by L.H. Cosway
I stuck it into the keyhole, jiggled it around a little until I got some traction, and felt the lock turning. Seconds later, the door popped open, and I stepped back, allowing Alora to go in first. My jaw dropped when I saw the state of the place. I didn’t know how to break it to her that her parents either fled in a hurry or their house got trashed. Whether it was by chaos infested humans or vampires, I couldn’t say. Either way, things weren’t looking great.
“What do you see?” Alora asked just before she tripped on a smashed picture frame. I managed to catch her by the elbow just in time.
“I hate to break it to you,” I told her gently. “But the house is trashed.”
“Trashed?” she questioned shakily.
“Yeah, I’m sorry, Goldy. Look, I’m gonna check all the rooms and see if I can find any clues as to where your folks might be.”
She nodded and swallowed. She didn’t look too hot when she grabbed hold of my arm.
“I think I need to sit down for a minute,” she said right before her eyes fell shut and her body dropped, convulsions wracking her frame. It took me a second to realise she was having another vision.
4.
Tegan
I woke up to Ethan’s familiar scent as he held me in his arms. It was odd to be able to conduct a daytime routine with him now, sleeping at night and going out during the day. His silky fingers trailed along my spine before caressing my lower back. I arched up into his touch.
“Hi,” I practically purred as I revelled in the feel of him against me.
“Good morning, beautiful. Shall we go and visit your dear bunică today?” he asked with a hint of a smile.
“My bunică?” I questioned, brow furrowing.
“Your grandmother,” he translated.
I snickered. “She might be my grandmother, but she’s certainly not dear.”
“So, you don’t want to go?”
“I never said that,” I replied, crawling out of his lap to stand at the foot of the bed. My clothes from yesterday were strewn across the floor, and I crinkled my nose at the idea of wearing them again.
“You don’t happen to have anything I can wear lying around, do you?”
Ethan stretched his chiselled torso out, and my eyes were drawn to the V of his hips. “Go to Delilah’s room and take whatever you like.”
I crinkled my nose deeper at the thought of being stuck in something that Delilah would wear. I’d barely be able to fit my boobs into one of her tops, never mind everything else. Still, I went to her room and began searching through her walk-in wardrobe. Ugh. Everything she owned was so tight and form-fitting. No comfortable baggy jeans or tops for her.
After a good fifteen minutes of searching through silky dresses, I finally laid my hands on a pair of khaki combats, the kind you’d find in a women’s boutique that’s trying to be edgy, and a Metallica T-shirt. I guessed the T-shirt must have belonged to an ex-boyfriend of some variety because I highly doubted Delilah was into heavy metal.
I threw on the clothes and returned to Ethan’s room, where I found him dressed in loose jeans and a long-sleeved T-shirt that framed his shoulders nicely. Downstairs, I ate a slice of cold pizza, which Ethan screwed up his nose at, but it was delicious, so he could judge all he wanted. Then we hopped into his car to drive to Emilia’s house.
Reaching her stately manor, I stared out the car window and up at the house where my mother was raised. Who were you? I wondered. It was almost impossible to link the Dora who birthed me with the Darya Emilia had raised. They lived in entirely different worlds.
Ethan stopped at the high gates and lowered his window to press the button for the intercom. A minute later, a well-to-do male voice came through.
“Good day. How may I help you?”
“Good day to you, too,” Ethan replied politely. “My name is Ethan Cristescu and with me is Mrs Petrovsky’s granddaughter, Tegan Stolle. We would like to meet with the lady of the house if it isn’t too much trouble.”
“I’ll inform Emilia of your request,” the voice replied before the intercom clicked off.
“She’s not going to let us in,” I said on a sigh, dropping my elbow onto the dash and resting my cheek dejectedly on my forearm. I was eager to see Rebecca and make sure Emilia was treating her all right. I was also of half a mind to take her with me, but Emilia wasn’t just going to let me walk out of there with her precious daughter replacement.
Several minutes passed before the voice came back on the intercom. “Emilia has agreed to see you,” came the unexpected reply. “Please, come in.”
The gate buzzed open, and Ethan drove through. He parked by the front entrance, and we got out of the car. Just before he could knock on the door, I pulled his arm back and stared up at him.
“Don’t you think it’s a bit too convenient that she’s letting us into her house?” I asked. “She’s got a little girl in there that she’s kidnapped and is desperate to keep. Why would she let me in?”
The stark remembrance that Pamphrock was dead hit me suddenly. Even if I did get Rebecca back, I wouldn’t have anyone to return her to. Unless, of course, her mother decided to make a miraculous recovery from whatever institution was currently caring for her.
“She won’t try anything, not with me there. My people would come after her if she did.”
“Are you certain their loyalties run that deep?” I questioned, pulling no punches. “It wasn’t too long ago that they were siding with Whitfield when he decided to exile you.”
Ethan took a lock of my hair between his fingers, his knuckles grazing my skin. “Everything is different now. Trust me in this.”
“I hope you’re right,” I muttered just before he knocked.
A well-dressed butler answered, and I presumed this was the same guy who’d been speaking to us through the intercom.
“Welcome,” he greeted. “Emilia will be with you shortly.”
He escorted us through a vast entryway and inside a high-ceilinged living room. The décor was very fancy, but I didn’t like it at all. I enjoyed a good comfortable, lived-in space. This place was so pristine it felt like I was staining it just by standing there.
Ethan and I sat on the long sectional sofa, and the butler asked us if we’d like anything to drink.
“Yeah, a double vodka, please,” I replied jokingly, even though I kind of wasn’t joking at all. I needed some Dutch courage to face Emilia.
The butler nodded and left the room. Ethan arched an eyebrow at me.
“What? I need it. Emilia’s not going to be a walk in the park to talk to. In fact, she can be quite the bitch. I get the feeling she hates that I’m her relative but feels this grudging obligation to get to know me.”
“Has anyone ever said that your low self-esteem becomes you?” Ethan asked sarcastically, lounging on the sofa and still managing to look beautiful and laid back in such a stuffy environment. The scent of peonies was so strong it was almost cloying.
“I wear it like a badge of honour,” I replied just as the butler returned with the vodka.
Ethan watched as I raised the glass to him in a salute before knocking it back. A minute later, Emilia appeared, and Ethan took my hand into his. Her eyes zoned in on the movement before she stepped over to an armchair in front of us and sat down.
Emilia wore a knee-length, burgundy silk dress with a V neckline. Her attention settled on Ethan.
“I don’t believe we’ve met. Ethan Cristescu, isn’t it?”
“That’s right,” he replied, leaning forward and taking her hand into his. He placed a kiss on her skin and glanced up, flashing his eyes at her. He must have willed them to go black for a moment because Emilia jumped back in a fright.
Her furious gaze darted to me. “Please tell me you didn’t!” she cried.
“What? Tell you I didn’t what?” I asked in confusion.
“This man is a vampire, and you allowed him to drink from you. There’s no other explanation as to why he’s sitting here in a room full of daylight.
”
I smirked casually. “Oh, yeah. I did do that. It’s not what I came to talk to you about though. And relax, he’s not going to bite you. Not unless I tell him to.”
At this, Ethan shot me a grin.
Emilia visibly bristled and settled back into her seat. Trying to appear unruffled, she glanced down to study her fingernails which were painted the same hue as her dress. “So many men in your life, I can hardly keep up,” she tutted.
“It takes one to know one,” I shot back, and she narrowed her eyes at me with a scowl.
There was silence for a moment before she asked, “So, do you care to enlighten me as to why you are here? Or are we going to just sit here all day?”
“I dunno. The vodka’s pretty good. I don’t mind sitting here all day,” I answered, pouring myself another shot from the bottle of Grey Goose the butler brought in. I might as well get my money’s worth out of this unpleasant visitation.
“Tegan and I came to ask a favour,” Ethan interjected, taking my empty glass from me and giving me a stern look that said, No more vodka for you, Sunshine.
“A favour?” Emilia scoffed.
“See? I told you she was going to be a bitch,” I said tipsily.
“Let’s try and keep things amiable, shall we, ladies?” Ethan requested smoothly, taking my hand back into his. His touch calmed me slightly.
“Fine,” I muttered while Emilia proudly lifted her chin and nodded.
“I suppose you know about the barrier surrounding the city,” Ethan continued.
“I’ve been informed of it, yes,” Emilia replied stiffly.
“Doesn’t it bother you?” I asked.
She glanced back down at her nails. “I have no immediate plans to travel. And I’m sure the situation will resolve itself sooner or later.”
“I don’t think it’s going to be quite as simple as that,” Ethan disagreed. “All signs point towards Theodore as the culprit, and nothing with him has ever been easy. We’ve come here because you informed Tegan that her grandfather is a sorcerer, and she would like to get in contact with him. We think he’s the only one who will be able to help us.”
“Roman?” Emilia exclaimed with an incredulous expression. “You want me to put you in contact with Roman?” Disbelief coloured her words as she shook her head. “He’s not in Tribane. Nobody knows where he is, and certainly not I. Even if I did know, there would be no way for you to reach him since the barrier is up.”
“He’s a sorcerer. I’m sure he could find some way to break through it.”
Emilia’s gaze flicked from me to Ethan. “Isn’t it better if it’s left in place anyway? Without that barrier, humans would be fleeing the city and spreading stories about killer vampires and dark magic. Before long, the world’s media would set their attention on us, and we’d all have to leave and start over. If the world ever found out the truth it would be a disaster. They’d try to kill us all.”
Well, I never thought of it like that.
“What do you suggest we do then?” I questioned.
“I’m not suggesting anything. I’m staying out of all of this and focusing on keeping myself and my little girl safe.”
“Your little girl?” I exclaimed. “She’s not yours, Emilia. You stole her.”
“She’s mine now. Her father is dead. Who else is going to raise her?”
I smiled smugly. “She has a mother, you know.”
Emilia paled. “What? Where? I was under the impression her mother had passed away.”
“That’s none of your concern. What is your concern is the fact that you’re going to hand Rebecca over to me so that I can return her to her rightful parent.”
I didn’t know where my steely determination came from. All I knew was I felt a sense of loyalty to Rebecca that was almost sisterly, and I certainly wasn’t going to leave her to be brought up by Emilia Petrovsky. I could just imagine the loneliness of growing up in this big, sterile house under the supervision of such a woman. She probably made Rebecca wear a flipping ball gown just to go brush her teeth.
Emilia folded her arms tightly over her chest. “You can’t have her. I won’t hand her over.”
I laughed, putting on my best Oscar-winning performance. “Oh, Emilia, you have no idea who her mother is, do you?”
“Clearly I don’t, and you won’t tell me,” she answered in annoyance.
“You should hand her over. Her mother is a scary woman, not someone you’d want to piss off,” I lied.
Emilia eyed me sceptically. “I don’t believe you.”
Damn, maybe my performance wasn’t so Oscar-winning after all.
“Well, that’s your funeral. If you want to put yourself in danger for a little girl who you didn’t even know existed a week ago, and who isn’t related to you in any way whatsoever, that’s your choice.”
“Are those sour grapes I hear in your voice? Are you jealous?” Emilia questioned somewhat smugly.
“Yeah, because I really want to be coddled by some crazy old witch,” I bit back.
“We should leave,” Ethan said, squeezing my hand.
“Yeah, we should. I don’t need your help, and I will free Rebecca,” I informed her coolly.
“She’s not a prisoner. I’m giving her the kind of life most little girls can only dream about.”
“We both know that’s a lie, but whatever.” I stood, and Ethan followed. The butler waited in the hallway to escort us out, and when we reached Ethan’s car, I slammed my hands down on the dash in frustration.
“That was a complete waste of time.”
“Not necessarily,” Ethan said. “We might not have gotten any information on how to find Roman, but I can get the girl for you if that’s what you want.”
My interest piqued as I turned to him. “You can? How?”
“I can sense which room she’s in. I could easily break in and get her.”
“Yes, yes, go, please,” I urged.
He leaned in and kissed me quickly on the lips. “Just out of curiosity, what are we going to do with the girl when we have her?”
“I’m going to return her to her mother as I said.”
“Ah, okay. For a moment there I thought you wanted to keep her for yourself.” Now he grinned.
“No way!” I exclaimed. “I don’t have a clue how to raise a kid.” Although saying that, if her mother wasn’t fit to take her, I’d certainly give it a try. Rebecca was ten, so it wouldn’t be too hard to care for her, right? Not as scary as being handed a new-born baby, anyway.
Ethan swiftly got out of the car. I watched as he used his vampire speed and agility to climb up the side of the building, landing on the roof. From there, he dropped down onto a balcony and slipped inside a pair of French doors. Seconds later, he emerged with Rebecca struggling in his arms. I suddenly realised that she might’ve remembered Ethan from her first abduction by Whitfield. He didn’t have any contact with her during that time, but he was there during my standoff with Whitfield and Eliza. Another second passed, and he was climbing into the car with a crying Rebecca. As soon as she saw me, though, she quit struggling.
“Tegan?” she whispered in disbelief.
“Hey, honey, come sit on my lap,” I said, a feeling of relief washing over me.
“You came for me again,” she exclaimed as she crawled over to me, and I gave her a big, squeezy hug.
“I did.”
Her momentary happy expression faltered while Ethan put the car in gear and started driving away from the manor. “Miss Emilia said my daddy is dead. Is it true?”
God, what a bitch. I couldn’t believe she told Rebecca about Pamphrock’s death already.
“Yeah, honey, it’s true. I’m so sorry,” I said, gently stroking her hair.
Tears began to fill her eyes as she clutched onto me tightly. We’d just driven through the gates when I heard a sharp wail emanate from the manor.
“You better put your foot on it,” I said to Ethan. “It sounds like Emilia’s already discovered Rebecca�
��s gone.”
The little girl held my hand tight. “I don’t like her.”
I smiled. “Who would? She’s crazy.”
My gaze was drawn to the overhead mirror. A town car had suddenly sped up behind us. At the wheel was Emilia’s butler, and Emilia sat in the passenger seat, a wild expression on her face.
“Don’t let her take me again,” Rebecca pled, tears spilling from her eyes as her lower lip trembled. “She said I had to change my name to Darya. I don’t want to be called Darya. My name is Rebecca.”
Lord, Emilia was even crazier than I originally thought.
“I won’t let her,” I told her firmly, tightening my hold around her.
Ethan’s car swerved as a stream of Emilia’s sparks lashed against the side of the vehicle.
“I don’t think she’ll come across the river into vampire territory. How far are we from a bridge?” I asked.
“Two minutes,” Ethan answered before stomping his foot down on the gas pedal.
We were out of reach of Emilia’s sparks now, and I saw her in the distance behind us, half her body sticking out the top of her car through the sunroof. She threw her hands in front of her, streams of magic flowing from her palms. I almost regretted having taken Rebecca and making a true enemy of my grandmother when I saw the insane look in her eyes.
We got onto one of the busier shopping streets where lots of people were looting the abandoned stores. Emilia was so crazed that she didn’t even bother to disguise her magic with a glamour. Several people paused their looting to gape at her, slack-jawed.
She began weaving fire through her sparks, and as it descended on Ethan’s car, it burned through several men and women who had been unfortunate enough to be crossing the road. Their singed, blackened bodies left a trail behind us.
Fuck.
Panic erupted, and those left on the street started to flee.
I remembered Emilia describing the sparks as ‘electrical fire’, but I’d never been able to do anything like that with mine. I couldn’t believe she just killed a shitload of people simply because they were in her way.
“She’s F-U-C-K-ing nuts,” I shouted at Ethan, spelling out the word so as not to swear in front of Rebecca, despite this being such a swear-worthy occasion right now.