Crumbling Control (Helena Hawthorn Series Book 3)

by May Freighter

  “What happened to the ghouls and the werewolves after the attack on the parish?”

  “Tired of talking about Alex?” His hands squeezed the leather padding of his steering wheel. “There were casualties. Lucas lost five men that night. I don’t know about Ghoul Master’s figures.”

  She intertwined her fingers on her lap as guilt swarmed her. “Did they have families?”

  “You know what?” He turned up the music on the stereo. “It’s time for some good tunes!”

  Helena paced the length of the living room. “How long are they going to stay like that?”

  “Until they wake up, I guess,” Byron replied.

  “Can you take this seriously?”

  Byron lifted a brow. “I’m ninety percent man and ten percent seriousness. The ten percent part is currently engaged in how badly England is losing this rugby match.”

  She headed upstairs for the millionth time that evening. Each time, seeing both men unconscious on the bed, lying there like two logs, caused more knots to form in her aching stomach. She flicked on the lights and took her seat at their bedside. A light breeze swayed her hair, and she eyed the window. She didn’t recall opening it…

  She automatically reached for the dagger at her side as she drew closer to the window.

  A hand covered her mouth from behind. She elbowed the stranger in the ribs and twisted their arm behind their back, pressing the dagger to their neck. When she recognised the ponytail, she asked, “Ben?”

  He let out a nervous laugh. “I guess Maya did teach you something.”

  She took a step back. “I could have hurt you!”

  “I doubt that. Your technique sucks and you need more practice.”

  Her eyes narrowed. “What are you doing, sneaking around here?”

  “I’ve talked to my clan. Seems only a small part of the group is willing to follow me back to Germany. The rest have joined Shane.”

  “You’re going back already?”

  He smiled. “Yeah. We decided to separate from Orion’s teachings. From now on, I want to concentrate on building a clan that will only eliminate creatures who attack others.”

  “You’re willing to change?”

  “If we won’t, the other supernatural won’t either. Someone’s got to take the first step, right?”

  Helena hugged him. He may have caused her great suffering in the past, but she didn’t care anymore. Seeing him being happy and willing to work towards bettering the world they’re in brought a smile to her face.

  He gave her a light tap on the back. “Your boyfriend will kill me if this keeps going…”

  “What?” Helena pulled back.

  Lucious glowered at them. “Hunter…”

  “Vampire.” Ben inclined his head in greeting.

  “Oh, thank god you’re up!” She scrambled to Lucious’ bedside. She studied his face. The dark patches under his eyes were gone.

  “My dear, am I to worry about you throwing yourself at men whilst I’m unconscious?” She readied a retort when he smiled and glanced at Ben. “I am pleased you are no longer on a crusade to slaughter my kind.”

  “I’ll bag and tag those who kill people, that won’t change.”

  “Duly noted.” Lucious eyed his bandaged leg. “I would shake your hand, but my leg hasn’t fully healed.”

  Ben snorted. “Well, don’t relax just yet. Shane is preparing for an attack on the Council in the next two days. Since the streets have gone quiet, and not a single undead is walking around, he thinks they’ve gathered in one place.”

  “Do you have any more information about his plans?”

  “Here.” Ben tossed an envelope to Lucious. “I managed to gather this before they kicked me out.”

  “Ben, you’re leaving?” Helena asked. “For good?”

  “I’m afraid so.” He nodded to the vampire. “Look after her.”

  “I intend to.”

  With a transitory smile, Ben climbed out the window and disappeared into the night.

  Helena returned her gaze to Lucious who assessed her for a long time. “What?”

  “I am pleased you’re well.”

  “I’d be happy if you didn’t break your bones in the future. I thought my head was going to pop off my shoulders from the pain.”

  He observed the unconscious Alexander next to him. “He should be waking soon. I suggest you find some alcohol to brighten up his day.”

  “Scotch?”

  “Indeed.”

  “I fucking hate warlocks!” Alexander shouted and slammed his fist on the kitchen table, making the shot glasses dance on its surface.

  Byron and Lucious chuckled while Helena struggled to keep a straight face.

  “It’s not funny. They had me running around the damn building with the sun beating down on me. I should have brought a brolly…”

  Byron poured him another shot and slid it across the table. “Cheer up. That’s done and dusted. We won’t tell anyone about this, promise.”

  Alexander scowled at him. “If Tanya finds out, she won’t let me live it down for a century.” He groaned. “I still owe her those limited edition Gucci stilettos.”

  “I am certain she will forgive you for them in due time,” Lucious said, massaging his aching leg. “She’s not heartless.”

  “She is when it involves her precious footwear.”

  Helena lifted a cup of coffee to her lips to hide her grin and took a sip. She couldn’t remember the last time she had this much fun. She could only hope it wasn’t another dream. Then again, it was too ridiculous to be a mere illusion.

  Alexander rubbed his face and knocked back his drink. “So, the hunters aren’t giving up on their attack on the Council?”

  Lucious sighed. “It would appear so, yes.”

  “And we have a word of a hunter to go on, nothing else?”

  Lucious beat Helena to Ben’s defence. “I believe he was sincere.”

  Taking a swig from the half empty bottle of scotch, Byron added, “The hunter didn’t hurt my family while he stayed here. He’s alright in my books.”

  “Byron,” Alexander began, “you would trust a demon if he was kind to your family.”

  “Nah, mate, I draw the line at pointy horns.”

  “Are we going to inform the Council of the attack?” Helena asked.

  “No, we won’t,” Lucious said. “We haven’t received word from Hans or Vincent since last night. It is best for us to wait this one out.”

  Alexander took the bottle from Byron and finished it off. He set the decanter on the table when his phone rang. Pulling it out of his pocket, he checked the ID. “Speak of the Devil…” He put the phone on speaker. “Master Vincent, to what do I owe the pleasure?”

  “I know you are in London with Lucious and the others,” Vincent spoke low. “I suggest you run. Eliza’s plan passed with majority vote last night.”

  “What plan?” Lucious asked.

  “On the blood moon, the Demon Gate will be pried open. Like Anna, Eliza wishes to house a demon within her to rid London of the hunter threat.”

  Byron’s brow furrowed. “That’s only two days from now!”

  “It is why I want you to leave. I have sent Hans to take care of my family in Scotland and plead you all do the same.” The line went dead.

  “We may need another bottle…” Alexander said.

  Helena rested her head on the pillow and looked at Lucious lying next to her. Since the conversation with Vincent ended, he’d been brooding over something and wouldn’t tell her what it was.

  “What’s on your mind?”

  “You should sleep, Helena.” He gave her a light peck on the lips.

  “You’re not going to tell me?”

  He gazed at her with mischief in his clear eyes. “I’m simply unhappy I cannot bed you tonight.”

  She smirked and rolled over. A second later, his hand snaked around her waist and pulled her against his hard chest. His tender massage of her shoulder made her relax a little. After a
while, she felt her eyelids becoming heavy.

  “Sleep,” he whispered next to her ear.

  She did, even though she knew this was a ploy.

  All around her, columns as thick as ancient trees sought to meet the sky. Peering up at the picturesque cerulean view, she covered her eyes to block the glare of the sun. A naughty grin stretched her lips as she ducked from one column to the next, hiding her presence from the ongoing party at the heart of the Garden. Flowers of almost every kind bloomed in an arrangement of perfection. Everything here, down to the last blade of grass, was trimmed, carved, or shaped to the will of the gods.

  Three beautiful women she didn’t recognise played the flutes and weaved their way through the crowd dressed in tunics and togas. Noticing the man she came for, she made a practised bird sound that caused Michael’s head to turn in her direction. She waved to him and hid behind the nearby pillar.

  “What are you doing here?” he whispered, seething with annoyance.

  Her grin deceased. She was not a child to be scolded by him. “I wished to see you. You’ve not come back to see us for a week!”

  “You know I was busy with the arrangements. There were cleansing ceremonies I had to attend.”

  She pressed her hand to his chest, and he stiffened under her tender touch. “Then kiss me. Prove to me you have not forgotten about me.”

  “It’s dangerous for us to do this here!” he hissed, smacking her hand away. “Return to your domain in silence, or I will ask the guards to escort you.”

  Her heart ached like a tiny bird that had been squeezed in the palm of a hand. A tear escaped her, and she turned on the spot, ready to run away from her pain.

  Before she could put distance between them, a strong hand grasped her waist. Michael pressed her against the carved surface of the marble pillars and consumed her in a rough kiss that washed away her worry.

  Helena awoke with a jolt. She covered her mouth with her hand. What on earth have I witnessed? Her dream felt so real. Gooseflesh covered her arms, and she rubbed them away as she scrambled out of bed. To her relief, Lucious wasn’t in the room. She didn’t feel like explaining to him she had a dream about kissing her guardian angel.

  Stumbling into the bathroom, she splashed water on her face and her heart returned to its semi-normal rate. Looking up, she froze. For a second, she thought one of her eyes had turned blue. No, it’s not possible. It had to be her imagination after a strange dream. But, no matter how hard she tried to rationalise the situation, her stomach kept hurting with worry. Something was amiss.

  “Helena? Are you alright?” Lucious asked from the doorway.

  She forced a smile, suddenly feeling guilty. “Yeah, I had a bad dream.”

  He limped into the room and hugged her close. His familiar scent was like a protective barrier, and she wished he would never let go. She hugged him back, eager to close the distance between their bodies.

  “If you squeeze me any more, you’ll break me in half,” he joked.

  Helena mumbled an apology. He leant in for a kiss. Automatically, she covered her mouth and ducked away.

  Lucious eyed her with suspicion. “What aren’t you telling me?”

  “I’ve…got morning breath. I have to brush my teeth first.” She grabbed the toothbrush and squeezed some toothpaste on it.

  “I’ll leave you to it,” he said, backing out of the room.

  Staring at her frightened expression in the mirror, she sighed. She hated lying to him.

  Helena found Byron sleeping on the living room sofa, and Lucious and Alexander were discussing something low enough for her not to hear the words. She ventured into the kitchen where she scavenged Sinead’s fridge for anything she could put in a sandwich. She grabbed a jar of mayonnaise. It slipped out of her hand, smashing at her feet. A strong dizzy spell washed over her, and she pressed her palm to her aching head as her vision doubled. The kitchen then morphed into the Domain of Fates…

  Her fingers stroked a white string on the weaving rack as she pulled it through a hole and tied it down. She took a step back to admire her handiwork. “There you go, little soul.”

  “Are you almost done here?” a young brunette with flawless olive skin called out from the other side of the racks.

  She grinned. “Yes. This soul will have many beautiful encounters in her life!”

  The brunette joined her. They both looked at the soul-strings intertwined together like a giant spider’s web above their heads.

  “It’s so beautiful, Diya,” she said.

  “Do you think a time will come when we also find love, adventures, and friends?”

  She frowned. “What do you mean? We have friends and adventures here. I sneaked out with a sweet roll from the Great Hall the other day.”

  “Oh, sister, you are not seeing the bigger picture. Human souls have so much more fun. Yet, here we are, waiting for our time to wed a god and bear his offspring.”

  “Do you not love the gods?”

  “I love everyone, dearest sister, but as a family. I have yet to find someone to love like the human souls do.” She pointed to her chest. “With this heart of mine.”

  Pulling the young woman close to her, she kissed Diya on the cheek. “One day, I am certain we will find the ones for us…”

  “Helena!” Lucious’ panic-stricken voice collapsed her dream, and she opened her eyes.

  Her head ached. And, for some reason, her right arm throbbed. Lifting it, she noticed blood trickling out of a large gash where pieces of glass were lodged. “Did I fall?”

  “What happened?” he demanded and helped her sit up before guiding her to a nearby chair.

  Alexander placed a glass of water on the table in front of her and observed her with interest as well. Under two pairs of scrutinising eyes, she felt like a lab rat. She took a sip from the glass with her free hand while Lucious studied her wound.

  “Talk,” he ordered, plucking out a glass shard.

  She winced. “I think I fell asleep.”

  Alexander raised a brow. “You fell asleep after a full night’s rest?”

  “It just happened. There was this headache and, the next thing I know, I was in the Angel Realm.”

  Lucious’ fingers paused above the next shard. His eyes met hers. “What happened in your dream?”

  “It’s fuzzy. I was talking to a girl about the soul-strings,” she said.

  “Is that it?”

  She yanked her hand out of his grip. “Yes, Lucious, that’s it! What’s with the inquisition?”

  Alexander checked his phone. “I’ve got emails to respond to…”

  Lucious grabbed her hand again. He resumed taking out the pieces of glass, each tug rougher than the last. “I’m worried about you. It isn’t every day you collapse like that.”

  Pursing her lips, she mulled over her response. If she wanted to find out what was going on with her, he needed to know the truth. “I had another dream.”

  He stiffened. “About?”

  “Michael. He was in it.”

  “And?”

  She grimaced. “He kissed me.”

  Lucious inclined his head—a reaction she didn’t expect. She thought he would be angry or annoyed. Instead, he bit into his thumb and rubbed his blood on her cuts.

  “You’re not mad?”

  He raised a brow. “Why would I be? It was only a dream.”

  “Yeah, a dream…”

  The only thing he could do was order her to rest for the remainder of the day. Lucious slumped on the sofa across from Alexander and Byron. “I’m worried. What if next time she won’t be herself?”

  “Be patient, my friend. I’ve contacted every witch I know. I’m sure someone will respond.”

  Byron clasped his hands and rested his elbows on his knees. “Aren’t you going to tell her? She deserves to know what’s going on.”

  “Hasn’t she suffered enough?” Lucious challenged. “This matter will remain between the three of us. Understood?”

  “Fine,”
Byron said, “but expect a massive splash when the dam breaks.”

  “I suggest we talk to Anna. Out of us all, she is the oldest and most trustworthy,” Alexander offered.

  “Her interest in the fates caused me to be suspicious of her reasoning,” Lucious said. “The last time we spoke about them, she wanted to know whom I believed the fate to be. I couldn’t tell her.”

  “That may be for the best,” Byron said.

  Burying his face in his hands, Lucious spoke, “How hard is it to find a witch who can cast a bloody suppression spell?”

  “Any witch can cast one. It would buy you a day, maybe a week at most. If it’s the Mother of Vampires we’re talking about here, I don’t believe a mere suppression spell will keep her under wraps for long,” Alexander reasoned. “Anna is our best bet.”

  Lucious stared at the carpet. After their last encounter, he wasn’t certain he held the same trust in his sire as he did over the century she wasn’t with him. Yet, she remained the only source of information at hand that could help Helena. The hunters, demons, and now this? How great is that fate’s reach?

  “You’re right, Alexander. I must see Anna,” Lucious finally said.

  Byron grasped his shoulder. “Vincent warned us to get the hell out of London, and you’re going back to the Council? What if you’re caught?”

  “I intend to be. That way, Anna will see me immediately.”

  Alexander snorted. “And what then? We can’t exactly break you out from the Council building. All of London’s vampires are gathered there.”

  “I’m guessing Eliza will use her prisoners for the ritual. During the blood moon, she’ll take us to the gate.”

  Shaking his head, Byron added, “I suspected it, but now I know you’re bonkers.”

  “Alexander, Byron, I leave the rest to you.”

  18

  Sacrifices We Make

  “What do you mean he went to see Anna?” Helena shouted.

  “You know I hate repeating myself,” Alexander said, returning to his emails.