Chapter 18We pulled into The Academy and my head was still in a daze from my realization. I didn’t want to accept it, but I knew that wouldn’t matter. Fate had made its choice. I threw my keys to the valet who was an attractive little brunette but I paid her no mind. I just walked towards the door, and hoped I could get inside without anyone bothering me. The realization that I had was huge, and I wasn’t sure how to cope with it just yet. I walked past the front desk, and forced a smile at the blonde boy behind it who was gawking at me. And headed up towards my room. “Jarvis, run me a hot bath.” I said to my phone before I got to my door, knowing that he would be doing it when I arrived. Before I stepped inside my room, I turned around and took a look at The Academy. There were Hunters bustling about, some coming and some going. I noted the decor plastering the walls, and the intricate staircase I had just walked up. I looked down below the balcony where my room sat, and noted the Hu
Chapter 19My nerves were shot when my car pulled into a small cemetery that backed the ocean under the cover of a large cliff and many large trees. I looked out my windshield in awe as we passed old sandstone headstones and some neat looking statues and benches. It had always been somewhat of a strange obsession of mine since I was a child. I wanted to see every single cemetery, I loved how each cemetery had a differing layout. I loved how each cemetery told a story with its inhabitants and you could tell how old a cemetery was by the headstones it produced. The sandstone headstones, for example, told me that this particular cemetery had been here a very long time. I thought I was the only one who knew this, but I had spent many hours of my life in cemeteries across the United States while Hunting. It gave me an excuse to explore. I saw Damiens Ferrari not too far down the path and Jarvis pulled up right next to it. My heart was hammering in my chest, partially from excitement at whe
Chapter 20Show me? What did he mean by that? I suddenly was nervous but my curiosity was more prominent. I reluctantly set my hand inside his and he pulled me over to him, placing me in his lap so I was facing him in a straddle position. His thoughts were very apprehensive, and he was contemplating what to show me first. Though he didn't give away a single detail, and that in itself made me wonder, yet again, if he knew I could read his mind. Then he surprised me by pulling me into a deep kiss. The lightning spilled from his touch, dancing across my lips and throughout my body. Suddenly I wasn’t sitting with Damien in the cemetery anymore. I was standing next to him watching an event unfold. He had a hold of my hand and was determined not to let me go. This place was familiar but I couldn’t place it in my mind. We were in an alley and it was just after sunset. You know that time when the sun has gone down and the beautiful colors are spilling into the sky but it’s not quite dark yet?
Chapter 21It had been quite some time that Damien allowed me to cry in his arms. When I was finally done, and I didn’t think I could cry another tear, he let me go. I got to my feet and I looked at the man sitting on the ground before me. The snow had covered us and the ground at this point, and was still falling wildly. “What do I do now?” I asked Damien. I had no other family, no friends, no one to call. I was lost and orphaned in a back alley, with a strange man comforting me. “Who can I call for you? Where is your father?” Damien asked me. I shrugged, I had never met him, I had no idea who he was. I don’t even think he knew about me if we are being honest. “I don’t have any family. It was only me and my mom.” I said. The look on Damiens face was that of sadness. “Where do you live? Let me take you home to gather your things.” He asked. “We are staying at The Academy in town.” I said, and watched as Damien froze. He just realized we were Hunters, and the way he looked at the bla
Chapter 22We were standing outside the door to one of the many rooms within The Academy. I could see Damien knocking on the door and I laughed a little because he was so damn daring. A Vampire, just waltzing into The Academy like he was one of us. Not that anyone could really tell at a first glance, as the Vampires had mastered the art of blending in. But there was still a sort of ethereal beauty about Vampires that I don’t think they really knew how to cover up. At least not if you knew what to look for. We were trained to spot the subtle differences in The Academy. Not that I ever needed that type of training, all I had to do was touch someone and I could know instantly. It had me wondering if anyone else had the same enhancement I did. Not that I would ever tell them though, even if they did. My attention was pulled back to the door as it opened and a 13 year old me stood in the doorway. I was shy and timid, very different from what I am now. The light caught the obsidian stone ha
Chapter 23He came around the corner shortly, and I held my knife up. “Why are you following me?” I demanded, but even I could see that the gifted mate bond was taking effect. My 14 year old self didn’t know what to think. I didn’t lower the knife, but I could see that the thought process in my mind regarding what I was planning to do, and what I was going to do was completely changing. “Snow, lower the knife, I’m not going to hurt you.” Damien said. I took a few breaths in, and then lowered the knife, seating it back in my holster. I facepalmed myself again while watching this unfold, this gifted mate bond really made me do stupid shit. “Who are you?” I asked. “My name is Damien, and I was following you because I wanted to buy you something for your birthday. Were you planning on going to the boutique?” He asked. I nodded. “Well, lead the way.” He said and put his arm out, gesturing for me to go first. Never in a million years would I have entertained a complete stranger, but this gi
Chapter 24He wrapped his arms around me and held me there for a bit before pulling away. "I know you are confused, little one, but please just trust that I have your best interests in mind, always. Now let's get your paperwork done." He said. I nodded and took a seat next to him while I started filling out the paperwork. "It asks me if I can put an emergency contact on here in case something goes wrong... I have no one, do you think I could put you?" I asked him. He smiled at me. "Of course, my name is Damien. And my number is 909-663-8197." He said, as I scribbled his information down. "Thanks." I said, and kept writing. I watched Damien watching me as I filled out my enhancement paperwork. He was enamored, floored, just by being in my presence. I knew I felt the gifted mate bond, and clearly he did too. I didn't understand it, of course. How could I? I didn't even know this man, and while I know I had an inkling that he was a Vampire, my 15 year old self never said anything about i
Chapter 25I started to stir soon after and my eyes started to flutter open. I was disoriented. I remember waking up, except I was alone in the room. I was always alone and I was used to it. This memory was a lot different than what Damien would have me remember. As my eyes fully opened, I locked them into Damiens when I saw him gasp. I was still in too much of a daze to realize what he was doing but watching from the sideline I could see his shock. I knew it was because my intense blue eyes had now turned onyx black, just like my hair. That seemed to be the only thing that changed on me, but what a change it was. Damien reached for my hand and I knew now that this was the first time I was able to hear thoughts. Damiens thoughts were the first thoughts I ever heard. He was thinking about my eyes being black and what a shock it was, and then he was thinking of killing that doctor. “My eyes are black?! You don't have to kill the doctor, Damien. I knew the risks when I agreed to this.”
Epilogue(Snow)Damien took my hand in his as we locked eyes. “Are you ready?” He asked. I nodded then looked back at my mother who smiled at me. Today was our funeral, and against my wishes Damien had sweet talked me into attending. Not that we could see the whole thing, but what kind of funeral would it be if we weren't there at least for a moment? That argument to me seemed silly, but Damien was gung ho about it. We tuned into the funeral proceedings. I was surprised to see Jericho leading them. It had only been a week since we had passed on and I knew he was still a new Vampire. The amount of control he was showing around a room full of potential food, was impressive. I wanted to hug my friend and tell him how proud of him I was for his progress. I turned my head to check out the room from Jericho’s view. That’s when my mother gasped out loud. I almost copied her when I saw the sheer amount of people who were in attendance. Every single seat in the entire place was filled. There
Chapter 79“Clark, It’s Damien. I’m going to need one last favor.” I said. “Of course, Damien, what is it?” He asked. I have 2 bodies I’m going to need you to pick up. Funeral arrangements have already been specified in the document I will leave for you. As always, money is no issue and I trust that you will charge me for all of it.” He said. “Of course, sir. I can have the coroner there in a half hour.” He replied. “Thank you, Clark. Truly, thank you, my friend.” I said, before hanging up the phone. I looked at Jericho and nodded. He nodded back to me. I walked over to Max’s body and pulled Snow’s knife from Max’s chest. I walked over to Jericho while Xavier grieved over my gifted mate. “Do not feed from him, he needs to stay alive. Snow would kill us both if she ever found out that something bad happened to him. You have my will, you have everything you need. Give this to Clark when he arrives. It has the instructions I have specified. Burn this fucking place to the ground once Clar
Chapter 78Xavier ignored us both and kept trying to find a way around the barrier. It was no use, I couldn’t even penetrate it. I could still feel Snow, but it was pointless trying to get inside. I sent Xavier home after a few hours and just kept coaching Jericho down, and helping him to understand his Vampire tendencies. He was going to struggle with this, just like I did. Which was normal. Snow, on the other hand, was a unicorn. She barely struggled and was able to keep her composure easily. It was her powers that she struggled with and I knew this. I wanted to know what the hell Max was doing to her to cause me to not be able to feel the gifted mate bond anymore. Jericho needed sleep and even though I didn't plan to sleep, I knew I needed to as well, otherwise tomorrow was going to be a lot harder. It was just too hard to sleep with my gifted mate in danger. And I knew she was in danger, I could feel it. I sent Jericho back to the house, but threatened him not to eat another perso
Chapter 77(Damien)I had a terrible feeling as I watched Snow leave my house to meet with Max. Something inside just nagged at me not to let her go. Had I known what the next 72 hours was going to bring, I would have never let her go. Rarely does my gut instinct send me astray. This was a fact. I started making preparations immediately after her departure. “Jericho, you still here?” I called out from the hallway. He poked his head out of his room a few doors down. “What’s up boss?” He said. “It’s time.” I replied, and I watched him stiffen and pull his head back into the doorway, coming out a second later without his equipment. He walked up to me and nodded. ‘I’m ready.” He said. I ushered him into my room and over to my desk while I rifled through papers until I found the will. My last will and testament.The second Snow became a Vampire I had a feeling that something terrible was going to happen to her. I took Jericho aside and made him promise me that he would be my sole beneficiar
Chapter 76I looked over at my mom with wide eyes. “See, I told you.” She said with a laugh. I smiled, this place was so strange. I looked out the window as we drove. Everything looked the same as before I died. The town was the same, I was still in Maine, still close to Damien. It baffled me that I hadn’t ended up somewhere else. “How does it decide where you end up? Like why am I here, in Maine still? And not home in Nevada?” I asked. My mother shrugged. “I guess it knows where your unfinished business is.” She said. My heart sank as we pulled into the resort that Max was staying at. I knew exactly where Damien was, and I wasn’t sure if I was ready to walk up there and see him like this. I knew full well that he had found my body, and he would be absolutely distraught. My mother had always been a mind reader, I swear. “This is where you were killed?” She said, as if she knew exactly what I was thinking. I nodded. “I killed myself on accident, actually. Its stupid, but I had to in or
Chapter 75I found myself in the front foyer of The Academy, covered in someone else’s blood. I briefly recalled the events that I believe led me here, but they were a blur. My heart ached at the loss of my fake life. It was just a physical pain, I knew that what I had in the real world was better, much better than anything Max could have given me, but my mind was still jumbled from his hallucination. My thoughts then strayed to Damien. I was relieved that he would be safe in my real life. No matter what this place is, no matter what happened to me, he would be safe now with Max dead. That, I was sure of. My thoughts vanquished when I snapped back to reality, or whatever this was. I was in line behind a few others. These were Hunters I recognized, friends and foes. People I had grown up with, people I had spent my life working with. No one was talking, and everyone looked as beat up as I did. The line slowly moved but I couldn’t hear anything that was being said at the front desk. It
Chapter 74We got back to the suite and Max immediately turned his gaze to me. I knew exactly what he was thinking. I snickered to myself at the smile creeping on his lips. How did I get so fucking lucky? He was such a damn catch. Way out of my league. “I know what you’re thinking, doll. But… We need food.” He said, putting his finger to my lips. “I’ve got something you can eat.” I said, with a smirk. Within seconds he had me pinned up against the wall next to the closet and smashed his lips into mine. I knew that would get him. At this rate we would never eat, or leave this room. I decided to play hard to get, switch things up a little. I snaked out of his grasp and took off running across the room. I smirked when I heard Max’s growl at my escape and I could feel his feet padding on the floor behind me. I felt like he was letting me get a head start, I knew he was much faster than I was. I turned as I got close to the bathroom just in time for Max to tumble into me, tackling me causi
Chapter 73He pulled away first. “No more, I have already had a hard enough time keeping my dick in my pants, let’s not make it public, doll.” He purred. I just laughed. “Ok, ok.” I said, with my hands up in defeat. “Let’s just make it through the conference, and then you can have me the rest of the entire day if you choose.” Max said. “Deal.” I said. He grabbed my hand as we headed out of the suite and to the elevator. His thoughts were a mess of me naked, the conference, the merge. He was nervous but also more excited than he had ever been. The company was about to take off, and the shareholders would benefit from buying stocks right about now. I let my mates' thoughts calm my nerves as we headed past the front desk. “Oh dear, you look so much better this morning!” She said. I thanked her and waved, catching Max’s eye as we went outside. “What was that about?” He asked. “Oh I don’t know, something about looking like I was crying last night. I’m not sure.” I said. He chuckled. “If yo
Chapter 72The elevator opened and I headed towards the end of the hall. I pushed open the doors to Max’s suite and walked inside, taking my heels off and setting them by the door. Max walked out of the bathroom wrapped in a towel and we locked eyes. “Ah, Snow. you’re back sooner than I expected.” Max purred. “And you’re a hell of a lot less clothed than I expected.” I said with a smirk, letting my eyes roam his nearly naked form. His rippling muscles cascaded down his chest and arms. His towel hung low, accentuating the deep V that was partially hidden by the towel. “I think you forget that I am the one who has won the grand prize here.” Max purred, as he sauntered towards me. I met him halfway as our lips collided, sending lightning and cool fire dancing between us. Max pulled away and leaned his forehead against mine. “I love you, Snow. I love you so fucking much.” He said. “I love you too, Max. You know I do.” I replied. He pulled away the rest of the way and looked at me. I could