Sophie’s vampire hearing picked up the indistinct banging on the basement door. The other fae warriors were trying to get in. She picked up faint traces of magick and realized that it wasn’t just fists and legs trying to break the door down. Ayden’s power must be immense if he could so easily foul their fae magick.
The vampires were around her. She didn’t have the luxury of time to doubt her or the fae’s abilities, but all it had taken was an instant for them to get the upper-hand. Sophie felt a blade slice her stomach. It was silver. Fortunately, the witch-half of her genetics kept it from doing the same damage it would have done if she were a full vampire. It still burned like a bitch though. One came up behind her and kicked her in her chest. Due to the regular training V put them through she was toned and fit, but her breasts were soft targets and the bastards had known that. Sophie flew back and her body hit the ground. She discovered that no matter how prepared you are, there was an instant of dazed shock when your body hit a hard surface. Fortunately, the force of the vampire’s kick had been hard enough to project her far enough from them that they needed to run towards her.
“You okay?” Sylvain projected into her mind.
“Yeah,” she replied. “Are you?” The wound was throbbing and she felt blood leak out of it making the floor slippery beneath her boots, but Sylvain didn’t need to know that yet. They were still fighting and needed to remain focused on killing the bastards!.
“Getting the last one, and then I’ll come help you,” he replied. She glanced at Sylvain. Vampire heads lay around him like discarded Halloween décor. The remaining vampire had a sword too and was sparring with Sylvain, matching each wield of the weapon. Sophie had no doubt that if the vamp did not have the sword, he would be dead by now.
When she turned away from Sylvain, the vamps were almost on her. She quickly stood, legs crouched, and her arms hanging down at her sides. She’d ripped the remaining knives strapped to her and now had her weapons at the ready – just waiting to kick some bad vampire ass! They moved like weres – fast and with brute strength behind each step. Sophie felt suddenly overwhelmed. They moved so quickly that the air blurred around her. It was as though their proximity to each other strengthened them. Using her empath powers, she reigned in her anxiety so that her mind quieted down to focus only on them. They created a tunnel of wind around her, nicking her with the blades as they flew past. Sophie no longer felt the stabs. She had become the eye of the storm that would unleash a fucking hurricane on their asses. Breathing in deeply, she tugged harder on her empath powers so that it completely consumed her, and then she soaked up all of the rage, the violence, and the torment that had occurred in the room. She grabbed a hold of the screams of the girls, the moment when torture no longer mattered, death was prayed for, and when their human spirits were buried deep within their souls and all that remained were animals. She pulled in the rage from the vampires, got glimpses into their lives, and saw Ayden and Akeldonna standing alongside Yves. They watched as the vampires were experimented upon until they became these killing machines and she soaked every last bit of anger and hatred up. She pulled all of it inside of her until it was one large mass of swirling black energy and then flipped it.
She was a vampire, but she was also a witch and if Arianna was correct, she was one of the most powerful empaths to ever walk the earth. So, she took the pain inflicted by the blades of the vampires, ignored her bleeding wounds, and turned that ball of dark energy into the very things that caused it – torment, hurt, and deep sorrow. Once every spec of black was gone, she reached for it and pushed it outwards and into the vampires.
Every one of them dropped to the ground writhing in pain. Screams were forced from deep within their souls and penetrated the dark room. Sophie watched them fight the energy and held on, forcing it to remain inside of them until the screams turned to pleading cries for death. She pushed the energy further inside of them, into their hearts and souls, and watched with calm determination while they began to slowly disintegrate and turn to dust.
When all that remained standing and alive were her and Sylvain, she made certain that no dark energy remained within her and tightly pulled in her shields again. The physical reality of her injuries overwhelmed her and she sagged down on the floor. She was kneeling in a pool of her own blood when Sylvain reached her side. He had let in the fae warriors that had stayed behind while the others transported the witches to the hollow. She heard him yell at them to teleport back to the hollow and fetch Arianna. Yes, Sophie thought, Arianna would heal her. Five percent of her mind acknowledged the thought and the rest felt her life slip away.
“Sophie, no!” She heard Sylvain shout. He slapped her face gently like people did in the movies to wake someone up. “Come on Sophie,” he encouraged, “pull through for me.”
Sophie opened her eyes to look at him one last time. Using her remaining energy, she lifted her hand to his face and cupped his cheek. “I love you, Sylvain. Je’taime mon chèrie,” she whispered, and then her eyes fluttered closed.
Sylvain looked in horror at Sophie, his mind consumed with denial. He would not allow her to die – not on his watch; not ever. Unthinkingly, he grabbed the nearest blade and cut deeply into his arm. He laid Sophie’s head on his lap, opened her mouth, and allowed his blood to flow into it. He knew the moment it hit her throat and made its way to her heart because her pulse jumped. He had a second of relief before it stilled again. Ignorant of his own injuries, of his blood mingling with hers like a red satin sheet on the floor of the basement, he cut the wound on his arm wider and deeper, willing more blood to flow into her mouth. It wasn’t enough, he thought as dizziness assailed him. Fine. They could both die.
“Don’t be a fool,” Vérène’s voice intercepted the dark haze that had begun to settle in around him. He could feel his pulse match Sophie’s – weak and growing weaker still.
He looked at his sister’s scowling face, etched with concern. Tears twinkled on her lashes and flashes of sorrow showed in her eyes. “I’m sorry, sister. The fae are yours and I know you will rule them well.”
“Oh, fuck the fucking fae kingdom,” Vérène yelled. “Must you always be so damn melodramatic?! You stupid, stupid man. Why do you always think with your heart when I expect you to think with your dick? Did you have to go and sacrifice yourself for the witch-vamp?”
Vérène mimicked his earlier actions and used the blade to cut a wound on her arm. She held her arm over his mouth so he could drink. “This should do the trick,” she stated, sounding happy to have a plan of action. But, Sylvain refused her blood.
“Sophie, first,” he grasped. Some of his sister’s precious blood trailed down his chin, but his short speech allowed some of it into his mouth.
Vérène scowled at him. “Why do I even try?” It was said with such irritation that he knew she didn’t mean it. She had already moved her arm to Sophie’s mouth. Sophie’s eyes shot open and her pulse kicked in, steady and strong.
Sophie tried to grab Vérène’s arm and hold it to her mouth, but the Unseelie princess moved it away. “Uh-uh,” she chided. “Don’t be greedy. Now that you’re alive, I have to see to my brother.” Vérène saw shock register in Sophie’s face and she nodded. Puzzled at the easy acceptance by what must be a starving vampire, Vérène moved her arm to her brother’s mouth. Only then did he drink. Vérène felt herself begin to weaken from the blood loss. She motioned her guards forward. They were well-trained and instinctively, without any instruction from her, cut their own arms to release blood. One replaced Vérène’s position over her brother and the other held his arm over Sophie’s mouth. Vérène nodded in approval at their swift obedience. The look they returned was one of acknowledgement of her power. The guards knew her wrath was merciless, but that she rewarded obedience and sacrifices such as this, well.
She had enough strength left to climb the stairs. If she made it to the top, she could order one of her guards to take her back to the Dark Palace. She’d be attended to there. She made it a
s far as the kitchen when her vision began to blur. “Fucking blood loss,” she ranted. “What a pain in the ass!”
“Now, now, your majesty. Is that any way for someone of your stature to speak?” Vérène looked up at the person who'd chided her. The eyes that met her were gentle and warm, as was the tone that delivered the scolding.
“Arianna,” Vérène acknowledged before sinking into the welcoming arms of the fae woman.
Arianna looked at the beautiful woman in her arms. She had watched the princess grow from a child and into womanhood before the discord between the royal twins had ripped Vérène from her life and had torn her heart apart. Vérène was not her child, but having raised her, been her mentor, she couldn’t help, but love her with a mother’s heart. Blinking back tears that threatened to spill, she breathed in air for courage and began organizing the fae that stood around watching them. With the mother’s love that pulsed through her, she sent the Goddess a silent plea to allow her to nurse them all back to health so that the fae world could be set to rights again – and maybe her heart would mend too.
Chapter 15
“What is this stuff?” Vérène scrunched up her nose at the nasty draft being offered to her.
“It will make you feel better,” Arianna encouraged, “drink up.”
Vérène scowled, but took a sip. “Bleargh! Sorry, I can’t. This stuff is too gross.” She saw Rose, Arianna blanch, and a murderous look begin to settle on Miss Suzette’s face. Ever arrogant, Vérène regarded them, “What?” She turned to Arianna and said, “You never used to poison me like this when I was a child.”
That Arianna remained silent should have been a sign, but Vérène had never been a good patient and she continued to complain. A sharp slap against the top of her arm stopped her tantrum. “Ouch! What was that for?” She turned towards Miss Suzette who was brandishing a large wooden spoon like a weapon.
“Don’t think that I will let you off the hook just because you’re a princess,” Miss Suzette warned.
Vérène rubbed the spot where Miss Suzette had hit her. Damn! That woman had strength in her arms! “I’m sick,” Vérène grumbled. “You’re not supposed to injure the sick.”
“Then drink up,” Miss Suzette ordered.
“I’m not that sick,” Vérène murmured, under her breath.
Miss Suzette must have heard her, because she suddenly turned towards her again and waved the wooden instrument of torture. Vérène grumbled as was expected of her, but she drank the brew and inside, she started to feel warm. It had been so long since someone had taken care of her and the forced nurturing of Miss Suzette combined with the tentative care from Arianna was something she lapped up. Not that they’d know that of course.
She sipped the brew quietly and watched the large, Cajun housekeeper bustle around the kitchen while Arianna enlightened her on the latest mishaps in the fae hollow’s kitchen. Fae were not allowed to tell lies, even the Unseelie, but they would play around with words to their heart’s content. Vérène was certain that that was precisely what Arianna was doing. It also showed her how close the Seelie had become to this household of supernatural creatures. It made her wistful for the same.
“Vérène,” Miss Suzette’s call startled her from her thoughts. “Are you just staring into space like a zombie on a moonless night or are you going to drink your medicine?”
Vérène finished her drink and placed the empty mug on the kitchen table. Rose, Miss Suzette, and Arianna were discussing Anais’ surprise pregnancy as effusively as human women did. Yes, thought Vérène, there was steel there but there was also love. She felt her insides warm a bit more by the attention that Miss Suzette gave her, even though she had no idea who Vérène truly was or how undeserving she was of that love. But, she shook her head at herself in self-derision; she’d take the sliver of mothering she got now. Later, she’d distance herself. Besides, she repeated to herself, she was scowling so hard, there was no way they’d pick up on how she was feeling. Then she caught the wink that Rose sent her way. Well, damn! These Coffin Girls pick up on too fucking much.
Vérène’s scowl deepened as Rose brought her a cup of milky coffee. “It’s okay,” Rose, whispered in her ear, “I won’t tell anyone.”
xxx
“And the girls are being seen to? Do you need any help?” Sylvain nodded, listening to Anais on the other side of the phone. They were, once again, using the human form of communication - a mobile phone, although it had been spelled to ensure that the line could not be breached. His earlier conversation with his warriors had confirmed that the girls were being teleported to the Enchanted Island, Conall’s home.
“We have more than enough help for now, cher,” Anais replied. “Thanks for allowing your healer to escort the girls.”
“My pleasure,” he replied. “I would have gladly kept them at the hollow for as long as you wanted.”
“We know,” Anais acknowledged. “But, it’s best that they be with witches. This bunch has been through hell and they have turned into little demons. We have our work cut out for us. A place that has an affinity for their magick will heal them best.”
“Yes,” agreed Sylvain. “The Enchanted Island is swarming in witch magick. If there’s…”
“I’ll let you know,” Anais interjected. She was quiet suddenly. Sylvain knew her well enough to leave her to sort through her thoughts. “Sylvain?’
“Yes?” he replied.
“Thank you for saving my sister,” she said softly. Sylvain could hear the tears in her voice. “I don’t know what I would have done if anything had happened to you or her.”
“It’s not me you have to thank,” Sylvain replied, embarrassed by her gratitude.
“I know Vérène gave you both blood,” Anais responded. “But, I know you tried to save her first and how you refused Vérène’s blood until she fed Sophie. That makes you a hero in my eyes, cher. Don’t dismiss the compliment or my gratitude.”
Sylvain didn’t know how to respond to it without offending her. Gone was the monarch and in its place was just another guy who got embarrassed when his female friends became emotional. “My pleasure. You would have done the same. Now, don’t cry, Anais, think of the baby. You can’t get upset. We’re all okay.” Anais growled through the phone. “Why the heck do all the men in my life blame anything they’re uncomfortable with on the baby?”
Sylvain’s brows rose in surprise. He had no idea that pregnant women got that hormonal! The fae didn’t become pregnant often. “Are you and Conall okay?”
Anais’ responding growl was a hint he could take. “Okay, okay,” Sylvain said quickly, before she could begin ranting at him. “I’m a guy, I'm an idiot, and you’re right.”
Anais laughed. He could still hear remnants of tears but her voice was lighter. Good, he thought. Mission accomplished. Although he had a sneaking, suspicion that he hadn’t known that making her feel better was his mission to begin with. Goddess, save a man from the logic of a pregnant woman.
“I’m right about one more thing, cher,” Anais stated.
Sylvain was afraid to ask, so he kept quiet. She’d tell him anyway.
“You love Sophie,” Anais announced, “and she loves you. Now go and say hello to her for me and don’t fuck up what you have together.”
Well, geez! He hadn’t seen that one coming. He was saved from replying by Anais’ trilling laughter before she hung up on him.
He found himself walking towards Sophie’s room despite his better judgment. The words, ‘Sophie’, and ‘room’ evoked images of them hot, naked, and engaged in giving each other a lot of pleasure and left room for no other thoughts. At least that’s what he told himself as he neared his destination. It was easier to think about sex than about how she'd walked away from him and her nearly dying in his lap.
“Oh, good,” Rose said at the other end of the passage. “I’ve got to rush back to the Quarter. Please, will you take these in to Sophie? The others were a bit bloody.”
It must be the blo
od loss. He normally wasn’t this slow. Sylvain looked at the pile of fluffy white towels Rose had placed in his arms before she’d disappeared. Shrugging, he knocked on the door.
“Come in,” Sophie called out.
Sylvain opened the door and stepped inside. Big mistake, he realized. Sophie was in the bath and the door was wide open.
“I’ve brought you towels,” he said, trying not to look at the delicate and sexy leg she lifted up out of the water. The soap suds ran down her leg in the same way he wanted to trail his fingers over them.
“Sylvain,” she said in surprise. Then she turned to look at him and he felt as though an axe had hit him. She was beauty personified. Her hair was piled up in a tempting, careless mess on top of her head, leaving her shoulders and the top of her chest bare. The bath was just big enough to hide her breasts from his view, but he knew what they looked like, he knew of the delights they offered, so it tempted the hell out of him.
Supernatural Seduction (Book 2 of the Coffin Girls Series) Page 20