by K. A Knight
The one on the left raises his hand, and she copies the move before they fade into nothing.
I don’t know whether it’s because I’m from her line or because of how close she stands, but I feel her heartbreak. Longing and regret pile through her before she looks back at me. “Love is never easy, Aurora. I made mistakes and it cost them. Even in the darkest of times, even when I believed the things I could see with my own two eyes, I was wrong. Not everything is as it seems, and those we love take the biggest risks to protect us.” She leans through the bars and lays a kiss on my forehead. It burns and seems to settle into my skin. “Watch them when you’re ready.”
She turns once again into the goddess of the stories. Her power whips through the room, finding the unrighteous and damned. The Mother of Witches.
“You sully our gift, then try to harm the one I send to save you?” She floats across the room, walking even as her feet don’t touch the ground, still addressing the council who pale and shake before her.
I gasp when the cage opens, and I turn to see Nev and Bob side-by-side.
“Hurry up, silly witch, we don’t have all day.”
Nodding, I hurry from the cage. My eyes keep drawing back to her form in the middle of the council room. She’s breathtaking. Through the power she wields and the beauty she holds from stories, I can still see the sadness and weary look in her eyes.
Bob takes my hand, but I can’t look away from her. I hear my name being called, but I gasp as William stands before Hekate.
“We’re not your worshippers any longer. We’re stronger than the gods. We’re free!” William flings his hand out toward her.
Black magic hits her square in the chest. She could protect herself, though. I know she could.
I’m drained from releasing you, my child. I had only so much left after the blessings, I’m sorry. It’s the only way. Her voice whispers through my head, and I scream as black veins crawl along her skin.
She throws me a soft smile as she lifts both hands. Walking unhurriedly toward William, he tries to back away, but he can’t move. She wraps her arms around him and sings as fire bursts from his feet and eclipses first his body, then hers.
And still her song goes on even over his screams of pain and dying.
“Aurora! Wait!” Alex’s voice penetrates the haze, and I swing my head to see them fighting through the fleeing witches to reach me.
A tingle starts in the hand Bob holds, and when I look at my feet, they’re disappearing.
“No, please!” Alex screams.
“Aurora!” Ezra shouts, his voice heartbroken.
Looking back at the flaming column that was Hekate and William, I fade from the room with Bob and Nev, her heartbreaking song following me into the other.
Love you my whole life. Watch over you I will. Dead or alive, here or there. I’m yours.
Epilogue
LANE
Eyeing up the seedy bar I found online, I square my shoulders and channel my inner Aurora. Even her name sends a pang of pain through my chest, but I know she’s okay. She has to be.
It’s been two weeks since she disappeared in the middle of the night. Two weeks with no word, and I know something is wrong.
The boys’ house is cleared out and hers hasn’t been touched. I can’t get through to any of them, and I woke up in the middle of the night two weeks ago in a cold sweat with a bad feeling forming in my chest, stopping my breathing.
No, I know something happened to my best friend, and I plan to save her. Just like she would for me. I went to Tom first, but he was as freaked as me. He told me he would put out some feelers to the ‘community’ and let me know.
Like I’ll sit back on my ass while she’s out there, probably hurt and definitely in trouble.
Flipping my hair over my shoulder, I stride toward the door of the club named ‘Fangers’. I managed to get such information from someone I did a job for online. This is the third club I’ve hit tonight in search of supernatural.
Who knew it would be so hard to find them.
The bouncer eyes me strangely and stops me from entering by placing a pale, tattooed arm across the door. He’s a big man; long black receding hair pulled away in a ponytail, muscles on muscles, and taller than the door frame itself. I guess you have to be strong for a supernatural club. I wonder what he is. Fudge, I really didn’t think this through, but it’s too late to back out now.
“Ya know the rules?” he rumbles.
Faking confidence I don’t feel, I smile sweetly at him and pop my hip out. In my short golden, sparkly dress, mixed with my thigh-high black heels, I look killer I just need to act like it.
“Of course, sweetie,” I purr, stroking down his arm.
He watches me, a strange smile on his lips, almost like he’s holding them still. He jerks his head at the door without a word and steps back. Swinging my hips, I force myself inside. The door shuts with a bang, making me jump and shiver.
Directly in front of me is a set of steps. The walls are painted black and the ceiling red, but that’s all there is. Okay, then. Guess down I go. I sound like that Alice chick.
Holding onto the railing, I walk down slowly, the light from the top of the stairs dimming until I have to squint.
The bottom is in near complete darkness. Blowing out a breath, I trail my fingers along the wall until I meet the wood of a door in front of me. Searching it, I find the handle and yank.
As I stumble through, my mouth drops open. It’s not liked any nightclub I’ve been in before, that’s for sure.
Large chandeliers with what looks like floating candles inside hang across the ceilings and scatter throughout the room. Hell, they probably are floating. The walls are a deep, dark red, almost the color of blood.
To the left, booths line the walls, pin-spiked cushions inviting you to take a seat. To the right, people waiting to be served at a short bar with stools. In front of me, steps lead down into the thriving dance floor as some sexy bass music plays so loud my heart races in time to it. I find myself swaying automatically but force myself to stop.
I’m not here to have fun. I’m here to find a supe.
Trying to look casual, I wander over to the bar and lean on the wood. Not a minute later, a man pops up in front of me, making me jump. Gripping my chest, I throw him a glare, and he grins.
I freeze when I spot shark-like sharp teeth, but when I blink, they’re back to normal human ones.
Shaking my head, I drop my hand and give him a nervous smile.
“Whatcha having, lamb?” he calls, his voice rich and earthy.
Blond spiked hair stands up in all directions and one green and one blue eye locks on me. His hands don’t stop moving from wiping the bar to grab a glass.
“Vodka, straight,” I reply.
He nods, still grinning like the Cheshire cat.
Turning to the side, I stare at his ears, which poke through his hair. Are they pointy? Well, either I’m on drugs or it looks like I’m in the right place.
He pops up again not a minute later and slides a drink over to me. I sniff before taking a sip. The alcohol explodes on my tongue, making me groan.
“What is that?” I ask, an orange flavor filling my mouth now.
“Special home brand.” He laughs, and I’m not sure why.
Well, no time like the present.
Keeping the drink in hand, I lean on the bar, and he leans in closer so I don’t have to scream over the music. “I’m looking for someone.”
“Uh, uh. Course you are, lamb. The guys you want are in the back.” He leans away.
I start to get annoyed. “Erm, I don’t know what you mean. And why do you keep calling me that?”
“Like a lamb to the slaughter.” He laughs and disappears down the bar before I can chew him out.
What the actual chips?
I wait for another five minutes, but he becomes busier and busier and I don’t get a chance to grab him. Sighing, I take my drink and slip away from the bar, walking around the
room, watching everyone.
Aurora said there are all sorts of supernaturals in this world. I wonder what’s in this club. Surely there must be a witch in here somewhere.
Staying back from the fray near the edge of the dance floor, I bite my lip and sip my drink, trying to think of a way to find what I’m searching for.
Holding my drink to my chest, I search the area. I can’t go around asking everyone, but I need to start with someone. I freeze when I spot two familiar men.
Aren’t they the hotties I danced with when we went clubbing last? I lean closer when a hard chest blocks my gaze.
Running my eyes up it, I meet the cold blue ones of an attractive man. His short brown hair is styled in waves and his face is all perfect angles.
“Lost something?” he purrs, stepping closer until I step back.
“Maybe. Are you going to help me find it?” I ask, enthralled by his eyes. They’re bright and pull me in until I can’t look away.
“Oh, I plan to.” He reaches out and grabs my drink, putting it down on the table next to us. “Join me.”
Yes, why don’t I? I’m here to have a good time after all, and he’s handsome, so of course I’ll join him.
I drop my hand in his and blink. Pain forms in my head. Wait, was I looking—
“Now,” he demands, his voice harsher, and the thought slips away as I smile dreamily.
“Yes,” I say, breathless as he walks me around the bar.
I catch the bartender’s eyes. He nods and smiles knowingly. He mouths the word lamb, but then I’m being dragged through a black door at the back of the club that I never noticed.
My head whirrs, and I’m slammed back into a wall. The stranger kisses up my chest, laying open mouthed bites along my neck before covering my lips.
As fast as the kiss started, it ends.
“You taste divine.” He grabs my hand and pulls me after him down a corridor.
Lots of doors span each side, but I don’t get a chance to investigate, because he opens the last on the left and pulls me through. Shutting it behind him, I stumble into the middle of the room.
Three more men wait in here, sitting on the sofa.
A curved black sofa is right in front of me with a bed to the left, and to the right, a rack holds what looks like sex toys. My mind screams at me, and I turn to leave only to find the stranger blocking the door.
“Sit,” he orders.
With a gasp, I try to fight it, but my body walks over to the sofa and sits. The men move away slightly as if to watch, and the stranger follows after me, sitting close enough for me to smell the alcohol and copper tang on his breath.
He kisses along my face again and down my neck, his tongue darting out to moisten the skin there. My body shakes even as I beg it to move, but it’s like I’m locked in place; his command ringing through my head.
No.
No, I need to move.
I manage to make my fingers twitch as he reaches my chest.
Move. Now! I scream at myself, and with a ragged breath, I tumble from the sofa and stand on unsteady legs in the middle of the room facing them.
He leans back on the sofa, crossing one black trousered leg over the other.
“Interesting. It seems the lamb has a little fight in her.” His mouth opens wide to reveal massive fangs hanging over his lower lip. I stare at him dumbly as he watches me. “I can’t wait to break that and drink you dry.”
This can’t be happening, but it makes sense; the fangs, the smell of blood, hell, even why I find myself back here. He’s a friggin’ vampire. The others laugh and watch us like we’re tonight’s entertainment.
“I’ve watched all the seasons of CSI and binge-watched all How to Make a Murderer. I know how to make your death look like an accident. Vampire or not. Don’t mess with me,” I threaten, my hands shaking slightly as I face off with them.
For all my bravado, I scream when they move. One second, he sits on the sofa, and the next, I’m bent over. I howl as he bites me, his fangs ripping through my neck non-too gently. Warm blood trails down my neck as I start to feel dizzy. I’m losing too much blood. It even streams into my one good gold dress.
One second, I’m held in my murderer’s arms, and the next, I’m grabbed and pushed behind three extremely tall and wide bodies. The room blurs around them, allowing me to make out little detail.
“The human is ours,” comes a deep voice from the guy to the left.
There’s an accent there I can’t place.
I stumble forward, my heels and blood loss mixing until I collapse. My hand meets the back of one of the guys, and he spins to me with his fangs bared. The face of the guy I danced with the other night stares at me.
“Oh, for fuck’s sake, not another vampire,” I groan before falling into his arms.
A ringing fills my head, my body cold and numb. I can’t seem to move. Even opening my mouth feels like too much effort.
“Fuck, he drained her. She’s dying!” comes a shout, and the words register numbly.
Huh, so that’s what’s wrong. Fudge. Aurora’s going to be so mad.
“Shit, he’s right. She’s cold to the touch and has lost too much blood. He must have hit an artery. I don’t think even a hospital can save her now.” It’s the accented man speaking now as my eyes slip shut, and I start to float away.
“Fuck!” comes a screech and crash. “She can’t fucking die. We just found her!” a different man yells.
Hopelessness and desperation fill his voice until all I want to do is wake up and comfort him, but it’s so cold and dark.
I’m sorry, I whisper, hoping it leaves my lips as everything fades.
Translations
ύπνος, απόγονος μου - sleep, my descendant.
* * *
με βοηθήστε, απόγονος μου - help me, my descendant.
* * *
οΟι μάγισσες είναι ήδη δικές σου, ο απόγονος μου - The witches are already yours, my descendant
* * *
Έτσι θα είναι, ο απόγονος μου - So it will be, my descendant
* * *
Ήρθε η ώρα, έλα σε μένα - The time has come, come to me
About the Author
K.A Knight is an indie author trying to get all of the stories and characters out of her head. She loves reading and devours every book she can get her hands on, she also has a worrying caffeine addiction.
She leads her double life in a sleepy English town, where she spends her days at the evil day job and comes home to her fur babies and other half.
Also by K. A Knight
THE LOST COVEN
Aurora’s Coven
Aurora’s Betrayal
THEIR CHAMPION
The Wasteland
The Summit
Circus Save Me
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