Pictures of death flashed across the screen. Gio killing people through the ages; some by hand, some by fangs, others even more brutally. Sophie recognized his father right before Giovanni snapped his neck. His head fell as he sobbed. Then she saw him in military uniform. She didn’t know if blue meant Confederate or Yankee and it didn’t matter. He killed countless men on the battle field, defending himself and his men as he forged them onward.
Sophie saw his death at Gregor’s hand and his rebirth. Three women died brutally at his hands that night. He acted like a man starved for days. Sophie’s soul wept for the lost souls, but she knew it wasn’t his fault. Their deaths were Gregor’s fault.
More deaths of criminals flashed before her eyes. Gio always felt remorse after the killings and Sophie’s heart broke for him. Tears stung her eyes. He wasn’t the monster Mariah wanted her to see. He was trying to survive. Just like we eat the meat of animals he drank blood. At least he chose to kill convicted monsters instead of innocent souls.
If Mariah’s goal was to turn her against Giovanni she failed miserably. All of that was in his past. She hoped. An inkling of doubt touched her mind and planted itself in her psyche. She’d watch him, make sure he wasn’t that man anymore. He wouldn’t do any of this in their future. She was determined to make sure he didn’t.
“That killer is the man you’re pledging your life, your soul to.” Mariah stated coldly.
Sophie shivered as the pictures continued to play out on the screen. His dark past being revealed to her slowly with the sole purpose of destroying her love for him.
“What did you do to her?” Giovanni demanded as he rushed to Sophie’s side, pushing Rafe out of his way. He was thankful her father called him here, but couldn’t understand why he’d let this happen.
He gently touched her face with shaky hands. She looked so peaceful, asleep on the couch, as though she’d just drifted off to take a nap. He shook her gently in an attempt to wake her. She was out cold. He listened for her heartbeat and breathing, sure signs she was alive. “Sophie, my sweet, please wake up.” His voice was full of emotion and turmoil. He wouldn’t lose her again.
He surveyed the room. Chelsea and Rafe stood behind him, worry written across their faces. Mariah was in a recliner and appeared to be sleeping.
“I’m not going to ask again. What. Did. You. Do. To. Her?” Each word accentuated with his own determination to keep his emotions in check. Sophie didn’t need him emotional now, she needed him strong.
“Mariah gave her a sleeping potion.” Chelsea spoke softly, regret in her words.
“We had no idea she was going to knock her out. She said she needed to talk to Sophie, to try and convince her that keeping the witch line clean was imperative.” Rafe added as he ran a hand through his black hair.
Gio narrowed his stormy eyes on him. “I thought you supported this relationship?”
“I did… do… By the Gods, Gio she deserved to know everything. I was here to make sure she did. If she still chose you afterwards I was one hundred percent behind your commitment.”
Giovanni felt rage build up inside him. The demon that partnered with his soul was scratching the surface to get free. “You think I lied to her?”
Rafe sat helplessly in the chair and placed his head in his hands. “I don’t know what to think anymore. People I’ve trusted all my life have turned out to be different than I thought. People I’ve kept at arms length turned out to be better than I ever thought possible.”
“She is in danger in the dream realm. The weavers want to control her to keep us from accepting Thanatos’ proposal. Your wife risked her very soul to get her out of that realm. Did you not listen to a word we’ve said?” Giovanni knew his anger should be directed at Mariah, but he couldn’t help it. Rafe should’ve done a better job of protecting his daughter. If any thing happened to her, there would be hell to pay.
“The council was never going to accept Thanatos’ proposal, Giovanni.” Chelsea advised him. “Only you supported his request.”
“You don’t know that.” He snarled.
“Yes, I do. I’m a telepath.”
“It doesn’t matter now. We need to get her out of there.” He turned his attention back to his love. “I need Thanatos’ help to get in there.”
Chelsea nodded and headed out the door in search of Death.
“How did Mariah get her to sleep? Is there a potion?”
“She used dust.” Rafe responded sullenly.
“Sleep dust?”
Rafe shrugged his shoulders in defeat. “It’s in the pouch at her waist.”
“Only weavers use sleep dust.” Gio pulled the pouch off Mariah’s waist. “Is Mariah not a pure blood?”
“The witches wouldn’t put a half-breed on the council as their representative.” Rafe stated the obvious.
Gio poured the dark grey sparkly dust into his hands. “So how do you explain this?”
“She’s half dream weaver.” Thanatos replied as he rushed into the room. “What happened?”
“Our beloved witch elder put Sophie back into the dream realm.” Giovanni snarled as he touched Sophie’s cheek tenderly and ran a hand through her silky black hair. “Thanatos, her heart is racing. I need to get in there and help her.” His eyes begged the god for help.
“I need to find her first, Gio. The realm of dreams is a large place.” Thanatos told him. “We’ll find her.” He took Gio’s other hand and closed his eyes to search the alternate plane.
Sophie wiped the tears away as more death played out on the screen that hung from the clouds. “That’s enough!”
Mariah turned an inquisitive glance to Sophie. “So you see that he is evil?”
“I see,” Sophie nodded her head, “I see that he was placed in impossible situations, forced to make terrible choices, and did what he could to keep his soul intact. Everyone has good and bad in them. Everyone.” She emphasized the last word to prove her point. Mariah had more bad than good in her and that was why Sophie had always felt uneasy around her.
“Do you not see the deaths caused by his hands?” Mariah shook her head confused.
“He’s a vampire!” Even Sophie was beginning to doubt her stand in defending him. “We can’t imagine the insurmountable choices he had placed on him. I won’t judge him until he is here to defend himself.” Her heart broke as realization dawned on her, she was in love with a monster.
“I can’t defend myself. I’m guilty of those awful deeds.” Giovanni appeared at her side with Thanatos in tow. Layla jumped in between them ready to protect Sophie.
“Layla, please, it’s okay.” Sophie placed a gentle hand on Layla’s shoulder and offered a kind smile. The warrior was amazing, always on guard, ready to do her god’s bidding, and Sophie was thankful, but she knew without a doubt she was safe with Gio here by her side.
Sophie rushed into Gio’s arms and cupped his face with her hands. Tears fell from her eyes at the anguish and pain in his. “Even now, after all the years that have passed I can see the remorse in your eyes.” She offered a smile as she kissed him softly, tenderly.
The action sparked a need in both of them, and instinct had them both deepening the kiss. Reluctantly, he broke the moment and pulled back, both of them breathless. He knew their passions were being driven by fantasy magic and while what they had was magical he wanted it to be pure and one hundred percent real. He held her tight against him, refusing to let her go. “I did many terrible things to survive.”
“I know.” Sophie nodded and smiled, “but every soul, even those that have done bad, deserve redemption. You have an eternity to make up for the crimes of the past and I’ll be at your side while you do.”
Giovanni nestled his face in the crook of her neck, breathing in her sweet honey scent, thankful to Thanatos for giving him such an amazing gift.
“Even after all I showed you, you still choose him?” Mariah balked at the ridiculousness of the situation and Sophie’s choice.
“You’ve lost, Mariah
.” Sophie stated, never once looking away from Giovanni. She may be in love with a monster. But that monster was her vampire and the other half to her soul. This, she knew without a doubt, was the truth.
Thanatos smiled, proud of his job as matchmaker. “What of the good Giovanni has done to earn his redemption?” he asked, curious as to why Gio wasn’t offering examples in his defense. “What about the feeding programs and the synthetic blood bank he is devising.”
Mariah snorted. “Vampires are evil by nature. They won’t be reined in by some half-rate feeding program or the blood bank - that’ll never work.”
“You’re right, we are. But any vampire in Mystery Springs will abide by our rules.” Giovanni narrowed his eyes on Mariah and faced his enemy down.
“You don’t even have your scientist to complete the synthetic blood creation anymore.” The wicked glint in Mariah’s eyes made Sophie shiver.
“It’s true, Marco was killed… but we are already searching for his replacement.” Gio had a thought and decided to go with it. “Your attempt to sabotage our program has failed.”
Mariah let out a terrifying scream and disappeared. It reminded Sophie of the scene in the Wizard of Oz where Dorothy defeated the wicked witch. It was easy in the dream world, but Sophie had a feeling it wouldn’t be that easy in the real world. The council would ask for proof and they had none.
“Do you think Mariah was working with the gods?”
“No doubt in my mind.”
“The dust is wearing off and you’ll be able to wake up now.” Layla sheathed her sword. “Anytime you’re in this realm and need my help, just summon me.”
Sophie nodded, “thank you.” She hugged her new dream weaver ally.
Layla was uncomfortable with the physical contact and stood ramrod straight as Sophie hugged her. After a moment or two she patted her awkwardly on the back.
“I sure hope that will get more comfortable over time.” Sophie grinned. “Please tell Nike thank you as well.”
As if by cue, Nike’s cloudy face appeared overhead and winked. “Thanatos, may we speak?”
Thanatos nodded stiffly. “Sure.”
“Do you need backup?” Giovanni asked.
Thanatos grinned. “I think I can handle this one myself.” He placed a hand on both of their shoulders. “Tell the council when they are ready my offer still stands.”
“They’re not…”
“I know. Which means you have some troubled times ahead of you. But eventually they will see it is in their best interest to allow my protection. For now, you have some housecleaning to do on the council. Mariah is not your only issue and Chelsea can help you weed out the problems.”
“I’ll do what I can to limit the attacks.” Nike added from her perch in the sky. “But the weavers and gods will continue to try and create distractions to get access to your protected springs.”
“I’m proud of both of you.” Thanatos winked and they were transported back to the living realm.
Gio pushed down the nausea that rose in his stomach upon waking and rushed to Sophie’s side as she was opening her eyes. They didn’t speak, instead their lips locked and he pulled her down to the floor with him. They only had eyes for each other and nothing would separate them ever again.
Rafe cleared his throat reminding them that they were not alone. Sophie giggled nervously in Gio’s arms. “Sorry, father.”
They looked around. “Where’s Mariah?” Giovanni asked urgently.
“She woke up and rushed out of here like she was on fire.” Rafe told them. “I’d never seen the woman run so fast.”
“She’s our traitor.” Giovanni stated solemnly as he helped Sophie to a standing position.
“That’s a serious accusation, Giovanni. Can you prove it?” Chelsea asked her arms crossed tightly over her chest.
“I don’t think I’m going to have to, but if I do need to, you can prove it. You have the ability to read minds.” Giovanni reminded her.
“I’ve never seen any traitorous thoughts from her mind.” Chelsea defended Mariah.
“You’ve probably never really looked.” Gio countered back.
“And there are others in our midst.” Sophie added.
“I think it’s time for a little housekeeping and you’re going to be the tool to do it.” Giovanni gave Chelsea a dire look. “Are you up for the challenge?”
“I’m not one to back down from a challenge.” A twinkle appeared in her brown eyes.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Over the next few weeks Giovanni spent his nights interrogating all the powerful identities in Mystery Springs. With Chelsea’s help they removed seventeen traitors and placed a handful of people on a ‘to watch’ list. Mariah disappeared and they sent trackers out to find her but it was like she vanished into thin. Giovanni was sure she’d show up again someday, but Sophie had her doubts.
Sophie continued to work with the witch doctor from a county over to continue to learn and understand her skills. There were no more attacks on the town or the supernatural groups and things begin to slip into a strange type of normalcy. Everyone agreed that they’d remain on guard from attacks from Hypnos and his ‘God’ friends, some still didn’t believe the story of Dreamweavers, Gods and Nephilim partnering together to take over the town, but all conceded if there was a group systematically attacking the supernatural groups of the town they were re-grouping after being discovered.
Sophie worked with Layla in her dreams to learn to defend herself and became quite skilled in sword play. It was the one place Gio couldn’t protect her. He had no access to the dream realm without Thanatos’ intervention.
It took time but Gregor and Luke returned to the town and took their rightful place in the supernatural hierarchy. Everyone accepted Sophie and Giovanni’s relationship. Everyone, that is, except Gregor, who hadn’t weighed in his thoughts about the matter. The rest of the town was simply thankful for all they did to protect them.
When Giovanni invited Sophie to dinner with his father she couldn’t help but feel nervous. He was open about his aversion to mixing races. She was so afraid of what would happen tonight that her hand shook when she applied her make, and she put her hair up and then down at least twenty times. She didn’t know if she should wear a black strapless or red spaghetti strap dress and finally decided on a tasteful blue dress with white lace.
“Are you nervous?” Giovanni’s voice was like velvet against her skin, soft and soothing. He placed comforting hands on her shoulder and she leaned back into his body for support.
“A little.” She admitted this, then turned in her chair and looked him in the eyes. “What if he says we can’t be together?”
“Then I renounce my position and move out of the house.”
“But…you can’t do that for me.”
He grinned. “I’m not, I’m doing it for me. Selfish vampire here.” He knelt down so they were at eye level. “Sophie, you are it. Nothing can stop me from loving you. Since I’ve met you I’ve begun to live again. Father will have to accept you as my true-mate or I’ll leave. Simple as that.”
Sophie closed her eyes and took a deep breath. “Maybe if we tell him about Beatrice.”
He took her chin in his hand and tipped it up so she was looking him directly in the eye. “You’re not Beatrice. You’re my mate. You’re Sophie Waters and I love you.” He kissed her gently. “Will you be mine for eternity?” he asked when their lips separated.
She looked down and saw the ring in his hand. “Is that a vampire’s idea of a marriage proposal?” She asked attempting to hide her shock.
“In a way.” He conceded. “The ring is to show my understanding of your culture. Vampires don’t bond with a ring and a piece of paper. It’s a commitment that cannot be undone with lawyers. But to show my commitment to your human ways I even asked your father’s permission.”
“And he gave it?” Sophie didn’t know why she was surprised. He told her just last week he approved. It wasn’t what he wanted for hi
s little girl, but then again they live in a different world.
“You doubt it?”
“No.” She reached her hand toward the ring. It was a beautiful pear shaped diamond surrounded by other smaller diamonds and emeralds the color of her eyes. “It’s beautiful.” She pulled her hand back. “But you’ll live forever and I’m going to die someday. Then what happens?”
Giovanni slipped the ring on her finger and chuckled. “I’m asking you to bond with me, Sophie. That means you’ll become a vampire’s mate. With a little magic and blood sharing you’ll live forever at my side, still human, but also part vampire.”
The Witch's Vampire (New Adult Paranormal Romance) (Mystery Springs Series) Page 22