by Aria Sparke
‘I’d like to come to the school if you’ll still have me.’
‘We’d be pleased to have you.’ I could hear the delight in her voice. ‘Call me in the next couple of days while I’ll still be on the mainland. Otherwise the only way you’ll be able to reach me is by post.’
‘How do I get there?’
‘When you’ve made arrangements to come to Iceland’s Keflavik Airport, we’ll do the rest. Just send me a message.’
* * *
CHAPTER 26
Lily: An Agreement
This time Tarek came to my bedroom. He loomed in my doorway, casting a dark and menacing shadow, yet my fear of him had ebbed away. Powerful and brooding, he swept into my room without any invitation. I perched on the chair by the window in the moonlight and he sat on the side of my bed.
‘Do you want to understand why Cecilia acted as she did?’
I shrugged.
‘When Ces left Alexis many years ago, she did so for a man called Xavier.’
I frowned at him. ‘A man?’
‘Yes, a flesh and blood man with no vampiric trace. She still loved Alexis but wanted to escape our world. He offered her that chance.’
I nodded.
‘Not that she told him anything about our world or her witchcraft. She tried to escape us like your mother, but we needed her. Tonight I discovered that the Berishas have Xavier. They threatened to turn him if Cecilia didn’t obey.’
Finally I understood. It was a horrible web of attack and revenge with innocents sacrificed for a crime centuries old.
‘So are you going to kill her?’
‘I need to think how I can play this strategically.’
I nodded, too weary to care about his and Cecilia’s affairs.
‘I underestimated you, Lily, your importance and courage.’
This was a welcome surprise.
‘But you also have a single-minded selfishness about you.’
‘Huh?’
‘This medical degree business.’
‘What about it?’
Tarek shrugged. ‘In your vernacular, it’s what many would call an ego trip or obsessive.’
I stared at him, gaping like a stranded goldfish.
‘Come on, Lily. Don’t you see the white lab coat and stethoscope, the lines of fawning patients and framed certificates on the wall are only notions that validate you as a human being?’
‘I suppose so,’ I said as honestly as I knew. ‘Is there something wrong with that?’
‘You would walk over broken glass for it, abandon relationships and even your sick mother, I’ve heard.’
‘Who told you that?’
‘You tell me.’
‘Cecilia? Alexis?’
‘Does it matter if it’s the truth?’
‘I don’t understand.’
Tarek grinned. ‘You’re timid, Lily. You can aim higher. Witchcraft is that loftier calling, far beyond any human occupation. Do you understand? It has no limitations.’
I heard his words and felt my heart leap. Part of me knew he was speaking the truth, but I was afraid. What if I let go of one dream and failed to master the new one? Medicine seemed concrete and guaranteed, but witchcraft was exciting although perilous.
‘I’ve decided what will happen.’
I almost choked. ‘Mmm. How gracious of you.’
He ignored my sarcasm. ‘Cecilia will stay with me.’
‘You’ve decided to kill her, haven’t you—like Leah?’
‘I didn’t kill Leah.’
‘They found her here at the house the day after you took her and Avery. Leah’s blood had been drained.’
‘I didn’t kill her,’ Tarek repeated calmly.
‘Then who did?’
He raised his eyebrows. ‘It wasn’t me.’
‘What will you do to Cecilia?’
He half smiled. ‘She has a few years left in her to breed, so I will keep her here producing dhampirs. Maybe I’ll top her up occasionally with vampiric blood to extend her usefulness.’
I shuddered at his plan. ‘Do you think that’s wise? Her genetic contribution to your children might be unfavorable.’
He grinned wickedly.
‘You’re joking, aren’t you?’
He shrugged. ‘I haven’t decided.’
‘Instead, why not bring her here and have her help Gregori? He’s aging and could do with help around the house.’
‘Perhaps. It’s interesting you should show such mercy to your aunt when she plotted against you. Having a powerful witch attending my laundry and vacuuming dust might be a suitably humiliating punishment although getting rid of her might be less risky.’ He stretched out on the bed.
I pretended not to notice his fine body and handsome face.
‘Now to you, Lily. What to do with you?’ He beckoned for me to lie with him on the bed.
I shook my head realizing as a vampire, I could never fully trust him especially when it came to matters involving beds.
‘We could have a very pleasant evening together.’
‘No, we can’t.’
‘What is it you wish to do?’
‘I’m leaving Wicklow.’
‘I see. To go where exactly?’ He brushed his shoulder length hair back from his face. I knew every move he made was deliberate, drawing me to look at him.
‘I’m going back to school with Avery in Iceland.’
I could see that surprised him. ‘And how do you propose to pay for that?’
I stuck my chin out. ‘I’ll sell my house in Wicklow.’
I waited for him to protest and slap my announcement down.
‘Very well. I’ll allow it.’
I laughed at him in disbelief and tried to ignore his infuriatingly patronising manner.
‘On two conditions.’
This would be interesting.
‘I will pay for your flight and tuition in Iceland.’
Surprise. ‘I suppose I should be grateful, but what’s the other condition?’
‘You’ll find the answer to my dilemma in your witchcraft studies. If you don’t or can’t, you’ll return to me and become my bride to replace Cecilia.’
I shook my head and laughed. ‘How does Flynn fit into all of this?’
‘He doesn’t. As I told you, he’s gone.’
‘You don’t know that.’
He sat up. ‘I’m as sure as I can be.’
‘And if magic happens and he returns to my life?’
‘Then that is another matter for another day.’
‘No, I need more. I need a promise that if I can find the answer to your problem, you’ll let me go and leave me free to live my life the way I choose.’
‘You drive a hard bargain. It’s a deal.’ Tarek rose from the bed and walked to the door. ‘Goodbye, Lily, for now.’
THE END
Author’s Note
I hope you enjoyed Elusive in the new Vampirica series. If you did, please consider posting a review. Book three, Soulmates is available on Amazon. I love hearing from readers, so please feel free to contact me:
[email protected]
@aria_sparke
www.ariasparke.com
Receive Tarek’s Story free
If you would like to know when I publish new books and have countdown deals or free offers please sign up for my newsletter. When you join, I’ll send you exclusive bonus free chapters that follow on from book one giving you more insight into the dark origins of Tarek Ruberio.
Details are on my website: www.ariasparke.com
* * *
The Vampirica Series
Read more in the Vampirica series:
First Love (Vampirica 1)
Tarek’s Story (Vampirica 1.5)
Elusive (Vampirica 2)
Soulmates (Vampirica 3)
First Love (Vampirica 1)
Lily Winter has never had time for boyfriends. All she has ever wanted is to be a doctor, but her life is unraveling. With the death of her father and
her life coming apart at the seams, she and her mother move oceans to the watercolor world of Wicklow. In the midst of her pain, she meets Flynn Cooper—intelligent, handsome and caring. Their attraction to each other soon proves overwhelming and undeniable. Flynn’s wealthy and ancient family hide dark secrets and Lily finds herself ensnared in their strange world. After meeting Flynn’s charismatic and hypnotic father, her life becomes increasingly complicated leaving her to question everything about the universe she held as true. When the Ruberios call upon her to help their family, Lily discovers her decisions can’t be undone, entrapping her in a terrifying web.
Tarek’s Story (Vampirica 1.5)
Learn about the dark vampiric origin of Tarek Ruberio and his despised enemy, Vincent Berisha in rural Albania eight centuries ago. Join my mailing list to download the free bonus chapters.
Soulmate (Vampirica 3)
Spurred on by her need to discover Flynn’s fate and resist Tarek’s demands, Lily Winter sets sail for Galdrar Academy on Bylur, a hidden island west of Iceland. Distraught and adrift without the love of her life, she must find a way to keep going. She returns to basics and discovers her heritage with witches and dhampirs in a magic school set in a fairytale castle. In the strange land of Bylur with its long winter nights, blue thermal lakes and snow-covered landscape, Lily confronts wild creatures and freakish events. With the help of new friends and the witches, Ebba and Rose, Lily discovers old magic and the secrets of her wand. Will they be enough for her to reconnect with her true soulmate?
Future Vampirica books
Look out for more Vampirica books in 2017 as the feisty and unpredictable, dhampiric witch, Avery Ruberio comes of age and takes on the Berisha clan in Witchery (Vampirica 4).
* * *