Amelia My eyes are heavy as I try to force them open, throat dry and hoarse from dehydration. Blinking rapidly as I try to adjust to the bright light above me after the darkness. Moving to sit up I become aware my wrists are bound . . . What the hell . . . I try to clear the fog in my brain, I remember being at the breakfast bar eating with Erik and Nico and then it went dark. Whipping my head to each side I look for them and my eyes finally adjust to the light. I recognise my surroundings it’s my bedroom at the mansion, how the hell did I get here? Why am I tied up? I try to move my legs but they too are held firmly in a binding. A cruel laugh echos through the room and then he comes into view. Damian walks over and sits in a seat placed beside my bed. His eyes are triumphant, his smile pure evil. He reaches out and strokes my face, I have to resist my instinct to pull back from him. “Ah wife” there is scorn as he says the word wife. “You are back with me, how I have
Erik My eyes open and I feel a bit disorientated my body jiggles with a gentle movement that I quickly recognise as being on a plane, yet I don’t remember getting on a plane. I search to try and remember how I got here but there is nothing an emptiness where what I know should be. Looking around I notice Harlow sitting across from me, she looks peaceful in her own gentle sleep. Pinching the bridge of my nose in frustration I search again for my most recent memory. Harlow and I getting out of the car to go and face my dickhead of a cousin, to answer his summons. Then how are we back here on the plane? What happened in that meeting? Why the hell can’t I remember. Reaching to pull out my phone I hope it might give me some answers, texts, a call, an email anything. It’s not there, I pat every pocket and there is no sign of my phone. What the hell is going on here? Frustrated and needing answers I reach forward and shake Harlow to awaken her. Her eyes open too slowly for m
Nico Freezing cold water hitting my face wakes me up instantly, an automatic snarl releases from my throat and I move to react to whomever dares to strike me. That is when I realise that I am chained to the wall standing upright whilst I was unconscious. Another snarl rips from me at the audacity. My eyes adjust to the dimly lit room, one of our dungeon cells, I am most familiar with them although I am usually the one doing the chaining up. A guard stands looking rather sheepish holding the now empty bucket, he refuses to meet my eyes, fucking coward. A figure stands behind him half cloaked in the darkness but I know who it is, that cunt Damian, so he finally had the balls to make a move. We’ve been playing this uneasy game of chess for a while now, both distrusting of each other, neither willing to make the first move. I guess we’re on the board now. “Nico” he drawls my name like the snake he is but I refuse to bite I just glare into the darkness, challenging him with m
Erik The uneasy feeling doesn’t leave me as I draw up to the house in the back of our chauffeur car. Harlow holds my hand in the back seat but I struggle to even look at her. I know I’m being irrational and she hasn’t done anything to warrant my feeling towards her but something is off. Papa is at the large reception doors before we even ascend the stairs, arms wide in a welcoming gesture. I stride up the stairs two at a time, I feel my normal peace when I see him, he has always been my rock. As he pulls back from my embrace I see his brows knit together as he takes me in. “Is all well my son?” He asks and I can not even begin to mask how I’m feeling inside, not with him. Harlow bustles her way in between us and draws his attention giving him her own welcoming embrace. “All is well Papa! We had an unexpectedly pleasant time and now we are home for good. Nothing to worry about” I noticed how his eyes narrow and I am about to contradict her when she grasps my hand tightly
Erik I turn to face papa “Who is she?” He looks beyond startled as he walks into the room closing the door after he seems to check there is no one lingering outside. He touches my shoulder a look of concern accompanying it “You don’t know who Amelia is?” I just shake my head bewildered, I feel like I should but I have no tangible memory of her that I can reach for. “Sit down for me son something is very wrong” I immediately oblige I trust him more than anyone in this world and the look on his face tells me this strangeness I have been feeling is not misplaced. He waves his hands over me closing his eyes and muttering ancient words over and over, a strange tingling feeling runs through my body like an electricity as his spell works over me, when the electricity reaches my head I can’t help the scream that escapes my mouth, it is absolute agony and just as quickly it’s gone. Papa crouches down before me his eyes aflame with anger “Someone has been in your head there’s a
***Trigger warning this will be an uncomfortable chapter with psychological control and SA if you need to skip it*** Amelia Two guards escort me from my rooms to Damian’s chambers. The last place in the world I want to be right now, my mind swirling with thoughts of Erik and Nico, is Erik truly safe? Is Nico even himself anymore? They chain me to the post of Damian’s giant bed and leave me here, no concept of time or indication of when he will return. The psychological games have started. Hours tick by and the light begins to fade, no one comes near to check on me. In one way it is a relief to be left alone. Eventually the sound I have been dreading, the door creaking open and the light switch is flicked on hurting my eyes after the darkness. Damian’s smug face greeting my blinking, he looks me over chained up and sneers at me. A couple of strong confident strides and he is before me, hands making quick work releasing me from the bedpost. I feel a moment of relief as
Erik The house is silent as I make my way from my old rooms down to Papa’s office, it’s that eerie time just before dawn. The rest of the house is either sleeping or out. I’m relieved when I see the light under his door but I had known he wouldn’t sleep without coming to tell me if he had found anything. My own mind has been in constant turmoil, stretching to try and grasp on to any memory that would fill the void in my mind. After reading my own journals I am even more confused as to what the hell has been going on. Pausing I give a gentle knock and he calls out for me to come in. He barely even looks up as I enter and I realise he is on the phone to someone with his head bent stuck in an ancient looking book. “Yes, yes Miranda I agree, I think that would be a good idea, I’ll speak to him about it and come back to you” There are a mountain of books strewn all around him in various states of being poured over for answers. He says a quick goodbye and discards his phone fin
Erik I’m agitated as we wait on the runway for the word to take off, I need to be there already. Inside I just know that Amelia needs me, even though I can’t actually remember her my emotion for her is there, she drives my everything. My agitation calms a little as I hear the engines roar to life, I close my eyes and imagine those eyes from my dream. They soothe me and I doze off quickly. Her face runs through my mind, I feel like I’m chasing her through the darkness but she is always just out of reach, as she has always been in life, when do we get to be together? I must have been more exhausted than I realise as I only open my eyes when we make our descent into the little private airfield near the bottom of England, Penzance a magical place full of history and stories. It doesn’t surprise me this is where Miranda retreated to. She was always a free spirit, more witch than vampire even after turned, her need to be peacefully connected to nature left her a little on the
Clara I allow my hands to roam over his hard muscular chest, sliding them up around his neck and into his dark hair, I feel myself tug at it with need as his tongue becomes more and more insistent. My mind whirls with the incredible feel of every flick of his tongue, lost to my need for him. Suddenly his weight shifts, those strong hands grip my hips and I’m pulled on top of him as he shifts back, never breaking our kiss. This new position puts me right over his rock hard need and oh my, it is impressive. I can’t help the moan that escapes me as he grips my hips pulling me closer to him. Feeling bereft as his lips leave mine but only for a second as he leaves a blazing trail of kisses from my lips to the base of my neck, where he buries his face into the nape of my neck and then begins to gently, teasingly suck a spot, I feel the graze of his teeth and then the most delicious shiver of pleasure runs through me as he bites into me, slowly sensually drinking from me. It has n
Clara The cool night air bites at my cheeks as we step out onto the street, the feeling of his hand in mine electric. The hotel looms before us and we both take a step in that direction and then pause with an awkward laugh. “You’re staying there too?” He chuckles in that deep hypnotic tone. I nod suddenly shy, even if we are the same, how do I tell him about the tragedy of my life, explain what I am doing here and then another thought hits me, what if he is from one of the houses loyal to Damien? Knowing my luck he will be, which leads me to another even more terrifying thought, what if he was actually sent by Damien? Could it really be a coincidence that he is here so close to the mansion by accident. I feel my whole body tense as the pessimistic thoughts flood through me. A gentle tug on my hand snaps me back into the moment, his beautiful face filled with concern as he studies my features. Surely someone who looks like a literal angel can’t be evil? Yet I know how stupid
Clara Sitting alone at a bar has to be a new low for me but I don’t know what else to do with myself. The bar itself is decent, in the bustling town not far from the mansion, I had to leave, to breathe, I’ve been a vampire for exactly eighteen years and those years have been miserable. I couldn’t leave Amelia, she protected me before she even knew me and I had to do the same but the last few weeks have been emotionally exhausting. Erik was gone for an especially long time this last trip, Miranda and Papa no longer speak even to each other it’s like they’re dead inside and everyone else has long ago departed the sinking ship like the rats they are. There’s only so much flower arranging and talking to an unresponsive Amelia and Nico one can take before they feel like they’re starting to go insane. I just need a little space, a little fresh air before I go back. I jump a little as I feel a presence slide into the bar seat beside me, their energy is electric but I’m so drained
*** 18 Years Later*** Erik Standing before the once grand house that I had called home for so many years I hesitate to walk up the steps, now strewn with leaves and debris. The formerly immaculate white building that had neatly manicured wisteria and Ivy winding around the grand entrance pillars is now overgrown and greying. It looks cold and empty, soulless, a far cry from when it was bustling with our family. The big window shutters all firmly closed even though it is the middle of the day, shielding the world from the misery that lies beyond them. I don’t blame the others for abandoning us the house is a monument to pain and loss. My anger and bitterness consumes me, heightened every time I return here. I have spent eighteen years scouring the globe for my son, turning over every rock, investigating every possible sighting, I have never come even close to him. I am a monumental failure and I dread each time I must come back empty handed to tell Amelia how useless I am.
Amelia Physically I feel fine, better than fine, my body is like nothing ever happened to it but my heart is forever changed. I had always thought nothing could compare to the love I felt for Erik but the love I have for Rowan consumes me, yet, with it comes fear and anxiety like I had never imagined. I can feel the raw power radiating from him, it’s like nothing I have ever experienced and it fills part of me with a hope that has always eluded me, that Damian can be defeated. In equal measures the knowledge of the terror Damian would be able to reign with that power under his control, it chills me to the core, everyone would be doomed. And that thought has my body trembling with rage, that we have let the immediate threat to Rowan slip through our fingers. She’s out there free to betray us all over again and put my son in danger. I hear the roar of anger that releases from me like it has come from someone else. I move to chase her through the passages, to capture her befo
Erik As soon as I walk through the doors to the bedroom my heart instantly calms and then soars. Lia is just walking out of the bathroom, dressed and looking perfectly healthy once more. Clara surprisingly is holding Rowan and they seem to be under each others spell, his tiny little hand touching her face and neither even so much glances my way as I enter. Nico rises from the sofa where he was lounging, he looks relaxed but I can tell he is on full alert underneath the exterior. His hand pats me on the shoulder and he leans in “How did it go?” His voice low to keep the conversation between us. A heavy sigh releases from me before my words “About as good as you would expect, the guards are helping her to move on as we speak” Even with our hushed tones I see Lia’s ears prick up at our conversation and she changes direction to come and join us. Her eyes narrow “what are you two whispering about?” We exchange looks, I had wanted to keep her out of this, let her enjoy Rowan and
Erik My very blood is boiling as I march towards the room that Nico had Harlow confined to. As I approach I am pleased to see there have been two guards stationed at the door, their eyebrows raise in curiosity as they take in my angered demeanour. They are quick to move out of my way and I feel the force that I yank the door open, it banging loudly against the wall. My eyes rake the room for her and I find her sprawled on the bed, her now surprised face streaked with mascara tears, skin raw and red from her crying. A small part of me tugs with sympathy for her pain but then I remember her betrayal. The memories Miranda had helped me stitch back together can only lead to one conclusion she worked with Damian, she played a part in my memories of Amelia being wiped away. She is not who I thought she was. After a moments hesitation she leaps from the bed barrelling towards me arms open wide to embrace me. I catch her wrists before she can touch me and hold her in place, I see t
Erik The room is a flurry of activity and I just stand there in a daze as Miranda barks requests at everyone. This is actually happening! My child, our child, he is about to be born! I feel a strong grip on my shoulders and focus in on Nico in front of my face, there’s a look of excitement all over his features. “Erik it’s happening get with it!” He barks at me and then he’s gone following some request from Miranda. He’s right, I give myself a shake and move into action. I couldn’t even count the amount of babies I’ve delivered in my long life, this should be me and not Miranda delivering my son. Dashing into the bathroom I quickly wash myself with cold water, the sharp sting on my skin calling me to life, waking every nerve ending and then I’m back in the flurry of activity. Gently I look to move Miranda away from Lia so I can check her progress, she gives me a confused glance and then shakes her head “Erik I’m forgetting myself” A warm smile spreads over my face, we al
Amelia Everything inside of me is churning as I watch his features change from pain to something calmer and more peaceful. Miranda is truly a god send her power over the mind a blessing in her hands but if she was a different person it could be lethal. I give thanks she is on our side. Second by second my heart hurts waiting for him to wake up, Nico’s arms are wrapped tightly around me and I pull every bit of comfort I can from them. Papa paces nervously across the room, pain etched on every feature. I curse the day Damian was born. Slowly his eyes begin to flutter open and that same look of peace stays on his face, it takes him a moment to focus and then his eyes open wide at all of the gathered people. “What’s wrong?” He asks, his voice hoarse from the screaming, quickly I pass over a glass of water as Miranda helps him to sit up, his features becoming more confused. Gently I stroke the sweat soaked hair back from his forehead “You were screaming my love, Miranda helpe