Maybe we can put our heads together once I get there and come up with a plausible explanation for the vamps.”

Bastien nodded. “Sounds good. The keys are in the ignition.”

Seth glanced at Cliff. “I assume you’d like to stay?”

“Yes.”

Seth smiled. “We’ll leave you two to celebrate then.”

In the next instant, he and Bastien vanished. Tossing them a wave, Aidan ducked into the Chevy, started the engine, and drove away, leaving Cliff and Emma alone.

Still holding her hand, Cliff looked down at her and smiled. “Hi there.”

“Hi yourself.” Emma swiveled to face him. Offering him a mischievous smile, she slid an arm around his waist and leaned into him. “Has anyone ever told you you’re the hottest human on the planet?”

He laughed. “No. But I believe you have that honor.”

“Flatterer.”

He shook his head. “I still can’t quite believe it,” he admitted softly.

“I know. I think it hasn’t fully hit me yet.”

He glanced around. The gray sky began to acquire a golden glow. “Would it be okay if we stayed out here for a little while?”

She gave his fingers a squeeze. “I’d like that.”

Turning, they strolled toward the front porch, where they sank onto the steps, sitting side by side with their hips pressed together. Cliff kissed the back of her hand, then rested it on his knee.

The soft sounds of nature helped calm his chaotic thoughts as he absently stroked her fingers. Now that the trauma of thinking he would die today had passed, his mind quieted, needing a reprieve.

Birdsong floated on the cool breeze. Scuttling sounds arose as two squirrels chased each other around and around an oak tree at the edge of the yard.

Peace fell upon them as he and Emma leaned into each other and let it all gradually sink in.

A third squirrel joined the other two and drove the chase to another tree.

A crow caw, caw, cawed in the distance.

Cliff sighed, his lips curling up at the edges as happiness suffused him. “How would you feel about adding a picket fence?” he asked softly.

Emma surveyed the yard, her expression thoughtful. “I’d like it. If we had a dog, a fence would keep him from chasing after whatever wildlife happens by and getting into trouble.”

He squeezed her hand. “And keep the children from wandering too far?” His heart swelled as she looked up at him, her face filling with wonder at the realization that they could have children now.

She smiled. “That sounds perfect, honey.”

Dipping his head, he pressed a kiss to her lips. “I love you, Emma.”

“I love you, too.”

Releasing her hand, Cliff wrapped an arm around her and held her close as the two of them watched the sun rise.