“Mariza has Mrs. V.”
“Come, we better get you inside, so you can tell everybody.”
Morgana moved him to the sofa. Alastor winced as he sat.
“Mate, are you okay?” Gareth asked.
“Aye, my ribs are healing, but it’s still bloody painful.”
“What happened to Vivienne, Alastor?” Oscar asked, his voice full of urgency and concern.
“Mrs. V and I were in the woods, stealth training. That’s when she attacked us.”
“Who? Svetlana?” Gareth asked. They mustn’t have heard their conversation outside.
“No. Mariza.”
Morgana stood, her hands curling by her side. “We need hawthorn.”
“No,” Oscar’s voice was firm. “We will not resort to killing your sister.”
“But she has Mother.”
“I’m aware of this. I was also privy to this information brought to us by Alastor.” He held up his palm when she opened her mouth to protest. “Your mother is fine. She’s a survivor.”
“Oh, and how do you know this?” Morgana crossed her arms over her chest. “For all we know, Mariza has already killed her.”
Oscar looked at her sternly. “The bond, Morgana. Your mother and I have one, too.”
“Yes, but she’s out for Mother’s blood.”
“Regardless, we don’t kill family members.”
“Even if Mariza wouldn’t hesitate to kill Mother?”
“I can’t watch one of my children die,” Oscar snapped.
Morgana’s mouth closed, and her arms hung loosely at her sides.
After a moment of silence, she nodded. She didn’t like it, but seeing how her father had been lately, she had a sliver of empathy for him. “Fine.”
“But, Morgana,” Gareth began to protest—
Morgana turned and winked at him. “Trust me,” she mouthed.
Gareth arched an eyebrow and nodded. She relished the fact he was trusting her without knowing what she had planned.
“Alastor, head home, so you can recover,” she told him.
“Nay, I want to help Vivienne.”
Morgana stepped up to him. “No, my friend. You won’t be able to help Mother right now.” She placed a hand on his left shoulder, trying to look sympathetic. Dropping her voice so only he could hear, “Remember, you have something important we need.”
Alastor arched an eyebrow and nodded.
But Gareth stepped in. “Don’t let the opportunity for Ava to play ‘sexy nursemaid’ go to waste, mate.” He winked at his best friend.
Alastor looked back and forth between them. “Aye. If ye don’t mind, I’ll need to drive meself over there.”
Morgana tossed him her car keys.
Oscar placed his hand on Alastor’s shoulder and said, “Vivienne will understand. But if you don’t mind, could you take Brutus with you? I don’t know how long we will be, and I don’t want to leave him on his own too long.”
“Aye.” He nodded, scooping up the wriggling puppy who was trying to free himself and go to Oscar.
Oscar gave the dog a grim smile. “You be good for Alastor and Ava, they’ll be looking after you while I’m gone.” He scratched behind the puppy’s ears. “The rest of us need to rescue my wife and my daughter from herself.”
***
“This is stupid,” Gareth grunted. “We’re traipsing through the woods with no weapons to take down a vampire.”
“Quiet,” Morgana muttered. “Father will hear you.”
“Who says I don’t want him to hear?”
Morgana’s lips thinned. She didn’t like it either, but you can’t go against the authority of a Council Elder.
They were following Oscar as he led them to the area Alastor had described. Walking into a newly-formed clearing, a sight met their eyes. They all gasped.
Chapter Thirty-Six
Alastor hung his head, holding it in both hands. He was draining his third blood bag when Ava walked in. He’d called her on his way to meet him there. As soon as they entered the front door, Brutus had flopped down in front of the fireplace and fallen asleep like he usually did at the Van Wildens.
“I failed her,” Alastor moaned to Ava when she sat next to him. “I let her be taken.”
Ava placed a hand on his shoulder, speaking softly, “You haven’t failed her. Not yet, at least.”
He dropped his hands, turning to look at his girlfriend, “What do ye mean by that?”
“You couldn’t have done anything back there in the woods against Mariza.”
“Aye, because the lass is so much stronger than me. That’s how I failed.”
“Strength has nothing to do with it.”
Alastor snorted. “It has everything to do with being a vampire.”
“Physical strength, yes, she overpowers you, but you have a strength she doesn’t.”
“Aye? What’s that?”
“Loyalty, love, and friendships. You’d die for Gareth and the Van Wildens, would you not?”
“Aye.”
“So, you’ve got to use those strengths. By moping around here blaming yourself, you’re failing Mrs. V. She taught you to fight, to sneak up on vampires, did she not?”
“Aye.”
“So, gather yourself up and put all the training she has taught you to good use. Go help the others rescue her from that monster of a woman.”
Alastor looked with wide eyes at his girlfriend. “Jaysus, lass, I think yer right.”
Ava gave him a smug smile. “I always am.”
“I’ve got to go and help. They’re relying on me.” Alastor stood and said, “I need to retrieve Morgana’s stakes.”
“Where are they?” Ava asked, looking around.
Now it was Alastor’s turn to smirk. He walked over to the unlit fireplace. To the unknowing, all it contained were piles of ashes and charcoaled lumps of wood. He squatted down, brushing it all aside, coating his hand in gray and black ash to reveal an ornately carved box.
Ava gasped behind him. “It was here in the fireplace all along?”
“Aye, in plain sight.”
“Bit risky, wasn’t it?”
Alastor scoffed. “Like any Primus would be entering our humble abode.”
“True.” She knelt beside him. “But what if we wanted to light a fire?”
“It’s summer, lass. Why would we do that?”
Ava rolled her eyes, but there was a hint of amusement in them. “Because it’s romantic. Duh.”
Alastor chuckled. He wiped more ash away from the box’s surface.
He hesitated.
“What’s wrong?”
“Those stakes inside could either be our salvation or our doom. Oscar Van Wilden isn’t going to forgive us for killing his eldest daughter.”
Ava placed her hand on his left shoulder, squeezing it gently. “I’m sure he’ll understand. What I don’t get is why you vampires always feel the need to kill or be killed. Why can’t they imprison people like we humans do?”
Alastor chuckled, shaking his head, “Can ye imagine the cost and upkeep needed for a vampire prison?” He shook his head again. “Way easier to kill and be done with them.”
“I suppose so.”
Alastor lifted the lid and peered inside. Nestled amongst dried wild rose branches were two stakes. He picked one up, the dried thorns scratched his skin, eliciting a sharp hiss from him. He decided if he ever got close enough to Mariza to use it, one shot would be all he had. Once she realized what he was up to, she would most likely end him.
He stared at it, turning it over in his hands. “It doesn’t seem dangerous, like a regular stake to me.” He lifted it to his nose, sniffing. “Doesn’t smell toxic either.”
“Maybe because you’re human-turned?” Ava suggested, “Might smell more lethal to a Primus?”
“Aye, ye could be right again, lass.” Alastor stood. “I better be going, then.”
Ava gave him a small smile. “I wish I could go with you.” She turned away.
<
br /> Alastor kneeled back down, placing his hand under her chin, turning her head to face him. “Ye know it’s too dangerous for ye, lass.”
“I know. I’m curious to see it all firsthand instead of hearing about it afterward.”
Alastor smiled. “Ye know, it’s not too late to change yer mind about being turned and joining us?”
Ava’s eyes widened. She pushed him away, playfully and laughing. “No, thanks. I think I’ll stick to being human.”
“Well, the offer is always there.”
Ava nodded. “I know.”
Alastor stood, holding out his hand to her. “I’ll drive with ye to yer apartment, make sure ye get there safely. Then I’ll head out from there.”
Ava took his hand. She looked up to him and said, “You know one day I’ll join your world, don’t you?”
“Aye, lass, I do.”
She nodded. “Good.”
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Morgana’s eyes widened at the sight before her. Where the old Forest lair had been, now stood a man-made—or in this case, vampire-made—clearing. The once tall trees which housed the huts were uprooted and scattered about, the crude wooden structures still attached. She looked up to see some huts were still intact up in the treetops, but most of them lay destroyed before them.
Inside the clearing, a wall of dying wild rose with gaps large enough to see through encircled her mother and Mariza. Neither of them acknowledging their arrival, both were caught up in their brawl against each other.
Mariza had Vivienne in a headlock. “Seriously, stepmother, I have thousands of years over you.”
“But you forget, stepdaughter, I was trained by The Council,” Vivienne rasped as she flipped Mariza onto her back.
Morgana’s chest swelled with pride to see her mother holding her own against Mariza.
Gareth squeezed her hand, his own pride filtering through the bond.
“Mariza, stop this nonsense at once!” Oscar bellowed, his face contorted with rage as he stormed toward the floral cage ring.
Morgana let go of Gareth’s hand, holding it out to stop him. “Father, wait.”
Oscar glanced at her hand but kept walking toward the wall. He roared and tore his way through the thorned bushes, scratching at the exposed skin of his hands and face. He grunted as his blood began to seep out. The whiff of copper scented the air. Once he was through, he barreled toward the two women, both still engaged in their battle.
Mariza growled, baring her teeth and kicking her stepmother away with both feet.
Vivienne flew backward into the wall of roses, the fading pink petals scattering to the ground. She hissed as the thorns scratched the skin of her exposed limbs. Vivienne pulled herself up, wobbling in her step but looked ready to fight Mariza again.
“Mother,” Morgana screamed.
Oscar’s movements were jerky, slowed down by the wild rose seeping into his body. He managed to place himself between the two of them, not waiting for an opening. This was a mistake as he copped a right hook to his chin and a roundhouse kick into his stomach from his wife—both blows intended for the other woman.
Her mother must have put some force into the kick. Combined with the punch from Mariza and the wild rose weakening his system, it was enough to send Oscar stumbling backward, crashing into the wall of wild rose. Branches, leaves, and petals sprinkled down around him.
Morgana raced through the opening made by Oscar, the thorns scratching her hands. A hiss escaped her lips as they scratched her. But she remained unaffected, thankful she’d only been lightly scratched a few times and had worn her usual black leather attire.
The smell of her blood from the scratches, however, drew Mariza’s attention.
A cruel smile spread across her face. Despite the cuts and bruises on her face which were quickly fading, she seemed almost regal.
Morgana ignored her sister, rushing over to Oscar. Her mother, who appeared startled by her husband’s sudden appearance, also leaned forward to help him. Morgana twisted when she felt Mariza behind them.
Her sister bared her teeth, leaping toward Vivienne’s exposed back. Gareth suddenly appeared, catching his creator around the waist in mid-leap. Mariza hissed, grasping Gareth’s arm from around her waist and breaking bone as she ripped it away from her. She flung him into the wall of wild rose—the entire enclosure shook.
Mariza stepped toward him, her fingers bent like claws. “I’ve been waiting for an opportunity to finally get rid of you.
Upon hearing this, Morgana pulled her father out quickly. He wobbled on his feet.
“I’ve got him. Go,” Vivienne puffed holding Oscar up.
Morgana turned back to Mariza to see her hands around Gareth’s head squeezing his skull, the sounds of bones cracking reached her ears.
“Bitch,” Morgana screeched. She crash-tackled Mariza, landing in a tangle of limbs between the three of them.
Untangling themselves, they all leaped to their feet. Gareth winced as he straightened out his arm to heal.
Mariza growled, glaring at all of them. “I’ll kill you all,” she vowed.
Morgana and Gareth, despite his injuries, made a move toward her.
“Ah, uh.” Mariza held up a little remote control she’d withdrawn from the hidden pocket in the folds of her dusty-pink dress. She cackled. “Any of you try to shoot me with an arrow or throw a stake at me as we fight, and I’ll blow us all up. I’ve got this whole place rigged with booby traps. Stakes will be flying from everywhere, including the fireworks to set our bodies on fire.”
Morgana snorted. “Like that’s going to kill us?” She sniffed the air. “They’re not even the right type of wood.”
Mariza smirked. “Well, it certainly won’t kill you, Father, or me. But are you willing to take the chance with the human-turned vampires?”
Morgana narrowed her eyes.
“By the time you’ve healed,” Mariza continued in a smug tone, “they’ll have been long dead. And dear sister, I’ll take great pleasure in watching you weep over their ashes.”
***
“Motherfucker,” Gareth swore under his breath as Morgana, Oscar, and Vivienne quickly looked around. They could see the devices cleverly camouflaged within the foliage.
“How did you even set this up?” Morgana squinted at the trees, barely making out the contraptions.
“I have my sources.” Taking advantage of their distraction, Mariza grabbed Vivienne, pulling her in close to her chest, her fangs at her neck.
“Vivienne,” Oscar shouted. “Why, Mariza? Why would you even do this?” His voice was strained.
“I want you to choose, Father dear. Which one are you going to let die? Me or your precious wife here.”
“I will not choose against my wife or my daughter.”
“Oh, but you did before, Father. This ends here and now.”
Gareth’s jaw dropped as he looked at his creator. “Are you completely insane, Mariza? What are you going to do, fight Mrs. V to the death in this arena of yours?”
“Of course, that’s what I’m going to do, my little vampireling.” Mariza licked her lips, eyes hungry for action.
Gareth threw his hands up in the air.
Morgana stepped forward. “Enough of this shit.” She barred her teeth ready to fight, itching to get her hands on her sister after all these years.
Mariza smiled, tucking the remote back into her dress pocket.
“It’s about time we settled our little sibling rivalry. Show Father who the better daughter is.”
“Mariza, this is not a competition,” Oscar wheezed at the same time Morgana screamed.
“Shut the fuck up. I’m so over your shit!” Morgana walked up to her sister, her fist flying past her mother’s cheek, she punched Mariza straight in the mouth. Her head snapped back, and her teeth were covered in her blood. Mariza’s grip loosened on Vivienne. Oscar rushed forward and tried dragging her away.
“No, Oscar. Don’t,” Vivienne protested, but Oscar wrapped hi
s arms around her and pulled her back.
“Vivienne, you’re injured.”
Vivienne nodded and slumped forward.
Mariza wiped her mouth again, growling. She launched herself over Oscar and Vivienne, crash-tackling into Morgana.
***
Gareth’s head was pounding from nearly being crushed. While healing, he watched Morgana and Mariza wrestling around on the ground. If he weren’t watching his crazy-ass creator fight his girlfriend, he might have found the scene arousing. Instead, he felt rage pulsing through the bond. He was also concerned about Morgana’s safety.
Oscar stood protectively in front of Vivienne, not wanting any more harm to come to his wife. His face looked conflicted, torn between wanting to stop his daughters from fighting and wanting to keep his wife safe.
“Mariza, Morgana, stop fighting at once.” He had regained some strength and was roaring now, but neither of his daughters were listening.
Gareth gritted his teeth, his fists clenched, looking for the opportunity to stop the two of them. Mariza may have picked up some fighting skills somewhere, but she wouldn’t be able to handle the two of them.
When the two pulled apart, Gareth took his opportunity to dash forward, tackling his creator to the ground.
Mariza shoved him off. “I didn’t like you on top of me back then, and I definitely don’t like it now.”
“Like I ever wanted to sleep with you. It was horrible.”
Mariza hissed, her right fist flew toward his face. The punch sent him flying into the wall of wild rose. Man, the bitch certainly had her strength going for her. The thorns scratching him were painful but weren’t as debilitating as they were to the others.
A growling sound came from Morgana’s throat. Her jealousy coming in waves through the bond. His girlfriend didn’t like hearing about him being with other women. Noted.
He pulled himself out of the wild rose to see Mariza stomping her heel into Morgana’s knee, cracking the bone.
Morgana fell to the ground, crying in agony as she landed on her broken knee.
The Van Wilden Chronicles Box Set Books 1-3 Page 38
