Chapter 20 Pity Party of One
TWENTY
pity party of one
In a room with no windows, it’s easy to lose track of time. I’ve been locked in this room for what feels like both an eternity and mere minutes at the same time. Watching Ramona die was the hardest thing I’ve ever done. Worse than dying.
If I had only listened to Carol, none of this would’ve happened.
I’d have stayed at Café du Monde and never ventured out alone with Harrison, the asshole, Chamberlin.
I’d be working a dead-end job at the telephone company with my open ticket to New York burning a hole in my pocket.
Ramona would still be alive and preparing to get married.
I’ve cried so much, there are no tears left to cry. My time has been split between rocking pointlessly in the corner or assuming the fetal position in bed. Death is my only escape.
My knees are curled into my chest as I mute the rumbling of my stomach. I don’t remember the last time I ate. Can a vampire starve to death? I hope so.
Time passes, and I switch from the corner back to the bed.
The sound of keys rattling outside the door grabs my attention.
I have no idea what to expect, but I know it won’t be good.
The lock turns painstakingly slow as I await my fate.
Sitting up, I watch the minute movement of the knob. I won’t fight.
The door opens, and lycan energy rushes toward me. “Are you awake, vampire?”
I stare at the intruder, hoping that common sense will take over. “What do you think?” I ask.
A young boy steps into the room. He’s barely old enough to be considered a teenager. “I guess that was a dumb question.” He laughs awkwardly. The energy and blood flowing inside him calls to me.
“Whoever you are, you need to leave,” I warn. “I don’t know how long it’s been since I’ve eaten, and your blood smells...”
“Simon sent me,” he says, taking my attention away from the scent of his blood to his words.
“Simon? He’s…he’s here?” I’m on my feet a heartbeat later, not sure if I’m experiencing hunger-induced delusions or if he’s speaking the truth.
“He’s with the pack,” the boy answers. “I’m here to save you.”
“You’ve been sent to rescue me? No offense, but you’re a child.”
The boy stands straighter. “I’m old enough to shift, and small enough to pass undetected.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means Aurora, nor any of the others that live in this house, are here at the moment. I’m here to rescue you. Take this,” he says, holding a bottle of red liquid in front of him. “I have brought sustenance.”
My body takes control, grabbing the bottle from his hand and drinking it in one gulp. The instant it hits my palate, the urge to eat my rescuer settles.
“Thank you,” I sigh, licking a small drop off my fingers. “The house is empty?”
“Mostly,” he answers.
“What does mostly mean?”
He smiles, avoiding my question. “We need to go. I don’t know how long they’ll be gone.”
“How did you get the keys?” I have no idea if I can trust this kid.
He turns toward me. “You’re going to have to trust me. Simon and Stella are my cousins, and Gideon is my uncle and my alpha. There’s no time to explain any more than that. We have to go now.”
“Okay,” I whisper. “If this is a trick, I won’t fight. I don’t want to live anyway.”
The young boy looks at me. “It’s not a trick. Simon told me to tell you that Cyrus is alive.”
“He’s alive?” I whisper, his words renewing my strength. “Let’s go.”
“You have to stay with me, and do what I do,” he warns. “Do you understand?” I nod, not sure what my rescue is about to entail. He moves to the top of the stairs with me right on his heels. “We have to go up,” he whispers, pointing to the high ceiling above our heads.
He lays a flat palm on the mahogany wall and whispers something in another language.
With his words, the ceiling disappears, turning into the complete blackness of nothing.
Did I imagine that? I resist the temptation of asking one of the thousands of questions flowing through my mind.
With a small shiver, he transforms into a wolf, much smaller than the ones I’ve seen before, but a wolf nonetheless.
“Follow me,” echoes through my mind. I stare into copper-colored eyes, not sure if I’ve officially lost my mind.
“It’s me,” he says. “Follow me.” Without another word, he leaps from the floor through the ceiling into the void that took its place.
I don’t know how he’s talking to me in my mind, but I don’t hesitate. I jump, following him into nothing.
My feet hit something solid, but even my vampire eyes refuse to adjust to the light. A soft nudge against my legs urges me forward. “Keep moving. We’re almost there.”
“What is this?” I ask through my mind. “I can’t see anything.”
“It’s a protection spell. I’ll explain later. One more step, then we jump.”
“Where are we jumping to?” I ask.
“Trust me,” he repeats. “Grab my fur, and don’t let go.” I do as instructed, not sure what’s about to happen, and take the last step. “Now!”
I jump, never letting go of the furry wolf that’s guiding me. As soon as my feet hit something solid, the blackness of the void disappears, and we’re standing in front of the familiar home of Cyrus in St. Augustine.
As quickly as he shifted into wolf form, he shivers, returning to human. “Is this real?” I ask.
“Yes,” he answers. “Simon and Stella are inside.”
“If this is a trick…” I don’t finish my statement.
The boy smiles. “You have trust issues.”
I smile at his words. He’s right. Too bad I didn’t have them to begin with. “Do you blame me?”
“Violet!” I hear Simon before seeing him. Seconds later, long arms wrap around me, lifting me inches off the ground. “Oh, my God.” He sets me down, placing large hands on each shoulder.
“Simon?” I ask, still untrusting.
“It’s me.” Stella joins us seconds later.
“How did you do this?” I ask the boy.
He shrugs. “It’s something I’ve always been able to do.”
“David is a hybrid,” Stella answers.
“Okay?” I answer.
“My father was a warlock,” David answers. “I can use both abilities…magic and lycan.”
“David’s existence is a secret,” Simon warns. “If word got out about his ability, he would be killed or worse.”
“I understand,” I answer, turning toward my rescuer. “Thank you, David. You’re amazing.”
He smiles. “You’re welcome, Violet.”
“You need to go home,” Simon says, turning into the authoritative cousin. “Don’t tell anyone what you did, or…”
“Or my life could depend on it. Blah, blah, blah,” David interrupts.
“Mask your energy,” Simon reminds him.
“Already done,” he answers. “It was a pleasure rescuing you, Ms. Violet.” He bows graciously before turning and disappearing into the streets of St. Augustine.
“Will he be okay?” I ask.
Stella scoffs. “He’ll be fine. I feel sorry for the person who tries to hurt him.”
“Dad’s inside,” Simon says, placing a hand behind my back.
I nod, understanding. “Cyrus?” I ask.
“Alive, but we don’t know where.” He pushes me gently toward the garden entrance. “We have a plan.”
……
Gideon Ward is standing in the middle of Cyrus’s living room. His presence is as large as his body. He smiles as we enter. “Welcome back.”
“Thank you,” I answer, unsure why he’s here. “Thanks to David. He’s....”
“Yes, he is.” He motions to the familiar couch. “Please, sit.”
“I’d rather stand,” I refuse, feeling more obstinate than usual. “Where’s Cyrus?”
“No one has heard from him since the night he left. However, we know where Callum is, and we have word that there was another man with him.” His face softens slightly. “The description fits Cyrus.”
“Was he with him on purpose?” I don’t know what I’m asking.
Simon moves to my side. “We don’t know. The report said that the man was badly injured, being led around by silver rope.”
Stubbornness leaves, and I sit heavily on the couch. “Oh, my God. He’s hurt?”
“It seems that way. Cyrus is the strongest vampire I know,” Simon answers. “There’s no way in hell he’d allow Calum to lead him around if he weren’t being weakened by the silver.”
“Why are you here?” I ask Gideon.
“Cyrus is a friend of the pack. He’s given Simon solace and friendship through difficult times. For that, I owe him.”
“Where were they seen?” I ask whoever knows the answer.
“New Orleans,” Stella speaks for the first time.
I stand. “New Orleans? If we know where he is, then why are we sitting here, doing nothing?”
“It’s not that easy,” Simon answers. “We can’t just show up and take Cyrus. Callum is powerful.”
“Why not?” Anger fills me at the lack of information.
“Violet, Callum is the strongest vampire in America, hell, possibly the world. We can’t just waltz in there and overpower him without a plan.” Simon steps closer as he speaks.
“Then I need to find someone who will.” I move toward the door at vampire speed.
“If you walk out that door, you’re signing Cyrus’s death certificate.” Gideon stands with his arms crossed over his chest. “You can’t fight him, Violet. You will be no good to anyone dead.”
I close the door, realizing Gideon’s right. I’ll be walking into instant death. Or worse, Cyrus’s death. “Why torture him? Why force him to walk around wrapped in silver?” My words sound sad, even to me.
Gideon shrugs. “Power, control, arrogance, because he’s an asshole…it’s hard telling.”
“Tell me the plan.”
The Alpha wolf sits, taking up most of the space on the couch. “We’ve enlisted the help of someone in New Orleans.”
Without asking, I know he’s talking about my maker. I close my eyes in response. “Harrison doesn’t do anything to help anyone except himself.”
“That’s where I come in,” a man says from the second-floor landing. Wearing a bright blue-turquoise suit, Lucien Creed looks down on the rest of us with a smirk that makes me want to slap him. Next to him is the immortal child whose protection caused this.
“What the hell are you doing here?” I spew. “You’re the reason this whole thing started.”
Lucien slowly makes his way down the stairs, looking more like he’s entering a party and he’s the guest of honor, than a powerful warlock.
“Everything has worked the way it should’ve, my dear.” He wraps an arm around Terrin. “We’re here to help.”
I’m in front of the duo a heartbeat later. “I will kill you.”
He scoffs. “Is that any way to talk to someone who is trying to help?”
“You’re not trying to help anyone but you. You sent Cyrus on a wild goose chase and gave me to Aurora.” I turn to Gideon. “You don’t actually believe him, do you?”
Large hands raise in front of the alpha’s face. “Violet, there are things you don’t understand…” Gideon starts.
“You can’t be serious?” I interrupt. I turn toward Simon. “You were there. He used a spell on you and Stella.” I slam my hands against the wall. “Am I the only one capable of seeing this?”
“Stop,” Terrin whispers, holding his hand toward me. At his word, my body relaxes, the anger that consumed me is gone, and I feel more relaxed than I’ve felt since being human. My forehead wrinkles as I stare at the immortal child. “Sit down,” he continues.
My body reacts to his command, completely out of my control. I move to an empty chair, lowering myself to it. “What’s happening?” I ask whoever can answer.
“Terrin,” Lucien answers. “He’s controlling you with his words. It’s the reason he must be protected and the reason Callum is here.”
Simon moves to my side, wrapping an arm around my arm. “Terrin has the ability to control even the strongest mind.”
“Did you know?” I ask the wolf I thought was my friend.
“No,” he answers quickly.
“Only a few, other than the people in this room, are aware of Terrin’s abilities,” Lucien answers. “I’m sorry for what happened to you, Violet. It was never my intention to harm you or Cyrus, but I was left without any other choice.”
“Why?” I ask the obvious question. “What does he mean to you?”
Lucien smiles. “That is information for another day, dear one.” He turns toward the boy. “For now, he is to be kept safe at any cost.”
My mind is screaming a rebuttal, but the calmness I feel from Terrin won’t allow me to speak it aloud. “How is this possible?” I turn toward Terrin. “Are there more like you?”
“There have been rumors of others throughout the centuries. Immortal children with supernatural powers. Callum has been around long enough to know more than most. We will never know the exact source of his existence nor is it our priority. Our job is to protect the boy, not to ask questions.” Lucien motions toward the immortal child.
“Terrin’s powers in the hands of the wrong person could turn the world as we know it upside down. ”
“Tell me the plan to get Cyrus,” I repeat, ignoring the dramatic implications.
Simon smiles, wrapping his hand around mine. “There’s where the irony comes in. Terrin has agreed to help.”