They are working well together and gaining ground. I look back over to Jack and he is doing ok with Erick.
I am just thinking of going to look for those stray innocents when I hear a piercing scream. Although there are fights and screaming happening all over the place. I get a feeling, no a flash of emotion. I turn to see my mother go down. She has at least four members of the enemy on her. My blood runs cold. There are too many of them, this cannot be happening, I have only just met her. I cannot lose her now.
Once again, I find myself running towards someone, hell-bent on saving them. I cannot get there quickly enough. It is as if I have entered a river and I am fighting to pass through. Hearing her fighting for her life has me pushing harder than I ever thought I could, there are just too many of them. They know who she is, calling out for others to join them. There are at least seven vampires and the four were-animals all pulling at my mother. I hear skin ripping and bones popping. I can hear the were-animals in a frenzy of feeding, all their humanity is gone. Screaming at them to stop. I am too late. My mother is dead.
A terrible wailing sound vibrates around the warehouse, all I can see is red, Fangs sliding, and my nails now lethal talons. My blood has reached boiling point. I can hardly draw breath. My chest has constricted, and my heart feels like it has shattered into a million pieces. I can feel tears burning my cheeks, like acid from a battery working their way down my face.
How can she be gone?
I tear into the animals who have just murdered my mother. I twist necks, ripping away lumps of skin and break bones. They are trying to fight back but grief has me forgetting I am a human being. I am a fighting machine hell-bent on revenge. I literally pull out one of their hearts, crushing it in front of their face as they take their last breath, a morbid sense of satisfaction at the horror on their face. I have turned into a lunatic but still, I keep going. If anyone gets in my way, I will kill them. Repeatedly I ravage and destroy the animals that have taken my mother from me. Will there never be an end to this pain?
I hear it, faint but insistent. “Midget, come back to me, please stop.”
I feel the same calming effect as I did back in my apartment. Slowing me down, seeing the carnage I have created all around me. It is only then I notice everyone is looking at me in sheer terror.
I hone in on Erick, who is just as shocked as everyone else is. I stalk towards him, but before I can get him Roger grabs me into a hug. “He is not worth it. Let the families decide his fate.”
∞ ∞ ∞
The funeral is today. Only two days have passed since I lost my mother. I still feel numb. I never in a million years thought I would take a life. Roger told me, I killed four were-animals and five of the seven vamps. What happened is still a blur, and no one will talk to me about it.
Archie thinks now is not the time to talk about what happened but has promised to sit with me later this week, and for once, I have agreed. Nancy is the only one who has not changed her attitude towards me. Even Roger seems quiet; I know he is distracted, Bella was hurt protecting him while they were fighting. I have told him to go and be with her. However, unless I am sleeping, he is by my side. His reply every time I try to send him to her. I am your protector and it is my duty to be with you. I am not sure if the shock of seeing me go psyche has unnerved him. He is insistent I am imagining it, maybe I am. My head is a jumble of all sorts of thoughts.
I feel so alone, there is an emptiness inside where my heart used to be. I feel numb. I even frightened myself, so why should others be comfortable with me? I feel Roger stood beside me, but it is as if our connection has been severed.
“Ready to go?”
∞ ∞ ∞
I have not had a waking moment alone since my mother passed. I feel stupid, I did not know her, but I feel her loss. I have been told, it is a vampire trait. Families are bound in some way. Archie assures me it will get better with time.
I am so alone. The fates are funny creatures, while in the myst of it all. Roger met Bella and Jack rescued a vampire being held against her will. As they locked eyes across the warehouse the bond reached out to them. The biggest shocker, I have a half-sister. Thankfully she is not after my blood. It is rare for a vampire to meet their true soul mate. The council recognized she was kept a prisoner for all her life. They have given her a pardon for any part she may have played being a member of the Junta. No matter how much they tried to brainwash her. There is not one evil bone in her body. I am happy for them, but at the same time, I feel sadness. I have lost my connection with Jack. She has an apartment in the towers for now, but they plan to move in together after the bonding ceremony.
I feel so lost. Every relationship I have built over the last couple of months is falling apart.
∞ ∞ ∞
The funeral was low-key. My father made a fleeting appearance, he did not try to seek me out. Any proof that he is the head of The Junta has only lead to dead ends. He is still an upstanding member of the vampire society, and in so free to be there. Not sure Minuet agreed with him being an upstanding person. He blanked her as he did me.
The day went by in a blur of condolences from people I had never met. By the end of it, all I wanted to do was slip away, curl up in bed, and go to sleep, never to wake again.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Two months have passed since the day of the fighting and the loss of my mother. Archie has been away for most of it, and in so my questions remain unanswered. Roger calmed down once Bella recovered from her injuries, and is back to his usual cuddly bear self, much to my relief. Jack and Minuet, my half-sister, have made it official. Tonight is the bonding ceremony.
I stand in my room head to toe in a traditional dress; I have chosen to go alone. Which is unheard-of, but since when have I followed the rules. The two people I would have gone with are both happy with their mates. I feel a swelling in my chest that I now know is love. Who would have thought I would be where I am today? My heartache has eased somewhat. I do still have a heart and although the relationships may have changed. My friends are still with me.
The tapping on the door revives me from my thoughts. I knew they would not let me go alone. Opening the door expecting to see Roger and Bella. I look up to see Dorian standing there, tall and breathtakingly handsome. I feel that pull towards him as I have done every time I see him.
He clears his throat. “May I come in? This will not take long.”
Stepping aside, I see Roger, Bella, and Archie behind him. They all file in. Letting out a nervous giggle. “Is this one of those interventions? It is only a party; surely I can break that rules just this once and go alone?”
Stepping in front of me Dorian looks down on me. “We have a little official business to conduct before you can be permitted to enter the council chambers, the ceremony will be held within those walls.”
This sounds mysterious.
Archie smiles at me. “Do not worry Angel, this is nothing to worry about.”
Clearing his throat, Dorian once again looks at me. “Are you, Angel Desdemona Ladislav, born of Jesaray Ladislav and Gideon Absinthe?”
I feel a jolt of excitement run through my body and glance apprehensively at Archie, and he just nods his head. I manage to squeak in reply, “Yes.”
Smiling, Dorian unrolls a scroll and signs it. “You will have to come to parliament to collect this officially, I also have other news for you that needs to be settled. Do not worry, it is all good, however, you could not attend without officially having your rightful name papers signed. Welcome to the family. Angel. Now, will you do me the honor of accompanying me please?”
The gasp from Bella is too cute; I know this is a big deal. I play it safe. There has been enough boat rocking lately and I remember him telling me the next time we meet. I would not say no to him. Right now, my soul is screaming at me to say yes.
Holding out my arm. “I would be delighted.”
Slowly filing into the great hall. I have never seen such finery; it is out of this world. An
orchestra is playing Canon, but as we enter the hall, a hush falls over the crowd. I almost stumble, and both Dorian and Roger go to catch me.
I hear Roger cuss and apologize to Dorian, who smiles and quietly replies, “If Angel ever falls again, you had better be there to catch her. I would rather be pushed out of the way than see her fall.”
It is a fairy-tale. The hall is shining with all the wonderful chandelier lights, the ceiling has astonishing pictures adorning it, and there are fresh flowers everywhere.
The place is buzzing once again. I can feel it, I am home, with the people I love and trust. Life is getting back on track. What could go wrong?
I am determined to enjoy the moment. Dorian is a most wonderful dancer. His firm body against mine, with his strong hands guiding me. I feel like a fairy princess floating around the room. He is humming the tune to me as we gaze into each other’s eyes; it is as if no one else is in the room. The chemistry between us is building with a promise of pleasures yet to come.
The sirens blaring have me tumbling out of my daydream. “What is the alarm for?”
There are people leaving gracefully but quickly. The hustle and bustle, orderly but quietly frantic, a contradiction, but the only way to describe it.
Dorian answers my question. “There has been a jailbreak.”
The guard speaks to Dorian in hushed tones.
He turns to me after they have finished their conversation. “Erick has escaped. It seems we have traitors within our ranks.”
With that, the party is over. Moreover, the hunt begins.
∞ ∞ ∞
About the Author
Caroline F Levy. Living the not so glamorous lifestyle in the south of France. Lover of coffee, it would be my desert island item!
Proud Mum and Nana. Cat lady in training, and now the caretaker of a flock of ducks and chickens, as well as two parents! I am often seen running around in my pj’s and wellingtons after a stubborn duck who does not wish to go to bed. I am fortunate as being a full-time career affords me a little time to write. My passion, paranormal romance of course. I grew up reading the likes of Anne Rice and later Laurel K Hamilton. I would mention a few others, but the list would be longer than this book! I am grateful to all the authors I have had the pleasure of reading over the years as they have helped me to grow as a writer and let my imagination run riot all over the page. Must dash I hear my supernatural friends calling my name.
How to contact me
Blog
https://carolineflevyauthor.com/
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Twitter
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Email
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Books in this series
The Desory
Welcome to the Family
Nikki’s Revenge
What’s next in the Supernatural Sagas?
Amazon Links
US http://a.co/8swRYdF
UK http://amzn.eu/denBxZr
Welcome to the Family Page 15