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Chapter 545
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2024-10-29 19:42:56He wore a dark blue raincoat that covered him down over his hips. He’d come upon us in that silent volkaane way while I was distracted by the complexities of my talk with Leesa. I could see the tension in his limbs, showing he was ready to spring if given the chance. Tiny blue flames flickered menacingly from his fingertips. I imagined I could hear them crackling.
I wondered what was stopping him. Why had he given me warning? Besides their magic fire, surprise has always been the volkaanes greatest weapon against us.
Slowly and with great care, I rose to my feet and let my fangs drop from my upper jaw, ready for battle. A low growl escaped my throat.
“I said get away from her, Stefan,” the volkaane repeated, his voice dark with barely restrained fury.
How did this volkaane know my name? And if he did know me, he should know of my strength as well. So why had he given up the advantage of surprise? Distracted as I was by my conversation, he could easily
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Leesa's Advent Chapter 546
One thing I knew for sure — my conversation with Leesa was far from finished. And after my parting remark about Edwina, I knew she would be equally interested in talking with me.I waited a couple of days—leaving the caverns too frequently would set a bad example for my fellows, not to mention that it might be seen as taking advantage of my status as a Council member. Normally, I have the patience of a saint—an undead, blood drinking saint to be sure—but this time my eagerness was difficult to contain. My talk with Leesa had left too many questions unanswered. Something inside me told me that somewhere in those answers might be the opening I was looking for. I needed to find it.The day had dawned bright and sunny, but I didn’t care. I could contain myself no longer. As much as possible, I would stick to the shadows. My hooded sweatshirt would protect me from the sun when necessary.Now that Leesa was aware I knew where she lived, I
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I raised my eyebrows. I had not expected that answer.“His girlfriend, huh?” I repeated. I let a small smile played upon my lips. “Edwina always did like to play with her humans.”Leesa’s expression darkened. “What do you mean ‘play with’?” she asked tremulously.I had to be very careful with how much I told her. “Vampires don’t usually take human boyfriends or girlfriends,” I said. “We kill them, or turn them vampire, sometimes make one a feeder.” I leaned forward, resting my forearms on the table and letting a little more feeling into my gaze. “If there’s a human we are especially drawn to, we turn them and make them our consort.”I watched closely for he
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The bargain was a simple one: in exchange for Bradley’s freedom, Leesa would agree to let me turn her vampire and become my consort. Simple does not mean easy, however—giving up one’s humanity is a huge decision for most. I told her to take as much time as she needed to think about it. She promised to have my answer within a week.The arrangements we agreed to were also simple. Every evening at sunset I would wait for her in the parking lot of Gillette Castle, a place located not far from our hidden caverns. If her decision was no, she could simply tell me and leave; if her answer was yes, I would be ready to release Bradley.For six nights I waited in vain, but I didn’t mind. I told myself the wait was a good sign—if she had decided to accept my answer, she would probably h
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Leesa stepped forward and placed her hand lightly against Bradley’s cheek. I could only imagine what his skin must have felt like to her. “Bradley?” she said.The boy lifted his head. His eyes seemed to find some focus as he looked at her.“Pumpkin?” he said hoarsely.Tears streamed down Leesa’s cheeks at the sound of his voice. She dropped the umbrella and threw her arms around her brother, holding him close, as if she could will warmth and life back into him.“Yes, it’s me,” she said. “Leesa.”“Leeee-saaa,” Bradley whispered. He seemed to gain strength from her presence, from her touch. After a moment, he pulled his head back and
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A few weeks passed, frustrating weeks to be sure. I was still unable to make sense of what had happened when I tried to transform Leesa. I discussed the incident with Ricard, but he was as much at a loss about it as I was. Neither of us could come up with a logical explanation for why Leesa had the taint of grafhym in her blood.Ricard’s advice, however, was simple: I should let her go and move on to something else. Unfortunately, I suspected that was going to be easier said than done. Even though I had not seen Leesa since that fateful night, the pull I felt toward her remained as strong as ever, grafhym or not.I was still mulling over what to do next when Edwina approached me in our caverns. She pasted a smile upon her face.
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The next time Edwina left the caves, I followed her. I had nothing more than a feeling that she was up to no good, so I trailed her at a discreet distance, following her spoor and staying well beyond the reach of her vampire senses. It would not do to be caught trailing her if she were truly just out hunting for a feeder to replace the one I had taken from her.My concern grew when her trail crossed the river and headed north. When I followed it onto the Weston College campus, my concern turned to anger. Edwina had no need to come to the college—unless it had something to do with Leesa.I slowed my pace when I came to the edge of a wide field. This time of night, the field was empty save for three figures gathered near one end. Edwina and Leesa stood facing each other; Leesa’s friend Cali was
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The psychic summons was both powerful and brief. Ricard’s words echoed in my head. Come. Now.All vampires can sense the presence of other vampires when they are nearby, and at a somewhat greater distance when one is feeding. Not all are capable of sending thought messages, though—that particular talent took many, many years to even begin to master. Ricard had been vampire for a thousand years and had mastered many skills. That he was the vampire who had turned me only added to the strength of our psychic connection.I wasted no time obeying his call. I hurried through the dark labyrinth of our caverns to his quarters, making my way to his outer chamber. This room was the second largest cavern in the whole place, trailing only the immense council audience chamber in size. Ricard awaited me in the middle of the room, standing motionless with his arms folded across his broad chest.“What is it?” I asked. When we were alone, there was no nee
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Wallace and I waited several steps inside the entrance to our caverns, each dressed in black pants and a black hooded sweatshirt. The dark clothes would not shield us from the eyes of the vampires we would be hunting, but they were not meant to. The clothes would hide us from human eyes, allowing us to flow across the landscape at vampire speed without being noticed.The sun was invisible behind a thick layer of clouds, but vampires do not need to see the pain-giving orb to know when it has set. Genevieve and Dara joined us a moment later. They were also dressed in black pants and sweatshirts, one of the few times I ever remember seeing them so dully garbed. Usually, they favor dresses of purple, lavender or crimson, reminders of those bygone days in Paris, I assume.I felt no need to issue any final instructions—I had provided my companions all the details they needed during our earlier talks. We waited a few moments for the darkness to deepen, then glided from
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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
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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
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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
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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.
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
