All I wanted was for Zoey to be safe. If it meant my dying at Samantha’s hands, then so be it. If it meant I would give her to a mortal like Ryan, then I was willing to let her go. If it meant I would never see my child, then I had to face that inevitable conclusion. I would do it for love and I hoped Zoey could see it that way, but I doubt it. I saw it in her sad eyes that I had abandon her once again especially when she needed me the most.
But she had always needed me and I needed what she brought to me—her warmth and humanity. Her spirited nature. I needed all that to make me whole again, but then I would never be in that sense—whole, as long as I didn’t have her.
I did as Samantha wished. I took her hand and led her into the great room with all the unsuspecting mortals, and when it came time to make the announcement, and give her an engagement ring, I did as I was told.
That ring was my mother’s and it was meant for Zoey. Not Samantha. And here it is on that witch’s finger.
I married her that night as she desired. But before I could read my vows to Samantha, someone stepped out from the crowd and stood in front of the pedestal where we declared that we would love each other forever and ever. Both of us dressed in black. Both of us knowing the truth, that given half the chance, we would see each other dead.
Hearing the woman’s voice, we turned from the vampire minister to look at this woman who looked a lot like Samantha.
“So here you are once more Francesca. Oh I forgot, you go by Samantha. You have finally found someone to marry you after ruining everyone’s life including mine.”
“I told you not to marry that man. It has been so many years and you still haven’t forgotten his name. I hardly remember him.”
“His name was Liam,” her voice broke when she called his name. The pain of remembering him showed on her flawless skin accentuated by her long black hair flowing against the pale ivory gown she wore.
“Yes. Liam. How could I forget? He was one of my suitors. That’s what they used to call them. Now I don’t know what they would call him because it has been too long since I’ve had one. I have my husband to thank for that.” And she held my hand like I was her prized dog. “I haven’t wanted any man but Sebastian since I met him. Liam was just someone to have a fling with. Just someone who would fuck me when I felt the need.”
No one raised an eyebrow. It was just light entertainment and Samantha welcome it. But it was more to Becky. The hurt showed on her face as she stared at us.
“I was in love with Liam you used your charm and you used your power of change and illusion on him. He thought it was me.”
“Do you think that each time he fucked me that he was thinking of you? I don’t think so. Don’t bother me further with this. You have found others so don’t pretend that I did you such great harm.”
“It took years, but I have finally found you,” Becky said with a clear voice. “No longer can you hide behind Aare to do your dirty deeds. Now I see you have found his brother to fortify your evil ways. But he doesn’t love you. Look at him. You will never get anyone to love you,” she said.
Samantha turned quickly to look in my eyes. My eyes were dead and cold as my body. I had nothing, nothing to make me happy as I had been with Zoey.
All my future held was death and destruction. I couldn’t go back to animal blood. It had to be human blood because I needed to remain strong to fight off attacks from Aare and Samantha, especially since I knew they would unite to kill me given half the chance.
There would be no way they would stop hunting Zoey.
Both Aare and Samantha had their own agendas. I knew Samantha would see her dead and Aare wanted her as his plaything and sexual slave. The promise I made was only to let Zoey leave and give her time to hide away.
“Becky, dear sister, I’m happy you could make the wedding. Although you were never invited,” Samantha said smiling. “If you don’t mind, we would like to get on with the ceremony. As you can see my fiancé doesn’t have much time. He will need to sleep as well as the rest of my party. Then we can talk.”
“I would prefer to talk now. We may never get a chance to speak again,” Becky said with an air of dominance about her. She may have been the only one who could control Samantha. She apparently knew her better than anyone, even me.
“Why are you going with this, Becky?” Samantha questioned.
“Let her speak,” I said to Samantha. She raised her head and nodded for her to go ahead.
“Sebastian Vesper. Did you know that she will try to kill the woman you love the minute you leave her? And you will want to leave her. There’s no one as evil and malicious as Samantha. But then you know that. I’m not telling you something you haven’t experienced. I came to give you a present, Sebastian Vesper. I’m the only one who truly knows Samantha and how to counteract her spells and poisons. If you need me, you can find me at the far end of the world.”
I didn’t know what she meant and when I asked she glanced at me and disappeared into a cloud of white smoke. I stood looking at Samantha and for the first time I could see on her face her age, and how much she had been worried by what her sister had said to me. Then I realized that indeed there was a weakness I could capitalize on. But what was it?
Samantha turned to me and said, “She’s just pretending she can neutralize my spells. She never could. She’s too old now to even try. She likes to show up at my parties and cause confusion. If she could, she would have saved her husband from me years ago. But she couldn’t. She’s just a spoiled sport.”
The ceremony resumed. It was a vampire ceremony with blood being drawn from humans like a bucket dropped into a deep well. The crowds were joyous and the celebrations lasted long into the morning. Samantha had made arrangements in her cellar for all the newly formed vampires and their sponsors. All except me. Because I didn’t trust her, I bade her goodbye and traveled back to the hotel and slept.
I discovered later from one of the guest that Aare had sent word out to all who had been in attendance that my father and mother died suddenly and therefore I would take the throne and now I had a queen.
The strange part was that Aare would make the announcement that he had crowned me king of the Vesper empire, when I knew all he ever wanted was to see me dead, preferably with a stake or fire, and to claim the throne for himself.
It was an unholy marriage and it would be the same kind of death for both of us.