healing

The pressure was building in his chest minute by minute. He was elated that he’d been returned to his body and Cassie had found a way to heal him, but there was still a heavy sense of sadness hanging over him. Linc had forgiven him for what happened, but Hector hadn’t had the chance to apologise to Magnus. It was humbling to know there was something out there that could alter his memory so drastic that he was capable of killing his best friend. Someone he made a promise to shortly after 1354 that they’d be friends forever. There would be oceans between them but they’d still reconnect, whether it was months later or years later. Hector never missed out on a moment of Magnus’ life. He had the letters to prove it. He had stacks of them stored at his apartment. If they were placed side by side they’d give a perfect timeline of Magnus’ life.

It wasn't just about Magnus’ forgiveness though, it was about the disappointment he felt in himself. Everyone was giving him the benefit of the doubt, but Hector was struggling to give it to himself. There was some version of him that recognised something was wrong because he warned off Magnus and Casssie when they tried to approach him. At one point he even sent a message to Ayla telling her to stay away from him.

As soon as Cassie handed him in the blood bag he drained it immediately. His body no longer craved chocolate or pancakes. Within a few seconds of sitting down he became aware of how in tune his senses were. The sound of Cassie’s heart thumping in her chest as she went to pull Linc out echoed in his ears. Would he miss being human? Probably not. Linc on the other hand could do. Inside the stone Hector tried to explain to Linc that he needed to embrace what he was, lean into the positives of being a vampire instead of grasping onto the negatives. It was the only way Hector made it through the first century.

There was a twitch of a smile on his face as Cassie and Linc embraced each other. Maybe tonight would be the night they finally sealed the deal. Hats off to Linc for holding back for so long. Meanwhile Hector was so keen to jump in bed with a woman he didn’t care she was taken.

Eventually Cassie and Linc left the room, leaving Hector and Magnus alone together. The pressure in his chest finally gave way as he could feel a surge of emotions explode inside of him. “Magnus.” His voice cracked and started to falter. He hauled himself up from the chair, with the small ounce of energy the blood bag had given to him. “I cannot even begin to explain how sorry I am for everything, but also how thankful I am that you never gave up on me even when I gave up on myself.” He felt the hot tears prickly in his eyes. A few trickled down his face, but he didn’t reach to wipe them away. It hadn’t been the first time Magnus had saved him. Magnus managed to drag Hector off the path of destruction after Evelyn died, but that's what they did. They’d always been there for one another. “You know…” He took a moment, taking in a deep breath to try and control his emotions, which seem pointless as he couldn’t stop the tears from flowing, “I realised whilst I was locked in that stone that if I came out of this and realised I’d killed you I wouldn’t have been able to go on. I’d have taken off my daylight ring and stepped out into the sun because what’s the point of living an eternity if your best friend is gone?” It may have seemed a little drastic to some, but it was difficult to explain. How could Hector carry on living if he was responsible for killing the one person he cared about the most?


MAGNUS DAYNE