Chapter Two

Samael Wülf

I got back to the castle and Lilith was there to greet me. Well, greet may not be the perfect word for it.

“Where the fuck have you been?” She bellowed at me with her hands firmly planted on her hips. “Do you have any idea what it's been like here?” She continued without even bothering to let me reply. She threw one hand up in the air in frustration. “Of course, you fucking don't. As if you even give a shit. Sam does whatever Sam fucking wants.”

I sauntered up towards her, arms dangling and feet dragging along the floor like a child not wanting to be told off. I sighed when I reached her.

“You look like shit. Something has happened to you. Maybe Freya finally dumped your ass. Not that I care. Mother has been driving me insane and it's your turn to feed her.”

She turned around and stomped back into the castle and I followed behind.

“I'm going to have a long soak in the tub then enjoy the young man I have chained up in my room. If I have to deal with mother’s rantings one more time, I'm personally going to shove a stake through her shriveled-up prune of a heart and screw the rules.”

She stomped off up the stairs and I could still hear her feet booming on the floorboards above me. I rolled my eyes and sighed as I headed for the kitchen. As angry as I was with Freya, she did give me the normality I was seeking. Being a part of this family drove me insane a lot of the time. Dealing with a vicious and deranged father as long as I did. A murderous partner and my two delinquent brothers who followed her around like love-sick puppies. A stroppy and bossy sister and a completely insane mother. Our family was the epitome of fucked up. All I wanted was to be normal, whatever that was. For centuries I'd watched the human race and felt jealous of them. I would have given anything to be human. To love and live as they did. Most of them lived their lives filled with happiness and love and I wanted that.

I went into the fridge and grabbed two bags of blood. I couldn't even be bothered to warm them up for her, she'd just have to have them cold. I knew the cold blood would give her a horrendous stomach ache, but I didn't care. She was a nightmare to take care of or even put up with, so if a stomach ache would distract her from her ranting for a while, then that would make me happy. I made my way to the basement door and opened it. I could hear her rambling from the top of the stairs and huffed because I knew I'd get an earful when I got down there. When I made my way into the basement she squealed and it was so high-pitched that I had to cover my ears. She set off all the other prisoners and they all started screaming.

“Mother! Shut the fuck up will you!” I held the food bags up and she ceased her incessant noise.

“You've been with her, haven't you?” She asked as she creepily slid up to the glass and planted herself against it. “He won't be happy, you know!” She shook her head and wiggled her finger at me. She was definitely a bizarre woman, even by Vampire standards. I think that's where Balan got his psychotic tendencies from. I knew who she was talking about and I didn't give a crap what he did or didn't know. Azael could suck my dick for all I cared.

I placed the blood bags in the glass box that was built into the cage. It had doors on either side and the prisoner’s door wouldn't open until the outside door was closed. It was much-needed extra security, so the caged animals couldn't reach through and grab whoever was feeding them. We installed them after mother managed to rip the arm off of one of my clan members. The poor girl healed up alright, but she was never the same mentally after the attack. She couldn't enter the basement again and ended up becoming a recluse. She was an attractive girl like most Vampires are, but sadly we are awfully shallow creatures. Our looks mean everything to us. Not only do they attract our succulent human meals, but they attract our partners too. Not everyone was lucky enough to find their true mates, so we settled for the next best thing. She knew that with only one arm, she would be seen as ugly and damaged goods. No one would want her.

After a few years of shutting herself away, she starved herself and ended up turning to stone. The only way we can die is by a stake to the heart or tearing our heads off. Starving ourselves just turned us into statues. We could have force-fed her, but we knew how much pain she was in. When we turn to stone, we go into a deep and peaceful slumber. So, in essence, it is a living death. We can be bought back to life, but if we have deliberately turned ourselves to stone most other Vamps will respect the decision. I made a cemetery for all the statues we'd accumulated over the years. It was a secluded garden with a beautiful lake. Next to the edge of the water I planted a weeping willow tree and I had trees and flowers all around the hardened lost souls. I wanted to make their resting place as peaceful and beautiful as I could.

My family thought I was insane for even bothering. They saw the lost souls as weak Vamps, an embarrassment to me and the clan as a whole. They didn't understand why I wanted to respect the lost souls or five them a resting place. I guess the real reason why I made the garden was because for a long time after I murdered my father, I contemplated suicide. I didn't want to die fully, to be honest, I didn't have the balls to go through with staking myself, but I did think long and hard about starvation. I had even begun doing it. I’d lasted two weeks before Kali and my family noticed and force-fed me. They dragged me into the basement, threw me into a cage and tied me up. They then hooked me up to a feeding machine. It went straight into my veins like an IV and fed me continuously. I was there for months before they agreed to let me out. After that ordeal, whenever I felt like life was getting too much or I felt the depression coming back, I would head to the garden and either read a book or just meditate. It helped me a lot, to be surrounded by like-minded people. Even if they didn't reply to my conversation, I still felt their presence. Most Vampires never suffer from depression or down days and that's because of their inflated egos, so they didn't understand me at all. I felt so alone most of the time, but being around the lost souls made me feel normal and accepted.

I closed the little door after placing the blood bags in there. I then pressed the button to unlock the other side for my mother. She wasted no time an snatched the bags out of the box and sank her teeth into one of them. She drained half of the bag in seconds, the blood covered her lips and ran down her chin. She looked up at me with a scowl and snapped, “You couldn't even warm them up for your dear old mom?”

“No, you don't deserve my effort, frankly.”

I walked over to the wall, dragged a chair back and sat in front of the glass cage.

“Well, at least you feed me. That ungrateful sister of yours doesn't even bother to come down here most days.”

She sank her teeth back into the bag and sucked it dry. Watching her eat made me feel sick. To be honest, looking at her at all made my stomach turn. I couldn't believe that I came from her. I was so different.

“He's coming, you know.”

I almost snapped my neck with how fast I turned to look at her.

“Who is?” I asked, not wanting her to say who I thought it was.

“Azael,” she replied nonchalantly then tore open the second bag of blood, downing its freezing contents like it was liquid gold.

I shot up from my chair and stormed forward slamming my palms onto the glass. She didn't move a muscle apart from one cheek, flashing me a glimpse of her crimson-covered teeth.

“Why is he coming here and when?” I snapped in a dominant tone.

She took her time to answer. Slurping down the last remnants of the blood bag.

“Well, he knew you were seeing Freya and I'm guessing he didn't like that much. Or he thought he could use that to his advantage.”

“Well, I'm no longer with her.”

She threw the empty bags onto the floor and threw her head back to let out a cackle.

“I knew she'd throw you away like the trash that you are,” she spat before letting out another shrill cackle.

I hissed at her then turned around and launched the metal chair across the room. It smashed into one of the glass cages opposite us and made its inhabitant squeal and scurry to the back of the see-through box. I didn't care about the poor soul in there, I didn't care about much anymore. I was hollow and numb. The only emotion I felt was anger and lots of it.

“And to answer your second question. I'd say he should be here within the hour.”

I spun around and scowled at my mother. The callus blood-soaked grin that stared back at me made my stomach churn.

“You disgust me,” I snapped at her and then turned to leave.

“You best work out what side you're on, boy. If he knows that you're on Freya's side, I worry this will be the last time we speak.” Her tone seemed as though she actually cared and it made me stop in my tracks. “At least you feed me,” she added before going back to her usual maddening humming.

There it was. The only reason she cared if I lived or died was because I fed her regularly. I sighed and continued to the door, then up the stairs and out of the basement. Once in the hall, I made my way to my office and poured myself out a large whisky. After sitting in my office chair, I slouched down and downed my drink. I glanced up when I saw Lilith enter the room.

“Need another?” She asked while holding up the whisky bottle.

I nodded and she turned back around to pour herself a drink then walked over with her drink in one hand and the open bottle in the other. I sat up as she handed me the bottle and took a seat at the other side of my desk. I poured myself another drink and then asked,

“Did mother tell you that Azael is coming here?”

“What? No!” She sat forward and then asked, “when?”

“Apparently in less than an hour,” I replied flatly.

“Why is he coming here? What could he possibly want from us?” She asked in a panicked tone, then sighed and continued, “well, maybe he's come to pick up the nutcase.”

I chuckled and she joined me. We both sat there in shocked silence, sipping at our drinks.

“I think he wants to use me against Freya somehow. He thinks we're still together.”

“Oh shit. What is he going to do once he realizes that he's had a wasted trip?” She sounded panicked again and I couldn't blame her. The thought had crossed my mind too. “Or maybe he wants me and Kali back together.” She looked up from her glass and replied “but isn't she human again?” While shaking her head she corrected herself “Well, Hunter.” She hissed after and downed her drink, slamming the empty glass on my desk.

“He kidnapped her along with the rest of Freya's pack,” I said in a low tone.

“What!?” She raised her eyebrows and continued, “Why would he do that? Is he collecting people? What if he wants to kidnap our coven?” She began to ramble and I had to call her down.

“It's okay, mother would have said if that was his plan. Regardless of our relationship with the crazy old bat, she still wants her kids alive.” She started at me like I was the crazy one. “Well, at least I hope that's how she feels.”

Lilith poured our drinks and I grabbed my glass and sat back in my chair. While staring at the ceiling I sighed, because once Azael realized that I was of no use to him, he could react badly and Azael in a bad mood wasn't a pretty sight. I knew I needed to have a few disposable people around me just in case he went off on one. One way or another, this meeting was going to be a disaster.

Freya Rose

After my bath, I got out, pulled the plug out, dried myself and then put on the silk pajamas that Marik had gotten out for me. I brushed my hair and then placed it up in a messy bun. I was too tired to dry it so it would have to dry while I was sleeping. I blew out all of the candles and then opened the bathroom door leading into my bedroom. The guys had left the room a while ago and when I stepped into the room it was nice and silent. The only light was from the bright moon shining through the window, but I could see over to the bed and the corner had been turned over ready for me to get in. I strolled over and got into my bed, half expecting the twins to barge right in through the door, but they didn't. I couldn't lie, I was quite happy to be sleeping alone tonight. It had been such a long day and I was ready to sleep without any disruptions. Not that I didn't like having them both in my bed, I just felt like it was too soon. I mean I'd only just broken it off with Sam and right now intimacy was the last thing on my mind. I was exhausted and the sooner I fell asleep the better. Surprisingly, I went off like a baby.

The sunlight blazed through the window and it hurt a little when I opened my eyes, but I soon forgot about the stinging once I heard the birds singing outside. I couldn't remember the last time I just laid in bed listening to the birds. For years there had always been too many people around and their chatter drowned out the bird's glorious song. I had lived with my pack, the faction, the council, Tristan’s pack. It had been ages since it was just me and a couple of people. I missed everyone, all the men I had loved, my parents, my pack, but I couldn't lie, the quiet was calming and exactly what I needed to think straight.

I must have laid there for at least an hour before anyone disturbed me and I was able to think over everything. I knew I needed a plan and to think of one, I needed the help of the people I had left behind. However, I had been able to clear my mind and go over everything that had happened in the last few years. I was able to let go of the guilt I had once felt, especially with the men that had been in my life. I'd also been able to forgive those who had hurt me due to no fault of their own. Tristan mainly. He couldn't help the fact that Selene had already picked a mate out for him. I know she had the power to change her decision, but knowing her like I do now, the bitch probably chose not to, just to watch us squirm. It's sad how many people had been hurt by her choices and actions and Azaels too. That couple had caused nothing but pain and heartache for centuries and I for one was happy to be the one to stop them once and for all. No matter what it took, I would rid the world and our kind of them and their toxic behaviors.