“I can see that you love her, but doing this will not make her happy.”
Arthemis placed his hand over hers, enjoying the warmth of her skin. He couldn’t help the desire she stirred in him or the incessant wish to possess her. Pressing her against the metal container, he kissed her, allowing his hands to roam her sides and arms.
Helena was frozen for a moment. Then, she began to punch his shoulder and chest. Her weak attempts amused him, but he pulled away nonetheless.
“Why did you do that?” she cried, trying to catch her breath.
“This vessel wants you,” he explained, staring right at her to gauge her reaction.
Helena blushed and lowered her face. “I don’t want you to touch me. Lucious, he…he’s the only one who can.”
“This body is his,” Arthemis said, lifting her chin with his fingers. “And I can sense that you want this body just as much as it wants you.”
“I don’t. Stop imagining things!”
Arthemis smirked. “Would you react in the same way if I killed this vessel?”
Helena’s mouth fell open. Tears cascaded down her cheeks, and she grasped his shirt with her hands. “Don’t you dare threaten his well-being! He’s mine.”
“And you are mine,” he replied next to her ear. “You will accept it in time.” He heard her heart thudding in her chest as she planted her palm against it. Leaving a soft peck on her cheek, he said, “Shall we return home?”
Her tears had long since dried. The fear she displayed before was gone, too. In that moment, he knew she wanted him dead. With Lilia and Helena being on the same wavelength, they would try to finish him off together.
Would that bring them joy?
There was only one way to find out.
HELENA
Helena was glad that Arthemis didn’t make any more moves on her after they returned to the Council building. He offered for her to stay in his room, and she instantly requested her own space. To her surprise, he complied and assigned another room to her, next door to Perri and Hans. She was puzzled by the way the original vampire acted. He was turning homeless people into vampires, making them feed on their own kind to gain control of this realm, yet she saw no resolution or joy in him. Somewhere, beyond the outward appearance of a twisted and cruel being, he wanted to belong. He had threatened her with Lucious’ life, but, for some reason, she couldn’t hate him completely.
Would I be as detached as him if everyone I loved turned their backs on me?
Since she was thrust into the supernatural world, she had come to realise that people were complex. Those who had survived for thousands of years were even more so. They had lived through wars, plagues, and revolutions. They had seen their loved ones die time and time again. If one day her family and friends were gone for good, would she stay the same? She knew that would change her. For Arthemis, he had never felt the love of his mother. Lilia’s memories were shrouded with worry and disgust, tears and fret. She hadn’t once tried to put herself in her son’s shoes to find out what made him happy while he relentlessly sought a way to secure her existence in the Human Realm.
Locking herself in her room, she lay on the bed and closed her eyes, focusing on her mental shields. As she stood there, in the field of poppies that swayed with the wind, she found Lilia by the ancient tree.
“Do you see now, Helena? He is not worthy of your pity. Arthemis must be erased from existence to bring peace to human souls,” Lilia said in a calm voice as if she was discussing the weather.
“What I see is a soul twisted by loneliness and the hatred you pushed onto him. Can you not see that his actions are your fault?”
“What would you know of my suffering?” Lilia stormed over and poked her finger at Helena’s chest. “Would you coddle a blood-thirsty monster that killed everything around it? I have spared him once and look what he does the minute he returns—he slaughters more!”
“He thinks he is doing it to protect you.”
“Arthemis is delusional. He never listens. His belief that I will praise him once he claims the world is unfounded.” Lilia pulled her hand back and balled her hands at her sides. “He must die along with the rest.”
“Killing him will break apart thousands of families. There are good vampires, people who protect their loved ones and work hard to resist their urges. You shouldn’t pile them into the same box.”
Lilia scoffed. “And you believe in folk tales. They do not love, not truly. Their souls are tainted with the darkness demons possess.” A bitter smile curved her lips. “Have you ever wondered why their souls are red? It is because they are stained with the hundreds of lives they claimed in previous and current lives. Even Lucious had a red soul when I chose him as my protector. He was a murderer in his past lives, too.”
“Don’t talk about him like that. He’s a good man.”
“Love blinds you, Helena. You cannot see what is in front of you.”
Helena rolled her eyes and placed her hands on her hips. “I think you’re wrong. You’re the one who is blind here. You aren’t trying to understand your son because you are too focused on your own goals to care about him.”
The poppies around them stilled as the wind died. Lilia lifted her hand, palm up. She muttered a spell under her breath that restrained Helena with golden vines and kept her in place. “I thought that giving you the opportunity to see first-hand the kind of creature he was would guide you to the correct conclusion. It was a mistake. I should have done this the second I claimed your body.” She got close to Helena and planted her palm against Helena’s gut.
“What are you trying to do?” Helena asked in a shaky voice. The hairs on her arms stood once energy started rolling off of Lilia. That energy bombarded her and, after a long minute, agonising pain ricocheted throughout her every nerve ending. She screamed, but Lilia didn’t stop what she was doing.
“Your soul will now be banished. If you fight my command, Helena, you will only suffer,” Lilia said in a soothing tone.
Helena saw a glowing orb of white light leaving her body and landing in Lilia’s hand. As it separated from her, her screams stopped. The pain was gone as were her emotions. She couldn’t feel anything. Thinking was hard, impossible even.
Looking at her soul in the fate’s hand, she whispered, “Why?”
The fate cupped Helena’s cheek and smiled. Her blue eyes were like two endless Mediterranean seas. “I will not forget your sacrifice. Return to the Well of Souls and forget the suffering you have undergone in this lifetime.”
Helena emotionlessly watched the white orb rise into the sky. It shrunk as the distance increased and soon she could no longer see its glow. Lilia wound her arms around Helena’s immobile frame and said, “Let us become one.”
21
NO WILL TO LIVE
LUCIOUS
L ucious fought to regain control of his body when he saw through Arthemis’ eyes that he had kissed Helena. His anger bred strength he used to separate from the endless shadows that had surrounded him. Eventually, he was able to reach a point where he could hear Arthemis’ thoughts.
He wants to die?
Lucious didn’t expect to find out that the original vampire wanted death. His demise would bring about the end of every vampire who ever existed, including Lucious. He couldn’t let that happen. He needed to find a way to get Helena to safety where Arthemis would not be able to lay his filthy hands on her.
When he reached Arthemis’ mental shields, Lucious banged on them. He was surprised to be permitted in without a fight. Looking around, this place reminded him of Helena’s shields. There was plenty of space and light.
“Take a seat, young Lucious,” Arthemis told him, directing him to a stone bench next to a round stone fountain.
Weary, Lucious edged closer to the bench on which Arthemis sat. His back was to Lucious as he rested his elbows on his knees and placed his chin on his intertwined hands.
Taking a seat next to the elder, Lucious eyed him. “You let me in. Why?”
“Because you wished to enter,” Arthemis replied, staring at the flow of the water.
“Why did you do that to Helena? How could you?” Lucious demanded. “She’s mine!”
“Your feelings for her are strong. At first, I could suppress them but quickly, with her by my side, I started to lose myself. These lustful cravings and this need to be loved—they are yours, are they not?”
“I love her with all my heart,” Lucious replied. “My need to protect her precedes the urges you’re feeling.”
“Then are they mine?” Arthemis asked in surprise. “These emotions cloud my mind and weaken my resolve. For many years I was trapped in the gate to the fourth realm. I had a long time to consider the possibilities of revenge.”
Lucious’ shoulders relaxed, and he studied the fountain as well. His relationship with his mother was not the greatest, either. She had left him to die for the crime he did not commit. She had condemned him without listening to his side of the story. In a way, he could relate to Arthemis and the pain he was feeling.
“Why didn’t you take revenge on her?” Lucious asked.
“I cannot shake the need to be loved by her. And Helena, she is such a pure soul that I did not wish to vanquish her spirit.”
“Why would you care about Helena?”
Arthemis lowered his arms and sat up straighter. He massaged his chest where his heart was. “You and I share a bond, Lucious. Your memories and experiences are mine. I thought that if she could love me, I would change my mind. I would fight fate and what it had in store for me. But I see now that Helena only has eyes for you. I will not force her to accept me.”
“Then the feeling I had and your thoughts… You are planning to end it?”
“Everything has a beginning and an end.” Arthemis gave Lucious a fleeting smile. “I know from Laclia’s vision that my end is near. Lilia will kill me soon, and I am willing to accept her decision.”
“If you die, all of us will perish!” Lucious jumped up and stood in front of the elder. “Why would you sentence us to such a fate?”
Arthemis locked gazes with Lucious. The depths of his eyes were filled with grief and resignation. “Because such if her wish.”
“There has to be another way…” Lucious mumbled, scratching the back of his head. “And your body? Are you not going to restore it and return to it? And what of the vampires you’ve sent summons to?”
“I will destroy my mistakes and resume the blood ritual to restore my body. That way, my mother’s urgency will be fuelled. She will try to kill me sooner rather than later.”
Lucious’ eyes widened. “You’re mad.”
“I guess I am.” Arthemis got up and met Lucious’ eyes. “As my pillar, listen to my request. Let me finish what I have started.”
“I can’t do that. I won’t leave Helena alone with that fate!” Lucious countered.
“You have till tomorrow evening to regain control of your body. I hope you will succeed.” Arthemis disappeared, leaving Lucious in the lonely darkness of the original’s heart.
LILIA
Lilia climbed off the bed in her room and hurried to the window. Looking outside, she realised it was still night. She needed to find a way to erase her son. Without the help of his children, she would be in trouble.
She lowered herself to the ground and used one of the pins in her hair to stab her index finger. After she squeezed some blood out onto the tip, she drew a small blood circle on the floor along with runes to represent time. She closed her eyes and recited the spell in an ancient language.
The air in the room chilled as she finished off the incantation. The circle of blood glowed bright red, drawing her attention to it.
“Show me Hartwin,” she whispered.
The blood started to move and an image appeared in the middle, displaying him sitting in some kind of a steel cell with metal walls and concrete floor. His eyes were moving rapidly as if he was dreaming while his body shivered uncontrollably. She assessed the bandages that were strapped to his restrained body. His naked torso had at least ten cursed objects attached to it. Arthemis had gone too far.
She put her right hand in the middle of the blood circle and said, “Congrego.”
The blood quickly gathered under her palm and formed a ring. She slipped on the copper piece onto her middle finger. The ring pulsated once, telling her that Hartwin wasn’t far away. She couldn’t wait any longer. Getting up off the floor, she walked to the door.
On the other side of it, she didn’t find anyone waiting or guarding her. She found that to be strange. Why would her son let Helena roam around his hideout without an escort? Had he believed himself to be invincible?
She followed the ring’s directions to the ground floor. Still, no one passed by once. She was beginning to get suspicious. Her thoughts returned to her task at hand. She came upon a door at the back of the kitchen that led into the basement. The stone steps were cold under her feet. She ignored their chill and pressed on, eager to release Hartwin from his suffering.
On the last step, she looked around. There were six cells in total, three on either side of her. At the far end of the room, she could hear the crazed murmuring of a man which she assumed belonged to her target. But, as she was about to reach it, another cell caught her attention. She looked inside, seeing a coffin bound with silver chains. Her curiosity got the best of her. Pressing the release button, she entered the cell and assessed the coffin. When she didn’t hear anything coming from it, she tugged on the chains, but the large lock kept them in place.
Lilia squeezed some of her blood out of her wounded finger and drew a fire rune on the lock.
“Accendo,” she whispered.
The spell activated and her blood burned through a metal. Using two spells in one day took a toll on her weakened body. She swayed and had to grasp the coffin for support. Slowly, she removed the chains and lifted the lid, finding Ealdraed staring back at her with his arms and legs bound with silver.
“Helena?” he asked with a furrowed brow. After a second, his expression changed from surprise to doubt. “No. You are Lilia.”
“It has been a long time, Ealdraed. I see my son chose to trap his favourite in prison. Did you kill someone you were not supposed to?”
He ignored her teasing. “What are you doing here?”
“I was searching for Hartwin. He needs my help.” Her mind worked overtime. If she could turn Ealdraed to her cause, she would have one of Arthemis’ strongest children on her side. “I can release you from your prison if you help me.”
“Why would I want to help you?” he asked, his black eyes narrowing on her face.
“You can rot in here, or you may come with me. What is your decision?”
Ealdraed clenched and unclenched his jaw. “I will come with you. Hartwin did not deserve the punishment he received, and you alone will not be able to get him out of here.”
“Give me your word that you will follow me.”
“You have my word.”
Lilia held on to the edge of the coffin and repeated the procedure of drawing the fire rune on the locks at his feet and wrists.
“Accendo,” she whispered again.
The longer she held concentration to burn through the locks, the harder it was for her to remain upright. She sank to the cold concrete and tried to contain her heavy breathing.
Ealdraed climbed out of the coffin and lifted her pale face with his frosty fingers. “Your vessel isn’t strong enough to use such magic. She could die if you are not careful.”
“Helena will not…be returning. I have sent her away…to the Well of Souls,” she said between breaths.
Ealdraed’s hand fell away. The shock on his face was unmistakable. “You have removed her soul from her body?”
“She would not listen to me.”
“Father will be furious…” Ealdraed muttered, helping her stand. “He planned on making her his.”
Lilia stared at him in disbelief. “What kind of sick goal is that? S
he was a part of me and I of her. I never thought my son would lust after my vessel.”
“I don’t believe he did. I think Lucious’ conscience that remains asleep within him is driving those feelings.”
“That may be a fair conclusion, but I would not put it past my son to want something that he cannot have.”
They stopped at the door, and Ealdraed’s hands on her tightened. “He may not be a saint or a good person, but he is your son. Have you no respect or love for him?”
Lilia avoided his unwavering stare. “We need to help Hartwin. He is in the last cell.”
“What will you do next? Arthemis is restoring his body to take over his future vampire army. Without him, we will be unable to fight the gods—”
“Don’t you understand?” she interrupted him. “There will be no war when he is gone. The vampires will be gone, leaving mortals and the true supernatural beings that have existed even before your species came to be.”
“There are over five thousand vampires in this world. We owe it to them to keep them alive!” Ealdraed retaliated.
Lilia pushed him away and used the wall for support to make her way to Hartwin’s cell. It was pointless to argue with someone so duty-bound like Ealdraed. The world would be a better, cleaner place without vampires in it. Humans would not die from random attacks or be manipulated into doing something they did not want to do.
She unlocked Hartwin’s cell and covered her mouth with her hand. The sight before her had her heart aching. He was topless and one of his hands had been cut off. At least, they had the courtesy to bandage it and not let him bleed to his death before his skin could stitch itself back together. The cursed coins and items were strapped to his pale skin. His remaining wrist and legs were chained with silver to the wall behind him.
“Oh Hartwin…” she said with tears rimming her eyes. Lilia stumbled to his side and began undoing the leather straps.
Ealdraed pushed her aside. “Rest. I will help my brother.”
She wiped away the stray tears and took hold of Hartwin’s hand. Her son was a monster for doing something so awful and unsightly. How can he treat his own children in such a manner?
Fated Origins: An Urban Fantasy Novel (Helena Hawthorn Series Book 4) Page 26
