Copula Chronicles: The Complete Collection: Origin, Descend, Ascend, Legacy

by Venessa Kimball

  Remembering what she said on the beach, and considering that the club she’s going to could be one of Samson Crests’, I don’t want her to go. “What about those missing people?”

  She picks up her lipstick and looks over her shoulder at me. “All of the missing turned up a day or two later, Jes! Unharmed for the most part. Reporters speculate there were drugs involved since they couldn’t recall where they went and who was with them. And by the looks of these people, they were probably real whack-jobs in the first place. The media tried to blow it all out of proportion. I’ll keep my phone on and text you when I’m on my way back.”

  I breathe in deep knowing that she’s stubborn and not going to listen to me.

  She looks at my reflection through the mirror as she applies her lipstick. “Look, I’ll even leave you the name of the club. Club Helion.”

  The name of the club! That’s the name of one of Crest’s clubs! Holy Shit!

  She wipes the side of her lip, where it’s smudged. “Just Google the address that way you’ll know exactly where I am, all right?”

  I barely hear what she’s said as I ask urgently, “The guy that invited you? Was he older?”

  She shakes her head. “No, his son. Why?”

  She turns to face me, her curious, furrowed brow rising as she disseminates my motive for asking. “You’re thinking about going, aren’t you?”

  I did, but not for the same reasons as her. While she was going to possibly hook up with the son of Samson Crest, I was going to kill the ringleader of this entire abduction operation. I can’t get her involved. And with what I know now, the chances of her getting hurt are high if I’m not careful. With Ezra saying him and Sebastian are calling in backup, this could be my one and only shot to prove that I’m able to handle my own and I don’t need some partner to come in and save the day! As I weigh the reasons why I should go against the reasons I shouldn’t, I slowly nod my head at her. “Yeah. I want to go.”

  Corinna jumps up and down clapping and squealing. “I have the perfect outfit for you. Royal blue, sequined tank with tight, black, leather pants!”

  I stop listening after the tight, black, leather pants and let her pull me out of the bathroom and into her room. After clothes, hair and makeup, we’re out the door and in her car driving out of the Cloisters. I glance at our house and notice Ezra’s car is gone. As soon as I left, I put up an ultimate mega mental block. I hope the fucker stuck because I did’t want him knowing where I was headed.

  CHAPTER 19: PUZZLE PIECES

  Xander

  Sam is sitting in a dimly lit office in Club Helion, waiting for Xander. He has a tumbler of scotch and water in his hand.

  I pull up to the club and toss the valet the keys to my Porsche. “How’s it going, man?”

  The valet replies, “Great, sir. Busy tonight!”

  As I walk through the club of gyrating bodies, I shake a few hands and exchange a few smiles and waves as I head to the office in the back. I called a meeting with Sam before the night got rolling. I need to get some answers. Things have been stirring around in my head since meeting that girl at the bookstore the other day, Jesca. When she said she was from Marietta, Georgia, it’s like all these puzzle pieces that I’ve been questioning for weeks, suddenly started coming together.

  The bartender gives me a nod. I call to him and give him a thumbs up. “Everything good?”

  He gives me a thumbs up back and continues to bob his head to the music as he serves the ladies in front of him drinks. When I saw her, I knew I recognized her. I could have sworn she was the girl I ran into on that campus in Marietta. Then, when she said she was from there, it was too coincidental. Puzzle pieces coming together.

  I’m not proud that I followed her home after we had coffee. Like I said, I didn’t want to let go of this thing happening between us. Yeah, it’s definitely stalker caliber shit, I know. But, if Sam wouldn’t tell me shit about what I was doing in Marietta, Georgia and here’s this girl that’s so familiar from the same small town I was investigating in. When I asked her what college she went to, I remembered her telling me she didn’t. The second time around asking her, when she told me she didn’t, I knew she was lying. I could tell because I could sense it. And that’s the weirdest part of being with her. I feel and sense things. Everyone that knows me knows I don’t do feelings.

  As I drove away from the Cloisters to meet Sam and the investors that afternoon, it got me thinking about other things Sam might not be telling me; the reason I was in Marietta and why Sam was becoming too comfortable with guests and the ‘private parties’ he was accompanying them to. With the recent media coverage about club-goers missing, then being recovered drugged and disoriented, it’s tainting the image of both club Helion and Meridian. Shit, Helion was on the front page of the Miami Herald last week. I’m not surprised how packed it is tonight. Sam demanded that a few of the valets and I pass out VIP invites around town after seeing the picture of the club on the front page. There was this perky red head that kept hanging around me after I handed her one. She was cute, but not my type. Corinna something or other. The reason I remember her is because of her mentioning living in the Cloisters, Jesca’s community. Oh, and she never called me. I had a feeling she wouldn’t, which is why I plan to pay her a visit at the bookstore tomorrow.

  I scan the club one last time before entering the office. Closing the door behind me, I see Sam standing in front of the sliding glass door. It’s the most spectacular ocean view and Sam is taking it in as he takes a long draw of his bourbon, then turns to me. “Xander.”

  “Dad.”

  I walk towards him, picking up a tumbler and pouring myself a portion of whisky.

  “So, why am I here son?”

  Sam walks toward me as I drink down half of my serving. “Just wanting to catch up on some things. You’ve been hard to pin down the past couple of days.”

  He sits down in the chair across from where I stand. “I’ve had investors breathing down my neck. And entertaining the VIPs that have been coming into the clubs. They’ve demanded quite a bit of my time.”

  Looking at him straight on, I question him. “Really? I was under the impression you were taking those VIPs elsewhere for private gatherings?”

  Sam slowly sips his drink, then swirls the contents of his tumbler with the flick of his wrist. “You don’t need to worry about that son.”

  “When my name is associated with the clubs, I sure as hell do need to worry about it. What’re you getting us involved in? Does this have to do with the investors? The last two times I’ve met with them, you’ve directed the cryptic conversations.”

  Sam sits his tumbler down on the side table. “What is going on has been happening since before I picked you up at Cutler St.”

  Cutler St. What the hell does that have to do with anything? Hearing the name of that street makes my pulse quicken.

  Sam remains undaunted as he stares hard at me. “My involvement has always been the same. Now, I’m preparing the path for you.”

  “Preparing a path for me? What? The path of destruction?”

  Sam uncrosses his leg and rises from his chair. “Oh, don’t be so melodramatic son.”

  His condescending tone gets under my skin in a major fucking way. “You know what’s being said about the clubs around town, especially ours. Are you involved in what’s happening to these people going missing, and then resurfacing days later?”

  I’m not surprised when Sam rolls his eyes and uses his animated hands to show how frivolous the claims are. “The heat will die. It’s just the latest media feasting on a few kids that had a little too much fun, got loaded, and passed out at friends’ houses.”

  He can’t be this clueless. “They’re coming to our clubs, receiving our invites. We’re all over the newspapers. Three of the victims—”

  Sam scoffs, “Victims?”

  I can’t
help my voice getting louder, the more I listen to my dad brush off these people. “Yes, victims! Three of them had our VIP invites on them. Did you know that?”

  Sam’s stare is both inebriated or high and definitely disregarding as he casually drinks his fucking bourbon then says, “Xander, we provided the entertainment. If we worried about every person that walked through our doors—the point is, you’re not responsible for what another consenting adult decides to do.”

  I can’t believe this shit. “Consenting adults? They aren’t consenting when their drugged dad.”

  “What, Xander? Spit it out! Tell me what you think I’ve done!”

  “Corinna is one of the VIPs tonight. I’m sending her away when she gets here.”

  I start toward the door when Sam stops me. “No you won’t. Corinna Cain will be here tonight and I’ll make sure she’s taken care of.”

  I’m so astounded by the amount of idiocy Sam has succumbed to. “What’re your intentions with her? Why her? She’s a nice girl. She doesn’t need to be involved in your private parties.”

  Sam shifts his stance and burst out laughing at me. “What’re my intentions with her? She’s a nice girl! Please, let me tell you something, kid. You had no idea what my intentions were with you and there’s no fucking way I’m telling you what my intentions are with her.”

  Sams laughter slows and his face becomes stoic as he clears his throat. “Think back as far as you can. Past the first time we met. Think back to your grandmother. Your parents. Can you remember them?”

  I take a deep breath in and push down the bitterness I hate for him bringing them up. I answer him as evenly as I can. “No, Sam. I was very young.”

  With his eyes pinned on me, he walks slowly toward me. “Well, let me give you a brief history lesson, son. Your parents were part of an organization, a fellowship. One that I have been a part of for the greater part of my life. One your parents had been a part of before they were brutally murdered, and now one you’ll be a part of.”

  “Murdered?” I nearly choke on the word.

  Sam stops in front of me, his hands casually in his pockets as he speaks on my parent’s death. “Caught in the cross fire between our fellowship and the guardians of the Dobrian fellowship. They were killed by Dobrian assassins. You seem to remember the rest, but what you don’t know is when I saw you that day I picked you up I knew what Balthazar had told me was true. That you were the one who was going to be a key asset for the Sondian fellowship. What you represent is beyond your understanding. As life progressed for you and me together, Balthazar kept watch of our progress here in Miami.”

  Our progress? All of a sudden, another puzzle piece in my head shifts. “The investor the Japanese associates mentioned. It’s Balthazar Onoch?”

  “Yes.”

  “Is he the one that ordered the invitations for these people going missing?”

  Sam shakes his head. “You don’t understand. These people were chosen to become very important vessels, prophecies of what’s coming. The change. The evolution of our world.”

  Evolution of our world. He’s fucking lost it! “Vessels? Evolution? Are you fucking insane Sam?”

  Sam angles his head at me. “On the contrary, I think you’re the one left in the dark. These people are the first wave of vessels. They’ve been honored as the eyes, ears and voice of the coming evolution.”

  Sam inches closer to me, butting his chest against mine. I step back as he inches closer again. Unrelenting he keeps moving in, his eyes crazed as he rants. I take these vessels and send them to Balthazar with the help of the mechanism your parents created, a Copula. A device so transcendent, you can’t fathom the amount of perfected power it contains.”

  He’s backed me up against the door, the smell of sour bourbon wafting into my face as he continues his chain of insanity. The vessels, implanted with a Copula, changing their chemistry, altering their attributes, modifying their purpose. It’s all part of the big picture, Xander.”

  I shake my head slowly, unbelieving of how this strong man once my dad has fallen to become a listless psychotic. “Listen to yourself. This is sick. And I can’t be a part of it. I’m out.”

  All of a sudden, the door against my back rattles from a pounding knock.

  “Who is it?” Sam asks seemingly pulled from his demented trance.

  “Mr. Crest, your guests have arrived. Corinna Caine and her friend. I’m sorry, but the friend didn’t disclose her name.”

  It’s Cecil.

  “Where should I have them wait?”

  Sam’s still staring at me stoically as he says, “Have them wait upstairs at a table. We’ll be right there. Just finishing up.”

  “Yes sir.”

  After he thinks they’ve gone, Sam backs away from me slowly, straightens his tie and slicks back his hair.

  I grit my teeth, knowing what he wants me to do. “I’m not going to put Corinna and her friend through this.”

  Sam slowly slips his hands into the pockets of his dress slacks and twists his head side to side; seemingly releasing the tension he’s built up. “No Xander, you aren’t. You’re going to introduce me to the girl that’s gives you a conscience. She must be a pretty amazing woman if she moved you to question your own father.”

  Fucking asshole. “Actually, Corinna wasn’t the cause. Do you remember my trip to Georgia for you—Oh, I mean Balthazar?

  Sam’s jaw works as I overshadow his power with this bastard Balthazar. “Was he the only reason, I was there?”

  “I don’t answer to you. Now stop fucking stalling!”

  “I watched Ezra Kahn, but while I was there, I ran into a girl. A girl that would’ve been unforgettable until I saw her here, in Florida. She looked so familiar, like she meant something more than just a girl at a bookstore in mid-town Miami.”

  The color of Sam’s skin suddenly pales. “Her name is Jesca.”

  Before I can say anything else, Sam relents. “She’s a Dobrian guardian. I can only guess that she’s here to eliminate any Sondians in her way.”

  I laugh, “So now you’re bringing her into this bullshit?”

  Sam’s deranged concern is disturbing. “She’s not an ally. The first chance she get’s she’ll kill you.”

  “You don’t know anything about her.”

  Sam tilts his head as it reddens with anger. “Don’t tell me you’re falling for her? Don’t fucking go weak on me now kid! There’s too much at stake. Now, introduce me to Corinna Cain and her mystery friend. And don’t even think about making a scene. You’re being watched. And those watching you are being watched.” Sam walks toward me, grips my shoulder pushes me toward the door.

  CHAPTER 20: THE TARGETS

  Xander

  I lead the way out of the office, with Sam close behind, watching my every move. I can feel the weight of Sam’s eyes and the proximity of his body close behind him. My eyes scan the dancing bodies from one side of the room to the other. I pause at each sentinel-like figure strategically positioned throughout the club. Just like he said. They’re watching our every move.

  The vibration of the music increases as the music changes, becoming louder and more techno. With Sam right behind me, pushing me along, we start up the staircase to the VIP lounge.

  Sam greets a few of VIPs as we walk into the lounge, and I focus on finding Corinna and this friend she’s brought. I see the flash of red hair and move in with Sam behind me. As the crowd parts Corinna comes in to full view and so does her friend, Jesca. She’s the friend that Corinna brought? She can’t be the friend. I stop in the middle of the room, Sam nearly running into me as he whispers into my ear. “Don’t do anything stupid Xander.”

  I know what Sam said makes no sense. I know that Jesca isn’t meant for this. I can’t let anything happen to her.

  Sam steps ahead of me now that his targets have been revealed. He looks back
at me and grins. “You didn’t know they were friends? I’m disappointed in your investigative skills Xander.”

  Son of a bitch! He knew about Jesca! It was her in Marietta! How’d he know Corinna Cain would bring her? My body goes rigid unable to fully understand how Jesca has become a part of this.

  He comes back to me quickly and talks over the music. “You getting it now or are you still in the dark Xander?”

  As soon as his hand lands on my shoulder, I push it off. He doesn’t seem to mind as he continues to speak, “You made this so much easier. The capture of two Dobrian assets. One being Jesca Sera, descendant of Sebastian Onoch.”

  Sam swats his hand at me. “Oh, but really. You already knew in your heart of hearts that she was familiar, important all along, haven’t you? From the moment you ran into her in Georgia, to the moment you had coffee with her.”

  Betrayal isn’t a strong enough word for what I feel for the man that I trusted, loved. The man I thought saved me from hell. And what’s he doing? He’s putting me through it at this very moment.

  Sam turns and starts toward Corinna and Jesca again as they sit at a table talking. I lunge at him and grab his forearm. Before I can spin him around, Cecil’s heavy hand is pulling me back, holding me by the arms. “Sir, don’t do anything to jeopardize all of these people.” Cecil nods toward the suited men in each corner of the VIP lounge, their hands discretely resting on the concealed guns they’re carrying.

  I pull away from Cecil roughly and continue behind Sam, weighing my next move carefully.

  CHAPTER 21: INTRODUCTIONS

  Jesca

  “Miss Corinna Cain?”

  Hearing his voice is surreal. The man that’s been targeted by our fellowship and is the mastermind behind these abductions sounds like a cordial gentleman. I don’t turn to look at him, just listen to him speak. “I’m Mr. Crest, the owner of Club Helion.”