Chapter 20
20
Every time I am forced to slip away from Lillia’s home, I feel like pieces of me get left behind. She is slowly wearing me down, forcing me to believe I am worthy of something other than the title I’ve given myself. Though, I will never be worthy enough
I run through the forest, and I can feel the difference in my muscles. Drinking from her did exactly what I thought it would, strengthening me more than I already was. However, I find myself craving the taste of her again, craving the strength and power her blood has given me.
A sense of dread begins to grow heavier as I get further and further from her cottage. The more distance that is put between us the deeper and deeper into my gut the feeling felt. As I near the grounds of the manor, I am pleasantly surprised to find Asher is not on his balcony. The area is quiet, so I move tactically, stalking around the corner of the main room.
“Finnian, what are you doing?” Asher chuckles.
“The manor was quiet. I wasn’t sure what I was walking into. ”
“You really are a worry wart, son.”
“I’ve told you not to call me son. We are basically the same age.”
“Oh, but we aren’t! I have almost fifty years on you.” I roll my eyes. “How is your mortal? I can smell her blood on you and my god, she smells positively divine,” he inquires. A snarl escapes through my clenched jaw.
“Woah. Down boy,” he responds, raising his hands in true dramatic Asher fashion.
“She’s getting ready for her day,” I roll my eyes in annoyance. “She should be just leaving.” I check my wristwatch to confirm the time.
“Will you be visiting her shop today?”
“Yes. Probably.”
“Did you think more on what path you’ll choose moving forward?”
“No.” Not a full lie. I know my options, but I don’t want to make that choice for her.
“You do have time, but I can sense how important she is to you. While she is human, she remains in danger,” he lowers his eyes and continues, “and so do you.”
I weigh my response because I know there’s truth in what he’s saying. She is in danger because there is someone who would like nothing more but to see me suffer.
“I will keep her safe from him. ”
“I know you will, Finn. I didn’t mean just from him though.” I nod, fully grasping what he said.
The next couple of hours are spent wandering aimlessly around the manor. I go into the guest bedrooms to see the process his team has made in the decorations of each room. Each of them is fairly simple, decorated with modern day aesthetics and plain enough that whoever occupies them can change things to fit their personal preferences.
Just after what would be lunchtime, I decided to go visit Lillia at Alcott’s. I get on my street bike and head into town, swerving around any cards that I encounter on my journey. In speed, I am quicker than my Yamaha, but mortals wouldn’t do well with me just appearing. My engine slows and quiets as I approach the shop. I find myself confused and worried when I see the lights are off. I look through the glass and jiggle the handle, only to find it empty and locked.
Why the hell isn’t she here?
I jumped back onto my bike—granted, the thought of just running crossed my mind first—and headed toward Lillia’s cottage. My vision is beginning to turn crimson by the time I arrive. Her bicycle still sits in its spot next to the steps.
I practically jump off the bike and within seconds I’m at the front door. The moment I knock on the door, a hysterical Flora opens the door.
“Where’s Lillia?” I demand, not trying to hide the urgency in my tone.
“I don’t know! She never went to the shop and when I got back the door was just… open,” she says between sobs. “Lillia’s just gone. ”
The scent of blood, Lillia’s blood, hits my nose when Flora storms off, tossing her hands in the air. I track the scent to the laundry room just off the kitchen. It’s not a lot, but a smear just along the wall opposite of the washing machine.
“Is… Is that fucking blood?” she cries. A second scent catches my attention.
Another mortal?
“Flora. You must contain yourself.” I grip her shoulders, making a conscious effort not to hold on too hard. “Pack a bag. You’re going to stay at my manor where you’ll be safe.”
“But… What about Lillia? ”
“I will find her; I swear this to you.” I release her from my grasp. “Even if I have to kill everyone who stands in my way.”
I usher her down the hall and into her room, where I stand just outside the threshold. The only sounds I can focus on are that of her broken sobs while she gathers her belongings. Finally, she zips up the bag and walks to my side.
“Ready,” she whispers.
“Are you okay to drive?”
“I think so.”
“Actually, no. I’ll just come back to get my bike later. We will take your car,” I responded, taking the bag from her and slinging it over my shoulder.
I’m anything but calm at this moment. My anger is building deep in my gut, festering like an infected wound. Whoever stands in my way should pray for mercy because they’ll get none from me.
Aside from Flora’s sniffles, the drive to the manor is quiet. I’ve never been one to understand the art of consoling. In truth, certain emotions remain a mystery to me. Sorrow being one of them. However, anger is not. He and I have a long history of entanglement, and it seems we are getting reacquainted.
I input my code to open the gate and drive up the pebble road. My anger is nearing dangerous levels, and I know I need to get Flora inside and away from me, soon. I pull into the semi-circular driveway. I am highly aware of the contractors and designers that are coming in and out of the manor as we park.
“I’ve lived in Emolyn Cove my entire life and I’ve never been to the top of the mountain,” Flora whispers while looking out the window.
I usher her into the doors of the manor, looking around for Asher as we enter the main room. When he doesn’t come down from the stairs soon after we enter, I show Flora up the stairs and down the hall that leads to the recently renovated rooms .
“This will be your room for the time being. You are safe here and will be under constant protection. You are welcome to visit every room on the first floor,” I say as I open the door to the room.
“Just the first floor?”
“We value privacy. Most of these rooms are vacant, but my cousin and I reside in rooms in the opposite hallway. The rooms on the first floor are more communal like the kitchen, television room, library, etc.”
“You have a whole ass library here?” Flora exclaims.
“We do. It’s full of classics as well as more recent releases. We do also have quite a collection of independently published authors.”
“Lillia would love your library,” she sighs.
“She will love it when she gets to see it.” Flora nods, and I continue. “Now, I do have some things I have to do. Would you like to meet my cousin, or would you prefer to be alone for the time being?”
“I don’t know that I want to be alone.”
“Okay, then come with me.”
The walk down the stairs is quiet, bordering on awkward. I’m unsure where I can find Asher in the house, but I imagine he’s either in his office or the television room. He’s a sucker for reality television.
The door to his office is open, revealing an empty desk. With Flora still trailing behind me, I go toward the direction of the other option. My assumption is confirmed when I hear him yelling at the show he’s currently fixated on.
“Don’t give her the rose! She does not deserve it.”
Flora turns to face me, her eyes wide with surprise. “Is he watching dating shows?”
“He’s a hopeless romantic,” I scoff.
The back of the extra-large sectional couch faces the entrance of the room, so all we can see is Asher’s naturally silver hair. This space is not my favorite, but I do enjoy the atmosphere of it. He has kept it decorated with paintings we have collected over our lifetime together.
“Oh shit,” Flora says beneath her breath, low enough to where mortals would not be able to hear it.
“Finnian, darling, you’re just in time for the rose ceremony,” Asher says without turning around. He inhales deeply and turns around quickly, his eyes landing on Flora. “Kitten, what are you doing here?”
“Kitten?” I look back and forth between the two of them. “So, you two, like, really know one another?”
What the fuck is happening?
“Kind of,” Flora replies, her cheeks igniting crimson.
“Don’t be modest. She and I have shared many beautiful moments together.” I stare between the two of them in both shock and awe. Moments. As in plural? Asher almost never seeks companionship with the same person more than once, especially not mortals.
“Hey Ash. It’s nice to see you again.”
“Have you not been receiving my phone calls or text messages?”
“I have.”
“Do they not please you?”
“They’re… fine, Asher.”
“Okay. Can you two talk about this later? We have more pressing things to talk about,” I snap, needing this moment to stop.
“Of course. What’s wrong, Finnian?” Asher replies, not taking his eyes off Flora.
“Lillia’s been taken ,” Flora chokes on a sob.
“As in… ”
“Exactly.” I interrupt.
“And you are going to seek her out.”
“Yes.”
“If you fail.”
“I won’t.”
“What is your plan?” The worry in his voice is thick.
“I’m going to kill Cedar.”
“You know what the Counsel will require of you.”
“Yes.”
“Woah, woah, woah,” Flora snaps. “Can everyone please talk as if I have no fucking idea what you’re talking about so cryptically? Because I don’t. So, fill me in.”
Asher and I look at one another, speaking without words by just the looks in our eyes.
“You’re right, Kitten.” He sighs. “Please sit down.” Flora and I walk around the long side of the couch and sit down in separate spots. I sit next to Ash, and she sits on the side diagonally from us.
“This isn’t the way I wanted you to learn about me, but I fear we don’t have any other option with the given circumstances.”
“We are vampires,” I interject. “Asher is my maker, not my cousin.”
Flora snickers and rolls her eyes. “Shut the fuck up.”
My voice is a whisper as I stress, “We are quite serious.” Asher elongates his fangs.
“What the hell!” Flora jumps back some, covering her chest with her hand. “No, no, no. Vampires aren’t even real.”
“But we are very real and sitting right in front of you,” I responded.
“So, this Cedar guy is, like, one of your enemies then?”
“Something like that, yes.”
She looks at me. “And you're going to kill him?”
“Yes,” I answered firmly.
“What is the Counsel Asher mentioned?”
“They are our equivalent to the human government. There’s the main Counsel and sub Counsels, but killing another vampire is considered one of the highest offenses so I will be sat in front of the main Counsel,” Asher explains calmly.
Flora turns back to me with concern in her eyes. “What will happen to you?”
“I will have to make another vampire.”
“And you don’t want to do that?”
“I’ve had to do it before, and Cedar had him murdered. I never wanted to go through that pain again. So, no I don’t want to do that.”
“But you’re willing to do it anyways?” She arches her brow.
“I will do anything for Lillia.”
“Does she know… What you are?”
I nod. “She does.”
“And she’s just like, oh cool, you’re a fucking vampire?! ”
I can’t help but chuckle. “I mean I don’t think it’s like that, but yes,
she’s accepting.”
“Her dad always thought supernatural shit existed. That’s probably why she was so understanding and accepting .” She gasps. “You’ve drank her blood, haven’t you?” she asked me.
Asher frowns. “Kitten, that’s a very private thing to just ask.”
Flora whips around to face him. “You want to drink mine, don’t you?” she gasps.
“Very much so.” Her eyes grow wide at his response.
“We’re getting off topic,” I roll my eyes. “Again.”
Exhaling deeply, Flora looks at me. “What do we do next?”
“You do nothing. You’ll stay here with Asher, and I’ll go and see what I can find.”
“You can’t really expect me to just…”
“I can and I do. For your own safety and mine. Stay. Here.” I cut her off and left the room.
I’m sure she’s pissed and is probably cussing about me to Asher, but right now my only priority is finding Lillia.