Bleeding Misery (Threatening Souls Book 2)

by N. M. Lambert

  “Rebekah, what’s wrong?” asked Jeffery with genuine concern in his voice. “I thought you wanted—”

  Before Jeffery could finish his thought, Rebekah took one look at him and instantly burst into tears. When he wrapped his arms around her, she let him do so and continued to sob.

  “I…I didn’t think…” Rebekah’s voice broke with every word.

  “You didn’t think what?” Jeffery questioned.

  “You’re not Jake,” Rebekah stated flatly, only barely registering the hurt and confusion on his face. “You shouldn’t be triggering this memory!”

  “I triggered a memory?” Jeffery questioned for clarification. “From kissing you?”

  Rebekah could hear his hurt and confusion intensify, but all she could do was nod slowly.

  “And what is this memory?”

  “Jake,” said Rebekah, breaking away from his embrace. “For a while, he was possessed in Roseway, and the spirit tried to…to…” She paused as her tears intensified. “I’m so sorry!”

  A look of understanding and then cold rage flashed in Jeffery’s eyes. “I wouldn’t do that to you.”

  “I know,” said Rebekah, “but for some reason, the intimacy…I don’t know.”

  “Then, I’ll hold off on that.”

  “No, don’t,” said Rebekah. “It’s just a stupid memory.”

  But Jeffery didn’t look amused. “It’s not stupid, Rebekah.” He sighed. “None of what happened to you is stupid.”

  But Rebekah was barely listening to him. “Every time I saw Jake’s face, I pictured that incident, even though I knew it wasn’t really him,” she said as she tried to force the tears back. “I will not let what happened dictate anything else!”

  Jeffery just shook his head. “You need time to heal.”

  “What I need is to steal my life back!” Rebekah stated boldly as sudden determination overtook her. “Kiss me again.”

  “Rebekah—”

  “I said, kiss me again!” she shouted. And then, before Jeffery could protest further, she made the first move, securing her lips over his. And Jeffery didn’t push her away as his body, though tense at first, started to relax into her.

  And the memory didn’t resurface.

  ~~~

  Sierra: Greenwich, England

  Sierra had never felt a barrier suddenly slam up against her before, forcing her out of the mind of her Other Part and into the dark recesses of the Greenwich castle. Today, the only day of the year, she couldn’t control herself when she slipped into the Innocent’s mind, but feeling such a barrier hurt and annoyed her even more. After all, the barrier had interrupted something natural—and she was sure the mortals refused to tamper with such an uncontrollable occurrence lest it damage the person they were trying to save.

  In one of the other rooms, she heard screaming that she could barely make out as being Melissa’s and Rhiannon’s. She couldn’t make out what they were saying due to the fact their voices were muffled by the walls, but she could tell they were arguing with each other. What they were arguing about, she didn’t know, and she took it upon herself to investigate. After all, she had no idea if she would be pulled into the mind of her Other Part again that day.

  It didn’t take long for her to find them, and as she entered the room, their voices intensified in volume, and she began to question why others hadn’t bothered to investigate.

  “I don’t want to take any part in your plans, Melissa!” Rhiannon spat.

  To Sierra, it was evident that neither of them had spotted her yet. She also had no idea what the argument was about or what Melissa’s plans were. In fact, she knew virtually nothing about Melissa other than the fact that she’s been around even longer than Henri has and that she had originated from Ancient Egypt, despite the fact that millenniums of immortality had completely sucked all the melanin out of her skin to the point where she looked like a walking corpse.

  “My plans?!” Melissa shrieked. “I’m doing this for everyone! Didn’t you listen to my vision?!”

  “Yeah, I listened to it,” said Rhiannon coldly. “Every single part. Do you know how insane you sounded?! That things would be better if the human race was enslaved by us?!”

  The way Rhiannon had said “enslaved” made even Sierra shiver slightly.

  “Things would be better!” Melissa protested.

  “There’s a reason, Melissa, why Henri chooses to separate the human world from the magic one,” Rhiannon said. “Things would not be better because the truth is they would become more chaotic!”

  “You know,” Melissa growled, “there was a time when we had made the humans our interns. Every single one of them.”

  “No,” Rhiannon disagreed. “We only did that to a certain type, Melissa. And do you honestly think we are strong enough to create your vision?!”

  Once that had been said was when Melissa realized there was another person in the room, someone who had heard a good portion of the argument. “Sierra,” she said in surprise. “When did you get here?”

  “I’ve been here,” Sierra replied as Rhiannon finally noticed her presence. “I heard arguing, so I came to investigate.”

  “But isn’t it your birthday today?” questioned Rhiannon. “Shouldn’t you be buried deep in the mind of your Other Part?”

  Sierra scoffed at that remark. “Shouldn’t you two be working together instead of bickering? I mean, you both are from the same coven.”

  “Right,” said Rhiannon. “This conversation is over, Melissa.”

  In defeat, Melissa marched out of the room with slouched shoulders.

  “I worry about her,” Rhiannon said to Sierra.

  “How so?” wondered Sierra.

  Rhiannon shook her head in disbelief. “Melissa’s always been a little insane, but this tops everything. And she actually thinks she can succeed with this.”

  “What’s her plan?”

  “She actually thinks that if she can get enough recruits, she can overthrow and destroy Henri Anderson, thus naming her the ruler of the immortal magic users, where she would enslave the human race,” Rhiannon explained. “She was actually trying to recruit me, and she had apparently already recruited Kat and Victoria. She also has a plan to recruit Rosalie once her transformation is complete.”

  “We need to tell Henri,” Sierra declared.

  “Why? Melissa isn’t a threat to Henri; we don’t need to worry him.”

  “She’s mentally damaged! She needs help!” Sierra argued. “Besides, you said she had somehow managed to recruit Kat. Kat may as well be the only link to the ICW Henri has left!”

  “You mean Jeffery’s not even—”

  Sierra shrugged. “I don’t know if he can still rely on Jeffery or not.”

  “I’ll tell him,” Rhiannon declared. “Come with me; he should be around here.”

  CHAPTER

  TWENTY-FIVE

  Rhiannon: Greenwich, England

  “L

  ook, Rhiannon, I really don’t think it’s a good idea for me to speak to Henri with you,” Sierra said suddenly. “After all, I didn’t hear the full argument between you and Melissa.”

  Hearing this infuriated Rhiannon. After all, Sierra had been the one to coax her into speaking with Henri about Melissa’s insane—and dangerous—plans. “You’re the one who told me I had to do this!”

  “Yeah, but,” Sierra paused as she searched for the right words, “I wouldn’t be saying anything. I would have nothing to say, since I didn’t hear the entirety of your argument.”

  “Very well.” Rhiannon sighed. “I’ll let you know how it goes.” Then, she watched Sierra leave before searching the castle in pursuit of Henri.

  It didn’t take long until she found him in the same room he had killed Kiki and Stan White. For a moment, she just stood there, staring at his back, until she heard his cold voice beckoning her to enter. And eventually, she did.

  The immortal warlock spun around. “Rhiannon,” Henri said as if in utter disbelief. “How are yo
u dealing with Dimitri’s passing?”

  Rhiannon raised an eyebrow in confusion. “Fine,” she muttered. After all, Dimitri’s death had happened a while ago, and though at one point she wished to resurrect him, she no longer had that desire.

  “Come,” he said in an eerily friendly tone. “What brings you here?”

  “Well, Henri, umm…” Rhiannon suddenly couldn’t find the right words to say. It was as if everything she wanted to say suddenly vanished from her mind. “Melissa’s…in need of help.”

  “What kind of help?” prompted Henri.

  “Mental…help,” said Rhiannon. “She’s been—”

  But Henri raised a hand to silence her. “Melissa’s always been a good asset to me, Rhiannon, since the late nineteenth century. She is the only one not a part of my coven or my guards’ coven that I trust completely. Perhaps you are just misunderstanding her.”

  “Henri, please,” Rhiannon pleaded. “You need to listen to me!”

  “You’re still rather traumatized by the death of Dimitri Andreivich, for you two were rather close. Rather than take your anger out on the mortals, who are not easily accessible to you, you take your anger and frustration out on one of your own. Predominantly someone from the same coven.”

  “No, no!” Rhiannon shook her head. “That’s not it at all!”

  Henri waved her off. “Melissa is perfectly stable, and I suggest you make amends with her.”

  At this point, Rhiannon was angry. Not only did she feel the anger towards Andre resurface, but she felt a newfound anger towards Henri as well. She left Henri’s chamber just then without saying anything else. She would follow Henri’s advice and make up with Melissa Young, but it would be at his own expense.

  It didn’t take her long to find Melissa, who didn’t make it very far from the previous room where the argument took place. Taking a deep breath, Rhiannon approached Melissa with the intent of apologizing first.

  “Umm, Melissa, I—”

  Melissa turned to face Rhiannon, her expression plain. “Did you come back to insult me some more?”

  “No, I,” Rhiannon paused, “wanted to apologize. To you.”

  “Oh?” Melissa raised an eyebrow, skeptical. “And why is that? I think you made your position clear.”

  “No, I realize I’m still pretty angry about Dimitri’s death, and since the mortals are not in close proximity to here, I took my anger out on you,” Rhiannon lied, reiterating the false conclusion that Henri came to. “It was wrong for me to do that.”

  “Andre killed him, Rhiannon,” said Melissa. “Not me.”

  “I know, and I’m sorry,” Rhiannon said. “I was wondering…if the offer is still standing…if I could join your Rebel Coven. The one you told me about.”

  Melissa smiled. “Are you saying you will help me overthrow and destroy Henri Anderson?”

  Rhiannon nodded slowly.

  “I do have a plan, Rhiannon. I’ve put a lot of thought into this,” Melissa explained. “I successfully recruited the help of one of the Spies.”

  Rhiannon gasped. “How?”

  “By promising him his daughter in return,” said Melissa proudly. “Andre.”

  “You mean…” At that moment, Rhiannon understood everything. They were going to use Spy technology in order to weaken Henri. And Andre, the only other person she was truly angry at, was going to suffer in some way as well.

  Melissa nodded. “His name is Cody Robinson, and he agreed to it. It took a lot of persuasion, but I knew the promise of his daughter would seal the deal.”

  “What about Rosalie?”

  “I already told you about her,” said Melissa. “I asked Henri to transform her into an immortal witch. Then, I plan to force her into the Rebel Coven. We need safety in numbers.”

  “Okay,” Rhiannon agreed. “Anything else?”

  Melissa nodded. “Yesterday, Henri revealed to the Dark Rulers and the Dark Guard his plan for the ICW, which he invited me to. No one else knows about it yet, but he’s planning on sending a threat message to the mortals soon regarding this, possibly during the next attack by the Bewitched. Then, he will reveal his thinking to the rest of the immortal magic users who wish to join him—and he is planning on extending an invitation to those outside of our three groups.”

  “What plan?”

  “He called it the Massacre,” answered Melissa. “On January twenty-fifth, the day before the winners for the ICW are supposed to be announced, Henri is planning on attacking the facility. He’s hoping to outnumber the mortals that are there so they will have no choice but to surrender. At the end of the night, he’s hoping no one but the immortals will be left alive.”

  “Except for Andre,” said Rhiannon. “You know, for Cody.”

  Melissa held up her hand to silence Rhiannon. Then, she continued. “Kat told me about a small, square room in the ICW facility that is not currently being used. Henri wants to perform Rosalie’s transformation in that room, and Rebecca will be there, getting blood for the potion. Since Henri will be preoccupied with other things, I volunteered you and Elyse to perform the transformation.”

  “But I don’t know what to do!”

  “All you have to do is mix together the ingredients and make Rosalie drink it while reciting an incantation, which Henri will provide for you,” Melissa explained. “In order to see how the transformation went, Henri will visit that room sometime during the Massacre. When he does, I need you to reach out to me through your mind, and I’ll make sure that Victoria, Kat, and I appear in that room beside you in order to ambush him.”

  “Then what?”

  “Then, we kill him,” said Melissa with no remorse in her voice, “and I become the new immortal ruler.”

  CHAPTER

  TWENTY-SIX

  Rebekah: Munich, Germany

  T

  wo uneventful days had passed in which Rebekah spent them either somewhere with Jeffery or in her bedroom with Holly. For the most part, she enjoyed the time she spent with them despite Henri’s very prominent threat.

  On New Year’s Eve, Rebekah allowed Jeffery to kiss her again. Much to her surprise, no new memories came to her, and she was able to enjoy it. When she was with Holly, they tried talking about random stuff like they used to before they were launched into a centuries-old magical feud.

  She had told Holly about the kiss, of which Holly was amused.

  “I never knew one of my best friends would end up living the life that most little girls dream about,” Holly joked that afternoon.

  Rebekah’s eyes narrowed at Holly. “Most little girls dream of living in fear of an immortal warlock?”

  Holly laughed. “I meant the dating royalty part. You pretty much are dating a prince, even if he is a warlock. It’s like your own version of a Disney fairytale.”

  This time, Rebekah laughed. “Somehow, I doubt that very seriously.”

  Holly got up off her bed. “But when you guys marry, you’ll be a princess.”

  “Are mortal magic users even allowed to marry humans?” Rebekah questioned.

  “There are no laws against it, surprisingly enough,” Holly said. “I mean, a classic example could be Andre’s parents. You obviously have to be careful when you choose to marry a human and make sure you don’t accidentally marry a Spy, but still…”

  “Well, we’re not getting married,” Rebekah said.

  “Why not?” Holly pretended to pout. “You could be the first human who is a part of the mortal royal family.”

  Rebekah waved off Holly’s suggestion. “That’s just a fantasy. I’m only fourteen.”

  Holly reclaimed her seat on the bed. “For what it’s worth, I do think you’re one of the safer humans for him to marry.”

  “Thanks,” Rebekah said sarcastically. “That really means a lot to me.”

  “And also for what it’s worth,” Holly said in a serious tone, “Jeffery does care about you a lot. And Jason seems to approve of you.”

  “Andre’s parents didn’t have that?�
��

  Holly shook her head. “When I was really young, my mother told me her father didn’t approve of Cody Robinson. Obviously, Cody didn’t much care for my aunt,” she said. “You and Jeffery are roughly around the same age. I think he’s only a year older than you. To put it in perspective, Cody had met my aunt when he was in his twenties and she was still a teenager.”

  “So, your aunt had poor judgment?”

  Holly laughed. “I guess. It would be best not to say that to Andre though.”

  Then, the conversation died down, and the two of them fell into a comfortable silence.

  Even though it was New Year’s Eve, Jason refused to let the clique participants stay up as late as they wanted to, since the threat of the Bewitched was still prominent. There were quite a few protests, but for the most part, people complied with this rule and went to bed around eleven.

  Rebekah went to bed earlier than that, surprised by the fact that New Year’s Eve didn’t spark any flashbacks. After all, a year ago was the first time she had met Ava and found out that she was an Innocent. When she finally drifted off to sleep at ten, she dreamt of nothing in particular.

  Within what felt like minutes, she felt her body shake gently in the darkness that surrounded her. All around her, there was the silence of her mind that masked any sounds that came from reality. She looked to her left and then to her right, unable to see what was in front of her.

  She felt like she was blind.

  And yet, she could still feel her body sway slightly; the cause of the swaying was unfathomable. Her body felt heavy and numb, and within minutes, it became lighter as she was being ripped away from the world of dreams.

  She soon began to hear and see again as her mind slipped out of unconsciousness, and she felt a pair of hands on her arm and shoulder. At that moment, she knew someone had jolted her awake. She at first thought it was Holly, but her thoughts disappeared when she realized that Holly would have no reason to wake her up.