Silence and tension fell as Emma stepped out.. I tried to focus, but inexplicable feeling overtook my every thought. I was conflicted. Was I happy? Relived? Worried? Scared? Confused? The tornado of emotions hit me with absolute, raw, crippling force.
“Was that her Madam?”, Mateo asks, anticipation evident in his voice, excitement palpable. “Is that her?”, his voice full of hope. “Is that Catherine’s daughter”? His face was expressionless, but I could feel his wanting, his love and his tension. We all loved Catherine. Whole family did. She was special. She was somebody that held us together, even thought that was technically Kal’s job. He did not get a say, after she was born, not that he complained much. He too was mesmerized by her, taken with her in a way none other were. He, my mighty son, everybody was deathly afraid of worshiped the ground she walked on. I thought of those years with a smile and happiness; ever since she was born, it was her presence, her sheer personality, her aura, her everything which kept us together, kept us a family, regardless of our mistakes, or differences and shortcomings. She loved all, forgave all and allowed us to see each other and ourselves in different light. She truly was most incredible being I ever created.
Not in a million years would I ever think we would lose her. Even I, who has seen the future, who has ability to create life, even I could not ever imagine, hers would be extinguished, that her light would disappear. Skies were ever so darker, flowers ever so dull since she left. I missed her not only as her mother, I missed her as a friend, my companion, my little girl who ran to me all those centuries ago. I missed love, as she was love itself. I never forgave myself, and not sure I ever could. Here I was, the all powerful Gia, unable to save my child. Tears were coming again, chocking me in fact. Her loss weighed heavy on us all, something none of us have fully come to terms with. I thought back, I thought again of my daughter, her kindness, selflessness, and love she gave to everybody. In the end, they could not defeat her with dark magic or even with raw power. They used her kindness against her. They used her kind heart, her willingness to put others above herself, above anything really. They used that to kill her, I thought, tears coming again, my heart ready to explode. I asked Father numerous times as to why, and never really got a definitive answer. “It is all for a reason”, was not an answer I understood or wanted to hear even after millennia in existence. I knew things happen for a reason, the sheer existence on Earth had a sequence of events which happened for a Reason. My daughter’s death at this time did not seem justified – in fact it never was. I could never find the “reason” the father was talking about. I could never understand why she had to die. I sigh, looking at him, wanting to be in position to encourage him in some way, yet falling short of it. “Yes.. It is her… She has her eyes”, I simply said. Mateo looks at me in the rear-view mirror and I give him a tiny smile… The child is even more beautiful than I though, I continue my inner dialogue. She has retained her innocence, a rare quality in this world anymore, rare indeed. If only she knew!My thoughts drift and I am sent back in time.. All my first tribe human children had those eyes, those unmistakable beacons of my connection to my birth world, to my father. I always wanted First Tribes to look like that – they reminded me of Father, they reminded me of creation, and of just being. There was something about Catherine that even I could not explain, something about human nature that even I, who created them, could not fully identify or grasp.My thoughts took me further. I think back of the lush gardens of my birthplace and my Father … So much time has passed... So many changes, so many challenges. What has remained???“Where to Madam?”, I hear Mateo’s husky voice, bringing me out of my daydreaming and my internal struggle. Mateo was never forceful, but when he spoke you listened – even I did. “The mountain cabin will do.. I need to be in the forest my son”, I said, knowing that I needed the power resting within it. He nods, his eyes ever so worrying on me. “Understood… Should I notify anyone else?” he asked. “Not yet Mateo, not yet.. I need to think” I say, falling back into a chasm of emptiness, of emotion and of wanting, one that Catherine left in my heart after dying. I should have never allowed that to happen! I have made it a rule, an iron clad rule, not to interfere in human affairs. And it has cost me her life, I said to myself somberly. “It has cost you much more then just that”, I heard the voice of my Father. He was right. Perhaps, just perhaps this was my chance to set things right.. I failed Catherine; I could not fail her daughter as well.Well, this was strange to say at least, I think to myself. I was grateful for Lily’s ride and getting here. Even though I was late, I was still hoping to make it to the interview. I quickly texted Leo that I made it, so he will not worry and opened the door. As I step into the lobby of the huge building it is even more intimidating than its view from outside. Large marble reception desk is in the center and a woman in her 30ties or so is sitting behind it... Her fiery red hair is styled to perfection, her icy cold blue eyes with perfect makeup. Her outfit looks like it costs more than my rent… I rush towards her nervously and she raises her eyes to me.. “Miss Brooke, I presume???” She says as she looks at her watch…“Err, yes I could not find the transportation from the trin station I stutter, I apologize I tell her hurriedly”. She taps on her computer screen and looks at her watch again. “Mr. Loke appreciates punctuality she says with the stern voice”, looking at me dismissively. I
The days were going slow.. I have been wanting to go back to Bavaria and spend time with my son, but the work in California was becoming more demanding by the minute, the work more demanding, and there was something else. There were things happening in my realm I could not explain and that put both me and the Beast on edge. My patience was growing thin and I was not a man to be played with. A lot was going wrong and after all this time, a lot going wrong was not something I could tolerate or afford. The meeting of the Council was in two weeks and there was a lot to prepare for… Things have been changing faster than we thought. The unexplained attacks in our European strongholds were increasing and we could not find its source… I have reached out to the vampire covens to find the source of this or to benefit from their seers, but so far, we got very little back as a result, which in itself was unheard of. Short of my brother’s Oracle and the crones I employed for centuries, Vampire magi
Emma’s POV More I stood there; more nervous I became. This place was starting the creep me out in a way. Mr. Locke’s voice sent shivers down my spine and not the good kind either – his words literally froze me in the spot and I felt hair on my hands stand up. I could not move – I felt as if I were glued to my spot. There was an inexplicable force in his tone, something I had never heard from anyone before, something dominating, raw and primal, yet controlled and directed. What was more interesting is that he did not even really raise his voice. I simply could not move and stood there. I felt like a statue and for a second wondered if he froze those warriors in their spot too… Not knowing what to do with myself or what to say, or where to look, I was fidgeting with my hands, trying not to show my stress and anxiety. I was grateful to the gorgeous red head lady as I indeed did wipe sweat from my face in the elevator, but it was coming back on, the little beads of it already appearing
Kal’s POVMy anger is still simmering within me, but I have an interview to do, I thought to myself. Compose yourself Kal, stop scaring humans. I knew my aura could affect them too, I knew that I came across as scary – it took millennia to control my burning rage and anger at times. And now, I am here with this tiny human girl, who looks like a mess every way from Sunday. Oh well, I thought. Yes, she is late, and yes, she is human, but my Seer has never been wrong. For centuries, the old crone has served me well, and I had no reason to doubt her now. Although, looking at the tiny human with messy hair and inability to speak, standing like frozen statue in front of me, I was starting to wonder. I moved slowly as not to scare her, I thought to myself. “We are scary and she is afraid”, Beast, my dragon half chimed in. Her big eyes were staring at me.. She clearly has not moved from where Valor left her. Not sure what was happening to her hair, and I could not decipher if that was the lo
Lily’s POV Mateo was an excellent driver and one of my sons whom I absolutely trusted with everything. Coming from the long line of Alpha werewolves, he was extremely loyal and fierce individual. Ever since he came of age, he was always with me, just as his father before him, and his before him, and so many in their family line. His family have been some of my guardians from the dawn of time, and now was his turn. I smiled thinking of him as a young pup, he was mischievous and always got himself in some type of trouble. Those days were gone, and even though he still held onto his sense of humor, his sense of duty and loyalty were always at the forefront. It took us about 2 hour drive to get to the cabin in the woods. I could have teleported myself within matter of seconds whereover I want, but over time I have grown accustomed to human forms of transportation. It helps me relay to them, understand them better, and blend in most importantly. The drive was uneventful and scenic, and it
Emma’s POV Mr. Locke’s energy hit me the moment he turned around. His aura filled the room and froze me in my spot. I could not move; I could not breathe. There was something so forceful about it, something so dehumanizing, overpowerin. It felt surreal, as if he was a vortex sucking energy and air out of the room, out of me, out of the universe! His golden-brown skin glistened in the light of day coming from outside and his orbs shone with a dangerous fire I have never seen in the waking world. The realization dawns on me – I have seen these fires, albeit only seen in my dreams, something akin to my constant nightmares really that I was having lately, and more frequently. It felt as if I were were staring within a bursting volcano from my nightmares and I did not know if I was hallucinating again or if this was real or stuck and there was no way out. Maybe all this is a dream, I thought to myself. Maybe I am at home sleeping and Ari will come and nudge me, purr softly and it will be
Emma POV I nod my head and finally muster a courage to respond in a coherent sentence. “Absolutely, Mr. Locke, thank you again for the opportunity and I apologize for being late”. He nods but does not say anything. Instead, he opens a folder sitting on his desk and pulls out some paperwork. “Before we even begin discussing my expectations Miss Brook, I have some documents for you to sign. I chair The Comet Enterprises and as you can understand the nature of my businesses can be very sensitive. We have completed initial background check of you prior to you entering this building as agreed when you applied”, he said with a soft smile. I nod but say nothing. “Now, Miss Brook I have some non-disclosure documentation for you to sign, the non-compete documentation and of course your service agreement stipulating your benefits, compensation, and the requirements of this job”, he continues, in a curt but professional tone. I nod again and extend my arm to gather the paperwork. “Take as mu
Kal’s POV “VALOR!!!! VALOR!!!!!” I scream through the mind link, wanting to kill him at this moment!! “How did this happen???? VALOOOOOOOR!” I roared now! “YOU SAID YOU DID A BACKGROUND CHECK ON HER!!!!” His confused and scared voice comes through. “My King, yes, of course I did. She is human after all, it was not that complicated. Her information is readily available for the right price. She is struggling for money, some debt, but otherwise she is clean”, he read out his report. “She has ..”, he tried to continue, testing my patience and my willingness to forgive fuck ups!! “Yes Valor, I KNOW SHE HAS A BROTHER!”. He was getting scared, I could tell by his energy and his voice, not fully knowing what he did wrong, but he most definitely knew he did something wrong. “It was in the notes my King he says”, trying to somehow sounds reasonable in order to calm me down. “NOTES???? FUCKING NOTES?? YOU THINK I WOULD READ NOTES ON SOMETHING LIKE THIS!!??????” I screamed wanting to ring his