“Pray their Circle will forgive you,” Michael stated.
With her mind on the curse, Lucious led the way downstairs. She no longer cared about them holding hands. It felt natural, almost too perfect how her small hand fit within the bounds of his larger one. What drew her out of the dream state was the overpowering fragrance of pancakes that awakened her stomach. It ached from the lack of food.
“What’s the matter?” Lucious asked.
“Food…” Her eyes were glued to the table in the sunny kitchen.
Byron stood at the cooker, flipping the next pancake. Antoinette and Sinead sat at the head of the table, chatting about the syrup choice.
A smile graced Sinead’s lips when they entered the kitchen. “Hungry?”
“Starving.” Helena’s saliva pooled in her mouth. She inhaled the aroma. Possible toppings danced in her psyche as she visualised her perfect meal.
Lucious pulled out a chair for her and joined her.
“Should I whip out the handcuffs for you two?” Byron asked with a smirk. “We might have some in the bedroom. Right, hun?”
“One more mention of those blasted things, and I’m chaining you to the radiator,” his wife warned.
“Mommy, why does Daddy need handcuffs? Is he a police officer?” Antoinette inquired.
Smiling, Sinead ruffled her daughter’s hair. “No, he’s not. He just likes to imagine he’s one…like you pretend to be a dragon.”
Byron snorted and flipped the last pancake onto the stack before sitting next to his wife. As he did, he leant closer to Lucious. Lowering his voice, he said, “The offer still stands.”
Helena tried her best to hide her amusement. This family was strange, in a good way. She hadn’t seen so much happiness in a long time, especially since so many people started to die around her.
“Please have some,” Sinead offered.
Helena didn’t need any more encouragement than that. She devoured a plate full of pancakes in a matter of minutes. It didn’t even matter that she was only using one hand throughout the process. Using utensils would take too long, too. She teared up when the food hit her stomach for the first time in days.
“Your woman has quite an appetite,” Byron said.
Helena swallowed her mouthful. “Sorry…”
“Don’t apologise to him.” Lucious handed her a glass of orange juice. “Drink.”
Sitting back in his seat, Byron tapped his fingers on the table. “All jokes aside, we have about six hours to plan the attack. Based on what you’ve told me last night, your hunter friend wants the gig ruined. Why?”
Helena set the empty glass down. “Because Ben never stopped caring for Maya.”
“Is there some ongoing hunter romance I don’t know about?” Byron asked.
“Hunters’ romantic drama does not matter. There are not enough of us to launch a full-scale attack. After yesterday’s stunt, they will be expecting us,” Lucious said.
“You’re right.” Byron nodded.
Sinead stood up and took her daughter’s hand. “Since you are going to discuss business at the table, I best get going. I have to do some shopping before my shift at the hospital.”
“Want me to look after Nettie?” Byron offered.
“Nah, I’ll drop her off at my sister’s on the way. Don’t do anything too dangerous.” Sinead kissed her husband’s cheek and left the room with her daughter.
Helena studied Lucious’ tired face. She refrained from mentioning how drained he appeared. They didn’t have much time to rest before the wedding. The curse worried her, too. Will Cullodena remove it? Is there another way to get rid of it?
“Do you have a phone I can use?” Lucious asked Byron.
“Sure.” He produced the device from his pocket and placed it on the table. “Calling anyone I know?”
“Alexander.” Lucious dialled the number and turned on the loudspeaker.
After three rings, Alexander’s voice filtered through. “What is it, Byron?”
“It’s me,” Lucious said. “We have a problem.”
Alexander snorted. “Don’t you always have a problem these days? I swear it was peaceful before you met that girl.”
“I’m here, too,” Helena snapped.
“Then I guess I don’t have to repeat myself,” Alexander retaliated.
Lucious took in a steadying breath. “We need you to find someone.”
“I’m a little tied up. When I came back from the US, Andrew flipped out and fled abroad. Couldn’t you ask Phil instead?”
“He’s trapped in the Council building. All of London’s vampires are. Eliza could be planning to sacrifice them to open the Demon Gate,” Lucious said.
Byron whistled. “I thought she was supposed to be on our side.”
“She’s killed Vincent’s childe and let the hunters capture me,” Helena added.
“It makes sense,” Alexander joined in. “If she wanted Vincent in distress, killing his childe and sending you as a gift to the enemy was a good plan.” He blew out a sigh. “Alright, who am I looking for?”
“Someone who can remove a curse,” Lucious replied.
The room fell silent. Helena nibbled on her lower lip and squeezed Lucious’ hand. The soul-bond trembled with his anxiety, but she knew he was doing what he could to keep his emotions in check.
Alexander cleared his throat. “And who is the poor sod?”
“Me,” Lucious said.
“When were you going to tell me?” Byron snapped.
“I found out about an hour ago. Let’s not dwell on this longer than we need to.”
Byron rolled his eyes. “Always the same story with you. You can’t let people in, no offence, Helena.”
“None taken,” she mumbled.
“I will presume the witch in question is dead.” Alexander resumed his typing. “I’ll call you when I have something.”
“How potent is it?” Byron asked.
Lucious glanced at their joined hands in his lap. “Enough to make me worry.”
Standing next to Lucious, Helena observed the people gathered in the kitchen as daylight ran out. Based on the dynamics between Byron and a man named Lucas, she assumed they were both werewolves. The one who made a chill creep up her spine was a stranger who towered over them all. His massive body and blood-red eyes bore into her with intimidating curiosity.
Hans strode into the room. “Master Vincent will not be joining us.”
“Any news about the Council?” Lucious asked.
“If you are asking how Mistress Anna is, she’s better. Master Vincent checked on her earlier today. She refused to drink more than a single blood bag, though. Everything else is the same. No one knows what is going on.”
Helena’s stomach knotted with worry. “Did something happen to her?”
Lucious gave her a faint smile and directed his question to those gathered around the table. “How are we going to stop two clans from uniting?”
“Why not blow them up?” Byron suggested.
Ghoul Master erupted into a guffaw. “I like your suggestion, Brentwood, but humans in the vicinity would suffer losses.”
Hans moved to stand next to Helena. “The Council covered up the fire in the abbey as a terrorist attack, but even we have limits to our influence on the media. Burning down London is not the best way to deal with this.”
“Damn and here I thought I wouldn’t have to kill any hunters tonight,” Byron added.
“You can’t kill them. They’re people, too,” Helena said.
While others stared at her in disbelief, Lucas raised a brow and pulled up a chair. “Why is this human here, Lucious?”
“Because she’s mine.”
Byron covered up his smirk with a cough, and the alpha’s golden eyes tried to burn a hole in her. She stared back at Lucas, not willing to yield to this rude stranger.
“I like her,” Lucas finally said and relaxed in his seat. “But leaving the hunters alive is not an option. The more we spare today, the more we
have to fight tomorrow.”
“My ghouls have searched the area prior to my arrival. The hunters have a large perimeter set up. We cannot get near the parish without a distraction,” Master said.
Byron inclined his head. “I thought they’d do something after we fired a few shots in their pub. They would also expect a distraction this time.”
“Then we split up into three groups,” Lucious said. “One team to draw the attention of the hunters around the perimeter, the second group to make them assume we’re attacking and draw out the rest, and the final team will take out whoever is left in the parish.”
“I’m going to the parish,” Helena said quickly.
“I’m not letting you go anywhere near another hunter again, Helena.”
“I have to see Ben, no matter what.”
Lucious looked at Byron. “Start the divide, we will be right back.”
He dragged her outside. When they entered the living room, he slammed the door shut and pressed her against the wall, trapping her with his hands on either side of her head. “Have you lost your mind?”
“We’ve talked about this. I need to see him.”
“You will see him over my dead body. Do you have a death wish? Shall I oblige and do the deed right now?”
She scowled at him. “That’s not why I’m doing this.”
“Is it because of the demon?” He caught her wrist in a painful hold and jerked it upwards. “The bracelet is still there, leeching off your life force.”
“I’ll ask her to remove it afterwards. Please, if I lost you, I would have wanted to know how you felt about me.”
Pressing his lips together, he lowered her hand. “When will you learn that this is not about feelings? This is war. We cannot let any of the hunters live. If they do, they will come for us in greater numbers. This has to be an example to drive them away for good.”
“From experience, you should know that death only breeds more vengeance,” she said, caressing his cheek. “Don’t let anger rule you.”
He briefly relaxed into her touch, his eyes closing. And, when he opened them again, they were rimmed with tears. “Your mortality frightens me. One bullet, one good knock on the head, and you’re gone. How do you expect me to walk out that door, knowing what we will face?”
“I may be human, but I won’t let anyone kill me so easily. I will fight to the bitter end. You, on the other hand, can’t keep shielding me for the rest of my life.”
“I could try,” he countered.
She smiled and gave him a light peck on the lips. “Let’s get back to the meeting. I bet Byron’s envisioning that something dirty is going on.”
“I believe something illicit is always going through his mind,” he said with disapproval.
He led her back to the kitchen where voices rose with each word. They stopped at the table to find Lucas and Ghoul Master shouting obscenities at one another.
“What’s going on?” Helena asked Hans.
He sighed and ran his hand through his dark brown hair. “They can’t make up their mind on who will lead the initial attack.”
Lucious slammed his hand on the table, causing the argument to halt. “Lucas, your werewolves are faster than ghouls. I suggest you take on the second attack. Master, how many ghouls are you using for this mission?”
Lucas muttered something unpleasant under his breath, and Master replied, “Ten. Any more and Eliza will grow suspicious. I had to tell her that I am searching the streets for vampires who have failed to respond to her summons.”
“And did she believe you?” Helena asked.
“I am here, aren’t I?”
Lucious straightened and said, “Then let us finish this.”
13
In The Dark
As evening fell over the streets of Watford, Helena’s body refused to take another step, causing Lucious to stop, too. The question was there in his eyes. She could see it. Yet, she didn’t know what was wrong. The thought of being in the dark again made her reject the idea with a violent shake.
He gathered her in his arms and signalled for Byron and the rest of the group to keep going. “What’s wrong? I thought you were eager to see the hunters.”
She clung to his shirt with trembling hands. “I don’t know. My body won’t move.”
“I can feel your fear through the link, Helena. Whatever you’re afraid of, I am here.”
“It’s the dark.” The shadows shifted with the help of headlights of the passing cars. Streetlights flicked on—a warning for people to retreat home before true nightmares came out. “I was there, in the darkness, for what seemed like forever.” She shuddered at the memory of the rats brushing against her legs as a test to see if she was alive. “I can’t move.”
Setting his jaw, he grasped her shoulders. “Ben did this to you, and you wish to keep him alive?” Lucious hugged her.
She thought she would suffocate, but his love kept her there. She didn’t want to leave his side.
“If you didn’t insist, I would kill him without a second thought.” He released her and offered his hand. “Take it and put one foot in front of the other. I won’t let go, no matter what.”
“I’m sorry I’m so weak,” she whispered as she slipped her hand into his.
He pressed his lips to the top of her head. “You’re mistaken. You’re much stronger than you give yourself credit for. You forgive others regardless of what they have done to you whereas I do not.” From behind his back, he retrieved a pistol and handed it to her. “Use this if I something happens.”
“No matter what, people will die tonight, won’t they?”
“How’s your leg? Can you run yet?”
Helena tested her calf. A dull pain remained behind and the swelling had subsided. The fact she couldn’t feel the pain throughout the day meant Sinead drugged her into oblivion. “Probably.”
“Good. If I tell you to run, you will do as I say. No questions asked.”
She gripped the gun, adjusting to its weight. “I got it.”
Five minutes later, they met up with Byron and Hans at the crossroads. Lucious pulled her into the shadow of the nearby apartment building, across from a small church, and they waited. Although the vampires tried to appear relaxed, Hans tapped his fingers on the brick wall his back rested on, and Lucious played with a pound coin in his hand. The werewolf, on the other hand, didn’t hide his nerves. His humourless expression revealed how dire the situation had become.
Byron lifted his hand in the air when his phone vibrated the first time. He answered it and looked at the others. “Master’s diversion worked…partially.”
“What do you mean partially?” Lucious asked.
“You were right. They were expecting a distraction, so not as many as we thought went after the ghouls.”
Helena’s attention vaulted between the two men. “How do we know the wedding isn’t over yet? It’s almost night time.”
Hans answered, “Hunter weddings are not the same as human weddings. They take days of paperwork preparation and the ceremony itself is abnormal. The parents are branded with the symbols of both clans before the bride and groom are too. It is a painful process and can take up to three hours.”
“How do you know this?” she asked.
“I would delve into more detail, but I am afraid we don’t have much time for it.”
The phone’s screen lit again, and Helena’s heart picked up speed when Byron answered it. He grunted his agreement twice and ended the conversation. “Looks like the second diversion was better than the first, yet more than we expected remain on the grounds of the parish.”
“What do we do now? We cannot take them all on. Not when they have semi-automatics at their disposal,” Hans said.
Byron clicked his tongue. “I guess I’ll be the sacrificial lamb while you boys and lady get in.”
“It would be best if I go,” Hans suggested. “You have a family.”
“Hans is right,” Lucious agreed. “You have Sinead and a child
to worry about.”
Byron slapped Hans on the shoulder. “Be careful. They don’t play nice.”
Before Helena had a chance to blink, Hans was out of sight. She sucked in a breath, but it didn’t help calm her trembling or the drumming of her pulse in her head.
“We’re up,” Byron whispered and crossed the road.
Lucious spared one last glance at Helena. In his eyes, she saw his internal struggle.
“You’re not leaving me here,” she said sternly.
His lips twitched upwards a fraction. “I am surprised you can already read me so well.”
“Let’s go.” She nudged him, but he didn’t move. “Why aren’t you moving?”
“It’s nothing… Come on.”
As they rounded the corner of the hedge, St. Mary’s came into view. Lucious grasped Byron by the shoulder, pulling him back. “A hunter is about to check the perimeter. Don’t move.”
“How do you know this?” Byron whispered back.
“Hush.” Lucious stared dead ahead.
A man in dark clothes crossed the green with a gun in his hands. He scanned the area and resumed his patrol.
Helena wiped her sweaty palm on her jeans. Lucious’ hold on her other hand became a death-grip, and she winced.
“I’m sorry,” he said, uncurling his fingers. “It’s clear.”
Byron led them to the side door with his weapon drawn. Helena pressed her gun closer to her thigh and mentally went over the training Maya put her through. Peering around the door, Byron waved for them to follow him in. Once more, they were engulfed in the void of the unlit corridor. Her feet stopped working when familiar smells reached her. The cell, the rats, and the hunger—all the memories she was desperate to forget came flooding back.
“We have to keep moving,” Byron hissed.
“Give us a second.” Lucious guided her through the lightless path. Her back pressed against the cool wall. Ragged breaths strained her lungs as she tried to regain her bearings.
“It is okay,” he whispered. “Concentrate on my voice.”
She covered her ears. “I can’t. They’re there, clawing at me, scratching at the walls…”
Crumbling Control (Helena Hawthorn Series Book 3) Page 18