Mystique’s body felt weak, she was overwhelmed. She hadn’t expected this and wanted nothing more than to be his wife. “Yes! Of course,” she cried. He breathed a noticeable sigh of relief. She reached for his face and pulled him to her lips in a fervent kiss.
The crowd, including Elena, Decio, and Domnina cheered merrily. The dark lord even smiled before trying to get their attention. “Eh-hem… shall we begin?” he asked.
They continued to kiss.
Chapter 25
Kane and Mystique were married as the full moon rose high above the snowy realm. The feelings they had always shared were rich with intensity; they’d always felt bound to each other in every way. In their hearts they were already married, but this night, they felt replete with passionate oneness, they felt whole, complete.
The lord and countess stood on the balcony that overlooked the guests in the hall. They knew there was one special guest that had attended but had remained out of sight. They felt him there. One was always aware of his presence. He wished to speak with Domnina in a private chamber and she knew this.
Suddenly she felt it was time. LaVius knew it as well. He turned to her before she walked away and pulled her close. He spoke softly as he brushed his fingers against her neck. “If you need me…” he began.
“Don’t worry about me, my lord. I can handle him well enough.”
LaVius grinned. “I know, my love. ’Tis him I worry about.”
She smiled and gingerly took leave.
As Domnina entered the warm underground corridor she saw the doorway of the room she approached. Underneath it was glowing with the reds and yellows of the roaring fireplace. It lighted the hallway and she noticed someone else approaching from the opposite direction. They met outside the room. “You felt him too, Kane?”
“Yes. I knew he was here and felt him beckoning us both.”
“Well, here goes nothing,” she breathed as they entered the room.
There he sat in LaVius’s large chair watching the fire intently. When the two entered, he turned quickly and gave them a genuine, yet sinister smile. “My lands! I haven’t seen you two together in so long! It truly warms my heart.”
Kane groaned. “Where is this heart you speak of, Lucifer?”
The man shifted in his seat and his eyes grew dark. “We’re using formal names now are we?”
“What is it you want, father?” Domnina demanded.
“Oh, dear; I must have really upset the both of you. First, I wasn’t invited to the gala tonight, and now this insolence. What is it I have done?” he asked, feigning innocence.
Kane inhaled deeply and turned to the fireplace. He leaned one arm on the heavy mantle. Domnina poured them each a drink and gave their father his while raising a suspicious brow. “We know that you want something,” she informed.
“So suspicious,” he retorted. “Fine, but if you must know, I simply came to give my regards… and to give you some news.”
“We’re listening,” Kane grumbled.
“The prophesy has been altered. It seems circumstances have… well, changed.” He took a good long drink of the fiery liquid Domnina had poured and watched as Kane and Domnina looked at each other in disbelief. They then turned to him cautiously.
Kane was especially vigilant. “How do you mean?”
“Something you’ve done changed things. Mystique will not destroy anyone tonight. So you have nothing to worry about.”
Suddenly, and without warning, Elena entered the room. She’d been searching for her father to tell him goodbye and she heard everything Lucifer had just said. She stood bewildered. “Mystique?” she mouthed barely above a whisper. “You told me it was you, Domnina. You would be the one…” She could hardly stand.
Kane and Domnina rushed to her side and braced her. As her father held her up, she regained her strength and turned to Domnina. “You were protecting her,” she realized. “You lied to me… but you were protecting her.”
Kane and Domnina didn’t know if she was angry or saddened. Kane turned her to face him. “Elena, it’s of no consequence now. The prophesy has been altered. Don’t be upset.”
She surprised them both. “I am not upset.” She returned her gaze to Domnina. “I’m thankful. I spent many years defiant of you, never knowing you were family, and never knowing you could care so much.”
Domnina and Kane looked at each other and then to the young woman. Elena suddenly embraced her aunt and then left. The brother and sister then hugged.
Lucifer was incensed. “I came all this way, and you didn’t even introduce me to my own grand-daughter.”
The two shot him a glare and walked closer to him. “Are you finished here, old man?” Kane questioned authoritatively.
Lucifer huffed and placed his drink on a table. “I suppose so, since I’m not wanted.”
The siblings rolled their eyes.
“It’s just as well,” he went on. “I’m going on a trip. I’m going to lure some unsuspecting new recruits.”
Domnina sneered at him. “You know how we feel about your ‘recruiting’. There is no need for trickery. You just like to play unnecessary games.”
“But it’s so much fun!” He grinned slyly and rubbed his hands together.
“What will you be this time?” Kane asked smugly. “A school master?”
“No, no! How dull! This time I will be a jeweler, under the guise of ‘Djim Stone’. Get it? ‘Djim-Stone’…? Eh, you never had a sense of humor.”
Kane was not amused.
Domnina glared at their father with a sinister smile. “Play these games if you will—for now. Things will be much different when I am in command.”
This enraged him and she knew it. He burst into a giant tower of roaring flames, his massive horns and piercing eyes apparent. “Don’t cross me young lady!” he boomed.
Kane and Domnina simply walked out the door, unmoved by his theatrics, and closed it behind them.
He changed back into his human-looking self and poured himself another drink. “Hmgh! Children! No respect!” he huffed.
Chapter 26
Kane and Domnina made their way to the main foyer of the castle where Decio and Elena were about to leave. LaVius had summoned for them one of the royal carriages. It was crafted of ebony, with black curtains, and horses with jet coats pulled it behind them. It was not meant to be seen, only heard. The driver relied on his keen sense of clairvoyance to lead the way as was done with all of the dark lord’s carriages that traveled by night.
Elena and Mystique were happy to see Kane return. He hadn’t been away for long, but they missed him nonetheless. Kane kissed them both on the foreheads. “How are you two?” he asked knowing they must have discussed the prophesy and Mystique and Domnina’s secret.
Mystique held her daughter tighter. “We are sublime,” she smiled. “What of your father? Did it go well, my love?” Mystique asked.
Kane groaned slightly. “As well as always,” he answered. “My father is up to his evil ways again.”
Elena smiled. “Well, he is Lucifer,” she chortled.
“I suppose you’re right,” he grinned. The others laughed, particularly the lord and countess.
Decio choked back his chortle then took Elena by the arm. “Your chariot awaits milady,” he said softly.
Kane looked Decio over one last time. A lot had happened in recent days. First, and most importantly, his family was back together. The second probing fact was that Decio had been bitten by a pure agramon; a detail that Kane would always be mindful of. Decio’s eyes slowly rose to meet Kane’s. Both men knew what crisis had been averted. They knew the horrific connotations of a vampire marked with agramon blood. But he had remarkably made it through unscathed. Kane was deep in thought.
Mystique took careful notice of this and gently linked her husband’s arm with hers. He broke his gaze and looked down at her. His heart was filled with pure love and all other thoughts fleeted him. She smiled. “Kane, everything is all right now—i
sn’t it?” she asked.
He was in a trance for several moments as his soul drank her in. “Yes...” he breathed. As he regained hold of his bearings, he realized she was referring to the news his father had brought about the prophesy. “I mean, yes, yes, everything is fine tonight.” He then brushed his thumb against her smooth cheek.
Domnina was exultant that her brother was lovelorn. She smiled to herself and went over to usher the newlywed vampires out the door. “We’ll see you two very soon of course,” she reminded the couple.
“Of course, your grace,” Decio replied. Always the gentleman, he then bowed slightly and kissed her hand and then Mystique’s. “Please know that my cold heart is sincerely warmed by the generosity and confidence your family has bestowed upon me. And I am truly humbled to have such a beautiful creature such as Elena enter my life. I swear to love her for all of my days.”
Elena’s mother and aunt took this in graciously, as Kane and LaVius looked at each other and spoke without words. Elena and Decio then slipped into the carriage and it rode away.
Kane turned to LaVius. “We will be leaving as well.”
LaVius was somewhat surprised. “Kane, my castle is yours; there is no reason for you to go.”
“Then we will go for a short while, to be together, to make up for lost time,” he smiled at his lovely woman. “Then, if my wife wishes, we shall return.” Mystique grinned lovingly into Kane’s inviting eyes.
To Domnina’s surprise, the dark lord pulled her a little tighter as they observed this romantic interlude. They were infinitely happy for both couples that wed that glorious night. LaVius felt that Kane’s love for Mystique might even be close to what he felt for his own bride.
LaVius suddenly had a revelation. “Domnina, your father said the prophesy had changed, but you never told me what it changed to,” he remarked.
The countess squinted and thought back to that meeting. “He didn’t say.”
The couple watched as Kane and his bride took leave. Such jubilance and tenderness had not ever graced the walls of the dark castle. And while glad for the newlywed couples, both the lord and countess silently yearned for a speedy return to normalcy, and both smiled cunningly.
Deep in the dark forest, the full moon flickered between the snowy trees as the carriage rode. Decio and Elena sat in the back never minding the little bumps and wide turns, only savoring each other’s loving embrace. “We are finally together,” Decio breathed.
“Yes,” Elena smiled and laid her head comfortably on his chest. “And nothing shall ever come between us.”
Decio slid his hand up and pressed her head tightly to him. He kissed her hair as he stared through the window. As the moments passed, he desperately tried to fight it, but something was brewing deep within him. His blood began to simmer. His eyes burned as they turned a blazing red. He knew something was terribly wrong. Elena broke from his grasp and began to heave heavily as she stared deeply into his questioning eyes. A low growl began to emerge from within her, the carriage began to tremble. And then, in an irrepressible, violently painful instant—her eyes turned white….
####
For details on the H.E.L. Series and other books by Maria Christine, visit the author’s official website:
www.MariaChristineOnline.com
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www.NocturnaPress.com
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