Louisa's POV
Vincent looked at me and didn't say anything. The look on his face was almost lamenting.
"Vincent, where is Darren?" I frowned and asked.
"He's inside," Vincent said. "But he's in a very bad condition. Miss Louisa, I have to brief you before letting you see him. You have to be prepared. The werewolves at the slave market tortured and humiliated him. His skin was badly burnt. His face was deformed. His head had concussions. He is completely shut down right now. He refuses to communicate with anyone and it seems that he has developed a certain mechanism to protect himself."
Vincent took a pause and said, "It seems that he has lost his memory, Louisa. I doubt he will recognize you."
"No... No!!!" I felt like I was struck by a bat or something. My vision was black and I fell to the ground.
Vincent caught me and held me in his arms.
The world was spinning in front of me. Something bitter was stuck in my throat. I curled up and coughed violently, then I saw blood dripping down my fingers.
"Miss Louisa, do you need to lie down for a bit?" Vincent asked me.
I covered my face with both of my hands and cried out hysterically.
"Darren... I have to... I have to see him!" I struggled and tried to get back to my feet.
"I will take you to see him, Miss Louisa. I will take you to see him right now." Vincent's voice was tranquilizing.
I looked up at his face and found out that his face was full of surprise and concern.
"Miss Louisa, you're..." Vincent didn't finish his sentence.
Then, he lifted me up and walked me into the inner room.
Among broken rows, rusted boats, and rotten tools, I saw Darren.
I couldn't recognize him at first sight, because his face was completely deformed.
It seemed someone had smashed it.
His lean, once-muscular body was covered in blood and wounds.
Some wounds were so deep that I could see his bones.
My heart was throbbing and I couldn't look at him anymore.
I turned my head away and bit my lips, so I didn't scream out.
At that moment, I realized that Darren was at the last leg of his life.
My whole body was shivering like a sift. I held Vincent's arms and pleaded, "Vincent, please transform him into a vampire, so he could survive. Please do it!"
Vincent looked at me with tremendous sorrow and said, "Sorry, Miss Louisa. I'm afraid we can't do anything about it. A vampire can only transfer one person into a vampire in his life. I used up my chance long ago and Will has used up his on you."
"No... Vincent... No... Please, please save Darren. Please..." I choked on my own tears and blood.
Derek rolled his wheelchair towards Darren. He pushed himself out of the wheelchair and crawled next to him.
He held Darren in his arms and said, "Brother... I know you can hear me... I'm wrong... I'm wrong about everything... What have I done to my life... What have I done to you... You know, when I first held you up in my arms, I was crying... And you used your tiny little hand to wipe off the tears on my face... I had a dream last night, about the game we used to play when you were little... You tapped on my left shoulder... The moment I turned back and you were gone... Then you showed up on my right shoulder... I knew you were always there... Right on my shoulder... But I knew we could never play the same game again... You will never be there... I should have chosen you over stupid revenge... All I wanted to do was to be with you... What have I done... What have I done...?!"
My heart was throbbing and I stretched out my arms towards them.
"Darren, I'm here..." I cried out. "Louisa's here..."
Hearing my voice, Darren's eyes opened. Even though with broken eye sockets and swollen eyelids, he still managed to see me.
At that very moment, I knew he recognized me.
I saw the familiar look of tenderness and sorrow in his eyes.
Then, tears started to come out of his eyes.
He tried to lift his broken arms and catch my hands, but his arms were lifted halfway and dropped again.
Vincent carried me forward and placed me next to Darren.
Colt approached and took Darren's hands in his hands.
"Hey, gorgeous," Colt said with tears in his eyes. He tried so hard to hold back his tears.
Darren looked at Colt and moved his chapped lips.
"How... do... I... look?" he said in a shallow, scratchy voice.
Colt burst into tears and laughter at the same time instantly, pressing his hand against his face and saying, "You look as handsome as always, warlock. You're the most handsome guy I've ever met in my life and you'll always be."
Darren pointed at his pocket and suggested Colt get something out of it.
Colt put his hand into Darren's pocket and took out a lighter.
It was the lighter Colt gave Darren when they first met.
"My lighter! You... You've kept it with you all the time!" Colt cried out.
"Yes... My friend... It's... very... useful..." Darren whispered, trying to crack a smile on his broken lips.
Colt couldn't speak one more word. He held the lighter in his hands and wept silently.
Alex approached him and took him up from the ground.
Colt buried his head in Alex's arms and cried in a muffled voice.
Darren turned his head towards me and said, "Louisa... I'm sorry..."
I held him in my arms and said, "Darren, I don't want your apology... Please stay with me... We'll go back to the cottage and we'll..."
"Louisa, I'm dying now... I've been waiting... for this moment... to tell you... that... I... lov..." Darren placed his hands over my belly and suddenly stopped speaking.
Then, he looked up at me and said, "Louisa... There're two heartbeats in you... You're... pregnant..."