Selena gathered the members of their alliance and secretly gave them the order to ‘go’. Everyone immediately prepared their weapons.
Boris went to Remus and told him it was time to stick to Lady Isabella like glue. Remus agreed, and went about his duty with both caution and pride. Boris watched as Remus left the room and then thought about his own duties. He went to the nursery, stuck to the shadows, and waited.
About an hour later, Bartholomew was finished being intimate with Brie, the one he most desired. During this most unpleasant encounter, Brie had to refocus her thoughts for the sake of her clan and the children. By the time Bartholomew was finished with her, however, Brie appeared to have completely changed her attitude.
“Forgive me master for my previous actions,” Brie said as she put her clothes back on. “You’re indeed a better lover than Alec. If you still desire me, I shall be yours.”
Bartholomew smiled and said, “I thought you would see it my way. Soon my dear, I’ll get rid of Isabella, and we’ll rule this clan as only you and I can.” Bartholomew then stroked Brie’s cheek and said, “I realize I can be a bit rough. Did I hurt you?”
“No, you were perfect. I wish for you to continue to make love to me the way you did tonight.”
Bartholomew was suspicious of Brie’s words and asked, “Are you telling me the truth, Brie? I’m not lying when I say I’ll give you everything. Do you lie to me when you say that I’m the better lover?”
“I’ve always enjoyed our intimacy. It was only when you tried to kill me that I changed my mind.”
“So, you really do forgive me?”
“I do, my lord,” Brie lied.
Bartholomew smiled and said, “Good. We’ll be together soon. You and I must rest. I’ll see you at sunset if I can.”
Brie decided to pour on a little more charm. “Master, don’t leave me,” she appeared to beg. “Stay. I wish for you to be with me when we wake.”
Bartholomew pushed her hair from her face and said, “I must be with Isabella when I wake. I’ll make time to come and see you as soon as I can.”
“I await your return,” Brie said with a smile.
Bartholomew stroked Brie’s cheek, kissed it, and left her. Brie was relieved to see him go. After a few minutes, Boris emerged from the shadow, startling Brie who was already shaken.
“Brie, are you okay?” Boris asked.
“Boris, you scared me.” She took a breath and then said, “Yes, I’m fine. Bartholomew is satisfied that I’ll cooperate with him. We can proceed with plan A.”
“When he sleeps, you’re to stay in your room. Rest. I’ll not be far behind.”
“Thank you.”
Boris slipped back into the shadow. Brie waited for Emma to show up so she could brief her of what was about to happen.
When Bartholomew left Brie, he was satisfied that she would submit to him. With only thirty minutes of darkness left, Isabella prepared to confront him. Bartholomew walked in the door, and Isabella wasted no time jumping all over him.
“Isabella darling-” Bartholomew began.
“Where have you been?” Isabella loudly questioned.
Bartholomew was taken aback, yet he still answered. “To see the children as I said.”
Isabella continued her screaming. “Liar! You didn’t go to see the children! You went to the nursery to be with Brie!”
Remus, already in the shadows waiting when Bartholomew answered, “No my dear, I did go to see the children.”
Isabella ignored his words and continued her yelling. “Bartholomew, how long must I endure your lies? You desire Brie to be yours! You’re only going to throw me aside like rubbish when you feel it’s time! You’ll not throw me aside! I’m your mate, which makes me the queen of the Clan of Farmers. I don’t, and won’t, condone your infidelity any longer! You’ll be with me as you originally committed!”
Bartholomew now was angry. ‘How dare she yell at me as if I was a common servant,’ Bartholomew thought, ‘I am a clan leader. I deserve more respect than this.’
“Isabella, please calm down,” Bartholomew implored. “I’ve done nothing wrong. Let us rest and we’ll talk further when we wake.”
“I’ll not lay with you. You say you love me. If you love me as you say, you’ll not be with anyone else. You’ll only have me. If you decide at this moment that you can’t do that, then sleep alone.”
Bartholomew was angry enough to strike her down, but he chose not to. ‘Diplomacy is best,’ he thought.
His tone was as loving as it could be, barring his anger. “Isabella, I do love you as I always have. No one in this clan means more to me than you do. I’m sorry if you suspect me, but I’ve done nothing wrong. I went to the nursery to visit the children, and that’s all.”
Isabella glared at him and sternly asked, “Where is Brie? I wish to speak with her.”
At that moment, Bartholomew decided he had to kill Isabella, but showed no signs of his desires.
“Mistress Brie is now briefing the Daywalking caregivers,” Bartholomew lied. “It’s her time to rest as it is ours. Come my dear, we shall discuss this further at sunset.”
Isabella glared at Bartholomew and declared, “You’ll sleep alone! You, Bartholomew, no longer will use me. I’ll not give you comfort when you don’t deserve it.”
Isabella stared at Bartholomew, waiting on a response. For his part, Bartholomew was too shocked to say anything, so he didn’t. Isabella then turned around and went to their room. Soon after, she went to sleep with her weapon hidden and close by.
For the first time in a century, Bartholomew didn’t sleep in his own bed. Instead, he slept on the sofa and dreamt about how his once beloved Isabella should die. Moments later, the sun came up, and all the Nightwalkers, including Bartholomew, slept.
As the sun rose, Boris and his team went to work. First, Boris and half of the medical team went from room to room killing those who were sleeping. They took special care not to be seen by Daywalkers who were known to be loyal to Bartholomew.
Boris didn’t think a simple break of the neck would work on the older vampires, so he took matters into his own hands and armed his team with swords. On his order, his team was to decapitate the sleeping Nightwalkers instead of breaking their necks as was originally planned.
After each kill, they stayed in the room to clean and conceal their weapons. They then moved to the next room. Once they had completed this task, they went back to their duties or went back to their rooms as if they had nothing better to do.
Boris was amongst them. He went to his room and waited. Alec instructed him to rest because he didn’t want Boris anywhere near the black wood when the Nightwalkers were using it. But Boris was too worried about Selena to sleep.
Boris knew she was a strong woman both mentally and physically except when it came to him. With that in mind, he decided he would wait until she was awake before he slept. He had to be sure she knew he was okay. He would rest better if she knew this.
To pass the time, he went to her room, sat down, and read a book. When she woke, he brushed her hair from her face, kissed her, and said, “I just wanted you to know that I was okay. I love you. Try not to die.”
Selena nodded, smiled, and said, “I love you too. Sleep. When you wake, we’ll be free.”
Without hesitation, Selena strapped her weapon to her arm, put on her jacket, gently kissed Boris on the lips, and left Boris where he stood.
Boris knew her job was going to be much more difficult than his was, and he didn’t like it, yet accepted it. He next went to Alec’s room to report his progress.
“I decapitated all who were loyal to Bartholomew,” Boris announced.
Alec wasn’t pleased. “I told you to simply break their necks. Why did you not follow the plan?”
“I would have, had I not thought about it.”
“What do you mean?”
“Broken bones are easily healed with made vampires. There’s no way to come back to life if you don’t have your head, so I decapitated them all, half human or not.”
“I was about to be angry with you, but good thinking. I didn’t think of this, well done.”
“I thought you might like that,” Boris said before revealing a smile.
“Well my friend, when I see you again, Bartholomew will be dead, and many years of suffering will be over. Rest. I’ll protect Selena for you.”
“I know you will.”
“See you at sunrise.”
Boris and Alec left Alec’s room at the same time but went in different directions. Boris went to his room confident that Selena would survive, while Alec made his way to the nursery.
When he got to the nursery, Alec snuck up behind Brie, pulled her close, and whispered in her ear. “Stay here,” he said. “What we’re about to do is dangerous.”
Brie didn’t break from Alec’s embrace, and only whispered back, “I love you. Be careful.”
Alec nodded, and immediately left the nursery. Upon his exit, he encountered a Daywalker loyal to Bartholomew.
“Master Adam, I must have a word with you, will you please join me?”
“Yes, my lord.”
Alec led Adam into one of the empty birthing rooms and immediately killed him by breaking his neck and stabbing him with the black wood. Alec left Adam’s body on the floor, calmly walked out of the room, and went about the business of killing everyone loyal to Master Bartholomew.
The Nightwalkers job was tricky and dangerous, but they were able to kill all loyal to Bartholomew, save one.
Tristan left his master’s chamber with orders to detain Brie until Bartholomew could get to her. As he walked in the direction of the nursery, Tristan noticed the eerie quietness of the hallways.
After a momentary pause, Tristan decided not to give it a second thought. ‘Perhaps everyone is extra busy tonight,’ he thought. Tristan went about his task, not knowing that his master followed close behind. Bartholomew also noticed the quiet of the hallways, but thought the same as Tristan.
For their parts, neither Tristan nor Bartholomew knew Alec and Isabella were closely on their tails.
As Tristan approached the nursery, Selena stood guard over the children and Brie. She casually guarded the door as Tristan approached.
Tristan held the same attitude as Bartholomew. He knew his master had his back, and addressed Selena as so.
“Move out of the way woman. I’m here to talk to Mistress Brie.”
“Tristan,” Selena began, “you shouldn’t address me this way. Who do you think you are? I’m stronger than you are. Not to mention I outrank you.”
Tristan crossed his arms and replied, “Outrank me, yes. Stronger than me? Maybe. But I have orders to speak to Brie, and I’ll do just as my master asks.”
Selena smiled. “In order to do this, you’ll have to get by me first.” The tone of her words was a challenge to Tristan, and she very well meant them to be.
Tristan returned her smile and said, “Mistress Selena, I hear that you and Master Boris are to be joined. I happen to know that he’s very strong, and requires a strong woman at his side. Let’s see if you’re worthy.”
Tristan wasted no time in attacking Selena. Selena had no problem subduing Tristan. Selena threw Tristan to the floor, and with the black wood at his neck, said, “Now, Master Tristan, who is the stronger of the two of us? Shall I kill you now?”
Selena didn’t wait for Tristan’s answer. She stabbed him in the neck ending his life. She stood straight up, turned her back to Tristan’s body, and prepared to drag his body away to hide it.
Had she not killed Bartholomew’s most loyal servant, he would not have done what he was about to do. When Selena turned around, everything went into slow motion. She gasped as she saw Bartholomew charging at her with his sword drawn.
Selena had no time to react. With one quick swing, Selena lay on the floor dead, her head severed from her body. Alec witnessed everything and was beside himself with grief.
He had allowed his best friend’s woman to die while he slept. Despite his guilt, Alec didn’t have time to waste. He immediately charged Bartholomew while his back was turned. In an instant, Alec stabbed Bartholomew twice: the first in the torso, and the second in the neck. Bartholomew had no chance against Alec’s blind attack. He dropped dead to the floor alongside Selena’s dead body.
Brie and the two caregivers on duty heard the commotion and emerged from the nursery just in time to see Alec murder Bartholomew.
Brie had never seen Alec move that way. She was shocked. Isabella wanted to stop Alec, since the final blow was supposed to be hers, but Alec was too fast.
Everyone just stood in the hallway in front of the nursery in silence as the smell of vampire blood permeated the air. Once Alec realized what he had done, he fell to his knees and cried over the loss of Selena. Brie went to his side and said, “I love you.”
Alec cried harder with her words. The sadness over the loss of his friend hurt him deeply. Alec looked into Brie’s eyes and asked, “What are we to tell Boris?”
Brie hugged Alec and started to cry as well. Isabella stood and watched her comrades grieve. She herself couldn’t believe that Bartholomew was dead. She felt relieved and a sense of loss.
Bartholomew was a man she loved, and no one could take those feelings from her. At the same time, she knew she had lost her status. She was no longer the queen of a clan.
The thought of this made her sad, so she started to cry for herself. She walked to Bartholomew’s body and knelt next to it. She stroked his cheek and kissed his forehead. She then turned to Brie and Alec and said, “Don’t worry about Master Boris, I’ll tell him about Selena.”
Brie looked up with tear-soaked eyes and said, “Boris won’t wake until sunrise. How will you tell him?”
“I’ll tell him as he dreams,” Isabella said quietly before turning her attention to Alec. “Alec, I’m sorry. Boris may be very angry, and he may lash out at you. He may even get violent. If you wish to live, you may have to kill him. Be ready for anything.”
When Isabella arrived at Boris’ room, she hesitated before going in. She hoped he would be dreaming pleasant dreams when she went into his head. This would make things much easier.
Isabella went into his room to find Boris lying under the covers with his bare chest exposed. She slowly walked towards him and sat down on the bed. Boris didn’t stir. Isabella gently placed her hand on his chest, closed her eyes, and began to concentrate.
Boris was dreaming of Bertrand. He dreamt of the very moment he and Bertrand discussed when he last saw him.
Isabella concentrated on Boris’ parents, and they suddenly appeared in his dream alongside her. The three of them walked outside to watch the training. As Isabella stood in Boris’ dream watching him, she remembered how this was always a treat. She rather enjoyed watching two handsome, shirtless men fighting.
Boris and Bertrand’s father, Hunter Bloodworth, spoke loud enough to get their attention. “Boys, take a break for a moment. Mistress Isabella is here,” he announced. “She would like to speak with Boris.”
The two of them said in unison, “Yes, father.”
Boris looked at his brother and said, “We’ll continue in a few minutes.”
Bertrand nodded, smiled, and waved at Isabella before heading to talk to one of the pretty girls watching them.
Boris smiled as he walked toward Isabella. His mother, Victoria Bloodworth, smiled as her handsome older son approached. He acknowledged her by kissing her on the cheek. “Good evening, mother.”
“Good evening, son. Mistress Isabella has told us she wants to talk to you about something that’s very important.”
“Certainly mother,” Boris said as he smiled widely at Isabella. “Mistress, shall we go for a walk?”
Isabella returned his smile and replied, “Yes, my lord.”
The two of them walked inside the castle and headed toward the Bloodworth chambers. As they walked, they talked.
“You’re looking beautiful as always Isabella,” Boris said.
“Thank you, Boris. You’re looking very nice yourself.”
Boris smiled and said, “What brings you here to see us?”
“It’s as your parents said. I have to tell you something that’s very important.”
“Did you come to tell me that you’re ready to join with me?”
Isabella shook her head and said, “We were already joined once.”
Boris stopped walking, let out a frustrated sigh, and asked, “Am I dreaming?”
“Yes. I’m sorry. I know I told you I wasn’t going to do this anymore, but I want you to hear what I have to say before you attempt to force me out.”
“What is it?”
Isabella looked away, took a deep breath, and said, “Bartholomew is dead.”
“That’s exactly what we planned. How did you do it?”
“I didn’t. Alec did,” Isabella paused, as Boris looked at her confused. “Selena is dead.”
“Selena? How is that possible? Alec told me he would protect her.”
Outside in the real world, Isabella could feel Boris’ body temperature rising, which meant he was going to wake earlier than planned. She had to hurry.
“Alec and I were tailing Bartholomew. He was walking in the direction of the nursery. We thought he was going to take advantage of Brie again. But we couldn’t follow too close or he would have noticed us.
“We turned the final corner that leads to the nursery, just in time to see Bartholomew kill Selena. We were too late. However, Alec did something I’d never seen him do before. He moved with the speed of a made vampire many years his senior. With this speed, he stabbed Bartholomew twice and killed him.”
Boris’ body temperature continued to rise at an even faster rate.
“So, where is she?” Boris asked.
“Just outside the nursery.”
“Get of my head, Isabella.”
“Boris, please don’t be angry with Alec,” Isabella begged. “He did his best to protect her.”
“Get out of my head, Isabella,” Boris commanded. “I’m about to wake. If you don’t get out of my head now, it won’t be pleasant for you.”
Isabella sighed and said, “Alright.” With that, she faded out of Boris’ dream.
Isabella opened her eyes and removed her hand from Boris’ chest. She stood up and backed away from the bed.
Moments later, Boris opened his eyes. He got out of the bed, and started to get dressed. Isabella was concerned for Alec and asked, “Are you going to hurt him?”
Boris looked at Isabella, said nothing, and walked out of the door with Isabella closely following.
Boris stormed the hallways as if he were going into battle. All the while, he was holding back tears. When he turned the final corner to the nursery, he saw Alec cradled in Brie’s arms crying uncontrollably. Brie also was crying while she tried to console Alec.
Boris slowly walked down the hall towards them, anticipating the sight of the woman he was going to join with. His heart was breaking more and more with every step. When he got close enough to see her, he saw that her head was severed from her body.
Boris no longer could hold back his pain. He fell to his knees and cried just as hard as Alec was. Isabella knelt beside him, and touched him on the back. Boris looked up in her eyes, and reached for her. Isabella held him as he continued to cry.
Sirus emerged from the shadows moments later. He stayed far enough away so that if Boris lashed out at him, he would have a fighting chance.
Sirus quietly called Boris’ name. “Master Boris?”
Boris looked up and was surprised to see Sirus standing there.
“Sirus?”
“Yes, it’s me. Master Boris, I’m sorry for your loss, but I must return home and tell Master Bertrand what has happened.”
Boris stood up and wiped the tears from his face. He then looked Sirus in the eye, and asked, “Did you see what happened?”
“Yes, my lord,” Sirus said as he nodded his head.
“Isabella told me that she and Master Alec arrived too late to stop Bartholomew. Is this true?”
“It is, my lord.”
“Why did Bartholomew kill Selena?”
“I’m not certain, but I believe it’s because he witnessed her killing one of his servants,” Sirus said as he pointed in the direction of Tristan’s dead body.
Boris looked back to where Bartholomew and Selena lay. He did see a third body he hadn’t noticed before. He then looked at Brie and asked, “Who is it?”
“Tristan,” she said quietly.
Boris turned his attention back to Sirus and said, “Thank you, Sirus. You can go.”
“Thank you, my lord,” Sirus said as he lowered his eyes and turned to leave.
Boris studied Isabella’s face for a long time. She had tears still slowly streaming down her face. He wiped the tears from her face and said, “No, I’m not angry with Alec.”
Isabella managed to smile, hugged Boris, and said, “Thank you.”
Boris gave her a good, long hug and kissed her on the forehead. As hard as this was on him, he had to comfort Alec. Boris walked towards Brie and Alec. When Brie noticed that he was coming, she backed away. Boris reached down and pulled Alec from the floor. Alec allowed him to do this, but couldn’t look Boris in the face.
“Alec, look at me,” Boris said. Alec still would not look up. Boris gently shook Alec and said, “Alec, I can’t say what I have to say if you don’t look at me.” Alec finally raised his head and looked Boris in the eyes. “It’s okay. I know you did what you could to protect her, but Selena is gone, and we can’t bring her back.”
Alec composed himself enough to ask, “How can you say that? Didn’t you love her?”
Boris was in pain, but he couldn’t let Alec take the blame for something that wasn’t his fault. Alec was his closest friend, and he couldn’t stand to see him suffering. “Of course, but what can I do now? I’ll be fine, I promise.”
Alec only stared at Boris. He didn’t believe a word Boris said but Boris continued to try to prove he would be okay. “Selena was a wonderful woman, beautiful both inside and out. She made me fall in love with her more and more as the years went by. She loved me, and I loved her, but I can’t bring her back.”
“This is my fault Boris,” Alec said quietly. “All of this was my idea, and I promised you the four of us would be safe.”
Boris shook his head. “It’s not your fault. You couldn’t have predicted that Bartholomew would catch Selena killing his favorite pet. I mean, shit you’re good, but not that good.
“Now, get yourself together. We’ll give Selena a warrior’s burial, and move on with our lives. Is that okay with you?”
Alec composed himself and whispered, “Yes.”
“Good,” Boris said with a forced smile. “I’ll call my clean up crew to take care of them, and we’ll move on.”
“Okay.”
“Is there anything else that you wish of us, my lord?”
Alec was confused. “Why did you just call me that?” he asked. “You haven’t done that in a really long time.”
Boris smiled and said, “You do realize that you’re the leader of the Clan of Farmers now.”
It was at that moment that Alec finally realized the current situation. Even though they lost Selena, Bartholomew was also dead. The thought of this brought a smile to his face. “As a matter of fact Master Boris, I wish for all of you to pack your bags.”
“Where are we going?”
“When Master Sirus reports to your brother what has happened, the council will once again convene, and in four days, we’re going to address the council.”
~~~