Daughter of the Thirteen: Bourbon Street Witches Book 1

by Lorraine Kennedy

  Suddenly the darkness retreated and she found herself in a world of moving shadows. She was standing in a long corridor that went on for as far as the eye could see.

  Every few seconds she would detect movement out of the corner of her eye, but when she’d turn to look, there was nothing their.

  Laurel started down the corridor.

  She’d been walking for what seemed an eternity, but still the end of the corridor was nowhere in sight.

  There was more movement, but this time she caught a glimpse of what it was.

  A huge spider ran in front of her. It wasn’t just an oversized spider. The creature had the body of a spider, but the head of an infant.

  Laurel’s hand flew to her mouth to stifle a scream.

  More of the creatures began emerging from black walls of darkness, and she froze.

  Spiders had always terrified her. When she was a child, she’d have nightmares that the spiders would eat the babies at the orphanage. When babies crawled, they reminded her of spiders.

  “It isn’t real Laurel. He’s playing with your fears.”

  Laurel caught her breath.

  The voice belonged to Marcos, but was it real? She hadn’t heard it with her ears, but more like it echoed from somewhere inside her own head.

  Thinking of Marcos helped her move forward.

  The creatures didn’t disappear, as she thought they might. One by one the spiders began attacking her, ripping the flesh from her legs.

  Once she lost her footing and fell. One of them bit at her arm, but she managed to get up and keep moving.

  Finally she saw something other than darkness. At first it was just a pinprick of red light, but as she got closer, she saw it was more like glowing red embers.

  Without warning, she was pulled into the light and was completely surrounded by fire, but she wasn’t alone.

  Although he had his back to her, there was something familiar about him.

  “You are right Laurel. You do know me,” he said in a deep - smooth voice that was nothing like she’d expected.

  Even the voice was familiar.

  “Who are you?” she asked.

  When the being turned around to look at Laurel, her world began to spin.

  It was Philippe, but with different eyes. The being was wearing Philippe’s body, but his eyes were completely black. There wasn’t a hint of white there.

  “This is a trick!” Laurel choked.

  He chuckled, but it wasn’t with humor. His laughter was dark and sadistic. “I had you going … didn’t I, Laurel?”

  Fury crept into her heart, chasing away any fear that might have been there. “Where is Marcos?” she hissed.

  “Oh he is here … and of course you love my son so much, you are prepared to do whatever it takes to rescue him,” he laughed.

  “Yes.”

  Philippe motioned towards a gaping black pit surrounded by fire. “Then by all means … show me how much you can love a monster.”

  Without hesitation, Laurel stepped into the pit and the murky reality of Hell’s dimension.

  When she first saw Marcos, she had no idea who it was she was seeing. The creature looked nothing like the man she loved.

  The thing’s body was wrapped in bat-like wings. She did recognize some of Marcos’s features in the creatures face, but there was just a slight resemblance. The creature reminded her of the gargoyles she’d seen in picture books.

  The Marcos creature was held captive with chains.

  “Marcos!” she cried.

  When the creature opened its eyes, she saw hell reflected in pools of darkness.

  “Release these chains!”

  Laurel hesitated.

  What if it was a trick and this thing wasn’t Marcos?

  Even worse, what if it was her lover, and he had lost his humanity? What would he do to her?

  But then she remembered, he’d always been a part of the demonic, but even in his darkest hour, he’d cared enough to keep her safe.

  Stepping up to the creature, she looked into its blank - soulless eyes. “Marcos … I love you,” she told him, brushing his lips with hers.

  The transformation was instantaneous. When their lips parted, she was no longer seeing the creature, but the man she would love for eternity.

  The chains dropped and he wrapped her in his arms. “I love you angel witch.”

  In that instant, the two of them were consumed by an explosion of fire and smoke.

  Chapter Nineteen

  When the smoke and fire cleared, they were standing in the front courtyard of the abandoned church.

  Philippe was there also, but now she knew what he really was.

  “A deal is a deal … is it not?” he laughed.

  Laurel was confused. “I told my son,” Philippe motioned to Marcos, that if you chose him, you would live and he would die, but I offered him a way out. Your love.”

  Now she understood how she’d managed to get him out of Hell, at least she thought she did.

  “But any being that leaves the Underworld, carries a curse that is passed down to their descendants,” he added. “Do you want to know what that curse is?”

  Neither Marcos, nor Laurel responded.

  If she were cursed, Laurel would just as soon not know about it, yet. There was time enough to deal with it later.

  Cupping Laurel’s chin in the palm of his hand, Philippe tilted her head so that she was looking up at him. “You my sweet little witch … are cursed to love what you fear.”

  Turning to Marcos, the Dark Prince slapped him across the back. “And you my boy … will need to feed soon.”

  Nodding to them, Philippe disappeared into thin air.

  It took a moment before it dawned on her what he’d meant.

  Slowly she turned to look at Marcos. What she saw filled her with anguish. There was still love in his eyes, but now there was also pain, and hunger … the kind of hunger that only blood will sate.

  Marcos was now vampire.

  The agony in that realization brought her to her knees. All she could do was sob.

  After all they’d done, evil had still won.

  She felt the chill of cold flesh on her arm. Through her tears, she saw the sorrow on Bale’s face.

  “Let’s get up girl,” he said. “There are lots worse things that being a vampire.”

  His words were meant to comfort, but they didn’t.

  Gathering around her, the other girls hugged her.

  “It will be okay … I promise,” Bridgett vowed.

  Finally it was Marcos’s howls of pain that brought her back. He was doubled over and screaming.

  Laurel tried to go to him, but Bale held her back. “His human body is dying. It happens to all of us.”

  Bale’s words brought her no comfort.

  “Did you find what you were looking for?” she asked.

  The vampire nodded. “They are there, but I want you all to promise me something.”

  All four witches watched him, waiting for what it was he wanted from them.

  Laurel was stunned by the sadness she saw in his eyes.

  “I thought the ancients may hold the answer to our curse, but it doesn’t matter,” he said, shaking his head. “Promise me that you will never reveal how to release them from Hell.”

  “Why?” Bridgett was shocked.

  “Just promise,” he pleaded.

  All four of them nodded.

  “Not that it matters. We don’t know how to release them,” Bridgett reminded him.

  “You do,” he said. “You just don’t realize it yet.”

  Laurel eyed the other three witches. “You know what our curse is … what curse did you bring back? What happened to you?”

  Bridgett shook her head. “Not now. I want to get as far away from here as soon as possible.”

  It was then that Marcos’s screams stopped and he became still.

  Bale released her.

  Laurel ran to his side, not even bothering to wipe away the tea
rs streaming down her cheeks. Cradling his head in her lap, she leaned down and kissed him.

  A moment later, he opened his eyes. They were still the eyes of a demon, just a different kind of demon.

  Now he was a newborn vampire, and he must feed.

  Laurel held her wrist to his mouth, but he refused to feed from her.

  “Let me die,” he growled.

  Laurel shook her head. “I still love you Marcos St. Claire. That’s something he can never take away from us.”

  She’d been prepared to feel pain and fear when he sank his fangs into her flesh, but it was so much different than that. It was a melding of two hearts and two souls for all time and eternity.

  * * *

  Sensing someone behind her, the witch closed the book.

  Sure enough, he was there.

  Omar, with his red flowing robes, carried himself as if he were some revered archbishop.

  She supposed he might be that, to his followers anyway.

  “Did you find it?” Omar asked.

  The witch shook her head. “Not in Laurel’s story, but there are still three more journals to read. The answer is here, somewhere.”

  “Let’s hope so,” he said, his voice dangerously low. “One of those witches found a way to bring our makers back from the Underworld, and I want to know how.”

  “Of course Lord Omar. You will have your answer very soon.”

  # # #

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  The Immortal Destiny Series

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  Wolves of Outerlands Series

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  Lorraine Kennedy

  Lorraine Kennedy writes Contemporary Romance, as well as Paranormal Romance, and New Adult Romance. Visit her on the web at www.lorrainekennedy.com

  Excerpt

  Immortal Destiny

  Born to Darkness

  By

  Lorraine Kennedy

  Copyright 2011 Lorraine Kennedy

  All Rights Reserved

  Born to Darkness Blurb

  Alec's music is as dark as his vampire kiss is deadly, but Nicole will risk everything, including her life, to love him.

  Born to Darkness is book 1 in the Immortal Destiny Series. A Vampire Romance

  Nicole Ashe is the average American girl, except that she happens to work for a vampire and doesn't realize it. But all that changes when her boss sends her to convince a local rock musician - heartthrob, to help them retrieve an ancient relic that could be the answer to the vampire's curse. Nicole soon discovers that Alec is a vampire ... and completely irresistible.

  There is something about Nicole that stirs Alec's hunger nearly beyond control, but he would do anything to protect her ... even from himself.

  Nicole is destined for a world of darkness that she cannot even begin to imagine, and love that can transcend eternity.

  Immortal Destiny Suggested Reading Order

  Born to Darkness -

  Night Breed

  Wolves and Black Roses

  Tears of the Vampire

  The Light Seekers

  Chapter One

  Through the haze of smoke, Nicole watched the man she’d been sent to find. Beneath the red and blue lights of the stage, he appeared ethereal - almost dreamlike. His fingers played across the strings of the guitar so fast her eyes could not detect movement.

  The music vibrated through the room. To listen to it, was to be pulled into a world of enchantment - where reality blended with fantasy.

  As his music filled the small nightclub, Nicole felt her heart racing out of control.

  Until that moment he’d been looking down as he played, but abruptly he lifted his head to peer out at the crowd.

  His gaze came to rest on Nicole - icy-blue eyes locked with hers. As he stared at her, he seemed to look right into her soul. His dark hair fell in waves around his shoulders - glistening beneath the glare of the lights.

  The black clothing he wore hugged his muscular frame, leaving little to the imagination.

  Not that Nicole would let her imagination get away with her. After all, she was here on business. Even as his gaze drew her in, and she felt the first prickles of pain behind her eyes, she had to keep reminding herself what Ethan had told her.

  Don’t look into his eyes!

  Those were his exact words, and precisely what she’d made the mistake of doing.

  Stepping up to the microphone, he started to sing and his deep - smooth voice vibrated in her ears. He sang of passions, darkness, and unfulfilled hunger.

  Her mouth went dry and she began to shake.

  Nicole lifted her drink to her lips. She now understood why the infamous Alec Norwood could make women lose their minds.

  She hadn’t believed it for a moment. Sure she’d heard of him. Who hadn’t? He was quickly turning the local rock scene on its head. His dark music was like nectar to the troubled soul, and he was good looking enough to send a woman’s common sense right out the window.

  But you’re not another one of his groupies. You’re here for a reason!

  Nicole refused to be put under Alec Norwood’s spell. She struggled to focus on the task at hand.

  The rest of the members of Necro were just as dark as he was. Their music was perfect - not one of them missing a note or a beat. When the song ended, they went into a slow - haunting melody. Nicole felt the music come over her like a soothing warm blanket.

  Suddenly she couldn’t keep her eyes open, as if she’d been drugged. Getting up from the table, she made her way through the crowd toward the ladies room.

  Maybe if she could splash some cold water on her face she’d feel better.

  * * *

  Alec watched the woman rush away from her table near the stage. She had a strong mind that was able to withstand his attempts to get into her head. He had felt her scrutiny while she watched him, but he had been unable to read her thoughts.

  There was something about the woman that pulled at him - stirring feelings that he had not felt in centuries. It was as if he knew her, or had known her in another form - another time.

  She was attractive. He could sense darkness within her, but also innocence. Whoever she was, she wasn’t anything like the women who followed him around every night. Those women were exotic and beautiful, but their spirits were tarnished. Although he could feel the blemishes on this woman, it was different. It was the type of darkness that grew out of despair.

  Unlike the rest of the crowd, she was dressed plainly. She wore her dark hair in a simple - down to earth style. The casual jeans and white blouse she was wearing, looked great on her. The woman was dressed nice, but it was obvious she hadn’t come to Dark Wind to impress anyone.

  As simple as her appearance was, it was her eyes that drew him in. Her dark brown eyes were warm - like the sunshine. It was as if she’d captured the sun in her eyes and brought it with her wherever she went.

  The warmth of the sun was something he hadn’t experienced for a long time. To look up and see the essence of that eternal light in her, was as stimulating as the scent of the blood running through her veins.

  She was here specifically to see him, but not for the same reason the rest of the women in the little nightclub.

  What could a girl like her want with someone like him?

  When the song ended, he glanced at the other members of the band. “I’m going to take a break,” he told them.

  They stared at him as if he’d lost his mind. Why would someone with a vampire’s endurance, need a break?

  raine Kennedy, Daughter of the Thirteen: Bourbon Street Witches Book 1