Between Two Realms: Awaken

by Amber Flora

  “Is there somewhere more private we could go?” I asked cautiously.

  “While ya are a beauty, I like to get to know a woman a little first.”

  Oh yeah, this guy was definitely Mac’s father.

  “I just need a little bit of your time please. I know your son.”

  He stopped me from finishing my sentence.

  “Come with me,” he said basically dragging me behind him. Ben met up with us on the street, running to stand between Brian and me.

  “Do not put your hands on her,” Ben growled, reaching for the sword at his side.

  “General, it’s been a long time,” Brian said somewhat politely.

  “Not long enough,” Ben countered.

  “We need to get off the street, lad. In case you’re forgettin’, she hunted me. I’m not going to hurt her, but if we don’t get off the street soon someone just might.”

  Ben strategically placed me beside him.

  “She stays next to me.”

  Brian held his hands up in defeat and continued down the street that led us to a high-rise about eighteen stories tall. When we entered the building I looked around for an elevator but only saw a long set of staircases to the left.

  “I’m on the eleventh floor, apartment 1132. You can meet us up there,” Brian said, looking at Ben.

  “You are not taking her.”

  What was with all the male bravado?

  “I’m not making her climb eleven stories and ya would be an arse to do so as well.”

  With that Brian scooped me up and practically flew up the stairs. This guy was wicked fast. I was getting nauseous watching the stairwells pass by and closed my eyes to prevent myself from ralphing all over Mac’s father. When we finally reached our destination he sat me down gingerly and led me inside.

  One thing Mac did not have in common with his father was his cleanliness. This guy was a pig. Papers and trash covered what I think was a dining table. Boxes stacked in corners of the room and the place had a raunchy smell.

  “My cleaning lady is on vacation,” he said, winking at me.

  “Have a seat.”

  He cleared off a spot on the couch and sat opposite of me in what I think was a lawn chair. Ben burst through the door enraged and short of breath.

  “I should rip your head off,” he huffed to Brian.

  “You have always been a bit of a hot-headed lad,”

  Brian replied, unfazed by Ben's obvious anger.

  “You would be wise not to test me, old man.”

  “Ben, please, I know you’re upset, but he meant well. I need to talk to Brian in private and we’re running out of time. Could you wait outside?”

  He gave Brian a menacing look.

  “Over my dead body.”

  Brian stood up.

  “That could be arranged.”

  I was getting so sick of being surrounded by male testosterone.

  “Both of you, stop it! Brian do you have a bedroom Ben could hang out in?”

  They both looked at me like I was stupid.

  “I have a study through there that he can respectfully wait in,” Brian replied, glaring at Ben. “Perfect, thank you.”

  Ben was a cannon waiting for a match as he plowed through the apartment, slamming the door behind him. I didn’t have time to nurse his ego; I had to talk to Brian and there was no telling how long we had until Gloria would spill the beans.

  “Well, lass, I don’t know who you are, but you certainly have me intrigued that ya managed to tame the beast.”

  Out of all the men I now know, I thought Ben to be the least beastly of them all. A sicko yes but his temper did not compare to Cody’s when he was on one of his tirades.

  “My name is Scarlet, I’m friends with your son.” Brian somberly looked at me.

  “That’s impossible, my son is dead.”

  I looked at him in complete confusion.

  “Why would you think that?”

  He shrugged his shoulders and then slouched down into his chair.

  “I don’t think; I know. I was there the day Avonya collapsed. I looked everywhere for him and he was nowhere to be found.”

  Was he serious? This whole time he thought his son had died that day?

  “He isn’t dead; he wasn’t even there that day. He and Cody were in the human realm watching a ballgame.”

  Brian's face went pale. He looked like he was going to be sick as he cupped his face in his hands.

  “No, that isn’t possible, you’re lyin’.”

  I inched closer to him. I didn’t know if he would strike me—I had heard the stories of his temper— but I felt compelled to comfort him.

  “I’m sorry, but it’s true. Forgive me for being so brash, but Mac said you ran away the day of the attack. Why?”

  He chuckled, but I could hear the sadness in his voice; my words had hurt him.

  “I can believe he would think that. I wasn’t much of a man or father back then. When the fighting started I searched high and low for him. I fought off as many Credo soldiers as I could until the place went silent and then I searched some more. I found Cody's mother holding her daughter in her arms. I tried to ask her if she had seen Fintan, but she was catatonic she didn’t even hear me. After two days of searching I assumed he had perished as well. I was devastated, I couldn’t stay in that place with death all around me, so I came here and started over.”

  Poor Mac, he had missed him by a day. This entire time he thought his father abandoned him and Brian, oh my God, to believe his son had died, to grieve for him.

  “Speaking of, how did you know where to find me?”

  I pushed away my emotions and tried to get back on topic.

  “That’s actually the other reason I’m here. I know your secret; I would like to know how it works for you.”

  He leaned back in his chair, not looking me in eyes.

  “It’s not much of a secret anymore. I don’t have fangs, but I live in shadow realm. The locals know I’m not exactly one of them.”

  “How do you live here then? You have amazing speed so you display some characteristics.”

  Brian pulled out a cigarette and lit it, drawing in a deep breath.

  “Aye, I knew I was different at a young age. I was never sunshine and rainbows like most of the dreamwalkers. When my mother finally told me who and what my father was, it all made sense. I started making short trips here and it felt like home. I loved the darkness, I was less depressed when I was here.”

  So Gloria was right: Shadow realm called to him like magic realm called to me whenever I was distraught. Did I pick the wrong realm? What if it were just dumb luck that the dreamwalkers had found me and not the wizards. I began to let doubt lead me down a dark path, wondering if I was being played for a fool. Could it be possible I was never meant for dream realm? It hit me like a ton of bricks and I had to push through the whirlwind of thoughts creeping into my mind. Cody had to be wrong. I was no savior, they had rescued the wrong girl.

  “So why not live here? Why did you stay in dream realm all that time?”

  He shrugged.

  “I fell in love, I thought Fintan’s mother would change all of those feelings and for a while she did. We were happy and when he came along we were a family. I thought she loved me and I wanted to share everything with her so I told her the truth about me. She called me an abomination and said I disgusted her. I hoped she just needed time to calm down, but a few days later she was gone. At that point I couldn’t leave. I didn’t know if Fintan had inherited any of my traits and I couldn’t take a child to the shadow realm, so I stayed. I became bitter the longer I stayed away from here and regrettably took my anger out on him.”

  This was all too much. Mac had no clue of any of it. He spent his whole life despising his father—granted much of it was warranted—but his mother, that bitch, judging Brian the way she did and just up and leaving her own son. What kind of mother does that to a child? All the pain he endured in his life because of the lies and disconten
t. How different would his life have been? Was the mix of races really such an issue to tear family’s apart and separate worlds?

  “Brian, I had no idea. You have to see Mac, you have to tell him the truth— all of it. He has a right to know.”

  He shook his head as the anguish showed on his face.

  “He doesn’t want to see me, he knew I was still alive and never searched for me. No, he’s better off without knowing what I am.”

  I stood up, closing the gap between us.

  “Are you insane?! You owe him this. Stop being the coward he believes you to be and do the right thing. Have you ever stopped to think he’s suffering just like you did, like you are now. He’s an amazing man. You should see it for yourself. Allow him the opportunity to make the choice if he wants you in his life.”

  Suddenly a rasping noise sounded on the door.

  “Oh puppet! We know you’re in there, open up.”

  At the same time Ben burst through the study door, three vampires barreled through the front. Brian was fast and managed to deck one in the jaw, but they continued to struggle. Ben was trying to take out two at a time and while he was strong, they were deadly fast.

  “Ashtyn, flash!” Ben yelled, still trying to fend off the vampires.

  “I’m not leaving you!” I screamed back as I looked around, trying to find anything that would help. I was shocked to see Brian fighting alongside Ben.

  “He’s right, lass; get out of here. We will hold them off,” Brian added, still tangoing with the vamps.

  The two were amazing to watch. They fought together like they had done it their entire lives. One of the shortest of the three vampires tried to bite Ben and Brian grabbed him by the back of his head, flipping him over his shoulder. The two stood back to back as they fended off the intruders. Ben unsheathed his sword, swinging it like the weight of the steel was no more than that of a feather. He sliced the Achilles’ tendon of one of the vamps and he crumpled to the ground, wailing in agony. The best thing I could find was a shower rod and ran toward the two remaining men, striking one of them in the knee cap. In an instant the vampire snatched me up by neck. He looked into my eyes, making me hold his gaze. I wanted to scream, but I just stood there, frozen in terror.

  “Puppet, repeat after me. I will not flash, I will behave.”

  I felt like a spell was cast on me. I wanted to resist, to spit in his face, but I couldn’t.

  “I will not flash, I will behave,” I repeated like a zombie.

  What was happening to me? I tried to flash, to move, but my body wasn’t responding.

  The tall gangly vampire threw me over his shoulder and in a split second we were out the door and down street. I wanted to rip this guy's head off, but no matter how hard I tried my body wouldn’t react. The ground was moving so fast beneath us and I couldn’t see where we were going. I was beginning to get nauseous again. He smelled like rotten meat and wasn’t the least bit gentle in carrying me through the streets. All of the sudden I felt a blow to my side and went flying through the air, slamming hard onto concrete, nearly causing me to black out. My vision was blurry and I still couldn’t get my body to cooperate as I lay there, attempting to focus on my surroundings.

  “You’ll pay for that, dreamwalker,” I heard my captor say.

  “Oh, I’m afraid ya are mistaken, ya pile o’shite. Ya are about to draw yer last breath.”

  Mac! That magnificent bastard. I managed to pull myself upright, but I was wobbly, like an invisible force was holding me back. The vampire charged at Mac with lighting speed. Mac just managed to dodge him and struck him hard with an elbow to the back. The guy winced in pain, but it barely slowed him down. He turned, using his speed to his advantage, first going right, then left, then, before Mac could blink, he was back on his right side striking a hard blow to his head, causing him to go down. I saw blood begin to trickle out the side of his ear and my switch flipped. No! I screamed in my mind. No! No! Suddenly just as quickly as it was taken away my mobility came back to me and I bolted toward the vampire.

  “Hey, asshole!”

  He turned around, showing a toothy grin.

  “Puppet, how did you break my trance? You are a strong one.”

  I flipped him off, standing my ground.

  “Strong enough to kick your ass.”

  He slowly approached, fangs visible. He was terrifying, but the thought of what he could have done to Mac was even scarier.

  “Oh, I am going to have fun with you,” he whispered.

  The guy smelled as bad as he looked. As soon as he got close enough I took a deep breath and did the only thing I could think of: I bit hard into his neck, attempting to immobilize him with pain. As soon as the blood hit my lips my knees buckled and I fell to the ground. In a split second, everything changed.

  For feck’s sake did she really just bite a vampire? This had to be the worst day ever. When Mac and Cody came back from the magic realm they were practically knocked over by a hysterical Gloria. He couldn’t believe what she had to say. Ashtyn and Ben had gone to shadow realm to look for his half-vampire father. At first he thought it was a horrible prank, but the fear in Gloria’s eyes told the truth.

  “How long has she been gone?” Mac growled, trying not to strangle Gloria for letting Ashtyn out of her sight.

  “Two moons. I know time is different in each realm, but I’m scared. She promised me she would be back before the first moon.”

  Before Cody could say a word, Mac had flashed to shadow realm. He ran down alleys and streets looking for any sign of her. It was just dumb luck that he caught a glimpse of a scrawny vamp running down the street with Ashtyn over his shoulder. Fear hit him so hard in the chest that he couldn’t breathe. If he harmed her he was dead man. Oh, who was he kidding? The second he touched her that bloody vamp had sealed his fate.

  While the vampire was getting a bite taken out of his neck Mac seized the opportunity and ran up behind him, grabbing the back of his collar, he spun the guy, who was now clutching the hole in his neck, around. Mac pulled the knife from his boot, looking the creature square in the eyes.

  “You aren’t worth such a quick death, but it’s your lucky day. She needs me and I don’t have time for torture.”

  Mac rose the knife and shoved it straight into the vampire's heart before he could move another inch. He watched with pleasure while the piece of trash crumpled to the floor. Mac ran over to a writhing Ashtyn, scooping her into his arms.

  “Shh, Macree, it’s all right. I’ve got you.”

  His heart raced and the dread that filled him when he looked at her shaking body nearly tore him into. He flashed them both back to his apartment, gently laying her on the bed and covering her with a blanket. He brushed her hair out of her face. He wanted so desperately to kiss her, to tell her all the reasons he adored her, but now would be the worst time to open up his soul. Lord, help him, these next few hours will test all of his will power. He promised to whatever god was listening that if he survived this he would be a changed man.

  Chapter 14

  The second I tasted the vampire’s blood, sexual desire oozed through me. It was like a volcano erupted through my loins. I couldn’t think; it was so strong it was actually painful, like my veins were burning and no matter how I tried to rein it in I couldn’t regain my composure. My heart beat maniacally, as if doing a dance. But with the immense buildup of pleasure brought massive amounts of torment. Even the feel of the comforter Mac had pulled over me caused goosebumps all over my body.

  “Mac, what’s happening?”

  He looked pained.

  Oh shit was I going to die? Or was I turning into a vampire?

  “Vampire blood is an aphrodisiac. Just a drop of it is powerful enough to induce desire. Who knows how much of that bastard's blood you got in your mouth.”

  I rose up, softly dragging my fingers across his arm and down his hand.

  “Kiss me,” I said in a sensual rasp.

  “Not like this, lass,” he replied, remov
ing my hand and backing up on the bed.

  “I want you— I need you, Mac. I’m begging you, take me.”

  Mac stood up, heading toward the door. He wouldn’t look at me directly; he adverted his eyes, trying to conceal whatever emotion he was feeling.

  “Just be patient, lass, it will pass.”

  With that he walked out of the room, leaving me alone in my world of complete mania.

  Mac sat in the living room for an hour listening to her scream and cry out in pain. He had wanted to hear those words from her lips from the moment he first kissed her, but hearing them under these circumstances did little for his ego. He had taken a few drops of vampire blood once. While it was the best sex of his life it also felt like an itch he couldn’t scratch. The feeling didn’t subside until he quenched his sexual thirst. Mac rubbed his hands on his head. He knew what he had to do, he only hoped he could curb his own sexual frustration long enough to get the job done. When he entered the room, she was curled on her side holding her stomach. He slowly approached the bed.

  “Lay on you back.”

  She quickly did as he said and that’s when he knew it had to be bad. Ashtyn Lane actually did something without complaint. He sat on the bed with a hand on each side of her hips and bent down, ever so softly kissing above her navel.

  “What are you doing?” she let out in a gasp.

  “Easing your discomfort, try to relax.”

  He unbuttoned her pants; she raised her hips allowing him to pull them down, sliding one leg out and then the other. He then hooked his thumbs into her black panties and slid them down at the same time he brought the sheets up to cover her bare skin. He knew he shouldn’t be looking at her, not this way, but dammit she was stunning, and he had envisioned the look of her bare skin in his hands more times than he could count. Her beautiful hip bones beckoned him as he carried his lips from one side to the other gently letting his tongue tickle her skin. She moaned at the touch, which made him so hard his erection strained against his pants. His left hand caressed her stomach as his right hand made its way to her dark curls. His thumb found her sweet spot and he began to massage. She bucked, urging him on.