Nico I can barely keep my eyes on the road for looking at her. She sleeps soundly in the seat beside me as I speed us away from our hell. That was the hardest few weeks of my life, I can take being tortured, humiliated but to have her that close to me and not be able to comfort her or give her a sign that all was going to be okay. That was the real torture. The sun is at its pique as we get further and further away, my eyes anxiously check the mirrors for any sign of a tail or unusual behaviour. I know it’s unlikely they would be so close behind us. I had estimated it might take a few hours if we were lucky before someone really started to miss Lucien and go looking. Without Damian there, I would imagine the type of business he is doing he won’t be easily reachable, they will never know our escape route. It makes me smile to think the plan I devised for him is now Amelia and I’s route to safety. Damian’s own arrogance means he never learned the actual finer details of our p
Amelia The plan reacting to our descent wakes me from the first good sleep I have in god knows how long. The terrain out of the window is unfamiliar, high snow capped mountains stretch as far as the eye can see. I estimate we must be in the Alps. We begin to get lower and lower and I grip my seat unable to see the hidden runway that Nico is now putting us down on, with a skill that impresses me. I feel the force of the engines as he breaks and taxis us along the runway bringing us to a stop. Another hidden private airfield is evident outside of the window. The plane begins to move again as he manoeuvres us inside a huge snow covered hanger where we are received by a small crew. He is out of the cockpit and grabbing my hand in a second and the door opens to allow us to descend. I shiver a little as the sharp air hits me an instant reminder of the collar still firmly around my neck. Nico’s hand on the small of my back indicates for me to go first and I refuse to meet the e
Unknown POV This whole situation just does not sit right with me. My entire body crawls with tension as I pace back and forwards before the large one way mirror. The sight of the vampire they call Erik chained, bloodied, beaten to within an inch of his life sends a chill down my spine, an unusual thing for a vampire hunter. Yet I have watched and followed him since his apparent miraculous recovery from our weapon. It baffled and concerned our leaders and they seem to have had an unusual investment in his death. Now, here he is, being tortured but kept alive. An action I can’t quite comprehend, our purpose is to end them not needlessly hurt them. Something about this doesn’t add up and I refuse to go back out into the field until I know what it is. Since I was a child I was trained to fight them, lure them to their deaths with my weapons, taught they were all heartless murdering monsters. That was not what I found shadowing this man, he was compassionate, saved humans with n
Damian Life is good I think, satisfied as I settle into the back of the chauffeured car. Opening the compartment I pour myself a large whisky to celebrate my ultimate victory. Years of patience, planning, letting the little snakes take a bite here and there, trip themselves up, reveal all I needed them to and now all the pieces are where I want them. Nico chained and bound like the dog he is, the mighty warrior, too arrogant, taking what was mine without permission, I must admit their little game of pretend hatred amused me once I figured it out but he was too powerful an ally for Amelia he had to be destroyed. My dear noble cousin, a shiver of delight runs through me as I replay the image of him chained, broken, in the hands of his greatest enemy, helpless. That element could not have turned out more perfectly, I can be assured of his eternal torment while having what I need from him. Finally his threat to my throne over, I laugh aloud, who am I kidding his threat was gone
Amelia My head lolls back against the edge of the tub as I slide under the bubbles and I let my eyes close placing a protective hand over my belly “It’s okay now little one you’ll be safe” my eyes spring open in surprise as I feel a little foot kick against my hand. What the hell! It’s too early, this baby is growing quicker than any of the pregnancies I have monitored. Even in my shock there is something comforting in feeling the baby move, knowing that what we have been through hasn’t damaged the little one. A gentle knock distracts me and I look round to see a smiling Giovanna return. A ruby filled glass in one hand and a white bundle in her other. “Some nourishment and something comfortable for when you are ready” I smile at her in return “Thank you so much” She places the glass in my hand “Come down to the kitchen when you are ready I’m cooking a feast” she gives me a wink and then leaves me in peace once more. I gulp down the blood greedily and it feels like t
Amelia A smile plays on my lips as I sit in the passenger seat beside Giovanna in her old pick up as she rattles it along the country roads towards the town. The sunshine feels glorious on my face and images of last night replay in my mind. Nico was so loving and gentle as he wrapped me in his arms in his bed. The light feathery kisses over my skin had sent shivers of pleasure through me, fingers tracing gentle circles soothing everywhere he touched. His kiss reverent and soul stealing. Everything about him was soft, loving, how he slowly carefully made love to me, erasing everything that we had been through these past weeks. This morning had been amusing watching Giovanna fuss over him and then tell him straight he wasn’t coming with us as he would draw too much attention. The petulant look on his face was a picture but he did not argue with her. My mind dares to wander to Erik and a lump forms in my throat, is he okay? Is he really safe and even if he was would he now
Amelia Giovanna works her way through the narrow streets and unexpectedly draws up beside the riverbank. I look to her confused, this is definitely not the library, she chuckles at my expression and simply lifts the collar in her hands inclining her head towards the river. Her meaning clicks with me and hesitantly I reach out and take it from her, even looking at it fills me with revulsion. She leaves me to step out of the car with it alone. Closing my eyes I raise my arm and prepare to throw it as hard as I can into the flowing water. Then something inside of me stops me and my arm comes back down to my side, it contains Damian’s blood, it could be the key to defeating him, nullifying his powers if I can analyse it I might find a weakness. Turning with it now gripped in my hand like my most prized possession it is Giovanna’s turn to look confused. My voice so full of excitement “Giovanna he might finally have made a mistake I can use! His blood, if I can analyse it I might
Nicholas/ Papa I have never in my incredibly long life felt so lost as I do now, Amelia’s pain has always been my biggest regret, that I could not save her from a life with Damian but now I have no idea if she is even alive and Erik is god knows where, going through god only knows what. Miranda’s eyes are full of pity as she watches me carefully, she has not left my side since she arrived and I know her presence is the only thing keeping any semblance of sanity within me. A gentle knock on my office doors has us both looking up with curiosity, no one has come near, they know not to disturb us. Unless . . . Could it be news? New information? I feel a little surge of hope as I call out “Enter” That hope quickly turns to frustration as Harlow walks through the doors. I have no time for her since she can not be trusted now, if only she would be open and honest with me I could judge whether she really was friend or foe. Part of me wants to cast her out but while doubt still exis