The Blood and Light Series (Six Books Boxed Set)

by Rue Volley

  I stood there, not fearing him… but kind of pissed off that he grabbed me.

  “What?” I asked him.

  “You need to feed; I didn’t tell you the severity of your wounds last night… you almost died.” He said.

  “What?” I said, completely shocked that I could harm myself to the brink of death.

  “Yes… I have healed you the best that I can, but without feeding you may become worse than you are now… do you feel the pain in your head?” he asked me.

  I narrowed my eyes and felt it, I did. The pain that was constant but not yet overwhelming.

  “I would like to know what the hell I did that was so bad that I almost died? I mean we cannot die Johnathan… not that we have figured out.” I said.

  The girl cleared her throat and we both turned to look at her.

  “Can we do this? Not to be rude, but I really want to get this over with.” She said.

  I closed my eyes as Johnathan stepped away from me. He pulled his blade from behind him and started to pull it out to his side. I flashed to her and rolled her behind me, making myself a wall in between them. Johnathan stood there, blade glowing in hand. He looked determined, hungry and angry. I sighed and the girl held onto my shirt from behind.

  “If you do not, I will… and we both know that you are more compassionate than I am.” He said.

  I knew that was true, Johnathan had killed many and memories flooded my mind and made me feel even more nauseous than I already did. Suddenly my teeth ached as I watched him slice the blade across his hand and squeeze it, causing blood to drip on the floor. The ringing in my ears became deafening and my muscles tensed up, as I could almost taste it in my mouth. Without much thought I turned to her and grabbed her, biting into her neck and piercing her skin easily. She moaned and took a breath, causing her heart to jump and I felt it in my mouth as her blood flowed down my throat. It tasted sweet, inviting… almost singing a song to me… slow and passionate. I drank her in, all that I could and then I moved back from her in a blur as she started to fall. Johnathan snatched her up and bit into her. She barely made any noise this time and my head spun with the rush of her blood in me. I could feel it, like a heartbeat, the ringing in my ears started to fade and the pain that I felt in my head started to subside. I stumbled forward as Johnathan sank to the floor, attached to her neck and lowered her to the ground. His body trembled and I could feel him, his energy jumped off of him and licked at my feet and started to climb up my legs. He suddenly stopped, as her heart did and rose up… blood on his lips and dripping from his chin as he turned to look at me.

  I suddenly lunged at him and kissed him, more to taste the last moments of her life on his lips than to kiss him really. He pulled me tight against him and I felt his tongue enter my mouth, it was then as he touched my lower back and started to pull my shirt up that I pushed him off of me and stumbled backward. He stood there, eyes wild, chest rising and falling and stared at me... and for a moment, just a split second… I felt as if I didn’t know him at all.

  “Don’t tease me.” Johnathan said as he started to get his breathing under control.

  “I’m not.” I said.

  He looked me over and grinned.

  “You do.” He said.

  I took a breath and stared at him and then glanced at the girl on the floor, blood slowly pooling around her.

  “That was… I don’t know…” I said.

  Johnathan grinned, blood still on his teeth. My teeth ached slightly and I looked down at my hands.

  “I want you.” He whispered.

  I looked up at him and didn’t feel it; you know… the want thing. In fact, I kinda felt sick, like I had just done something that I should be ashamed of.

  “I think we should move her.” I said.

  He didn’t even look behind him, he didn’t care.

  “Let me take you to the bed.” He said.

  I stared at him and slowly shook my head at him.

  “I don’t think that is a good idea.”

  “Why?... I will do things to you that you will not regret.” He said.

  I stepped back as he stepped forward.

  “Don’t we have things to do?... besides getting her out of here?” I asked him.

  “It can wait… let me have you.” He said.

  “Not like this.” I said as I took another step back from him.

  The look on his face confused me, it was one that was de-void of hurt, almost like he had a moment where he considered snatching me up and it made me feel so uneasy, my hands started to vibrate, as the energy started to collect in me. He suddenly looked calm, like Johnathan always had been, like the Johnathan I knew so well. He smiled and rubbed his neck.

  “I apologize, I think I am drunk from the feeding… don’t be angry, please.” He said.

  “Yeah… yeah… sure okay.” I said as I felt the energy surging in me start to fade.

  He took a breath and stepped back, looking down at the girl.

  “I will take care of this, you clean up… we need to leave soon.” He said.

  I swallowed and tasted the last bit of Tiffany’s blood go down my throat and to tell you the truth I wish that I could puke, puke it all up and forget it. I knew that I needed it, but I also know that I hate it more than anything. I turned and walked back up the stairs, so ready to wash off this evil that I felt. The evil that was. The evil that we both seem to be.

  ***

  Johnathan looked at Brooke and sighed. They had not talked since they returned to the room and he wanted too… very badly. The shock of Von’s story… all of it was sinking into him and he felt dizzy from it. Could he be lying? I mean how the hell did he not know that Josh was an angel… ha! An angel, what a joke. Johnathan laughed out loud and Brooke looked at him.

  “So glad you found something funny.” She said as she turned back to the window and stared out.

  Johnathan sighed and stood up, wanting to say anything clever… but nothing came to mind.

  “We have to leave.” He said.

  Brooke looked at him and laughed. “You think?”

  “Yes… we have to get back to Calvary.” He said.

  “Oh…” she said.

  “What?”

  “You said ‘we’.” She said.

  “Well, yea… I mean we both have to go.” He said.

  “I am surprised that you wouldn’t just want to put me on an airship and send me off.” She said.

  Johnathan rubbed his neck remembering when Brooke had left, he said goodbye and made no promises to her.

  She turned to him and snapped her fingers.

  “Oh my god.” She said.

  Johnathan narrowed his eyes and stared at her.

  “Oh my god!... stupid… stupid, stupid.” She muttered as she stepped towards him.

  Johnathan took a step back, afraid that she was going to hit him finally after all this time. She laughed and looked at him as he looked a tad bit afraid.

  “What the hell Johnathan? I am human, remember? I can’t kill you, you ass.” She said.

  “I just… I don’t know what are you doing?” he asked her as she walked to the Vanity and picked up the ivory brush. She started to slam it on the side of the Vanity and dropped it when she caught her finger in between the brush and the wood.

  “Damn it!” she cried out as she placed her finger in her mouth. Johnathan flashed to her side and took her hand in his. His hand started to glow lightly and the pain started to fade. She grinned up at him and then took her eyes from his and jerked her hand out of his. Johnathan looked down at her as she picked the brush back up and lifted it again. He caught her hand and took the brush.

  “What are you trying to do?” he asked her.

  “A spell.” She said.

  “What?”

  “Yes… it is a spell, which Theo taught me.” She said.

  “I didn’t know he showed you anything.” Johnathan said.

  “Well, you wouldn’t, would you?” she said as she reached for the
brush.

  He lifted it up over his head.

  “Do you need this broken?”

  Brooke rolled her eyes and looked at him, disgusted again.

  “Yes… we need blood.” She said.

  “Oh that’s easy.” Johnathan said as he bit into his wrist and the blood welled up under his lips. Brooke watched him and felt her heart flutter. He looked up at her and half smiled.

  “Okay… what now?” he asked her.

  “Okay… umm, we need to make a symbol, on the floor.” She said.

  Johnathan leaned down, rolling his wrist over and she dipped her fingers into his blood. He didn’t flinch, but kept his eyes on her face. She glanced at him and then quickly started to draw a circle on the floor. She completed the circle and then looked up at him.

  “Okay… now me.” She said.

  Johnathan narrowed his eyes as he stared into hers.

  “You… what?”

  “Bite me.” She said.

  “What?”

  “Bite me…here.” She said as she raised her wrist to him. He stared at it and then at her.

  “Are you sure?” he asked.

  “Yes… this is a sleeping spell… the outer circle is protector blood… the inner circle... human. That is where I come in, so bite me.” She said.

  “I don’t know… I mean when I bite its ah.”

  “Oh shut up, trust me… I will not be humping you.”

  Johnathan laughed and shook his head.

  “It is not really something that you decide.”

  “Oh trust me… you repulse me.” She said.

  Johnathan lost his grin and grabbed her wrist, he raised his eyebrows as he placed his mouth over her wrist and then bit into her quickly. He closed his eyes and felt it… that humming that made him dizzy, made his chest fill with air and his legs tremble. Brooke sucked in her breath and reached towards his face, wanting to touch him. Just as quick as he had bitten her, he pulled his lips from her skin and a small trace of blood lingered on his lips. She leaned in and so did he and then she hit him, right across the face. He ‘ow'd’ and stumbled back, falling on his butt. Brooke flipped her hair over her shoulder and hissed as she dipped her fingers in her own blood and started to draw a symbol from memory.

  “Why?” Johnathan said as he rubbed his cheek.

  “You deserved it.” She said as she continued to draw.

  Johnathan shook his head and leaned up cautiously to see what she was doing.

  She placed her finger on the stone and added one last line and then she stood up, holding her wrist and staring down at it.

  “Here.” Johnathan said as he took her wrist and placed his hand over it, cupping it in his other hand. A small light swelled up and the cut closed itself. Brooke sighed and pulled her wrist from him and rubbed it.

  “Okay… we have one sleeping spell.” She said as she waved her hand at it.

  “Well… how do we make it work?” Johnathan asked.

  “It’s Latin… umm… Sangrita... uhh snagta... ah.”

  Johnathan laughed… “Sanguis? Maybe?” he said.

  “Yes! And something else… ah.” she said as she started to pace.

  “Well what is the word?”

  Brooke stopped and placed her hands on her hips. “I am trying to remember!”

  “Just tell me the English word Brooke… I know Latin.” Johnathan said.

  “Life… it is Blood and Life.” She said.

  “Oh okay…”

  Johnathan looked at the symbol on the floor and closed his eyes.

  “Sanguis spiritus.” He said.

  He peeked at the symbol and nothing happened.

  “What the hell… is there another word maybe?” He looked back and Brooke lay on the bed sleeping.

  “Oh shit.” Johnathan said.

  He looked back at the blood symbol on the floor and it started to pulsate in light. He stepped back as it started to pulsate a ring of light, one after the other… getting bigger and brighter with each ring. He popped up on the bed and pulled Brooke over to him as she almost rolled off the bed. He sat there and waited, then he heard it… a running, interrupted by yelling as someone came towards their room. He rolled Brooke behind him and the door opened up. Cali stumbled in, looking drunk. She looked at the symbol on the floor and cried out, slamming her blade into it and breaking the seal. The light flashed one last time in a bright pulse in the room and Cali stood there, swaying on her feet. She raised her blade, her hand shaking and then she fell to her side… out cold. Johnathan leaned up and looked at her.

  “Sweet.” He said.

  He looked at Brooke and she snored.

  “Brooke… Brooke!” he said as he shook her. She wouldn’t wake.

  “Fine.” He said as he picked her up and adjusted her in his arms.

  Johnathan stepped over Cali, and then out into the hallway. He leaned against the wall and adjusted Brooke in his arms again.

  “Have you been eating? Good God.” He said as he pushed off and started down the hallway. He reached the end of the hallway and stopped. Flipping her up over his shoulder and looked at her butt sitting right next to his face.

  “Nice.” He said as he grinned and pushed on.

  He reached the stairwell and started to head down. He stopped as he heard someone cry out. He took a breath and moved forward. He reached the bottom of the steps and was hit with a flash of light that knocked him back; Brooke flew off his shoulder and rolled to a stop behind him. He leaned up and rubbed his shoulder, staring down the hallway. Von stood there… swaying on his feet. He lifted his hand and a glitching ball of light flew from him but Johnathan rolled out of the way and it hit the floor and left a charred mark on the white stone.

  Johnathan stood up quickly and rolled his hands, a ball of light started to form and he hurled it at Von…knocking him onto his back and knocking the blade out of his hand. He moaned and tried to push himself up. Johnathan flashed to him and grabbed up his blade, straddled him in a flash and placed the blade to Von’s throat. Von grinned and looked at Johnathan’s face as his eyes half rolled.

  “I will be the death of you.” Von whispered as his eyes closed and his head fell back.

  Johnathan held the blade to his throat and he should have killed him…if angels can be killed, who knows? I don’t…and in the end Johnathan did not know either, but what he did know was that he wasn’t a killer, no matter how much he wants to. Staring at this creature now stirred no more hatred in him as Caine had. Problematic and he knew it. He cried out and stood up, staring down at him.

  “You can try.” He whispered as he gripped the blade and ran back to Brooke. He scooped her up and headed the only way he knew… towards the tower’s mirror and to freedom.

  Chapter 14

  Family Reunions Suck

  “I think it is time that I leave.” Josh said as he stood in the entryway of the large dining room. Lily stood up and Jonah grinned and shook his head at her as she opened her mouth to speak.

  “And to what adventure do you seek now Joshua Barrington?” Jonah asked.

  Josh sighed and looked down at his hands. Did he know? Not really, but he felt restless and the feeling became more and more annoying with each moment that passed him by.

  “Perhaps sailing.” He said finally.

  Lily sat back down and jerked her cloth napkin from the table and placed it on her lap.

  “Ridiculous.” She muttered under her breath.

  Josh looked up at her, able to hear her dislike.

  He walked to the table and pulled out his chair, sitting down slowly and staring at the fine china laid out before him.

  “Don’t be angry.” He said as he glanced at Lily.

  “Oh! Why would I be? It seems that you cannot stay in one place for more than a few days… I am not surprised.” She said as she placed her fork in her mouth and chewed on her food delicately.

  “I appreciate the hospitality, I just… I don’t know I feel like I should be moving on.” He said.


  Jonah tinged his glass and raised it.

  “Well, I will make an early toast to you then… wishing you safe travel, perhaps you will return before the end of the year this time.”

  Josh looked at him and grinned.

  “Thank you for not being irritated, I do appreciate it.”

  Lily laughed and wiped her lips with her napkin.

  “Since when do you concern yourself with what others think or feel?” she asked.

  “I…” Josh started to say and Jonah clapped his hands together.

  “Well… are you leaving immediately? Or do you think that we could steal you for one afternoon of sightseeing in our fair London?” he asked.

  Josh cleared his throat and as much as he wanted to say no, he found himself agreeing…although it bothered him to do it.

  “Sure, okay… sounds like fun.” He said.

  Jonah smiled and jumped up from the table.

  “Well then… allow me to change and then we will be off.” He said as he headed out of the room.

  Lily watched him and Josh watched her. She turned back to him and manufactured a smile, straight out of a politician's playbook.

  “Well, seems that you have charmed my brother as usual.” She said.

  “I am not trying to charm anyone.” Josh said as he felt his head start to hurt slightly.

  He reached up and rubbed his forehead and Lily leaned forward.

  “Are you okay?” she asked him.

  Josh looked at her and gave her a crooked grin.

  “Yeah… yeah, I’m fine. Just restless.”

  Lily leaned back and pushed out her chair.

  “Well… that’s nothing new; in fact I am surprised that you have stayed as long as you have.” She said.

  Josh looked up at her and his memory glitched, the light changed in the room and her image shifted, almost transforming into another… he narrowed his eyes as his ears started to ring and she cleared her throat and stepped away from the table.

  Josh sighed and pushed his chair out too and stood up.

  “Change or don’t… I really could care less.” Lily said as she walked away from him.

  For a moment he thought she meant literally change… as in clothing, but then he quickly knew that it was jab at him, concerning his will to become stationary. Lily had quickly left, fast enough to not allow him to respond and he sighed again… knowing that he should care, but he so didn’t. In fact if he could just grab his things now and leave he would probably be happier, but he agreed to sight-see and that would have to be completed before he could escape the box he felt he was in.