Ever After

by Heather McBride

  “You have a rest here, while I deal with your lover boy who’s just about to arrive.” He had his nose raised, smelling the air. Vampires could sense one another easily like this.

  I could see him walk back around the hedges, from where he put me I could see the whole garden. I heard William running down the walkway. He skidded to a halt when he saw Vincent. I could see the fear in his eyes. I wanted to scream to him to run, to get out of here, and tell him Vincent was going to kill him and me as well. “You did well my son, you heard her pleas for help did you not?” I could see Will’s lip curl and his eyes narrow in hatred. “You son of a bitch, if you hurt her, I will kill you!” Will was raging. He moved closer to Vincent, seeming to have lost his fear now.

  “Ha, that’s very amusing, my boy, but we both know that is impossible. You see, I’ve come here to make you an offer.” William stepped back, his eyes fixed on Vincent for a minute. He was extremely intense now as he was scanning the area looking for me, I assumed.

  “What are you talking about, you have nothing I want.”

  “No, perhaps not but should you choose wrong…” He narrowed his eyes and ran a hand through his hair. “I can promise you this will end badly for you and your lovely Corrine.”

  “What then, what have you come here for, you know you are banished. Doc has told you that Corrine has nothing to do with this, you leave her alone.”

  “You are what I’ve come for William; it seems that the secret of you being a half-blooded vampire has leaked out. This compromises my power as the dark coven leader. Should my coven believe I had only the strength to turn you halfway, they would oust me as leader for being weak. You already know this. I have told you that is why you were to follow me as my successor and never reveal you are not a full-blooded vampire to my dark coven members. I do not intend to let that happen. William, you must see what I mean. It will destroy me and all I have created. I am telling you that if you do not come back to New Orleans with me the others will learn you are in love with a mortal and that you are a true half-blood. I will kill you and your lovely girlfriend before I let that happen, no one is to ever know the truth about you.”

  “No… never.” William snapped. “I will not come back to the dark coven. I am no longer part of you. I refuse to sink to your level.” William rolled up his shirtsleeves preparing to fight. “You will not hurt Corrine either. I will never allow you to touch her; you will have to kill me first!”

  “How gallant you are, my son. Once again, I will ask you to return with me to the home you first knew. Where you belong, at my side. I’m running out of patience. You have made me sick enough watching you with her. It makes me ill; you know we do not play with our food!”

  “No Vincent never! You will not win this one; Doc and our coven are already expecting you.”

  “I have to say William, you disappoint me. You have forced my hand and this all ends now!”

  I froze as I saw Vincent pull a small vial out of his coat pocket; it had a red liquid inside of it. William’s reaction was shocking; he backed away his eyes filled with terror. I couldn’t understand why he was scared of the vial Vincent had. I tried to think of the million things Doc and William had told me about vampires. I nearly choked, thinking of Doc’s grave warning about the one thing that could kill any vampire.

  I now realized in that tiny vial, Vincent held the blood from a deceased victim. The blood from an already dead body, where the heart had stopped for some time. This was the only way a vampire could be killed. I watched Vincent move closer to William. He backed away quickly. I couldn’t stand this. I could not help Will as he was facing an enemy far more lethal than himself.

  “Make this easy my son. You know you will have no choice now, simply give in, and make it easier for yourself.”

  “No. I will never let you hurt Corrine, and I refuse to be an evil murdering freak like you!”

  “Very well then.” Vincent sighed and looked down at the vial of blood in his pale hand. “Let’s end this charade, shall we?”

  I cringed as Vincent grabbed William’s arm and shoved him down, pinning him with one knee effortlessly. William struggled desperately, but as to be expected, Vincent was too strong for him. The vial was uncapped and he forced it to Will’s lips. He turned his head back and forth trying not to let the blood get into his mouth.

  I tried to break through my ropes. I wanted to help William somehow. I had to save him, and then I knew suddenly what to do. I knew that if my thoughts were strong enough Will could hear them. If I tried to call Doc and the cousins in my thoughts, maybe they would feel it too. I knew it was a long shot but as I watched the violent struggle between Will and Vincent, I knew I had to try.

  “No stop. We can work this out. This is insane, please!” William gasped as Vincent drove his knee hard into Will’s chest knocking the air out of his lungs to get him to stay still.

  “Too late, Will my boy. You have shamed me, having a relationship with a human and refusing to return South with me, you will die now.” Vincent took William’s jaw in his hands, forcing it open. The blood poured out into his mouth as he spit and choked. He managed to knock the vial out of Vincent’s hand. I prayed that maybe he had not swallowed enough to hurt him. I could only hope I was right.

  “That was ignorant, my son. Now it will take longer for you to die and be much more painful. Had you drank it all you would be gone by now….” I saw him move toward me; before I knew it, he yanked me up to my feet and pulled me in front of William. I cried, watching him cringe in extreme pain as he looked up at me from the ground. Vincent pulled the cloth off my mouth so I could speak. I couldn’t stand to see William hurting, his beautiful eyes so filled with pain.

  “William I love you, I’m so sorry.” I tried to break free from Vincent’s death grip to get to William’s side. I could feel the tears stream down my cheeks as the wind picked up and leaves swirled around us. The perfect night was ruined by Vincent’s evil.

  “I love you Corrine, forgive me.” Will gasped in a barely audible voice; it was but a whisper, as it took all he had to say the words before he closed his eyes. I could see he was breathing but it took all he had to keep doing so. He was too weak to talk anymore.

  “Now Corrine, your death will be swift and seeing as I have not eaten in awhile, it should be very painless. Let’s proceed, as I have places to be.” I could feel him pull me close I wanted to hold William, but he yanked me away. I closed my eyes. I didn’t want to see anymore. I did not care what he did to me now. William was nearly dead, and I was to be the same way in seconds. It was all ending here, like a nightmare you cannot wake from. I was helpless. I could do nothing to save William or myself.

  I could feel Vincent’s breath on my neck; he in hailed my scent like a fine wine, he said. I felt my heart pounding in my chest. I had never imagined my death to happen like this. I could feel the hot tears stream down my cheeks.

  I looked at William once more. He was watching me now, and I could see his cheeks too were tear- stained, as he blinked slowly. I wanted to hold him close to me. He was dying alone and in pain. I watched him try to get up but his body was too weak. He barely could lift his head up.

  “I would have spared you seeing this. If had you drank the entire vial, but you fought me, and now you shall see your love die before your eyes…such a waste!”

  “Drop her, you ass!” Roth’s voice boomed from the side of the garden.

  “It’s over Vincent, let her go now. You’ve no place here!” The second voice was Doc. William’s cousins were behind him, along with various members of their coven.

  “This is not of your concern Doc. You and your pack of idiots can get the hell out of here!” He snapped as he yanked me closer to him.

  “Wrong, William is family you sack of crap.” Roth yelled as he moved close to me. He winked at me as he swiftly pulled me to him, out of Vincent’s arms.

  “Go or I will kill you myself!” Doc yelled. He suddenly seemed younger than he was as he grabbed Vincent
’s arm and threw him to the ground. Roth and Taylor pinned him down as Doc pulled out his own vial of dead blood. Vincent fought them hard, but he was outnumbered and had no chance of escaping

  “Now this ends. For centuries, you have plagued our world. You have terrorized and murdered for much too long. I should have done this long ago and ended it all before it came to this! William and Corrine are innocent; they have done nothing to you. This shows me how evil you truly are, it makes me ill to think I created you, a monster, a demon from hell.” I knew they had all seen William, their eyes moved to him as Doc spoke. They wanted to go to him but they had to deal with Vincent first.

  “Will.” I cried running to him after Roth untied my arms. I dropped to the ground taking his head into my lap, gently stroking his hair. I held him as I watched Doc and the cousins hold Vincent down. They poured the blood down his throat. He couldn’t fight as Roth had him in a headlock. I looked away now, burying my face into William’s hair. He held my hand weakly, and his breath shallow.

  “Roth, Taylor, get Will up right, he’s going fast. We don’t have much time now!” Doc barked out orders like a drill sergeant. The other coven members were taking Vincent’s body away quickly, before anyone from the party could possibly see it.

  I couldn’t bear it; William was dying in my arms. He tried to keep his focus on me, but he was too weak to hold open his eyes for very long. I couldn’t imagine my life without him. He turned his head into my arms as pain ripped across his body. He gasped groaning, holding onto me, begging us to help him.

  “Doc, what can we do?” I cried looking up at him, then over at Lydia who had just arrived. I could see her tear-stained face. She held onto Andrew’s arm, nearly fainting. I couldn’t imagine what she was thinking, seeing her only child dying. “Can’t we help him please?

  I pulled Will closer whispering to him that it was going to be okay somehow. Doc’s face was pained as he looked to William’s loyal group of cousins and to Lydia who now knelt down to William taking his left hand as I had hold of his other.

  Andrew, her husband, knelt down next to Lydia, putting his arm around her as she cried hard. I knew they all were discussing what to do for William. They didn’t need words, of course.

  “If we don’t, he will die! It has to be done Doc.” Roth looked from Doc to me and took a deep breath. “Corrine will do it, you know she will. We can save them both, you know this.”

  “I know but she’s weak already.” Doc shook his head, patting my back. “I don’t know if she can do this and survive the change safely.”

  “It is the only way.” Lydia sobbed. “You must try. I know

  Corrine loves him enough to try it. We are losing him.”

  “She can, she’s strong Doc.” Taylor added. He knelt down next to Roth, looking sadly at William. His breathing was getting shallow. He had long pauses between breaths now. I was terrified the end was near for him.

  “Corrine, there is only one thing that can save William.” Doc said in a soft voice. “He has to have fresh blood from a living person, if not, he will die in minutes.” Doc looked at me, his face tense. “You are weak Corrine. You could die yourself; your illness will make it risky. William needs a large amount of blood to recover, his system is shutting down, and he hasn’t long left.”

  “I will do it. I can make it. I will be changed after that, won’t I? Is that what will happen?” I asked desperately.

  “Yes, that’s what should happen. I’m just concerned you aren’t strong enough to survive the change process in your condition. Your illness is draining you anyway, and a large loss of blood could make it dangerous for you.”

  “I will do it Doc. I can do this, please let me try. He’s suffering. I won’t allow him to suffer or die when I can save him! I don’t care if I die as long as William doesn’t; it’s a risk I will take.” I sighed with relief when he nodded yes. I knew he was going to let me try to save him, and I knew wouldn’t fail…maybe.

  Doc had me move closer to William. He told me the blood from my neck was stronger and easier for Will to take into his system. I felt my heart race. I blocked out all thoughts of my own possible death. William turned away from me when Roth held my hair back so my neck was exposed to William’s face.

  “No… I… can’t,” gasped William. “Let me die. I won’t kill her to save myself.” It took all he had to protest. Doc placed a hand on Will’s shoulder.

  “No, William. We will stop you before you take too much blood. Then I will see that she transforms safely, you both will survive this. I give you my word. I will do everything in my power to see you both make it through this.” Will relaxed, knowing Doc would never lie to him. He took a shallow breath.

  “Okay then,” he said weakly. I moved down lower to William’s lips. I kissed him softly. His breath was warm on my cold cheek.

  “I love you.” I whispered to him.

  “I love you too.” He kissed my lips softly, looking me in the eyes, smiling. I turned my face away, pressed my neck to his lips, and waited. I waited to save him, waited to save myself or possibly die trying to do both, only time would tell.

  I felt the sting as his teeth sank into the soft skin of my neck. I gasped in pain and shock, and I bit my fisted hand as I put it to my mouth to muffle a cry. I could feel Roth’s arm around me in support.

  “Hang on Corrine, we are here. We will not let anything happen. It’s going to be okay.” Roth’s voice was soothing as I tried to breathe. I felt my head spin now, and my vision was going out. I couldn’t hold myself up anymore. I collapsed into Roth’s strong arms, suddenly weak and tired.

  “Enough, enough!” Doc’s voice boomed and I felt myself moved away from William, then all went dark. The voices muffled at first then I heard nothing but silence. I figured I was dead or dying. It was over for me apparently.

  I could make out bits and pieces of their conversation, but the darkness would not let go of me. I had to trust that Doc and the others would help me and not let me die. I had to pray that I had given William enough blood to save him.

  I felt as If I was spinning; my world was gone. I could feel people touching me, moving me but I couldn’t respond. I had no control over my body. I felt cold sometimes and numb the next minute. I wanted to cry but could not. My body was like a tomb, much like when I was in coma months ago.

  I don’t know how long I was out; it felt like forever. I suddenly could hear voices clearly, namely William’s. He begged me to wake up, to come back to him. I was so happy he was alive, it all had worked, and I had saved him. I could feel him holding me in his arms stroking my hair. I fought the fog I was in and struggled to open my eyes.

  I could feel myself able to move now. I could move my hands and I was no longer as cold as before.

  I opened my eyes, and looked straight up at William. The blue of his eyes was so brilliant and so welcoming I gasped.

  “You’re back. Corrine, I love you so much.” He kissed me softly, pulling me close to his chest. “I thought I had lost you. We all did.” I sighed in relief as he kissed me again. I was alive and I was with the love of my life. I had made it. Doc and Lydia were also at my side smiling at me, happy I had pulled through.

  “I love you William. I will be with you forever.” I leaned my head back on his chest, never had I felt more loved and more secure than now.

  “Yes.” He smiled looking down lovingly at me. “We will have an eternity to be together. I will never leave your side, and we will be as one.” I had survived a nightmare to wake up into a fairy tale. I had my Prince Charming now or really my vampire prince, but that is fine with me. That is just my kind of fairy tale, a really twisted one.

  End of Book One

  Chapter 1 Book Two

  Awakening

  It seemed like a miracle, to be in Williams arms. I was a bit dazed and very confused, but I was slowly recalling what had happened to bring me right here to this point. The past year William and I had fallen in love, shared our deepest secrets. I also learned to ac
cept the fact my boyfriend the love of my life, William Darcy was in fact half vampire and half human.

  We had faced my crazy ex boyfriend Todd Downs, who tried to kill me not once but twice. Unfortunately, he had escaped after the last attack on me; the police had not been able to track him down for many months. Also, as if that were not enough, we both nearly died facing Williams vampire “father” the one who made him a vampire Vincent. The battle with him was exactly what put me right here in this room, in this bed and way too close to death.

  I had suffered headaches all that year to top it off, and ignored, denied and hid the fact I was suffering. Doc William’s vampire “Grandfather” and a well-respected surgeon, diagnosed me with an inoperable brain tumor merely week’s before Vincent’s attack. I was given only months to live.

  The night of my Halloween party, Vincent had set up an attack on William and me. This led to a battle between covens. The Follower coven, and the Dark coven were never very fond of each other in fact, they were immortal enemies. Vincent had wanted William to return with him, to the Dark coven, where he began his vampire life.