33. The Sacrifice
Chapter 33
The Sacrifice
L as Vegas, Nevada
April 18, 2018
(3 Days Before Death)
The four brothers stood side by side in the pitch-black night, their immortal presence amplified by the sudden power outage that had plunged the Las Vegas Strip into darkness. They thrived in the shadows, their senses heightened and their predatory instincts sharp.
In front of the Paris hotel, they faced the chaos erupting at the Bellagio. From beyond the fountains, they observed the pandemonium as people scrambled to either flee or enter. The streets were flooded with panicked crowds. Yet, the brothers’ combined energy created an invisible barrier, repelling the masses to the other side of the street.
Humans were simple creatures to influence, their minds easily swayed. With minimal effort, the brothers shielded themselves from the mobs, weaving between traffic-jammed cars on the Vegas Strip, remaining hidden in plain sight. Masters of the night.
Marcello, the youngest of the four, stepped forward, his movements deliberate and filled with purpose. He had always been the peacemaker, the negotiator, the one who could bridge the gaps between his brothers. Tonight, he had returned to settle a conflict that threatened to destroy their brotherhood forever.
“This power outage—is this your lover’s doing?” Marcello asked, his voice calm yet commanded a response.
“She’s not powerful enough to knock out the entire city,” Lucio responded.
“Are you sure?” Marcello emerged fully from their shadowed existence; his presence now undeniable as he faced the other three.
Lucio didn’t answer immediately. He felt Marcello’s probing thoughts and easily pushed the inquiry aside. None of them had dominion over the others, but three against one was a match that could end him. Even he couldn’t ignore the threat.
“She’s gone,” Sebastiano interjected. “She and the guardian escaped.”
Lucio feigned indifference, but Domenico pressed on. “Escaped? How? Gone where?”
“Raven said they are gone. The brother, too,” Sebastiano repeated.
Marcello’s eyes locked onto Lucio’s. “You want to do this now? When our father is at death’s door? You want to push us to this, Lucio? For her?”
“I have always served the brotherhood, the coven. I’ve always served you three. But I won’t let you take her from me. I can not,” Lucio finally said, his voice carrying a rare vulnerability. He felt a strange relief wash over him.
Domenico snickered. The sound grated in the tense bubble of silence they existed in.
Marcello looked hurt. His rage simmered beneath the surface of his pale skin. Lucio braced himself for an outburst, willing to endure physical assault. He could take the blows, but he couldn’t bear the thought of losing Dolly or Darlene.
“It’s time, brothers. You heard him. You heard Father. Lucio is fulfilling the prophecy. He’s the one corrupted,” Domenico said, his voice resolute. “It’s time we finish this. We find those women and feed them to Draquria and save our father. Save us all. This is the moment we decide.”
“I agree,” Sebastiano said. He stepped out of the dark fog to Marcello’s side. “We need you to agree, brother. He is not one of us anymore.”
Marcello lowered his gaze, the weight of the decision pressing heavily on him. The surrounding night seemed to hold its breath, the darkness their only witness.
Lucio lowered the barrier he had erected between himself and the Brown sisters, feeling the immediate rush of their presence as he reached out to Darlene and Dolly.
The Void
Dolly blinked, her eyes slowly adjusted to the midnight darkness, thick and weightless as if made from shadow itself. She felt strangely grounded yet formless, surrounded by a vast nothingness. Her body, her mind—everything was hazy, a dreamy blur. Beside her, Darlene slowly began to materialize, her dark silhouette emerging in the gloom, becoming more real, more alive. Darlene looked down at her hands, flexing her fingers and smiling faintly as she felt her body restored, whole and vibrant again. The air shifted, a subtle stirring, as if something—or someone—was bending it to their will.
“Dolly?” Darlene’s voice was soft, laced with confusion. “Is that really you?”
“Darlene,” Dolly whispered, relief softened her voice. “What happened? Where…how did we get here?”
“I don’t know—” Darlene began.
“I brought you here,” came a familiar voice, low and deep as the night itself.
The sisters turned as Lucio emerged from the swirling darkness, stepping into the moonlight that seemed to spill from nowhere. His appearance stole their breath: his suit fit perfectly over his lithe, muscular frame, each dark fold cast shadows that only accentuated his lean strength. The dim light glinted off his amber eyes, a knowing gaze sharpened with a sly, almost dangerous smile that exposed just a hint of his fangs, tipped in crystalline diamonds.
“Lucio!” Dolly’s voice trembled as she ran to him, flinging herself into his arms. He caught her effortlessly, holding her close, feeling her warmth seep into him. Lucio closed his eyes, letting himself be lost in the comforting rhythm of her heartbeat, that steady thrum anchored him in this temporary realm. He didn’t have long; it had taken nearly all his power to bring them here, to this hidden sanctuary of shadow and memory, a place they could be together—if only for a moment.
“I was so afraid,” Dolly murmured, her voice breaking as she buried herself in his chest. He held her tighter, inhaling the floral sweetness of her scent, letting himself drift to dreams of a world where he could keep her, where their love could grow into something real. He envisioned children, a family—her as his queen in a life where he didn’t have to fight destiny for her. For just an instant, he let himself believe it was possible.
When he opened his eyes, his gaze met Darlene’s across the distance. Her expression was complicated, her eyes guarded. She watched them from afar, silent and uncertain, and something in her look pierced Lucio in a way he hadn’t expected. She wasn’t the bold, sharp-tongued Darlene he remembered; this Darlene seemed carved from something ancient and untouchable, glowing with an intensity that was wholly her own. She was darker, bolder, a striking goddess in her own right. And for the first time, Lucio truly saw her. Really saw her. And wanted her, achingly.
Darlene rolled her eyes, catching the heat in his gaze, and looked away as if unimpressed.
Lucio smirked; his lips pressed gently against Dolly’s ear. In soft French, he whispered his love, his apologies, and a hesitant plea for her permission—to share his heart fully with Darlene, her twin. Dolly looked into his eyes, her love fierce but understanding, then slowly nodded and stepped back, slipping into the shadowed edges of their strange reunion.
“Hello, Darlene,” he said softly, turning to face her at last.
“Lucio.” Her voice was firm but cool, holding her ground even as he approached. She kept her distance, chin lifted defiantly.
“Did you miss me?” he asked, his tone light, teasing.
She crossed her arms, giving him a withering look. “Not even a little.”
He stopped just inches from her, close enough to catch the faint scent of jasmine on her skin. “A shame,” he murmured, his amber gaze unwavering, “because I missed you.”
“Liar.” Her eyes narrowed. “What, surprised I’m my own person?”
A grin tugged at his mouth. “More than my surprise—it’s awe. You’ve changed. Your skin, its darker, deeper, richer, regal. You’re beautiful, Darlene. A beauty all your own.”
She rolled her eyes again, but the faintest blush crept to her cheeks. “I look just like Dolly, genius.”
“No,” he said, his fingers brushed her cheek. “You don’t. You’re all you, every sexy inch of you.” He let his hand drift to the edge of her jaw, his finger traced the line of her cheek with reverence. “ Sei bellissima e incredibilmente sexy .”
She pulled back, narrowed her eyes on him. “Only good for that, then?”
“If you never let me lie in your bed again,” he whispered, leaning in, “I’d ache in silence.” His voice was velvet and heat, laced with a promise as old as time. “But I can’t help wanting you…any way you’ll have me.”
Her defenses wavered at the husky, unhurried tone of his voice, his golden eyes darkened to a smoldering burn. She felt the tension coil between them, his gaze drew out every secret desire she’d hidden, every rebellious part of her that had always wanted him. In silence, she let her fingers drift to the hem of her shirt. She pulled it over her head, released her bra, stepped out of her jeans and panties. She stood bare before him, vulnerable but unbroken, waiting. Waiting for him to explain, to justify why he’d pulled them here, why he was risking everything to be with her.
He took her hand, raising it above her head as he stepped closer. He made her do a short turnabout so he could see her from every angle. “My Draca still burns for you, but not hotter than me,” he breathed, his desire raw in his voice. “You’re more than beautiful, Darlene. You’re my storm, my shelter, my punisher, my absolution. You’re the fiercest woman I’ve ever known. If I had a heart left to give, it would beat for you.”
“Okay, maybe I’m not mad anymore.” She shook her head with a soft laugh. “Lucio, you’re such an asshole. But I like it.”
He laughed; his hand left hers. He moved in and cradled her face, his lips brushed hers with slow, deliberate sweetness before she wound her arms around his neck and pulled him closer. She kissed him with a ferocity that sent him reeling, her hands roamed across his shoulders, pulling at his clothes as though she could make them vanish by sheer will.
He calmed her with a low growl and lifted her into his embrace until her feet were swept up from the ground. His lips traveled to her neck, his breath igniting a trail of fire. “That melanin poppin…” he murmured, tasting the heat of her pulse. “Mmm, so rich, so perfect… the last barrier to the sweetness that is my Darlene.”
She shivered. “Do you want another taste?”
Without a word, he lowered her to the bed that appeared from the shadows, her skin warmed by the weight of his gaze alone. He paused and looked into her eyes as if confirming something unspoken. She bit her lip, thinking of her soul-bond to Domencio, his brother, but somehow unable to pull away. “I have a boyfriend, Lucio,” she whispered her confession, wanting to be honest. Half-heartedly she pressed a hand to his chest to stop him.
He kissed her fiercely, lowering her onto the bed of his creation with deliberate care. “Then I’ll keep you anyway,” he whispered, his voice rough with intent. “But know that if anyone ever touches you—anyone—I’ll kill him, even after my true death.” The dark promise gleamed in his gaze, and she knew he meant it. She decided in that instant never to mention Domencio’s name or think of him in Lucio’s presence again. She’d have them both—of that she was certain. If he had Dolly and her, why couldn’t she?
“Still want that taste?” She smiled slyly in a hope to change the subject. She raised her hips as his cock trapped behind his zipper pressed against her sex. His hands tracing her curves with agonizing slowness. Clothes fell away from his body and the final barrier was removed. Lucio’s mouth hot against her skin as he laid claim to her body with an unrestrained fervor, his fangs brushed her neck before they sank into her skin and his cock thrust into her—double penetration. The world blurred to raw, heated sensations, his every touch an answer to the longing she’d buried for so long.
His body moved with a grace that was both ruthless and tender, each thrust measured, each kiss lingered. He devoured her, claimed her, and filled the dark void with whispers of love and forgiveness, binding her to him in ways that went beyond the physical.
And as they lay entangled in the last fading seconds of their sanctuary, Darlene knew she’d never forget this night. That even if it ended, she would carry this moment with her—forever.
When her eyes opened, she found herself standing back in the void, heart pounding, every inch of her tingling with the echo’s of his touch. She looked over to Dolly, who was similarly dazed, and both blinked, disoriented.
“What…just happened?” Darlene asked, her voice.
Dolly opened her eyes having had her own experience with Lucio, simultaneously as Darlene. “I… don’t know,” she stammered.
Lucio’s voice whispered around them, dark and unyielding, as the shadows closed in. “ I love you, ” he sent his message telepathically. “ I know I have no right to that love. But even in death that love is real for me. I knew your mother. Her name was Wanda, not ‘Christina’ Brown. I met her when she was about the same age as you. She was fiery and strong like Darlene, but gentle and caring like you, Dolly. I thought I loved her. I really did. This curse drove me to do to her what I have done to a hundred daughters of Julia Brown before her. When she discovered what I was, she didn’t believe the danger or the truth. This is my greatest sin. I did the unthinkable to prove to her that monsters were real, and I was one of them. I pushed her from my life. If I had not, I may not have ever met either of you. She left me. Forever. I cared for her, but it was never love. I know that now. I am sorry for not being able to live up to my promise. I only wanted one last time with my girls.”
“What?” Dolly voice trembled. “Lucio! Lucio where are you! Lucio!”
Darlene put her hands to her ears and began to shake all over. Confused and wrecked by her own emotional confusion she screamed for him to stop speaking through her head and return to face them. If he rejected her again, after everything he did to convince her to trust her heart to him she felt the darkness would take over in his place.
Lucio paused, the weight of his confession pressed in heavily on his mind, but their tortured screams for clarity forced him to finish before he lost his nerve. “ Reno is a safe place for you. I’ve made sure of it. Russell is there, trust Tristan. And remember, without light, there is only darkness. My death is your freedom. Be one. Be strong. And kill my fucking family if you have too. Stop my father and destroy the Draquria inside of him. My sacrifice will give you the power. And remember wherever you are, whatever you become, I will always be yours. ”
With a heavy heart, Lucio severed the tie between the sisters, sealing himself off, so no matter what Darlene and Dolly attempted, they could not find him. As his connection to them faded, he turned to face his brothers. Only milliseconds had passed. Marcello’s gaze lifted, his eyes blood-red, fangs fully extended. Sebastiano’s eyes mirrored the same transformation, and Domenico’s fangs dropped as he smirked evilly.
At once, all three brothers transformed into black smoke, swirling together in a massive dark funnel. On the street, people saw the eerie tornado, causing cars to crash into one another as pedestrians screamed and ran in every direction.
The first blow nearly took off Lucio’s jaw. The force sent him reeling. He summoned his power, doing his best to withstand the onslaught, but his best was not enough. The brothers attacked with relentless fury; each strike more vicious than the last. Lucio felt his strength waning, the darkness closing in around him.
Just as he thought he would be torn apart, a thunderous power surged through the night. From across the ocean, in Sicily, their father, Don Vittorio’s Draca, known as the Draquria awoke. His rage and power traveled across the miles and slammed into the Vegas Strip with a force that shook the very ground. The brothers were thrown back, their assault halted.
“Never! NEVER!” Don Vittorio’s Draquria’s voice boomed through the night, and resonated with a power that made the very air vibrate. “If you kill him, I will give you three the dark death to follow. You will not escape my wrath.”
The brothers froze, their transformation reverted as they backed away from Lucio, who lay on the ground, barely conscious. The night grew eerily silent, the chaos of the streets suddenly muted.
Lucio, despite his grievous injuries, could not die. He clung to life, his love for the sisters, the psychic connection even the fantastical encounter with Darlene, drinking from her metaphysically gave him a strength his brothers couldn’t take away.
As the Draquria’s power receded, his warning hung heavy in the air. The brothers knew they had overstepped, and the threat from the supreme Draca rocked them to their core. They had no choice but to retreat. Domencio and Sebastiano did so. Only Marcello could not leave Lucio to his fate.
Lucio lay in the darkness, his body broken, but his spirit unyielding. A healing would take some intervention. He was prey for all other supernatural’s who could come and pick his bones in the night.
Marcello wept over Lucio. “ Perdonami. Perdonami. ”
“He’ll live,” Domencio mumbled.
Marcello picked up the broken and savaged body of his oldest brother and flew into the night.