I hesitated. Of course Kieran was right. Amber would want me to finish what we'd started. Besides, if the ritual worked I'd never have to worry again about not being able to protect her during daylight.
"You both stay here and I'l teleport her home," Clare said. She was the least reckless of us al , faster than Kieran, but also weaker. Was she a better choice than my brother? Clare placed a hand on my shoulder. "I don't need what we came for. Your mates are stil alive, mine isn't."
Kieran planted a kiss on her cheek, but his gaze betrayed hesitation. I had no doubt my brother would return to the mansion if I asked him to. It wouldn't be fair to rob him of this chance. Kieran had fought to find this book just as hard. He'd earned his right to reap the reward. "Al right, Clare.
We'l be as fast as we can." I pushed a strand of hair out of Amber's face before Clare scooped her out of my arms and disappeared into the night.
"That was touching," Cass said. "Better than any soap opera. I wish someone brought popcorn." Her eyes blinked brightly. She spun, oblivious to the Shadows' glares. "So, Dee Dee, where's the real party at?"
Deidre motioned us to fol ow her to the cemetery. We passed the tal bronze statues until we reached a smal , open chapel in the far left corner.
Inside, a circle of white candles cast moving shadows against the hip-high, white fence.
Cass nodded, seemingly impressed. "Quite cosy. I'd get some of this for my backyard, or a Hal oween party."
"The book," Devon said, snatching it out of Kieran's hand.
"Lay down over there." Deidre pointed to the middle of a circle, then started chanting, swaying back and forth as Shadows gathered around her.
Devon flicked the book open and held it in front of her, and she began reading in a melodious, childlike voice, the foreign words flowing from her tongue like she'd done nothing else for the past month.
I figured the sooner I got this over and done with, the faster I could return home to Amber. Fol owing Kieran's lead, I lay on the cold floor, shivering but not from the cold. Something was happening; I could smel the tension in the air. Kieran shot me a questioning look, then closed his eyes, waiting just like me. A sense of anticipation washed over me, my skin tingled. Deidre's voice grew fainter as though coming through a tunnel.
How much time passed? I had no idea, but I could feel myself relaxing, letting go. Wasn't that what Deidre was tel ing me in that strange language? Someone grabbed my shoulder and gave it a yank.
"Hey, did you just pass out?" Cass said.
I pried my eyes open and stared at her. She stil looked the same—al red, frizzy hair and gleaming green eyes. Kieran stirred next to me, pale as a ghost, but otherwise nothing seemed different. I sat up and rubbed my forehead. "Did it work?"
Deidre shrugged. "I performed the ceremony for three reasons. One, to demonstrate my gratitude for helping us find the book. Two, out of respect for your friend who wil pass away tonight. And three, out of honour because I always keep my word. If the ritual doesn't work, it's not my fault."
"What, no refund policy? That sucks." Cass grabbed my arm and pul ed me up. "Come on, mate. My work shift starts in four hours and I need my beauty sleep."
"Dad's being a little stingy lately, huh?" Kieran asked with a grin. "What is it that you do again? Get the rich and famous to sign the dotted line before they jump into their death? Rob a few graves?"
I nudged him in the ribs. "Let's go." I could feel the left side of my head throbbing at the prospect of yet another confrontation between my brother and Cass.
"I work in customer services and I'm quite proud of it." Cass raised her chin, defiantly. I shot her an imploring look. She paid me no attention as she continued, "Now, what do you do, moron? That is, apart from sponging off your brother's money."
Kieran snorted. "I'm not sponging; I'm learning the craft of being a bounty hunter. There's a difference."
"You mean Aidan's been taking you to job orientation days for vampires for the last 500+ years?" Cass laughed. "What are you, fourteen, or just a slow learner?"
Devon insisted we fol ow him the way we came. I tuned out, sprinting down the path because I couldn't get away fast enough. Amber was waiting for me. Had the ritual worked? It better had, otherwise I'd be back, and it wouldn't be a visit to afternoon tea and scones. I barely noticed when we reached the car and Devon disappeared again.
"Amber's a fighter, mate. If anyone can pul through this it's her. I'l stop by after my shift to check on her." Cass patted my shoulder. From the corner of my eye I noticed something underneath her oversized shirt, tucked in beneath her armpit.
"You're going to keep that?" The corners of my lips twitching, I pointed at the ancient book she'd just stolen from the Shadows.
She smiled. "Let's just say I'm the most trustworthy one out of this bunch."
"Thank you," I said, meaning it.
With a wave of her hand, she jumped into her car and sped off.
"You think that too?" I asked my brother.
"What? That she's trustworthy?" Kieran shrugged and opened the car door. "I'd rather see that book in hel than in my enemies' hands."
"Leave the car here. We'l get it later," I said.
Kieran raised his brows. "You're good to teleport already? What about the wounds?"
I shrugged and pictured the mansion. A second later, I materialised in the driveway, my gaze hazy, the cuts inflicted by the succubi tearing open again.
It had started to rain, thick droplets drumming against the cobblestones. Kieran appeared beside me, heading for the door when I grabbed his arm, holding him back.
"What's wrong?" Kieran asked.
"I don't know." Something was off. I could feel it in the air, smel it. My mate winding on a bed, shivering, cal ing my name. The vision broke. "You stay here while I go in and check."
"What? No way."
"I said—" I rubbed a hand over my face. I had no time for an argument. Kieran was old enough to know what he was doing. If he wanted to go in, he'd do it anyway. I walked past mumbling, "Whatever."
Al lights were switched off as I entered through the front door, minding the creaking floorboards.
"I'l check upstairs," Kieran whispered. I nodded and headed for the living room, then yanked the door open. My breath caught somewhere in my throat as I took in the picture before my eyes.
Clare bound to a chair with the same chains I had used to tie the others to the tree during that fateful night of the race. And then Amber, lying motionless on the sofa, pale in the darkness, her pulse barely stronger than the fluttering wings of a butterfly. With a cry I dashed for her when something pierced my chest, missing my heart by less than an inch. I tumbled forward, hitting the floor with a thud, dizziness washing over me. I tried to stand, but my legs gave way under me, my gaze searching for Amber.
Blake appeared in my line of vision, blood dripping from the spear in his hand as he held it over my throat, rattling the chains. Amber was dying; her heartbeat was slowly fading. My chest felt as though on fire, blood oozing too fast. I had to gain time because once the chains were attached I had no way of freeing myself. I peered toward the door, hoping my brother wouldn't fal into the same trap. "How did you get hold of these?" I asked.
"You forget I used to live here," Blake said. "I know what you hide in that basement." Damn, I should've thought about finding another hiding place for the chains, but I hadn't figured I'd see Blake again so soon.
"Why're you doing this? I let you live in the woods." I tried to sit up. My vision muddled. After centuries of drinking frozen blood, what I had taken from Amber had made me temporarily weaker because my body wasn't used to it. I needed more blood, and time to heal.
Clare shook at her chains, a yelp escaping her gagged mouth. Where the heck was Kieran.
"You won't die. I missed your heart on purpose," Blake said.
"Then why al of this? You realise I wil never forgive you." I could barely feel my physical pain. My chest constricted, rage surging within my veins, making m
e roar. Amber wasn't breathing. Fate was tel ing me to hurry up, or I'd lose her forever. Gathering my strength, I stumbled to my knees, only to tumble forward seconds later. My body was losing blood while at the same time it craved more to resuscitate what it had lost in power over the last centuries.
Blake shrugged. "Ever since Amber entered your life, she's been nothing but a nuisance. She solved the riddle and stole the jewels that were meant to ensure the prize was ours. No mortal's ever stolen from me. So, you see, I'm doing you a favour here." In one fluent motion, he grabbed my hands to tie them at the back when the door flew open. From the corner of my eye, I watched Kieran fling Blake to the ground. A coffee table broke into pieces under their weight. Kieran's fist connected with Blake's eye. Another punch sent Blake against the wal . Blake stood and wiped a hand over his mouth. Snarls and grunts echoed through the room as they circled each other, battling it out.
Turning away, I crawled to my mate. Amber had to be saved, even if it meant turning her. I placed my hand on her chest and tried to stand, but my legs shook beneath me. There was no heartbeat. Pain rippled through me, threatening to tear me to pieces.
Amber couldn't die. She wouldn't die, or I'd die with her.
Someone burst through the door, a pitchfork in hand. A second later, Blake cried out and the window shattered as he jumped into the night.
"We al know what you are, you vile creature of darkness. Now don't you ever come back to haunt this blessed house and the children living here," Harry said, swinging his pitchfork with Greta behind him.
"Please, help her." My voice was barely more than a whisper, choked by the guilt I felt. I should've returned home with her instead of sending Clare.
Kieran motioned the gardener and his wife out, then appeared beside me and lifted Amber in his arms. Taking a deep breath, he lowered his mouth to her neck. He'd never turned anyone. Could he do it? Would he know how?
"Trust me," Kieran whispered, voice coarse and heavy with—hunger?
"No. Don't kil her." I dropped to the floor, tiredness washing over me as I felt my mate's life waning. And now my brother was signing his own death sentence by going against Lore rules.
Clare struggled against her chains, the rattling sound grazing my mind like nails on a chalkboard. Darkness descended around me, but I could see my mate in the distance, smiling, signal ing me to hurry up. Amber was leaving this world, and so was I.
Chapter 29
The room felt warm and cosy; the guy sleeping next to me smel ed of sandalwood and incense. I stirred, but kept my eyes closed, relishing his scent. I'd recognise him among thousands, but luckily I'd never have to because I'd never let him go again. Pushing up on my elbow, I planted a soft kiss on his cheek when he woke up, a lazy grin playing on his lips. He regarded me, sleepily.
"Rise and shine. I thought you'd never wake up." I returned the smile, a rush of love washing over me. "A girl has needs, you know."
Aidan groaned and rubbed a hand over his face, then ran it through his already dishevel ed hair. I swal owed hard, unable to peel my gaze off him. How did he always manage to look so enticing?
"What time is it?" he asked.
I threw a glance at the clock on the bedside table. "Almost nine."
Light seeped through a hole in the blackout curtains, bathing the wooden floor in brightness. So we were on the second storey, and these were the curtains I had watched from the garden so many times. Someone had forgotten to pul them. Why wasn't Aidan burning?
Jumping up, I reached the curtains in less than a second, marvel ing at my speed. My whole body felt alive, eager to move and do stuff. Like walking and climbing. Whoa, Clare and her fitness obsession were definitely rubbing off on me. Aidan came behind me and wrapped his strong arm around my waist, pul ing me close. With one flick of his wrist, he opened the curtains.
The sun stood high on the grey, Scottish horizon. I turned to face him, noticing the bandage around his chest and the choked emotions at seeing the sun for the first time in several hundred years. Awe. Surprise. Happiness. And then I remembered the book and the winged beings. After retrieving it, I brought it back from the otherworld. But what happened afterwards was a big black hole in my memory. "The ritual?"
Tracing a finger along my col arbone, he nodded and planted a kiss on my lips. "I love you. We'l always be together."
"I love you too." I stood on my toes and pul ed him closer. "I thought you'd never say it."
"Then you're not mad? We had no choice."
I frowned. "Huh?
"You can't remember?" Aidan asked. He seemed nervous, fidgeting like a five-year-old.
"Just say it, Aidan, or I swear to God—" Jabbing a finger in his chest, I sent him stumbling backwards. I frowned, hesitating. Something wasn't right.
I couldn't have—
I couldn't be—
"No." I shook my head as I grasped the meaning of what just happened. But why wasn't I a raging psycho, kicking the furniture in search for a few mortals and a drop of blood?
Aidan raised his hands in mock defence. "It was Kieran, not me. I couldn't stop him because I was almost dying. I pledged, but he wouldn't listen." I didn't believe a word he said. He continued, "But look at the bright side. It happened after the ritual, so you can stil get your nails done without sucking the town dry."
What would Mum and Dad and Dal as think? Now I wasn't just bringing home Dracula's relatives, I was basical y one of them. How could I explain why I wasn't tucking into the Christmas dinner? Mum would be so upset.
"I'l kick his butt." I stomped out the door with Aidan on my tracks.
"I'l help you," Aidan said, laughing. "Blake almost kil ed me because my dear brother had to take care of his hair first before jumping to my rescue."
The End
Coming June 30th, 2011 by Jayde Scott: Beelzebub Girl: Dating a Demon (Ancient Legends Book Two) Excerpt:
Chapter 1 – Family relations
I stood in the corner of the torture chamber, back pressed against the ancient stone. The air was hot, sucking every bit of oxygen out of my lungs. Bright rays seeped through the few loose stones in the wal , leaving a trail of whirled up dust particles in their wake. I sighed and pointed at the heavy mahogany door.
"How long is this going to take, Dad? You know I've to get to my job."
A guy hanging from long chains in the ceiling yel ed like a pitchfork just stabbed him in the bum. I figured that was about the only answer I'd get.
Groaning, I averted my gaze, hoping Dad, dressed in his usual business suit, gaze fixed on the guy undergoing some major torture, wouldn't notice, but of course he did.
"This is your job, Cassandra. Are you watching and learning?" he asked.
Nodding, I curled my lips into a forced smile, grateful Dad couldn't read my thoughts because we were blood-related. My stomach turned at the metal ic smel of blood hitting my nostrils. You'd think after growing up here I'd be used to the whole shebang—torture, famine, death and so forth—but I stil flinched and gritted my teeth. Truth be told, I'd rather do my nails and smel of YSL than dust, sweat and what else not. Even at King Louis XVI's court, which we were forced to visit as part of a history project at school, I was the one who stayed inside and ate al the chocolate truffles instead of joining the cheering crowd to watch the henchman decapitate France's traitors. Trouble was, Dad didn't quite agree with my pastime choices of shopping and doing my nails.
"Looky here, kiddo." Dad pointed at the poor soul who had probably made a few wrong choices in his life. "If you tickle that spot right under his solar plexus, he'l be in painful giggles for days. That's enough time to come up with the next step in his endless loop of torture. We have a reputation to maintain, got to be versatile."
Groaning, I rol ed my eyes. I couldn't stand the yelping, shouting and crying any more, so I inched closer, holding my breath because the smel made me sick. "Dad?"
Dad's green eyes focused on me. "You know you're not supposed to cal me that when we're at work."
&n
bsp; I nodded, careful y preparing my words. "Right. Sorry, Lucifer. Do you think you could let me finish this for once?" I ran a hand through my frizzy red hair, which I did mean to straighten in the morning, but let's face it, with the heat down here I wouldn't have done my split ends any favour.
Dad cocked a brow. "You want to—"
Not real y. "Uh-huh."
He beamed at me. "That's my girl. Want me to help you?" I rol ed my eyes again. He held out his hands. "Okay, I was just checking. If you need anything, cal me."
I waited until he disappeared out the torture chamber, then walked over to the guy dangling from some kick-ass chains, and tapped him on the shoulder to get his attention.
His eyes darted about; I could smel his fear, or maybe it was just the sickening odour of someone who hadn't showered in at least a week.
Combine that with the heat, blood and a fair share of other body fluids, and you have a deadly combination.
I wrapped an arm around his neck, my sleeve barely touching his sweat-slicked skin. "Listen, mate. Here's the deal. I just got my nails done and I don't need them getting chipped when I practice one of the procedures from this little, old book." I held up my Torture Techniques For Dummies booklet, covering the Dummies part so he wouldn't think I was a complete beginner. "Do you think you could scream and moan a bit, you know, like you're in real pain?" I whispered.
He just stared at me, open-mouthed. I groaned inwardly. Was he dense or something?
"Yo," I hissed. "Either you do as I say, or the Big Boss's coming back. Trust me, you don't want that."
Dad's voice rang through the chamber, making me jump. "Less talking, more screaming, Cassandra!"
I puffed. Seriously, no pressure there. "Just warming up, Dad."
"Looks like you're the one that needs convincing," he roared. "Where's your Louis Vuitton handbag?"
"No, don't do anything rash, like cut my credit cards in half." I licked my finger, then leafed through the pages. My gaze landed on Impalement: A sharp pole is pushed through a victim’s body while alive. Who in their right mind would ever practice something that barbaric, not to mention disgusting?