The vampire steps outside and shuts the door. “I don’t know if seeing him is a good idea. He’s different now–not at all the person you once knew.”
“What happened to him?”
“He went mad after losing you.”
“He didn’t lose me. He’s the one that left.” Her voice is sad.
“And he never recovered from it.”
“That was his decision. I didn’t get a say in it.” She points toward the house. “Now he doesn’t get a say about keeping those two girls in there captive. One of them is my granddaughter and we’re coming in whether it’s by invite or by force.”
The vampire runs his hands through his hair. “Sheez, Anna. Your granddaughter is a blood jewel. Do you have any idea what that means?”
Demarcus would know Avery wasn’t Anna’s granddaughter so there’s our confirmation. Chansey is a blood jewel as well but we still don’t know what it means.
Anna doesn’t reply as she pushes past him. “Move aside, Demarcus.”
He puts his hand up. “Please don’t barge in this way. Let me tell him you’re here so he can be prepared to see you.”
“Or so he can prepare to fight? Not happening, pal.” I step around Anna and streak past Demarcus because I’ve had enough of this spare Vincent’s feelings shit. He reaches out to grab me but he’s too slow. I’m through the door by the time his brain makes the command for his arm to lift.
My family is on my heels as I enter the living room where five vampires are gathered. I scan the room but there’s no sign of Avery or Chansey. Vincent is the first to notice us but doesn’t move an inch. “Well, well. If it isn’t my good friends Michael and Phillip from the Coven of Landra.”
“Hello again.” I pay close attention to my connection with Avery as I move across the room and I’m certain she is down the hall to the left. I look at Curry and he cocks his head in that direction to tell me he feels Chansey there as well.
Vincent stretches his arm out across the back of the couch and begins laughing as he casually crosses his legs. “It took long enough for you to find me.”
He doesn’t appear frightened or the least bit challenged by our presence. I’m sure he believes we come in peace because of who we are and what we do but he couldn’t be more wrong. We will fight until death for the ones we love. “You have my mate.”
“Your mate?” he laughs. “Surely you don’t mean one of my blood jewels.”
“Avery isn’t a blood jewel to me. She’s my agápe so you know that means she is my everything.”
Curry steps next to me. “And Chansey is mine so we’re here to take them home.”
“Agápe or not, all of you are out of your minds if you think I’m going to allow that to happen.” His voice is cold.
“Vin.” I hear Anna’s voice behind me.
Vincent’s expression changes from arrogance to disbelief. He rises from the couch and his eyes are focused behind us. “Anna.” It comes out as a whisper because he’s clearly effected by her presence.
Anna crosses the room and he meets her half-way. He cradles her face in his hands and gazes into her eyes the way a lover would. He strokes her cheeks with his thumbs and then takes her in his arms to pull her close. “My sweet Anna. It’s been so long.”
Both are silent as they hold one another and I’m overwhelmed by the reality of my future with Avery. This is how she and I will be if she remains a human. We’ll be happy but I’ll watch her age. And then die.
Anna is the one to let go first. “What are you doing, Vin? This isn’t you.”
He steps back and slides his hands into the pockets of his trousers. “I’m afraid this is very much me.”
Anna shakes her head. “You were never unkind but what you’re doing to these girls is cruel.”
“There’s no way for you to imagine the way I felt after we separated,” he says. “I was miserable so I searched the world for anything that might bring me some semblance of happiness. The blood of the jewels is the only thing that can free me of my misery.”
“But it’s wrong.”
“Not being able to be with you because I’m one thing and you’re another. That’s what is wrong.” I once believed the same thing about me and Avery so I understand where he’s coming from. “I wanted you to live the dream. To experience everything life had to offer. A husband. A family. Sunlight. Happiness. You could never have had those things with me.”
“I went on to experience everything you wanted for me. I have a husband and a family I love very much including a granddaughter you’re holding captive.” His eyes widen as he steps back. “She’s a mother. She has two newborn babies at home–my great-granchildren–and they desperately need her. They’ve not done well since she was taken and I fear for their health and well-being. Please, Vin. They need their mother back.”
He runs both of his hands through his hair and then laces his fingers across the top of his head as he appears to be thinking. “Silas,” he sighs. “Bring the dark-haired girl.”
“Yes, sir.”
Anna puts her hand up to stop Silas. “Vin, you have two girls to release.”
Vincent shakes his head. “I can’t do it Anna. I have to keep Avery or I won’t survive. I thought I’d die after she was taken a few months ago. I can’t go through that kind of withdrawal again.”
“Coven of Landra can help you. It’s what they’re trained to do,” Anna tells him.
It’s our job to help the unsavable but I’m not sure I could tolerate having Vincent inside my home so close to Avery. I could never bring myself to trust him.
“The only time I’m able to forget all the ugliness is when I drink from a blood jewel. And I don’t plan on stopping. The Landra can’t help me if I don’t want it.” He doesn’t want to be helped. Suits me. I’m happy to kill him.
“Please try. Do it for me.” Anna’s voice is pleading.
“No.” Vincent’s face is pained. “I can’t be cured.”
Anna walks to Vincent and places her hands on his upper arms. “Don’t ever say that. Vampires that can’t–or refused to be helped–are destroyed. That can’t happen to you.”
Silas brings Chansey around the corner and she falls into Curry’s arms as he reaches her. “Thank the gods.” He squeezes her tightly and kisses the top of her head. “I love you, Chansey. I’ve missed you.”