by J. P. Uvalle
“He didn’t kill her. I did.” Trinity emerges from the shadows. Her red eyes appearing before the rest of her.
Delia’s reacts with a gasp. Her already translucent skin fades a shade and relinquishes her hold. Delia doesn’t speak, which is unusual for her. And when I see tears fall from her fiery eyes, I realize things are even worse than I thought.
They know each other. They all know each other.
Fuck me.
Her eyes dart back and forth between Trinity and I. Her mouth is hanging open. I can practically see the gears turning inside her head as she puts the puzzle pieces together. She slaps me. “You did do this. This is all your fault. Why did you turn my best friend who hates vampires into a fucking vampire? Turning a human into a vampire—without prior permission—is strictly Forbitten,” she roars. “Just wait until Elder Aragón finds out about this. He. Will. Destroy. You. Both of you.”
“I know the bloody Forbitten rules. I know I will have serious consequences to pay. But, I didn’t have a choice. It was either this or the alternative.”
“Alternative?” she grows. “I’m sorry, but it doesn’t matter. I love you, Trinity, but I can’t take part in this. I have to report this to Aragón.” She turns to leave, and I let her.
I have to pay for my devilish sins.
Wind blows past me and next thing I know, Trinity has Delia up against the door by her throat. Her feet are dangling inches off the ground. “I love you too, but, if you so much as utter a peep to anyone about this, Bernadette won’t be the only one to choke on a dick. Get me?” Trinity’s growl vibrates through the house.
I see the fear in Delia’s face, and she nods a few times, but Trinity continues to growl and holds her in place. I get up to intervene when normally it’s me being halted to stop. But then again, I turned her, so she takes my vampire traits, even the more displeasing ones. “Trinity…” I latch onto her wrist and peel her hold from Delia’s throat. “…I think she gets the point, my love.”
Trinity snaps her fangs at Delia one last time before stepping back from her. She stands behind us, murderous as ever, with her arms crossed.
Delia adjusts her clothing while blowing out a long breath. “So, you were saying, you had no choice. If I’m going to be forced to keep my mouth shut. I need to know why.”
“Well…do you remember that night the Dycipher flew into the city and snatched someone up from the bar?”
“Yes.”
“Well, that someone was Trinity.” I stop because by the look on Delia’s face I’m afraid she might keel over. “Do you want to sit down?”
She gulps. “Probably a good idea.”
We walk over to the living room to have a seat on the love seat. Trinity doesn’t follow but begins to paces constantly, peering out of the window. “Is something the matter?” I call out to her.
She doesn’t answer me.
I sigh and let it go. “Long story short. She was dying. I’m obviously taken by her to the point to where I let it cloud my judgment. I healed her and thought after a couple of days my blood would no longer flow through her veins. Thought I’d be in the clear, but of course, as you can see that wasn’t the case. Turns out that the Dycipher that took her was their sire, and because of her rare blood type, he marked her as his ma—”
“Holy-fuck-balls.” She hangs her head and starts to sob more.
Right then, Trinity’s pacing ceases and in a blink of an eye, she in front of us. She bends down over Delia, and Delia winces almost as if she is expecting Trinity to strike her. But, she doesn’t. In fact, she hugs her and they—being best friends—share a loving embrace. One I sense is long overdue. “Please don’t cry.”
Trinity pulls away to sit on the edge of the coffee table and grabs a firm hold on Delia’s hand. “Death was my only option—or turning into one of them. But, because of my blood type and Lord Vladimir’s blood coursing through my veins, it made it impossible to die. The only way of not becoming a full-fledged Dycipher was to drain every ounce of my blood with the hope I would become a vampire. Well, as you can see, that didn’t happen.”
As they continue to talk I feel like I can’t breathe—the weight of the unknown and out impending doom weighs down on my chest.
How are we going to survive this?
Listening to Trinity’s past earlier, I so badly want to give her all the things she deserves. Her happy ending. But, all I can see is how things have taken a turn for the worst. I have failed her in that respect. I have failed everyone.
She’s doomed.
I’m doomed.
We’re all doomed.
Chapter Seventeen
Trinity James
“THIS IS TOTALLY an I Know What You Did Last Summer moment. So, what’s the story, genius?” Delia asks as we send a sedan carrying Bernadette and Fabine into the ocean.
I laugh, even though I shouldn’t be laughing. I killed people. People who once meant everything to me. “They’re taking a cruise to the shore, but knowing Bernadette, she can’t keep her mouth to herself so, she decides to give Fabine a blow job—”
Lord Vladimir walks away, shaking his head to check on the location of the car.
“—Anyway, Fabine loses control of the car. They hit a rock. She bites off his prick as they head straight into the ocean.”
“My God, you’re twisted. You came up with all of that, just now?”
“Yes.”
“Yep. You two belong together. You’re both twisted as fuck.”
Two Nights Later—Harper’s Wedding Day
“Are you fucking kidding me?! I just went through another pair.”
Lord Vladimir dashes over to calm me down. I’m momentarily distracted by how incredibly fuckable he looks in his suit. “We tried.”
My eye twitches and I immediately snap back into the now. I’ve blown through four boxes of contact lens because my eyes keep burning them to shit. “I just want to be there for my best friend on her wedding day.” I pout. I haven’t seen Harper since the day I left the letter on her bed. I wanted to surprise her, even though, I’m sure, she probably hates my guts for disappearing on her so close to her wedding. I’ve missed out on so much, and it’s eating away at me.
He gently lifts my chin and plants a soft kiss on my pouty lips. “I know, my love. We can still be there, will just have to watch from afar. We know we can’t take anymore—”
“Yes, I know,” I say, blowing out a breath. “No one can find out I’m an atrocious, vampire-demon thingy. Or whatever, the hell I am.”
He laughs. “You’re are certainly not atrocious nor a thingy. You’re beautiful, Trinity. And, you’re mine.”
Lord Vladimir and I walk hand in hand to a safe corner—at the side of the boathouse where Harper and Leo’s wedding is going to take place. I can hear the commotion from where we stand. I can see people lining up along the railing overlooking the water, which throws me off slightly. I try not to think too much about it. Or anything for that matter. I know if I do, I’ll turn into an emotional train wreck and probably end up killing someone, like the homicidal bitch that I am. The last thing we all need is another one of my messes to cover up.
The music cues the unveiling of bridesmaids and groomsmen. They saunter out of a side door and stop, facing the water. Next, Delia walks out as the maid of honor, taking my place. I know she can sense me in the vicinity because her gaze immediately finds mine. We exchange a quick smile. Our attention is then drawn to the far side of the restaurant. I hear Ooh’s and Aww’s as a little boat appears, carrying the bride and groom. The minster—I presume—anchors the boat into the center of the lake, so everyone one has a good view of them.
“Harper looks so beautiful.” I snap a mental photo of her wearing a cream-colored, short lace ball gown. A gorgeous dress I had no part in picking out. I—her maid of honor—wasn’t there to watch her strut her stuff in front of the mirror, trying on all the dresses in the store unti
l we found the perfect one. The dress, I knew, if I were to have seen her waltz out in, I would’ve instantly fallen in love with and would’ve said, “Harper, this is the one.” Then, she might have asked, “You really think so?” When she already knew from the first moment she put it on in the dressing room, it was the one. The dress that will cause the love of her life to tear up when he sees her in it for the first time. That damn dress. I force back the tears trying to creep up on me.
I take a deep breath to calm my nerves. I come to terms with the fact that it will never be me. I don’t get a fairytale happy ending. I need to let it go. This is who I am now.
A monster.
Lord Vladimir pulls me in close to him, realizing my internal struggle and tries to comfort me with a kiss to my forehead.
I glance up to him, and his eyes lock onto mine. No words are said, but I feel an unspoken agreement pass between us. Life may not have turned out the way I planned. But one thing for sure is, whatever happens to us, I know he’ll be beside me to the bitter end.
The voice of the minister sounds over the microphone. “Harper and Leo. Today you enter as individuals, but you will leave here as husband and wife, blending your lives, expanding your family ties, and embarking upon the grandest adventure of human interaction. The story of your life together is still yours to write. All those present have come to witness and celebrate your love and commitment this day—eager to be a part of the story not yet told.”
With each word, I find myself losing more control and at this point, the tears start to fall. He does his best to distract me by gliding his hand up and down my back and over my ass.
That’s the thing about weddings…they make you horny.
I let out a low moan when he grips on to my ass and nibbles on my ear at the same time. Heat rushes straight to the bundle of nerves between my thighs. “Vladimir.”
“Trinity,” he growls in my ear, and then bites it.
“Ultimately there comes a moment when a decision must be made. Two people who love each other must ask themselves how much they hope for as their love grows and deepens, and how much risk they are willing to take. Commitment may well be a fearful gamble. Because it is the nature of love to create, a marriage itself is something which has to be created, such that as we come together in marriage, we become a new creature.”
“Risk? I’d risk everything for you, Trinity.” His lips and fangs meet the sensitive skin along my neck, and my knees turn inward.
My dress is so tight around my hips that I decided not to wear any panties, so my arousal slicks down my legs. The smell drives insane with need, and he pushes me up against the tree we’re standing next to. His hand slowly travels up my leg, swiping up my juices. He brings his fingers to his mouth, sucking them dry, one by one.
“I acknowledge my love and respect for you and invite you to share my life as I hope to share yours. I promise always to recognize you as an equal individual and always to be conscious of your development as well as my own. I shall seek through kindness and understanding to achieve with you the life we have envisioned.”
I go in to kiss his lips, but an unnerving feeling rises in my stomach, and I pull away from the tree truck. My eyes search all around us.
“Trinity, what is it?”
“You mean, you don’t hear that?”
He walks up next to me. “Hear what, damn it?”
Before I can open my mouth to explain…
“AHHHHH!”
Screams erupt from the crowd. People dart in every direction, and some get pushed over by others and fall into the water. The Dyciphers ambush the grounds, swooping up poor souls left and right. My entire body convulses in rage, and I can’t stop the roar that leaves my mouth. Glances of horror shoot in my direction, but I no longer care if everyone finds out what I am. She doesn’t deserve this, and they are going to die in the worst way imaginable for fucking up my best friend’s wedding.
Marching forward like a relentless storm hell-bent on revenge I attack the first Dycipher in sight. I see Lord Vladimir and Delia do the same. It’s an all-out brawl—guts, eyes, and limbs fly everywhere. Mostly theirs.
“Leo!” I hear Harper scream, and I look up from the Dycipher I’m clawing to death to find Leo being carried off into the night. The horrified look consuming Harper’s face lights my core on fire and makes my heart twist in triple knots all at the same time. My roar freezes everyone still around, even Lord Vladimir and Delia. The spot on my back starts to burn. I fall to my knees weighed down from the pain. Everything around me clouds and I can’t see or think straight.
What is happening to me?
Chapter Eighteen
Lord Vladimir
I HAD MY hands and lips all over Trinity when out of nowhere, the beasts came flying in and shit all over our blissful moment. Now, I’m impaling a Dycipher with a bar of railing I’ve broken off when the scariest sound I’ve ever heard erupts into the night. From Trinity’s lungs. Drawing unwanted attention to her presence.
Well, the cat’s out of the bag now.
I look up to find the groom being carried off and immediately I know what has her so angry. But there’s something wrong with Trinity. She’s on all fours. I stop mid-kill and run to her aid, pointing an authoritative finger at Delia as I run by. “Keep eyes on Harper.”
She nods while ripping out a Dycipher’s heart with her bare hands.
“My love.” I kneel down beside her.
“Something isn’t right, my Lord,” she grits through her teeth. Her voice sounding demonic.
From the way, she’s postured, I can tell it’s her back causing her tremendous pain. I quickly unzip her dress, and I am disturbed by the sight. Her skin has risen on either side of her spine; the length of it growing at an alarming rate. Although I try my hardest to ignore what can’t be unseen, I know it will do me no good. She screams as the extra skin elongates out—black and leathery. I duck as appendages dart out, extending six feet on either side of her. And like a butterfly, Trinity, the woman who in a short amount of time has become my everything, finally has her wings. To everyone else, it’s a terrifying sight. But to me, she is still the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen. Screeching, she lifts off the ground. A little unstable at first but soon she gets the hang of flying and zips off after the Dycipher who took Leo.
“Help.” I hear someone yell. And when I realize it’s Harper, I dash over to knock the Dycipher trying to devour her face clear across the field and into the water. I look around for Delia who earlier I told to keep an eye on Harper but seems to be nowhere in sight.
Such an insubordinate.
“I’ve been dying to meet you. I just wish it was under normal circumstances.”
I pick her up from the ground, the train of her dress trails behind us as I carry her inside the boathouse. Setting her down on a bench, I lift her chin to assess the wounds on her face—only superficial scrapes.
I caress her cheek as I say, “I wish we could’ve met under normal circumstances too.”
Her cheeks flush crimson from my touch. “What were those things?” She pauses a moment to look down at her ring. “Oh, Leo.” Harper leans forward to rest her head on my shoulder. She begins to sobs.
I curve her head within my grasp. “We’re going to get Leo back.”
She lifts her head to meet my gaze. “How can you be so sure?”
“Because I know Trinity. And I know she won’t let you down.”
“What?” She sniffles.
I smirk. “You’ll find out soon what I mean.”
Checking out our surroundings I get an agitating pull in my gut, hinting me we are not the only ones inside the boathouse. My senses heighten when I appreciate the smell of another human. A man. Smelling Moroccan grapefruit and cedar wood, I track the scent to a nearby closet and open it. “You got to be kidding me?”
At least he’s still alive.
I hear the click-clack of Harper’s h
eels on the floor. “What is it, my Lord?” She stops next to me, and her hands zoom to her face, and her creamy beige skin pales several shades lighter.
I storm off toward the entrance, dead set on ripping a Dycipher’s head off, but not long after the wedding banner catches my eye. Of everything that is written on it, the date sticks out to me.
It all makes sense now. Why I was awakened at this precise time. I am determined to see my mission through.
Chapter Nineteen
Trinity James
KILL DYCIPHER.
Save Leo.
Flying rapidly through the cool night sky, those are the only two thought on my mind. I follow the party crasher to the outskirts of town and end up in a junkyard, littered with trash and old cars. In the distance, I see the Dycipher vanish into thin air. I screech to a halt on the ground, baffled by where they could’ve disappeared to.
I really should’ve paid more attention in vampire history.
Sticking out my hand, I feel around. When my hand disappears in front of me, I plunge my body forward.
I’m falling fast into a pitch black hole. To hell. I land in a body of liquid, but when I emerge from the depth to inhale a breath. The liquid seeps into my mouth. It has a copper-like taste.
Blood.
Ignoring the craving calling my body, I decide I have no time to indulge in what sustains me as the creature I’ve become.
Kill Dycipher.
Save Leo.
Not necessarily in that order.
There is no light. Just complete darkness. So, I sniff through the smells bombarding my nose, searching for the scent of a human. My nose leads me toward a tunnel to my right. I move through the lake of blood—my hands graze along what feel like bones. The Dyciphers have been feasting down here. From the number of skeletons, I have to weave through I can assume they’ve been gearing up for war for quite some time. But why?