Aida showed me the way to the elevator and pressed the button that would take me to the highest floor.As it moved closer to whatever new version of Hell Lord Lothaire had in mind, I began to experience some strange sensations.The dazzling lights over my head gradually transitioned from pure white to a kaleidoscope of hues as they continued to alter.As I held out my hand, I observed the droplets of color as they spread across my skin and moved up my arm toward my shoulder.When the colors got to my throat, I started to taste each one individually. There was a lovely banana, in addition to green apple, blueberry, and cherry.Next to her, Aida said, "Liberty, are you experiencing any symptoms of illness?"When I turned my head, I could just make out the woman's outline through the blur of colors moving over my field of view."I'm alright," I exhaled, even though I was approaching my destination. I felt really calm.I had to squint to see that she didn't truly believe what I was saying
Aric was fuming as he grasped the driving wheel, his knuckles growing white as he clenched his fists tightly. "You've known for a week that mum is being detained against her will, and you didn't tell me?"Emily retorted furiously, "Dude, we haven't talked in months! I didn't know if you would even accept my call!"Aric said defensively, "I phoned you exactly two months ago on your birthday.""Right," his sister chuckled angrily, "a complete five-minute phone call during which there were at least three minutes of awkward silence involved. Yeah, that was a call to remember."As the three people in the automobile got closer to the light on the horizon, a profound quiet descended upon them.After a prolonged period of stillness, Aric sighed and muttered, "I'm sorry."Emily's response was, "I know, dummy." "We just need to figure out how we'll get mum out. I'm sure dad has the place buzzing with guards," said the daughter. "We must figure out how we'll get mom out."Henry said to the two o
I couldn't help but chuckle as I leaned into Aida for support since my legs felt like they were turning into rubber.I said, "Were you aware that colors have strange tastes?"Although Aida did not respond to my question, she did give me a goofy grin.While watching a butterfly flit over her head, I told her, "I mean it; colors taste strange."When the elevator doors opened, I spotted my new acquaintance Lara standing on the opposite side, with a substantial man supporting her arm.I cried, "Lara!" before collapsing into her arms and giving her a bear hug. "I missed you!"The man looked at us and said, "Oh crap." Lara, what did you gift her for her birthday?I couldn't help but chuckle as I grabbed Lara by the hands and pulled them until the other person let go of her. "She gave me a hug, stupid," I said.We were grinning and laughing as we went around in circles together, which caused the folks around us to look at us as though we were completely nuts.I wanted to share my finding wit
As the queen cast her gaze at Aric, Henry, and Emily, the three remained still.Lady Leanor glared at each of them with her blue eyes, demanding to know "why in the world" they had attacked her bodyguards. "Why in the world would you three assault my guards?"Aric's angry response was, "We thought we were saving you." "We thought we were saving you." You deceived Emily by sending her secret messages, telling her that your father had misplaced your wallet and that you were being kept hostage.His mother sighed with relief as the anger and rage left her body. "Oh," she said.She stated this while staring at her children with a sorrowful expression. "I'd given up on you two ever finding it out," she said, glancing at her children. "So I changed tactics. I discovered a means to interact with the outside world and contacted some of my previous supporters."She proceeded by coming forward and saying, "With their support, I was able to replace your father's guards with my own one at a time,"
When I came in the middle of the night, I felt like I had spent the previous night sucking on a pair of old sweat socks.I had to brush dry gunk out of my eyelashes before they would open, and when a bolt of lightning flew through my brain, I immediately wished I had kept them closed. I had to rub dried gunk out of my eyelashes before they would open.A woman's voice could be heard above me saying, "Good evening."I cautiously opened my eyes, hoping that it wouldn't hurt as much as it had the last time, and as I glanced up, I saw Aida staring down at me with concern in her eyes."How are you doing?" she inquired. "I'm OK."The only sound that came out of my mouth as I turned away and buried my face in my pillow was an audible "ugh."I could feel the edge of the bed sink as I listened to her sigh, and she said, "Yeah." "It appears that Lara gave you one of the special tablets she manufactures," you said."Here," she said, handing over a cup, "sip this."I could see, through the cloud o
While Leanor and Aric waited for her connections to return to her, Leanor asked Aric, "Tell me about Liberty." Aric responded by telling Leanor about Liberty.Henry and Emily had left him behind with his mother to go get Aric's car, leaving Henry all by himself with his mother.He leaned forward and rested his elbows on his knees as he continued, "I don't know how to describe her." He went on to say that she was unlike any other human he had ever encountered."She's a living being?!" His mother sputtered, her eyes widening in surprise as she stared at him."Yeah," he said while lowering his head in shame.And you say that you adore her?" Leanor questioned, her voice becoming more conciliatory."I do," he nodded.And do you know whether she loves you?" She prodded, attempting to gain a better understanding of the problem.Aric heaved a sigh and lowered his shoulders as he said, "I don't know." He thought she may, but it's possible that she was just doing what she believed she needed
Aida comforted me with kind words as she held me tight and waited for me to cry myself to exhaustion.After finally weeping myself to oblivion, she wiped the tears away from my eyes soothingly."Are you done?"Are you ready?" she said, stroking her palm down the length of my back. "If I don't get you ready, we'll be late."As Aida rapidly reapplied my makeup and restyled my hair, all I did was nod and sit still in the chair.She assisted me in putting on an outfit identical to the one I had been wearing the night before. The only difference was that the arm cuffs she put on me this evening cinched securely closed and had little silver loops down three of the sides.As she watched from a distance, she gave a downcast nod of approval.She reattached the leash to my collar and walked me back into the waiting room. As we went through the door, I had a momentary loss of balance."Aren't we going in?" I inquired while craning my neck to get a better view of the door behind me.Over her sho
Aric spat out the word "no" as he rose to his feet. "No! Emily should have the throne; I have no desire to sit on it."Leanor responded while attempting to maintain her composure, saying, "But the law says it must be a male."His voice cracked with exasperation as he said, "Come on mom," he continued, "it's the fucking twenty-first century!!"Emily yelled out, "He's correct," as she joined her brother in the position of prominence. "If you look back at the history of vampires in general, our people have always been led by men, and as far as I can tell, every single one of them has messed things up,"Henry called out, "Here, here," as he moved closer to his companions and joined them. "You got my vote!"Aric approached his mother and inquired, "What do you say?" as he stepped in her direction. "Would you be willing to ascend the throne if we were able to remove your father from it?"Lady Leanor gave the three people who were intently staring at her some thought as she surveyed their fa
The following morning, Liberty's mother came. She was saddened by the little details she knew about her daughter's ordeals, but overjoyed to learn that she was still alive. She embraced her daughter and her new husband, albeit with some reluctance.The newlywed couple's private apartment, located in a brand-new structure that Aric had selected as his seat of power, served as the setting for the day's festivities honoring them.The tower of suffering built by his father was going to be dismantled and lowered to the ground since this was already in the planning stages.Henry was given permission to transform Alfie, and a ceremony was arranged for them not long after his love awoke into his new existence not long after the ceremony was held for them.Two days after their hasty wedding ceremony, an announcement was made publically declaring the new Lord and Lady of the Northwest Territory. This notification was sent out by the law.Even though many of the lesser lords agreed with Lady Lea
When Aric's mother glanced at her son, completely disregarding my presence in the room, I couldn't help but nibble the inside of my lip nervously.Aric began by giving my hand a firm squeeze before rising to his knees and bending over his mother. "Mother," he said, "You did come to me earlier and tell me that Liberty was concerned that I might become like my father, did you not?""Well," Lady Leanor started, no indication that she was ashamed or trying to be deceptive, "sure I did since that's what she said."Aric continued, his tone becoming increasingly agitated as he vented his frustration, "You also insinuated that she had merely been using me until she could find someone with more authority to go on to.""What?"Emily inquired as she abruptly jerked herself upright, interrupting the conversation as her eyes swept over her mother, her brother, and me."Because she did," Leanor yelled at me while directing her murderous glare in my direction. "She leaped at the chance to abandon y
Aric took Liberty in his arms and led the way back to the chamber that he had staked a claim as their own.After temporarily leaving her to make arrangements for her mother's arrival, he returned to find Liberty standing naked under the stream of hot water coming from the showerhead.When he saw the scars that disfigured the previously smooth surface of her back, he couldn't believe that he had ever had any reason to distrust her.He undressed and joined her, then let his fingertips run over the scars his father had left in her flesh.While his arms were wrapped around her waist, he whispered into her ear, "For each and every one of these, I guarantee you a million wonderful moments."Liberty let out a contented sigh as she lay her back against his chest. She cherished the sensation of his strong arms surrounding her and protecting her at that very moment."Well," she continued with an invisible smile that suggested she was being playful, "you have eternity to do the work."Aric renew
When Aric looked down into my eyes, he muttered, "I know you worry, and I promise that with you by my side, I can cope with everything."I drew his lips back to mine and whispered the words, "I love you."I needed to feel him against me now more than ever. As I reached up, I fumbled around frantically, trying to undo the buttons on his shirt, and I was almost in tears since it felt like such a challenge.At long last, I could get it out of the way and get a feel for the velvety smoothness of his chest beneath my palms.Aric's hands were fumbling at the hem of my own shirt, pushing it up and over my head as I heaved a sigh of relief.After he freed his lips from the cloth, he kissed a path down my chin, going agonizingly down my neck and finally latching on to my nipple after pressing the cup of my bra down.I couldn't help but sigh in contentment as I ran my hands through his thick hair and gently cradled his head in my arms.I murmured, "Aric," with a longing for buildup buried deep
Aric's determination was almost shaken when he saw the agony in Liberty's eyes, but he managed to keep it together.If his mother's statement was accurate, he has been led to believe that she lied to him during their relationship. She has exploited her body to win his love and ensure her own future success.It seemed as though the evidence had been staring him in the face the whole time, didn't it?Because he had more authority, she ended up being his father's plaything, but as soon as that strategy backfired, she instantly found a way to get back into his bed.Aric muttered an expletive under his breath as he watched the woman who had once been his darling struggle to stand."Aric," she pleaded, tears streaming down her stunning face, "Aric, please, let me explain."While he had her by the shoulders and was choking her, he spat, "My mother explained enough." "You are more than a deceitful person who took advantage of me.""I never once exploited you," Liberty said under her breath as
Before I can continue, I need a few moments to collect my thoughts and proceed.I was finally allowed to talk to Lady Leanor when I told her that Lord Lothaire had brought me here and that he had made me one of his slaves."Did he cause you any pain?"Aric's mother questioned with sadness and anxiety on her face.I could not stop the tears from falling as I said, "Yes, ma'am," but "in ways, I wish I could forget."Lady Leanor groaned as she took another sip from her cup and remarked, "He was a dreadful beast."I nodded in agreement as I wiped my cheeks and said, "Yes, he was."When I looked up, I sniffed and said, "You know, I always wondered how a guy as violent as your father could have a kid as great as Aric, and I think I know the answer.""He had you," I said as I stood up and maneuvered my way across the cramped room to embrace the other woman. "Thank you."She was perplexed as she questioned, "For what?"I conveyed it to her while gazing down at her and saying, "for your compas
Liberty followed Lady Leanor into a cozy sitting area close to the office where Aric was working.Leanor stayed standing as she gazed down on the younger woman who had been chosen as the companion for her son and gestured for her to sit down."Are you hungry?"she enquired, noticing that she was beginning to feel hungry.Liberty said gently, "No, thank you," while wriggling uneasily under the inspection of the more experienced vampire.After nodding, Lady Leanor walked to the other side of the room and picked a blood bag out for herself. After ripping it apart, she transferred the blood-red liquid into a nearby cup before returning to her seat across from Liberty.Leanor couldn't help but emit a tiny giggle at the other woman's puzzled expression.Her voice was filled with mirth as she remarked, "I despise the taste those plastic bags leave behind in my mouth." "Call me old school, but if it's not coming directly from the vein, I prefer to drink it out of a cup," you can say that abou
"My mum!" I said, startled to realize that since I had sent her the little letter, I hadn't given her a second thought.As I whirled around to face Aric in a state of terror, I could hardly get the words out.I choked out the words, "I have to get to her!" "I don't want her to learn from anybody else about what happened to me.I pleaded with him, "Please, Aric," as tears filled my eyes.He reached out to wipe the tears from my face as he said, "Of course, my darling. We can board the plane and be there in forty-five minutes."When I heard the word "plane," the recollection of the last time I had been on a plane with Lord Lothaire caused my legs' knees to weaken.When I started shivering because of the recollection, Aric grabbed me about the waist and held me close while he seemed to understand that he had made a mistake.Despite Januarius's gift of peace, the recollection horrified me. All the atrocities I'd been forced to endure at Lothaire's hands rushed through my mind as though th
Aric's dispute with his mother continued until he discovered that Liberty was no longer in the area.As he looked around the room, he noticed that she was nowhere to be found at that point."Mother," he replied, holding out his hand to prevent her from offering yet another scathing response, "I am going to marry her regardless of what you think. I love her!""Love is not enough," Leanor said angrily in her response.A voice came behind them and said, "Love is enough."As Aric turned around, he noticed Liberty standing in the doorway, her chin lifted proudly over her chest.As she proceeded, she moved closer to Aric and intertwined her hand with his as she stood next to him. "Januarius informed me that our love was extraordinary," she said. "If he believes in us, then what gives you the right to doubt us?""I know you think you..." Leanor paused, staring at Liberty with a suspicious expression on her face. "I know you think you..." "Did you say Januarius talked to you?"Liberty said, "