Endless Night

©2001-present Industrial Illusions

Author's Note: I really didn't want to end this story this way, but I need Burke for another story and I needed him to be free of all his ties.

She ran, her eyes at her feet. She picked up a little speed as she bumped into people she was passing until she ran into something. She fell to the ground, her eyes still at the ground and full of tears.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t see you.” He attempted to help her up.
She swiped his hand away and got up on her own, never bothering to look at him.
“Hey, wait a minute,” he shouted to her, picking up the chain with the silver ring attached that she’d dropped, “you dropped something.”
She stopped and felt around her neck in panic. She turned back in his direction and went over and snatched the chain away. “Thank you,” she forced out.
He grabbed her wrist before she got away.
“Let go,” she screamed angrily.
“Not until you tell me what’s wrong.”
“Nothing. Now, let go.”
“Then why are you crying?”
She snatched her arm away. “Because you were hurting me.”
“You’re lying.”
“What makes you a fucking expert,” she hissed.
“Look, I’m just trying to be nice and help—”
“I don’t want your help.”
“If you say so.” He picked up her hand and looked at her wrist. “Silent Striders, right?”
“Huh?”
“Silent Striders, your pack. You are a werewolf, right?” he asked, still examining her tattoo.
“What?”
“From the looks of you, you’re of the Glabro breed.”
“What…how?” She looked into his smoldering, black eyes, fear overwhelming her.
He pulled her close and brought her neck to his pale lips. She couldn’t fight; he had complete control over her mind and body. His sharp, ivory fangs pierced her throat. Another werewolf was close by and he watched the hungry vampire drain his young victim. The young boy ran when the tall vampire looked up from his meal. He bumped into two hard, cold bodies. He hit the ground hard. The male picked the little blond up and brought his neck to his mouth, but was stopped.
“Do not feed on him,” yelled the vampire, dropping the girl. “Bring him here.” He grabbed the boy by the back of his shirt. “I may need him later.”

He watched Kevin and Eryn as they strolled down the boardwalk hand-in-hand, staying at a safe distance. Eryn stopped Kevin and crossed over in front of him.
“Sweetheart, we’re being followed,” she whispered in his ear.
“I know.” He kissed her on the lips. “C’mon.” He took her by the hand and ducked in between two buildings. Once their stalker was close enough, Kevin pulled him into the alley and slammed him against the building, lifting him up a bit by the throat. “Hi, Quinn,” he growled, baring his fangs.
“Hi, Kev,” he gagged.
“Why the hell are you following us.”
“I got bored, needed to entertain myself.” His laugh was cut off by Kevin’s hold on his throat.
“Kevin, who is this?"
“An outcast. I should kill you.”
“That’s not in your nature. Besides, you have a bigger problem than me.” He pointed to the two figures standing behind Eryn.
The female grabbed Eryn from behind and held her tightly, making Kevin drop Quinn and turn his attention to his captured wife.
“Let her go,” he barked angrily.
“Hold her tightly, Raven,” Vypre hissed, grinning behind his fangs.
“I wouldn’t if I were you,” Quinn said to a half-changed Kevin.
“Yeah,” he pulled out a switchblade, “wouldn’t wanna cause a premature birth.” He touched Eryn’s stomach, and then kissed it.
Eryn cried and screamed into Raven’s hand.
“We’ll be goin’ now. Quinn, be a lad and make sure he doesn’t follow us,” Vypre said, before he and Raven left with Eryn.
Kevin turned to Quinn and was hit over the head. When he came to, he was home in his bed with Deja by his side. “Eryn!” he screamed, sitting up in panic.
“Whoa, Kev, lay back down.”
“Where’s Eryn?”
“I was gonna ask the same thing. Lay back down.” She tried forcing back down.
“I can’t, I have to find her.”
Demetrius pushed him back down. “She said lay down.”
“Where did he come from?”
“I asked him to come when my friends and I found you in an alley.”
“Do you know who attacked you?” Demetrius asked.
“Quinn, but there were two others with him. They took Eryn and I couldn’t do anything. I didn’t even smell them.”
“Because you’re not use to a vampire’s scent.”
“Vampire? A vampire took my wife and threatened my unborn child?” he sat back up.
“Yes.”
“Does he always stalk in one tone?” Deja asked, pushing him back down.
“Will they be okay?”
“Probably not. It depends on how Soryn is feeling.”
“You know who they are?”
“Yes, Soryn and his kind wiped out half the pack and killed Burke’s father.”
They all turned to the door. Deja went after her angry fiancé.
“Burke, wait a minute,” she said, catching him by the arm.
“D.J., not now,” he growled, and snatched his arm away.
“Burke, don’t do this.”
“I said not now,” he yelled, going out the door.
“Damn it, Burke, don’t yell at me,” she cried.
“He stopped. “Please don’t cry. I hate it when you cry. I’m sorry for yelling, I didn’t mean to.”
“Just leave.” She sat down.
He sighed and knelt in front of her. “I’m sorry. Baby, you know I love you and I would never do or say anything to hurt you. You know that, but this asshole killed my old man and—”
“No.”
“No? No what?”
“I will not lose you again. I will not let you leave me.”
“Deja, sweetheart—”
“Burke, no.”
He wiped the tears from her eyes. “I can stand to see blood—hell, I’ve killed people—but as soon as you start to cry, I turn into a wimp.” He paused a moment. “You know I’m gonna go anyway, right?”
She nodded. “But I don’t want you to.”
“I don’t wanna do it behind your back.”
“Then promise me you’ll come back.”
“I can’t make that promise and you know that.” He kissed her softly on her lips. “I love you.” He got up and left.
Deja went back up stairs.
“Where’s Burke?” Demetrius asked, pushing Kevin down.
“He’s gone.”
“You actually let him go?” Kevin asked in surprise.
“If we were meant to be together, fate will bring him back to me.”
In the park, Lyca and Vypre were waiting, fangs and claws ready.
“Hello, Burke,” spoke Lyca, licking her fangs.
“Hello, Lyca.”
“You remember Vypre don’t you, love?”
“Yeah,” he started with a smirk, “I kicked his ass the last time we met.”
“I was young and unprepared, now I’m ready for you mongrel,” said the Aussie.
“We’ll see,” he said, licking his fangs.”
Burke changed and lunged at Vypre. Vypre quickly pulled out a gun and fired it into Burke’s chest, sending him flying back in the other direction and back into human form.
“What did you do that for?” she shouted, and smacked him in the back of the head. “We weren’t supposed to kill him.”
“He isn’t dead. See, he’s still moving.”
“Well, next time use a tranquilizer.”
“Fine,” he replied as they dragged Burke’s wounded form away. “He’s gotten heavier.”
“Soryn is not going to be happy about this.”
“I don’t care how he feels,” he said, putting Burke into the van.
“You better hope he doesn’t die, and you’re cleaning put the mess he’s making.”
“Shut up and drive.”
“Fuck you.”
“Just give me a time and a place, baby.”

“Where is Demetrius?” Nemesis asked. She was nervous, her pack was dying one member at a time and she couldn’t figure out why.
“He went to see about Kevin. He and his mate were attacked,” said a male. “They kidnapped Eryn.”
“Who?” she asked.
“Soryn,” said Demetrius, entering the room. “And now he has Burke.”
“Burke? I thought you killed him.”
“So did I,” he lied, “but I only wounded him.”
“How do you know he has my son?”
“He sent one of the puppies he caught.”
“Bring him to me.”
“He was badly beaten, he’s resting now.”
“May I have your attention, please?” Quinn interrupted, grinning behind his fangs. “Introducing the all-powerful Soryn.” He extended one arm and bowed.
“Thank you, Quinn,” he pulled Quinn’s heart out through his back, “but that was completely unnecessary.”
Blood poured form his lips and the open wound, and Quinn’s heartless body collapsed to the ground.
“Hello, Nemesis. It’s been a while.”
“You were stupid to come alone,” Demetrius barked.
“I disagree. If you kill me, Burke and his lovely wife-to-be and her sister are going to meet with an unfortunate accident,” he smiled. “And I do believe his future wife is still human and her sister’s pregnant, but you knew all that.”
“Why are you doing this?”
“Do I really need a reason? I’m a vampire. Tormenting your kind is fun for me. And one by one I will torture and kill you all,” he grinned evilly.

Deja sat on the front porch; Kevin came out and sat next to her.
“You should be resting.”
“You forget, I’m not human anymore. I heal faster than you do,” he smiled. “Burke can take care of himself.”
“I know,” she sighed. “But he gives me reasons to worry about him. I hate worrying.”
“Why are you marrying him?”
“I don’t know anymore.”
“Do you love him?”
“Yes.”
“I’ve known Burke longer than you have. I’ve seen girls come and go. You really should think about this.”
“I know.”
“C’mon, you look like you could use some rest,” he said, getting up.
“I will in a minute.”
“You know, you’ve been really moody lately. Are you sure there’s nothing else bothering you?”
“Yeah, I’m good.”
He shook his head and went inside. Deja went to the park and sat on one of the swings.
“Who’s there?” she called out, when she heard a noise in the bushes behind her.
“Hey, Deja, right?” asked a tall blond, standing in front of her.
“Yeah, why?”
“I’m Dameon, a friend of Burke’s. He asked me to take you somewhere safe.”
“Why didn’t he come for me himself?”
“He’s a little busy. He just wants to make sure you’re alive when the war is over.”
“I don’t believe you.”
He pulled out Burke’s favorite picture of her in her swimsuit on the beach. He had the only other copy. “Can we go now?”
She looked him over, noticing he was unusually pale for a werewolf and she didn’t recognize him. She assumed he was a new member, but didn’t trust him. She sighed and went with him. She tripped over a rock and fell to the ground. “Blood?” she saw a few strands of white fur. “Oh my God, Burke,” she gasped to herself.
Dameon heard her and saw the blood. “You’re a clumsy little bitch, aren’t you?” he said, baring his fangs.
She turned to him only to be backhanded into unconsciousness. When she came to, she was locked in a room.
“Didn’t think you’d wake up,” he said, brushing her hair out of her face. “Hold on, you don’t need to get up.”
“I saw blood and your fur…God, I hate you.”
“How hard did he hit you?”
“Where’s my sister?”
“I’m right here.”
“Are you okay?” She sat up.
“I’m fine, but I’m more worried about you. Why weren’t you with Kevin?”
“I needed to be alone for a while, I didn’t know I would end up here.”
“As long as you’re all right,” Burke spoke.
“You’ve been shot.”
“It wasn’t silver, and it’s healing.”
“That wound wouldn’t be there if you had listened to me.”
“I think I’ll go over there,” Eryn said, and went to a dark corner.
“You’re angry with me.”
“I don’t know why I let you put me through this.”
“Hey,” yelled Dameon, “keep it down in there.”
“Why the hell are we here?” Deja yelled back.
“Because your boyfriend is very important to his pack and because you’re his mate, so are you.”
“Important? How?”
“D.J.—”
“You don’t know? He’s of royal blood.”
“What?” She glared angrily at Burke.
“I didn’t tell you because I thought you knew my pack order. You knew everything else. I didn’t think—”
“Never mind.”
The large metal door opened. There, in the midst of the doorway, stood a tall silhouette with glowing white eyes. When he opened his mouth to speak, his fangs twinkled like small stars.
“Glad to see you’re all here,” he started, “and alive,” he said, looking at Dameon and Vypre.
“I didn’t hit her that hard,” said Dameon.
“Burke, long time, no see,” smiled the vampire.
“You’re lucky I’m injured,” he growled, holding his wound.
“I could kill you if you weren’t.”
“Why don’t you just wait until we’re all in the club, then blow it up?” asked Eryn.
“Because, my dear, that would make sense and take all the fun out of torturing Burke and his lovely mother.”
“You should consider therapy.”
“Me? Sweetheart, you’re marrying a werewolf,” he laughed, closing the door. “Burke’s wound is still there. What kind of ammunition did you use?”
“Uh, titanium I think.”
“What?” he screamed. “That’s almost as bad as silver! Titanium will poison his mind!”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t know.”
“Get a room ready. We need to get that bullet out of him now. He’s more useful alive.” He left with a grinning Dameon behind him.
Burke clutched his wound and growled slightly.
“Are you all right?” Eryn asked.
“Yeah, it’s still a little sore.”
“I’m just another hole to put you dick in, aren’t I?” Deja asked, breaking the brief silence.
“D.J.!” her sister exclaimed, outraged by her question.
“You’ve been talking to Kevin again, haven’t you?”
“Burke, I’m serious.”
“Look, D.J., now really isn’t the time.”
“We’re not going anywhere right now.”
“You’re just as stubborn as my mother.”
“Burke.”
“Sweetheart, can we talk about this later? I need to think of a way to get you and your sister out here.”
She pulled off her ring and put it in his hand.
“Deja—”
She shook her head, tears pouring from her eyes.
“If that’s how you fell,” he sighed, sadly.
She went to her sister and cried in her arms; Burke went to a corner on the other side. He sat in the shadows as tears fell from his azure orbs while he slipped the ring on the chain around his neck. An hour had past, Deja had cried herself to sleep; Eryn fell asleep after her. Burke still held on to the ring, but had fallen into a coma. Vypre and Dameon came in and quickly took him to the room they prepared and removed the bullet. They returned him to his corner, and then left.
Deja woke up to a pair of glowing, red eyes shifting toward her. Her screams woke Eryn and attracted Dameon’s attention. He came in and sprayed the angry beast with the fire extinguisher. The last thing he saw was Burke’s angry, fanged muzzle before being slammed against the wall and having his head snatched away from his body. When the smoke cleared, Burke was gone and all that he left behind were two shaking and crying women and a headless corpse lying in a pool of it’s own blood. Soryn had heard the noise and sent Vypre and Lyca to check it out.
Vypre looked at the room; it was empty except for Dameon’s bleeding corpse. “We’re in trouble, aren’t we?”
“Oh yeah. I told you not to shoot him.”
Eryn and Deja ran deeper into the woods, stopping only to see if they were being followed, but it wasn’t the vampires they feared anymore. Burke had turned on them without warning. Deja naturally blamed herself.
It took them over half an hour to make it out of the woods and back to the club. Thanking whatever god listening, Kevin tearfully embraced his wife.
“How did you escape?” Demetrius asked.
“Burke,” Deja sighed sadly.
“Where is my son?”
“He got shot and he…” she cried, her tears preventing her from finishing her sentence.
“No, he’s not dead, is he?” Nemesis asked, tears streaming from her violet eyes.
“No, he’s still alive,” Eryn answered, holding Deja. “But we don’t know where he is. He’s changed somehow.”
“Changed?” Demetrius asked, his tone changing for once.
“That’s not Burke out there. It’s something else.”

Soryn sent Vypre, Lyca and Raven out to retrieve Burke, though none of them wanted to. A possessed and angry werewolf was nothing to play with. Raven hand no clue of how strong Burke was in his current condition. She was the youngest vampire in the brood.
Assuming she would be rewarded for recapturing Burke, she went off on her own. She was the first to find him. Vypre and Lyca both heard her scream nearby, knowing she found Burke.
“Too bad, she was growing on me,” Vypre grinned, cocking his rifle.
Lyca glared at him. “Try not to kill him this time.”
“Hey, accidents happen.” His laugh was cut short when his neck was broken.
Lyca turned to see a half changed Burke, grinning with blood dripping form his fangs.
“Where’s Soryn?” he growled.
“Please don’t kill me.”
He sighed in frustration. “Can’t make that promise. Now, where’s Soryn?”
“Back at the warehouse.”
“Thank you.” He changed back into his bestial form and ran back to the warehouse.
Lyca grinned. Everything was going according to plan. “Like a lamb being led to slaughter.” She kicked Vypre in the side. “Get up idiot. We don’t want to be late for the show.”
He grumbled. “He broke my fucking neck.” He readjusted his head. “I’m gonna kill that bastard.”
“Whatever you say, love. Now let’s go.”

“What’re we going to do about Soryn and Burke?” asked an older male.
“Knowing Burke, he’s more than likely to attack Soryn head on,” Nemesis sighed. “Just like his father.”
“What about the homid he’s mated with?” a female called out, glaring at Deja. “What will we do with her?”
Kevin and Eryn growled at the female, guarding Deja. The doors in the back flew open and Soryn strolled in, tossing Burke’s body in front of his mother.
“He was a lot stronger than his father, but he was a hell of a lot dumber,” he laughed, his face contorted with the appearance of a monster.
Angry, the small pack jumped to attack, but was easily put down by the vampires that followed Soryn. Kevin, Eryn and Deja dragged Burke into a back room where most of the females had gathered to hide with their children.
“Kevin, where are you going?” Eryn asked.
“Eryn, I have to go. Take care of our child.” He kissed his shaking wife. “I love you both. You too, D.J.”
“No, you can’t leave us,” Deja cried.
Nemesis touched his shoulder. “You stay here with your mate. We will need a strong male to help rebuild the pack.”
Kevin nodded and held on tightly to his wife and sister.
“Nemesis,” Soryn sang. “Come out and play. Your pets are all dead or dying.”
“Not all of us,” Demetrius growled, half changed.
Soryn grinned. “Oh, I get it. You kill me and you get to lead the pack.”
“No,” Burke snarled, “that’s my place. And I’m gonna be the one to kill you.”
“Don’t make me laugh, child. Your father couldn’t kill me and neither can you.”
“Well, I’m not my father.”
“I see the titanium hasn’t worked out of your blood yet. That, or you’re a complete idiot.”
Burke’s right arm twitched, claws extending from his fingertips. He laughed with a bestial rasp, changing as he slowly approaching Soryn. Fearful, Demetrius and the surviving two males retreated. The vampires did the same. Viscous, white foam oozed from Burke’s no-longer human lips. His features were in a mad expression and his eyes glowed an evil red. Soryn stood fearless of the insane creature as it approached him. He laughed along with it. The beast lunged at its target, sinking its fangs into Soryn’s throat. Soryn cried out as best he could. He managed to unhinge the beast’s impossibly strong jaws and kicked it off him. The beast laughed more as it got back to its feet, sounding more like a hyena than the unnatural wolf it was. This time, Soryn attacked first, hurling the beast into a nearby wall.
Against the wishes of her siblings, Deja left her hiding place to watch what looked like a losing battle for her former lover. Kevin followed her.
“You shouldn’t be out here, it’s not safe,” he spoke.
“I don’t care. I want to watch him die. If he dies I’ll be free of him.”
“What has gotten into you?”
“Don’t you mean who?”
“I don’t understand.”
“I still love him, Kevin. It hurts.”
“It doesn’t matter if he lives or dies. That thing out there isn’t Burke. Not the one you love.”
They continued to watch as Soryn fought and lost to the crazed beast. The beast pinned Soryn down and locked its blood-covered muzzle onto his throat again. Knowing that a vampire could not be suffocated, it clamped down harder on his throat, breaking his neck and removing his head. The beast buried its muzzle into the chest of the bleeding corpse and devoured the heart. Deja hid her face in Kevin’s chest, feeling sick. The beast stuck its nose in the air, smelling them. It turned in their direction and started toward them.
“Shit,” Kevin hissed. “D.J., we have to go.”
Deja looked up and screamed, angering the beast. It lunged at Kevin, but was shot down before it reached him.
“You two should go. Eryn is in labor,” Demetrius spoke.
“Is he?” Kevin asked.
“No. You should go now.”
Kevin nodded and took Deja out with him.

Eryn gave birth to a healthy boy that night with her husband and sister by her side. Meanwhile, Burke lay resting in a room prepared for him, restrained to the bed. He tossed violently, sweat pouring form his injured body. The rain poured hard that night, disturbing Burke’s rest. He easily freed himself from his leather confines and searched his neck for the necklace he put Deja’s ring on. He looked at it and sighed.
“Good, you’re awake,” Demetrius spoke.
Burke glanced at him, a quick glare.
“You’re injured, you shouldn’t be up,” he said, keeping a safe distance as Burke dressed himself.
“D., you know me better than that,” he mumbled, but loud enough for him to hear.
“Then I won’t stop you.”
Burke stopped and turned to Demetrius. “Tell my mother that it wouldn’t be right if I stayed. You should lead the pack—what’s left of it.”
“All this for a homid,” he smiled.
“I love her. I just hope she still feels that way.”
“Then I wish you the best of luck, my young friend.”
He smirked. “You should smile more often, D., it works for you.”
“I’ll think about it. Take care of yourself.”
“Don’t I always?” he smiled, and then left.
Kevin took Deja home that night, and then returned to the hospital to be with Eryn. The thunder roared and the lightening flashed. Deja was awakened by noise being made down stairs. She got out of bed to see if it was Kevin. She saw no one.
“I really hope vampires have to be invited in,” she whimpered, remembering that most of them had gotten away that night.
A crash of thunder sent her running back to her room. When she entered, the door slammed shut.
“Will this night ever end?” she groaned.
“We need to talk.”
“Will you leave afterwards?”
“If you want me to.”
She sighed. “You’re soaking wet.”
“How can you tell in the dark?”
“It’s raining and you never carry an umbrella. Wait here.” She returned with a t-shirt and a pair of jeans he left the last time it rained. “You know where the bathroom is.”
“You’ve seen me naked before.”
“I’m not in the mood, Burke.”
He sighed and went into the bathroom. When he returned, he handed her his wet clothes and sat on her bed. She tied up the bag and put it in a corner, and then sat next to him.
“Okay, talk.”
“You’re starting to sound like Demetrius.”
“Burke,” she grumbled.
“Sorry.” He hung his head and let out a small sigh. “I do love you, you know.”
“Do you even know what love is?”
“I have an idea.” He paused. “Out of all the women I’ve been with, I care the most about you. You are my first love and I’m twenty-two.”
“You don’t expect me to believe that, do you?”
“No, but if I was lying, would I be here begging you to take me back?”
“No.”
“Why did you say yes?”
“I don’t know anymore,” she said, pulling her legs up and wrapping her arms around them.
He looked over at her, and then out the window. “When we first made love it was raining.”
“So.”
“It’s raining now.”
“Burke—”
He kissed her before she could object. “I promise to behave this time.”
“Burke, no,” she snapped, pushing him away.
“Deja, what is the matter with you? I don’t understand your behavior lately.”
“I don’t want to be with you anymore, Burke.”
“You don’t mean that,” his voice cracked.
“Yes, I do. I will be living with three werewolves and I don’t want be one.”
“I’m sorry you feel that way.” He looked at the ring attached to the chain he had.
“You should go,” she said coldly.”
He nodded, fighting the tears that burned his eyes. “I’ll never stop loving you and you’ll always be in my heart. I hope one day we can be together.”
“Burke, just go…please.”
He got up and went to the door, bracing himself within the frame. “Deja, I know you didn’t meant what you said.”
“You still here?”
“I understand how you fell and I’m willing to give you your space, but I won’t wait for you forever.”
The rain had eased up as he sat on a park bench. The sun was rising, but he hadn’t noticed. He was too deep in his thoughts to care. He was cast out of his pack for a murder he didn’t remember, met face to face with the creature that killed his father, and now his heart was broken. Compared to everything he went through in the past year and a half, having his heart broken seemed to hurt the most. A somber sigh escaped his lips. “Now what’re you gonna do?” he asked himself.
“For starters, how about going home and getting cleaned up, and come see your new godson,” Kevin spoke, sitting next to him.
“Oh yeah, congrats on the new pup.” He faked a smile.
“I take it you and D.J. never made up.”
“No. Doesn’t matter anyway, I’m going back to Eagle’s Bay.”
“You can’t do that.”
He raised an eyebrow. “And why not? She has no desire to be with me. So, I’m just gonna give her some spa—”
“Burke, she’s pregnant. And if she’s anything like her sister, you’re gonna be miserable.”
Burke stood, stepping a few feet away from the bench. “Why didn’t she tell me?”
“She’s only nineteen. She didn’t even tell me or her sister.”
“How did you find out?”
“I’m old, Burke, I learned how to tell.”
“I’ll see you later, Kev. I have to go,” he said with a blank expression on his face.
“She’s at work,” he called out. “D.J. is gonna kill me later.” He sighed with a smile. “The things I do for my family.”
Burke ran, not caring whoever noticed his inhuman speed. Getting to Deja was his top priority. When he finally made it to the store, he found that Deja had gone home early because she wasn’t feeling well. She had left just before he arrived. Frustrated, Burke found himself waiting for her outside her window.
Hours had passed as he sat perched on her home. His eyes finally reopened at the sound of a car pulling into the driveway. He crawled around the corner along the siding, keeping himself hidden in the shadow cast by the large oak tree. He watched as a young man helped a weary Deja into her home and up to her room. He watched as the boy helped her into bed and tucked her in. He resisted his urges to rip him apart, even after he kissed her. He patiently waited for the boy to leave.
Another hour had past and Deja was asleep when the boy left. Burke watched him closely as he moved through the house and out the door. Burke quietly entered her room through the window, closing it behind him.
“I was beginning to wonder if you were gonna sit out there all night,” she spoke, her tone exhausted.
“When were you going to tell me?” he asked, his tone dry as he sat with his head down.
She sighed. “I didn’t tell you because I know you’re not the type to be tied down with a child.”
“That’s funny, I don’t remember saying I didn’t want kids,” he said, looking up at her. “But that still doesn’t excuse the fact that you didn’t tell me you were pregnant. The child you’re carrying is apart of me as well. It is partly my responsibility.”
“Not anymore,” she spoke softly, hanging her head.
“What do you mean?”
“I had an abortion, Burke,” she whispered in tears.
“You did what?”
“I’m sorry,” she cried.
“Without my consent? How could you do something like that? And after I did everything I could to please you.”
She buried her face in her hands, the tears streaming harder. “I’m so very sorry.”
“Yeah, me too,” he snarled, ripping the chain form his neck and dropping it.
She looked up, whispering his name, but he was no longer there.

Months had gone by and Burke was never coming back. Deja knew he wasn’t. She had betrayed him and he would never forgive her for killing their unborn child. She would never forgive herself. Kevin and Eryn named the new child after his godfather as a reminder of his friendship and heroics. If it hadn’t been for Burke, the boy might not have been born. For Deja, it would be a painful reminder. However, she was grateful for having someone like Burke in her life. Wherever he was, she prayed that he was happy and healthy, and hoped to one day see his ice blue eyes and bright smile again, though she knew she never would. It was fate.