“I’ll see you soon, I’m sure, Laney. Kane, come we need to discuss some things before I leave.”
Kane smiles at me sadly and stands, leaving with his father, leaving me with my world turned upside down.
Chapter Four
Eden
It’s been two days since I sat in Laney’s office and had my world turned on its axis. A-fucking-gain. They can’t be right. There’s no way. But what is if it’s true? If this is why I survived. I stare at the envelope with my name on, in what I assume is my father’s writing. I haven’t dared open it. I mean, what if it doesn’t make any sense to me? What if it tells me things I don’t want or need to know? Maybe I’m just getting my hopes up. Dad had to know something was coming to have written this in the first place, and I’m not sure I can deal with the contents of it.
I tuck the letter back in the drawer by the side of my bed and stare at the photo I’ve since put into a frame. I barely recognize myself in the picture, but my memories of my mom, dad, and my brother spring to life at their image. I miss my dad’s hugs, so strong that they felt like I was protected from the world; my mom’s voice as she sang when we would cook together, or I would help her clean. I could listen to her for hours. My brother, annoying as he was, was almost as protective of me as my dad, even though he was only a few years older than me.
If I close my eyes, I can almost see that day. Smell the blood, the fire. I remember wanting to scream so loud as the agony ripped through me, but instead stayed silent for fear of being found.
“Ford, they’re coming!” My mother screams as she runs into the house. She sprints past me and up the stairs and starts banging on Jake’s door. “Jake, get out here!”
My dad runs from his office at the back of the house to where I’m sat reading in my nook in the hall. He stares out of the window and swears. I look up at him and fear grips me. My dad looks scared, and he’s not afraid of anything.
“Lilah, we don’t have time. We need to try to fight.” He cries, before picking me up and running with me to the back of the house and into his office. He opens a door I’ve never seen before. I’m not allowed in here very often. He puts me inside the small room and hugs me tightly.
“You need to stay in here until I come back and get you okay, Evie? You don’t open this door for anyone but me, your mom, or your brother. Do you understand me?” I start to cry, but nod.
“Yes, Daddy, I’m scared.”
“I know you are, princess, but I need you to be real brave for me okay? I need you to stay super quiet, and don’t come out, no matter what. Do you promise?” He says and puts out his pinkie finger to me. I wrap mine around it, just like I always do when Daddy makes me a promise.
“I promise, Daddy.” I sniff. He hugs me, so tight it hurts.
“I love you, princess. You’re more important than you’ll ever know. I’m going to go and get your brother and bring him back here too okay? Scoot back so I can shut the door.”
“Love you too, Daddy.” I say as he shuts me in the small, dark room. I hear his footsteps rush away just before I hear an explosion. It’s so loud my ears ring, and I can’t hear anything else, but I can smell smoke. I try not to cough, to stay quiet like Daddy said and wait for him to bring Jake. I curl up in a ball at the back of the room and wait, trying not to make a sound, but I can’t help but cry. Daddy told me to be brave, but I need him to help me. He didn’t teach me how to be brave yet. I wait, and I wait. The ringing in my ears finally stops, and I hear sobs, and shouts. I want to go and help, but I don’t know how and I promised Daddy I wouldn’t leave this room. It doesn’t seem right as I hear the screams and cries from my house, but fear clutches me and keeps me unmoving. I don’t know how long the screams go on, but suddenly I can’t hear anything, and all I can smell is something funny, like pennies. I want to scream out for him, but I just know that something isn’t right.
I keep waiting. Waiting for Daddy to come and get me. I’m so scared, where is he? Where is Jake? The silence haunts me and keeps me on edge until my eyes start to droop.
I wipe the tears that spill down my cheeks at the memories that bombard me. God, I miss him so much it makes my heart ache. I was definitely a daddy’s girl, and he was taken from me way too soon. He died and made sure I stayed alive, I can’t dishonor that and throw myself into some stupid trial that could kill me if Lucius is wrong. I can’t, and I won’t. It’s not me, I know it. Surely, I’d know if I was as special as they said. I’d feel it. I know I would. I don’t want to die, and they won’t do the trials without me. Neither do I want to be the reason someone else dies. There’s enough I need to worry about as it is just being me. The last thing I need is to worry about something like this on top of it all. I put the picture back on my dresser, tuck myself further under the duvet facing it, and decide that skipping classes today won’t matter. I’m in no state for class, for people. Especially the ones I can hear knocking on my door already. I ignore their knocks and shouts and bury myself in my pillows. Today the world can go screw itself while I drown in my memories.
***
The banging on my door pulls me out of my nightmare. Rolling over, I groan, covering my eyes with my arm. I notice my face is wet.
“Eden, open the fucking door!” I hear Creed shout as the pounding grows louder. I mutter the charm to undo the lock on the door, and the next bang I hear is my door breaking open, followed by a stampede of feet. I lift my arm to see Kane, Cam, and Creed stood at the end of the bed, their expressions ranging from worried to angry.
“What crawled up your ass?” I ask, yawning. I sit up and stretch, past caring that I’m just in a little tank and shorts. I have enough to worry about.
“You were screaming, Eden. You were screaming and we couldn’t get in.” Creed growls.
“Screaming? I was having a nightmare. I didn’t realize... I’m sorry you worried.” I say with a small shrug.
“Why did you skip today? We told you we wanted one of us with you at all times. It’s not safe at the minute, Eden.” Kane asks.
“Well, according to your dad, I’m the biggest bad out there, so I think that’s kind of irrelevant, don’t you?” I snap and they all wince. “Awesome secret, you guys. You must’ve had some idea before Lucius bound you from speaking, and yet you still kept it from me.”
“We didn’t know for sure, and we didn’t see the point in burdening you with anything else considering.” Cam says with a small shrug. “Sorry, Eden.”
“Well, you’re all wrong. I’m nothing special. Just an orphan trying to survive. Can you guys give me some space to get dressed? I need coffee before we keep talking about this crap.” They mutter and grumble as I shoo them from the room before I put on a hoodie and yoga pants. I pull the door open and enter the main room to the smell of coffee and the three of them perched around the room. One day we’ll all just sit and talk like normal people, but not today, I guess. I head to the kitchen counter and add sugar and cream to my coffee before pulling myself up onto the counter, waiting for someone to say something as I sip away at it.
“Eden,” Kane starts. “I know you don’t want this to be true. It’s a lot to take in, but if what I’ve witnessed around you is true, then I have no doubts at all that you are who my father believes you are. You can do things I’ve never known a Vampire be able to do. Hell, known anyone do except for those I’ve read about in textbooks. There is more to you than anyone knows, of that I’m certain.” I roll my eyes as he approaches me. His kind eyes warm, urging me to trust him, and I do; I just don’t believe this.
“Kane, I trust you. I do. But you’re wrong. And the only way to prove I’m right is to go and get myself killed, so I’m sorry I’m not rushing to prove you wrong.”
“I know I don’t know as much about all of this as these two,” Cam adds. “But I have to agree with Kane, little one. There’s so much you’ve done already that you shouldn’t be able to do for years yet, some things you shouldn’t be able to do at all.” He shrugs.
“
Shouldn’t be able to do according to who though? Isn’t every Vampire different? Maybe that’s all this is?” I counter.
“According to the histories of our kind.” Kane interjects, while Creed just sits staring at me like I’m the beginning and the end of the world. “What you don’t know about me, Eden, is that my family have been the keepers of our histories since the beginning of our existence. The tombs of history are passed from each generation to the next. I’ve studied the histories my entire life, along with the texts of the oracles. I wouldn’t put this on you if I wasn’t sure. I care about you too much to endanger you like that.”
“You can’t know for sure,” Creed moans from where he sits across the room from me. “Between your father and mine, I’m either going to lose Eden, or my sister. And nobody is sure. My father likely just wants the predicted notoriety that comes with Aurora being the Chosen one. He feels that the outcome is worth the risk, and I just don’t agree. Aurora is gifted for sure, but she can’t do half of what Eden has done. But even then, am I willing to risk Eden’s life on a maybe? No, I’m fucking not. I’m with her, I think you’re wrong.” I smile at him over my coffee cup as I slurp another mouthful, just to try and break some of the tension in the room.
“So it’s two for two. Too bad we don’t have someone to break the vote. Shame. So for now, I’m sticking with saying no,” I tell them and smile into my coffee.
“Will you at least train, so I can show you that at least some of what I’ve said is true?” Kane pleads and I look at him skeptically.
“Why does it matter to you so much that I do this? That I accept this?”
He sighs and runs his hand through his hair. “It matters to me because I’ve read the prophecy in full. I know what happens if the Chosen one doesn’t complete their fate. It is not a horror I ever want to witness.” He shudders as he speaks.
“What do you mean?” I ask, my curiosity peeked. “I’m not saying I’ll train, but I’m intrigued.” I shrug.
“Essentially, it says that once the strongest have fallen, without the worlds Chosen, that death shall walk the earth, and raze it as if hell itself existed.”
“Sounds cheery.” I can’t help but roll my eyes. “Is this the first prophecy to not be true?”
“She’s a skeptic, ladies and gents,” Cam adds in and I laugh.
“Yes, there have been prophecies that haven’t turned out as it was thought, but none were like this one.” Kane stresses.
“What does that even mean?”
“It means that this wasn’t the first prediction of this particular scenario. It was just the most detailed, and the most powerful. Something is coming, no-one knows what or when, but without the Chosen one, we’re essentially fucked.”
“Then maybe the Fae should’ve fought harder against the Uprising.” I shrug. “Any one of those Vampires could have been your precious Chosen one, and they were slaughtered like they were nothing.”
“We did the best we could without endangering our entire race. We are not as many as you, we live longer, and so there are fewer, but there are also those who still have grudges of the past despite the knowledge we have now. The Elders originally suspected your dad was the Chosen one, but with his training, if he was, he should’ve been able to overthrow the ones who stormed your house that day.”
“My dad did the best he could!” I shout, jumping down from the counter. “Out, get out. I’ve had enough of this for today. Leave me the hell alone. I’m not doing your stupid trials.”
“Eden, I didn’t mean…”
“Kane, get the hell out. Now.” I growl, and I feel my power unleash and take over. My arms are suddenly held from behind, and I know it’s Creed from his scent.
“Let’s leave for now, buddy.” Cam says to Kane who looks upset, but I don’t care. “We can come back when everyone’s calmed a little.” He maneuvers Kane from the room and shuts the door behind them before Creed releases me.
“You had no right to do that. I had control of myself.” I tell him with a huff and pull my power back in.
“I just didn’t want you to do something you’d regret later, that’s all. You are my main priority here, Eden. I’m so fucking torn about all of this. I want to have your back, and cheer you on regardless, but what if I’m wrong?” He scrubs his hand down his face as he drops back down onto the sofa and I can see how tense and stressed he is, now that the others have gone and he’s relaxed some. I walk over and straddle his lap, kissing him softly.
“If you’re wrong, then we’re both wrong, but I don’t think we are.”
His hands grab my hips and he leans forward to kiss me again, but this time it isn’t soft. He’s kissing me like he needs me to breathe and I’ve never felt so wanted in my entire life. I wrap my arms behind his neck and kiss him back, showing him just how much I’ve missed him. I feel him harden beneath me, and groan as I rock on his lap.
“Eden,” he groans pulling back from the kiss, resting his forehead against mine. “You need to stop that, otherwise I’m not going to stop.”
“I don’t remember asking you to stop,” I breathe and kiss him again, showing him exactly what I want from him. He kisses down my throat and sucks, leaving a mark for sure but I can’t find it in me to care. His lips on me feel so good, as if they’re meant to be there.
“You have to know how I feel about you, Eden. I can’t get you out of my mind. I’ve never felt for anyone how I feel for you. Yes, I know it all seems quick, but with everything that’s currently happening, I don’t want to waste another moment of not telling you how I feel. I can’t keep holding myself back from you; it’s too hard. Eden, I knew you were special the first time I saw you, and nothing since then has done anything but make me want you more. I think I might be falling in love with you, insane as that might sound.”
“I know what you mean, and I feel it too. Being locked up away from everyone gave me a lot of time to think, and while I regret some things in my life, you are definitely not one of them.” I kiss him again to show him exactly what I feel, because words don’t seem like enough. His hands move under my ass and he stands, so I wrap my legs around him all without coming up for air. He moves us into my room, slamming the door shut behind us, only stopping our kiss to mumble the charm to ensure no-one enters the room before dropping me down onto the bed on my back. I raise up on my elbows looking up at him as he takes off his t-shirt. I groan at the sight. It really shouldn’t be okay for a person to look as good as he does. I lean forward and run my hand down his abs to the waistband of his pants and unbutton them. He groans and pushes me back, further up the bed, settling on top of me and kissing me; his hands roaming under my hoodie. He pulls back and lifts it up my stomach and I rise up so he can take it off fully. His groan as he realizes I don’t have a bra on makes me smile before he captures my nipple with his lips and sucks. Teasing the tip with his teeth and tongue, he worships one before moving to the next, his hardness grinding against me through the thin material of my yoga pants.
“Holy shit, Creed.” I moan as his tongue moves down and he kisses at the top of my waistband before hooking his fingers in the material and tugging them down. He kisses me lower and lower until I felt his tongue lick my opening. Holy fucking hell, I’ve never done this before, but now I know what I was missing. He sucks, licks, and nibbles on my clit, making me create sounds I’ve never made before. He pushes two fingers inside of me. I can’t help but cry out with how good it feels, and before I can beg him not to stop, my body is rocked with an orgasm. He keeps moving his fingers inside of me as I ride out the pleasure, coming up for air, smiling. He wipes his mouth and kisses me, laying down beside me and pulling me under his arm so I’m lying on his chest.
I can’t help myself from reaching down and feeling just how big and hard he is. His groan rumbles in his chest as I rub his hardness through his trousers.
“Eden, we don’t have to.” He tells me gently.
“I know, but I want to.” I smile up at him and unzip him discoveri
ng he’s got nothing on underneath. “Commando?” I ask with a small giggle, pushing his trousers down his legs as much as I can from here. I wrap my hand around him and kiss him as I do, his moans encouraging me to keep going. I rub his length, teasing him while I toy with him. He grabs my face and kisses me with so much passion, I can feel it in every fiber of my being.
He stands and kicks off his pants, before pulling me back towards the end of the bed. He leans down and tucks my hair behind my ear and kisses me softly. “I’ve never felt this way about anyone, Eden, and I don’t think I’ll ever stop feeling like this.” He lines up against me and pushes in, kissing me as he enters me slowly.
I wince a little at the sting, but he keeps moving and the pain turns into pleasure as he licks and sucks on my nipples as he does, paying them so much attention it’s on the line of pleasure and pain. As he gets closer to the edge, I feel his power. He leans back, grabbing my hips so hard I know I’m going to bruise. He lifts my hips to get a deeper angle and pounds into me, fucking me like his life depends on it. I gasp as his fangs descend and he growls. He kisses me again, his fang nipping my lip, and that makes him groan even more as he licks up the drop of blood, before he kisses his way down the column of my throat.
“Eden, I’m so close. Can I?” He asks and I nod. I’ve heard of some couples doing this, and I want to experience everything with him. I trust him to know his limits. His teeth sink into my neck, and pleasure sweeps through me as I feel the pull of my blood leaving me and rushing into his mouth. The pleasure rises, pushing me over the edge seconds before he finds his release. He sinks down onto me but stays on his elbows so I don’t take his full weight. Pulling away from my neck, his mouth licks over the puncture wounds sealing them closed and then he kisses me again. I sigh, happier than I ever remember feeling as he lifts himself off of me and sinks into the bed beside me, pulling me back onto his chest.
Chosen: A Paranormal Romance Academy Series (Black Water Academy Book 2) Page 3
