Vanquished

by Andy Lewter

  Live your life and love hard. But don’t forget about me, my angle.

  (Yup, did that one on purpose)

  Love you always,

  Your Nicholas

  * * *

  Smiling through my tears, I folded the letter neatly back into the envelope and tucked it away for safekeeping. His words were something I shouldn’t have feared. I could live with the words written in that letter.

  Gazing at all the familiar items in my room, I ran my fingers across the wall as I made my way down the stairs. Autumn hung heavily in the air, and the crisp aromas brought a pleasant smile to my face.

  “Would you like some homemade apple cider?” my mother asked, stirring a steaming pot on the stove as I entered the kitchen.

  I wrapped my arms around her torso and rested my chin on her shoulder. “I’d love some.” She smiled at me tiredly — a smile I’d grown used to seeing since our return home.

  “Well I want some!” Olivia announced, bounding into the kitchen wearing bright pink sweats. I was happy to see her love for pink remained.

  “Get in line,” Athena announced with sarcasm, bumping hips with Olivia.

  We left her employment up to her since Miles became leader. At first, she bounced back and forth guarding Miles and me. Recently though, she came up with a reason to stay solely with me. Said I needed to be babysat or something.

  I didn’t mind her here. I knew deep down she’d grown used to my constant presence — and I was her best friend.

  A soft knock sounded at the door, and we chatted in the kitchen for a minute longer before I made my way to answer it. Inhaling the delicious aroma of the steaming cider in hand, a goofy grin rested upon my features as I opened the door.

  But the moment I looked up, my expression fell and the mug slipped through my fingers as my eyes landed on a ghost. Hot liquid splattered across the doorway and the mug shattered into a thousand pieces, much like the pains that had recently devastated my heart.

  Nicholas Ludovic stood at my door.

  “What? How? Are you real?” I blubbered, my body numbing from instant shock. Tears blurred my vision and my voice was riddled with unsteady emotion.

  Watching me with nervous copper eyes, he raked his hair. “Nope… definitely not a ghost.”

  A sob caught in my throat, and I threw my arms around him. “I don’t understand,” I cried, wiping my tears. “You’re okay! You’re here! I mean…” I stepped back and tapped my sternum. I couldn’t sense him. The humming, the electric pull — it’s gone. I reached out and pointedly grabbed his arm to test it out. Nothing. “What?”

  “I lost my abilities. I wondered what it would be like when I got close to you,” he admitted sheepishly, avoiding my evaluating gaze.

  “I didn’t realize you could lose those. Do you need help finding them?” Athena quipped as she appeared in the doorway, butting into our conversation. “’Sup, evil one? I see you aren’t dead.”

  I shoved her away and turned my attention back to him. “Really though. You lost them?” He still looked Valens, but his features were softer now — the angry, brooding expression he constantly held was gone. It was like a new person stood in front of me.

  He shrugged. “I was right in assuming that all of Kayla’s puppets would get their minds back. Your mom is herself again?” he asked, peeking through the doorway.

  I nodded, enthralled by his story.

  “Right,” he nodded, glancing down. “I guess I didn’t realize what all I’d be destroying that night. Apparently I was a puppet for her, too. She’d really done a number on me over the years. It’s kinda weird not being on the verge of a mental breakdown,” he chuckled, shaking his head. Then his features turned serious once more. “I think the lightning fried my abilities. My mind was stronger than Kayla’s. Maybe that’s how I’m still here.”

  He glanced uneasily behind him, and I followed his gaze. Adele stood silently to the side, watching our conversation.

  And then my eyes fell on Ray, leaning nonchalantly against our house. “Ray?” I cried, thick tears springing to my eyes once more.

  “I wondered how long it would take for you to see me,” he chuckled.

  I was in his arms the next instant. His embrace was warm and gentle, and he rubbed slow circles on my back. I missed him dearly.

  “That train cart! I saw you under it! Why on earth did you guys wait so long to contact us?” I pulled back, my voice shaky and oddly pitched with emotion. I furrowed my brows and glanced between Ray and Nicholas. “You could have called!” I tried to be mad. But I couldn’t. So I cried some more.

  Ray pulled in a deep breath as his focus shifted to Nicholas. “Nick needed some time. Healing the body is my specialty. But the mind? That’s all in the beholder.” His eyes shifted to Adele and nodded. “So we gave him time to heal before we reached out.”

  I couldn’t help but feel scrutinized under Adele’s glare after that statement.

  “What in the – who else is here?” Athena interrupted, barging through the door once more.

  Ray’s brilliant blues set on her, and his features fell into an expression of determination. “Excuse me.”

  He stalked toward her like a man on a mission. Athena’s lavender eyes shifted from shock to confusion as she realized who it was. But before she could react, Ray scooped her up into his arms and kissed her passionately.

  He held her close for a long moment, and eventually, Athena placed her hand on his cheek before he pulled away.

  “My-lanta,” she breathed. I swore I could see stars in her eyes. “I mean…” she stood tall and scowled, wiping her lips furiously with her sleeve. “Keep your filthy mouth to yourself!”

  Ray beamed, reading through her outburst. “Funny how near-death experiences give you the courage to do what you’ve always wanted. Many more to come, Athena Grant,” he winked.

  Athena pursed her lips and stepped closer to Ray, her features bold and hard. Holding up a forefinger, she formed her mouth to say words that never came. “No.” With that, she flipped her golden locks to her back and stormed inside.

  I glanced around, my mind processing what I’d just seen. Adele was rolling her eyes, Nicholas stood in a state of surprise.

  “She’s great, isn’t she?” Ray asked no one in particular, as he shoved his hands in his pockets.

  I cleared my throat, shaking off my state of shock. “We have homemade apple cider in here if you’d three like some?” I asked, walking back toward the door and welcoming them in.

  Nicholas eyed Adele before answering. “Yeah, I think that sounds great.”

  Ray’s attention was solely on Athena as they entered the kitchen.

  Athena turned toward him with lips pressed in a defiant line. “One step closer and I will smash this mug over your face.”

  Without hesitance, Ray unleashed a dashing smile.

  I shook my head at Athena’s words as I poured and handed out drinks. Adele and Nicholas sat awkwardly at the table, acting as if they felt they had imposed on us. Ray was leaning against the kitchen counter, grinning as if it were Christmas morning.

  “Woah… Nicholas?” Olivia asked wide-eyed as she came back into the kitchen with an empty mug. “And Ray?”

  “Hey there, Liv. Nice sweats,” Nicholas smirked, raising his mug to greet her.

  “I’m… going to make a phone call,” she stated, pulling her phone from her pocket before turning away. We all knew she was going to call Damian.

  “You’re different,” Athena noted rather rudely toward Nicholas as she took a seat across from him. “What’s up with you?”

  His brows furrowed, and he adjusted in his seat in thought. “I am different. My gifts — they clouded my mind and manipulated my mood. And then my mood manipulated the skies — it was an endless cycle I couldn’t escape. It’s all gone now.”

  “Cut to the chase,” Athena said, placing her hands on the table. “Are you going to keep creeping your way between Miles and Abby again or not?”

  Nichola
s glowered at her. “I don’t have anything to offer anyone right now, if that’s what you’re asking.”

  “So where does that leave your feelings, you creepy lightning shooter?” Athena pressed. “Well, past lightning shooter. Good thing, or I’d sock ya for summoning that evil hand toward my bestie,” she shook her fist.

  “Uh…” Nicholas stammered, eyeing Athena like she was crazy. Which she is.

  “Abby’s hot and all,” Nicholas cast an uneasy glance at me. Many emotions flickered in that glance. Sorrow, embarrassment… longing. They appeared in a rapid flash, but he was quick to recover and turned his aggravated attention back to Athena. “But she’s with Miles now, and I respect that…”

  “Nicholas,” I said, pushing for a change in topic. “What can you do? I can see you’re still Valens.”

  He met my eyes and nodded his head. “I still have the strength of a Valens.”

  A slow smile spread across my face, my eyes bouncing between Athena and him. “Miles could use some trusted guards. Do you and Ray need a job?”

  “I mean,” he slouched in his chair and traced the brim of his cup, “I’d like to have something productive to do, yeah.”

  Adele’s expression turned indifferent, but she remained silent.

  I nodded, my smile widening at Nicholas. “You and Athena have something in common now.”

  “What?” Athena huffed, her eyes darting to Nicholas. “No, we don’t.”

  I quirked a brow, meeting her gaze. “You bear the gift of fighting. That’s all he has left. Maybe you can teach him something.”

  “Or I could teach her a thing or two, more like,” Nicholas murmured under his breath, then met Adele’s tense expression with a lopsided grin.

  I noted how Adele’s hard features fell soft under Nicholas’ gaze. He was comfortable around her, which is exactly what he needed right now. My heart warmed as I imagined Nicholas finally happy with someone. If nothing else, I could promise him a lasting friendship. I shook my head as I watched him, reminiscing about how hypnotized I once was. The intense connection that once shackled us both has now blossomed into a civil understanding — a friendship.

  Did I still love Nicholas? I’d be a fool to say no. But the love I had for Miles, unfolded from a lifetime of friendship, companionship, and trust – he was my completion, my future, and I loved him with every fiber of my being.

  My first love will forever hold a reserved space in the chambers of my heart.

  Nicholas was now a friend I shared a deep-rooted past with — maybe that’s our new connection. A shared history.

  And a new season began.

  I nodded, my thoughts wandering. “Bridger would be a good addition to the group, too.”

  Athena’s lavender eyes grew wide and her cheeks flushed with distress. “You want me to work with Buster, lover-boy, and the evil one? You cannot be serious.”

  Leaning back in my chair, I folded my arms with a triumphant grin. “Yes, yes I think this will work out very well.”

  Epilogue

  Miles

  * * *

  Adjusting my costume, I glanced in the mirror once more. It was Halloween night and Olivia had a party planned for close friends and family. I’d been juggling between cleaning up the mess in Salvus and speaking with the U.S. Government to find a happy medium for our people. We had a long way to go, but any progress was good progress.

  Abby understood, of course, and I was trying to make it up to her by attending this party.

  Even though I was dressed like an idiotic pirate.

  “You ready?” Abby asked, stepping over the threshold of my room. She was dressed in a cute Tinkerbell costume and any remorse I held for the get-up I was wearing diminished at the sight of her. So gorgeous.

  “Aww.” She chuckled softly, adjusting my eye patch so she could see my eyes. “My Captain Jack.” Her cheeks were pink with delight and her hair smelled of lavender and peppermint.

  I wondered if she knew how easily she made me stir crazy.

  “I have one more thing to do before we head out,” I said, peering into her curious, hazel eyes.

  “Alright, but Olivia is getting impatient. She set up a haunted house and she wants it to happen. Like now.”

  I laughed, turning away to reach for something. Meeting her gaze once more, she noted my cool expression and watched me carefully.

  “We’ve been through a lot. We’re going to continue to go through a lot, I believe. And when I’m away without you, I feel… off.”

  Abby folded her arms and flashed an adorable grin, pinching her lips to the side. “Don’t know what to do with yourself now that roles have switched? Maybe I should take a turn at guarding you,” she teased, stepping closer. Her fingers grasped the loose fabric of my costume and she tilted her chin up to meet my gaze.

  I released a dashing grin as her warmth against my body sent my heart into a frenzy of beats. “Let me take a part of you with me wherever I go,” I murmured against her hair, breathing in her covetous scent.

  Squeezing her shoulders, I let my hands graze down the sensual curves of her hips and I dropped to one knee. “Make me whole by becoming my wife.” I opened the box that rested in my palm, revealing a diamond ring Navi had worn long ago.

  Abby’s tranquil expression slowly changed to one of complete joy. Beaming with perfect happiness, tears brimmed in her beautiful eyes, and a warm smile graced her cheeks as she peered into my vulnerable soul. “Of course, Miles. Of course I’ll marry you.” Her lips met mine and a whirlwind of unsaid promises sealed between us.

  Through the mind, the possibilities are endless. Through the body, strength and healing prevail. Through the soul, love triumphs opposition.

  Mind, body, and soul, Abby was my best friend, my love, my life. My dream come true. For now, and for all eternity.

  Acknowledgments

  This series wouldn’t have been complete without my friends and family that I (surely) confided in to the brink of insanity. Especially my mom, Stephanie, Jessie, Julie, and my brother. All those late night ramblings you guided me through paid off with your wise words and encouragement. This series wouldn’t have been complete without you!

  * * *

  Thank you Justin for helping me through those suspenseful fight scenes, and for your support during those intense writing sprees.

  * * *

  A special thank you goes to Stephanie Taylor of Clean Reads. There’s so many things I’d like to write here, (believe me, I wrote this line four times) but words simply cannot express the gratitude I have for all you’ve done. You have a beautiful soul and heart. Thank you for giving my debut novel a chance, and for the epic sisterhood friendship that has grown over time!

  * * *

  Last but most definitely not least, I want to thank all my FANS!!! Not many achievements can trump the joy of watching avid fans rave and wonder about a world created by an author. My heart swells when I think of how you’ve impacted me as an individual. I’ve lost track of the times I suffered from either blocks or discouragements and wanted to put the book away, then a review or a post would pop up, instantly bringing my drive back to life. You are the reason my stories stayed alive. YOU. From the deepest parts of my heart, thank you!!

  * * *

  Many more works promised to come!

  About the Author

  Andy Lewter is an urban fantasy/fictional writer that loves a healthy dose of character development. She's a true Potter-head with a deep love of nature, cooking, and comfy clothes. Rainstorms and movies are the key to her heart, and you can find her chasing around her kids during daylight hours. Mom by day, author by night, superhero 24/7.

  @AndyLewter

  AndyLewterAuthor

  https://www.amazon.com/Andy-Lewter/e/B00KWAYGU8

 

 

 
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