by S S Bazinet
She’ll never survive.
The thought hit William at his core. No matter what his mind told him, if he didn’t reach out now, he wouldn’t have another chance. The one woman he’d opened his heart to would be that child who rushed into a busy street without looking. This time he was struck in the chest. The vessel within, the heart that pumped blood and nourished his body, nearly stopped working. Whether William admitted it or not, he’d given himself to Annabel the moment he stabbed himself instead of taking her life. After that, he’d played his cards so close to his vest that he’d hidden the truth from himself. Until now.
How much worse can it get than stabbing myself for her?
He started to run too. At first, he didn’t think he’d get very far in his condition, but the more he thought about losing Annabel the more his body responded. It came alive in a powerful way that would have astounded him if he wasn’t concentrating on catching up with Annabel.
Dammit, she’s quite the sprinter.
She was nearing a busy intersection, and she wasn’t slowing up. What if he didn’t have time to close the distance between them? She was almost at the crosswalk. Why wasn’t she stopping? She literally was a child walking into a lane of fast cars. “Annabel, no!” He shouted out the words as he watched her starting to step off a curb. She paid no attention to the oncoming traffic that was speeding across the lane. She was clearly in a state of shock. If she didn’t come out of it, she was going to kill herself. “Annabel, please wait! I love you!” He also called out to Raphael. Help me! Help Annabel, please!
Annabel must have heard him because she looked back. Her foot was in a forward position, but she paused for just a second. It was long enough for a tall passerby to grab her arm and pull her back to safety.
“Raphael! You do have your moments,” William whispered to himself. He was still running and his lungs were heaving. But he didn’t let up. He wouldn’t slow his pace until he got to the woman he loved. When she was within his grasp, he skidded to a stop. “I almost lost you,” he gasped as he pulled her into his arms.
“What happened?” she asked in a trembling voice.
William could feel his own body shaking too, not because he was out of breath, but because he’d never been so relieved. He began to kiss Annabel’s face. He anointed her lips, her cheeks, and her forehead with tender demonstrations of affection. His heart was free in that moment, free to expand and cherish the wonderful gift that he held in his arms. “Promise that you’ll never run away from me again.”
“I promise,” she said. After a long pause, she asked a question. “Is it alright if I love you, William?”
Annabel’s voice was returning to normal. When she looked up at him, her eyes were filling up with tears, but her smile told him that they were happy tears.
“Yes it is perfectly alright, my beautiful angel.”
“But I’m not an angel anymore,” she said, lowering her head.
William tipped up her chin and let her see what he’d hidden from everyone he’d ever known. The one exception was a young and struggling Arel, but no other person on earth had been privy to William’s complete devotion and dedication. It was something he reserved for those whom he held sacred. “You’ll always be my angel, Annabel. Nothing will ever change that.”
Sixty-Two
RAPHAEL TOOK A seat on the downstairs sofa and looked across at William. The man was still recuperating from his exploits in helping Arel and Annabel. However, he definitely appeared to be in much better health as he sat in his recliner. He was holding Arel’s mouse, Whiskers. Raphael gave William a look of concern. “The little fellow doesn’t appear to be very happy, does he?”
Whiskers was curled up in a ball in William’s hand. His body shivered a little as he dozed. William ran a finger over the small rodent’s head and let out a sigh. “It’s Arel’s fault. His energy is so low that he’s affecting this poor creature.”
“Really? Why do you say that?”
“Oh come now, Raphael, you know that I’m right.”
Raphael smiled. “Yes, but I wondered how you came to that conclusion.”
“I’d have to be dead not to feel Arel’s low vibes. They’ve settled over this place like a shroud. And Whiskers is very connected to his owner, so it’s doubly hard on him. Of course, I suppose I have to take some responsibility too. I’m the one who asked Arel to interact with the mouse. I should have known better than subject a living creature to someone like Arel.”
Raphael’s smile broadened. “On the other hand, Arel was very helpful when you were in pain.”
William glanced up. “Yes, he was. I have no trouble admitting that he can surprise me in a good way. I simply wish he’d get his act together once and for all.”
“You know him very well. Why do you think he holds on to so much negativity?”
“Arel explained it himself. He’s afraid of making more mistakes. And let’s face it, he has made some very bad choices.”
“But in spite of everything, you didn’t want him to cross over.”
William let out a huff of disgust. “Don’t remind me.”
“Do you regret what you did?”
“Absolutely not. After all that I’ve been through with him, Arel is going to stick around until we finish what we started.”
“So you haven’t given up on him?”
William closed his eyes, letting his thoughts drift to all the beautiful creatures he’d known as a boy. Visions of fox and deer and even field mice came to mind. Then Arel’s face appeared. It was as innocent as that of a fox cub. “I guess I still believe in him, just like I believe in this little creature that I’m holding.”
As William spoke, Whiskers woke up and looked at him. His beady, black eyes were steady for a long moment as he connected with William’s bright gaze. William sat back, concentrating. Slowly, he let his energy expand and caress the little mouse, surrounding the animal in a cocoon of wellbeing. Whiskers responded almost at once. He stopped shivering and shook himself. In the next moment, he began to explore William’s hand, sniffing around for a treat.
Raphael stood up, walked over to the food canisters and retrieved a large pumpkin seed. “Is this what he’s looking for?” he asked as he handed the seed to the little mouse.
William smiled as Whiskers sat back and began to savor his treat. “Don’t worry, Whiskers. No matter what your owner is up to, he’s not alone anymore. I’m learning to use what he gave me, and someday, we’re going to get to the other side of things. And when we do, Arel is going to find a way to be happy, once and for all.”
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The story continues in book four, Brother’s Blood!
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Thank you for taking the time to read the third book, William’s Blood, in THE VAMPIRE RECLAMATION PROJECT series. If you enjoyed it, please consider telling your friends or posting a short review. Word of mouth is an author's best friend and much appreciated. Thank you. – S. S.Bazinet.
THE VAMPIRE RECLAMATION PROJECT
Book Four: Brother’s Blood
In the fourth book of the series, Arel faces his worst crisis. After some near-fatal blunders, he fears that his incredible powers exceed his ability to handle them responsibly. Trying to avoid any further damaging situations, he contemplates using death as an escape route.
His death wish is quickly overruled when one mistake comes back to haunt him. He's passed on Michael's angelic blood to a vampire named Rolphe. At the time, he believed the blood would destroy Rolphe's vampire powers. Instead, Arel realizes that he's unleashed a much more lethal monster on the world, one who has no intentions of letting go of his vile nature.
As Rolphe's blood lust escalates, he's determined to kill William, Arel's closest ally and a person Arel considers his brother. The threat leaves Arel with only one choice. He has to wage an all-out war on the depraved vampire.
As the story unfolds, Arel questions not only his own flawed nature, but humanity's place in creation. In a strange twist of fate, he feels compelled to
engage in an epic battle in an alternate world, one that pits good against evil.
Brother’s Blood is available now on Amazon.
Book One: Michael’s Blood
Book Two: Arel’s Blood
Book Three: William’s Blood
Book Four: Brother’s Blood
Book Five: Tainted Blood
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A FAST-PACED
WEREWOLF THRILLER
BY S. S. BAZINET
* * *
IN THE CARE OF WOLVES
Book One: My Brother’s Keeper
In this fast paced thriller, family ties and loyalty are put to the test, especially for sixteen-year-old Theodore. The WKA, a powerful organization, abducted him as a baby. He grew up bearing the scars of the horrifying experience. When his real family finally locates him, they aren't what he expected. Finding out that he’s a werewolf, a gifted and extraordinary being, seems impossible. He doesn't have time to ponder his new identity. The pack is being hunted to extinction. Theodore must flee with his new family before the WKA and other opposing factions deliver a final, lethal blow. However, none of them are prepared for the possibility of the WKA’s most deadly weapon, Theodore himself.
Available now on Amazon.
S. S. Bazinet’s website: SSBazinet.com