by Martha Woods
“You see, I’m the Calder’s High Priestess in training, much like you are the Firehavens. However, the Firehavens aren’t the family they claim to be to you. Yes, Esmeralda was your mother, but with her, your family died in the Firehaven clan. They care about you as much as the family of vampires do. All they want you for is for their own gain. Whereas we want you so that you can be the best you can be, to flourish in all of the magic running through your veins.”
Tessa shook her head, “They warned me of the Calder wanting me to use my power to take over the world, or something along those lines.”
A sweet, musical laughter sounded from Bethany. She shook her head, the curtain of white hair flowing around her as she did. “They are still reading those old prophecies? My darling sister, those hold as much weight as King Arthur. They are works of fiction, doctored back in the day to instill fear and paranoia in witches. Back then, the clans were at each other’s throats all the time with absolutely zero alliances. They hoped that making that legend up would keep the witches from breeding with other clans. Those witches are filling your head with lies they’ve believed their entire life because they didn’t know any better.”
“How are you so sure that it’s fake?” Tessa challenged.
“Because I have two brain cells to rub together?” Bethany joked lightly. “And because there have been other hybrid witches and none of them fulfilled any sort of gloomy prophecy. I’ve read that one before, and it said nothing about the child having to be one of a High Priestess. So what makes you any different from the other hybrids?” she challenged. Tessa was stumped, actually starting to wonder if the Firehaven were just that naïve. They did seem like a bunch of friendly, warm people. It could mean they were more gullible than the cold and calculative Calder. “That’s not to say that hybrids aren’t powerful. They have the ability to unlock the powers of both clans they belong to. Usually, they never fully master both kinds of magic. However with you, I would like to at least try and help you do that. The best way for you to do that would be to join me and returned to the Calder compound with me so that we can begin your training.”
It was so much to take in, and Tessa still wasn’t convinced that Bethany was telling the truth. What if Bethany was her half-sister? Not trusting her meant that Tessa would miss out on the only opportunity to get to know the last living member of her family. A lifelong yearning to be somewhere she belonged made her chest ache. She found herself wanting to trust Bethany, but she wasn’t quite there. The Firehavens and the vampires had instilled so much fear in her about the Calder, and the Calder up to this point had been proving them right. “Why should I trust you guys when one of your witches nearly killed me?” she questioned.
“To push Kristian to change you. See… The Calder have gotten a bad wrap in our mission to get you ready to join me as High Priestess. We’ve had to burn a lot of bridges in the process and we’ve gladly taken on the title as villain because we know in our heart of hearts, we are doing the right thing for our clan.”
“For the clan…” Tessa repeated. “That makes it sound like they were right… That you just want me for my power.”
“I want you because you are my sister. The clan needs you because you will be a strong and unbeatable leader. We don’t plan to set out to conquer the world, Tessa. We just want to be strong and to control our land without having to worry about anyone ever attacking us. With you in our charge, that won’t ever be a concern,” Bethany explained. “Think about it Tessa. Coming with me is the only way to unlock your full potential as well as get to know the only living family you have. I’ll help you see the truth to the world. You’ll know power you’ve never thought possible. Abilities you could never dream of. The world will be our oyster, my sister. What do you say?”
Being so close to Bethany, Tessa realized that the warm brown hue to her eyes was the exact shade of her own. Did they both have their father’s brown eyes? Her mind was stimulated by wonder and questions, but Tessa still wasn’t sold on everything Bethany was saying. She spun a good tale, but something felt off about it. Perhaps she was still holding onto the doubt that the Firehaven and vampires had instilled in her. Tessa wasn’t blind to the kindness the witches and vampires had given her. She had found love in Kristian, and her own sense of family within Calla, Jared, the elders, and even Veronica even though she was an ass.
She didn’t want to tell Bethany no, though, fearing that it would spark a reaction that wouldn’t pan out well for Tessa. She still didn’t know why Bethany was so youthful looking compared to the other Calder she had seen, and she was the daughter of their previous High Priestess. The young witch could potentially hold the same unbelievable powers that she was saying Tessa could have. However, part of her didn’t want to say no anyways. The thought of accessing those powers was extremely tempting, as well as discovering if Bethany truly was her sister. Kristian was going on the road for a year… Perhaps it all was meant to happen. She wanted to talk to someone about it first, help her make sure she wasn’t being an idiot. “Can I have some time to think on it? I don’t want to rush into anything.”
Bethany gave a sad smile, her eyes gleaming with sincerity, “While I would normally let you, because even I would find this all skeptical, it’s not really an option this time. You see, Tessa… You coming with me isn’t just for the good of the Calder or you, but for your vampire and witch friends as well.”
Tessa’s brow creased, her coffee eyes swirling with concern, “What do you mean?”
“Well, see…” Bethany began, struggling to find the words. After a few moments of drawing a blank, Bethany sighed, “I suppose the best thing to do would be to show you.” She held her hand up, her palm facing Tessa. Bethany gestured for Tessa to press her hand to hers.
With a moment’s hesitation, Tessa raised her hand and pressed it to hers. The moment their skin touched, Tessa’s vision blacked out. She gasped at first, terrified that Bethany had done something to her. But then, reality came back into focus in a haze. Only when it did, she wasn’t looking at Bethany. She was hovering in midair, watching from the corner of the living room of the house. What was going on? Kristian came through the door frame, annoyance and anger heavy on his face. Then, trailing right behind him was Tessa herself. They were arguing about Kristian leaving. Tessa got in Kristian’s face, yelling at him that he never cared about her. That he was no better than the rest of them, and if anything he was worse. Claiming that he was using sex and affection to pacify her to keep her around because of how they didn’t want her getting into the Calder’s hands. Kristian was insulted and demanding her to calm down and get out of his face.
Tessa insisted he make her. Kristian pushed her back gently, telling her to knock it off. Tessa rushed at him and pushed him, sending him flying back into the wall. He stood, his face in a scowl, spitting that he didn’t like what the witches were turning her into. Tessa claimed he simply couldn’t handle her becoming stronger than her. His face screwed into a hateful look, Kristian beelined for the door, leaving with or without her blessing. In a moment of weakness and anger, Tessa shrieked and hurled a blinding fire attack at him. He was on the ground instantly—dead.
Jared and Charley were the first to rush into the room, staring at Tessa as she stood over Kristian’s body. She tried to choke out an apology, swearing she hadn’t meant to. It was no use, there was no apologizing that time. Jared and Charley moved to grab her, but Tessa’s panicked mind lashed out at them. The elders and Calla came into the room. Tessa was so certain they were going to kill her. She felt like an animal backed into a corner. Calla emerged from the line of witches and tried to talk Tessa down, but it was no use. Bolts of lightning filled the room, striking each and every one of them, killing them instantly. What had she done?! In a panic, Tessa bolted out the door with only one goal in mind. Find the Calder.
Tessa jerked her hand back from Bethany’s, her eyes wide and glossy with emotion. Bethany looked close to tears herself. “You see, Tessa, you’re always going t
o end up wanting to be with us. You don’t know how to control your powers or your strength. You’ve slipped up quite a bit already, haven’t you? Even in moments where you thought you were in complete control.” Thoughts of what happened with Selena swarmed Tessa’s mind. She had thought it was the vampire in her that wasn’t controlled. Could it possibly be the Calder? Bethany rested her hand over Tessa’s in a comforting manner, “I know that must have been terrible to see. That’s what will happen if you go back to that house. The vampires and others will, of course, convince you that you are insane for even considering my offer, your life will go on normally for a few days… And then what you saw will take place. It’s a premonition I had when I came here and felt your presence. Let me spare you and the others that pain. Come with me willingly. I swear to you, if you don’t like it, you can return to them and the Calder will never bother you again. We need you to at least try, though, Tessa.”
Tessa wished she had the ability to cry. She wanted to sweep at the images that had invaded her brain. Would she really kill Kristian and all the others if she didn’t go with Bethany? The possibility alone was too much to bear. At that point, did she really have an option? Tessa was willing to risk her own life, but not Kristian’s or the others. Going with Bethany actually could work out for the best. Maybe in the time that Kristian was gone, Tessa would master the Calder magic and would no longer be a danger be around. Not to mention the time passed would give her the time to get control of her blood cravings as well. She didn’t want to attack any more people she cared about.
She sat silently for a long time, trying her hardest to think of any other solution, but none came to mind. Bethany’s option was the only one. Swallowing the lump in the lump in her throat, Tessa nodded, “Okay… I’ll do it. I’ll go with you.”
Bethany’s pearly smile gleamed as she jumped from her spot. “That makes me so happy! You have no idea how great this will be for everyone. You made the right call, Tessa,” Bethany assured her.
Tessa didn’t feel so certain, but she didn’t see another way around it. Bethany took Tessa’s hand in hers. “We’re going to shadow teleport. Since you aren’t skilled in it yet, it’ll probably make you pretty sick to your stomach—if that’s possible with being a vampire. Definitely lightheaded. So just bear with me, okay?” she instructed.
Tessa nodded. Bethany led the way through the trees to get to a clearing just a short walk away. She still struggled to wrap her head around everything that was taking place. It had been such a strange and stressful day. Tessa still hadn’t drank any blood or slept. Her body screamed for rest, but her mind was wired with new fears and worries. As they stepped into the clearing, Tessa’s eyes scanned the trees around them. She wondered where the Calder compound was and if it was far. Could she escape on her own if she needed to? Tessa had no way to be sure.
Then, her eyes fell on a familiar face in the trees. Charley stood behind a tree, just barely peeking out to watch them. Tessa’s heart sank, hating that she saw her with a Calder. At least this way the others would know that she wasn’t just running away and wouldn’t think she was dead or something. Though being with the Calder wasn’t any better. Tessa chewed on her lip and averted her gaze. She didn’t want to know what Charley was thinking, and she definitely didn’t want to know the reactions of Kristian or the others. It made her hurt to even think about. They wouldn’t understand that she was doing it for their own good, not her own. “Ready?” Bethany asked her, excitement captivating her voice, turning the sultry voice the witch had into something resembling a school girl.
“As ready as I’ll ever be,” Tessa grumbled.
“Hold my hand as tight as you can!” Bethany exclaimed. Tessa gripped her hand for dear life. Then, it felt like she was being pulled into a vacuum. The molecules of her body dissipated into a cloud of black smoke. How was she alive? How could the witches do this? It was extremely disorienting, and her mind couldn’t fully wrap around what was happening. It felt like she was in a dream. In the next second, they were pulled into the sky. It was different from flying, but it gave the same feel. Tessa tried to take in the beautiful scene of the dense forest below, but they began traveling so fast that her eyes couldn’t keep up. Everything was a blur. Even though her body was already in a cloud, it felt like it was going to be torn apart until she was no more.
Within just a few minutes, they materialized in a field of grass. Tessa looked around to see a large, gothic-styled palace sitting across a dirt road. It was at least four stories high. It was painted slate gray with black trim. It wasn’t at all decreped as she had always pictured their headquarters being. It was actually… beautiful. Maybe the Firehavens and vampires truly had been wrong about them all along. There was only one way to figure out. Looking over to Bethany, the pale witch grinned, “Welcome home, sister.”
* * *
Click Here To Read Book Five!
Bonus Book
The Vampire’s Desire
(Book 1 of the Fatal Allure Series)
Martha Woods
© 2016 Martha Woods
All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, organizations, places, events and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
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Chapter 1
I am sitting at home sipping my glass of Shiraz and nibbling on cheese and crackers. I roll my eyes as the credits roll to a romantic comedy that ended with a stereotypical happily ever after. I scoff. I don’t know why I watched it. I knew the ending would be made up of a predictable plot where the characters’ love is the most important thing in this world and completely outweighed any rational logic for what would happen after the credits stopped rolling.
“Happily ever after.” I smirk. I know that there is no such thing. At least not when it came to romance. Why did a woman need a man to make her life complete?
What happened to self-esteem? To knowing that actually, you don’t need the stereotypical bad boy to change overnight and run off into the sunset with you? I always thought these movies would have a happier ending if right at the end, when the man had “changed,” the woman laughed and told him it was only ever about sex, and walked off into the sunset on her own.
Cara, my best friend, would describe me as cynical. She would say it’s a defense mechanism – if I don’t believe in love and romance, then I don’t have to admit that it’s just never happened for me.
I would describe myself as a realist. I just don’t think we’re programmed for monogamy, at least not long term. I have to agree with Cara on one point, though. It probably will never happen for me.
I’m a twenty-seven-year-old forensic scientist working for the LAPD. I am smart. I can hold my own in situations that would turn most people’s stomachs. Yet, here’s the kicker: whenever I find myself with a man who I find attractive, I turn into a clumsy thirteen-year-old who can’t string together a sentence. I’m the one who will trip up, knock something over, or say something really awkward.
One of my least disastrous recent dates, in fact, featured me getting so flustered when the guy had bought me a bouquet that I managed to knock over the entire display of flowers, causing who knows how many dollars of damage. There went that week’s pay. Needless to say, I declined a second date.
Maybe that’s part of the reason why I’m a cynic. Sorry, a realist.
But I’m not heartbroken about it or anything. I have Bella, my adorable and loyal puppy, and right now, she’s the only housemate I want or need. She’s been my constant companion since the day I picked her up from the pound. With my crazy work schedule, she’s really the best p
artner I could ask for, and she doesn’t mind a good long run. I reach out and run my hand over Bella’s soft fur. She wags her tail and snuggles closer to my side.
I reach for the remote and flick through the channels. I’m looking for a horror movie, maybe a sci-fi at a push. No more icky love stuff. Sometimes I’m in the mood to leer at a Rom Com, but the inclination usually doesn’t last long. I know it’s all totally contrived. Real love doesn’t exist. And commitment just isn’t in our DNA. I’ve had enough personal experiences to know that – and worked enough cases that reinforced the idea. People would probably agree with me about my “cynical” outlook if they knew how many murders were perpetrated by lovers. Cheating spouses, insurance scams, arguments gone horribly wrong…if that’s what love is all about, count me out. Something catches my eye, and I flick back a channel.
There. A good old fashioned newscast. No fairytales here.
“We can confirm that the body of an unidentified female has been found just moments ago in the parking lot of The Watering Well.”
Great, I think. I count to five, and sure enough, as I hit five, my pager lights up. With a sigh, I lift Bella off my lap and set her on the ground, reaching for my cell phone. I call in and let the dispatcher know I’m on my way.
I grab my car keys and my purse and lock the door behind me. I get into my car and set my bag on the passenger seat. My cell phone, I place on the dashboard. My pager goes in the little alcove in the center console, where I can see the screen clearly without taking my hands off the wheel to pick it up. I have a system. Some people might call me obsessive, but I prefer organized. Obsessive, organized. Cynic, realist. Cara would say I’m just trying to justify my personality flaws. She’s a lawyer, but she likes to think she’s also my therapist. I don’t mind, though. If nothing else, she keeps my ego in check. I chuckle a little to myself at the thought. Cara would keep anyone’s ego in check. She’s gorgeous, successful, always at ease, and always kind. It’s hard not to compare myself to her and come up a bit short.