Author's Note: This is not a smut piece, it is simply a brief epilogue to
The Devlin Family
to tie things off and set the story up for the next part. Also as a quick note, this is the last bit in second person POV as I have switched to a first person POV for the next part of the story. I hope this change isn't too disruptive to the reading experience. Thank you all for the wonderful comments and ratings on the main story, those really make this humble writer feel good.
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Right through the night and into the next day the family comes together to meet and welcome Vespera as she took her rightful place amongst you. It is an impromptu party of the best kind. The whole group of you eventually make your way to the living room to talk and connect. Christmas was the last time the family had all sat in the same room like this just to socialize and make merry and bask in family togetherness. Food and drink is brought out and the lot of you have a grand time, touching base not just with Vespera but each with the other as well. Even your father, who hovered at the periphery, cracked a rare smile watching his family come together like this. Needless to say Mom was over the moon. It was wonderful!
You were beaten and battered and wrung out physically and emotionally yet you couldn't remember ever feeling better. You felt as proud as a brother could feel, as proud as any parent, as you sat by her side and translated for your twin. Simply her presence among you gave you a warm peaceful full feeling that was impossible to describe or deny. You avoid giving details of the incestuous act that brought Vespera through and united your souls but a few of the looks you get made you think that a couple of them suspected.
The conversations with your twin aren't intricate as her communication with you consisted of broad feelings and concepts along with echoed voices from the past, but it was enough for now. There was, of course, a tension given the actions of the past but tonight was a night for celebration and mending. Your mother and Trixie adored Vespera and barely left her side. Your mom just happy to have her wayward child in her arms once more. Lucian was still a bit afraid of her but does his best to welcome her. Grandma is openly curious about her and some of her questions more probing than the others, but she keeps them respectful. There would be plenty of time for those types of questions later. She is upbeat but there is regret there too and you get the sense that your Grandmother had been a factor in the family banishing Vespera to the other place. Bronwyn keeps a safe distance, only saying a few cordial welcomes to her before staying back to visit the others, though he watches your constantly writhing twin closely. Devany was genuinely happy and greets Vespera with the grace and charm you would expect of her though stays close to your father most of the night, the pair of them often engaged in a hushed side conversation of their own. Ciara was busy preparing and serving but takes the time to introduce herself to the new "Mistress".
A few times during the night it is mentioned that your eyes look different and when you take the time to find a mirror you discover that they were indeed changed. The brown iris was now deeper near the middle and within the blacks of your pupils very faint, very tiny flecks would reflect back if the light hit your eyes just right. The similarity to Vespera's inner stars was unmistakable. You had brought your twin through to your world with your connection, in doing so you had changed her so that her inky black skin now showed some semblance of earthly texture when exposed to illumination. Yet she had changed you too, though to what extent you weren't sure. Outside of the soul satisfying link you felt with her and your slightly modified eyes everything else felt and looked the as they should given your condition.
In the wee hours just before dawn the older folk turn in and the Devlin kids decide to take their new sister for a brief tour of the main areas of the manor. You are moving slow, you hurt in ways you didn't think possible, and god damn were you tired but with Devany's support you are able to join the group. Despite her size and many limbs Vespera glides through the house with impressive ease, quickly learning to use the floor, ceiling and bare patches of walls to support her and only knocking a few things over with a stray tentacle now and then. Bron trails behind and Trixie and Lucian lead the way with Trix nattering a mile a minute about the interesting facts of each room or just going off on some tangent. You smile as you watch her excitedly show Ves around. You had been trying to think of a way to approach Trixie about maybe giving up her room for your twin but to your surprise Vespera had different ideas.
As the six of you climb the stairs into one of the dimly lit dusty attics that the family only used as a storage room your twin takes an immediate liking to it. Her white face peers around at the odd angles and sloped ceiling of the space. She reaches out and touches the dusty furniture covers and boxes. At one point she turns suddenly to her right and zips right up to inspect a spiderweb from mere inches away. As the spider moves across its web Ves looks back to you then back at the arachnid with that same fascination you had seen in her back in the forest. Human built structures and artifacts seemed to have little interest for her, but the patterns and creatures of the natural world brought out in her a pure childlike joy.
"Beautiful."
You smile. "Yes it is Ves." Looking to the others you say. "She says it's beautiful."
"Awww." Trixie beams.
Ves then looks to you.
"Stay...Rest."
"You...want to stay here?" You ask her, though you somehow already knew her answer. "Are you sure? We can find you a much nicer room."
She looks back at the spider.
