KING OF THE UNDERWORLD: Lucien and Scarlett (Earthbound Series Book 1)

by V L Peters

  I touched each of their minds embracing them in warmth and love. Letting them each know that I hadn't any hard feelings towards any of them. They were, after all, my family. The feeling of happiness and condiment washed over us all. I felt their fear and panic as I told them about Aria. We all agreed that we would protect ourselves if attacked. We would have no choice.

  ◆◆◆

  SCARLETT

  The next morning

  I still couldn't believe that they were still here and had agreed to sleep the night. How Lucien had convinced them to stay the night baffled me. Especially after what had taken place when he had come back. To find out about the Soul Keeper was one thing, but to hear about this so-called meeting that was taking place was a completely different matter altogether. I let my thoughts drift to what had happened last night.

  I still couldn't believe it.

  ◆◆◆

  We stood there listening to what we were being told, but not believing it.

  The Soul Eater was dead. The words echoed around my head.

  Somehow, someone had managed to blow his head into little pieces from within. My family might not believe he's telling the truth. I knew Lucien wasn't lying when he said he hadn't even put a hand on him nor had any of his men. This was bad. If this person, this being, was so powerful to do something like that, then we were all screwed. How did they manage to get into his head, let alone do what they did? It was mind-boggling, to be able to do that was frightening. If they could do this to one person, a Soul Eater. Then what could they do to everyone else? We were in deep shit, there wasn't any other word for it.

  I knew it was stupid even as the words left my voice, "what are we going to do?" I direct my question to Lucien. He stands there staring, as if waiting for something, what I had no idea.

  No one answered. My family just stood there looking first at Lucien, then to me. As if one of us would have the answer. I didn't, and I had this deep gut feeling from his non reaction that Lucien didn't either. I knew, don't ask me how, but I just knew he didn't know, I could see it in his eyes. I could tell they all thought he'd know what to do. His face held no expression at all. It was his eyes that would give him away at that moment if you knew him as well as me.

  ◆◆◆

  "You're not going to do a thing." I tell Scarlett looking her in the eye before turning my attention to her family, "None of you are. I've got some contacts that owe me ……… and there are a few people I can ask for help if and when the time arises,"

  I hear the huffs from Scarlett’s sisters and cousins. I can tell they aren't convinced with my reasoning. They don't trust me no matter what I have told them or promised. It's going to take time for them to build that trust.

  "You’re forgetting one thing Lucien. We're not just normal Humans or Witches," Melissa announcers as she walks back into the room and sitting down on one the chairs, Luke standing behind her. I hadn’t minded that she had gone into the garden, that’s what it was there for. Ignoring the murmurs, she hears from the rest of her family. Indicating towards me with her hand she tells them, "Come on guys, he’s not stupid. If he doesn't know it, he suspects it. He knows what we are, and he believes he has an idea that we're more powerful than we're letting on.’’

  ‘’Am I right?" Melissa bluntly asks me.

  ‘’’You got balls I'll give you that," I reply looking her up and down, taking in her tattoos; no one spoke to me in that manner and got away with it. I'd let it go for now, "I wasn't completely sure, but yes I suspected that you're more than just normal Witches,"

  "Why didn't you say something before?" I hear Scarlett demand, obviously pissed off that I had kept something so important away from her.

  I turned my black eyes towards Scarlett. I shrug not giving a fuck, "There wasn't a reason to." I tell Scarlett, ‘’Now there is,’’ I knew she was still holding back and after she had confessed about the confrontation with Aria I’d known that Scarlett as well as her family were more powerful than they looked or showed.

  ◆◆◆

  It shouldn’t matter; I hadn't told Lucien the full truth about myself, Pamela, Emma, Ava, Mia Abigail Melissa or Evelyn, but for some reason it still irked me. Of course, I should have copped on that he would have realised we were more than just any normal human after finding out that I held my own against Aria.

  Bloody Demon, I thought, pushing my thoughts out to him and linking our minds.

  ‘Lucien, don't hide things from me.’

  I saw the raised eyebrow as he stood there staring at me, and I knew that he'd heard my thoughts. I felt the brush of comfort on the edge of my mind, a lover's caress. I knew it was Lucien’s way of saying sorry. I accepted it, though I still wasn't happy. Part of me couldn't help but feel guilty; I hadn't yet told Lucien that we were all Omega or that there was a Phoenix amongst us. There was a handful of Phoenix living in our community; they were rare, and most thought that they were a myth. Evelyn was part Phoenix. Her multi-coloured hair kind of gave her away. Her hair had different shades of red, blonde, and brown woven through it. Most people thought she dyed it, but it was completely natural. Her powers, well, they were slightly different from ours. She was as we all were, Human, Omega, and Witch. As she was part Phoenix, she could regenerate quickly, and as long as any wounds received weren't fatal, she would be back on her feet within a few minutes. The more brutal the injury, the more energy she had to heal herself, and the longer it would take. A Phoenix with pure blood running through their veins was entirely different, and only a handful existed.

  The reason I hadn’t told Lucien the complete truth about us or that we had a small group of Phoenix living not far? I was scared. Scared Lucien would think and feel differently about me. I didn't know if he knew about the Phoenix, and at the moment, I wasn't going to ask, and I wasn't a hundred present sure how he'd react to hearing any of that information. I knew sooner than later that I'd have to tell him and trust him with our secrets. I knew Lucien knew that I was holding something back, but he wasn't sure what it was.

  Then there was Aria; she was still on the scene, and though I still hadn't run into her again, nor as far as I knew had any of my family. It was only a matter of time. Though Lucien restored me that he had no feelings for her, I wasn't so sure. I knew she had some sort of hold over him. I couldn't understand why Lucien didn't tell her to keep away that he didn't want her in his life, and I knew he hadn't done so, and if he hadn't or wasn't willing. Then I couldn't trust him, no matter how much I wanted to.

  I could always tell when she was here. No one had to say a word to me. I could tell, the feelings I picked up through Lucien changed. I wasn't sure if he knew that I could pick up on those feelings. It was hard to do, but if I put my all into it, I knew what he was feeling. I had soon realised that on the days Aria was here, I didn't see Lucien until she had left again.

  Truth be told, I was getting fed up with it either; he wanted to be with me or didn't. When he wasn't with me I wondered if he was having sex with her or anyone else in those days that she was here. I intended to find out sooner than later, but I'd have the time it right. I always had someone by my side, so getting away was going to be harder than I hoped, but I'd do it somehow when an opportunity arose, I was going to take it. If I found out he was. It would cut me to the quick, but I wouldn't put up with it. I was many things; a pushover wasn't one of them.

  ◆◆◆

  "My men are going to start paroling the streets more frequently and in larger groups," Lucien announces.

  "Well as you seem to know what we are, there's no reason we can't help," this came from Evelyn, a murmur of agreement came from my family "we can patrol the streets along with your men,"

  "How are you going to protect yourselves?’’ this came from Damien with disgust and disbelief written in his voice. ‘’I know Lucien seems to think you’re more powerful than you’re letting on and might think of yourselves as being these vigorous witches, but we haven't really seen the evidence. Then there’s the little fact
that you're still human."

  "Oh, we might be everything that you said, but we're far from helpless" come the voice from the back of the women. A small discharge of lightening came from Mia's fingertips and shoot across the room towards where Damien was standing.

  We all watch in fascinated horror as it fly’s towards his head with a humming sound before it whizzed by one of his ears and hitting the wall behind with a loud almighty bang, leaving a charcoal colour on the wall.

  "You fucking bitch, you could have scalped me," yells Damien eyes wild, putting his hand upto his ear making sure it hadn’t been hit with lips curled in aggression.

  "Please …… if I wanted to do that, you wouldn't be standing there," Mia gives out a wicked laugh as she lets another discharge of lightning leave her fingertip watching as it lightly touches the tip of Damien’s other ear.

  "Mia!" I shout out, running my hands throw my red hair in frustration. Bloody hell is she for fucking real.

  All hell breaks loose.

  Lucien and Damien came charging towards her a look of determination written on their faces. The rest of Lucien’s men start to try to surround us. If either of them got their hands-on Mia, I had no doubt they would hurt her. I knew she'd only been trying to show them that we weren't the helpless little humans they seemed to think we were. Mia wasn't a violent person none of us where. Before they could reach to where we were standing, a clear shield rose and encased us. I did not need to look at any of my family to find out who had placed constructed it. I knew that it had been Abigail. She would do anything to protect us but being Mia’s twin, she would put her own life in danger to protect Mia. Abigail wouldn't lower the shield until she was sure we weren't in any sort of danger. Any of us could step through, but no one other could step inside. We were protected until it was lowered.

  "Scarlett, lower the shield!" Lucien demanded, intense black eyes meeting mine as he placed one of his large hands on the shield and watching as it bounced back as he took his hand away. He put his hands on his hips, shaking his head while eyeing the shimmering shield as if trying to work out a way to get inside.

  Shaking my head, I tell him, "I haven't that power," I had not put it up, so I couldn't release it.

  "Then who the fuck does?" Damien said, stepping closer to the shield, placing his hand on the clear bubble he pushed it inwards. Watching as it pounced back as he took his hand away. He then proceeded to walk around it, until he stood in the same spot he had started in.

  ◆◆◆

  "I do," Abigail replied, stepping forward. Mia was my twin. I wouldn't let Damien nor anyone else touch my sister. She was the other half of me. I'd protect her with my very life.

  "Lower. The. Fucking. Force. Field," Damien bit out through clenched teeth. If looks could kill, I was sure we'd all be dead.

  "I’m not going to lower it. Not until I have been reassured that no one will try to hurt Mia or the rest of us," I reply, trying to force down the surge of panic, I could feel building up inside me. This could go terribly wrong for everyone very quickly. Any trust we were trying to build would go out the window if someone didn't take matters in hand. We all had to learn to trust the other. I watched as the rest of Lucien's men gathered around us, just standing on the other side of the shield.

  ◆◆◆

  I reached out to Lucien touching my mind to his, I needed to convince him she meant no harm. 'Lucien, please I promise Mia didn't mean anything she was only trying to show that we're not helpless.'

  'Then she should have done it another way. Just fucking shooting out lightning bolts without any warning wasn't the best way to show us her powers,' Lucien came back, through our link 'why the fuck did she direct it to his fucking head.'

  'She wanted to get her point across,' I tell Lucien though our link.

  'Her point! … I think she's done more than that!!' Lucien replies.

  "Lower the fucking force field," I hear Damien shout out, as he hits it with his fist, I've never seen him so angry. He's always been cool, calm, and collected.

  "Screw you," comes from Abigail's mouth, ‘’I’m not lowing it until I have a guarantee that nothing will happen to her,’’

  "Oh, I intend to screw you witch and by the time I'm done with you you'll be beginning me for more," Damien fires back a look of lust on his face.

  "In, your dreams, Demon," Abigail shot, back a look of appreciation in her eyes, as she runs her eyes up and down his body.

  "Oh, it won't be only in my dreams," Damien growled, running his gaze down the length of Abigail's body.

  Abigail walks closer towards the shield, until she’s nearly touching it provoking Damien as she steps closer, "look all you want Demon because that's as close as you're ever going to get to touching me,"

  "Don't delude yourself, Witch. You'll be beginning me to fuck you before I even put a finger on you," Damien tells Abigail, licking his bottom lip.

  Really, they were going there? I can't believe this. Are they for real?

  ◆◆◆

  ''Neither of you or Mia are helping matters. Abigail, you need to release this shield," Pamela says sternly, before turning her attention to Lucien and Damien. "Mia’s stupid for doing what she did but she didn't mean anything by it. She's young. They both are and they are still in training." She puts her hand up, telling Mia without words to shut the fuck up when she hears the cries of protest that start to fill from her mouth.

  "Get her to lower the force field," Lucien orders Pamela. Ignoring the sexual tension that seems to be going on between Abigail and Damien.

  "I'm not lowering anything until I know you're not going to harm any of us," Abagail replies shaking her head. ‘’ both of you promise that you're not going to do anything or get anyone else to do so," she tells Lucien and Damien, pointing her finger at each man standing around them.

  "Fuck! Fine, I promise that no one will touch any of you," Lucien tells her shouting out the order to his men.

  Through our link, I know he does not include me in this promise; he would mane or kill anyone who even tried to hurt me in any shape or form.

  "What about him? Is he giving the same promise?" Abigail asks with a raised eyebrow, nodding her head, indicating that she's talking about Damien while meeting Damien's gaze head-on.

  ◆◆◆

  I could tell Abagail was daring him; I could see the look in her eyes that she wanted to torment him, what the fuck! I didn't like this at all. Whatever was going on between them would not end well. Abigail was a sweetheart and the quiet one of the twins.

  I knew that Damien had a dislike for humans. He and Lucien were from the same brush. Damien was just as cold as Lucien, and though Lucien treated me differently than he had in the past. A flash of that coldness was always there. He often showed it to the others and yes towards me when we are in the presence of anyone else. I could see the wheels going around that head of his.

  I stand there touching Lucien's mind whispering my thanks, sending through our mated bond just how grateful I am. Telling him how sorry I am that this has happened. I know from just that touch that he's fighting his urge to hurt Mia. His Demon isn't happy about what's going on but has decided to take a step back.

  Tensions are high on both sides; it had gotten quickly out of hand. Mia was stupid to do what she had. No matter how good her intentions had been. I know they still don't trust Lucien. They think he's got his own engender, and yes, part of me still isn't sure about him no matter what my feelings towards him. Standing here looking at him and being able to touch his mind I knew; he has no intention of hurting me or any of my family.

  "Let the shield down Abigail," I softly tell her laying my hand on her forearm, as I let my mind reach out for hers briefly sharing Lucien's thoughts "you know he means us no harm,"

  She turns towards me touching her mind to mine. I see the frown upon her brow, trying to see if Lucien was tricking me. Her eyes widened in shock; I saw the moment she realised that he would protect me with his own life if need be. That the bond we ha
d between us was for life. That for me, he even protects those I loved and cared for.

  'He might not,' came back across our link, 'but what about the Demon standing beside him and the others?'

  'Lucien won’t allow Damien to touch her," I promise her over our link.

  I heard the chanting as the words flowed through my mind and felt the power start to demolish around us. The shield vanished as if it had never been there. The minute the protection shield dropped; Damien walked towards Mia contempt in his eyes. The movement causing Abigail to step in front of her twin.

  ~~~

  I Put up one of my hands and place it on Damien’s hard chest. "Don't,” I whisper, causing Damien to stop dead in his tracks. I feel my eyes widen with shock, as we both felt the energizing blast flash out of my fingertips into Damien's chest. It felt like a thunderbolt, shooting deep into his black soul, before slamming back into my fingers, down my arm until it impacted my body. My Witch and Omega paused as if in shock. They felt the link forming, linking, and becoming as one being. My eyes met his darker blue ones. The excitement and recognition in his disappear like a blink of an eye. That simple, innocent touch has changed us both. How I'm not sure, but we are both going to find out.

  "Do you really think you could protect her from me?" Damien inquired as he stepped closer, his eyes dark and intense. His white shirt was open, exposing his well-muscled chest and the black swirl of tattoos that he was covered in. The sight of his naked flesh made my mouth water.

  "Maybe,' I whispered back. This wasn't happening. I couldn't allow it. "But that’s the last thing I want to happen. Damien, we need each other. Mia didn't mean anything by it. She just wanted to show that we're not helpless no matter what anyone thinks.’’