I felt the sun hitting my face. I opened my eyes to another bright morning. My body felt heavy but I knew I had to get up. I had so much work to do, so many papers to finish. I took a nice warm bath and changed into warm winter clothes. I got out of the room and into the hallway. It was quiet. Too quiet. Where is everyone? I proceeded to the banquet hall and pushed the door open.
"Happy birthday!" Everyone shouted.
I was surrounded with people that I held dear. I received countless hugs and kisses. The banquet hall was filled with party decorations and beautiful ornaments. The long dining table was filled with delicious food, with a four-layered cake in the middle. It was a feast.
"You prepared so much. How can you plan all this under my radar?"
"It was hard, with that sharp mind of yours. But it was worth it." Anastacia, Kai's mother, said.
It had been a year since the fateful war with the Church's experiments. After the fight, my father and the surviving Church officials underwent trial. They were all sentenced to spend the rest of their lives in service of the community, under the Council's strict supervision. They all were to live in special living quarters in the Council office's premises. A joint council was created. Exemplary vampires and humans were appointed to take office, and the said joint council was proclaimed as the single governing body for all humans and vampires. Both Kai and I were given high positions in the new government, so I was free to visit and talk to my father when I was available. My friends also held important positions in the government, even Philip and his father.
Father Sinclair decided to exile himself at a nearby village. He said he was too old for office and that he must atone for his own sins. Maria wanted to go and live with him, but he wanted her to live her own life the way she wanted. After Father Sinclair left to try a new life surrounded with nature, Maria came to live with us. She and Kilian had gotten along well, and even started dating a few months later. Me, Kai, Kilian and Maria came to live with Kai's parents in their huge castle. They kept insisting they wanted to spend more time with us. Furthermore, my father's castle was remodeled and made to be the new orphanage, so we had nowhere else to go.
The people were devastated when they found out about the Church's experiments. But, they were more open-minded than I thought. Many were happy when the joint council was established. It meant for an even more peaceful relationship between humans and vampires. Some were against it at first, but was later on able to adapt to the change. More human-vampire friendships sprung and the capital was once again in harmony.
More importantly, the laws were abolished. The love Kai and I have for each other just keeps getting stronger every day.