Dominion

by Marissa Farrar

  Serenity paused for breath and took in a lungful of air before yelling, “Sebastian!”

  The shadows moved around her. Above her head, something in one of the tall palm trees rustled.

  Not allowing herself to pause any longer, she set off again, rounding a corner.

  Sebastian’s solid, indomitable form stood in the middle of the street.

  “Sebastian!” Her heart swelled with joy to see him standing there.

  But a frown marked his face and he made no attempt to move toward her.

  “Serenity?” The reality of seeing her seemed to sink in and panic blanched his already pale features.

  She started toward him, but he lifted a hand, halting her.

  “No, Serenity. What are you doing here? Where’s Elizabeth?” His eyes widened. “She’s not here, is she? Please don’t say she’s here.”

  Serenity shook her head. “No, of course not!”

  She took a couple of steps forward.

  “Stop!” He stepped back. “You shouldn’t be here. I did something terrible, Serenity. I can’t remember what, but I know something happened.”

  “It’s all right.” She lifted a hand toward him, pleading. “Come with me. I can get you home.”

  “No, you need to leave me here. Forget about me!”

  “What? Why are you speaking like this?”

  “I’m a danger to you both. You need to go home, Serenity.”

  “I’m not going anywhere without you.”

  Dark shapes flitted around her, snatching her attention. What was going on?

  “Please, Serenity. Go before it’s too late.”

  “No. You’re my best friend. You’re the love of my life. How am I supposed to give you up?”

  “They’re coming, Serenity.” His head darted either side. “I think they want to use me somehow to get to Elizabeth. They’ll use you too if they can!”

  She ignored his warnings. “Iona is holding a gateway open for me to bring you home. She can’t keep it open for long. We need to hurry.”

  His eyes widened in horror. “A gateway? No! That’s the last thing that should exist. Can’t you see, Serenity? This isn’t about me or you; it’s Elizabeth they want. Holding a doorway open between our two worlds will only make it easier for them to reach her.”

  “Who are you talking about?”

  “The creatures who live here, the demons. They’re trying to use us.”

  “Then hurry up and come with me,” she demanded. “The sooner we go back, the sooner Iona can close the doorway.”

  He shook his head. “You need to leave me here. I’m only a danger to you. At least if I’m here, you and Elizabeth will be safe. From me and this place.”

  Tears welled in her eyes. “No! I won’t leave you here. I won’t!”

  Though part of Sebastian wanted nothing more than to race to Serenity’s side and pull her into his arms, the other part of him was horrified to find her here.

  She didn’t belong in this place. What if the same thing happened and one of the demons who resided in this world used her to break through to their own world? He knew without a doubt that their focus would be on Elizabeth, on opening a permanent doorway between the two worlds. The longer Serenity spent in this place, the harder it would for her to get back. The idea of her being trapped here too terrified him.

  Movement came from all sides, shadowy creatures darting between spots of darkness.

  He shook his head, frantic. “Please, Serenity. If you’re ever going to do as I ask, let it be now. Go home.”

  She moved toward him, her dark eyes haunted with confusion, fear and longing.

  Should he turn and run from her? If he vanished into this strange place, would she understand his intentions and leave him, or would she continue to try to find him and take him home?

  From out of the shadows, directly behind Serenity, bled two of the humanoid demons with the blank eyes and the stretched, screaming mouths. They approached her from behind, moving with a gliding motion like ghosts, heading for her. Her attention focused on Sebastian, she didn’t notice.

  “Serenity! Watch out.”

  “We need to get back, Sebastian. Time is running—”

  Sebastian started at a run toward her, but creatures of darkness burst from the shadows, the small primate-like demons scampering across the ground, the sight cutting off Serenity’s words. The evil spirits rushed them from every direction, as though everything dark and shadowy in this world was drawn to them. Above their heads, the strange sky continued to swirl and roil, though its intensity had increased—the angry gray and purple clouds lower than before, the air thickening. From out of nowhere, a wind picked up, whipping Serenity’s hair from her face and her clothes—including his jacket, he realized—around her body.

  A set of impossibly long, black fingers wrapped around her upper arm and she cried out in shock. She glanced down in confusion and began to struggle, but another set of hands caught her by the shoulders and started to drag her back.

  “Sebastian!” she cried. “Help me!”

  The smaller demons leapt at him, hooking their claws into his skin, trying to drag him down. They chattered all around him in strange, high-pitched voices—a mixture between gibberish and laughter.

  With a roar of anger, he struck out with one arm and knocked one of them away. The demon skittered across the road, tumbling over before coming to a stop at the curbside.

  Serenity was being dragged away, her heels scraping on the ground. She reached for him, her eyes wide and frantic. She twisted her neck to see who had hold of her. Her eyes locked on the demons’ terrifying faces and she froze.

  Then her paralysis broke and she screamed and turned back to him, her face blanched white. With one hand, she clawed and battered at the arms holding her. Her other hand stretched toward Sebastian, begging for his help.

  “Serenity!”

  He tried to run for her, but one of the primate-like demons jumped in his face, its arms wrapping around his neck like an affectionate lover. Its red eyes glared at him with a mixture of malice and glee. The thing opened its mouth, revealing its needle-like teeth, and hissed.

  Sebastian snapped his head to one side, his fangs sinking into the thing’s neck. He shook his head like a terrier with a rat, and flung the thing to the ground. It limped away, one clawed hand held to its injured neck.

  Christ. What the hell were these things made of? The creature had left no taste in his mouth, as if it didn’t even exist.

  “Sebastian!”

  Serenity’s terrified scream fueled his anger, and he fought with renewed force. He wouldn’t let her be taken by these things. He wouldn’t let them win.

  But the demons wouldn’t let him go so easily. More attacked, clinging to his arms, legs and back, and every step forward was a step he fought for. The strength of the wind increased, howling past his ears, and the sky had grown even lower, as though trying to smother them into submission. The whole atmosphere felt as though it supported what was happening, reacting to the battle occurring within its environs.

  It’s all joined, Sebastian realized. Everything in this place was one, all joined together through the darkness. It worked toward a single goal as a unit. A power that held dominion over all things.

  And Dominion wanted them in that house. To use, Sebastian assumed, both him and Serenity and the gateway Iona had opened.

  With a final burst of strength, Sebastian managed to throw a couple of the creatures off. Only a few feet separated him from Serenity now. She hadn’t given up, still fighting with everything she had.

  He sprang for her, reaching with desperation. She fought back, twisting in the demons’ grip, bucking like a wild thing. Momentarily, she managed to shift one of the faceless being’s hands from her right arm and she lunged toward Sebastian.

  “Serenity!” he cried, reaching for her hand.

  “Sebastian!”

  And their fingertips touched.

  Chapter Twenty-four

  S
erenity’s eyes blinked open. The first thing she became aware of was the solid weight of Sebastian’s head cradled in her lap.

  “Sebastian?”

  She looked down at him. His eyes were still closed, his face motionless. A moan of despair escaped her throat. It hadn’t worked!

  “Mommy!” Elizabeth’s voice distracted her and she glanced away from Sebastian.

  “Elizabeth,” she said, tears blurring the colors of the room. “I’m so sorry …”

  “What for, Mommy?”

  “Your father …”

  But a smile lit her small face. “Mom, look.”

  Her heart lifted with hope and she glanced back down at Sebastian’s face. His features remained motionless; nothing had changed.

  She shook her head. “He’s gone, Elizabeth. He—”

  Sebastian’s eyes shot open.

  She cried out loud in surprise and joy.

  He blinked twice and frowned. He went to sit up, but Serenity didn’t give him the chance. She leaned over his face, laughing and crying at the same time, kissing his cheeks, his mouth, his eyes, dampening his skin with her tears.

  His eyes were back to normal—no sign of the milky cataracts that had disguised their jade beauty—and she tugged down the collar of his shirt to reveal his perfect, flawless skin.

  “The demon’s gone,” she cried. “You’ve healed.”

  Sebastian pushed himself to sitting and pulled her into his arms. He reached one hand out to Elizabeth, tugging the girl into their embrace. Serenity wound an arm around their daughter and they held each other close.

  This was what she thought she might never experience again—them, as a family, together.

  Sebastian kissed them both before untangling himself.

  “Thank you,” he said to Iona who stood awkwardly to one side. “I’m not sure me being back is the right thing, but I thank you for helping my family.”

  “What do you mean?” asked Serenity with a frown. But he gave his head a slight shake. He clearly didn’t want to talk now.

  “Now you’re all back together, I’m going to go,” said Iona. “I can drive the Toyota back to my people.”

  “Are you sure you’ll be okay?” said Serenity, her natural instinct to mother the sixteen-year-old girl. She wasn’t sure if she felt comfortable allowing her to drive that distance on her own.

  Iona cocked an eyebrow. “It’s not like I’m regular teenager, Serenity. Though I appreciate the concern.”

  “Sebastian can run you back.”

  She glanced at the vampire. “I think I’d rather take the car.” She shrugged. “No offense.”

  He gave her a wry smile. “None taken.” He got to his feet and helped Serenity up. His gaze focused on the candles and chalk drawing on the floor. “Is this the gateway?”

  Iona nodded.

  “Is it closed now?” he asked.

  “Yes. As soon as Serenity pulled you back, we broke the circle.”

  “I was worried the demons would use the gateway—” His eyes flicked to Elizabeth and he stopped, obviously not wanting to frighten their daughter.

  Iona’s lips pressed together. “There was a possibility, but I warned Serenity that I wouldn’t be able to keep the doorway between the two worlds open for long.” She gave Serenity a smile. “You worked quickly.”

  Serenity returned the smile. “I didn’t have any choice.”

  The young sorceress walked forward and kissed her on the cheek.

  “Thank you,” said Serenity. “We owe you everything.”

  “Stay safe,” Iona said. She went to Elizabeth and gave her a bear hug.

  The younger girl hugged her back. “I wish you didn’t have to go.”

  “My people need me. Don’t be a stranger, okay?”

  Elizabeth gave a shy smile. “I won’t.”

  They stood in the front door and watched Iona climb into the old Toyota. She lifted a hand in a wave goodbye before maneuvering the old vehicle in a three-point turn on the gravel and driving out of the gate.

  Serenity waited until she drove away and then turned to Sebastian. She flung her arms around his neck and kissed him hard, her fingers laced in the hair at the base of his neck. Her heart swelled with happiness at having him back again. For a moment back there, she’d thought she would never be able to have him hold her again.

  Sebastian broke the kiss and stepped away, his dark brows knitted together, his mouth a thin line. Serenity frowned, her heart dropping slightly. Something was wrong.

  He ran a hand through his hair and gave his head a slight shake. “I need you to tell me what happened.”

  “We got rid of the demon, Sebastian. You’re safe. That’s all you need to know.”

  He shook his head. “No, there’s more.” He stopped and frowned, his eyes locked on her face, searching with an intensity that speared daggers through her heart. “Something is different about you. I can feel it … I can smell it …”

  Nerves jangled in her stomach. “I took Vincent’s blood.” Her voice was barely a whisper.

  “You what?”

  “Natasha attacked me! I almost died.”

  His lips tightened, but she could see he wasn’t angry with her; instead he repressed his sorrow and pain.

  “I didn’t want to,” she said, gently. “I didn’t have any choice.”

  His gaze left her face, trailing to the floor as though he couldn’t bear to look at her. A painful lump balled in her throat and she swallowed hard. She felt as though she’d somehow betrayed him or let him down.

  “It’s okay, Serenity. I understand. I’m sorry you had to go through that.” He closed his eyes briefly and then covered his face with both hands, composing himself for a moment before looking back up at her. “I knew something had changed, I sensed it the moment you took his blood, I just didn’t realized what. But something else happened too, didn’t it? Something I can’t remember properly.”

  She wanted to cry, her eyes burning. “What do you mean?”

  “I did something terrible, Serenity. You need to tell me what.”

  He didn’t remember! She hesitated, not wanting to tell him, knowing he’d take the news badly, especially on top of what he’d just learned. But she had no choice; he’d find out eventually.

  “Elizabeth, sweetheart,” she said, trying to keep her voice level. “Can you go in the other room for a minute?”

  Even though Elizabeth had been with Sebastian when he’d killed Bridget, she didn’t want her daughter to have to relive the experience while she told Sebastian what happened.

  “Aww, Mommy,” Elizabeth whined.

  “Just do it!” She didn’t want to be harsh, but after everything they’d been through, she no longer had the reserves to be patient. She was terrified about how Sebastian was going to react.

  Elizabeth pouted, but stalked off into the living room. Serenity waited until she heard the sounds of the television click on and then said, “You’re not going to like it.”

  “Tell me,” he insisted.

  “Bridget.” Her voice came out as a whisper. “You killed Bridget.”

  He stared at her in horror, covering his mouth with his hand. Slowly, he stepped back, increasing the distance between them. “Oh, God, no. I can’t believe I killed her. I am so, so sorry.”

  She put her hands out toward him, imploring, shaking her head. “You weren’t in your right mind. I don’t think you even knew who she was.”

  “It doesn’t matter. I killed her! What happens if I hurt you the next time?”

  “There won’t be a next time.”

  “You don’t know that. I need to leave, Serenity. I’m so sorry, but I have no choice.”

  His face blurred as tears swam in her eyes. “You can’t just leave us!”

  He looked at her, his features contorted with pain. “What would you be doing now if Elizabeth had been the one killed? Would you still be standing here, begging me to stay?”

  “Don’t even say something like that!”

&nb
sp; “What else do you want me to say? It could just have easily been her, Serenity.” He closed his eyes briefly, shaking his head. “Don’t tell me you don’t think of me differently now. After what I did, you should never think of me in the same way again.”

  She reached out and touched his forearm, but he jerked away. “Killing her wasn’t your fault. The demon’s power made you do it.”

  He shook his head. “You’re wrong. Yes, the demon fought me for control, but I think the demon had already gone when I killed her.”

  She reached for him, but he took another step away.

  Suddenly, she realized something. “Bridget’s body came back like the others! The bodies came back like they did because a little part of the demon was being passed on to them, so some of the demon must have been present when you killed her. How much more proof do you need that you can’t be held responsible?”

  But instead of being reassured, his green eyes widened in horror. “She came back? So you had to …” He trailed off, unable to say the words.

  “Vincent took care of it.”

  Her heart tightened in pain at the memory of what the big vampire who had saved her life had been put through.

  Sebastian shook his head and took another step away. “Oh, God. I’m so sorry.”

  With every step back, she felt him putting the distance between them, not only physically, but mentally. In her heart, she panicked. He balanced on a precipice and she needed to talk him down.

  “Sebastian, I knew what you were within days of us meeting. That was eight years ago now. I’m a grown woman and I know my own mind. I’ve always been aware of the risks involved in being with you.”

  “And what about Elizabeth?” he asked. “She had no choice in having me as her father. What if I hurt her?”

  Serenity opened her mouth to speak, but no words would come out. Was she putting Elizabeth at risk by keeping Sebastian close? He was her father and Elizabeth would be heartbroken if she couldn’t see him. But wasn’t heartbroken better than dead?

  He picked up on her hesitation.

  And, just like that, Sebastian stepped back and off the ledge.

  Though physically he didn’t go anywhere, she watched the line of his jaw harden and his eyes grow distant.