This restored the body, but not the mind, for Sebastian was in bad shape. He rose from the closet and tore off his shirt. Seb's mind was closed to Michael, but his eyes looked haunted.
Michael watched horrified, then chased after him when he understood Sebastian was headed for the sun, shouting, ''No, you stupid fool!'' Seb left their wide canopies for the unprotected ground.
Michael followed, but Sebastian ran far away. He watched as Seb grabbed his widening mouth, while his flesh reddened and finally blistered. As the blisters grew large, Sebastian seemed to 'come to', and ran back underneath the protective canopies and into the kitchen.
Michael was right behind him. Seb lamented loudly, ''I can't do it! I can't do it! It hurts too much to commit suicide! I'm sorry, you're still stuck with me!''
''OH, God I hurt!'' Seb exclaimed as he laid down, back to the cool linoleum floor. His lengthy mane of hair had shielded his back somewhat. But his front was a mass of huge puffy blisters.
Sonya happened to enter the kitchen, leaned close to Seb, and declared, ''You look PATHETIC!'' An image of Seb's biological father drifted through his mind, his drunken syphilitic father all bloated and yellow, for those were the exact words he'd thought, but not uttered, when he beheld him for the first and last time.
Sonya repeated, ''You look PATHETIC! What were you trying to do? Give me an object lesson in why we must avoid the sun? Really, you could have just told me. I didn't need the visual! How long did it take for this to happen?''
Seb groaned, ''I don't know, time is experienced differently when one is in pain!''
Sonya kneeled and put her face close to his, ''Really, I forgive you for your part in this. I understand, also, you weren't wholly to blame. I, too, had made a false assumption. I also understand you really were trying to 'soothe' me, and not use enslaving mind control on me! I understand this now. I'll get used to being a vampire. I may even like it someday. I forgive you, now will you please forgive yourself?''
Noting his lips weren't as burned as the rest of him, she kissed him gently. His eyes lightened and he smiled faintly. Sonya continued, ''You've made a lot of stupid mistakes, but attempting a sunny suicide was the dumbest!''
Seb shyly smiled, ''You forgive me?'' Sonya nodded, ''I forgive you!'' And she kissed him again on his relatively unscathed lips.
''Thank you! I don't deserve it, but I gratefully accept, just the same.''
Michael, too, kneeled at his other side, leaned low and said, ''I trust you've learned your lessons and will not repeat them!'' Seb heartily agreed, ''Oh yes, I've learned, I really have!''
With that, Michael, too, kissed him very slowly and tenderly on his lips. ''I love you, dear brother. No more sun for you, please! I love you!'' and repeated the slow kiss. Seb looked at Michael, who was his 'brother' by virtue of sharing the same sire, with grateful love. ''You kissed me! You kissed me on the lips! I love you!''
Michael smiled, ''Well, everywhere else is burnt too badly!'' And he gave him a third kiss.
Seb found it resuscitating, indeed. He would always regret his stupid mistakes, but life could go on. The woman he'd wronged had forgiven him. He hadn't lost the love of everyone he respected. Gratitude itself brought a healing sensation to his burns.
Go to Chapter 10, Mama's Visit
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