The Power of One (The Forever series Book Two) (15 page)

“Are you nervous?”

I laugh, “For the ceremony? No. For what comes after? Yes, a
little. You know, fear of the unknown…” I finish with my dress and Cole puts
his arms around me. “Well as long as you don’t burst into flames, we will
handle whatever comes,” he says quietly. “All of us,” he adds and I smile at
his inclusion.

XXXXX

The next morning is really busy with another round in the
spa and then getting ready. Nico brings us feeders, which are greatly
appreciated, and we all calm down a bit after that. One Vampire with nerves
sets off the rest in enclosed spaces and I was nervous. As I said before, not
for the ceremony but for whatever this Power wants me to see or do next.

Deciding to wear my hair up to show off the marking on my
back which is now so big it has the tip at the base of my neck and the bottom
point at the small of my back. My halter dress shows off the entire thing. If I
have to have it, might as well flaunt it.

Bunching my hair up and twirling it into a severe bun, I
push the pins in as Cole watches me again. I like him watching me, I decide
with a small smile. My deft fingers complete the hairdo in a matter of minutes.
I smooth it back and smile at Cole in the mirror. He smiles back, slow and
sexy. “I’ve never seen you with your hair so…” I raise an eyebrow at him, “…
away from your face.” He finishes and I chuckle at him.

“You like?”

“Always,” he breathes.

“Help me with my dress?”

He nods and stands, as do I. I take it from the hanger and
hand it to him. Taking off my robe, I am naked underneath. His eyes heat up but
he holds the dress up for me to step into. He pulls the thin ice blue satin up
over my hips and over my breasts and clasps the thin halter strap behind my
neck. I smooth out the fabric and turn. The soft, slinky material fits tight
across my breasts, showing a fair bit of cleavage, tight to the hips and falls
elegantly to the floor. The back is wide open with the material starting again
just above my hips. With my blonde hair swept up I look like an ice princess
and that was the desired effect. Cole is just gaping at me. “Well?” I say
stepping into a pair of silver peep toe Louboutins.

“I knew you would look amazing but fuck, Liv. I have never
seen anything more beautiful than you are right now.”

I smile smugly. No false modesty here. “Thank you,” I take
the compliment.

“I don’t feel worthy,” he whispers to me.

“Oh, you are more than worthy, my love. You are my destiny.”

He kisses me gently, not wanting to ruin a painstaking
couple of hours on messing up my hair and make-up.

“Necklace, please,” I say and he grabs the box off the
dresser and opens it.

“Whoa, baby,” he says, impressed. He takes out a single
six-carat diamond pendant on a platinum chain and holds it up to the light.
“That is just gorgeous,” he says, moving behind me and placing it around my
neck. It fits in perfectly with the dress. I have already poked my earrings
into place so all that is left is the diamond bracelet that Cole places on my
right wrist as my charms are forever on my left.

Perfect timing, as there’s a knock on the door. “Come in,” I
call out and Devon comes in. His eyes light up when he sees me and says, “Liv.
You look awesome.” He kisses me chastely with a quick glance at Cole. “Wow, I
cannot wait to see the look on that bitch’s face when she sees you,” he
exclaims and I giggle. Trust Dev to know exactly what to say. “Nico’s
downstairs waiting,” he says and I breathe in deeply and nod. Handing my phone
and a credit card to Cole to hang on to, I pick up my dress so I don’t trip and
we make our way downstairs. The reception is full and all eyes turn to me as we
walk past. I take great delight in the admiration.

Nico is waiting outside with CK’s limo. He stares at me for
a moment with that same look he had in Monte Carlo. He sees me watching him and
the shutters come back down. “Liv, you look wonderful,” he says briskly. I
incline my head in thanks and Cole grabs my elbow while I lift my skirt to
scoot in.

Once settled we set off and my nerves return so we sit in
silence on the short ride. Using the same process in reverse for exiting the
car, I swish both my feet around to the floor to step out with the help of Cole
taking my hand.

We make our way into the building and Giulia is waiting for
us. She grins when she sees me, “
Bella
Liv. You look fabulous.” I smile
my thanks as she hands visitor’s badges to Cole and Devon.  “You don’t need one
now!” she exclaims with glee. I chuckle and she pushes the button to the
elevator. “Mr. D’Arcangelo said to bring you right up so we can start,” she
says stepping in as it arrives. We follow.

The function room is on the third floor so the trip is
short, mercifully. Giulia steps out, followed by Devon and then me gripping
Cole’s arm for support of the moral kind. He smiles at me and I relax my death
grip slightly.

Giulia opens the function room door with a flourish to
announce our arrival. There is a collective gasp as everyone’s eyes land one
me. By everyone I mean about five Master Vampires who belong to Eloise and
Gregor, and roughly twenty of the older Greater Immortals who obviously belong
to the Masters, and a handful of high ranking Council Employees who vary in
kind from witches to humans. I find it curious that none of my own siblings are
here. Last but not least my eyes find the three Initial Vampires at the back of
the room, shifting my gaze from Gregor who looks at me with an even creepier
look than usual to Eloise who looks murderously envious and to my dear
Constantine who looks at me with pride, awe, and love. Real love, not the sire
kind, and I am taken aback. It’s been a while since I saw that look in his eyes
and I gulp. He quickly adjusts his features as he sees that I’ve noticed.

Letting me go Cole gives me a quick kiss, as does Devon with
a grin I know is due to Eloise’s bitchy face. I grin back and walk towards my
three colleagues.

I stand in front of them with an urge to burst out laughing
which must show on my face as CK hides his smile behind his hand.

One of The Council employees steps forward. I think he is
some sort of Druid or witch type person. And without further ado I am sworn
into The Council as its fourth member.

I repeat some words in Latin, “
Ego Aefre Allington nee
Coortan consilii religione, fide et pictate idem mehercule cum Lamia et
prodessemus civibus. Sanguine meo, hoc sacramentum istud hodie.”

Loosely translated; “I, Aefre Allington
nee
Coortan
by the sanctity of The Council, I vow to serve my fellow Vampires with honor
and loyalty. By my blood, I swear this oath here today.”

A quick stab of CK’s finger with a ceremonial dagger he
drops some blood into a basin and passes the dagger to Eloise who does the
same, as does Gregor. He hands it to me with a leer and I stab my finger. A
drop of blood wells up and I drop it into the basin. A rather spectacular
explosion occurs within the basin with my smoky black Power vortex welling up
and we all step back in surprise as I feel a pull on the other three members’
energy. I know they feel it too as Eloise puts a hand to her heart and draws in
a sharp intake of breath.

“Holy crap!” I exclaim glancing at CK who looks slightly
surprised. Recovering quickly he pulls me into a tight embrace and
congratulates me. He gives me a swift kiss and that look is back in his eye as
he murmurs, “You look breathtaking.” I drop my eyes in acceptance of his
compliment. Okay, maybe there is some slight modesty here when it comes to him.

He lets me go and to my surprise Eloise steps forward to
embrace me, sort of, in a half hug and a pat on the back.

“Welcome,” she says, icily. I incline my head in thanks and
then Gregor embraces me, letting his hand “accidentally” brush over my
backside. I tense and I know CK is fuming. He pulls me to his side as soon as
Gregor lets me go. “Well that’s that then, my sweet. Let’s see what happens
next.” I grimace at his words as my mark flares up. Not wanting to show
weakness I hold it together until CK leads me away and says, “I feel it too.
Are you okay?”

I nod grimly, “I fucking wish this was over already and we
could move onto the next phase.”

“I know, my love. It shows a strengthening of our
connection. We are now equals,” he says, casting an amused sidelong glance at
me and I snort, “Oh sure,” and he chuckles.

XXXXX

Taking a moment to “freshen up” I take a deep breath and
resume my composure. The pain in my back has resided thankfully so now I can go
and enjoy myself.

“Liv?” It’s Devon’s voice at the door. I open it with a
questioning look. Cole is standing next to him and they both hold up their
wrists. Their own markings have doubled in size and are now filled in pitch
black. Horrified, I turn around but they both say “No,” to my relief, but what
does it mean?

Getting more confused and irritated by this mystery I ask,
“Get me a drink, will you?” to neither of them in particular and they both turn
to go as Eloise steps into view.

Oh wonderful. I sigh.

She glares at me from her superior height. I have to admit
she does look lovely with her auburn hair curling around her shoulders, and an
emerald-colored dress that really makes her eyes quite striking. If she weren’t
such a hateful woman I would complement her.

“You are not worthy of this honor,” she states, “I have no
idea why this Power choose you, but Constantine has asked me to accept you. I
will try. But make no mistake, I will be watching you.”

“Do you do everything he tells you to do?” I snap in a bit
of a temper at her insults.

She smirks at me and leans in close, “Well he is very
instructive, as you know.”

My fist clenches to punch her in the face but I hold back.
Oh no, there will be a time and a place for that. Instead I place my own
twisted smile on my face and lean forward to her, “Oh yes. He was quite
explicit about what I should do to him in bed the other day.” Enjoying the look
of envy on her face, I saunter off in search of my husband.

Strangely I find him talking with CK and Devon. I look at
each of them in turn as Cole hands me a glass of Champagne.

“Just doing as you asked, my sweet,” CK offers up quietly
when my querying gaze lands on him.

I smile softly as Cole asks in amusement, “Everything okay
with your… colleague?”

I take the glass. “Thank you. Yes fine, nothing a good bitch
slap won’t cure,” I say in exaggerated hatred, looking at CK who looks back
again, puzzled by my loathing. Christ, men! Just as oblivious at 2759 as they
are at 20.

Clearing his throat Cole asks, “Liv. This sounds crazy but
your names before? Why did you use your old ones?”

“As my original name, it is the name that appears on all my
official Council documents. I can use any name I choose in the mortal world but
here I will always be Aefre Allington
nee
Coortan.” I sigh. I don’t mind
CK calling me by my first name, albeit he usually reverts it from the Old
English
Ah-vuh
to his native Latin
Ai-Vuh
on most occasions  -
just a subtle change to the Æ diphthong. I find it quite sweet that he prefers
to use it, as it is the name I told him a thousand years ago, but I am really
glad that I am not that girl anymore.

“Oh, so I’ll always be Cole O’Dell?” he asks.

I nod, “Yes.”

He turns to Devon, “What was your original name?”

Devon looks taken aback by the interest in him but then he
looks mildly pleased. “Always been Devon. Last name in 1506 was Sawyer.”

Cole flicks his gaze to CK and I smile as he hesitates. I
know his original name, he told me centuries ago when I asked but he won’t
reveal his private business in front of Cole and Devon. He takes a deep breath
though and I catch mine before he says, “Constantinus Kaius Aquila. It was
Etruscan.”

My mouth drops open. Holy shit! That is unbelievable! I
touch his arm, my face registering my surprise at him. He shrugs, “We are family
now. It’s of no consequence.” He dismisses it but Hell Yeah! It
is
of
consequence. This sudden change in his attitude towards Devon and to Cole is
mind-boggling and that old feeling of love springs up as I feel a massive wave
fall over me. I grip his arm tighter and I see him, in my mind’s eye. I see him
as a human. Quick distorted flashes depicting the events which led to his
becoming an Initial Vampire. I gasp in shock and horror. Looking at me in
concern, I hear him say my name quietly. I look wildly around the room, my eyes
searching for Eloise. As I find her I see another series of images flash
through my mind, I am gasping for breath as my eyes explicitly search for
Gregor. I find him and it happens again. Searing the horror of their creation onto
my brain. No wonder these events have been shrouded in secrecy. No sane person
should ever have to know what happened to them. And yet the three of them
do
know. And now I know. What they went through to create our race make me feel
nauseous and sobbing I look at my sire and he knows, “Aefre,” he says before I
bolt from the room needing air.

As I run from the room the feeling gets worse. More
information that I shouldn’t be privy to enters my head. The records of every
Vampire ever created and killed and by whom. A few of my own felonies jump out
at me along with the list of my own charges that I created. The library of all
ancient texts, every prophecy, every piece of information stowed in the
archives crashes into my head. It is completely overwhelming and as I reach the
door and stumble out into the cool evening air I pass out.

Fortunately for me, CK has caught up with me and I fall
ungracefully into his arms. I come to with my three loves, plus Eloise and
Gregor, staring at me in varying degrees of concern and amusement.