Emily wondered briefly just how much power this “child” harnessed and how old Alice even was. Such an already powerful rove turned vampire. How terrifying was that!? How did that even happen?
The little girl’s flesh started to steam as she poured more of her magic and rage in the blast of electricity cutting into the dome. The dome held nonetheless.
“Stop this bullshit!” Marion shrilled. When his sister didn’t budge, he marched up to her and pulled her back.
Alice turned on him and pounded her hands into his chest, driving him back—vampire strength. Just lovely. “Don’t touch me!”
“Do what she says, Man,” Chandler said, docile as ever.
“You’re just in love with her and can’t think straight!” Alice accused Marion. She sounded like she was on the brink of tears. But Emily wasn’t focused on the girl’s impending tears.
Marion’s in love with me? Emily thought to herself. What?
Well, surprise, surprise, Selena teased.
18
Marion didn’t speak at first. Alice also went placid because she’d run out of steam—literally. Her shoulders slumped as Marion tried to collect himself. Emily could see his ears burning with a reddish color. The redness spread out to his cheeks.
Michael’s gaze fell to Emily in a way that caught her attention. Even he knew to keep his mouth shut right then.
Emily couldn’t believe what she’d heard. She wanted to assume the little girl was just making empty accusations and trying to embarrass her brother. But, when Emily thought about it, the evidence suggested otherwise. Marion had saved her from Alice once.
Emily’s reasonable mind questioned her emotional state. Marion was the kind of guy to fall in love with, for sure. He was the perfect physical specimen, plus calm and kind-looking. Of course, she believed otherwise since he was there to kill her father and imprison her. But maybe if situations were reversed, or maybe if he wasn’t some psychotic murderous rove, she might crave his touch.
Nevertheless, it was what it was. Marion was on the evil side, and no matter what he did or said, she couldn’t let her desires get the better of her. It didn’t, however, mean she didn’t want to hear the rest of the story.
“Well, that’s just awkward,” Chandler announced in the cold night air.
Alice had turned her back to Marion and Chandler and was now glaring at Emily. “I’m going to enjoy skinning you alive,” she snarled.
Geez, this cute little girl was a monster. Again, Emily was stricken by how much rage and hatred emanated from the child—or whatever she was. She didn’t look more than twelve, yet her heart was steeped in hate. Although, if Alice was a vampire, she was likely much older than twelve. Heck, she could be twelve hundred! Was she really even related to Marion and Chandler at all? Or were all the Alfreds vampires?
Emily shook the thoughts from her mind. None of that mattered at the moment anyway. What did matter was dealing with the evil little girl in front of her. And, try as she did, she could not match Alice’s level of animosity. Emily didn’t wish for anyone to die. She just wanted to be left alone. She was even willing to let Mom’s death go unpunished. The past was the past. She just wanted to forge ahead with her life and her friends.
“I don’t want any trouble,” Emily said in a weak voice. “I just want you all to leave us alone.”
She knew her words were pointless. Yet, she had to try. She had to try to persuade them to turn their backs. Because when she let the fire demon come out to play, he was going to feel no sympathy for them, nor was she going to yank on the creature’s chains to hold him back.
Alice’s response to her words was a spitting laughter. “You’re such a pussy!” she spat. Her face metamorphosed from the sarcastic laughter to loathsome venom as she swiveled on her heels. “Again!” she shouted.
Chandler was the first to make up the circle. Marion held back for a moment. His eyes unfocused. Emily looked in them and saw the hesitation of a soul who was being twisted into doing something he’d rather not.
“Marion!” Alice snarled, her vexation pouring into her voice.
Emily got the feeling that Alice was used to getting her way and bossing her brothers around. Emily wondered if it was because she was the youngest and Daddy’s favorite or because she was the most powerful of them all. There was a lot more to that kid than met the eye.
Marion met Emily’s gaze. The moment that happened, her heart stopped short for a fraction of a second. Uh-oh. She watched as determination flooded into his eyes. Emily didn’t know what he was determined to do. She didn’t even know him, which made his being in love with her all the more preposterous.
One moment he’s new to their school, the next moment he’s asking her to come to a party because he wants to be ‘friends’ with her. Then the next, he’s part of a family of evil roves who want to unleash hell on earth, and they need to kill her to make that work. Not exactly the beginning of a love story. So, needless to say, she had no idea what he was thinking at that moment.
Marion walked up to the duo and made up the circle. Immediately, they started chanting. Emily turned her back on them and faced Michael.
“Come on, let’s go inside,” Emily said just as the fireball slammed into the dome, and the dome crackled and spat electricity everywhere.
Michael didn’t speak. But he allowed her to guide him back to the cottage. Inside, the comfort of the warm living room called out to her. The moment Emily settled into the couch, she could feel sleep trying to grab her.
She was going to be useless in a few moments. But she only
