Fratelli: Eternal Bloodlines (The Vampire Cartel #2)

Epilogue

THE CHOICE

J ulia Brown’s Cabin

Manchac Swamp

No Time - No Era

Darlene’s eyes opened in a slow manner. The ceiling above her, decayed and weathered, whispered of lifetimes long past. The cabin groaned under its weight, every wooden plank and nail a testament to the nearly two hundred years it had stood. The air was thick with the scent of earth and something ancient, something that had witnessed too many secrets. She lay beneath the softest of covers, the warmth of the bed cocooning her in a false sense of peace.

Turning her head, she saw Lucio. He slept beside her, his face serene, a stark contrast to the storm they had endured to bring him back. The battle had drained him completely, leaving behind the Draquria, as they rescued the man. This cabin—whether a sanctuary or something more sinister—had become a place of healing and love, where the sisters had spent what felt like an eternity mending Lucio’s tattered soul.

Dolly lay draped across him, her arm possessively resting on his chest. Lucio’s arm hooked around her waist to hold her to this left side, so she remained on his chest. His other hand lay hidden beneath the covers. It cradled Darlene’s sex. They both seemed so content, so at peace, their bodies tangled in a union only Lucio—a Supreme Vampire—could maintain. His appetites, now boundless, satisfied them both equally, endlessly. To recover, to stop him from overconsuming them both sexually and mentally the sisters had to join powers and put him to sleep.

Darlene’s gaze lingered on them. She reached under the covers; she moved Lucio’s hand. He didn’t stir. Dolly’s light glowed softly, a radiant shield kept Lucio in a deep sleep and guarded him with her love. It would hold, but not for long. Darlene knew she’d have to return.

It was the perfect time for Darlene to slip away.

She eased out of the bed, her movements deliberate, though the cabin seemed to protest her departure. The old wooden floor creaked beneath her bare feet as if the house itself knew she was breaking from the sacred union they shared. Lucio remained still, unmoving in his restful state.

Darlene pulled on a robe and winced. The fabric slid over some bites, still healing on her skin. She glanced around the modest room; her eyes traced the details. Everything seemed untouched, preserved as if frozen in time. Was this Julia Brown’s room? Was this the space where the old hoodoo priestess who sacrificed children she loved and who loved her had raised and nurtured them in secrecy deep within the Louisiana swamps?

She leaned down. She pressed a soft kiss to Lucio’s lips, then his brow. Dolly’s light shimmered as her eyes fluttered open. She looked up at Darlene, but before she could speak, Darlene pressed a finger to her lips, communicating silently through their telepathic bond.

“I’m not leaving him. I will keep my promise… I swear,” Darlene said.

Dolly’s lips curved into a smile of relief, and her light settled back over Lucio. It lulled him into a deeper slumber. Darlene forced a smile in return, though a heaviness tugged at her chest. She found her tattered dress she’d worn to seduce Domencio and the gem she had kept hidden within its lace. She then slipped out of the room and into the front of the cabin.

The only light came from the flicker in the fireplace, its flames rose and crackled as if aware of her presence. Shadows danced across the small space. Each cast eerie reflections over the walls. There was a rocking chair near the fire, its old cushions worn and hand sewn. It moved slowly, creaking back and forth on its own as if some unseen force was keeping it company. A small bench had been transformed into a makeshift sofa, adorned with handmade pillows, each one frayed with time. The scene was deceptively cozy, but something about the room felt haunted, as if the memories of the past lingered in every corner.

Darlene’s gaze fell on another door. She opened it to find a small room with four tiny cots, toy trucks, and wooden puppets scattered across the floor. These were the remnants of the Di Salvo boys’ childhood. There was no longer any doubt. They were back in Louisiana, in Julia Brown’s cabin, a place steeped in magic and history—perhaps even a purgatory of sorts.

She quietly shut the door and moved to the kitchen table near an iron stove. Sitting down, she finally exhaled, her body sagging from the weight of the battle they had fought for Lucio’s soul. The victory had been fragile and uncertain. They hadn’t truly won—what they had done was pull Lucio from the abyss, giving him some control over the Supreme, sparing the world from its wrath. They had chosen a safe place for him. A place he felt most human. A place Phoenix magic had robbed him of precious memories and kept him from returning too. Here the man they loved could heal and grow strong again.

Darlene winced. She shifted in her seat. Her body still ached—not just from the battle, but from Lucio’s passions. He had consumed them both, treating them as one entity, yet also as two distinct souls. Dolly had offered herself freely, letting him drink from her until he was sated. But Darlene had to stop them, had to control the energy between them. She had let him drink from her as well, but only until exhaustion took him, and he collapsed into sleep. The rest of the time, Dolly had used her light to heal them all, binding their broken bodies with her power.

Darlene opened her palm and stared at the gem that rested there. Her heart clenched as tears welled up in her eyes. She hadn’t betrayed Domencio by giving herself physically to Lucio—not truly. She was Lucio’s too. On that, she was clear. She had accepted that truth long ago. But she loved Domencio first, with the purest part of herself that Lucio didn’t know. That love had been hers alone, something sacred and fleeting.

She closed her hand around the gem, its surface cold and smooth. A tear slipped down her cheek as she silently summoned her dark energy, reaching out with her mind. She needed to find Domencio. She needed him to understand.

But as the fire crackled, and the wind howled outside the cabin, a lingering question remained in the air: Was this place a sanctuary, or had Lucio fooled them to believe they were in control and back in Manchac swamp? Could they truly be trapped in a purgatory of his own making?

Domencio walked through the dimly lit halls of Sebastiano’s villa. His thoughts were a tangled web of darkness and hurt. The weight of his frustration pressed down on him. If Marcello couldn’t—or wouldn’t—help, what hope did he have of getting Darlene back? How could he save her when everything seemed to slip out of his grasp?

So, you miss me?

Domencio froze. He felt it—the light touch on his shoulder, the familiar scent of her skin lingered in the air. He turned quickly, but the hallway was empty. No one was there. His heart raced, and then, as if pulled from the shadows, she appeared.

Darlene shimmered into view, her form ethereal, glowing faintly.

“Dar—”

Yes, silly! It’s me! She grinned, her voice playful in his mind.

He reached for her, but his hand passed through her spectral form. She glanced down, seeing the faint outline of herself, and sighed. I’m sorry... this is the best I can do.

“Where are you?” he whispered, his voice wrought with longing.

Shhh! Don’t speak out loud. It’s not... safe, she cautioned.

“I don’t understand,” he replied, and switched to telepathy.

Lucio could hear you. Your brothers could hear you. We’re a bridge between them both... because of this. She raised her hand and revealed the gem.

“Come back to me,” Domencio pleaded. Desperation crept into his voice.

I can’t. Lucio and Dolly need me. But I love you, though! She grinned again. Her playful spark faded into something more bittersweet.

Domencio’s lips curved into a small smile, but his heart ached. “Come back to me. You belong with me. Lucio has Dolly.”

We’re one now, Domencio, not two, she whispered. You saw what happened when we separated. The shape shifter is gone. Even when Lucio’s ready, and when we return... I won’t be separate. Not in your realm. I’m sorry. It can never be like that again.

“No. That’s not true.” He shook his head with refusal. “Marcello could find a way. I’ll talk to him. I’ll find another shapeshifter. We can redo it!”

Darlene’s smile faltered. Lucio is the Supreme now. He’s healing, but he is the darkness. When he returns... I don’t want him to know about us. It won’t be safe for you. Not until you two become brothers again. Lucio must control his dark urges and rage with jealousy over us is a toxic mix. It’ll take time—a long time—before he would ever let me go. I’m so sorry. Can you look after my brother? Tell him we love him. Tell him we want to be happy. Can you make him happy and safe? Keep him safe from the supernatural’s or any of the First People that might still be out there. Promise me. Promise!

Domencio clenched his fists, his eyes burning with determination. “Listen to me. You’re a person. Your own person. Do you hear me? I understand you and your sister are the Chosen, but you’re not weak. You stopped Papa Legba without her. Remember that? You can exist without each other. Why does Lucio get to have you both? You are my friend. The only friend I ever had. And for decades I didn’t even know you existed. I can’t lose you. I won’t. Not again.”

I beat Papa Legba ass because I’m smart, Darlene said, a flicker of pride in her voice.

“That’s right, baby. You’re smart. Smarter than all of them. And so am I.” He lifted his hand as if to caress her face, though he couldn’t feel her warmth. “They can’t keep us apart, Darlene. I’ll find a way. Tell me where you are. Tell me!”

“I think we’re in Manchac but I’m not sure. Don’t come. It’s something in the forest. Lucio has placed it there, possibly the Draquria. So don’t come.”

“I love you,” said Domencio. “Do you hear me? We’ll find a way. No matter how long it takes.”

Darlene closed her eyes and puckered her lips, playful even in her ghostly form. Domencio couldn’t help but smile. He leaned in to give her a pretend kiss. Her form shimmered, fading, and her presence then slipped away.

Don’t you cheat on me! My melanin poppin! I’ll know, motherfucker! Her voice echoed in his mind as she disappeared.

Domencio touched his lips. It was the best kiss he never had. And as her light faded, his resolve sharpened. Domencio turned back down the hall, his mind set on what he needed to do. He would heal Marcello and Sebastiano then make them join his cause. And he would get her back. No matter the cost.

Nothing—no magic, no brotherhood—would keep him from Darlene.

“What are you doing?”

Darlene’s eyes fluttered open. Her lips were puckered, as if mid-kiss, and she turned to see Lucio standing over her, a bedsheet loosely wrapped around his waist. Despite the intensity of her love for him, she couldn’t help but notice how much he resembled Domencio in that moment—a thought that made her heart skip.

“Huh?” she mumbled, still disoriented.

“What’s in your hand?” Lucio asked, his voice calm but curious.

Darlene looked down at the gem resting in her palm. Her heart raced, and she fought to steady herself. Lucio’s eyes hardened as he studied the glowing stone, his expression darkened with suspicion. For a brief moment, fear clawed at her. If he touched it, if the power within awakened, what would happen?

She forced a lighthearted smile and held it up for him to see. “I don’t know. I found it. Isn’t it pretty? Can I keep it?”

Lucio’s frown softened; the tension eased from his face. He shrugged with disinterest. “Sure.”

Darlene let out a quiet breath of relief. “Where’s Dolly?”

“I told her I wanted to talk to you,” he said, and pulled out a chair. And sat across from her at the small table.

“Me? Why? What’s wrong?” she asked. She tried to read his mood.

Lucio leaned forward, his gaze steady. “I wanted to thank you. For both of us. We didn’t respect your power, Darlene. Or you. The last time I saw you, I was saying goodbye, making love to you as if that were enough. You deserve more than my lust or my regret. I am going to make it up to you, every single moment we share.”

“It’s okay,” Darlene said quickly. “I’m not mad anymore. We made up. I have Domen—done away with my jealousy. Right now, focus on healing. That’s the important thing.”

“I love you,” Lucio cut in.

Darlene froze. The words hung between them, heavy and unfamiliar. She had heard Lucio say those words to Dolly countless times. She had just heard Domencio say them to her. Now Lucio was once again saying words that had a dangerous meaning. If he loved her the way Domencio did, then where would it all end. “What?”

“I love you,” he repeated, his voice softer but certain.

“You don’t have to say that anymore,” she stammered. “I know you love Dolly too.”

“I do,” Lucio said, his voice steady. “I love her with everything I am. But you and Dolly... you’re not separate. You’re the same. Don’t you see that now? Here you can be separate for us to be together, but you are the same. You are mine. I am yours. We are mates.”

Darlene blinked, unsure how to respond. Instead, she bit her nail, feeling the weight of his words.

“I have my greatest dream come true. A real family,” Lucio said with a smile. “No more pain, no more suffering. We’re in peace.”

“Here? In this place?” Darlene frowned, glancing around the cabin. “It stinks.”

Lucio chuckled, the sound deep and soothing. “It’s safe. Maman Julia’s protection holds here. The Draquria can’t touch us. It’s why when I felt you trying to bring us her I helped. And understood. This is our sanctuary.”

“Oh? So, we’re not in hell?” Darlene asked, half-joking.

Lucio laughed, the tension breaking. “No! Why would you think we went to hell?”

She shrugged, grinning. “I don’t know. Just a feeling.”

He reached across the table, taking her hand in his. The touch was gentle, tender—something she always wanted from him. He brought her hand to his lips and kissed it softly.

“I’m so happy now,” Lucio said, his voice low.

“Me too, I guess” she whispered, her cheeks flushed.

“Oh! Wait!” Lucio stood abruptly, grabbing a basin from the side of the room. “We have a pump. I can get fresh rainwater from the roof. Be right back.”

“For what?” she called after him, but he was already out the door.

Dolly emerged from the bedroom, yawning. “Where’s Lucio?”

“Are you sure we should have come back to Louisiana?” Darlene asked, frowning. “We brought him to his manman’s house.”

Dolly laughed, nodding her head. “Of course. Where else would he be safest?”

Darlene rolled her eyes. “True. But damn. Maybe Reno? I dunno. Is he?—”

“He’s fine,” Dolly waved off her concern.

“Okay. We need to talk. About Domencio.”

Dolly’s expression darkened. “I know what you did. I am so sorry for all that you have carried and loss. I understand what’s in your heart, Darlene. I truly believe you think you love him.”

“You don’t understand,” Darlene said, her voice breaking. “My love is real. He loves me, too.”

“He doesn’t, Darlene. How can he? You were scared kids in that void. He hunted and killed everyone in our family. At least Lucio felt remorse. He tried to kill Lucio and we had to stop him. He hates him. And he will use you to hurt him,” Dolly argued.

“Not anymore. He’s different. I’m different. We both changed,” Darlene pleaded.

“You promised me. Lucio comes first. Always. You promised. He needs to heal, and we have to help him face the Draquria. You can’t abandon us now.”

Darlene sighed, her shoulders sagging. “Okay. I’m sorry. I won’t bring it up again.”

Lucio returned with the basin, water sloshing over the sides. He glanced at Dolly and smiled. “Oh, you’re up. I can wash you next.”

“Wash me?” Dolly grinned; eyebrow raised.

Lucio looked embarrassed but determined. He set the basin down at Darlene’s feet and knelt before her.

“What are you doing?” Darlene nose wrinkled in disgust at the swamp water.

“You said you wanted me to bathe your feet, remember? Like I did for Dolly in the tent,” Lucio smiled. “You said it would make you feel special.”

Darlene laughed. “I never said that! I said I wanted you to watch TV with me. By the way we need one. It’s so boring in here.”

Lucio shrugged. “Same thing. I’ll give you whatever you want.”

The cabin, its interior transformed into the majestic palace fit for royalty. The girls gasped at the polished marble floors and beautiful walls with artwork, the expanded living space and high-end kitchen. Lucio had done the illusion with a mere thought.

Both sisters burst into laughter. Lucio found a scrap of cloth and began gently scrubbing Darlene’s feet. Despite herself, she enjoyed the attention, the tenderness he had never shown her before. She glanced over at Dolly, who sat at the table, smiling warmly. There was no jealousy, no tension—only love.

For Lucio, there weren’t two women, only one. And if Darlene hadn’t fallen in love with Domencio, she might have been happy with this strange, beautiful family they had formed. She felt, for the first time, like she truly belonged.

“Lucio?” Dolly asked.

“Hmm?” he responded, still focused on his task.

“Why did you agree with the choice of this place?”

“Like I told Darlene. It’s home,” he said simply.

“This isn’t home, Lucio,” Darlene said, her voice gentle but firm. “It’s not our home.”

“It is now,” he replied, his tone final. His voice carried an edge of authority, a subtle warning.

The twins exchanged a look, concern flickering between them.

“Did you bring us here to protect us?” Dolly asked.

Lucio didn’t answer.

“Why can’t your Draquria reach you here?” Darlene pressed.

Lucio paused, his hands still. Slowly, he looked up, his eyes dark. “This is my place. You’re safe here, as long as we stay. The Draca... it’s out there in the swamp. Maman Julia’s shield keeps it at bay just like it kept out Phoenix. Here, the Draca can’t touch us.”

He stood, pulling back the tattered curtain to peer out into the murky swamp. “It wants you. It wants you both. But I’ll never let it have you. And when I’m strong enough I will go into the swamp and kill it for you. Free us all.”

The sisters shared another look but stayed silent. Lucio could read their thoughts, and they knew better than to voice their concerns out loud. He returned to Darlene’s feet, scrubbing them with care.

Darlene leaned in, smiling softly. “We don’t need to hide from your dragon, Lucio. The three of us—we can kick his ass. We did it before.”

“You don’t know what you’re talking about,” Lucio mumbled, his focus narrowing on the task at hand.

“Then tell us,” Dolly said gently. “What are we facing? What’s really happening to you?”

Lucio looked up at them, his gaze intense. “What’s happening is that I love you. Both of you. For me, there’s no separation. You are the same. And I’ll make sure that nothing—not even my dragon—comes between us. That is the only thing that keeps me from becoming something you don’t want to know.”

He stood, lifting the basin, and walked out into the night to pour it out. His movements were deliberate, as if he was sealing their fate with every step.

“We can’t stay here,” Darlene whispered, panic rising in her chest. “Domencio could?—”

“Shut up!” Dolly hissed; her voice fierce. “Don’t say his name here. Don’t even think it. We’ll stay as long as we need to until Lucio is mentally strong enough to control his dark urges. That’s true love, Darlene. He needs us. And I need you too. The three of us—together. Look at what he created for us. It’s paradise in here.”

“It’s an illusion,” Darlene said.

Dolly stood. She then met Lucio at the door. She hugged him tightly, she pressed a kiss to his chest. Lucio looked at Darlene. He extended his hand to her.

Darlene hesitated only for a second. She pushed up and walked over to him. He took her hand into his and submitted to his desires. Together, they returned to bed, wrapped in the fragile peace of the night.

The End?