Kira paced the large kitchen as she watched Agatha pour boiling water over the herbs she’d just combined and crushed in her mortar.
“This will put a shield around the babe, should anything go wrong and they capture ye,” Agatha said as she covered the pot to let the brew steep.
“Malcolm frightens I,” Kira said.
“His evilness knows no boundaries,” Agatha said with a slow shake of her head, “and ‘tis me, not I. Malcolm frightens me.”
“Does it really matter at this point?” Kira complained. “I was trying to correct my speech for Edwin. Now…”
“You still have to mingle with the world,” Agatha scolded. “’Twould be good to correct it as best as you can. ‘Twouldn’t do to attract undue attention to thyself.”
“I suppose you are right,” Kira said with a heavy sigh. “I must go on.&nb
The skies were clear, yet it sounded like thunder up ahead as Edwin carefully made his way through the forest. Ebenezer had already warned him of the battle that ensued at Claus’ estate between his good, and Malcolm’s evil, vampires. He’d also explained that it was because Claus assumed the role as Kira’s mate and protector that his home was under attack. Malcolm was determined to get Kira back. He’d been searching for far too long to let her bonding with another vampire stop him from finally having her. He was her maker. It was his right. Vampire law be damned.Mixed emotions flooded him as he listened to his ghostly grandfather explain how Kira agreed to bond and mate with Claus if he promised to rescue him from Malcolm’s evil clutches. The old ghost was careful to be clear on the fact that Claus coveted Kira and would expect her to honor her promise to him even if Edwin showed up a vampire instead of a
Edwin stopped short when he entered the kitchen, which was the one surviving room in the house that wasn’t a bedroom, and saw Kira standing next to the chair that Claus was seated in. Behind her stood Agatha. He gave them a curious look as he willed his legs to move forward. Could it be that she’d decided to be with Claus instead of him? Was he facing the vampire leader for no reason?A wooden chair was set not far from Claus. He motioned for Edwin to sit in it.“It has been a long night of surprises,” Claus said as he watched Edwin settle into the chair with the poise of a proud tribal chief he once knew. “It isn’t often that we leave a man for dead only to have him reappear a vampire. There is the need for blood upon awakening which is normally provided by the maker. How did you manage?”Edwin shrugged, “I awoke to two wolves fighting over me.”“You killed th
Salem 1692Kira’s legs worked hard to forge her slight body down the narrow, snow laden deer path that took her from her family’s cottage to the nearby village of Salem. She’d managed to slip away from home just as the sun peeked over the horizon. If all went well, she’d be back in her room before the family expected to see her rise and none would be the wiser.She was determined to meet the ship that was arriving. Not only would the village be abuzz with news of her homeland, but, with the recent change in weather, ships would be far and few between after this; at least until the spring. If her package wasn’t on the ship, then she doubted she’d see it until the thaw; which would be too late.It was five years since her family fled Englandafter her grandfather died and a vicious land battle between siblings ensued.The Donnelly family was a warring family from it
New York City, 2017“I can’t believe you’re really leaving,” Pricilla pouted as she leaned against the doorframe.“I’ll be back in time for Thanksgiving dinner,” Edwin said as he closed the zipper on his travel bag.“What am I supposed to do for the week you’re gone?” she whined.“Maybe you can take advantage of the time without me to reconnect with some of your friends? I ran into Sally a few days ago and she was complaining that you two never get together anymore. She blamed me for it.” He strode to her and cupped her chin in his hand. “I’ve never tried to keep you from your friends, my love. I don’t like it that they think I do.”“I’m happy with it being just us. They seem so immature lately,” she said with a scowl. “Their conversation is mundane and frivolous. We’ve just
Due to a nor’easter that started just about the time Edwin hopped into the SUV, the normal three-and-a-half-hour drive took almost five hours to reach the cabin in the hills on the edge of the Wachusett Mountain Reservation that belonged to Tim’s uncle. Edwin was thankful that Tim was a professional stunt driver and, therefore, fully capable of maneuvering the SUV over slick, snow, and ice laden roads.Having monitored the weather, they’d deliberately taken Tim’s vehicle; with Tim manning the wheel. They’d also stopped and stocked up on provisions to bring with them, rather than pick some up in town after they’d arrived and settled in. Even so, they were surprised and taken aback by the conditions of the road.“We spend too much time in the city,” Mark grumbled as he wiped away the foggy film that accumulated on his window from the heat of his breath and looked out onto the winter wonderland. “I’d
Tim and Mark finished breakfast and were on their third cup of coffee by the time Edwin crawled out of bed to join them at the harvest style dining table that was positioned on the side of the great room near the kitchen.“I was beginning to wonder if you were alright,” Mark said as he slid a mug of black coffee in front of Edwin.“What time is it?” Edwin asked as he propped his elbow on the table and rested his forehead in the palm of his hand. “I have a killer headache.”“From that fall, no doubt,” Tim said as he slid a bottle of Ibuprophen next to the creamer and sugar bowl that were less than an arm’s reach from Edwin.“I prefer Tylenol,” Edwin said as he grabbed the bottle of Ibuprophen and uncapped it.“That’s not just a pain reliever. It’s also a muscle relaxer. You need both,” Tim explained.“We weren’t planning on huntin
Tim stood aside to allow Edwin access to the door.“Can I help you?” Edwin asked warily. The old woman’s grey eyes bore into his blue ones with such an intensity, he felt unable to move; as if mesmerized. When he was finally able to gain control of his senses again, he said, “I’m Edwin Jacobson.”“Then, ye are the one I seek,” she said firmly. “Please, come with me.”Edwin was so taken aback that, at first, he simply stood staring at her in disbelieve with his mouth open. When she was half-way down the steps, she turned to face him with an expectant look.“I’m sorry, lady, but I have no clue who you are, how you got here, how you knew I’d be here, or why you want me. What I do know is that I have no intentions of going anywhere with you,” Edwin said as he surveyed the grounds for what might have brought her to the cabin.The caretaker had yet to pl
The men rushed out of the cabin with the intention of driving the SUV to where the strange woman claimed she buried the poor girl. Tim’s hand was on the door handle when she beckoned him back to the center of the snow-laden driveway.“Hold hands,” she said briskly as she positioned them into a circle of which she stood in the center.It took her forcefully barking the order a few more times before they stopped giving bewildered looks and grabbed each other’s hands. Almost immediately, the world swirled around them until they could see nothing but particles of snow twirling past their heads at breakneck speed. When it stopped, and their vision cleared, they found themselves deep in the woods on what they guessed was a logging road.Mark struggled to keep a steady stance on legs that felt like jelly while he did his best to prevent his stomach from purging its contents.“Did we just teleport?” Edwi
Edwin stopped short when he entered the kitchen, which was the one surviving room in the house that wasn’t a bedroom, and saw Kira standing next to the chair that Claus was seated in. Behind her stood Agatha. He gave them a curious look as he willed his legs to move forward. Could it be that she’d decided to be with Claus instead of him? Was he facing the vampire leader for no reason?A wooden chair was set not far from Claus. He motioned for Edwin to sit in it.“It has been a long night of surprises,” Claus said as he watched Edwin settle into the chair with the poise of a proud tribal chief he once knew. “It isn’t often that we leave a man for dead only to have him reappear a vampire. There is the need for blood upon awakening which is normally provided by the maker. How did you manage?”Edwin shrugged, “I awoke to two wolves fighting over me.”“You killed th
The skies were clear, yet it sounded like thunder up ahead as Edwin carefully made his way through the forest. Ebenezer had already warned him of the battle that ensued at Claus’ estate between his good, and Malcolm’s evil, vampires. He’d also explained that it was because Claus assumed the role as Kira’s mate and protector that his home was under attack. Malcolm was determined to get Kira back. He’d been searching for far too long to let her bonding with another vampire stop him from finally having her. He was her maker. It was his right. Vampire law be damned.Mixed emotions flooded him as he listened to his ghostly grandfather explain how Kira agreed to bond and mate with Claus if he promised to rescue him from Malcolm’s evil clutches. The old ghost was careful to be clear on the fact that Claus coveted Kira and would expect her to honor her promise to him even if Edwin showed up a vampire instead of a
Kira paced the large kitchen as she watched Agatha pour boiling water over the herbs she’d just combined and crushed in her mortar.“This will put a shield around the babe, should anything go wrong and they capture ye,” Agatha said as she covered the pot to let the brew steep.“Malcolm frightens I,” Kira said.“His evilness knows no boundaries,” Agatha said with a slow shake of her head, “and ‘tis me, not I. Malcolm frightens me.”“Does it really matter at this point?” Kira complained. “I was trying to correct my speech for Edwin. Now…”“You still have to mingle with the world,” Agatha scolded. “’Twould be good to correct it as best as you can. ‘Twouldn’t do to attract undue attention to thyself.”“I suppose you are right,” Kira said with a heavy sigh. “I must go on.&nb
His body ached from head to toe and he was cold; so very, very cold. Edwin tried to sit up, but the effort was overwhelming. Something heavy was on his chest, holding him down.It was dark, so very dark. Too dark to see even though his eyes were opened wide. He could hear breathing close by. He felt a tickling sensation as a moist nose rapidly sniffed up and down his body. A sudden jolt took him by surprise. His arms frantically flailed around him as he tried to find an inanimate object to secure him in place as whatever had sniffed him tried to drag him by the pant leg through the snow.With every waking moment, he grew more and more aware of his body and surroundings. It was as if he’d left it and was now making a slow reconnection.A low snarl alerted him to the fact that the animal that was dragging him had met up with another animal that coveted him. As fascinating as it would have been to watch the batt
Claus entered the estate house and immediately headed for the bedroom. He smiled with satisfaction when he saw Kira sleeping in the same position he’d left her in. Her cooperation would serve to better the chances of an impregnation. He gently tugged the pillow out from beneath her hips and adjusted the bedding to make her more comfortable.Kira was actually awake, but was unable to face Claus at the moment. Even though she’d suspected it, Agatha’s confirmation that she carried Edwin’s child rocked her world upside down. She knew little about Claus, but she guessed that he would be one angry vampire to discover the child in her womb wasn’t his. That’s why she stayed for him to find her perched on the pillow like that. She hoped it would remove any doubts or speculation as to the father of her child once it was born.He lightly kissed her forehead and his deep, husky voice whispered, “Sleep my beaut
Agatha waited until the rescue party left before she slipped into the bedroom to check on Kira. She found her lying on her back with a pillow beneath her hips while silently weeping.“I know, now, that my body does not need to be in love to enjoy coupling,” she said with a voice filled with shame.“I understand,” Agatha said knowingly. “Do not let it upset you like I let it upset me after I coupled with Marc. Just be thankful Edwin was not here to witness it.”“How you must have felt,” Kira said sympathetically.“You? Ye said you?” Agatha giggled.“I am trying,” Kira said with a wan smile.“He has you on the pillow to assure his seed takes,” Agatha observed. “He is surprisingly knowledgeable of these things.”“He said that once a male impregnates a female during the bonding ritual, the bond cannot be brok
Kira stopped near the bed and awaited Claus’ orders. He said nothing as he moved with cat-like grace to stand before her and lowered his head to kiss her long and hard. Whether it was simply her own emotions or the fact that it just wasn’t there, she didn’t know, but she felt no passion in his kiss.She fought back a shudder of revulsion as his hands explored her abundant breasts. The sound of fabric tearing echoed off the walls as he ripped her shirt from her body. She gasped with surprise and dismay as she covered her naked breasts from his sight. He gently pulled her hands away from them so that he could better feast on her beauty with his eyes. He cupped her heavy breasts in his hands and lifted them slightly while his thumbs teased her nipples. He kissed her softly on the lips and then let his kisses roam down her neck and breast until he had a pert nipple in his mouth.The resistance she’d ex
Agatha was waiting on the porch when they arrived. She raised her brow at the fact that Kira traveled to her in a van rather than teleporting, but said nothing.“I see you have found the white vampires,” she said in a clear speech as Kira stepped onto the porch.“They know that we are friends, but that is all,” Kira whispered, and Agatha nodded knowingly. “Ye have healed thy tongue.”“You have healed your tongue,” Agatha corrected her.“Aye… I mean, yes,” Kira said with a hint of annoyance that Agatha immediately picked up on.“Now is probably not the time to correct thy speech,” she said gently. “’twas silly of me to do so.”“Nay,” Kira said. “You actually brought a bit of normalcy into my world for a moment. I feel out of control.”“Tell me,” Agatha said as she led Kira inside the farmhouse.
Edwin lay limp on the cold and dank floor. He was aware of movement around him and heard bits and pieces of their murmured conversations, but cared little about what they said. He’d been beaten and bitten so many times he’d lost count. His mind and body were weak. He’d managed to force all thoughts of Kira from his mind for fear that, in his weakened state, he’d buckle and give her up. Instead, he went over the list of ways to kill a vampire, over and over, until he knew it by heart. Whether the list was factual or fictional, it gave him satisfaction to recite it.With the need to refrain him long over, he felt his body being hoisted over the shoulder of a strong, male vampire. The curiosity of whether it was Coby or Seth who carried him flitted through his mind, but was quickly replaced by his list of ways to kill a vampire. What did it matter who lugged him out of the basement for a bit more torture when all