Chapter 216 - Goodbye
"Where were you?" Elias instantly asked when he followed her outside. She was looking ahead, her hands tucked in front of her.
Despite the modern era, Dorothy still behaved like this was the aristocratic era. She was old-fashioned and always behaved with the etiquette taught to her centuries ago. She could never forget the strict canings whenever she made a mistake.
"Preparing to die," Dorothy stated.
Elias paused and quietly stared at her. Pure-Bloods did not die of old-age. They were either killed or killed themselves. Illness and diseases was what usually killed them, for nothing could be powerful enough to murder a Pure-Blood.
Elias noted his Grandmother's skin was paler than usual, but she didn't seem sick.
"How old are you now?" Elias mused. "At least a thousand years old?"
"Don't you know you shouldn't ask a woman her age?" Dorothy remarked.
Although Pure-Bloods aged significantly slow, they still showed wrinkles at some point in their life. Dorothy had wrinkles on her face, with leather skin, and a permanent frown line. Her raising skin, despite her status, only showed she was far too old for this world and illness should've killed her long ago, but didn't.
Why? Elias never knew.
"I hear you've yet to find a Pure-Blood for your wife," Dorothy commented, staring out the window.
Dorothy stopped to admire the sunset, the one she had seen many times, but could never look away from. Each sunset was different. They were amazing.
Sometimes the sky was a husky pink with hues of midnight blue, and sometimes it was a soft lavender with a hint of orange. The combination was limitless and the clouds made each sunset vary.
Elias peered at the sky and said nothing. Dorothy had rats in every corner of the palace. He'd exterminate one, and two more would pop up. That was fine with him. He did not mind soaking the castle in a bloodbath.
"Tsk, look at that arrogant expression of yours," Dorothy said with a frown.
Elias had the presence of a God. Not many possessed that ability, despite their money and power. The hallway stretched long and far, but his silhouette alone consumed all of the air.
"You used to be such an adorable thing, relying on my aid when your parents left this world too early," Dorothy said. "I practically raised you and you bit the hand that fed you. I've tolerated your tantrums and threats, but to embarrass me in front of so many people, have you no shame?"
Elias did not respond. He continued to observe the distance, where he saw the flowers that Adeline planted. Irises and orchids were in full bloom, signalling the peak of Spring. It was humorous that his children were born in the season of flowers, when their mother had so much symbolism with roses.
"I cared for you like my own son," Dorothy stated. "When your parents died, I saw it as my duty to take care of you and love you as if you were my own. You were all I had."
"People say I resemble grandfather," Elias coldly said, glancing at her. "I suppose that has nothing to do with it?"
Dorothy pressed her lips together. "It has everything to do with it."
Elias hummed. He continued looking out the window, watching the sun begin to set. He thought of Elios with his golden hair and red eyes. Why did only one of the babies have red eyes? Why was Adelia's green? He was curious, but not worried. Perhaps Elios had a stronger dilution of vampire blood than Adelia.
"You look like the spitting image of your grandfather, my husband, and that is why I treasured you. It is a shame you did not inherit his kind, caring heart," Dorothy stated.
"I care for no one but my family," Elias vaguely said.
"Am I not your family?" Dorothy countered, slightly offended and irritated. Her grandson was making it harder for her to die in peace and help him.
"Family always support each other," Elias responded. The sun was hiding behind the clouds now. He needed to return to Adeline's side. Without his help, she couldn't even use the bathroom.
"Ah, you're referring to Minerva," Dorothy muttered. "Having opposing sides keeps your mind sharp from influences."
Elias narrowed his eyes. He didn't need a family that opposed his power, especially his wife. But then he thought back to the tonic, and knew where Dorothy had gone off to. The cottage where his grandfather was buried.
"As much as you will not believe me, I care for that wife of yours. She is the birth mother of my great-grandchildren, and a resilient woman, though foolish like her mother," Dorothy said whilst twisting the ring on her finger. She had never taken it off.
"She is far too kind-hearted for the likes of you," Dorothy muttered. "But I suppose I had a hand in raising you to be this indifferent, for emotions were weaknesses, and your grandfather knew that best."
Elias blinked. His entire family was too prone to emotions. His parents killed themselves, and unable to bear with his only son's death, Elias's grandfather took his own life as well.
It was a miracle that Dorothy was standing as she was, despite losing her entire family in a span of a year. Because of that, Elias viewed her as a strong, but cold-hearted woman.
"I never asked for you to care for me," Elias suddenly said, turning to look at her for a brief second. "But I am thankful for your lessons and advice."
It was the one and only time Dorothy had heard a compliment from Elias. For a split second, her cold interior cracked and the corner of her mouth twitched. He had finally acknowledged all the hard work she put into raising him. Because of that, she felt as if departing from this world was no longer so difficult.
"Hm, actions speak louder than words. You don't seem so thankful for all I've done," Dorothy said.
"That is because you didn't do much. It's not my responsibility to care for your help when I never asked for it," Elias stated.
"You were just a boy when I took you under my care. And now, you have a son and daughter. Life is going full circle."
Elias was confused by her vague wording towards the end. But he assumed it had to do with her death. He was suddenly curious of her blood-type.
"Where are you going?" Elias inquired. "And what is your blood-type, Grandmother?"
Dorothy chuckled at his words. "Do you plan to bleed your only relative dry? I am the last family you have left."
"No," Elias said.
Dorothy raised a brow. Oh?
"I have three more people in my family," Elias stated.
Dorothy smiled at this. It was a bittersweet one. To see he had finally acquired what she wanted him to possess all along… She couldn't help but truly think it was her time to go. She had fulfilled everything she wanted in life. Now, when she died, he would not be alone. And when she died, she could safely tell her husband she had fulfilled all of her duties as a wife, mother, and grandmother.
"You finally have a proper family," Dorothy slowly said. "Let us hope it remains that way, for the rest of eternity."
The sun had setted. It was Dorothy's time to leave. She turned and wordlessly walked off, deciding not to say anything else.
"Goodbye, Grandmother."
Dorothy paused. She looked over her shoulder, suddenly feeling exhausted. It was time for her to go to the cottage, where her husband's grave laid.
"Goodbye, my brat of a grandson."
The source of this c𝐨ntent is fre𝒆w(e)bn(o)vel