“You don’t trust me?”
“I barely know you.”
“You know me. You just refuse to acknowledge the fact that you’ve known me for years before you were turned.”
“I guess you’re right. I’m just…a little nervous.”
“That’s perfectly normal. May you be mine forever,” he said, pressing his lips to my throat.
There was no time to speak, no time to think. By the time a drop of blood hit my lips, there came a pounding at the door.
“Open up! I know you’re in there Chenille.”
“It’s Zaire,” I whispered frantically. “How did he find me? What do we do?”
“Stay quiet.”
How typical for big brother to show up now at my inconvenience. If Fitzray hadn’t been holding me so tight, I would have opened the door and throttled him.
“Chenille if you don’t open this door-,” he yelled, pounding on the door so violently that I held my breath.
When he finally managed to open it, Zaire only stared at us, his face glowing crimson.
“You are coming home with me right now,” he growled.
The silence hung over us for a moment, for I was too afraid to speak. My only thought revolved around the possibility that Caspian lingered nearby.
“Get up Chenille or I’ll drag you home by your hair,” my brother spat, his growing anger adding an edge to his voice.
Fitzray moved away from me unwillingly, creating enough space for me to sit upright. Zaire caught his breath, probably noticing the blood on my neck.
“Zaire, it’s not what you think-,” I started instinctually, trying to cover up his suspicion.
“Is this him, the one responsible for turning you into a vampire?”
Every one of my brother’s muscles tensed so quickly that I thought he would launch at Fitzray at that moment and rip him to shreds.
“No,” Fitzray answered for me.
“You stay away from her,” he growled, probably suspecting that Fitzray was lying.
“Leave him alone Zaire.”
His eyes settled back on me. “I’ve heard enough from you.”
That was the last straw. I scrambled off the bed and pushed my brother aside to escape.
Without another word, I left the festivities behind me and traveled out into the woods. Alone for now, I knew Fitzray and Zaire were not far behind. Regardless, I ventured on, away from them both to seek some answers in solitude.
Chapter 7 – The Revelation
The Bridge of Secrecy, isolated, suspended between the two worlds, served as a refuge where I could be alone. The stars glittered endlessly, poking holes into the black blanket of the universe overhead. The air remained stiff and cold as it usually was here. I had no intentions to cross the Bridge, at least not tonight. For a while, I could mull over my thoughts while Fitzray and Zaire continued on their path to find me.
With a start, I caught a glimpse of a figure in my peripheral vision. The figure’s dark cape gave me the impression that they had materialized out of the darkness.
“I didn’t see you there.”
His words hung in the air for a while. I could have said the same to him. He approached me slowly, cautiously, giving me a few quiet seconds to study his bold, captivating face.
His black hair swept over to one side, framing his intensive eyes, innocent among his darker features. He resembled the stranger in my nightmare.
“Who did this to you?” It took me a moment to register how close he was and that his hand nonchalantly rested on the side of my neck. “Who bit you?”
“I…I don’t know,” I stuttered, “I mean, my friend…my friend did it.”
“So much of a friend he is,” the figure replied with a coy smile, revealing two pearly fangs. “Was this done on purpose?”
“Yes.”
“I see.” He dropped his hand slowly.
“Why do you care?”
“Why shouldn’t I care Chenille?” My name slipped off his tongue so beautifully that it did not concern me how he knew it in the first place.
“You know my name.”
“Yes, I do. Why wouldn’t I know your name?”
“I don’t know you.”
“My name is Pete.” His words flowed together seamlessly, sending me in a daze for a brief moment as he spoke. He blinked slowly, tilting his head with interest. “I’m surprised you don’t remember me.”
“I’ve met you before?”
Pete laughed humorlessly. I felt myself shrink back, suspecting he was already thinking less of me.
“Well, you should know who I am,” he said impatiently.
In silence, he removed a knife from under his cape and sliced his hand. Black blood spilled out of the wound and black blood, I knew, belonged to powerful immortals. Pete was the leader as King of the vampires – King of Catastrophe.
“I’m sorry I…I didn’t know,” I stammered, about to curtsey when he grabbed my shoulder with his bloody hand.
“That is no excuse. You should know your Eternal Mate.”
I froze. “Excuse me?”
“Chenille!”
I stumbled back, away from the King, my Eternal Mate, my eyes locking on Fitzray. Moonscale ran alongside him. Without thinking, I ran to him, nearly colliding into him once I reached him.
“It’s him,” I cried, on the verge of tears, “it’s the King. He claims that he’s…he’s my,” my voice trailed off. I clutched his shirt in desperation, hoping he would wake me up from another nightmare.
“The two of us need to finish what we started,” Fitzray said softly, gazing in Pete’s direction.
“No, you don’t have to finish anything. Just forget him and take me away from here,” I begged frantically.
“I don’t have much of a choice.”
“You can’t go. He’s too strong. His blood runs black in his veins Fitzray!” I cried, holding him tighter, willing him not to leave.
“I won’t die Chenille,” he said calmly, giving me a nervous smile. He took my hands in his, prying them from his shirt. “I’ll be fine.” I knew he was lying.
Chapter 8 - The Sacrifice
Pete slowly made his way toward Fitzray.
“I haven’t seen you in the longest time, brother.”
“The two of you are-,”
“That’s right. You see, we were all good friends once. I was born a vampire and Fitzray was not. He was just a mortal, like you, until our father turned him into a vampire. When he met you, he claimed you as his own, while I killed the previous leader of the vampires – our father. And you, I wanted you just the same. So I bit you and made you mine before Fitzray could. I knew you would run from your home and Fitzray would have to go and find you. But you are mine now, my Eternal Mate, and I have complete permission to rid him from these planets once and for all.” Pete glared at his brother; his hands were fists at his sides.
“You can’t do this!”
“I can do anything I want.”
“What is all this quarreling about?” Taj’ called, slithering up to us.
“Taj’ what are you doing here?”
“Pearl said she foresaw a fight here, on the Bridge. Let’s not be starting anything now. I don’t want to see anyone get hurt,” Taj’ said softly.
“We’re not starting anything,” Pete said.
I clutched onto Fitzray’s cape. “Don’t do this. He’s too strong.”
“Let’s end this now Pete.”
Fitzray grabbed the knife from his belt and threw it as hard as he could before I could stop him. Pete moved, but not quick enough and the cruel blade sliced his shoulder.
Just as Fitzray walked up to him to do further damage, a man made his way toward us. It was Zaire.
It was my brother in the flesh, with a face like my own. It brought tears to my eyes at the very sight of him, though my heart sank as he looked me over with hardly any interest. My big brother was finally here to rescue me, I thought – I hoped.
“I’m ashamed of
you Chenille. When you came to me nearly a year ago, I thought you had the potential to change. When Dad realized there was nothing that could change you, he wanted you killed. Your dragon’s kidnapping was a plot to your demise. But I let you get away…I couldn’t kill you – my only sister.”
“What…what in the world are you talking about?”
“You were turned into one of them. They are the cause of this. They will pay for what they’ve done.”
“Pay?”
“Chenille, look at me. I am your brother, your blood, and a part of the pack whether you’d like to believe it or not. So please understand…what I do is out of love – for your own good.” His gaze turned to rest on Fitzray. “This is your fault.”
“No Zaire, he’s not my-,”
My brother’s body transformed to resemble that of a large charcoal black wolf. He was a wolf. According to him, my family members were all wolves. They were a pack. And I was not a part of it.
He launched, nails extended, teeth exposed. Just as the wolf sunk his claws into Fitzray’s chest, Taj’ wrapped his tail around the wolf’s body and flung him over the side of the Bridge in one swift movement. My brother’s howl rang out as he plunged down into the oblivion of the universe.
There was no time to mourn my brother. Fitzray was nearly dead at my feet, blood pooled around him, his eyes half-closed. I fell to my knees, ran my hands over his ripped shirt where the wounds spilled blood at an alarming rate. I was sure the wounds were deep enough to pierce his heart, but I couldn’t be sure.
“Fitzray say something…please.”
“I’m sorry…Chenille.”
Tears spilled over onto my face. “Are you…you’re not going to die are you?” He didn’t answer. “Oh please, please don’t leave me.”
“I will be reincarnated in another life.”
“Are you sure?” Pete asked, his voice sounding almost as heartbroken as my own. He bent down to gaze over his brother and shook his head. His eyes flicked up and he slowly lifted his brother up into his arms. “I’m sorry to disappoint you then.”
“PETE, NO!”
Moonscale lifted off as Pete threw his Master over the side of the Bridge. Pete grabbed his knife and slashed it through the dragon’s wing. The dragon uttered a cry and he fell, spiraling down with his Master.
“You will pay, malevolent creature! The mortals will murder you once I drag you over the Bridge in my mouth! You will not be able to hide! For your own kind shall rebel against you! You will pay! We will show no mercy!” Taj’ screamed.
Pete reached down and pulled me upright, forcing me to stand. I tried to keep my distance from him, but I was too distraught to fight him and wept against him since he was the closest thing to weep on.
“Chenille belongs to me now. You kill me and she will go down with me, I promise you.”
And like the daisy, the flower of death, shall all cower and plea for mercy in its presence, as I had in Pete’s arms during the night of the last eclipse.
* * * * *
Part 2
Through the Moonlight
Chapter 9 - A Total Blank
“Where am I?” Sitting up, I found myself surrounded by darkness, all except for the pulsing glow of black poison on my hands.
“I’m glad you are awake.” A voice said from the darkness.
“Who are you? Who am I? Where am I?”
“I am Pete, your Eternal Mate. And you are Chenille East,” the voice replied.
“Where am I?”
“What does that matter?”
“I don’t remember anything.”
“You don’t have to remember.”
I shook my head. Something was wrong.
“How long has this happened?”
“What?”
“How long have I been so forgetful? Have I always been so forgetful?”
“Yes, but don’t worry, I’m here to guide you.”
“What is an Eternal Mate?”
“An Eternal Mate is the one who turned you into a vampire.”
“Vampire? I am a vampire!”
“Must we go through this every day?”
“I am a vampire?”
“Yes, and you will always be mine.”
And the vampire kissed me, my head becoming fuzzy and I forgot my name - again.
I recalled days like those when I could remember nothing, but my memory slowly surfaced. I still knew nothing of my life. Pete never told me anything. Whenever a familiar face or name popped in my head and I told him, he only laughed and said I shouldn’t be concerned.
I trotted beside Pete, stumbled over the volcanic-like rocks, and breathed in the cold clean air.
“I saw a man with green eyes in my dream last night.”
“Doesn’t ring a bell to me,” Pete mumbled.
“Well, I remember the dream. It felt so real.”
“You shouldn’t overreact, it was just a dream.”
“But it meant something, I’m sure of it.”
“It was nothing, trust me.”
“But Pete-,”
“Trust me.”
“I do.”
“Good, now let’s go inside, it is getting late.”
* * * * *
Chapter 10 - Lucian
“Well won’t you look at that? There is a new moon in the sky,” Lucian mumbled quietly to himself.
“Not a moon Sire, but a planet,” his dragon said, joining him on the Bridge.
The planet was black, like a piece of coal in the sky with red smoke radiating around it.
“What does this mean Sire?”
“It means…there is but another planet for Chenille to be kept and we must go there. Come Jasper, we have much to do.”
“You have spent a lot of time looking for her.”
“I know, but I must find her. I don’t have much of a choice.”
“How do you expect to find her?”
“I know someone who can help us.”
* * * * *
“I would like to help you, but I am afraid I too do not know where Chenille is. Pete took her away and she has not been seen since.” The old snake peered down at Lucian with dismay. “Though we might have some luck if we ask Pearl.”
“Very well,” Lucian said.
The black snake led him through the thick fog to the Frozen Waterfalls where Amelia, Caspian, and Calvin waited. Princess Pearl, a powerful mermaid whose heart was as cold as ice, sat on her rock, refusing to assist them.
“Pearl, can you help me? I am searching for Chenille.”
Pearl turned away and tossed her dull blonde locks of hair over her shoulder. “What good will it do if you look? What makes you think we will find her now? Who are you anyway?”
“I am Lucian, cousin of Pete and Fitzray.”
“We are all still searching for her,” Taj’ said quietly, “we mustn’t give up hope.”
“What do you know of the new planet in the sky?”
She turned to Lucian and frowned. “I know nothing of the new planet, I’m afraid.”
“Can we go there?”
“If we know nothing of the planet, how can we go there? We don’t know what lives there.”
“Or who lives there.”
Everyone turned to Lucian skeptically.
“What if Chenille is there,” he continued.
“There is a chance, although I can’t promise you will find her there, especially since it is an unknown planet.”
“An unknown planet to us,” Amelia said.
“She could be trapped there,” Caspian added thoughtfully.
“And if that is the case, how do we get there?”
“Why should we go there?”
“We won’t know what…or who is there if we don’t look,” Calvin snapped.
“He is right. We have to look and see for ourselves.”
“But how will we get there?” Pearl whined as she pressed the issue so they would not have to go.
“I don’t know, but we will find out.”
“We should have others come with us, some powerful creatures to back us up incase anything happens.”
“And put others in danger?”
“If Pete is on that planet with Chenille, we won’t have a chance against him. We need all the help we can get,” Lucian said. “Amelia, Caspian, Calvin and I will get the strongest of vampires we can find.”
“And you Pearl?”
“I will get some mermaids and see you tomorrow,” she mumbled and crossed her arms.
“Let’s go.”
“Wait, how will we get there?”
“The dragons of course,” Lucian said quietly.
“Lucian, why do you care about Chenille? Do you know her?” Amelia inquired.
“No, I don’t know her but…Fitzray did and he was my cousin so…it’s in my nature to protect her, I suppose. I know she meant a lot to him.”
“Do you think we will find her?”
Lucian shifted his gaze to the redhead surprised at her concerned, almost harsh tone. He looked at her, sensing there was aggression hidden in her question. The demand for the save return of her friend was apparent in the way she tightened her jaw.
He knew she did not really trust him but he suspected that she would leave the concern of her friend in his hands at least until they reached her, if they did. He could tell she would break apart buildings to find her and that it wouldn’t make a difference to her if a half-blood of a vampire would lead her or not.
“I don’t know.” He replied honestly, but simply. “We will find out once we get to Pete’s planet.”
Chapter 11 – Addiction
The vampire took off his leather jacket and dropped it over my shoulders. The poison that seeped onto my lips, once so bitter was now so sweet. It was like vanilla, but with the caffeine-like substance that made me crave it more. The more he kissed me, the more I forgot and the more he had control over me. I shook my head and broke away from his grip.
“How about that Ceremony you promised me,” Pete whispered.
“Ceremony? What Ceremony?”
“The Blood Ceremony, the ceremony that will make me immortal. Not even a sword shoved through my chest will kill and reincarnate me. But as for you-,”
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