Merry Christmas, wonderful old building and credit!Clive leaned over me, worry written on his handsome face. Raising my hand, I touched his cheek, ran my fingers over his perfect forehead, and then pulled him to me, kissing him with all the hope and joy that remained in my broken heart.Drenched and shivering, I pressed my lips to Clive's. My stomach clenched as he scooped me up in his arms and began to climb the rocks, holding me close to him. I was at home! I was given another chance in life. It seemed to me that I should run through Bedford Falls18 with George Bailey19 wishing everyone a Merry Christmas.We passed a couple of his vampires who seemed disgusted that their master was kissing me. The old me would have fought to get him back on my feet and then distanced myself from him as far as possible. Sam, a Hell survivor, wrapped her arms around Clive's neck and kissed him on the cheek.
In Clive's homePulling the covers tight and tucking my hands under my armpits, I tried to hide the trembling that was shaking my body. I just felt cold. That's all.“Possibly, but most likely a sorcerer. Demons don't have the concentration needed to put in that much effort to kill. The sorcerer, however, uses the demon's knowledge and power to enhance his spells. I could be wrong, but I guess we're looking for a black witch who's crossed over into sorcerer territory,” Dave said.“Where, Sam guessed, tortured wolves probably come from. What do we know about Schuyler?" Clive asked.Dave shrugged. "Owen said he was going to ask his mom about her. According to him, he has known Schuyler for some time, and the black streaks in her aura came as a surprise to him."My teeth started chattering. "Dave, can you make Sam some cocoa?" Clive leaned closer, hugging me with one arm."Thank you. I don't know if that means anything, but I think I smelled a vampire, a wolf, and possibly a demon in her
He is super sexyThe same butler as before bowed to the "señor" as Clive passed. Clive headed straight for the stairs, but stopped on the second step. "Did you eat? Hungry?""Uh." I was actually hungry, but I had no idea if the vampires were eating. Clive never ate when he came to the bar. He just drank whiskey and left. They probably didn't have food in the house."Everything is fine."He studied me for a moment. "James, could you bring a late supper to the blue room for Miss Quinn?" He didn't wait for an answer as he continued up the stairs. We went up to the third floor and then turned down a long corridor, the walls of which were covered with brown Italian plaster. Tall windows overlooked the opposite side, rising to a five-meter ceiling."Isn't that a problem?" Clive turned to me."Hm?" I indicated."Window. Sun. Death."He rolled his eyes, a smirk on his lips. He directed me to the penultimate door in
Now I was in bed with CliveThe way he said "side" in an offended British accent made me snort and laugh. He rolled his eyes, which went back to their usual dark gray color. "Let's go," he said, leading me into his living room. "Would you like something to drink?""Do you have chocolate milk?"His face went blank. "No. I guess we don't.""Bummer."Narrowing his eyes, he motioned me to a gray and black striped couch. “Do you really want me to send someone for chocolate milk, or are you kidding me?”“Clive, lack of trust hurts." Confused, he looked charming."That's what I thought. Do you want me to send for tea?"“Can you guarantee that they won’t spit in there?” The vampires wanted to kill me. I was almost certain that adding bodily fluids to my tea was not an unreasonable concern.Clive thought for a moment. "A bottle of water?""That's it. No. I'm fine,” I said, running my hand over the soft damask fabric. He stood awkwardly for a second, noticed that his shirt was open, and began b
You must undress so I can protect you from the inside"I'm stuck in a vision. Someone is using you, my feelings for you, to keep me trusting and busy until a pack of vampires attacks or a guillotine falls.""We don't move in packs and...""The crowd?"He bit my bottom lip. "No. And I can assure you there are no heavy blades in the ceiling or walls."I studied the ceiling. "You are sure?"He looked at me. "Yes." Now I feel like we should move to the couch."Ha!" I hit him on the shoulder. “The suave," dreamy Clive wouldn't say that. He would say: "I will protect you from any danger with my vicious hot body. You're safe and now you must undress so I can protect you from the inside."“I don't think I like your dream Clive." Although, he thought, thinking. “Clive in the dream is right about something. "Let's undress you, Sam, so I can protect you from the inside." He laughed as he kissed my neck.As I reached for the buttons of my top, he caught my hand and kissed it." I was joking. You c
Spent the night with Clive She looked more like an administrator than a killer. "I'm sorry to stop you. I'm Norma, Mr. Fitzwilliam's personal assistant. I was asked to give you this.” She handed me a black velvet box. "It was delivered this morning. The Magister wanted to make sure you had it before you left the protection of his house."With a curt nod, she turned and walked back down the corridor. My nose determined that she was fully human, and that made sense. He needs people to work during the day.Pushing all my thoughts aside, I focused on what she handed me. I opened the box and found the necklace. It was different from my mother's, but, on the other hand, my mother was not a jeweler. The necklace was longer than the pendant, but not by much, which meant it wouldn't get in the way when I reincarnated. I didn't recognize the metal used. He did not fire, so it was not silver, but a lighter and brighter metal. Thin metal threads were woven into something like a narrow cage that
Corey's curse"ABOUT." I came not only from a family of witches but also from a family of black murderous witches? Wow.“So you said your mother was Bridget, right?""Yes."“I think Bridget had a younger sister. I do my best to listen to the whisper of the wind, but I doubt I've ever heard the name. To be honest, I wasn't even sure there was Corey in this generation. They could easily end their race. I can't stress enough how reclusive and secretive they are. But I'll see what I can find out. I have my ways."“I know you can. Thanks, Mom. We really appreciate it. Someone was taunting Sam, trapping her in visions, trying to kill her. We think it's a black witch or a sorcerer, maybe even a demon. Any information you can give us will help keep Sam safe, okay?"There was silence on the line. "Mom?""Oh, dear. Too bad you didn't tell me about this sooner. This could be it, Corey's curse." Was it a curse named after my family? Of course, it was. Owen gave me a startled look. “Um, what are y
In which she learns the fastest way to piss off a witch"I mean, okay." A scarred book nerd in shapeless clothes couldn't be anyone's fantasy.And that would suit me just fine. I was content with a quiet life, books and booze, periodically dreaming of a vampire, but now everything has changed. The safe, predictable life I thought I'd lead was turned upside down. I was terrified, yet I didn't feel much sadness as I watched that old life disappear."I'm sorry, Sam. I need to sort out some business. If you hear that I destroyed the whole nocturne, it probably won't be true." Clive changed gears, steering the car up a steep hill. He checked for traffic in both directions before he passed the intersection and climbed the next hill."Everything is fine." In any case, it will take several hours for my breathing to return to normal." Actually, no. I apologize for stopping by.” He reached out and squeezed mine for a moment. “Some of my kind need to be beaten to a pulp.""What's happening?""To
The both of us ventured to Coco's quaint and welcoming shop, a place filled with the comforting aroma of incense and the soft tinkling of wind chimes. It was a sanctuary of serenity amid the chaos of our enigmatic quest, a place where we could share our deepest concerns and seek solace in each other's presence. Coco greeted us with a warm smile as we entered her shop, sensing the gravity of our visit. We settled into the cozy nook by the window, surrounded by shelves adorned with mystical trinkets and ancient books. With a blend of unease, I began to recount the unsettling visions that had plagued me – the spectral girl, the waterlogged bodies, and the nightmarish river. Coco listened attentively, her eyes filled with empathy and understanding, as if she could feel the weight of my experiences.
Amidst the disorienting maelstrom of her vision, as Sam was inexorably drawn closer to the enigmatic river's depths, she glimpsed a figure emerging from the shadows. It was the same ethereal girl, the one she had encountered before in her unsettling dreams and visions. Her presence was as eerie as ever, a haunting specter in the nightmarish tableau. The girl's features remained elusive, obscured by an otherworldly aura, and her eyes held a depth of knowledge that seemed to transcend time and reality. She watched Sam with an inscrutable expression, her presence both disconcerting and strangely familiar. As Sam's journey down the dark river continued, more macabre elements of her vision began to manifest. The waterlogged bodies that had previously appeared in the waters of her bookstore bar now floated eerily around her, their lifeless forms suspend
Further into workout time at the bookstore bar, I stood behind the counter, gazing out of the window as the last traces of daylight faded into the evening. The tranquil atmosphere of my shop was shattered once again when I heard a scream. I rushed to the window, my heart pounding, and my worst fears were confirmed. There, in the dim twilight, I saw the silhouette of a lifeless body floating in the water. Dread washed over me as I realized that Randy wasn’t the one behind the rape and killings. He must have been sent if bodies keep appearing Tears welled up in my eyes as I realized that whoever was after me wouldn’t quit torturing innocent women. Anguish and rage coursed through me, but amidst the turmoil of emotions, I knew one thing for certain – I had to find the person responsible for this sinister chain of events. My mind raced as I tried to connect the dots, searching for any clues or patterns that would lead me to the elusive enemy. I retraced the moments leadin
As I waited anxiously on the couch, I knew I didn’t have to worry about forgetting anything. Clive always had everything meticulously prepared for me, down to my underwear. The thought of his thoughtfulness brought a small smile to my face, even in the midst of my fear. When I heard a knock on the door, my heart leaped into my throat. The uncertainty of whether it was Gulther or Clive sent shivers down my spine. I hesitated, frozen in fear, until my phone buzzed with a text from Clive. Relief washed over me as I read his message, confirming his presence at my door. I rushed to the door and swung it open, my heart pounding. Seeing Clive’s familiar face filled me with a mix of emotions—relief, gratitude, and a deep sense of trust. I hugged him tightly, feeling safe in his embrac
The soft morning light filtered through the curtains, casting a warm glow across Clive’s face as he lay beside me. I watched him sleep for a moment, his chest rising and falling with each peaceful breath. The world outside felt distant and unimportant in this fleeting moment of tranquility. My fingers traced the contours of his face, memorizing every detail—the strong jawline, the delicate curve of his lips, and those piercing, crimson eyes that had captured my heart. I marveled at the way love had brought together two beings from opposite sides of the supernatural divide. As I leaned in and gently kissed his forehead, Clive stirred, his eyes fluttering open to meet mine. A soft smile graced his lips, and he pulled me closer, our bodies entwined in the warmth of the sheets. In that embrace, we forgot about the complexities of our respective worlds—his as a vampire and mine as a werewolf. All that mattered was us, here and now. But, as it often happens, the peace was abr
"Sam, I can't even begin to imagine what you've been going through," Clive said softly, his words filled with empathy. "But I want you to know that I'm here for you, no matter what." His unwavering support was a source of comfort, and I found myself opening up to him about my fears, my doubts, and the unsettling suggestion of black magic that Coco had introduced. Clive listened intently, his presence on the other end of the line a lifeline in a sea of uncertainty. After discussing the nightmarish vision and Coco's insights, Clive made a suggestion that surprised me. "Why don't I come over, Sam?" he proposed. "It might be easier to talk in person, and we can explore this black magic idea together." I agreed to his suggestion, feeling a mixture of relief and anticipation. Hav
In the nightmarish vision that held me captive, the boundaries of reality and unreality blurred further, leaving me ensnared in a grotesque and surreal landscape. The relentless figures, their forms twisted and nightmarish, closed in around me like vengeful spirits hungry for my torment. Every attempt to move, to escape the paralysis that bound me, proved futile. The weight on my chest was an invisible vice, crushing the breath from my lungs, and my limbs remained immobilized, as if shackled by unseen chains. Panic coursed through me, and I could feel the cold sweat on my brow as I struggled to regain control over my body. The whispers grew louder and more insistent, their words now forming a sinister narrative that echoed through the twisted void. They spoke of ancient curses and malevolent entities, painting a chilling picture of the supernatural forces that held sway over this nightmarish realm. The erratic flickering of the neon lights above cast eerie, dancing shad
Coco's story had cast a shadow over our conversation, leaving a lingering sense of unease in its wake. Her eyes held a mix of compassion and concern as she leaned closer, her voice lowered to a hushed tone. "Sam," she began gently, "I know it might sound unconventional, but considering what you've been through, have you ever thought about exploring the possibility of using black magic to find answers or to protect yourself?" Her suggestion hung in the air, a palpable shift in the conversation's tone. I hesitated, my thoughts a tumultuous whirlwind of doubt and uncertainty. The idea of delving into the arcane and the unknown was both alluring and terrifying. Coco, ever the persuasive friend, began to share stories of individuals who had turned to such practices as a last resort, finding
In the days that followed the unsettling events and revelations, my life settled into a somber rhythm, marked by a cautious return to a semblance of normalcy. Before I resumed working at my bar, there was a period of introspection and support from my friends. Each morning, as the sun cast its gentle rays upon my apartment, I would awaken to the gentle sounds of the city outside my window. The memories of my recent ordeal still haunted my dreams, leaving me with restless nights and moments of reflection in the quiet hours before dawn. My days were often spent in solitude, grappling with the myriad emotions and unanswered questions that swirled within me. The city outside buzzed with its usual activity, yet I felt detached from the bustling world beyond my doorstep. The weight of the pendant's mystery and the looming threat of unseen adversaries cast a shadow over my every thought. Throughout this period, Clive, Dave, and Dr. Underfoot remained unwavering pillars of supp