Moonlight Denial: Shades of Moonlight Book One

Hey guys! Seasons greetings and all that jazz. Sorry it’s almost been a month, but I’ve been super busy with preparing for xmas, fighting off colds, and dealing with work. It’s been a crazy month, but I finally got the chapter done, so woot! We left off with Cecile’s stunning reveal and we’ll have to see what Amelia will do with this new information. Dun dun duuuun!

So, before we get to the chapter I want to say that I may not get a chapter out before the new year, so the next time you read Moonlight Denial (after this chapter of course) it will be in the year 2011 and I wish the best for everyone and I just want to thank you all for all of your love and support for this little story ^-^ Now, here is the link to my replies and enjoy the chapter!

http://darkness80.livejournal.com/

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Nicoli awoke the next morning feeling more relaxed than he had ever remembered being. He was lying on his side and he let his groggy vision focus on the door. He lay there for several minutes, feeling no need to move. Downstairs he could hear the muffled voices of his parents, who had probably been up and about for a few hours now. He had no idea when they had come home last night, but he wouldn’t have really cared if he had been paying attention. He had been far too busy last night.

A light smile graced his lips and he snuggled back into the warm body that spooned him from behind. He forgot what it was like to wake up with a lover’s body wrapped around his own, an arm draped over his side and legs a tangled mass. It put him at ease and he loved it.

A brow quirked and his smile widened when he felt Ethan stir and lips nuzzled the back of his neck.

“You awake?” Nicoli murmured softly.

“Mm-Hmm,” was the reply, as well as light nips on the base of his neck.

“You shouldn’t be. This should be your bedtime,” Nicoli said, shuddering when Ethan’s hand ran up and down his side.

“Plenty of time for sleep later,” Ethan said, lifting himself up enough to start nibbling on Nicoli’s ear.

Nicoli moaned and heat started to pool into his loins when he felt Ethan’s very awake member poking him from behind.

“Really?” Nicoli asked with a tired chuckle. “You didn’t get enough from last night?”

Ethan gave a husky chuckle against Nicoli’s ear and that ever present cock was rubbed up and down the crack of Nicoli’s buttocks.

“Enough of you? I think that’s impossible.”

Nicoli bit down on his bottom lip to quiet the moan bubbling in his throat.

“You know, my parents are here,” he said, trying not to push back against Ethan.

“Yeah.” Ethan sucked on Nicoli’s earlobe.

“They’re right downstairs.”

“That’s nice.” Ethan shifted so thrust his hips so his member pushed itself between Nicoli’s legs.

“That doesn’t bother you?”

“Nope.” Ethan’s hand snaked over Nicoli’s hip to take hold of his half erect member. “You don’t seem to mind either.”

“Nngh-Ass,” Nicoli grumbled, but moaned as Ethan pumped his member and started thrusting his hips, making his own cock move in and out from between Nicoli’s legs. “We’ll have to be quiet.”

“I know, which is a shame,” Ethan said, tracing his tongue along the shell of Nicoli’s ear. “I love hearing the sounds you make when I’m fucking you. It makes me so hot.”

Nicoli laughed.

“And you say I have a dirty mouth?”

Ethan moved his other hand under Nicoli’s head and turned it so Nicoli could look at him.

“It’s contagious.” Then he bent down for a kiss.

They kissed heatedly and Nicoli took that time moan to his hearts content, using Ethan’s mouth to muffle it. As they kissed Ethan put his hand behind Nicoli’s knee and lifted it up, making him spread his legs and leaving his entrance vulnerable to attack, which Nicoli didn’t seem to mind at all.

Ethan lined his shaft up to the little pucker, while continuing to ravish Nicoli’s mouth, and began to slowly sink in. With all the fun they had had last night Nicoli was still loose and Ethan was able to push in with only a bit of resistance.

“God, you’re so hot inside,” Ethan moaned when he was fully seated. “I think you are my new favorite drug.”

“Mmm, I can live with that. I’m really liking it too.”

Nicoli bit down on his lip hard as Ethan started to move. The thrusts were shallow and slow, trying to make sure the bed didn’t creak or groan with their movement. In a way it was more intense. With Ethan taking his time Nicoli could feel everything more acutely. The girth that penetrated him, how deep it went, how it felt as it moved along his passage.

Their legs were tangled together again and Nicoli reached back to take hold of Ethan’s hip, as if he could help Ethan move better. He let low moans sound into the mattress. It felt so good. His cock was hard and leaking and he desperately wanted release.

Ethan began kissing his neck and a new desire flared in Nicoli. One he hadn’t felt in quite some time. He reached back to place his hand on the back of Ethan’s neck. Then he pulled Ethan’s face down until it was nestled in his throat.

“Please,” he mewled. He wanted those fangs to pierce his neck. He wanted to feel the pleasure they could bring. The hot, raw desperation it would spark in him.

“You sure?” Ethan muttered into his neck.

“Yes.”

Ethan didn’t need anymore than that. He licked Nicoli’s neck a couple of times, finding the best spot. Then the pair of fangs lightly scraped across his skin before sinking in.

Nicoli gasped, the brief flash of pain still coming as a surprise to him. Then that pleasure he wanted so much flooded into him. His body was caught on fire and he had just enough sense to jam his knuckles into his mouth before he started screaming. He writhed back against Ethan, trying to push that cock further into him. He needed more. He needed so much more.

Luckily, Ethan was a generous guy and gave it to him. He put his hand on Nicoli’s hip, almost with bruising strength, and started pounding into him. Ethan still kept his thrusts short, but now there was much more force behind them.

It wasn’t long before the heat became too much for Nicoli, he couldn’t hold it back anymore. He came hard, momentarily forgetting how to breathe, as his body ceased and was wracked with shudders of absolute bliss.

He was only slightly aware when Ethan followed suit. A deep groan vibrated into his neck and that familiar warmth filled his insides. When they both rode out their orgasms Nicoli lay on his side, feeling like he had no bones left in his body. He closed his eyes, enjoying the pull on his neck of Ethan still feeding.

Ethan only took one or two mouthfuls more before pulling away. He was then just content to hug Nicoli’s prone body and lap at the puncture marks like a cat. When he had his fill he healed the bite marks.

Nicoli let out a tired groan as Ethan pulled out and flopped over onto his back. Nicoli rolled the other way onto his stomach and turned his head so he could look at the other. Ethan looked completely relaxed. His eyes were closed, one hand behind his head the other splayed out on the bed and a little smile on his lips. The perfect picture of contentment. Nicoli couldn’t help to think that if the clouds outside were gone that Ethan would look simply beautiful in the sunlight.

He buried his head in his pillow and laughed. Where had such a mushy thought come from?

“What’s so funny?” Ethan asked, cracking open an eye to look at him.

“Nothing,” Nicoli said, pulling his head from his pillow and looking at Ethan. “I just can’t remember the last time I’ve had an all night sex session. That was intense.”

Ethan also laughed and now put both hands behind his head.

“Trust me, you get more acquainted with them if you’re sleeping with Andre. They become almost a weekly occurrence.”

“Reeeeeally?” Nicoli said, finding the strength to sit up. His sore muscles complained, but he shushed them by starting to stretch. “I may have to seriously consider seducing him into bed then.”

“What? Are you saying I’m not enough for you?” Ethan asked, sounding hurt.

Nicoli laughed and leaned back on his hands.

“Awe, is someone jealous?” he asked teasingly. “What can I say? I like keeping my options open and you’re not the only stallion in the corral, Partner.” He accented his point by poking Ethan in the chest with his toes.

Ethan chuckled and shook his head.

“Slut,” he said, laughing when Nicoli smacked him in the stomach.

“Then you’re a slut fucker.”

“That’s fine with me. That’s what sluts are for, right?”

“Right, but this slut can deny you access, so you watch your mouth,” Nicoli said, jabbing Ethan with his foot again. A light sigh past his lips as he then took in his appearance, all the stains on his skin from his own seed and his thighs were slick from Ethan’s spent pleasure. Not to mention what was left up his passage.

“Man, I need a shower. And the sheets probably need a good wash too. I really don’t want to explain to mom what these spots are.”

“Good idea, a shower sounds fantastic,” Ethan said, sitting up. A teasing smirk then turned his lips. “Plus, I’d love to get the chance to scrub you down.”

Nicoli smiled back as Ethan leaned in. They kissed for several minutes. Playful and chaste. They kissed just to kiss. When Nicoli had his fill he looked to the door.

“Now we just have to get down to the bathroom without my parents seeing us. Especially you.”

“Why don’t we just go into their bathroom? It’d be easier,” Ethan suggested.

“Yeah, but then they’d be asking questions as to why I’m using their bathroom. That’d just send up red flags. We’re just gonna have to be sneaky.”

“I can do sneaky.”

Nicoli clambered off the bed, stumbling a bit when a jolt of pain went up his spine. Ethan had really worked him over. He got dressed in a loose pair of sweats and a nightshirt to cover up his messy state and to make sure he wasn’t naked if he was caught.

When Ethan had gathered his own clothes they huddled close to the door.

“Can you tell where they are?” Nicoli asked.

“Sounds like your dad is in the living room and your mom is in the kitchen. Is your mom ever not cooking something?”

“It’s what she loves,” Nicoli said with a laugh. “So how do you want to work this? I go first or you?”

“I will. I’m quicker and I can make sure the bathroom door is open for you so you don’t have to worry about it creaking or something.”

Nicoli nodded.

“Sounds good to me…are you going to get pants on first?” he asked, his eyes raking over Ethan’s still nude form.

“Why?” Ethan asked, grinning. “I’ll just be taking them off in another minute. I’m fine as I am.”

An image of Ethan running through the house naked flashed through Nicoli’s mind and he snorted.

“All right, suit yourself. Let’s do this.”

Nicoli quietly opened the door and thanked God when it didn’t creak. Ethan silently slipped out of the room and, with a wink to Nicoli, jumped over the railing of the stairs. Nicoli held his breath, but heard nothing. A second later there was a tickle in his brain.

“Okay, you’re turn.”

Nicoli took a second to bask in awe of Ethan’s skill and speed before braving his own decent. Though, unlike Ethan, he’d be taking the stairs. He quietly closed the door behind him and, as silently as possible, he went down the stairs. He just made it to the last step when Beethoven came out of the kitchen and spotted him.

He waved his hands and begged the dog to hush, but Beethoven just wagged his tail and let out a happy yip.

“Beethoven, what are you barking at?” Laura’s voice said from the kitchen.

Nicoli quietly cursed and decided to give himself up while bolting for the bathroom.

“It’s just me, Mom. I’m gonna go take a quick shower,” he said, just making it inside when Laura stuck her head out the kitchen.

“First thing in the morning?” she asked, which was a just question since Nicoli rarely ever did so.

He poked his own head out to look at her.

“Yeah, I feel overly gross for some reason, so into the shower I go,” he said before ducking back into the bathroom.

“O…kay, I’ll have breakfast ready when you’re out,” Laura said as the door closed.

“Sounds great!” he yelled before collapsing back on the door and sighing. The presence of a body came very close to his own and a chuckle sounded.

“Very smooth,” Ethan said in a quiet voice.

“Shut up, we’re in, aren’t we?” Nicoli leaned up enough to kiss Ethan before turning the other around and pushing him towards the shower. “Now get in.”

Soon enough hot water gushed out of the showerhead, drenching Nicoli and Ethan’s nude forms in its spray. They took their time, leisurely washing each other. Hands sensually rubbing skin and kisses were stolen here and there.

Nicoli found great satisfaction in using the wash rag to touch every inch of Ethan he could find. He was able to map out every muscle and tendon that made up Ethan’s powerful, delicious body. That wasn’t to say he enjoyed his turn to be washed any less. To feel Ethan’s strong hands run over every bit of him was maddening. In a good way. When Ethan got to his back, however, his thoughts went straight to the scars that now riddled his skin.

“Hey, Ethan?”

“Hmm?” Ethan murmured into the back of Nicoli’s shoulder that he was currently nibbling on.

“Are…are my scars really bad? Like really noticeable, I mean? Am I…grossly disfigured?”

“Don’t know what you mean,” Ethan said, his lips making a trail from one shoulder, across the back of Nicoli’s neck, to the other shoulder. “I’ve hardly noticed them.”

Nicoli chuckled and shook his head.

“Liar.”

“Maybe, but they honestly don’t bother me. They don’t make you grotesque or anything. They’re just a new part of you. One I know you don’t want there, but not one that disgusts me or the others, I’m sure.” His lips pressed into Nicoli’s ear. “You’re still you. Still sexy little you.”

Nicoli couldn’t explain the emotion that swelled in him, but it made his eyes sting with tears he would not let fall.

“Thank you,” he whispered.

Ethan’s lips puckered into a small kiss against his ear.

“You have no need to thank me. I’m just telling the truth.”

As if to prove his point, Ethan’s lips found their way back down to Nicoli’s shoulder. They went lower, tracing the lash marks one by one. He ghosted over the scars with his mouth and tongue, not neglecting one mark.

Nicoli’s whole body grew hot, hotter than the water that cascaded down his body. He would never be able to express the gratitude he felt towards Ethan at that moment. Nothing he could say or do would ever be enough. So, he stood there and drank in Ethan’s attention completely.

Ethan had sunk to his knees, working on the small of Nicoli’s back, when there was a knock at the door. Both of them froze and even the water seemed to take on a chill.

“You locked the door, right?” Ethan whispered.

“I-I think so.”

There was another knock.

“Nicoli? You okay in there? You didn’t fall and crack your head open, did you?” his father’s voice asked through the door.

“O-Of course not!” Nicoli called, and cleared his throat to steady it. “What’s up?”

“Well, firstly I wanted to make sure you didn’t drown in there, and secondly your cell phone has been ringing off the hook. So you may want to go see who wants your attention so bad.”

“Kay, thanks, Dad!”

He waited a minute to make sure his father was gone before sighing.

“Well, that was close.”

“You’re telling me,” Ethan said, getting to his feet. “Why can’t you be older with your own place so we don’t have to sneak around your parents?”

Nicoli laughed and lightly elbowed Ethan in the ribs.

“Why do you like humping barely legal teens?” he asked before turning and draping his arms around Ethan’s neck. “Admit it, you like it. It makes you feel young again.”

“Well, I guess when you put it like that,” Ethan said with a smirk, bending down to capture Nicoli’s lips in a light, teasing kiss.

Nicoli pulled away before he got lost in Ethan’s hot mouth.

“Come on, let’s go see about that phone.”

It took some maneuvering, but after they got out of the shower, dried and dressed, Nicoli slipped out of the bathroom. He distracted his parents with idle talk so Ethan could sneak back upstairs. Once the mission was completed he trotted up to the room and grabbed his phone that sat on his desk.

“Shit, he wasn’t kidding.”

His phone told him he had ten missed calls and they all came from one person’s number. Amelia.

“What do you think she wants to talk to you so bad about?” Ethan asked, peeking over Nicoli’s shoulder.

“I dunno, let’s find out.”

Nicoli redialed the number and it rang once before Amelia picked up.

“Finally!” Her voice yelled over the phone.

“And good morning to you. What’s up? Why are you all in frantic mode?”

“Look, we really need to talk. I’ve got to tell you something, but I also need to ask some questions.”

“Questions about what? What are you going on about?” Nicoli was thoroughly confused at that point. He had left Amelia yesterday with the air cleared and happy and now she sounded like she was going to have a panic attack.

“I have some questions about the Hearts. I know it’s early, but could we meet somewhere? This will also be a little weird, and I know he’s probably not awake, but could you convince Ethan to come to? I want to ask him about the Heart directly. Would it be possible to do that?”

Nicoli glanced back at Ethan, who shrugged, but seemed interested.

“Yeah, no problem. Where do you want to meet?”

“How about the park? It should be deserted this time of morning.”

Nicoli thought it over, but was unsure. Seth had made it clear that he had overheard one of Nicoli and Ethan’s conversations there. He turned back to Ethan questioningly, who nodded in agreement.

“Okay, sure. Say in half an hour?”

“Sounds great. See you then.”

Then there was silence as Amelia hung up.

“Well…that was weird,” Nicoli said, closing his phone.

“Slightly. But I’m interested. Let’s go.”

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After wolfing down some breakfast and shoving his dirty sheets and clothes in the washer Nicoli and Ethan left for the park. Amelia was already there waiting for them, but before they she could get a word out, Nicoli sent Ethan out to scope the park, to make sure they were alone.

“How much longer is he going to be gone?” Amelia asked impatiently.

“As long as it takes, especially if we’re going to be talking about the you-know-what. We were over heard before and we have no idea where Dimitri or his goons are, so no chances,” Nicoli told her.

She sighed and rolled her eyes, but said nothing more against it. Instead she looked him up and down, her brows creasing ever so slightly.

“Hey, you seem different.”

“Different? How so?” he asked in confusion.

She turned to him fully and scrutinized him more.

“I don’t know. You seem more…relaxed. Not as prickly as you have been. How did that happen over night?”

He had an inkling as to why, but wasn’t about to share it with Amelia. He simply shrugged.

“No idea. Maybe clearing all that bad air with people yesterday really helped,” he offered, rubbing the back of his neck and clearing his throat. “Oh, look, there’s Ethan.”

Amelia gave him a strange look before turning her attention to Ethan, who was walking towards them with his closed umbrella leaned against his shoulder. It was still cloudy, so he was safe.

“Well, I looked everywhere and there’s not a trace of any other vampires around. There’s a few human’s jogging or taking a morning stroll, but no undead, so I think its safe to talk.”

Nicoli released a sigh of relief and prayed it was true.

“Okay, so what’s going on, Amelia?” he asked her.

Amelia averted her gaze and her hand began to rub up and down her arm.

“Well, I was thinking about it last night, really thinking about it and it occurred to me that these Heart things were hidden for a reason. With the power they’re said to contain they must be really dangerous and they’d make whoever had them really dangerous. So, just so I can actually sleep at night I have to know.” She finally lifted her gaze off the wet, grassy ground and looked right at Ethan. “What are you planning to do with the Hearts once you have them?”

Ethan’s eyes widened, but a laugh sounded before he could say anything.

“Is that it?” Nicoli asked. “That’s all your worried about? You have nothing to fret over. Ethan and the clan plan on destroying the Hearts once they get them.”

A great weight visibly lifted from Amelia’s shoulders and her eyes became very bright with hope.

“Really?” she asked.

“Yeah, as soon as we get them we’re going to destroy them. Right, Ethan?” He turned to Ethan for confirmation, but his smile fell when Ethan looked away and fidgeted. “Ethan?”

“Um, well, there’s something you should know about that.”

Nicoli’s eyes narrowed in a glare.

“I know that look. That means you’re keeping something from me or ‘forgot to mention something.’ I thought we were past that bullshit,” he growled.

“Look, I meant to bring it up, but it never seemed like a good time.”

“Bring what up?” Amelia asked.

“Yeah, what, Ethan?” Nicoli added, crossing his arms.

Ethan sighed and let his umbrella tip touch the ground.

“I do want the Hearts destroyed and so does Felix…but the rest of my family doesn’t know that.”

Both Nicoli and Amelia’s mouths fell open.

“What? What do you mean they don’t know?” Nicoli asked.

“You mean they don’t want the Hearts destroyed?” Amelia asked at the same time.

“No, they don’t. That’s something that I want, just me. After what happened years ago I knew it was the only way to go. My form of revenge, if you would, against the people that hurt us.”

“Wait, how do you figure?” Nicoli asked. “How would destroying the Hearts hurt Dimitri? And why try and get revenge that way?”

“It may not make sense to you, but the Hearts are the reason all of this is happening. It’s what motivated the clan to split, the reason why Dimitri keeps coming after us, the reason he decided to turn Evan against us. They’re the root of it all. If we destroy them, then that root is gone and all of Dimitri’s evil will be thrown back at his face. The one thing he wants so desperately will be gone and he’ll be reduced to nothing. That’s why I want them destroyed. To get back at him for everything and to make sure no one else’s lives are ruined like mine has been.”

Nicoli had nothing to say to that and any anger he had withered away. The pain that he had become far too aware of lately laced Ethan’s voice and was ablaze in his eyes. Yes, Nicoli understood Ethan’s reasoning’s and he couldn’t help but wholeheartedly agree.

“So,” Amelia said, breaking the silence that had enveloped them. “If you want to destroy the Hearts and the others don’t, what do they want to do with the Hearts?”

“What most vampires go after the Hearts for. Power.”

Nicoli and Amelia glanced at each other and he knew that she felt the same uneasiness as he.

“Power to do what exactly?” he asked.

Conrad was a good man deep down under his tough exterior, but it made even Nicoli shudder to think of Conrad with such limitless power.

“He wants to fulfill Isaak’s dream. His older brother,” Ethan said to Amelia when she looked confused. “Isaak wanted the Hearts so he could become ruler of all vampires, so to speak. There are more squabbles and bad blood between vampires’ than you would think. Most that have nothing to do with the Hearts. Isaak wanted to put a stop to that by becoming the most powerful vampire in existence and “guide” all other vampires into peace.”

“So he wanted to be King of the vampires?” Amelia asked.

“More or less, and remember I’m telling you this from just what I’ve heard from word of mouth. Isaak died way before my time so I never heard it from him, but he seemed to be the type of guy that would try something like that.”

“And now Conrad wants to become King of the vampires?” Nicoli asked, not comforted by that thought in the least. Conrad was a good, albeit sometimes misguided, clan leader, but King of all vampires? Now that was scary.

“Conrad loved Isaak more than anything,” Ethan said. “Faith has told me sometimes it was creepy how devoted he was to his brother. So when Isaak died it became his life goal to fulfill Isaak’s dream. To honor his memory, I guess.” Ethan tilted his head back and gazed up into the stormy sky. “It’s what drives him along with his hatred for Dimitri.”

“And with that in mind you want to sneak in and destroy the Hearts right under his nose?” Nicoli asked.

“Yeah, yeah, I’m underhanded, I know,” Ethan grumbled, flipping the umbrella around so it was draped over his shoulders and he gripped both ends. “At first when I found out I didn’t care one way or the other. If we never found the Hearts we lived our lives as a family, if we did find the Hearts Conrad became ruler and I could brag that my dad was the most awesome vampire in the world. Win-win, right?”

Nicoli and Amelia chuckled in agreement.

“But then everything crumbled down around me,” Ethan continued, wiping the smiles from the teen’s faces. “I saw first hand how these Hearts poison people with their promise of power and now I’m done with it. It’s time to put a stop to it all.” He held the gazes of Amelia and Nicoli in turn. “Besides Felix you two are the only ones that know this. Please, do not tell the others. I don’t know how they would react if they knew what I was really up to.”

Nicoli thought it over and nodded.

“Well, I won’t say anything. I can see the reasons why you want the Hearts destroyed and I agree with you. That kind of power is dangerous in anyone’s hands, so I’m behind you one hundred percent.”

Ethan gave him a brilliant smile while Amelia groaned and covered her face with her hands.

“You people are nothing but a bundle of secrets!” she exclaimed, running her fingers down her face and sighing. “But count me in too. It sounds like a better idea than the alternative. So, hey, if Conrad wants the Hearts to be some kind of King, or whatever, what does Dimitri want them for? Does he want to be a King too, or what?”

“Ah, now you have come to the central reason to the clan split several years ago,” Ethan said. “Isaak wanted to just rule the vampires in the way vampires have been for centuries. Quiet and in the shadows. Dimitri, however, wanted to take things a step forward. He not only wanted to rule the vampires, but wanted to bring them, as well as every other supernatural creature in hiding, out into the public eye.”

This didn’t shock Nicoli as nearly as much as Amelia. She gasped and stared at Ethan in horror.

“He wants to do what!? But that’s an awful idea. Why would he want to do something so stupid?”

“Okay, wait, why are you freaking out so much? Would that really be so terrible if everyone found out that vampires and witches were real?” Nicoli asked.

“Are you kidding me?” Amelia asked, whirling on him. “That would be the worst thing to happen ever. Life was horrible when humans knew about us. All those jokes about villagers with pitchforks and torches actually happened. Everyone lived in a constant state of fear, not just the humans, but us to. I get upset just hearing about the Witch Trials. You think I want to actually live through it?”

“Uh…I guess you make a valid point,” Nicoli murmured. He could see her reasoning’s. Human’s weren’t the most rational race and who knew what the world would do if the supernatural came to light.

“Why would Dimitri want to do something like that?” Amelia asked Ethan again.

“Because he believes that humans need guidance or some bull crap like that. It’s been rather evident that humans have a tendency to work themselves into self-destruction. Not to say others don’t suffer from such fault, but it’s more prominent in humans more than anyone else. Dimitri has disillusioned himself into thinking that he can lead both vampires and humans into peace. Make it so everyone can coexist with him at the helm. From what I would hear apparently Dimitri sees the human race as nothing but misguided children that have been waiting for him to take his place as the father that they all need.”

“Wow…” Nicoli muttered in awe. “He really is insane.”

“Yeah, no kidding,” Ethan said. “Needless to say that way of thinking was why the clan had their fallout and split.”

“Sounded like they did the right thing. I wouldn’t want to be associated with a psychopath like that,” Amelia said. “How does someone get an idea in their head like that? What an idiot.” She took in a deep breath and slowly let it out. “All right, well, I certainly feel a lot better after talking to you Ethan. Even if the clan isn’t for destroying the Hearts, I’ll be with you guys. It sounds like it’s what’s best for everyone.”

“Good, glad to have you on board,” Ethan said. “So, is that it? I must admit I’m pretty worn out.” He cast a meaningful look to Nicoli, who averted his gaze. “And I’d love to go get some sleep.”

“Yeah, I’m sure Nicoli had to wake you up for my ridiculous worrying. Thanks, Ethan.”

“No problem, anytime. We’re all partners now, so it was no trouble. I’ll be in touch. Let you guys know if we uncover anything or if Deloris decides to let something slip. You kids have fun now.”

“Bye.”

“See you later,” Nicoli said. Ethan gave a nod of farewell and walked past the two. He went by Nicoli and a loud smack cut through the air as Ethan’s hand slapped Nicoli’s rear.

“Ow!” Nicoli shrieked as pain rippled through his sore, overused muscles. He tried not to drop to his knees and turned enough to give a vicious glare to Ethan’s retreating back. “Asswipe!” he yelled after the other and laughter filled the air as Ethan disappeared from view.

“You okay?” Amelia asked, trying to help Nicoli straighten out, but the hot pain wouldn’t let him just yet.

“Yeah, yeah. Stupid vampire strength,” he grumbled under his breath as he rubbed his aching backside.

After a few minutes he was finally able to stand up straight and stretch his back.

“Well, if that’s it I think I’ll head home too and try and take a nap or something. I didn’t sleep very well last night,” he said, wanting to go home and fully recuperate from his night with Ethan.

“Actually, there’s something else I wanted to talk to you about, but just you.”

Nicoli tilted his head, wondering what it could be.

“You sure are very talkative today. Okay, so what is it?”

She looked around and grabbed him by the arm.

“Not here, we need to go somewhere even more private for this.”

Nicoli was then promptly dragged out of the park towards who knew where. He couldn’t imagine how his morning could be anymore eventful, but it just went to show he wasn't imaginative enough.

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Nicoli and Amelia sat in the grass of the Fairy Rings side by side. The fairies had come out to play again, lazily gliding along the grass and in the trees. Some were using the teens as a jungle gym, climbing up their backs and sliding down their arms. A few had even begun to braid a few strands of Nicoli’s hair, but he didn’t pay them any mind.

He stared ahead of him blankly. His mind completely filled with what he had just been told, but he just couldn’t bring himself to comprehend the magnitude of the words.

“So…” he said after minutes of prolonged silence. “You’re telling me that your mom, your awesome mom, is the Guardian? Are you kidding me?”

“I really, really wish I was,” she said, sharing his empty stare into nothing. “But I really don’t think my mom would joke about something like that.”

“…wow.”

“Yeah…”

“So.” He finally looked at her, snapping out of his revere. “What are we going to do?”

He watched as relief seemed to fill her completely and she relaxed with a nervous laugh.

“What?” he asked.

“I am just so happy you said “we.” That makes telling you so worth it.”

Nicoli smiled and put his hand on her shoulder.

“Of course, you know I’m here for you. We can figure this out. So what is it you want to do?” he asked, wanting her whole feelings on the matter.

Amelia shook her head and raised her knees enough to touch her forehead to them. The fairies seemed to sense her conflicted emotions as more flocked to her, touching her arms and legs and more burrowing in her hair.

“I want to forget Mom ever told me and that I’m still oblivious to everything,” she muttered, lifting her head enough to receive kisses on her cheeks and lips from fairies that just wanted to comfort her.

“Well, since that won’t be happening any time soon what’s your Plan B?”

“I just don’t know,” she said, holding out a finger so a fairy could balance on it and walk back and forth. “On the one hand I should tell the clan. I’m part of the team now and it’s a crucial step to our goal, but on the other hand…it’s my mom. How can I just fork her over to the others?”

“Did she say anything on what she thinks you should do?”

“She said either way she would be happy with what I do. If I tell the clan she’s okay with it, if I don’t she’s okay with it, but that doesn’t help me at all.”

“Man, I never thought things would become this screwy.” Nicoli pulled at the grass, trying to let all of his thoughts fit together, but they just wouldn’t.

Cecile had been the Guardian this whole time, but she had given no hint to it. She must have known from the beginning what the clan was after, but she did nothing to try and thwart or hurt them, even teaming up with them to save Nicoli. It didn’t make sense. The bottom line, however, was that she was someone that he had grown to care about and was also his best friend’s mother. Could they really just hand her over to the clan?

“You know,” he said, finally. “I’m sure there is a way we can all work this out. Even though your mom is the Guardian I’m sure some of the clan sees her as a friend. There’s a chance we can talk this out and maybe even convince your mom to help us.”

He frowned when Amelia shook her head.

“No, she made it clear that while she wouldn’t stand in the clan’s way she would not just give over the Heart. If the clan wants it, they’ll have to fight her for it.”

Nicoli’s throat constricted.

“Does she know that Deloris said that Conrad would have to fight the Guardian when we found her?”

“Yeah, she does.”

“And she’s okay with that?”

“I don’t know if she’s okay with it, but she’s not afraid. She seemed more than confidant that she can hold her own against Conrad, which I agree with her on. Still, I don’t want her fighting.”

Nicoli didn’t want Cecile and Conrad to fight either. It seemed so unnecessary. They were all friends and comrades. Why did they have to fight? Nicoli grunted when Amelia unexpectedly plopped over onto his lap, sending up a flurry of fairies.

“What am I going to do, Nicoli?” she whimpered.

He leaned back on his hands and huffed.

“I’m not sure.” He gnawed on his lower lip. An odd feeling stirred in his chest. He felt as though they were making this situation more complicated than it was. “I know it seems terrible right now, but I’m sure we can make this work. Conrad may seem scary, but he’s really level-headed. I don’t think he would lose his mind and go on a rampage if he found out your mom was the Guardian. He’s already made it clear that he doesn’t want to get on your family’s bad side and doing something stupid by wildly attacking your mom would do him no favors. He’d want to handle this as delicately as possible with the least amount of harm to his own family.”

Amelia lay still, intently listening. When Nicoli was quiet she rolled over onto her back to look up at him.

“So, you’re saying I should tell them?”

“I think you should do what feels right,” Nicoli told her. “You should do what you think is right for everyone in question, but if you do tell the clan I think it will end better than you’re imagining.”

Amelia lay on his lap for a time, staring up at the sky. Then she abruptly sat up and began rooting in her pockets.

“What are you doing?” he asked as he watched her produce her cell phone.

Her thumb rapidly dialed a number before she pressed the device against her ear and said,

“Making a decision.”

================================Ch. 76 End

Ta-da! All right, we got sex, we got plot development, so what’s going to happen next? Lol okay, I’m done now. I thought with such a dry spell on the smex you guys deserved one more taste of NicolixEthan yumminess before we moved on and plus they needed to get cleaned up XD

And now you guys know something else. Most of the clan doesn’t know that Ethan wants the Hearts destroyed! Dramatic! Now, to me, I am bringing this up waaaay too late in the story. It’s something I’m sure Ethan would have brought up to Nicoli much sooner, but I never found a good place to slip it in. But that’s what rewrites and revisions are for and I assure you when I get to that point Ethan will be bringing this point up much sooner. Now the question is what has Amelia decided to do? We’ll just have to see.

Now before we go I have something to show you. Remember my friend that did the comic of Nicoli, Felix and Ethan? Well, she did another comic for me about the previous chapter with the fairies! Its 6 pages long and just beautiful. Please go take a look at it and enjoy it as much as I did.

Pg. 1: http://devilofdarkness2.deviantart.com/favourites/8035513#/d33ia3a
Pg. 2: http://devilofdarkness2.deviantart.com/favourites/8035513#/d33jz4y
Pg. 3: http://devilofdarkness2.deviantart.com/favourites/8035513#/d33jz91
Pg. 4: http://devilofdarkness2.deviantart.com/favourites/8035513#/d33m5dz
Pg. 5: http://devilofdarkness2.deviantart.com/favourites/8035513#/d33m7u9
Pg. 6: http://devilofdarkness2.deviantart.com/favourites/8035513#/d33ndeo

It’s wonderful and I love it. Please leave her a comment if you can.

So thanks everyone, I hope you enjoyed the chapter and everyone have a magnificent holiday and wonderful New Years! *Merry huggies and lickies to all!*