The Quarter Moon (Afterlife saga) (62 page)

“Yes
, My Lord?”

“Why don’t you introduce him to Abaddon
.” Lucius instructed and my head shot round to see he was serious. I was about to scream ‘are you out of your friggin mind!’ but he just mouthed the single word ‘trust’ to me and I decided I had no other option. Lucius nodded back to the scene now unfolding and thanks to my shudder, Lucius wrapped an arm around my middle and pulled me tighter into the comfort of his hold and then whispered,

“Don’t look away Keira, your little friend needs to draw his strength from you…so be strong for him
, as I know you can.” I did as I was told, nodding to Percy when I saw guilt flash there.

Then it really began.

“With pleasure.” Adam rumbled, letting the first touches of his deeply contained other self merely skim the surface. I actually didn’t know what was more frightening to witness, the monster that was known as Abaddon, who was every last thing Hell signified? Or was it the geeky accountant who first pushed up his glasses before placing a single tip of his index finger on Dimme’s arm. Of course the second sounded a lot less threatening, that was until it released pure Hell inside his body and literally started to cook Dimme from the inside out.

It looked as though
it started with his very soul and licked outwards to make blistering skin. Ruto released his hold over him when he knew it was no longer necessary. Dimme wasn’t going anywhere with his host that was soon becoming a charred version of his former self. His skin popped and crackled like a cooking pig, making me gag. The extreme heat was coming from the fire that you could see raging under the flesh and his face had become a grotesque jack ‘o lantern as you could see the brief glow behind his eyes and in his open mouth before the flames erupted from both.

Any minute
I was expecting him to just burst open like a skin balloon trying to contain the fire but this didn’t happen. Adam gently ran the same fingertip down his blackened arm and then, as if he had been made of paper, pieces of his remains started to turn to white ash and float to the floor like dainty snowflakes.

And that was the end of my short term jailor and Percy’s long term tormentor. I really tried to be the better person and find some tiny part of me that felt sorry that it had happened this way, but one look at the horrific abuse he put my friend through, I just couldn’t do it. I
did however get up from Lucius’ lap, walk over to my unmoving friend and put my arms around him to pour every ounce of comfort I had in me to give.

“I promised I would make it right, but in the end Percy, you did it! You were the one brave enough to save me and in doing so, you saved yourself…I am…so, so…proud of …you
.” I said this last part through the tears that fell from raw emotions that had ripped me wide open for all to see. It felt like I couldn’t remember a time where I didn’t cry anymore, whether it was through sadness, fear, pain, humiliation, anger, extreme happiness or utter relief. My tears stood as evidence to the gaping hole Draven had put there and it only seemed to fill in times like this. Times where the friends I had gained before or the new friends that had been placed on my journey’s path came to find me. Whatever the time, whatever the place and whatever the trials put in place, no matter the heartache I faced, there they all were …ready to save me.

But I not only felt saved, more importantly I felt blessed and I didn’t need the
Gods for that, because all I needed was what I always had…

My friends. 

After all that had happened there was only one thing left and that was for Percy to declare his loyalty to Lucius. He did so with such fierce determination it was humbling
to witness. He knelt at Lucius’ feet and sliced into his palm to offer his new master his own blood to bind his faithful service. However, it wasn’t just the honour I saw in Percy’s eyes that was so surprising to me, but it was that same honour I saw in Lucius’ that shocked me the most. He truly looked pleased to be gaining such a person into his fold and there I was, nearly crying all over again because of it!

“Do you Percy
, declare your soul into my ownership, sealed with your very blood, branding you as one of my own?” Lucius had asked him and Percy, even with his own tears pouring down his puckered skin, decided to use them to prove the sincerity of his commitment to his new Lord. After cutting into his skin, he captured the salty drops from his chin that mixed with his blood. Lucius seeing this nodded sincerely, accepting Percy’s deep sign of respect for what it was, nothing short of a life sacrifice. Percy was telling Lucius this way that if ever the chance arose, he would lay down his life to save him.

“I do, with all that I am
.” He said this with not once shred of a stutter it made me realise why. Percy was a Hercules Hero trapped inside a body that had never been given the chance to bloom. He had never in his life until now been shown his true worth, not until Lucius had asked him to make this vow. After all, this wasn’t something he had to do. He could have just made Percy leave and go on his merry way into a world he didn’t even know. But he didn’t do that. No, what he did do was go above and beyond what anyone of us ever expected him to do.

“Then Percy
, I hereby decree that not only are you now one among us, but I have decided to position you inside my very council and swear to you my protection until the day comes that you no longer want to exist in this world.” At these words I wasn’t the only one expressing my shock.

“I…I…
My Lord, I…” Percy was having a hard time understanding what this meant but Lucius looking slightly amused, just leant closer to him and said,

“Just accept it
, lad.” Percy beamed up at him as though he was looking into the very eyes of his own personal God and then nodded quickly saying,

“I won’t let you down
, Sir.” Again I was amazed that when talking to Lucius his voice was completely different. Like the man inside him desperate to get out was allowed that freedom when in the presence of his master.

“You already haven’t
.” Lucius replied and then looked at me making it very clear what he meant by that statement. A deep blush rose in response to such a heated look, that I had to look away first. Only when I could no longer feel Lucius’ hungry gaze on me I looked back to see him dip a finger in the small pool of blood that had gathered in Percy’s palm before lifting it to his lips to suck it clean. I watched as he shuddered after closing his eyes and only seconds went by before they flicked open again. First they were the blood red I was used to seeing on Lucius whenever his emotions ran high, but now since his change there were also added swirls of yellow ochre swimming in the centres.       

“Right, now that business is out of the way, now for something personal
.” Lucius stated getting up and motioning for Percy to do the same. I looked back and made eye contact with him, giving my friend the thumbs up, receiving a shy smile back.

I was still looking at him silently laughing when I felt Lucius touch my arm, startling me.

“Come Keira, dine with me.” With the intense way he was still looking at me, it felt more like he was asking me out on a date and not willing to take no for an answer. I couldn’t find anything witty or smart mouthed to say, as my defence mechanism refused to kick in, so instead I just found myself nodding. He led me away, back to his apartment and just when Pip was about to follow, Adam grabbed hold of her and shook his head telling her no. I wondered what it was about as the look from Adam’s face said that he knew what Lucius was planning. Now that made me nervous!

Lucius didn’t speak all the way, nor did he look back at me. I
mean why would he, it’s not as if he had to keep checking to see if I followed considering it felt like he wasn’t letting go of my hand any time soon. He opened the door and let me in first with his outstretched arm until he had to eventually let go.

“Leave
!” At first I thought he was talking to me and was about to snap ‘make up your damn mind’, when I saw a half-naked waitress with a shaved head and several facial piercings who I recognised from last time. She had been replacing the food that must have gone cold from earlier, with another covered tray. One look from Lucius in his masterful mode told her to leave the trolley and cut and run.

Once the door closed the air suddenly felt thick with what needed to be said. I just opened my mouth to say what was on my mind when Lucius spoke.

“Sit down and eat before you fade into nothing.” I looked down at myself suddenly feeling self-conscious and hugged my once fleshy belly. He gave me a raised eyebrow that said don’t challenge me and snapped,

“Eat
!” I let my stomach answer him as it chose once again the perfect timing to groan. I did as I was told, which was quite possibly the easiest command I had yielded to, considering I was starving. I walked to the dining table the food was all set out on, which was set separated back from the room in its own raised alcove. I stepped up to the first covered plate and when I revealed its hidden treasure I groaned out loud at the sight.

“My new council member told me how you had a cheeseburger craving for three weeks
.” I turned to find him stood closer than before and the smile I gave him softened his gaze. We both took our seats and before I had even scooted my chair all the way in, I had the greasy goodness in my hands and taking my first mouthful from the Heavens.

“Oh
God!” I moaned round my mouthful. I even think my eyes must have rolled back up in my head because Lucius started chuckling at me.

“That good?” He asked and I nodded like a mad woman a
round my next mouthful, not giving any care that I was acting like a pig.

“You have no idea and if you told me it was made from the ass end of a rat right now I would still eat like it’s going out of fashion
.” At this he burst out laughing again and I couldn’t help but smile around my next bite. He was so handsome when he smiled like that and it was hard to take my eyes from the sight.

“You not hungry?” I asked when I noticed he wasn’t touching any of the covered plates.

“Not for food.” This was when the heated gaze came back full force. I swallowed the food as though I was trying to swallow his words and they too didn’t want to go down.

“Keira
, I have a proposition for you to consider.”

“Okay…what are you proposing exactly?” I asked feeling that prickling sensation at the back of my neck when you know something is coming and it is screaming danger.

“I will take you to Draven.”

“You will! Oh my
God Lucius, that is just…I mean, oh God this can’t be… wait…so does that mean you know where he is?!” I shouted now ignoring the back of my neck altogether. I didn’t care what he wanted from me, if was going to get me to Draven then I would do anything!

“I think I just might but…”

“But what…what do you want in return?” I asked only to wish afterwards I hadn’t been so eager to know, as what he said next made my burger slip from my hands and the food I had already consumed turn to lead.

Just two words…

“One night
.”  

Chapter 55

Seeing the Moon Light

To say i
t took me a while to process those two words was an understatement. Upon reflection, then maybe my initial reaction to it was a little over the top. I still remember his face of delighted amusement as I jumped from my seat so quickly it knocked the chair back. At this point I couldn’t even find the words as the shock was still seeping its way into the part of my brain that begged the question…did I just hear that right?

I had just placed my open hands to the table and lowered my head, shaking it slowly as if this would help the understanding process. Needless to say it didn’t and when Lucius stepped closer and placed his hand on mine, I acted like I had been stung. I whipped my hand from his and backed away from him as though I was facing my most dangerous challenge yet…

Temptation.

“Keira…” Lucius purred and I retreated further, nearly falling backwards as I didn’t account for the step the raised dining room was set on. Thankfully I righted myself in time and just as his hand came out to grab me I turned and ran from him. I knew he could have caught me, so I was more than glad when he didn’t try. It was obvious that the pure horror on my face was enough to tell him I needed time alone. And time alone was what I received as I ran to his room and then through into the bathroom where I barricaded myself in, with not only the lock on the door but also throwing a cabinet across the frame for good measure.

And this was where I remained for the rest of the night.

Knocks came and went
from so many different people, they all mingled into one. At some point of my solitude I realised this was a strange reaction from me but the underlying reasons were there, as if they had been cut out of me. A shameful reaction to go with the shameful truth…damn temptations of the worst kind! I hated myself for giving it even a single thought of possibility.  

I should have shouted and screamed at Lucius for even thinking of such a thing
, but I found myself so petrified of giving in to a moment’s weakness, I just had to run. I wanted so badly to be this girl who had faced all these death defying trials and come out on top, come out of it all with the one man I loved. But no-one ever said in these trials would be the lure of a man I had grown to have secret feelings for, if only a very small percentage of what I felt for Draven.

So
, with this heartbreaking revelation came my breakdown. Because it wasn’t just Lucius, and the truth of the matter was what I felt for Lucius was the same as what I felt for them all. Vincent and his forbidden kiss. Sigurd and his blood binding bond that fused a small part of his soul with mine. Jared with the bargain we made and the conflicting possessiveness he felt towards me. And then there was Lucius and the last words he had said to me that day…

“That power won’t ever love me back and she was right, power was only ever gained in loving her.”

And so I cried and sobbed and held onto my chest like the hole Draven had left was freezing around the edges. I knew how easy it would have been to say yes, but how hard it would be to live with that answer given. I couldn’t do it, no matter what it promised me in the end.

So this was it, this was what all I had gone through came down to. The biggest test of them all and I didn’t even know if I was making the right decision. Was this really what fate had in store for me?
A man I considered a friend, who I always knew wanted so much more than the only thing I could offer him. But now what? Did he really think that he could use this opportunity as a tool to show me how he cared or was this just another game played from an added opponent?

I felt as though
I didn’t know anything anymore. Only it felt more than that, it felt as if I was running towards Draven, but without even realising I was on damn treadmill that would always keep me back. I felt that no matter what I did I could never run fast enough!

I don’t know when it happened but at some point I must have exhausted myself because I felt my body being lifted. I knew Lucius had hit his limit on letting me wallow in my misery and in the back of my mind I could only hope this was enough of a sign to take back his deal. I was lowered into his bed, wrapped in his arms and fell back to sleep
, hoping that the next day would be a day that answers weren’t needed from questions not asked.

Of course
, this was not the day I woke up to, or should I say night as living with Vampires my nights had become my days. I was at least thankful that this time I woke alone. I rubbed my sore eyes from hours of pitiful sobbing and sniffed trying to unblock my nose thanks to wasted energy on breathing through the panic.

I was hit by so many emotions
, but I had to say the top two were shame and anger. Both were directed at myself but only one was aimed at Lucius and it was obvious which one. So, whilst I was letting this one overrule over every other one, I took my opportunity to put it to good use. I whipped the covers back and stormed into the sitting room to let rip.

I found Lucius having some sort of meeting with every one of his council and I barely registered the new comers
, Liessa and her husband Caspian, before I screamed,

“HOW DARE YOU!” I stood there panting with my fist
s clenched by my sides, wanting so much to put them to good use. Every head turned to face me, including Percy who was the newest council member. But I cared nothing for the mortified looks I received as I only had vengeful eyes for Lucius.

“My Keira girl, good to see you…”

“Cut the shit Lucius! You and me need words!” I snapped cutting off his bullshit condescending tone. He sighed and then said softly,

“As you wish
.” He rose from his seat to face me.

“How could you do this to me?
How could you use me like that?” He frowned at my take on his proposition and I circled round the couch to come closer to him. Meanwhile the others all looked round in shock at my freak out.

“Use you?” He asked as though he couldn’t believe he was even asking me this question.

“Then what would you call it?!”

“I…” He found himself stumbling for the right way to answer.

“You! You are using my pain for your gain!” I was losing it as my voice rose to just below a scream. I was shaking with the force of it, knowing that he was using this situation to get his rocks off from a one night stand, which might leave him smiling but leave me broken from guilt for the rest of my life!

“What?
No, You…I…” It was the first time I was watching Lucius struggle for words and I realised that all the surprised looks weren’t from witnessing my outburst but from Lucius’ inability to handle it. We both stopped to look at everyone and then both shouted together,

“GET OUT!”

“GET OUT!”

Within seconds the room once again only belonged to us as it had done last night. Only instead of the flight option I opted for then, now I was there to fight. We stood facing each other, both breathing heavy and
both trying to hold something back.

“I need to explain
.” He finally said in a sharp voice that sounded close to the edge.

“Damn straight!” I said poking at the beast that barely held back a growl.

“The offer I made you last night was…”

“Ridiculous
.” I cut in this time making him growl.

“Watch it
, little girl.” He warned but I stood my ground.

“Or what Lucius,
‘cause you know you can’t force the issue, that’s not part of the deal!” I snapped being malicious.

“And what do you mean by that exactly?” Oh
, he wanted bitch, then he was gonna get a bitch!

“Well
, let’s call this what it is and cut the bullshit, the only reason you want me is for some fucked up way of getting back at Draven. But for that you need me willing or what would be the point…?” At this point he really did hit the roof! He roared, losing all his iron control and burst into his demon self. I took a single step back but other than that, I held my ground.

I knew it was a low blow
, but it wasn’t one I could have taken back even if I wanted to, which right at that moment I didn’t. This was for the pure plain fact that this was the only reasoning I could have as if it was for anything more, like the fact the bastard cared, then he would never have asked this of me. No-one with half a brain would ask someone they had feelings for to do something that would rip them to shreds later on!

Or at least that
is what I thought before seeing Lucius change. His gleaming white horns stood proud at his back and with them the angel’s wings that went from white to yellow, then rust to blood red in the centre of his back. He was like the rising phoenix and as he rolled his shoulders I could see the flash of gold that tipped his impressive horns.

“You should be running
, little girl.” He said this in his demonic voice that cut into me as if the claws that grew from his fingers were gouging grooves in my bones. I swallowed down my fear and stood my ground in the face of a demon about to blow.

“I am not afraid of you!” I said and was impressed that I did so without the waver in my voice.

“Then you are even more foolish than I thought minutes ago.” He snarled as he started to advance slowly on me.

“What, when I spoke the truth?
”

“A truth
you clutch at so desperately to shadow the real reasons behind what is really going on here.” I shook my head but my eyes must have shown him the insecurities of what lay beneath.

“NO!” I screamed but with my outburst came his own as he flipped one of the large couches back as though it was pumped up with air. However
, when it went crashing against the far wall and smashing a big hole there, it looked as though that air had been replaced by iron bricks. I jumped but not only at the sounds of destruction but also the speed in which he reached me.

His hands took poss
ession of the top of my arms in a bruising hold and I twisted to try and escape.

“No…no…Lucius…
pl…” I pleaded but he lowered his head to mine and whispered over my lips,

“Please
.” Then I screamed as he wrapped his arms round me, lifted until my feet no longer touched the ground and ran at the closed window. I turned my head to watch and his name came strangled from my throat as the window exploded outwards. Then he launched us both through it with a twist of his body. I found myself being held to his front with my back to the coming ground and I screamed in sight of my death.

Glass scattered the ground like deadly snow but thankfully there was no one there underneath to receive the brunt of his actions. I closed my eyes and buried my head in his chest having to trust in him not to kill me.

“Please.” There it was, the word whispered again in prayer hoping to break through the damage I had done. I felt his legs hook round mine as the weight of them was pulling me away from him. Now I was trapped to the length of him and I was soon glad of this when I felt his wings start to move. He pulled us both upright, so I opened my eyes again to see us flying off into the night.

I didn’t know where he was taking us
, but just as long as it wasn’t at greater heights, so he could do more damage in dropping me, was fine by me. Thankfully, his strong grip on me told me he wasn’t letting me go anywhere and even through our argument I still found comfort being held in his arms.

He didn’t say a word or even steal a look down at me the whole time. It gave me the chance to study the harsh
lines of his chiselled face, which at this minute was clearly set in annoyance. Normally his smirking lips were the indication of a playful character set in a granite body but now they were gone and in their place a grim line of resolve.

Only when it became too painful to look at the evidence of what I had done, did I turn away from him. I looked out to the night and saw the orange glow of Munich’s massive city hall coming closer. I bit down on my bottom lip hoping the bite of pain would help control the raging current of my emotions. I didn’t want to hurt Lucius and I knew my words would cut deep but what other option did I have? I wanted to push him away…so, so far away that this bargain would have been the last thing on his m
ind. What had I really expected? For him to throw Draven’s whereabouts at me like an insult? Did I really think that was going to happen?

My internal questioning stopped as I saw him fly us closer to the rising clock tower. I briefly saw the dark shape of an angelic figure mounted at the very top of the spire we were circling.

“What are we…?” I braved to ask but stopped when his wings suddenly folded inwards making us drop quickly. I let out a little cry as we fell past the bells and then some windows before I felt a thud vibrate through Lucius as his feet hit something.

“Open your eyes
, Keira.” Lucius commanded softly and with this I felt him lower me down until my own feet touched a floor. I forced my eyes open and looked up to see Lucius watching me. His features were half shadowed but his eyes blazed with emotions he barely kept unleashed. I could no longer stand it and I raised my hand to caress his cheek. I was only a hairsbreadth away when his hand snatched out to grab my wrist to prevent my touch. I couldn’t deny that it hurt but not in the physical sense.