TWISTED FATES BOOK 1: THE FIRST TWIST
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As Jareth stood waiting for Maleyna to prepare the object of his request, a fertility potion for the Vampire Council's Queen, his thoughts ventured back to the beautiful crimson-haired woman he had caught sight of earlier. There was something about her that he was drawn to, and it troubled him. Never in all his existence had he exhibited the slightest propensity in the human populous other than to feed or partake in negligible professional transactions. And he'd unquestionably never felt any sort of physical attraction to one. But this woman was unique. For some reason, the sheer sight of the mysterious woman stirred a need inside Jareth to know more about her. He even felt the need to relieve her of her deep sadness.
He chuckled at himself, thinking he was behaving like quite a ninny. And, over a mere human at that.
His laughter caught the attention of Maleyna as she approached Jareth with a small, weathered pouch possessing the potion he had been charged with retrieving. "I sense something is stirring within you, vampire." She voiced with a bit of concern. "May I ask what is troubling you?"
"I could say the same for you, witch." Jareth retorted. "When I arrived, you were completely oblivious to my presence. Had I not made myself known, who knows how long I would have been standing before you. Why had I been inclined to, I could have taken advantage of your inattentiveness and partaken in a late-night nosh. Fortunately for you, I am quite appreciative of your talents and do enjoy our quick-witted banter from time to time."
Maleyna let out a small laugh at Jareth's ribbing, then sighed as if being reminded of what had been troubling her. She was well aware that her earlier patron, Samantha, had plainly caught the vampire's attention. "I sense that the object of my concern may, in fact, be the same thing that is burdening you as well. What do you think, Jareth ... am I correct with my assumptions?"
The vampire stood silent, his hands balled into tense fists at his side. She knew she had struck a nerve in the impervious Jareth Mickelsen.
She analyzed him with her penetrating pale grey eyes, scrutinizing his hesitance to respond to her.
Finally, Jareth broke the silence that permeated the small establishment. His interest in Maleyna's recent female client was too great to be dismissed.
"Fine then," he began, "please do me the honor of humoring me and tell me about the woman that just left your shop prior to my particular arrival." It wasn't a request. Maleyna knew by his preceding reputation, Jareth wasn't one to be underestimated. He was, after all, an ancient, powerful, and very, very, ruthless vampire. None the less, it didn't mean that Maleyna was going to divulge any information freely. After all, where was the fun in that?
Jareth could see that he had struck a chord in the old woman, as the smile she once held quickly faded from her lips.
"Jareth, why are you so concerned about my clientele?" She asked smugly. "Surely, this Samantha woman's wretched life is of no concern to you. I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but if you are perhaps interested in ending her life, then I would highly deter you from such a cruel act. Another has already cursed this pitiful creature's outcome."
She was cursed by who and for what reason? Jareth pondered.
It felt as if a thousand silver daggers shot straight through his chest.
Jareth elected then and there; he needed to save this woman. Indeed, there must be something that could be done to remedy her dire situation. He regarded Maleyna. The predator within him was biting beneath his imperturbable exterior, craving to protect Samantha by any means necessary. There was something about this, Samantha women that drew his attention. He wanted her, completely in every way possible. He wanted to claim her as his own, feeling her naked body writhing in ecstasy, moaning his name out of her plump lips. God, he was already obsessed and hadn't even introduced himself to her yet. Jareth's ability to contain the darkness within him was generally above reproach, but for some anomalous reason, his desire to protect and claim someone he'd only glimpsed but once had overtaken his rationality.
If Maleyna wouldn't oblige him the information regarding how he could save Samantha freely, he'd have to resort to more ruthless methods to incite her cooperation.
He genuinely hoped, for her sake, that it was not the latter.
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Being a woman of unprecedented survival instincts, Maleyna understood that she was in no position to deny Jareth's demands. Thus far, she remained alive following those predispositions and intended to continue to do so for several more years. Besides, she wasn't a fan of Dasha's underhanded means at deceiving the poor woman who was under the misconception that Dasha was her friend. Samantha couldn't be further from the truth. Dasha was no one's friend. To be more precise, the entire bleak situation that Samantha was suffering from had been fully orchestrated by Dasha's manipulation, and Maleyna was in no position to divulge this information so candidly to the poor unsuspecting woman.
Dasha and Maleyna belonged to the same Coven. Each was bound by an oath to never betray a member of their sacred Coven to a human. To do so was considered a crime that could be punishable by removal of the betrayer's tongue. So, despite her desire to save the young woman from Dasha's underhanded intentions, Maleyna was powerless to do so. Nevertheless, Maleyna had always been a cunning witch. She knew where to find the loopholes within every situation. Jareth, who was no longer considered human, was that loophole. Not that she would admit to him, however. Maleyna had already planned on exposing Dasha's misconduct to Jareth. She'd already devised a plan. The spell she'd cast on Samantha in order to attract the ancient vampire would only solidify Jareth's willingness to protect the ill-fated young woman.
Aware of the outcome of her magics that she had provided Samantha, Maleyna had already devised a plan to ensure Jareth's ability to remain at Samantha's side. Of course, despite the possible risk of angering the unsuspecting vampire, Maleyna also cast a spell on Jareth unbeknownst to him. After she explained Samantha's plight's specifics, save the particulars regarding the poor human girl's current mateship to a werewolf, Jareth took his leave of Maleyna's establishment.
Just as he was about to leave, Maleyna placed her hand on Jareth's forearm and quietly chanted the words that would allow him to remain unaffected by the timeline's shift.
Mutata in tempore
Nexus vincula shifting
Praeter Unum
Erit memorias manere
Jareth's eyes glazed over briefly before he regained his faculties. The incantation of Maleyna's spell remained undetected. With a quick nod, Jareth was gone.
Maleyna smiled at herself. Dasha underestimated her, but she would soon find out that Maleyna was more cunning than expected.
Yes, Maleyna truly was a clever, clever witch indeed.
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***FYI if you're wondering - here is the translation of what Maleyna said in English:
Altering time
shifting links in chains
except for one
will memories remain
Chapter 15
Jareth's POV
Present Time
Bloody Hell!
How could I have been so damn incompetent? I was so fucking daft. This evening wasn't even over yet, and still, I allowed Samantha to persuade me to let her out of my eyesight for a few brief moments. And it was in those moments when Dasha's minion attacked Samantha. Meanwhile, I was waiting in the damn limousine in nothing but my pants, all chuffed like a bloody Nancy-boy.
Bollocks!
Maleyna had warned me. All I had to do, was keep Samantha alive until past midnight on her twenty-fifth birthday, and Dasha's curse would have been thwarted.
I smelled her blood before I heard her call out. Fortuitously, I was able to catch her fragile body before she had fallen onto the sidewalk; but that still didn't alter the fact that she was wounded, severely. I carefully enveloped Samantha up in my arms and dashed over to my home. Time was of the essence, and I would be able to tend to Sama
ntha's injuries a hell of a lot faster if I transported her on foot rather than traveling by auto. When we arrived at my home, I immediately brought her upstairs. I laid her carefully atop my bed and removed her clothing so that I could further gauge her injury.
The wound didn't appear to be that deep, but she was bleeding profusely in spite of it. There were also several black thin webbed lines slowly veining outwards from the injury site, a very grave indication that her injury was far worse than I had fancied. Something appeared off. Samantha wasn't just stabbed; this was far more ominous looking. There was a poison festering within her wound that I was unfamiliar with. At that moment, I understood that it was necessary to call upon the assistance of those more familiar with this type of magic. Without haste, I dialed up the two witches that I believed would be of assistance. Samantha's dreadful situation was exacerbating with every passing second.
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It wasn't long before the two witches had manifested themselves in my bedroom and stared worriedly at Samantha. Her pale body was lying unconscious upon my now blood-stained bed. Her breathing was growing shallower, and the black webbing had spread throughout most of her fragile petite form.
Shay was the first to speak. "What the fuck happened, Jareth?" She glared at me accusatorily as she ran and knelt beside Samantha's side. "You promised us that you would protect her today. I trusted you. We ALL trusted you!"
I couldn't even answer her. Shay was right. I had been berating myself since this incident occurred, the guilt consuming my whole. "I was protecting her, Shay. She had literally left my sight for a couple of minutes to go fetch – "
Shay held up her hand to stop me from continuing.
"I don't give a rat's ass what she was fetching, Jareth. You let her out of your sight, and because of your incompetence, Samantha is dyi- "
I didn't permit Shay the benefit of finishing her ominous declaration. In a fit of rage, I dashed over to her and crashed her back, vehemently against my bedroom wall. I furiously lifted her with my hand tightly wound around her slender neck. My eyes were now completely pitch black, and my fangs were extended, ready to strike. A snarl emerged from my lips as I held her struggling body in the air.
"Samantha will NOT DIE, Shay! I will not allow it! You can rebuke me for my negligence until your bloody arse is content. But Samantha WILL NOT DIE!"
I released my grip from around her throat, allowing her to collapse on the floor, coughing to catch her breath. Tears threatened to sting my eyes as I looked over and noticed Astrid. She had been quiet throughout mine and Shay's tousle and was silently sitting on the bed next to Samantha. With a wet towel in her trembling hand, she was gently wiping away the dried caked blood that had situated itself all over Samantha's torso and hands. There was a weathered old leather-bound book splayed next to her. It was open to a page with an image resembling the current state that Samantha was in. This caught the attention of both Shay and me. "What is that in your book, witch?" I asked. "Those markings appear to resemble the ones covering Samantha's body. What's wrong with her?"
Astrid slowly looked up, glancing at Shay then at me. Her cheeks were tear-stained, and her eyes were already swelling from the silent tears she had shed without our noticing. A chill ran down my spine as I heard her warily prepare to speak. Again, she looked to Shay, as if the two were silently mentally preparing for the next words that were about to come out of Astrid's mouth. She cleared her throat and began. "As you know, Samantha wasn't just stabbed by her assailant. She was poisoned."
I slowly nodded in understanding.
"Well ... according to our book of ancient herbs and plants, the poison that was used on her is a lethal concoction made up of Jessamine, Autumn Crocus, and Aconite."
Shay's eyes grew wide as she stared despairingly at Astrid, who was cradling Samantha's lifeless hand in her own. Both women began to sob as Shay made her way over to Astrid's side and wrapped her arms around her forlorn sister. The downhearted expressions on the two women's faces made it quite clear that Samantha's outlook was far from optimistic. I refuse to lose her. "Is there anything that can be done? You are both witches, for Christ's sake, isn't there anything you can do to fix – "
Immediately my pleas were shot down by Astrid. "I'm sorry, Jareth," she murmured, "but there is nothing that we can do. The poison that Samantha was infected with was too potent and is working at an accelerated rate. Dasha must have predicted that we would try and heal her. She used black magics on the weapon that stabbed Sammie to ensure that the poison spread rapidly."
I furrowed my brow lost in thought. I understood there was only one conclusion that remained. I was also well aware that I must keep my assessment to myself as the two witches before me would be less than amenable. With a composed demeanor, I addressed both Shay and Astrid in hopes of persuading them to leave Samantha's side. All I required was a few minutes alone with her in my sole care.
"I understand that you believe that we are at an impasse, but this is Samantha's life we are discussing." I continued. "I believe that we have not exhausted all our avenues. Now while I do have faith in your capabilities, I must insist that we not give up hope just yet. It would still be worth the effort to seek the assistance of Maleyna. She is an ancient witch and therefore may be able to provide us with a solution that may be unknown to us." I paused and studied Shay and Astrid, trying to discern whether or not my suggestion seemed palpable to them.
An air of pensiveness surrounded them. It was Shay that finally broke the silence. "I think maybe it's worth a try, Astrid." She sighed deeply and glanced over at her companion before continuing. "I mean, we've already exhausted our own capabilities and are already prepared for the worst, so maybe, for Samantha's sake, we can seek some guidance from Maleyna..."
Astrid eyed me warily but finally conceded with my request. "Fine." She retorted. "But I want to make this quick, Shay. In all honesty, I don't feel like it will make any difference and am hesitant to leave Samantha's side. That being said," she continued, "it won't hurt to try."
The two women gave one last glance at Samantha's frail body and nodded knowingly at each other. They intertwined their hands and spoke a silent incantation. Within seconds, they had vanished.
I knew I would only have literal moments before they returned with Maleyna, so I dashed over to Samantha's body and whispered in her ear. "I'm so sorry, my love. If there were any other way to save you, I would ..."
I allowed my true nature to emerge.
I extended my fangs and pierced the tender flesh on the side of Samantha's neck. I slowly suckled the warm viscous fluid as it seeped into my welcoming mouth while my fangs emitted their venom. Once I had consumed enough of Sammie's blood and was sure that my vampiric venom had been dispersed through my bite, I immediately used my extended fang to slice a deep gash into my wrist. Carefully cradling her head, I parted her pale lips and allowed my viscous warm blood to trickle into her breathless mouth.
Seconds later, I was propelled away by an invisible force. Shay, Astrid, and Maleyna had suddenly appeared before me. The three witches seemed to be quite livid as Shay glared at me and shrieked.
"What the FUCK did you just do, Jareth?!"
Chapter 16
Sammie's POV
It felt like I was soaring for a while. Then almost as quickly as it happened, the flying sensation stopped. I tried to open my eyes to see where I was, but my body wouldn't let me for some reason.
What happened to me?
I remember being with Jareth and then colliding with someone. After that, everything else converged into a blur of noise and colors. Nothing tangible appeared for me to shed some light on what the fuck was going on at the moment.
"Sammie ..."
I heard a voice calling me far off in the distance. It sounded like Jay. Unexpectedly, I was no longer in a vast ocean of nothingness but was now standing in an endless corridor. I was surrounded by several white closed doors on either side.
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