Blood Pool

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by B. Ella Donna


  It was the raven—a messenger.

  The raven cautioned the light bearers about impending devastation and battle. Be forewarned, she cried, allowing time for preparation. Raven was a bird of the Underworld. She had the capacity to see into the past, the future and beyond the veil of mortality. The gift of the raven was in her journey. She was able to travel from this world and across the barriers of death to the other side. A gatherer of information, mystical raven then returned with her knowledge to impart upon the seeker or healer.

  Raven prayed the bird was a positive omen. She readied herself for battle, hoping her warrior was nearby. Hope sprang up from within her, unasked for and persistent. She knew he was close. There still existed a connection between them.

  Henri held her against him. He felt as cold as the October night. She began to shiver and instinctively headed for the fire. For Bo.

  Raven lurched forward and, as she stepped a few feet away, the vampire lunged for her, obviously startled by her movements.

  That was when Bo made his move.

  He pounced onto the man holding his mate. Clamping his jaw and razor sharp fangs around the neck of Henri Rioux, he refused to let go.

  Bo deduced Henri was a clever and resourceful vampire. Proof of that was when Henri immediately transformed to mist. The bastard left Bo with only a mouthful of blood and flesh. He waited for the man to resurface. Bo had wounded him, and he could not remain in the ethers for very long.

  But Bo’s attention was ripped in two as Laroque grabbed Raven and pinned her arms behind her back.

  “I wish to make a sacrifice tonight in honor of my love, Nicolette, who was taken away much too soon!” he cried into the night.

  The wolf sidled up behind the bokur, unnoticed.

  All eyes were on Laroque, shocked, as the crowd listened to his declaration of love for Nicolette.

  Bo cursed to himself as Jade attempted to reach her father.

  It all happened too fast for the newly-changed Lamai. He knew she would have to, in a flash, decide between her love for her father and the desire to save her sister.

  The choice must have paralyzed her.

  Bo’s eyes, the wolf’s golden gaze, fixed onto Laroque. His muscles tensed as he prepared to leap and attack the bokur’s neck, longing to hear the crunch of bones and tendons. Graphic images of revenge pounded his mind. Never had he wanted to kill another living creature as desperately as he wanted to at that moment. He could taste the blood in his mouth and feel the flesh against his intensely sharp fangs.

  Henri reappeared from the vapors and grabbed Bo in midair by his flank. The Lamai’s sharp nails dug into the wolf’s side as he hit the ground.

  Bo, though dazed, saw Tobias appear, his fangs fully extended, his irises the color of clear water. Menacing rage surrounded Tobias.

  The ancient vampire seemed to double in size, but it was too late.

  Laroque’s eyes flashed yellow. He had morphed between the spaces of time in seconds and bit down into Raven’s tender flesh. Crimson blood trickled onto her neck and down the front of her gown.

  An invisible barrier kept the outside world at bay while Philippe Laroque acted out his ultimate plan of revenge.

  Tobias plowed into the energy blockade, sending a ripple through the air. Bo shifted back to his mortal form and looked at Jade, who stood staring wide eyed at her father.

  Solaris grabbed Julianna and Bridget’s hands, racing over to Nicolette’s grave. Emerald stood at the front of the crowd, staring at Tobias as he recovered from his impact with the magickal shield Laroque had constructed.

  The three women began to chant, calling on the spirit of Nicolette Strigoi.

  “Spirit gone beyond the veil, aid us now, we must not fail.

  Break this magick wall of ire, in perfect love, we all conspire.

  Let love break this evil spell, and save your child, we must compel.”

  The chanting grew in intensity. The townspeople joined, aiding in the spell’s power.

  Mick stood beside Jade as they all watched in horror as Laroque drained Raven of her blood.

  “Spirit gone beyond the veil, aid us now, we must not fail.

  Break this magick wall of ire, in perfect love, we all conspire.

  Let love break this evil spell, and save your child, we must compel.”

  Again, they pleaded to Nicolette.

  Emerald quickly made her way over to where Solaris and the others stood watching the drama unfold.

  “No!” Bo cried, racing to the perimeter of the impenetrable circle. He clawed at it in desperation, determined to break through. His soul was shattered. He looked down at his blood soaked shirt, which gave him the appearance of truly dying of a broken heart.

  “Raven! Mitawa!”

  Laroque nicked the skin on his wrist and placed it to Raven’s mouth. His eyes met Tobias’s as he gave him a bloody smile. It seemed to say, I win.

  Like a hungry babe, she drank.

  Jade stormed over to where progenitor and progeny stood, her eyes glazed. The shield dissolved.

  Mick rushed to her side.

  “Stop,” Jade said, only it was Nicolette’s voice. “Philippe, you must stop this madness. Tobias is not to blame.”

  It was too late.

  Laroque stared at his daughter, “Nicki…” he whispered.

  “It was Frank Dubois. He killed me, not Tobias. I tried to tell you, but your anger kept you from hearing me—from hearing the truth.”

  Bo crawled to Raven and took her into his arms. “Oh, my love…I’m so sorry.” He sobbed as he held her, her body limp, blood dripping from her lips.

  “Tobias!” Nicolette called from Jade’s mouth.

  Bo watched as Tobias loomed inches away from Laroque, his sights locked on Jade. His fangs were fully extended and ready to sink into the man’s neck to avenge his daughter’s attack. His eyes were now red with the call of death. His body appeared rigid.

  Nicolette’s spirit lamented. “This hatred has to end. Don’t, my love—don’t take Jade’s father from her, please.”

  His anger was palpable. “What of your other daughter?”

  She whispered only for him. “Do you trust me, love?”

  Tobias pleaded for an answer. “H-how did this happen? I don’t understand.”

  “I love you, Tobias. I’ll always love you.”

  “Meu dragoste…”

  Before collapsing into Mick’s arms, Jade struggled to speak. “Get Raven to the hospital.”

  Philippe Laroque rode the mists off the island, followed by Henri.

  “Emerald, go with them. I’ll meet you all there,” Tobias ordered before he disappeared.

  “She’s still with us,” Bo murmured, carrying Raven to his car. “I feel her heart beating.”

  They piled into the car left by Jade’s father. The keys were still in the ignition. Mick drove while Bo held Raven’s nearly lifeless body in the backseat, whispering words of his never-ending love for her, pleading for her not to leave him, promising he would follow wherever she went. Even to death’s door.

  Chapter Twenty-seven

  Tobias traveled the mists, following the blood scent of Henri Rioux. It brought the three of them to Hannah’s Vineyard, to Laroque’s home. Henri held his hand on the spot where Bo had ripped a chunk of flesh. It was healing quickly. Laroque opened the sliding glass doors and walked in to face Tobias.

  With fisted hands, he declared, “If my daughter dies, you die. I don’t care what Nicki asked of me. Do you understand, Philippe?” His voice echoed through the house.

  Henri came at Tobias from the side, his fangs exposed. The ancient one simply flicked his hand as if swatting a fly. Henri flew across the room and crashed into the wall.

  Laroque stood there, his whole body slumped in despair.

  Tobias seethed with untamable ferocity. “I see your friend here changed you so you could have the pleasure of killing my daughter—who, by the way, saved your miserable ass,” he raged.

  Laro
que’s voice was low. “She saved my ass for Jade’s sake. She knew what she’d done to Jade and had to make it up to her somehow.” He paused a moment. “I simply was the one to benefit from her guilt.”

  Tobias’s chest heaved with angry breaths. “You better pray she doesn’t die.”

  Laroque nodded. “I do.”

  “Lucky for you, your daughter takes after her mother.”

  Laroque was silent for a moment. Tobias attempted to quiet the madness screaming inside his head for revenge.

  “Tobias, is it true that Frank killed Nicki?”

  “Yes.” Tobias ran his hand through his hair. “He was in love with her since they were both young, but he managed to hide that fact—and his talents as a sorcerer—from everyone.”

  “How do you know?” Laroque asked.

  Tobias’s voice was hollow. “Because I killed him, with your daughter’s help—Jade found out and confronted him. We both saw Nicolette’s murder through the blood memory of Frank Dubois—what really transpired. She and I both killed him. Now I know the truth, and so do you.”

  Laroque was still. He embraced his fate. “Kill me, then, if you must. I am suddenly very tired of this existence.”

  Tobias narrowed his gaze at the bokur. “I’d like nothing more than to oblige you.”

  “Then do it.”

  “Sorry to have to inform you of this, but you’ll probably be around for a long time now that you’re Lamai. That is, as long as Raven stays alive,” Tobias threatened. “Perhaps that’s punishment enough.”

  The ER attendants wheeled Raven into a private room and hooked her up immediately to heart monitors, as well as a pulse oximeter, sphygmomanometer and IVs. It was a whirlwind of activity. Bo never left her side.

  Her heartbeat remained regular—for a Lamai, anyway.

  Tracy entered the room with tears flowing down her face.

  “What the hell happened?” she cried.

  “Laroque,” Bo said with a sigh as he clutched Raven’s hand.

  “Dr. Odin will be here in a minute. He wants a full blood work-up done on Raven.” Tracy checked her pulse. Bianca and Gary Davis soon joined them. “Get her some O negative.”

  “I can’t believe this is happening. She’s still alive, though, so that’s good news,” Bianca said, full of hope.

  Davis’s face was pasty white. “Yeah, I thought… W-well…I’d heard that if she was t-turned—sh-she’d…”

  Bo was lost in thoughts of Raven. He caressed Raven’s arm and brushed his fingertips across the porcelain planes of her face. The color had drained from her cheeks, and she appeared as Bo had always known her.

  Raven moaned and fidgeted in the bed where she lay. Ian Odin came storming through the doors with Maureen, the on-duty nurse, at his side. He was a white cloud of fury as he snarled out orders.

  “I want the works. A full blood panel—full—soup to nuts,” the white-haired doctor demanded.

  Maureen had already begun to draw the first vial of blood from Raven before Ian finished speaking.

  His voice softened. “How are you, Bo?” Ian asked as he put his hand on Bo’s shoulder.

  Bo had tears in his eyes, which he tried to wipe away. “I’m scared for her.”

  “Bo, something else has to be going on. I’m not exactly sure, but if Raven was supposed to die,” he paused. “She’d be dead. Hekate doesn’t mess around. If she told Raven she would die if anyone tried to turn her, then that’s what would happen. Be thankful she’s made it this far.”

  “Should I set up for transfusions, Dr. Odin?” Maureen asked.

  “No, continue with the O negative. I want to get a clearer picture first. Let’s get all the results back, and then I’ll decide the next course of action.”

  Bianca kissed Raven’s cheek while Davis stood by speechless.

  “Jade wants to come in. I’ll go wait outside,” Bianca offered, but Bo wasn’t listening. He was waiting for Dr. Odin to tell him Raven would be all right.

  Then he would exhale.

  Tobias took one long last look at Philippe Laroque. His eyes flashed red. His posture resembled Queen Rhia’s. “I promise you, if anything unfortunate happens to Raven, I will hunt you down. You will die a slow and agonizing death.”

  Laroque sat at his desk with his head in his hands, undoubtedly thinking of Nicki and Jade. He didn’t seem to know what to say. Perhaps there was nothing to say. He couldn’t even have the pleasure of torturing Frank Dubois.

  “I hope you got some gratification from killing Frank,” Laroque finally said.

  Tobias stared at him. “Almost as much as I would derive from killing you.”

  “Then just do it,” Laroque begged.

  Instead, Tobias reared his fist back and smashed Laroque’s face. Every bone shattered. For a while, at least.

  “To answer your question, all I felt was Nicolette’s pain,” he admitted.

  With that, Tobias shimmered back to Mirabelle.

  Tobias appeared in the corner of Raven’s room at the precise moment Ian Odin walked in grinning from ear to ear. Solaris followed right behind him with Tracy at her heels. Solaris went straight to Bo and hugged him tightly.

  “You can breathe now,” she said.

  “What is it?”

  Ian stood there for another moment, brimming with joy as he noticed Tobias in the room.

  “Good, you’re all here.”

  “What is it, Ian?” Tobias asked.

  Ian smacked Bo on the back. “Bo, you’re going to be a father,” he said, almost too matter-of-factly.

  Bo looked wide eyed at the doctor, shaking his head.

  “I—what? I-I—don’t…”

  “Raven is pregnant with your baby. I assume it’s yours,” Ian began to explain.

  “Of course it’s his,” Raven muttered. Her eyes fluttered opened. She looked over to her father, then to Bo. “What’s going on? Where am I? Am I dead?”

  Bo gathered her in his arms and embraced her tightly. “No, my love, you are very much alive.”

  Not missing a beat, Ian continued. “That’s what saved her when she was turned. The baby’s mystical DNA from you saved her life. I would guess she’s about four to five weeks along. I need to keep her here for a while, so don’t start threatening to take her home,” Ian ordered, but Bo didn’t hear him.

  Everyone began congratulating the happy couple, Tobias and even Jade.

  Solaris cried for joy. “Auntie Jade,” she said with a sigh as she hugged the young woman. She turned to Bo and smothered him with kisses.

  Bo teased Tobias, “How does it feel to be a grandpa?” he said, still in shock himself.

  “Magickal.”

  Both men stood on either side of Raven, each holding a hand.

  Tobias waited a moment for her to gain her bearings.

  “Father,” she whispered.

  Tobias smiled as he leaned over to kiss his daughter’s forehead. “Dulciuri inimă.”

  “I thought I was supposed to die if I was turned. I remember drinking his blood—didn’t I?”

  Bo looked deeply into her smoke-colored eyes. “Yes, you did drink it, but our son or daughter saved you,” he said with a glowing smile.

  She pulled back. “I’m pregnant? I thought I was dreaming.”

  “No. You’re not dreaming, love.”

  “Yes, you are pregnant. We’ll figure out exactly how far along soon,” Ian answered.

  Solaris made her way over to Raven and hugged her dear friend. “Your mother is standing next to your father and she is absolutely beaming with love.” She turned to Tobias. “Soon you will be reunited and she says she can’t wait. She sends her undying love.”

  Tobias wiped a rarely shed tear from his eye. “Tell her…”

  “She knows,” Solaris said. “And she sends her love to you girls—I mean women.”

  Raven smiled and motioned to Jade. “Come here, Auntie Jade,” she whispered.

  The two women embraced. “I’m so sorry things happened the way t
hey did. I’m sorry I turned you. That wasn’t my intention.” Raven was weak from the abrupt changes her body had gone through in the last few weeks.

  Jade smiled. “Rest. And don’t be sorry. I found love with Mick who, as you know, is Lamai. So now I really feel like I’m part of the family.”

  “He’s a good man,” Raven said.

  “I know. He was under my father’s control when he was working at Blood Pool. That was the white powder you saw, Sol. The coup de poudre caused him to act out of character.”

  Solaris nodded as she gazed at her friend. “So, will I be an honorary aunt?”

  “Of course! I can’t believe this. I’m still in shock.” Raven began to cry as she put one hand on her belly while the other caressed Bo’s face.

  The room slowly cleared out, giving the two lovers privacy.

  “I love you. You are my life,” he whispered as he kissed her neck.

  “Oh, Bo, I was so upset over what happened—that I changed. I was going to let you go. I didn’t want you to be saddled with a mortal woman. You deserve so much more than I would’ve been able to give you.”

  Bo hugged her. “Don’t ever say or even think that, tehila. Without you, I am nothing. It doesn’t matter now, though, because we’re going to have a family of our own.”

  He pulled a black velvet box from his pants pocket and opened it.

  A flawless, heart-shaped diamond, set in white gold, sat inside. He removed it from the box and placed it on her ring finger.

  “I’ve been carrying this around for weeks.”

  “It’s beautiful!”

  “You’re beautiful. You told me you would marry me, remember? Now, it’s official. I want you to be my mate for life—to be my wife. So start thinking about dresses and food for the celebration. As soon as you’re well enough, we’re getting married. I should have done this years ago. I’m sorry I made you wait, tehila.”

  Raven put her arms around her man and held on tight. “You were worth the wait, lover.”

  About the Author

  B. Ella Donna is a freelance writer both online and off. In addition, she has had work appear in Black Night magazine and Pagan Pages. Ella has over thirty years of experience in the field of metaphysics and Wiccan philosophy. Currently she is a Reiki practitioner and High Priestess as well as an artist. She’s the mother of three terrific sons and lives in a seaside town in the northeast. Ella is currently working on another paranormal romance novel. To learn more about B. Ella Donna, please visit www.b-elladonna.com. Send an email to B. Ella Donna at [email protected] or join her Myspace group to join in the fun with other readers as well as B.Ella Donna! www.myspace.com/elladonna.

 

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