Chapter 20We stayed in the cave for a while, mostly in silence. I knew my brother needed this, and maybe I did too. The strange thing was the feeling of magic in that cave. I swear I saw some sort of shimmery substance by one of the rocks going further down into the cave, but in my grief stricken mind I’m sure I imagined it. As my brother and I headed out of the cave system we walked in silence. Grief was a strange thing, and I have always thought this. “Look, I’m going to need some time to process this. I will be ok, but please just let me have the time I need. Next week on Saturday we are going to celebrate Katrina’s life, in New Orleans. It will be a party to top anything that has ever been done before... But until then, I need to grieve. I’m going to go back to your house, and get Jade. She needs to grieve too, and we can do it together. I will reach out when we are ready.” He said. I nodded to him and materialized home with him by my side. It had been hours since we left, and e
Chapter 21(Ramses)Once I got Jade we materialized, and I have no idea how or why, but we ended up in the Sea Caves. I mean, I guess I understand why, my mind is there. But I was actually trying to get us home. I guess I just needed to be here instead. “Where are we?” Jade asked, taking a step out of my arms. I stayed silent for a moment, and then looked down at the slight fissure in the rock. We were literally standing on top of the fissure, the place that took Katrina’s life. I swallowed hard trying to push back the emotion from Titan that was threatening to push through. He hated it here, and I also hated it here… Why did I keep coming back here? Oh yea, GRIEF, that is why. Fuck this place. My thoughts were a barrage of bullshit and I was barely keeping them contained. “This is where she died… Right here, under our feet.” I said softly, and Jade just started crying. Her and Katrina had gotten close since I brought her home and I knew this was a big hit for her too. I pulled Jade
Chapter 22I poured another drink and threw it all back at once trying to help calm myself. What the fuck was I thinking? This has got to be the dumbest thing I have ever thought… But how else could I get her back? It was the only way. "What if I'm not even over there?" Katrina's angelic voice rang out from behind me. I turned around to see her standing by my bedroom door with her arms crossed. I was so happy just seeing her again, even if it was just dream her. "You have to be over there, darlin. Because if you aren't then I don't even want to think about the damage I would be causing... I can't think like that. Everything that happens after will be worth it as long as you are back in this realm with us." I said. "You shouldn't risk it." She said. "I know, but I have to try to save you. I can't accept you being gone. I just can't." I said. She just nodded to me. I knew I was just arguing with myself. It wasn't worth it. I stood from the bar, and turned, walking towards Katrina. I p
Chapter 23I about shit my pants when I saw how many people were already here. It looked like he used magic to change his entire property to accommodate thousands of people. The bronze gate entrance to his home was open and welcoming. There was a red carpet a little ways inside the gate, and it was completely lined down both sides with cameras and paparazzi. Multiple reporters and news crews were there as well. This was so over the top it reminded me of the Blood Ball, but even more extravagant if that were even possible. We stepped onto the red carpet and got completely bombarded. I couldn't tell you how many pictures were taken, or how many cameras were recording. Reporters were trying to ask us questions. Lots of questions about the underworld, questions about my pet, questions about Katrina and how we knew her. I couldn't help but smile because this was so Ramses. He was the flashiest person I knew, and this was exactly his style. We ignored all the questions, of course, and I t
Chapter 24(Rowen) Ambrosia was wearing the most beautiful rose gold dress. It had a crossed front design that accented her full chest. It was long to the floor In the back, but shorter up front and had slits up both sides to her thighs. It wasn't glittery, but the fabric had a silky shimmer in the right lighting. It matched my rose gold suit perfectly. Her collar was dainty and looked more like a necklace than a collar, which I preferred. It matched the rose gold bangles on her wrist, along with the ring I had given her at the Blood Ball. I smiled when I realized she never took off. Ever since we got ahold of Pandora's Box, the scatterings of bioluminescence were ever present in Ambrosia’s every move. When she walked, a small dusting of bioluminescence scattered the ground at her shoes. She ran her hand through her hair and dusted small plumes of bioluminescent orbs around herself like magic. It was amazing, and paired with her in this dress I was going absolutely wild. “Too bad w
Chapter 25“Rayne and Alpha Drake saved us a few tables upstairs. Nico and Amethyst are up there with them as well, let’s head up there and get some food ordered while we wait for the crowd.” Raziel said, and then he turned and headed up the stairs. Raphael handed Topaz some champagne and they followed him up there, leaving me with Rowen. “Ambrosia, doll, why don’t you head up there as well. I need to speak to my brother for a moment.” Rowen said to her softly. She nodded her head, then turned, grabbing some of the champagne too, and followed behind Raphael. “How are you holding up?” Rowen asked me. I just took a breath in and exhaled slowly. “I don’t know, brother.” I said, putting my head down. Rowen put his hand on my shoulder. “No one ever said you had to be strong through this. We understand, and we are here for you, man.” Rowen said. I looked up and locked eyes with my brother. I could see his pain but he was hiding it well, for once. “I know, I just… How am I going to live th
Chapter 26We got back to the table and I picked at my plate for a bit when a man I didn't recognize came walking up to our table. He was tall and large in stature. He had obsidian black hair and it was a little longer and straight. He was a Vampire, that much I could tell. “Ah, Rowen, there you are.” The man purred. His voice was like silk, but he exuded power. I could tell he was someone important. Rowen stood from his chair to greet the man. But I could tell my brother wasn’t interested in talking to him, whoever he was. “Lucian, so good of you to come.” Rowen said. “I’m sorry for your loss. Katrina was a lovely Witch. I do wish you had brought her by sometime. I would have loved to have picked her brain.” He said. Rowen just looked at Lucian with a death glare, but didn’t say anything. It had me wondering how Katrina knew this man. Then Lucian looked over at us all at the table. “I see you all are enjoying my pets?” He purred. Ah, so this was the Vampire King, Lucian in the fles
Chapter 27We said our goodbyes to Rowen’s brothers and Nico, then materialized home. Rowen was acting a little strange, and I knew Katrina’s death had affected him. He tried to act like it hadn’t. But I knew him, and his actions told me it had, and still was affecting him. We headed upstairs and Rowen started undressing to get in the shower. I followed, and while the hot water washed over us I could see Rowen was deep in thought. “Who was Katrina to you?” I asked him. I decided it was now or never and he may not want to talk about it, but maybe he did want to. Maybe this is what he needed. My question jarred him from his internal banter, and he looked at me. “Hundreds of years ago when Ramses first met Katrina, he came to me and told me that he found the one. I was surprised, thinking my brother, the wanderer, was going to mark someone. But that’s not what he meant. He had found the woman he knew he wanted to spend his life with. The woman who accepted him for who he was. He knew th