by F. E. Heaton
"Venturi, you watch her too closely,” Mia said and instinct made him tense when the atmosphere in the room seemed to change.
He didn't respond. He kept his eyes fixed on Prophecy's ashen face. Her lips were so pale, almost as white as her skin. Her hair looked like blood against it and the black covers of her bed—the only colour in an otherwise colourless world.
Mia moved closer to him, rounding the bed. He sensed Dmitri move too.
"Why have you offered your services to her?” Mia said.
He blinked slowly. It wasn't the time for confrontations, but he didn't see that his relationship with Prophecy was any business of Mia's. What right did a Venia who had only just met him have to lecture him, especially one who had refused to help Prophecy in her hour of need?
"I have pledged my allegiance to her,” he said in a steady voice, not taking his eyes away from Prophecy.
"You are certain that is all? Valentine pledged his allegiance to her but it is his heart that is now hers. Do not think that you can replace him in hers."
He glared at her, curling his lip back to expose his elongated fangs as he snarled.
She didn't flinch. She stepped towards him, her face a mask of calm. Her eyes darkened.
"Heed my words, Venturi Tenebrae, to ignore them would prove catastrophic,” she said in a voice so venomous that he almost looked away from her.
He held her gaze. “I'm listening."
"Your ears may be pricked, but your heart is deaf."
"I said I was listening. Speak your piece, Venia, or lose your head!” He turned fully to face her, showing her that her attempts to intimidate him weren't going to work. She could say all she wanted. His feelings for Prophecy were none of her business.
Dmitri growled.
Mia smiled. “She commands limitless power, the strength of which you have never known. If her feelings were to—"
"What are you suggesting?” Venturi cut her off, angered by Mia's belief that she could threaten him. Even if he didn't want these feelings for Prophecy, there was no way he could just turn them off. The woman stood before him was in love with a werewolf. Who was she to lecture him about love?
"Offer her comfort, Venturi, but let it go no further than that. She is weak. The loss of Valentine will hit her harder than she will let show on the surface. Do not be weak yourself. Any act of betrayal to her heart could see the prophecy fulfilled the way the others believe."
Her words hit him hard and he looked over his shoulder at Prophecy where she lay on the bed.
The last thing he wanted was for Prophecy to fail, but it was hard not to relish every ounce of affection she showed for him, even if it was at all misplaced. He knew that she had feelings for him deep inside, and that whenever she let them come to the surface she regretted it and it ate away at a little of those feelings, diminishing them. He didn't want that. He wanted her to love him like she loved Valentine, but it wasn't possible.
Mia was right. The loss of Valentine would hit Prophecy hard and she would need to draw strength from someone. He knew that someone was going to be him; she'd shown him that over the past few days. As much as he wanted to, he couldn't use her weakness to his advantage. He had to hold back his feelings and his wants, and support her, giving her his strength and asking nothing in return. It would be so easy for her to fall into his arms now, but that wasn't what he wanted in his heart. If she was ever to be his, he wanted it to happen when she was strong and in control of herself. He didn't want to be a substitute for Valentine, just a man for her to take comfort from and not love in return for the affection he'd lavish on her.
She'd grow to hate herself if he let her do that.
He wouldn't do it. It would destroy her.
He looked at her a moment longer and then closed his eyes.
He'd never do that to her.
He'd sworn to protect her.
And protect her he would.
Chapter 17
"So very nice of you to join me,” a melodic voice said.
Valentine looked around at the dull grey stone walls of the room and wondered where he was. He ignored the pull inside of him that told him to go towards the voice and stood still. She wasn't going to win. She may have taken him from Prophecy and brought him here, but he wasn't going to just lie down and let her control him.
"Come,” Elena said and held her hands out. She was sitting on a throne-like chair a few metres away from him, her face as still and beautiful as a Venetian mask, and her long dark dress revealing so much that he wondered why she bothered wearing it.
He growled and ran at her, his claws extending at the same time as the bones of his face shifted to allow his fangs to descend. She held her hand up when he was within a few feet of her and he stopped dead, held by invisible bonds that he couldn't break.
He struggled against them anyway, showing her that he wasn't going to go along with her plans for him.
He was going to fight her to the very last.
Elena stood and her purple dress shifted, the long slit up the leg parting to reveal her thigh when she stepped forwards, towards him. Her lips took on a seductive curve. Her eyes were surrounded by dark make-up, making her already black irises even more like midnight skies. She'd tied her hair up into a mess of unruly curls that were pinned at the back of her head and allowed to tumble down her back. She held one slim, delicate hand out towards him and stared into his eyes.
"Tell me everything,” she said and curled her fingers up, as though beckoning him to come to her.
He tensed when he felt himself losing control and pushed at the barriers that seemed to come up, trapping his consciousness. He wasn't going to become a mindless zombie for her to command. She'd known that when she'd cast the spell.
He loved Prophecy too much to give up the fight.
He shook his head, not trusting his voice.
Elena's expression hardened for a moment before she smiled in a way that betrayed how much his refusal had annoyed her.
"I warned you not to resist. It isn't wise.” Her tone was one of displeasure. She shook her head, lowering it as she did so.
For a moment, he'd thought he was getting somewhere. He felt more in control, as though he had power and Elena had underestimated him.
Then she looked up and smiled wickedly.
The air in the room sparked with static electricity. She raised her arms above her and then brought her hands down her sides.
The room seemed to grow dark, the lights dimming, but the area around Elena remained as bright as it had been.
She laughed. Black ribbons of magic spiralled up her arms.
A pain in his chest made him double over and he clutched at it, fighting against the darkness that grew inside of him. He wouldn't surrender to it. He was stronger than this. Prophecy needed him to be strong.
"Kneel!” Elena's command rocked him.
He dropped to his knees.
He went to growl but she held up a hand.
"Silence!” she said and his voice left him.
He tried to move his mouth, but it was no use. She was in control now and there was nothing he could do to stop her. She was too powerful.
No. Prophecy was more powerful and she'd promised him that she'd find a way to save him. That's why he'd given in. That's why he'd let Elena take him. Because he knew in his heart that it was better this way. With him gone, Prophecy would be less distracted and more determined to break the spell on him and defeat Elena.
He was counting on Prophecy.
Prophecy was counting on him.
He struggled against Elena's power and managed to bring his hand up to his chest. Something itched there and he growled at Elena when a spark of pain thundered through him, making his senses reel as he tried to fight her command over his body and mind.
He clenched his jaw and glared at her.
"When this spell is broken...” He struggled to speak when Elena held her hand up. A wave of magic hit him, pushing against his will and forcing it into submissio
n. He pushed back. “I will kill you!"
She laughed.
"We'll see. Now, speak!” She touched his cheek and his whole body shuddered with pain.
Closing his eyes, he silently asked for Prophecy's forgiveness when Elena's hold over him became too powerful to resist.
"The prophecy is partly translated.” His voice was monotone as he reported everything that had been happening. It was impossible not to. His mouth moved of its own accord, ignoring any attempt he made to control it. “Venturi Tenebrae has moved his commanders away from Romania. The Aurorea have taken residence at the house of Caelestis. Mia and Dmitri have arrived. I have heard tell that they have brought their remaining generals with them."
He stopped himself and swallowed hard when Elena's eyes narrowed on him suspiciously.
"Mia's survival is a set back. I had wanted her dead by now. No matter. My men will take care of her once they have returned from their mission. Is that all?"
He nodded, keeping his lips firmly compressed and fighting the desire to tell her the one thing he knew she could use against Prophecy.
"Do not lie to me, Valentine. It is not wise.” She held her hand up and another wave of power washed over him, stealing away what little control he had regained.
"There is something else,” he said and closed his eyes, struggling against himself.
"What?” Elena's voice was full of eagerness and it made him feel sick to hear it.
"Prophecy's father lives."
He opened his eyes and saw Elena was grinning now. She looked insane, like an animal gone rabid with pain and hunger that has just set its sights on a weak prey it knows it can kill.
"Speak,” she whispered, coaxing the answer out of him.
He struggled a moment longer and then his mouth moved of its own accord.
"Caden."
Elena laughed and clapped her hands.
"This is too good.” She stroked his cheek. He snarled at her but the magic held him, stopping him from biting her. “You make a wonderful spy, but I'm afraid I have other plans for you."
He stared at her, knowing already what she was going to say. He didn't ask what they were. He had to save his strength so he could find a way to undo the spell before it was too late.
Elena leaned in close to him, her lips grazing one ear while her fingers stroked the lobe of his other.
"You love her so much,” she breathed into his ear and he closed his eyes, steeling himself against what was coming. “It's only fitting that you should be the one to fulfil this prophecy and kill her."
* * * *
Prophecy stared at the page of the book in front of her. When she'd come around, it had been to a decidedly heavier atmosphere than she'd expected. Something had clearly happened between Venturi and Mia while she'd been unconscious because both of them were acting strangely towards her. Mia had watched her far too much. Venturi had been distant, but whenever his blue eyes had met hers, they'd told her all the words he wanted to say and shown her that the coldness between them wasn't his choice. Whenever he'd looked at Mia, his eyes had turned black, leading Prophecy to suspect that it was Mia who had said something to him.
She'd healed Venturi and herself, and then sent them all away. She'd told Mia and Dmitri to tend to their werewolves, and told Venturi to try and maintain some kind of order within the house with the help of Cornelius and Serenity.
Now, she was thankfully alone with her book and her thoughts. She looked at the window that had been boarded up while she was sleeping. She could feel the warm day air coming in through it. It was nice to be able to have a little fresh air without the fear of the sun touching her by accident.
She sighed and stared blankly at the page the book was open on, her thoughts remaining with her house. She'd already received reports that the modicum of order they'd had with the three different bloodlines was beginning to disappear. While she was sleeping, Venturi had spent hours arguing with his commanders and attempting to help Cornelius deal with his family. They had discovered that Valentine was gone and were threatening to leave and go back to their home. Xavier had surprised her by commanding them to stay in the safety of her house. She'd expected him to be first out of the door. Maybe it was because he'd seen first hand the power that Elena commanded.
Leaning back in her chair, she frowned when she placed her hands on her hips and felt something in her trouser pocket.
Taking it out, she unfolded the piece of paper and placed it down on the book.
The words on the paper and the book swam in front of her eyes. She closed them and leaned forwards, folding her arms over the book and resting her head on them.
The second the darkness enveloped her, she opened her eyes to see that she was no longer in her room. The blue monotone and the feeling in her heart told her that she was in her mother's house. She looked down when she felt something against her stomach and saw a hand on her bare skin. Rolling over, she smiled when she saw it was Valentine holding her. He opened his eyes and smiled at her, his hand coming up to gently sweep against her cheek.
"Do not be scared,” he said without moving his lips and cupped her cheek before trailing his hand down her neck. She winced when her throat hurt where he touched and her gaze moved to his. There were deep fang marks on it. She looked into his eyes, searching them for an explanation. He spoke again and it felt as though he'd said the words straight into her head. “It will all be fine."
She frowned, confused by what was happening, and then the scene shifted and she was standing alone in the courtyard of the house. She looked at the dark sky and the shining white halo in it, and then at Valentine, who was standing in front of her. He took hold of her hand.
"You know what you must do,” he said.
When he took his hand from hers, she realised that she was holding something.
Opening her hand, she looked at the piece of paper and the strange writing on it. It was fuzzy and indistinct. She couldn't make out any of the words. Whenever she thought she had one, it changed into something else or disappeared from her mind. She looked around her at the garden and then at the house, searching for Valentine.
Her mother was standing on the veranda wearing a flowing white dress that caught a breeze she couldn't feel. The soft material moved as though it was under water, shifting slowly and mesmerising her.
"Don't be scared, child. You'll save him, like he saved you."
Prophecy woke with a jolt and stared at her hands. They were balled into trembling fists. In one of them, she was clutching the piece of paper with the address on.
Three times now she'd had a vision involving her mother's home, and her father had told her that her mother had kept spells there. She had read almost all of the book and while she'd learnt spells that would come in handy during her fight against Elena, she hadn't seen one that would help Valentine.
Maybe it was time she went to her mother's house.
Her senses kicked back in and she almost jumped when she felt Venturi standing next to her. She looked up at him, unable to mask how much he'd frightened her.
"I apologise for disturbing you,” he said in a reserved manner.
She frowned. “What's wrong?"
"The houses—"
"I meant with you. What did Mia say to you?” she said, cutting him off.
He averted his gaze, staring at the distance for a few seconds before bringing his eyes back to hers.
"Only what needed to be said in order to remind me of my place. Though I do not appreciate an outcast Venia telling me, the lord of a bloodline, what to do, I understand she is right."
Prophecy didn't like the sound of that. “Whatever it is she said to you, whatever it is you won't tell me, I hate her for it because it's stolen you away from me."
He frowned. “I was never yours to be stolen away from you."
She pushed away from the desk and went across the room to the one remaining window, placing some distance between them. It was dark out. She could smell it in the air and feel it in
her blood.
"To talk about it is not why I am here,” he said.
"Maybe you should leave,” she said and heard the faint growl her cold words elicited from him. She wrapped her arms about herself. “I don't need people who stand apart from me."
"That is why I am here,” he said and she heard him walk towards her.
She kept her back to him, swallowing hard when she sensed him close behind her and felt him ghost his hand down her arm.
"I am on your side, Prophecy, but Mia is right. I cannot take advantage of the situation and your weakness. I want to be honest with you, as I always am. I am a patient man, as I said before. I can wait eternity for the time that you are mine, but I will not take you from him and I will not become something you use in order to comfort yourself."
She closed her eyes and hung her head.
"I know. I don't want that, but I don't want you to distance yourself from me either. Can't we be close to one another without it having to be that way?” She turned to look at him. She hadn't realised just how close he was. She had to look up in order to meet his gaze. There were barely a few inches between them. “Please, Venturi, I need you beside me just as I need Valentine, and Serenity, and Mia ... even Dmitri. I need the strength you all give me. Everything feels like it's going to fall apart when you distance yourself."
He looked away, staring at the floor with a pensive expression.
"I will stand by your side even if fate leads us into the very pit of Hell. No one could stop me doing that. Not even Valentine himself.” A slight smile played on his lips but it disappeared when he looked at her. “As for the everything you speak of, it is already falling apart."
She frowned. “What do you mean?"
"There is great discord between the people of Aurorea and Caelestis. We have tried to maintain order, but I'm afraid that without Valentine, things are going to fall apart.” He gave her an apologetic look. “I have tried to command them, but there is talk of war."
She growled and clenched her fists.
