A Very Alpha Christmas

by Anthology

  Once the nursery was secured by the rescue team, a clean-up crew gathered whatever vampire blood was in the laboratory. The vampires drank from all four Elemental types to absorb the abilities of their magic. Because the vampires’ blood was immortal, they would frequently harvest their own magic-infused blood and keep it in vials for later use.

  The Elemental-laced immortal blood was primarily collected for the werewolf guards—an ingredient in a recipe for the cure of the werewolf curse. The spell had been handed down from a powerful fire witch in Germany over one-hundred years ago. Legend had it she was married to a Vamsyrian, which was how she had discovered Vamsyrian blood was the final ingredient for the cure. She had been searching for the remedy to heal her own father, who had been infected. Jack’s grove used the cure as leverage to convince the werewolves to abandon their loyalty to the vampires and help them release everyone from their prison.

  With Jack’s people now positioned around the structure, Beth stepped forward with a torch in each hand. She was the group leader for this run, and once an adolescent in the nursery where Jack and Aideen had met. Red streams of light shot from the palms of the fire witches and mages as they called the flames to their outstretched hands. Jack extended his left palm toward the structure and blue smoke-like swirls of light wisped over the fallen snow, lifting it like crystal dust and gathering it into large drift piles he positioned to the side for later use. The water Elementals reached both their hands toward the buildings, and any melted snow or moisture was sucked from the wood to ensure it was dry enough to burn.

  Since Jack also had the power to wield air, he joined his efforts with the other air Elementals, extending his right hand forward. Golden streams of light shot from his fingers and mingled with the crimson powers of fire, not only fueling the flames of the fire witches and mages, but containing the blaze for a controlled burn. Like an orchestra working together and building for the climax, the earth Elementals stepped forward, raising their arms. Emerald waves of light shook the foundation of the grounds, reducing the prison to a smoldering pile of rubble.

  As the earth mages and witches strolled over the compound, the rubble became tilled earth under their feet. They stopped, scattered equally across the newly churned soil, arms out to their sides. The air Elementals, including Jack, gathered seed from the forest, blew it over the fresh dirt and settled it into the ground for the spring.

  Only Jack was able to give the area the final touch. Extending his arms, he called to the snow he’d set aside. Sapphire and amber lights spiraled from his hands for a spectacular display against the white landscape. He swept his hands in an arc over his head, lifting the water and ice high into the air. Thrusting his palms upward, yellow and blue plumes exploded skyward for the finale.

  He dropped his arms to his sides and glanced at the crowd of captives, their mouths open in awe. In moments, the air was hazy with the gentle fall of snowflakes, dusting their eyelashes and melting on their smiles. The fresh-tilled earth would be covered with newly fallen snow, leaving no trace of the nursery. Beth instructed everyone to file through the forest to flatbed wagons, which were waiting to take them all back to the grove’s village just a few days’ journey away.

  The group leader strolled up to Jack and fell in step beside him. “I’m sorry, Frost.” She patted his back. “One day we’ll find her.”

  Jack nodded and frowned. “She’s out there. I know she is.”

  He straggled behind the group and faced the direction of the field where the nursery had once been. Raking his hands through the air, Jack willed yellow and blue mist across the ground to ruffle the foot-packed snow and a cloud of snowflakes blanketed their path to cover their tracks.

  2

  Rasheed knelt before Aideen, his mouth latched onto her wrist, as she sat in a chair in his private chambers. The euphoria of the feeding rendered her listless as the vampire explored her thoughts and memories since the last time he’d fed from her, bringing him up to date on all her experiences until the moment he’d summoned her.

  She relived the final memory of marching through his door when the euphoria halted abruptly. Rasheed pierced his thumb with his fang and smeared his blood over the wound at her wrist, where it faded as if the feeding had never happened.

  The Vamsyrian curled his index finger under her chin and lifted her face. “I have some exciting news for you today, my little fire witch.”

  Just now regaining her faculties, she didn’t have the wherewithal to make a cheeky remark.

  “We’ve found Jack.” Rasheed displayed a humorless grin.

  Though a million thoughts ran through her mind, she couldn’t find any sensible words to utter. Was he still alive? Where was he? Was he still looking for her? What would the vampires do with him now that they’d found him?

  Rasheed chuckled. “So many questions.”

  Aideen’s face flushed with anger and embarrassment. She hated the mind-reading abilities of the vampires.

  “Yes, he is still alive. He and many others who fled the safety of our nursery are living like animals in a grove several miles northwest of here, in the forests near Llangammarch. I can’t tell you if he is still looking for you, but I can tell you he and his friends have tried very hard to break up our little families. They obviously don’t know the importance of our work here. Jack and his friends are a threat not only to Vamsyrians and Elementals, but all of mankind.”

  “Why are you telling me this?” She clenched her fists in her lap, trying to keep her mind free of roaming thoughts and ideas, and waited for his answer.

  “That would bring me to answer your final question: What are we going to do with him? You are going to help us recover Jack.”

  She narrowed her eyes. “Why me? If you know where he is, why can’t you bring him back yourself?”

  Rasheed shrugged. “We could do that, if that’s what you’d like. I brought you here to give you the opportunity to return him safely. His grove members are less likely to harm you, and Jack may come back willingly under your influence. If we go, however…” His eyebrows rose in anticipation of Aideen’s horror-filled conclusion.

  Her shoulders sank in defeat. “I would wager you would not offer him a warm reception. Many lives would be lost in the process of recovering Jack.”

  Rasheed winked. “You’re a smart girl and I like it that you come straight to the point. We vampires are not the monsters you think we are. We don’t want to kill any of the Elementals. Your kind is our path to salvation. But Jack, and the other cuspers, are the key to finally achieving our goal—creating a spirit Elemental. Once that goal is accomplished, we will have no need of the nurseries. You can help free all of us…if you bring Jack home.”

  His words made sense to her only because this was the mantra the Elementals had been taught since birth. But why, even after all this time of hearing this over and over, did none of this ever sit well in her soul? Something was wrong.

  “Yes, Aideen…something is indeed wrong. We could have had our spirit Elemental if Jack had stayed. All of this could have been over in a few short years if he had been here to mate with the two other cusper women. They are still ripe and ready for breeding and we can finally make this happen. But we must have Jack.”

  The idea of Jack being with two women, let alone one, scorched her heart and singed her belly. But her jealousy was hardly the issue at hand. She shook her head and blinked away the tears forming in her eyes. “I can’t. You’re asking me to bring him back to exactly where he doesn’t want to be.”

  “I think you underestimate the power you have over his heart. Remember, I fed from Jack the night before he and his traitorous friends all fled from us. I know from your own memories that he was willing to risk everything to be with you. Don’t let this trivial matter of his sharing his bed with others stop you from doing what’s right.”

  Aideen gripped the arms of the chair for strength. “Master Rasheed, you are asking me to betray the man I love!”

  In two strides, the vam
pire towered over her and shackled her wrists to the chair with his harsh grip. She winced as he crushed her arms against the chains and bracelets. He glared at her, nose to nose.

  “I am asking you to put your selfish intentions aside and do this for the greater good of the cause, for the freedom of your own kin. But that isn’t motivation enough for you.”

  The venom in his voice heated her skin and she shuddered.

  “It suits you well to keep all of these people in the nurseries and in chains, rather than risk the disapproval of the man you love. If the lives of so many people mean nothing to you, then perhaps I should appeal to you on a more personal level.” He narrowed his eyes and Aideen shrank even farther from him. “Perhaps the lives of your children will motivate to do as you are told.”

  She panted, fear overwhelming her. “Master Rasheed, please—”

  “At last, I have the desired response.” He stood upright and strolled to his desk.

  “Leave my children out of this!” Aideen launched for the vampire.

  Rasheed thrust his opened hand toward her and she slammed back into the chair, her head knocking against the hard wood. Yellow light swirled around her as the vampire used air wizardry to pin her to the seat. He eased up enough to allow her to breathe, then stepped forward and pressed his palm to her forehead. Images of a path from the nursery, through the city and onto a long road winding north flashed before her eyes. The visions eventually veered off the road and into a forest. Certain landmarks were highlighted along a trail into a modest village…where Jack stood at a well, laughing and talking with Gerard.

  Rasheed stepped back and crossed his arms. “I just showed you how to find him.”

  Aideen rubbed her eyes, the visions burned into her brain and her heart aching. Jack was alive and looked happy. She shook her head. “No. I’m not—”

  The vampire grabbed her hair and glared into her eyes. “Yes, you will, Aideen. You will go there and bring Jack back and you will do so before the sun sets on the morrow…or you will find an empty nursery when you return, and you will never see your children again. Do you understand me?”

  Hot tears slipped out of the corners of Aideen’s eyes. “Yes, sir,” she gritted through her teeth.

  Rasheed grinned. “My obedient little fire witch.” The smile dropped from his face. “You will say nothing of this to anyone. You will only tell your children you are running an errand for me and then you will return. And I will feed from you before you leave to be sure you’ve kept to these arrangements. If you do not and I discover from your blood that you told anyone or did anything outside my instructions, I will kill those you involved and you will watch me do it. That includes your children. Is. That. Clear.”

  Aideen gathered all her strength not to sob and spoke over the lump in her throat. “Yes.”

  The vampire released her. “Go. Say goodbye to your children and prepare for your journey. You have many miles to cover. You will leave as soon as you are ready. That should give you ample opportunity to trek there and bring him back before the sun sets on the morrow.”

  “But that his hardly enough—”

  “Don’t waste time arguing with me.”

  Standing, Aideen bit her tongue and whirled to dash out the door.

  “Take those with you.”

  She halted. Rasheed pointed to a pile of cold weather garments.

  “Being a fire witch, you should at least be able to keep yourself from freezing to death, but these will help. I already have a small pack of provisions waiting for you in the kitchens. Meet me there. You need not bring anything else.”

  Snatching the fur-lined cloak, knitted scarf and boots, she threw open the door and ran down the hall toward the sleeping chambers. At her own door, she labored a deep breath and wiped the tears from her face before entering the room. She closed door and kissed Quinton and Morgen each on the head, where they sat on the floor playing with wooden blocks.

  “What’s wrong, Mama?” Aron set his book aside on the table beside his chair.

  “Nothing.” She put the cloak and scarf on the bed, then changed from her shoes into the boots. Aideen sighed. “Well, actually, I’m to run an errand for Master Rasheed.” She knelt before her two youngest boys. Morgen stood and wrapped his arms around her neck, burying his face in her hair.

  “Can we go with you?” Quinton asked.

  “No, and that’s why I’m upset. I have never been away from you boys and now I must leave you here for a whole day.” She swallowed the lump in her throat.

  “Oh, we’ll be all right,” Quinton assured her. “Aron and I will look after Morgen.”

  “You promise?” She bit her lip to stem her tears.

  “Of course!” He grinned, proud to be her saving grace in her absence. “We have plenty of games to play and I can read to Morgen.”

  “I can always count on you, Quinn.” Aideen pulled her son close and kissed his brow. Morgen tightened his hug. “You hear that, Morgen? Quinn will read whatever you like.”

  He shook his head. The poor darling hadn’t spoken a word since Steven had been burned alive eight weeks ago. She rubbed his back and rocked him in her arms. Torn between not wanting to leave and not having a choice, she forced herself to pull her son back enough to see his drooping face. He refused to meet her gaze, though.

  “I will try to bring you some sweets,” she promised. Morgen stared at his fumbling fingers between them. “But I will be back.”

  Morgen left her arms and stumbled over to Aron, who pulled his brother onto his lap. Aron’s eyes regarded her with dark seriousness, his brow furrowed. “Where are you going?”

  “I can’t say just yet.” She cast her son a warning glance. “But perhaps I can tell you all about it when I return.” Aideen kissed each of them on the cheek. “I love you boys very much. Take care of each other.” She grabbed the cloak and scarf and gave them each one last look. “Listen to your older brother. Aron, keep them close.”

  He frowned and nodded.

  Aideen closed the door and leaned against it for strength, swallowing the sorrow clogging her throat. The sooner I leave, the sooner I can return. She pushed away from the door and occupied herself with navigating a route through the nursery to the kitchens, avoiding anyone she could along the way and only offering a casual greeting to anyone she did encounter. Rasheed waited for her when she arrived.

  “As I said, your provisions.” He handed her a small satchel with a shoulder strap.

  She secured the satchel on her left shoulder and across her chest, the bag hanging at her right hip.

  “Put on your cloak and scarf, then come with me.”

  She did as instructed and Rasheed led her out of the kitchen to a large oaken door, which was always locked. With a ring of worn keys, the vampire permitted them through several unknown doors into a dark, dank passage where he lit a lantern for her benefit.

  Cold musty air swept past her face, and she covered her nose with her scarf, her breath pluming in gusts through her fingers and the wool. The mellow glow of the lamp she held high illuminated damp stone walls.

  They tiptoed a precarious path bordering a frozen, murky waterway, twisting and turning down passages. She nearly slammed into Rasheed as he came to an abrupt halt. Fanning the keys in his palm, he chose one and opened a wrought-iron gate, which protested on its hinges. An ominous screech tore through the blackened tunnels they’d just traversed.

  “This way.” Rasheed guided her through the gate and they zig-zagged up a rickety wooden staircase, ending at another iron gate that Rasheed unlocked. They stepped into a narrow alley. A tall lamp flickered through the narrow passage and across the street, just like the one she’d seen in the images Rasheed forced into her mind…the beginning of the trail leading to Jack. The clock on the side of the building read five twenty-five. A horse and carriage clopped and rambled by. Freedom lay beyond that narrow entrance, but she was leaving her heart behind.

  Rasheed seized her arm and yanked her by the hair, exposing her
neck. He sank his fangs and drank deep. Aideen moaned and collapsed into his arms. As promised, he reviewed everything she’d done after he released her to prepare for the trip.

  The vampire finished feeding and healed her throat. “Very good—you did exactly as I instructed.”

  “Too much.” She leaned against the wall, breathing deep.

  “Don’t worry, you’ll regain your strength with the provisions in your pack.”

  “Are you trying to make this harder for me?” Aideen clenched her jaw.

  “You may need this.” He handed her a dagger, handle first. “I cannot promise your journey will be without incident, so use all caution. The less you are seen, the less of a chance you have at encountering trouble.”

  “Won’t you remove my chains?” She extended her wrists, hope blooming in her breast.

  The vampire laughed manically. “You’re a fool if you think I’ll give you full reign to your powers. You will have enough to keep you warm.”

  “But not to protect myself.”

  Rasheed chuckled. “That is what the dagger is for. Besides, you do not have full control over your powers. Anything you do out of emotion will either get you killed or kill someone else. Stick to the shadows, little one.”

  “How badly do you want Jack to return?” Aideen pushed from the wall and dared a step closer to the author of her woes. She glared at him. “You weaken me, give me a dagger as my only form of defense—which I know even less about wielding than my powers—and send me into a world of which I am completely ignorant. Then you have the balls to tell me to be cautious and that I must be back in time to save my children. It seems like you’re preparing me to die. Why not kill me now and get it over with?”

  Rasheed grinned. “I know you, my little fire witch. I have just given you the impetus for your task. Now that the odds are against you, there is nothing that will stop you.” He turned on his heel and locked the gate. With one last devious grin, he slipped down the stairs into the darkness.

  Aideen dug through her satchel and found a wedge of cheddar and a warm loaf. She tore off a chunk of cheese and shoved it into her mouth, followed by a few bites of bread. Taking two swigs of the corked wine bottle, she washed down her hurried bites. Satisfied the quick meal would return some of her strength, she staggered out of the alley.