by L. L. Ash
Nyx pouted.
“I heard you had an attack. What would you have me do, brother?”
“I...have some news for you,” he said quietly before his eyes shifted to behind Nyx.
I followed his eyes and saw a hesitant Ariston behind her.
“Dear God… brother,” Calix whispered under his breath and moved around Nyx to take Ariston into his embrace.
Ariston looked shocked, to say the least.
“The hell is this all about, Cali?” he asked, though he accepted the embrace and patted his brother’s back.
Calix pressed his hands to his brother’s cheeks, looking into his deep brown eyes for a moment.
“I thought— I’m glad you’re here, Ris.”
“Sure,” Ariston nodded and turned his gaze over to me.
“Meet me in my office, I’ll just be a moment more here.”
“Don’t we get an introduction to Lily’s kin?” Nyx piped up.
“This is Maggie,” I told them, pointing to my sister who glared at them all, “And this is my brother Chrys.”
“A pleasure,” Nyx told Chrys directly, taking his hand and lifting it to her face as if to kiss it.
She inhaled and looked up at him through her lashes, a feral, feline type of stare that probably scared the poop out of him.
“Oh my God, Nyx. He’s freaking seventeen years old. Not every male on earth is made for your consumption.”
“Oh, but Lily, dear… He’s so pretty, and he smells delicious.”
“You’re acting creepy.” I narrowed my eyes on her as my brother pulled his hand away from her looking shocked.
“Enough. There’s plenty to eat without disturbing Lily’s siblings. I’ll have someone sent up to you. Please, wait for me in my office. There is much to discuss and none of it pleasant.”
Ariston was looking at me unwaveringly throughout his sister’s debacle and I could see the longing in his eyes, though his hands and body never moved to fulfill his desires. I took the initiative and stepped forward, flinging my arms around him and holding him tightly as Nyx flirted with Chrys some more.
“I’ve missed you, Lil,” Ariston whispered in my ear as he squeezed me tightly.
“I’ve missed you too, Ari. It’s been a hell of a month since I left Greece. There’s a lot of... bad news. Please listen to Calix and remember that you’re not alone.”
“Lil, you’re scaring me.” He retreated a little. “Did something happen to the baby?”
“No. Thank God the baby is fine. But everything has changed since you left Greece.”
Ariston turned to Calix who nodded at him in the affirmative.
“Fuck… I’ll wait in your office. Hurry up, will you?”
Calix nodded again as Ariston pulled on his sister’s arm and headed the opposite way as us.
“Try to be... sensitive with them, Cal,” I whispered to Calix as we walked quickly toward our bedroom.
“I’ll be as sensitive as I can. But they will be angry. We need to think with a straight head and not with our hearts. Passionate stupidity in war only causes more death.”
“Ok. But Ari is a lot younger than you and Nyx, and he is still mostly human. He will be torn apart in a way you don’t understand. Be patient with him.”
Calix agreed.
“He will have to have his ceremony early. As soon as my sisters choose the king.”
My heart hurt already for the pain Ariston wasn’t even feeling yet.
“Your rooms,” Calix said suddenly as we halted in front of a set of doors just down the hall from mine and Calix’s room. “I must leave you for the time being, but my men are here if you need anything. Do not leave without them. Do you understand, Agápi Mou.”
“Right. Wouldn’t dream of leaving these big boys behind.”
I winked over Calix’s shoulder at the four large guards that had been following me around all night.
“Good,” Calix murmured before taking my face in his hands and kissing my lips gently. “I don’t want to do this. I want to pretend like it all never happened. Like Bampás and Mamá were still alive...”
He swallowed hard before I kissed him again.
“If you need me, call for me. My brother and sister will be ok on their own for a little while.”
“I will,” he agreed, stealing another kiss before leaving without a backward glance.
His shoulders were still straight and thrown back and he still walked as if he owned the world, even though his entire soul was bruised and broken.
“The fuck was that?” Maggie demanded. “Letting him kiss you like that? In front of Chrys?”
“There is nothing wrong with my kissing my mate,” I told her sharply as I closed the door, leaving our guards on the other side.
“You aren’t even married!” she shrieked.
“I am mated, which is far, far more of a commitment than marriage. Besides, when did you turn into our mother?”
Maggie’s mouth snapped shut and Chrys folded his arms across his broadening chest and eyed us both.
“Start from the beginning, Lily,” he demanded as he plopped down on the bed.
Taking a big breath, I did start from the beginning, only holding back certain, private acts that happened between us that my siblings didn’t need to know about.
“And as Calix said, there was an attack and that’s why you’re here. What he didn’t mention because his brother and sister arrived is that we weren’t the only ones who were hit. They coordinated an attack across every one of their settlements, killing a majority of his family. Three brothers and six sisters dead, as well as his parents. Right now everything is kinda shaky and emotions are running really high. I need you guys to please, please just obey; be reasonable. You can have everything here until the threat is over, but he can’t assure your safety if you act like idiots. Ok? I mostly mean you, Mags. Seriously. Don’t act like a bitch, please.”
She was chewing on her lip, hands folded in her lap in the way that mother taught.
“I still don’t understand how you can actually think these guys are vampires, Lily. Psycho cultist, maybe, but vampires? Bat-changing, blood-sucking, garlic-allergic night crawlers?”
“If you’ve seen what I’ve seen—” I shook my head, then an idea occurred.
“Big boys,” I whispered and my siblings looked at me like I was retarded. “Some help please,” I said in such a low voice they could hardly hear me.
But sure enough the door swung open and all four large men squeezed into the room, looking for the danger they probably imagined I was in.
“You called, Mistress?” one said quietly, looking at my shoes as he talked.
“I know this is a weird request, but are one of you willing to show my siblings your ability to heal?”
They didn’t even pause. They all went to a knee and the one I’d been talking to produced a knife out of nowhere and immediately ran it across his forearm.
Blood dripped onto the denim of his pants as he held it there, for everyone to see as it closed up quickly, leaving nothing but a small trail of blood on freshly mended skin.
I looked toward my sister who had an expression of horror, and my brother looked fascinated.
“How is that possible?” Chrys asked under his breath as he approached, fingering the spot on the man’s arm that had healed.
The big guy yanked his arm away from Chrys and stood again, brushing off the last of the blood.
“Have you any more need of us?” he asked gently, completely in contrast to how he had reacted to Chrys.
“No. Thank you.”
The men filed out of the room, closing the door behind them.
Both siblings stood there, staring at me, dumbfounded.
“That’s impossible,” Maggie breathed.
“It’s reality.” I looked her in the eye and she looked back, her horror turning into fascination.
“So you’re like… doing it with a vampire?”
“Geez, Maggie! Is that all you have to
say?” I laughed. “My baby is a half vampire too, you know.”
“Are you one?” Chrys asked me gently.
I shook my head.
“No. I’m just as human as I’ve always been.”
“So what, am I going to be a mate?” Maggie asked.
“No. You’re only here for safety. Everyone will stay away from you. Don’t worry.”
To my surprise, Maggie looked a little disappointed.
“We’re just hanging out here then, until when? I have college classes to go to.”
“And I’m graduating in the spring.” Chrys looked worried.
“Not too long I hope.” I said. “But I need to get back to Calix. Will you guys stay here? I’ll have some food brought in. They run on night hours instead of day hours so it’s lunch now.”
They nodded.
“I’ll have two guys stay behind for you. One for each. There’s another room just down the hall if you guys want to sleep. I’m sure you’re exhausted.”
“Trying to run from vampires certainly kicked my butt,” Chrys agreed. “But I’ll stay with Mags a little longer 'til she’s comfortable.”
“Ok. Tell the guys if you need me, ok?”
Another nod.
“Love you,” I whispered, hugging each of them. “Even if we have to be here, at least we’re together and we’re away from mother. No more of her, I promise you.”
Both their faces turned into bright smiles.
“That’s true. I guess we owe him, huh?” Maggie elbowed Chrys.
He just shrugged and sat back on the bed.
“Ok. Be good you two,” I pointed to each in succession before leaving the room.
“Mistress,” The big vampire who I guessed was the leader of the four spoke as I left the room.
“You hear the plan?” I asked and all four nodded.
“Awesome. You and you, come with me. Pretty sure Calix would kick my butt if at least two of you didn’t come with me.”
“He specified all of us stay with you,” the leader spoke.
“Well, you have to listen to me, too. If he has a problem with it, he’ll get more guys. Please stay with my siblings and guide them.”
Nods all around before I started heading back toward Calix’s office.
Chapter Fourteen
When I got to the office door, I heard silence. No breaking glass, no shouting, no threats to the lives of the Dorians. It was eerie.
Pressing the door open, all I saw were the three siblings sitting in their own seats. Calix sat in his big chair behind his desk, Nyx curled up in a corner on the lounge with her eyes squeezed shut and her hand over her mouth. Ariston sat bent forward with his arms propped on his knees, staring at the floor with a blank expression.
Calix was the first to notice me and we spoke silent words through our eyes. He was ok, or at least as ok as he could be. I motioned with my chin toward Nyx and he shook his head. Alright, don't bother her. I motioned to Ariston next and his face grew sad as he nodded, tilting his chin toward his brother.
I took a step forward, then another, staring into Calix’s emotion-filled eyes as I touched Ariston’s hair. Like a switch Ariston looked up at me before wrapping his arms around my hips, pressing his face into my side as he began to sob. I gripped a handful of his dark hair, so similar to my mate’s, then pressed the other against his cheek as he mourned.
Nyx was next, apparently only needing the sounds of Ariston's sadness to set her off. Calix sat there, his head in his hands as the two cried. For their brothers, their sisters, their parents, and the future of their race. Everything was so iffy now, and they didn’t have their father to guide them. The idea of doing this alone was frightening even to me, so I could imagine how upsetting the idea was to them.
I felt moisture soaking into my shirt as I stood there, absorbing Ariston’s tears. I let my hand loosen on his hair and stroked in the most soothing way I could. I had comforted before, many times, and it really was no different. He needed to cry and he needed something to cry on, someone to cry with.
Calix stood from his chair and made his way to his sister who he sat beside. He touched her cheek and stroked back her hair before she lifted her head and curled her upper body into his lap. We stayed there for a few minutes, staring at each other through the pain as his siblings cried.
Ariston was the first to stop. He sniffled loudly and started wiping at his face.
“And what will we do to avenge them?” he asked finally, pressing his face further into my side and squeezing me with his arms.
“When everyone else gets here we will choose a king, and you will be made one of us. I know you were supposed to have more time, brother, but time is now a luxury we no longer have.”
I heard and felt the air rush out of him at the words. Just weeks ago he was considering not even turning; living a life as a human, or daywalker. Today he had no choice. Today he was as much a prisoner as I’d been.
“So be it,” Ariston said, though his heart was not in the words.
He had a sense of duty that he would put his desires aside for. His family needed him and he would provide, no matter what it was he wanted or the personal sacrifice he would have to make.
Stroking back Nyx’s hair, Calix became silent again. I took up a small wood chair next to Ariston and put my arm around him, letting him lean his large frame against me though the touching became very minimal. Ariston was like a limp noodle and I just stayed there, rubbing his back and occasionally stroking his hair or cheek.
A few minutes passed this way before Calix leaned down, pressed a kiss to his sister’s head again then said in a stern voice, “Enough. There is time to mourn later. Now is the time for action and I need you two at your best if we’re going to get vengeance for what they have done to our family.”
Nyx sat up, drying off her tears as her face resolved into steel, all signs of weakness gone. Ariston still had a little ways to go, though.
“Ris,” Calix said gently. “What would Bampás have you do? Would he want you to sulk over him? He is finally on his eternal vacation as he has wished.”
For some reason, I was surprised by how comforting his words were.
“I don’t just mourn for Bampás,” Ariston frowned. “He is only one of the many who have been murdered today. I also mourn for my brothers, sisters, their mates and children. We are only a fraction of the family we used to be, Calix. And you are not king yet. Don’t begin ordering me around until you are.”
At that, Ariston stood and stormed out of the room, looking a little more like a teenager than someone who has seen over eighty years.
“Let him go.” Nyx flicked her wrist toward the door. “He’s mourning more than the rest of us.”
She sent a meaningful look toward me before standing.
“I’m going to retire for now. Inform me when my other brothers arrive.”
Calix gave a single nod as a reply and we watched Nyx stroll out of the office with iron in her spine.
“She is the strongest of my sisters,” Calix said quietly as if reading my mind. “She will lead the others to the right decision. Nyx will see the clearest.”
“She’s like a machine. I don’t think I could have stopped myself from crying.”
“Nyx has also suffered a thousand years of hardships, including her first and only love.”
“Her first love?”
“And only, to date. It was a very long time ago, in our human years. She fell in love with a man in my corps. He was big, strong, but agile and smart. He was a promising warrior and he fought by my side for years. Nyx was mad for him, and they couldn’t keep their hands off each other.”
Calix sat back and put out his hand to me, palm up. I took the familiar movement for what is was and moved from my chair to the lounge. Calix pulled me close to his side and we sat there, wrapped in each other.
“She had these grand plans of marrying him, but Bampás would have none of it. He told her she could keep him as a slave if I was willing to give
him up, or she must let him go. She wept for days, refusing to eat and mourning him, because she knew she could never take away his freedom. He would have hated her if she’d made him a slave, and their love would die anyway. As it turned out, he died on the next raid and nothing ever became of it. Nyx has ever since refused to take a partner. Instead she chooses to enjoy the company of many men and commit to none.”
“Can she live forever like that?”
“She could have, but now the race will be on to restore our power through numbers. In another couple of millenia we’ll be back to how it was before. But I will encourage my brothers to find more mates, and they will need my sisters to help raise them. Doubling, tripling mates if they have to to get the babies moving.”
“And you? You’ll get another mate soon?”
He sighed and rubbed his temple with one hand, squeezing me to him with the other.
“I must, Antheia Mou. You’ve known this for some time.”
“I thought maybe...maybe you would change your mind.”
“I’d like to, but there must be sacrifices made by everyone. I cannot expect something out of my brothers that I myself am not willing to give. That means you must sacrifice as well, Agápi.”
I sighed.
“So… you’ll go back to taking virgins to your bed?”
His upper lip curled in distaste.
“I don’t even want to consider it, Lily… I don’t want any other woman than you...”
He buried his face into the crook of my neck and became silent.
“I think— I need a little bit, Cal...”
“If it could be different, it would be, Lily,” he told me, looking me in the eyes, regret reflecting in his. “We don’t normally search for another mate until the other is turned… But circumstances...”
“I understand the circumstances, Calix,” I said, sounding harsher than I’d meant.
“Lily,” he called softly as I got to the door.
I stood there silently.
“Numbers aside. You are the one that I love.”
“True. Until you love the next one,” I nodded and left.
I paused outside the door, hoping beyond hope that he would follow me, chase me until he assured me that there would never be anyone in his heart other than me.