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
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