Branded (An Otherworlders Series Novel Book 1)

by Lena Moore

  “Brand?”

  “Yes, brand. It’s a tattoo. Inside of the ink there is magical properties. We vampires all have special abilities and most of the time we are unaware of them, or they’re stagnant. These brands amplify and enhance them.”

  Aliyah looked curious now. Those violet hues roaming slowly over his inked body.

  “Are yours all from this Goddess?”

  “No. Not all. But the majority are.”

  “Well, you must be special to her as well.”

  “I was. She branded me when I turned eighteen as well.”

  “What do you mean was?”

  “It’s a long story. Although it seems she may have forgiven me. Look, we have a huge day in front of us and you’ll be meeting Jadis, my best friend. Jadis is a powerful witch. However, she is having some—complications. She is the wisest person I know. If anyone knows what’s happening between us or can figure it out, it’s Jadis.

  “Why is this happening to me? What have I done to deserve any of this? Fuck.”

  “Don’t view this as a negative. I believe the only reason you’re feeling the way you are about the transition is because there was no one around to offer an explanation about what is happening with your body and your mind. I will help you as much as I can. You’ll need to trust me.”

  Aliyah grunted, “Right, trust. How about you stay out of my fucking head then? That’s an invasion of privacy, asshole! And you know it.”

  Draven held out his hands in mock surrender. “Hold up girly, you’re not innocent in all of this. You entered my mind as well. You saw just as much as I did, probably more.” His mouth lifted at the side.

  The flush travelled rapidly over Aliyah’s body and Draven flashed his teeth. “See. You can’t hide anything from me with that pretty head. I would go as far as to think that you actually liked what you saw.” Draven knew he should shut the fuck up, but his mouth was working on auto-pilot. “You know I was thinking about you, don’t you? I watched the covers jump slightly, whilst you no doubt circled that sensitive swollen clit of yours. I bet you taste sweet, too. I wonder what fantasy was playing out behind your closed eyes, what made you whisper my name and shatter on impact. Tell me, Snowflake, is your pussy drenched and aching for me to fill right now?”

  Draven noticed her thighs clenched marginally, and although he still wasn’t able to smell her, he knew she was turned on.

  “I fucking hate you! Stay out of my fucking head. I don’t give a fuck if I need you or not, I will be out of here like my ass is on fire if you keep screwing with me. Get it? Got it? Good!”

  She stormed out of the room, slamming the door and leaving Draven amused at her outburst. He knew she didn’t mean what she just exclaimed, no matter how angry she was. She needed him, and she hated it.

  Chapter Nine

  ~ Aliyah ~

  They never did go and meet this Jadis lady, and it’d been three days since the new tattoo and Draven witnessing her fapping. Those three days had been agony. Aliyah refused to admit to herself that she fantasized about Draven. The bastard was egotistical and she wanted to smack herself in the face for even engaging the notion. He walked around the house topless all the fucking time. She couldn’t help watching how his hard muscles contracted every time he moved.

  Aliyah didn’t think Draven realised how she ogled him, and if he did, he hadn’t let on. Toward the back of his huge space underground, there was a gym and also another room that was always locked. She was curious about that one the most.

  One morning, Aliyah snuck down to the gym area and watched him through the slit in the door she’d secretly cracked open. Draven had just finished his workout and a towel hung over his broad shoulders. His iniquitous inked body was painted with sweat as it dripped down his washboard abs; his chest rising and falling rapidly from his workout. Draven stood in front of the mirror with his head tilted back when Aliyah noticed his arm moving. Curious, she shifted the door open a little more so she could see what he was doing.

  A glint in the reflection revealed a piercing at the head of his cock as his hand slowly moved up and down. Her legs clenched automatically, with a tingle in her core that throbbed merciless. Draven moved his hand faster while he reached down with his other hand to knead his balls. Aliyah tried to suppress the moan but was unsuccessful. Draven’s head snapped back and he caught her eyes in the mirror. His scent became more pungent as it smacked her in the face. Aliyah’s legs clutched tightly as she tried to ease the needy feeling in her pussy. His mismatched eyes bored into her through the reflection. He tugged on the piercing causing himself to moan. Aliyah knew she should leave, but her feet were glued to the floor.

  “I can smell you, Snowflake. Do you like watching me stroke my cock, knowing that I’m wishing it was your cunt sheafed around it and not my hand?”

  Aliyah thought it was quite possible that Draven could have her eating out of his hands with his crude explanation. His words were vulgar—unrestrained—and somehow that turned her the fuck on.

  His panting filled the small gym area, their eyes never wavering from each other. “I wish you would give in. I don’t even need to smell you to know your cunt aches for me to fill it. You want me to fuck you. And I would bet my next orgasm that you would be imploring for more,” he said gravelly.

  She kicked the door open more to get a better view of him masturbating, her legs were on fire from how hard she clenched them together.

  “Watch me. Eyes. On. Me. Snowflake,” he demanded.

  His body convulsed and he growled out her name, spilling his seed all over the gym floor. She had to get out of there before she did something stupid. Aliyah turned on her heels but not before she caught the devilish smile on his face. She was so fucked.

  Aliyah couldn’t believe that she’d just stood there gawking at Draven as he fucked his hand. How embarrassing. She sat on the chair in the room where she was staying. Her hands mindlessly plaited her long raven hair. Draven was ruthless in his observation, and although it was true, it didn’t make it right. He was such an asshat. Why was she always attracted to the bad boys? A memory played out behind her violet hues.

  “Stop it, Samael,” Aliyah giggled. “We can’t. My mom and dad are upstairs!”

  “Aww, come on baby, you’ve had me hard up for the six months. You promised,” he pouted.

  Aliyah really liked Samael but she wasn’t sure if she was ready to give up her virginity for him. After all, she was only fifteen. But they’d explored each other’s bodies before, fondling, kissing, oral, but never intercourse.

  Samael pinned her on the sofa in her parent’s games room and started kissing her. Aliyah opened up for the kiss whilst her mind swam with inappropriate thoughts. Samael was almost nineteen and he was hot. He had a few tattoos, shaggy blonde hair, blue eyes that twinkled with salacity, and a body that any quarterback would kill for. Samael was trouble with a capital T. And how he’d wooed Jill and John Parker, her parents, completely baffled her.

  Aliyah pulled away from the kiss, breathless. “Ok, but not here.”

  “Where then?”

  Samael sounded shocked by her admission, and she had to admit she was a little as well.

  “What about my dad’s back shed? The one with the lounges and entertainment area.”

  “You’re being serious? Don’t cock tease me, Aliyah. You won’t like what I’ll do if you back out.”

  Looking back now, Aliyah knew she should have told him to get fucked then and there. At the time, though, her hormones were running spastic and there could be worse guys out there to lose her virginity. That’s what she told herself three years ago.

  “I’m being serious. Are you backing out?”

  “Fuck no, let’s go.”

  Aliyah grabbed a blanket from the linen closet and they ran out to her dad’s shed. Samael opened the garage door and they walked to the back where the sofa’s and TV were located.

  “Lie down and pull your dress up. Let me see you.”

  Shyly, Aliyah l
aid down on the sofa and lifted her dress. She was wearing plain white lacy panties. She watched Samael’s face transform from controlled to straight out lust. He was ready for her; it was evident by the bulge in his pants.

  “You are so fucking sexy, you know that, right?”

  Aliyah drew her hands over her face to cover them. She was embarrassed by his comment.

  “Fucking hands down, I want to see you,” he demanded.

  He placed his phone on the stand next to television and walked over to her. Leaning down he gave her a chaste kiss before sinking on his knees. He opened her legs up and placed the blanket over the top of them. Samael pulled his pants down and his impressive length sprung to life, then he rolled the condom over the tip and down his shaft. He positioned himself and the head of dick sat at the entrance of her snatch.

  I can’t believe this in going to happen; that Samael Byers is about to pop my cherry!

  He didn’t even use foreplay; he just slammed straight into her and ploughed away.

  Aliyah cried out in pain. “Samael, slow down, please, it hurts! Owww, get off me!”

  “Fuck you, Aliyah. You teased me relentlessly for six months. I’ve earned my right to use your body.”

  Tears streamed down her face, and the hurt was quickly replaced by anger. She bucked and threw him off her, and that’s when she realised the red blinking on his phone. He launched for it before she had the chance to grab it.

  “I told you what would happen if you played with me again, Aliyah. Now everyone is going to see what a little slut you really are. Little Aliyah Parker, miss pretty perfect, the promiscuous whore.” His sadistic laugh filled the shed.

  “Give me the fucking phone right now, Samael.”

  “Make me. Slut.”

  Aliyah’s blood was like lava pumping through her veins. She’d never felt so used, betrayed or wrathful in her life.

  Samael’s eyes bugged wide. “What the fuck is wrong with your eyes? You look crazy as fuck, you psycho! Why are they so red?”

  Red?

  She let the comment fly straight over her head. “Hand me your phone now,” Aliyah sneered.

  Samael threw the condom on the floor and yanked his pants up then turned to run away. Aliyah wasn’t certain what came over her but she launched at his back and clawed at his hands and face. He yelled and dropped the phone. She slid off his back and scurried for it. When she finally had it in her hands, she threw it then stomped on it until it was smashed to smithereens.

  “What the fuck! You owe me a phone, bitch.”

  Aliyah walked up to him, and although she was at least a foot smaller than him, she didn’t back down. “No I don’t. You just had sex with a minor. Or did you forget that? I’m sure if I go to the hospital now and they use a rape kit on me, it’ll determine that I was just raped.”

  “I didn’t fucking rape you, you wanted it!”

  “Did I? I remember telling you to stop. You didn’t. I would classify that as rape, wouldn’t you?”

  “You fucking wait. You haven’t seen the last of me,” he snapped and then stormed out of the shed.

  It was the last time that she’d ever seen him. Samuel moved shortly after the incident. Although, unfortunately, it wasn’t the last mistake Aliyah made when it came to men.

  She was drawn back to reality by the sound of Draven’s shower. Aliyah groaned and walked over to the door that she left ajar. He sauntered butt naked from the linen cupboard back to his room. How is it a man can have such a fine ass, chiselled to perfection?

  “Did you see something you liked, Snowflake?” He chuckled before closing his door. The jerk caught her gawking again. She grumbled to herself before looking down at her phone. There was one missed call; it was from her mother from last night, shit. It was just after seven in the morning and she knew her mother would be having her coffee on the front veranda.

  Aliyah dialled her mobile number and waited.

  “Hi darling, where are you? You missed our scheduled call last night. That’s not like you, Liah.”

  Her mother was a complete control freak. It drove her mental.

  “Yeah, sorry ma. I got side-tracked. I was out with friends,” she lied. Aliyah only had a handful of friends she trusted. Which reminded her, she should call her best friend, Dany. He would probably be worried as well.

  “Try not to do it again, ok. I worry about you.”

  “I know, ma, but I’m a big girl. I can look after myself.”

  Aliyah rolled her eyes and chatted a little longer before disconnecting the call. She walked over and lay on the bed with Draven’s words echoing through her mind. What if John and Jill weren’t her biological parents? When she thought about it, she didn’t possess any similar characteristics to either of them. They were both fair haired, where she was dark. They had brown eyes, hers were violet with red specks. And that was just the beginning of the roaring, fucking alarm bells. She couldn’t focus on any what if’s at the moment.

  Aliyah picked some clothes from one of her suitcases and padded over to the adjoined bathroom. Stepping back, she took in the space; it was gorgeous. Dark maroon walls, sealed concrete charcoal floors, and a white/grey mottled granite vanity with a huge mirror above. She stripped out of her clothes, turned on the water, and when it was the desirable temperature, she stepped in. The pressure was amazing on her back and she moaned into the mist. Her body was wound tight, even after the mind shattering orgasm she gave herself a few hours ago. Her gums still had that prickly feeling and it was a bizarre sensation. Maybe she was a vampire after all. Aliyah had been craving blood lately and hadn’t wanted to address the subject, especially to Shrek.

  As much as Aliyah wanted to elicit another orgasm out of her edgy body, she decided against it. She was worried Draven might tap in and channel into her mind again like the other morning. With that thought, she quickly washed herself and hopped out of the shower. Aliyah prayed that this Jadis woman had some answers for her because she was at her wits end.

  She emerged from the room close to nine in the morning, wearing a black Amon Amarth shirt and a red checker pleated skirt and her Dr Martens. Aliyah inhaled dramatically; damn Draven’s place smelt so fucking good. Bacon, eggs, parsley, and something else she couldn’t decipher. Since when could she smell so good?

  Walking into the kitchen she stopped suddenly, taking in the room. Black granite counters occupied matching black appliances. The silver blade tiles sat flush on top of dark grey walls with white cupboards housing the counters. Who the fuck designed his house? Has to be a woman, surely. Aliyah’s eyes honed in on Draven. He was leaning over the stove cooking. His tight black jeans hugged his thick thighs and magnificent ass, whilst his fitted shirt provided an exhibition of some of his sexy ink. Her eyes lingered a little longer on his ass then travelled down to see his shit-kicking, combat looking boots. He was sexy as sin and she wondered how the hell she could be aroused by the mere sight of him, especially after what transpired between the pair of them over the last few days. Aliyah managed to suppress a mewl from bubbling up and out of her mouth.

  “I’ll say it again, you see something you like?” he chortled with his back still to her.

  “Fuck you, Shrek.”

  That earned her a full bellied laugh from Draven. He turned around and his mesmerizing mismatch eyes glimmered with impishness.

  “Hungry Snowflake? I’ve made bacon as well as eggs benedict with hollandaise sauce.” He paused before adding, “And I’ve got some sausage if you’re interested.” He waggled his eyebrows at her.

  She wanted to scald him; instead, she lost it laughing. “Oh for fuck sakes, do you ever stop?”

  “When it comes to you—probably not.” He winked and Aliyah felt the heat swirl in her belly.

  She cleared her throat and leered, “Eggs benedict please, Shrek.”

  They listened to Silent Theory’s song, Fragile Minds, and ate in silence. Aliyah hadn’t realised how hungry she’d been until after they’d finished their breakfast. Draven sta
rted to pick up the dishes and she insisted that she clean the kitchen before they left to see Jadis. He relented and set his plate down. She rinsed the dishes, stacked them in the dishwasher and then wiped down the benches. Once all was in order, they left.

  Walking in step with Draven, Aliyah was surprised how comfortable she was around him, considering how she felt when they first met four days ago. She didn’t understand why, but it was as if they’d known each other for years. How was that even possible?

  They stood in front of a shop front that read Mystique Runes. Draven opened the door, causing a bell to tinkle above her head. Aliyah stepped over the threshold to come eye to eye with a pair of stunning forest greens. The woman’s skin was the colour of chocolate and her hair was electric blue. She was beautiful.

  She smirked, “Oh. Now I understand, Drae.”

  Aliyah craned her neck to look over her shoulder at Draven. What the hell was she talking about? She was met with Draven slashing his hand in front of his throat, a gesture she knew meant shut the fuck up.

  Jadis chuckled, “Lock the door, D, and follow me out the back.”

  Aliyah followed the woman through some beaded curtains to a room that had a couple of multi-coloured couches, a Himalayan salt lamp and a coffee table in the centre of the room. The room released a calming and grounding vibe.

  “I sense the ties binding between you two. The connection is intense. Actually, its strength is astounding.”

  “Wait, what are you talking about?” Aliyah questioned.

  “Yeah what she said. The fuck, Jadis?”

  “Sorry, I’m just allowing the feeling to wash over me.” She turned to face Aliyah. “I’m Jadis, and you’re Aliyah. I’ve heard a lot about you.”

  “Oh really?” Aliyah turned and glowered at Draven.

  “I sense Kaltemis has been in touch again.”

  “Yeah, she branded us with identical ink. It’s almost like a telepathic link or something. I’m not sure.”