Chapter 13

Blackclaw walked back to his chambers. He had been the vamp head for fifteen centuries and when the third apocalypse happened. He conquered the wolves and became their Lord too. The wolves addressed him as general, while the vamps called him Sire. He was the first to create a position like this and the only one to maintain it. He was known for ending any threat to his kingdom even before they began. But this was fate, it was destiny. Blackclaw was determined to outwit destiny herself. 

***

Divina woke with a start. Her dream had felt so life-like. The pain still evident in her mind. What was going on? It was the same dream, only longer and more in depths. Was it possible to live two lives at once?




***

Vanir, stared at his laptop. His unblinking eyes were becoming watery from the horrible images. They were malnourished. He had never seen Bianca so slim that he thought maybe the vamps had chewed through her skin to her bones.

Oh, no they were feeding on them. He couldn’t expect anything less. And when he heard the Ultimatum he had, he was violent. Wrecked with anger he slammed his fist on the sleek piece of technology, which had brought him the message. 

How dare they lay a hand on his babies? He would make them pay if it was the last thing he did, he vowed to himself. First, he had to find a way to free them. 

He shouldn’t have trusted them to keep their end of the bargain. No killing, and they agreed. 

He dug out his phone from his pocket and dialed a number. After exchanging pleasantries with the receiver, Vanir’s tensed voice was just enough hint for the person answering his call to know that something was out of place. 

“They have them, they got my daughters,” he lamented.

“Are the police involved?” the receiver asked innocently. 

“Not that. The vamps have her, what can the police do?” Vanir was desperate. 

“Calm yourself, we’ll work things out,” 

“They threatened to kill one of them in three days’ time, we need to act fast.” Vanir ran his hand through his ruff hair and then wiped the sweat that had been gathering from his forehead.

“I am not ready for this anymore, I have my own cross to carry,” the other person on the phone said and Vanir’s heart dropped, lump formed in his throat.

“Let’s lift mine together, I will lift yours too.” Vanir was desperate. He knew he wouldn’t be able to take on Blackclaw himself. 

“You don’t quite understand, do you?” The voice asked. Of course, he didn’t. 

“I just need your help, that’s all. You owe me one remembers?” he pleaded. 

“Yes, we will talk later. I don’t want to be late for my flight.”

“Where you headed to know?” Vanir asked as a sinking feeling stirred in the pit of his stomach. 

“My family, I really need to see them. We will talk later.”

“Thanks Aiden,”

“It’s nothing, the receiver replied before Vanir hanged up. 

Divina was angry at her mom she had a feeling her mom was keeping things from her, but she needed a shower. All would have been well, if nothing had happened in the woods. The swim, the injury, Kane, Byrd and All that. It was all a jigsaw puzzle she needed to bring the tiny pieces together. Kane wasn’t just Kane. And if that proposition was true, then there could be a conclusion that Byrd was not just any human. 

Damn him for being too handsome and so perfect.

Divina could recall that rugged look having a complete set of bulging muscles, tattoos and faded scars. She could recall the physique attested to an athletic lifestyle, his forearms which were marked by ropey muscles and lean lines of sinew. His dark body, big hands, herculean biceps beneath the transparent T-shirt. She had never had a feeling similar to her meeting with Byrd in her life. She had been wrong about Kane being the hottest.

Then there was her dream. What was it telling her?

The shower rivulet spilled down relieve. She couldn’t care for less. Closing her eyes to feel the warmth and soothing release, flashes of his body crept to her wandering mind.

Not now, I can’t be daydreaming. But she was already in the dream. His lips on hers, a kiss under the shower, her nipples kissing his chest, the feel of her hand on his biceps-Ferocious fangs having lips filled with blood and the most rile set of eyes destroyed her bliss. Divina was terrified to the bones; it had been so strong. Each strand of hair on her skin stood on its own. But it wasn’t Byrd’s face she saw but Kane’s. She needed answers and she needed them now. 

***




The next day, in the airport. Aidan picked up his cell to receive a call.

“Hey, how is it going?”

“Just arrived at the airport to discover that my flight had been shifted an hour further-” he waited for the reply from the other end of the call.

“I have told you; all is going to be well.” He assured the caller. 

“We have no choice. She can’t protect us and herself-” the caller had interrupted him again.

“Leave the witch hunters to me-” He paused, before he continued

“We will fix this together, I promise. I love you”

He placed the phone in his pocket. Aiden found somewhere to hang around before it was time for his flight. Sometimes boarding a plane could be a very traumatic and dramatic event. 

Especially when his mind wasn’t settled. While he was in the plane, it sat idle on the tarmac while the flight attendants strolled lackadaisically, so casually up and down the aisle. They were putting the bags in the overhead compartments to make sure everything fit. 

The pilots-leaning out of the cockpit, chatting with them as they passed, slowing down the process. This country is full of lazy people, are these going to fly? Aiden felt a hand on his shoulder, holding him to his seat.

“Hey there!” 

Aiden turned to get the shock of his life. It was Manu the grocery operator from his local store in the city. 

“Hello, Manu. How are you doing?” He tried sounding casual to hide his surprise.

“It’s so nice to meet you here Aiden,” the grocery operator said. 

“Yeah, definitely”

“You didn’t tell me you are leaving,” 

“I miss my family,” Aiden responded.

“I know how that feels, I visit my granny twice a month.”

“That’s really nice. Family is all we got,” 

“Are you going on a vacation?” Aiden asked. 

“Nah, but you could call it that. Vacation with my family,”

“That’s really nice,” 

Aiden’s body was unsettled, he didn’t know why. He just couldn’t name a thing which must have caused that. At last, the plane rolled lazily from the gate, it started to build speed with a gradual steadiness which was almost like a torture to him. 

He loved planes when they were in the air, not landing and taking off. Aiden lifted the phone in the back of the seat which was up front. He wanted to make a call, but he hesitated besides the stewardess eyes were already giving him-a sign of disapproval. But his expression stopped the stewardess from coming over to him to protest.