“Of course. I wouldn’t rather be anywhere else in the world. Well maybe one place.”
She shoved at him playfully. “Where else would you rather be? You know if you have something else you would rather be doing….” His mouth crushed against hers as she drank him in again.
“Don’t ever question I wouldn’t want to be with you. You come before anything else in my life.” His eyes appeared as if he was scolding her so she didn’t forget this lesson.
“Then what do you mean?” Taylor had to know. Understand his statement. She had only been teasing before but now his stern voice peaked her curiosity and scared the shit out of her as well.
“Promise not to freak out?” He looked a little worried.
“Yes.” She whispered trying not to freak out. After the past few days, she certainly had enough reason to freak out.
“The day you and the twins were at my house. That was the best day of my life. I have loved you before you were born, loved incredibly more since I have met you, loved your kids through you and I have grown to love them as well from knowing them. I sorta think of them as my own. I know it’s not possible, but they are the closest to mine I will ever get.”
She put a finger over his mouth to stop his rambling. Her heart hitched. He loved hers kids. Thank You Jesus, he loves my kids.
“I would never freak out over you loving my children. Think of them as your own. That makes me very happy. And besides, I can’t imagine my world without you in it and they are a permanent part in mine.”
“Good. What’s your first question?”
“Well you said something about evoking the spirits when we were in Seattle. What does that mean?”
“Well that means that instead of having a preacher marry us, our ancestors would marry us. Your parents, my parents.”
“Your parents are dead?”
“Yes.”
“How?”
“When Jarrod and I were just little ones, someone got wind that we were chosen to marry the prophecy. You and Liz. Some came after us. They protected us with their lives.”
“I’m so sorry Damien.”
“Don’t be. I’m not. I still talk to them. Sometimes not as often as I would like, I can still hear their voices answering my questions when I am most troubled. Next.”
“So you mean ghosts would marry us?” Taylor became frightened just by the thought of it.
“Yes. But not like you think. They aren’t going to float around or sneak up on you and scream boo!” He yelled at her. She jumped and they both break out into a fit of laughter.
“They would look just like you and I. So much so, that if you wanted to invite your friends they would never know. Just like you seen Chase.”
“Ok. That’s better. Eases my mind. If I choose to remain human, would you stay with me or leave me? How do you know I seen Chase? I thought you broke the connection between us?” She looked down closing her eyes fearful of the answer.
“Easy. I couldn’t break it. I didn’t answer you because I thought you needed some space. I’m never leaving you again. Ever. So let’s just make a promise to each other right now.” She nodded agreeing with him. “If you choose to embrace your destiny, when you can control me and I have no choice but to obey you’re every order. There are two things I want. You can never order me away and I maintain complete control in the bedroom whether you change or not.”
“Ok.”
“Well that was easy.” He smiled.
“My Sex God. I would never order you away and if you weren’t in control I would be your Sex Goddess instead. Besides, I make so many decisions all the time, it’s nice not to have to make one with you. And I have learned I like the thrill of not knowing what you have up your sleeve next.”
“Oh Sweet, you are My Sex Goddess. I just control you.”
“I can live with that.”
“Good. What else you got for me?”
“There’s so much I want to know. Is there any way I can change without affecting my children’s lives?”
His eyes softened. “No.” His voice was soft, full of sadness.
Her heart ached. She wanted this life with him, but she wouldn’t take it because her children were first and foremost in her life. She wouldn’t make a choice that could affect their adult lives.
“Don’t think about that right now. It’s not a decision that is going to affect whether we marry. I still want to marry you no matter what path in life you take. I am forever yours and you are forever mine.” He stood repositioning himself at the foot of the bed, pulling the comforter up over her feet he began to massage.
“Ok are you ready for my next one?”
“Yes. Blue, country, nike, trucks, horses, colgate. I could go on like this forever.” He laughed answering every question that came to her mind quickly.
“You shouldn’t laugh at me. Favorite movie?”
“North and South.”
Mines Dracula, Surprised? He shakes his head no at her. She laughed before going on to the next one. “Favorite song?”
“Well, it recently changed. Used to be Red Solo Cup and Hillbilly Bone but I keep hearing this song, Over You. I hear it so often that it has just kinda stuck with me.”
“I know that song. Beautiful. I have played it over and over again.”
“That’s how I know it. Sending a message by singing it to Chase. It was your way of freeing some of that anger you have with him.” His tone was understanding.
“What about Jarrod and my sister? What’s going on with them? I mean she has it bad for him. She says she’s in love with him. I know you said he feels for her like you do for me, but I need to know that he will make her happy.”
“Do you really want to know?” His mouth curved and his eyebrow arched almost daring her.
“Yes.”
“Let’s just say your sister is quite the M and S part of BDSM.”
“Oh.” Taylor is stunned. Wait a minute. “I didn’t mean it like that. I want to know if they will be happy.”
“I know. But it is true. They will marry just like us. Your sister is hoping that we can have a double ceremony. And I can’t put a finger on it. Her mind isn’t clear. Her thoughts are scrambled. For whatever reason it means a lot to her. He loves her Taylor. I don’t know how to make you understand the connection that we have to you and her.”
“I wonder why? Will they live happily ever after? He will treat her as good as you will be to me?” Taylor needed to know that Liz would be ok. After all they were going through, that was one more thing she needed to know. That she would be safe, protected, loved and cared for no matter what.
“Identical to the way I treat you and want to for the rest of our time. He would take his own life before he would hurt her purposely. I have no doubts. You shouldn’t worry about them.”
“Good. That’s really important to me. Now, about the ring. There will be a ring correct?”
“Absolutely Sweet. One that your heart desires.”
“White gold. Everything else doesn’t matter to me. I just love white gold.”
“Done.” He smiled widely as if he knew of the perfect one or if he had it already.
“Do you have any other siblings?”
“Not technically. Vivian. We call her Viv. She is like our little sister and have for many years called her that. We have the same feelings for her that you have for Liz. Our bond with her is close.”
“How did you meet her?”
“Her parents and our parents were of best friends. They all died together. Her parents were in the wrong place at the wrong time. We helped each other through it. Eventually, there was a bond there and we just began calling her our little sis.”
“That’s Sweet. So does she live close to you guys?”
“No. She lives in Sydney, Australia now. Technically, I don’t live in Missouri either. I only purchased that home to be closer to you. Don’t get me wrong Missouri is beautiful but it’s not home.”
“Where do you live then? Where i
s home?” Why would you have a house in Missouri if you don’t live there? That’s ridiculous or are you ridiculously rich and don’t have worry about the financial aspect of having two homes.
“Jarrod and I both live in Montana. We have a ranch there. It’s beautiful country. I shall take you soon. When we wed, we will live there.” Is that a matter of fact or a, you have no choice? “It’s a I hope you will live there with me. Raise the twins on the ranch. They would love it. Remember I only asked for two things. Where we live is really irrelevant, I would terribly miss it though.”
“Well, I, ,,,” His eyes are bewildered but she knew he had heard her thoughts. “Always wanted to see Montana. Where we live is irrelevant as long as we are together. I’d follow you anywhere you have to know that.” She gave him a come hither with her index finger and he was quick to oblige. The sweet soft touch of his lips to hers. Brief. Too brief. If only she weren’t shattered that was rather apparent as she yawned again.
She snuggled deeper into her pillow. “Will you have Jarrod do that thing so I don’t wake up fifty billion times? I just want to sleep all the way through tonight.” She asked. She felt his touch as he ran his fingers from her forehead down. Her eyes fluttered closed.
Chapter Twenty
Taylor woke to the fresh scent of coffee. Irish coffee. With French vanilla crème in it. She turned, stretching before sitting up on the side of the bed. She looked at the bedside table and there it sat, all steamy and fresh.
She picked it up smiling before sipping it. After throwing on the robe she noted lying across the foot of the bed, that she was sure meant for her but she had no clue where it came from. She went looking for Damien to thank him properly.
As she walked down the hall she noticed Liz’s room was open, bed made. She kept going until she seen her sitting at the kitchen table drinking coffee staring out the window into the heavy snow coming down. Ashley and Zach would have absolutely loved this. She turned her attention back to her sister who looked worried. Deep in thought. Lost even.
Immediately she wanted to know what was going on. She didn’t worry like she was doing right now. Not even while they were leaving for Chicago. It was always like she knew everything was going to be okay and she didn’t dwell on it. She went with the flow of life.
“Hey, what’s wrong?” Taylor brushed the little strip of hair that had fallen across Liz’s eyes.
“They left. Jarrod said that Michael couldn’t track them so he went after Vivian and that he had her. That they had to go get her or he would kill her. What if they don’t make it on time? What if he kills her? Will they blame us for bringing them into this? What will we do if they do blame us? OH MY GOD! What if they get killed? I can’t live without him Taylor. I love him and I won’t live without him.” She burst into tears.
“Wait, what do you mean, they went after her? Who is the hell is Michael?” Taylor could feel the panic in her voice. She knew Liz was upset but she couldn’t comfort her right now, she had to stop anything from happening.
“Michael is the name of the vampire after us. Vivian is their sister or practically anyways. Michael has Vivian, Taylor. He was going to kill her. They went after her to save her.”
“Where?” Taylor yelled not meaning to.
“Australia. What are we going to do Liz? We can’t just sit here while they put their lives at risk for us. Too many people have been hurt because of us. I won’t let them endanger their lives for us again. They have already sacrificed enough by losing their parents. We have to stop this from happening again.”
“Ok so what are we going to do then? How are we going to stop it?” She perked up waiting for Taylor’s answer. Truth was she didn’t know what the hell to do. Go after them.
“Did Jarrod get the Tahoe last night like he said he would?”
“Yeah, he went right after I went to sleep. It’s parked out front. Why?”
“Get dressed quick, we are going, I think I remember where she lives. Damien
mentioned something about it last night.”
Taylor ran to her bedroom, throwing on her jeans, sweater and a coat. She had to get there. But then she worried would they miss them during flight. Not wanting to waste time, she ran back toward kitchen halting in the hall.
“Liz, I didn’t know we had guests.” She spoke slowly to Liz and the man standing next to her. Her face was pale white and her eyes were filled with tears. She didn’t say a word. He was too close to her. “I’m Taylor and you are?”
“Michael.” She choked back a scream. He was tall, red hair, skinny, very unattractively dressed in what looked like a cloak. Everything he wore was colored black. Just like in the movies.
“Nice to meet you Michael.” She moved towards Liz slowly. “We were just on our way out. Is there something I can do for you or help you with?”
He moved toward her quickly. “Stop playing me to be a fool you idiot. I know you know who I am and I definitely know who you are. Where is the amulet?” His eyes turned red. His accent was thick. British.
“What do you want with it?” She knew what he really wanted. Them dead. Like graveyard dead.
“You know that to. You have no idea how long I have been looking for you two. We can start with the amulet as I just asked. I won’t ask again. Where is it?” She started stepping back slowly as he made his way to her. Keeping an eye on Liz the entire time. She knew he was toying with her. If he were anything like Damien, he would be able to catch in a second.
. Just a little bit further please God this has to work.
Taylor looked behind her, almost to the hallway. Just a few more steps. Come on. I reach the hall. “RUN LIZ!!! HE CAN”T GET US BOTH GO GET HELP!!!!” The minute Liz ran out the door, Taylor ran down the hall locking herself in her bedroom. She knew she didn’t stand a chance but as long as he was busy with her, Liz could make it to the Tahoe and be gone.
She could hear him laughing at her. His footsteps were heavy and pounded against the floor. “That’s right run! I love the smell of fear.”
Taylor climbed out the window taking off. She turned the corner and she could see the back of the tahoe just before it went out of view.
“Thank God!” She was still running, she couldn’t breathe but something inside her forced her to go. She didn’t know where she was or where she was headed but she didn’t care. She just had to run long enough for Liz to get a hold of Damien and Jarrod.
“Wow!” She slipped, rolling down a hill before hearing a smack. She screamed out in pain before everything around her went completely black.
*****
She stirred immediately feeling the sharp pain to her forehead. She reached up feeling the site of the pain. Her right ankle hurt and ached a dull paining throb. She tried to open her eyes but they were too heavy.
She could hear voices in the distance that she couldn’t make out for the fuzz that was lingering. The feel of snow was cold against her back and side but it wasn’t cold enough to keep everything around her from going black again.
When her eyes finally opened, she knew she had been found. She wasn’t cold anymore. She couldn’t feel the snow against her. She looked around the room. A heart monitor, she looked down and a BP cuff was still attached to her arm. Her finger had a pulse ox attached.
Her left hand had an IV. She looked over seeing only fluids running through it at a slow rate. She reached up to her forehead and could feel the bandage there. It didn’t hurt as bad as it had.
“What the hell?” Hands immediately were on hers. She pulled them back but then when she seen who they belonged to, she relaxed know he was there with her.
“You’re in the hospital Sweet. Take it easy. I’m here. Just rest.” He held her hand in his while caressing it gently.
“How did I get here? I was running from Michael. Oh my God Damien, Michael he found us. Where is he? He wanted the amulet and he was going to kill us!”
“Shh. Its ok your safe now. I heard you scream. I knew you needed me. He left the minute he kne
w we were there.” His voice was soft. Filled with regret. But from what?
“Vivian needed you Damien. Did you get her? Is she ok?” Please tell me she’s ok. I don’t think I could handle another person suffering because of me.
“She’s safe and sound. Michael planted the vision in Jarrod. He set us up. When we got there, she was fine. She didn’t even know what was going on. We took her back to Ramee’s so she would be safe. I never thought he would have done what he did. I thought you were safe. He took off as soon as we got back.”
“It’s ok. Oh my GOD LIZ!. I told her to run for help. She ran. I know she made it to the Tahoe. I got to see her heading down the hill when I was running from him right before I fell down the hill.” She watched his eyes darken and fill with sadness. “What, what’s wrong? Oh my God did he get, he did, ok. It’s ok. We gotta get her. Come on, we can get her back.” Taylor went to sit u but his hand gently held her in place.
“She was in an accident. She was driving too fast and slid off the road over turning multiple times.” His voice ended in a whisper.
“Ok, is she ok? Is she hurt? Take me to see her.” Please take me. Don’t tell me she’s dead.
“She’s not dead. Sweet she’s hurt bad. She’s in ICU. Jarrod hasn’t left her side.”
“How bad?” A million different injuries started running through her head.
“Bad Sweet. I don’t quite understand it and I don’t want to make it worse by trying to repeat what he said. The doctor said he will see you when you’re ready.”
“I want to see her now. Have him meet me at bedside.” She shoved his hand away from her and stood feeling some soreness in her ankle. She didn’t think about it again as her only priority was to get to Liz now and see how bad she was really hurt. She reached over the counter. She grabbed a 4x4, shut the pump off, and took out her IV. Holding the gauze in place as she left.
Following the signs she made her way to ICU. When she finally made it, Damien was right there beside her. She slowly reached out to hit the button to the door, watching as her fingers trembled. They were bruised and scratched up. She had dirt under her nails. No doubt from the fall. She reached over putting some of the hand sanitizer in the dispenser on them and quickly rubbed it in.
Swept Away: The First Bloodline Page 22