Bonded for Life: The Vampire Chronicles

Damien and Kiren re-appeared in their bedroom. As Damien laid the young girl on the bed, he said, “Kiren, get our mother’s and the healer!” Kiren sped off on his quest for help.

He ran down the stairs and through the manor, “Mother! Jamie! Where are you?”. As he approached the sitting room he heard his mother.

“Calm down child! Jamie and I are right here. What’s wrong?” She saw the panicked look on her son’s face and fear spiked through her.

Kiren fell to his knees before his mother and buried his face in her lap as he cried. “Our Nani, we found her!” His mother gently smoothed his hair, exchanging confused looks with her friend. He looked his mother in the eyes and said, “Mother, take my memories, share my vision” As Kiren’s memories flashed through her mind, her hands flew to her mouth and paled in horror. Jamie stood, pulling her son to his feet. “Go find Madame Harriett, she is the best healer we have for human born, you’ll find her in the garden! Now Go!” She gently pushed him the right direction and turned to Jamie. Her friend was clearly confused. “Oh, Jamie, if their Nani survives, it will be a miracle. We must hurry!” With that, both women took off through the manor, navigating their way to their son’s room.

Meanwhile back at the room…………..

Damien rang a bell, calling a servant. He was pleased when his favorite, Mathew, stepped into view. “Mathew, please bring me a basin of warm water, and some clean cloths and towels.” Mathew glanced at the battered figure on the bed, bowed sharply and ran for the supplies. Thankfully, he knew all the corridors and passages. He made it to the store rooms in record time.

Turning back to his Nani, Damien carefully traced his fingers across her cheek, lightly brushing her jaw. Under all the grime, blood and bruises, he was sure there was an exceptionally beautiful young woman. He gently opened the coat to assess any further injuries. His eyes swirled to red as he saw large hand prints wrapped around her neck. She was so thin, her ribs and hips jutted out. He touched her tortured body reverently, pouring every ounce of healing energy into her. He noticed as her breathing evened out. He hoped he was helping even a little. He let his mind softly touch hers and called to her. “Angelica, my Nani, you are safe. Kiren and I are here and no one will ever hurt you again.” He felt a tentative, fearful touch in response.

Then suddenly he was drawn into the landscape of her mind. He saw flashes of faces, heard names and felt the abuses this young woman suffered. Then he saw her. Staring at a memory of a young man and woman, they were happy. There was a little girl maybe 6 years old being pushed on a swing by the smiling man. The woman called over telling them lunch was ready.

She turned to Damien. “Who are you?”
“I am Damien, one of your soulmates.” She looked at him strangely.

“How are you here? Why am I not scared?” He knelt down next to her. “I’m here because you let me into your mind. As for why you are not scared? Because you know that I would never hurt you.”

“Where am I? I can’t wake up!” Damien reached for her, softly touching her face. She flinched away slightly.

“You are at my Manor. Kiren and I rescued you from the man that was keeping you. You can’t wake up, because Kiren put you under a sleeping spell till you heal some. We just don’t want you in any pain.”

“Thank-you” Damien gathered her into his arms and felt her small body shuddering against him as she cried.

“Angelica, I have to leave. Kiren is coming back with our mothers and the healer. I will still be right with you. As soon as we can, Kiren and I will both come here to visit you, before you wake up. Do you understand? I’m not really leaving; I won’t let anyone hurt you, ok?” He felt her nod.

“Are those your parents?” ha asked.

“Yes, that was the last time I ever saw them.” She whispered.

“Be brave, my Nani, Kiren and I will be back soon.” She nodded and went back to her memory as he disappeared.

Damien withdrew from her mind just as there was a soft knock on the door. He looked over as Mathew eased into the room followed by another servant. Mathew was carrying a basin with cloths and towels; the woman was carrying a kettle of hot water. Mathew gently set down the basin near his Lord and set the cloths next to it. He motioned the woman over to pour the water. The man then dipped a cloth into the water, wrung it out and handed it to the vampire. “Do you need anything else, my Lord?”

“Please, stay close, my friend.” Damien replied, hoarsely. Mathew motioned the woman to leave and then left to stand guard outside the door. Damien turned back to softly cleaning the girl’s face with the cloth.

“Lady Jamie, Lady Jezebel” He heard Mathew in the hall. He didn’t turn as he heard the door open, and then felt a soft hand on his shoulder. “Oh, Goddess, Damy, what happened to the girl?” Her heart clenched as her normally strong son looked up at her with haunted eyes.

“I saw it all, Mom. The beatings, the rapes. I was drawn into her mind and saw her memories. I think she was kidnapped.”
“Here, my son, let me and Jesse help you. We need to get that coat off so the healer can assess her. If you lift her up, I’ll start soaking her back to loosen the coat. Jesse, will carefully peal it off.” She knew that she needed to move carefully with her son. With his unbonded mate in such a state, he could unconsciously lash out at anyone.

Damien indicated his understanding and gently lifted Angelica to a sitting position and rested her head on his chest. He held her gently as his mother carefully soaked the coat in water. He could smell the blood as wounds were reopened. It took all his power not to bodily throw everyone from the room. He just kept chanting to himself that this was his mother and she would never hurt his Nani.

As they were working on the coat, Kiren and the healer arrived. Kiren went immediately over to the bed. He knelt next to his mates and rested his head against Damien’s strong arm. “How is she?” He asked.

“She’s strong.” was his reply. “As soon as the coat is off, we need to go back to her, she’s scared and I can’t stand leaving her alone right now.” Kiren gave his mate a strange look and nodded. Damien then explained to everyone, what happened when he touched her mind.

Finally, the coat was removed and everyone could see the cuts and bruises that littered her small back. Damien growled lowly. He gently laid her back down. He turned to the healer. “Madame, please, heal her.” He then made himself comfortable on the bed next to Kiren. “Come, she is expecting us.” They then let their conscious brush hers and again, they were drawn into her mind. Damien did his best not to look again at the memories flooding past him. He pulled Kiren away from a particularly nasty one. “Later, my Love. Later, we will find these men and the city will run red with their blood! So I swear!” he guided his Diam over to the girl sitting in front of the happy memory. “Sweet Heart, Angelica, we are here.” He approached, but did not touch her yet. She turned and looked at them. “Oh, you’re back. No one nice has ever come back before”

“Angelica, this is Kiren, he is your other soulmate.” Damien sat down next to her and touched her arm. She crawled into his lap and rested against his chest. Kiren sat next to them and placed his hand against her back.

“What’s happening?” she asked. “I want to wake up; it’s scary being alone here.”

“Oh, my Nani, the healer is working hard on fixing you up. As long as everything is okay, we will both stay here with you till she’s done. Alright?” She nodded and turned to look at Kiren.

“You feel different?” She said.

“Well, that’s because Damien and I are different. Damien is our Sena. He is dominant, very protective and sometimes a bit overbearing. I am the Diam, almost like a second. I am a nurturer. I provide balance to our relationship. You, my Love are our Nani, our cherished one. We are here to love you, care for you and make sure that you are safe and happy.”

“I really don’t understand, it’s all too strange.” She whispered.

Damien heard his mother calling. “I must leave for a moment. Can you sit with Kiren?” Angelica nodded shyly and turned holding her arms out to her Diam. “I promise I won’t be long ok?”

“Okay” she replied and Damien faded from her mind. She turned in towards Kiren’s chest and said, “Yes, different, but good. I haven’t felt safe since I lost my Mommy and Daddy.”

“What happened? Nani.” Kiren whispered.

Angelica shuddered and the image in front of them changed from the happy family at the park. The little girl was laughing and running. Her Dad and Mom watched indulgently from the bench. They looked away when someone asked them a question. It was only a moment, but in that split second a man grabbed the little girl around the waist and covered her mouth with his hand. She kicked and cried and he covered her face so she couldn’t breathe until she passed out. The memory went black.

“Oh, my Love, I’m so sorry. We will find your parents, I promise you.” They just sat there and he held her as she sobbed out her fear and pain. Soon Damien re-appeared. “Angelica, the healer says you are ready to wake-up. She says you will hurt a little, but she needs you awake so she can make sure there are no other injuries. Kiren and I will go, but you will be joining us in just a moment, alright?” Angelica sniffled and nodded. She then moved her self off Kiren’s lap. “Be brave my Nani” With that Kiren and Damien both disappeared.