by C P Fleur
He pulled open the heavy front door, and I only hesitated for a moment before stepping inside of the massive space. Daylight poured through the windows, and I could see the empty shelving that lined the walls.
“We still keep our most important documents here,” he explained as he continued walking across the old wooden floor. Leading me to the back of the building in a small alcove off to the right, where there was a small desk with a wingback chair. “Sit.”
I slid into the leather seat as he ran his finger over the spines of old leather-bound books. “These are all the treaties and laws from as far back as six-hundred years ago.” He pulled one open, leafing through the delicate pages before setting it on the desk in front of me open.
“What’s this?” I asked, running my fingertips over the handwritten ink. “These are the scandals of the last century. Murders, broken laws, unauthorized creations.”
“Creations?”
“New vampires. The ones they know about, anyway.” His eyes met mine briefly before he walked closer, leaning down over my shoulder as his finger slid over the names. Even being within inches of him made my head swim. “There,” his voice was a whisper, his breath fanning against my ear.
I squinted, trying to read the handwriting.
Will Nixon
sired by: unknown
Charged with committing murder and fleeing Briarwick Clan.
Crime perpetrated against Edgewood Coven.
In accordance with the Life and Death Species Segregation Act of 1899, The Coven is given the right to retribution, including the final death.
sentence: death.
My hand covered my mouth, my eyes clouding over in disbelief. “My father... he’s dead?”
“I’m sorry,” was all he replied as I let the tears soak my cheeks, my chin quivering.
“He didn’t just abandon us,” I muttered, my words barely audible over a low rumble of thunder in the distance. “But why would he kill someone? Why would he risk everything?”
“He was protecting you.”
“Me?” I shook my head. “I don’t understand.”
He covered my hand with his own; offering me a reprieve from my sadness. “If they believed he killed your mother, they would never find out you existed. They’d never know that he was able to love her.”
“He let them believe he’d killed her to save me?”
“When Edgewood discovered your mother was seeing your father, they bound her magic. She couldn’t keep you safe from other vampires or witches. It was his only choice.”
“What if they found out after he was gone? Who would keep us safe, then?”
“He told his secret to the only person he could trust, his progeny. I vowed to protect you until you came of age.”
“You... you’ve been protecting me? For how long?”
He swallowed, his eyes going to the book as he shook his head. “Your entire life.”
“My whole life!” I stood, my chair shoving back and skidding across the wooden floor loudly.
“It was my job,” he replied, his tone still even. “I was made for you, Nova. Your dad knew he wouldn’t be able to be there to protect you. So he created me.” My mind went to the necklace, his heart. It was made for you. His words echoed inside of my head as my fingers ghosted over my throat, where it hung.
“Made you? My father took your life to protect mine?” Suddenly, my anger morphed into being upset for Lucas. He’d lost everything for me? No wonder he hated me when I arrived at Briarwick.
“It was the only way he knew I could be trusted.”
“Were you there?” I pictured Wyatt, the night he was killed, my birthday. His dirty blonde hair slicked with his own blood, his body limp.
“I’ve kept you safe.”
“Were you there,” I bit out each word, fresh tears obscuring my vision. The storm outside finally broke lose and rain pelted the windows. The sound was so loud in the enormous space it was hard to think. “You let him die.” I took a step back, putting more distance between us.
“I had no choice,” his tone was harsher now. “I needed to protect you.”
I shook my head as the anger felt like it vibrated through my veins. “I should have tried harder. I could have done something. Maybe if I’d known what I was –”
“You couldn’t have saved Wyatt, Nova.”
“How do you know that?”
“Because...” his eyes searched mine. “I wouldn’t have let you. I couldn’t let you sacrifice your own life for someone else.”
My eyes narrowed, anger causing my entire body to feel like it was on fire. Thunder cracked, and the wind howled outside.
“Nova, you need to calm down.” His words had the opposite effect. “Not here.”
“I need to calm down?” I asked, taking a step toward him as he took one back. “My best friend is dead, and you’re telling me that you didn’t save him because it wasn’t your job?”
“I had to choose, and if I had to make that decision again, it would be you, Nova. It will always be you.”
Those words caused my feet to stick to the floor, the anger leaving me as quickly as it began to boil inside of my veins. “He didn’t deserve to die,” I choked out.
Lucas took a step closer to me now, closing the gap between us. “I know. I’m sorry.”
He moved closer still, his arms wrapping around me. “Did he... did it happen because of me? Because of who I am?” I asked, my voice a muffled whisper against his chest. Pulling me back from his body, his arms gripping my shoulders and his dark eyes locked onto mine.
“None of this has ever been your fault.”
“If I’d never been born –”
“I would be dead... actually dead. You gave my existence a purpose.”
The thought of never having met Lucas made my stomach twist. “What if you get killed because of me? What if all of this was for nothing?”
He laughed sardonically, shaking his head. “Every single moment I got to spend with you was worth it. I wouldn’t change it for anything, no matter what happens. It’s a rule.”
“A rule?”
“Rule number nine – Live, and die, with no regrets.”
“I guess we better get started.”
Rule 10: Swing Like You Mean It
Nova
“I CAN’T DO THIS,” I groaned, using my arm to push my hair from my forehead, stuck against my skin with sweat. I was out of shape. I wasn’t prepared for any of this. Lucas was counting on me, and I was going to let him down.
“Don’t give up,” Lucas warned, not even perspiring. I rolled my eyes, my hands on my hips as I glared at him. “I need you.” When my eyes met his, he corrected himself. “You need to be able to protect yourself.”
“This is hopeless.”
He stepped toward me, grabbing my hands and holding them between us. I couldn’t help the smirk on my lips from his touch. “This is your destiny.”
“I can’t fight, Lucas. I can barely walk and chew gum.”
“You kept Sylvi off you pretty well,” he replied with a shrug.
“She was trying to kill me. My survival instincts kicked in.”
His lips twisted up into a smirk before two fangs descended behind his perfect smile. I startled, taking a small step back as my heart began to race.
“Y-you don’t scare me, Lucas,” I stuttered.
His head cocked to the side, his eyes falling closed for a moment. “Your racing heart says otherwise.” Crouching, he began to move closer. I mimicked his stance; my eyes darted around the room toward the various exits.
“Rule number four. Good,” he praised me. “But you can’t get away that easily. You’re going to have to fight me.”
A devilish smirk played on his lips. He was enjoying this.
“I’m not going to take it easy on you,” I warned, causing him to laugh, the sound echoing in the spacious gym. He stepped closer, both of us moving in a circle as I waited for him to attack.
“You remember the ru
les?” he asked, an eyebrow cocked.
I nodded, blowing a few strands of hair from my face before he moved toward me, almost too fast to perceive.
I spun around, his hand gripping my arm from behind me, turning me into his grip, his breath fanning over my neck from behind. I froze, knowing his teeth must have been dangerously close to the side of my throat. “Ah, ah, ah. Rule number six.”
I rolled my eyes, stepping away from him. “Not fair. I can’t move like you.”
“That’s why we’re practicing. Close your eyes.”
“What?”
“Trust me. Close your eyes.”
I shook my head but let my eyes flutter closed. “Use your senses. Go with your gut. Can you feel my eyes on you?”
I nodded. “Behind me.”
His breath fanned against the nape of my neck. “Good.” And just as quickly, he was gone. “Next time, don’t answer, just swing.”
My eyes snapped open. “You want me to actually hit a vampire?”
“I want you to try to hit a vampire. Close your eyes. Ready?”
I nodded, my eyes squeezed shut, my fists in front of me. I turned, swinging my arm out to my left, but not connecting with anything. I spun around, before twisting and shooting my hand out to my right. I shook my head, thunder cracking in the distance.
“Am I making you angry?” He asked, his breath tickling my ear. I swung my fist down at my side, nailing him in his ribs. “Nice shot. Too bad you hit like a girl.”
“Like a girl, huh?” I blew out a heavy breath, widening my stance. I heard a noise to my right, smelled the mint of his soap behind me. “This is impossible. You’re everywhere.”
“Focus.” His voice came from in front of me, the fabric of his shirt brushing against my arm. He was so close I could practically taste him. My tongue ran out over my lower lip like when we were alone in our room before Fellows interrupted us. I thought at that moment he may have wanted to kiss me. He was distracted, and if I had to bet, I’d say he might be again. I swung, my fist connected with his chest in front of me. He made a pained sound, his fingers gripping my wrist, and before I could counter, I was flat on my back, the weight of Lucas’ body on top of mine. My hands pinned to the ground on either side of my head.
My eyes shot open, locking on the fangs that protruded from his smile. “Better,” he whispered. His breathing was heavy, and it was the first time I’d ever seen him even remotely breathless. He pushed himself from my body, holding out his hand for me to take. I let my fingers slide over his, and he tugged me to my feet with no effort.
“Did I actually hurt you or just wound your pride?” I asked with an eyebrow cocked.
Reaching over his head, he grabbed his t-shirt from behind his head and tugged it off. My eyes fell to the lean muscles that rippled down over his stomach before I noticed the purpling bruise that was darkening on his chest. His own face contorted in pain as he rubbed his palm against the injury like he didn’t believe I’d hurt him either. He shook his head, taking a fighting stance with knees bent and hands out in front of him.
“Lucky shot. Come on. I won’t take it easy on you this time.”
“That was easy?” I asked, unable to hide the shock from my voice. I got into a fighting stance and let my eyes fall closed.
“Come on, Nova. Feel me. Feel that vampire blood that courses through both of us. It’s part of you. I’m part of you.”
I rolled my neck, struggling to feel Lucas with every fiber of my being. I could smell him, hear him as he moved around me. And then, almost as if someone had flipped a switch behind my eyes, I could see something. A blob, a faint blue glow so dim it was barely perceivable, moving around me like waves in the ocean. “I see you. I see a light.” I swung, my arm stiff out to my side, but it moved, dodging my hit. I spun, kicking out behind me as I turned, and my foot connected. He grabbed my ankle, and my eyes shot open as I watched him grip his ribs in his other hand.
“Hit here,” he said as he rubbed his fingertips against the front of my ankle and top of my foot. “So, you don’t break any toes.”
I nodded, and he released my leg, walking around with his hand on his side.
“Lucas, what happens if I get bitten?” I asked. He stopped pacing, turning to look at me.
“I don’t know.” I could tell by the look on his face that the thought scared him enough to make me worry. “I’ll do whatever it takes to make sure that doesn’t happen.”
I believed him. He’d spent his entire vampire life making sure I’d been safe, and I had no doubt he would continue to protect me until the day I died. “What happened... to you?”
“I was a fighter. I guess your father thought I could handle my own pretty well.”
“That’s why he chose you?” I asked.
“The locals would organize these matches every Friday night. Small town, not much to do. It was an easy way to make a quick buck. I was good. If I didn’t fight, my brother wouldn’t get dinner.” He shrugged as he grabbed his shirt from the floor, flinging it over his shoulder. “I had won and collected my money. As I turned to leave, my opponent decided he didn’t want to take the loss. He hit me from behind. I lost my footing. When I fell, my head hit a curb. Everyone scattered. They thought I was dead.” He smiled sardonically, lost in the memory. “Your father found me. He gave me a second chance.”
“Did it hurt?”
“There’s a chemical that’s excreted behind the fangs. It helps relax the prey,” his eyes flitted to me as he said that last word to gauge my reaction. “It helps sedate them to keep them from struggling. The goal is to be able to feed and leave them alive. Too many bodies begin turning up, and people would know something was wrong.”
“So, it’s peaceful.”
“Being bitten isn’t the bad part. It’s dying and coming back that’s excruciating. It’s watching those you love die and not being able to help them.”
I shivered, even more worried I wouldn’t be able to do this.
“Don’t worry. We just need to practice. You need to get angry,” he reassured me.
“I don’t have any reason to be mad at you, Lucas.” I shook my head.
I watched as his throat bobbed when he swallowed hard, his gaze moving to the ground between us.
“Lucas?” I asked. His eyes slowly rose to meet mine. “What else could there be?”
He grabbed his shirt from his shoulder and tossed it to the floor, getting into a fighting stance.
“The night of the accident –”
I put my hands up now, feeling my heart rate begin to accelerate.
“There was so much blood,” he bit out. “I was afraid I’d hurt you.”
I shook my head as he moved toward me. His hand shot out, and I blocked his shot with my forearm. “What did you do?”
“We were miles from help. You were out cold. I wasn’t sure you’d make it much longer.”
“What did you do?” I asked again. He reached out, grabbing my wrist. I spun in toward him, jamming my elbow into his stomach and causing him to release me.
“I had to feed, to ensure I wouldn’t hurt you.”
As his words sank in, I pictured Wyatt in his last moments of life, desperate for help, and met with a killer instead. “You murdered him?” I could barely choke out the words.
“He was already dead. He wasn’t going to survive.”
“You made sure of that didn’t you,” I snapped, swinging right toward his nose, but he dodged my hit, grabbing my arm and yanking me forward before bending my arm behind me. I rose on my toes as he pulled up higher, leaning my head to the side, his fangs grazing my skin from behind.
“I made sure you lived.”
I jammed my free elbow back into his ribs, and he released his hold on me again. I spun around, wanting nothing more than to be able to hurt him.
“Why are you telling me this now?”
“Because you need to understand that I’m a vampire. I’m an animal. Now swing like you mean it – rule number ten. If you
don’t hurt me, the next time, I’m going to use my teeth.”
The sound of the storm outside echoed through the large room, thunder cracked, and in an instant, the room went dark. Lightning flashed as I spun around, focusing on Lucas.
“Fight like your life depends on it,” he yelled as I turned around again, desperate to find him.
I inhaled sharply, closing my eyes, struggling to see him, but I was overwhelmed.
“You’re not focusing.”
Another crash of thunder rolled through the sky as lightning lit up the expansive room. His hands wrapped around me from behind, holding my arms across my chest. When the room lit up again, it was followed by a crashing sound.
In an instant, my feet were off the ground, and we rolled across the floor, my body still bound in Lucas’ grip as a tree crashed through the roof, hitting the ground just feet from us. I fought against him, spinning around in his grasp to face him. His hand went to my face, his fingertips ghosting over my cheek as I desperately tried to calm my erratic breathing as I lay half underneath him. He’d saved my life, again.
“That was better. Next time try not to get yourself killed in the process,” He scolded me.
“Maybe I really am stronger than I realized.” I groaned, bringing my knee up between his legs to hit him in the groin. He rolled to the side, and I followed, positioning my body on top of his, glaring down at him. I grabbed his wrists, pinning his hands down beside his head, causing him to laugh. “Not bad for someone who hits like a girl.”
“Let’s take a break and get you something to eat before we continue.”
I nodded, climbing off his body and pushing to my feet, offering my hand to help him up like he had to me earlier.
Lucas
It wasn’t a lie. I killed Wyatt. I pulled the only person from Nova’s life that she could confide in. I’d stolen her best friend, the boy she was falling in love with. But I didn’t have a choice.
Still, she would never understand the whole truth. I couldn’t risk her pushing me away entirely, not when she needed me to protect her; not now that I know she had magic in her. The witches may have bound her mother’s powers, but it didn’t apply to her unborn child. Or perhaps her mother’s magic was forced upon her. Either way, she was destined to be something more significant.