by Unknown
Instead of turning him on, it made him want to vomit.
“I might break your mind, and then take you to my bed when I am done killing her.”
Brogan jerked forward, trying to get to Genevieve. When he couldn’t reach her, she just laughed and clapped her hands. Two vampyres entered the space through a stone door, leading from a crypt. “First, I want to keep you here for a while before I start torturing you,” she said, giving him a little clue as to what was coming.
He stared at her.
“Oh, don’t be pissy, Detective,” she said, moving toward him.
“I’m not helping you get her,” he stated.
She laughed, and then suddenly stopped in front of him to prove her point. “Really?” Staring into his eyes, she knew how wrong he was. “Kiss me,” she purred, moving closer to him.
Flynn fought it with everything in him.
As she moved toward his mouth, it was as if his body and brain weren’t working together. He screamed into the silence of his head, even as her hands wandered his chest.
His eyes filled with tears as he did what she wanted. He could only pray Jolie would forgive him.
When her mouth unsealed from his, her fangs peeked from behind her lips. “Now, I see why she keeps you in her bed, Detective. I will definitely keep you for later. When I use your body for pleasure, I’ll have my ultimate revenge.”
The tears rolled down his cheeks at what he’d been too weak to stop. All these months, Jolie had warned him that he was no match for a vampyre’s skills.
“Please carry him inside,” she directed her guardians.
When they unlooped his arms, he fought, only to be subdued. While Flynn was off the statue, this was his chance to escape.
The guardians carried him after Genevieve.
“Now, where should I keep you? Oh, I know,” she said, sliding the top off a large stone box.
Flynn began to panic. Genevieve’s plans flashed into his mind, and Brogan began fighting the two vampyres even more as they hefted him towards the box.
Oh, God!
They were about to put him into the crypt.
“Toss him in and seal it up for now, but keep an eye on the oxygen, I don’t want him to die before I can make him scream for me.”
“No!” Brogan yelled, as he fought hard to not be lowered into the box. He closed his eyes as they shoved him into the crypt.
He didn't want to look.
If Flynn did, he was pretty sure it would scare the hell out of him.
As the stone slab slid back into place, he could smell and feel the body beside him in the close quarters.
Taking a deep breath, he turned his head to the left, already knowing what he was going to find.
It was worse than he thought.
The scream ripped from his chest right before panic overtook him.
∞ ∞ ∞
Jolie walked through the house and was impressed at how old and beautifully decorated it was. Gently, she ran her hand over a painting, admiring its composition.
Then, she felt him near.
“Do you like Renoir?” asked the voice, trying to be calm.
“Oui, but I think that I like Van Gogh a bit more. My mate has a preference for the sunflowers,” she answered, as she turned around.
There stood a very young vampyre with incredibly long brown hair and fear in his eyes.
“And you are?”
“I’m Mathew.” He bowed his head. “It is a pleasure to meet you, Mistress.”
“Thank you, Mathew. How long have you lived?”
He grinned mischievously before he answered, “Long enough to know that you or your mate could kick my ass with the minimum amount of effort.”
Jolie laughed before walking toward him. She noticed that he stepped back in fear. Apparently, like Clariel, he was run through the wringer too.
“We’ll make a game of it then, okay?” When she touched his cheek, Mathew flinched even more. Here was her proof. This young vampyre was scarred by abuses.
“Hmm, you’re very young.”
“Yes, I am,” he answered honestly.
“I am guessing one hundred fifty one.” She watched his face go blank. “Am I close?”
“Yes, Mistress.” He bowed his head evidently impressed.
“Come, Mathew, and show us the grounds,” she suggested, placing her arm through his. Again, he flinched at the contact.
Jolie reached for her mate’s mind. “What did she do to them?”
“It had to be something pretty bad. Each one of them is expecting you to hurt them. I think they lacked the basic necessities of care and love.”
“I’m beginning to believe that they only know cruelty.”
“Oui.”
Jolie allowed Mathew to walk her out to the grounds as Jacques played guardian behind her.
They’d inherited at least twenty more family members, thanks to Delina. They were going to need to keep this property if they wanted to house them all. Plus, Jolie was still wary of letting them in her home, especially since so many of them were this skittish.
Outside, there were vampyres sitting in the garden, enjoying the moonlight. When they saw her, immediately they stood and bowed.
Mathew tried to move away, but Jolie stopped him. She didn't like how scared he was. At one point in her life, she’d been exactly like him, and then along came Jacques to save her. The vampyre before her was like a whipped child, and that bothered Jolie. Her mothering instincts began to kick in.
“I don’t know what happened here,” she began, “but I won’t treat you like she did.”
They all looked startled.
“I won’t hurt any of you. I promise to keep you safe and erase the pain she put in your hearts.”
When her eyes filled with tears, Mathew took her wrist and kissed the inside, vowing his allegiance. Already, he could feel the good in her.
She wasn’t like Delina.
Jolie touched his cheek. “Thank you for your trust.”
“I believe you,” he whispered softly.
That was all she could hope for. If she could earn their trust, it would build from there.
Suddenly, there was a wave of uneasiness as Jolie was inundated with a wave of negativity. Immediately, Jacques was at her side, protecting her from anything that would be coming for them.
“There’s a killer here.”
“I can feel him. He is fresh from taking a life,” Jacques added.
The anger filled her. “Someone here has stolen a soul.”
They all looked around as if she was crazy. Surely, no one would be insane enough to do that.
“Are you calling me a liar?” her voice boomed as the wind pushed through the grounds, whipping around them.
“Mistress, could there be a mistake? We don’t allow such things,” asked a female vampyre named Juliet.
“We’re hunting killers and there’s one here. I need all the women to stand over here.” She pointed toward the flowers that were to her left.
Quickly, they obeyed.
As she approached the men, Mathew watched her with scared eyes. She could see him physically shaking at what was to come.
Stopping in front of him, she touched his cheek. “Go stand with the women.”
He didn't hesitate, only immediately obeyed.
Jolie approached the vampyres named Gabriel and Lucian and sent them to the women too. When she came to stop in front the man she didn’t remember meeting before, she could feel negative energy emanating from him.
“What’s your name?” she asked calmly.
“Raven.”
“Why, Raven, have you committed this atrocity and risked bringing the council’s retaliation on our family?” she asked, as everyone gasped behind her.
“I don’t know what you are talking about, Mistress,” he added condescendingly.
Jolie took a step closer and let the energy flow around her body in heated torrents. “You stand there and lie to me as I feel the soul, which d
oesn’t belong to you, inside your body?”
He moved so fast that no one could stop the events which unfolded in front of them. Raven reached for Jolie and pulled her body against his, placing a silver knife against her heart. He looked at Jacques, hissing out a warning, “I’ll kill her if you come near me.”
Jacques took in the situation, and while he was furious that another vampyre was touching his mate, he knew Jolie had this one under control. For now, she needed to reassure the family that she was strong. “You should be more alarmed at having her near you than me, Raven.” His eyes met Jolie’s in silent understanding. “You’ve just sealed your own fate.”
Everyone looked dumbstruck.
Mathew was the first to speak out. “Why, Raven? You know it’s against the rules. What have you been doing?”
“I have another master, and we feed from souls of humans as it once was and will be again.”
“Oui, much like the sick vampyres of the Dubois society had once done,” she said. It must have surprised him because he tensed. “I will find your master, Raven, but for now I need to clean up my own house. First, I’ll be starting with you.”
He didn't buy it. “You’re not as strong as you look,” he hissed, sinking his fangs into her shoulder.
The entire family dropped to their knees. One of their own had just drank from the mistress. They were all destined to be slaughtered for his infraction.
When Raven pulled away, he was smiling. “You’re delicious. Now, I can control your mind.”
Jacques began laughing. If he didn't, there was a good chance he’d lose his control. “Yeah, good luck with that. I drink from my mate all the time and can’t control her.” He hoped that Jolie’s growing power would be enough.
The distraction worked.
Jolie sent her laughter out to wrap around all who were there. Following it, the energy crackled around her body in silent warning. It gave her great pleasure to see Raven’s hand twitching, right before he dropped the knife.
“What’s this?” He looked scared and confused as she stepped away from his body with ease.
“I don’t allow anyone to drink from me, Raven. You’ve offended me and my mates, so you must now die,” Jolie whispered. Before she could lift her hand, he was screaming in pain.
There was a gasp from the other vampyres as the man’s skin began to blister and catch fire. The stench of burning hair and flesh grotesquely filled the air.
But she had mercy.
The knife that he tried to use on her floated in the air, and then found its home, buried in his chest.
As it slammed home, everyone jumped at the sound of flesh being torn.
“Don’t fear me,” she said, trying to reassure them that this wasn’t the norm. All Jolie could hope was it didn't put more fear in their hearts.
“No, Mistress, he had to die. Raven did things that could have harmed all of us,” Mathew said sincerely.
“I’m so sorry you had to witness this, but humans aren’t food or to be killed for their souls. I can’t make myself clearer on this.” It made her sick to think of someone feeding off her Flynn just because he was human.
Her heart skipped in her chest.
“Mistress, he tried to kill you. It was necessary,” interjected the vampyre named Trina.
“Oui.” She turned to her mate and took his hand. When Jacques leaned in to kiss her on the lips, he reached for her mind.
“What do you think we should do?” he asked, knowing it had to be her choice.
“I trust them.”
“Oui, me too.”
Jolie turned back to the members standing in front of her. “You’re all welcome to come to our other home whenever you wish. You’ll be invited in without question, and if you want to reside with us, you may do so. If not, I’ll keep this house running too, and you may remain here. We’ll leave it up to you.”
They looked astounded at her declaration.
“We can come into your home?” asked Mathew. “Like inside it, and not just in the yard?”
She would have laughed had he not been dead serious. “Yes, it’s your home now too.”
Suddenly, Jacques went still beside her, as if he were getting a message from home.
“My love, what’s wrong?” she asked.
“Jolie, Chloe just reached for me. She can’t find Flynn anywhere. In the kitchen, she found half eaten food, and none of our vehicles are gone.”
Her heart sank. Jolie wanted to be sick as so many fears rushed through her.
“Oh my God, Jacques!” Without hesitation, she reached for her other mate’s mind. When he didn't reply, and she was met with only silence, Jolie knew the culprit.
“I will kill that bitch if she touches him!” she declared.
The entire family stepped back.
Jacques would help her if Flynn was hurt or worse, dead.
“We need to leave. I’m sorry,” she said, racing toward the Jag, parked in the front of the house.
“We’ll find him,” promised Jacques, as they jumped in and backed the vehicle from the driveway.
“I’ll end her life, Jacques! If she hurts him, I won’t be stoppable!”
Jacques didn't doubt it.
“Our Flynn wouldn’t have willingly left the house and the family unprotected. Something lured him away.”
“We’ll help him,” he offered, even as the same rage bubbled up inside him.
Someone was destined to die tonight.
It was now written in their own blood.
The drive to the house was painful. Jolie kept reaching for Flynn, but repeatedly hit the same wall. It was to the point it was making her want to destroy everything around her.
As she walked into the house, Chloe was waiting just inside the front door. “Mistress, I can’t find him anywhere. I checked your room and the entire house. I have the whole family searching right now, but no one can find him.”
Jolie wanted to weep.
Had she stayed at home, the other half of her heart would be safe.
This was her fault.
“Be calm, Chloe. We’ll find him,” reassured Jacques.
“I hope it won’t be too late,” the donor replied, knowing that she had let her mistress down.
In truth, they had all let Flynn down.
Now, he might have to pay with his life.
∞ Chapter Twenty-One ∞
Brogan screamed himself hoarse, hoping someone would hear him and set him free. His throat was raw, and he was shaking from fear. Being trapped in that stone coffin was making him insane. The only thing he could see or smell was the dead decaying body that was there with him.
This was his worst nightmare.
He was buried alive.
There was no doubt that Genevieve had found this in his mind. The bitch was sadistic.
All around him, things crawled and moved, making him all the more petrified. Now, to make it all worse, the air was getting thinner, and he was getting dizzy.
If he didn't get out soon, he was going to die. It was sad, since if they pulled him out, he was going to be tortured.
It was a lose-lose situation.
He made his decision. Once they dragged him out of there, he had a chance to escape. All he needed was that one moment to break away. Then, he’d get home to them.
All he wanted was to find his way back to Jolie.
As if timed perfectly, just as the air was running out, two large guardians had the crypt open and were dragging him out to the macabre courtyard.
“How was your time in the coffin?” asked Genevieve, laughing sadistically.
He braced himself, plotting his escape. Flynn just needed that one little opening.
“Hang him up, boys. It’s time to torture him and make him beg for his worthless life.”
Brogan struggled and fought with everything he had. If he was going out, it was going to be a hard fight. When they hooked his arms over the top of the serenely smiling angel, he found that ironic.
He
was going to die in a cemetery while a cherub looked on. Yeah, he never saw this coming.
As Genevieve moved closer, he fought hard. There was no way she was going to make him kiss her or touch her again. He’d rot in hell first.
As her hand slid up his bare torso lecherously, Flynn jerked away from her hand.
“What’s wrong, Detective? Don’t you want me to touch you?”
Brogan let nothing escape, but his face must have said it all.
“Am I not beautiful anymore, Detective?” she asked, leaning in to lick his ear suggestively. “You once told me I was.”
He pulled up his legs and kicked her away from him. It gave him great satisfaction to watch her body slam into the ground.
“You’ll pay for that,” she hissed, dropping the barrier between Brogan and Jolie just in time for her nails to rip into his body.
He had no doubt that he would.
As the pain tore through him, he called for the only one who could save him. Even though he knew it was a trap.
Heaven help him, but he needed them.
His body bowed as the torture began.
It was the beginning of the end.
∞ ∞ ∞
Monday Evening
They had all gathered at her command. Each in the family knew that hell was about to open around them. Someone had taken the mistress’s human, and there was blood in the air.
Theirs.
As they tore through the house, calling to Flynn, hope began to wane. He was nowhere in sight, and that made everyone in her care nervous.
Standing in the center of the great room with her family surrounding her, Jolie listened to their reports. Now, panic was full blown, and she wanted to weep.
“We must find him and bring him home,” she said, staring into all their faces. “I’ll offer the person who locates him a small fortune.”
There were murmurs.
Jolie was just about to have Jacques bring in cash, when the invisible wall between her and Flynn came crashing down. The pain filled her to the point that the room wavered from the intensity. Blood filled her mouth as she heard his screams of pain. The agony was too much to handle, and it took her to her knees.