Chapter 28

Ralph POV

I arrived in Europe shortly after I said good by to her. My light, my love. My Katherine. She was a dead ringer for Ellie, seeing her, was a blast from my past. It’s like each time I do, I travel back in time, to another world. A different society. To 1730 France, where I fell in love with my beautiful Gabrielle La Fleur.

I never thought I would feel that again. I never thought I would see her again. It’s like she’s trying to come home to me. She had died in the mansion. We were supposed to be wed, and it had happened on the eve of our union. Someone had abducted her earlier in the day. We searched for hours, even going into town, and hunting there to no avail. A slave going to grab some food goods screamed, they said there was a trail of blood leading to one of the slave chambers. They found her in the tunnels inside one of the chamber rooms. Stripped naked, beaten, and her throat torn out. It’s assumed that whoever did it didn’t think anyone would find her. Her father jump to conclusions, accusing the slave of murder and had the slave executed, despite their pleas. I knew a mere human couldn’t tear someone apart like this. However, as a vampire, I couldn’t reveal who I was to the owner of the house or anyone. Only Gabrielle knew what I was. She had learned it accidentally when she saw me drinking a deer. I had decided to switch to animal blood because I didn’t want to be tempted with human blood if I was going to be with her.

She saw what I was, she was fearful at first but, later said that after consideration, if I only drink animal blood I have to promise not to hurt her. I told her that I would never hurt my soulmate. She beamed at the revelation. She told me how she had been expected to marry, and no one had caught her eye. The Carvernall family were greedily pursuing her and she hated it. She never realized they are all vampires as well. She said that she hated them, there was something about them that terrified her yet, she didn’t know what. She didn’t know that they were a vampire family much older than me. They were also ancient in their beliefs. They believed that human women who were wed into the family were obligated to be turned even against their will after producing an heir. The heir would always become a vampire. This was ensured through black magic. Any women who refused  were killed so, most agreed to keep from actually dying. Any women or men who were not wed into the family were fair game to be fuck meals. Dinner while fucking. They’re a repulsive family. Said that she felt it fate to be with me, she saw something in me. Something that reached out and touched her soul. How she wanted to be with me in this life and the next. I was so overjoyed she accepted me. Fate can be cruel. I should have known not turning her when she asked me to would bring my greatest tragedy. She had told me she had somethings to tell me, that she would tell me the day of our union. I doubt I will ever know now.

I still ponder what Silas’ endgame was. He was engaged to Katie for a while. He never sealed any deal. Thankfully, he’s still a fuck boy that royal screwed up this time. His parents must be furious.

My thoughts continue to race as I drive towards Paris. I receive a call from my old friend Fredrick.

“Yah”

“Rudolph, how are you?”

“Fred, I am well how are things?”

“Good. Katherine just left my office. You’re right. She looks just like Ellie.”

“I know” I say as I feel the ancient ache in my heart. I also feel a burning desire stirring in me as I think about her face, her body, everything screams out to me.  

“She even died her hair blond, now that’s going to stand out even more.” That hit me with a ton of bricks. Is she trying to suck me in more or get herself killed as well? She already looked similar to Ellie, now this will double the dose.

“I can’t wait to see my love again, even if it’s in a new sexy body.” I say trying not to moan.

“Rudolph, have you been with Katherine?” he said in a serious voice.

“Wouldn’t you like to know” I tease him. I’m thinking about her body in my hands that night in the hotel. Soft as silk, sweet as honey, her blood was exquisite. I had to lie and cover my tracks. When I bit her, I thought she would freak out. She was only intrigued as to what I was doing. I drank for a second then healed her while licking her soft skin. It felt like home with how much she fit with me like two puzzle pieces finally connecting after centuries apart.

“Rudolph! Did you sleep with my granddaughter?!” he snarled.

“Watch your tone, she was mine first!” I snarl back.

“You’re right, I am sorry. You can’t do that again! She doesn’t know what you are. She’s not just a hook up Rudolph!”

“I am well aware, and I never said she was. She’s mine, officially.”

“When did you see her?” he enquires

“In Boston, she had stepped into Apex to party her life away and get over her break up with a shit bag boyfriend. Here’s the kicker. She was dating Silas Carvernall and never realized it. Thank God she never slept with him! that would have been bad.”

“How do you know she was dating Silas?”

“I met her first in Central Park. She looked distraught, like she had been crying for hours. I didn’t’ know who she was completely at the time. It just shocked me she looked like Gabrielle. We walked for awhile until she went into a restaurant. When she came back out, I heard her scream and tried to run off. I made sure she bumped into me. It was at that moment, I saw Silas exiting with Beatrice wainwright. They’ve been putting on this “couples” act for centuries.” I said in disgust.

“Why would he do that to Katherine? All he ever wanted was Gabrielle?”

“Maybe because, like Ellie he realized she wouldn’t put out for him like he wanted. So, he called on his eternal fuck toy and cheated on her.”

“I also learned they destroyed her career, almost had her arrested for something she didn’t do.” He tells me.

“I know why, then in the jail cell, he could kill her. Fuck I fucked up!”

“What do you mean”

“By meeting her in Central Park, I didn’t know who she was for certain but, he did and he knew me. He knew I was the one she chose. History is repeating itself in his eyes. That explained why he was trying to forcefully take her at the airport! He was going to kill her before I could completely claim her! Luckily, he didn’t succeed  but I did.”

“Did you bite her?!” he asked almost shrieking.

“Not completely, I didn’t break skin, just so it’s visible.”

“Shit Rudolph! No wonder!”

“What?”

‘That’s why I was calling, Katherine was attacked twice.” I froze, and everything else froze with me. Fire burned in my veins at my fury.

“She doesn’t know who the guy is but, there was a man outside the house. He offered help with moving, then he wanted inside the house. When she denied it, he tried compulsion, when it didn’t work and she walked inside slamming the door, he got pissed. She thought he left. When she went to drive back to town, the truck almost went off the road. Not only that but, someone broke into the house and made a meal out of her!” I snarled in fury. How dare they touch what’s Mine!

“Did she give a description of the man?” I ask with hope.

“No, she didn’t”

“It had to be either Conrad, Edgar or both. My fucking savage cousins!”

“I don’t think it was Edgar, you know him he wouldn’t leave her alive. It had to be Conrad. He always did love toying with his prey.” Fredrick said.

“You might have a point. Edgars savage but, also sadistic. He wouldn’t leave her alive.”

“Rudolph, please protect her, she’s all I have left. She’s lost too much in her human life, even Ellie wasn’t this inflicted on.”

“I know what you mean.” I said in sorrow.

“First Edgar killed her great grandparents, then her brother, he almost got her as a child, now her parents, and now my wife which is her grandmother! what else can go wrong to this poor girl!” he snarled. I could tell he was trying not to break.

“I am on my way into town now. I am going to the mansion later.

Katherine should be home. She’s been working at the Mont Saint Michele museum. She should be home.” He tells me.

“she’s not home, trust me.”

“How do you know”

“This is going to sound interesting but, we can sense each other like there’s a force connecting us. I feel her when she’s near, I know she feels the same.”

“That’s different?”

“She’s at a Bistro on madeleine street.” I say as I park, step out of the car and walk towards the Bistro from the back. I  stand across the street in back of her, the yearning urge to hold her is overwhelming. what is is about her as a human that makes me completely lose myself?