I've Been Waiting for You

by Mary Moriarty

  Colum looked over at his parents, who raised their eyebrows. “I will fill you in later.”

  Travis walked in baring a platter with four quail, surrounded by roasted vegetables. At the same time Madison came walking in very slowly. Katherine noticed she walked with a slight limp. Her face looked ashen.

  All the men stood, though she knew Colum wanted to lunge at her and tear her apart. She saw Uncle Wolfie float to the corner where he could watch. If Madison noticed she didn’t show it. Katherine saw that Madison looked visibly shaken when she glanced over at Travis. He had been her brother during back in 1014. Looking the same as he always had, except wearing modern clothes. Katherine watched Madison stumble after seeing Travis, but she caught herself.

  Ever the gentleman, Cormac was at Madison Smith’s side instantly. “Here let me help you, you must still be tired.” He helped her to her seat and then went and sat down next to Elsabet who hissed at him. He took her hand and kissed it, smiling as he caught her look. Don’t worry darling, I’m just preparing our dessert.

  Travis hadn’t laid eyes on his sister, Gormflaith, in a thousand years; nine hundred and ninety nine years and eleven months to be exact. He would rip her apart if he had to. She meant nothing to him now. Colum, Cormac, Elsabet, Katherine and the rest were his family. He would kill for them.

  Madison watched the vampire who looked just like her brother Mael Morda. It made her think about the last time she had seen him alive. He had ridden on ahead of her soldiers, after an argument they had. That was the last she saw of him, alive. She had shed no tears for him then. Word had reached her that he had died on the battlefield. She and her son, Sigtrygg, had watched the battle from the safety of the hill. After the battle, Sigtrygg had lashed out at her yelling at her that it was all her fault, that so many good men had been lost, so many of their family. She had left before the first light of the next day. It was then she had seen Slaine.

  Slaine, surrounded by her new husband’s warriors, rode ahead of the litter holding the bodies of her dead family members. Slaine had taken to riding her father’s horse from that day until it too had died.

  She had watched from a safe distance, knowing it was not the time to get Slaine. She had sat with her retinue for some time, watching the armies of her late, former husband and those giants from the west, leave. It took a good part of the morning. She had sent spies down. They had come back saying there was one who looked like her brother who wore a hood to cover his eyes who was tied to the pommel of the saddle.

  At that time she had thought that no prisoners had been taken. Then later she heard it was for the protection of any humans in the troops. Then as stories leaked, she found out what Slaine’s husband really was, a blood feeder. He had turned her brother and sons into beasts. She didn’t know much until she was reincarnated and learned about creatures such as them, not until she had been born into a powerful family of witches a few hundred years ago. Then she knew it would be her mission to wipe them out. To find Slaine and destroy her once and for all.

  “Ma’am, would you like some quail?” Madison shook herself and looked up to the servant who she knew without a doubt was her brother.

  “No, I seem to have lost my appetite.” She got up, brushed up against the one they called Travis and felt how cold he was. She jumped. “If you will excuse me, I’m quite tired.”

  Elsabet jumped up. “Let me walk with you to your suite.” She flipped her long silver hair back but as she walked she cracked her neck.

  As those two left the room Colum jumped up from his seat, Wolfie came floating down from the corner. Everyone gathered around the table.

  Katherine saw her sons come in. “What should we do?”

  Her Uncle Wolfie floated to the table and stood on top. Not that he needed the added height. “Let’s go to the dungeon. We will give her an hour to settle in and then we attack.”

  Chapter 17

  Odin scooped up Sally and brought her down on top of him. He felt her tighten around him as he moved inside of her. Her moans about drove him over the edge. Feeling her muscles tighten, then letting go, then tightening again. He knew she was close. He wanted this time, this one last time, before he changed her. Looking into her eyes he saw her as no one saw her. She was his love and his bulwark. She would be his forever after tonight or until such time they went to the other side together.

  Sally slid her arms around Odin’s neck and kissed him deeply. She felt his tongue taste her. She strained for every movement of his. Pulling back she saw his eyes, they were almost black, though flecks of emerald green shot out.

  “You’re beautiful, even for a male vampire. How did I ever become lucky enough to have your love?”

  Odin dipped his face towards Sally’s, catching her lips. They moved slowly, a tortuous path to eternity for Sally. He wanted to make this time last, but doubted it would. He brushed soft kisses on her neck, whispering to her, telling her how much he loved her.

  “You were destined for me from the time Colum and Katherine met that first time in this life. I just knew no one was going to be my mate till I met the one. I knew instantly, as soon as I laid eyes on you.” He shifted her weight and her neck went back with a low moan escaping her lips. He took her hands as she moved. He could feel her nails digging into the palms of his hands. A glorious pain to add to all the sensory overload that was about to happen.

  Sally was so close. She was trying to hold on to that last thread of sanity of this mortal life. The strokes of Odin’s cock inside her were about to drive her quickly over the edge. He moved her up and down as he lay perfectly still. She let her head go back again. “For the love of God Odin, take me, now, I want to let go.” She sat up straight mere seconds before release. Looking straight in his eyes that smoldered, she said, “Now damn it.”

  Odin stopped moving. He caught her face with his two large hands. Smiling, he reached and picked up the knife lying on the bed. Slitting his wrist he offered it up to Sally. Sally took his wrist, sucking greedily. Looking at him through her lashes, he started to move inside her again. She felt herself start to tighten like a rubber band. She wanted this feeling, knew it would only get better with time and strength. As she started to climax, she felt herself let go of his wrist. Her head went back and she offered herself to him. The orgasm took over her body as she felt his tongue lick her skin. In the last moments of her mortal life, she felt the orgasm go past anything she had ever felt. It left her with visions of breaking glass.

  She felt Odin’s fangs sink deep into her. Her orgasm was the strongest she had ever felt, as her blood started to slip out of her body and his venom replaced it. He brought his wrist back up to her lips, forcing her to take his life’s blood, as her body quaked with the orgasm and death. Her desire for his blood became stronger as her mortal life slipped away. The last thing she knew, as she slipped into the darkness, was the taste of his blood as it swirled around her tongue.

  * * * * * * * *

  Katherine, Travis , Uncle Wolfie, and the boys were gathered in the dungeon. Katherine sat on some crates. Little Olaf sat up with her, and Thor was standing next to her. Colum held her hand as he stood on her other side. Wolfie smiled as a few more spirits came into view. They had floated through the door. Then the door creaked open and in walked Elsabet and Cormac along with Fatima and Baby Olivia.

  “Where is Liam?”

  Elsabet smiled. “In a secure spot, asleep. The sleep of the innocent.” She glanced over at her granddaughter who though just seven months old, looked more like she was two or three years old. Thor came rushing in.

  “Brent and Justin just arrived. Justin said leave it to him, he has never tasted witch.”

  Colum smiled a sardonic smile. “He is not the only one and he is going to be behind many of us.”

  Thor took Olivia. At she first laid her head on his chest, and Colum watched as his young daughter acted like the normal toddler till she leaned back, took Thor’s hand and bit down on it. All could hear the gentle smacks of her lips
as she sucked on his blood.

  Fatima looked up at Uncle Wolfie and smiled.

  Wolfie patted her black hair and then cleared his throat. “We have very little time in my way of thinking. She is powerful witch, though whether she knows, I do not know. She moved so quickly she had Sally up and against the wall before Odin could act. Had Deidre not felt her and pulled me through the wall I am afraid what would have happened.

  Colum growled. Katherine put a hand on her arm. A current of electricity could be felt throughout the room. The spirits talked amongst themselves. Katherine’s sons looked at first one another then at their mother.

  Elsabet held up her hand. “I have called a friend, a witch, to come. She should be here within the hour. She is from a powerful coven here in Ireland and if we can dispatch the bitch, I mean witch, she can make sure she never comes back.”

  “We have to make sure she doesn’t find our vulnerable spot,” said Colum.

  Cormac looked over at his son, “And that is?”

  Colum leaned over his wife to his father, “Our children. Our son Liam shows no signs yet of being a vampire like his sister here. Fatima is getting stronger but not strong enough to protect herself or Olivia, whom she has with her most of the time.”

  At the mention of her name, Olivia glanced up from sucking on Thor’s fingers, licked her lips and then clapped her hands. “Livee wants Fati,” She reached for Fatima who took the baby in her arms. Olivia took Fatima’s hand and bit her.

  Fatima screeched and pulled away from Olivia. “Bad Livee, don’t bite me.”

  Colum tried to ignore what his daughter was doing. “We need to keep all the children safe. That is our weak point and if she figures that out, we are sunk.”

  Wolfie came into focus more. “I say kill the witch before she has a chance.”

  Katherine took Olivia from Fatima. Wrapping her arm around Fatima she saw her studying her hand. “What is it, darling?”

  Fatima looked up into the eyes of Mama Sally’s Mother. She knew she could talk to her. She reached up and whispered in her ear. Katherine pulled away and looked at the little girl. “You are sure?”

  Fatima looked straight into Katherine’s eyes. “Yes, I know we can do it.”

  Katherine looked at the group who had stopped talking. “I think with the children we have our best weapon, but it’s going to take some planning and help from all of us.

  Colum slammed his fist down. “Never, never! I won’t risk the children. None of them.”

  Fatima moved away from Katherine’s embrace. “Then I will do it myself, I won’t have that woman hurt my family. If I die then I will go to my real mother. Use me as the bait, she will never know.”

  Olivia squealed and clapped her hands. “Me, me go, Fati. Me hungry.”

  Travis clicked on his phone. “Yes, I will be right up.”

  He clicked his phone shut and looked at the group. “That’s our good witch. I am going to escort her down here. All of you stay put and plan.” He opened the mighty oak door and disappeared.

  Wolfie came floating down till he was in front of Fatima. “Child, you will make a very good warrior.” He tucked his index finger under her chin. Studying her eyes, then he looked up at the group. “We must make her eyes look normal, is there a spell? The witch will know by seeing her eyes. If we can get her to think she is an innocent then we can trap her. Get her and Olivia to appear helpless.”

  Colum took his daughter from Katherine. She was still such a baby even though she was maturing at a faster rate. He felt her chubby little hand touch his face and wiping the tears that were falling. “Da Da.”

  “Yes, princess?” He let his head rest on her little forehead. “I love you. I’ve lost your mother one too many times and I can’t bear the thought of losing any of you. I wouldn’t be able to live with myself.” He let his head stay resting on her head. The room was silent.

  Thor stepped forward. “All of us can make ourselves invisible when we need to. I will be right next to them at all times. I won’t let anything happen to them.”

  Wolfie held up his hand. “She’s powerful, too powerful, really just like, what do you call it? I’ve heard and seen from that black box that you all stare at, so entranced.”

  Thor holding Olivia nodded his head. “Yes, she is like a bomb waiting to go off. But I am ready to defuse that bomb.”

  The great oak door creaked open and in walked Travis with a beautiful woman with raven black hair that fell way below her waist. Behind him were Odin and Sally.

  As soon as Sally lifted her eyes everyone took a breath. Sally smiled, her eyes blazed like the finest Burmese Rubies.

  “I’m here and ready for whatever we need to do to rid this castle of that foul creature.”

  Everyone clustered around the newcomers.

  Travis held up his hand. “Before we get too far, let me introduce Emma Southwick. She can help us fight fire with fire.”

  Emma smiled a small smile. “I have hated that bitch for a very long time, if we can rid the world of someone as bad as her, it will make me more than happy. Also, it will make this world a safer place for human and creature alike.”

  Olivia reached out to Emma. Emma not even thinking took the baby. Emma looked at Olivia. “What a beautiful baby. How old is she?”

  Before anyone could do anything Olivia grabbed Emma’s hand and chomped down and bit her hand.

  Katherine reached and grabbed Olivia. A stream of curses, modern and ancient filled the dungeon. Colum grabbed Emma’s hand and sucked on the blood. Cormac came forward. “I am so sorry about that. My granddaughter is growing at a very fast rate and with that maturing, comes a hunger.”

  Emma pulled her hand out of Colum’s grasp, glancing down at her hand, she checked it all out. “Well, it would appear I am no worse for wear. I think first thing we need to do is cast a spell on this one so she doesn’t thirst until a word is said, a binding spell will be good.” She heard a hiss come from Katherine. “No worries it will only last till that word is said.” She looked at Olivia’s eyes and that of Fatima’s. “We need to make sure their eyes don’t radiate also.”

  Katherine walked up to the witch. “So, I’m curious, why would you sell out your own to a bunch of vampires? I mean we aren’t the best of friends or bed fellows.”

  Emma studied the beautiful red head, who she knew was Colum’s wife. She knew the history of them. She also knew Colum’s sister, Bella. She would be the first one to admit she didn’t feel all that comfortable with vampires lurking about, but Travis gave his word. He assured her nothing would happen to her. She reached for Olivia who went to her as easily as if she had known her all her short life.

  “She’s an old soul.” She leaned in and took in her scent. “About twenty or so years of age. Died a tragic death. She’s growing at an accelerated rate.”

  Katherine touched Olivia’s arm. “She was my daughter’s best friend. They had been kidnapped and brought to Tunisia by the same terror cell that kidnapped and murdered me.” She sucked in her breath as she watched Olivia pick up Emma’s hand again. Instead of biting her though she kissed her on the top of the hand.

  Emma kissed Olivia’s little hand in return. “A rare thing indeed to receive the real kiss of a vampire, a sign of peace that is to come between our people. She will be Queen someday, will she not?”

  Katherine stood in awe then nodded her head. “Yes, but that doesn’t answer my question about why you would sell out one of your own?”

  Emma looked into Katherine’s eyes. “This witch has caused much pain and suffering to not only your kind, looking for you but she has been the catalyst and cause of many of the witch hunts. She stirred up Salem. She was around in England. Her family has been hateful and spiteful, power hungry. They have bred fear in, not only the covens of New England, but of Europe. The thing is, she doesn’t know the power she has. That makes her especially dangerous to those around her. She is like a ticking bomb, ready to go off.”

  Katherine watched as Thor
took Olivia, watched them walk to the other side of the dungeon and sit down. Katherine turned back to Emma. “So what do you propose we do?”

  Emma turned as Sally wrapped her arm around her mother. Emma could tell Sally was going to be a force of her own, but she could feel the invisible cords her mate held her with.

  “We will, as Fatima requested, use her as bait.”

  Sally turned wild eyes to Fatima then back to the witch. “Never, I forbid it.”

  Emma could see her straining against the bands that her giant held her with. “I don’t see where we have a choice. I honestly think it’s our best bet. She probably is trying to figure out your weak points or spots. Fatima is correct, this will bring her right to us and we can have her quickly, before sunup. I will cast a binding spell on the two girls. I was told by Travis that there is a prince also.”

  Katherine held onto Sally, who strained against her hold and Odin’s. “Yes, but he is like any baby his age. He eats, sleeps, and poops. He shows no signs of becoming yet like our Olivia.”

  Everyone had gathered around Fatima as she wrapped her arms around Sally and Odin’s leg.

  “This is what we will do,” Emma said as she had everyone take hands of those next to them.

  Chapter 18

  Madison stood on her balcony and let the smoke rings spiral up to the heavens. She waved her hand and a basket formed. Good, now to cast this basket as a trap, catch the brats and then hurl them to the moon.

  Spirits floated above her and watched with keen fascination to see what the witch was up to.

  Deirdre motioned silently to the boys, her two grandsons whom she had never known until now, but would have been so proud of. She pointed to the Great Tower and knew that would be where the witch would head eventually. Beckoning the boys, they moved out of earshot of the witch.

  “Listen, go tell the others we must form a net around the great tower. Odin and Thor and the other blood feeders are to be at the base. They can catch the children should she hurl them or we spirits can’t catch them.”