Chapter 19It was then that my head finally cleared enough to be able to hear what was going on around me. I could hear Jade crying softly from the couch. I forgot what a good relationship they had. They were friends. I could see the anguish on Ambrosia’s face. She knew what Katrina meant to me, and she knew I was hurting. I turned back to Ramses who was just sitting there, in the same spot he had been this whole time. I saw him looking down at Katrina's body on the floor. The look on his face was that of pure agony and distress. I put my hand on his shoulder. “Let’s take her to the mortuary. We need to let her sisters know.” I said. He just nodded and started to stand, picking her up with him. Then he materialized away. I stood as well, and looked solemnly around the room. I picked up Pandora's Box from the floor where Ramses had set it, and walked it over to Ambrosia. She stood and wrapped me in a bear hug. “I’m so sorry for your loss… I’m so sorry.” She said. I just wrapped my ar
Chapter 20We stayed in the cave for a while, mostly in silence. I knew my brother needed this, and maybe I did too. The strange thing was the feeling of magic in that cave. I swear I saw some sort of shimmery substance by one of the rocks going further down into the cave, but in my grief stricken mind I’m sure I imagined it. As my brother and I headed out of the cave system we walked in silence. Grief was a strange thing, and I have always thought this. “Look, I’m going to need some time to process this. I will be ok, but please just let me have the time I need. Next week on Saturday we are going to celebrate Katrina’s life, in New Orleans. It will be a party to top anything that has ever been done before... But until then, I need to grieve. I’m going to go back to your house, and get Jade. She needs to grieve too, and we can do it together. I will reach out when we are ready.” He said. I nodded to him and materialized home with him by my side. It had been hours since we left, and e
Chapter 21(Ramses)Once I got Jade we materialized, and I have no idea how or why, but we ended up in the Sea Caves. I mean, I guess I understand why, my mind is there. But I was actually trying to get us home. I guess I just needed to be here instead. “Where are we?” Jade asked, taking a step out of my arms. I stayed silent for a moment, and then looked down at the slight fissure in the rock. We were literally standing on top of the fissure, the place that took Katrina’s life. I swallowed hard trying to push back the emotion from Titan that was threatening to push through. He hated it here, and I also hated it here… Why did I keep coming back here? Oh yea, GRIEF, that is why. Fuck this place. My thoughts were a barrage of bullshit and I was barely keeping them contained. “This is where she died… Right here, under our feet.” I said softly, and Jade just started crying. Her and Katrina had gotten close since I brought her home and I knew this was a big hit for her too. I pulled Jade
Chapter 22I poured another drink and threw it all back at once trying to help calm myself. What the fuck was I thinking? This has got to be the dumbest thing I have ever thought… But how else could I get her back? It was the only way. "What if I'm not even over there?" Katrina's angelic voice rang out from behind me. I turned around to see her standing by my bedroom door with her arms crossed. I was so happy just seeing her again, even if it was just dream her. "You have to be over there, darlin. Because if you aren't then I don't even want to think about the damage I would be causing... I can't think like that. Everything that happens after will be worth it as long as you are back in this realm with us." I said. "You shouldn't risk it." She said. "I know, but I have to try to save you. I can't accept you being gone. I just can't." I said. She just nodded to me. I knew I was just arguing with myself. It wasn't worth it. I stood from the bar, and turned, walking towards Katrina. I p
Chapter 23I about shit my pants when I saw how many people were already here. It looked like he used magic to change his entire property to accommodate thousands of people. The bronze gate entrance to his home was open and welcoming. There was a red carpet a little ways inside the gate, and it was completely lined down both sides with cameras and paparazzi. Multiple reporters and news crews were there as well. This was so over the top it reminded me of the Blood Ball, but even more extravagant if that were even possible. We stepped onto the red carpet and got completely bombarded. I couldn't tell you how many pictures were taken, or how many cameras were recording. Reporters were trying to ask us questions. Lots of questions about the underworld, questions about my pet, questions about Katrina and how we knew her. I couldn't help but smile because this was so Ramses. He was the flashiest person I knew, and this was exactly his style. We ignored all the questions, of course, and I t
Chapter 24(Rowen) Ambrosia was wearing the most beautiful rose gold dress. It had a crossed front design that accented her full chest. It was long to the floor In the back, but shorter up front and had slits up both sides to her thighs. It wasn't glittery, but the fabric had a silky shimmer in the right lighting. It matched my rose gold suit perfectly. Her collar was dainty and looked more like a necklace than a collar, which I preferred. It matched the rose gold bangles on her wrist, along with the ring I had given her at the Blood Ball. I smiled when I realized she never took off. Ever since we got ahold of Pandora's Box, the scatterings of bioluminescence were ever present in Ambrosia’s every move. When she walked, a small dusting of bioluminescence scattered the ground at her shoes. She ran her hand through her hair and dusted small plumes of bioluminescent orbs around herself like magic. It was amazing, and paired with her in this dress I was going absolutely wild. “Too bad w
Chapter 25“Rayne and Alpha Drake saved us a few tables upstairs. Nico and Amethyst are up there with them as well, let’s head up there and get some food ordered while we wait for the crowd.” Raziel said, and then he turned and headed up the stairs. Raphael handed Topaz some champagne and they followed him up there, leaving me with Rowen. “Ambrosia, doll, why don’t you head up there as well. I need to speak to my brother for a moment.” Rowen said to her softly. She nodded her head, then turned, grabbing some of the champagne too, and followed behind Raphael. “How are you holding up?” Rowen asked me. I just took a breath in and exhaled slowly. “I don’t know, brother.” I said, putting my head down. Rowen put his hand on my shoulder. “No one ever said you had to be strong through this. We understand, and we are here for you, man.” Rowen said. I looked up and locked eyes with my brother. I could see his pain but he was hiding it well, for once. “I know, I just… How am I going to live th
Chapter 26We got back to the table and I picked at my plate for a bit when a man I didn't recognize came walking up to our table. He was tall and large in stature. He had obsidian black hair and it was a little longer and straight. He was a Vampire, that much I could tell. “Ah, Rowen, there you are.” The man purred. His voice was like silk, but he exuded power. I could tell he was someone important. Rowen stood from his chair to greet the man. But I could tell my brother wasn’t interested in talking to him, whoever he was. “Lucian, so good of you to come.” Rowen said. “I’m sorry for your loss. Katrina was a lovely Witch. I do wish you had brought her by sometime. I would have loved to have picked her brain.” He said. Rowen just looked at Lucian with a death glare, but didn’t say anything. It had me wondering how Katrina knew this man. Then Lucian looked over at us all at the table. “I see you all are enjoying my pets?” He purred. Ah, so this was the Vampire King, Lucian in the fles
Chapter 49Ambrosia placed the six of us around the small altar style setup she had with the mushrooms and the lake water from her room, plus a few other tools. Once we were all exactly where she wanted us, she started speaking in that Archaic Fae language that no one but Azrael could understand. She kept chanting a series of sentences and she mixed the mushrooms she had previously crushed up, into the lakewater, and then drank some. She passed it to Raziel who was closest to her. He followed suit, and passed it to Raphael, who was next to him. We passed the jar until everyone of the six of us had ingested some. Then Ambrosia stood and turned her hand palm up, but this time she summoned the amulet instead of her Box. Once she had the amulet floating just above her hand she clasped both hands over it and started chanting something entirely different than what she started with. It was still in the Archaic Fae language, so I had no idea what she was saying, but the amulet in her hand w
Chapter 48(Rowen) I could hear everything Ambrosia was saying, and of course, I heard when she said that Azrael and I should speak to one another. As much as I despised that dirty Angel nowadays, I didn't always feel this way. Believe it or not, we were friends once. I had the feeling that if we never got past this it would be a miserable rest of our lives. Neither of us can die, and we were both clearly in love with the same woman. Ambrosia left the room with a snicker on her lips, and I figured it was now or never. "You know that this is going to be a long rest of our lives when none of us can die." I said, and I saw Azrael smile. "You don't have to worry. I do not plan to pursue Ambrosia. I know she belongs to you, and for the first time, I will respect that." He said. I was taken aback, I couldn't believe he said that. He definitely has grown in the last millennia. "I'm speechless. I didn't expect you to say that." I replied honestly. “I’m sure there is a lot you wouldn’t exp
Chapter 47When morning came, Rowen and I got ready for the day and ate breakfast, before he mind linked his brother's and Nico. I had to go to my realm to get Azrael, but that wouldn't take long. The meeting was set for noon, and everyone so far was down to come discuss the amulet. I had told Rowen to keep my idea and re-forming The Keepers a secret. I wanted to tell them all myself. We had discussed the ritual and the process in depth while we waited. I think it was more of me going through it out loud, than actually discussing it, but it helped at least. This was nerve wracking, and I couldn’t afford to mess things up. When it was finally close enough for me to go to my realm and get Azrael, I kissed Rowen goodbye. I knew I would see him again in a few minutes, but still. I would never get enough of this man. I called my Box forward and touched it, transporting me to my realm. This time though, it transported me to Hilda’s. It was night time and Azrael was on the couch watching a
Chapter 46(Ambrosia) I left my realm feeling powerful. Like I was in charge, but in essence I was. I was in control of an entire realm. The feeling of being Pandora never really set in, but after what Azrael did, it was starting too. It made me think about the way the creature of the night treated me while I was there. And I noticed that while I was there with Azrael, the creatures didn't bother us. It had to be because I am Pandora now, and there is a different level of respect and magic that comes with the title. I had never been anything my whole life, just a Human who’s family made a stupid mistake and caused my life to be a living hell until I was purchased by Rowen. I had never been a leader, never been in charge of anything before. And now I had my own realm, and an Archangel to help protect it. It made me wonder if we should build an army of sorts, train warriors to protect our realm. I realized also that we could send anyone to my realm to live there. It didn't have to be
Chapter 45(Azrael)I could see a spark of fear flash through Demitri’s eyes as I sauntered towards him in my full form. The last time I spoke with him was the day he did the ritual that split me in two. Andres and I then promptly killed him afterwards, but apparently, he didn’t die. I knew that he was the head of The Others. He wasn’t just a Vampire either, no… He was a Vampire/Witch Hybrid but it didn't end there. He was an enhanced Vampire/Witch Hybrid. He was more powerful than a regular Hybrid due to the enhancements, but he was still able to be killed. So, this had me wondering what exactly those enhancements did to enable him to have survived the brutal slaughter he endured at the hands of myself and my brother. I will tell you, we were not kind… And we definitely didn’t leave anything behind. His magic was powerful, I will give him that. “You, of all people, should know that I'm a little harder to kill than that…” Demitri said, with a sly smile. “I know this now, but you wil
Chapter 44I looked up at Azrael, noting that his chocolate brown hair was falling beautifully on his face, before speaking what was on my mind. “We have been looking for The Others for a while now. The whole reason any of this even happened was because Katrina fell in love with Rowen, and gave him the amulet for safekeeping. However, she didn’t tell him what it was, he just thought it was a necklace. Well, Rowens mate of 176 years was working with The Others the entire time they were together… Once he found out a few months ago, he killed her. That’s what started this whole thing. He put the amulet on me, not realizing it could transport me if I were in danger. The Others tried to capture me, causing the amulet to send me here for safe keeping. He’s been hunting The Others ever since. We have succeeded in killing one of them, and then ransacked a warehouse, eliminating a bigger crew… But we know they have numbers that we don’t even realize. It's exhausting, honestly.” I explained. A
Chapter 43"I want to merge my pack lands and your coven lands." She said, and then paused, giving me a second to comprehend her ask. "Merge them? As in make them one and the same, rather than divided?" I asked, mostly clarifying if that is indeed what she meant. She nodded. I knew she could hear my thoughts, my doubts at the alliance holding, my surprise that she would try to take on this big of a task. But I also knew she could feel my absolute pride in her for taking a step and trying to make changes that no one has ever done before her. "I know it has never been done. I know that every species has their own lands and they usually stick to their own kind, at least for the most part… But Beta Sean's twins are Hybrids. And they have to hide their abilities from everyone because of the old ways. The old rules are terrible but followed still, and no children should ever have to deal with that. If I was able to successfully merge the pack and your covens, can you imagine the strength w
Chapter 42(Raziel)“I miss you too, darling. We have been pouring over these files for hours and still have nothing. This was a waste of time, but we couldn’t leave any stone unturned. Get some rest, I will be home as soon as I can.” I purred to Rayne through the mind link, before returning to my stack of paperwork. I took both of my hands, rubbing them over my face and into my hair as I sat up straighter trying to assess the mound of papers in front of me. It had been hours and still, we had come up with nothing. The Others were as careful as they were clever when hiding shit. The only thing we found was proof that they were hireable hitmen. Besides that, these papers were nothing more than receipts and money laundering documentation. All illegal as hell, but nothing that could help us figure out their plans or locate the rest of them. Taking out one of their buildings was like crashing a car of someone who owns ten more. A small dent in their status and that was it. It was infuri
Chapter 41I wandered upstairs to my room to change. I was still wearing the funky 90s outfit that I had on from my closet back home. I knew Rowen was not that impressed with the style. He would rather have something modern on me, and rose gold, of course. I carefully removed each piece of clothing, hanging them back up in my closet together before picking out something else to wear instead. I grabbed a rose gold sundress and threw it on. I probably should have washed my other clothes before hanging them after everything I did while I was wearing them. But I decided it could wait. For now, it made me feel better to just see them hanging next to my other set that I was wearing when I came back here for the first time. It was like a small piece of home resided here, and it helped calm the nagging pull, if only just the slightest bit. My thoughts of Pandora’s Box, of my Box, flooded through my mind as I reminisced. I had just left, I hadn’t even been gone that long but, honestly, it fe