Toil And Trouble, A Paranormal Romance (Jolie Wilkins)

by H. P. Mallory

  The air felt weighty, thick with emotion. It was almost like we were en route to a funeral, everyone so quiet and morose. A vampire I didn’t recognize walked along the pathway beside me, sporting a metal breastplate and backplate. The only way to kill a vamp was to bury a stake in his heart so his defensive measures made sense. His face, as well as those of the other legion members, didn’t reveal much but since this was the night of reckoning, I had to imagine their hearts were heavy. Mine certainly was. I felt like I was on auto pilot as I trudged along the path, consumed by my own anxiety. I couldn’t stifle the worry concerning Sinjin’s whereabouts. But beyond that, I resolved not to focus on whether the next few hours of my life would be my last.

  I hurried past the soldiers as they made their way down the path. My only hope was that Sinjin had gone in search of food? Maybe he was in the throes of supping on Candy’s blood while fondling her breasts. That thought brought a pinch of jealousy with it but I actually welcomed the spectacle over the alternative of finding Sinjin dead and unrecognizable, reduced to mere dust. He was over six hundred years old, so surely he’d had to seek shelter from the sun before? Probably so, but I found it hard to convince myself, nonetheless.

  I followed the torches into the courtyard where more soldiers continued to exit their assigned rooms, heading for the mouth of the fairy village to take them to the battle site, I presumed.

  “Poppet,” Sinjin’s voice and icy fingers dispersed my thoughts as he pulled me from the midst of our legion.

  “Sinjin!” Relief consumed me as I realized he was absolutely fine, nothing fried or melted about him. “Where have you been?”

  He chuckled. “I stepped out this evening, love, to feed.” He pulled me into him. “Speaking of feeding, you were asleep last eve and missed yours.”

  “Crap!” I blurted, realizing I wasn’t helping my odds of surviving this battle by missing even one opportunity to drink his blood. A panic attack loomed over me but vanished as soon as Sinjin took my hand. Somehow his touch soothed my fear and allowed me to breathe again. He led me off the path and into an alcove of elm trees. We walked down a small ravine and I glanced behind to make sure no one had followed us. I wasn’t sure who was more uncomfortable with the bloodsharing, Sinjin or I. When his privacy was finally satisfied, he stopped walking, pulled me close to him and pierced his wrist. He offered the open puncture as though he was offering milk to a kitten.

  “Where is your armor?” I asked, when I noticed he wasn’t wearing a shred of protection. His usual outfit consisted of dark slacks and sweater or button down shirt but now he wore dark jeans and a black t-shirt.

  He shooed me away with a wave of his unpunctured wrist. “I do not require armor.”

  I was ready to debate that but Sinjin wrapped his arms around me, bringing his wrist to my lips. “Drink, my love,” he crooned, stroking my hair. “You will need it.”

  I closed my eyes, forcing myself not to gag and fastened my lips over his icy vein. After a minute or so and five swallows, I pulled away. The start of a blood headache began in my temples and emanated toward the back of my head.

  Sinjin grasped the back of my neck and forced my mouth back to his sputtering vein. “You need more, pet.”

  I shrugged, but continued sucking, deciding more was better than less. I had to close my eyes, the sight of his blood making me nauseous. I couldn’t get used to the metallic taste as it spurted into my mouth and I had to force myself to swallow. I wouldn’t make a good vampire.

  Without warning, Sinjin pressed me tightly against him, dropping his head back and exhaling deeply. I often wondered if my drinking his blood was in some way sexual for him and I guess I got my answer—it looked like he was ready to lose it right there. His free hand meandered down my back and cupped my butt as he pushed me onto his erection. I stopped drinking, dropped his wrist and threw myself away from him, shocked and angry.

  “Sinjin!” I started but in an instant, he knocked me to the ground and pinned me in the dirt. His fiery eyes glowed white and his fangs were fully extended. Half of me worried he was going to bite me. The other half was riveted by his erection that was now ensconced between my thighs.

  “Get off me,” I gasped, trying to still my beating heart, trying to talk myself into being upset and not out of breath with excitement.

  “This is your final self-defense lesson, love,” Sinjin said, his eyes deadly serious. For a split second I feared he might attack me—there was an angry vehemence in his eyes I’d never seen before. He just appeared so … completely emotionless. And at that point, I realized I didn’t know Sinjin as well as I thought I did. I’d trusted him naively but he was unpredictable and could turn on me at any instant. I wondered if that instant had arrived.

  “We have to meet at the Clava …” I started in a hesitant voice laced with trepidation.

  Sinjin didn’t reply; he just leaned against me while his hands gripped both sides of my waist almost painfully. I braced my hands against his chest, my fear turning to anger and demanded, “What the hell has gotten into you? Have you lost your freaking mind?”

  His hands left my waist, sliding underneath my t-shirt and further still. Before he could reach my breasts, my heels found traction against the loose earth and I shoved away from him. I got up so fast, my head fogged with blood and dizziness and I had to lean against a nearby tree for stabilization. Sinjin was instantly beside me, leaning into me, pushing me against the rough bark of the tree.

  “The warlock is not right for you,” he whispered, restraining my arms behind me with one hand. The other hand gently massaged my waist, moving lower until he ran his hand across my butt.

  “Get your hand off me,” I snapped as I attempted to buck against him, something which was futile. “Any feelings I had for you are in the process of being decimated.”

  He responded by pulling me closer to him, smothering me with his coolly masculine scent. “You will not admit it, Jolie, but you know I speak the truth.”

  Anger swelled inside me and I managed to pull one of my hands free which I used to lash out against him. I smacked his face with all my pent up rage. His neck recoiled with the force of the blow, surprising him long enough that he was temporarily off balance. I wasted no time in bolting in the opposite direction. Before I had the chance to run, he grabbed my hand and with an intense strength, whirled me back around and pressed me against the tree again, this time with my face against the rough bark.

  “To think I trusted you,” I spat, unable to move.

  “You feel a deep connection to me, pet. Do not deny it, for you know it is true.” I could feel his icy breath on my neck. His words seemed to melt all over my body. I closed my eyes and felt a surge of excitement that worried me. It was like his words could dictate my body’s reaction. But that was impossible.

  “The warlock cannot feed the passion within you. He is too good, too noble, and too concerned with morality.”

  “And I’m not?”

  “You are different, poppet. You have a fire in you the warlock cannot satisfy.”

  I scoffed. “And you can?”

  He returned my sarcasm. “You already know the answer to that question.”

  I frowned, not appreciating his comparison of me to himself. Despite all of my issues, I was nothing like Sinjin. I was much more like Rand than Sinjin was willing to admit. I suddenly realized most of Sinjin’s actions of late had stemmed from jealousy. He couldn’t have known what Rand had said to me the previous evening but it didn’t change the tide of desperation in his words and actions. Desperation to keep me away from Rand.

  And just like that, he let me go, leaving me to contemplate his words. But there was nothing to contemplate. Rand was noble, true, but it wasn’t as though I was ignoble. And as for Rand satisfying my passions, he was definitely up to it and then some. I mean, even though he and I hadn’t done the nasty yet, the promise was still there. So take that, you stupid vampire.

  The coldness of the night air felt warm in comparison
to the chill of Sinjin’s body. I glared at him before trudging back up from the ravine, through the trees, and returning to the courtyard. I knew Sinjin would be beside me momentarily.

  “You make it easy to dislike you,” I seethed.

  “The truth is difficult to hear, love.”

  “There is no truth in anything you’ve said. You’re just trying to convince me because you can’t stand the fact that you’ve lost.”

  “Lost?” he asked with a flirtatious smile—like he had information to which I wasn’t privy.

  “Yes, you’ve lost to Rand and you can’t stand it.”

  “Love,” Sinjin started.

  “No more, Sinjin, I don’t want to hear anymore.” I held up my hand to end the conversation and tried to calm my racing heart. I didn’t have time to spar with Sinjin, verbally or otherwise. There was a war on the horizon, and who knew what it would bring. All I did know was that I only cared about terminating Ryder and keeping Rand safe.

  I didn’t wait for a response from Sinjin and instead followed the throng of soldiers as they marched to the entry of the village, leaving Sinjin in my wake. I couldn’t see over the wall of shoulders but soon realized they were dividing into two lines. Each line stood in front of a large and gnarled oak tree, probably as old as Sinjin. The soldiers at the front of the lines placed their hands on the tree trunk and vanished from sight. I walked the few paces that separated me from the last creature in line, a vamp, and shrugged off Sinjin’s fingers as they drummed the nape of my neck and trailed my spine.

  “Love, you are my human or have you forgotten?”

  “Our charade is done,” I spat, not daring to glance behind me. In an effort to escape him, I moved so close to the vamp in front of me that he turned around with an annoyed expression. I had to wrap my arms around myself to ward off the chilly air as I stood between Sinjin and his brethren.

  “Jolie, dear Jolie, do not resent me for speaking an ugly truth.” His fingers caressed my neck and throat as he whispered in my ear.

  “I trust nothing that comes out of your mouth, Sinjin. Everything you do and say arises from your own self interests.”

  It was nearly our turn to go through the portal trees, so Sinjin pulled the skeleton key from his pocket—the same one we’d used to enter the fairy village. I wondered silently if it was a universal key to all fairy villages but wasn’t about to ask. I was still too pissed off.

  “Be that as it may, pet, we have larger issues on which to focus.” Finally, he was thinking about the war. It was about damned time.

  As he approached the tree, the key leapt from his hand and impaled itself into the bark, transforming the tree’s center into a semi-transparent cloud. Without waiting for Sinjin, I stepped through the portal. It took me a second to adjust to my surroundings once I was on the other side because as soon as I stepped through, I walked headlong into … Trent. I quickly stepped to the side but not before I saw his flirtatious smile, highlighted by a beam of moonlight.

  “Sorry,” I muttered in my own voice, forgetting I was incognito. Not that it mattered because Trent clearly had no clue who I was—his eyes revealing no recognition. Instead, they consumed my face and body unapologetically. He was such a player—how had I never realized that before? Well, I guess I had realized it but dismissed the realization all the same. It was a mistake I’d never make again.

  “No problem,” he said with a wolfish glint in his eye. The sound of an owl hooting overhead caught my attention. God, what I wouldn’t have done to switch places with it—to fly away and never look back. But thoughts such as those were useless.

  Trying to reassess my surroundings, I wasn’t able to take in much because the two lines of our legion began to move forward, so I followed. A road sign along the footpath grabbed my attention. It read “Clava Cairns”—something which was a bit difficult to make out in the dark, the clouds having obscured the milky glow of the moon. So we were en route to the ancient burial site. A pang of fear accompanied the realization that we’d soon face Bella’s legion in a matter of seconds but I squelched it, knowing my fear would only be a liability now.

  We trudged through a parking lot and continued following the road signs until the last one proclaimed “Balnuaran of Clava”. We’d reached our destination. The skeletal trees surrounding me dotted a verdant pasture peppered with standing stones, some of which were as tall as me and others even taller. What captured my attention, however, were three strangely circular stone erections. They appeared to be perfect circles comprised of hundreds or maybe thousands of water-worn pebbles, stones, and boulders balanced one on top of another to form circles that were about three feet high and ten feet wide. The inside of the circle was empty—probably where the ancients had buried their kin. Two of the cairns had passageways allowing entry to the circles but one did not. Some of the larger boulders surrounding the cairns were etched with cup-like markings almost like ring indentations.

  I ran my hand across one of the stones and felt a pulsating energy from deep within, as if the stone were alive. I could sense the stone’s longevity in endless years, rendering it timeless. This place had witnessed so much. As I explored the rough markings decorating it, I withdrew my hand, discouraging any visions. I needed to focus all my concentration on my survival.

  I stopped short as the soldiers ahead of me came to a halt. I couldn’t see over their massive heights and was about to weave my way through to see what was happening but the icy clasp of fingers wrapping around my wrist stopped me. I turned to find Sinjin had caught up with me.

  “Poppet, stay with me.”

  I just nodded. Granted, I was still pissed off but it didn’t change the fact that I needed him. Having him by my side in battle was exactly where I wanted him. My chances of surviving this war had probably just risen.

  “Remember your training,” Sinjin continued and his gravity concerned me.

  “I will.” I sighed deeply and tried to subdue the fear that was beginning to spiral out of control. I had to keep my wits.

  He studied me for a moment or two, without saying anything and then waded through the throng of soldiers, leading me by the hand. When we emerged from the crowd, my heart sunk as I watched Rand heading the legion and facing who else but Bella? She stood alone in powerfully confident defiance. She wore dark blue chinos and a forest green sweater with black boots. Her perfect figure combined with her long, massive mane of blackish-red hair arrested me. It seemed like the wind adored her, the way it breezed around her body, ruffling her hair and caressing her face.

  “She is beautiful,” I whispered, startled by the sound of my own voice. She was more beautiful than I remembered.

  Sinjin sneered derisively. “She is hideous.”

  I stopped wasting my time on Bella’s appearance. Instead, I thought about the fact that she was unescorted. It surprised me because I expected her legion to flank her in the same way we supported Rand. Apprehension suddenly pounded through me and my heart began palpitating, echoing the anxiety that was making quick work of my stomach. It was enough for me to bend over and throw up. But luckily for Sinjin, who was standing beside me, I didn’t. Instead, I honed in on what she and Rand were saying.

  “Do you accept our doctrine, Bella?” Rand called from his perch next to one of the ancient standing stones. His cadence was deep, strong, and sure. Even with his back to me, I could tell he was tuned to Bella’s body language.

  “I do,” she replied, with a voice equally unwavering and strong. Her confidence frightened me more than a room full of hungry vampires could have. Why was she agreeing to our terms so easily? Was it just for show? Did she know something we didn’t? Was her legion stronger than ours? I closed my eyes in the confusion of unanswerable questions. I started to hyperventilate, my breathing becoming harsh and irregular.

  “Poppet,” Sinjin reassured me in a strong, even voice. “I am here. You have nothing to fear.”

  I nodded, relishing the steadiness of his hand on my neck. I had to abandon my fear
. I had to get through this.

  “And do you still intend to wage war against us?” Rand demanded.

  Bella didn’t even pause. “I do.” At her words, a circle of blue light surrounded her and Rand.

  “What is that?” I asked.

  “The magic seal,” Sinjin answered. “Binding the battle pact, ensuring neither side will attempt to break the battle bond. It is also a failsafe to ensure neither side … cheats.”

  Hmm, well that was good to know. I returned my attention to the image of Rand and Bella before me. Rand’s jaw tightened but he was quick to mask any anger.

  “Very well. We shall meet you and your legion at Culloden.” As he turned to face his army, the sag of his shoulders revealed his weary resignation. Did he really think Bella would retreat from our declaration of war? I couldn’t imagine she would but who could say what went on in Rand’s head. I had no clue as to what the warlock was thinking, or planning. But in that one moment of seeing him address his army, I felt incredible pride. Pride to know him and love him. Pride that he was so noble and honorable.

  My adoring thoughts were suddenly interrupted by the sounds of hollering. At first the sound seemed to be distant but the more I listened, the more the yelling surrounded us, almost as though it was coming from the trees. Rand’s face wore an expression of shock, no, anger. I rubbed the amber amulet around my neck and I prayed. Without knowing who or what I should pray to, I closed my eyes and prayed we would survive and that Bella’s forces would not be victorious.

  “Bloody bitch,” Sinjin seethed, yanking me behind one of the freestanding boulders. He placed himself in front of me and stood, bracing himself as if for an attack.

  “What’s …?” I started.

  “Bella has ambushed us,” he said matter-of-factly, and no sooner had he announced it than Bella’s soldiers emerged from the trees like ants defending their hole.