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Ally turned towards Pam and watched as she quietly slept by her side. Her breathing was soft and even. Her eyelids were still, and her lips slightly parted. Ally, then, turned her head towards Trish, who was also fast asleep. Both looked very peaceful and serene. She smiled. She was happy her friends had managed to get some rest. Who knew what the future had in store for them. With a psychotic vampire running the show, literally anything and everything was possible. She hoped, at the very least, that this small pause will help re-energize her friends and give her time to come up with an escape plan.
At the thought of escaping the cabin, she looked up and noticed Gabe staring at Pam. His gaze was soft, and the tiniest form of a smile touched his lips. It was getting somewhat obvious that a budding romance was occurring between the two. A dangerous love affair that would never work. They were so different from one another. Yet, Gabe clearly was smitten! Ally rolled her eyes and scoffed at him. Big mistake! Gabe’s gaze now fell upon her, and it was no longer as lovey-dovey. He gave her a hard-scrutinizing look. Well, what? Did he think she would welcome this new predicament with arms wide open? She mentally gave him the finger.
She didn’t like what was developing and vowed to do her best to prevent Gabe from bonding with Pam. Of course, she realized how hypocritical she was being, but she didn’t care. She knew her friend, and Pam wouldn’t want this life. She had goals, she had dreams. Plus, Gabriel was so NOT Benedict.
Ally felt darkness in him. Gabe had serious anger issues, and deep under the surface, she sensed a feeling of foreboding. He had demons to exorcise, and Pam, for her own safety, had to avoid him, no matter what.
- Forget about her. She’s off limits.
- Well, aren’t you being the little hypocrite?
- I mean it. She is a good person. She doesn’t need to be dragged further into this mess.
Annoyed, Gabe looked away. He sighed. Ally was right. He had no business entertaining these romantic ideals, and if freed by their captors, he would keep a good distance from Pamela. He promised himself, long ago, that he had no time for love. He was on a personal crusade to stop the Verdons. He wanted vengeance, justice, and, most of all, the return of his household’s possessions. He couldn’t afford to waste energy courting Pam, or anyone for that matter. He had one focus: To bring Vincent down!
- There it is again. Why are you so angry? I can feel your instability.
Gabe shifted in his restraints and tried to calm himself. If a morphed could sense his anger, then there was a good chance the goons could pick up his mood. They, too, were sensitive to emotions. He had to play his cards close to his chest. He had to be cautious. He closed his eyes, steadied himself, and prepared to explain what has been gnawing at him for the past centuries.
- You may already know this, but in our realm, every vampire belongs to a House, and each house has its own distinct history. Throughout our existence, many households started to develop unique abilities. Some mastered rare magical skills, for example. Others discovered rare and unusual objects, like relics, runes, and weapons. And, a very few became apt at extracting magical properties from gemstones, giving way to new interesting and powerful spells.
Each household is proud of their lineage and their contributions to our species. However, not every House has a special talent. Some are still working to discover them. The richest, the Verdons, became prestigious with smart investments, acquired land, and possessions bought, or stolen, under their name.
My family, the Harlans, came from a long line of vampires who had acquired or were gifted with rare and precious relics. Although relics are not as portable as runes and can’t be easily used to cast spells on the go, they are exceptionally enchanted, and in most cases, they contain an impressive amount of healing power. Our relics were revered. My household was the only family in the realm to have any surviving First-Class relics. The only family, until the Verdons took it upon themselves to spread a lie about how my Household had acquired them.
Gabe paused and looked at Ally, who only nodded for him to go on.
The Verdons weren’t too keen on us. They tried to buy a few precious relics from our Household but were always rejected by my family. You see, during the Old Hunt, when humans gained the knowledge on how to dispose of vampires, Vincent’s father was determined to regain an advantage over the mortals. The oldest Harlan relic enabled vampires to regenerate quickly from wounds and even permitted vampires to resurrect from disposal. Rendering vampires truly immortal. It was a very powerful relic. Too powerful. And when the Verdons wanted to take possession of it, offering unimaginable treasure and land to my grandfather, well, once again my family refused.
Eventually, the Old Hunt ended. The treaty was signed. Life went on. But the thing is, the Verdons never forget a wrong. When my father found his human mate and went against the law to procreate with a human, this was the last straw. First, it was a true miracle that a child, myself, was born in such a fashion. Conception only occurred when the human accepted to be transformed. The very thought that a human and vampire could bear a child was implausible. I am the first of my kind to be both human and vampire, or a half-breed. At any rate, I was the next in line to inherit the relics of my household, and this very prospect was a bit overwhelming and concerning for Vincent. He couldn’t let it happen. So, he began a rumor and said that my great-great-great grandfather stole the relics. He fabricated evidence against us and somehow managed to destroy all documents proving my household was the rightful heir.
My uncle was furious when we lost our case in front of the High Court. He made the mistake of losing his cool and attacking Vincent. During the assault, his ring scraped and punctured his left eye, resulting in the loss of it, and permanently scarring his face. He fled the court and went into exile with our most powerful relics. After decades of searching, they were unable to find him. As a consolation prize, the Verdons took possession of my house’s land, estates, treasures, remaining relics, and weapons. Vincent was determined to render my family as his servants. We were spared a few items, thanks to Janelle Verdon, Vincent’s wife.
I haven’t seen my uncle in centuries. And, unfortunately, it is better that way. I would only lead him to his death. The Verdons are just waiting for him to slip up and to dispose of him. Now, I’m the only family member left that can clear our name.
- What happened to your mother? Your father?
- As I said, it was a miracle that I was even conceived. But, my mother didn’t survive the birth. My father wasn’t the same after her death. You become disoriented when you lose your mate. He requested disposal shortly after my mother’s death. My uncle took me in and cared for me.
- I’m so sorry to hear this, Gabe.
- It’s fine. I had time to process it.
- Why did your mother refuse to transform herself?
- Nosey, aren’t you?
- Just trying to kill time...
- My mother had a fiery personality. She loved my father but also loved being human. She wanted to age, to experience a human life. She wouldn’t have it any other way, it was her destiny. She bravely decided to live in our realm as a human.
- So, this also makes you half-human. What’s the difference between you and a full-fledged vampire?
- It’s hard to pinpoint. Yes, I’m a “half-breed”, “mongrel”, or more politely, a “hybrid”, but I still see myself as a vampire. I honestly couldn’t care less what people decide to label me with.
Gabe shifted in his restraints and winced as the fiery-hot pain shot through his body.
- Are you in pain right now because you’re a hybrid? Is this why you take longer to regenerate?
Gabe smiled at her while nodding.
- Yeah, it’s my weaker half. My better half. Don’t worry. I should start to feel like myself soon.
Ally was glad to hear this, but, suddenly, she started to feel quite weak herself. She was, once again, feeling nauseous and dizzy. She found herself fighting to stay conscious.
Gabriel took notice of this. He knew that she was courageously fighting her demons and putting on a brave front, but even she was not immune to the cravings.
In a very discreet fashion, Ally quickly glanced over to Pam and feasted her eyes on her neck. She heard Gabe growl and knew she had to stop. Slowly, she turned away, sheepishly feeling awful for her recent thoughts.
- You need to control yourself, Ally.
- I am! I just don’t know if I have the energy to stop myself. I am so fucking tired!
- Patience. We will get out of this. It’s only a matter of time. Hang in there.
- Why? Moira will force Benedict to marry her. He’s under contract. And even if he was foolish enough to give everything up, he has no idea where we are. All is lost.
- Oh, come on! Benedict has been working his tail off trying to find you.
- Yeah? Then, how is it that you were able to find us, and the vampire I’ve bonded with has yet to show his face? Where is he?
Ally knew she was being melodramatic. It must be the lack of blood, but she couldn’t help but feel disappointed. Gabriel was here. He had found them twice already! What was taking Ben so long to? She worried something terrible must have happened to him.
She sighed, announcing to Gabe mentally that she has given up on Ben and that they should accept their fate.
Gabriel laughed out loud. The roar of his laughter bounced off the walls and awoke a sleeping Pam. She looked directly at him, confused at what recently took place. She was startled when Gabe gave her a sexy grin and a wink, and hastily returned her gaze back to the wooden floor.
- What the hell is so funny?
- The idea that you think you can give up on Ben. You can’t. No one can give up on their bond. And, he will never give up on you. He’s on his way.
- I hope you’re right.
- I am. In the meantime, we’ll prepare for his arrival. I’m going to teach you some basic defensive spells. They might prove to be useful.
Ally nodded eagerly. Anything to get her mind off eating her friends, and missing Benedict.
