《Redemption: The dark night》 1 1. The meeting of the gods. The room was cold a result of the power emanating from the gods as they sat around the round holy table. The walls felt tighter. Although far apart, it felt like they were closing in on them. The only noise that could be heard, the harsh breathings of the angels that served as personal messengers to the gods. There was no fire, nor heat just cold, freezing air and unbearable silence. Each of the gods had taken a seat in Oceania, the centre of the world of Neptune, the home of all the gods. The meeting was presided by Zeus, the king of all kings and the god of all gods. He sat on the high chair in the middle of the table with his son at his right hand side and his wife at his left. There was not a smile on anyone''s face as they sat around the round table thinking and contemplating. Their faces edged from the fear of war. The life of the people of Neptune was being threatened by hades and they were at a loss on what to do to stop him. "The question is, if indeed the prophecy is true can it be averted?" Apollo asked. His eyes shone like the sun, his skin glowed like fiery clay, his red lips were curved in a frown. He seemed to be more affected with the turn of events than any of the gods because the people believed greatly in him and he loved them sincerely. "I don''t care If the prophesy is true or not. I do not care for it to be averted. I want Hermes dead and I want him dead before the first festival. This throne shall never be contended. The prophecy be dammed." Zeus growled. His voice causing the wall to close in even more on the other gods. When he was angry they feared. He hit his staff on the ground in fury, his eyes did not leave the golden altar that was set in front of him. A total of six gods sat on the round table their eyes never leaving Zeus. Demeter, Apollo, Aphrodite, Hephaestus, Ares and Hestia. Aiden the son of Zeus who was at his right hand was less concerned with the happenings of the gods. The war was not his to worry about and he did not like to worry about it. He watched with little concern whilst stopping himself occasionally from yawning. His father had never sent him on a war before he won''t now. He still could not understand why he was asked to be in the meeting in the first place. A god he was, yes, but of what use was he if he knew not how to fight. He had been quiet through out the meeting What was he to contribute? He had no place amongst them, they had never made it more clearer than they did now. Only his friend Apollo spared him a glance when he walked in. But he was here for his father and he wouldn''t let their arrogance discourage him. He was the youngest of all the gods and had much to learn from them. His father would always tell him the best way to learn was to listen. He was to listen only and maybe one day he would be sent on a war. His feelings about this was that of ambivalence. He had lived his life like a tree in the wind from birth, waving opinions wherever the wind sent him. The wind, his father. "You say it like it''s easy. No one of us can step into the gate of hell and return. Except those of the original blood and you know that." Aphrodite said. She flipped her white hair back exposing her veined neck. The gown she wore flowed down her legs and her skin was as white as snow. She too was worried and like others she didn''t have a plan. "I''ll go then." Ares stood, courageous as always. His arrow slung on his shoulders and his sword glistened on the table. The god of war never chickened out of a battle. He was the god of war after all. "I''ll bring him to you on a platter of gold my Lord." "Don''t be stupid Ares." Demeter admonished. Her pretty lips curved in distaste. "This is not a war with Demons, this is going to hell. This is no time for courage___ "Enough of this bickering." Zeus bellowed. He had no time for this, the prophecy must be stopped by all means yet his fellow gods seemed not to understand the severity of the matter. If they did they would not be here waisting his time with meaningless things. "My son will go." Zeus breathed. 2 2. Deciding. His words shook him as much as he did his son and others. Aiden''s eyes widened as he was forced to look up at his father. Aiden had watched the gods argue with mock amusement and disinterest in the issue but when he heard his father call his name he immediately became alert. His blue eyes glowed as he stared at his father in shock. Although he was a god and had the blood of his father making him second to his father. He had never once been to a battle field his father never allowed it before why now? He swallowed, his ears must be failing him. He turned to his father in protest. "But father__" "My decision has been made. You leave by night fall. Bring me his head on a platter." Zeus turned to him and placed his hand on his sons shoulder. "You are my son and the gate of hell shall not harm you." "But you can''t do that! Aiden has never been to a war before and then you send him for the most dangerous. I cannot permit it." Apollo objected standing up. His golden eyes shone in fury. "And you don''t have to, he is my son." "If he is then you should know better than to send him to a war where he would probably end up dead. Zeus think about this!" Apollo beckoned him with a pleading voice. "Even if you won''t change your mind permit me to make a warrior of him before you send him off." "My word is order, that is how it has been and that is how it will always be." Zeus said firmly. When Apollo saw that he couldn''t convince Zeus otherwise he looked over at his friend Aiden for help but he wasn''t speaking. Aiden stared at his father in shock. He felt nothing at that point but fear and disappointment. A god should not fear they would say. A god should fear nothing he told himself over and over again but it didn''t stop his blue eyes from twinkling in fear like the rays of the star. "Do you not trust my judgment Apollo?" Zeus asked calmly. Both eyes locked with fury and Apollo turned away. But he knew that he wasn''t going to give up so easily. Something did not just feel right. When the argument stopped the walls became tighter for Aiden. Hera looked at the man she loved with pain, anguish almost tearing through her. She should save her son, she ought to, but to challenge her husband in front of lesser gods had it''s consequences which was worse than death. She tore her eyes away from her son with great difficulty as she walked behind Zeus to the higher table. Zeus sat on his throne and Hera joined in. The throne was made of gold and diamond. It shone as bright as the sun powered by Apollo himself. And as Zeus sat, the brightness increased a thousand. Calling the gods to stand on their feet, all six of them stood. "It is my ruling today. I Zeus god of Oceania have ruled yet again that my son, Aiden, shall leave by nightfall fall for the gate of hell. Only to return after with the head of Hermes or never to return." He hit his staff on the ground and all the gods disappeared as a loud thunder struck the heavens gate. Zeus ignored the disappointing glare Apollo gave to him as he too disappeared from the palace. Immediately the gods left Aiden rushed to his fathers side, his eyes twinkled with anguish and fear. He almost fell to his knees before his father but was restrained only by shame. "Father I''ve never been to a war before! Do not bring death upon your only son!" He pleaded meekly. He stood at a distance from his father so his father won''t notice just how much of a coward he was. But his father knew already, he needn''t hide his cowardice from his father. Zeus sought to teach his son the act of bravery by all means possible. The son of a god would not be a coward especially not his son. "And that''s why you have to go for this one. The people of Neptune see you as a coward that hides behind the shadow of his fathers glory. Someday you will rule and if the people do not respect you now they won''t respect you then and the kingdom will not stand. You have to earn your name son just Like I did mine. You should no longer be referred to as the son of Zeus but by your own name." Zeus spoke, his deep bass voice firm. If there was ever a doubt in Aiden''s heart it was cleared. It became obvious that his father was not going to let him off the hook this time. His mind had been made up against him. Zeus felt his wife tense up before him, he could sense that she wanted to intervene for her son so he gave her a signal not to speak. "What If I do not return father?" Aiden asked. He scoffed. "I doubt that I shall return, father please give more thought on this matter." "If you do not return then the prophecy will be fulfilled and we all shall go up in the flames of Hades, but I shall not give my word and take it back. There is no more thought to give on this matter, it has been decided and I''m not changing my mind. You hold the fate of Neptune in your hands now son." 3 3. Hell In hell a loud raging laughter could be heard from the far ends of the palace. The laugher came from the happy and prosperous lips of Hades and his children. The palace was at this time filled with the elders and spiritualist of the kingdom. They watched as their plans manifested with ease. "He is bringing his son." Hades laughed as he watched all that happened in Oceania from his spiritual mirror. The Mirror showed Aiden sitting lonely and scared after he had excused himself from the presence of his father. "Zeus is a proud and stupid man. How dare him send that little boy that disgrace of a son here to kill my son! His pride will be his fall and that of the other gods." Hermes growled in laughter. Hermes was the son of Hades, his true heir and future destroyer of Neptune as the prophecy had said. The night was dark and the fires of hell burned around them shedding light into their glowing eyes as they gathered around and spoke in glee. "I''ll take him down for you Hermes. You don''t have to soil your hands with his blood. He''s no match for you." Zena, Hermes only sister spoke as she straddled her brother sitting on his laps, her lips upturned in an evil smile. They both drank wine from the same cup. The sits were all covered in fire. "No sister. I want to meet this little boy. I''ve heard he''s an Angel. Oh the things I could do to him!" Hermes licked his lips. His sister glared at him for a while and then finally understanding what he meant she burst into laughter. She was getting more and more amused. "Alright then he''s yours. But," She paused placing a finger on his lip, "Don''t be selfish brother. Please do share him with me. I''ll also like to feed off his innocent glory." "Oh no sister. You have a lot of play things let me have this one but If he isn''t much fun then surely I''ll give him to you. Anything for you." Hermes smiled. He kissed his sister a sign that a deal had been settled. They both smiled. Hades who was at this time talking to the elders looked at his son in admiration. He was blessed to have the devil himself as a fruit. His sons eyes shown red just like him but unlike him sometimes one could see the fire in his sons eyes. His son burned his enemies with just a look. A true heir he was, the true son of Hades. "Make sure you don''t kill him immediately. That would be no fun. Break him son. Break him so much he forgets his name break him so much he forgets who he is. Create for him his own hell." Hades smirked and paused his lips. Then watching his son again he continue. "And when you''ve created his hell make his fire you." Hermes chuckled at his fathers excitement. His sister had turned around now to see also for herself the glow on her father''s face. She smiled heartily, while she rested herself on her brother. She too was proud of him, she too loved him. "Be careful." The high priestess suddenly groaned and everyone turned to face her as she spoke with urgency in her voice. "Speak, What troubles you?" Hades asked the priestess his brows crooked in suspicion. He adjusted himself in his throne of fire eager to hear the prophecy that the priestess has been shown to by the earth. Her eyes had turned white and she was no longer in her body but her soul was now moving to and fro the garden of light. In a voice of a thousand she spoke drawing to herself the attention of all that was present. "Heaven and hell shall meet in fire. A love that would join both, and destroy both a love of fire and ice. The prophecy shall be fulfilled if only this love is not giving into. If this love is made true nothing will be able to stand in the way not heaven nor hell. Not family nor duty. Not pain or pleasure. If this love comes true there will be only it and there will be no end." Everyone looked at the high priestess in astonishment as her eyes returned back to it''s brown orbs. Hades sighed. Her brown eyes took in all the expressionless faces around her and she breathed out willing herself courage to speak again. "The battle is not against heaven but hell." Hades looked at his son, they both shared a glance only them understood and in that moment Hermes promised his father loyalty. 4 4. Secrets Aiden had been in his room since his father made the proclamation that he leaves Neptune by nightfall. He had to see Hestia his sister and lover before he leaves and he had quickly summoned her into his abode. He was waiting for his sister, while he paced the room restless. His gloomy eyes didn''t leave the secret door his sister was to use in entering his Chambers. His room was all white like the cloud having only a bed for when he deemed it fit to rest. Although gods do not need to sleep they needed to rest. Most times however, the bed was used for making love. He finally stopped his pacing after a while. Troubled about his sisters lateness he perched on the bed then shifted inside. He caressed the satin sheets loving the feel of it, it reminded him of his sister whom he loved. He feared that she might not come that once again she may have broken a promise to him. His heart sunk with the thought of it. Didn''t she hear that I have been sent away to die? Does she feel so little of me that she doesn''t dim it fit to see me on my last day in Neptune and maybe my Last day alive? He questioned no one in particular, he was getting angry. This was all his fathers fault and___ Aiden heard the secret door to his room move and he Quickly jumped up thankful that Hestia had kept to her promise. He stood up, turned back and saw her standing before him in all her beauty. She wore a red scarf that flowed down to her legs and a white gown that was just about the same length with her scarf. Her neck was adorned with golden jewelries and her skin was as shiny as gold. "Sister." Aiden finally said breaking the spell that locked both their eyes together immediately she stepped into the room. He walked to her and pressed a kiss on her forehead holding her close. "Father has sent me on a journey of no return sister." He spoke with sadness. His eyes filled with tears. "He really hates me so much, haven''t I told you sister, he will do anything to keep me away from you. He will do anything to keep us apart." "You speak such sad words Aiden." Hestia sighed releasing herself from her brothers tight embrace. "I''m sorry I didn''t come for the meeting. I should have been there, I would have stopped him. Mother, mother is useless in these matters, she can''t stand up to him even for her own son. I''m ashamed. Take my hand brother." She said stretching forth her hand. Aiden did as she said. Taking her hand they both sat on the bed, hands together, eyes locked. "Even if you were there you cannot challenge father you know that. I won''t let you endanger yourself for me. We''ve seen now how he shows no mercy." Aiden sighed. He pressed his sisters hands reassuringly. He was so thankful that she was here. His blue eyes were fixated in his sisters green ones, he loved them with all of him. He caressed her hands with his thumb and kissed it. "I don''t want to loose you sister you are all I have." "And Apollo what did he say about all this." His sister asked drawing near to him so they could feed of each others want. "He tried to reason with father but father would hear nothing about his thoughts. In the end he left in anger, my poor friend." "I hope you are not upset with him, I know he would have done more had he not recently fathered a new born child, what''s his name." "Baby Lucius." "Lucio." He said in remembrance. "A fine little child he is like his father and God father." Hestia could not hold back the stray tear that fell down her cheeks as she spoke. Aiden wiped her tears away with his finger and licked them, his eyes not leaving hers as they were filled with such tenderness. "You don''t have to cry for me sister, I''ll come back to you." She held her brother tightly drawing him close to her. "I don''t want to lose you too. I should have blackmailed him. I should have done something, anything to stop him." "You can''t do anything, I won''t let you. You will be cast away. You were supposed to be a Virgin sister." "A Virgin yes but he made me sleep with him." Hestia argued she knew Aiden was right but she was too hurt to accept the truth. "You had broken the vow first by sleeping with me if you hadn''t he wouldn''t have thought about taking advantage of you. It''s all my fault that you have been put in this chaos maybe I deserve what I am getting. Maybe father doing this on purpose to punish me is exactly what I deserve." Aiden sighed. "Love is not a crime. I love you and willingly gave myself to you." Hestia muttered her voice low. She removed her hands from Aiden''s, raised his chin up and moving close to him so she was almost sitting on his thighs she kissed him. That was all the sign Aiden needed to unlock his fierce desires. He returned the kiss fiercely. His hands moving to her scarf to pull it off her head so her gown remained her only clothing. Her cleavage showed through the gown reminding him of what lied underneath. When they stopped kissing to catch their breaths he looked lovingly at her and smiled. "You are beautiful. Alway''s beautiful. So beautiful." She grinned at his confession. Her heart flustered. She wiped his lips with her thumb. Her core throbbed when he pulled a little part of the skin with his teeth seductively staring at her. "And I am yours." Her eyes held his as he brought his lips up to hers and she kissed him yet again holding his hands to hers. Their kiss was gentle at first each wanting to savor the last moment they had together before he leaves but when her tongue touched his lower lips he lost his bearing. 5 5. Nightfall By nightfall Aiden was physically set to leave. Mentally he still couldn''t bring himself to gain enough courage to want to leave and he wasn''t sure that he ever would. No amount of time will ever be enough to prepare him for the doom that awaited him. But for the time he spent with Hestia he would have chickened out from his mission, he still could but he had promised her that he was going to do right by her, by his beloved sister. He had decided after that intimate moment with hestia that he had to prove himself, to his father, to his people and to Hestia. He had to prove that he was no coward like the people believed him to be. And for the first time the joy of no longer being in his fathers shadow appealed greatly to him because this way he could fight for Hestia. Fulfilling this mission would make him better and stronger than his father, he Innocently thought. As the one who saves the kingdom and stopped the prophecy he would be reverenced more than any other god. He could finally stand up to his father and get Hestia all to himself. It was safe to say that Aiden was doing it all for love. When he left the room to the portal that served as the boundary between heaven and hell his mind was made up. And although his feet shook as he walked his steps were steady. Before him stood his father, mother and the other gods. The people watched from afar some in fear not wanting to lose their sworn leader others with Indifference. But everyone had one thought in common. The belief that wasn''t going to make it. Hestia was standing by his mothers side looking the same way she did when she walked through his secret door, beautiful and pure. He adverted his eyes from her with great difficulty and moved closer to his father who had stretched his hands to welcome him. Zeus had promised his wife yesterday while she cried that he was going to give Aiden a reason to come back and he hadn''t forgotten. With his hands resting on Aiden''s shoulder he spoke. "My son If you do succeed in your mission then I shall grant of you any thing your heart most desires. You have only to ask of it and it will be yours for the taking." Zeus promised his son with authority and finality, his eyes beaming. He looked at his wife who nodded in appreciation. "Is this your word father? Do you swear to this?" Aiden asked skeptically, he wanted to make sure his father repeated the words he just spoke and that the gods heard him well. Because he knew what his heart desired most his father might not grant him. He looked around for his friend Apollo and meeting his eyes Apollo nodded, then his gaze moved to his father. "Whatever your heart desires, I''ll give to you my son. It is my word and it is law now." Zeus repeated already knowing what his son desired most but caring less. He would not come back alive he knew that. The high priestess had stripped him of his power. He should have known better than to taste from the food his father had reserved for himself. Zeus thoughts angrily. Aiden''s eyes met with Hestia. And though they did not speak their eyes communicated. She nodded to him tears falling from her eyes as he turned his back to her. The portal opened with a raging thunder and a great force was felt In Neptune. The heat that filled Oceania caused a gasp to escape from the lips of the gods. It was obvious that Hades had gotten stronger. His fire no longer had the weakness of the early days, it was clearly consuming. "I could go with him to protect him." Apollo pleaded stepping forward but Zeus asked that he move back with a snap of his fingers. Apollo wanted to protect his prince and his friend but there was nothing he could do now except in secret. Something didn''t just look right. Any of the gods could have gone for the battle why Aiden who had never been in one? Aiden didn''t know the first thing about war so why him? Zeus had a secret and he would find it out what it was? Aiden starred at the portal with fear, his body trembling with the heat. Hestia failed to curtail her emotions, she ran to him and hugged him tight holding him tight. She slid something into his pocket without him knowing and then buried her head on his shoulder and sobbed silently. "I shall return to you." Aiden promised her caressing her back soothingly. "I promise you." She pulled away from him with great difficulty and stepped aside so he could hug his mother also. His mother was shaking but she was not crying. She was the Queen after all and she must be seen as brave. She had to be for the king at every point. "Come for your blessing." Zeus instructed. He was to bless everyone who was going to be sent on a mission and although he knew this time the blessing was useless. He would yet do it to fulfil his duties as king of all gods. "Because you have the blood of the supreme, my blood, then you shall be like him. You will trample upon all the powers of hell and and all shall bow before you. Your light shall extinguish all darkness in your path and your path shall be free from evil." When Zeus was done with the blessings he cast his staff on Aiden''s head. In tradition it was to bless him but now he did it to make sure that there was no power left and he had been turned completely human. Aiden didn''t feel his power leave. He stepped into the portal with Hestia in his thoughts. All the gods watched as it closed and Apollo was immediately summoned by Zeus. Hestia started to cry more when she suspected what Zeus might have done. The utmost betrayal to get rid of his own son. No one heard the faint whisper of the high priestess. No one saw her eyes turn white but all heard when she said. "Heaven and hell shall meet." 6 6. Bring him to me. In hell every human turned demon and every demon and elder and every evil force rejoiced for the time was near. The time to fulfil the prophecy. Hades eyes lightened up with expectations that could only be likened to that of Hermes, his son. However, Hermes expectations and happiness quickly died as his eyes showed red. For the first time Hermes could feel the fire around him on his skin and within him. It felt like he was burning from within, brought to his knees by a higher force. He ignored this feeling. His face remaining expressionless. "Son why Don''t you go pay our visitor a little homage. He is from heaven after all it''s not a rare occurrence to get a visitor from heaven isn''t it? What kind of host would we be should we fail to welcome him from our gates" Hades laughed out loud along with the elders. He was sitting on his throne of fire with Clara on his left and Hermes on his right. Hermes could feel that he was getting weak and had to feed of some adrenaline. What better to feed on but pain? His eyes closed with anticipation. "Of course father. I won''t like to be seen as a bad host." Hermes chuckled darkly. He bowed his head and appeared right in front of a frightened Aiden. When Aiden entered the portal he was met by strong intensity. He had never felt such intensity before in heaven. Heaven had always been cold only when there was a high standard meeting and Apollo came was there heat. The god of sunlight always brought with him a certain warmness to heaven but even that warmness was subjected to his state of mind. He had never left Neptune his father never allowed it, so all he knew for centuries was the cold. When he got into hell His first Instinct was to cloak himself and he had thought he did but then as he walked further, watching and enjoying the activities of those in hell, enjoying their sex escapedes, plays and games, he strangely felt like they saw him but chose to act like they didn''t. He was just about to take another step when a huge ball of fire appeared from underneath him throwing him off balance. In it a man appeared and Aiden gasped. He was the tallest man he had ever met. About 6ft 5''. His eyes were as crimson as blood and his skin was the colour of fire. Hermes watched the man before him amused. He looked scared speechless. Had he not been feeling strange he would have laughed at the situation. He was in standing now in front of a being from Neptune and he was not the one shaking in fear. But, why did he smell like a human. How can Zeus send a human to fight in the land of the Hades. But there was something about this human that appealed to him. This human was the son of Zeus. Aiden is human, Hermes thought confused. What game is Zeus playing. "Who are you?" Hermes asked. His voice was so deep it sent shivers down Aiden''s spine. Aiden looked at the man before him who seemed scared of him. Naively, he thought that the war had been made easier so he smiled. He raised his hands up to the heavens and closed his eyes willing hell to freeze over so he could defeat Hermes and leave. He opened his eyes immediately he closed them with the painful realization that he had lost all his power. The smirk on his face quickly disappeared and with it his hope. He looked at his hands and at Hermes. "What have you done!" He screamed enraged. He tried to blow out a tornado but still there was nothing and that''s when he felt the reality of it. He just then realized that all his powers had been taken away and he was only able to survive walking into hell because the blood of the supreme flowed in him. "I guess you are Aiden." Hermes laughed. "Oh things just got more interesting." He threw a punch to an unsuspecting, pained Aiden. And Aiden lost consciousness his last thoughts were of Hestia. 7 7. The judgment. @@ Apollo stood now In front of Zeus awaiting his punishment for speaking against him. His eyes held no fear because he felt none. No punishment could make him regret standing up for his friend. "Your son Lucius has been cast down to earth and his heart taken away." Zeus spoke. Apollo moved closer to the throne not believing his ears. "What did you say!" "Oh don''t worry, he is still immortal but with him Is the dagger of the sun. Should he want to return one day all he has to do is extinguish himself " Zeus shrugged. "But then again all he will know will be earth. He won''t even remember you. He shall be an outcast, a vampire and you Apollo will live everyday of your life with the knowledge that you are the reason why your son will forever hunt for blood in loneliness." He laughed. "You cannot do this!" Apollo growled, rushing to Zeus with the intention to angrily tackle him down, but Zeus being a stronger god shoved him to the wall with a single breathe. "I have already done it. But, not to worry the sun will never hurt your son." Zeus said, laughing heartily. "After all he is still your son."@@ 8 8. He fell. The soul is willing but the body is weak. All you have is you and all that will remain with you in the end will be you- hence you have to learn to enjoy your own company because in the end you can only be sure of yourself. There is no one who should love you more than you love yourself and no one, will care and take care of you more than you. So you should love yourself. Loving yourself is the most important thing Darling. Everyone is selfish. Everyone wants to succeed first before others, everyone wants to be the best and only a few people think of others first before themselves. I have encountered so many fake friendship and so when I tell you this know that it''s the truth. The so called real friends I have left, I cannot say for sure If they are real or not Yes I am alone and that''s not mainly because I am an introvert although that''s part of it. I''m alone mainly because I have nobody, no true friend cause no one is true to me. They only expect truth from me but don''t want to give it to me. I wonder why they demand that which they do not deem fit to reciprocate. No one truly loves you as you only your family and I have learnt that the hard way. Unfortunately, now when I have come to realize this, the truth, I have no family no more. It''s just sad isn''t it. But life comes with pain we just have to accept it. After all pain demands to be felt. Doesn''t it? This is what Monica wrote in her diary as she rested her head on the head rest of a seat outside of her campus. Her eyes pricked with unshed years at the truthful yet painful realization she had just accepted. Like many people this century she was saddened with depression. She was in search of a path. She wanted to know for sure where it was she really belonged. In earth or maybe in another world or maybe no where at all. No matter how stupid it may seem to others, this world did not appeal much to her. She considered it too fake. It had nothing to do with her town or the people in it. Ocean city was beautiful, a beautiful small town surrounded by the ocean and magnificent trees in exotic Forests. But like they say there is not a good thing without a bad, and good cannot triumph without evil. However in this beautiful town there were rumors you see. Rumor''s of creatures, creatures who did not belong in the beautiful city. Creatures of the night. But the questions still remained to the knowledgeable, in ocean city which kingdom decides the fate of everyone? The vampires? the werewolves? Or the witches? The humans were not counted of course, they were mortal. To Monica and many naive humans like her, it was plain stupid to think that any other beings existed that weren''t humans. It was just inconceivable and incomprehensible to believe these rumors. So most didn''t pay heed to the warnings that the night fed the weak, most like Monica. Monica was quite the na?ve one. She loved to stay in campus till it was dark and even after dark. Like the wolves she could not resist the moon or the dark. In nights like this she didn''t want to leave. She wanted nothing more than to be lost in the night, her vision lost in thick blackness. Much to her luck, she lived alone so no one cared if she was back home early or late except the nice security guard who was nice to every one including her. Sweet old guy. There she was still sitting so close to the Forest until everyone vacated the school premises, and there she remained till everyone went home even the bad boys. It was getting darker and she loved it. After all, no one looked for her, not even her so called friends. Not that she had any real close ones now anyway. She was never the girl to make friends, kind of preferred to be alone with her diary. Besides all of her friends were ready to party as it was a Friday. She was not ready to, No, no, in parties horrible things happen. The last one she went to she was almost arrested. A story she would not want to remember again let alone tell. Parties scared her a bit but people, people scared her a lot. She didn''t care if there were dangerous supernatural creatures, she always considered humans to be quite dangerous themselves. She stayed in her hideout until it was very dark. When she became too exhausted looking at the moon she stood up. The cold attempted to freeze her blood. She tried to wipe her cheeks but the tears were already dried up, unlucky her. She could just imagine how scary she looked. But she didn''t care. She was in the forest, her hideout, just at the back of her school and she has heard funny stories about here just like everyone has. Funny but scary stories. Stories about vampires and wolves and Voodoos. Hilarious I know, don''t come at me though. I''m not the one who carries these rumors to be honest they are ridiculous! Or are they? Anyway, she stood up in a final resolve, deciding although painfully that remaining alive was more beneficial to her than watching the full moon glow. Although the moon appeared most beautiful this night. It was a painful decision for her to make, but then she didn''t have another choice seeing that what she was wearing wasn''t fit enough for the cold. Ocean city barely had summer. She carried her handbag on one hand and her books on the other. When she stood she staggered out of exhaustion. She suddenly realized how tired and hungry, and hungry and tired she was. Her legs could barely serve their purposes, but they had to if, they wanted to remain on her body. Whilst she was walking out of the forest she felt like she could hear voices from the distance. But she ignored them. It must be because I''m tired, she thought to herself although she herself didn''t believe it considering that she increased her pace, but it wasn''t good enough. Suddenly, she saw something flying to her so fast her heart stopped and she froze, literary. The shock paralyzed her and the cold did not help in anyway. She was scared to look up and scared to look down. After the panic had worn off leaving her with a twice as much beating heart she finally looked down. Whatever was flying fell close to her feet and she was not about to have it eat her feet. "What the fuck!" She screamed, when she saw what it was that fell on her feet. On her feet laid a man who did not look so good. 9 9. Lucius. It was already past nine and there was no one in the school and no one close to it''s vicinity not even the security guards. Her screams got lost in the thick, dark forest. She knew that if this man should kill her she had no one but herself to blame. After all there had been a warning that no one should be at the school or it''s vicinity after six but she decided to get lost in the dark so it was her fault. Stupid! stupid! Monica. She considered all she had heard about the forest as mere rumors. Rumors to scare thieves away and keep students from fucking in the forest. Well cancel the last part, who fucks in the forest. Besides this was a man and not a vampire or any of that sort. She was jumping over the barrel like she always did. She snapped out of her frozen state and tried to run refusing to look at the body laying at her feet. She didn''t get him here so he had better leave without her, besides whoever that did this to him was still lurking around the corner and she was not about to find out who. However, when she took a step backwards, a hand held on to her leg. "Let me go!" She screamed again, this time not stopping. You know the kind of scream you scream when you see a thief? exactly! that was how she screamed. She was sweating, shaking and could have peed herself had her bladder not been empty, dry and in dying need of water. Her heart was beating so fast she feared that she would pass out. The body didn''t move, neither did it say anything but it still did not let go of her. It was like he drew strength just by holding her, OK that''s ridiculous, or is it? Scared she turned back to the body her heart beating rapidly in her chest. There on the floor lied the most Handsome man she had ever seen. So handsome she screamed a second time. Alright, you caught me she didn''t exactly scream but she gasped though. its not everyday you get to see a man this handsome. She had never in her whole life seen a man as handsome as he was and she had seen a lot of handsome men so that was saying a lot. His hair fell down his face a mixture of raven black and gold strands and she could tell it was so long to have reached his waist. His eyes were closed but his eye lashes were so long. His face was just perfect seeing that his cheekbones were firm like a sculpture. He did not look real if anything he looked like a figment of her imagination. What convinced her more of this was how crimson his lips were and the color of his skin. Pure white and so pale. So pale. "Oh my God. He''s dead." She gasped. The moon settled on his face and on her and everything would have been so beautiful had she not been standing next to a dead man. With a new found enthusiasm gotten from his charming look and resignation to her fate since his hold on her leg was pretty firm, She knelt down to Inspect him. "Death not today." She chuckled darkly. His hands on her legs automatically withdrew when she started bending down and he grunted. "Hey are you OK?" She asked cursing herself for asking such a stupid question although it was the only thing she could have asked. In such a strange situation she could barely process any thoughts. He had a dagger through his heart and his body showed signs of decay, his veins were popped out which she could see from his neck. He was definitely not OK. He looked strange. There was something about Monica that sent the body to a great height of enthusiasm. He felt strength emanating from her and surging through him just by the mere feel of her skin. He opened his eyes. When his eyes fluttered open she was taken aback not expecting the body to do that. The color of his eyes were unreadable. It was so grey she almost thought it was white or maybe it was just the moon. Looking at his eyes felt like she was looking at the full moon in the water. "Who are you?" She asked, stammering. He did not respond. He looked at her with so much intensity, she swallowed. He sat up and with a speed so fast he took her face in his hands and kissed her. She didn''t see it coming, it froze her. The kiss was so fatal she was left boneless, she didn''t respond to it though having been in too much shock and confusion. She let him dominate her. A wrong idea because soon she was bleeding. She felt something sharp on her neck like a dagger cut through. He had bit her and she screamed immediately the pain hit her. The pain was enormous. Her pupils went to the back of her head and her brown eyes dilated to gold but he did not see that. Soon she calmed down, her lips open as she revelled in his bite wondering what the hell was going on. "I am Lucius." She heard him say before he removed his teeth from her neck. She heard him in her mind. It was all like a dream but it was not. After a while she became unconscious. The last thing she felt was his tongue on her bare skin. 10 10. Return my king Lucius would be angry and furious should he meet the sight before them now, the palace guards thought looking at Victor with angry eyes, but feeling helpless as regards the matter. Lucius for the benefit of his kingdom had gone to meet the strongest alpha in ocean city, Alpha Noah, in his pack house. A merger between them could ensure that the witches had no success in the extinction of either races. It was something that the king had never done. Lucius liked to remain at the hem of affairs in his kingdom, he rarely left. Important matters outside the kingdom were handled by the elders or the council but then he thought it time that he handled such matters as this himself seeing that the witches were becoming more and more powerful. The warlords were coming for them and they were not going to show Mercy. The werewolves were in between, whichever kingdom gets to them first had an upper hand. Everyone was restless as they gathered in the palace waiting for his return but with each passing moment it seemed more and more probable that he was already dead. If he wasn''t why was Victor now in their presence acting like he had finally won, with his lips curved in a stupid smirk. In the absence of the king his right hand man, Victor, indiscreetly sat on the throne representing him. His smile was deceitful, his laughter evil. A bit of an exaggeration there but anyway let''s get back to the story. Everyone including Lucius knew that he wanted the throne and he did nothing to persuade them otherwise. Lucius chose to keep him closer in the hopes that he could not only watch his every move but also over time curtail his evil ambitions. He never once thought that Victor could betray him in a way so evil as attempting to take his life. "Lucius has been killed with the dagger of the sun. He is not coming back." Victor started with fake sadness. "The wolves, Alpha Noah and his pack warriors surrounded him in the night and plunged the dagger into his heart. Then they left him for dead on the cold floor." He paused, dramatically wiping his eyes. "But we shall have our revenge. They will not get away with this. Next week we will launch an attack." He raised his voice. "And we will make then pay! Every last one of them will answer to us!" Silence followed his pronouncement. The vampires knew that their life source and strength were tied to Lucius their king. If he died they died too. They were not as lucky as the werewolves to be separate from their alpha. He had been their king for all these years for three millennia up until now that is if Victor was indeed speaking the truth, which he rarely did! Victor wasn''t perturbed by the silence he didn''t expect a cry for war. They could moan the king all they wanted but that still wouldn''t bring him back. He was dead and gone and he would find a way to keep them alive even if it meant a truce with the warlords. "I suggest that there be a coronation as soon as possible. As his right hand man It is in my place to sit on the throne. War is upon us and we will not survive if we do not have a ruler. I do this for the kingdom and for my brother Lucius, his death shall not go unavenged." The elders looked at him in amazement and anger. They wondered how he could dare suggest to be coronated when they had not confirmed the death of their king. They could still feel his life force in them which was a proof that he was alive. Elder Lawrence stood up first, his fist clenched tight. "Before I speak I ask that you get down from that throne, now! You have not been coronated, you will not be coronated. That throne belongs to Lucius and until he is buried, you." He paused. He pushed his chair backward and came out of the table. He wanted Victor to see him and hear him loud and clear and for that he needed to be before him. "No one else has a place on that throne except Lucius. The only ruler we know is Lucius. And his life force remains in us. I don''t know what game you are playing but I suggest you play smarter." He calmly stated, not without a bit of threat and sarcasm though. Lawrence was known for that. It was a well known fact that no one dared to speak against an elder or to challenge any. The only one with such powers remained Lucius and even Lucius exerted those powers with caution and wisdom. Their were six elders for each point of star. They all had equal powers serving as the anchor of the kingdom and cabinet for the king. Elder Lawrence was rumored to be the strongest. No one knew how true that was but they all knew that he was the most daring and the most outspoken. "Lawrence you shall sit when I speak. You will listen and pay attention to me as you would do the king or_" Before Victor could utter his threat his throat began to constrict, elder Lawrence through his mind power was sucking the air out of him. His mind power was the second strongest in the land rivalled only by that of Lucius. This was because of decades and decades of training. Victor fell down from the throne In pain. He cupped his neck with both hands as he choked. Lawrence walked to him still enraged by his audacity, his hands now outstretched supporting his mind. "No you will listen and obey while I speak to you and never ever again threaten me little boy!" He growled. The palace was as quiet as a graveyard everyone watched in anticipation of what would happen next. It was not for long though as Victor had a trick up his sleeve. When Lawrence was menacingly walking closer to Victor, Victor grew angrier and his eyes turned black. Soon he started getting back his strength and then gradually he stood to the shock of everyone. "The power that I have I did not wish to trigger but let me give you a taste." Victor laughed as he broke the mind control of Lawrence. 11 11. Return my King Lucius would be angry and furious should he meet the sight before them now, the palace guards thought looking at Victor with angry eyes, but feeling helpless as regards the matter. Lucius for the benefit of his kingdom had gone to meet the strongest alpha in ocean city, Alpha Noah, in his pack house. A merger between them could ensure that the witches had no success in the extinction of either races. It was something that the king had never done. Lucius liked to remain at the hem of affairs in his kingdom, he rarely left. Important matters outside the kingdom were handled by the elders or the council but then he thought it time that he handled such matters as this himself seeing that the witches were becoming more and more powerful. The warlords were coming for them and they were not going to show Mercy. The werewolves were in between, whichever kingdom gets to them first had an upper hand. Everyone was restless as they gathered in the palace waiting for his return but with each passing moment it seemed more and more probable that he was already dead. If he wasn''t why was Victor now in their presence acting like he had finally won, with his lips curved in a stupid smirk. In the absence of the king his right hand man, Victor, indiscreetly sat on the throne representing him. His smile was deceitful, his laughter evil. A bit of an exaggeration there but anyway let''s get back to the story. Everyone including Lucius knew that he wanted the throne and he did nothing to persuade them otherwise. Lucius chose to keep him closer in the hopes that he could not only watch his every move but also over time curtail his evil ambitions. He never once thought that Victor could betray him in a way so evil as attempting to take his life. "Lucius has been killed with the dagger of the sun. He is not coming back." Victor started with fake sadness. "The wolves, Alpha Noah and his pack warriors surrounded him in the night and plunged the dagger into his heart. Then they left him for dead on the cold floor." He paused, dramatically wiping his eyes. "But we shall have our revenge. They will not get away with this. Next week we will launch an attack." He raised his voice. "And we will make then pay! Every last one of them will answer to us!" Silence followed his pronouncement. The vampires knew that their life source and strength were tied to Lucius their king. If he died they died too. They were not as lucky as the werewolves to be separate from their alpha. He had been their king for all these years for three millennia up until now that is if Victor was indeed speaking the truth, which he rarely did! Victor wasn''t perturbed by the silence he didn''t expect a cry for war. They could moan the king all they wanted but that still wouldn''t bring him back. He was dead and gone and he would find a way to keep them alive even if it meant a truce with the warlords. "I suggest that there be a coronation as soon as possible. As his right hand man It is in my place to sit on the throne. War is upon us and we will not survive if we do not have a ruler. I do this for the kingdom and for my brother Lucius, his death shall not go unavenged." 12 12. The throne is for Lucius The elders looked at him in amazement and anger. They wondered how he could dare suggest to be coronated when they had not confirmed the death of their king. They could still feel his life force in them which was a proof that he was alive. Elder Lawrence stood up first, his fist clenched tight. "Before I speak I ask that you get down from that throne, now! You have not been coronated, you will not be coronated. That throne belongs to Lucius and until he is buried, you." He paused. He pushed his chair backward and came out of the table. He wanted Victor to see him and hear him loud and clear and for that he needed to be before him. "No one else has a place on that throne except Lucius. The only ruler we know is Lucius. And his life force remains in us. I don''t know what game you are playing but I suggest you play smarter." He calmly stated, not without a bit of threat and sarcasm though. Lawrence was known for that. It was a well known fact that no one dared to speak against an elder or to challenge any. The only one with such powers remained Lucius and even Lucius exerted those powers with caution and wisdom. Their were six elders for each point of star. They all had equal powers serving as the anchor of the kingdom and cabinet for the king. Elder Lawrence was rumored to be the strongest. No one knew how true that was but they all knew that he was the most daring and the most outspoken. "Lawrence you shall sit when I speak. You will listen and pay attention to me as you would do the king or_" Before Victor could utter his threat his throat began to constrict, elder Lawrence through his mind power was sucking the air out of him. His mind power was the second strongest in the land rivalled only by that of Lucius. This was because of decades and decades of training. Victor fell down from the throne In pain. He cupped his neck with both hands as he choked. Lawrence walked to him still enraged by his audacity, his hands now outstretched supporting his mind. "No you will listen and obey while I speak to you and never ever again threaten me little boy!" He growled. The palace was as quiet as a graveyard everyone watched in anticipation of what would happen next. It was not for long though as Victor had a trick up his sleeve. When Lawrence was menacingly walking closer to Victor, Victor grew angrier and his eyes turned black. Soon he started getting back his strength and then gradually he stood to the shock of everyone. "The power that I have I did not wish to trigger but let me give you a taste." Victor laughed as he broke the mind control of Lawrence. 13 13. To my chambers Lawrence was shocked. He looked at his hands then at Victor and then he instantly knew that something was not right, If not everything. He was taken off guard by Victor who extended his anger to all the six elders at the table. His outstretched hands sending out dark magic as he started an unknown chant to weaken them as possibly kill them. The elders screamed, a gut wrenching scream. Their hands all flew to their neck. One thing became obvious to the elders, he was now with Jessica. Luckily for the elders it was just about that time that Lucius barged into the palace with Monica in his arms only to see his palace in chaos and his elders fighting for their life. He had known after the attack that Victor had been the enemy, the traitor, his presupposed killer. Yet, naively he did not expect him to start off by killing the elders when he wasn''t even confirmed dead. His life force still flowed in them for goodness sake! Immediately he walked in and saw what was happening he dropped Monica with the head maid who stood by the door mouth agape and shaking. She was startled but quickly held on to the mortal her king just surrendered to her. Lucius sped to Victor and in a heartbeat he snapped his neck and stopped his magic. Victor was taken by surprise and even if he wasn''t he was no match for Lucius. A very great disadvantage for the witches. "Take him to the dungeon and prepare for an execution. After he has been sucked of all his powers and all information gotten from him he will meet his maker." Lucius ordered the guards by the throne, as he sat on his throne. The guards happily did as they were told. Adolphus was the happiest, he never liked Victor. Most of the vampires sighed in relief and others laughed. They all clapped with happy faces. Not exactly happy faces but they were all happy nonetheless. "He is saved because of the power he has and because he is the front man. You two will not be granted the same favor." Lucius said turning to two vampires wearing a hood standing scared at the back of the gathering. They were messengers of Victor and traitors. They tried to run but Lucius only had to say one word and they both died even before they had reached the door. He had that much power over his vampires. Lucius looked around without saying another word. He would call a meeting with the elders after he had rested. He was now suspicious of many things. Now he knew that there was more to everything and he needed to find out what it was. His kingdom could possibly have been infiltrated? The vampires started dismissing one by one and when they were all gone Lucius stood up from his throne and moved to the head maid who held Monica. His hands were on his chest where the dagger had been, he staggered a little while he walked but immediately got his ground. "Master what do I do with her?" Sarah the head maid asked although that was not the only question keeping her eyes wide. Her mind was raging with so many questions but the most important remained who the human she was carrying was to the king. Monica''s head rested on her shoulder all the while, and she had somehow taken a liking to the human girl. It had been long she played mother and it was still as endearing to her as ever. She thought the girl beautiful, from her tanned skin which was almost the color of olive and facial features she assumed correctly that she was African. "Take her to my chambers Sarah." Lucius ordered maintaining a blank expression. His expression would prevent her from asking any more questions which he knew he would be unable to answer at the moment. If Lucius had been stabbed with the dagger of the sun like Victor alleged then he should have been dead, or else the prophecy had finally been fulfilled. Sarah thought as she sped to his chambers which was the last door in the hallway. She could be wrong though maybe there was more to it or Victor had been lying as always. That man had no truth in his mouth. Then again he seemed so sure, so happy. She willed herself to hope. She smiled. It had been so long since the prophecy. She had prayed for a love for Lucius for so long. He was like a son to her and she knew he deserved love more than anyone. He deserved a soul mate to be bound to like many other vampires. He deserved to be happy, to have more in his eyes than sadness and duty. She wasn''t sure the girl in her arms could give him that but she wished she could. 14 14. Mine Lucius followed Sarah behind In less than a minute after she went up to his room. He felt a strain in his heart when he was separated from Monica. He wanted to watch over her. The kingdom was not safe for her not just because they were traitors around but because she was human. Vampires were drawn to weaknesses. Hers was not one he wanted them to prey on. Lucius watched as Sarah tucked in Monica. Having entered the room in silence he could not help but admire her, she was a goddess to him. He felt like his heart was going to explode. If he had a soul then it would be her. All what he felt remained totally confusing. He knew that it was his doubt complicating and confusing things. Everything had happened like it was prophesied, she was his soulmate. She was. But he didn''t want to be too excited yet only to end with the pain of disappointment. "Maybe because her blood healed me and saved me from death." He muttered to himself alerting Sarah of his presence. But her blood wouldn''t have healed him had she not been his soul mate. He didn''t say that out though. He trusted Sarah but could not risk Monica. He was hellbent on trying to figure out within himself why he felt the way he did. He had never felt this way before. Stop thinking too much Lucius! It will all fall into place, you''ll see. "Take care of her." Sarah said to him when she was done tucking Monica in. A huge smile was plastered on her face and she blinked twice trying hard to keep from giggling. She knew that Lucius found how she was staring at him annoying but she couldn''t help it, just like he could not help but smile at her. The woman had a way of getting to him. He brought her close and kissed her forehead. "Thanks Sarah." She nodded barely restraining herself from asking more questions. She opened the door and turned back to smile at him with the desire to ask something, anything, but then his whole attention were now on the human girl so she thought otherwise Lucius watched a sleeping Monica for two hours before she stirred. Immediately she showed signs of waking up Lucius called and instructed that food be made for her. A lot of food because she deserved a feast. His order sent the whole kitchen staffs into a frenzy. What will be good for the kings visitor? The king had never asked for this before? Some didn''t even know what humans ate or what they would want to eat. The thought of leaving their secluded home in search of food was so not appealing but they didn''t have much of a choice since the king requested for it. Monica woke up with a terrible headache. She felt boneless and weak like her limbs had finally giving up on doing what it was meant to do or as if her spinal cord had been dragged out of her body. Her eyes fluttered open a little but she could not see clearly as her vision was clouded with the light from the chandelier. "You are awake." Lucius smiled. He was sitting on the bed side of Monica watching her intently as she tried to adjust her eyes to the light. This was her place, by his side, he could feel it in his blood. Monica heard someone speak to her but she couldn''t tell where the voice was coming from. Her heart stopped beating as anxiety hit her bringing along with it fear and panic. When her brown eyes met a certain grey one she screamed just the way she did in the garden before. She started to remember all that happened causing her head to ache badly. Lucius hugged her placing her head on his shoulders. "Calm down." He soothed her, his voice smooth like silk. Monica swallowed. He was so close and so cold she felt very uncomfortable. She wanted so much to push him away but she knew he wouldn''t bulge. It was best to play along with him for now, she thought. So after a while she pretended to calm down even though within her a storm is raging. The only thing she wanted was for him to leave her alone so she could escape. She thought it best for her to go with the flow and turn of all emotions if she was to survive the clutches of the evil man before her. He had bit her. There was nothing good that could that could come out of him. She didn''t even know what he was but she was sure that if anything, he was bad news. He was the kind of monsters in the novels the nanny read to her in school. Lucius didn''t let go of her even when she stopped screaming. He held her tight like his life depended on it. Holding her soothed him. He was in the middle of a war and with all that had been happening being so close to her was all he needed. 15 15. Taken About 3 to 4 months ago Werewolve kingdom You are alone, no one is with you. You will live alone, you will die alone. A voice in her head threatened as she walked into her room. "You cannot break me," She replied the voice. "Nothing can break me not even the devil." She was sure of this. Nothing could break the fierce Gloria not even the devil. She didn''t know that the devil was actually listening, Alpha Noah. His eyes were red as blood, his skin pale like the snow and his canines out. He saw her as she walked tiredly into her apartment. He had been stalking her for the past one week, his mate. His. His mate he who would break and destroy. He wanted her to himself. He wanted to add her to his trophies of those he had broken. Yet, she believed herself to be unbreakable. It didn''t matter to him though he was going to break her and dominate her until she falls at his feet begging for mercy, no matter what he had to do to make it possible. Gloria heard voices as she stepped into her apartment. Voices she had been hearing for the past week, they seemed to have been coming from afar and then sometimes it seemed they were close so close she felt it was her speaking. She was scared and rightly so. Her friends were not in town, they separated after college. Lora got a good job but Gloria was stuck acting as the secretary to a rude boss who tried to annoy her in every way. But she would not be broken not even by hell and she would definitely not give anyone the satisfaction of watching her break. When she was climbing the stares she felt eyes on her. Someone was following her but they were following the wrong girl. It was sad that they didn''t know that. She opened the door and stepped into the little one room apartment that was her home. It was beautiful just like Ocean city a town she loved despite all the rumors about it. She closed the door gently behind her. At the back there was a frame a picture of her father and behind it was a safe where she kept her gun. She was not going to go down without a fight and a very tough one. She also did not plan to lose. Her father thought her how to fight and shoot and she was a very fast learner. People got shocked even in school at her ability to pick up fast. There was one problem though she didn''t know that the forces up against her were not human. As the gods would have it alpha Noah decided that he had waited long enough and he would claim his price. The ever beautiful, Gloria. His accent adding flavor to her name. So he came out from his hiding place going straight to her home. He had ordered his witch to make him visible to only her. It was always quite the catch to watch his victims wriggle in fear even before they met him. He knocked, once, twice, and like he expected there was no reply. Gloria was behind the door her heart beating fast like a drum in easter. She tried to call for help but she couldn''t, all her phones and the landline had been tampered with. She was left with herself, her gun and her father''s inbuilt knowledge. Another knock and the most powerful voice she had ever heard speak gave her a command. "Gloria." He sang her name. "Open the door." She was reduced to chills her hands shaking as she held on to the gun. But she would not be scared....she could not afford it. She breathed gaining her courage. Like her Dad would say, the number one enemy to fight is fear. "Who are you? And what do you want? She asked, trying to sound as brave as possible. The alpha laughed. "Who I am is not necessary my love, but what I want that In fact is very necessary. I want you. You are mine." he stated simply. It was now Gloria''s turn to chuckle. "I''m sorry psycho but you cannot have me I''m nobody''s. Now please leave before I call the police." She threatened infuriating the alpha. He did not like to me threatened. He did not like to be disobeyed he was a dominant. The alpha of all alphas and he will not be disobeyed. "Gloria!" he growled. "Open the door now!" His voice shook the building and Gloria wondered why no one had deemed it fit to come our to her rescue. Didn''t they hear the voice, didn''t they smell the danger in the air. He obviously was no human. But he had a warlock and that she didn''t know. "I will not. You want me come and get me." She said moving backwards and away from the door. Her hands held the gun tightly ready to shoot. She should not have said what she said. That was a big mistake, but she didn''t know that. She didn''t know that the alpha got whatever he wants, however he wants, wherever he wants, and so the door was pushed open. And Alpha Noah came in. He was pissed, very, very pissed. Gloria''s heart skipped many beat as the alpha broke down the door. Her heart skipped more when she saw him. His long hair stopping at his shoulders his eyes red as blood, his lips pale white like his skin. His presence an abracadabra. Gloria did not like magic. No as a matter of fact she hated magic with a passion that burnt her soul so she shot at him, one, two, three. He did not move an inch. Scared she moved back her eyes steady on him and unsteady on the gun as it''s usefulness has been tested and sadly it failed. The she thought. Maybe he was putting on a bulletproof. Moving back a little and steadying herself she shot at him again but this time aimed at his head. All this while he had watched her with admiration and curiosity. He had never seen a girl that brave but when she shot at his head he became furious deciding that she was as stupid as she was brave. And very much strong oh breaking her would be delight to him. His fierce mate. He was so angry that he feared he would turn. He could feel his shirt tearing away, his fingers dug out of his gloves and His canines where as sharp as ever. Gloria panicked but she did not scream. "Who are you? no! no! What are you." She asked seemingly too shocked to Process anything including fear. Alpha Noah growled. "The question I think is not who I am neither is it what I am. The question is what am I going to do with you." And with that in a flash that she could not fathom he was an inch close to her. He pulled her hair backwards and looked deep into her eyes. "You should be afraid, Gloria. You should be very much afraid but you are not and I like it." Gloria scoffed if he thought that a trick would scare me he''s in for a bit of a surprise. She thought. "No you should be afraid. You should be very afraid. You are not and I hate it."She retorted pushing him off her with all the strength she could muster. A strength that surprised him as he was taken aback. Now the alpha was not only angry but his ego bruised by a not so petite little fellow as he would call her. With a flash he moved close to her again. His hands hitting her on her face till her lips drew blood. "How dare you speak back to me." He growled. "I''ll break you Gloria, I''ll break you by every means possible. I''ll watch you build an altar for me as you worship at my feet you little child. I''ll end your bravery." Gloria laughed a vicious laugh. A daring threatening laugh. "You cannot break me. I am one whole rock. " That was all she said before she lost consciousness the alpha could take no more scars to his ego. Aiko he called for the witch through his mind link. "Drop the veil and prepare the car. I''ve got what we came here for." He ordered. He carried her on his shoulders and jumped down the window from the twelfth storey. His feet landing on the ground safely. When he entered the car his right hand man who happened to be a woman saw the anger evident in his countenance. Never had she seen the alpha this angry. She smirked. "Looks like she wasn''t an easy target after all Noah." She mocked with a slight smile. "I''ll not discuss this with you Aiko please drive." He ordered sharply. He starred at the woman whose head was resting on his legs and thought what he would do with her and to her. Even though his heart told him he would end up doing more for her than to her. 16 16. Pack house About 3 to 4 months ago Werewolves When they got to the giant mansion that housed the McReynolds pack he got down from the car carrying Gloria on his shoulders. The pack watched him as he came in without speaking. He moved to his room in silence. Even the humans living amongst the wolves could tell that the alpha was angry. He dropped Gloria on the bed and walked to his office to continue with the paper works his was handling about pack issues. The McReynolds pack was handed to him by his father and handed to his father by his grandfather but it was during his time that it became the most feared pack. Noah was vicious and slayed with ease, blood giving him an orgasmic feeling. He was told that he could not have a mate because of how cruel he was, that in fact he didn''t have. He didn''t want a mate he wanted no weaknesses. Mates to him were weaknesses. This was until Aiko decided to open up to him that he had a mate and was no different from any other wolf. Although deep down he already knew this. Luna could not be so cruel as to create him without a mate, would she? He didn''t know if to kill the Japanese witch for telling him about his mate or to kiss her. He didn''t do any. He wanted his mate not to love her but to break her just like his father did to his mother before she killed herself on that cold night he would never forget. The night that changed his life. The night he could never forget no matter how had he tried to. He didn''t want to remember that night anymore yet the memory clinged to him, a second skin. He remembered how he had watched her stab her heart with silver. He remembered her bleeding to her death and gasping for air. His beloved mother broken by his father. She had said that she loved him but he didn''t believe her, she can never love him and leave him. She didn''t love him if she did she would have lived for him she would not have left him, she would not have taken her life when she knew how much he needed her. All she cared about was his father and he meant nothing to her. He meant nothing to his mother. If his mother could not love him, he who came from her, who suckled her bosom. Him who she nurtured how much more another woman. He believed that no woman could ever love him if his mother didn''t and even his mate would be no exception. Luna could never make some one love another if she could then why didn''t his father love his mother? If his made could not love him then he would break her so at least she feared him enough to never leave him. He sat quietly in his office studying and approving the documents for the pack. The office was more like an ancient library passed down from generations of Milena wolf each destined to live for three centuries and not more. His was doing this meticulously with fervent concentration the kind alined to him. But he still made sure to listen out for when his mate would awaken. A few hours later Gloria''s eyes fluttered open. Her eyes studied her environment as she sat up to take in all that was before her. She was in a dark room only illuminated by the moon peeking thought the huge window. The bed she laid on was so huge it was bigger than her whole apartment. The bedside table sparkled in the dark drawing her attention to it. The room looked Like something from the ancient time that was modernized to suit the taste of modern people. After a minute had passed she remembered how she got here in the first place. Her head ached but it was not something she couldn''t handle she was so used to pain it sometimes excited her. She swallowed hard and stood up whilst trying her very best to be as quiet as possible. Her white trouser had blood stains on it. She was sure that the blood stain was hers seeing that her kidnapper was inhuman. Her blue shirt was all rumpled it looked like it had been squeezed by really huge hands. Luckily her flat shoes were on and still intact. She stood up on her toes studying the environment. She was as Silent as ever as she walked to the window of the room and looked down. When her eyes adjusted to the darkness that trailed the whole area she tried to find a possible way out. She wanted to know how she could escape. She realized that she was on the fifth story of a huge mansion but that wasn''t all that bothered her. The people she saw around guarding the mansion worried her more than it''s height, they looked vicious although less vicious than the man who brought her here against her wish. First things first she thought trying hard to to get too scared and end up chickening out of escaping. She was aware that she had to leave now that the monster was not in sight but how was she going to escape? Does she jump down to the tree or try using the door? she was thinking of a possible way out when she heard footsteps behind her followed by a growl. 17 17. Strange creatures All the happenings of the night assured her of one thing; the rumours that ocean city harbored other creatures was somehow true. Unfortunately for her she had to be an eyewitness to such absurdity. "Where do you think you are going?" The voice she recognized and dreaded spoke sending chills down her back till her heart begged to be set free from it''s cage. But she would be damned if she showed the emotions that coerced through her which could be lined up from fear to panic. She knew just how she could mask her fear her father had thought her this. He would say. Gloria wear a mask till it becomes your face. So when you look in the mirror you know no difference between your face and the mask. If you can''t recognize yourself Gloria, no one will. "Where else will I be going? Home of course. I will assume you don''t know the laws but kidnapping someone is a crime. You should keep that in mind when you want to take another woman." Gloria eyed him. Her heart was beating so fast it threatened to burst out from her chest but there was no emotion evident on her face. "My father is a soldier and a retired sheriff, I don''t think he would appreciate you kidnapping his daughter. He can be quite merciless when he''s pissed and I won''t want you to see that side of him. So here is what we are going to do, you let me go and I promise not to say a word about this sordid encounter. Deal?" She asked cocking a brow. She was so scared but her voice and facial expression Luckily didn''t give her away. She had learnt how to control them to sooth her lies. She really hoped that he would fall prey to her threats and let''s her go, even though in her heart of hearts she knew the possibility that he would was very low. "You do well to hide your fears, Gloria. That''s good I''m impressed but you should know who is the boss around here, daddy''s girl. Its either you find it hard to process what''s going on or your mind is building a defense to keep the truth out. I dare say you live in a bubble and you need me to burst it and burst it I''ll." He eyed her lustfully, his canines finding it''s way out. He was taunting her with a smirk, rubbing it on her face that he had the upper hand between them. Although he didn''t know for how long he would remain at the top. He was losing his control. Becoming mad, becoming vicious, intense craze coerced through him. This woman was bringing out Something in him that he had tried so hard to bury and he won''t let her. He can''t. These emotions did not belong to him. They were alien, forbidden, bad. He didn''t know why it was that she appealed to him. If it was because of who she was as his mate or who she was as a person he couldn''t tell. But he loved he bravery. It was rare to see such bravery in humans even amongst wolves. "Bubble. You are the one living in a bubble from what I see here not me." She paused. The more she spoke the braver she became. The more her confidence came back the better she could recognize the real Gloria. The Gloria who would not be broken. "In Ocean city" she continued moving close to him with each words, this time she was the daunting one." You kidnap a girl when there are thousands out there who can give you what you want. Who as a matter of fact would willingly call you master but you want to break one. I still wonder how it is you think, maybe with your dick, nah! you know what? I don''t think you think at all." She scoffed. She was now so close to him, his smell pulled her closer. She couldn''t believe that she was lusting over a monster but she was. She looked up to meet his eyes and then She he did what he never expected, something no one had ever done. Something that shocked him and sent him into a reverie so high he moaned out, his body betraying him. She grabbed his dick. Long thick and warm in her hands. She lowered her voice to a whisper. "Haven''t you considered that I may already be broken or does your mind process things so slow it doesn''t consider other options than what it wants to believe. So now tell me who is in a bubble and who holds the pin." She taunted. Her head which was so close to his neck now made him shiver. When she whispered her breathe on his neck made him want to shove himself in her so hard she kept shut. His heart started to beat at a now alarming rate his body responding so much to her touch in earnest betrayal to his mind. Her hand on him was a steady inflammation. His mind was recoiling and his heart and body taking pleasure until a knife stabbed him. A knife stab he remembered all too vividly it was like it was buried deep in his heart. But it was in his mothers. His beloved mother who didn''t love him. His mind came back in a rush of anger, he pushed her hands away from him and shoved her to the wall behind him. "Who do you think you are! What the hell do you think you are doing?" He bellowed and she staggered. His eyes were now a light yellow with a mixture of red like the color of the car headlight and his grip on her hard, very hard. 18 18. Thrust. About 3 to 4 months ago Werewolves She had been gripped hard before by a soldier, by a boxer and men in fields that underwent fierce trainings but never had she been held this hard by a hand that relentlessly showed her that she could want more. She found herself craving more of his brutality. Her mind was processing her escape but without the knowledge of her body, maybe it feared that her body was going to secede and betray it like it was known for. "No one. I''m no one. Is that what you want to hear?" She asked blinking down the tears that threatened to betray her she couldn''t remember when last she cried and she wanted to keep it that way. If only she knew better she would not have touched him. Noah stilled. Seeing her so vulnerable and in pain struck something in him. He now wondered within himself if he really wanted to break his mate? Did he really want to scare her? Did he really want her to be afraid of him and end up dead before her time like his mother? Somehow he could feel his heart beat faster something it hadn''t done in a long time. He was feeling guilty but he was too far gone now to change his ways or maybe it was what he wanted to believe. His eyes roamed about her face and settled on her lips. He wanted them. He let go of her and in impulse which was unlike him since he became the alpha, to be led by impulse he kissed her. She kissed him back because although it was her plan to escape she wanted this man. From what she could tell he was a werewolf. Jesus Christ so those things exist Lord have mercy I Hope this is a dream but let me get out of here first then find out. She thought. Her plan was to ride him till he falls asleep deeply. Hopefully she still remembered all Luther thought her about the act of pleasuring a man. She bit his lips and pushed him away from her to catch her breathe. He held her face and looked deep into her eyes. "I can''t let Luna succeed." he said more to himself than to her, he breathed deeply. His eyes on her told her what he was afraid to say. She had made him vulnerable but he would be damned it he let her win. That decision would have been so easy for him If only she had control of his body, or his mind or even his heart but he didn''t. He wanted her plain simple; every fibre of her being, every inch, every turn, every every. He wanted her like he had never wanted anything before and he kissed her like he never thought he could. He was pulling out her soul and matching it with his, drawing strength from her every breath. When she closed her eyes to feel his touch all over her body she felt he had many hands, which touched her everywhere, and many mouths, which passed so swiftly over her, and with a wolf like sharpness, his teeth sank into her neck. The pain exploding with pleasure. He was careful not to go too deep. Even in his wave of pleasure he was scared not to mark her. If he did, then he would be bound to her and he didn''t want to be bound to anyone. His mother was bound to his father and it led to her misery which eventually led to her death. No one could be trusted. She moaned out loving the pain that exploded in her as an effect of his bite. Her moan became his summon. He kissed her deeply and more ravishingly than before. He wanted to tear her apart and fix himself in her. He tore her shirt, her undies following suit in fast movement. He didn''t let go of her and neither did she. Their lips stayed together like conjoined twins, conjoined till he was on top of her his full length positioned in her core and her boobs in his full view. She was beautiful to him, so beautiful he could call her Luna and build her an altar. She wanted to kiss him forever and ever. She blocked out all thought about what this was, what it might mean and what further mess she might create for herself by sleeping with a being whose humanity she couldn''t vouch for but there was no turning back for her now, she realized, she was already in too deep. It was no longer about escaping for her, she needed him as much as he did her. She dammed all fears and kissed him until she could no longer reason and she became a living pulse, conscious only of what she wanted to do to him, of how much she wanted him. She would escape, she would run, but first she had to give into this burning passion that threatened to envelop her and drain her of life. She felt that her life would end if she didn''t give in to it. If she didn''t have him In her she might never want another. She might never desire another. She was that passionate for him. He entered into her, first slowly waiting till her eyes gave him permission to move and he moved with a rhythm both of them understood like they had been singing it''s tunes since their conception. Her small gasp turned into moans of undeniable pleasure. He thrust into her continuously until they both came undone and then she rolled on top him and rode him like a horse. Her hands were on his hair the entire time and her lips didn''t leave his. She was finding out that this stranger did give her immense pleasure. 19 19. Figh They went at it till they were both exhausted and in need of rest. In the end as they came his thoughts were of her so wild and rapacious his claws dug into her back and she screamed. He was wounding her but Gloria being the woman she was found pleasure in this. Till her back was marked by him. When they both came undone again and again with sighs and moans he looked at her, the beauty that was his mate, the one he made love to and he realized that he loved it and he thought of it as good but he just couldn''t keep her as his. She too was going to leave he feared. She didn''t rest her head on his shoulders, she didn''t play with the slippery hair on his chest like she wanted to. Instead she moved to the far end of the bed and closed her eyes. He didn''t speak to her and she didn''t speak to him either. There thoughts were very far off. Now that they were no longer caught in pleasures web they were hit with the reality of the situation. He watched her as her breathe steadied and when she turned away from him he wanted to kiss her, to touch her, to talk to her, or at least torment her but he found that he was incapable of doing any. His eyes closed putting an end to his tormenting thoughts as he drifted into oblivion. Just then hers opened. Gloria looked over her back and the wounds and sighed. Her dress was ripped apart but her bra and pants still remained intact. "I''ll have to escape naked then." She whispered to herself. It was better to leave naked than to stay with a man who just promised to break her. Even though in her hearts of hearts she feared that she may no longer want to leave. But she couldn''t stay, she just couldn''t not when she didn''t know for sure what or who he was. She looked over at the man on the bed while she put on her bra and frowned. He was not human, she was human and unlike Bella she wanted a human to live the rest of her normal life with. She didn''t want to be food for anyone. This was not the kind of life she envisioned herself in and she must leave. She couldn''t stay. Yes the pleasure he gave was good but it wasn''t worth her life. She stood up and found the door of his library open. She walked to it and peeping inside the room she saw a dagger made of silver which she presumed to be the only fatale weapon for wolves according to the movies she watched. She rushed in to take the dagger and rushed out. She was getting out of here and God helps anyone who tried to stop her even the alpha. She tiptoed to the window after accepting that logically going through the door was actually going to be more dangerous. Looking down there was a huge tree with it''s branches spread out ready for her use. The dangers of climbing the tree didn''t scare her, the height didn''t. Her father had thought her how to climb trees and although its been long she climbed a tree she never forgets a skill when acquired. It was getting caught that scared her. She held on to the knife and cut two branches apart holding one firmly till she got to the trunk and then rolled down to the ground. She was right to have presumed here a fortress but she was going to leave either way. Fortress or not Gloria will not allow herself be the victim of an unknown being. Her hands held the dagger like an expert she was in fighting. She walked in between trees till a big gigantic gate came into view. Gloria smiled n relief. Her escape sent shivers down her spine, she didn''t think that she was actually going to make it. In her excitement she didn''t notice the man that walked in front of her wearing only pants there was a gun across his shoulder, his eyes were the colour of headlights too and he was heavily built. "Who are you?" He interrogated now standing in front of her. She stopped on her tracks in between trees and watched him fiercely. 20 20. Caged. "I am no one so let me leave." "You can''t be no one. Why are you with the alpha''s dagger then. You are a thief!" He said as if he was just came into a very difficult realization, like it came to him as a revelation. She didn''t say another word to him, not in her defense or in attack. She knew it was going to be almost impossible to convince him otherwise and she was in no mood to do the impossible at least not now. Not when she was so close to leaving. She looked past him and saw that the road was clear and that if only she could get past him then she would be free. She doubted if she could be able to go past the big gates but she had to try. There should be no room for doubts, suffocate it. She heard her father''s voice say. She ran past the man but he was faster than her. He caught her by the waist and pulled her back down. But he didn''t know how strong she was, he had clearly underestimated her a decision he was sure to regret. She spun around and stabbed him in the ribs with the dagger. A decision that was borne from impulse, that which she would end up regretting too. He howled in pain so loud she was sure everyone in the vicinity heard him. She knew her time as a free woman was over and she almost started crying. As fast as a twinkle she was surrounded by creatures like the alpha and their Leader Noah was right in front of her wearing only pants. He was half human, half wolf. "Where do you think you are going? You left! I knew you would leave!" Noah bellowed looking as dangerous as ever. His eyes sent shivers down her spine and once again she became afraid. "Home. Let me go home you cannot keep me here against my wishes!" "She''s a mad and dangerous woman Alpha we have to kill her immediately." Beta Ace whimpered standing up. Gloria''s eyes widened as she watched him heal before her eyes like she just didn''t stab him. Nothing was making sense to her which was all the more reason why she wanted to leave. "Shut up. You let a girl overpower you, a human girl! And you have the Grace to Speak? You should hide your face in shame!" he growled. "Alph__" "Shut it." He interrupted Ace not wanting to hear him speak. "Take her to the dungeons let''s see how she would leave." he instructed. You will never leave me like my mother, I won''t let you he thought. He expected Gloria to shout, to scream, to protest in anyway but she didn''t. She spat on the ground before him whilst she was dragged away. A tear drop escaped from her brown eyes and that was her only reaction. Gloria was taken to another building different from the one she just escaped. There was only one room in it and she was pushed inside and left there. The room was empty except from a bed and table. Gloria didn''t care about the state of her prison it won''t matter to her even if it was a mansion. No matter how comfortable a prison is it is still a prison her father would say. If there was anything Gloria hated more than crime It was being locked up and if there was anyone she hated more than the devil now it would be the Alpha. She knew she was never going to forgive the man who put her in here. In fact, she swore to kill him. 21 21. Save me. For three months Gloria stayed In the dungeon planning her escape and her revenge. Her boss had not given up his search for her, he wanted her back, his secretary, his heart. His heart was wary and so was Gloria even more now when she started to get sick. She had missed her period and no food stayed in her stomach for more than five minutes. The toilet had seen more of her vomit than it has of excretion. With each passing day she became weaker, she could feel feel life passing away from her but she knew it wasn''t that, life was not passing away but she was giving life. She didn''t know if to be happy about it or to be sad. There was no way she could get the child out now it''s been over three months by her calculation. Her pills which she had forfeited for a weak (because she saw no use taking them since she was celibate) appeared to her in a dream crying for her. As each day passed she became more and more aware of how fragile she was. She knew that if she remained in the dungeon she would die there and so will her innocent child. But God forbid that happens, she had only one hope Jacob. Jacob was an African American turned into a wolf over ten years ago and a trusted Beta so trusted that he was the only one Noah saw fit enough to protect his mate. But Jacob did not agree with the ways of the alpha if anything he greatly disagreed. He couldn''t comprehend why he would close to lock his mate for so long but no matter how he disapproved of the alphas judgement he knew he had no say in the matter. "Jacob you should know this food will end up wasted in the toilet so just let it down there. There is no use for me to eat if I''m still going to die anyway." Gloria moaned tiredly. She pushed herself up the bed so that her back rested on the wall. Her eyes scanned the environment distastefully as she started to once again feel nauseous. A cleaner cleaned it everyday but it didn''t matter to her it was still a dungeon no matter how it looked, it was still secluded and away from life. "If you don''t eat you will die." He was looking at her admonishingly, sympathizing with her. The strong vicious fighter he used to know was broken to a bare shadow of herself. "I will die either way. I''m pregnant I need to go to the hospital. I''m in my first trimester and as you can see I can not stop vomiting. I wonder the state my child is. You know this is the truth Jacob. I need proper medical care." She swallowed closing her eyes. "I don''t know what to do. I need to tell him of the child. He doesn''t know and___ "He doesn''t care__" "Definitely he does." Jacob dared to argue. "Your alpha is broken you know that. You have to let me out please because of my child. I''ll definitely come back but then I need to survive first. Jacob please." Gloria whimpered her breathe becoming heavy from speaking more than few words. She swallowed hard knowing it will soon be her In the toilet throwing up her gut. Jacob sighed. He knew she was right and letting her out was the best thing to do. If truly he wanted to do what was right by the alpha then he had to let her out. He had seen how his Alpha''s state was since she was put into the dungeon. He was like a dead man only because he knew she was suffering. What more if she dies. His broken heart will take no more death. The alpha is too broken to see or accept the truth but he needed his mate as he needed air. "I''ll help you but on the promise that you will be back after the child''s birth " "Yes I''ll. I promise. I''ll be back after his birth. The alpha needs you and even though he doesn''t see it now he soon will." Jacob said trying to reason with her. 22 22. I will come Gloria smiled too weak to do anything other than that. She doubted if Jacob would keep his promise but she had no other choice than to trust him. She had no choice, he was her only way out. "Please try to eat." Jacob insisted, he pushed the food closer to her and sat down on the side of the bed. Then he fed her spoon by spoon until she had eaten half the rice. Then she drank a little water because drinking more than a little would make her vomit. He covered her with the blanket and kissed her cheeks. "Tonight I''ll let you out."He assured her. " but I do this for the alpha." Gloria nodded in understanding. No matter how Gloria tried to sleep later that night she just couldn''t sleep. She was so anxious and restless she later gave up trying to sleep. She sat up right on the bed and caressed her belly. Soon she would be a mother she thought, she knew she could never let anyone mess with her child let alone imprison him or her. She was going to try her best to be the best mother there was, the very best. The first thing she had to do to assure this was to successfully get her child away from this place and away from the monster he or she would have as a father. Noah will never see his child, he can be sure of that. The gate of the dungeon opened and she became alert cleaning the side of her mouth. She wondered how bad she looked but she was in a prison not a palace, all she wanted was a way to get out and if promising Jacob that she would return was her only way then she must take it. But she knew in her heart that if she succeeds in escaping she will never return. Jacob came in after a few seconds of Inspecting the surrounding, he was with a bag and a cloak in hand. He opened the gate in a hurry while Gloria stood up. She didn''t need him to tell her to. This was her only change "How strong are you. We have to exit here now. This is the perfect time " Jacob whispered throwing her the cloak he brought. She hurriedly wore it wrapping her hands around her chilled frame. She found that she always felt cold of recent. Maybe it was as a result of being pregnant. The first trimesters could really be tricky. "I''m strong enough to get out of this hell are you brave enough? Do you want this enough? Because you know you can let me do this on my own." "No. I''m not ready enough and I''ll never be." Jacob said truthfully. "But there is no way I''m letting you do this on your own, you can''t, even if I let you and I''ll still be implicated. Stick with me Gloria and you will be out of here soon. Let''s go." Gloria nodded and followed him as he went towards the hall way leading to God knows where. 23 23. Come ou "There is a tunnel by the east wing we will get to the gate from there and when at the gate we can then find a way to leave. Only I and the alpha has any knowledge of the tunnel. There will be no one there." He took her hand and led her. They walked briskly to the gate where he opened a secret door and led her through it. "Do you have a touch." Gloria whispered her eyes failing to adjust to the darkness. Jacob nodded his head even though she couldn''t see him and brought out a translucent touch. It wasn''t so bright but it was bright enough to prevent her from falling. She nodded in appreciation as they resumed walking. She followed him both their hands intertwined, she knew he was just as afraid as she was maybe even more. She had more to lose if they were caught but it didn''t change the fact that he still had a lot to lose. Hopefully none of them would get to lose anything. That''s if the gods were with them, were the gods with them? She dreaded this moment the very second he said it, the moment when she would pass through the arch into the claustrophobic dank that would be the tunnel. The moment where she will be between life and death for her and her child. Her heart jumped at any slight movement both of insects or rain drops. She squeezed Jacobs hand reassuringly each time she felt scared as they walked slowly. She suddenly saw something in the distance and pulled Jacob to a halt. "Look there." She whispered harshly pointing at a light in the far end of the tunnel. "Its nothing Gloria relax." But she didn''t. She could feel the presence of something evil. "Stay away or I''ll mame you" She takes the touch from him and shines the beam high and low, near and into the distance, then she stands, grim faced. No one says anything and the light disappears. "It belongs to the alpha that built this place a Milena ago. It''s an art." Jacob told her. He took the touch from her. "Now keep calm! The danger is not in this tunnel but outside but if you don''t keep calm then you will call danger in here. If danger comes in here we will never escape do you understand?!" "Yes." Gloria whispered and nodded. She was almost at the brink of tears simply because she was being scolded this Gloria is a taboo she thought. Pregnancy was horrible to her. She was now weak emotional and on edge something she detested before the pregnancy but it was good, it was. She had developed a love for the little one growing in her even if he was sucking the life away from her and turning her into a mere shadow of herself she was still in love with him. Very much even. It gave her the will to live, to fight. She still couldn''t shake off the feeling though, that something had been here earlier ghost of some sort or maybe a witch. "We are at the end of the tunnel. " Jacob Informed her dropping his bag down. He gave her the touch and skillfully removed a brick from the wall. He pressed a button and the wall gave way to reveal light. Moonlight. Moon light Gloria thought again. 24 24. The moon The moon was one of her favourite things. And to think it has been long she had seen it made her want to jump for joy and kiss Jacob. But she couldn''t do any. Adrenaline coerced through her and she yearned to go back home. She was actually missing her horrible boss. Accepting that she actually did miss him made her want to laugh and roll her eyes till it was lost in her socket. She just realized how close she was to escaping after a few months and that was very close. Jacob stepped out after she did, his eyes adjusted to the moonlight shocker. His heart was beating at an alarming rate. He sure was getting cold feet if he''s caught the alpha will never forgive him and may end his life. He was beginning to question if indeed he was doing the right thing but he got his answer when he looked over at Gloria''s happy face when she gazed at the moon. No one deserved to stay in that dungeon for a day especially for doing nothing other than being the mate of an alpha. No one deserved to especially when they were carrying the child of the alpha. "Let''s get out of here." He said pulling her away from the tunnel and into the woods. "You have to stay behind the trees we might be outside the gate but the guards are just as vigilant outside as they are inside. Three are stationed here and they are three of the best pack fighters I can''t take them on my own." "I have to be able to defend myself too." Gloria said assimilating all he had said. They were resting behind a tall tree in the forest after walking for some time. It was dark outside and the trees looked never ending. There was a road nearby Gloria could see it but she knew they couldn''t go by road at least not now, not on foot "You are weak. I can''t risk putting you in more danger." "I''ll be In greater danger if I cannot protect myself Jacob. Let me have the gun, I''ll help out." She gave him an assuring smile. He sighed knowing that she was right. He trust his hands in his pocket and brought out a silver dagger from his bag, he handed it over to her. "Be careful the last thing I want is your death." Gloria took it and nodded. "I won''t die at least not today." He nodded and smiled faintly. He took her hand as they skimmed the bushes trying to keep far away from sight as possible. "We just have to keep moving to keep a safe distance away from the gate. Someone will get a car here in the morning when the guards are distracted and most have gone for a run or to eat. Until morning then we have to keep a safe distance." Jacob told her as they started to walk again. Gloria looked over at the mansion in despair. Her life before she was kidnapped wasn''t perfect but the man in there had made it worse. She was going to come back and when she did, he would regret ever taking her that night. It was a promise. Her stomach started to hurt and churn but she could not bring herself to complain to Jacob. It felt like the child in her was determined to kill her because with every second that passed she became weaker and weaker. Something in her told her that this wasn''t going to be fixed by resting. She needed help from a witch. What was going on in her system was not medical she could feel it. This was why she hated magic. It only confused. 25 25. What have you done! Aiko walked into her mothers room with long precise strides. She was wearing a cape with a hood over her head. Her red hair was tied tightly to the back and her Lips were covered beautifully with red lipstick. She was small and white, like a fairy tale princess, a doll with a beautiful oval face. They called her the Japanese witch. Her mother was the werewolf priestess, a powerful sorceress. If there was anything known to the werewolf community it was that people didn''t see the priestess until something was really wrong and not even her Daughter was left to this belief. Her Aiko was so busy serving the alpha she often forgot to visit her own mum. Aiko invaded the lights as she walked up yo her mothers room. She didn''t want anyone to see her and assume that something was wrong, which it was. But the pack already had enough to deal with and the last thing she wanted to add to the list was a scare. She looked left and right before climbing up the final stairs which led to her mothers chambers in the other side of the pack house far away from everybody else. She knocked twice on the door not wanting to catch her mother of guard. If there was anything her mother Kim hated it was to being caught of guard. It could lead to the persons death matter of fact. She didn''t want to die yet. The door opened after several seconds of silence. A shuffling sound sent her right into her mothers suspicious glare. "Aiko." Kim breathed out staring at her Daughter with wide eyes. She let her in shutting the door behind her. "What are you doing here." "Can''t I come to see my mother." Aiko replied defensively. "You know what I mean so don''t play dumb with me. What is wrong?" Her mother asked. Aiko''s silence was getting her mother really worried. She was scared that the witches had come for them. Aiko sighed sitting down on the kings size bed her mother had decorated with red and and white. Kim drew a sit away from her reading desk and sat down in front of her Daughter. "What did you do Aiko? Tell me what you''ve come for. Is the alpha ok? Has she caught up with us__" Aiko started sobbing softly. Kim caressed her hands not knowing what else to do to calm her crying daughter. She looked petrified and it was unlike her. "You can talk to me you know that I''ll always help you my child. Tell me, does this have anything to do with the alpha finding his mate." "I don''t understand him mother. I feel guilty for telling him about his mate when you warned me not to. I should have listened to you. I should not have told him_" "What did he do?" Kim sighed resting her back on the chair, she was already feeling frustrated. Had her Daughter not been so upset she would sure have scolded her. She always did this, made decisions she specifically warned her against. It was one thing to defy her orders and another to ignore her warnings. And later she still comes back to her to urge her to fix mistake that could have been avoided had she just listened to her advice. Aiko grunted wiping her cheeks with the back of her palm. "He threw her into a cell." "He did what!" Kim exclaimed, letting go of her daughters hand. She became furious. "I told you that the alpha wasn''t ready to meet his mate but you chose to go behind me now look what you''ve caused this would only drive him to the edge I''ve tried so much to push him away from!" "I''m sorry mother. I love him! I thought I was helping him. I thought that seeing her__ seeing that__ seeing_," "I don''t care what you thought!" Kim shouted interrupting her stuttering. She stood up in anger. "I don''t care what you felt either, he''s not yours and you know that." She met her Daughters glossy eyes and breathed deeply. She didn''t want to have to say this again but she needed to. "Did you plan this Aiko was this your plan all along. To have the alphas mate hating him forever because it sure as hell is what''s going to happen now!" 26 26. Fix your sins. "Mother I''ll never do such. I never planned this. I thought that his mate will help him feel better. He''s suffering from his past mother can''t you see that?" She sobbed. "Then why the hell did you tell him about his mate when I told you he wasn''t ready! Because the only thing I can see now is the alpha forever losing her! And yes I can see he''s suffering but he doesn''t need his mate he needs a freaking therapist!" "Because I didn''t understand why, why you felt he wasn''t fit enough to see his mate!" She yelled frustrated. "I didn''t understand anything cause you won''t explain to me and I wanted him to be happy. I thought that__that when he sees her he will become better I never wanted to jeopardize his relationship with his mate you have to believe me mother." She begged for understanding sobbing and breathing heavily. She covered her face with her hands and wept more. Kim exhaled, Aiko was still her daughter after all. "Do you understand exactly what''s wrong with him my dear?" "I don''t." Aiko cried out. Kim exhaled again removing her Daughters hand from her face. "Then you don''t understand why I asked for your discretion. The alpha is sufferings from emotional detachment. Emotional detachment is the avoidance of emotional connections. And although Emotional detachment can be a positive behavior which allows a person to react calmly to highly emotional circumstances." "Emotional detachment in it''s best is a decision to avoid engaging emotional connections, rather than an inability or difficulty in doing so, typically for personal, social, or other reasons. In this sense it can allow people to maintain boundaries, psychic integrity and avoid undesired impact by or upon others, related to emotional demands which the alpha is known for." "Isn''t that a good thing_" "I''m not through. As much as emotional detachment has it''s perk it also has it downs. Emotional detachment may allow acts of extreme cruelty, such as torture and abuse, supported by the decision to not connect emphatically with the person concerned. And this is why I asked that you kept the truth away from him because he sure as hell isn''t ready for it." "I never knew about this mother." "I don''t care Aiko I gave you a clear warning. Fix it. Get him to fix it! Because I''m sure as hell not letting you risk that young mans life because you could not obey simple instructions. Do you understand?" Aiko nodded. She was going to fix this no matter what it took her to. The problem now was she didn''t know how to. It took more than determination to fix a problem. For the three months Gloria was in her cell the alphas condition became worse. He couldn''t feel, he couldn''t think. The alphas first disorder came as a case of amnesia he forgot everything numbing his mind. But in the last week of the third month a drastic change occurred when he saw someone wearing almost the same clothes Gloria was wearing the day he brought her to his home, during a drive back from the meeting of alphas. He went into a panic attack and his mind went on reset. Everything became on replay. His life was on replay. His memory was on replay, his mothers death, his first sex, the face Gloria gave to him when he had ordered her arrest, his father''s brutality. Every bad he had ever experienced and ever done kept playing in his mind. He closed his eyes almost feeling himself drown in despair when he heard his mother''s voice. "You will lose someone you can''t live without,and your heart will be badly broken, and the bad news is that you never completely get over the loss of your beloved. But this is also the good news." "They live forever in your broken heart that doesn''t seal back up. And you come through. It''s like having a broken leg that never heals perfectly¡ªthat still hurts when the weather gets cold, but you learn to dance with the limp." His mother had told him when he lost his best friends when he was little in a pack war. He wished he could have asked her how you get over a loss that happened right before your eyes. A loss you could have prevented but had no strength to. A loss you failed to prevent. He was hurt so much it felt as though he would bleed to death with the pain of it. He wanted to save his mum. He should have fought for her even if he was only 13 and no match for his father. Having been a young wolf he still felt that he should have protected her. He should have by any means possible saved her from the rot of his dad. As time went on he became a genius of sadness, immersing himself in it, separating its numerous strands, appreciating its subtle nuances. He was a prism through which sadness could be divided into its infinite spectrum. His body was a prison, his mind a chain keeping his soul in check lest he joins his mother. After her death he started to consider life as hell without his mother and the knowledge of having done nothing to help her hung on her head, a slow execution. 27 27. Speak The evening of the day Gloria was going to escape Aiko finally decided to do what her mother had asked her to do. She decided to solve the problem she had caused by telling the alpha of his mate. Amongst all he lived in the pack house she was the closest to him and he always listened to her. She really hoped that he listened to her this time. For months she had avoided talking about his mate so he wouldn''t lash out on her but now she could no longer postpone it. Something was telling her that everything would go haywire should she delay anymore. She was very nervous and afraid to speak to him concerning the issue but she was no longer going to let her fear deter her from doing what''s right by her mother and her leader. "You look like you want to say something spill it out already and stop looking at me like that." Noah chided growing impatient of her staring. Aiko had been awfully quiet and she was constantly giving him the look she gave him when he had done something beyond evil and she was scared to yell him off. "I was just being pitiful you know. You look dead and I''m sure you feel so too. I''m left to wonder who really is in a dungeon, your mate or you?" Noah didn''t say a word. His heart started beating at an alarming fast rate at her words more so because he didn''t expect them. He knew she was right and it scared him that even she could see through his thick skin. He had never felt this much pain before, the pain he felt now. He found himself always thinking about his mate, "I don''t want to talk about her and you know that_" "Noah Life is loneliness, despite all the opiates, despite the shrill tinsel gaiety of "parties" with no purpose, despite the false grinning faces we all wear. And when at last you find someone to whom you feel you can pour out your soul, you stop in shock at the words you utter - they are so rusty, so ugly, so meaningless and feeble from being kept in the small cramped dark inside you so long. Yes, there is joy, fulfillment and companionship - but the loneliness of the soul in its appalling self consciousness is horrible and overpowering." Aiko said thoughtfully. "I saw this somewhere anyway but my point is now that you have found your mate You have a companion. Not only is she your mate but she''s the kind of woman you like, beautiful and fierce the kind of woman that can rule this park with you by her side. Do not let her hate you more than she already does and trust me it is already a lot of hate. Every second she remains in that dungeon your life is going closer to infinite pain Noah." Noah sighed standing up. Truer words had never been spoken to him but he still felt so helpless. "She must already hate me so much now, much more than the devil if she does believe in him." He laughed sadly, pressing his eyes with his fingers. "Well you better let her out and let her tell you that herself. Then you can try fixing it" "You''re right." Noah agreed sighing deeply. He bent down resting his head on the chair. He tried so hard to decide but after a while his fear gave way and he took in deep breathes. "Let''s go free my mate." He said, chuckling nervously. It was the first time Aiko saw him smile in a long time. 28 28. No. Aiko did not actually believe her luck. She was relieved he listened to her although she could have almost sworn that he wouldn''t. The battle in her mind seized. The moment she saw him smile she knew she had done the right thing. Her mother would be so proud of her. He put on his cloak and she stood up right after he did. There was a lot going through the alpha''s mind at this moment but mostly he was scared of Gloria. Scared of seeing her again, scared of how she would react, scared of how he will. He hoped that he could still redeem himself. When they got to the cell Aiko behind him, no one would have suspected that anything had gone wrong. The room at the far end of the pack house was just as he had seen it the last time he came here. It was just like it was, just like it always was. It was a special place and she had been the only one to have been there for ten years the alpha didn''t particularly like cells, he preferred to kill his enemies. "Why are you just standing there?" Aiko asked cornering the alpha. She stood in front of him now with her hands folded. "You have the key to the cell don''t you?" He inhaled shaking his head. "I''m scared. I feel something is wrong. I Can''t feel her presence." "Because you haven''t marked her yet. Now I won''t let you chicken out of this plan you got it!" "Aiko! Something is wrong and it has nothing to do with chickening out of this plan. I can feel it. Matter of fact I could always feel her presence even without marking her. And you of all people know that that''s just a ritual of little importance. The mate bond goes beyond a bite" "Well that''s good, All that proves is that your souls are bound and that she''s your mate. Now, if Something is indeed wrong the best we can do is to find out what is." She stretched her hands to the door, "so open it." Noah nodded. He opened the door whilst holding his breathe. The sight that met him caused his heart to skip and he started to breathe unevenly. "She''s not here." Noah screamed looking into her cell. "She''s not here." He repeated. He was like a mad man, fury and pain buried in his eyes. Aiko looked at the cell in shock and then looked back at the Alpha with fear. "What the hell." She finally muttered getting out of her startled state. Noah rushed passed her. He could have easily followed Gloria''s scent but he was too disorganized to put his thoughts together in other to enable him use his power. Getting out of the cell he howled so loud the whole wolf community was put on alert. The last time the alpha howled the pack was under attack by rebels and that was twelve years ago. Jacob heard the alpha''s howl and was quickly alerted. "He has caught up to us. We have to run." Jacob said to Gloria panting. They were both scared. Gloria cursed her fate and the alpha. 29 29. Where is he? Clara having been sent for a mission of high importance as the kings lead assassin just returned. She was of great importance to the king and of a greater importance for the matters of war at hand. She just returned from her mission with a smile on her face as always and a success story to tell. The smile was evil, daring, lovely and all things Clara. Clara a petite woman of about 5''6 inches. Her hair was so Brown it was almost gold and her lips were a dazzling red. Like all the other vampire she is as white as snow. She walked into the palace gracefully after succeeding in her mission for the umpteenth time. Clara never failed that was why Lucius relied so much on her. She wasn''t just vicious but she was smart also. A bad combination for a leader but a good combination for an executioner. No one has doubted what she could do for a very long time. Even the warlocks cowered when they heard her name. She was good and everyone knew that and feared her. It was a known fact in the kingdom that it was so much better to be her friend because her enemies do not live long. So even when she was not your favourite person it was still best that your distaste for her is kept at the innermost part of your heart. Stepping into the palace that could only be likened to a dynasty. She was all smiles with the expectation that Lucius would welcome her with open arms like he always did. Imagine her disappointment when she did not see him in his throne room. She began to panic. She ran outside in a dash in search of a guard or someone who could tell her what the freaking hell was going on. "Where is Lucio?" She asked the head guard stopping in her tracks. She had to greet him better, he was an acquittance. Adolphus hugged her. "Welcome. I take it that you have good news for us as always." "When have I ever failed." She replied pulling away from the embrace. He held her hands and led her to the garden. "Victor is a traitor. He planned with the wolves to kill Lucius. Lucius just had him arrested." Adolphus whispered immediately they entered the garden. Clara looked at him surprised but masked it immediately. She didn''t like showing emotions. " Where is Lucius?" She asked again, maintaining a straight face and an indifferent demeanor. She would worry about Victor later. "He''s in his bedchamber" Clara did not wait behind to hear anymore. She didn''t wait to be told of the new guest. Her bad. Adolphus watched as she disappeared into the palace. He had been in love with her for a very long time but he knew her heart was with Lucius. Clara was shocked with what she saw in Lucius''s bedchamber. Not only was he with another woman. The damn woman was in his arms. "Lucio!" She called. When Lucius heard this he turned back knowing already who it was. Only Clara called him Lucio. And only Clara would come into his bed chamber without knocking. He had to put her in her place before she starts becoming a wild horse. Lead assassin or not she must learn to behave like a subject. "Clara go to the study and wait for me there." He said to her through his mind link. His words had no room for question only obedience. He was connected to all the vampires in the kingdom having been the original vampire, and could speak to anyone of them with his mind link. Clara nodded. She was about to walk out when he called her again through his mind link. "And never you ever walk into my chambers without knocking. I will not take it so lightly with you should this repeat itself. Clear?" He said locking angry eyes to her startled ones. She nodded again and walked out vowing to find out who the girl on Lucius bed was. She could tell she was human from the color of her skin and her blood. Was she the next feed? But Lucius never brought any human home. She needed to see Sarah and that damn woman better have the answers to her questions. How dare Lucio speak to her in that manner. "You need to take your bath. I will have someone bring a clothe to you." Lucius whispered in Monica''s ears, turning back to face her. A shiver ran down her spine when he spoke making her feel cold from within. When he stood up she realised the cold was actually emanating from his body, the body of the strange man who held her close. The man who didn''t look anything human. She took a strand of hair back and licked her lips, an involuntary action alright but it still turned Lucius on. He remembered how those lips tasted. "Who are you?" "Lucius." He breathed out. For the fear of her asking anymore Questions he left the room all the while wishing he didn''t have to. He couldn''t wait to finally open up to her about everything. "Charlotte get her some clothes and ointment." He beckoned on Charlotte through his Mind Link. Charlotte was the daughter of Sarah. They were among the very few vampires Lucius trusted fully. 30 30. Afraid. When the war began with the witches some of Lucius men became traitors after they heard of the powers they would have should they be beaten by the wolves who were now in the control of Jessica. They wanted to be hybrids. But they didn''t know the whole truth and he wouldn''t tell them. It was not in his place to help traitors. Monica held the blanket up her chest as she watched Lucius leave. Immediately he left she jumped up from the bed. She had to find a way out and fast. She just couldn''t stay no matter how badly she was drawn to this man. Her shirt looked messy and worn out and the skirt she wore was no better. It had suddenly become shorter than a mini. "Oh my God please help me get out of here and I promise to be a normal 21 years old adult and not to wonder in the forest at night anymore. I promise to believe in all the rumors I hear and to go to church everyday" Monica prayed silently. She looked around the massive bedchamber looking for an escape route. The bedchamber looked like those kinds she saw only on TV''s, classic with a touch of mystery. When she saw that she could not open the windows she almost ended up crying but then she remembered that Lucius did not lock the door. She quickly rushed to it but she was not as fast. "Where are you going?" Charlotte asked staring at the stunned looking human in front of her. She isn''t that bad she is actually pretty Charlotte thought as she came into the room locking the door behind her. "No where." Monica answered getting a hold of her raging heart. The girl in front of her was so tall she was over 5''11 and her eyes were a deep black coupled with her dark eye-shadow making her look goth. What have I gotten myself into and who are these creeps Monica thought as she watched Charlotte come in. Her heart started beating faster. Thump Thump Would she suck from me too? Am I food to them? Charlotte was aware that Monica was watching her with intent and fear but she however decided to ignore her, do her duty and leave. After all she had no business with the human, she was probably just food for the king. Deep down Charlotte knew otherwise. She knew that Lucius was drawn to this human. He never brought any home. She dropped the clothe she had brought for her on the bed and also the ointment. "You should be fast, dinner is ready." She said. The vampires could make a feast in one minute. They were that fast. "That door over there will lead you to the bathroom." Monica watched her in bewilderment as she spoke. "Wait who the fuck are you people!" "The people you Don''t want to mess with. Just do as I have told you and you won''t have a problem." Charlotte replied folding her arms. The human amused her with her questioning wide eyes and sweet vulnerability. "Oh please my life is already fucked up and the last thing I was wishing for is to be brought to a freak show!" Monica giggled to the annoyance of Charlotte. "What are you guys operating some kind of cult for the stupid and jobless?" "Hahaha you must think you are hilarious. Would you still think that if I break your neck?" Charlotte threatened menacingly she moved closer to Monica in a threatening manner. Her canines coming out. "Or maybe___ " I''m sorry. I''m sorry. I get it. No more jokes. Jesus! You have no sense of humor. " Monica stammered moving backwards till she was backed against the bed. "Now be a good girl and do what I tell you." Charlotte mumbled sweetly. She brushed a strand of hair away from Monica''s face and pecked her. "Oh my God I''m dead they are crazy." Monica cried immediately Charlotte left the room. "Ok Lord let''s not fight again. You win I don''t want to die now, please." Monica whined. She looked down at the dress and then looked up again her heart racing. She couldn''t believe that she was going to be made to dress up for her kidnapper but it didn''t seem like she had much of a choice. 31 31. The prophecy "Who is she?" Clara asked immediately Lucius stepped into the study room. She was standing by the door with her hands folded. Lucius sighed as he walked passed her to take his seat.. He was so not in the mood for one of her Tantrums but this was Clara she always tried to impose herself on him either ways. He took his seat at the far end of the library awaiting the end of her questions. "Lucio answer me now!" Clara fumed. "I owe you no explanation Clara." Lucius sighed. "How was the mission did you succeed in eliminating the coven?" He asked Ignoring the angry look Clara was giving him. He rested his head on the head rest and closed his eyes then he took in deep breathes in an attempt to clear his mind. "Yes I did." Clara replied harshly. She breathed in and out in a successful attempt to calm her nerves down so she could act rational. When she felt calmer she walked further into the office and perched herself on the desk. She was dressed like a mistress. All black. A black pant and shirt with a black boot and a chain around her waist. "You should relax, We both should seeing we both had a rough day. What do you say about that? Can I at least have this night with you?" She asked bending down to kiss him but Lucius turned side ways so that her lips touched his cheek instead. "The prophecy has been fulfilled Clara." Lucius said taken her aback. She stood up immediately not wanting to acknowledge what she just heard. "What prophesy?" She asked fuming. "One day the vampire king will be saved by the blood of his mate. His one true love and they shall___ " I know the prophecy" Clara snapped. "But how can it be fulfilled when we all know that the dagger of the sun does not exist. You cannot be killed." "I can be made extinct and the dagger of the sun exists, I was stabbed with it by Victor. I was already feeling myself transcend before she came to me. Her scent woke me up and her blood healed me." Lucius smiled dreamily remembering how he held unto her legs. How beautiful she was when he opened his eyes to see her. Remembering the softness of her lips and her seductive voice. "She is human Lucius. We all agreed that the prophecy be damned! We have agreed on that. Why bring it up now. Why let that thing fool you. For all we know she could have been sent by the warlock. She isn''t who you think. This must be the handiwork of Jessica." She was few inches away from Lucius trying to plead to his sense of reasoning. There was no way that that human was who Lucius said she was, no way. "The way I felt when I touched her, when I kissed her, when I heard her voice, I have never felt like that before. It was like a fire was ignited in me. I felt warm, alive. Clara the prophecy is true not that it is any business of yours but I just need you to know." "But I love you. I''ve been with you. You and I we are meant to fight this war together and to win at each others side." She looked into his eyes and tried to reason with him but she could already see it. She had lost him. She took his hands in hers so she could plead further but just then Sarah knocked "Come in." Lucius ordered eager to see Monica. His thoughts were of her and it was imposing a great restraint to his thinking. "Good day Clara. My Lord the human__ she''s now at the dining." Sarah informed not sparing Clara a glance. Clara had threatened her earlier and she was still pissed. She knew that Clara always loved to overstep her boundaries but with her she knew she couldn''t dare. If something were to happen to her Lucius would see to it himself that Clara''s reign ends, she knows that so all her threats were mere bluffing. She wondered why she tried to threaten her even, she might think herself the smartest but Sarah was no fool. Lucius followed her behind in a blink. He stood at the step watching Monica as she sat still on her chair finding it difficult to process anything that was going on. She looked scared and troubled as she sat looking around the room. He could tell that she was afraid of the things she saw. He could smell it. He could smell her fear, Who wouldn''t? He knew it was best that he takes her back to the world she knew and loved but he couldn''t. He could not possibly send his soulmate back not when he had just found her. Not when he searched for centuries for her. He was so transfixed by her that he did not notice when Clara passed him on the stairs, to meet Monica in a blink. "So this is the mate." She smirked. "I expected something better or someone rather but I''ve been greatly disappointed." she mocked. She was standing in front of Monica who stood up just when she saw her. How did she do that. Monica kept thinking. One second Clara was up the stairs and in the next she was behind Lucius and now she'' was standing there in front of her. It was just like in the movies, super speed. It was then she realized that they weren''t exactly faking it. That they were vampires and the rumours were true. 32 32. Who are you? "Who are you?" Monica asked. She seemed to be asking that question a lot lately. Her heart threatened to burst out of her chest as she stared at this new woman. She could smell that she was trouble. She didn''t look nice like the others. "I should be asking you that." Clara snapped. She took a hold of Monica''s wrist and pressed it. "For your good you should leave. I tell you this is no place for humans." "Do you think I want to be here. I was brought in here by that man." She snapped looking up at Lucius. "Take me to recognizable ground and I''ll leave." She was tired of people looking at her or telling her that she didn''t belong here when she already knew that. She wanted to leave but they were not letting her do that. He was not letting her leave and from what she could see they all answered to him. So tell me how the hell was she supposed to escape a man who got stabbed by a dagger and now looks like he was never even pinched. These people were getting on her last nerves, they wanted to drive her mad or maybe she was already mad. "Clara that''s enough." Lucius bellowed. He was very angry and if Clara wasn''t who she was he would have killed her on the spot. "How dare you?" He would not tolerate anyone threatening Monica or causing her pain. Clara had no right! no right at all! but there she was overstepping her boundaries again and again but this time he wasn''t sure he could bear it. Clara heard the anger in his voice and quickly withdrew. "She''s unbelievably naive and Innocent. You would get bored." Clara hissed. "Disgusting humans, we should Feed on her." Monica gasped. Whoever the woman is standing before her she decided then and there that she was her least favourite person ever. She won''t be food for some crazy people. "I don''t know what you mean by naive but I''m not." Monica mumbled under her breath holding her wrist, but Lucius as well as Clara heard her. Being sharp mouthed would get her into more trouble she thought. It was best that she let''s the king handle his people. She was grateful for Lucius saving her ass but that didn''t mean she would say thank you to him after all he brought her here needless to say against her wish. "She can''t even speak for herself." Clara stated. Alright you I can speak for myself. Monica wanted to say out loud but she was too afraid. Suddenly in a speed that made Monica scared she appeared right In front of Lucius. " She cannot be your Queen. This kingdom needs me as it''s Queen forget about the prophecy " Clara begged. "You know I''m the only one fit enough to be queen not this_" " 33 33. Stop please What prophecy?" Monica asked innocently but still it got to Clara''s nerves. She appeared in front of her, her hands on her neck ready strangling her. "Let me go." Monica choked struggling to breathe. Clara''s hand on her neck was so firm she couldn''t move an inch. Soon she was lifted off the ground by that hand. "Shut the fuck up." She screamed looking up at Monica. Lucius seethed. He couldn''t control his anger anymore since Clara was not ready to listen to reason then she would listen to violence. He blinked to her and pushed her away from Monica. She hit the wall with a terrible force. The wall broke from the shear force of both powers. "Control yourself!" Lucius screamed at her. "No I won''t. I''ve been here with you for centuries and I''ll not let some mortal slut take you away from me. I''ll kill her." Clara screamed back looking at Monica with rage. Her eyes turned red. Monica was on the ground now gasping for air. It felt like her lungs had been taken out. Lucius eyes turned red when she threatened to kill Monica. He had never felt such anger in his life before not even when he had almost been killed by Victor. The anger came with pain and rage. Hurt him, but not her! He pulled Clara up with his right hand his hand tight on her neck. "Stop." Clara gasped pleading for air as she choked. "Lucius." But Lucius did not listen to her plea, he was deafened by rage. He threw her on the floor with so much force her spinal cord broke and healed. Scared she tried to crawl away but he held her back with his mind. His fist clenched and unclenched to reveal sharp claws. He looked like the devil himself. Clara was still gasping for air but seeing Lucius in a kill state alerted her. Her eyes widened in fear and shock. She tried to stand but he stopped her with his mind turning her to face him. She had healed but she was weak. "You should have stopped when I asked you to!" He said calmly. Clara shook her head. Monica stood watching all that was going on with so many feelings, fear, anger and mostly confusion. She felt like she was only dreaming. She asked herself again and again if she was in a trance, if she had fallen asleep in the forest. She snapped out of her doubts when she saw Lucius walking towards Clara with his eyes red and his fangs out. She looked at Clara and Clara looked back at her with a pleading yet hateful look. She sighed. She just recovered from being choked and there she was contemplating if it was better to save her enemy of to let her die. Her mind told her to let Lucius kill her so she could be free from one more threat but her heart told her otherwise. She chose to follow her heart even when she knew she was sure to regret it. The reasonable thing to do was to save Clara. She could tell that she loved the king and in this moment of war, that was what the king needed. Vampires who love him and who would never betray him. "Stop it." She shouted. But Lucius did not stop. 34 34. Leave! Standing Here and shouting will definitely not stop him Monica. She ran to him. "Stop please!" She begged stretching out her hands to stop him. But Lucius did not stop Instead he pushed her to the side so she fell behind him. He pushed her gently. Even in rage he could not afford to hurt her. "You should never disobey me." He roared raising his hands up. He concocted fire out from his hand and Clara gasped. She wanted to plead but her voice was lost. She closed her eyes accepting her death but it didn''t come. Monica did not know what drove her to do what she did but she saw herself hugging Lucius from behind. Her eyes where closed while her breathe totally stopped and then started with full force. Her heart was hammering her ribs. The thump thump sound of her heart beating was music to Lucius. It calmed him down. He finally dropped his hands down to the relief of Clara. He tried to listen closer to the heartbeat of his mate who was just behind him. "Its OK." Monica said involuntarily rubbing his chest. Lucius turned around and kissed her. At first she didn''t respond because she was shocked but after a few seconds she started to. Kiss him back. Her hands held his as their lips moved in sync. Someone walked in just then and cleared his throat. It was Lawrence and he had been at a distance watching everything that had happened. "My Lord." He said with a smile while Lucius looked at him annoyed because he interrupted his kiss. Monica''s bent her head down getting shy. She felt awful to have been caught kissing her captor. But he was so good looking and his lips so soft she couldn''t resist him for long. You can not blame her for kissing him. It was so hard for her to control herself considering how she felt drawn to him. She sighed frustrated then she walked to her seat far at the end of the dining table with a ghost of a smile on her face. "Yes Lawrence." Lucius answered. Lawrence was putting on a black robe a huge contrast to his pale skin. Monica wondered if he was a monk cause he dressed and looked like one. "Take a seat." Lucius offered trying not to be petty by making him stand. Lawrence took a seat beside Lucius. While Monica had finally reached the far end of the dining table where she was asked to sit. She and Lucius sat opposite each other in a dining table that was so long it had over forty chairs. It took Monica more that three minutes to walk to the other end of the dining. The room echoed as it was empty but she couldn''t hear what Lawrence said to Lucius. She really wanted to but she couldn''t no matter how much she tried. Soon she stopped trying deciding to focus on the delicacies before her. The people she saw could not poison her, they had better ways of ending her life. And If they were going to kill her she might as just eat to her fill first. She couldn''t believe what was happening to her but the more time past the more it became obvious that she was not dreaming. They were so far apart and Lucius wanted it that way. He didn''t want to drag Monica into this kind of life yet. He didn''t want her to hear what he would say to Lawrence although he also did not want to keep anything a secret from her. He wanted to tell her everything and anything. He felt that strongly about her but he just had to be patient. If it be possible he wanted to keep her away from all the harm that came with being his soulmate and as safe as possible. He didn''t want her to suffer not even to loose a strand of hair as long as he was alive and king. He was torn between the selflessness in love or the selfishness. 35 35. Speak. "I honestly wonder Lawrence why you chose now of all times to make your presence known?" Lucius asked still irritated. He wished he wasn''t interrupted. He wanted to taste her lips more and more. "Even a fool will not interrupt you when you are in a rage My lord." Lawrence answered smiling mischievously." As for Lady Clara I can''t say she deserves what she got but it is good you put her in her place. With this war the people are beginning to rebel. We need to put all of them in their places. It''s good that they love you but also better that they also fear you. " "I would prefer respect." "As you chose, my Lord." "But you do not agree with my choice of lover. Why is that Lawrence? And don''t deny it, it''s written all over you. Why?" Lucius asked resting his back on the chair. He could see Monica clearly but she couldn''t see him. He wanted the discussion over so he could be with her again. He longed for her. But there were matters arising and as king he did not have the luxury of being impulsive. "She is a mortal. Human. She''s weak. She cannot be Queen most especially not now that the kingdom is In chaos. We need a fearless, ruthless Queen one that the people will respect and fear. One that can be at your side in times of war." Lawrence spoke softly knowing he was threading on a thin line. He wanted to be honest but respectfully honest. After what he had seen done to Clara he knew he just had to be careful. This woman may be weak but the king is strong and he was already smitten. If the prophecy was true and the prophecy fulfilled then the girl right before him was his Kings soul, he would die for her. "The prophecy said, after we mate she shall get her full power and come to terms with her true form. The warlords are upon us already. We have to have faith in the priestess." Lucius reminded the elder seated with him. "But the prophecy said, she will be a warlock not a human." Lawrence objected. "The prophecy isn''t always right my Lord. I know that you are grateful to her for saving your life but that''s about it. Maybe you are just thankful and then mistaking it as love. Humans don''t belong here." "I know what I feel and the difference in my emotions Lawrence. Do not insult me!. I''ve lived long enough to tell the differences between each feeling." "I''m sorry my Lord but you asked for my opinion and it''s my duty as an elder to give it truthfully." "When has the prophecy been wrong Lawrence. You do not speak to me with only assumptions. Assumptions has no place before the king. You must speak with facts. So now tell me has any of the prophecy ever been wrong?or now you presume its wrong because it doesn''t suit your definition of write. Aren''t you biased?" "The prophecy said, Victor shall be with you when you take down the warlocks, but it is obvious that he will not." Lawrence thwarted. The king almost always listened to him. Lawrence hoped that he would again listen to him this time. A human Queen would only weaken the kingdom. Lucius laughed a silent laugh. "Nothing in the prophecy has been proven wrong yet Lawrence." Lawrence sighed resignedly knowing that Lucius was right, as always. He could see that the king was determined to be with His soul mate; years and years of loneliness must have made him weak when it came to her. "When do we start questioning Victor? I suggest this night." Lawrence asked as he stood up. He folded his hands underneath his robe. "The people must see that we are in control " "Let''s make it tomorrow Lawrence. Goodnight. I''ve had a very hectic day." Lucius spoke dismissing him with his hands. Lawrence Bowed and left. 36 36. Angry. "I cannot believe what he did to me all because of that human mother!" Clara growled. She was in her own mansion now and had been pacing since she arrived. She was furious, upset, enraged, angry. Healed but still in pain. Her heart hurt bad. "My lady will you like your bath prepared." Her Maid asked immediately she stepped into the room. She was so scared she did not want to spend one more second in the room not when Clara was that angry. Clara was ruthless when happy then how much more when angry. All her servants threaded on a very thin line with her for the fear that she could so easily end them and face no repercussions. "If you do not want the bath prepared with your blood you will get out of here now." Clara growled. She didn''t have to repeat it, The Maid by name Mariana had already disappeared lucky to have been able to leave alive. "Relax Clara. I do not see why you are getting all worked up." Stella told her daughter. She was getting dizzy as a result of Clara''s pacing. Her legs were crossed and her arms rested on her crossed legs a diamond ring on it. Stella was a thick woman and as beautiful as the word beauty. Clara got her brown hair from her. "Mother can you please listen to yourself, you see no reason why I should be worried! Have you have been listening to all I have been saying or have I been talking to myself?" "No you have not but still calm down everything is under control you know that." Stella said quite calmly and persuasively but Clara would not hear of it. Nothing was under control nothing, nothing at all Not only did Lucio for the first time lay a hand on her he tried to kill her and if that wasn''t enough. He kissed that human girl. A kiss she had craved and worked for centuries. "I cannot calm down mother not when the king is at the dining now with a filthy mortal. He brought in a human mum. Someone he claims saved his life. The word has spread it''s on every ones lips. I have been insulted, threatened and abused all because of that stupid human." She paused and growled. "The king has found his soulmate. She is to to be Queen the prophecy has been fulfilled. I''m about to loose my shits and go into a rampage. God help anyone who so much as knocks on the wrong door today!" Clara screamed pulling at her hair. "You need to calm down Clara you are throwing the whole house into a tension. The people you have here have not rebelled against you because they fear you. They fear your strength and calmness in the midst of woes. They see you as invisible that Nothing can go through you. You must not show them that you are weak that you can be broken. Don''t let that human get to you." Stella advised. "You must remain calm my child." She was getting really impatient with Clara and her tantrums, but she was her daughter so as much as she wanted to leave and end the terror on her ears she still couldn''t. 37 37. Stay strong. Stella stood up and walked up to her daughter. Then placed her hands reassuringly on her shoulders. "She''s only human. She can easily be dealt with. This is not even a war. Worry about the warlords and leave the mortal to me." Clara breathed in deeply calming her nerves down. Her mum was right she just had to remain calm if she continued in this state then she was not going to be able to think properly. There was nothing like a calm mind in the face of tribulations she herself knew that but the human roaming about as the kings mate just got her on an edge. Calmer now she sat Down on her bed although she was still enraged. "She might be only human but she is his soul mate." "Not yet fully." Her mother corrected. "What do you mean not yet fully! Lucius tried to kill me because of her! The Lucius I know protected me and loved me. But you should see the way he looked at her when he saw her, he was transfixed. King Lucius ruler of the vampire kingdom lost control of himself because of a woman." Clara laughed bitterly. "And that woman wasn''t me, it just wasn''t. It was her, the damn clueless human! Her weakness disgusts me and I''m sure it will disgust every other vampire. Lucius just has to come to terms with the fact that this, this kingdom here is no place for the weak not to mention the throne. He''s making a grave mistake and I must show him that." "It''s not in your place Clara. You are a not an elder. Telling him that would be overstepping your boundary and you just might end up infuriating him the more. It''s best that this be dealt with diplomatically, if not, he might just lose every love and respect he has for you. If that happens it doesn''t matter if you succeed in eliminating the human, he will never be yours." Stella spoke softly hoping her daughter would reason instead of feel. "The truth is right now the enemy of his soul mate is also his enemy. Do you want to be his enemy?" "Then what so you suggest mother." "She is his mate I agree with you but she is not yet his soul. They have not made love yet, hopefully. She becomes his soul and gains her true powers after they make love. That''s what the prophecy says my child. Unless he mates her tonight which I hope he won''t. This night can''t be his night of sin." "Let the prophecy be damned!" Clara fumed jumping up from her bed. "That''s not the issues here. This is the prophesy." Clara shoved her fist into the wall breaking it and destroying a priced painting. "I could see it in his eyes how he adored her. He practically worshipped her." "Calm down Clara!" Stella yelled, she stood up too. She was angry with her daughter now but she still threaded with caution. Everyone knew that when Clara was enraged she becomes viciousness in person. She had wiped out a whole town once when she thought Lucius was dead. She barely ever reasons when angry and only comes to regret her actions after she was calm. Lucius had gone to a battle without informing anyone. It was a battle with the a coven up north ocean city. He didn''t tell anyone about the battle because he didn''t want to risk anyone besides he was so angry with the particular coven he took it upon himself to end them. The coven had enraged Lucius beyond control by ordering the killing and execution of over 100 vampires. That war Lucius decided he was not going to miss. There were 2 things Lucius hated so much 1. People crossing their boundaries. 2. People crossing their boundaries. Lucius was rumored dead when he was found missing and though Clara knew it was impossible as she still felt his life force clearly proving he was not dead. She still went on a rage killing a whole town of warlocks in cold blood without reason. The town caused no trouble to the vampire''s and the witches there were weak. She preyed on their weakness something Lucius would not have accepted. Something her herself didn''t quite appreciate. "We need to end her mother. Only when that mortal is dead can I be calm not before then." Clara said turning to face her mother. "Mother please you have to help me end her. Please." Her mother understood what she meant and nodded. She hugged her daughter and stroked her hair lovingly. "She will be gone soon baby, I promise. You just wait and see. 38 38. Lovers cabin. Stella loved her daughter like every other mother loved her child and she supported her in every situation even her excesses. Clara was all she had and has had for centuries. When she saw her in that village she knew right away that she was hers for the keeping. She was just like her, smart, powerful and ambitious. She wanted power just as much as her mother and they soon started to get along. While Clara struggled to reach the top Stella wanted to remain at the top and possibly to go higher. She wanted to secretly call the shots and the best way to do that was if her daughter was made the Queen which was what she trained Clara for all these years. To be Queen. You see the vampire kingdom was different from any other it did not condone weaknesses. The mate of an alpha can be weak it didn''t matter, a warlords wife could also be weak they wouldn''t care for it much but the vampires being the strongest supernatural dealt with strength and power without these you could not rule. The mortal couldn''t stand a chance everyone In the kingdom already knew that Clara was the only one fit to be queen, the only one. And this is thanks to her training. If all went as planned and Clara is made the queen Stella would no longer need the elders to influence the king. She will have undisputed power. She would finally be looked upon as the Queen mother. The very plus of this all was that She will no longer need to trade her body for power. She wanted it all and as such would not let her daughter loose the throne to a mortal. Even if Clara didn''t ask her to get rid of the mortal she would have done it still. She would have ended the mortal either way. Only her daughter was fit to rule. After she was able to calm her daughter down she knew exactly what was expected of her and who could help her do what was expected of her. So she set out to meet one of the elders. She gracefully yet sneakingly going to elder Lawrence''s home for help. She could not afford to be seen by anyone even if Lawrence wasn''t married like some of the elders. If People saw her with him they would start to suspect and probe and she could not afford that. She could not let anyone cut the strings she had on the kingdom and the king. Elder Lawrence had kept for them both a secret cabin close to his home where they met when the die was cast. He had been her lover for a long long time. She had used him when she wanted to cover up her tracks of Mass murder and she had been using him since but he didn''t mind. He had a soft sport for her besides he knew that one day he would collect. He was the spokesman of the elders and most times if not all the time what he didn''t want said wasn''t and what he wants said was because even among the elders they feared him though they won''t admit to it, he didn''t need them to though. He damn well knew. Lucius did not condone massacre''s not that he was against vampires having their fun. He was just against them losing control when they were having it. You just could not kill so many people at once especially not little children. That was one of the things he and Lucius agreed on without compromise. The day he found out Clara did this is a fit of rage he knew that if he told the king he would have had her removed as council member. Even he himself was going to do it. And the worst part was that she wasn''t at all sorry for the massacre. To her humans were worthless creatures only meant to be fed on. But she would have been sorry if she was kicked out of the council and he wanted that. The council was made up of 21 of the most powerful vampires. After the elders the council was next In line as influencers to the king. If she had lost that she might as well say goodbye to being near to the king ever. She was lucky though, she had her mother. 39 39. Welcome "Welcome." Lawrence smiled immediately he heard Stella''s footsteps outside the shade. She pushed open the door gently slipping in her breath caught up in the wind. When she entered the room she took off her hood her eyes locking in his. She smiled watching him stare at her like he did anytime they met. "My Lady." Lawrence smiled blinking to her. He stopped right in front of her then he took her hands to his lips and kissed it maintaining eyes contact with her. Stella blushed a little but quickly covered it up with a frown. He always made her feel light. "I fear today is not for pleasantries my love." Stella replied solemnly. The cabin had a huge bed in the centre, a table, a chair at the end and a classy wine cellar which served as a fridge used to store blood. The walls were made of stone and the cold marble pressed on Stella''s back. "Why is that so my Lady? What troubles you?Lawrence asked blinking back to his sit then to his cellar. He poured himself a cup of blood. "Do you need? You should have some for your taste." He asked raising the wine glass to her. She shook her head taking of her cape completely then she perched on the bed watching him sip his wine with grace "You really don''t care to have some." "I fear I don''t. Not when my heart is troubled." She sighed. "There is a very pressings issue at hand and I''ve lost appetite to feed." "You haven''t stated what''s worrying you." Lawrence said blinking to her. He was now besides her on the bed a smile on his lips. "What is it you desire of me now." Lawrence drawled. He placed one of his hands on her thighs and looked up at her. "I hear the king has found his soul mate. A mortal." "And__" Lawrence probed acting oblivious. He knew what Stella wanted. He knew her like he knew himself. But he wanted her to speak, he wanted to make it her call. After all what troubled her troubled him. "A mortal cannot rule." Stella said as if it was the most obvious thing, then she turned around to face him. "I don''t know how long she shall remain a mortal. The prophecy said she would be the greatest warlock And that she will achieve her true powers only after she has been bound to the king." "I know the prophecy by heart, for years that was all the king could speak of. The prophecy spoke of a witch and not a mere human so why worry your poor head my Lady. I''ve seen the mortal. She''s nothing." Lawrence scoffed. He blinked to pour himself a glass of blood and then blinked back to sit beside Stella. "We have to eliminate her. We can not condone future threats. Humans are deceitful." Stella shouted pissed. She hated that he wasn''t taking her serious. She wanted him to be just as angry about this whole thing as she was. Lawrence glared at her shaking his head in anger. Stella was used to having an outburst like this when she didn''t get her way but he hasn''t even refused her request yet so he didn''t understand why she was shouting. He didn''t like to be disrespected, she had to remember that he was elder Lawrence, him being her lover did not give her the audacity to disrespect him. "Listen to me." Lawrence said trying to calm her down but she sure has hell was not going to calm Down. She gaped at him pointing at him in anger. "No you listen to me." She bellowed. She blinked to him and slapped him across his face so he flew to the wall denting it. He wasn''t affected however. He stood straight immediately, dusting his shirt he sighed in frustration. He was going to allow her let it all out since she was obviously not thinking straight. He knew how it hurt to feel all your plans go down the drain, he understood her frustration and was going to let her take it out on him if it would make her feel better. "Calm down." He muttered, trying to soothe her. "We are already In to each other neck deep. I know things about you that you don''t want the king to know and you know things about me that I don''t need the king to know. But should the mortal win then there will be no need for my secrets to be Kept seeing that I would have lost all my cards but you___ you will still have cards to play, cards that I could burn with my pretty little lips." She smirked locking eyes with him. She did not blink neither did he, he was vexed. He did not like to be threatened which was exactly what she was doing. "And is that a threat." Lawrence asked, his voice cold. He blinked to her in rage pushing her hard against the wall the force slightly breaking the wall. He cupped her neck, gritting his teeth in anger he pressed unto her, his hands stopping air from going to her lungs as he pressed her neck against the wall. She coughed out fighting to get air into her lungs but all attempts proved futile. She held on to his wrist in an attempt to pull it away from her neck but he was much stronger. She was no match for him. He then lifted her up, his hands still pressing her against the wall. Her back scraped the wall sending shudders of pain to her entire body even to the sole of her feet. She cried in pain tears streaming down her face. Her eyes were now locked in his, his eyes narrowed in anger while hers widened in fear."Stella are you threatening me. Do I have a reason to see you as a threat, My Lady?" He asked mockingly. Stella got the message he was trying to pass clearly. She shook her head her hand still on his wrist trying to fight him off, but she just couldn''t. "No." She choked out. 40 40. You my lady should know better. Lawrence smiled but he didn''t let her go immediately. She had threatened him meaning she no longer feared him, he had to make her fear him again. Sure she was scared of him now that she had seen that she was no match for him but he wanted her to fear him all the way. He wanted her to be petrified of him. He dug his fingers into her skin as blood dripped from her neck. Pain exploded in her body so much she closed her eyes unable to take the pain anymore. Lawrence was going to kill her. "Don''t ever threaten me again Stella or the mortal will be the least of your worries." He exhaled. He calmed down and retracted his hand from her neck then he moved backwards by a few inches, he wanted to grant her space to breathe. He watched as she wallowed on the ground now gasping for air. The wound on her neck took time to heal because it was impacted on her by him, an elder, in fact if she were to be a new vampire that wound would have killed her. Wounds inflicted by the elders were fatal especially to new vampires. "I am not threatening you." She stammered. She stood up finally finding her bearing after minutes of gasping for air. Her breathing still came out harshly but the wound on her neck had healed. "The gods forbid that I do that my love." She added. "Let''s leave the gods out of this." He grinned, now that he had put her in her place they could carry on like nothing happened. She adjusted her gown her eyes steady on him. She knew why he did what he did, he wanted to put her in her place. She was hurt very hurt and angry but she covered it up with a smile. All she had to do was get Lucius to marry her daughter then she would be the one putting Lawrence in his place. But for now she just had to play along. She blinked to him then she pushed him on the bed and perched on his thighs. He put his arms around her pulling her close to him so she was sitting on his cock. She immediately felt uncomfortable but she just had to play along for her ambitions. "If my daughter is made queen you will be made next In line to the king. That won''t be hard seeing that Victor is a traitor" Stella said caressing his cheek. His eyes travelled down her body and he swallowed in anticipation. He would never get used to the voluminous body of the Lady sitting on his thighs now. "War is coming to us and Victor is still very much alive." He choked out trying to reason with her although he had already lost all his concentration when she started to Caress''s his cheek. Stella shut him up tactfully. "And very much dead. He is a traitor and you know the king has no mercy on traitors he would die soon and you will take his place but only if my daughter is made Queen. What is better that being the right hand man to the king? Fighting by his side." To be the king. Lawrence thought but didn''t voice it out. "She is his soul mate." He was saying when he heard the loud scream every vampire heard. "And now she is bound to him." He finished. Stella shouted jerking away from his thigh immediately she heard the scream. She clenched her fist in anger hitting the wall with so much force it broke. Lawrence wasn''t bothered by this, he had the cabin fixed Every time they met. Stella was one crazy bitch Just like her daughter or maybe even worse. "We need to end her soon. We have only twelve ours before she is crowned Queen by morning." She growled in anger. "His heart, soul, mind and body is bound to her now. We cannot separate them and even if we do how are you sure he will marry your Daughter or even fall in love with her. They had been Together for a century and he still hasn''t touched her what more when he has seen his soulmate and lost her. I fear this is too dangerous." Lawrence tried to reason deceitfully. Stella''s eyes were blood shot. She could see her dreams flashing in front of her eyes and she was on enraged. She had given so much for this, she had sacrificed so much for it she couldn''t just let one person take everything away from her and her daughter. "Leave that to me my Love. Lucius will fall for my Daughter that I can assure you" She paused thinking of a plan then she smiled. She kissed Lawrence gently on his lips. "We just have to end her first. Do you have the portion?" She asked. Lawrence smiled knowing what she wanted done and how she wanted it done. "You my Lady should know better. I won''t let a mortal rule over us Consider her dead." He laughed loudly as he kissed her. Stella smiled in his lips. The mortal girl should have known better. Stella thought. And as for Lucius he should wait and see. She had been going easy on him for centuries trying her best not to cross the line and now he thinks them weak. He would definitely regret bringing that mortal to take what rightfully belonged to her daughter. 41 41. The deal. "Brother you look worse today. Far much worse." Adrian said immediately he walked into his brothers office. He sat down on the sofa, his sympathetic eyes not leaving his brothers face. For three months his brother Michael had been searching for his secretary. At first he didn''t understand why he was so determined to find her when he could easily have gotten another replacement. It was not until his brother in a drunken stupor confessed his feelings for Gloria. When Gloria suddenly went missing with her went his brothers peace of mind. Now he was either looking sad, angry or regretful. Not even him could make him smile. "I''ve spread the word east and south and still no one can tell me something about her. Anything. It''s like she just disappeared into thin air. But_" He breathed out resting his head on his hand. "I don''t want to believe she disappeared. Gloria is alive and I just have to find her even if it means me turning ocean city to a war zone I have to find her." Michael added standing up. Ever since Gloria got missing he couldn''t seat down for long, anytime he did he felt he was wasting ample time, time he could use to intensify the search for her. Sitting agitated him so much he passed on it most times. "She could be dead and__" "Don''t you dare! Don''t you dare say that!" Michael shouted pulling up his brother by the shirt, his grip firm on him firm. He was breathing heavily as a result of his rage. "she is not dead she can''t be. She just can''t be." He muttered over again letting go of his brother with a weak sigh. He perched on his table and tried to catch his breath. The emotional state he was just put into by the mere mention of the possibility of Gloria''s death was too much for him to handle. Adrian''s eyes remained wide open. His heart pumped hard against his chest. He breathed out severally before his heart rate returned to normal. His brother was previously never aggressive as a matter of fact his little brother was the nice one amongst the duo, the ever loving patient one. He was the Stefan to his Damon. The one that did good. Never had he laid his hands on him. Michael doing this just showed him how important the woman was to him. He had to help his brother find her by any means possible. "I''m sorry." Michael quickly apologized. "I shouldn''t have said that. It''s a delicate topic. Honesty is not exactly fair in topics like this." "No its OK." Stefan admitted sitting down. "Touche. I overreacted but all this is getting me so worked up, I swear I just might lose my mind!" Michael drawled, pulling his hands over his face in frustration. "That won''t happen brother as long as I''m alive. That brings me to the question I''ve been dying to ask you since I got in here. What are you willing to do to get her back? How far can you go for her? How much risk are you willing to take for Gloria." 42 42. Set. I''ll do anything. Anything! I''ll go to the ends of the earth if need me, just put me to it" Michael answered with hopeful eyes. He prayed with all his heart that his brother had a way to get him out of this just like he had always gotten him out of his problems before. Whenever he was backed up against the wall he always sort help from his brother because unlike him his brother didn''t play by so many rules. "You really love her don''t you?" "I need to find her brother. Tell me what do I have to do. Kill the mayor?" "Hopefully not." They both chuckled. "Although that can be considered the man is an ass." "Adrian!" "Joking. Alright then, tonight we will find the love of your life. By 7 I''ll come pick you up and we will go find your woman or your secretary whichever one she is." Adrian stood up. "What''s the plan" "You will see. Trust me little brother." He winked at him giving him a sad smile. He had to do well by his brother just like his brother had done right by him all these years. If it means going back to his demons then he would. His brother had to get back his woman no matter the price even if the price was his sanity. When Adrian left Michael sighed in relief. It was the first time in days that he felt hopeful again. He was in love with Gloria. He didn''t know how or when he started loving her but he knew he did. That''s why he was rude to her to stop himself from fucking himself up before her or just plain looking as stupid as she she made him feel for loving her so bad. No matter how he tried to get her attention he never succeeded, she never even noticed him. It was like she was hellbent on proving that he had no effect on her. Her going missing was just the icing to his cake of sadness, rejection and confusion. A part of him wanted to believe that she was fine and maybe she just decided to run away from him but he knew just like everyone else knew that Gloria was too brave to run away from her problems. He was getting more desperate with his search for her with each passing day. As it stood now, he could go to hell if he heard that she was there waiting for him. He wanted her back by every means possible. He just would not stop till he got her back and then when he does he planned to woo her, to love her like there was no tomorrow. He was going to apologize to her and make all things right with them even if he had to kneel to prove how sorry he was for the way he had treated her before her disappearance. He needed a chance to make things right with the woman he loved. She just could not be dead, he needed to find her. Hopefully whatever plan his brother had would be better than the one''s the security department of Ocean city had been using in their search for her. 43 43. Trapped Her head was buried on his shoulders as he whispered sweet promises into her ear. He held in his hands her curly blonde hair which fell to her side he then slid it behind her ear. Her tears stained his suit but he didn''t mind. He was going to use it to remember her. It will be his favourite suit. "I am so sorry." He whispered again. His voice clogged from tears. His lips twitched as he fought the urge to cry. "It''s alright." Ciara said raising her head up from his head. "I understand." She smiled at him an all too fake smile. She didn''t understand she couldn''t have. He himself didn''t understand. Nothing was clear and yet everything was. They couldn''t be together. Ciara stood up shaking. Her legs felt like they belonged to Someone else and not her, but then maybe it did belong to someone else, him. He once told her that he owned her, every bit of her, every fibre of her being. She had believed him. "I''ll leave now." She smiled adjusting her skirt. She was always smiling even in tears. Adrian quickly jumped up from the chair like a force had pulled him up. He held her to himself and hugged her fiercely. Not minding her weak squeals. Ciara cried. It seemed to be all she could do lately. Cry. When she had quieted down. She looked up at him her eyes red and sore. Sweat formed on her forehead. "Please." Was all she could say before he took her lips in hers. She loved the way he kissed her. The pure manly power he exhibited when he claimed her lips. She loved the taste of him and he loved the taste of her. He knew within him that he would never get to love anyone as much as he loved her but he thought he had no choice even when he did. She kissed him slowly still shaken from crying too much. She let him lead the way while she submitted to his wishes. They were both two engrossed in the kiss, savouring each others lips, tasting and loving the feel of each other that they didn''t hear the knock on the door neither did they hear the footsteps. But they heard the clap because unlike the knock and the foot step the Clap was loud and precise. The Clap was to cause shock and it did for both of them Both left the sweet comfort of each others arms and detached from the heavenly taste of each others lips. "Adrian why am I not surprised." Came a voice they both knew who the owner was. It was that tiny voice that held with it power. In fear and shock they both stood still both nervous. Still they could taste each other on their lips and they didn''t want the taste to go. The woman who had made her presence known with a clap now stood in front of them with rage filled eyes and a disappointed countenance. She was smallish and petite unlike Ciara who was thick. She looked weak like a damsel in distress but do not let her looks deceive you she was anything but weak. You could see her strength if you looked deeper. More than her appearance was that striking charisma and perfect stance that made her both intimidating and lovely. "Amara." Adrian sighed, his feelings moved from the shock of being caught to irritation in just seconds. Letting go of Clara''s shaking hands he took the few steps to Amara circling her, becoming the predator now Instead of the prey. He was using her love for him against her, he knew that she could do anything to keep him including taking his Bullshits."What are you doing here?" He asked folding his hands across his chest. He gaped at her trying to intimidate her. Amara shook in anger and hurt. She could not believe that he had the nerve to ask her such a stupid question. "I believe I am your fianc¨¦e and that question should not be directed at me but to that woman by your side." Amara hissed. A strand of hair fell down her face from her dark hair tied behind her head in a tight ponytail. "I can''t believe you, you have the nerve to ask me what I''m doing here when I just caught you cheating on me her. How dare you?" 44 44. Donst do that brother. He frowned his brows creased. "How dare I not! and for your information she''s not just any woman, I love her. When will you understand that she''s the woman that I am in love with? I hate for you to think that because we are set to marry that you can tie me down and claim faithfulness to a marriage I don''t even want. I will never love you and this marriage here is a contract and it will never be anything more than that. There is no love and no obligations. My company is marrying yours and that''s it. Please get this into your head already Amara!" Adrian spat. Amara''s eyes pricked with unshed tears, Her heart sunk with hurt. She couldn''t believe the words that were coming out of Adrian''s pink kissable lips. The lips she wanted did nothing more than to utter hurtful words to her every time they met. She wasn''t sure she could take it anymore. Why did he have to Speak to her like that when he knew more than anyone that although she loved him she was also trapped in this marriage the same way he was because they both wanted the same thing, to make their companies stronger by merging it. What better way to beat of competition than for the rivals of the two companies in the front line coming together as one in other to beat the others behind. At least that''s what her father told her that night when he gave her the news and that must have been what his told him. So why did he see her as the enemy when she was also a victim just like him. "You hurt me and disrespect me and then you cheat also. What other stunt are you going to pull?" Amara asked crying softly. She wiped her cheeks with the back of her palm, "How can you be so cruel." "Ok stop acting like the victim. I know that you were the one who caused this deal to happen in the first place even when you knew that I was in love with someone else." Adrian scoffed rolling his eyes. "Just stop the act because it sure as hell doesn''t fit you." "You think I want to marry you! Well I don''t and this is the final stunt you pull on me because I''m done taking bullshit like this from you when we are not even married!" She yelled hitting his chest as she cried. Her heart constricted in her chest. The pain wouldn''t just go away and hitting and yelling ar him wasn''t helping her either. It only succeeded in making her weaker. From the corner of her eyes she could see Ciara smirk at her. "Then break the engagement then. You know he doesn''t love you so stop forcing yourself on him because he loves me and he wants me." Ciara stated moving to back Adrian up. She stood in front of him her hands folded. Amara was alone and hurt with no one by her side. She couldn''t believe all that was happening in front of her. She shook watching them take the defense against her for something they were supposed to be apologizing for. She had never felt as much pain in her life as she felt in that moment. Until michael suddenly came in. "Your secretary isn''t around." Michael was saying when he walked in to meet the scene. When he stepped into the office he took cognizance of the three people in front of him. He became confused and curious. Ciara immediately backed away from Amara and started to cry but Michael was not going to buy her act for even a second. He knew just how cunning the woman was and he was more than elated when his father arranged a marriage for Adrian."What are you doing here Ciara?" He asked walking further into the office. Amara watched him with a throbbing heart as he walked into the office and took his stand behind her. She felt a little relieved but it didn''t take away the hurt she felt. "Michael what are you doing here?" Adrian asked gaping at him. "We do have somewhere to go tonight have you forgotten?" "Oh! That." Was all Adrian could mutter. He pressed his finger''s in his eyes remembering what he promised his brother this morning. He couldn''t believe that he actually forgot. "Yes, oh!" Michael scoffed mockingly. Watching the both of them speak gave Amara the time she needed to calm her nerves down. She could not give anyone the satisfaction of seeing her break. "You know what I''m leaving." "Yea you should go and never_" "Adrian! You''ll not speak to her in that manner." Michael cut his brother off from speaking with a cold glare. Amara then faced Micheal and smiled to him gratefully. Tears started to prick her eyes once more."Maybe this arranged marriage should have been between the both of us and not me and him. I''m tired of his bullshit." She ran her hand through her hair in frustration. "You know what I still find it hard to believe that you both are brothers." With that she walked out. Immediately she left there was silence except from the occasional sniffing that came from Ciara. Michael glanced at Ciara who was still crying by his brothers side and frowned. "You should go too you know." "Michael." "Adrian we have somewhere to go and or else you''ve changed your mind then we better get going. I''ll leave you two." He eyed Ciara. "And you should stop with the tears. I didn''t buy it when I walked in here and I sure as hell won''t buy it now." 45 45. The journey They had started their journey towards east of Ocean city just about thirty minutes after the office scene. It was already getting very late which was not part of the plan. Michael was not only angry at his brother for how he humiliated Amara but also for how he was making them go late to this supposed helper he wanted them to meet all just because he couldn''t control his dick. "Look Michael you can stop with the silence now." Adrian said, finally deciding that as the elder brother it was only right that he cleared the air between them. He watched his brother from the corner of his eyes as he continued driving. After everything that happened thirty minutes ago his brother had been giving him the cold shoulder and as much as he did not mind it when they were teens he sure as hell could not stand it now that they were grown coupled with the fact that they were going to dangerous territories. They needed to be on good terms if they wanted to make it out unscathed. "You said you were going to marry her not humiliate her in front of Ciara." Adrain replied looking away from the mirror. "The least you can do is respect her enough to call of the marriage if you no longer want it." "You know that father would not accept Ciara. Damn! you''ve always been on my side and you don''t even like her. Father would die before he let''s me marry her." "Because everyone can see that she''s just after our family''s wealth everyone except you that is. Look you have to see past her annoying sniffing, fake tears and good pussy cause other than that she''s nothing." Adrian pulled to a halt in anger. Luckily for him cars rarely drove on the side of town he was driving on. "I don''t understand, you can love your secretary but I cannot. How is your secretary any better? Except she''s one of those wealthy people who prefer to live poor. Or is there something I''m missing out here?" "Do not bring Gloria into this. This is not about her being poor and you know it, this is about her being deceitful. Look let''s just not talk about it till we are back. Hopefully it won''t be too late to make amends and when I mean too late I mean let''s just hope Amara hasn''t fucking called of the damn engagement. That woman loves you Adrian." "But I don''t love her can''t you both understand it." "Brother, I''m the only one who knows about Ciara meaning that you don''t even have enough courage to fight for her because you don''t even trust her. Tell me I''m wrong. If I am then you won''t be keeping her secret." Adrian breathed out. He looked at his brothers determined face, Michael was indeed eager to prove his point. Adrian shrugged and turned on the ignition. "I love her but_" "You don''t trust her do you? My God Adrian when will you realize that you lust over her and you pity her but you sure as hell don''t love her. If you did you would trust her." "She loves me." Adrian sighed dejected. His brother was making a valid point and he had nothing to defend himself except from love, a word he wasn''t sure he even felt. He more than anyone knew that love wasn''t just enough to keep a marriage going and that some times pity could be mistaken as love. He didn''t want to make the same mistake his parents did, a mistake they were still paying for. "I''m not saying that she doesn''t love you. I''m saying that you cannot trust her." "You know what let''s just focus on your woman for now." Michael could not have agreed better. He smiled at Adrian and Adrian returned the gesture with a pat. "We''ve been on the road for thirty minutes where the hell are we going." Michael asked. He had gotten impatient with all the turns they were making. The sun had disappeared completely from the sky ten minutes ago and the moon showed pridefully in it''s wake now. "To see an old friend." Adrian replied turning over at a huge mansion. He stopped his car behind an oak tree and got down. Michael rolled his eyes getting down from the car too. Adrian had better not have brought me to a drug dealer he thought sighing. "Where is this. Looks like some archaic kind of bullshit and it better not be what I''m thinking." Adrian grinned locking the car. He ignored Michaels worry trying to rattle him the more. He loved it when his brother became rattled like this because of his past. He was the younger one but Michael was so protective of him. "Follow me if you want your lover back brother." Adrian replied. "Besides the house is kind of beautiful." He chuckled. Michael rolled his eyes again. They both stood looking at the white house in front of them. The house looked like something from a horror movie, old and abandoned. "She''s not my lover." Michael retorted with a smile as they walked to the door. He wouldn''t lie he loved when his brother said things like that to him. The thought of being Gloria''s lover was just too good to be true. He couldn''t stop the smile that crept up his face. "Hopefully when we find her you can confess your undying love to her and get it over with." "I hope so." 46 46. Magic Both brothers walked side by side to the door as the wind blew uncontrollably. It was always like that in ocean city, cold. Adrian knocked three times when they got to the door. There was no reply and no sounds, the house gave the aura of being abandoned for a long time. "Are you sure that someone actually lives here." Michael was saying when a young beautiful woman opened the door a chain stopping it from opening wide. She looked through the space for anyone she recognized and when she saw him, Adrian she opened the door. "Hello Adrian. I didn''t think we would see again. "She''s beautiful." Micheal whispered. "She''s a he and he can hear you" Adrian whispered back into his ears. "Oh. Sorry." He apologized smiling wryly. The woman who opened the door removed her wig and Michael gasped, she indeed was a man. The house was homely but Michael didn''t look at it for so long as they were guided upstairs into an enclosed room at the farthest end of the hall way by the woman who was a man. Michael tried to take in all he was seeing astonished. He looked over his shoulder at his brother who stood behind him not surprised at all by what was in this room. A six point star was drawn in the middle of the carpet in the dimly lit room. The only light came from one candle that was lit in the middle of the room. There was a round table at the top of the pointed star. There were red candles around the table in the room but they were not on. In the corner of the room there was an empty bowl. The fireplace added to the light but dimly. Michael laughed. "You''ve got to be kidding me! Adrian did you seriously bring me here for some voodoo shit! Alright I''m leaving. If this is some kind of joke I do no not find it funny neither do I appreciate it." Michael laughed the sight before him was just unbelievably stupid. Who still did voodoo in the twenty first century. He turned around to leave but the door closed and locked on it''s own accord. He gasped turning back. "I do not find this funny." "Just shut up already. I should have let you leave but for your brother, here now sit down let''s find your woman. Hopefully she isn''t in danger and you aren''t late. I''m Elijah by the way." Elijah stated stretching his hands out, but Michael refused to take it. He was confused as hell on whatever shit was going on. 47 47. Have faith. Elijah drew back his hands and shrugged. "Well aren''t you supposed to be the good brother." Michael rolled his eyes not dignifying his question with an answer. Elijah turned around and walked to the table. He pulled his shoe before stepping both his legs on two sides of the six point star. Then he raised his hands up closing his eyes. "Join me." "Common don''t be a Pussy trust me. This is the only way to find the all so famous Gloria. So you can finally make use of your dick." Adrian finally spoke. He had been lost in his memories the moment he stepped into this room. "Oh shut the fuck up Adrian." Michael grinned. He wouldn''t lie and say that the thought of fucking Gloria hadn''t crossed his mind more than once but that wasn''t what mattered to him. He wanted her love not just her body. "I don''t trust this shit but alright if you insist then fine." This guy his definitely on cheap drugs Michael wanted to add but he restrained himself Elijah opened his eyes to see that the two men were still standing where he left them and he almost rolled his eyes into his socket. "I''m glad you now agree. Now Michael please take of your shoe and step on the six point star Adrian you too. We need as much power as we can get on here. The more the merrier isn''t that what you humans say." You humans. Guy thinks because he has a room with candles and a six point star he is now a witch like those exist. Michael thought amused. Anyway he was going to join them in this game and see where it leads him to. Michael amused did as Elijah had Instructed him to. He took off his shoes and placed them on two of the pointed stars. Adrian did the same. "Give me your hands." Elijah asked of Michael. Michael hesitated for a second still very skeptical about it all. He inhaled resignedly after few seconds, he took out his hands and placed it on Elijah''s palm. He thought that all that was happening was some kind of joke but he felt the need to see it to the end. "I need your blood to connect to her since you are the one who needs to find her." "No wait what!" I''m so not doing that shit! " Michael exclaimed taking his hands back. "Leave my blood out of this." "Man you just have to. It''s just a little blood." Adrian assured him patting his shoulders. "Just trust me that''s all he will take." Adrian added with a chuckle. "Only a little blood Alright." Michael emphasized, this was getting more insane by the moment. But if there was the slightest chance that this insanity could bring Gloria back then he couldn''t back down. After all he had tried to sanely find her and all he tried proved futile. Elijah rolled his eyes again. He took a dagger from the table and cut Michael with it, barely grazing his skin. Michael flinched but didn''t move. Elijah then pressed a finger on the wound making it bleed faster. Michael in pains tried to pull his fingers away but he couldn''t anymore, Elijah was already connected to her. Michael felt like he was going to pass out. "I see her." He whispered. His eyes opened but they were blackened and It scared the hell out of Michael. Whatever it was that the guy Elijah was taking, it must be really good. He thought. 48 48. She can help us Michael stared at the scene before him with wide eyes. For the first time since this evening it occurred to him that he might just be in the home of some witch and worst still that they existed. Adrian didn''t look shocked at all and it hit him that he really didn''t know his brother like he claimed. "I see her." He repeated with a pained whisper. The flames in the room started to spark up and go higher. The six point star underneath them glowed slightly burning their feet. Michael shuddered. What the hell is going on here! He wanted to say but he found that he could not speak. His eyes remained on Elijah fixated. He felt like he was outside his body watching the happenings of the things in the room through the eyes of a third person. "Noah!" Elijah suddenly screamed. He gasped and let go of Michael. Michael gasped moving away from him and outside the star. He supported his left hand with his right and looked up at Elijah. "There is a problem." Elijah whispered harshly, opening his eyes. "Werewolves. She''s with thewolves." He breathed in deeply. "She''s in danger but we cannot save her. I feel her presence strongly but there is another within her, the alpha''s." "Werewolves? Alright I''m out of here. This just turned into a circus. Unbelievable." Michael chuckled bitterly. He couldn''t believe that he had come all the way here for nothing. They were definitely playing with his mind. "We need to get her out of there but we need help and now." Elijah said ignoring Michael. "You best start believing that this is real if you want to save your woman. Looks like your woman is in deep shit." Elijah said. He moved away from the star lost in thought. He started to contemplate on what exactly he was going to do to save Gloria. He wasn''t strong enough to go against the werewolves, Noah would tear him up. There was only one person he could ask for help. The mother of all witches. He knew he could trust her with this because if there was anything Jessica wanted most it was for witches to be the only supernatural in ocean city. She wanted the city and Noah could not lay a finger on her. Elijah took a hold of Adrian''s hands and started to chant a few spells his eyes tightly shut. "Are you coming with us." He asked challenging Michael. Michael grunted frustrated and took his hand. After a few seconds they appeared in front of a secluded mansion. It was just like the usual wealthy people houses in ocean city only it was in the middle of no where. The three of them stood watching the mansion in sight. Michael could no longer question Elijah, he could only now go with the flow. "So who''s going to knock?" Elijah asked breaking the overdue silence that enveloped them. The weather was so cold they shuddered wrapping their coats around them. Michael looked at his brother at his left and Adrian shrugged, a way of saying hell no don''t look at me. He gaped at him for a second shaking his head, then he turned to his left where Elijah stood shaking. The cold affected him more than it did the rest. "You know if I was going to knock I would have already." Elijah shrugged, gaping back at him. Michael looked to the house and then back at Elijah. He had come this far and there was no way he was going to go back without any result. He noticed Elijah''s shaky hands and his brows furrowed. Raising up his head he looked into his eyes, "You are scared of her?" It was more of a statement than a question. 49 49. Go in "Hell yes I am. She''s the warlord. The first of her kind." "Then why did you bring us here if you knew that you were scared of her are you out of your mind." Adrian cut in. He moved over to stand in front of Elijah his hands in his coat pocket in a weak attempt to warm them. "I was just about to ask the same question but he sure as hell is out of his mind." Michael added in frustration. He kicked a stone in anger sending it flying straight up. "I''m not the one who went to a witch to find his lost lover so before you come judging me why not look at yourself in the mirror first." Elijah hissed. Michael was already on an edge and Adrian could notice it. He moved in between them because he sure as hell didn''t need a fight. "The last thing we need now is a fight. If she''s as powerful as you say she is, then she already knows we are here. I think it will be better if knock rather than leave." As if on cue they heard a click sound and the three of them immediately looked to the house. The door was now open. "You see." "Well let''s go. We are already here after all." Michael agreed staring at the now opened the door. "I don''t think that''s a good idea. The fact that someone opens the door for you doesn''t mean that they are Inviting you to their home." Elijah objected. "So what do you want us to do then. Stay out here and freeze to death or go back and gain nothing and risk being killed on the way?" "I don''t know." "You better start knowing because you were the one who brought us here in the first place and if I can remember we are here because Gloria is somehow in trouble with the wolves." Michael huffed. He still couldn''t believe he was actually saying the wolves like it was really a thing. Everything That was happening was no short of crazy but since they were for his woman as Elijah liked to say he didn''t mind. "Look I say we go in, there is no way I''m going to leave here without knowing where Gloria is." Michael stated. He didn''t wait for their replies, he was already tired of waiting. He was going to go with or without them after all Gloria was his not theirs. He waltzed to the door not caring if they were following or not. "Well we are already here and she''s aware. I don''t think that we can go back now." Elijah said to Adrian swallowing. He was scared but he couldn''t turn back now. He knew that Jessica had already seen him and there was no escaping her. You should have thought about how ruthless she was before rushing to get help from her Elijah! A voice in Elijah''s head scolded him. 50 50. Hide When they got to the door a woman came out dressed in a black long gown with a hood over her head. Her skin was tanned definitely African, and her brown eyes pierced through them. She looked so small and harmless that Michael looked over at Elijah in curiosity. This could definitely not be the woman he was so afraid of, the woman standing before them now could definitely not hurt a fly. Michael thought. Elijah could read his eyes and he shook his head, indeed looks could be deceiving. "So to what do I owe this pleasure, three handsome men at my doorsteps in a cold evening, the gods must have finally remembered me." She finally spoke her eyes staring into the distance. She wasn''t looking at anyone of them but they could feel her eyes on them. Michael shuddered, taking one glance at her again he could see that there was something not right about her, a dark Aura. None of them could utter a word. "I think it is us the gods favour. To be met by such a beautiful woman is great pleasure and to know her name would even be more." Adrian drawled, breaking the tensed silence. Jessica''s eyes met his and they didn''t leave his face till she had taken in every corner and every edge of his face. He was incredibly handsome, his lips slightly parted. She blinked, her eyes going weary from the ferocity of the evening breeze. "Jessica." She finally replied giving him her hand. He slowly brought it to his lips and kissed it. "It''s pleasure to meet you Jessica." Adrian whispered, smirking. Michael faced his brother in astonishment and cocked his brow. He didn''t know what the hell he was planning to do but he hoped that he sure as hell wasn''t planning to use his looks on a witch. He brought him here and he simply could not risk not leaving with him simply because he wanted to be a charmer. Michael would not forgive himself if anything wrong happened to his brother because of him. From the moment Adrian''s lips touched that woman''s hand he could already sense trouble. "You may come in, I don''t want to keep handsome men like you''ll waiting outside. It will be awful of me." She smiled moving backwards so they could come in. Immediately they stepped into the room the door shut behind them in a loud bang startling the three men. They both turned around to stare at the door then at the woman who stood by it. Her eyes now crimson. "Who are you?" She screamed. The floor started to shake underneath them and the fire in the chimney lit up. Their shadows cast on the wall started to look like moving ghost. Michael glared at Elijah In confusion but Elijah''s eyes could not meet his as they were focussed on Jessica In fear. He wanted to Speak but his lips were tightly sealed together with magic. One would wonder why Jessica asked them any question if she was not going to let them answer it. Their bones started breaking suddenly. Adrian could hear his bones break in him and Michael could feel his blood boil withing him. They fell to their knees in pain and submission, their screams filled the room. 51 51. Evil "Jessica stop it! We mean no harm! " Elijah screamed amidst the pain he felt. He used the last strength he could muster from within to unwind the spell Jessica had cast on his lips to keep him shut. For casting such a powerful spell he was going to be left powerless for days but it was better to be left powerless than to be dead. "Can you just listen to us why ask a question that you don''t want to hear the answer to." Michael growled, he was tasting blood in his mouth now. His hand flew to his chest in a bid to stop the searing pain he felt in it but the anguish would not go. He met her eyes and pleaded with his, tears fell down his cheeks in quick succession. He was so sure that he was going to pass out as he lost all ability to breathe. Suddenly the pain stopped. The three men fell on the stone floor gasping for air, their eyes closed as tears tricked down their faces and their lips parted as they tried as much as possible to get enough air into their starving lungs. "Of course I know you came here to ask for help." Jessica laughed walking over to their bodies on the ground, she was gloating over their suffering, finding pleasure in their pain. "But I just need you to know where you are and who you are asking a favour from because men like you guys have the tendency of being deceived to think me weak." She chuckled. Her boots contacted Adrian''s chest and he screamed in pain. "And small, but I am anything but these." Michael opened his eyes immediately he heard his brothers screams. He leaped to him across the room, dragging his body on the ground. He placed his head on his brothers chest not able to watch him wriggle in pain, he was hurt and angry. This was all his fault, the feeling of guilt was eating him up. "We did not underestimate you, we never did. We were scared." He finally muttered shaking. "As you should be." Jessica nodded. She clicked her tongue and turned to them amused by the wretchedness they exhibited after enduring just few seconds of her torture. Humans, so weak. She clicked her fingers and the men were raised up by unnatural force without a will of theirs. "Well let me hear your request then, Elijah." Elijah''s eyes flew open when she called his name. He swallowed hard and looked over to Michael and Adrian all three of them put on hold with her fingers. She was controlling every muscle in their body and every drop of blood in them. "We need your help." Elijah managed to utter in his strangled state. His eyes were fixed on her deadly ones. "I already know that." She sighed clicking her fingers again. This time she gave up the power she had on them so they fell to their feet. "You have come too far to go back now. I''ll listen to you because of your persistence and courage. I do like humans who break out of the stereotype." she added. 52 52. Powerful She gave them a once over again she had to decide if they were worth her time but they were if they were with Elijah. If Elijah had come to her instead of handling whatever issue they had on his own then it was definitely a big issue. He was a fairly good witch, a witch of the second order and he could handle any trouble or favour regarding humans, except the trouble he was facing now was from another supernatural. Hopefully not a warlock because if then she wouldn''t use the help she was going to render to them for her own benefits. "Follow me." She gestured with her hands. She didn''t look back to see if they obeyed. She knew they would, she had scared them indeed. She could hear their footsteps behind her as she climbed the stairs. Michael hit Adrian''s hand subtly when he noticed that he was staring at the woman''s ass despite what she had just put them through. "What the hell do you think you''re doing." Michael mouthed shooting his brother daggers from his eyes. Adrian shrugged and grinned evilly. They let her enter the room first and after some seconds followed suit. Elijah was now very hesitant, without his powers he was of no use and there was no telling what Jessica could do to them. There were no limits to her madness. He knew he shouldn''t have come to her in the first place but now it was already late. He hoped with all his heart that they did get out of her clutches alive. She was seated on a chair in the far end of the room and her eyes were closed shut when they entered. The Aura in the room was tense and choking. The men glared at each other no one willing to say anything to her in fact Michael was thinking of running you know, to save the fight for another day. Elijah shook his head in disappointment. They had thrown him the ball and hung him out to dry with their silence. He didn''t even know why he was helping them in the first place. Yes, he owed Adrian one but that one was definitely not worth his life. "We need to get someone out of the McReynolds pack house." Jessica opened her eyes. "You need my help to find his missing lover or to avenge yours?" She asked opening her eyes. Her eyes met with Elijah''s. Michael and Adrian turned to face him when Jessica had asked what he asked. Elijah looked away from them he knew what they were going to think now, that he knowingly sent them out to die to avenge his lover but he didn''t and he wouldn''t allow any misconceptions about his good intentions. "It''s not about revenge." Elijah objected shaking his head. "It''s about doing what''s right. You have to save her. I''m not asking that you kill the Alpha I''m asking that you save a pregnant woman. He is too damaged to love her. Too damaged to be with her. She doesn''t belong there and she has tried to leave but from what I see she''s just about to be cornered, he might kill her to make a point." "I have no reason to care about the alpha''s human mate." Jessica scoffed. "I love her please you have to save her. I''ll do anything you ask of me, anything." Michael pleaded. "Remember this promise Michael because even though doing this for you is going to cost be nothing, I''m still going to collect and when I do want to, you had better not say no." Jessica nodded at him and then Elijah. Michael shuddered but nodded back. She glanced over at Adrian and he smirked. She ignored him. 53 53. Spells She closed her eyes and mumbled spells. The room started to shake and the fire lit up higher. Immediately they appeared in the forest where a tired Gloria and an afraid Jacob stood. "Michael!" Gloria shouted, astonished to see him In front of her. He was as dazed to see her as dazed as she was to see him. He rushed to her immediately not caring to take in were he was. Jacob watched the both of them shocked. He didn''t remember asking any human for help. He got to his feet carrying his backpack and hers up. He didn''t care where help came from as long as it did. The alpha was already closing in on them and even if he did not kill Gloria he definitely was going to kill him and make her suffer while she watched. He couldn''t let him break her. "Gloria you are alive." Michael whispered into her ears. She wrapped her hands tight around him again, relieved to see someone she actually knew after three months even though he was an ass. Just then the alpha came in sight half man, half wolf. He was surrounded by the crescent pack, his most powerful alliance all of them half transformed. By his side was Aiko. They stood few kilometers away. "Gloria is not alone." Noah growled. "Who are they?" He asked turning to Aiko. Aiko tried to use magic to find our but she was stopped from doing anything when a figure appeared in front of Gloria. "Jessica." Aiko mumbled. Her hands shook in fear, her heart beat hard against her chest. She never should have followed the alpha because now, now that Jessica had seen her it won''t be long before she comes for her and her mother. Her mother was so going to kill her now. She looked at Noah from the corner of her eyes and Noah''s eyes widened in shock. He didn''t have to ask her, he already knew why she was scared. The only person who could make the Japanese witch shake in fear was her leader. He understood the fear in her eyes but he could not let his mate go without a fight. "Stand back every one." He ordered, moving forward alone. This was his fight. Michael was holding Gloria''s hand now their hands intertwined. Jessica stood in front of them and Adrian beside Elijah. When alpha Noah got to where they stood they all glared at him in anger. "She''s my mate." Noah stated trying to reason with Jessica. "She belongs to me, she belongs here." "You don''t deserve a mate. So I''ll take her from you." Jessica grinned. She stretched out her hands daring the alpha to take another step. Noah looked over at Gloria. He would have ripped Michael apart had it not been for Jessica''s protection. How dare him touch his mate! How dare him! Noah locked eyes with Gloria and her expression softened but she immediately looked away in anger. He thought she felt the way he did, he thought she wanted to be with him but he was oblivious to the fact that she was simply tired that''s why her expression softened. "Gloria tell her you want to come with me" Noah pleaded with his eyes. Gloria laughed heartily. "You crazy son of a bitch! I''ll be back and when I do I''ll kill you and it wont be without making you suffer." Gloria stated, her eyes blazing with anger. "She doesn''t want to be with you." Jessica smiled loving the horror in his eyes. She was now In control, she could definitely not imagine her luck. "That will be all." And in a heart beat they were back to her home leaving behind a screaming alpha. He had lost his mate because of his fear and pain. As for Jessica, she just found her leverage. 54 54. Come closer "You should come over here you are so far away." Lucius screamed startling Monica who was lost in thought. His eyes hadn''t left Monica all this while. All the while she ate he had watched her but the fact that she was so far away from him was causing his heart to ache. He wanted her close to him even if he wasn''t going to be able to touch her, only being around her would be enough for him. Her presence was more than enough. "I''m eating." She muttered to herself and although Lucius heard her he still wanted to be close to her. He didn''t want to rush her yet his body was responding to her so bad without his minds consent. It was that his body craved to be close to her and he couldn''t control this desire. Monica''s legs shook so did her hands. Before her was a banquet and for one who loved to eat as much as she did it was supposed to be a dream come through for her but Instead she found that she was in a dilemma. Nothing was making sense. She didn''t need food but answers. The meal before her ranged from pancake, seasoned chicken, beef, prawn and all types of food laid there waiting for her to devour. They didn''t know what to make for her so they must have made anything they thought humans ate and enjoyed. She did like the varieties of food before her though. If it wasn''t for the circumstances she was currently in she would have eaten to her hearts content and then stored the rest of the food. She believed strongly that food was life and here she was thinking otherwise. Because right now she was so confused she was beginning to doubt if she was really alive. Maybe God is just playing a prank on me and I''m already dead. She thought bitterly. She drew in deep breaths and exhaled. Not only was her life in danger but she couldn''t breath properly. Lucius was taking her breath away and she was practically shaking from desire. She wanted him in her arms or her in his whichever way. Even though everything was so confusing to her what the man across the table made her feel became the icing to the cake of her confusion. She didn''t want to be so far from him but after seeing what he did to Clara she thought it best to stay away. He did that for you idiot. she was hurting you he practically almost killed his kind for you. He almost killed me too. But he brought you here remember. He brought you to his bedchamber which yoi could see was probably a first for him. Why not let go and feel. I can''t what if He hurts me. And how can you tell me to let go and feel. I don''t even have the slightest clue of what''s going on here. Her mind and her heart were fighting again. 55 55. let me. "Lost in thought." Lucius whispered. He had appeared behind Monica so fast she didn''t notice, coupled with the fact that her mind wasn''t present in the dining. He placed his hand on her chair as he bent down to whisper in her ears. "What are you thinking about?" He just couldn''t no longer wait for her to come to him so he came to her. Monica felt like a Jolt of electricity passed from him to her. Her heart started to beat fast. She didn''t know if it was as a result of desire, fear, or Inquisition. She became a quivering mess as she threw her head back so her lips touched his neck. He kissed her cheeks holding her close to him his hands around her neck. He sent a trail of kisses from her cheek down to her lips. His kiss was demanding, passionate and savouring. He was demanding for her submission and she was more that willing to give it to him. Her mouth parted to give him entrance. His tongue grazed the corner of her lips teasing her. She mourned into his mouth squirming. If he tried to make love to her then and there she wouldn''t and couldn''t resist. Monica''s moan sent Lucius to the end of it all. His tongue found it''s way into her mouth as he sucked on her bottom lip. "Lucius! oh my God!" She moaned. He hadn''t touched her yet and she could already feel herself reach orgasm. His kisses were orgasmic. It blew her mind away making her loose all her senses and ability to speak. But then this wasn''t right none of this was. If it were to be in any other circumstance she wouldn''t have had been so thoughtful of the consequences seeing that she was drawn to him as much as he was drawn to her. But one question still bothered her. What the hell is going on? She tried so hard to steady her breath but with him still near her it was almost impossible. She could feel every hair on her skin stand as goosebumps decorated her skin evenly. Her breath came out in hushed whispers as her insides tightened with the proximity of his closeness. He was so close, so near so damning cold she shivered. "I want you so damn much." He moaned in her mouth giving her time to breath. She almost started to hyperventilate, her eyes pricked with incoming tears of confusion and weakness. He was making her weak and she hated every damn second of it and loved it with equal propensity. Her hands were eager to touch him. She felt the effect of his closeness right down in her core, she warned him, her whole body craved him but her mind was not in agreement with her body and her heart and she agreed with it but could not do as it wanted because him close to her was breaking all her available defenses. He moved away from her, stepping a few inches back because he could see the struggle on her face. He didn''t want to, God! He hated being apart from her for even a second not when he was so close to having her, so close to finally being with his soulmate. But she needed him to back off and he had promised himself when the prophecy was revealed that he was going to be selfless with his soul mate. That was during the time he hoped and believed in one and now that she was here his faith for all those waiting years favoured, the last thing he wanted to do was ruin his chances with her. 56 56. I cannot resist you. Their eyes were glued together both refusing to look away from the other. They were drawn together by whatever force that had made them soulmates. Her neck was beginning to hurt from looking up at him so she removed her gaze and focused them now on the food waiting for her to devour. She took in deep breathes her mouth parted, she was scared to lick her lips, afraid she would taste him and then want more. She stood up after she had filled her lungs with a much needed air. "I.. Can''t. I''ve never. This is not right." She stuttered. She tried to move past him but he wouldn''t have that. He held her arms stopping her on her tracks. His hands on hers reminded her of when he had held her legs. Even at the point of death and unconscious he still claimed her. He held her to him and stopped her from leaving. She could struggle, she should but she found that her body was listening to his silent commands and her mind soon became helpless. Her back was turned to him but he didn''t want to let her go. He knew the selfless thing to do will be to let her go but he couldn''t. It felt like if he did then he would lose his breath and finally he would give in to the pain that threatened all these years to swallow him whole. "Don''t leave now please." Lucius begged. His voice although powerful was laced with so much plea. His plea was so soft and genuine it sent Monica''s heart racing and her mind shut down. She could no longer serve two masters it was either she went with her heart or her mind and she found that her heart seemed to be more powerful or maybe, just maybe she gave it the power. She smiled, a ghost of a smile that disappeared quickly and then she so turned back eager to look at those grey eyes again. Her heart was indeed stronger. "I thought you were the king." She smirked.. "Kings do not beg for things they take them." "For you I''ll be a slave. I''ll worship at your altar Monica." He Whispered harshly. He pulled her to him so her back rested on the chair and he a few inches away from her. "Only let me love you." Monica closed her eyes as he spoke. She was savouring the moment. His bass voice so seductive it intoxicated her. His voice was like a virus, a drug, an alcohol. The more she listened to it the more she got drunk. The closer he was the more her heart started to race. Her heart fought to be let out hitting her rib with a vengeance. She found that she had forgotten how to breathe. He lowered his neck and placed a feathery kiss on her neck. When he did that she lost all her sense of reasoning. His lips grazed her neck like a feather will, brushing the surface and turning her on. She felt like blood was going to her head and her core throbbed so bad she craved for relief. She pulled his head up and smashed her lips against his devouring his lips. Lucius took over the kiss immediately exploring each turn of her lips with his tongue. She was pressed so close to him the two could have been one body both fighting with their lips to devour the other. 57 57. Feelings After a minute Lucius stopped to let her breath. He looked into dark brown eyes, glittering with passion, and he trembled. Her lips were red and her face flushed with a tiny hint of blush that made him want to taste her right then and there. He could hardly think. He had not expected to ever be so smitten even by his soulmate. He remembered how he felt When he awoke that evening only to smell her presence. Victor had without knowledge thrown him into the arms of his mate. He never imagined that he would see her there that night just at his reach almost when he would have died like the prophesy foretold. He had expected to die, he expected a lot but one of them wasn''t to see her. He felt himself dying when Victor stabbed him at the back. He had wished silently for his people to some how survive and he had been heard. She was sent to him the most beautiful woman he had ever seen just at the time he lost faith in her existence. He could not understand how he felt for this human, how her lips ignited fire in him and her skin burned him with passion. Never had he seen a pair of eyes as beautiful as hers. She did not know that she was a goddess, so beautiful, her eyes large and luminous, her complexion full of life and health, just like the sun, the opposite of his own. And her blood, mon dieu, scented like the earth after rainfall. His heart pounded in his chest. His need for her blood began to call to him and his fangs once more throbbed in his mouth. He would frighten her if she saw them. But he could not help himself. He was blood-starved. And her blood had in them magic. Magic that was his to take. If her blood could heal him, if her blood could give him life then she was magic. He wanted to bond her to him, to claim her, to own her. He wanted her all to himself, to give her all of him and take all of her so they be joined for eternity, Soul for soul, body for body, blood for blood. Eternity was so short a time to spend with her but he was willing to start with that. He looked down at her, his gaze raking her body in the most seductive manner ever. He stretched forward and kissed her nose. Monica had been trying to catch her breath. She was worried and scared. Lucius didn''t know she had seen his fangs. He is going to kill you. No he won''t. If he wanted to he would have already. Let go Monica and live. But he''s not human. Who cares? 58 58. Drink. She caught on to his eyes as they travelled her whole body in desire but her eyes quickly diverted to his lips again. She wanted to taste them so bad. The pleasure she had gotten from it so mind blowing that she wanted more and more but the fact that she wanted more from him wasn''t what scared her the most and made her shiver. What scared her the most was her desire to have his teeth buried in her neck. She felt like she was going through a dark path and accepting it. Like darkness was sipping through her with every touch of his and she was letting the darkness remain in her. She felt lost and confused. Her heart and mind at war. But she knew one thing for sure she desired him. Lucius looked deeply into her eyes causing her to shiver. She could feel something was wrong. His eyes for the first time held fear. "What is it?"she asked. "I can see that something''s worrying you. Have I done something wrong. Please tell me." She cupped his chin desiring to stare deep into his eyes for am answer. But he looked away from her ashamed. "Lucius look at me." She pleaded and he did just that. He couldn''t disobey her not when she finally called his name. His name on her lips felt unearthly. He met her gaze and she appeared startled. He knew why. His eyes were probably all black now pupils non existent. He wanted her so much with every fibre of his being and every drop of blood in his body, he yearned for her. She removed her hands from his chin then placed it on her chest so she could hear her heart beat. "Your eyes they are dark." He nodded. "I must have your blood, Monica. Do you understand? I have been starving of blood. And after I tasted yours in the forest I want more. I need more. Every fibre of my being, every muscle desires to taste you." He stretched out over her and pushed her hand away from her throat. He caressed her neck, thumbing the vein, encouraging it to rise for him. "Tell me you understand and that I may drink from you. I promise not to hurt you but if you fear too much then you may refuse." She was panting but she knew that as much as he scared her to have him feeding from her, she wanted it in fact she desire it. I understand." She stuttered. "Take from me. All that you need, all that you desire. I want it too and I trust that you won''t harm me." He groaned at her words. His balls were so tight,his cock hard for her. His jaw trembled. His body arched over hers, his cock rigid and ready. He had to have her in his bed now. He wanted to taste her but he didn''t want to do it here, he wanted it to be on his bed, in his chambers. He wanted to bind her to him. He was not going to let her go not now that he had finally after all this years found her. 59 59. Blink One second Monica was in the dining and the next she found herself in the familiarity of Lucius bed Chambers. He had carried her in his arms and brought her here in a second. He placed her gently on his bed already missing the feel of her on his arms. Even In his haze of lust, desire and want he still cared more for her and her safety. She could see that. It meant a great deal to her that he didn''t rush or push because he constantly made himself aware of her weakness. She decided then and there she was going to give all of her to him because after her parents died this was the closest she had felt to real love. She thought no one deserved her more not when they all leave and are buried in self desires. He earned her love, her heart, her mind, body and soul with that little gesture and in one night. But maybe she gave it to him freely without him earning it because as much as he was drawn to her she too was drawn to him in the most crazy way and she knew that even if she didn''t accept him her body would do that for her. Lucius stared at the goddess before him. He had never wanted anything more and had never thought anything more beautiful. She was staring up at him watching his every move." Do you want me?" He asked kneeling in between her legs his eyes not leaving hers. She didn''t respond immediately. His eyes were sending her into an abyss of desire and all she wanted to do was quench it. "Yes. Yes I do." She stuttered. Her heart was beating so fast she feared it would leave her finally, she won''t be surprise if it did after all the pressure she had put on it today. This was going to be a night of sin and she didn''t know if she was prepared. "Say the word." He whispered breathing in deeply. "Say that you want me." It was a plea that she very much understood. God! she wanted him so much she could feel her core throb in anticipation. She wondered what it would feel like to have a vampire in her. "I want you. I want you Lucius," She whispered and that was all the invitation he needed. He bent down and took her lips in his gently biting her bottom lip till he drew out blood. Then he sucked on it. Her blood entering his mind shutting it down, his cock hardening. He became eager for more, more of her, more of her blood but he was willing to take his time. He wanted to commit everything to memory, every kiss and every bite. Every word and every touch. Today he was going to be bound to his mate and he was going to remember every second of it for eternity. 60 60. You He trailed kisses to her neck his chest pressing on hers so that his heart beat matched with her. She moaned harshly clutching his shirt with her small hands. The throbbing in her core increased and she wanted him in her. His finger, his tongue or his cock anything to relieve her of the maddening desire she felt. He lifted himself up now supporting his legs with his knees. He stared at her and her eyes gave him the go ahead he needed. He tore her gown along with her panties. Then he took of his pants leaving on only his shirt. Monica gasped when she saw the length of his cock. She wanted to ask how it was possible that he could enter her. His cock was long, thick and veiny and was damn hard. Hard for her. She didn''t know when she involuntarily licked her lips. She blushed when she looked up to see him watching her intently. He would think her a slut but she was in fact a Virgin. Not an innocent one though. For a Virgin she was quite exposed she had given blow jobs to her ex who had deeply exposed her in to the world sex. She had done every erotic things with him but had wanted her husband to be the first one to feel the pleasure of her vagina. He was going to marry her, he promised to but then he left. Remembering him saddened her a little but she was too turned on to keep him consistent in her thoughts. Lucius noticed her brows creasing and the soft edges now showing on her face. She bent down with the intent of pleasuring her. A soft gasp escaped from Monica''s lips but it quickly turned to a moan of intense mind blowing pleasure when Lucius took her left breast in his mouth while pressing the right and sucked on it. "Lucius, oh my God!" She screamed. She felt the rush of pleasure that moved from her breast to her stomach. She had reached a shocking climax and there was no going back now. His lips worked wonders to her mind and body, that even her mind started to agree with her body. Lucius moved to her right breast applying the same pleasure he did on the left. "please." She cried. She didn''t know what she was begging for. She only felt the need to beg because the pleasure he gave was too much for her to handle. Her core throbbed endlessly. Tears of pleasure fell down her cheeks as her breathing became harsh. Her head was thrown back and her pupils dilated. 61 61. Desire "Open your eyes for me please. Let me see the desired in them." Lucius pleaded as he took her lips again. He had felt his own climax when she did. Her screams sending unending waves of pleasure to his cock. He had come fast and hard with a groan of his own and now he feared that he had hurt her. "Please." He pleaded again when she didn''t respond. She was so deep in pleasure that she couldn''t hear him. He felt an overwhelming happiness that he had given his soul mate that much pleasure. But he needed to be sure that it was indeed pleasure. He wanted to do right by her. He wanted her to tell him that she loved this. Monica opened her eyes slowly tears falling from it as she did. "Tears of pleasure?" He asked, his eyes pleading for an answer. Monica couldn''t speak and she knew it. She didn''t even try to speak her voice was clogged as so many emotions ran through her, the most outstanding being intense pleasure. So in reply she nodded. He smiled and kissed her cheeks licking her tears, moaning against her cheeks. His cock grazed her upper belly and she shivered. She moaned again holding him to her, griping his shirt like it was the rope to her life. Then she came again with a loud moan now gasping for air. He hadn''t even used his cock and yet he had made her come twice. He definitely was the king of pleasure and she was so lucky to have him. She was still gasping for air, her eyes glued in his. He bent down and kissed her deeply, taking her bottom lips in his he sucked it torturing it with his teeth. She moaned into his mouth and he could feel his control wear off. Lucius tore of his shirt in an instant. "I must enter you now." he warned her begging for permission. He didn''t want to hurt her. She nodded in understanding but she knew as much as he did that gestures weren''t enough. A promise came softly from her lips as she spread her knees wider for him." Take me because from this moment I''m yours." Settling between her legs, he balanced on his forearms.He shook with anticipation and need. His body was coiled, his chest on fire, his heart now a mallet swinging inside his chest. "By the great sun, it has never been like this." "Never?" Monica asked still in a cloud of her own desire. Her body had begun to writhe beneath his. Her sex smelled so sweet and beckoning. Lucius wanted to suckle her again going low but his other needs were too great. "Never." Much to his surprise, he felt his invisible binding tendrils release from his shoulders and arms, his legs, even his buttocks. He had felt this when he kissed her in the forest and when he was alone with her in the dining. Every time he saw her his body craved to be bound to her, there was no resisting it. "What is that sensation?" she asked. "Like fingers rippling over my skin." "The invisible binding ropes. I am so sorry, Monica I have waited for you for such a long time a century to be precise. The prophecy promised me a soul mate one who would be bound to me. I have waited so long to feel this pleasure. The pleasure my people who have been bound to their mates felt. I want this my body cannot resist it. My body feels a need to bind you to me I can''t control it." 62 62. Promise She shook her head in understanding of his words. The thought of being bound to another scared her but then thinking back she had no life before this night. Her life was boring and sad and she was sure that even if she didn''t go back home no one would look for her. The man before her was going to give her a life other than the sad one she has had, she wanted to be bound to him forever. She didn''t want to leave him. "Bind me to you. Soul for soul, heart for heart, body for body, mind for mind. Blood for blood." He squeezed his eyes shut feeling an intense warmth at her acceptance. He felt his eyes water. She had accepted him after what he did. Her purity enchanted him. "I am bound to you Monica. I own you and you own me. You are mine as well as I am yours. Soul for soul, heart for heart, body for body, mind for mind. Blood for blood." She held him very still as the ropes drew into her and they both screamed a scream the whole kingdom heard. A scream that tore through them. Binding them. His blood-lust returned and his fangs descended fully. "Take all of me Lucius. Please." Monica begged. He pressed his cock against her opening and pushed harder than he intended. His control slipped. Monica screamed. Tears falling down her cheeks. The pain from his penetration so mind blowing it was like he tore into her. "Oh my God! oh my God! I''m sorry." Lucius pleaded. He tried to pull out but she held him back. "No don''t. Don''t. Pull out. Be in me." She begged. "I''m not weak." "But you are in pain." He countered. "Please I need this. Don''t stop." She whispered arching her back so the pain reduced and he entered into her deeper. Not his whole length but considerably. Lucius moaned a sensuous moan. Their eyes remained glued as he started moving into her gently. Monica felt the pain but she also felt pleasure and freedom. She planted her hands on Lucius shoulders and sunk her nails in. The bond they shared sent her Into such powerful pleasure, such need that she cried out. The pain reduced with each thrust. After some time it became so mild it was then almost non existent. All she felt became intense pleasure. She felt like she was in another world the only inhabitants Lucius and her. As he pushed into her, she gripped him tight, tugging on him, her body was now so close to release that her breathing came in heavy gulps. Her neck throbbed as her vein begged for his fangs to go in deeper to fill her with such intense pain and yet terrifying pleasure. The razor sharp point stung, but she didn''t care. He had consumed her and taken her all to himself. The pleasure now was nothing like the pain she felt when he bit her the first time. Although there was still pain she was aware of all that he was doing this time and she wanted this. Lucius pressed further, his fangs digging in her in a quick jab. He retracted his fangs almost immediately so she wouldn''t lose so much blood as this was the second time he was feeding on her this night. He wanted to save her because to him she was more important than his hunger. He loved her and as such he could not be selfish with her. He knew that if he took anymore from her blood it could intoxicate him and he won''t know how to stop if he let himself be consumed by her thirst. The momentary pain Monica felt disappeared replaced by strong pulls at her neck but the pleasure didn''t. She sensed how much he craved her blood, the depth of his hunger, and that she fulfilled a powerful, life-sustaining need. She wrapped her legs around his hips, crossing her ankles and pushing against him as he drove into her. She had wanted this for so long, the sex. Now, she was thankful for waiting. What he gave her could not be explained or replaced. His intentions toward her were all pure and it drove her mad with love. She had believed strongly that sex should be only when there is love and this, this felt so surreal it was like a fairy tale. Her own fairytale. He was king and she will be queen. 63 63. Pleasure What great pleasure it was for her to feel Lucius driving into her very essence, connecting physically with her and feasting on her blood. Her hips pushed against his with each thrust. She was so close. Her fingers squeezed the rippling muscles of his shoulders and his arms. She focused on the feel of his cock moving in and out of her, a piston driving hard. Her breathing hitched. So close. She could still feel pain. The pain that came with it being her first time But she didn''t want to stop him neither did she want to slow him. She wanted him to go at his own pace to enjoy it as much as she enjoyed it. She wanted to give him satisfaction. And even as he entered into her fully she didn''t want him out. He drove faster and the moment he did, her body gripped him and a powerful release began. Lightning strikes of pleasure streaked over all the folds of her flesh and up inside her so that she was pulling on him now. The sensations continued and her orgasm kept pulsing so that her soft cries grew louder rising to the obsidian ceiling. Lucius shoved harder now, his length and girth hitting her even deeper than before. A second release arrived, powering over the first so that she came screaming and thrashing on the bed. He finally let go of her neck. He arched and thrust with tremendous force, grunting. He groaned, his eyes squeezed shut, as he released into her. He looked so beautiful lying exhausted by her side, his long hair moving with his body, his white skin shiny with sweat. As he opened his eyes, the grey green shade was back. He eased down onto her, his lips parted, his hair settling on her arms and neck. "My God Monica." he breathed onto her neck. He fell down on top of her his head in between her bosom. She took a deep sigh then rested her head back on the pillow. She started playing with his hair. It was longer than hers reaching up to his waist. So soft and curly. The color fascinated her, his hair was so dark with few strands of brown and yellow. "Thank you." Lucius whispered closing his eyes. Monica''s heart leapt for joy and her smile was infectious. "For What?" She asked softly unable to dispel the smile that was plastered on her face. Lucius rose his head up and stared into her brown shy eyes. "For coming into my life. You have given me life Monica. You are my soul as I am yours." He said and kissed her. She held him tight embracing him in the kiss. "You are my soul too." She whispered, placing a kiss on his lips. 64 64. The scream "Did you hear that scream mother?" Charlotte asked looking up to meet her mother''s eyes, her brows furrowed in confusion. She was helping her mother sew new clothes for the king and they were both seated on an armchair close to the fireplace enjoying the evening breeze. The palace had never felt so calm and serene for a long time. They were discussing and enjoying the night together before the screams startled them. They were in there own little home in the palace and as such the screams were louder to them. Very much loud. "Oh my God." Sarah grinned standing up but not letting the clothes drop. The robe she was sewing belonged to her king. "She has been bound." Sarah said all smiles and her daughter looked at her irritatedly. Her brows lifted up In confusion her face contorted. "What do you mean by she has been bound, who has?" "Lucius has been bound to his soulmate that human girl he brought. The one you sent clothes to. Don''t you remember her?" "You''ve got to be kidding me of course I do remember her. Who could forget someone so weak and clueless." Charlotte scoffed rolling her eyes in disgust. "Mother, you know what this means! We are going to have a human Queen by morning. A human cannot be our Queen mum." Charlotte shouted pacing. "This is unbelievable we are done for! There is no way we can win this war now with her as Queen. What is Lucius thinking? I saw her and there was nothing special about her absolutely nothing, she was just another African girl." "You don''t even know her and you''ve concluded that there is nothing special about her after you''ve seen her for only one minute or two. Charlotte my dear I never expected you to be so judgemental." "Mother I''m not. I''m only looking out for us, for this kingdom. You and me know that vampires do not serve weakness they prey on them." "That she''s human doesn''t mean she''s weak." Sarah said sitting back down on her arm chair. Her daughter just killed her happiness. "Don''t you want the king to be happy, for so long he has lived his life for us. He too deserves a mate." "Not a human mate mum." Charlotte insisted. She was the one who jumped up from her chair now too tensed and angry to seat. "And she''s nobody. Nobody as a human. If he wanted a nobody other than that bitch Clara, why didn''t he come to me. I''ve worked for him faithful all this time. We could work at least I''m no mortal." Sarah chuckled then she laughed. "You''ve got to be kidding me, the king and you. Common!" 65 65. Fine "It does sound ridiculous to you right? That''s how ridiculous all this sounds to me and probably everyone in the kingdom." She scoffed. For some reason she could feel her soul bleed. Why her? Why a human, she''s nothing. Why not me? Why am I never good enough. She was going to say. "The prophecy said that she will be the strongest warlock ever seen. Her powers may just be hidden. Besides we have no choice in this matter we are only but workers in this palace and she has already been bound to the King." Sarah sighed resting back on the arm chair. She continued with her sewing her eyes focussed on the fireplace. "Look Charlotte you will find love but it just won''t ever be with the king so you just have to get whatever you are feeling over with." "I can not bow to a mortal. What is so special about her huh?"Charlotte hissed angrily. Her mother was tired of hearing her complain and hiss. She started to even become scared because someone may be hearing them now and could report them to the king. She had to stop her daughter from uttering anymore blasphemy against the king or his wife. Sarah sped to her daughter pushing her against the wall so she hit it with a loud thump. While the cotton and thread were on one hand she pushed Charlotte to the wall with the other, then she pressed hard against her neck cutting her air supply. The wall did not dent as the wall of the palace made of the strongest and finest of stones. Only a push from a powerful vampire could dent it and by powerful vampire it included only the king and elders. "You will bow to your Queen and will not disobey your Queen! You will respect her, love her and obey her! That''s the duty of a Santos to serve the king and his future Queen and you will do that!" Sarah said in her daughters face with a frown, her teeth gritted. Her furious eyes gave no room for defilement. "We owe Lucius everything and to God the way I saw him smitten by her he will kill anyone who disrespects her." Sarah swore and paused. "I____ do___ not____want___ to__ loose you" she continued, pronouncing each word with clarity and to the last letter for effect. "Do you understand me?" "Yes mother I do. I will not disobey the Queen." Charlotte choked out a reply. Her eyes pleading to her mother to let her go. Her mother had never been so rough with her, never. She wondered what it was that got into her today, was she scared? "Good she is your queen now so keep to that or it won''t be the king who would discipline you, it will be me." Sarah warned, Charlotte nodded trying to get air into her lungs, her mother''s eyes gave no room for options. Sarah let go of her after a few seconds. She then blinked back to the arm chair to continue with her sewing although she was still infuriated. "I don''t need your help here anymore not for tonight. You have angered me. Go to sleep." She snorted not sparing her daughter as much as a glance. "Goodnight mum." Charlotte drawled trying to sound annoying and not annoyed. She blinked to her mother and kissed her on her cheek. Then she sped out of the room in anger. Sarah sighed immediately her daughter left, she was so scared of losing her. Nothing was more important to her than her daughter. She just hoped that everything will turn out like the prophecy said, because even though the king was bound to his mate, it was true that vampires did not serve weakness. They could also never be able to believe that a human is strong enough to rule. Her loyalty would always be with Lucius and she would always respect all his decisions but she cannot say the same for every vampire even her own daughter. To them humans were just food. 66 66. See the moon. As Charlotte passed the maid''s quarters she could hear some of the maids crying and some sniffing. She knew they all had their hopes up. Stupid dumb people just like her! They all believed in fairy tales where the king falling for his maid. Now she thought about it, it was laughable but who is to say that the kings soulmate wasn''t even a Maid. She should have known better than to hope for a fairy tale love with the King. They all should have known better. Every maid and in fact more than average of the female vampire population wished the king would be there soul mate. Many had had to believe that the prophesy was all false just to keep their hope alive. For a long time no matter who tried the King had no interest in women or in love. Soon enough his admirers got tired of being rejected and stopped trying. This was not until the prophecy was made a century ago vampires started to hope again. She saw one maid at a pillar resting her head back on it. The maid was looking intently at the moon like she was an astrologer. She was fixated by the moon. Charlotte immediately recognized her and wondered why she was not with the other maids who were sobbing their eyes out. But then she already knew the answer, she was different. The maids hands were folded on her chest. She was acting like she was in a trance, her gaze did not falter as she stared at the moon. Her name was Miranda and it was safe to say that she was the fairest of all the other Maids. Her hair was as dark as charcoal and so were her eyes. Her pale skin had a shin to it that illuminated her complexion. She had just the Perfect oval shaped face, and slightly big round boobs. She was really pretty and hot for a maid. Charlotte admired her and other maids envied her, greatly envied her. Because not only was she beautiful, she knew it and took pride in it. Miranda was a loner. She hardly spoke to anyone and did not Interact well with other Maids. All of them concluded that it was because she felt too proud because of her beauty. Maybe she did. She thinks she''s better than us all l she forgets she''s also a Maid like us. She''s not even Charlotte and yet she''s so proud. They said. Charlotte knew better, she guessed that Miranda didn''t just like talking and was just a quiet type. It was safe to say that Miranda was quite the bad introvert with a little bit of arrogance. When Charlotte saw Miranda sometimes she had the feeling that she was fighting a lot of demons. She often wondered what it was that Miranda''s demons whispered to her in her quiet time. It must be why she loved to stay in a peaceful place away from the crowd because she wanted to hear their whispers. She looked at Miranda again and she felt something, something she could not recognize. Charlotte knew the quiet ones could be the most dangerous and Miranda could just be a traitor for all she knew but then a part of her was still drawn to the woman resting on the pillar. A part of her she couldn''t resist. She needed someone to help her If she was to succeed in destroying the female mortal, the imposter trying to take her place on the throne. She needed someone as smart and deceitful as she was if she was going to get things done. She knew that Miranda was smart but if she was deceitful, that she had no idea of. But she had to try her, she couldn''t afford to take her issues to a dumb maid. Charlotte wanted the throne and she had worked hard for it even pretending to be nice and good to the extent of being a maid along with her mother when she knew with her looks she could be more. She was Damn beautiful, tall and elegant and most vampire aristocrats admired her. But she had stayed behind working for the king in the hopes that one day he would chose her over Clara. Turns out it wasn''t Clara who was going to take him away from her in the end but a human. She was devastated, regret driving her to an edge if only she knew she would have gotten married to Mathew the better of all of her suitors and one of the most wealthy vampires. She would have been a Lady as of now with diamond necklace around her neck and her own servants. But, she wanted the king and refused to settle for less. Ambition was going to be her undoing should she fail to conjure a plan. She was not going to give up like the other women. She deserved the king more than all of them. "Hi." Charlotte said to Miranda, finally deciding to approach her. She stood by the side of the pillar watching the moon. She wanted to know what was so fascinating about it that Miranda seemed to be enchanted by it. But she couldn''t figure out just one thing special about the moon except that it dominated the night. Miranda immediately felt Charlotte''s presence and her mouth watered. She couldn''t believe her luck, Charlotte was standing next to her this very minute. She opened her eyes slowly afraid that it was all a dream another one of her imaginations taking a body just to torment her. But from the corner of her eyes she could see Charlotte staring down at her. She swallowed. Her first question was going to be why Charlotte was standing next to her but then she thought it was better she asked what she wanted because everyone knew that when Charlotte was nice to someone she wanted a favor. Charlotte looked down at Miranda who she was so much taller than. Her face was blank but she wasn''t fooling Charlotte. Charlotte knew Miranda loved the king, they all did. Didn''t they? That is the only reason why Miranda looked love stricken now. There could not be another reason could they? But the emptiness in her eyes looked too real. Miranda immediately tore her eyes away from Charlotte and continued to fix her eyes on the moon. Hoping that when she ignored her long enough she would leave. She couldn''t afford to stay so close to her for so long. Charlotte was greatly mistaken about Miranda. She was of the opinion that the love stricken face she had on had everything to do with the king just like hers. She decided to use it to get Miranda''s help in executing her plan. 67 67. A kiss "Charlotte." Miranda uttered with surprise standing straight up, she curtsied as a sign of respect after coming back to her senses. It was obvious now that Charlotte wasn''t going go leave her alone. Charlotte was the head maid and she was older than her with over 500 years and stronger. Her strength appealed to Miranda. Miranda after a while took the courage to meet Charlotte''s eyes, she couldn''t afford her discovering her secret. Charlotte smiled at this behavior from Miranda. She never really saw Miranda as one who conformed to norms or one who feared or curtsied except to the king. She saw her as rebellious and opinionated. The thought that she could curtsy for her brought a smile she didn''t quite comprehend to her heart. She loved that Miranda respected her and it pleased her in ways she didn''t expect. "You can seat please." Charlotte smiled giving her a sign to seat. Miranda reluctantly sat down on the pavement by the pillar. Her heart was beating crazily in her chest. Being so close to Charlotte was driving her mad with desire and lust. She could feel the dampness in her core. She was crazy for a woman who had no idea and was definitely straight as far as she knew. She had been in love with Charlotte for a long time now and more after Charlotte had saved her from a fire. But Charlotte, Charlotte never noticed her and she knew she did not, because of the king. Why is everyone obsessed with the king? Miranda would angrily think. It was like they were all crazy about him. Sure he was everything a woman needed but didn''t they know about the prophesy. He had a soulmate now. Miranda was never happier when she hard the screams of their binding. Now, she thought, all of them will let the king of the hook and start looking at others. And by all of them she meant Charlotte especially. Her hopes were now increased, that she could one day have a chance with the woman she loves and right now, while she stood there watching her, she could not dispel the thought of her being right. Charlotte had finally noticed her! If only she knew. "Is there anything I can help you with." Miranda finally spoke breaking the overwhelming silence that was choking her up and driving her mind mad into the gutter and into hope. "You know I''m not one to beat around the Bush Miranda." Charlotte started with a smirk. She walked forward to stand at Miranda''s front, then she bent waist down and lifted her chin so their eyes met. Miranda swallowed HARD. She wanted to look away but that would come across as a sign of weakness. She couldn''t afford to look weak, not in front of Charlotte at least. "I cannot bow to a mortal. Maybe you all can but I can''t. She doesn''t deserve the king. I have seen her, she''s not worthy enough. And if you love the king which I know you do, you will help me take her out. She is a mere mortal it would be so easy you won''t even have to stress." Miranda was not interested in the love affair between the king and the human, not In anyway. It was none of her business and she didn''t give two fucks about it. And she definitely did not love the king in that way, it was disheartening that Charlotte would think that of her. In fact she wished the king and his soulmate well. But if that''s what Charlotte was Interested in speaking to her about then she had to humor her. This was the first time Charlotte was speaking to her as an equal and if it meant that she had to show interest in an issue she had no interest in then she would. What we do for love? She sighed her eyes dimming. "And what is in there for me. What do I gain if I help you take out the Queen, if I should agree that is. She has been bound or didn''t you hear the screams." She scoffed. "Tell me, What will I gain but death for being a traitor because as far as I''m aware that''s what any act against her will be to the king. Treason." Miranda pushed Charlotte''s hand away from her chin, unable to bear any longer the feel of her tough and the desire it brought. She wanted to kiss her red plump lips, to savour it, to taste it and her hands on her chin wasn''t helping. She wanted to submit to the woman but she was not hers to submit to. Miranda almost groaned in frustration. Why is everyone obsessed with the king? "If you should do this you would be rewarded. You won''t get death but freedom." Charlotte said, rising up. "The king will realize after she dies that we did what was best for the kingdom. He will reward us. She can''t be queen, I know that, you know that. Don''t tell me that you are out here because of the moon, there is nothing special about the moon to us vampires. The truth is you are as much affected by the kings decision as I am so why don''t we help each other and Damn the consequence. We could make a great team in this." 68 68. Speak no Miranda starred at her annoyed at the bullshit she was spilling. She scoffed and glared at her in amazement. Never had she heard someone convincingly sell bullshit like Charlotte just did. First of all that she didn''t see anything special in the moon didn''t mean that there wasn''t anything special about it. Secondly, vampires loved the night and the moon was a big part of it, granted that not all vampires saw it that way but she was sure that she wasn''t the only one who felt drawn to the moon. Charlotte was so stupid it was annoying and more annoying cause even her stupidity and annoying ass was cute to Miranda. She blinked to her and pushed her to the pillar with her arms in her neck. But Charlotte quickly overpowered her pushing her back, hard to the pillar. "Don''t you dare. Don''t you ever dare do that again! I am older stronger and faster. I could kill you in my sleep and I''ll do it should you try to pull a stunt like this again. You are nothing, no one will look for you, no one." Charlotte growled in a warning tone. Miranda squirmed underneath her, her heart in her mouth. She wasn''t afraid of her threat but she was hurt by the words she uttered with such beautiful lips. And it hurt her all the more because she knew that Charlotte was right. If Charlotte should kill her, she would definitely get away with it. Miranda had no family or friends and the king might not even notice it if she''s gone. In fact she was sure he won''t notice it. After all she was just another one of his dozen maids who served him and although the king was fair, wise and just there was only so much he can do now that a war was upon them and the kingdom had so many traitors. And considering the fact that she tried so hard to keep away from him so she won''t get charmed, she was sure he didn''t know her quite well enough to notice her if she went missing. Besides even if the king should find out Charlotte was more important to the king than she was. Even if he wanted to punish her he would spare her because of her mother. Who''s to say now that he has found his soul mate he won''t lose all interest in his kingdom. Love was a beautiful thing but it could also lead to stupid decisions and madness. Like now instead of being so angry with Charlotte and fighting her off she was getting more and more turned on. Who''s to say she wasn''t as stupid as the other maids. After all the only difference between her and them was her heart didn''t belong with the king but belonged to a woman. A woman who thought her as nothing. A woman who she should hate but is instead getting wet for. 69 69. Obey Charlotte pressed her neck harder with her elbows, her eyes stayed on hers, she was glaring at her in anger. Miranda felt all the air leave her lungs and she knew she had to do something. To say something. This situation could be to her benefit, she just had to think of how she could make it so it would favour her instead of hurting her. She closed her eyes and then opening it a thought came into her mind and she loved it. "If I should agree to help you then we get to spend a night together. That''s the reward I want. I don''t need freedom but you." Miranda choked out. The mere thought of spending one night with Charlotte gave her strength even though her breathing laboured more with anticipation. She was so amused by the look of surprise on Charlotte''s face that if she wasn''t choking now she would have burst out laughing. She really hoped that Charlotte would take her offer, it didn''t matter what she made her do as long as she could have a night of sin with her. A night where she could finally let out all her guilty pleasures. Gosh she was so hot for her! Charlotte quickly let go of her neck and moved back to allow her breathe. She adjusted her own clothe and watched Miranda as she rested on the pillar judiciously taking in air. Her face was expressionless when she spoke. "And why would I do that?" She asked. But, no matter how had she tried to look unaffected a blush crept up her face. She was flushed and even her blank expression and disinterested voice couldn''t keep it out. She never expected Miranda to say it outright that she wanted her. Charlotte had no problem making love to Miranda. She was bisexual after all. It had been long she had been with a woman. She always fucked women older than her because she was quite vicious when it came to sex and she didn''t want to kill someone in the name of making love to them. She loved illicit affairs, the danger made up for her boredom in the palace. If she should agree to Miranda''s terms then Miranda would be the first young vampire she would pleasure both mail or female. She had no intention of showing her mercy. If she should insist on this deal then she would treat her like she treated all her lovers not regarding her age. After all she was asking for it and even so, boldly. Because of her audacity she would be as vicious as she always was maybe even more vicious. She felt the need to tame Miranda and show her who was boss. The smug expression on Miranda''s face at her discomfort was pissing her off greatly. The nerve of this woman she thought. But you know what else Charlotte didn''t want to admit, she had never been with someone as pretty as Miranda before and she wanted to. Now looking at her, her body was to die for. She could already imagine having her lips, licking and squeezing her, Shit. She was loving this idea and getting turned on fast. Think of the king not the maid, Charlotte! She chided herself. 70 70. Think "Are you through thinking about it?" Miranda asked mockingly. "Or do you need an extra five minutes." She could see the war on Charlotte''s face and hear it in her heart beat. In the end it looked like desire won or maybe need. It didn''t matter what the feeling was as long as she agreed to her deal. The quiet had stretched far beyond her comfort, she wasn''t sure she could take anymore. Charlotte wanted to smack the smug expression of Miranda''s face. Now, he knew exactly how she was to do it without hitting her."I would have loved to say yes its not like it''s going to be new for me but you see I usually do this with someone older, someone who can match my strength. To me, you may well as well be a mortal and I do not want to break you with the shoving and blood lust. What I''m trying to say here is, I don''t think that you can handle me little one." It was Charlotte''s turn to smirk now but Miranda wasn''t fazed. "Then try me." She taunted, her voice low. She took sloe steps to her till she was close enough to make an impact. "Try me and see who''s not a match for the other." "I don''t want to hurt you Mira." Charlotte drawled. She bit her lips when she caught on to the fact that she had just shortened Miranda''s name and had subconsciously let it out of her mouth. She was so ashamed, Miranda was indeed getting under her skin and she was hating it so bad. Miranda smiled catching wind of her struggle to not let her in. Now, she did have hope and they were justified. "Alright then. You help me and you get your night of sin." Charlotte sighed. "Then Let''s seal it with a kiss." Miranda said with a smile. She was acting so cool and in charge but inside she was shivering. She was dying with so much passion it scared her. Her need had doubled in an instant it was now explosive. She was scared that Charlotte was going to say no just to torment or punish her but the gods knew that that would have been her worst torment because right now there was nothing she wanted more than to taste the lips that were slightly parted I''m front of her. Her heart was In her mouth and all it would have taken was one word from Charlotte to break her completely. No But Charlotte kissed her taking her unaware. The kiss was passionate and sweet, both fought for dominance but Charlotte stayed winning. Miranda would not have had it any other way Miranda pulled away after a minute and Charlotte was more than thankful for it, she was almost loosing all her control. The small woman pressed against her was hot as hell and she so wanted to squeeze those luscious boobs that were now pressed against her and she wanted to taste her other lips. She wanted to taste her blood, to feel her inside heat on her fingers. She wanted to nibble on her ears and lick her throat after she had tasted enough of her. Miranda was lost somewhere in heavenly ecstasy she couldn''t believe that she had finally tasted Charlotte''s lips. It was unbelievable. She had dreamt about this day for so long that now it was here she, there was no words to explain how she felt. "I''ll think of a plan tonight and tomorrow we will meet here so I can tell you about it." Charlotte said and walked away into the night of sin. She was afraid that if she stood there anymore she would take Miranda and nothing would stop her. She tasted so nice, so nice she was beginning to wonder if she really wanted the king or something smaller. 71 71. Betrayal Clara had felt a little bit relieved when her mother had promised to help her. She knew her mother would do anything for her and whatever her mother wanted her mother got. Only a few people knew it but her mother was one of the most powerful women in the kingdom. She was smart, corny, seductive, deceitful and vicious and what have you. She had her way around the elders and having your way around the elders gave you unlimited power. Clara was at the stables In a secret room waiting for her lover James. She had a mission for him. To her he was but a puppet who owes her his freedom from that horrible now dead warlock. She heard a knock on the door and rushed to open it. Time was ticking and she was becoming very much impatient. Immediately James came in he smashed his lips on hers devouring it. He tore her shirt and his shirt. While she took of his pants he took of hers. They did all this in one second and he entered her the next. That was how intense the need for release was. Clara liked those who did all she instructed, he was a good slave and he deserved his wages. She liked them submissive and stupid. James loved Clarissa but he desired Clara, a burning provocative desire. He could not withstand her. She owned him. He knew he was only a puppet to her and she didn''t love him, yet he couldn''t stay away. There was this force that pulled him to her every single time he tried to stay away. He found that he was powerless against her. James sometimes feared meeting her. He never knew what she was up to. She could be tricking him to his death, she could be trading him for money, or power. To him she was everything but to her he was nothing. His mind would warn him not to go to her but he wouldn''t listen and even if he wanted to listen he didn''t have much of a choice. His body craved Clara and like magnet to iron he couldn''t control it. He always ended up going back to her even after he learnt she had been the one who killed his parents and burnt down half his village. Yes, he was stupid. He knew that more than anyone and she knew that too. His love for her made him so and she was using it against him. 72 72. Sex Clara arched her back, driving her pelvis into his, and suddenly, James stopped caring if her inviting him after she had been so enraged was a trick or not. The fear that she wanted to kill him for what Clarissa said, disappeared. The knowledge that she wanted to use him to diffuse her rage paled in comparison to his desire for her. All he wanted and cared about in that moment was her. The noise of their sex, her moan and the heat. He''d have been happy never to listen to her, to stop being helpless when it came to her. He would have been happy if he felt nothing but his body had no mind of it''s own. The spirit be willing but the body weak. The caress of her mouth as she sucked on his neck felt connected to his cock, and he moved deeper into her. Balls deep. Loving the sound of her cries. It felt so good to be in her he lost his mind. If she killed him now he would die happy The scent of her arousal, sweet and musky, rose all around him, ramping up his desire to toss her onto her knees and drive into her until they heated up the tiny cabin with the fury of his lust. And he did just that. No words needed to be exchanged. He only had to pull her hands up a little and she was on her knees exposing her butt to him. Clara loved to be taken from the back she wished it was Lucius fucking her but she knew It was almost going to be impossible to achieve that now. He never did fuck her even when he had no soul mate let alone now that he had found now the stupid mortal called mate. The only thing they''ve ever shared was a kiss and she had been with him for more than a century. She was getting furious and disinterested in James. He was in no comparison to Lucius the one she wanted in her arms now. James hand tangled in her silky hair, he dropped his other to her butt and hauled her more tightly against him. He could feel her loose interest and swore within himself to bring her back to him. He would kill for her peace of mind the only problem was the person he would have to kill is the only true immortal. God knew how much he hated Lucius. The guy had everything and he had nothing. Even when fucking Clara she Still thought of him. He didn''t know what was so special about Him that held unto everyone''s love and allegiance. Even the universe had made him a god. Even the universe loved him. But him the universe hated and made a slave. And the one thing he desired most the one thing he craved most to the point of submission couldn''t still be his all because of Lucius. Clara pushed him away from vexes. She turned around and bit into him. She needed his blood to increase the pleasure she was feeling. She needed to forget the thought of Lucius just for this night. James knew why she did this and he didn''t push her away. On the contrary he loved that she was taking from him. Gosh he loved the feel of it. The pain from her razor sharp blades filled him with intense pleasure. He couldn''t have stopped her besides he would heal and refill but she may never need his blood again. She wrapped her legs against him and pushed deeper into her reaching deep inside her. He lifted them both onto the futon above the ground. He wanted her to take him as much as she could, as much as she needed, and nothing was better than sex during feeding. When two vampires were connected that way, it was a closed circuit that delivered full-body orgasms like nothing else. "Keep feeding," he whispered intoxicated. She didn''t need him to urge her though he was her slave and it was her intention to feed from him till she''s satisfied. She retracted her fangs from his neck and almost immediately bit Down on him again. Deeper. She was angry and turned on. Two bad combinations for vampire as vicious as she is. 73 73. Outdo yourself James screamed from the pain unleashed by her fangs. He almost lost his breath but he didn''t loose his bearing. He would die before he let go of Clara. So as long as he was alive he wouldn''t and couldn''t let go of her. He dropped her down on the mattress again her lips still lingering on his neck. he groaned. A mixture of pain and pleasure. Clara moaned in response and shifted her body so they were stretched out on the hard mattress, him on top of her, rocking his sex against hers to the rhythm of her pulls on his vein. Heat roared through him, searing him from the inside out, and when she dug her nails into his shoulders, he growled in approval. She was being much harder than he thought she''d be. And he loved it. He loved her anger and her rage. He loved everything about her. Cradling her head against his throat, he smoothed his hand up to her slim waist and over her rib cage. Her warmth radiated through him, her desire radiated from her entire body as he swept his thumb across the swell of her breast. Clara gasped, breaking the seal on his throat, and a wet rivulet flowed down his skin. Her tongue flicked out to catch the stream, licking upward in a lazy, sensual stroke. The crimson of his blood intoxicating her. When she reached the puncture from her bite, she latched on again, drawing like she was starving. He shouted at the ecstasy of it and thrust against her as though he was already inside her. "Keep doing that." His voice was a guttural rasp he could barely hear over the sound of his pulse drumming in his ears. "Harder. Suck me harder." He begged and Clara did just that. She finally gave into the pleasure James was giving. The picture of Lucius in her mind almost disappeared but then she knew she could never forget the picture of that mortal on his bed. She had looked so young and so vulnerable. There was no way she could be able to survive as the Queen. Vampires needed a leader that they could fear and no vampire would fear a mortal. She dug her fingers into his back and sucked him like he wanted because this might just be her last night with him. Slowly with each thrust James was getting into her mind and fucking her soul. She couldn''t deny the fact that James pleasured her greatly. Fuck! he knew how to submit and dominate and only a few knew how to. Those were the real masters in bed and he was a good fuck. He didn''t slow his pace, he continued hard driving her closer and closer into a much needed climax. But even in her flushed state with her stomach rumbling from the feel of near orgasm. Her mind still travelled to Lucius. She wondered how he would be in bed. If he could make her come just like James or If he would torture her stopping her climax till she lost her mind. She wondered what kind of man he was when his cock went hard. She sighed assuming Lucius an expert. From the kiss they shared she could tell that he knew just how to pleasure a woman. He knew when to give and when to take when to lead and when to follow. He was a god alright, in Everything and she wanted him for herself. All of him. He was the one she needed inside her in this moment. The one whose moans and groans she would love to listen to like her favourite music. She wanted to feel his firm hands on her body, grazing her skin just like James was doing now. She wanted his lips, his tongue, his eyes. She wanted all of him. Damn it Lucio! She cussed in her mind. Even in intense pleasure she just couldn''t get him out of her fucking mind. He was ruling her body and her soul yet closing that tramp over her. Why couldn''t he see that no one was going to love him like she did. She tried to push James away from her but James was not having it. He knew that it was all the fault of Lucius even if she wouldn''t say it. He would not let her go now, he won''t let Lucius take her away from him, the one thing he truly loved. He wanted her mind for himself as much as her body was for him now and he wouldn''t stop till he got it. "Let go." Clara whispered harshly but James''s turned a deaf ear to her. With all the strength he could muster he held both her hands behind her then he let his lips travel down her body causing her to squirm. His kisses were feathery barely grazing her pale skin. He kissed her chin then her neck and then his lips moved to her breast. He took her left nipple in his mouth and suckled it, causing her to moan out loud then he took her right nipple in her mouth and did the same. Her wrapped her knees around him shuddering with the intensity of his warm lips on her nipple. She could no longer think of anything else but the warmth of his lips. James impressed with himself tried another trick from the book of great sex masters. He bit her nipple hard blew air on it and sucked firmly. Clara''s senses went on overload. She went mad with pleasure. Her skin was on fire, her breasts ached, and lightning danced along every nerve strand. And James wasn''t touching anything but her breast and her hands which were still firmly behind her. He took his cock out of her core and watched her squirm wanting it back. But he would not give it back. He would not have her thinking of another man while he fucked her. It didn''t just hurt but it was a bruise to his ego. He was going to make her come with his name on her lips even If it was the last thing he did. 74 74. Mad She could see that he didn''t want to completely dominate her but then she needed him to. She too wanted to forget everything. "Forget I''m the master just for today." She whispered breathing hard. Even this was an order and James knew it. James smiled looking up at her, he had never felt so happy before. The fact that Clara was willing to submit to him overwhelmed his senses. He swore that he won''t fail her. James fingers brushed her core, wringing a strangled gasp from her. Pleasure zinged through her veins and molten, liquid heat pooled in her feminine place. Bracing her firmly against him, he wedged his foot between hers and nudged them apart. She held her breath as he cupped her mound and slipped one finger between her folds then two then three. Each finger drawing out a separate moan and gasp from Clara. Her moans were loud but she didn''t care. No one would hear her as the cabin was far away from home. She intended to scream. She wanted to feel this pleasure from her soul and James was doing just that. His finger dipped inside her, and her knees wobbled. "James_" she breathed. She wanted him deeper, so deep she''d forget it all. So deep she would forget Lucius and his ugly mortal. He obeyed, adding a finger and pushing deep. He hissed and rocked his hips into her ass. "I''ve never wanted someone so much" He muttered withdrawing the forth finger. She heard him but didn''t respond. He was getting carried away with her and If it were to be in another situation she would have killed him but in this, he was free to be carried away as much as he desired. He bent down and kissed her neck, then he suckled it. He pushed his three fingers deeper in her. He did something expertly with his fingers, stroked something inside that sent electric shocks of ecstasy through her entire pelvis. She clenched around him as he pumped in and out, and when he pressed his thumb against her clitoris, she cried out. "That''s it," he said hoarsely. "Ride my hand. I want you to come so hard you scream." Scream? That''s exactly what she wanted to do how did he know that? Every awareness sipped through her at the sound of his house voice. Her words to him became through right then no one was master and no one slave. All she wanted was to feel the blissful pleasure of orgasm. He withdrew his fingers, and that made her want to scream wanting him inside her, but he plunged them back inside and blew in her ears causing her nipples to harden so much she shivered. Her senses were dulled obscuring the picture of Lucius in her mind. He continued to thrust into her with his fingers later replaced by his cock before she came undone in a loud scream. He came afterwards after thrusting one more time hard and deep. He rested on his back besides her and In the bliss of the moment Clara looked at him, really looked at him and admired him. It was Clara''s luck that her slave wasn''t only good in bed but also handsome. His skin was a beautiful ivory color, having only been turned to a vampire last year he still maintained some of his complexion. He was still a new born and His skin hadn''t paled like hers and they were beautiful although the sign of it whitening was already visible. His cheekbones angled over the strong planes of his face, his lips full and sensual. His blonde hair hung on his shoulders in waves. His eyes, when he wasn''t lost in his blood hunger during feeding or sex were a sharp blue. Granted he wasn''t as handsome as Lucius nor closely as handsome as him. To her Lucius was the most handsome of all the men in the world. The god of the sun himself. She however appreciated James good looking features but she wanted Lucius. She loved him, loved his power and wanted part of it. She wanted to be queen. She wanted the power and no stupid mortal would take that away from her not when she can stop it. She was still breathing heavily after such blissful climax but now that she had come undone, the need for release no longer holding her hostage she started to think of how to get rid of that human. She would not sit back and watch someone take Lucius away from her. She had to do something. "The mortal has to die." She mumbled to herself standing up. She didn''t have the time to enjoy the peace of after orgasm not when the kingdom she had worked for all her life was at stake. It was at that point that she heard of the screams of a Lucius being bound to his mate. James heard it just In time to stand up. If what he just heard was what he was thinking then he had more to worry about that the pleasure of after sex. He needed to defend himself against Clara because right now she was a moving viper. Clara''s eyes were a dark black when he stood up. He refused to glance at them for another second scared of what she was capable of doing now that she was experiencing rage and blood lust. Her fangs were out and she was going to kill him. But at least one thing was to his advantage in it all if he wouldn''t have her she wouldn''t have Lucius either. 75 75. Give her a flower in my name "Calm down Clara please." James begged. He was breathing heavily. Fear and tiredness were the most of what he was feeling right now. Clara ignored him and stormed outside in anger. James thought of going after her but he knew better. He sighed a sigh of frustration still he was relieved. He wasn''t ready to die yet and with the state Clara was in he was sure that if he pushed her more she wouldn''t think twice about killing him. After all she was only with him for the sex and she could get the sex anywhere else. No slave boy would not give in to her demands. However his relief was cut shut when Clara came back in with a bleeding Clarissa. Her left hands were wrapped around Clarissa''s neck with her fangs pierced into her. Her canines were out too. She looked dangerous. "Here she is your nosy girlfriend. Couldn''t you not have chosen someone better, someone other than this thing?" She said to James quite degradingly. Then she turned Clarissa so she was facing her, Clarissa was scared. She tried to free herself from Clara but she wasn''t strong enough. She knew this and didn''t even put much effort to it. "Do you know what they say about the curious cat?" Clara asked tauntingly. Clarissa whimpered. "Curiosity kills it always but, satisfaction rarely wakes it up." Clarissa started to cry having been made more scared by Clara''s words. "Let her go." James pleaded fisting his hands but not daring to fight Clara. Not only was he a coward, he was pathetic and in love with a monster. He realised it just then. He realised that between the two women who stood before him now he loved one and only one and that one was Clara. He was on pants only and he knew his relationship with Clarissa was ended. He didn''t want Clarissa dead though. He would forever have to live with the guilt of her death and he didn''t want that. He didn''t want her dead at least not on his watch. "She has been lurking in the corner. That''s where i found her in the corner like a little rat. I''m not going to let her go and you do not tell me what to do!" "Do you know what I do to rats Clarissa? I kill them." Clara said calmly then almost immediately she threw Clarissa to the wall. Clarissa screamed. Her spine broke but she healed immediately. She had heard of Clara''s vicious strength but feeling it first hand brought her more pain that she ever imagined she could feel. She was used to pain but not fear. Although she had no wounds she was tired and scared. Too scared to fight. As a new vampire she was no match for Clara she would have done better as a warlock even. She regretted tailing James. He didn''t even deserve it. Pathetic. He was pathetic and she was too. Both of the pathetic! She thought. However, she tailed him not just to confirm that he was indeed cheating on her and to catch him in the act but also to find out more about Clara. What pleasures her, what enrages her. She wanted to find out anything and everything about her. There was nothing more Favorable than knowing every little detail about your enemy. Their likes and their dislike, their fear and desire. Everything. She needed to know More things about her than herself. Knowing your enemy was important but now__ she was going to die for it. Her life was more important. Clara blinked to a weak Clarissa who was kneeling helplessly on the ground. Clara then knelt down besides her. She raised Clarissa''s chin up so their eyes met. Then she started to speak in her most threatening voice. "Why were you outside? And don''t even think of lying to me. I will know and you will pay for it. Now answer, why were you outside? "Looking for my boyfriend James." Clarissa answered trying not to show how scared she was. But her voice and demeanor betrayed her. She was shaking so bad you would think she was suddenly inflicted with high fever. "Clara please don''t do this." James begged. He was scared all the more now. Even he himself could tell that Clarissa was lying how much more Clara. He knew he meant nothing to Clara but he couldn''t just watch without doing anything while she kills Clarissa. "Please give her another chance. I beg of you please." He begged. Clara immediately looked up at him but her face remained emotionless. She turned back to Clarissa and exhaled. "For you James I will show mercy. Just this one time. For you." " Now Clarissa I will not ask again. Why were you outside? Keep in mind that if you lie to me I will drain every drop of blood in your miserable body. Every single drop until you become as white as snow." Clara said calmly. All too calmly. Now her words didn''t take the shape of a threat it sounded more like a promise. Clarissa shivered and choked. There was no other way she could survive this ordeal if she didn''t say the truth. The realization hit her like a rock and she swallowed having accepted defeat."You took me away from my family. You destroyed my life. You turned me into a monster, into that which I hated the most. You ruined me." She sobbed. "So I guess you want revenge? So what''s your plan?" Clara chuckled daily. Her face remained as scary as hell. "Common tell me. I want to hear what a low life like you can come up with." "Clara" James called moving closer to her in a bid to help Clarissa. He was getting more scared with each word Clara spoke. "Shut up!" She ordered and he did. "Do not bite more than you can chew or i assure you, you will choke on it!" James immediately retreated. He balled his hands into a fist but again he could do nothing. He was weak. Clara again faced Clarissa. "Common tell me What''s your plan doll or do you want me to torture it out of you. I can very well do that! I have many ways to make you talk if you don''t want us to have this conversation like civilized people. For starters tell me how will you feel if I bring your brother to you now, How___ "To befriend the Queen and make her hate you and when she does I plan to convince her to_to force you out of the kingdom!" Clarissa said in a rush. She immediately became panicked at the mention of her brother. Her life could be threatened but not her brothers life. Oh! Not her little brother. It was her duty to protect him and she would do so at all cost. "Now you shall continue with your plan as if you were never caught lurking like a little rat! But there will be a slight change in your plan. Now what you have to do is to befriend the queen and then when you have done this I will give you a flower that you are to give her in my name. Do you understand this?" Clara asked harshly. Clarissa nodded. " I don''t want to have to put you through the trauma of watching your family die but that is exactly what''s going to happen should you think to play smart. I''ll give you the details soon doll." With that Clara blinked leaving James and Clarissa behind to sought out the issue she knew she had caused but didn''t care less. James tried to speak but could not. What would he say. He is pathetic. He was ashamed. He tried to touch Clarissa but she threw him with such force he broke his backbone. "You are pathetic! Very pathetic! I hate you with every fine of my being. You were made to be a slave. Once a slave, always a slave!" Clara screamed before she ran away in tears. 76 76. Dante MANY YEARS AGO Dante screamed his eyes flying open. He was having the same night mare again. The same one that caused him to join the military. The same one that had been a part of him for years. He sat up on his bed pouring himself a glass of water, he gulped down the entire content of the e glass. His heart was beating rapidly against his chest. He couldn''t fathom why he didn''t have nightmares when he was on a mission but his nightmares started immediately he came back home. Because his nightmares were chaos and his missions were; likes did repel after all. It had always been like this for him, the same nightmare every time. A reminder of his dead wife Monica. It was always about her when she was alive and even after her death everything still remained about her. He started to remember his eyes pricking with unshed tears. His heart beat increased by a thousand beats. His eyes became red from pain and lack of sleep, even his pills couldn''t help him sleep most times. He took his pills from the bedside table and swallowed it down with half glass of water. Gloria would be expecting his call now, he had left a voice mail in her office immediately he came into ocean city. Speaking of which she was supposed to have called him already. Gloria never missed the opportunity to pick him up at the airport and when she did it was because she was making him a little surprise for when he got home. It was unlike her to not be here or else she was in danger. Gloria was one who stuck to routine and didn''t mind it as long as it meant it kept her loved ones close. She loved to see things she could recognize, it made her feel safe. He pushed the duvet off him and stood up. His instincts were always right as a matter of fact without him following his guts he would have been a dead man. In the military sometimes your instinct becomes all that is left of you during war time. He sat up on the bed, taking his phone he dialed his daughters number. After calling her twice with the call going straight to voice mail he was sure now that something was wrong. His daughter never ignores his call except in danger. "Hi this is Gloria I''m unable to reach the phone at this moment." His daughters voice rang into his ears again and again, over and over. The repeated voice notes sent chills down his spine. "Gloria I''m coming to get you." He said into his phone His heart was beating so fast and he was near having a panic attack but he took hold of his emotions immediately, just like he had been trained to do because the last time he let his emotions get the better of him, he lost his wife. He still remembered it like it was yesterday mostly because he could still feel it all happen. "No one can dare me and go free. I am the devil. If anyone should cross my path he shall be thrown in hell to burn from the soul within. " Javier shouted his teeth gritted in anger as he held tightly the gun on the side of his waist. His right hand man Pablo kept quiet and still. He feared his boss especially when he was seething with venom. He was ruthless. "Dante has crossed the den of the lion and I''ll devour him, I''ll make him my scape goat. Pablo arm your men to the teeth and go to the house of Monica bring her here. I want to see the immortality he claims to have. When I''m done with him I swear he would return to the military where he came from" Javier mocked. His hands were pressed to his gun. Then he slid it out of his pocket and dropped it on the table in rage. "I want to know this woman. I want to have her for myself. She has given Dante too much power and guts. I will take it away." "And the child." "Isn''t that a godforsaken question Pablo. Kill the fucking child." "Yes boss." Pablo nodded. If his boss wanted the child then, then he would have her killed. His boss was king after all. He was about leaving the office when he turned back to meet the rage filled eyes of Javier who was still restless even after ordering for the doom of his enemy. Javier may kill him for what he was about to say but it didn''t matter, his loyalty to his boss came first and he would die for him. "If you take Monica the war between the cartels and the police will become untameable, A wild fire. Will you be able to curtail such fire boss?" Javier smiled tapping the cigarette he had just grabbed from his pocket. "I am the fire, the question is can he curtail me. Get going Pablo!" He lit the cigarette. "Yes boss." Pablo nodded, a smirk on his face. Going outside he clapped his hands a sign for his men to gather. They did all did. All ten of them. "This is not the first time Dante has dared our boss." He started beginning his speech. "And this time he has gone behind us to deal with the Americans. Our own business our territory. We must take him down and take him down fast. He claims to be invisible, he claims to be immortal, we already know where his life line is. We will take her, cut her of from him and watch him bleed. Who is with me!" He screamed. "We are! let''s make the god bleed." They all screamed taking their guns and missiles indeed armed to the teeth as they rushed out to their SUVs, a battle raging. He thinks he can play god saving the innocent. He better remember that there is an innocent woman and child in his house. Pablo thought Evilly 77 77. Guns MANY YEARS AGO In another part of the city not too far from the Javier''s mansion stood a tiny school for kids and a beautiful young teacher filled with life and an unending smile of purity. She had her hair tied in a loosed ponytail and her gown just on top of her knees. Her smile was unwavering as she held unto her niece. Her name was Monica the beautiful wife of Dante, the Mexican police chief. "So what do you want for lunch Gloria?" Monica asked smiling at the people that walked past her and waving at her fellow teachers. "Hola, buenos d¨ªas," she greeted in Spanish. It was the only Spanish she knew and she didn''t want to forget it. Dante had spent days trying to get her to start learning his language but that was the only thing that stuck. The teachers replied her with a smile, most of them Spanish. " I want puddling and porridge. " She giggled a huge smile on her face as she looked at her aunt with love. "You will take your veggies won''t you?" Monica asked bending down to adjust her daughters uniforms collar. She adored her her. "Your dad will be so proud of you if you eat your veggies. Don''t you want to eat your veggies?" "No I Don''t want veggies. Not Sweet, no veggies." Gloria pouted folding her hands. "So then you are not a princess." Monica teased "and daddy will not be proud of you." "I am a princess and daddy is proud of me." Nicolette shouted. "No you are not. Princesses eat their veggies so you are not a princess cause you Don''t want to eat yours and I''ll tell daddy." "I''ll eat mine. I am a princess." Gloria smiled hugging her Mum. Monica spun her around as they both giggled. Dante wasn''t going to pick them up today as usual so they were going to go all alone. It wasn''t much of a big deal though since their house was close by. Just then three SUVs stopped right in front of them and ten armed men trooped out. "There she is!" one had said pointing at Monica. Monica noticed this on time and held on to her Daughter, she pulled her heels and started running. The street was crowded with people and as she ran a few feet farther from the men she saw those assigned to protect her but they were out numbered. It was ten against six. Dante had sent them here after she specifically told him that she needed no protection. She would have been angry with him had her life not been in danger, a proof that her husband was right after all. "Ma''am go behind the building now." Alfredo had Instructed her just as she got to them. He was a friend of Dante and she trusted him. She took hold of Monica and went behind the building were the six men stood, her guardians. "Are they going to take you away mum. Will they take me too. Will we die? Where is dad? Is he OK?" Nicolette continuously asked crying. Monica had to hush her so she could think. "Shhh. No one is taking you, you are a princess. No one takes princesses. And your dad is fine." She assured Gloria wiping her tears with both her thumb. Her hands were shaking and she found that she couldn''t breathe. 78 78. Fights MANY YEARS AGO She hugged her daughter tight resting her head on her shoulder as a stray tear fell from her eyes. Unlike Gloria she was not a princess and she could be taken. But then wasn''t it better she gives herself away than watch others die for her. Does she deserve that to watch people die for her. She couldn''t let them get to Gloria, her guts told her that they wanted to harm her little jewelry. Where was Dante? She thought anxiety eating up at her chest. Monica never thought much of herself not until Dante came to her and made her feel like she was a goddess, that the world revolved around her. He was a loving man and husband and he had given her the best seven years of her life. She had been happy with him, so happy for seven years which was more happiness than she ever thought she could have. When Dante picked her from the street she thought he was going to subject her into a life of submission and pain but instead he loved her and cared for her and her child more than he did himself. If she died now she knew that she would not only be saving her Daughter but the men outside who may not have experienced the life that she had for seven years. She didn''t want to cut short anyone''s life especially not for her. After all death would end her constant fear that one day Dante would stop loving her and would take her back to the streets. She was northing like Dante, she wasn''t as brave and courageous as he was. Luckily for her, her Daughter took her father''s bravery and courage. She couldn''t stop herself from feeling for the men. The men who stood ready to protect her and risk their life in the process had families and children and she knew just how it felt like to loose someone she loved. After all she had lost both her parents at a tender age and she more than anyone knew how bad it was to be an orphan. They were police officers alright but it didn''t mean that they should die for an ordinary citizen like her. An orphan who was favoured. Soon a cross fire began each men taking cover behind the building closest to them. People ran for their lives, mother''s carried their children and vendors left their stores. Soon the street became Empty and the only sound that could be heard were the noises from gunshots. Two of Javier''s men were down, one shot in the leg and the other on his chest, fighting for life. And two of Dantes men were in similar conditions, both hiding behind the building, each helping the other. Monica covered Gloria''s ears as the little girl shivered in fear. "Gloria, princess look at me?" Monica whispered staring down at Gloria whose head was buried on her chest. "Mummy will go now but mummy will come back for you, she will never leave you. I''ll be with you always my princess." Monica sobbed quietly holding Nicole. "Stay here. Don''t move Gloria, please!" Monica begged leaving Nicole. She took of her jacket and covered Nicole with it. Tears falling from her eyes. "No!" Don''t go! Mother! " Gloria exclaimed holding her back, her thin hands clutching Monica''s leg in an embrace too strong for a child like her. Tears flowed freely from her eyes as she started hyperventilating. 79 79. Father Monica held her hands and pressed them on her face. She went on her knees to kiss Gloria on her lips tears falling from both there eyes, mixing. The pain flowed. "I have to protect you. I Don''t know what my presence here may cause you. I can''t let you die for me But I give you my word princess I''ll come back for you even if it is the last thing I do in life, Even if I have to kill for it." She assured her kissing her all over her face. Monica ran out from her hiding place her mind made up as she stood right in front of the Cross fire causing each team to stop shooting. Gloria peeped through the building her heart going out to her mother. Her mother would always be her hero. "Monica what are you doing?" Alfredo screamed pulling Monica to him. "Do you want to get yourself killed?" He shouted on her face. His voice filled with rage. "I don''t want to get myself killed neither do I want to get you guys killed. Just let me go with them Alfred, I''ll return. I promise. I don''t care what happens I want this men far away from my Daughter" Monica begged holding unto his shirt her eyes filled with determination, determination to save those who were meant to save her. Determination to save her child. "I cannot let you go with them Monica that will be over my dead body. Dante asked that we give our life for you and we will. They will only take you after they take our breath." Monica ignored him facing the other police officers, the one still left standing. "Am I worth your death?" She asked trying to reason with them but they ignored her question a look of determination on their faces. Never had she seen a people ready to die as they did and determined to do it. She looked over to the corner of the building where she had just left and saw Gloria staring at her as tears streamed down her face. Pablo followed her eyes and she caught him watching her with a smirk on his face. Her heart best stopped as he mouthed, "boom." To her causing her to shiver and confirming her suspicions. They were here to kill Gloria. Jesus Christ! She had to get them away from here. She thought, her heart thumping in her ears. Goosebumps decorated her skin and her hairs stood. She blinked fast to keep the tears that streamed down her eyes at bay. She was scared shitless not for herself but her child. "You should listen to her young men. She is a smart woman and she is just trying to save your life and her daughter''s" Pablo snickered. " You are outnumbered and we will not leave here without her. Blood will flow but it will be yours, Alfredo Garcia!" Pablo boasted hitting his gun on his chest. "What do you say Monica, your life in exchange for your daughters. His men moved forward, they were already close to Monica just a few inches far. Alfredo smiled and narrowed his eyes at them. "We die for her! You are outmatched brothers." He screamed and his men followed suit as they all cracked their gun ready to start firing. But non of them noticed that the gun Pablo pointed was not on Rutger of them it was on her child. "Please stop!" Monica cried Hugging Alfredo but he pushed her away gently. "Let this blood flow." He shouted. Immediately he pushed Monica she ran to Pablo blocking him. "Move Lady, you live but your daughter doesn''t. Now your husband will know who is boss." Monica wasn''t going to move except dead. "Alright then you will die before her." Pablo laughed maniacally. This nightmare continued to play over and over in Dante''s mind. Even after he destroyed the cartel and had each and everyone of them killed he still couldn''t find peace. He more than anyone now believed that exerting revenge didn''t exactly give peace. He knew that the scene damaged his daughter for the rest of her life. It was because of this she wanted to learn to fight and he didn''t hesitate to teach her. It gave her closure somehow, a way to still be in touch with her mother and she loved it. He on the other hand didn''t want to lose another love one without them being able to defend himself. His wife had been brave and his Daughter had taken that from her. Wherever she was now he was sure that she would survive till he finds her and makes her captive pay the price of taking his beloved daughter. He scrolled through the numbers of his phone and stopped at one. He was pacing the room now unable to seat down for even a second. He just had to make sure that his Daughter was fine. She could be with one of her friends possibly Jennie. He thought dialing her number. She picked on the first ring. "Mr Dante." Her tiny voice echoed from the other end of the call. "Is Gloria with you?" He asked not willing to beat around the Bush something he had in common with his daughter. "Gloria. I haven''t heard from her for three months. Why? I thought she was still angry with me, you know we quarrelled and then gosh she''s so annoying, you can''t take her side this time she__" "Jennie that''s enough." Dante yelled. He pressed his eyes with his finger when the other end went dead silent. "Gloria is missing." He finally said breaking the thick silence. "What!" Jennie exclaimed jumping of her bed. "Explain to me in details what you mean." 80 80. Seduction After she dropped the call she started pacing, guilt was killing her. She couldn''t believe that she did not call her friend Gloria for those three months after they fought over something she could not even remember now. She knew it was something she felt that she was right about and deserved an apology from Gloria but now she couldn''t even remember what it was, Now that apology meant nothing to her, her friend has been missing for three months now and she didn''t even know. Tears pricked her eyes as she continued to pace. She looked out the window enjoying the feel of the cold air on her skin, it dotted her skin and made her feel worse and that''s why she continued to stand by the window. She wanted some sort of punishment for her sins. She had to leave tomorrow she only hoped that wherever her friend was that she was safe. She promised herself to be more forgiving if only she could find her friend. Dante must be so worried for his daughter. She thought as she wiped the tears that fell down her eyes. She felt sorry for the man, he hasn''t gotten over his wife''s death now his daughter was missing. She sat down on the bed and crossed her legs unable to stand near the window anymore. She folded the bed sheet in her hand loving the feel as it rumpled. She was feeling so turned on now and it freaked her so bad. Maybe because she was going to be leaving tomorrow and somewhere in this house there was her nephew who she wanted in her. She had planned a way to get him in her room and she was hoping that it worked. Thinking about it since she was going to live tomorrow and may not come back then she might as well do what she always wanted to do fuck him, her nephew. This night she was going to have him after all she needed a tale to tell her friend when she saw her because she was going to. Suddenly, she heard a knock on the door and she pretended to be asleep drawing the bed sheet over her as she laid down on the bed. The door was pushed open and he came in, she couldn''t believe her luck. She knew it was him because she could feel his presence. She was however confused as to what the hell he was doing standing at the door for so long. But, she let her confusion take second chair, letting her desire take lead she pretended to snore softly. "Jennie." Josh whispered. His mother had told him to go give Jennie the scarf she borrowed from her in the morning and although he wanted to tell her that it was a bad idea he didn''t know how to tell her what made it a bad idea so he just went with her order because his mum never takes no for an answer except there was a solid reason behind the no. Even if he knew that there was a solid reason behind his no, he knew that the reason was unspeakable. When she did not steer after a minute, he released the breathe he didn''t know he was holding and finally entering the room he dropped the scarf on table by his side. He really could not believe his luck he had already thought of ten thousand ways of how best he could get to control himself when Jennie started her seduction again and non of them worked because as much as he hated to admit it. He loved it when she tried to seduce him and he wanted her as much as she wanted him maybe even more but their love was forbidden or else In fact he was adopted. Which he was beginning to put a lot of thought to because he didn''t understand why Jennie would want to sleep with her nephew when she had a lot of men asking her out. Her inexperienced nephew who only knew how to kiss and have never gone past that despite being Mr popular in highschool. He was about to leave slightly disappointed when he heard her voice and he quickly turned back. She was now sitting up, her legs covered with the bed sheet and her eyes on his body. She licked her lips and moaned. "My hands are in my pussy, would you like to replace them with yours seeing that they are already getting tired." She asked him in a hush whisper. 81 81. You want i He stood still at the door his heart beating fast. He was stupid to think that he could escape her, he could never escape her not when she was already in his mind. He started to fidget his hands shaking as he watched her moan slowly. "I came. I came. I came because mum asked me to return your, your scarf." He stuttered avoiding eye contact with her. He was looking at everything in her room now but her. When she tried to stand up he knew that it would be wise to leave the room before she stood, but unlike other days his legs were glued to the ground. Maybe because she had never been so outright in seducing him before, he could sense that something was wrong and he wanted to know what was. If only he was in his right state of mind. She stood up from the bed in one swift move and walked up to him. Then she pushed the door to a close, something he should have done himself after he left. "Jennie." He choked out, he bent down to meet her eyes unable to avoid them any more because now she was so close to him, so fucking close he could feel the impact in his cock. She pushed his lean frame to the wall and pressed herself against him. "Is there something wrong?" He stuttered. Her eyes dimmed immediately he asked that and he noticed it and wanted to probe more, but as fast as her eyes dimmed it began to shine again with desire. "You are already erect for me baby." She said flatly ignoring his question. She was going to distract herself with him that night and she didn''t need anybody reminding her of the things she wanted to keep at the side till tomorrow. She exhaled trying to drown the guilt she suddenly felt at his question. Then she bit his ears softly causing him to moan his breath cooling her neck. Her hands travelled to his crotch and she grinded against it loving as his breathing became intense, heavy beads of sweat decorated his forehead. His was burning from the inside and she was the cause of his fire. "Do you want me to stop?" She asked staring into his eyes with as much intensity her insane guilt ridden mind could muster. "I.. Don''t know!" He answered honestly. He had always wondered what his reaction would be if Jennie should ever touch him inappropriately during one of her moves. His mind would tell him that he could take it but his heart would tell him otherwise. Now he knew which one of them was telling a lie. She moved back too quickly sending his body into a depth of need, then she watched him eager to know what his move would be, touch her or leave her. He put his hands on his head and breathed harshly through his parted lips. She could tell that he was frustrated as frustrated as she was with everything. Lust was a force too powerful to control. And she needed him in her. "Ok then! Since you don''t know you can go back and tell your mum that I said thanks for the scarf." She sighed breaking eye contact with him. Then she walked to the door and opened it gesturing for him to take the walk out of her room. He didn''t want to go but the look in her eyes told him that he had no choice. She didn''t want him to leave too but she had exhausted her limits and was not going to go further. If he wanted her he just had to come to her on his own. He eyed her hesitantly but in the end his mind won and he made to leave. Just as he took a step outside her room Jennie held his hands stopping him, he turned around to look into her eyes, his heart was beating fast in anticipation of what she was going to say. "My pussy hurts from waiting for you for so long. I don''t know how long it can wait anymore." She mouthed with a sweet smile. He didn''t reply, he removed her hand from his and left. If he dared speak he knew how his voice would come out as, as a groan. Jennie couldn''t sleep properly the entire night. Her mind would go from thinking about Josh to having nightmares about Gloria. When she had the third nightmare she couldn''t stand it anymore so she decided that she would just sleep in the plane when she knew that she was going to Gloria. Hopefully then the nightmares would stop. It was round 4am when she decided to stop trying, she packed up her bag and prepared herself for a trip to ocean city. She didn''t know how Joshua was going to take her leaving so sudden but she hoped that it would be to her benefit Whatever reaction he had. 82 82. Stay with me "I''m going to Ocean city today, I already booked my flight." Jennie announced during the start of their family breakfast. She was seated in the dining with her sister, her sisters husband and josh. A dining of four in the garden where the morning sun shone brightly on them. The day felt good but she didn''t feel good at all. She took a bite of the sandwich and licked her lips afterwards. Unknown to her, Josh was staring at her from the corner of his eyes. He wondered what it would be like taste her lips. "That''s sudden did Gloria call for a get together? How''s she by the way? That girl is so fierce like her father." Her sister Jessie muttered, as she munched on her sandwich. She wiped her lips with a napkin and took a sip of her juice. "Is Gloria general Dante''s Daughter." Her sisters husband asked for the first time joining in their conversation. She met his eyes and nodded In the affirmative. Her sisters eyes met Jennies and her brows furrowed in suspicion. She had the feeling that her sister was definitely hiding something from her. Gloria wouldn''t just call for a get together or will she. Jennie cleared her throat. From the corner of her eyes she could see her sisters husband subtly staring at her. He too was suspicious but she didn''t exactly think it wise to tell them that Gloria had been kidnapped. "Yes she wanted to see all her friends and she''s doing pretty good. Its Gloria we are talking about here if she isn''t good who will." Jennie laughed nervously burying her head in her food. "So she''s asking you to come for a get together." Her sister asked again trying to clarify her suspicion. "Well yes, we are__ we want to have a girls week out. Gloria is celebrating her__ her promotion." She answered with a crooked smile that easily faded. Mr Mathew''s eyes were on her but he didn''t say anything, he continued eating like there was no conversation going on but she knew he was just as attentive as his wife. Her sister Jessie and her husband were two polar opposites but they did love each other greatly. "You are leaving today and telling us today?" Josh asked scoffing. "Weigh to show how important we are to you." "Joshua!" I called raising my voice like it was a summon. "Eat." "Young man eat or you will be late for school and how many times have I told you not to speak rudely to an elder__" Jesse reprimanded glaring at him. Josh shrugged. "Sorry mum." He apologized pecking her. He stood up from his seat his eyes steady on Jennie. "Apologize to your aunt Jennie." "Sorry Jennie." He simply said looking away from her. Jennie nodded. She knew why he was mad but there was nothing she could do about it. "I''ll be leaving for school." Joshua added. "So soon, you''ve never gone this early to school before." "And now I decided to you don''t want me to. What happened to Josh go early to school tomorrow?" Jessie sucked in her breathe. She could tell that her son was in a bad mood and she didn''t have the strength for an argument. She pushed her chair backwards and stood up. "Alright let me drop him off," She nodded to her husband who shrugged and kept on eating. "Honey come back early." He said looking up at his wife. "There will be no need for that don''t worry, I''ll drop him off," Jennie said in a hurry. She didn''t want to miss the opportunity to be alone with him before she travelled to Ocean city. Her sister sighed in relief. She had not taken her bath yet and she needed to report early for work today. Dropping her son off to school would definitely have delayed her. Her sister was a blessing. "Thanks Jennie, don''t worry by next year he will be eighteen and then he can finally get his own car." She said sitting back down. "Its no biggie" she smiled. She kissed her sister good bye and waved at her sisters husband who nodded at her. Her eyes locked with Josh across the dining and he rolled his eyes. He kissed his mum and waved his dad goodbye and turned to leave without even waiting for her. 83 83. Him She rushed after him and got to the car about the same time he did. He was resting on the car his head thrown back when she got to him. He heard her footsteps and opened his eyes slowly. "Why are you the one dropping me off, don''t you have a flight to catch?" "You know you should stop being petty over this issue. It''s not like I''m moving out or something. I don''t have the energy for this so get in." She moved to the drivers seat and trued to get in but then noticed that Josh wasn''t moving. "Josh get into the goddamn car. I''m in no mood for this!" Josh turned around to meet her eyes across the car his hands clenched into a fist. "You treat me like a teenager in the morning and an adult during night time. Why don''t you become consistent Jennie. Stop messing with my mind!" "Will you keep your voice down." Jennie whispered harshly her eyes widened. "Someone can hear you and please stop being dramatic I''m not moving out and I will soon be back so stop it already. Lord have Mercy!" He scoffed and shook his head bitterly. Her words stung him. "Did you know you were going to leave before or after I came to your room yesterday night because it sure as hell looks like you have the opportunity to tell me and you didn''t care to." She hissed and rolled her eyes knowing where all this talk was leading too. "You know that''s not important." "It is to me so answer the damn question!" He growled underneath his breathe. "Well I won''t so you better enter the motherfucking car or I''m leaving without you. I''m not in the mood for this tantrum now." She hissed. She pulled the drivers door open and entered the car. Then she waited a minute for him impatiently tapping on the steering wheel. After a minute like she guessed he entered the car finally looking calm. The tension in the car could comfortably make a baby float in the air. Josh looked out of the window refusing to look at her and Jennie concentrated on driving. But after some minutes she got tired of the silence and the tension. She was leaving today and she didn''t even know if she would come back or not. The least she needed now was to have to leave fighting with the boy she cared about and desired. She watched him from the corner of her eyes and he still looked pretty much angry to her. "Is your goodbye to me really going to be the silent treatment." She sighed. She was still watching him from the corner of her eyes when she spoke and his body language did not give anything up. He still remained in the exact same posture he remained before she spoke. "Alright if this is going to be your good bye to me then I might as well move out." Josh whirled his head to her in one swift move and she did the same their eyes meeting. "Is that a threat? Are you seriously going to threaten me with moving out!" She looked away from him and back to the road. She couldn''t afford an accident. Her sister would kill her if anything happened to her only child. She swallowed, she just realized how close Josh was to her, so very close now and how far she would soon be from him. She would greatly miss him and she was not going to let his stupid tantrum come in the way of their happiness this last day. She removed her left hand from the steering wheel and placed it on her legs. From the corner of her eyes she could see that he was totally distracted and his thoughts somewhere else. She sighed, she was getting so wet and he won''t even look at her but it was fine. She would make him look at her. Her hands moved to his thighs and caressed it till she got to his dick then she grabbed it. "Stop it." He breathed out finally looking away from the window like she wanted but then he didn''t look at her, he fixed his eyes on the road. "Stop it. I really Don''t want to speak to you." He was lying and she knew it. But the question remained, Would she be able to get him to give in to his feelings? 84 84. Here She scoffed, he didn''t want to talk to her indeed. He claims he doesn''t want to talk to her and his hands were on hers and instead of pushing it away from his dick like he should if he really didn''t want to talk to her, he held it in place. He could fight his conscious mind but that''s how far he could go, his subconscious knew what he wanted and that he couldn''t fight. She could even hear his racing heart or maybe it was hers. "Then why are you trembling, I haven''t even touched you yet and you are trembling. What would happen if I touch you or let you touch me?" She whispered. She tried so hard to concentrate on the road but she could feel her concentration sip away every second she was with him and so close. He intoxicated her. He tried to look away again but she was not going to have it. "No no you don''t! Imagine the things I could do to you before I leave. Let''s not fight please" He looked at the steering wheel and then at her. "You''re playing with fire." He said in a hush whisper. "And I''m not going to be your toy. You can''t just pick me when you''re horny and throw me away when you''re not." "Is that what you think all this is about." She laughed. "I do want to be with you but my friend Gloria is missing. I am the fire between." "Gloria is missing?" He asked ignoring her last statement. "Yes and that''s why I must go. You are not a toy to me Joshua, I do care about you. But I need to go find my friend because she would do the same for me." She confessed. She put the car to a halt staring into the road. "I do care about you." She repeated. "But you will be late for school so let''s allow this issue die, just know that I''ll come back to you." "So you will come back after you find her?" "Yes but please don''t tell anyone about what I just told you." "I promise. Promise me you will come back." He pleaded now finally looking into her eyes. The car became tensed again. She didn''t know if to say the truth or just lie to please him. In the end she decided to say the truth. "I can''t promise you that Josh." "Why then are you doing this to me." He asked. "Why do you care about me? What am I to you? I just don''t get all this I''m losing my mind with all this. Please. Tell me you will come back to me cause I need you to. Please." He didn''t even know exactly what he was pleading for but as he sat down across her in that car he knew that he cared more about her than he let himself believe. She might just be away for a few days yet he found that his heart couldn''t take it. He feared that she might not return. In fact if he wasn''t a genius then his grades would be dropping because she was all he could think about after she came to live with them two months ago. She had become his life. "I want you that''s it that''s all there it is to this. And I care about you. Maybe my desires are wrong." She exhaled. "Yes they are but for the first time I don''t care to be in the wrong but if this is really affecting you, my little game of seduction, then I promise that it won''t repeat itself again." She said and started the car. He looked away from her not responding to what she just said even when a thousand things were floating in his mind he couldn''t find the words to use to explain what he felt, neither did he understand what they were. Jennie started to feel remorseful for all her moves on Josh and she really wanted to just end the torture of being in the same car with him. Whenever she was so close to him she couldn''t think properly, he occupied her mind solely making it His. She increased her speed eager to drop him off and end her torture. They were two streets away from his school now and in front of a huge hotel when Josh whirled his head to her again. He held her hands on the steering wheel bringing her to an immediately halt. The car screeched against the road and she almost hit her head in the steering wheel but he stopped that from happening by wrapping his hands around her. Luckily for her she didn''t bump into any car and no car bumped into he 85 85. Fear When her breathing steadied she started to struggle against his arm but even if he was lean with few muscles he was far much stronger than her. He was always so strong. He used his left hand to stop the car then he put the key in his pocket while she still struggled against him her head buried in the crook of his neck. He finally let her go after he had succeeded in his plan and she moved away from him resting her head on the window. She rushed air into her lungs continuously taking deep breathes. She could feel his eyes on her and when his intense stare became unbearable her eyes flew open. "What the hell did you just do!" She yelled gritting her teeth. "I want to be with you before you go so I stopped the car. Why can''t I? Please let me." He pleaded, he started playing with his fingers and he looked away from her to the road. She could see the tears that pricked his eyes and her heart softened. He looked so sad. "I''m sorry I was not thinking straight you can take me to school If you want to. I just_ I just need to be with you before you leave." "I want to spend time with you too." She whispered. A smile crept up her face and she held his hands in hers urging him to look at her. When he did the happiness in his eyes made her heart want to jump out from her chest. His green eyes were so bright she almost got lost in it. Unlike her blue eyes his were no ordinary eyes. His blonde hair was packed and his smile accentuated his high cheekbones. "Then you won''t mind if I do this." He laughed. He opened the passenger door and jumped out, and without sparing her a glance he ran to the hotel. She ran after him feeling so happy and lighthearted. The security men watched them with a smile on their face. They looked so harmless they didn''t mind letting them go in. After all they couldn''t enter into the hotel with any weapons courtesy of the highly improved technological door. She wanted to ask where he was going but it was a stupid question seeing that they just ran into a massive hotel. She wondered what the security men thought about them. Lucky enough for her they would think that they were love struck couples. Hopefully they didn''t ask for ID even though she doubted the possibility of that seeing that the hotel was so huge. She was worried what if they suspected that Josh was an underage. She quickly let her worry slide when she remembered that Josh did not look like an underage in the least he looked over 20. His eyes were so sharp and even though he was Lean and had this innocent look when he fell his hair when he packed it like he did today he looked rugged. She used to call him a chameleon for his ability to switch looks whenever he styled his had differently. That must be why he never cut it, his hair reached his shoulders and he still insisted that he wasn''t going to cut it no matter how many times his parents scolded him about it. He said his hair was his mask and now Indeed she was beginning to agree with him. Casting her worries entirely she ran into the hotel feeling so overjoyed like a 6 year old baby. That''s what Josh did to her he made her feel young. 86 86. Forbidden "I need a room." Josh was saying to the receptionist when she got in smiling sheepishly like a drunkard. He quickly pulled out money from his pocket and dropped it on the desk. The receptionist looked at him and then at Jennie who was standing close to the entrance. Then she gave him his key, a card which he was to use to open the door. Jennie sighed relieved that they didn''t ask for his ID. The receptionist didn''t even seem like she suspected that he was underage. "Martin. Show him to room 36." She said to the man standing by her side. Josh stopped him with a hand gesture. "I''ll find the room. Then you." With that he entered the elevator and Jennie followed him in jumping from one foot to the other. Luckily the reception was empty sparing her the embarrassment of having someone witness her childishness. Immediately Jennie entered the elevator Josh smashed her lips against hers, he crushed her lips into a passionate kiss and then as if he just went mad he pulled her up like she had weight at all. She kissed him back kissing him deeply and expertly, he was grinding his arousal against her like a teen and she fought the urge to laugh. Instead of laughing she started moaning. She wanted more and more. She never imagined that grinding could feel so good. She was getting so wet and her clit yearned for a touch from the cock that was Joshua''s. As much as she loved the grinding she wanted it raw also. She was about to pull his belt when the elevator opened on the third floor, two men joined them their eyes flashing suspicion. They quickly moved away from each other not only because it was an outrageous thing to do but because Josh was still a minor. They couldn''t be cut in the act, It was too much of a risk. She couldn''t even imagine going to prison instead of going to ocean city to look for her friend. Josh tried to steady his breathe breathing quietly through his nose. He looked at his hands shyly, he noticed that he was still erect. He used his hands to cover his cock too shy to look at Jennie. This was his first time doing anything yet he was not failing totally. It was like Jennie released a primal hunger in him the kind that never quenched. He wanted to look at her to see if she was just as flushed as he was but he was too shy to besides he knew she wasn''t a novice like he was. He started to feel insecure wondering if he was doing right by her or if she was faking his moan like the women who faked orgasm just so they don''t step on their man''s ego. When he finally gathered courage to look at Jennie, she was looking up and was breathing so raggedly. He wished there was a way to know what she was thinking but he couldn''t. He just had to hope that he was doing right by her. If only he knew how Jennie was stoking herself from rushing him right then and there. She was almost reaching a climax when the Damn men interrupted them. She wanted to strangle them but though against it. It was like the universe was trying to make her land in prison in an attempt to keep her away from ocean city but she was not going to let the universe mess with her not when her closest friend ever was involved. She was going to show the universe that she can control herself. If only that was also true when it came to Joshua. She sighed 87 87. He gives in. Finally they got to the seventh floor and josh pressed a button letting them out and away from the tension of the elevator. The first door they saw had room 36 written on it. It was like the universe knew that they couldn''t hold their need for each other any longer and they might just start kissing each other before getting to the room, should the room be farther than their desires can manage. "How to you know this place." Jennie asked him surprised that he knew the room was on the 7th floor. The hotel was so big she couldn''t believe it there was no way she would have known the floor the room was had it been only her "Have you forgotten that I am a genius." He answered with a mischievous smile. She rolled her eyes at his answer not without smiling though. He chuckled at the annoyed expression on her face covered in laughter. Then he opened the door with the key and she hastily went in with him. Immediately they got into the room he shoved her to the wall kicking the door close. Then they started kissing again this time without inhibitions. His tongue dominated hers, his need to taste her intoxicating. She was like drug to him even more potent. He couldn''t get enough of her. She asked pulled back to take in air after some minutes of intoxicating kisses from Joshua. She was panting so hard. He was such a good kisser, so good she wished that she didn''t need to breathe do they could continue to kiss all day long. Her head was against the wall and josh was greedily taking of her clothes. His desire for her was more than his need to breathe."What are we really doing here Josh and how do you really know this room?" She asked moaning as his hands grazed her skin. They were so warm, so warm against her cold frame. "Maybe I''ve brought other ladies here." He laughed. Jennie didn''t find it at all funny in fact She pushed him off her and started to adjust her clothes. He laughed out again stopping her from dragging her shirt up her shoulder. His one hand held both of hers in place on her chest and the other lifted her chin up to meet his. When her eyes met his they didn''t show her anger in fact they showed the intensity of her need. They both looked at each other with so much passion the room would have felt suffocating for any another person. "I don''t find it funny." She finally whispered breaking away from the spell that bound their eyes together in longing. He smiled slightly then he chuckled, he never could have believed that he would one day make Jennie Jealous but as he looked at her now he could see not just jealousy in her eyes but passion and it tugged against his heart like a puppet master tugs his puppets. He moved close to her pressing himself against her so she had no words to utter but silent moans. Then he titled her head up and kissed her on her lips. His lips touched hers in a feathery kiss and that was it, he pulled back. "You are the only one Jennie. The only one. I want you alone." he whispered soberly. Then he crashed his lips on hers. "No one would ever have me except you. I belong to you Jennie." He moaned into her lips. His confession left her boneless. Her legs could no longer carry her weight, her core wanted his arousal in her. She was so wet for him, so eager to have him she started to feel tingles all over her body especially in her stomach. She closed her eyes savouring the feeling of his lips on hers, the feeling of desire overwhelmed her. She couldn''t believe that he would finally be here after so long. Soon they started to kiss more passionately, she was now so awestruck and so smitten she wanted him as much as he needed her. Their lips moved in symphony, his lips met hers at every turn and hers met his at every turn. They were both working at the same pace like they had one soul or one demon possessed them both. His hands were everywhere on hers and hers were everywhere on him. They wanted to have the whole of each other, to be in and on each other. To be joined as one in body and would. Their bodies yearned so bad for one another their hands could not keep up with any pace again till their naked body joined together and his cock jammed in her core in one glorious movement. Moans and groans filled the room. 88 88. Lora Lora was a very beautiful girl as beautiful you can imagine, a true African beauty. Her skin shone like gold and she didn''t need lip balms to make her lips sexy, she already possessed the most sensual and the most beautiful lips, red and lovely. Her eyes were brown like most Africans but not boring, you see her eyes had a fire in them that made it exciting to look at a fire that could consume your soul if you stare too long. She was tall and slender people often mistook her for a British, her accent was just amazing and her voice music to the ears. But Lora has In fact never been outside Ocean city all her life and has never been to British but like her friend Gloria she knew how to adapt, she was a very fast learner. She was born with all the beauty and all the sexual power you can imagine and the universe was in love with her right from creation. But, Lora right from birth has been impatient. When she was little she would cry when her request wasn''t met immediately or her toy jokingly taken from her. Lora never tolerated it when anything was taken from her, be it a person or a thing. She was the one to take always and not the other way round. She never wanted to wait, she wanted everything done with immediacy. And as she grew up she became more impatient and coupled with that she became very ambitious, overly ambitious. You may say ambition is a necessity for success but not when it was toxic like that of Lora''s. Her impatience coupled with her being overly ambitious was going to be Dangerous. For as you know or maybe you don''t, impatience and ambition Do not go hand in hand or there would be chaos. If you are ambitious and impatient it was predictable that you must find a short cut to success and one thing about short cuts is that they are very dangerous, for you do not know what is lurking in the corner because a short cut is hidden from Everyone. And what is hidden is usually painful to the eyes. Lora had it all. She was beautiful, smart, and very intelligent as a matter of fact she had graduated with a first class in law from the prestigious university of OC. The universe gave her all but to her no one had it all and so she didn''t, she wanted more, she wanted everything. Lora was from a poor family, an average humble family, her parents found it difficult to feed both her and her Siblings while she was growing up but they still were the best of parents she could have had as they gave her every love and advice needed from African parent''s. Lora loved them as much as she loved her self but she loved her dreams more than she did anything. It was because of these great ambitions that she lost almost all her college friends. Coupled with her being overly ambitious she was selfish and greedy. No one wanted to associate with her except Gloria. Gloria saw through her to see what good remained in her soul and she owed Gloria her life. Sometimes when she wanted to do something questionable she would remember Gloria and refrain. Their college life was beautiful but when they both graduated they had to separate. It was just as hard for Lora as it was for Gloria but it was Lora''s choice to leave. She wanted more than Ocean city could give her and for that she had to leave to the Us. However when she got there things were not as she thought them to be, as she promised Gloria they would be. She ended up working as a secretary for a law firm but lied to Gloria that she was already working as an associate. She couldn''t afford to be seen as a failure by her only friend neither could she afford to be a secretary like she was. She got to support her family from her salary as a secretary in one of the biggest law firms in the country. But as you well know private organizations do not give the best of salaries. 89 89. Ambitious For someone as ambitious as Lora the salary was just peanuts and she was in fact allergic to nuts. She wanted to have her own Mercedes and driver. She wanted her own condo and a wardrobe filled up with shoes and bags of different designs. She was just so unsatisfied with her salary, furious In fact, she was convinced that she deserved more, she wanted more although what she had was considered more than enough to a less ambitious people. Her boss did justice to her in regards to her salary. L because he admired the good job she did. But Lora wasn''t a less ambitious person. With the realization that she could get more Lora thought of a plan to get exactly that, more. She wanted more than Gloria had, she wanted to be better than Gloria was. Gloria knew this, it was no secret that Lora saw her as a competition but she didn''t find it offensive, she in fact didn''t mind. It was not her business who Lora chose to compete with be it her or any other person. If it motivated her to be a better version of herself then she didn''t mind. Gloria knew Lora more than anyone did, she knew that although Lora wasn''t all that good she still had some good in her and sometimes she liked to create illusions to make her feel less evil than she was. Illusions that made her feel like a better person. Gloria did not support her having these illusions and tried to talk her out of them but there was only so much influence she had on Lora. Lora would convince herself that she was going through with the not so good plans she thought about just for her family, to make them live the life they deserved and to take her family off from poverty to the beauty of wealth. But deep in her heart where her mind doesn''t interfere or cloud it''s judgment, she knew that she was in fact doing everything for herself. Lora loved to play games, she loved the danger and the adrenaline rush she got from doing something immoral. You know what that''s what people say when they want to do something unworthy but don''t want it to look unworthy "I am not doing it for myself but for my family". Plain Bullshit. Do you know that their are some very few people blessed with the capabilities of being sinners. Some people who do not have to work hard to be devious for they already possess the qualities of deviousness in them, they already had it in them and a perfect example was lora. She was a fine tempter and a dangerous seducer, she was all the devil needed in a demon but she was human fortunately. She knew the power she held, she was as sure of herself as we are sure that the sun will set in the morning. When lora looked in the mirror she saw the most beautiful girl ever and she may not be far from the truth. She would say, "Mirror, Mirror who is the fairest of them all." And she would answer herself, "Lora. I am the fairest of them all, fairer than Gloria. It doesn''t matter of most of the guys like her more, I am fairer." She was beautiful and knowing this she knew just what she could do with her sexual talent, alluring beauty and sweet confidence. She was going to take over the law firm where she worked. After all, Lora was never one to receive orders but one to give them. To achieve this devious plan she had to eliminate all possible threats and her number one threat was her Boss the CEO. The problem became the how, how was she going to eliminate her boss. As you well know the problem isn''t always in coming up with a plan, the problem most times became, how will the plan be carried out. This is what I like to call methods of achievement. Lora was everything but she was not a killer, at least not yet so she couldn''t possibly kill her boss and besides Lora hated complications. She was well aware that complications obstructed the steady flow of the game. So killing was a no no. She dared not do anything to obstruct the flow of the game, whatever her plan was going to be she was to make sure that it was going to flow with the game. Because the game must go on 90 90. Plans Lora knew she had a weapon, a weapon which was more powerful then the nuclear weapon newly created by north Korea. The weapon, her body. The body of a woman is a weapon, and Lora''s was the most destructive of them all as she loved to believe. Like they say use what you have to get what you want. With this in mind Lora knew what her plan was going to be; she was going to seduce her boss into an illicit affair. Her body was the only weapon she knew how to use well without falter so why not use it. She unlike most girls who indulge in this game of seduction didn''t want to seduce her boss so she could get married to him, God forbid that!. Marriage wasn''t part of her plan now or anytime soon, although it is expected from her as an African Lady who has come of age. But she didn''t think of herself only as an African woman but also as a modern woman and modern women believe mostly in independence. Marriage was going to try to tame her but before if she was ever going to let herself be tamed then she must be allowed to go wild. Her plan wasn''t also to get her boss to give her some peanuts as incentive for sex for anything order than entirety was not worth a shot. And no, she was not a prostitute only prostitutes could make do with peanuts, she was a queen. The Queen of hearts. Lora wanted whole or nothing. To her the popular proverb half bread is better than none is just a plain bullshit saying. A proverb made by a lazy man for lazy people. You see to Lora it was either she got the whole loaf of bread or nothing at all. Her plan was to take all from her boss and watch him leave the company or stay as her employee. Whichever one he chooses will be good as long as he doesn''t disturb her game. Ambitious she was but you should already know that. Even before lora had thought of the plan to seduce her boss, she was already looting money from the company little by little without the knowledge of anybody except her partner in crime Harry. That was their first plan, to loot enough money from the company and then leave. But lora wanted everything. She however did not inform Harry of the new plan she had because she knew he would never agree as he was very protective of her and could be very jealous. He didn''t want her having contact with any man that wasn''t him. Sometimes she felt like he really does mean it when he says he loves her but she prefers to think it is a lie cause she doesn''t feel the same way at least not In the way he did. She only wanted the occasional sex from him and the support he gave to her plans. If men can use women for sex who''s to say women can''t do same. Well you may be wondering how a mere secretary managed to pull such strings in the company. The reason was however not far fetched. Lora has always been at the top of the food chain wherever she went because of her beauty. So it wasn''t surprising when she did in fact take this same position in the company. Most men who had blood in them wanted her as far as I knew and I am recounting this events based on my knowledge. Lora gave them pleasure but that pleasure was only a tease and there is just something potent about frustrated desires that gives women the power over men. A power Lora was not going to let go to waste ever. They wanted her but they couldn''t have her. This was not because they were rejected, no, Lora had a way of playing her games. She did not reject any one of them. They were not rejected but that''s not to say that they were accepted, you see lora was never straightforward she didn''t say anything expressly nor did her actions imply anything. She was unpredictable no man could say for certain what was going on in her mind. To her life was a game and although no one is a winner of this great game, she was going to be an exceptional player. A player that would be remembered even after the game should end. Today was the day Lora planned to finally take her plans to the next level, action. 91 91. Join in On a Monday morning when the sun was the brightest but rain still drizzled signifying the occurrence of something extraordinarily like Lora. She walked into her boss''s office as usual nothing changed in her countenance nor her steps or her words nor actions. If I didn''t tell you her plans you wouldn''t even know. That''s how good she was. When she came in she saw that her boss was quite agitated, she smiled because this meant that her first plan proved successful. He was on the phone backing orders and receiving them. He looked very angry and Lora was pleased. She knew what was wrong, but she remained calm, neutral, she was a good pretender. In any game she played when she had to pretend she like to believe that she was another person. Only her partner knew who she was behind the mask, just a little anyway. Her boss dropped the phone after speaking for over thirty minutes ignoring Lora''s presence. Immediately he dropped the phone Lora began to speak "Hello sir I''m with the document you asked For. Should I file the motion now or wait till letter." lora said quite confidently. It is unusual for an employee to be that confident in the presence of her boss especially when he was In a bad mood. Believe me it is very unusual, but if you hadn''t noticed it before lora is quite unusual. "Drop it there and leave!" Yelled her very agitated boss in a very angry manner that should have sent any employee running on their tail but not Lora. Lora simply smiled, she was not going to back down now. She sat down on one of his seats without being offered one, she crossed her legs and looked at her boss with an amused expression on her face. Bad etiquette I know but she was a bad girl. "I said leave! Did I ask you to sit?" came the yelling voice of her boss, a voice that would have intimidated anybody he was quite a very intimidating man but who''s to say Lora gets intimidated. He gaped at astonished by her audacity, his mouth was slightly parted. "Sir I can get you back the case." Lora interjected quite confidently, she didn''t move a smile plastered on her face like makeup. She pointed to the document on the table in which she knew the case was, the case worth millions of dollars the case her boss was so close to losing on her account. He looked at her in awe his expression said exactly what he was thinking "How can this newbie get him back the case which him who was a master of the game lost." What he didn''t know was that she was the one that made him loose the case to begin with. It was all part of the plan. The confidence that was shown on her face impressed her boss so much that he became calm and smiled back. "Fine I''ll give you a try but you must report to me this week. " he said. His hands on his desk looking at Lora with admiration. He has always wanted her but he didn''t know how to go about it. "Of course Sir, I''ll" Lora replied still with her signature smile. She stood up immediately and left the office. Immediately she left the office she got a call from her partner lover. He was everything to her and more and she did love him in her own sick way. The way that allowed him to use him. "Harry." She mumbled smiling as she picked the call sitting. She closed the door of her office to avoid eavesdropping. She crossed her legs, picked up a pen and played with it while she awaited his good news. "Hello." He replied not sounding like he usually did, excited. There was a strain in his voice that told Lora something was wrong. She immediately dropped the pen she was holding and stood up. "Lora there is a problem." He said sighing loudly. "I can already tell Harry, speak to me what is it. Is my mum OK, tell me, your are making me worried with your silence." She urged him. Her voice was shaking and her hands sweaty. She was so very afraid of getting a bad news. Bad news always obstructs the game and she was just getting started. She just couldn''t afford to have any obstruction now. "Does this have anything to do with our plans?" She asked agitated. She took a strand of her hair and curled it on her fingers in an attempt to calm her raging heart. "Talk to me Harry, you know I hate the silent treatment." "Sit down Lora." She sighed knowing that he had her now. She couldn''t possibly argue with him when he was holding all the cards. She perched on her desk her eyes focused on the door for any movement. "I''m seated tell me." Harry sucked in breathe and sighed out. "Gloria has been missing for three months. I''ve booked your flight to ocean city. You leave by evening. Also I''ve contacted Jennie and she''s coming over too. Dante is back to town." "Thank you." Lora muttered. That was the only thing she sank into her chair. If anything should happen to Gloria who would she compete with. That was her first thought. She felt guilty that a stranger was the one to inform her of her friends kidnap. Gloria was always the one who did the communication and for three months she had been so engrossed in being better than this friend that she forgot about her. 92 92. Back "Dante!" Jennie screamed immediately she saw him. She saw him through the taxi mirror and got out immediately not minding that she was on the road. Dante was standing in front of his small bungalow waiting for her to arrive. Pushing the door open she ran into his arms and he embraced her gently, like a father would his daughter, or a long lost lover "You came. How are you? You look so beautiful now." Dante complimented with a strained smile. He was shivering a little from the cold. His bones were growing old. "Never as beautiful as Gloria though. Gloria is an absolute Queen!" She blurted out. Realizing what she just said she pressed her lips together. "But, yeah, I look nice too. Always was your beautiful girl." She laughed awkwardly pulling on the strands of her hair. She plastered her face with a strained smile of hers too. "Of course. Always was my pretty girl always would be." He smiled and pulled her to him. Jennie kissed his chin as they embraced again. "OMG!" She exclaimed suddenly, then she started running towards the taxi again. She remembered that she didn''t pay the taxi driver. She also stupidly left her box in the taxi. Dante for the first time that evening laughed heartily. "You''re still so forgetful Jennie." He called to her, giggling all the more at her childishness. She didn''t change one bit. "Thank you sir." Jennie said to the taxi driver as she paid him and even added a little more tip than she planned to give him because he was so nice. He helped her bring out her box and took it in. Dante shook hands with him when he came out, they did their weird manly greeting while Jennie watched amused. He later waved Jennie goodbye and drove off. While she walked back to Dante. "I''ve stopped being forgetful I promise." She pouted. "Mhm mhm" "Common." Jennie drawled. They both laughed at this. "Lora is on her way." Jennie chipped in. "Mhm mhm." They both walked into his home side by side like they used to all those years ago. He opened the door for Jennie and as she walked in a feeling of nostalgia hit her. She remembered all the times she used to come here to see Gloria during girls night in college. And all the times she came just because she wanted to. And all the lies that was told here and games that were played here. A sudden grief enveloped her and her heart constricted. She cleared her throat to break the sudden awkward silence that came with all the memories. But it was time to address the reason why she was here. There was no need running away from it, it would definitely have to be spoken about. "I remember when last she was here like it was just yesterday." Dante said deep in thoughts. "Anyway what do you want. Juice or wine." Jennie exhaled as she sat down on the sofa closest to the door. She wanted to be able to leave immediately should Lora annoy her and Lora was definitely going to. "I normally would have said juice but wine. I will have wine." "So will I." Dante poured a glass of wine for the both of them then sat down besides her on the couch. "I have missed you Jennifer." He said softly. He took in a very deep breath before he spoke again. "I really have." Jennie swallowed. She knew that it wasn''t the best time to be talking about this but she couldn''t help it. " I''ve missed you too. So much. So so much." She confessed. 93 93. Knock He moved closer to her so they were just a few inches apart. Then he put his hands on the top of her thighs and squeezed it lightly. She choked. It reminded her of a lot. His scent was the first thing she took notice off. It had always been the first thing that attracted her to him. It was a magnetic pull and she couldn''t resist it even after all these years. He moved his hands gently from her thighs to her chin. Then he pulled her hair backwards so her round face was in view for him. He wanted them like this, they reminded him of Monica. It was so unfortunate that out of the thousands if girls in ocean city it was only Jennie that could fill a little of the void that the death of Monica caused him. Sadly not only was he so much older than she was she was his daughters girlfriend. It felt like the gods were out to get him. Like they were really out to make sure that he never knows love but he was used to it. It hurt less with the years as they go by but it hurt still. Jennie shivered with his touch. Their eyes met and she became spell bound. While her eyes rested on his lips, his trailed her face, from her eyes to her lips to the little cleavage showing under her clothing. He was taking in every bit of her and committing it to memory like he always did before. She realized that unconsciously she had dressed like he would want her to dress, like Monica. She didn''t even know why she did it. It was over between them,whatever they had was over a long time ago. And now she was with gosh. She was sure she loved Josh or did she not?she began to wonder if what she felt for Josh was love or lust and infatuation. She knew that both men occupied her heart but she didn''t know for sure who her heart belonged to or to what extent each one occupied it. "I remember everything." He groaned moving closer. "Not a day passes that I do not think about you Jennie not a single day." He was so close to her now she could feel his minty breath on the tip of her nose. She choked on her spit. "You ended it all remember. I didn''t want to leave you made me leave_" She said shakily. It was her last attempt in trying to control her desire for him. It failed. "Now you''re back. You are. We would find Gloria, we would! but first I have to do this." He raised her chin up and pressed his lips on hers. She moaned into his mouth succumbing more and more into their kiss. Their tongues now fought for dominance as he pulled her hair back and devoured her lips. Suddenly there was a knock on the door. "Lora." Jennie''s heart skipped a thousand beats she had totally forgotten about her. 94 95. I have a clue Jennie immediately adjusted her clothes and sat upright while Dante licked his lips. Their eyes didn''t part ways still. They were both transfixed with each other at that point even with the knock on the door. Their lips wanted to touch again and they could not control the desire. They shared another quick kiss before Dante ran to open the door. Lora was waiting patiently with her bad slung on her back. Although Dante was still breathing heavily he maintained a calm demeanor which would have deceived anyone but not Lora. Lora knew a lot of things. Lora stepped in immediately Dante opened the door. She had this foul expression on her face which quickly changed to a smirk when she saw Jennie sitting down uncomfortably on the coach. At first she was angry at Dante for keeping her outside but now, seeing Jennie she understood why. Nothing is hardly kept a secret from Lora. She shared glances with Dante then she looked at Jennie with a suspicious expression on her face. A suspicious expression mixed with an almost amused face. "You guys seemed to be bonding quite well before I knocked. I hope i did not interrupt your "tete a tete"?" Lora asked with a mischievous smile. "You know I could go back if you want." Jennie immediately became pissed and uncomfortable. She shifted on the coach before standing up to face Lora. "Wow isn''t the worlds biggest bitch here. How is your fake life going. How many do you have again? I mean you are living so many life''s one wouldn''t know which to pin point. Please do us the decency of keeping your judgemental ass to yourself Lora!" Find authorized novels in Webnovel£¬faster updates, better experience£¬Please click www.novelhall.com for visiting. "Oh at least I do not betray my friends in the worst possible of ways. You speak as if you''re better than I am. Besides who said I was judging you? It''s sad that you cannot tell when you''re the one judging yourself. I really do feel sorry for you Jennie." Jennie tried to speak again but Lora shushed her. "But hey let''s not get all girly and feisty now. We are here for Gloria. So lets stick to that." "Well I''m glad you guys have reconciled your differences. So can we get to why we are here." Dante added. He glared first at a pissed Jennie who was folding her hands angrily, then at an amused Lora. "So girls what do you say we get to it?" "Sure." Lora said whilst she walked to the bar and poured herself a glass of wine. "Bitch!" Jennie mumbled under her breath. "I heard that, common if you''ve anything to say to me say it to my face don''t mutter under your breath like some coward. Oh I forgot you are___" "Lora that''s enough! And you too Jennie. That''s enough!" Dante snarled. You both are no longer kids hence this petty fight is unnecessary. Why do you guys do this?! You know what don''t answer. Gloria your friend and my daughter has been missing for months and we don''t even know if she''s alive or dead. We don''t even know where to start looking for her and you guys do this? I''m highly disappointed." After his outburst the room fell quiet. Jennie and Lora realized how petty they were being and kept shut. They all want to the bar and they shared a glass of wine to calm their raging emotions. "I have a bad feeling about all this. I''m really scared" Jennie blurted out. "I can''t even think. I haven''t let myself think. The more i try to the more__" "She''s fine. She''s going to be fine and we will find her I promise. Gloria is a fighter."Dante said. He was trying his best to reassure Jennie even though in all honesty he was even more afraid than she was. But he had to be the man. Even if his palms were already sweaty as the realization that his daughter was missing and could probably be dead hit him again. Gloria was his only joy. He could not afford to lose her. He could not. Dante looked more distraught and tired as he remember something of great importance. Something that could lead him to his daughter. He had to show it to Jennie or Lora. Maybe one of them will no a better way that Gloria''s boss. "I just remembered. I need to show you both something. Something really important." He said as he stood up. "Can this something help us find Gloria?" Lora questioned. "It can show us where to look and how to go about the search. It can make us draw a reasonable inference on who could have kidnapped her." Dante answered. Without much ado Dante walked into his room in search of this clue. This very important clue. 95 96. Tattoos "I like this tattoo." Monica''s head was resting on his shoulders. She ran her hands through his chest caressing it and drawing circles on each tattoo. Her favourite now was the tattoo of a lion shaped sun. She loved the way it stood out amongst others. It was close to his rib, if she moved her heart a little she could feel his heart was meant to be. He looked down at her and smiled. "You love all my tattoos." He cuddled her, holding her tight. Her body radiated warmth to his cold skin, he found that he loved to be near her, she made him remember what it was like before. "That is true but I find that I have a better liking to this one." She agreed smiling back at him. She lifted herself up so her eyes could meet his. "And I love your eyes." She said smiling. He chuckled. He cupped her neck pulling her down to his lips, "and I love your lips." He smiled, his eyes locked with hers and he looked down at her lips then back to her eyes and then her lips. Monica kissed him softly unable to bear the tension of waiting for him to, she could taste the metallic taste of blood still on his lips. He pulled her to himself moaning as the kiss became deeper. Monica winced a little when his hands cupped her ass from underneath the bed sheet. She tried to cover it up with a kiss but he quickly pulled her away. "Are you hurt?" He asked looking into her eyes, concern on his face. Monica tried to kiss him but then he held her back holding her shoulders firmly. "Look at me, stop trying to do what I know you are trying to do." She smirked giving up. She rested her head on his chest pretending to hear his heart beat when it was hers that was beating loud against his chest. Never did she think in her widest imaginations that one could orgasm so many times as she did. But then with pleasure came pain and she didn''t know how to tell him that. She was indeed sore more because it was her first time. She felt like she was working on egg shells. She had no life before and now that she had one she didn''t want to lose it because she couldn''t endure a little pain. She didn''t want him to feel bad or think that he had hurt her and she wasn''t able to take the pain. She was human after all in a kingdom of vampires. If humans thought her weak how much more vampires. She feared that if she told her that she was really hurt then he would think that she wasn''t worthy of being his Queen because she couldn''t handle pain. Maybe Clara was right, of course she was she thought bitterly, she was weak and useless and not fit to be Queen. The prophecy must have been wrong. But now that she was with Lucius she wished that for best she could at least be his mistress. "You are not saying anything Monica, tell me what you think because I can''t read your mind." "You can''t or you don''t want to?" Monica asked looking up at him. She sucked in air watching him watch her so intently was just so breathtaking and so sexy she wanted to kiss him. "I don''t want to." He replied. He pulled away a strand of hair from her face and tugged it behind her ears. "So please tell me, Monica." When he called her name like that her eyes watered in tears. It felt so good to hear him call her like that, no one has ever called her like that, with so much love and so much desire. She wanted to tear her eyes away from him for fear that he would see her weakness but he won''t let her. He gently held her chin so her eyes could be on his. She swallowed hard. "I''m fine." He didn''t believe her but he nodded. He remembered that for the few minutes that he laid down on her chest before they rolled over she had winced once or twice and he had to adjust himself. He was enjoying the feel of her. Her warmth. her rhythmic breathing. Her Bliss. But then her fragile body couldn''t take his weight and although she didn''t complain, he could feel it. Find authorized novels in Webnovel£¬faster updates, better experience£¬Please click www.novelhall.com for visiting. He traced his hands now on the dried blood on her neck, his hands would never get used to feeling the warmth against her skin. She now resting on his chest her hands continued to circle on his tattoos but she was so quiet. So lost in thought he was tempted to open up his mind link to her so he could know for sure what she was thinking. She was with him but he felt like she was still so far from him. He felt guilt pangs scrapping his soul he never intended to hurt her. He was supposed to protect her and not hurt her but it looks like he did the latter and now she won''t even tell him how she felt. He was wondering so much about what she was thinking it hurt so bad. He started to fear that maybe she didn''t want any part in his chaotic life, maybe she wanted to leave him. Maybe she hated him, maybe she only made love to him because she was scared of him. She probably thought he would hurt her. In fear he cuddled her tight cutting all supply of air to her lungs. Monica winced again but didn''t try to get away from his grips coupled with the fact that she was no match for him, she loved the cold of his skin a contrast to her warmth. 96 97. Tell When Lucius realized that his grip on her was too tight he let go of her, "I''m so sorry." He whispered. If he had a heart it would be bleeding. "I''m OK." Monica responded opening her eyes. She breathed through her parted lips and held his hands, intertwining her finger with his. She curled up against him so her body was on his. He loved it. She saw the guilt written on his face and tried to wash it away by smiling. But the truth was her whole body hurt both from pain and pleasure. And his grip was life threatening but now that she was holding his hands she felt better. Lucius nodded. He wanted to hold her so he gently pulled his fingers away from hers and then she felt a little playful and tried to fight him. He almost laughed when he felt her little finger fight to keep his hands in hers. He grinned and pushed the bed sheet away so he could roll on top her. But now she was no longer in the place she was before and it was stained with blood from where her neck was supposed to be and___ She was smiling loving that she finally got the out of the melancholic state they were in with just a little attempt until he looked up at her with horror or guilt she couldn''t quite tell what it was. She wondered what suddenly happened when her eyes trailed his to the blood stain on the bed then she looked up and met his eyes. "It was my first time but I''m fine. It doesn''t mean anything." She tried to smile but it faltered. Her heart was beating fast against her chest, she didn''t know what he was thinking and she couldn''t make out one emotion from his expression, that was what scared her the most. "I''m sorry I thought I told you although I didn''t explicitly I mean__" He sat on the bed his legs called up behind ass. "I feel like an idiot for not knowing. I, I, couldn''t even do one thing right by you today. First I kidnap you and then have you attacked and then this now I see why the gods kept you away from me I''m no good, I''ll understand if you want to leave you can." His voice broke. He looked away from her forcing her to sit up even though she wasn''t ready. She moved close to him on her knees, looking at him so lost her heart couldn''t take it. She cupped his face bringing it to meet hers so his eyes could no more escape hers. "I''m fine." She smiled. "You''ve done right by me today and I''m not going to ever leave you. Not now, not ever, I promise." She hugged him tight sobbing softly on his shoulders, his hands remained by his side for a while before he hugged her. "Please don''t leave me, I won''t be able to take it. I''ve searched for you for so long, I can''t afford to lose you now. I love you Monica. I don''t want to live anymore without you by my side." His hands were shaking against hers and she pulled closer to him, so close that they might as well be one body. "Please don''t ever leave." "I won''t." She sighed her breathe tickled his neck making him grin. "That tickles." "I know." She replied chuckling. Then she pulled away from his arms and kissed his nose. His hands were still wrapped against her waist though she was few inches away from him. Then she kissed his nose again. Find authorized novels in Webnovel£¬faster updates, better experience£¬Please click www.novelhall.com for visiting. "Stop that." He giggled. She smiled and placed her forehead against his so their breathing aligned. "I''m really so sorry. I don''t know what else to say" "There is nothing to be sorry for, pain and pleasure are like Yin and Yang." Lucius shook his head amused by her comparison. He pulled her nose and smiled. "Then Let me wash you, Please." He tried to carry her up bridal smile but she pulled him to her instead so their lips touched. "Lay with me, Lucius." She whispered against his lips. "But. I really need to get this stain out of your neck it''s tempting." "Then by all means fall but please lay with me. I feel the need to have you close some more on this bed where my passion was first extinguished." She insisted. They stared at each other both on their knees, bodies so close, eyes so locked. They remained like that for a while enchanted by each other. He held on to her waist and brought her close his hold on her was strong yet soft, like he was claiming her yet giving her the ability to chose if she wanted to be claimed or not. Like he was taming her yet giving her a choice of freedom. He kissed her deeply and softly making sure not to bite but making sure that when his lips left hers she would still be able to taste it on hers. He didn''t want to taste her blood or he would loose his mind. He couldn''t believe that he was bound to her now, If there was ever pleasure in immortality he only felt it now. She pulled away from the kiss smiling she laid down and patted the side of the bed close to her so he could lay too. Lucius gave a ghost of a smile locking hers with her. She had on a mischievous smile, the kind that was claiming victory. She almost chuckled when she stretched his body beside her. She laid her head on his shoulders again, she started to wonder if she could ever be happy without him by her side. His body gave her peace, a joy that radiated from her soul something she hasn''t felt for a long time. When she looked up and met his eyes they were so beautiful she had to look away again laying back down on his chest. His eyes were like the cloud in the beautiful night or like the moon she so loved to look at in the cold night. His hair scattered on the pillow curly and smooth, he was mouth watering beautiful and he was hers for the night and if the gods should favor her tomorrow also. "Tell me about all this. Explain to me how it is you came to be." She sighed hugging him closer. She wanted to hear his story to know how all this came to be. If she wasn''t dreaming and this was all real she needed answers, answers that he alone could give her. 97 98. gods "My father spoke back to Zeus and to punish him he took me away from him and cast be here to only return after my death. For years all I wished for was to die but he hid the dagger of the sun far away to only be found by a great warlock. But for centuries there was no one warlock who dared to find it. No one warlock who dared to wield it. Until a year ago." "So you are a god. Is there no way you can see your family other than this, your death." She asked thoughtfully. She raised up her head so she could meet his eyes. He was again lost in thought and sad. She managed a strain smile her lips curving upwards. "There is no other way. Zeus knew what he was doing that''s why he has brought you to me after all these years to stop me from giving up myself when she comes. He wanted to give me a reason to stay on this earth. He wanted to strike a hard bargain, earth and Neptune, love and family. And now I have my people I cannot just leave them and you." "Family always comes first Lucius." Monica said. Her lips were getting too dry and she licked them resting back on his chest. "Family should always come first. I don''t think any one else will love us more." "You are family to me now." He smiled, pulling her up by the waist so her eyes could meet his. "You are my family now and I love you." "But you also want to meet them don''t you. Your real family. What if you find a way to have all three, your family, your people and your love or at least two?" "I don''t think mother earth would be that merciful and kind to me but if there be a way, I would take it with the finest smile ever. I do want to see them, my family, my people, my home." "You should. If I had a chance to I''ll." She sighed. She closed her eyes as he kissed her forehead bringing her close to him. " I did know that you were a god, or least I suspected. I''ve seen a lot of pretty humans yours was not human." He snivelled and shook his head like she said something inappropriate. "So I''m pretty, never have I been told such." He smiled. She smiled back at him her head resting on her arms as she looked up at him using her left hand to caress the stubbles on his face. She loved how they gave him a kind of rugged look. "Actually you know, there is no word in the dictionary that can do justice to your beauty, My love. And I will know since I''m a writer and we do have a vast knowledge of words." "Neither does any do justice to yours. My love, my soul." He pulled her cheeks forcing her to smile. Find authorized novels in Webnovel£¬faster updates, better experience£¬Please click www.novelhall.com for visiting. "My heart." She added smiling naughtily. He chuckled, then smirked knowing exactly what was going on in her mind without even reading it. He was amused and as was she so they looked at each other with a broad smile on their face loving the thought that they could understand one another without having to speak.