Jeremiah let out a frustrated sigh and cursed under his breath.
“Jeremiah, calm down,” my father urged. “There’s nothing we can do now.”
“Sure, there is,” he hissed. “We can find whoever did this and tear them into pieces.”
“But Jeremiah,” Bethani’s sweet voice chimed in from behind him. “That would make a mess. Don’t you think an arrow to the head would be much cleaner?”
“Or perhaps just tearing off the legs would suffice,” Ctephanyi smirked, overhearing the conversation.
“We could always sic Snow on them,” Elias offered. “I hear she’s quite deadly.”
Snow barked loudly, and they all let out a hearty laugh, even Jeremiah, who had found humor in their comments.
I looked at the smiling faces that surrounded me and noticed one face was missing—Nicolai. I peered past them and saw nothing. My heart sank, but I knew he would be back. We were destined to be together and nothing could separate us, not even death.
I glanced back up at the people I cared so deeply for. They had so much love in their hearts and I knew that any one of them would do anything to protect me. I just prayed I could return the favor when the time came for me to make my choice.
Chapter 28
Evil Imitations
The sun set and another day had passed us by. We were running out of time and so much had happened in the past few days. I sat down to reflect on it and smiled to myself, knowing everything would turn out the way it was supposed to. I was confident in the love that I felt for Nicolai, who had gone missing the night before. I was confident he was off looking for whoever had tried to kill us. I was confident in the love I felt for the twins that grew in my womb, and I was confident in the love that I felt for Daniel.
I started my morning off feeling rather queasy and passed on the breakfast that Jeremiah had so kindly cooked up for us. I was tired and moody, so I tried to rest up as best I could underneath a large tree that provided shade from the sun’s warm rays. The ground was lumpy and uncomfortable, so no matter which way I laid, I just couldn’t manage to fall asleep.
“Come,” I whispered, coaxing the moss to comfort my aching back. It snaked across the ground and cradled my tired body under its soft tendrils. I breathed a sigh of relief as the sandman finally graced me with sound sleep.
For the first time in days I slept without dreaming. No nightmares, no glimpses of the future. It was wonderful.
I felt soft hands shake my shoulders gently. “Angelina?”
“Hmm?” I groaned, not wanting to open my eyes.
“You need to get up, we have to get moving,” a familiar voice urged.
I groaned again. “Five more minutes?”
“Five more minutes and I’m going to let Snow bathe you in kisses,” the voice warned.
I knew that voice well—it was the man I loved, the father of my unborn children—it was Nicolai. My eyes flew open and I found myself staring into his gorgeous fiery orange eyes. “You’re back,” I breathed slowly.
He kissed me softly. “I love you.”
“I love you too.” I kissed him in return. “And I’m sorry.”
He caressed my cheek lovingly. “My world would be no more if you were not in it.”
Guilt began to swarm my thoughts. “Nicolai, there’s something…”
“We have to go,” Jeremiah called out frantically. “We have to go now!”
I pushed past Nicolai and jumped to my feet. “What’s wrong?”
“What isn’t wrong?” Jeremiah pointed towards the sky.
He was right, the blue sky had begun to darken in the distance, but it wasn’t due to storm clouds—it was something else and it was moving at a tremendous speed.
I stared at the fast-approaching darkness. “What is that?”
Nicolai grabbed my hand and pulled me lightly, “Jeremiah’s right, we have to go.”
Snow yelped ahead of us. “Snow!” I whistled, beckoning her to come to me. She let out another yelp followed by a deep growl. I let go of Nicolai’s hand and ran towards the sound. “Snow, come on, girl,” I called out. “Where are you?”
In one swift motion, Bethani had her bow in hand, ready to fire. “Angelina, watch out!” she said, an arrow flying past my face.
I ducked immediately, and by the horrified look on her face, I knew it was something very bad.
Snow yelped again, and I refocused on finding her. Stumbling over a fallen log, I flew forward, my hands grazing across something sharp. Then I saw her. Off in the distance, I could make out a small ball of white fluff. Ignoring the gashes on my palms, I pulled myself up off the ground.
“Get down!” Bethani rammed into me, and we both slid across the hard ground. An arrow whizzed past the both of us. Whatever or whoever this was obviously had it out for me.
“Cover me.”
Bethani nodded. “Ready?” she whispered.
I nodded.
“Now!” she screamed, aiming her bow at something nearby. She let her arrow fly, and I ran as fast as my short legs would carry me. Bethani’s scream had caught Snow’s attention and she began running towards us.
She let out a long, vicious howl, her tail wagging triumphantly behind her. I peered past my white fluffy friend and saw what appeared to be a human figure lying in the fetal position on the ground. Snow turned back momentarily to check and make sure her attacker stayed in place and in one swift movement, disappeared into the brush behind me.
Moving forward cautiously, I felt my face twist into sheer surprise. “Stephen?”
His eyes flew open and he hopped to his feet. “Aw crap, I recognize that voice.”
I stumbled backwards. “You’re not hurt?” I asked, eying him up.
He snickered and dusted himself off. “Of course not.”
“Then why were you curled into a ball on the ground?
He rolled his eyes. “Because that blasted white ball of fluff wouldn’t get off my nuts unless I let it win.”
I couldn’t help but let out a girlish giggle. “I thought you were invincible.”
“Same annoying sense of humor, I see,” he said.
Shooting him a snide look, I replied, “Yeah, I see your cocky demeanor hasn’t changed much either.”
He grew quiet.
“What’s wrong?” I asked.
He glanced past me. Something had caught his eye. “Don’t get mad at me, okay?”
“For what?”
“For this,” he said, throwing his weight into me.
We both fell to the ground with a thud. With a disgusted look on my face, I pushed him off me, and looked around. Suddenly, something jumped through the brush and disappeared. “What was that?”
Stephen jumped to his feet. “You don’t want to know.”
“Of course I want to know.”
He shrugged. “Fine, but you’re not going to like it.”
I stood up and shot him a cocky look. “There are quite a few things in this world that I don’t like.”
“Angelina.”
“Stephen.”
“Do we really have time for this?” I said.
He smirked. “I’m a vampire, I have all the time in the world.”
“I can’t believe you.”
“Okay, that thing you just saw hop into that bush and disappear was a vapor demon.”
“Okay, enlighten me. What is a vapor demon?” I asked.
For a split second, I thought he paled a little. And was that terror in his eyes?
He crouched down and picked up a handful of dried leaves. He stared at them before giving me an icy glare. “Every creature that has walked this Earth has evil in them whether they know it or not.” He began to crush the dried leaves and opened his hand. The wind carried the small dried pieces through the air and they began to swirl around us. “A vapor demon sucks that evil out of you to temporarily use it against you to hurt the ones you love.”
I stood in awe as the air grew stagnant and the tiny pieces fell to the ground.
“So, these things are an imitation of us?”
He stood back up. “Somewhat.”
“Where do they come from?”
“They can only be summoned by someone of great power.”
“Tristan,” I whispered.
“Ah, I see you’ve made another enemy. Surprise.”
I rolled my eyes. “I’m about to make you my enemy,” I snapped.
He let out a hearty laugh. “Oh, Angelina, you do make me smile.”
I shifted my weight uncomfortably. “How do we get rid of these vapor things?”
“You have to overcome the evil with the goodness you carry within you.”
“So basically, you stand no chance.” I smirked.
“Ha…funny.”
“Angelina!” I heard Nicolai’s voice boom through the forest.
Stephen smiled his arrogant smile. “Oh, it looks like Hercules is coming to save the day.”
I didn’t even entertain his snide comment. “I’m over here,” I called out.
Nicolai was next to me in a flash. “Are you okay?” he asked, a worried look on his handsome face.
I smiled up at him reassuringly. “I’m fine.”
“Stephen.” He nodded in respect.
“Hercules.” Stephen nodded back.
“What?”
I laughed. “He thinks he’s being funny.”
“I see,” he stated, emotionless. “Where’s everyone else?”
I looked around, “I’m not sure.”
“You’re positive you’re okay?” he asked again.
“Yes, I’m certain.”
“Always overprotective, aren’t ya?” Stephen quipped.
Nicolai pulled me in close to him. “I don’t know what I would do if I lost you again.”
I kissed him sweetly. “You won’t.”
Stephen made a gagging noise behind us. “Get a room.”
“If only we could.” I shot him an evil smile.
“See, everyone has evil in them, Angelina.” His arrogance faded. “Even you.”
Chapter 29
Caught
Jeremiah looked around. “Where’s Angelina?” he called out.
Bethani pulled another arrow back and let it fly, “I don’t know.”
He scanned the forest and yelled, “Angelina!”
“She’s not here,” Bethani noted, reaching for another arrow from her quiver.
Jeremiah felt a sharp pain in his shoulder and turned around. His eyes widened at the sight in front of him. “What the hell are these things?” he asked in awe.
“They’re vapor demons,” Bethani said, not missing a beat.
“It looks just like you!” he commented, pulling the arrow out of his shoulder blade.
“It is me, only a much more unpleasant version.”
“Is that even possible?” he asked, ducking as another arrow flew past him.
“What do you think?” she asked, nodding toward the bloody wound on his shoulder.
“Well, how do you kill these things?”
“Aim for their hearts, but be careful not to hit with hatred, as that’s what they feed off.”
“How am I not supposed to hit this thing with hatred? It’s trying to kill me.”
“Let the goodness in your heart shine through.”
“You’re sure this will work?” he questioned.
She shot another arrow into the vapor demon, this time striking its heart, and it imploded.
“I guess so.” He pulled out his hunting knife and ran through the forest. Hearing a low growl, he assumed Snow was nearby along with another vapor demon. He moved cautiously through the brush, his knife by his side. He wasn’t about to let one of these weird vapor things get another cheap shot.
“Jeremiah, watch out!” Angelina’s father warned from behind a large oak.
It was too late; he felt weightless. His arms unconsciously stretched up over his head and his knife fell to the ground. He tried to speak, but no sound came out. His feet dangled as he struggled to regain control of his body. Josiah’s eyes were full of horror as he watched silently from the ground below.
In an instant, Josiah was dangling in the air next to Jeremiah. His arms, stretched up over his head. Evil laughter filled the air. “Two of the most important men in Angelina’s life are two of the weakest.”
“Put them down,” Daniel’s voice boomed from the ground below.
Tristan turned around to face him, a sly smirk on his face, “My, oh my, don’t you look familiar.”
“Let them go,” Daniel warned.
Tristan stared at him in amusement. “Don’t be a hero.”
“Don’t be a dick,” Daniel retorted.
Tristan let out a hearty laugh, “Wow, using grown up words, now are we? Finally fit into our big boy pants, I see.”
Daniel’s muscles twitched in anticipation. “I’m not going to ask you again.”
Tristan strutted towards him cockily. “Tell me, what are you going to do? Do you really want to join them?” He pointed to the air. “And leave your sister all alone again? Is that what you want? Because I can most certainly make that happen.”
Fear flickered through Daniel’s eyes at the thought of abandoning Angelina and for a moment, he let his guard down.
“Don’t like that option too much, I see.”
Daniel looked at the ground and then looked up at Jeremiah. “I’m sorry,” he whispered.
“What a bunch of cowards.” Tristan laughed, “The three of you are indeed quite pitiful.”
Daniel stared back down at the ground without saying a word while Jeremiah continued to try and regain control over his body.
“How did you all think you were going to protect her when you can’t even protect yourselves?”
“I can answer that question,” a female voice said behind him.
He turned around and smiled. “How nice to see you, Ctephanyi.”
She nodded. “Now why don’t you put the boys down?”
His eyes darted past her as Elias made his way towards them. “Ah, I see you’ve brought your bodyguard.”
She smirked. “Bodyguard? My dear boy, this would be my husband, Elias.”
His eyes widened. “So, he lives.”
Elias nodded, “That seems to be the case.”
“Well…” Tristan sighed, “I do appear to be outnumbered, don’t I?”
Elias put his arm around Ctephanyi protectively. “You could say that.”
Tristan put a finger to his lips thoughtfully. “I could put them down and save myself the trouble of having to fight with you or…”
“Or what?” Ctephanyi asked, her white eyes beginning to glow.
“Or I could do this,” he snapped his fingers. In an instant he was gone, along with Josiah and Jeremiah.
“No!” she screamed in anger. “How dare he!”
“We’ll get them back,” Elias reassured.
Daniel nodded in agreement. “We’ll make him pay.”
She looked at them both, her bright eyes dimming. “What are we going to tell Angelina?”
Elias wrapped his arms around his wife and held her close. “The truth.”
Chapter 30
The Truth
Something was wrong; I could feel it in the pit of my stomach. Nicolai glanced over at me, a look of knowing on his handsome face. My eyes darted over to Stephen who seemed to also sense something was amiss.
“We need to go,” I muttered. “Something’s not right.”
Suddenly Bethani came running towards us. “Angelina, Tristan’s taken your father and Jeremiah.”
“No,” I whispered, my cheeks beginning to grow warm with frustration.
“Where did he take them?” Nicolai asked, his voice filling with anger.
“They disappeared into thin air,” Ctephanyi’s voice called out from behind us.
“It was like they were there one minute and gone the next,” Daniel’s gruff voice chimed in.
I turned towards Ctephanyi. “Where would
he take them?”
She frowned, her light eyes dulling. “There’s only one place he could’ve taken them.”
I stared at her in surprise.
She smiled. “You’re wondering how I know that.”
I nodded.
“A very long time ago someone once told me that past performance is indicative of future behavior.”
My mouth dropped open and I realized that “someone” was most likely my mother as that had been a phrase embedded into my memory.
She turned her attention towards Nicolai. “We need to go back to the beginning, to the place where it all started—the cave.”
He nodded, an understanding in his beautiful sunset-colored eyes. “Of course, that’s where he would take them.”
I looked at them in suspicion. “And where would this place be?”
She turned her attention back towards me, “Angelina, do you remember the cave where I came to you when you were a young child?”
“Yes, how could I forget?” I replied. I had the faint memory of her calming touch on my cool cheek the night I had become lost in the woods in search of my father.
“That is the place it all began.”
I looked over at Daniel who shrugged in confusion. “The cave?”
Ctephanyi took a step towards me and whispered in my ear, “Remember, Angelina, remember.”
Her melodic words were like a fine-tuned song that began to play repeatedly in my head. I grew dizzy as the world seemed to slip away while an older, more distant past came rushing back. I closed my eyes and let the cool, crisp air rush against my flushed cheeks. I let the dampness of the dark cave surround me. I remembered this place. The despair I had felt as a child filled my soul once again and my eyes flew open.
“Impossible,” I whispered, my breath misting in the cool air. I looked around and realized I was alone. The cave was dark and just as unforgiving as I had remembered it, only this time there was no sweet voice—no bright eyes watching me from within the darkness.
I stumbled forward, my hands gliding across the rough, rocky wall to steady myself. My heart beat in my ears as the silence thickened around me. I continued, careful not to stumble over the broken boulders that littered the slick, muddy floor. Though I was older, I felt small and vulnerable in the large cave. How I wished for my strong, loving Nicolai to be by my side. I wished for the safety of my father and Jeremiah. Heck, I just wished for the normality of my old life, but it was too late for that now, wasn’t it?
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