25. Liam
Chapter 25
Liam
I wake up in a cold sweat, the remnants of my dream still lingering in my mind. Kissing Selene. The thought sends a shiver down my spine, and I can’t shake the confusion that clouds my thoughts.
Feeling restless, I lace up my running shoes and head out into the night. The streets are quiet as I jog, my mind consumed with thoughts of Selene and the forbidden attraction that tugs at my heart.
Before I realize it, I’ve veered off my usual route and find myself standing in front of my brother Colt’s house. He’s always been the laid-back one, the one who never lets anything faze him.
His lights are still on, so I knock on the door. Colt greets me with a lazy grin. “Hey, Liam. What brings you here at this hour?”
I shrug, feeling awkward. “Just needed to clear my head, I guess.”
Colt chuckles, stepping aside to let me in. “Well, you’ve come to the right place. Grab a seat and spill.”
I take a seat on the couch, running a hand through my hair. “It’s about Selene,” I confess.
“And who is Selene?”
I swallow the lump in my throat. I can’t lie to him. I need at least one person to help me with this. “Someone I am attracted to. The last person I should be attracted to.”
“Hey, Big Bro. I mean no disrespect, but you better start talking, or I'm going to bed.”
Fuck! Here goes nothing…
“A vampire. I am attracted to a fucking vampire.”
Colt’s eyebrows shoot up in surprise. “What the fuck?”
I nod, feeling a pang of guilt at his response. “Yeah. I can’t stop thinking about her, Colt. It’s driving me crazy.”
He leans back in his chair thoughtfully. “You know, Mariya is the only person who would’ve been able to help you with this.”
My heart clenches at the mention of her name; the pain of her loss never goes away. “Yeah, I miss her. I wish she were here.”
“I know you do, Liam. We all do. But hey, I might have a solution for you.”
I raise an eyebrow. “Yeah? What is it?”
He grins mischievously. “Well, it’s a bit unconventional, but it could work. You just have to promise not to tell Mom and Dad. They’d kill me if they found out.”
I feel a flicker of excitement in my chest. “I’m listening.”
“You better get someone to open Mariya’s for you because you and I are going on a little trip.
Colt pulls out his phone and dials a number. He walks into the other room.
I decide to call Rosa. “Hello?” she says groggily.
“Hey, Rosa. Sorry to call so late. Would you mind opening up the restaurant for me tomorrow? Something came up, and I’m going to be late.”
I listen in as Rosa responds on the other end, her voice soft and soothing. “Sure thing, boss.”
“Ok, great! Thank you so much!”
“It’s no problem. Oh. And I went to Marco’s place earlier, but he wasn’t there.”
My stomach churns, remembering Marco’s absence. I’d almost forgotten, I still need to deal with his no show yesterday. As I finish my call, I make a mental note to check on him in the morning.
After finishing his call, Colt comes back into the room with a grin. “All set. Let’s go.”
I follow him out to his car, buzzing with anticipation. Maybe, just maybe, I’ll find the answers I’m looking for.
We pull up outside a quaint flower shop in the next town, and I shoot Colt a questioning look as we step out of the car. The shop is small but cozy, with colorful blooms spilling out onto the sidewalk.
As we walk inside, the sweet scent of flowers fills my nostrils. It’s warm and inviting, with shelves lined with pots of various plants and bouquets of fresh flowers arranged on every surface.
Standing behind the counter is a tall, striking woman with long, flowing blonde hair and piercing blue eyes. She smiles warmly as we approach, and I am taken aback by her beauty.
“Hey, Liam, meet Willow,” Colt says, wrapping an arm around the woman’s waist.
Willow smiles at me, her eyes twinkling with mischief. “Nice to meet you, Liam.”
My eyebrows shoot up in surprise as Colt leans in to kiss Willow, and my mind races to catch up. A witch? Colt’s been seeing a witch?
Colt catches my expression and chuckles. “Relax, Liam. Willow and I are just friends.”
I nod slowly. “Right.”
“Willow, this is my brother, Liam. He needs your help.”
Willow nods, turning her attention back to me. “Come with me, Liam. Let’s see what we can do.”
In the back of the shop, there are several crystals arranged on a small table. Willow motions for me to sit, and I do so, feeling a mixture of nervousness and curiosity.
“So, Colt was pretty secretive on the way here. How can you help me?” I ask, unable to contain my curiosity any longer.
Willow smiles serenely. “I was born of a witch and a necromancer, so I have a bit of both in me. It allows me to connect with the spirits on the other side.”
My eyebrows raise. “And you think you can help me talk to someone who’s... passed?”
Willow nods, her eyes softening with empathy. “I’ll do my best, Liam. The answers always find their way to the light.”
I take a deep breath, feeling hopeful.
I feel a wave of dizziness wash over me as Willow begins the ritual. My surroundings blur and begin to fade away until I’m plunged into darkness. For a moment, there’s nothing but emptiness, and then suddenly, I’m pulled into some sort of dream or vision.
I find myself in the kitchen of my childhood home, the scent of freshly baked pies filling the air. Mariya stands before me, her warm smile lighting up her face as she pulls me into a tight hug. “I’ve missed you, Liam,” she says softly.
I return the hug, feeling a rush of emotions flood through me. “I’ve missed you too, Mariya.”
She pulls back slightly, her gaze searching mine. “Why are you looking for me? Are you in trouble?”
I nod, feeling a lump form in my throat. “Yeah, I am. It’s about... Selene.”
Mariya’s eyes twinkle with amusement, and she lets out a soft chuckle. “Ah, the vampire you’ve been lusting over. You remind me so much of your father sometimes. So smart yet so dumb.”
I blush at her words, feeling a mixture of embarrassment and frustration. “I know I shouldn’t be attracted to her, Mariya. She’s a vampire, and... there are so many reasons why it’s wrong.”
Mariya takes my hand in hers in a comforting touch. “Liam, listen to me. The reason you can’t stay away from her is because she’s meant for you. Selene is your mate.”
My heart skips a beat. “But... that’s impossible. How can that be?”
Mariya smiles, her eyes filled with wisdom. “I wish I could explain it all to you, Liam. But our time is running out. Just know that I’m always watching over you, and I’m so proud of you and everything you’ve achieved.”
And then, as quickly as it began, the vision fades away, leaving me back in the present with Willow, and tears in my eyes.
“Did you get the answers you seek?”
Unable to speak just yet, I nod and take a deep breath, trying to compose myself.
“I’ll just be out front,” Willow says, giving me a moment alone.
Mariya’s words echo in my mind, stirring up a whirlwind of conflicting emotions. She couldn’t be right, could she? Selene is my mate? It just doesn’t make sense.
Mariya, of all people, should hate Selene. It was the attack from her family that eventually led to her demise.
She should be angry.
But she isn’t. She is not even a smidge resentful, and now I am more confused than ever.
If Mariya could reconcile this fact, does that mean my parents can too?
My siblings?
Me?
A few minutes later, I step out of the back room, wiping my eyes to clear any traces of emotion. Willow gives me a sympathetic smile, “Colt is waiting for you in the car. Goodbye, Liam.”
” Goodbye. And thank you, Willow.”
As I get into the car, Colt looks at me with concern, but I just nod, not trusting my voice to speak.
The drive back to town is quiet and tense. I don’t know how to process everything that’s happened tonight, Mariya’s revelation threw me for a loop.
As Colt drops me off at home, he leans over and says, “Hey, don’t mention Willow to anyone. Okay?”
I agree, still lost in my own thoughts.
In the house, I head straight for the shower, hoping the hot water will wash away the feeling of unease Mariya’s words have left behind. I don’t think I’ll be getting any sleep tonight.
After I’ve dried off and dressed, I decide that I need to talk to Marco. Rosa’s opening up the restaurant, so I’ve got the time. The streets are quiet as I drive toward Marco’s place, the night enveloping everything in a blanket of darkness. I park outside his apartment building and make my way up to his door, knocking loudly.
There’s no answer, and a sinking feeling settles in the pit of my stomach. I try the handle, but it’s locked. With a sigh, I pull out my phone and dial Marco’s number, but it goes straight to voicemail.
Something isn’t right. It’s very late, or early, depending on how you look at it, and Marco should be home sleeping. He’s always been reliable, never missing work. I can’t shake the feeling that something has happened to him.
Feeling the need to ensure he’s not in there sick or dead, I pick the lock. Geez! This is the second time in so many weeks I’ve picked a lock! I think I’m becoming paranoid.
Inside, I find only silence and darkness. There’s no sign of Marco.
Okay, if he’s missing, then I need to search for him. I grab one of Marco’s t-shirts to track him down and begin following the faint scent trail through the city streets. I am filled with dread when the scent leads me to an eerily dark and forsaken place.
As I step into the abandoned warehouse, the putrid stench of death and decay assaults my senses. The air is thick with the metallic tang of blood and the sickly-sweet odor of rotting flesh.
My heart pounds in my chest as I move deeper into the shadows, my footsteps echoing off the cold concrete floor. And then I see them—Andrea’s lifeless body lying on the ground, her once vibrant spirit snuffed out, and two others, their vacant eyes staring up at nothing.
Confusion, doubt, and disbelief swirl inside me. How could this be happening? How could I be the mate of someone capable of such heinous acts?
I kneel beside Andrea, my hands trembling as I reach out to touch her cold, lifeless skin. Another victim of this senseless violence.
And two other bodies...
I have to look to see if it’s Marco, but neither is Marco. My relief is short-lived, though. I followed Marco’s scent here, so he’s been here.
Anger simmers beneath the surface, a molten rage threatening to consume me. But beneath it all, there’s a nagging sense of doubt, a flicker of uncertainty.
Selene wouldn’t do this.
Would she?
Could Mariya have been right? Could Selene really be my mate?
I shake my head, trying to banish the thought from my mind. It’s impossible. It’s madness. And yet... the doubt remains.
Pulling out my phone, I dial my mother’s number, my fingers trembling with a mixture of fear and determination. It’s very early, but she needs to know what’s happened, what I’ve discovered.
The phone rings once, twice, before she answers. “Liam? Is everything okay?”
I take a deep breath, trying to steady my voice. “No, Mom, it’s not okay. There are more bodies. I’m at an abandoned warehouse downtown. I need you to come down here, now.”
There’s a pause on the other end of the line, and I can hear the worry in her voice when she speaks again. “Okay, text me the address. I’ll be there as soon as I can, sweetheart. Just hang tight.”
I end the call and quickly text the address. As I turn back to the scene before me, I am filled with questions and doubts.
How could I have been so blind? How could I have let myself feel attraction for someone like Selene?