Chapter 27 The Hurricane As the carpenters finish boarding up The Mystic Manor, I feel a sense of relief washes over me. The inn is secure, and now it's time to focus on getting everyone on board the yacht. The limo waits outside to bring them to the marina, as Kie talks with Landon his other Chauffeur, instructing him to gather his family in the limo and meet us at the Marina in Brownsville Texas, where they will board the Yacht and wait out the storm with us. Lucas and I were placing their luggage at the door, just as Matt's parents walked in with all their luggage, a loud crack of thunder booms outside, making us all jump. "Perfect timing," Kie says, eyeing the dark sky rolling in, "Let's get moving, folks. The storm is closing in fast." The winds are picking up, as we arrive at the marina. Whipping my hair into a frenzy as we step out into the rain-soaked dock. The massive yacht barely sways in the choppy waters, its engines rumbling to life as we prepare to set off. The staff
Chapter 28 Whales Song The sun breaks through the clouds, casting a warm glow over the battered yacht and its exhausted passengers. I let out a sigh of relief, my body and mind exhausted. We've made it through the worst of it, but I know the storm's aftermath will bring its own challenges. For now, I'm just grateful to be alive, surrounded by the people I love. The next day.... As we step off the yacht and onto the dock in Brownsville, Texas, I feel a sense of relief wash over me. We've made it through the storm, and now we can finally rest and recover. After a good night's sleep and a hearty breakfast, we set out to explore the sights of southern Texas. The warm sun shines down on us as we stroll along the Rio Grande River, taking in the vibrant culture and rich history of the region. Bella's eyes light up as she marvels at the colorful murals and street art that adorn the walls of the city. "Mommy, look! A rainbow butterfly!" she exclaims, pointing to a beautiful mural. I smile,
Chapter 29 Nine years later... The scene unfolds like a luxurious red carpet event, with paparazzi flashing cameras as the Billionaire's daughter exits the limo, and a step-and-repeat backdrop emblazoned with "Bella's Sweet 16" flashing on the sign of the Cajun Super Domes entrance. The same group of people, now nine years older, are gathered including 'Karma', Bella's new best friend forever, and of course, Matt and all of the girls from the gymnastics team at school, surrounded by exquisite cuisine, and live music, performed by one of the top teen bands, it's a formal affair. Bella has grown into a stunning young woman with a radiant smile and is the epitome of elegance in a custom-designed, floor-length gown. Kie and I, beaming with pride, Matt escorts our daughter, looking effortlessly chic and sophisticated. As the grand doors swing open, Bella and Matt emerge, Bella is a vision of loveliness. The delicate fabric hugs her curves, showcasing her graceful figure, while her hair,
Chapter 30 The Real Matt Then, as suddenly as she appeared, the girl vanished into the crowd, leaving Bella feeling shaken and confused, the feeling of unease lingers, like a shadow in the corner of her mind, waiting to pounce. Bella knows she'll never be able to shake off the feeling of being watched or being hunted. Kie and I, standing across the room, we were immediately aware of Bella's distress through our mind link. We turn to each other, our eyes locked in a flash of understanding as we link minds with the others. Without a word, Kie moves with Vampire speed to Bella's side. Lyra and Sam join him. Niklaus was already there scanning the room for her, with Lucas and I, not far behind them, our movements were swift and urgent. As we reached her side, the girl had vanished into thin air, leaving everyone staring at the spot where she stood. The mind link between them crackles with tension, their thoughts racing with the implications of what just happened. "Bella, are you okay?"
Chapter 31 Prom nightMatt took a deep breath, feeling a mix of excitement and nerves as he prepared for prom night. He adjusted his tie for what felt like the hundredth time, he called to his mom for help.Afterward, headed outside to call Kie. "Hey, Mr. Kie, it's Matt. Just wanted to thank you again for the limo tonight." Kie's warm voice came through the line, "No problem, Matt! You don't have to call me 'Mr.', just Kie is fine, Sam will be your driver, so you two will be safe and sound. No funny business, got it?" Matt chuckled and replied, "Got it, thanks again!" Hanging up, he crossed the street, corsage box in hand, and ran into Lucas and Brent heading for seafood take-out. "Hey, looking sharp, Matt!" Lucas said, giving him a high-five. "You two are going to crush it tonight!" Brent added, grinning. Matt smiles, feeling a sense of brotherhood with them. "Thanks, guys!""You two are going to crush it tonight!" Brent added, grinning. Matt smiled, feeling a bit more at ease, and c
Chapter32 First Kiss She speaks but his heart is beating so loud he can't concentrate. Then he finally comes to his senses. "Ah, No Ma'am! This is my limo, I'm here for Miss Bella Delacroix and her friends," Sam replies, trying to sound cool despite his sudden nervousness. The wind picks up with a cool breeze. as the woman steps in closer to introduce herself "Hi, I'm Sophia, I'm a teacher at this school." as they strike up a conversation, Sam finds himself drawn to her warmth, intelligence, and kindness. Before he knows it, they've been chatting for over an hour, lost in each other's eyes. As the conversation flows, Sam finds himself feeling a connection with Sophia that he can't ignore. She's not only beautiful but also intelligent, and kind, and has a quick wit about her, that keeps him on his toes. He's surprised by how much they have in common, from their love of literature to their passion for social justice. As the hour passes, Sam's engrossed in getting to know her, and she
Chapter 33 Sophia's Story My eyes narrow, my mind racing. "That man looked familiar... I've seen him before, but where?" Lucas nods in agreement. "I know what you mean, sis. I've seen him somewhere too. Let's get his picture from the security camera and do some digging." Sam's anxiety grows as they search the internet, finally finding a match. The stranger is revealed to be Sophia's brother, Alexander - a member of our own witches' coven. "Ah, no wonder he seemed so hostile," I say, as I become concerned. "Alexander has always been... intense. And he's not fond of vampires." he always seemed creepy to me. Lucas's eyes lock on Sam. "It seems Sophia's a witch, and her brother was helping her chaperone the prom. He saw you two exchange numbers..." Lucas shows him the surveillance video of him lurking in the shadows while Sam and Sophia were talking. Sam turns to me with great concern. "My mate is a witch, and her brother was determined to keep us apart. Please tell me she is not lik
Chapter 34 The Banishing As Matt revealed his visions, the tension in the room became perceivable. This man is under the influence of Shade, a powerful shadow demon, who is none other than Alexander, Sophia's brother. It was a chilling realization, that threatened to cast a dark shadow over their bond. As time passed, Alexander's behavior has become more and more erratic, and it was clear that Shade's malevolent influence was slowly taking over him. Matt knew that a final confrontation with Shade was unavoidable, and their destiny hung in the balance.I decided to convene a meeting of the Coven, as we all gathered in The Mystic Manor's meeting room. Sophia joined me in explaining what her brother had done and how he seemed to be possessed by a shadow demon named Shade, Lucas and I filled them in on our past encounters with Shade, so they fully understood what we were dealing with. During the meeting, we discussed their concerns about Alexander's condition and shared our ideas on ho