by Candy Crum
“Would this be a pet of yours?” I asked.
Her grin widened. “Why, yes, it would. I believe you’ve met a few others of mine as well.”
Everything clicked. “You are the one that’s been sending them? Why in the hell would they follow you? How did you even find us?”
She rolled her eyes. “Kailah, please. I’m still a spirit. I can still communicate with the other spirits. They are so willing to help the living that they will do anything I ask. Including getting word to certain supernatural beings that I would love to talk to them, and that I know where the Immortal goddess is. Once they hear that, I get whatever I want. I was able to find you because spirits are sometimes nasty little things that will betray others at the drop of a hat… including you.”
“So, what exactly does this mean?” I asked.
“It means that if you get in my way, I will kill everyone you love… Including Aeric. So, watch what you say. I will defend myself if I find it to be necessary.”
“Analynn, I will find a way to destroy you, and when I do, there is a special spot in hell reserved just for you.”
She laughed. “Oh, I’m counting on it love. But because I’ll be immortal once my dearest Aeric turns me, I won’t have to worry about it, now will I?”
With that, the Forsaken loosened his grip and let me go before stepping away.
“Do you understand the circumstances? Killing you isn’t good enough for me anymore. I did that once, and you figured out how to save yourself apparently. Now, I want you to suffer. I will force you to watch everyone you love die around you, and then I will kill you.”
I nodded. “I understand. But so we are clear, no more attacks will happen now, right?” I thought that I hated her before, but this was an all-new low.
“No, dear. Your sister and everyone else in that house will be safe to come and go as they please as long as everything stays peaceful with me. Now, let’s make this look like we are at least going to get along when we go inside huh?”
I smiled. “Sounds wonderful,” I said with a sarcastic tone to match.
She laughed and turned to head back to the house. I found myself wanting to hang out with the Forsaken instead. It sounded like a lot more fun than going back in that house. Besides, I trusted that thing far more than I trusted her dead ass.
Hmm. I wondered if you can teach a cursed Werewolf to play poker… Or would he possibly already know how? Curious, and stalling, I turned.
“Can you play poker with those big hands of yours?” His eyes narrowed in confusion and I pressed further. “No? How about euchre? Hearts? Oh—I bet go fish is your game… right?”
His lips pulled back from his teeth, and I thought I was about to get a snarl, but instead a huffing noise softly sounded from his massive chest—he was laughing. There was something in his eyes and in his aura that caught me off guard, but I tried to hold it back, not wanting Analynn to know.
But, it seemed that we weren’t completely right about the Forsaken.
There was a spark in him, and if there was a spark in him, there may be in others. I waved and smiled at the Forsaken, not really knowing why, but feeling like I should. He lightly bowed his head, and I knew right then that I was right about him. That may come in useful later.
When I got back to the house, everyone was in the swing of making dinner and getting comfortable. I ignored everyone and went upstairs and explored the new place. There were five large bedrooms. Khanae and Sayen would be sharing one, Brett and Rachel would be sharing another, Aeric would be in one, and Wendy and Amanda roomed together so that I could have my own room. Jacques said that because he doesn’t sleep much at all, he would keep watch at night.
As I wandered around upstairs, looking through the rooms for the one that was empty, I came across the very last one on the left. As I opened the door, my heart fell out on the floor. I couldn’t believe they would do that to me. I couldn’t believe they would be so cruel as to put that bitch in the same room with me. I closed the door and headed back down the hall. I passed Brett, and I could tell that he already knew how I was feeling.
“Kay,” he said. I just ignored him as I passed. “Kay, please don’t be that way. We are kind of in a bind.”
I kept walking and headed downstairs, looking for a basement. I saw the windows outside so I knew there was one somewhere around here. There was an extra door in the living room, and I prayed that was the basement door and not a closet door. If it wasn’t there, then it was in the kitchen, and I wasn’t about to walk in there with all of them in there acting so happy and cheery, including my sister.
Traitor.
Success was found when I opened the door to find stairs. When I got to the bottom I was pleased to see that it was a finished basement with a large family room in it. There was a nice plush, overstuffed, green sofa and a big screen TV. It wasn’t nearly as big as the one at casa Vampir, but it was really nice. I flopped down and grabbed the remote. When I looked to the left side of the room, I saw my things sitting nicely tucked against the wall.
“Kay, are you alright?” Brett asked as he came into the room. “How did my things get down here?” I asked.
“Well, everyone had already come in and claimed their rooms. When Jacques got upstairs to drop your stuff off in your room, he saw Analynn’s things in there and said you wouldn’t have it. He said there was no way that you would share a room with her and shouldn’t have to. He also said that instead of demanding the room for yourself, that you’d wind up down here. Because you would take the higher road and take the lower room.”
I smiled. “Well, at least someone around here knows me.”
“Hey, it’s Supernatural night,” he said.
“Yep. That’s why I’m so damn glad this place has cable.” Brett and I had watched The Vampire Diaries together on the CW a few times and had actually made a night of it. Supernatural came next. Yes, it’s still pretty funny to watch him watch it. He gets into it just as much or more than I do. He thinks of himself like Damon Salvatore or Dean, and I think he’s full of crap. Though, they all have great senses of humor.
“Sit down,” I said, scooting over to make room.
“See? I knew you couldn’t resist me for long. You can’t stand being mad at me,” he said with a laugh.
I rolled my eyes. “Yeah, that’s what it is.” I laughed.
Though I was mad at all of them, I knew deep down that it wasn’t their fault that they were so easily mesmerized by her. I knew it wasn’t their fault for being so excited about her return. They believe she is the sweet young woman they lost years ago. Only I knew who she really was. Wendy did, too, and I prayed that she didn’t lose that connection.
Analynn was packing some serious power, and I had no idea what she’s capable of. I felt claustrophobic then. The weight of everything was starting to pile in on me again, and I couldn’t stand sitting there any longer.
“Would you want to go for a walk with me? I can’t sit here anymore.”
He nodded. “Sure. Are we informing the wardens? Or are we just sneaking out?” He smiled a mischievous grin, and I knew what he wanted to do.
“Sneaking, of course! It would take us an hour to get out of here if we didn’t.”
Along the exterior wall there were four small windows. They weren’t big enough to make much of a difference, but they were big enough for me to crawl out of, but not Brett. Brett gave me a push before sneaking upstairs to get out. When I’d finally pulled myself all the way out, I saw a hand extended in front of me. I took it and quickly found myself looking in Jacques’ bright blue eyes. Even in the night, they seemed to glow.
“Planning an escape, goddess?” he asked, smiling brightly.
I nodded. “Yeah. I just couldn’t stay in there any longer. Brett and I are going to go for a walk.”
He nodded. “Good. I wouldn’t want you walking off alone, not in the situation you find yourself in. I trust you found your things?”
I smiled. “Yes, thank you. And thank yo
u for knowing me well enough to put it down there. I would have hated having to go back upstairs in the room to get my things out of there.”
“It’s quite alright, Kailah.” He paused, studying me. “
What is it?” I asked. “Something is bothering you.”
“I don’t mean to pry, or to hurt you, but I need to clear my conscience.”
He took a step closer, running his fingers down my cheek to rest on my throat. I felt guilty that he was able to get such a reaction out of me, but I couldn’t help it. Jacques made me feel special, beautiful.
“I’m sorry things have turned sour with you and Aeric. I remember how you spoke of him. You loved him then, and you still do, I can tell. But if this is how he treats you, then he doesn’t deserve you. In five hundred years, I’ve never met a woman like you. You deserve to be worshipped, not toyed with.”
I opened my mouth to say something, but his lips met mine before I could. Jacques was an incredible man and one that any woman would want. While my heart belonged to Aeric, I couldn’t deny that my body was a bit more than curious about Jacques. I felt the guilt, but knew that I shouldn’t. Not only were Aeric and I not together, we had never been together and would more than likely never be together. His heart didn’t even want me; it was Analynn. It would always be Analynn.
As the angered reality of that hit me again, I returned my mind to the present, to the man before me who clearly wanted me. His lips were soft and skilled as they moved against mine. An almost inaudible moan escaped me, and I felt his aura darken slightly as he heard it. Feeling the change in his energy, I felt my own start to change. I wrapped my arms around his neck as he deepened the kiss. It felt as though I was slipping away and the relief of that felt incredible.
The clearing of someone’s throat stopped us cold. Jacques quickly backed away from me, and I looked to my right to see that it was Brett.
“Brett…” I began.
He held up a hand. “Just be glad that it was me, and not someone else, no matter the fact that he has no right to say or think anything of it.”
I smiled nervously and nodded, turning back to look at Jacques whose eyes never left me. “Remember what I said goddess,” he said before turning to walk away.
“Goodnight, Jacques,” I said.
“Goodnight, Kailah.”
Once he disappeared, I dared to look in Brett’s direction. “I’m sorry, Brett. I don’t know what happened.”
“Don’t be. You have no reason to be sorry. My brother hurt you bad, and that was before today. Now, you have every right to be pissed off and hurt, especially after Ana showed back up. Jacques is a pretty okay guy. And even if he didn’t like any of us, which doesn’t seem to be the case, he is devoted as hell to you, and I’m okay with that. He likes you a lot, or so he seems to. So, don’t you dare feel bad for wanting to have a few moments of peace to yourself. For wanting to feel wanted, even for a moment. Not for him. Not for Aeric.”
Tears were starting to well up in my eyes. “How can you say that? He’s your brother.”
“I’m the older and wiser brother, remember?”
I giggled, remembering the night that I met them. Though they are fraternal twins, Brett said that he was older and picked on Aeric for it.
“I love my brother. He is one of the greatest men I’ve ever met, and I am proud as hell to call him my little brother. But he makes stupid decisions sometimes. I know my brother better than anyone, and I can tell you that he loves you. I know he does. His problem is that he loves her, too. He never let her go, and now that she’s back, I have no idea what will happen. All I know is that he feels obligated to her or something. Regardless of that, Kay, don’t feel bad. You have no reason to. It was a kiss. It was a kiss that I wouldn’t have even stopped had it not been for the chance that Aeric might look out here and see. Now, would you like to go for that walk?”
I smiled and nodded. Brett was definitely the brother that I never had. but had always wanted. He was so good to me. and it warmed my heart because I knew as good as he treated me, he treated Rachel ten times better. and she deserved that. She needed a great guy like Brett. He grabbed my hand and walked with me out to the woods. I wondered if my Forsaken friend from earlier was still out here. Chances were Analynn would have them ready in case something went wrong. I just didn’t want Brett and the Wolf to fight, not before I knew where the Wolf’s allegiances truly lied.
When we got back to the house, a strange vehicle was parked in the drive. It was one that I’d never seen and immediately became worried. We quickly made our way inside and Brett’s face lit up when he saw the strange visitor. He was medium height with the same olive-toned skin as the boys, coal black, shiny, short hair, and emerald green eyes. He looked similar to the boys, but completely different at the same time. His eyes, hair, and skin tone matched, but facial features and demeanor was completely different. As I walked into the room, his eyes locked on me, and I froze. He looked so familiar, but I knew I’d never seen him before.
“So, you must be the incredible Kailah Clark that I’ve heard so much about,” he said with a beautiful smile, extending his hand to take mine.
I returned the gesture, and instead of shaking mine, he lifted it to his mouth and kissed the back of my hand. “Uh, yes,” I said. “I’m Kailah.”
“It’s so lovely to finally meet you. I’m Hunter, Khanae’s son.”
It hit me then why he looked so familiar. “You don’t mean her Vampire son; you mean her biological son, don’t you? You look so much like her.”
“Hunter is the only biological Vampire ever born,” Brett said.
“That’s incredible,” I said. “But it’s very nice to meet you as well.”
“So, what’s up?” Brett asked. “Why did you leave Egypt? Not that I’m not excited to see you again, brother.”
He smiled and Hunter warmly returned it. I could tell that their relationship was a good one as well. “Well, while I’d like to say this is a social call, it isn’t.”
“What is it?” Khanae asked.
Hunter’s happy expression fell as one of concentration and worry replaced it. “It’s the Mother’s. They’ve left Egypt and have come here.”