“Have you ever actually fought anything?” Michael asked, maintaining his composure. “Do you know how it is to watch someone die by your hand?”
“I know!” She shouted, her voice wobbly, her lips beginning to tremble. “I…” She whispered, tearing her gaze away from him. Michael might have had no idea what she wanted to say, but to him, it would be better if she didn’t speak at all. It was her anger talking, not her.
“Look, I’m the one who dragged you into this,” he reminded her, making his voice sound sweeter. “We need your help, but you need to keep it together. Can you really imagine yourself sticking a knife through another creature’s gut?”
“No…” She breathed, a tear rushing down her cheek.
“We need to diminish their numbers,” he added, intensifying his stare. “Is there something you can do about that?”
“I’m not sure,” Helena replied, rubbing her chin. “Excuse me; I have to go home.”
At that, a plume of red smoke rose up from the floor and enveloped her. Just like that, she vanished right before everybody’s eyes. Michael hoped that her quest would not be in vain. She was new to this, yes, but she was still born from a witch bloodline. Despite her fragile state, he believed that she could make the difference…
Helena
The familiar interior of the library greeted Helena as she opened her eyes. Without wasting any time, she pulled a book from the shelf with greedy hands. She did remember parts of most of the books, but no spell could work by chanting bits of it.
Michael’s suggestion had given her food for thought. She was desperate to provide a helping hand; she just hadn’t managed to come up with a different way of doing that without going head to head with her father. Vampires however were a different matter. Helena would like nothing more than to face them in the battlefield. They were strong, but no creature in this world was invincible.
“Nice of you to join us,” her mother’s voice tore through her thoughts. “You don’t answer your phone; you don’t text me back… Where have you been?”
“I don’t have time for this, mom,” she maintained, her gaze still on the book.
“Not even for your own mother?” Martha wondered, padding across the library.
“My mother…” Helena scoffed, remembering the existence of the room under the floor. “Ahem…” She cleared her throat, turning around. “Mom, is there anything you’ve been keeping from me?”
“No, sweetheart,” she assured her, a faint smile forming on her face. “Why would we keep things from you?”
“Stop lying!” Helena yelled, tossing the book down on the floor. “I found your secret room the other day. I also found that book. Why did you lie to me about my powers? You knew I didn’t have to turn twenty-two to become a full witch.”
“How much of that book did you read?” Martha asked in a calm tone, ignoring her rant.
“I read up to the part that mentioned dad’s unholy alliance,” Helena answered, glaring at her. “At first, I thought it was talking about Michael, but, after last night, I realized how wrong I was. Your precious husband has allied himself with a clan of vampires, mom. Did you know that?”
“If you read some more, you’d discover that I’ll get banished.” Martha once more ignored her. “You are destined to kick me out of Highland and rule these lands. I couldn’t have that. Neither could your father. He showed me that book after you got attacked in New York.”
“They’ll kill him, and all you’re worried about is where you’ll live?!” Helena cried, her chest moving up and down. “Are you even listening to yourself?”
“No one’s going to kill your father,” Martha disagreed, furrowing her brow. “He formed that alliance with the vampires because they’re the only ones strong enough to defeat those animals. His plan was to have them kidnap you, so that they’d take out Gibson once he came to your rescue. He’ll dispose of them once the job is done.”
“Those animals happen to be more humane than you and your psychopathic husband,” Helena rebutted, barely holding on to her temper.
“Watch your mouth, young lady!” Martha reprimanded, her brown eyes darkening with anger.
“Or what…?” Helena lowered her voice, adrenaline coursing through her veins. This time, her mother didn’t argue back. She lifted her arm, but, just when she was about to deliver her blow, the young witch rolled her fingers into fists. All her thoughts focused on one thing and one thing alone: Neutralizing the threat. Gritting her teeth, she grunted in rage and threw her arms forward. The shockwave sent Martha reeling back across the library, slamming her against the opposite wall, arms splayed to either side of her.
“You lied to me; you betrayed me…” Helena snarled, striding off towards her. “You’d rather have me think I was weak, instead of being honest with me. And for what? Holding on to your precious little home.”
“We were just looking out for you,” Martha claimed, her voice reeking with fear. “We didn’t want to drag you into this.”
“Well, guess what?” Helena groaned, her face inches from her mother’s. “I’m already in this. Tell Daddy I’ll be waiting for him and his undead army.” She paused. “I’m going to tear them apart.”
Uttering her threat, she returned to the library, grabbed a few books in a hurry and stormed out, her mom’s body dropping to the floor. If she was upset before, she was fuming now. Her mother’s confessions had shattered once and for all the image she had for them. They were not who she thought they were. They would do just about anything to cling to what they had, even if that meant murder and kicking people out of their homes.
Helena ran upstairs to her bedroom and went straight to her closet. She yanked the door open and rummaged through her dresses. Almost immediately, her gaze landed on something she was supposed to wear later that year: A red cloak, covering her from shoulder to toe, lace clinging from arm to wrist. Helena reached a decision in a heartbeat. That piece of clothing symbolized the fulfillment of her destiny…
Chapter Twenty
Helena
Back in Michael’s cabin, Helena was glad to hear the shower. She had some time to herself, and she didn’t want it to go to waste. She sat on the bed and started going over the books. Years ago, when she read them for the first time, she was under the impression that her ancestors had bequeathed a treasure to her. And that notion was confirmed in minutes. Indeed, they contained a great number of spells which could help her defeat vampires. As she flipped the pages however, she realized that she could not do this without showing herself to them. Alas, they knew who she was. Her own father had partnered with them. She needed someone they had never seen.
Her first instinct was calling Kate or Julia. This concerned them and they were within three miles. Yet, she had to discard that idea. Neither of them was aware of the supernatural dynamic in the mountain. Helena would have to explain everything to them, and their reaction would not differ much from Susan’s. They would laugh at her and think she was crazy. On the other hand, Susan was three hours away, but she knew the whole story. So, she picked up her phone and called her.
“Hey, mountain girl!”
“Hey, Susan,” Helena spoke in lazy tones. “What’s up?”
“You tell me. How did it go?”
“It went great. We’re officially back together.”
“Fantastic! Come on, give me the scoop.”
“Maybe later. Listen, I’ve got a problem. I need your help.”
“Sounds urgent. What is it?”
“If I could tell you over the phone, you’d know it by now. How soon can you get up here?”
“I can be there by 9pm. See you.”
“Wait!” Helena raised her voice. “Don’t go over to my folks’ place. We’ve had a fallout. I’ll text you the address, okay?”
“Okay. Bye.”
“What do you need help with?” Michael interjected, entering his bedroom with a white towel wrapped around his waist.
“What else?” Helena answered his question with a question
of her own, struggling to keep her gaze away from his muscled body. “I, uh…” She swallowed hard. “I just had a nice chat with my mom. She and daddy are in on this together. She mentioned another prophecy about me. I’m meant to rule these lands and kick her out of the Catskills.”
“Oh…” He gave a gasp of surprise, sitting down beside her. “I’m sorry to hear that. You must be devastated.”
“You have no idea,” she affirmed, setting the book down on the nightstand. “I lost it back there. I screamed at her, I wanted to hurt her. I can’t believe I wanted to hurt her.”
“If my folks had pulled that kind of crap on me, I wouldn’t think twice,” he assumed a soft tone.
“Where are they?” Helena asked, leaning her head on his shoulder. “You never talk about them.”
“The same place they’ve been for the past seven years,” Michael replied, interlocking his fingers over his stomach. “Mercer Cemetery. Their car rolled off a cliff.”
“I’m so sorry,” she said in a broken voice, reaching up to his cheek.
“That’s okay,” he murmured, snaking his arm around her back. “How could you know?”
“Michael?” Helena whispered, gliding her hand down his chest, his masculine scent flowing into her nostrils.
“Yeah?”
“Please, make me feel good,” she requested, her fingers tracing the ridges of his abs. Unable to take her mind off her parents’ treachery, she needed his touch. She needed the man who had been there for her, the man who laughed in the face of death. Flexing his arm muscles around her, he held her close, leaning sideways over her. She tipped her head up, seeking his lips, her fingers brushing his shaft. She pulled his foreskin back, their mouths meeting in a hot, passionate kiss.
Michael bit her upper lip and tugged it, slipping his free hand under her blouse. Helena felt the veins in his cock pulsing beneath her palm. Holding it in a firm grip, she unbuttoned her jeans. She placed her hand on top of his and pushed it down her stomach, until it reached the fabric of her panties. Stroking and squeezing at the base of his shaft, she hoped he would take the hint. Still, Michael seemed to have other things in mind. He mumbled a “no” and got up from the bed.
He undid the towel and tossed it across the floor, before sitting down on his knees. Reaching forward, he hooked his fingers into the waistband of her jeans and pulled them down her legs and off her feet as she pulled her blouse up and over her head. Her breath getting heavier, she reached back and unhooked her strapless bra. His plan was clear to her now. He wasn’t in a mood for anything quick. On the contrary, he wanted to take his time with her. Helena threw her bra over her shoulder, maintaining eye contact with him. Keeping her legs together, she raised them up in the air.
“You little tease,” he uttered, his voice a sexy whisper, bringing a smile to her face. But that smile was wiped right off, the moment she sensed his lush lips on her inner thigh. Her body tightened in response, before she leaned against her shoulders. She moved her legs apart, catching a glimpse of his mouth, drawing closer to her core.
“Mmmmm, yeah,” she whimpered, tilting her head back, his wet lips closing around her clit. Sparks of electric currents shot up and down her body upon the sensation of his kiss. He wrapped one arm around her thigh and chose to run his other hand up her stomach. Michael pressed more demanding kisses over her clit, caressing the skin of her inner thigh. Helena squeezed her eyes shut, surrendering to his sensual games, knowing that her lover was determined to satisfy her yet again. The tip of his tongue slid down her slit, stroking her soft flesh, fueling her desire. He traced his index finger around her breast, his lips pressed against her pussy. He sucked it like sucking the juices out of a half-squeezed orange, his passion sending her one step closer to heaven. Moaning louder, she reached forward and grabbed a fistful of his hair as he French-kissed his way up her pussy.
“Just like that!” She groaned, Michael flicking his tongue across her clit. Helena threw her head back, clutching his head, his hand squeezing her breast. He twisted her nipple, every flick of his tongue coaxing her closer to climax. She bucked her hips forward to his mouth, raking her nails across his scalp.
“Fuck, you taste so good,” he grunted, his words sending her into orgasmic delirium. Helena’s body quaked under his sensual assault, the orgasm slamming her with sheer force. Her cries of pleasure overshadowed the sounds of his worship, making her writhe underneath him. Whimpering with satisfaction, she focused her blurry gaze on him.
Michael climbed into bed, licking his lips like a hungry predator. The idea of him being on top sounded intriguing; yet, she was in the mood for something else. Helena wanted to be dominated. She wanted him to be in charge. Therefore, she rolled over and got up on all fours.
“Look at that bubble,” he spoke in his sexy voice, his gaze fixed on her ass.
“Like what you see?” She teased him, sliding her index finger into her mouth.
“Trust me; ‘like’ doesn’t even begin cut it,” he told her, jerking his cock. Helena flashed him a smile and looked down at his manhood. His inches were rock-hard, pre-cum dribbling out of the tiny hole on the head. Putting his hand on her hip, he slipped through her wet folds. She let off a deep groan, feeling him push deeper, until he was all the way in. Michael splayed her fingers over her ass cheek and squeezed, scanning her body from top to bottom.
“Don’t hold back, baby,” she moaned, setting her hand back down on the bed. “Fuck me hard.”
A grunt of satisfaction served as his response. He spread her ass, making her feel him even deeper. His stiff cock was massaging her insides, sending her into a paradise of ecstasy. Each thrust was causing her breasts to bounce wildly back and forth. His short, quick strokes were filling her up, his grunts screaming to her how much he was enjoying this. He grabbed her flesh, released and then grabbed once more, making her body feel like it was glowing from the inside out. And with every pump of his cock inside her, that delightful sensation pulsed stronger. Waves of pleasure were rolling through her, their synchronized moans filling the air. His groin was hitting her ass faster and faster, her juices flowing out of her core.
“Michael!” She cried out, her knuckles white from gripping the sheets. Her orgasm blasted through her body, taking her breath away as more of her juices coated his shaft. Michael stilled his hips, the moment he shot warmth into her. Gasping for breath, she tumbled into bed and rolled on her back, before he lay down next to her.
“Boy, I needed that,” she confessed, snuggling up against him.
“I had a feeling you’d ask me that,” he claimed, planting a kiss on the top of her head. “I’ve never seen you more upset.”
“I’ll get back at them, Michael,” Helena stated. “I’ll make them pay for what they’ve done.”
“I hope you don’t mean engaging your father,” he spoke in a fainter voice.
“No, I won’t do that,” she shook her head in denial. “But I found some interesting spells in those books. You were right about Susan. I do need her help.”
“What do you have in mind?” He posed a question, raising an eyebrow.
“Just wait ‘til she gets here,” Helena urged, smiling up at him. “I think you’ll like my plan.”
“Fine. I just hope it’s good,” Michael said, caressing her hair.
“It’s better than just ‘good.’”
Yes, that’s what she meant to tell him. Still, if she did so, she would have to explain it to him. It wasn’t complicated by any means. Without Susan though, carrying it out was impossible. And Helena couldn’t help but worry about what she would have to say. The survival of everyone in those towns depended on her answer…
Chapter Twenty-One
Helena
Hours later, the knock at the door brought the agony to an end. At the same time, it made Helena’s heart skip a beat. It was the moment of truth.
She answered the door, wearing a half-smile. As usual, she was very bad at hiding her feelings.
“Ms. Creepy, is tha
t you?” Susan spoke in sarcastic tones. “Where is Helena?” She asked, sweeping the living room as she stepped inside.
Michael chuckled, biting his lower lip. “Yeah, she’s right about that.”
“Oh, crap.” Helena sighed in frustration. “Did it sound that bad?”
“It sounded creepy,” Susan repeated, her voice picking up speed. “So, what’s the big emergency?”
“Where should I start?” Helena wondered, running her hand through her hair.
“Don’t bother,” Michael urged, stepping in front of her. “It turns out I’m not the ally mentioned in that prophecy. It’s a vampire called Dominic Weathers.”
Helena expected her friend to be shocked; yet, she didn’t even flinch.
“To be honest, that’s what I suspected when we read it,” Susan explained, her tone calm. “Frank detests shifters. For him to ally with Michael would be like a lion allying himself with a hyena.”
“I feel stupid all of a sudden,” Helena muttered, dropping her gaze to the floor. “Why didn’t I think of that?”
“Because it wasn’t a matter of intelligence, dear,” Susan pointed out, shifting her gaze to her. “He’s your father. You didn’t want to believe something so terrible about him.”
“I’m still waiting to hear about that plan,” Michael declared, folding his arms across his chest.
“Yeah,” Helena said on an exhale, her gaze shooting up to meet his. “The books I borrowed all agree on one thing. Fire is the best way to dispose of vampires. It’s got a more instant and much worse effect on them than it has on humans.”
“That’s true, but how are you going to use it, exactly?” He wondered, a touch of disbelief in his tone. “I mean, you can’t just pop up in Constantine’s Peak and set them alight. They’ll swarm you.”
“That’s where Susan comes in,” Helena explained, returning her eyes to her friend. “I’m very sorry, sweetheart. I wouldn’t ask you this if I had a choice. I need bait to lure them out of their lair. It’s just past a clearing in the hill Michael mentioned. I’d do this myself, but they know who I am. You don’t have to do much. Show up, make sure they start chasing you, and run back into the woods. You’ll have to be very quick. Vampires may lack stamina, but they’re really fast.”
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