Lucious was stumped. It was his first time hearing that Zafira had any romantic interest in him. Their relationship was always physical. Emotions were never important to her.
“Children, please stop. If you’re having a relationship crisis, deal with it elsewhere. I have paperwork to get through,” Alexander said, his grey eyes blazing with irritation.
Zafira gave him a peck on the cheek, glared at Lucious, and stormed out of the room.
Drained, Lucious collapsed into the seat across from Alexander. He took in a deep breath which did not help to calm him. Instead, it made him wish he had someone to throttle.
Alexander dropped his paperwork next to his laptop and raised a brow. “Zafira aside, I take it you’ve met with your human?”
“Why ask the question when you already know the answer?”
Alexander chuckled. He opened the drawer where he kept his alcohol and produced two crystal glasses along with a bottle of old scotch. He expertly poured their drinks, something they shared every time they were together. “You left your sire’s side to be with her. Any normal human would find it romantic or be swayed by your wish to protect her. Guess that’s not how it went for you.”
“Not exactly, no.”
“How about we drug her and keep her asleep? She will be harmless while we figure out what to do with the link.”
Lucious took a sip of his drink. Alexander’s out-of-the-box idea wasn’t something he could object to, not when she insisted on him leaving her side. He shook his head. He couldn’t be cruel to her. It would weaken her almost non-existent defences against the demon. From that afternoon, he could no longer feel the strange power buzzing around her. Her guardian was truly gone along with his protection.
“I’ve got other ideas if that one is too much,” Alexander offered.
One big mouthful was enough to finish his drink. Lucious swallowed the scotch, warming his parched throat as he pushed the rushing thoughts back. “Anna told me Helena must remain strong if she wants to keep the demon at bay long enough for us to figure out what to do.”
Alexander swirled the drink, his expression pensive. “I’m not a demonology expert. A handful of our kind pays attention to those from other realms. The fact a demon could cross into ours and have solid form baffles me. I suggest you mark her in the meantime.”
Marking a human was a dangerous business. It made the human obedient, but the process initially required both parties to be willing. She would not be able to disregard his commands. Yet, marked humans always grew to hate their owners. Many killed themselves if the vampire wasn’t careful enough.
“I don’t think that’s necessary.”
“You are too soft on her. She is an unpredictable danger magnet. Some control wouldn’t be a bad thing. She may thank you one day.”
Lucious shifted in his seat. Their conversation was becoming uncomfortable. “What about my childe? Where is he?”
Alexander finished his drink and poured them a second round. “I sent the kid to America to study Management. I must say, Andrew is something else. He’s not only managed to get used to humans in these past six months without a single incident, he also has a great head on his shoulders. You should be proud of your childe.”
“He managed to control the thirst in less than six months? Impossible…”
Alexander smirked. “Improbable, but not impossible. I can’t help but anticipate what he will show us next.”
Drumming his fingers on the armrest, he contemplated what this meant. Andrew couldn’t be a normal kid. Few vampires in history had overcome the thirst in such a record time. Then again, those gathered around Helena were never normal. He stood abruptly. “Keep an eye on him and keep him away as long as possible.”
“He is due back in two weeks, Lucious. I can’t make him stay any longer, and I don’t intend to torment him because of your indecisiveness. Make up your mind regarding your childe and the human, the sooner the better.”
“You like him that much?”
“Like I said”—Alexander knotted his fingers on his desk—“he’s a smart kid and is very earnest in his work. I say, let him be with your human and improve your relationship instead of keeping them apart.”
“I will think on it. Thank you for the drink.”
Lucious left the office. His anger had dissipated and was replaced with doubts and worry. From his pocket, he retrieved a small necklace from a velvet bag Vincent gave him before he left for Ireland. The Councilman said it belonged to Helena. Lucious stared at the intricate design of vines wrapped around an amber stone. The more he studied it, the more he noticed the protective barrier around the object.
It would suit her. He rested his side against the wall. Was the link the only reason he wanted to be next to her? Could it truly summon such possessiveness in him?
Alexander’s offer replayed on his mind. If he marked her, he would be able to keep her close. She would have no choice but to listen to him. Yet, she would never forgive him for taking away her free will. He raked his fingers through his hair. It had grown over the time he spent away from her, and she didn’t seem to notice. He snorted inwardly. What did it matter if she thought about him?
She is a human. She is food! He chanted the words in his mind, hoping they would ultimately sound like the truth.
The string between them trembled anxiously. She was scared. Lucious cursed under his breath. He was not going to sit around and wait until she let him remain by her side.
“Damn her,” he growled and headed for the apartment.
Helena had been pacing around her living room ever since she woke up. The sun was already filling the room with its radiance, but it did not provide her with any comfort.
Perri, in her pink and yellow pyjamas, sat on the sofa, watching Helena wearing the wooden flooring down. She stifled a yawn. “Helena, what’s bothering you? You’ve been like this for hours.”
She paused mid-step. “I’m thinking, or I hope I am.”
Frowning, Perri tucked her knees closer to her chest. “Did something happen? Should I call Hans?”
“No, I have to go see someone.”
“Do you want me to come with you?”
She dropped on the sofa and buried her face in her hands. “Oh, I don’t know.”
Perri scooted over and hugged Helena. “It’ll be okay. We’ll find a way to fix…whatever the problem is.”
No words were going to fix her situation. Lazarus wouldn’t stop even if she begged him to. Whether she liked it or not, she needed help. But, everyone in her immediate vicinity was either human or vampire, and neither knew much about demons. For some reason, Nadine came to the forefront of her mind. She was certain the creatures in her dream were the same ones Nadine had shown her a vision of at college.
The loud banging on the front door startled her. She pushed away from Perri whose eyes were teeming with unspoken questions.
The two of them stared at each other in silent panic.
“Helena, open up. I forgot my keys again,” Laura shouted.
They let out a breath, and Helena scooted off the sofa. She cautiously opened the door to find Laura and Nadine standing there. Nadine was clutching a medium-sized plush panda with a pink bow placed decoratively on top of the toy’s head.
Laura grinned. “Found her in front of the building. She wouldn’t come up until I dragged her here. Also, happy belated birthday!” She revealed a white square box she was hiding behind her back. “I brought cake.”
Stunned, Helena had no idea what to do or say. Her body wouldn’t move for some reason. Luckily, Perri came to her rescue and pushed them into the apartment.
“I will make us some tea,” Perri announced.
After giving Helena a quizzical look, Nadine handed her the toy and followed everyone into the living area. An awkward smile played at Nadine’s lips as she took a seat on the couch, next to Laura. They couldn’t be more different. Laura had her long strawberry-blonde hair tied up into a high ponytail. Her make-up was expertly d
one, and, although she was only wearing a sleeveless denim shirt and jeans, she looked stunning. Nadine was her polar opposite. She wore a knee-length white summer dress that covered most of her body. Her pixie-like dark-brown hair had a petite white bow clipped to the side of her head.
“Who wants what?” Perri asked, busying herself in the kitchen.
“White coffee,” Laura said.
“Green tea, please, or any tea will do,” Nadine replied with a slight bob of her head.
Perri looked expectantly at Helena.
“Black coffee,” she called out, trying to sound cheerful. She sat across from Laura who was already animatedly nattering about her family trips to Hawaii and South America she had returned from.
Nadine was already preparing for their next year by reading ahead on the material which seemed mundane.
Helena was thankful she could finish her year at college with Hans’ assistance. He helped convince Helena’s lecturers to give her the winter break to study for her resits since she missed most of her first semester.
Once they finished a slice of cake each, her link trembled from Lucious’ proximity. Amidst their enthusiastic chatter, she hadn’t noticed the time go by. She glanced at Perri, and the girl nodded.
When she rose from her seat, everyone’s eyes were on her. Helena swallowed. “I’ll be right back.” She wiped her clammy palms on her grey jeans.
Perri studied her with caution. The remnants of panic from the demon’s attack remained. She, too, feared that Lazarus would come knocking on her door a second time. Nonetheless, Helena rushed to the front door and swung it open. The surprise on Lucious’ face brought a glimmer of satisfaction to her.
“I expected the Council’s dog, not you,” he said flatly.
“I knew you were getting close, so I opened the door.”
“Is he your boyfriend? I think I remember him from somewhere…” Laura squealed behind her.
Helena waved her hands in the air. “No, of course not! He’s a—”
“Monster,” Nadine said.
Everyone glanced at Nadine. Her usually warm brown eyes were colder than the Arctic. She stared Lucious down. Her small body advanced towards them with rigid movements. Nadine grasped Helena by the wrist and dragged her past Lucious, heading for the lift.
Helena glanced over her shoulder to find Lucious following suit.
Laura and Perri stared at them from the doorway, their expressions a mixture of shock and confusion.
“Er—where are we going?” Helena asked.
Nadine didn’t say anything, and Helena yanked her hand out of her hold. “What’s wrong?”
This time, Nadine’s cold eyes focused past Helena’s shoulder. “We must talk about this. In private.”
“She’s going nowhere without me,” Lucious added.
Nadine ignored him and took Helena’s hand again. Her touch was softer than before. “Is there anywhere we won’t bother your friends?”
“The roof will do,” Helena suggested and pressed the metal button to summon the lift. When she stepped inside, she selected the roof. Her body shivered at the memory of the attack.
On the top floor of the apartment complex, they filed out into the cool breeze. The sun was now hidden behind heavy, grey clouds that promised rain.
Nadine faced them both. Her eyes occasionally darted to where Lucious stood. “I warned you not to get involved with this creature. This abomination should not walk among us.”
“Sounds an awful lot like someone we both know,” Lucious grumbled.
Nadine lifted her hand, her flattened palm aimed at him. The energy in the air changed as if Nadine was charging a weapon of some kind.
“What are you doing?” Helena demanded.
“I will get rid of this thing from your side. One day, you will thank me.”
The surrounding air thickened, and Helena glanced at Lucious. His eyes were glowing bright blue and his fangs extended.
He took a menacing step towards the girl. “What are you?”
“A vampire’s worst nightmare,” Nadine replied.
The surrounding breeze halted its assault. Helena’s gut clenched, and she jumped in front of Lucious, blocking them both from doing something they would regret later. She hugged him to prevent him from getting any closer to the girl.
“Don’t hurt her!” Helena yelled.
“She is a threat. Can you not feel the power contained in this being?”
Nadine lowered her arm. Her words were like frosted daggers being stabbed into Helena’s heart. “You would willingly try to protect such a vile creature? It’s as I’ve feared… He already began controlling your mind.”
Helena pushed Lucious further away from Nadine. She whirled on the spot and grabbed Nadine’s arms. “I don’t know what you know or what you are, but he can’t control me. He and I share a bond.”
Nadine grimaced. “I hope you aren’t thinking about fornicating with this thing.”
Lucious chuckled. “Where do you meet such people?”
She, too, wanted to know the answer to his question. The few humans she was close to could be counted on one hand. Most were in her apartment right now, probably debating what happened to them. She met Nadine’s stern gaze. “Not like that. Things happened and our souls are now bound. If you hurt him, you would be hurting me as well since I’ll end up suffering his pain.”
Nadine visibly paled and stumbled backwards. Her eyes turned to large saucers. After a second, she turned her head to one side as if listening to someone they couldn’t see. “I have to go.”
She tried pushing past them, but Lucious grasped her by the arm and jerked her back.
“Not until you tell us everything,” he said.
“Get your filthy hands off me!”
The air stirred again, and Lucious hissed in pain. His skin started to smoke where he touched Nadine, and he retracted it.
Helena’s palm burned as if someone lit a match under it. Hissing in pain, she doubled over, cradling it close to her chest. “It hurts!”
“I’m sorry,” Nadine said and ran for the staircase.
Helena reached out for his injured hand, but Lucious hid it behind his back.
“I will catch her before she escapes,” he said.
“Don’t! Just, please…leave her alone.”
“Why are you protecting her? She could be dangerous.”
“Enough!” she shouted. “Let it go.”
“I will wait at the apartment.” He fleeted out of sight.
Left alone, she stood on the rooftop. She lifted her eyes to the sky. Thick, heavy clouds did not only take away the beautiful view, they also seemed to shroud her mind. A hint of disappointment and worry washed over her as the first drop of rain fell on her cheek. The storm was brewing and too many lives were at stake.
She returned to the apartment to find Lucious gone. “He wouldn’t have…” Inside, she knew full well he went after Nadine.
“I’ll be right back,” Helena told everyone. Although she was certain only Perri paid attention to what she had said.
Her heart sped as if it was on a race track, competing against her breathing. As she got into the lift, her mind was in a whirl. What would she do if Lucious hurt Nadine? To take her mind off the matter, she focused on the decreasing numbers above her head. The second they hit zero, she nearly flew out of the cramped metal space and ran outside.
Lucious caught up with Helena’s acquaintance in no time and trailed behind her. The hissing rain fell around them, and he ignored it. She could not be normal. No human can distinguish a vampire from a mortal with a single look.
When she turned the corner, he waited until she was near enough for him to grab her by the shoulders and pull her into the darkness. To his surprise, she didn’t scream nor did she fight him.
The girl wrapped her hands around his. Her touch singed his skin.
Studying the burns, he stumbled backwards. “What was that?”
Nadine tilted her head upwards to meet hi
s gaze. With an utter look of disgust, she relaxed against the wall. Her relaxed posture unnerved him.
“I told you not to touch me, vampire. Leave Helena and find other prey to stalk.”
Lucious wasn’t going to start fearing the small girl in front of him. Even though this creature was Helena’s friend, she didn’t need to know about this intervention.
“I won’t lay a hand on you if you answer my questions.”
Nadine chuckled. “Or what? You will attack me? Take my blood like the blood-sucking leech that you are?”
“If you want to go that far…” His ears picked up footsteps nearing their location. The link trembled, informing him it was Helena. To his dismay, the link worked both ways, he could find her, and she could locate him with ease. He cursed under his breath.
Her head peered around the corner. He could hear her heart beating as fast as her breaths came. Lucious stayed in place, although the link was telling him to get closer, to touch her.
Helena took in the scene before her and glared at him. “Did you hurt her?”
“I did nothing of the sort.”
She rushed to Nadine’s side, scanning her friend from head to toe. “Thank God, you’re okay.”
“When you want to speak with me, come to this address.” Nadine gave Helena a piece of paper from her tiny purse. “We have much to discuss when this thing is not around.”
Lucious drew Helena away from Nadine and pressed her back to his chest. The warmth radiating through her spread to him as she unconsciously leant into his touch. The string between them hummed with excitement. He fought the urge to close his eyes and revel in the peace their closeness brought. To clear his mind, he moved, so their bodies were an inch apart.
“I have said this before, she’s not going anywhere with you alone.”
“I know you may not like me, but, I agree,” Helena said. “We need to talk.”
“I do like you, Helena. You are my first friend in this world, and I wish to keep it that way if I can.”
Lucious contemplated using force on this creature. But, ultimately, he decided against it. Helena would not forgive him for such actions, and he needed to be near her to protect her.
Demon Gates (Helena Hawthorn Series Book 2) Page 3
