Awakening (Willow Creek Vampires Series Book 3)

by Stephanie Summers

  “That’s my… Bloody hell…” he said, falling to his knees.

  Sabine rushed to his side. “Are you alright?”

  His eyes, glistening red, focused on the pendant. She watched as the blackness in them faded away.

  “Remy, look at me,” she said loudly, grabbing his chin and tilting it toward her. “Are you alright?”

  “I am now, love.” A bloody tear slid down his cheek as he kissed her hand. “You have no idea how hard I’ve been fighting to get back to you. Every time I’ve tried to really talk to you, I’ve been ripped away.”

  She wanted to believe him, but he’d lied so many times now that she couldn’t allow herself to fall for it again. “You don’t have to do this. You don’t have to lie anymore.”

  He looked at her with a dumbfounded expression on his face. “I’m not lying. I’ve never lied when we were together.”

  “You’re lying right now! You pretend to be the man I fell in love with every time we have sex, and I’m not falling for it. I know I told you to, and it was a mistake.”

  “It was always me. Don’t you see?”

  “I see your face, your eyes… I also see the monster peeking out from behind them.” The faint sound of the door closing caught her attention. This is it. Mary is going to fix you. “It ends now, Nicas.”

  “Nicas?”

  Footsteps on the stairs caught her attention. She whirled around to see Damen walking down them instead of Mary. “Mary is gone. Someone has taken her.”

  “Who took her?” Sabine asked, hurrying over to Damen. “And why in the hell are you here?”

  “I was in the area and thought I’d stop by to see how you were doing. Sam asked me to, so I thought I’d be nice… I saw her out behind the trees, and the next thing I knew, someone had taken her. I really don’t want to say who took her. There has to be some mistake or some misunderstanding.”

  “Who was it?” Sabine asked through clenched teeth.

  “Gretchen.”

  Sabine gasped, turning around to see Remy, confusion etched on his face. “Why would she do this?”

  Remy stayed motionless, as if he hadn’t heard her question.

  “What’s up with him?” Damen asked, gesturing in Remy’s direction.

  “He’s being a dick.”

  “Shocker,” Damen muttered.

  “Why won’t you believe me?” Remy looked at her, lines of confusion gathered on his forehead.

  “I don’t believe you because you’ve pulled this shit before. More times than I can count.”

  “Okay, someone want to fill me in?” Damen asked, sitting down in a nearby chair.

  Sabine swallowed hard, knowing she had to tell the truth in order to get everything all out on the table. She’d already confessed to knowing Nicas was in control of Remy. There was no going back now.

  “He’s been possessed by Nicas, and he’s pretending not to know at the moment. Mary and I were going to exorcise him. She was outside preparing.” She cautiously looked at Remy. He sat with his knees bent up toward his chest. His head hung between them.

  “I’ve told you, I’m not bloody lying, Sabine. Why can’t you see that?”

  Damen leaned forward. “How do you know he isn’t telling the truth?”

  “I just do.”

  “I’d never give up on you, love. I don’t know why you’ve given up on me so easily.”

  “Really? I’ve done nothing but fight for you since Bastian locked you up in the first place. You’re the one who has completely changed… I can’t even deal with this bullshit right now.” She turned to Damen. “Please go find Mary.”

  “Would if I could… Gretchen grabbed her, and they vanished. There’s no way to follow. She’s gone. And thanks to him forcing Mary to sever the tie between him and Gretchen, he can’t find her either. How’s that whole unbinding everyone thing workin’ for ya?” Damen sneered.

  Remy stood suddenly, closing the gap between him and Sabine. He looked at her with fire and determination in his eyes as he cupped her cheek with one hand. “I’ll prove to you it’s really me. I’m going to do everything in my power to find her.”

  “Just leave. I don’t want to look at you.” Sabine tilted her head away. In her gut, she felt like he was making the situation about himself, and it was about him before, but now it was about finding Mary and getting her back.

  “I’m not leaving you here alone. It isn’t safe,” Remy said.

  “I don’t feel all that safe with you either if I’m being honest.”

  “Fine, you don’t have to stay with me, but at least let me take you somewhere that’s safer than this.” He grabbed her around the waist, pulling her close. The space around them began to contort and buzz with static electricity. She closed her eyes and clung to him, knowing what to expect next. Teleporting made her dizzy and nauseated, but at least if she had time to close her eyes, it cut down on those nasty little side effects.

  Damen stood and looked around as they disappeared in front of his eyes. “Don’t worry about me, guys… I’ll just be over here, wondering what the fuck is going on.”

  CHAPTER 13

  The discombobulating feeling of teleporting faded away quickly, thanks in part to her being able to prepare herself. She was keenly aware that her body melded to his perfectly as they stood there together in silence, despite the difference in height. As he held her tight, she lingered in his arms before opening her eyes. For a few seconds, she could pretend they were back to how things had been before when he was hers, she was his, and no one had succeeded in tearing them apart. Once her eyes were open, the illusion that everything was fine and as it should be would melt away. She wasn’t ready for that to happen.

  His hand grazed the back of her head, tangling strands of her hair in his fingers. “Beanie, look where you are.”

  “Don’t call me that,” she whispered. Her eyes cracked open to find a dimly lit room illuminated by a street lamp outside. She stepped back, allowing her eyes a second to adjust. Her stomach knotted as the sensation of butterflies erupted. “Why bring me here?”

  “Because no one would think to look for you here now.”

  The comforting smell of her bedroom, her home, overwhelmed her. It was all too much, and she reached out for the bed to steady herself. “Someone else must live here now,” she said while looking around at all the furnishings that hadn’t been there the last time she was. “It doesn’t belong to my parents anymore.”

  “No… it belongs to you, love. I had it furnished so that it would be ready to live in once I gave you the keys. No one but the realtor knows I’ve purchased this, so you should be safe here. Just stay quiet and don’t go outside for the time being. I understand why you don’t want to be around me, but I still want to keep you safe. I’ll bring you some food, but then I’ll leave you alone.”

  Her heart dropped to her stomach, her head scrambled with confusion. What were his intentions? Had he decided to let her go? “I don’t understand why you did this.”

  “It wasn’t always him you were dealing with.” And with that, he was gone.

  Could it really be him? Why else would he do this? Only my Remy would do something like this for me. But what’s happened to Nicas if it really is Remy now?

  Closing the blinds, she lit the bedside lamp and looked around. She’d failed to notice that three of her paintings, which she thought she’d left behind when she went to Willow Creek Manor to live, hung on the wall next to posters of her favorite rock star, Ash London. He must have sent for them before they left. The closet door stood open, and to her surprise, it was filled with new shoes, clothes, and handbags. Most of the items were simple like she wore most days, but she was sure some of the others had come from the closet at the Manor by the looks of how elegant they were.

  She rummaged through the drawers of a vanity table that sat against the far wall to find new cosmetics, perfumes, and girly stuff in general. Most of the products were higher-end brands that she’d never used before, like Dolce & Ga
bbana, Dior, Urban Decay, and Smashbox. A drawer full of Cover Girl would have thrilled her, but this was pretty sweet. The whole thing was sweet. Too sweet for Nicas to pull off by himself. She couldn’t believe the thought he’d put into the things he’d provided for her. Would Nicas have thought to do all of this or was it really Remy? Confused didn’t begin to describe how she felt.

  As much as she wanted to explore the rest of the house and its furnishings, she thought it best to stay put in her bedroom. Too much moving around and turning on lights might draw unwanted attention. She needed to eat because it had been hours since she’d had anything. He’d mentioned bringing her food, which indicated there was none in the house. There was no way she could actually eat anything anyway with her stomach threatening to back up on her at any second. Puking in my house just doesn’t seem like the thing to do at the moment… Jesus, I’m home.

  *

  The feeling he had while perching himself on the branch in the willow tree outside her room had nostalgia written all over it. He couldn’t be inside with her, but as long as he was in control, he was going to make damn sure she was safe. This meant going back to a time when he silently watched her, making sure she didn’t find herself in danger from outside threats. He’d protected her from harm then, and he’d do it again. Though he felt like himself again, the power and abilities he’d possessed from Nicas were still coursing through him. If someone wants her, they’ll have to go through me, and there’s no bloody way that’ll happen. I won’t allow it.

  He couldn’t take the chance that she wasn’t a target after Mary had been abducted. Why the bloody hell would Gretchen take her? What does she want with her? Perhaps she’s trying to have a go at me for cutting her loose so easily, but she’d have to have known I was sending Sabine to train under Mary, and very few people knew of my plan. Unless she’s been spying all this time.

  He vaguely remembered being cruel to Gretchen not long after he’d turned her, and he regretted it immensely. What he did wasn’t right, and he hoped he could make it up to her. But if she was somehow plotting something against him, the opportunity might have passed by all too soon.

  As he sat outside Sabine’s window, listening to her moving around her room in awe of the things he’d left for her, he tried to recall other memories. Most everything from the moment he snapped Nicas’ neck was a blur, save for the times he connected with Sabine. He could see flashes of things that’d happened, but not much came through clear enough to vividly remember.

  His thoughts turned toward what he could do to make her happy while she was in hiding. He didn’t have any leads on her family. Purchasing the house from them had been his best one, yet it turned up cold when the realtor had explained that his company had purchased the home from the Crowley’s and didn’t have recent contact information for them. What else can I do?

  The one thing he could do slammed into him like a brick. Summoning Damen, he waited patiently for him to arrive. Once he did, Remy jumped down to the ground and issued his instructions.

  “Stay here and keep an eye on her. Make sure no one gets to her. If you sit up there in the branch closest to her window, you’ll be able to hear if anything becomes suspicious.”

  Damen nodded, sprung into the tree with little effort, and settled himself in.

  Remy raced through the neighborhood until he came to the little, white house. Walking up to the front door, he rang the bell.

  “I’ll get it!” He heard a female say from the other side of the door just before it swung open.

  “Remy,” Lana, one of Sabine’s best friends, exclaimed. Lana and her other best friend, Delia, hadn’t really disappeared, though they’d eventually cut off communication with Sabine as abruptly as her family had. Delia moved to New York City in pursuit of a Broadway career while Lana stayed behind to continue going to college in Morgantown. She was only home this particular night because she’d come to visit her parents for the weekend, like she often did.

  She stepped outside and onto the porch. Pursing her lips together, she tilted her head. “I’m so sorry.”

  “For?”

  “For your loss. It’s been hard for all of us. I just can’t believe she’s gone.” Lana’s eyes began to water as a fountain of tears threatened to let loose. “I never thought she’d kill herself.”

  He stepped closer to Lana, placing a hand on her shoulder. “Lana, dear… Sabine isn’t dead, and she certainly didn’t off herself. Who told you that?”

  “What?” Lana suddenly leaned against the house to steady herself. “But we saw her. We all went to her funeral. Delia even came back for it.”

  “That’s not possible. She is alive and well right now. I’ll take you to her.”

  “Okay, are you in denial or something? I’m telling you, I saw her in her casket. It was white with silver accents. She’s buried in the cemetery up the road. I know because I visit her every time I come back to Willow Creek.” Tears dripped down her cheeks as her lip began to quiver. “I bring her lilies. They’re her favorite…”

  Remy wrapped his arms around her, allowing her to cry into his shoulder. “Shhh… Please, don’t cry. I’m not making this up, and I’m not in denial. Now tell me, who told you she killed herself?”

  She looked up at him, whispering, “Bastian.”

  He caught her in a trance. “I need you to tell me exactly what he told you.”

  Her face went blank. No more emotion, just a stone-cold stare as she spoke. “He told me she hung herself in the closet and that you had found her. You were so devastated that you left town. He said I would remember going to her funeral and that she was in a white casket with silver accents. The whole town showed up for her funeral. He paid for a headstone for her in the cemetery and told me where to find it. He also took my phone and gave me a brand new one with a new number when he told me she died, but he didn’t say why, only that I didn’t need my old one anymore.”

  “Yeah, he lied to you, and you know that now.”

  Her pupils dilated and quickly returned to their normal size. “Oh my God… Can I see her?”

  “Absolutely, but could I trouble you for some food? I’m sure she’s hungry, and she has none at the moment.”

  “Hang on!” Lana disappeared inside the house and came back a few minutes later carrying a plastic bag full of snacks and a sandwich she’d thrown together.

  “Do you trust me not to hurt you?”

  Without hesitation, Lana said, “Yes.”

  “Hang on.” He scooped her up and took off like a flash back to Sabine’s. Once they arrived, he sat her down on her feet and helped her steady herself.

  “You’ll likely be dizzy for a few minutes. Before we go in, can I ask you something?”

  Lana shook her head like she was shaking loose the dizziness. “Sure, but make it quick. I can’t wait to see her.”

  “Do you know where her family is?”

  Lana’s face sunk as the realization hit her that Sabine’s family was unnecessarily mourning her death.

  “They left town right after it happened.”

  “Do you know where they went?”

  “Not exactly, but I could find out. I still talk to her sister sometimes.”

  “Find out, but don’t say anything to her. I don’t want to get her hopes up if we can’t find them.”

  “Will you make them see the truth like you did me?”

  He nodded, pulling out a key to the front door. Just as he unlocked it, he turned back to her. “Stay behind me. I want to surprise her.”

  Damen dropped down from his perch. Lana jumped back, stifling a screech.

  “Sorry. Didn’t mean to scare you… I’m going back to Mary’s. If she wanted Sabine, too, she’ll go back.”

  “All right. Let me know anything you see or hear that might lead us to Mary.”

  Remy walked through the door and up the stairs. Lana stayed back just enough to be hidden in the dark. He tapped on Sabine’s door. “It’s me…”

  The door slowly opene
d as she peeked out through a crack before opening it all the way. “Come in.”

  “There’s something I want to show you.” He turned and motioned for Lana to step forward so Sabine could see her. “I have someone who has brought you some food to eat.”

  As Lana came into Sabine’s view, she was taken aback by her friend. Why was she here now and not ignoring her altogether?

  “Sabine! I thought you were…” Lana threw her arms around Sabine and squeezed her as hard as she could. Trying to speak through the sobbing, she found it difficult to say what she wanted to say.

  “I think what our dear Lana is trying to say is that she thought you were dead.”

  “Then it’s true… That sick sonofabitch… Oh, Lana, I’m so sorry!” Sabine squeezed her back, and the two girls fell to the floor laughing through tears over their unexpected reunion.

  Remy smiled to himself and quietly sat down in a chair across the room, giving them space to reunite. He knew he couldn’t leave because there were too many questions that needed answers, and Sabine would start asking them as soon as she was able to compose herself.

  Once Sabine and Lana had a chance to reconnect, Sabine glanced at Remy and said, “Sam and I figured it out before that Bastian must have told my parents I was dead. I just had no idea he told my friends that, too.”

  “He would’ve had to. Otherwise, we’d have thought they were crazy if they talked about you like you were dead when we knew better,” Lana said. “Who is Sam?”

  “Sam is a good friend I made after I moved. When I quit hearing from you and Delia, it was nice to have someone to talk to. Our paths crossed, and we really hit it off.”

  Lana frowned and fidgeted with her hair. “I’m so sorry. I feel awful that you felt so alone. At least you had Remy, right?” She smiled brightly as she glanced back and forth between the two, who could barely look at each other.

  “Yes, and no… It’s a long story.”

  “I’ve got time. I’m not leaving right away.”

  “Well, Remy was locked up by Bastian, Bastian tried to take me as his own, but Remy was able to stop him. I thought he was dead, turns out he wasn’t, but he’s not been himself since then, and we aren’t really together anymore… in a nutshell. Did I forget anything?”