Crumbling Control (Helena Hawthorn Series Book 3)

by May Freighter

  Helena fought a smile when Lucious grumbled under his breath. She sat on the floor to be on the eye-level with the child. “Did you get hurt when you spilt your tea?”

  “I’m good. Like Daddy, I heal fast,” she said.

  Helena ruffled the mop of golden curls on the kid’s head. “I’m glad you’re alright.” She looked at Lucious. “This young princess helped me today by being brave. You can say that she may have saved your life.”

  “If she is anything like her father, it runs in the family,” Lucious said. “Nonetheless, little one, if she says you did well, I am thankful you were here.”

  Antoinette’s cheeks turned pink, and she ran out of the room without an explanation.

  Lucious raised a brow. “Was it something I said?”

  “Most definitely,” Helena replied with a laugh.

  While Helena chewed on her dinner, Lucious stared out the kitchen window into the garden consumed by shadows. Every part of him, from his joints to his eyes, ached. He managed to keep this hidden behind the mask of indifference, which was becoming harder to maintain with time. When he awoke that day, he saw the extent of the marks on his flesh. He had less than two days before the curse consumed him, taking Helena with him. Yet, he was pleased he managed to maintain his shields. Her blood helped. Although human blood tasted the same as ashes and dust, she tasted like a vampire. Had the bond they shared forced more changes on her than they both imagined?

  His vision blurred, and he clutched the kitchen counter for support. Glad the women chatting over dinner didn’t notice anything; he let out a breath. Lucious rested his hip against the wood as his sight returned to normal.

  In the hallway, he heard Alexander chatting to Byron. At last, his friend finally arrived.

  “Helena, I’ll be right back.” Lucious forced one foot in front of another as he ate the distance with his long strides.

  Alexander’s eyes bulged a little when he saw him. Whatever he was saying no longer mattered because his old friend marched up to Lucious and hugged him. “You look like hell spit you back out.”

  Lucious chuckled and slapped Alexander on the back. “You always have a way with compliments.” He separated from his friend and lowered his voice. “We need to talk.”

  The men remained quiet as they followed him outside. Yellow streetlights reflected off the damp pavement and road, creating an illusion of shimmering gold.

  Turning on his heel, Lucious faced two solemn faces. “Alexander, did you find it?”

  The shake of his head implanted dismay in Lucious’ heart.

  “I couldn’t find a way to break your bond. The information I gathered, even from ancient Egypt, indicates that it’s impossible. A soul-bond is for life,” Alexander said.

  A knot formed in Lucious’ stomach. If they couldn’t remove the curse in time, she would die. He couldn’t afford to drag her with him to her death, not when she deserved to live out her life to its fullest. “What about the witches? Can they break it?”

  “I’m sorry, my friend. Right now, no witch will go near a vampire. They chose to sit this war out and watch the fireworks from the bench.”

  Byron scoffed. “They do that all the time. While I listened to the conversation Sinead held with the witches earlier, I realised they weren’t going to lift a finger until they’re threatened.”

  “Well, you aren’t wrong there,” Alexander said. “They’re about balance and keeping their broomsticks safe.”

  Lucious pressed his lips into a grim line. “What did Reaver say about the curse?”

  “He said he would help if you go to him with Helena.”

  “Why does he want her to come along?”

  Alexander shrugged. “I don’t know. I’m certain it’s a ruse of some kind. He took the saint with him last time. I haven’t heard any reports on her location since.”

  “A saint?” Byron asked. “As in the mythical being that can kill you with one look?”

  Lucious and Alexander both let out a bark of laughter.

  “What’s so funny?”

  To drown out his mirth, Lucious cleared his throat. “She is an interesting being. Her guardian was part of the reason why we are in this mess with the witches.”

  “So, to remove the curse, you’re walking into a trap?” Byron asked.

  Lucious nodded. “And that is why I must ask you two to look out for Helena if something goes wrong.”

  “You mean babysit your girlfriend while you go off and be a hero?” Alexander crossed his arms. “I am not letting you or that human out of my sight.”

  Lucious shot the werewolf a pleading look.

  “Bloody hell, mate, I can’t.” Byron rubbed the back of his neck. “Our last trip drove the nail in for me. The hunters are a problem, yes, but sirens and warlocks… I can’t put my family at risk. Those folks have no morals and would do anything to gain more power.” He lowered his voice to a whisper. “And Antoinette is showing qualities of an alpha, even though she’s a half-breed. Knowing Reaver’s antics to pursue the unusual, he wouldn’t pass up an opportunity to take her.”

  Alexander’s brows lifted. “Your daughter is alpha material?”

  “I’m sure she will have her problems in the future. For now, I will do what I can to keep her out of harm’s way and out of that warlock’s sight.”

  “I won’t ask for your help then,” Lucious said. His chest burned, and he fell to his knees, hitting the ground hard.

  Both men caught him before he could kiss the concrete and dragged him back to the house where Helena waited for them with a stern expression on her face.

  “So, what were the three musketeers whispering about outside?” she asked.

  Her seriousness brought an involuntary smile to Lucious’ face. He couldn’t lose the only good thing in his life. No. He wouldn’t.

  15

  Hidden Agendas

  Helena dissected Lucious with her stare as they sat on the sofa in the quiet house. Alexander had disappeared somewhere the moment she threw her first question at them. It didn’t take long for Byron and Sinead to follow suit. They took their daughter and left without much of an explanation either. One fact remained, irking her beyond words. They haven’t told tell her anything. She guessed they were talking about the deal with Reaver, but why were they keeping her out of the loop? It didn’t make sense.

  “I feel I’ll well and truly be pierced with your glares if they continue,” Lucious said.

  “Then tell me what’s going on!”

  He waved to the television that played a rerun of I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here where some poor actress had to eat a water spider. Helena grimaced as the woman shook the glass with the spider and pushed the knocked out eight-legged arachnid into her mouth.

  Her stomach lurched, and she covered her eyes. “That’s disgusting!”

  Lucious laughed. “I was never a fan of human television until now.”

  “Very funny, Ellwood!” she snapped and swatted his shoulder. Her eyes settled on her wrist as she pulled her hand back. There, a black vine slowly crept towards her elbow.

  “What is the matter?” he asked, taking the hand she fixated on. When he noticed the curse spreading through her as well, he abruptly let her go. “Your guardian was right. I should have stayed away from you.”

  “It would get to me sooner or later,” she said in a shaky voice.

  He muted the TV. “Precisely, later would have been better for you.”

  “Stop blaming yourself for everything! The curse spreading to me was inevitable.”

  “You’re right. Let’s not argue anymore about this. Please?”

  She heard the front door opening, and Alexander entered the living room. He fished out a card out of his pocket and handed it to Lucious. “They’re at the Ham House.”

  “I thought Reaver returned to Vienna after the gate closed,” Helena commented.

  “He obviously had other plans for you.” Alexander sat in an overstuffed leather armchair. He crossed his legs at th
e heels and pointed to the TV where a bleached blonde was advertising makeup. “I slept with Sonia last month. Looks like she’s getting around…”

  Helena groaned. “Can we stay on topic?”

  “When is the meeting?” Lucious asked.

  “Tomorrow at dinner time. Reaver said there are preparations that need to be made for the ritual.”

  Lucious nodded. “Did you survey the area?”

  Alexander smirked. “Of course.”

  The way they talked seemed distant. She didn’t like it. The bad feeling budding in her gut also agreed. Whatever Lucious planned to do, they were going to keep her out of it. Her frustration could no longer stay under wraps after her realisation. She erupted from her seat. “You’re going to leave me behind, aren’t you?”

  “Oh, she’s faster than I thought,” Alexander said.

  She studied Lucious’ poker face. The only thing keeping her from slapping him until she got her answer was the exhaustion reflected in his sluggish movements.

  “Helena, we cannot give Reaver what he wants,” Lucious said matter-of-factly. “And, in this case, it’s you.”

  “Then you won’t be able to lift the curse! What’s stopping Nora from taking off and leaving us to die if I don’t show up?”

  “I actually agree with her, Lucious. Let me come with you,” Alexander offered.

  “No. Do as I have asked. Keep her out of trouble.”

  Fuming to the point where her hands quivered, Helena stormed out of the room. She stalked up the stairs and slammed the door to the bedroom behind her. Looking around, she had to stop herself from smashing Sinead’s furniture. So, she let out a muffled scream into the pillow. There was no way to change his mind, and she hated it.

  Lucious cringed when he heard her door slamming. His gaze travelled to Alexander who was already in a fit of laughter.

  To keep a straight face, he asked, “Is this situation amusing to you?”

  “Who wouldn’t laugh at this? You’re cursed, dating a woman who’s a fraction of your age, and might die tomorrow before the war with the hunters truly kicks off. In case situations like this ever arise, it is precisely why I bring booze with me everywhere.”

  After a couple of minutes, Alexander returned with a bottle of Dalmore scotch. The maroon liquid held in the carved crystal decanter reflected the dull lighting in the living room, captivating Lucious’ attention. “So, alcohol is your solution to everything?”

  Alexander uncorked the bottle with a soft pop and grinned. “It’s the only thing that keeps me sane.”

  Flames singed her skin as Helena fought her way out of her mother’s arms. Over the rising smoke, and the vision of her grandmother, she screamed. Yet, the fire continued to spread, swallowing everything around them.

  She ignored the tickling sensation of her tears and reached for her grandmother. This time, it was no longer the woman of the past shrouded in the flames. On the other side of the living room, Lucious stood with eyes as black as night and the vines of the curse covering his entire face…

  She awoke from the night terror, drenched in sweat. Panting, she clutched her chest.

  Alexander burst into the room, making the door handle smash against the wall, and eyed the entry points. “We heard your scream. What happened?”

  “It’s nothing. Go away,” she said.

  Doing quite the opposite, he came in and lifted her chin. But, before she could pry his hand away, he withdrew. “You’re pale. You should rest.”

  “Since when do you care about my well-being?”

  “I don’t. It won’t help Lucious if you are unwell.” Alexander tucked his hands into the pockets of his trousers and retreated to the door.

  He was about to flick the light switch off, and she shouted, “Don’t!”

  “Are you scared of the dark or something?”

  “No.”

  He smirked. “Liar.”

  Once he left her alone, Helena lay on the bed and stared at the ceiling. Reaching towards it, she noted the curse had wrapped around her elbow. She jerked her hand away, cursing the hell her life had become.

  Sunlight broke through the night and the scarlet sun peeked over the horizon. Lucious faced his friend from across the kitchen. “I should leave. Please, take care of her while I’m gone.”

  Alexander groaned and set his mug on the kitchen table. “You’re leaving me to deal with the blowback? She’ll explode when she finds out you left her, plus I am not too keen on this solo mission either.”

  “Would you rather we are both in danger? I cannot risk her safety.”

  “I will ask you this one last time, Lucious. Do you love her?”

  Lucious considered the question. His friend had undergone many horrors with love in the past. Somehow, Alexander managed to lock away his ability to love a woman wholly. And, perhaps, this was the root of the problem between Helena and him. Knowing this, Lucious never blamed him for his words or actions. Even as he thought about it, the answer remained the same to such a loaded enquiry.

  “You know the answer, Alexander.”

  “I wish I didn’t. I wish we were still trying to use her instead of letting her into our lives. But, I will concede to your feelings. From now on, I will treat her as one of us.”

  Lucious raised a brow at his friend’s sudden change in character. “Did you hit your head on the way here?”

  With a chuckle, Alexander finished typing the last email on his laptop and closed the lid. “Grab your gun and let’s get you over to Twickenham.”

  The second time Helena woke up, she didn’t dare fall back asleep. The clock on the vanity showed 6 a.m., so she clambered out of bed and washed her face in the bathroom sink. When she changed into a spare set of clothes, she searched the house but couldn’t find anyone there. She slapped her forehead and refrained from screaming the foul words that stung the tip of her tongue.

  To calm herself, she made a cup of much-needed coffee. On the kitchen table, Alexander’s laptop rested. She contemplated if she should download a replicating virus onto his machine as she sipped her drink. Having decided against it, she opened his laptop and looked up the location Alexander mentioned yesterday.

  Ham House was a Victorian manor built in the early seventeenth century and was open to the public. Why would Reaver want to meet in a place like that? She folded her legs under her and slapped her hand to her forehead. Nora had a penchant for old houses and tea parties. Of course, she would pick one of the flashiest mansions in London.

  “What are you doing on my computer?” Alexander asked.

  Helena’s head whipped around to the doorway where he stood with his dark brow raised. “I was checking something.”

  “Hopefully not the pornography sites.” He closed the lid on the laptop. “I swear women these days have no manners.”

  “You’re not flipping out?”

  “Why would I? Did you delete my bookmarks or send insulting e-mails to my clients?”

  Helena shook her head and slipped off her seat.

  “Then there is nothing for me to be mad about.”

  Her eyes narrowed with suspicion. This was not the same Alexander who always mocked her every chance he got. “Did you hit your head on the way down from your fancy plane?”

  “Two peas in a damn pod…” he said with a laugh. “Lucious asked me almost the exact same question an hour ago.”

  “I thought the meeting wasn’t until dinner time. Why did he leave early?”

  “Because he knew how you’d react.” Not letting her fit a word in edgeways, he continued, “You would stand in front of him, screaming and flailing like a spoiled child until he caved and took you along. Even though I can see how much pain he is hiding from sight, you don’t notice any of it in your pursuit to remove the curse at some obscure cost.”

  Her shoulders dropped. He wasn’t wrong. Against her better judgement, the need to free Lucious from the curse became her sole desire. In return, she would give up anything to save him, anything that Reaver and Nor
a wanted, playing right into their hands.

  “You’re right. I can’t let my emotions rule me all the time.”

  He smiled—the first genuine smile she had seen on his handsome face that didn’t hold a hint of ridicule. “I am glad we have come to an agreement. In the meantime, I want you to forget this and do the opposite.”

  “I’m sorry, what?”

  “Lucious is not thinking straight. The amount of pain he’s in combined with the recent events have affected his judgement, I have no doubt about that. So, get ready. I’m not going to let my best friend die due to his stupidity.”

  “You know what, I might start liking you,” she said with a grin.

  Stepping onto the grounds of the Ham House felt like going back in time for Lucious. The three-storey, red-brick mansion with a vast array of white windows looked back at him amidst an ocean of freshly cut grass and shrubbery shaped into pointed cones. In the well cared for garden, morning sun shimmered on the water droplets on the blades of grass, refracting colourful light like glistening gems. On the roof, he noticed two column-like chimneys standing erect on either side of the building, inactive. He followed the cobbled path to the steps, scaling them with great effort. At the foot of the arched doorway, granite columns adorned each side.

  Lucious raised his hand and knocked on the carved wood. No response came, so he checked the metal handle. The door was unlocked.

  An undertone of varnish hung in the air as he walked on the marble flooring. Passing through the vestibule, he saw beautiful paintings from the centuries past on the faded burgundy walls.

  “You’ve come alone?” a young girl asked from behind him. “Such a pity.”

  Turning on the spot, he faced Reaver’s new body. Her long inky hair cascaded around her black velvet dress. A gold necklace decorated her small neck, matching a pair of studs in her ears.

  “Do you like this dress, Mr Ellwood?” She gave a twirl.

  “I’m not here for a fashion show, Reaver.”