Follow the Bloodshed (The Executioner Trilogy Book 3)

by Sowder, Kindra

  “One of my specialties was image projection,” he said as he held his hands out to me, “I can show you.” This new ability was something I hadn’t known of before, just like his ability to conjure ice and snow. These were all things I didn’t know demons were even capable of. I cautiously raised my hands and let them hover over his. I was so scared of this ability that it nearly stopped me from learning more about the man I was fated to have in my life. “I could explain it, but that’ll take longer. And I think you’ll understand better this way.” He wiggled his fingers, hands out to me with palms facing up. “And you can let go whenever you want.”

  Inside I was panicking, thinking about someone else being in my mind and forcing memories and images into it. It didn’t matter that it was Gordon. What mattered was that I wouldn’t have a choice once our hands touched, but he did tell me I could stop the exchange when I wanted. I didn’t have to do it, but I needed to because I wanted to know more about this man in front of me. My hands were still hovering above his, mere centimeters apart and I could feel the electricity between us. It was tingling along my palm and between my fingers as we stared at each other. I closed the gap and felt a cool power flow through me, running from my hands and throughout my entire body and into my brain like a jolt of lightning.

  Pictures flashed. The first was of my mother in a gossamer gown, surrounded by fog. She was speaking of a woman, the Executioner, who Gordon was meant for. It was our fate to be together. She came to him in a dream just like the woman who told me of my destiny in the same way. Same gown, same fog, same everything. My eyes were clenched shut but I could feel the tears threatening to squeeze their way out to spill down my cheeks. I could feel his curiosity and his wonder at what my mother was saying. Her blue eyes were brilliant against her alabaster skin and dark hair as she spoke to him. Then another image came into focus.

  Gordon was standing before the mouth of the pit, arms outstretched as fear and anticipation ran through him. There was another emotion under the surface as the flames inside of the pit reached to rap themselves around him and draw him down. Another picture made its way in and I recognized it instantly. The night club, the flashing red laser lights along the walls, the music. I watched as he approached me and I stopped dancing to look him that unmistakable look in my eyes that said it all and the feeling that churned in his gut at that exact moment. I felt his urge to take me in his arms and put his lips to mine and never let go. I could feel everything and it was breathtaking. Then everything went dark and my eyes shot open as I gasped, my eyes taking all of a few seconds to adjust to the near darkness. My lungs ached like I had been holding my breath and it took everything I had not to lie down on the bed to be able to gain my composure.

  My eyes met his and there was a perfect moment of understanding. Fate worked hard to bring us together and I couldn’t help but think that reason was our little bean. Our child was meant for something and it was big; possibly even larger than the whole thing with Lilith. I wasn’t sure what to do besides sit there and watch his reaction as he watched me respond to the revelation. How was I going to use this information? I was still reeling from the emotions that ran rampant through me.

  Chapter 12:

  Visitation

  Something startled me out of a dead sleep. I had been dreaming, but couldn’t remember and I wasn’t sure I cared. I shot up into a sitting position and could barely breathe. I swung my legs over the side of the bed and struggled to bring air into my lungs; they seemed to be fighting me. It was almost as if someone had been sitting on my chest. Dragging in shallow and labored breaths I decided I may just need to slow it down. The pounding in my chest convinced me that I had been having a nightmare and that was what had woken me. If only I could remember it.

  I got up on shaky legs and walked to the bathroom, holding onto whatever I could until the adrenaline induced shakes disappeared. Gordon was fast asleep and snoring softly. I was happy not to have woken him in my panic. Reaching past the door in the near darkness except for the light filtering in from a street lamp outside, I found the light switch and flipped it, flooding the bathroom in blinding white light. I had to blink past the light and stumble my way to the bathroom sink where the small white vase full of jasmine was still sitting. The whole bathroom smelled of it and I took a deep breath in. The smell still reminded me so much of my mother.

  Turning on the sink, I let it run until it was warm and splashed water on my face. The sweat running down my forehead had drenched my hairline and began to sting my eyes. I rubbed the water into my eyes and the sting began to subside. With my eyes shut I turned off the water and reached up to the small towel bar by the sink, grabbing the hand towel and dabbing my face with it. My body felt stiff as if I had slept in one position the whole time. I had been exhausted by the time we had fallen asleep. Gordon pushing images into my mind didn’t help either. It was a tiring experience and it hadn’t even taken five minutes.

  I opened my eyes and could see the reflection of a dark figure standing in the bedroom, at the bottom of the bed watching him sleep. I couldn’t make out much as I watched the figure in the mirror. Only that it was female with extremely long hair and she was swaying back and forth ever so slightly and watching silently. I froze. It wasn’t Beth. Beth’s hair was shorter. I heard a soft drip. The silent figure in the room was watching the man I love sleep, but why?

  I turned slowly, not letting my feet make a sound as they slid across the tiled floor. I had finally stopped shaking, but now fear was creeping into my bones, causing the beast inside of me to wake. It was completely interested with the figure and I had to swallow down the growls. I crossed the threshold, but the figure began to turn away from Gordon and towards me. I should’ve known as soon as I saw the dark hair that mirrored my own and met those same green eyes I saw in the mirror every day. My mother, whose presence had terrified me once, was now here again and in the same place she had been before. What the Hell did it mean?

  “Mom?” The word came out in a whisper. I pushed myself away from the doorway and walked to her, wanting to touch her to see if she was real but I couldn’t. Gordon was still fast asleep and I was praying that he would remain that way until I could make sense of it all. My mother was drenched from head to toe and that was when I had realized it was raining outside again. Just like the night I had returned from Hell. She reached out to me, water dripping from the same white peasant dress she had been buried in. It was her favorite when she was alive. Was she really here? I let my arm drift, palm facing up so she could easily place her hand in mine. Her skin was ashen and as pale as the moonlight filtering in and drifting across the hardwood floor. Her hand was almost touching mine when a loud noise startled me. Gordon awoke with a start and as I turned from him and back to where my mother had stood I realized she was gone. Again. She wasn’t back like I had hoped. The noise came again, drawing our attention outside.

  We crossed the cool floor to the window, Gordon barely making it there first. A shimmer was spreading from the bottom of the barrier and spreading up throughout and passed into the sky. It was towards the road so I couldn’t see what was happening or who was doing it. We would have to go outside, something my mother was possibly trying to warn me against. She had a tendency to pop up when something bad was about to happen.

  Gordon took my hand in his and we headed towards the bedroom door. His palm was warm and sweaty, and I was sure mine was the same. The blows to the barrier were rhythmic and caused small vibrations through the floor. However Beth had concocted this thing, I was going to need her to teach me.

  My heart was pounding and the beast was stirring and I was trying to control it, but that didn’t stop the slight glow at the center of my chest where my heart rested. It was beating along with the hits to the barrier. Gordon’s hand was squeezing mine so tight that I would’ve told him to let go except I was doing the same. The terror running through us both was palpable as Gordon opened the bedroom door. We were greeted by the sight of Beth and Chase frozen at th
e top of the stairs. I had a feeling this wasn’t a regular occurrence. If anything, it hadn’t happened before now. Then I smelled it. There was a faint smell of ozone in the air and I wasn’t sure if anyone else could sense it or not. It tasted bitter and metallic in the back of my throat, making me to want to spit. I held back the urge.

  Gordon stopped as soon as he noticed them. I dropped his hand and moved past Beth to make my way down the stairs. I felt a cold and sweaty hand grip my arm and turned to see Beth there, holding onto me like she knew something would happen to me if I made it out of that door. Her concern and fear was appreciated. I also felt with absolute certainty we were safe inside of the barrier no matter what was on the other side trying to break it down, but you never knew sometimes. My blood was singing as I looked at her, like the force outside was calling to me and drawing me out. I needed to go out there, and I couldn’t let Beth hold me back. No matter how scared I was.

  I jerked my arm away from her and said, “We have to see what’s out there. It could possibly bring the barrier down.”

  She just began to shake her head. What I had said to her wasn’t a lie. The whole shield could come crashing down around us if we let this onslaught continue. I let the hand rail guide me down and realized I was shaking slightly from the fear. I took a deep and steadying breath and continued on. My heart was threatening to come out through my mouth and I swallowed, choking it down as best as I could. I had to face this. I could feel eyes on my back and turned slightly; enough to see Beth’s eyes intent on my back and Gordon a few steps behind me. He wasn’t about to let me go out there by myself. Chase was a still figure, mouth slightly open and watching the door like nothing else existed. There was only one thing left to do. Open the door and that’s exactly what I did. It was now standing wide open and in the light I could see a figure standing beyond the barrier.

  I turned my focus back to the open door and closed the distance; placing my hand on the door jamb as I made my way past. The same energy was vibrating through the floor and I could feel it through the cool wood, which sent it humming through my system. Gordon’s hand slid down my arm and into mine, our sweat mingling and our breathing heavy. I could still feel Beth and Chase at the top of the stairs. If it weren’t for the barrier I would’ve been able to feel whatever it was on the other side. The light of the shimmering energy was bright as it rose from the point of impact all the way out and up. Because of the light I couldn’t see the figure that was causing the barrier to react this way. I could only see the silhouette of the figure standing in the yard. That had to be Sam. There was no one else. There was no way to know who was on the other side unless I could get it to stop. My bare feet touched the wood of the porch and I made my way quickly down the steps, Gordon by my side. We were a force to be reckoned with, I felt, and nothing could stop us.

  At least this was my thought as we neared the position of the figure that was causing the commotion, passing Sam as she stood, watching the barrier shimmer with each blow like she had been hypnotized by it. The light was beginning to die down and I saw a shock of bright blonde hair, a pale face, and a thin body sheathed with a delicate white dress. Then she spoke.

  “Executioner? What a nice little surprise!” The words came out in a high trill, like a cat watching a mouse struggle under its paw. And that was the same exact look I saw in Lilith’s eyes as she watched the fear take over.

  Chapter 13:

  Darkness Falling

  “One of my children told me you were back. I had to come see this for myself,” she said in a sing-song voice. She was still the same mother vampire I had met before. Still with the eyes screaming of evil intent, and the ADHD like personality. I was wondering how long she’d be able to hold her attention on just one thing as we spoke. Of course, I was much more brazen on this side of the shield. She had a few scratches on her from trying to punch her way into our safe haven, but they were healing up quickly and were already nearly gone. There were even a few singed patches of skin where her skin had impacted with the barrier.

  A chill ran up my spine as I looked into her crimson eyes. I was so happy I didn’t have to look away this time. I could show her just how brave I really was now that I didn’t have a reason to be scared of her. Well, I didn’t yet. She took her finger and grazed it along the barrier, blue sparks flying towards her causing a slight shimmer in the energies surrounding us and burning the very tip of her finger. The barrier was doing its job, just not well enough. My hand hadn’t left Gordon’s since inside the house and I wasn’t planning on it happening for any reason. We were stronger together so I knew we could handle her is she someone made it inside.

  “My dear, you look so pale.” Stating the obvious. “I see you made it through Hell rather fine. If not even better than before.” She then turned to Gordon, a rather large and sly grin on her face. “And your demon lover. I hope there are no hard feelings.”

  When neither one of us said a word she began to shake her head, making that sound of disapproval you’d make when a child wasn’t being polite. It was like a tsk-tsk and nothing more. Now there was a new emotion broiling in my gut. Mixing with the fear was anger, and it was causing my blood to simmer and the beast to become vocal inside of me. Now I had a question for her and it was one I knew would make a nice and large hole in her ego.

  “Lilith?” I asked, tilting my head just marginally in an inquisitive way. She pulled her hand away from the barrier and watched the tip of her finger sizzling, healing within seconds on the spot. She was impressed by its power. There was no doubt about that.

  I felt Beth and Chase crossing the yard now and coming to our position, guns in hand and aimed directly at Lilith’s chest even though I knew she didn’t pose a threat to us at the moment. I could feel the terror running through both of them on my skin, causing goose bumps to form and spread over me. They were about to see my at my most brazen because, under no other circumstances, would I ever bring this up if it wasn’t sure of the barrier between us. She turned to me, a question in her eyes that she was unwilling to utter aloud. Sam’s pure and utter terror was palpable, and I felt for her in that instant, for I was feeling the exact same thing underneath the faked confidence. I took that as my cue to ask.

  I let a smile spread over my lips as I asked her “What did it feel like?” Now she was curious as to what the rest of the question was that she had to speak. It wasn’t in her to remain quiet, and I was baiting her. She could tell. I could see it in her eyes.

  “What did what feel like, Executioner?” she hissed in response. The smile on my face was so wide now I felt like an idiot standing there, but I couldn’t let the opportunity pass me by. She needed to know I was seemingly no longer afraid of her even though I was terrified. If I didn’t put up the front, she would think she owned me.

  “What did it feel like when I killed you?” I let the question hang in the air for a moment. Lilith’s eyes drifted to me and she was staring at me through narrowed slits. Had I made the wrong move? I didn’t think so, but if it was it was too late now to do anything about it. The look on her face made me want to run for cover, but I stood my ground. I could feel Gordon’s arm shaking as he held my hand. He was terrified. So was I, but I wanted to hide it from her. I had a feeling I was doing pretty well regardless of how much I was trembling inside. The beast wasn’t nearly as shaken, actually wasn’t at all. I could feel it inside of my body growling in protest at her crimson eyes and bright hair.

  Her cold eyes bore into me like she was staring into my soul and trying to eat it. She would devour me and every single last little part. I couldn’t feel her power through the barrier before, but now I was beginning to feel something. It was like a slight vibration making its way through my muscles and my bones and was marginally stronger than the vibrations that the shield put off when struck by her powerful hands. The look faded way and it was replaced by a bright and childlike smile, all innocence and light. She then shook her head and made that tsk-tsk sound again. I heard Sam whimper behind us.
She had run into Lilith before somehow and I would figure out when no matter how long it took me.

  “Now, now, Executioner. No need to be so rude. I didn’t come here to cause any discord.” That same trill was in her voice. The same sing song lullaby her vocal chords spit out to make her look not nearly as menacing or dangerous as she truly was. I could even swear I saw her beginning to move in that same dance-like movement that she displayed when I first met her. I could still swear she suffered from some form of ADHD, but I wouldn’t say it out loud.

  “No, I’m sure you didn’t mean to cause any conflict. But I’m pretty sure you wouldn’t miss an opportunity to try to kill me,” I hissed in her direction. “I know that if this shield wasn’t up right now and separating us that you would’ve attempted it at least once by now. You don’t have to try to fool me. You’re not fooling anyone.” The energy pouring through the invisible and miniscule cracks in the barrier was beginning to buzz around me instead of tremble. It felt like thousands of bees bustling around me. I was making her mad and this I was okay with just as long as that shield was still in place. With it standing this was the worst she could do.

  “My dear, I’m not trying to fool anyone. Least of all you. If anything, you have no idea what I’m capable of. You’ve only seen the beginning and once this barrier comes down,” she traced her finger in a circle on the shield, sending sparks flying again, “you will learn what I can do and you will regret the words you have just spoken to me.”

  I knew she wasn’t lying because of not just the look in her eyes, but the tone of her voice. Also because of whom she was. She was the mother of all vampires and even managed a few more creations while I was away. The crawlers were exhibit A and her brand of vampire created directly by her was much more like animals than any other vampire I had ever seen. She was the mother; she could create the true monsters and it was my job to kill them and her. I would make sure it happened and as soon as I knew how. I had killed her once with her own weapon, but it didn’t stick. I needed one solution to do just that. I didn’t even know where to look first.