22. Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Two
Amelia
T he vision left me shaken, the weight of what we’d seen still heavy. As reality returned, I stood beside Aidan, my heart pounding and mind racing with questions.
Fergus was the first to speak, his voice cutting through the tension.
"Are you both okay?" he asked, his eyes scanning us both, his face a mixture of concern and wariness.
I glanced at Aidan, who stood frozen for a moment, his eyes distant, and then turned to Fergus. "We’re fine," I said quietly, but even I could hear the uncertainty in my voice.
Aidan didn’t respond right away.
Aidan doesn’t seem okay, I thought.
He stared ahead, guilt consuming him. Suddenly, he punched the car door with brutal force, the sound of meta crunching echoing in the quiet night.
"I should’ve trusted her. I should’ve waited. Why did I leave her alone?" His eyes were wild with anger and self-loathing as he kept repeating under his breath.
I watched him, my heart breaking. His fist struck the door again, and I could see the dent forming. He was lost in his guilt, and I didn’t know how to pull him out of it.
Without thinking, I stepped forward, wrapping my arms around him from behind.
“Aidan please stop.”
He flinched but softened, leaning into me as I held him, offering silent comfort.
"Mi Rey," I whispered, my voice soft, almost a murmur against his back. I didn’t even think about what I said, it just slipped out.
Aidan froze. His body went rigid, and I could feel the tension flood back into him. He turned to face me, his eyes wide with surprise.
"What did you just call me?" His voice was low, almost a whisper, and I could see the confusion and shock in his gaze.
"Mi Rey," I repeated, unsure of what was happening myself.
Aidan blinked, his expression shifting from confusion to something deeper, like he was piecing something together. He took a step back, his gaze searching mine.
"That’s what Alma used to call me," he said softly, his voice breaking slightly. "Why would you say that? Could it be... because of the vision? Are you... getting her memories?"
I shook my head, not fully understanding myself.
"This is the first time I’ve ever said anything like that, Aidan. I’m not the type to use those words."
There was a long pause as Aidan absorbed what I said. I could see him grappling with the idea, the pieces of the puzzle starting to fit together in his mind.
Fergus, sensing the shift in the mood, cleared his throat, breaking the silence.
"We need to get out of here. The weather’s turning, and it’s not safe to fly back to the safe house tonight. The pilot recommends we leave in the morning. Let’s find a place to spend the night."
“You are right,” I nodded, exhaustion settling in.
Aidan and I followed Fergus to the hotel, checked in, and were given our rooms. Before heading up, Aidan stopped, concern crossing his face as he turned to Fergus.
"Fergus," Aidan began, his voice tinged with suspicion. "Did you notice anything... strange about Lancelot when you saw him?"
Fergus raised an eyebrow, clearly taken aback by the question.
"Lancelot? What do you mean, strange?"
"I mean, the way he acted. He’s always had a certain... presence, but lately, I’ve been wondering if there was more to him than we realized, there must have been something we missed," Aidan explained, his voice cautious.
Fergus’s expression shifted slightly, his lips curling into a slight frown.
"I never liked him. He was a werewolf, after all. We don’t exactly mix well. But if you mean something more, then no, I didn’t notice anything unusual about him."
“There has to be something we missed…” Aidan muttered.
"It was your sister, Vera. She introduced you to Lancelot. He was a businessman—at first, it was all about investments, but when he started getting greedy, we had to cut him off. We bought out his shares and severed ties."
"But there’s more, isn’t there? You said you saw him with Vera once," Aidan’s brow furrowed.
Fergus’s eyes grew distant, as if remembering something from long ago.
"Yeah, there was one night... I went out to have a little fun with some women, and I saw Vera and Lancelot coming out from a hotel. They didn’t see me, but I saw them. I assumed they were just having a business meeting in the lounge. Vera’s a businesswoman, after all."
"But what if it wasn’t just a business meeting? What if they were lovers?" I said.
Aidan looked at me with wide eyes, and for a moment, we were both silent, caught in the implications of what this could mean.
Fergus gave a shrug.
"Maybe. It wouldn’t surprise me."
“Werewolves and Vampires can’t be together, and Vera knows that… I think there’s something we are missing, but I can’t just place my finger on what exactly it is,” Aidan said.
“I think we should just get some rest and then later in the morning we will know our next step, I am beyond exhausted,” Fergus said.
“How come you are exhausted vampires don’t sleep,” I chuckled as I tried to lighten up the mood of everyone.
“That’s a valid point,” Fergus laughed.
“But I’m famished, I need to drink blood, a pack or two won’t hurt and most importantly, I just want to lie down, my leg aches,” he added.
“Let’s go to our rooms then,” Aidan said.
“I will make sure the other vampires, take turns while keeping guard, we can’t take chances,” Fergus said.
We walked to our rooms, the weight of everything heavy on us. Aidan's eyes reflected the growing realization of our complex situation.
What a day, I just hope this nightmare comes to an end soon, my life has been literally been put on pause, I haven’t been to work in a long time, I miss attending to patients. I have also dragged Sienna into this mess, I thought.
After my shower, I stepped out to find Aidan lost in thought by the window. The silence between us was heavy, so I decided to break it with something lighter.
"So, Aidan," I said, stepping into the room, "how did you and Fergus become best friends? You two seem... intense together."
Aidan glanced over at me, a small, amused smile curling at the corners of his lips. I could tell he hadn’t been expecting that question.
"Best friends?" Aidan chuckled, though it was more of a half-laugh. "I’m not sure best friends is the word I'd use, but sure, I’ll bite."
I raised an eyebrow, waiting for him to elaborate.
"We met over five centuries ago," Aidan began, his voice quiet and thoughtful. "I was still figuring out the whole vampire thing and kind of reckless, didn’t understand the full extent of my powers. I was causing chaos in the streets, all full of bloodlust, thinking I was invincible."
I smiled, picturing a much younger Aidan running wild.
"So, one night, I’m in the middle of a very poor decision," Aidan continued, his voice taking on a hint of mischief. "I’m fighting this group of hunters, and I’m about to get taken down when this... guy just appears out of nowhere and starts fighting the hunters like he’s got a personal vendetta against them."
I couldn’t help but laugh.
"Let me guess," I said, "Fergus?"
"Yep," Aidan said, a smirk tugging at his lips. "He was a human back then, didn’t know the first thing about vampires. He then told me that I need to be skillful with my fighting techniques and then he started beating me because he wanted me to fight back so that he would teach me a few things. For some weird reason I was weak that day."
I gasped, trying to suppress my laughter.
"Wait, so he beat you up?"
"Yeah, he did," Aidan said, shaking his head in mock exasperation. "I’ll never forget the look on his face when he realized my injuries were healing."
I bit my lip to suppress a laugh, unable to resist the image of Aidan, immortal and powerful, getting knocked around by a human.
“He then paused and asked me series of questions and at the time, one hunter came from nowhere and stabbed him.”
“What!”
“It happened so fast. I didn’t want anything to happen to him and then he begged me to make his wound heal just like mine healed and then I converted him. That’s how we became best friends. After Vera, Fergus was the closest to me.”
“And Fergus’s family?”
“He had none, he was an orphan, so my family became his family.”
Aidan and I lay side by side, the room quiet except for the rain. His hand found mine, and I felt his sadness in the weight of his gaze.
“I’ve always held family dear,” he said quietly, his voice barely above a whisper. “That’s why finding out that my sister was the one who killed Alma... it has crushed me.”
“I would give anything to make you not to feel this way,” I whispered.
Aidan turned onto his side, facing me fully now. His hand gently cupped my cheek, his thumb brushing softly over my skin.
“Being with me here is more than enough,” he said.
I leaned in, our lips meeting softly, a quiet reassurance that we weren’t alone. The kiss deepened, and I pulled him closer, unwilling to let go. When we broke apart, I curled into his embrace, his warmth enveloping me like a shield.
His fingers trailed up my spine, slow and deliberate, before tangling in my hair.
“Your smell drives me crazy,” he said.
He tugged just enough to tilt my head back, forcing my gaze to meet his. The hunger in his eyes was raw, unchecked. It stole the breath from my lungs.
“What are you doing?” I said as I bit my lower lip.
“Just trying to make you yearn for my touch.”
“Well, it’s working…”
“Oh, is it?” he asked rhetorically.
His mouth crashed into mine, swallowing my gasp.
The kiss was relentless and immersed in desperation, his hands gripped my hips hard enough to leave marks. I arch into him, my fingers clawing at his chest, needing him closer and closer.
“Aidan…” I moaned softly.
He turned me around making my back lay against the bed, his body pinning me in place. His lips trail down my throat, nipping at the sensitive skin below my ear.
"You taste fucking perfect," he growled.
“Aidan…” I whimpered as his smooth palms skimming up my thighs.
"Say it," he demanded against my skin. "Tell me what you want."
I trembled under his touch.
"You," I gasped. "I want you."
He slowly removed my undies as his finger found its way to my juicy pussy as he inserted it. “I love how my touch makes you wet,” he said as he kissed me intensely and fingered me passionately.
“I just want to satisfy you tonight,” he said as he slowly kissed my neck and as he played with my nipples.
“I want you to suck them,” I said as I looked at him intensely.
“Say no more…” he smirked as he sucked my nipples and squeezing my boobs.
He then inserted his fingers again in my pussy and stroked it this time with more intensity.
“Oh fuck! I’m about to cum!”
“Don’t…” he ordered as he inserted his dick into my pussy and fucked me.
“Oh fuck!” I kept on screaming as he increased his pace.
“Look me in the eye and tell me you want me,” he ordered.
“I want you…I want you.”
“Fuck! I’m about to cum,” he moaned as continued.
“Aidan…” I moaned his name as we both climaxed.
“I love you so much, Amelia,” he whispered against my hair, his voice thick with emotion.
“I love you too,” I whispered back, closing my eyes as I let myself melt into him. “We’re in this together.”
With my head resting against his chest, I drifted off to sleep and then I had a dream.
The room was cold. I hid in the shadows, watching Vera on her knees, gripping a table, her face twisted in pain, breath ragged.
"Vera...?" I whispered under my breath, my voice barely audible, though I knew she couldn’t hear me.
Her skin was ghostly pale, veins pulsing with an eerie glow as she shook violently, fighting something inside.
“No… not now,” she gasped through clenched teeth, her voice strained and desperate. “Not yet…”
Her eyes were shut tight, her lips pressed together in an attempt to stifle the agony. But the sound that escaped her throat was barely human—half scream, half groan.
“Please…” she begged to the empty room, her voice breaking. “Help me…”
The ground beneath her seemed to pulse, as though the earth itself was reacting to her struggle. A low, guttural sound filled the room, vibrating in my bones as a strange light flickered, casting eerie shadows along the walls. My body froze with fear.
“Is she giving birth?” I whispered.
I wanted to run, but my legs wouldn’t move. I was trapped in the dream, unable to escape.
The ground pulsed as Vera screamed, her body lurching forward. A baby emerged pale, bloodied, and crying an unnatural wail.
“But vampires can’t give birth… how is this possible?” I whispered again.
The baby’s eyes opened, glowing a deep, unnatural red and it blinked at me. Its gaze sent a shiver down my spine.
I jolted awake with a gasp, my heart racing, my breath shallow.
Aidan stirred beside me, his hand instinctively reaching out to find mine. He must have felt me tense.
"Amelia? What’s wrong?" he asked, his voice thick with concern.
I opened my mouth, but no words came out at first. I swallowed hard, trying to make sense of what I had seen.
“I had a dream... it was about Vera," I said, my voice shaky. "She was giving birth... but it didn’t make sense. Vampires can’t reproduce. And Vera... she’s a vampire. How could this happen?"
Aidan’s brow furrowed, his face a mix of confusion and concern. He turned to face me fully, pulling me closer.
"What exactly happened in the dream?" he asked, his tone gentle.
I closed my eyes, trying to steady my breath.
"She was in pain, screaming. There was a baby... bloodied and pale, like it was... unnatural. And then, it cried, but it was... wrong. The sound, the way it felt, it was all wrong. It didn’t make sense, Aidan."
Aidan fell silent, his concern clear. Before we could speak further, a soft knock came at the door. It was Fergus, his serious expression filling the doorway.
"It’s time to leave," Fergus said, his voice clipped, clearly not in the mood for small talk. "The pilot’s ready, and we can’t afford to waste any more time. We’ve got to head back to the safe house."
“Okay…” I nodded, still rattled by the dream, but I forced myself to get up and freshen up.
Aidan gave me one last concerned glance, but he didn’t press for more answers. We both needed to focus on the next steps.
Once we were ready, we followed Fergus to the helicopter, where we boarded and headed straight to the safe house. The journey was quiet, each of us lost in our thoughts.
When we finally arrived, Finn was already waiting for us. His face lit up the moment he saw me.
"Amelia!" he called, rushing toward me. Before I could even react, he enveloped me in a warm hug, his arms tight around me. "I missed you so much," he said, his voice thick with emotion. He pulled back, cupping my face before pressing a passionate kiss to my lips. I felt my heart skip a beat as his warmth engulfed me.
Sienna came up beside Finn, smiling at me.
"Welcome back," she said softly, her gaze moving between us. But Finn didn’t seem to notice. His eyes were locked on mine, and there was seriousness in his expression.
"I have something important to tell you both," Finn said, his voice lowering, a sense of urgency in his tone.
Aidan’s posture shifted, alert, as he looked between me and Finn.
"What’s going on?" he asked, his concern obvious.
Finn looked at both of us, his expression darkening.
"My father had a child, and his name was Lucifer Hale Solan."
“Hale? That’s my surname…” Aidan said.
“Now it makes sense, the baby Vera gave birth to in my dream was your father’s,” I said as I turned to Finn.
“How’s that possible? Vampire can’t reproduce and besides, a child with the blood of a werewolf and vampire…” Finn said.
And that was when it clicked.
“The cursed one from the prophecy has the blood of a vampire and werewolf. It means that the cursed one is Vera and Lancelot’s child,” I said.
"My father had a child out of wedlock and with a vampire” Finn said with disappointment written all over his face.