Chapter One Hundred and Four

“I’m not sure I’m totally happy to see you. Particularly because I think I know why you’re here.” Despite his words, Chisisi folded his arms over his chest and smiled. His accent was as a thick Egyptian. “I’m surprised to see you bring her here with you though. I didn’t think you got along with the witch and devil?”

“I don’t.” Bram smiled back. Gavin didn’t stay to far from him, and Jen was only a few steps behind that. Scarlet hesitated. There weren’t many among the elders she didn’t get along with. If there was anyone she didn’t want as part of their welcome, it was Elder Chisisi. “You know women though.” Bram held his arms out as he descended. “They hear they have a grandchild and have to come running.”

“Excuse me?” Chisisi said, shock evident on his face. “You? Did you have a child, Bram?” There was a sparkle in his eye, but fear resided there too. “Found yourself a mate, finally, have you?”

Bram laughed loudly, “Finally isn’t the half of it. The woman is absolutely amazing” He said. That Chisisi was allowing him to continue to get closer was a good sign. It meant that the trust between them wasn’t completely gone. “I have had a child. I brought one extra cigar to smoke, because I knew you would be the only one who would care enough to celebrate with me.” Weighing his hands like scales, Bram chuckled. “Maybe. Hopefully.”

“I wish you had come to me earlier. My assistant had been trying to contact yours for days. It would have been nice to be able to get to speak with you before this. There’s no way we’re going to have a private conversation here.” Chisisi held out his hand, shaking Bram’s as they met in the center of the room.

“I actually have a way to fix that.” Bram smiled, holding his hand up, he twirled a finger in the air and a small black tornado like vortex spun there. Chisisi watched in shock.

“Is that shadow magic?” His face fell, his eyes riveted on the vortex as Bram spun his hand in the air.

His smile deepened, “Something like. Watch this.” With his other hand, he grabbed the shadow and elongated it, tossing it in the air between them. When it fell, a shield of shadow wrapped around the two vampires. “Let’s be honest, we don’t have a ton of time. I wanted to let you know that I figured out what the other Elders are doing. I’m hoping that you’re not involved and that you don’t want to be.” Bram’s smile dwindled, his arms crossing over his chest.

“I don’t have all the details of what’s going on, but I can tell you, no one was pleased to see me show up today. I think they only allowed me to stay because they wanted me to be the one to great you at the entrance. They were hoping they would figure out your intention. How the hell are you doing this though? The witch figured out how to give you a different form of magic?” Chisisi poked at the darkness surrounding them. It was like a soft sponge, moving when he touched it, but dense as brink when trying to move through it. “Is this soundproof then?”

“Soundproof, yes. But this is no work of Scarlet. I can only do it with the help of a friend.” Bram said. Suddenly, a pale white face with red eyes appeared to their left, a huge wide grin plastered across his visage.

Chisisi jumped, as Eudom twittered with glee. “Bram called Eudom a friend!” Eudom’s arms came out to wrap around Bram’s shoulders. Hugging him excitedly.

“Eudom!” Bram chided, “We agreed that we would let everyone believe that I did have new magic.” Bram frowned, but let the shadow entity hug him to his heart’s content. The last thing he could afford to do right now was get on Eudom’s bad side.

“You told him it wasn’t magic.” Eudom countered. “Besides. We know Chisisi will join Bram. The others don’t like you being hidden. They move in now.” With that, Eudom disappeared back into his dark wall surrounding them.

Bram cleared his throat. “Well, I guess he didn’t want us to waste any time.” He frowned, looking at Chisisi. “I suppose you know then that the elder’s have decided to take me and my group down. They want to follow Vlad’s plan to out the vampire’s all over the world and take what they call, ‘their rightful place on the top of the food chain.’”

Chisisi played with the golden chain around his neck. “I’ve heard that much. I know they have Tyler here, but I didn’t know that your parents were at odds.”

“They’re not. Scarlet and Vlad strung me along with lies. They’re hoping that the elders here will kill me. I know Scarlet wasn’t happy to see you show up. They are framing the elders for Tyler’s abduction. They’re hoping that with the elders, Mihaela, and them, they’ll finally be able to take me down.”

“Why would you bring the witch then? If she truly wants to try to kill you, with a group like you just said, it’s possible she will succeed.” Chisisi rubbed his chin, his black eyes sparkling. He was clearly excited to hear what Bram had up his sleeve.

Bram shrugged, “All you really need to know at the moment is that I have a plan. One that I’m very confident in. So, shall you join me, or would you prefer to die with the rest of them?”

Shrugging Chisisi eyed the shadow wrapped around them. “I’ve always followed you before, and have no intention of turning on you now. You really think you can finally take down Mihaela though?”

Bram smiled, twirling his hand so that Eudom dropped from around them, disappearing into thin air. Patting the bag attached to his back, he shook his head. “She’s the least of my concerns.”

“Shit. You’re not here to play around.” Chisisi’s black eyes looked him up and down before landing on Gavin. “You brought others?”

“Yeah. This is my assistant, Gavin. And my adoptive daughter, Jen. Mihaela turned her recently. Fun fact, stay out of her way. She’s a new blood with magic.” Bram grinned, making his rounds of introduction. From the back of the room, he could hear movement. Other vampires were watching them, waiting to see what they were going to do.

“With raging teenage hormones to boot.” Jen added, smirking, her amber eyes sparkled like diamonds in the flickering light around them.

Gavin huffed, his gaze riveted beyond the others. “We have company. A lot, of company.” Like a cat, Bram could see his hackles raise. He was good at weighing the odds, and he didn’t like what was heading their way. His head jerked toward the back.

Bram just smiled, pushing his hands into his pocket. “I don’t plan on showing a lot of mercy, if there’s anyone you want to save beyond yourself, you best convince them quickly to change sides, Chisisi. Hopefully, you didn’t bring anyone you really care about to such an event.”

“All these new bloods were brought here for the war against you. Filthy vermin who want to be on top of the world. Many paid in blood and money to take their place here. I could have helped you with a plan earlier if you had reached out.”

“I suppose it’s time to set the rat traps then.” Both Gavin and Jen turned to look at him, nodding. Both bolting in different directions as Bram pulled his bag under his arm, opening one side and slipping something as large as a bowling ball out.

“You’re fucking kidding me?” Chisisi stared in abject shock as Bram set the thing ablaze throwing it into the darkness around them.

The vampires crowding in hissed at it, the light surprising them all. Even worse were the eyes of one of their former elders staring up at them, silent horror etched over her features. “MY CHILDREN,” Bram announced loudly, “Kill anyone who would place vampires before humans.”

He knew there wouldn’t be many. Aleigha didn’t turn anyone lightly because her power was better used for ghouls. But the few that were there, immediately pounced on the others. Ripping open throats and tearing the others limb from limb. Or, they died. Not that Bram cared about any of them.

After that, Bram threw himself into the fight. Jen and Gavin were already doing their fair share of damage to the new bloods. Gavin was quick. Relentless with his attacks taking each one down quickly and efficiently. Jen relied on her magic. Bram didn’t regret the practice he’d provided her, though it felt harsh at the time. She was a child with a cruel past, and she let all her aggression out here on the battlefield. These were the same people who had started the attacks on orphans. Wanted to be able to eat the pure souls caught up in the system. Though Bram fought, he didn’t have to put his all into it. That was part of the plan. This wasn’t where he would be most needed. Every now and then, a black shadow crossed their enemy’s path. They were too close to Jen; or had a kill on Gavin. Eudom wouldn’t stand for it. They’d all become his people. Just as they’d made Eudom theirs.

He heard Scarlet gasp behind them. And he turned to look at her among the chaos. “You have a choice mother. I know what you want and the purpose of your scheming. It’s high time you make a choice. Here and now. Will you continue to fight so that your husband can make cattle of humans, or will you finally see that there’s a family, which you can fawn over for eternity, right here in front of you.”

“I’m mated with your father.” Tears welled up in her eyes. “You know that if he dies, so will I.”

“He doesn’t need to die, but only for your sake. He needs to stand down. We can look at the rest and figure it out in time. If, this is your choice, I suggest you find him, and take him away from this debacle as soon as you can. Do you understand?” Bram lifted his arms. Standing in the center of chaos with not a single opponent able to touch him. Scarlet had her uses. He needed to be able to keep her alive, because it was the only way he would keep Izabella by his side for eternity without turning her.