“Thank you.”
“I can drive him home,” Ava says.
“He asked Belladonna to,” Cage says
“Cooper can you follow me to Criss’ house?”
“Yeah, that’s not a problem.”
Cooper and Cage get him out to his car. Belladonna gets in the car and drives him home. Criss is all handsy on the drive home. “Criss, you are going to feel like so stupid for this in the morning.”
“For what?”
“Being like this with me.”
“No, I won’t. Trust me.”
Criss’ hand is going up her skirt. “Criss I’m trying to drive.”
“You’re getting wet for me. Let me touch you just once. Just once.”
“Criss god.”
“Pay attention to the road, Bell.”
“How good does that feel?”
“Very good.”
“Cum for me. Please.”
Criss touches her faster.
“God I love when you cum.”
“What?”
“Nothing.”
Criss licks it off his fingers. “That never happened Criss.”
“Understood. I want more. I want so much more.”
“You can’t have more.”
Belladonna gets to his house and helps him inside his house. She set him on his couch. He pulls her down on him and starts kissing her. She pushes herself free. “Criss, I can’t do this. I’m married.”
“I know you are.”
“I have to go. He’s outside waiting for me. Let me get you some water.”
“I got it.”
“Okay. Do you need anything else?”
“Can I have a hug?”
Belladonna hugs him and he starts crying. “It’s okay Criss. Calm down. It’s okay.”
“It’s never going to be okay. Never.”
“This was a mistake Criss. I’m sorry.”
Belladonna goes to leave but Criss is there quicker than she expected. “It wasn’t a mistake. It really wasn’t. I’m sorry. It’s my bad. Tomorrow everything will be fine. I swear.”
‘“Okay. Goodnight.”
“Can I have one kiss.”
“You already kissed me.”
“One more kiss.”
“One.”
Criss kisses Belladonna passionately. There is something familiar about it, but Belladonna can’t figure out what it is. She ends the kiss and Criss looks at her. “Have a good night.”
“You too.”
She wakes up in the middle of the night to Criss in her bedroom. “I didn’t introduce myself properly. I’m Criss. I’m different from most teachers. I’m fae and I’m a witch. I’m also a vampire but you can’t tell. I was turned twenty-six years ago. I come from the Villarreal bloodline. You don’t have to worry about me biting you or anything like that. Being fae I don’t crave it. I was turned when I was twenty-six right before I was twenty-seven.”
“You were worried about Cooper?”
“He isn’t fae.”
“Is there anything else you want?”
“There is something I’d like to show you.”
Criss is holding out his hand. A portal opens. Belladonna takes his hand as they walk through the portal.
There is a pond with a wooden bridge over it. The grass is lush with vines over it.
The pond is littered with flowers. There is a tire swing over by a tree away from the pond. There is a cottage that looks like it’s from a Grimm fairytale. Criss watches her look around. “Do you like it?”
“It’s beautiful.”
“I thought you would think so.”
“It really is.”
“Do you want to check out the cottage?”
“Yes please.”
They walk up towards the cottage. Belladonna opens the door, and she immediately thinks there should be forest creatures running around singing. It has a small living area, a kitchen, a bathroom, and a bedroom. She looks in every room. It has personal touches throughout. It has her favorite books. An afghan on the couch. There are clothes in the bedroom. Her products in the bathroom. She is amazed. “This is just. I don’t know the word.”
“You like it?” Criss is wearing a huge smile.
“I love it. I would hug you but….”
“Bell, I’ll take the hug.”
Belladonna hugs him and instantly feels a deep connection. A very deep connection. She can’t explain it but it’s like something that was buried brought to the surface. Neither of them lets go. She hugs him tighter. Resting her head on his shoulder. She lifts her head to break off the hug when she is right in front of Criss’ face. Criss touches the outline of her lips and then lightly kisses her again putting everything into it. She breaks off the kiss and Criss smiles at her.
“Do you remember meeting me before?”
“You used to be in my dreams when I was thirteen. You were in my dreams a lot. Until I was nineteen, I think. That’s why you look familiar to me.”
“Yes, I remember that.”
“Did you know we’d meet?”
“Yes, I did.”
“You could have clued a girl in.” Belladonna laughs.
“I tried,” Criss touches her face.
“You didn’t try hard enough.”
“I guess not.”
“I need to get back to bed.”
“Yes, you do.”
“Goodnight.”
“If you need me just talk to me. I’ll hear you.”
“Got it.”
He teleports out after that.
“Next week are finals students this is not a drill!” Pete announces to the library.
Several students boo and throw stuff at him. “You’re an ass,” Mercedes says.
“I’m just being honest.”
“I don’t want to think about it,” Belladonna says.”
“I say we all come to my house Saturday and study.”
“I’m for it,” Belladonna says.
“I’m for it,” Mercedes says.
“Okay after practice we’ll do it.”
“Study party!” Belladonna announces.
A small girl comes up to Belladonna with a dozen purple roses. “Are you Belladonna?”
“Yes.”
“Here you go.”
Belladonna takes the rose and reads the card:
Belladonna-
I’ve been thinking of you.
-Criss
She puts the card up in her bag. No one questions the flowers. She puts her head down and smiles. Mercedes catches up to her after they leave the library. “Criss?”
“Yes. Cooper is going to lose his shit.”
“I can take them if you want.”
“No. I don’t want to do that.”
“Just say it was a thank you.”
“Yeah, I can do that.”
“Or you can find out for sure what it was cause he’s right there.”
“Bye Mercedes.”
“Bye.”
Criss is standing under a tree smiling. “Nice flowers.”
“Some guy got them for me.”
“He must like you.”
“I think he does.”
“He would kiss you right now.”
“He can’t do that.”
“He is well aware.”
“They were a thank you.”
“No, they weren’t.”
“That’s what I’m telling Cooper.”
“Oh, then yeah. But that’s not what they were.”
“What are they?”
“I can’t get you outta my head. I wish you were with me. Meet me in the portal.”
“I don’t know how to.”
“You have the knowledge.” He taps her head.
“I have to go to class.”
“I’ll walk you.”
“How did you know I went through here?”
“Lucky guess.”
“Did you get my schedule from the registrar?”
“Possibly.”
> “Nice Criss.”
“I plan ahead.”
“Obviously you do. Okay I need to get into class.”
“Have a good day.”
“You too.”
Cooper, Belladonna, and Destiny are at the tree lot. “I like that one.”
“We need a taller one,” Cooper says.
“How about that one?”
“Much better. I’ll get someone to get it.”
“Hey!”
“Hey Mercedes, what are you doing here?”
“Nicolae and I are getting a Christmas tree.”
“I didn’t realize Nicolae and you were seeing each other.” Belladonna hides her disappointment.
“Just a week or two.”
“Well, I think it’s great.”
“Thank you. He wants to keep it hush hush.”
“Mercedes!” Nicolae freezes when he sees Belladonna
“Hey Nicolae.”
“Hey.”
“Hey you two,” says Cooper.
“Well, we’re getting our tree. You guys have fun. See you tomorrow Mercedes.”
“Yep. Don’t forget Pete’s tomorrow afternoon.”
“Not going to forget.”
Cooper looks at Belladonna and puts his arms around them. “That had to be awkward.”
“That is an understatement.”
“Let me guess he said he wouldn’t go after Mercedes.”
“Yes.”
“He needs a mate.”
“I know. It’s just odd.”
“I know. It’s okay.”
“He looked so ashamed.”
“He probably feels that way.”
“Let’s just get the tree.”
“Okay beloved.”
The cherry blossoms are all over the place. It is a sunset over the horizon. Nicolae is standing there waiting for Belladonna. “I wanted to explain.”
“There is nothing to explain. Now can I go.”
“No, you can’t. Nicolae kissed Belladonna. She won’t put her hands on him. I haven’t kissed her even once. Not once. Call her, ask her. I haven’t kissed her. I can’t do it precious. I want you. I just want you. Please touch me. Please. Hell, I even asked Cooper’s permission to kiss you tonight. Hell ask him. Please touch me.
Belladonna puts her arms around Nicolae. He moans and pulls her tighter. He lays her down on the ground and kisses her. They continue to kiss until Belladonna is tired.
“I need to get some sleep, Nicolae.”
“I will stop things.”
“No just stop things with me.”
“No, I refuse to. I need you. I’ll talk to Cooper. I love you.”
“I love you, Nic.”
“Do you really?”
“Yes, I really do love you.”
Nicolae kisses Belladonna intensely. “I love you so much, precious. Nothing is going to come between us. Not even my own stupidity.”
“We’ll see.”
“I swear.”
Belladonna wakes up in the cottage. She is on the bed. Criss is laying beside her sound asleep. She is trying to retrace her steps of how she ended up here, but she can’t figure it out. “Can’t figure out how you ended up here?”
“No, I can’t Criss.”
“You showed up. I don’t know. You were saying something about Nicolae then you passed out. I have a feeling I don’t want to know who Nicolae is.”
“Probably not.”
Criss falls back down on the bed. Belladonna turns to face him. Criss’ eyes are shut, and his hand is up against his temples. “Did you sleep with him?”
“I can’t and I wouldn’t even if I could.”
“Would you sleep with me?”
“No.”
“I don’t believe you.”
“That’s up to you.”
Criss kisses Belladonna. Belladonna curls up against Criss. “When we have time, I need to talk to you about something.”
“What is it?”
“It’s not important. It’s just something.”
“Are you sure you don’t want to tell me now?”
“We don’t have time now.”
“This will drive me crazy all day.”
“Let me tell you something first. You were eighteen. You were still in school. We met out one night. We started talking. We fell in love. I told you about me. You told me about you. We planned on getting married after you graduated. We did a claim. I asked which kind you wanted. You wanted the one that was the strongest, so we did a vampire claim. It was almost time to get married and my brother shows up and says he can’t allow it. We get into a heated argument. A witch broke the claim. I didn’t go to Harperion to have it protected. That was my mistake. She also wiped out your memory and those in your life. I injured him. I told him I would get him back for this. Before your memory was taken completely, I swore I would find you and make everything okay. I loved you. To not forget about me. To never lose faith. Then you lost your memory.”
Belladonna touches his face. “Aren’t you scared of the witch this time?”
“I'm prepared for anything that is thrown at me.”
“I can’t believe all this. It’s insane.”
“It’s true. I can show you.”
“Show me?”
“The past you have forgotten.”
“Okay.”
“Memento.”
She remembers how cute Criss was when she met him. She thought there was
no way a hottie like that could want her. They talked for weeks. They went out and told each other their secrets. She knew he was a vampire. She would feed him a little every day to sustain him. That was their plan for forever. She would just feed him. The first time they made love it was at his home. There were candles, roses, soft music and everything a girl could want. He was so gentle with her. He made sure it was perfect for her. He swore to make every time special for them. The night of the claim was perfect. She knew she wanted to spend forever with him. They were supposed to get married in a month. One week before their wedding his brother shows up. She begs him repeatedly to not take away her memories. He tells her that one day she’ll thank him. She isn’t sure enough about her powers to attack him. She wants to though badly. She remembers Criss telling her everything to remember right before her memories are taken from her.
She starts crying. Criss is there to hold her. “It’s okay sweetie. It’s okay. I’ve got.
you. I will have you forever.”
“Criss, how did that happen? Oh my god.”
“I don’t know. I just know the claim disappeared. My brother terrorized me and I finally got free. I was ready to come back and well you are claimed.”
“Criss, I had no idea about you.”
“I know you didn’t. I know you didn’t. I have something else to show you but it can wait until tomorrow. You should get back. You need to tell Cooper about this.”
“Yes, I do. I don’t even know where to begin.”
“If you need me just let me know.”
“I will.”
“I love you, Criss.”
“Oh god. I missed hearing that.”
Belladonna kisses him.
“I love you, Bell.”
“I should go.”
“I’ll see you at practice.”
“Oh my god I have to act normal.”
“We can do it.”
“Yeah, I can do it.”
Cooper is awake when Belladonna shows back up. “Nicolae doing, okay?”
“I saw Nicolae for a bit, but I was with Criss. I need to talk to you about some stuff.”
“Is everything okay?”
“Not really.”
“Okay what’s going on beloved?”
“I used to be mated to him when I was eighteen.”
“What happened?”
“A witch cast a spell to undo the mating. It was his brother.”
“He didn’t go to Hyperion?”
“No.”
“Oh my god. I’m so sorry, m
y love.”
“Then they wiped my memories and everyone we knew.”
“That is just criminal.”
“He gave me back my memories.”
“So, you remember everything now?”
“Yes.”
“All your feelings and everything?”
“Yes.”
“You love him again?”
“Yes.”
“More than me?”
“It’s different.”
“I won’t ask how.”
“I wouldn’t be able to explain it.”
“Where does that leave all of us?”
“I don’t know Cooper. We’re still mated. We have our daughter.”
“You were mated to him until someone stole it.”
“Yes.”
“I’d like to talk to him.”
“Okay. I have to go to practice and study.”
“I’ll talk to him while you study.”
“Okay.”
“Can I ask you something?”
“What?”
“Can you not sleep with him.”
“Coop, I couldn’t even if I wanted to.”
“That’s right. Okay.”
“You asked for it. Did you forget?”
“I’m not thinking right now.”
“I love you, Cooper.”
“I love you, Belladonna.”
Everyone from the team meets at the farm. Stephen is standing in front of everyone. “Alright everyone Criss most of you have met. He is another teacher for Belladonna. He is here to observe and help Cage. He should be a good addition to the team. Now with that in mind. Please do not try to date the guy. He is off limits like Cage. Remember that. I see how you’re looking at him Roger.” Everyone laughs.
“It was just going to be dinner.” Roger jokes.
“I also know you all have finals this week coming up so I’ll make this quick so you can leave and study. Remember those of you who will be in town, we are having Christmas here at eleven o’clock if you want to join us.”
Criss got up in front of everyone and Ava looks at Criss like he is a piece of meat. Belladonna thinks MINE! Criss looks confused at Belladonna and then smiles.
He then says I want to say the same back to Sam and Cage.
“Hi everyone. I think everyone has met me. I’m Criss. I’ll be helping Cage in the training of Belladonna. I don’t have time to be worrying or messing with other things. Roger even though I am flattered with your interest in me I just can’t return your feelings.”
Queen: Part One Page 9