Moonlight Denial: Shades of Moonlight Book One

Andre purred as warm blood filled his mouth. It was so delectable and thick, making him gulp greedily. A throaty moan came from his meal, sending a shiver down his spine. He pressed his victim against the alley wall, pinning the other with his body.

Hands groped and clawed at his back as the body pressed into him, desiring more contact. It nearly drove Andre insane and he wanted to drain the tasty human dry to reach that orgasmic state only a vampire could experience. With a growl he reigned in his lust and pulled out his fangs.

While it was true that vampires had the control to just take a little bit of blood from multiple humans it just wasn’t as satisfying. Andre secretly hated not being able to finish what he started. Deep down he knew he shouldn’t be so ready and willing to kill to sate his devilish desires, but he was what he was. It was the creature within him, but he had learned to say no to that creature long ago, no matter how much it pained him to do so.

He quickly healed the puncture marks his fangs had made and cleaned the area until there was not a trace of evidence that he had feasted there. A chuckle rose from him when he pulled away and his meal groaned in disappointment.

The human was in the form of a young man, early to mid twenties and just delicious looking. Of course, all humans were delicious looking in their own way. He had been on his way to a nearby bar when Andre snatched him up and lured him into the alley. Not hard at all for Andre. What man or woman could resist his wiles?

Dazed, dark brown eyes looked up at Andre when he pulled away.

“Shit. I don’t know what you did, but that was amazing,” the young man said, his voice low and husky. “I feel a little woozy, though.”

“Sorry, I tend to have that effect on people,” Andre cooed, lightly running his fingers through spiky brunette locks.

The young man chuckled and grabbed the lapels of Andre’s jacket, pulling him in so their bodies were pressed firmly against each other.

“Why don’t you come back to my place and show me what other kinds of effects you can have on me?” he asked, brushing his lips against Andre’s, but not quite making contact.

Andre chuckled, taking hold of the young man’s wrists and pulling the hands off his clothing.

“While the offer is tempting, and it is, believe me, I have other places to be. You have friends waiting for you, don’t you?”

“Screw ‘em. Come on, hot shot, let’s go get freaky,” the man said, an arm slipping around Andre’s neck to make sure he couldn’t pull away.

Andre sighed. The foolish human. If only he knew what it was he had a hold of. Any other day he’d be willing to play along and quench other hungers, but there was another young man out there that was a far more pressing matter.

He took the human’s chin in his hand and made the young man stare into his eye. The human froze and a shudder racked his body as his eyes clouded over.

“Now listen to me. You are going to go to your destination as you intended and meet your friends. The moment you speak to them you will forget ever meeting me and it will be as if your journey had never been interrupted. If you ever see me again you will not recognize me. Do you understand?”

The young man nodded, his eyes blank and mouth slack.

“Good, now go get to it.” Andre pulled the human from the alley wall and shoved him to the exit. The young man stumbled and walked as if he were a zombie, but the second he emerged from the alley his vision cleared and he straightened himself. He looked around a bit in confusion before scratching his head and continuing on his way.

Andre chuckled as he headed in the other direction. Human minds were such easy things to manipulate. The slightest suggestion and they could be reduced to willing puppets without the foggiest idea that they were being controlled. He was going to make it a point to tell Nicoli how lucky he was once they got him back. The little human didn’t realize just how fortunate he was that he was protected from such manipulation, though he paid for it since it was Ethan he was linked to. He couldn’t imagine being at the mercy of his bratty cousin and pitied Nicoli for it.

As Andre side stepped from a questionable puddle he let his mind wander to Nicoli. How was the boy fairing? It seemed surreal that just a few days ago everything had been peaceful and calm. In an instant that peace had been shattered and now Nicoli was in dire danger. He just hoped Dimitri hadn’t done lasting damage to poor Nicoli, or Seth for that matter. It made Andre’s skin crawl just thinking of Nicoli at the mercy of that madman.

He admitted that, even after only a few weeks, he had grown quite attached to little Nicoli. Humans were such endearing little creatures and the strings of Andre’s heart couldn’t help being pulled when he thought about the current situation. There was no need for Nicoli to get so heavily involved in the accursed affairs the clan found themselves in. They just had to get him back, hopefully in one piece.

Andre set up his smoking utensils and as he left the alleyway behind and headed through the streets he had a trail of smoke billowing after him. When he came to a dimly lit corner he stopped to savor his nicotine treat. He sucked on the end greedily and hardly acknowledged when someone appeared beside him.

“How goes the feasting?” he asked casually and let his eye flit over to his child.

“Good, I just need one or two more humans and then I should be full and ready,” Cora said. Her eyes trailed around the streets as she absentmindedly pet her stomach.

“You seem high strung,” Andre noted, seeing her tense shoulders and the way her eyes would not settle on one thing.

“Of course I’m high strung. How could I not be?” she asked as she finally looked at him. “I just want to get ready and go as soon as possible.”

“There’s no need to rush,” he said as he leaned against a nearby lamp post. “Even if we feed as fast as we can we have to wait for those witches to finish their spell. I believe we’re in for a long wait yet.”

“How can you be so calm? Poor Nicoli. I just can’t stop thinking about what they could be doing to him.” Cora rubbed her temples and closed her eyes, as if trying to fight off horrific images under her eyelids.

“Because I know fretting and getting myself worked up now won’t help him in the least,” he replied. To change the subject he turned the direction of the conversation to their missing counterpart. “Where’s Ethan?”

“He wanted to go on his own.” Worry crinkled her brow. “I didn’t want to let him, but he insisted. He has Felix with him, but still…”

“You think he’ll do something stupid?” Andre asked.

“Of course. Don’t you?”

“Yes, I do. I already had to box him around the ears and drag his ass back to Whixton when you told us the news of where Nicoli was. He’s capable of highly stupid things, but I think even he understands now that this is the best thing we can do.”

“I don’t blame him for wanting to rush in. I really don’t,” Cora said. She crossed her arms and watched a piece of newspaper across the street be blown away by a gentle, but incessant wind. “They hurt him so badly. What they did to him was just monstrous. I don’t blame him for any of his actions.”

Andre was silent as he studied her. His Cora, who he had watched grow up from a sweet, strong-willed, curious girl into the glorious woman she had become and that he had claimed as his child, his own. His heart ached for her.

“What about you? They hurt you too. Don’t you have the urge to rush in and make them pay? To make them suffer the same hell they put you through?”

Cora’s arms were stilled crossed, but now they moved until she was hugging herself. She closed her eyes against the world, against the memories that had no doubt bubbled to the surface.

“I want them to die,” she hissed through clenched teeth. “I want to rip them apart piece by piece and burn what remains of their flesh. They had no right…how could they do that to him?” Her eyes opened and Andre saw that they were lined red with unshed blood tears. She tilted her head back and looked up at the sky. “How could they do that to Stephen?”

Andre’s teeth nearly bit right through his holder and the old anger flared in his chest. Dimitri and his clan had taken so much from them and left each of them in their own ruin. He had lost his father, his sister, and a dear cousin, but Cora had lost so much more. She had lost her first and only love. She had lost the man that had enveloped her and completed her. She had lost her other half.

Their love had been so strong that Andre was almost jealous that another man could fill his daughter’s heart so. “The jealousy of a father,” Faith would tease him. The spark of that great, deep affection had started even before Cora had been turned and had flourished once they knew they could be together for eternity.

Eternity had been cut short and Andre was forced to watch Cora’s heart be ripped out the night that Stephen died. He had been forced to hold onto his daughter as she cried and screamed, holding her back as she tried to claw her way to Stephen’s lifeless body. He had been forced to watch a part of Cora die.

He would never forgive Dimitri. Not for what he had done to Cora. Never. Andre wished Dimitri was there now so that he could rip the bastard’s heart out and shove it down his throat. Even then that would not make up for his crimes.

Andre gazed upon Cora’s carefully controlled grief and he inhaled from his cigarette before approaching her.

“They did it because they are heartless and can’t stand to see anyone happy,” he told her. “For what you have been through you are admirable in your restraint. To not lose all control like Ethan and go try and put Dimitri down with your own hands proves how strong you are.”

“Ethan lost much more than I did. He has more reason to lose control,” Cora muttered as a single tear trailed down her cheek.

Andre reached up and caught the delicate drop on the pad of his thumb.

“You lost just as much,” he told her, making her look at him. “I swear to you that someday Dimitri will feel the pain he caused you tenfold. I’ll make sure of that.”

“That won’t bring Stephen back.”

“No, but it will make me feel better,” Andre said. He took another drag from his holder then surprised Cora by leaning in and locking their lips together. She jumped slightly, but melted against him instantly. Their kisses always had a way of making a tingle dance along Andre’s skin and he growled happily when Cora moaned lightly into his mouth.

Moments passed as they explored each other’s mouths and when Andre pulled away he looked very smug. Cora’s cheeks were flushed and she tried to look annoyed.

“I hate it when you kiss me like that,” she grumbled before blowing out a stream of smoke. Cigarette kisses were Andre’s favorite and over the years he forced Cora to become accustomed to them.

“You secretly like it,” he said with a teasing smile. “Now come, there is no time to wallow in the past. We have to prepare for what’s in our immediate future. So let’s hop to it.”

Cora squealed when Andre unleashed a swift smack on her lower backside.

“Andre!” she exclaimed, pushing his shoulder while covering her rump with her other hand. “You are insufferable.”

Andre chuckled and leaned in to place a kiss on the cheek the tear had been.

“I know, but as long as it keeps either a smile or a frown on your face I’ll keep being insufferable to prevent me seeing any tears,” he whispered, kissing the soft cheek again.

Cora averted her eyes when he pulled away. She was silent for a few seconds before giving him a small smile.

“Thank you, Andre. I’m tired of crying. Stephen would hate it if he knew I was crying so much over him. He’d never forgive himself if he knew he caused so much grief for me.”

“That he would,” Andre agreed as he rocked on his heels. “You know, you could thank me by calling me dad or father or even daddy once in a while.”

“No.”

“Awe, come on, just once?”

“No, Andre,” she said, accenting his name to make her point clear.

Andre pouted.

“Well, fine then, I don’t need you anyways. You just run along and go prey on more unsuspecting humans,” he said, shooing her with his hands.

“What about you? Don’t you still need to feed?” Cora asked.

“Nope, my last meal topped me right off, so I’m all set to go. I’m just going to wander now, try and clear my head. If you need me I’ll be over at Whixton Park, lounging around.”

“All right, I’m going to see if I can find Ethan after I feed a little more. See if he’s doing okay.” Before Cora made her leave she kissed Andre’s cheek then peck his lips. “And thank you.”

Andre smiled as Cora disappeared, gone with the icy wind. He loved her so much, more than she would probably ever know. He just wanted her to be happy again, like before, and not have that subtle cloud of melancholy hanging over her that no one could see but him. Her heart would heal, he knew that. It had already mended somewhat, but he was just waiting for the day that it would be whole again. Even if it did, however, there would always be a scar there, one that all of them seemed to carry now.

The holder clicked against his teeth as he placed it back in his mouth. He headed to the park, determined to unwind, at least a little. He had to be at his full potential for the trial to come. He owed Nicoli that much.

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A leaf crunched under Andre’s foot that had made the mistake of blowing into his path. He took in the bare trees that seemed to claw at the night sky that wasn’t so black anymore. The park was empty, silent. It was perfect.

He wandered over the path’s, taking his time in traveling through the whole park at least twice. Once he was done with his aimless walking he went to a park bench that sat across from the playground equipment. The same one Nicoli had sat down at when he had gotten into it with Ethan and before he had his first run-in with Faith.

Andre took out his dwindled cigarette and tossed it into a trashcan after extinguishing the tip. After retrieving a fresh stick he hunkered down on the bench and leaned back until his head was tilted, forcing him to look up at the clear sky. His elbows rested on the back of the bench and when he was fully relaxed he released the first cloud of smoke of his new cigarette.

He had been questioned many times by other vampires why he bothered to keep up such a human habit. Cigarette’s did not provide any form of usefulness to a vampire and could not chain a vampire by their addictiveness. The poisonous nicotine was nothing to Andre’s regenerative system and could not be absorbed no matter how hard it tried. Many hardcore, chain smokers would hate him for the fact that he would never suffer any of the negative effects that came with the deceptive little sticks.

Andre always smiled and said he just liked to smoke. It comforted him. It always had, even as his years as a lowly human that struggled to survive on the merciless, cold streets. It was something that connected him back to those days, to the fear and hunger, and reminded him of how fortunate he was now and that always put him at ease. He never tried to explain it to others because they would not understand the sentimentality that came with lighting up a new, unsealed pack of cigarette’s. That was his secret and his alone.

As Andre gazed up at the stars that twinkled back at him he unconsciously ran his thumb over the engraved letters of his lighter that was still in his hand. He felt at peace. He let no worry bother him. Not Dimitri. Not Nicoli. Not the fight ahead. Nothing could disturb this moment…or so he thought.

Through the haze of smoke he created with little puffs a new scent reached his nose. At first he thought he was imagining it, but even after he snorted it out of his nose it remained and grew stronger. It was the scent of sweat, steel, and spice, a scent that he knew far too well.

Andre jolted up and looked around, almost wildly. No, it couldn’t be. The scent wrapped around his head as he felt the presence of someone behind him.

“Owen?” he said slowly as he turned in his seat.

And there he was like a ghostly specter. Owen stood behind Andre silently, hands stuffed in the pockets of his trench coat that was closed to protect him from the cold. Hair loose and unrestrained by the hat he usually sported, allowing the dark brown locks to sway to and fro with the wind. He stared down at Andre with his mismatched eyes and his lips brought up in a slight smirk.

“I think you’re starting to lose your edge, Andre. I could have just walked up and sliced your head clean off before you even knew I was here.”

Andre stood and took a quick sweep of Owen’s person. He appeared unarmed, but Andre knew better.

“Then why didn’t you? It’s what you’ve wanted for all these years, right?” Andre spat. For the first time since that horrible day Andre accidentally killed Owen’s father he was not overwhelmed by grief or loss. Instead he was annoyed. This was the last thing he needed to deal with on top of Nicoli’s kidnapping and the looming confrontation with Dimitri.

“Testy, testy,” Owen said teasingly. “That’s so unlike you. To your surprise I didn’t come here to kill you.”

“…then why are you here?”

“To gloat.” Owen’s small smirk turned into a full blown, malicious grin. “To say the childish words of I told you so. I told you so. And, oh, yes, I told you so. Quite satisfying, actually.”

“What are you talking about?” Andre asked, staring at Owen like he had gone mad. Maybe he finally had.

“I’m talking about how you’ve led that boy Nicoli into absolute ruin, just like I said you would. Though, I never expected Dimitri would be the one to prove me right.”

Andre’s eye widened and the holder nearly slipped from his teeth.

“Wha…? How do you know –”

“I have my resources, you know that,” Owen said with a superior grin. “I’ve made it so I have eyes and ears everywhere in this town, so a young boy getting lifted by a van full of vampires was bound to catch my notice.”

A thought came to Andre and it made his chest twist and writhe. No, he had to be wrong. Just all wrong.

“Owen…you didn’t have some kind of hand in any of this…did you?” he asked slowly, praying that he was wrong, praying that Owen would not have resorted to such a measure just to hurt him.

The grin Owen had disappeared and a brow rose in it place.

“A hand in it? Don’t be a fool. I had nothing to do with this. I would never side with a vampire just to exact my revenge on you. Even if I was that desperate I would never choose Dimitri as any sort of ally. That man’s reputation even gives me pause, besides, I have no doubt if I was to go to his side that he would turn me into little more than a puppet. I don’t plan on ever letting that happen again.”

Despite the harsh words Andre let out a sigh of relief. Owen had not fallen that far. That elated him and gave him a shimmer of hope.

“So you have nothing to do with this? I’ll admit that makes me happy, even though I know that will make you angry to hear it. Then you are truly only here to mock me?”

“That’s it. I came to drink in your failure and to know after all of Ethan’s words of protection and friendship they meant nothing, just like I knew they didn’t,” Owen said.

“Ethan is hurting greatly from this,” Andre told him.

“Good, he deserves to. All of you deserve every ounce of misery in the world.”

“Since when have you found joy in other people’s misery?” Andre asked. It amazed him how being so full of hatred could change someone so completely. The man that stood in front of him was nothing like the Owen he had known.

“I think that’s pretty self explanatory,” Owen said with a shrug. “But it’s not other people’s misery I get joy from. Just yours.”

“And what about Nicoli? It seems you are getting some kind of pleasure from his current predicament. Do you not feel bad for him at all?”

“Hey, I warned him, didn’t I? I warned him of what could happen to him and he didn’t listen. He has no one to blame but himself and I refuse to feel sorry for him.”

Andre huffed smoke through his nose. It had been a while since he had really had a chance to talk to Owen without the threat of being murdered. To his horror he found that Owen’s morals and values on life had been completely warped. Did Andre do this? Had Andre caused this with the act of killing Owen’s father, even if it was by accident? It made his stomach roil and he felt the need to expel the blood he had just taken in.

“Not to put the necks of myself and my family on the chopping block, but isn’t your entire purpose as a vampire hunter to protect humans from us? With two clans now in the area I would think you would be putting your attention on wiping all of us out.”

“Oh, believe me, that is one of my top priorities,” Owen said, his teeth flashing. The grin seemed to be plastered to his face. “But why jump the gun when you guys are going to do all of the hard work for me?”

Andre’s brows crinkled.

“What do you mean?”

Owen chuckled low as he leaned forward and placed his hands on the back of the park bench.

“I don’t have to do anything but sit back and let you guys kill each other off. I’m sure you’re going to go after the boy and Dimitri isn’t a push over, from what I hear. A few of you are bound to bite the dust and, afterwards, I’ll pick off the last few that are left.” He laughed and looked very proud of himself. “Think how much that will boost my reputation. Taking care of two clans that have been thorns in our sides for centuries. I can just taste it.”

“…why are you telling me this?” Andre asked softly. “Wouldn’t it be wiser to strike without warning instead of standing here and telling me your plans?”

“You would think that, but maybe I’m prodding the sleeping bear with a stick, so to speak,” he said casually.

“Sleeping bear?”

“Don’t be dense, Andre. I’m talking about you. I’m hoping that if you know that I’m threatening your family that the old spark will come back to your eyes…or eye, really. I want the old Andre back, the one that took shit from no one and flaunted his superiority over every living thing. That’s the Andre I want to kill.” Owen’s features darkened as the smile finally faded into a tight frown. “Not the one that’s standing before me. Not some whimpering dog with its tail between its legs that rolls over onto its back at any given time. This Andre that you keep showing me, the remorseful, spineless, weak Andre makes me sick and I won’t kill you until the old Andre returns and fights me for his life.”

“Owen, how many times do we have to go over this?” Andre asked in exasperation. “What I did to you was monstrous and I deserve all the hate you have to offer and because of that I will not raise my hand against you. Ever. My life is yours to take. I owe you that much.”

Owen’s eyes narrowed and his hands tightened on the bench until they turned white.

“You just don’t get it. You’re nothing but a fool. I can’t believe I ever let you beguile me so into thinking you actually…” Owen stopped and turned his head away. With eyes closed he took a deep breath and his anger smoothed out of his face and he was calm once more. “I didn’t come here to discuss this with you. I came here to rub your failure in your face and enjoy it. Not get myself riled up over ancient matters. I’ll be rectifying that soon enough as it is.”

Owen stood to his full height, one that showed his slight advantage over Andre. He adjusted his coat and the smirk returned.

“Enjoy your reunion with your uncle. It’s sure to be fun. I hope you survive the fight so that you can watch me slaughter whatever is left of your wretched family.”

“Owen…”

“I’ll be leaving now. You have to get ready, don’t you? Give Dimitri my regards.”

Owen turned from Andre and began his leave with mighty strides from his long legs. Andre’s chest tightened. This was the first time they had actually talked in years and he was watching his chance to finally talk everything out slip away.

“Owen, wait,” he called out, taking a step forward, but he couldn’t bring himself to round the bench and go to the other.

Owen halted, but didn’t turn. His hands had returned to his pockets and he simply stood and waited.

“Owen, please, I’m begging you, tell me how to fix this. Fix us. Tell me how I can heal you. What I can do to make everything right. I’m at a loss. Please, tell me.”

He saw Owen’s shoulders tighten and he could imagine Owen gritting his teeth in anger.

“You are pathetic,” Owen said, his voice as icy as the wind. He looked over his shoulder enough to glare at Andre. “The Andre that I knew would already know the answer to that.”

Andre was left with those words as he watched Owen leave the park. Leave him. He took the holder out of his mouth as his other hand grabbed at his shirt. His chest hurt. He tried to rub it to soothe it, but it wouldn’t leave him. The scar over his own heart was open and was festering and he knew it would never be whole again.

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Nicoli licked the remnant of crumbs off his fingers as he finished his sandwich. He had eaten the rest of the sandwich with gusto while his heart beat out a victorious thump. Gavin had come and the others were coming for him. It was enough for him to actually smile again and even laugh. He was going to be rescued soon. The clan was going to come and get him and hopefully kick Dimitri’s ass while doing it.

He sat beneath the window with his legs drawn up. He wouldn’t move from that spot. It was where he had seen Gavin and he felt that if he even moved an inch then Gavin wouldn’t know where to find him. It was a silly thought, but he wasn’t about to do anything to jeopardize his rescue.

The tray was just being pushed away when the doorknob to the door that led out of the room jiggled. Nicoli perked his head as he heard the door unlock and swing open. His good mood soured as Dimitri and the woman from before entered.

“I don’t want to talk to you,” he said, hoping to banish Dimitri immediately and revel in his oncoming salvation for a while more.

Dimitri didn’t reply and instead looked from the bed to Nicoli’s current spot.

“Now that’s an interesting place to lounge about. Don’t you think the bed would be much more comfortable?” he asked. A smile played on his face when Nicoli simply crossed his arms and glowered at him. “Have nothing to say?”

“Again. I don’t want to talk to you.”

Dimitri chuckled as he strolled over to Nicoli. Something was wrong. Nicoli sensed it right away. There was a certain swagger to Dimitri’s stride that wasn’t there before and the smile he had seemed as if it was hiding something underneath it. The hair on the back of his neck stood up and he pushed himself into the wall as Dimitri approached and kneeled in front of him.

“So, did you enjoy seeing your visitor?” Dimitri asked casually.

Nicoli tried hard to keep his face straight, but the words made his eyes fly open before he could stop himself. He put his scowl back in place and gave Dimitri a perplexed look.

“The hell are you talking about? The only one that’s been in here is you and her,” he said, pointing at the woman. “And Seth, but I’d rather not think on that.”

“Dear, sweet Nicoli. There’s no need to lie,” Dimitri said gently. “I know Gavin was here. My daughter Ira discovered his presence here.”

Nicoli swallowed as he looked from Dimitri to the woman Ira. She must have been the second figure he saw after Gavin left in such a hurry. Dimitri was right. There was no need to lie anymore.

“If you know Gavin was here then you know the others are coming to get me,” Nicoli said with a grin and an air of triumph. “So you better just let me go now before they get here and hand you your own ass on a platter.”

He felt so sure that his words would carry the magnitude to catch Dimitri off guard, but that same smile never left. In fact, it almost appeared to increase.

“Actually, I think you have that backwards,” he said. “That should be more of an incentive to tell me what you know so that I can release you before they come.”

“…what?” Nicoli asked in utter confusion. He tried to meld into the wall when Dimitri leaned in close.

“Nicoli, do you honestly think my brother has any chance against me? If you don’t tell me what is going on and they get here, someone is going to get hurt. You don’t want that on your conscience, do you?”

That thought had never crossed Nicoli’s mind, but he brushed it away as quickly as he could.

“Yeah, right. They’re going to mop the floor with you.”

“I assure you that is not going to be the case, but if you insist on being stubborn I suppose I will simply tell you this. You should really tell me what information is in that pretty little head of yours because, if you don’t, something truly terrible is going to happen to you before your heroes come.”

Anger rose in Nicoli’s chest and he had the urge to sock Dimitri right in his smug face.

“For the last time, I’m not going to tell you a damn thing. So, if you’re going to kill me, you better do it before they get here.”

Dimitri laughed, but it wasn’t the enjoyable, contagious laughter like before. This laugh was hollow and fierce, making Nicoli shudder.

“The young are so precious and naïve.”

A short shriek escaped Nicoli as a hand grabbed his throat and pinned him against the wall. He opened his eye just a crack to see a vicious, fanged smile leering at him. He tried to shrink away, but the hand on his throat was too tight and it just allowed him to take in small breaths.

“Foolish boy,” Dimitri said and his voice sounded different than before. It was sharper and meaner. He whimpered when Dimitri leaned in till their noses almost touched. “You still think the worst thing I can unleash on you is death? If you were smart you would tell me what I want to know before you are exposed to what I am truly capable of.”

“I-I knew it…” Nicoli wheezed as much as his crushed throat would allow.

“Excuse me?” Dimitri asked as he loosened his grip just a bit.

Nicoli coughed and took in more air before fixing Dimitri with a strained, knowing smile.

“I knew it. I knew it was all an act,” he said. “This is who you really are, isn’t it? That nicie-nice junk was just some ploy. I’m glad I didn’t fall for it and held out to see your true face.”

Dimitri stared at him blankly for a moment before smiling.

“The complexities of life are not so easily unraveled. In a lifetime you would not be able to discovery the mystery that is the “real me.” But I’m giving you a chance not to see my darker side, Nicoli, and I suggest you take it. You really don’t want to be on the receiving end of my cruelty.”

“Whatever you’ve got I’ll take,” Nicoli told him. There was not a trace of fear in his voice. “The others will save me and will make you pay for whatever you do. You don’t scare me.”

Dimitri’s smirk widened and Nicoli swore that the grey eyes before him glowed.

“That’s because you don’t know what fear really is.”

Nicoli coughed and took in a full gulp of air when he was released and Dimitri stood up.

“I tried, Nicoli. In the end remember that. I tried,” Dimitri said, his gentle smile returning. He pointed over Nicoli to the window. “When the sun reaches the sky I will return for you. Then we will see how much I don’t scare you.” With that Dimitri whirled around and left the room, his footsteps fading away.

Ira, who had been standing patiently to the side, looked at Nicoli and shook her head with great pity.

“You are a fool,” she told him, her voice low and emotionless. “In the end I wonder if you’ll find all of this worth it.”

Nicoli watched her leave and waited till he heard the door lock before releasing a breath and slouching against the wall. He wondered the same thing, but he believed in the clan. He believed in Ethan. Whatever Dimitri had in store for him he would rise above it and would not give in. No matter what. He had to believe that if he was to survive what was to come.

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Dimitri sighed as he sat back in his chair. He opened his eyes just enough to look at the paper he had just been writing on. The crimson “ink” shined in the lowlight of the room. His eyes wandered toward the ceiling of the room, but he wasn’t really seeing it.

“I wonder how many sins one man is supposed to hold in his life,” he murmured to the still room. “I’m sure I’m making some sort of record…how wonderful for me.”

He went over what had happened with Nicoli and he shook his head. The boy was so headstrong and filled with such vitality. He could help but admire that. In this instance, however, he resented it. The boy and his approaching brother were forcing his hand and, while he wasn’t particularly fond of what was to come, it was going to happen either way.

He was drawn from his thoughts when there was a knock on his door that was located behind his seat.

“Enter.”

He heard the door swing open and close shortly after. By the scent that wafted over to him he knew who his visitor was and he smiled. Vanilla and wild grass. The smell always made his muscles unwind.

“Hello, child, I was wondering when you were going to finally come out of hiding,” he said when his visitor stood beside him. He held out his hand and when another was placed into it he curled his fingers around it and held on gently.

“I wasn’t hiding, Father,” his visitor said, a male voice that was low and smooth, but carried an edge to it. Pure music in the form of words. “I was just thinking and I can’t think when I’m surrounded by others.”

“I know, I know. I was only teasing,” Dimitri said as he patted the hand with his other. “So you are done with your thinking?”

“…not entirely, but Ira told me that Gavin had appeared not too long ago. Is this true?”

“I have never doubted what Ira tells me and I’m not about to start now, so Gavin must have been here.”

“Of course…”

A stretch of silence passed between them and Dimitri knew that his child’s mind had gone into overdrive. He knew what the news carried for the other and it worried him.

“Do you think you’ll be ready?” he asked.

“Hmm? How do you mean?”

“Are you prepared to face Conrad and the others? It has been nine years since I took you from them and I’m sure there will be much anger and resentment directed not only at myself, but at you. Are you ready for that?”

“I’ve never been not ready,” his adopted child said. “And you never took me, Dimitri. I came to you. I wanted you to make me yours from the first day we met. Conrad didn’t deserve me. He didn’t appreciate me. You saw something in me no one else could or would and I wanted you to bring it out. In my opinion I was made for you and I was willing to make the ultimate sacrifice to be by your side.”

Dimitri smiled and his dead heart warmed. He took the hand still in his own and placed a kiss on the back of it.

“And I appreciate that more than you will ever know. Though it still pains me that I had to make you sacrifice something so important to you.”

“…she understands. I know she does. She’s the only one who ever understood me. Until you came along, that is.”

“I hope so, my flower, I hope so,” Dimitri said, patting his child’s hand before releasing it.

“I’m surprised your question was not more direct.”

“Oh?”

“You’re not worried if I’m ready to go against the clan. You’re worried if I’m ready to go against Ethan.”

“Ah, you see right through me.”

“Not an easy task, but yes.”

“So are you?” Dimitri asked, tilting his head back so he could look up at the other.

“Yes, it’s what I’ve been dreaming of for years. I cannot wait to come face to face with him and finish what I started. I won’t be satisfied until Ethan’s head lies at my feet.”

Dimitri nodded. He knew of his child’s wants and desires. He had to admit that it scared him somewhat to see so much darkness in one person’s heart, but that was why he had taken his brother’s son under his wing and served as his guide. To learn how to control that darkness so it didn’t utterly consume him.

“Then I hope you really are ready. After what you did Ethan will see nothing but red next time you lay eyes on each other. I understand he is a gentle soul, but he will no doubt want your blood just as much as you want his. I would hate to lose you.”

“You won’t, I assure you. Ethan is too much of a sentimental fool. He could have all of the hostility in the world running through his veins and he would still not be able to kill me. No matter how much he wants to that part of him that I find most disgusting won’t let him do it.”

“I pray you are right.”

“I’m rarely not.” It was not arrogance that made his child say that. It was simply the pure, honest truth. “Besides, I know Ethan more than I would ever like to. Just leave him to me. That’s all I ask.”

“Of course, you forget I have my own problems to deal with. Conrad will not have the same reservations for me that you claim Ethan will have for you. I’m sure this fight will be an eye opener for everyone and I trust that all will turn out all right.”

He looked up at the other and smiled.

“I’d appreciate a kiss to help me through it, though.”

His surrogate child smiled. It was a rare gift given to him and him alone and he drank it in greedily. His child bent from the waist until their lips touched. It was a soft kiss, but more was said than words could ever say.

When his child pulled away he stared deep into Dimitri’s eyes.

“You are everything to me, Father. With you none of us can fail.”

Dimitri smiled and brushed his fingers along the strong jaw of his child.

“I can only hope you’re right, my son, but like you said, you’re rarely wrong.”

=====================================Ch. 53 End