The door behind her has seen better days. The wood is well past the distressed phase and right into the whole ambiance of this situation. It’s like this place is only used to scare and kill people. A murder shack.
Maybe I’m in some sort of horror movie. I always knew I had a face for the big screen. This could be my shot. There could be a hidden camera somewhere for all I know.
I turn and jut out my chin, showing off my profile. We Verascues have great genes.
“What are you doing?” she asks.
“Are you filming this? I kind of got that vibe from the locale. Desolate area. Run-down shack in the woods. Of course, we could be on a beach somewhere, for all I know, since there are zero windows in here and I can’t hear anything.”
“Why would I film this? You irritating me wouldn’t make for great television. Besides, you’re not even the one I’m after.”
“You’re ruining my vibe here, female. I liked this a whole lot better when the thought of being a star was flitting around my head.”
Before she can reply, the door to the room is kicked in, causing splintered pieces of wood to go flying. Solomon enters, looking like me although less sexy. He can’t pull it off like I can.
“Wrong!” he yells as his eyes find mine. “I make this look way better than you.”
“Nope. Sorry.” I shake my head. “I think we need someone impartial to decide. We can ask Ari.”
“She’s not impartial. She’d totally side with you.”
I smile. “You’re right. She probably would. Let’s ask her anyway.”
The female fists her hands and blasts magic out at both of us. I’m rendered mute and my brother is thrown into the wall. But since this place is apparently a hole, Sol literally goes right through it and lands in a heap on the ground on the other side. That has to hurt.
It’s just the distraction my mom needs to teleport into the room. She could have come in silently and right behind the female who’s threatening us. She doesn’t because she’s Eloise Verascue and my brother and I learned our dramatics from her. What fun would it be if she showed up behind her and severed her head? She likes to play with her prey when she can.
“Anlyn,” my mom hisses. Now that’s a name I remember. Let’s see if I can recall the story that was told to us over Thanksgiving that year. Yes, we celebrate it. Sol and I like to eat.
My parents were vacationing somewhere in the Pacific Northwest. I swear they’ve been everywhere and done everything, though they do have places they frequent more than others.
On this particular day, there was a male and female—Anderson and Anlyn—my mother knew were fae from the start, even though they concealed who they were. The fae were talking to some humans, trying to coax them to coming with them. Mom read their minds and it seemed they found a vampire willing to give them powers but only if they brought him a snack.
The fae duo agreed and went in search of a couple who were childless. They didn’t know if the vampire intended on draining their bodies or not. Once the pair convinced the couple to join them for some afternoon fun, my parents stepped in.
The human couple were quickly dismissed, and my parents wasted no time finding an empty side street and teleporting the fae duo away. They were powerful with their magic, although my parents were stronger in other ways. They had the element of surprise and the ability to teleport to snatch their prey before magic could be used on them. They also had experience and age on their side.
Mom and Dad brought them to a deserted area of town they had passed earlier in the day. Anderson decided, since his chance of getting more power was ruined, that he wanted my parents to gift them their powers. That didn’t go over too well. No one demands anything of my family, and they certainly weren’t able to buy their way in. My family has more money than they could spend and houses all over the world.
One rejection after another happened until Anlyn turned to my dad and offered her body in exchange for powers. My dad, who is very loyal to my mom, turned her down immediately. Then my mom went on an insulting spree because there was no way my dad would ever desire anyone as much as her. Obviously, these two fae weren’t familiar enough with the mate bond or they just didn’t care.
A fight ensued. One where Anlyn tried to use her magic on my mom. Anderson then charged my dad and was able to get the jump on him. He had my dad’s head in a magical band, which is capable of severing someone’s head from their body with a simple flick of their finger. Mom didn’t like this one bit.
My mom’s vision went red when her mate’s life was on the line. She snapped once to teleport behind Anderson, grabbed his wrists, and tore his arms right off his body. But she didn’t stop there. She dug her nails into his neck until they were wrapped around his spine—the only thing keeping his head attached to his body as blood poured from him. She told Anlyn to release the band from my dad's neck and she’d let the male live.
She lied.
As soon as the band was gone, she finished the job and killed Anderson. No one messes with the Verascues. But Mom had a moment of charity and let Anlyn live. She saw into her mind and noticed Anlyn had a family of her own. A human mother who was sick and didn’t want her life extended by being bit by a vampire. She was tired and wanted to move on to see her fae male, who was killed years prior. So
