Still alone in front of the tombstone, Miria began pacing back and forth, her mind racing.
Miria's thought: *How can there be so many coincidences? First, Asher is a sorcerer at heart… not a vampire. He became one because of the accident. His true nature… is to be a sorcerer. And now I discover that Leo was one too. Asher and Leo look exactly alike… one from the past, the other from the present. And now… they even have the same handwriting…*
She stopped dead. A brutal reality formed in her mind.
"Is it… possible?
Is it possible that Asher is… the reincarnation of Leo?"
Flashes of memories overwhelmed her.
She saw herself in a high school corridor. She stopped abruptly. Asher, who was walking behind her, was looking at her with that same stubborn determination.
"Why won't you give up? I don't want you. Don't you want to understand? Why do you follow me and insist?"
"How can I explain it without you thinking I'm crazy?" he had answered, thoughtful.
"Whatever you say… I already consider you crazy."
"It's because I have the feeling that you and I… are connected."
She had laughed. A laugh that clearly said she found him desperate.
"I know it might seem funny to you… but it's the truth. I have the feeling we already know each other. Because of that… I don't want to give up. I don't want to lose you."
"Listening to you, you'd think we knew each other in another life."
"Well then… that would make sense. And one more reason not to give up."
She had fallen silent, troubled.
"I may have lost you in another life… who knows. But what's certain… in this life, I won't abandon you."
Another memory surfaced. They were entangled in their bed.
"Asher… I love you."
He had smiled before kissing her.
"Me too."
"Why did you never want to give up… despite all the cold shoulders I gave you?"
"Because deep down… a very strong feeling prevented me from abandoning you. It was as if I had always wanted to have you. And now that life is giving me a second chance… well… I'm taking it."
Miria came back to herself, short of breath.
Then other words resonated in her head.
Leo's voice, desperate:
"Miria! I love you! I've always loved you! Come back to us!"
Then Asher's:
"But even if you no longer wanted it because of the age gap that had formed… you could have told me. And I would have waited for you."
And again:
"But I love you. I would have been ready to wait as long as it took."
Everything matched. Everything.
A smile of pure joy formed on her face. Tears of happiness flowed.
"So… it was you all along, huh…" she murmured, amused and moved.
---
Outside, Asher and Katrina were talking about everything and nothing to lighten the atmosphere. Soon, the rest of the group joined them: Bryan, Eiden, Axel, Gale, Klaus, Ray, Alix, Kira, Marlie, Diana and Isabella.
"Well… you were here with Asher," Klaus said.
"Yes, why?" Katrina answered.
"Let's just say he was looking for you everywhere," Ray explained.
"Oh… sorry for worrying you unnecessarily."
Gale displayed a provocative smile.
"Careful, Katrina… my brother is an infinitely jealous type. He might end up killing Asher from seeing you with him so much."
Asher burst out laughing.
"He'd do more harm to himself than good."
"I confirm," Katrina added. "Besides, Asher is my son-in-law… and I'm his mother-in-law. We have to get along for Miria's sake, right?"
Asher raised an amused eyebrow.
"With that young girl's body… are you sure that title is still to be taken seriously? I point out that now you and your daughter are the same age. So… at what age would you have given birth to her?"
Bryan intervened, dying of laughter:
"Well… while she herself was still in her mother's womb!"
Everyone burst out laughing.
Marlie, more serious, asked:
"And Miria… where is she?"
A voice was heard in the distance.
"I'm here!"
Miria came running out of the cave, her face radiant.
"Why did you take so long to come out?" Kira asked.
"Let's just say… I wanted to collect myself. For the wishes."
Alix only seemed half-convinced.
"Oh… okay."
Diana, completely exhausted, complained:
"Listen… I know half the group are vampires and they barely have a stomach… but the rest of us do!"
Gale placed a soothing hand on her shoulder.
"Calm down, darling. Élias said that as soon as we were finished, we were supposed to meet him near the sign indicating the cave. He'll take us to the inn."
"Great! And what are we waiting for?!" Diana exclaimed, already starting to leave.
The others burst out laughing at her impatience, while the group finally set off.