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Chapter 124
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2024-10-29 19:42:56Several hundred miles to the north of Balin’s cabin, Jarubu led his three companions southward through the Green Mountains of Vermont. Melissa loped almost at his side, staying a respectful half pace back. Behind them, Conley and Alexi ran side by side. They moved rapidly through the night, but not at full speed, for they had many miles ahead of them.
Only the very edge of the recent blizzard had reached this far north and west, leaving less than a foot of snow behind. The steep, snow-covered slopes barely hindered the vampires, nor did the forest. When the woods grew too thick or the snow drifted too deep, the vampires simply took to the upper reaches of the trees, leaping and swinging from branch to branch almost as quickly as they raced along the ground. Though racing through the trees would make following them more difficult, Jarubu did not fool himself into thinking it would thwart their pursuers. Only distance would do that.
He had no destination in mind. H
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Leesa's Advent Chapter 125
Jarubu’s curiosity grew. Behind it, a tiny bit of anxiety arose as well. Why was the man unconcerned by the appearance of four vampires out here in the middle of nowhere? Did he perhaps have allies hidden somewhere nearby and was merely acting as bait? Jarubu sniffed the air and scanned the surrounding darkness with his keen eyes and ears. He detected no sign of any other presence.“Who are you?” he asked.“I’m the man you are going to obey,” the stranger said simply.Jarubu’s temper was never buried very deep, and it began to bubble up at the man’s haughty demeanor. A low growl rumbled from his throat. He wondered what the man’s blood would taste like. His three companions extruded their fangs as well, ready to follow Jarubu’s lead.The stranger raised his arm and pointed a bony finger at Alexi. A bolt of black energy shot from his hand, striking Alexi in the chest. A brief hissing sound filled
Leesa's Advent Chapter 126
“Now, we are doubly connected. If you sense him, I will sense him as well.” He motioned for them to stand. Jarubu and Melissa rose to their feet. “Go now. Enjoy your hunting. All I require of you is that you remain on the move, covering ground I cannot cover myself.”Josef stood up. “Since you two were already heading south, continue on that way. I am going north. I have not searched those lands in some time.”Without another word, he headed off into the trees.Jarubu and Melissa watched him disappear, then turned and looked at each other. Jarubu was certain the relief he saw on Melissa’s face was mirrored on his own.Balin stood silhouetted in the doorway of his nearly three hundred year old cabin, built with his own hands, waiting as Rave carried Leesa the last few yards up the slight incline that led up to the cabin. The old volkaane was wearing a fringed buckskin shirt and buckskin pants he had made himself. L
Leesa's Advent Chapter 127
“Now I want some dessert,” Leesa said, her eyes fastened on Rave, who looked just a bit uncomfortable under her gaze.“Am I missing something?” Dominic asked, looking back and forth from Leesa to Rave.Balin smiled. “Dessert is Leesa’s code name for kissing.”“Ahhh,” Dominic said, smiling now as well.“I know we can’t do it like we were,” Leesa said to Rave, meaning the last time they had kissed, when the kiss had gone too far and Rave’s fire had almost killed her. “But I don’t see why we can’t go back to our five second kisses, especially with Balin here to watch us.” Their first few kisses had been done with Leesa’s cell phone alarm set for five seconds. Those kisses were way too brief, of course, but they were still amazing beyond anything Leesa had ever imagined.“I don’t know.” Rave was clearly still feeling guilty abou
Leesa's Advent Chapter 128
“Are you beginning to see why I wanted a car?” Dominic asked as Leesa drove west through the darkness, toward the Connecticut River and home. They had decided that whenever the two of them rode together Leesa would do the driving, because she was the one with the license in case they were stopped for any reason.“So I could go kiss Rave and you could drink mead?” Leesa joked, though she was pretty clear about what Dominic meant.Dominic laughed. “Those are both very nice bonuses, I have to admit.” The wizard had enjoyed a third mug of mead after he had sensed Josef’s magic, while the four of them talked more about what it might mean.“I understand it’s not smart for you to be around me all time,” Leesa said. “And that the car makes it easier for you put distance between us.”“Exactly. And after what happened tonight, I have another idea for it as well.”Leesa took a
Leesa's Advent Chapter 129
Leesa did not get her wish.Her dream started out fine. She was with Rave, standing arm in arm in one of their favorite spots: a rocky ledge overlooking the Moodus River, not too far from the Maston settlement. Everything was covered in a blanket of clean white snow, including the frozen surface of the river. Not a sound broke the stillness…“I love it up here,” she said, snuggling against Rave to soak up his warmth. “It’s so beautiful. And so peaceful.”“I love being anywhere with you,” Rave replied softly. He bent his head and moved his mouth toward Leesa’s.Leesa knew she should be concerned—Rave was about to kiss her with no alarm set to signal an end their kiss and no one watching to pull them apart—but she wasn’t. All she could think about as his lips moved closer was how handsome he was, how beautiful his deep brown eyes were. She heard herself sigh, and then his
Leesa's Advent Chapter 130
Later that afternoon when Leesa was finished with her classes—finished for the week, since she had no classes on Friday—Dominic came by to work with her. He had no sooner closed the door behind him than she began telling him about her dream and how she had used the technique he had taught her to calm herself and go back to sleep.“I know it wasn’t one of my special dreams,” she said, “but it was plenty disturbing anyway. I hate envisioning that horrible Necromancer. He’s so totally gross and disgusting. Scary, too. But the everywhere/nowhere thing worked great. I don’t even remember falling back to sleep. And when I woke up this morning, I felt great.”Dominic smiled. “It sounds like you are getting pretty good at it. I think perhaps it’s time we moved on to the next step.”“Cool.” Leesa was more than ready to try something new, especially after last night’s success. &ldquo
Leesa's Advent Chapter 131
That same evening, Jarubu and Melissa reached the outskirts of the Hartford area. They had fed the night before, up near Springfield, but they were both feeling hungry again. Jarubu had noticed he felt stronger and more powerful since drinking Josef’s foul blood. His thirst also seemed to have grown more powerful than normal.The farther south they went, the deeper the snow had become. In southern Vermont and Massachusetts, it had finally become deep enough to be an obstacle even for a vampire. They had been forced to leave the cover of the woods and travel in the open along the shoulders of the roadways, which slowed their pace considerably. Whenever there were no cars or buildings in sight, they moved at vampire speed, but when there was any chance they could be seen, they slowed to a walk.Melissa possessed some slight familiarity with Connecticut. She had lived here with her husband more than one hundred and fifty years ago. He had gone off to fight with a Co
Leesa's Advent Chapter 132
Saturday morning, Dominic did not take off his jacket when he entered Leesa’s room. Instead, he told her to grab her coat.“We’re going for a ride,” he said.“Where to?” Leesa asked as she pulled her parka from its hook in the closet.“West,” Dominic replied. “We are going to try something new today, so I think it’s a good idea to do it far away from here.”Leesa wondered what Dominic had planned for her. They had spent a few hours yesterday refining her everywhere/nowhere technique and she was becoming pretty good at it. Near the end of her session she even managed to complete the technique while looking Dominic in the eye, which was a major breakthrough. She still hadn’t been able to do it staring at her reflection in the mirror, though. She was pretty sure that was going to require a lot more work, and a bit more self-esteem, too.Heading down the stairs, Do
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Serena awoke to the sound of birds chirping and the smell of fresh coffee brewing. She rolled over lazily, reaching out for Raphael, but the space was empty. With eyes still closed, she frowned. Where is that man? That man had probably been out of bed since the crack of dawn, beside himself with nerves for today’s big event, she thought regretfully. They were to be married today. Their lives intertwined for all of eternity. What man wouldn’t have cold feet at the prospect? And they’d known each other such a short time, too. She opened her eyes and blinked a few times, and frowned again. She had awakened in the safe house. Last night, she’d killed a man in her own home, and knew she could never go back there ever again. She didn’t care how good the Brethren’s cleanup crew could restore her home. It would never erase the vivid memories and horrors of what had happened there. She and Raphael would have to find themselves a new home, together. Until such time, this place would be it, th
Leesa's Advent Chapter 726
It’s going to be a long day without Raphael, Serena thought, as she washed and dressed. But she carried on. With so many loose ends to tie up, final checks to be made, people and places to coordinate, she scarcely had time to think about anything else. Except for her father. In the quiet moments between the bedlam of planning a wedding, she reflected upon him and her heart ached. She had arranged for a nursing home staffer to drive him and his wheelchair to the Chapel of the Holy Cross for the wedding. They didn’t usually allow weddings there, but somehow, Raphael swayed their decision. Kemuel promised to wheel her father down the aisle beside her, and she loved him instantly for that. But her dream was to have him walk her down that aisle. A sob caught in her throat, and she quickly shook her head to whisk it away. None of that nonsense, Serena. Don’t be greedy. At least he is alive and here to be a part of it all. As the day waxed on to evening, Serena felt unsettled. She hadn’t s
Leesa's Advent Chapter 725
Raphael spent the next few days cloistered with Serena, away from everyone and everything, like a honeymoon before the wedding. But every morning he made creative excuses to tear himself away from her for a little while and work with Fred. To make sure she didn’t visit her father, he dropped her off at her shop first so she could plan a small wedding with Callie and catch up on the mountains of paperwork.The healing sessions with Serena’s father went spectacularly, and with Raphael’s charisma, he convinced the nursing home staff to keep any improvements secret from her. They thought it romantic that he came to help with his fiancée’s father’s rehabilitation. Everyone there rooted for him, amazed at his miraculous awakening. All of the therapists worked their tails off during his therapy sessions, wanting to see their severely stroke-damaged patient beat the odds and walk his daughter down the aisle.On the morning of the fifth day, Raphael got Fred walking without any assistance.“Co
Leesa's Advent Chapter 724
Raphael grabbed her hands. “Do it!” he demanded. He placed them on his temples and spoke to her through their bonded connection. She felt every thought he had had of Sirona over the years straight to the present down their threaded connection. She heard every thought he’d had of her, including every word he had spoken while holding her in his arms at Dr. Chappo’s estate. He sent her everything that filled his heart and soul about her, and finally, at last, she knew.She knew. And knowing was everything to her. He gently brought her hands away from his face, kissing her fingertips as he eased them down, and she took a few steps backward, looking at him as if for the first time. No one before had ever felt about her the way he felt about her, let alone express so strongly all he’d expressed when she’d lain dying in his arms.“You’re in love with me.” She gasped, astonished. Tears welled again in her eyes, but this time, for a very different reason.“Yes.” He took a bold step toward her.
Leesa's Advent Chapter 723
A bundle of nerves, that’s what she’d turned into. Since leaving her father’s, Serena had been nothing but a bundle of nerves, rehearsing over and over again what she would say to Raphael up on the Rock. Looking all around her now, frightening memories kept popping into her mind, making her think that at any moment, Steve or Wheezer were going to jump out and nab her. Unfortunately, she had gotten to the summit way too early, and now paced like a caged bobcat. It had to stop. The bad guys are dead, Serena. Think positive, and let go the past. So, finding a suitable rock to sit on, Serena decided to do a little meditation to soothe her worried heart. “When I see him, I’ll know the right words to say,” she notified the birds. It may sting for a bit, but it’s for the best.****Raphael showed up at the base of the mountain with time to spare, and noticed Serena’s Jeep already parked. Perfect, he thought. He checked his pocket for the millionth time, making sure the ring box hadn’t fallen
Leesa's Advent Chapter 722
Raphael watched Serena leave the nursing home from behind one of the bushes in the front. She seems in good spirits, he thought. Only when he saw her disappear down the street did he dare to venture out of his hiding place. He walked into the nursing home and headed straight to the reception desk.“Hello, I’m here to see Mr. Sikes.” He smiled amiably at the receptionist.“Wow, two visitors in one day. Fred’s a lucky guy. Sign in right here, please. You’ll sign out before you leave. Take this badge so we know you belong here. Room 103 is down the hall, make a left, and he’s at the end on the left.”He looked at her name tag, and winked. “Thanks so much, Judy.”Walking down the hall, he found himself fidgeting with the badge in his hand. Am I actually nervous? Hell yeah! Raphael, the man, is about to meet the father of the woman he loves. Raphael, the man, is about to ask for this guy’s daugh
Leesa's Advent Chapter 721
Great! Just great! There’s a leak in my bedroom ceiling. Wait a minute, that’s not right. I’m not in my bedroom. I’m locked away in Dr. Chappo’s house. She remembered more. Being bound to a gurney, her body broken and dying. But I’m not lying on a gurney now, and I actually feel great. How could she be dying and still feel great? And what’s with the rain shower on my face? Slowly her eyes fluttered open, and she gasped.It was raining. Angel’s tears. Raphael’s tears, to be exact.She lay in his arms, and from the way he shuddered and sobbed, she thought maybe he didn’t know she lived. To be honest with herself, she’d only realized this fact just a few moments before. Iridescent wings were outstretched and trembling though no breeze made them flutter so.She gently raised her hand to caress his cheek and whispered softly. “Shh…there now, Raphael, shh. It’s all right. I’m ok
Leesa's Advent Chapter 720
Raphael noticed a knob on the box. It made sense to dial it to its lowest setting. He followed the tubing to its clamp on Serena’s side and decided to completely clamp it off. Now, no more blood could flow. But he still needed to get the needle out of her arm. He found gauze and tape on the tray stand and proceeded to extrude the catheter from her arm carefully so as not to injure her. He replaced it securely with the gauze and tape. His hands shook. I can’t fall apart like this right now! He quickly shrugged off the threat of paralyzing fear.“Hey, Raphael, this guy says his name is Steve. Isn’t that the name of one of guys who assaulted Serena?” Gabriel asked.“Yes, yes it is,” he said through gnashed teeth. Rage filled him and he clenched his fists, trying to gain some semblance of control. “Bind him, tightly. Make sure he can see Dr. Chappo. I’d like him to see what happens to assholes like him when they choose
Leesa's Advent Chapter 719
Searing hot pain shot like lightning throughout every inch of Serena’s body. Well, every inch she could feel, which left her very disturbed indeed, because she couldn’t feel anything past her waist. She could barely breathe without severe pain ripping through her chest and back. She knew what that meant—broken ribs. But what about her legs? Where were they? And why did her wrists feel shackled? Oh, dear God! What’s become of me? Her shallow breaths quickened. Her heart raced and fought for freedom behind her aching chest. Tears burst through her closed eyes and flowed untapped down the sides of her face.A voice sliced through the whooshing sound in her ears. A voice she knew all too well, and had come to despise with every molecule in her being.“Uh, Doc, I think she’s coming ’round. What do you want me to do?” Steve asked.“Hmm? Oh, nuffin. Nuffin, Seeve. Jus’ keep watchin’,” Dr. Chappo sl
