The Serenity Series: Box Set: Books 1-3

by Marissa Farrar

The few tourists still hanging around ran from the dust, afraid they’d inhale whatever the freakish material was.

  Sebastian’s shoulders sagged in relief. Finally, it was done. Jackson was dead and they would be free to get on with their lives as a family.

  The wail of a police siren cut through the night air, quickly joined by a second, and then a third. In this high security area, with the threat of terrorism never far from people’s minds, something like a murder out in the open was always going to bring the cops running.

  Of course, the witnesses would struggle to describe what they had seen, and now, with Jackson as little more than dust in the air, they didn’t even have a body as proof. Sebastian knew people would start to question what they’d seen before long. In order to save their sanity and hang onto the fragile facade of what they thought they knew, they’d block out the truth in favor of a more realistic explanation—two men fighting, only for both to take off before the cops got there.

  With Jackson dealt with, Sebastian’s attention turned to locating the whereabouts of Serenity and their daughter.

  Chapter Four

  The moment Sebastian attacked Jackson, Elizabeth ran to Serenity’s side.

  “Mommy?” she said, taking Serenity’s hand. Her fingers felt like bone, as though she’d taken hold of the hand of a skeleton.

  Serenity glanced down, but no recognition or pleasure lit her dark eyes. She stared at Elizabeth as though she not only didn’t know who she was, but that she barely believed a little girl was holding her hand at all.

  “It’s me, Mommy,” Elizabeth said, tugging on her hand. “Come on, we’ve got to go!”

  Serenity didn’t even look back to where Sebastian now crouched on top of Jackson, to where the vampire was about to tear out the throat of the monster who’d held her captive for such a long time. Instead, she walked forward, shuffling along like an old woman, allowing herself to be led.

  “We’ve got to go faster,” Elizabeth said, dragging her along. Obediently, Serenity picked up her pace.

  Elizabeth didn’t know where she was headed, only that she wanted to disappear into the crowds and get as far away from Jackson as possible. Sebastian had told her to get away and she planned to do exactly that. Tourists stood, gathered around the fight, watching with a mixture of distaste and captivation. When Sebastian’s teeth flashed white and he raised his head briefly before striking, his yellow eyes glowed in the dark and a rippled murmur went around the crowd, a nervousness that had not been present before. A second later, Sebastian struck and screams echoed around them.

  Elizabeth pushed through the crowds, people pressed in on every side. She couldn’t see above them so simply pressed forward. Then the people started to move, scrambling to get away from the scene unfolding before them. Elizabeth and Serenity were carried along in the crowd.

  The thought that Sebastian wouldn’t find them again never crossed Elizabeth’s mind. The past two years spent in her father’s company had shown her how powerful he was. Sebastian was like a superhero she saw on television—with his ability to move so fast she sometimes couldn’t see him, and he had amazing hearing and sight. He was stronger than anyone else’s daddy, though Elizabeth knew she wasn’t allowed to talk about it, however much she wanted to boast about him to her friends. Both he and Uncle James had warned her if anyone ever thought there was something different about him, people might come and take her to live with another family. Elizabeth didn’t need to be told twice.

  Bodies buffeted her on every side and Elizabeth stumbled, losing her grip on her mother’s hand. She thought she was about to fall and panic fired through her. Hands caught her from behind, holding her upright and propelling her on. Elizabeth glanced back to discover Serenity had caught her. She flashed her mother a quick smile, but she still saw no recognition in her fathomless eyes. Serenity had reacted but perhaps only through instinct. Even so, this small amount of awareness, amount of care, made Elizabeth want to cry.

  Her mother’s hands remained on Elizabeth’s upper arms and Elizabeth reached up and covered one with her own.

  More screams came from behind and they hurried on. Despite the mass of people, Jackson would still find them if he somehow managed to get away from Sebastian.

  As they increased the distance between them and the fight, people dispersed over the huge landscaped area, leaving them with breathing space. Still, Elizabeth didn’t stop. Her mind was programmed with one thing—get away, get away, get away. Losing her mother two years earlier had been her fault and, while that might be a hard thing for a six-year-old to carry on her shoulders, she had no intention of bearing the same guilt twice.

  Someone suddenly appeared in front of them. Elizabeth almost collided with the set of legs, but a hand reached out and caught her before she did. She shrieked, then realized who it was and the scream turned into a relieved laugh.

  “Sebastian!” She took in the sight of the black blood covering his face and one of his hands. A rank stench came off him. She wrinkled her nose. “Ugh, gross. You really stink.”

  Sebastian tore a piece of material from the bottom of his shirt, his eyes briefly flicking to Serenity as he did so. He used the cloth to wipe his face and hand and then dumped it in a waiting trashcan.

  “Better?” he asked and Elizabeth nodded.

  “Is he dead?”

  Again, Sebastian’s eyes focused on Serenity. “Dead and gone. For good this time. But we still need to get out of here. The police will be here soon, asking questions. None of us should be anywhere close when they get here.”

  “Can we go home?” she asked, her heart giving a happy little skip.

  Sebastian’s gaze once again flicked to Serenity but she made no attempt to protest or ask any questions.

  “Sure.”

  Sebastian pulled Elizabeth to his side and faced Serenity. He reached out and touched her cheek, her skin cool and waxy beneath his touch. She didn’t react to his touch—neither flinched, nor leaned into his hand—her eyes remaining impassive.

  “I’ve missed you so much,” he said, but Serenity didn’t respond. “Do you know who we are?”

  Her eyes darted between him and Elizabeth. Finally she spoke, her voice a mere whisper. “I don’t know who I am.”

  “We know who you are,” Elizabeth piped up, full of enthusiasm. “We’ll help you remember.”

  Sebastian nodded. “She’s right. This must all be terrifying for you, but we’ll make you better. We’ll make everything better again, I promise.”

  Inwardly he recoiled, his words reminding him of the promise he’d made to protect them two years earlier and how badly he’d failed.

  He wouldn’t break another promise.

  “I have to carry you to get us home,” he said, studying her face. She was so different from the woman he remembered. When they’d first met and Jackson had been beating on her, he’d still seen a fire behind her bruised and beaten exterior. Even worse was comparing her to the strong and balanced woman he’d been reunited with two years ago. Serenity had been through so much—alone—and yet she’d survived and not only built her own life, but had raised a beautiful daughter by herself.

  This woman was a shell. He could see none of Serenity in her.

  “I understand,” she said. “I had to travel that way with my master.”

  Sebastian physically flinched at the term. “Never call him that! He wasn’t your master. He was your kidnapper and he doesn’t even deserve to be given a name. He’s nothing but dust now and he’ll stay that way.”

  Doubt flickered across her still beautiful, yet ravaged face. “I don’t know how to believe anything anymore.”

  He reached out and took her hand. “You can believe me—me and Elizabeth. We won’t lie to you.”

  “You feel like him,” she said. “You’re cold like my master.”

  Sebastian’s heart almost tore itself in two and he gritted his teeth, trying to suppress the emotion raging within him. To be compared to Jackson from Serenity’s own li
ps hurt in a way he couldn’t fathom. He kept his eyes lowered, knowing they would be burning in the night and his fangs threatened to elongate.

  “He’s not your master,” he growled. “He never was.”

  Elizabeth warm palm slipped into his and he looked down at their daughter. Her wide, dark eyes stared up at him and she gave him a small smile.

  “She doesn’t remember. Let’s just go home now, okay?”

  He nodded. “Okay.”

  Sebastian tentatively drew Serenity toward him, worried about her reaction. But she allowed herself to be pulled to his side. With one arm wrapped around the top of her thighs, he lifted her onto his hip. Automatically, she folded her arms around his neck and he had to stop himself turning his head and burying his face against the crook of her elbow. Jackson’s scent still surrounded her, though he imagined it also clung to him.

  Elizabeth reached for him and he bent and scooped her up.

  Across his chest, she reached out and touched her mother’s hair. “I missed you, Mommy.”

  Serenity didn’t answer.

  His heart broke for the tenth time that night.

  With his family back in his arms for the first time in two years, Sebastian took off through the night. He still had several hours till dawn but he didn’t want to leave Elizabeth and Serenity together without him being able to spend some time with them first. Plus, he needed to let Bridget know what was happening. She’d freak at a strange, vacant woman suddenly wandering around the house.

  Sebastian expected Serenity to sleep during the day, keeping to the routine of a vampire—or whatever half-breed monster Jackson had been. Just because Jackson could walk in the light, didn’t mean that he did as a habit. His kind was always drawn to darkness and the fact that the sun didn’t harm him didn’t mean he would have wanted to bathe in it.

  He’d keep Elizabeth off school for the next couple of days. She deserved to get to spend time with her mother after everything they’d been through. With her nocturnal adventure, she’d probably end up sleeping all day as well, but Sebastian still wanted Bridget around in case Elizabeth woke before nightfall.

  He ran; his two loves clutched to his body, close to his heart. Wind caused by his velocity tore around his body, whipping his clothes back, pulling the skin back from his face. The miles flew beneath his feet, leaving the city and forests behind them. He was focused on his house in the hills, in getting Serenity and Elizabeth within the four walls. For the first time, he realized, he’d thought of the place as a home, as a place of sanctuary. Before, the house was only a building, yet now he craved to be back there.

  Serenity didn’t recognize the identity of the people who’d taken her into their lives. By the way they smiled and spoke in calm voices, she assumed they didn’t plan on causing her any harm. They told her they knew her and she took some comfort in their words, but the confused void she existed in hadn’t dispersed.

  Being held in this man’s arms felt strange, but not in a bad way. His masculine and heady scent caused her slow beating heart to trip faster. The hard muscle of his bicep curved into her waist, holding her close with firm tenderness. She rested her face in the crook of his neck and closed her eyes. Her lips pressed against his cool skin, the tiny hairs at the base of his neck tickling her nose. Only inches from her head, on the other side of the man’s broad throat, the little girl’s head was buried into his shoulder. Her dark hair flew back in streamers and she clung to him as though her life depended upon it. The presence of the child stirred something deep inside of her—not recognition—but something. The aura the child gave off made her think of all the times she’d sensed someone close. When she’d felt as though she wasn’t alone.

  Though thankful for her master’s death, it also made her nervous. She was incapable of thinking either forward or back, and now, even the small amount of her life she’d come accustomed to had vanished. Even though she’d despised him, she’d only known life with her master. The idea that he was gone left her feeling as though she were suspended above a void with someone about to cut the rope.

  The pale-skinned man with the piercing green eyes flew through the night, perhaps no faster than her master had moved, but certainly with more grace. With her master no longer around, Serenity became aware of the stench her own body gave off; a result of being kept so close to her master for so long. The smell also clung to the man, but not at the strength she emitted, as though it were entrenched in the depths of her pores.

  Her body odor embarrassed her. Something inside her gut writhed in a tight knot. Everything made her self-conscious now. What sort of person was she to not know anything—that she was so forgettable she’d even forgotten herself?

  They stopped on the outskirts of a city she could not name, allowing them a respite, though the man did not seem affected by the long journey. Serenity sat on the cold, hard ground; her arms wrapped around her legs.

  She watched the man and child exchange glances. The man removed his jacket and wrapped it around Serenity’s shoulders. She flinched when his hands made contact with her shoulders, unused to any touch that didn’t inflict pain.

  “I don’t know your names,” she admitted.

  “This is Elizabeth,” he said, drawing the little girl to his side. “My name is Sebastian.”

  “I’m Serenity,” she said. Then she added, “I think.”

  Elizabeth grinned, “You definitely are.”

  “Ready to go?” Sebastian asked her. Unsure of what other answer to give, she nodded.

  He pulled them both into his arms again and she settled into the comfort of his strength. She wanted to know this man. To be held in his arms for even a second made up for the time she’d spent in the cold embrace of her master.

  She lost track of time as he continued to run through the night, passing numerous towns and cities. Finally, the pinprick of lights of another big city grew brighter and she realized they weren’t heading past this city but deeper into it.

  Above them, huge white letters spelled out ‘Hollywood’, hanging as though suspended in the night sky. Had she seen these letters before? Had she been here with her master? She wasn’t sure but the sight stirred something within her.

  Within minutes, they’d stopped outside of a set of tall iron gates, a seven-foot wall stretching on either side. Carefully, the man lowered both her and the child to the ground, so they stood, flanking him. Through the bars of the gates she saw a beautiful house with a double-fronted door, gravel driveway and pillars around the porch.

  The man took a set of keys from his pocket and pressed a button on a key-fob. In front of them the gates slowly opened.

  The girl ran on ahead, skipping over the gravel.

  His hand settled around her waist and he helped her toward the front steps of the building. Behind them, the gates automatically closed.

  The house was more luxurious than anything she’d been inside before. She’d been living out in the open or buried beneath the earth and the thought of being enclosed within four walls and a roof made her insides tremor with uncertainty.

  Her emotions were still tamped down and she was unable to react to her sudden case of nerves. Everything her master had subjected her to had left her as a shell and no matter what she suffered, it felt like only a hint of what she should be experiencing.

  She didn’t exactly have a whole lot of choices. This man, Sebastian, had told her that she didn’t have a master. Without a master, what was she supposed to do with herself? She could hardly take off alone and build a new life. She was nothing but a ghost in her own world.

  Perhaps she had a new master now. She glanced at the beautiful man beside her. Maybe he would be the one to help her remember. But what, she wondered, would he want in return?

  Chapter Five

  Sebastian allowed Elizabeth to run ahead, through the front door. He went to help Serenity up the couple of steps leading up to the entrance, but there was no strength in her legs. He scooped her up and her arms looped around his neck. Agai
n the amount of weight loss she’d suffered struck him. Her wrists and forearms were skeletal, her thighs not much bigger than her arms. Her weight would never have meant anything to Sebastian, but right now she probably only weighed a fraction more than Elizabeth.

  “You need to eat,” he told her as he carried her through the front door. “You’re wasting away.”

  She shook her head against him. “I can’t.”

  “Yes, you can. I can get you whatever you want—pizza, Chinese, Mexican—anything you desire.”

  “Please… don’t. Even the thought of putting something in my mouth makes me sick.”

  “Then I need to get you to a hospital. You need to be put on a drip.”

  She shook her head again. “No hospitals. I don’t want to go anywhere else.” She lifted her hand, inspecting it, as if suddenly noticing the thick grime wedged beneath her nail-beds, the filth covering her skin.

  “I’m dirty,” she said, pointing out the fact.

  “Okay,” said Sebastian, heading toward to huge curved staircase at the back of the house. “Let’s get you cleaned up.”

  Elizabeth ran along behind them as he mounted the stairs, taking them two at a time. His big house in the Hollywood Hills was like a different place now that Elizabeth had moved in. Before, it had only looked like a place someone pretended to live in. Perfectly furnished and with a fridge full of food in case suspicions were aroused, the place had been more like a stage house. With Elizabeth, the house had become a home. Photographs of her were framed and hung on the wall or placed on the hall console. They were of important times—her first day at school, riding a bike, writing her first words.

  All things Serenity had missed out on and would never get back.

  He took her to Elizabeth’s bedroom—the room both she and Elizabeth had used before she’d been taken. The adjoining bathroom contained a large tub and Sebastian took her directly into the en-suite, not wanting to put her on the bed. Jackson’s stench still clung to her—as it probably did him—and he didn’t want to taint Elizabeth’s bed with the smell.