“Shhh.” She pulled back and placed her finger on his full lips. “Don’t even speak of him. I want to forget he ever existed.”
“I hope you can. I hope we both can.”
“What about Demitri? Will he keep his word and come after Elizabeth?” Terror clutched her heart. She couldn’t stand the idea of anyone, much less another vampire, threatening her family.
“He said he’ll give us some time. We’ll work something out. Everything will be okay.”
She shook her head. “You’ve said that before, Sebastian. They always have a way of tracking us down. We can’t pretend his threat wasn’t real. Even if he’s not coming right away, he’ll still come. And we need to consider the fact that he knew about Elizabeth and what she can do. That must mean word of her has spread around your kind. I don’t know how, because I’m sure you wouldn’t talk to others about her abilities.”
He frowned. “Of course not. But different vampires have different strengths. Another vampire may have picked up on Elizabeth’s powers telepathically and reported back to Demitri.”
“I can’t tell you how much this all scares me.”
He held her close. “Me too, but I don’t think Demitri will just take her. He enjoys the drama too much. He’ll make sure I fight him for her.”
Her hold on him tightened. She wanted Sebastian to go up against Demitri almost as much as she wanted Demitri to take Elizabeth. “You’re not making me feel any better.”
“Sorry. I just want this to be all right again. I want you and Elizabeth to be safe. I hate that what I am always seems to put you both in harm’s way.”
“It’s not because of what you are that’s put Elizabeth in Demitri’s path. It’s because of what she is.”
“She’s half vampire, Serenity. If it wasn’t for me, she’d be fully human.”
She twisted to face him and caught his chin between her fingers, focusing his eyes on hers. “If it wasn’t for you, she wouldn’t be here at all. I had multiple pregnancies with Jackson, but lost the babies; my body simply couldn’t nurture them. Elizabeth was so strong. She survived despite my body’s weaknesses. I believe she survived when the others didn’t because of her genetics—because she is half vampire.”
He shook his head slightly, his eyes downcast, lips pressed together. “I hate that you’ve been through so much pain in your life.”
“I’d go through it all again as long as it ended up with me being here with you, our daughter asleep in the room next door.”
He touched her face and she pressed her cheek into the cool cup of his palm, and kissed the inside of his wrist.
“Nothing else matters but you and Elizabeth,” she said. “I’m home.
Chapter Sixteen
Elizabeth’s eyes sprang open with the certainty she was not alone. The looming dark shadow of a man stood over her. His long hair fell on either side of his face. His pale skin had an eerie glow in the low light. Shadows cast by her nightlight made his features appear even darker—as though his eye sockets were no more than holes in his face.
She wasn’t surprised to find him standing in her bedroom; she’d just been dreaming of him.
Elizabeth sat herself up in bed. “I’m not dreaming anymore, am I?”
A smile played on his lips. “Not this time, child.”
“Are you going to take me away?”
“Yes, I am. I made your mother well again and you are my payment.”
“My mommy and Sebastian would never give me away.”
“Do you want your mommy to get sick again? I could take away her memory like that!” He snapped his fingers, the click cutting through the silent night.
Elizabeth’s lower lip trembled. “I don’t want you to do that.”
“Then I suggest you come with me and not make a fuss,” he said, holding out his hand. “I’ve no intention of hurting you, child. In fact, I’d like us to grow to love each other. With your clever abilities, I’m sure we will have so much fun.”
“But I don’t want to.” Her lower lip started to wobble.
“You have no choice.” He caught her up in his arms, fast and strong. Elizabeth opened her mouth to shout for help, but before she’d got the chance, his cold hand clamped over her lips, preventing her cry.
“Shhh,” he spoke in her ear. “You wouldn’t want me to hurt your mommy, would you?”
Elizabeth forced herself to push her fear deep inside her. She believed the man when he said he wouldn’t hurt her, but she still didn’t want to go anywhere with him. She’d only just got her mommy back. She wanted to stay with Mommy and Sebastian.
Though she was used to traveling with Sebastian, this journey was different. This creature moved so quickly, Elizabeth didn’t even sense the motion. One moment they stood in her bedroom, the next in the city, the next out in the countryside. Elizabeth didn’t feel the wind rushing past her face, as she did when Sebastian carried her. Instead, there was a strange lurching motion and, in the next moment, they were somewhere else.
She closed her eyes and tried to push her thoughts ahead, tried to see this person’s intentions, but her mind remained blank. She didn’t have enough control yet to be able to choose a precise time and location to look into. Instead, the visions came to her randomly and suddenly. She might be able to see what was going to happen to her, but she couldn’t force the vision to happen.
The strange movement of this man was unlike any she’d experienced before. It made her head spin and her stomach started to churn the way it did when she’d eaten too much cake, or sometimes when Bridget took her out in the car.
He stopped barely long enough for her to get the briefest glimpse of her surroundings—a forest, a city, an empty highway—before he took off again, a sudden flash of almost unnoticeable movement, interjected with a brief stop.
She wished Sebastian carried her now. The thought made her want to cry. He always stopped and asked her if she was okay. Her daddy would have cared if she felt sick.
Her resolve broke down and she sobbed, keeping her face turned from the vampire’s shoulder. Eventually she dropped into a light, exhausted sleep, despite her fear.
Only when the vampire came to a standstill did Elizabeth fully rouse herself. They were in a new city now; a place she didn’t recognize. The city rushed around her, people brushing past them with their heads down, music blaring from car stereos as they drove by. Oil shimmered on the road. Meat hissed on the grill of a hotdog vendor. All the commotion was almost as confusing and disorientating to Elizabeth as the race through the night. She wished she was at home, safe and comfortable in her bed.
The vampire put her down on the sidewalk. Her bare feet met with the cold pavement and she shivered. He’d not thought to get her dressed or grab a coat for her—the cold was never a consideration for a vampire—and the chill on the night air had worked its way into her bones. He reached down and took hold of her hand. She knew trying to run or shout for help would be pointless. He’d snatch her up and run before anyone even turned their heads. Even if they did notice her, another human could do nothing to help.
The vampire ducked down an alley and, in a flash, his name came to her, written on her brain in big, neon letters. Demitri.
Of course it was; hadn’t her father told her already? Only Sebastian had said something slightly different, she just couldn’t remember what.
Up ahead were more neon words; each letter a couple of feet high and attached to the wall above a door. Somehow those letters had got twisted around in her brain, revealing his name to her. Quickly, she read the sign; The Danger Zone. She didn’t know what ‘zone’ meant, but she understood the meaning of ‘danger’ all too well. At least now she knew her location should she get the chance to call for help.
People wearing revealing outfits stood in a line in front of the painted black doors. Elizabeth and Demitri passed them on one side, but none of them paid any attention to the strange pale man and the small girl dressed in only her pajamas; they purposefully averted their
gazes.
A big man and a lady with short blonde hair stood at the front of the line, letting some people in and turning others away.
No, not a man and a woman, Elizabeth realized—two more vampires.
Demitri breezed past. “Natasha,” he snapped at the blonde. The female vampire, needing no other instruction, followed them as they walked through the black doors.
Walls enclosed around them, loud music thumping in her ears. It was dark but lights flashed and swooped. They walked through a short corridor and then out into a huge room. People danced, heat and the scent of sweat filling the air. Elizabeth cowered at Demitri’s side, wanting to disappear. Demitri whisked through the people and exited via another door. They walked down a passage, taking a number of twists and turns, until the sounds of music grew faint. Eventually, they entered a huge room with shiny wooden floors and a curved ceiling covered in paintings. At the far end of the room sat a massive desk made of a dark wood.
Demitri dropped Elizabeth’s hand and rounded the table to take his place in a big leather chair behind the desk. He swung his legs up onto the desk’s polished surface and leaned back, his fingertips touching.
Elizabeth was only too aware of the blonde vampire—Natasha—standing behind her. Danger radiated from the female, burning into Elizabeth’s narrow back.
“Is this what all the fuss is about?” Natasha asked. “Doesn’t look like anything special to me.”
“It’s not what she looks like,” Demitri smiled. “Smell her.”
Natasha’s eyes narrowed but she took a couple of steps until she stood beside Elizabeth. She bent and inhaled through her nose and a smile played on her lips.
“She’s not human.”
“Not fully. To drink from her would be like feeding from another vampire.”
Natasha wrinkled her nose. “Ugh.” She reached out and grabbed Elizabeth, her cold fingers wrapping around Elizabeth’s tiny upper-arm.
“Get off me,” said Elizabeth, wanting to seem bigger and older than she was but knowing she failed miserably.
The blonde ignored her and addressed her master. “So she can predict the future?”
“Yes. Not well yet, but I believe if I can strengthen her vampire side, her powers will also increase.”
Natasha raised her eyebrows. “Sounds interesting.”
“I hope so, though I am expecting some interference from her father. He may have to be dealt with.”
“Vincent and I can take care of him.”
Demitri laughed. “Don’t be a fool. He’s stronger than both of you put together.”
Natasha cowered at the rebuke and Elizabeth experienced a brief burst of satisfaction. Sebastian was stronger. She resisted the urge to stick her tongue out at the blonde.
The words burst from her lips, an almost joyous elation building inside her. “Sebastian is going to be real mad when he finds out I’m gone. He’ll come after me and you’ll be sorry when he does.”
The long-haired vampire laughed. In an instant he was out of his chair and standing directly in front of her. His finger touched her chin, tilting her face to him. Elizabeth set her small jaw and forced herself to stare him back.
“So feisty,” he said. “I like that! You and I are going to get along just fine.”
“My daddy, Sebastian, will come and get me real soon.”
“Sure, child, sure. You tell yourself that if it makes you feel better.” He crouched in front of her. “Now, close your eyes and tell me what you see?”
She frowned, her lower lip protruding. “I don’t understand.”
“Now, now, don’t give me that. I want to know what you can see in the future.”
Her frown deepened. “I can’t see anything.”
The creature before her growled in response and his eyes flashed a bright yellow. Elizabeth gave a cry of surprise and stumbled back, but his hand shot out and caught her upper arm, his grip like a band of ice around her skin.
She tried to tug away but he held her firm.
“I don’t see anything!” she cried. “It doesn’t work like that. I can’t make it happen.”
All her reserve gone, she started to cry. She wanted to be brave, knew Mommy and Sebastian would be telling her to be strong, be brave—but she was scared and she wanted to go home. The bad man hadn’t even let her pick up her comfort blanket before he took her, and she couldn’t sleep without it.
The vampire addressed the blonde. “Go and get our little child a drink from the special fridge. You know the one I mean…”
Her eyes widened. “Are you sure?”
“Don’t question me. Now go.”
The female spun on her heels and vanished, the door slamming in her wake.
Demitri crouched in front of Elizabeth. “You know what you are, don’t you?”
Elizabeth didn’t answer. More tears sprung in her eyes. “I just want to go home.”
“You are a Dhampyre, Elizabeth. A child of a human mother and a vampire father. Your kind is rare, very rare indeed. And for you to have such extraordinary powers when you’re still so young is most exciting. Your parents thought I should wait until you are a young woman before I tried to use your visions for my own benefit, but then I started thinking about the one thing that intertwines your becoming a young woman and being a vampire. Blood.”
Elizabeth had no idea what he was talking about, his words lost in her fear and panic. She put her hands over her face and sobbed, “I want my Mommy.”
“Hush now, child. I’m sure you do. But you’re going to have to learn to live without her. I’m sure both she and you’re father will be here soon to try to reclaim you and I will be forced to deal with them. But, in time, you will forget them and come to think of me as your father. That is the beauty of your youth—in time, you will forget.”
“I won’t forget them. I won’t!”
He let out a theatrical sigh. “I guess time will tell.” He clapped twice in quick secession and the door behind her opened. Natasha strode back in, a black marble, long-stemmed cup in her hands. Her eyes were locked on the cup, her fangs protruding. She looked at Elizabeth and snarled.
Elizabeth didn’t like her; the blonde frightened her.
“Have you ever tried blood, child?”
Elizabeth wrinkled her nose. “That’s disgusting.”
But the drink held beneath her nose didn’t smell disgusting. In fact, the aroma was heavenly—like liquid chocolate, only richer. Saliva flooded her mouth, and, at the same time, all the moisture sapped from her throat. She tried to swallow but the action hurt. Her throat had constricted, as though she’d swallowed red-hot, burning sand. Somehow she knew only the thick, dark fluid held before her would make her throat better.
Elizabeth had never wanted anything more in her life. With the typical self-control of a six year old, she snatched the cup from Natasha’s hands. Without another thought, she brought the heavy drinking vessel to her lips.
Heat sparked at her center, like a little nugget of hot coal. She took a sip and its warmth flared within her. The smooth liquid soothed her ravaged throat and she gulped it down.
Energy pulsed through her limbs, a trippy beat that matched her racing heart, but once again her throat was painfully dry. She tried to swallow and discovered she couldn’t.
Elizabeth held out the drained cup. “More.”
Demitri gave a bark of laughter. “Really? I never imagined this would be so easy.”
“I’m thirsty,” she whispered, but even as she spoke the words an unimaginable guilt fell over her. Mommy and Sebastian wouldn’t want her to be taking things from this man, yet she couldn’t help herself. Her whole body raged for the fluid in the cup. She wanted it like she’d never wanted anything before.
“Please?” she said, more tears filling her eyes. “Please, can I have some more?”
He made a sound close to a chuckle and pried the cup from her hands
“Natasha, you heard our little guest.” He held out the empty cup. The blonde t
ook it from him and spun from the room, the door banging in her wake.
Within seconds she was back again, the cup refilled.
Elizabeth drank the liquid down, a trickle slipping down her chin. She wiped the fluid away with the back of her hand and was surprised to see red smeared across her pale skin. Had she known what she was drinking? Yes, she had known. After all, Demitri had told her. She’d just chosen to ignore the fact because she’d wanted the drink so badly.
A thin whine of despair escaped her throat.
“There, there,” said Demitri. He reached down and ruffled the top of her hair, smiling down on her like a proud father. “You and I are going to get along just fine.”
Chapter Seventeen
Before Serenity even woke fully, her hand strayed to the other side of the bed, hoping to find Sebastian beside her. Her fingers met with nothing but the cool sheets and she opened her eyes, disappointed.
Serenity sighed and rolled over, her hand tucked beneath her head. Would they ever be able to sleep together in an actual sense? She knew Sebastian felt awkward about sleeping in front of her, and truthfully, the thought weirded her out a little as well. When awake, Sebastian positively thrummed with energy and strength. To see him lying so still and cold seemed a bit too unsettling.
She lifted her gaze to the blind covering the windows. From the slight shift in color from total black to an almost dark gray, she realized morning had come. Sebastian would be back in his own room, she assumed in his bed, or possibly under it. He didn’t need to worry about exposure to daylight in his own home—he’d made sure blackout blinds had been fitted in all of the upstairs windows.
There was no clock in the room to tell her the time, but she guessed it was mid-morning at least. They’d not fallen asleep until the early hours so sleeping late was only to be expected. Elizabeth must still be in bed or Serenity was sure she’d have come charging into the room by now.
Serenity sat up, swinging her legs off the side of the bed. She’d go and wake Elizabeth. She wanted to see the joy in her daughter’s eyes when she woke up to find her mommy looking down at her.
The Serenity Series: Box Set: Books 1-3 Page 57
