Into The Shadows (Shadows Ascending Trilogy)

by Jenn D. Young

  “Is that an invitation?” I couldn’t help but to tease him. It was the only way to disguise my unmet frustration.

  “Trust me, if it was an invitation you would be flat on your back in my bed with your wrists nicely bound to my headboard.” A wave of pure desire almost knocked me off my feet.

  Groaning, I picked up the clothing and discovered there was also a pouch filled with makeup and hair care items. Wow. He really had thought of everything.

  Thirty minutes later I emerged from the bathroom feeling a bit like my old self. Well, my old self on steroids. I was refreshed from the shower and with make-up and clothes that fit me, I was energized. I was humming a new melody and my fingers itched for an instrument to play.

  Off in my own little world, I glided down the hall, not paying attention and smacked right into the brick wall of Vincent’s chest.

  “Shit, I’m sorry!” Immediately, I reached out to steady myself and my hands collided with a bare chest. Bad idea, bad idea.

  The flames of desire roared back to life as I unintentionally slid my hands down his chest to the washboard abs above the towel that was wrapped around his waist. Dark tattoos covered his arms, and the patterns continued up along his chest. I was entranced with the stark lines against his tanned body as my fingers ran along the patterns etched into his skin. My mouth went dry as I imagined tracing the lines with my tongue.

  The curse that left his mouth made me cringe. Hands gripped my wrists, pulling them away from his body as he sidestepped me to move around. He didn’t speak. Just retreated back into the bathroom and shut the door with a light slam.

  “Shit, shit, shit!” I cursed and smacked my palm against my forehead. It obviously had been too long since I had gotten laid. I was practically throwing myself at Vincent, who was intent on avoiding me. I needed to get my head on straight.

  Determined to distract myself, I explored the various rooms of the house. A library greeted me behind one door. Beautiful mahogany shelves held books of almost every genre. There were old leather-bound editions of the classics, even an ancient, leather bound version of The Odyssey written in Ancient Greek.

  A matching mahogany desk was framed in front of the picture window at the back of the room. There was not a computer on the surface, so I guessed it was a writing desk. Neat rows of pencils and charcoal as well as a sketch pad made me realize it was for drawing. Sneaking a peak, I opened and thumbed through the various drawings. They were technically flawless and gorgeous. Some were landscapes with lush trees and bodies or water, others were of the ocean waves, but the one that held my attention the most was tucked in the back. Folded in half and hidden away, I opened the paper and gasped.

  It was a drawing of me.

  My breath caught in my throat as I traced the soft pencil lines that detailed my face. My eyes were closed, small lines of concentration drawn into my forehead, yet a peaceful serene smile on my lips. I was playing my violin. The same one that my mother had given me when I was a child. It had been lost to me that night Kyara was murdered. I mourned the loss of one of the last connections I had to my mother. Memories of that night haunted me. In my haste, I was only able to grab the violin that Vincent had gifted me. My mother’s instrument had been displayed in the music room, out of my reach that night so long ago.

  “Do you like it?”

  His voice caused me to jump, the drawings falling from my hands and hitting the desk with a thud. Several pieces scattered as the book cracked open.

  “I didn’t mean to be nosy. I was just looking around.” I whirled to face Vincent, guilt causing heat to creep up my face. At least he had clothes on now. They were fantastic clothes too. A black shirt clung to his muscles and held the logo of one of my favorite bands on it, dark jeans and black boots completed the ensemble. His hair was still damp and hung in his eyes.

  “Why did you draw me?” I whispered, curious to know the answer. There were no other drawings of people in the notebook, just me. Every other drawing was of a nature scene.

  He just shrugged, “Immortality gets rather boring after the first couple centuries. You either learn hobbies to occupy your time or you lose your mind. I took up drawing and music. They suit my tastes. One of the first times that I connected with you, you were playing. It made me think of the first time I picked up a violin. It just made a beautiful scene that I wanted to capture.”

  Nodding, I shuffled the papers back together. I wanted to change the subject before more emotions flooded me. Vague memories of Vincent and I playing together played behind my eyes, but were gone in a flash.

  “So, will I be staying here for a bit? I kind of have no idea what to do next.” The reality of my situation started to become apparent to me this morning. I was a young supernatural creature with no idea how to control myself, what abilities I would have or where I would even live. In fact, I had no idea how I was handling the fact that I was a vampire, drinking blood from a man that I had known my entire life in my dreams.

  “We will figure that out. Right now, we need to teach you the basics of being a vampire and how to feed and control your hunger.” He approached me and I lifted my head to look him in the eyes.

  “And since I am not a vampire, I can’t speak to that, which is why Kaniul will help to train you. Managing your thirst will be the most important thing. Newly created vampires are typically kept in isolation for a few weeks with their sires until training is complete. Although you are not a typical vampire.”

  The smile he flashed me showed off his fangs. A flash of desire went through my lower half as I thought of his fangs sinking into my neck. I quickly built an image of a giant brick wall in my mind to not reveal my thoughts.

  I wondered what training would mean for me. I hadn’t let him know that I was not able to tolerate any blood that they had given me while I was a prisoner. Maybe that was just a side effect. I didn’t feel thirsty now. Except when I thought of drinking more of Vincent’s blood. Again, not a path I wanted my thoughts to take as my stomach clenched with hunger pains only for his rich blood.

  “Are you ready to go?” He held out his hand for me. If he had heard my silent musings, he did not acknowledge them. A small smile cracked my face, and I took his outstretched hand.

  Chapter 17

  Vincent

  Her thoughts were going to be the death of me. They rattled my solid wall of control and made my demon want to claim her immediately. The mental connection was just too strong already to close off easily. I could block my thoughts from her but only because of years of practice and mental power. Her thoughts crept into my mind, assaulting me from all angles.

  Everything about our situation was unconventional. Lorelei was unconventional. She shouldn’t have been able to be turned. Vampire and demon blood did not hold in Nephilim, did not allow a change. How her hunger, her abilities and her overall behavior were going to play out over the coming weeks was going to be in question, and I knew the council would be keeping a watchful eye on it all.

  “You look deep in thought. You okay?” She was so perceptive, not realizing her empathic abilities. Her power was already growing. No doubt because of drinking my blood.

  “I am fine, Theera. Let’s get to Kaniul, he is probably growing rather impatient.” I wrapped my arms around her.

  “So, how are we getting there? I don’t even know where we are.” She let out a nervous laugh.

  I just smiled. “Hold on and you will see.” I let the shadows take me and I felt her wrap her arms around my neck and squeeze tight. She squealed in surprise at the sensation. Shadow flight was a unique ability to demons of power.

  “What the hell was that?!” She tried to get out of my hold. Her breathing was erratic and her heartbeat accelerated. The first time was always a bit surprising.

  “Shadow flight. Also known as demonic teleporting.” I laughed and settled my hands on her shoulders, thumbs rubbing at her pulse, seeking to calm her.

  Shadow flight was like side stepping through a dark dimension and for t
hose not accustomed to it or of demonic blood, it could be cold and dark.

  “Well it is fucking scary.” She rubbed her hands together, “and cold.” A shiver ran down her spine as goosebumps pebbled along her arms. She looked around, taking in her new surroundings.

  My office was at the back of the building on the second floor. I didn’t have much here as my main office was in at my business facility. It held a desk with multiple monitors to view the security cameras, the safe where deposits were kept and a black leather couch. The walls were a dark red and the artwork on the walls depicted various supernatural creatures, keeping with the theme of the club.

  “Welcome to Thanatos.”

  That got her laughing, “Nice word play. Greek for death, how apropos.” She walked around the space, admiring the artwork. I took in her figure, appreciating the clothes that Drya had helped acquire. The corset framed her torso perfectly, cupping her breasts and putting them on display for all to see. Her skin was creamy and white, begging me to run my teeth and tongue up her neck and sink my teeth deep into her pulsing vein. My gums ached as my fangs lengthened at the thought.

  “If you are quite done staring at her ass, I would like to get started. The council is expecting me in two hours.”

  A growl left my throat and Lorelei spun around to see Kaniul standing in the doorway. Lorelei glanced at me, a smirk on her face before she turned to look at Kaniul. The Egyptian had a rare wide smile on his face as he looked at her.

  “Welcome home Kishka.”

  She approached him cautiously, and apprehension flickered on his face. The last time that she had seen Kaniul was when he dropped her off at Kyara’s house when she was sixteen years old. Since she was thirteen years old, she had harbored nothing but contempt for her Uncle, who she felt did not want her. After her mother’s death, she felt Kaniul had abandoned her. Instead of taking her to live with him, as she wanted him to, Kaniul had put her with a foster family. It was a betrayal that had haunted Lorelei to this day. Even though it was her mother’s wishes that she be raised in the human world.

  The truth was, Kaniul had always done what he had thought was best for Lorelei. We both did. Staying away from her had been the safest thing for both of us to do. We spent years watching her from the shadows, visiting her only in her dreams. Until even that became too dangerous.

  Echoes of memories ran through her mind. It was another sign the wards were almost fully broken down. I watched in silent trepidation as her eyelids fluttered closed, fragments of that night her mother was murdered replaying in her mind.

  Lorelei

  “She can’t remember any of this, Kaniul. Promise me you will make her forget. She has to have a normal childhood. As normal as we can make it.”

  My mother’s words broke through the haze of my mind and shocked me to my core. I looked down at my hands, seeing the blood that had been there that night when I was thirteen. How had I forgotten all of this? She hadn’t died of cancer, she was murdered right before my eyes, and then she had begged Kaniul to make me forget.

  But it wasn’t Kaniul that made me forget.

  It was Vincent.

  “You will forget Kaniul and I were here. Your mother died of cancer after a long battle. It devastates you that she died, but you know that you will to be okay.”

  Anger surged within me as I turned to Vincent. “You made me forget that night. You made me forget them killing her.”

  The look on his face almost broke me, washing away the fury I tried desperately to cling to. He looked utterly broken, contrite and full of regret. They both did.

  Kaniul spoke first. “If you knew too much, you would be exposed. Vulnerable to attack. Your mother made us swear to protect you by any means necessary.”

  He took a step towards me, but I held out a firm hand to stop him, not ready for any physical contact from either of them yet. “What do you have to say for yourself?” I whispered to Vincent. I couldn’t explain it, but the thought that he had been the one to erase my memories hurt even more. It was as if someone had stabbed me right through the heart. My connection to him had always been intense, something beyond logical explanation. Right now, I couldn’t even meet his gaze as I waited for him to answer me.

  “I know you dulled my memories of you, but to take away the ones of my mother, how could you?” Resentment laced my voice. Tears burned in the back of my eyes, but I refused to let them fall.

  He turned away, hiding his face and expression. “I had to do everything to protect you. You couldn’t fall into their hands, even if it meant you ended up hating me for erasing your memories.” His voice was even, emotionless.

  Lights flickered and the faint sound of thunder could be heard outside. Rain hammered against the windows. Blood thundered in my veins, power flowing through me with every beat of my heart in my chest.

  “Lorelei,” Vincent said my name softly. “Hate me all you want, but right now, your emotions are out of control and with your powers manifesting, they are taking control of your body. It is why the lights are flickering.” He took my hand into his and placed it firmly against his chest. “Find your center. Breathe with me.”

  I fell into his swirling eyes as our breathing matched. Our minds connected, and he sent me a strong surge of reassurance through our bond. I felt his regret for the actions and how they affected me, but his resolve was firm. He would always protect me. I felt myself calm and relax into his body.

  “Better?” The corners of his lips lifted into a smirk and he placed a kiss on my forehead as I nodded.

  “I think that it is best if we start at the beginning and you both sit down and tell me the truth. You both owe me some answers.” I took a step back and looked to Kaniul, who had a sheepish look on his face.

  “Lorelei, I’m so sorry that we had to keep this from you. Your mother was my half-sister and a very old and powerful Nephilim. We shared a mother, but her father was the son of an Archangel, whereas mine was an Egyptian nobleman.” The look on Kaniul’s face was pained at the thought of his beloved sister.

  “When you were born, she made me swear that I would always protect you. Somehow, she bound your powers to keep you hidden.” He let out a frustrated sigh and ran his fingers through his dark hair.

  I stepped away from them both and turned my back. The memories of the childhood I had before my mother was killed were returning to me in small waves. My head spun as I laid a hand on the wooden desk to steady myself.

  “You are a very powerful Nephilim, Theera,” Vincent said gently. “Your mother was a first generation and lived for centuries. She was one of the most formidable Nephilim this world has ever seen, and her loss was mourned by the entire supernatural community.”

  “If she was so powerful and lived for so long, then how did she let herself die?” I felt the tears gather in my eyes as guilt settled within me, the memories fully returning. She was trying to protect me, that is why she died. If she hadn’t been so concerned about me, she would have been able to defeat her attackers with ease and still be alive. It was all my fault.

  She had eased up on her compulsion because I couldn’t physically handle it.

  She was dead because of me.

  “Lorelei, listen to me.” Vincent grasped my chin and forced me to look into his eyes, his gaze firm as he pierced me with his intense stare. “Every single thing in Morgana’s life led up to that moment. She knew her fate and she would not have changed one single thing in her life because she had you.”

  “We cannot beat our final fate.”

  Her words echoed in my mind, ringing true.

  But it didn’t make them hurt any less.

  Chapter 18

  Vincent

  Her face fell before she stepped back and composed herself. Gently, I sought her mind, trying to gauge how her emotions were faring. She was the pillar of calm, her thoughts were centered around her mother and trying to tie together the pieces of her childhood.

  She was pissed at both of us, furious at me for taking away her
memories of her mother. Her anger at Kaniul stemmed from his abandonment of her in foster care. It was something I had to keep telling myself was for her own safety, to keep her hidden and protected from The Syndicate.

  “Do you know who my father was?” Her voice was barely above a whisper.

  Kaniul shook his head. “She would never tell me.” We both had our suspicions but couldn’t be certain.

  Her face fell, lines etched into her forehead and mouth turned down in a frown. She tilted her head, as if trying to recall something. “How many of my memories have you messed with?” She was practically furious now. Her power was under control, but fury bled from her very pores.

  She was learning quickly.

  Almost too quickly.

  This was going to be difficult.

  Again, my gaze shifted to Kaniul, my eyes conveying the message. He spoke this time. “You were just a child. We were trying to protect you.”

  “So, I’m guessing that means you messed with a lot.” She laughed sardonically. “Though you couldn’t do anything about the shit foster parents I lived with. That would have been the better thing to protect me from.” Her eyes held mine captive, the blue glow holding strong.

  “Once we found out about that, we moved you to Kyara’s protection,” I added.

  Recalling the experience with her foster father, fury exploded within me. It was then that I made the irrational decision to connect with her, which almost destroyed the spell Morgana used to contain her Nephilim abilities.

  My small action sent out a ripple through the supernatural world alerting The Syndicate to her location. I acted quickly, circumventing the council to put her under Kyara’s protection as her guardian. It was also when I realized I had to take a step back so that I wouldn’t cause her power to explode within her small body.

  Lorelei stepped away from me and crossed her arms around her chest.

  Now, at the age of twenty-one, she was coming into not only the extremely powerful Nephilim abilities but also those that were connected to the vampiric side of her nature. And she was handling them with all the grace and dignity that I knew she would.