Chapter 73: Chapter 73
And so, Gian Howard ruled gloriously, from a prince begotten by his ambitions to a fair king that was loved by all. The damages that Dyron and his kingdom had done to the Kingdom of Howard was repaired a few years after the attack. There was no more word of a darkness that would threaten the peace that they had earned and fought for. The blatant loss of life was unforgivable to many, yet they managed to build their lives again. He also had fallen for a kind hearted Ecanus named Delilah, their children were many and were given love that they so deserve. King Malik peacefully passed the throne to him knowing that the prince had changed for the better and as he passed away in his sleep due to his failing age, the Kingdom mourned for a whole month, The Dowager Queen Regina followed less than a year later. Colter and Vida often visited them, checking in on them while they were alive and bonding with the new king that was Gian.
Tessa also tagged along from time to time, serving as some sort of replacement for the Deity Flora. She was universally liked, even though she did cuss and swear a lot to the chagrin of her husband, Vergil. They had started a relationship soon after he had dropped them off on Earth and Tessa chose him over Harry Fletcher. The Captain of the Royal Guard served well and was awarded the highest of honors in the kingdom for his service and for his actions during the last battle. He continued to serve as the Captain of the Royal Guard, even if the time came when he chose to live on Earth as well, to spend time with his wife, Tessa.
Peace finally reigned at last and it reigned for years to come.
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Vida closed the book that she was reading, which was actually her journal, “And that was the story of the kingdom of Howard” Vida said gently, the child before her watched with wide eyes and clapped happily at the story she had just told. She was now 79 years old and the child in front of her, listening to her story was Klea. Her granddaughter.
“That was so wonderful, grammie!” Klea said happily, still clapping and Vida smiled at the five-year-old in front of her, “It was, wasn’t it?” she said infected by the child’s innocent smile.
“I wish I had those powers too!” Klea whispered and made flying noises as she ran around the room now, zooming back and forth with her hands in front of her, mimicking the sense of flying.
“Always love hearing that story, mom” a voice came from behind her as Vida suddenly felt soft arms hug her from behind, it was Freya, her only daughter. She was a beautiful looking woman, she had Vida’s amber eyes and Colter’s brown hair. Staring at her made Vida think of how much she saw Colter in her.
“I miss daddy” Freya whispered tearfully as she continued to hug her mother, “I know you miss him dearly, mother and I’m very certain that he misses us too.”
“I can’t wait to tell Dante about this!” Klea said proudly, Dante was Tessa and Vergil’s grandson and they had grown to be very close friends.
“Indeed?” Vida asked with a smile, Freya still hugging her from the back, “Do tell him that I miss their company very much, Klea.”
“I will grammie!”
“You still got that stone, mom?” Freya asked her mother mischievously, and Vida rolled her eyes like she did when she was younger. She remembered what had happened:
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During Freya’s childhood, she had accidentally found Colter’s homing stone and it opened a portal for her and she entered it. They had spent days searching for her, until Vergil had come out of nowhere carrying a smiling Freya in his arms.
“You know…” Vergil said trailing off as Colter rushed over to them, and wrapping his arms around Freya who was laughing gleefully, “She takes a lot from you” The captain said with a smile as he remembered how Colter often caused trouble in his younger days.
“Sorry!” Colter said sheepishly, still coddling and kissing Freya who was now laughing.
“Freya I was so worried!” Vida said angrily, but nonetheless relieved that her daughter was finally found. “You’re like your father, running off and disappearing!”
Vergil and Colter laughed at this as Tessa had also arrived at the scene, “Oh gosh, you found her!” she ran over to her godchild and gave her a barrage of kisses.
“Where’s mine?” Vergil asked petulantly and Tessa just stuck her tongue out at him.
---
“I still have it” Vida answered, returning to the present day, and Freya laughed this time.
“You better take care of it, mom, or you know, Klea might find it…”
“If she does, then she will be fine. You were fine, you would always sneak out to the kingdom using it.”
“Ah, darn it.” Freya said in fake frustration as she noticed a car had parked outside, “That’s Jacob, we’ve got to go mom. See you again next weekend?”
Vida nodded and gave her daughter a kiss on the cheek, Klea came around and gave her grandmother a hug while Vida responded with a barrage of kisses that they used to do to Freya.
“See you soon, grammie!” Klea said cutely, waving wildly as they stepped out of Vida’s home.
Vida now stood alone, smiling to herself as she walked through the hall of her home, there were various photos, Colter and Vida on their wedding, Tessa and Vergil on their wedding, Freya in an ultrasound, Freya born, Freya growing up, even Klea’s pictures were there.
“I think it’s time to visit you” Vida thought to herself and walked out of her house.
She walked through their quiet neighborhood in New York City, she and Colter had never moved out, because they felt sentimental to the city, but they did elect to find a quieter neighborhood. It was a leisurely stroll that she took every week, passing by Burn’s bar, which was now managed by Peter’s adopted son and grandson, it was packed to the brim as usual. But this was not her destination, she continued further along and found it at last.
The tears welled up in her eyes as she saw what she was looking for:
“Colter Howard, beloved husband, father and proud grandpa”
Colter had passed away a year ago in his sleep, it was a painful moment for everybody but he went on peacefully. He was buried in this graveyard and Vida visited him every week.
“Well, here I am again, darling” Vida said, sitting on the bench that was set beside Colter’s gravestone. “I miss you dearly, and remember that I will always love you. In my heart, in my mind, my very existence itself. We were a love across two worlds. Funny…” Vida suddenly though, “We are across two worlds now.” She sighed and rolled her eyes again, a signature action for her, “Dumbass. I told you not to leave me again!”
She stood up and knelt by his grave and caressed his gravestone with all the love she could muster:
“It doesn’t matter, darling. I’ll be seeing you soon…”