“These laws are getting out of hand. Telling us how to feed, when to feed, what to drink, who to mate with. Even when to go outside! How long since you have felt the sunshine? I miss the beach, Bastian.” She plops into a chair and pretends to pout.
Shock has him turning to look at his sister. “Truly? Aren’t you a little old to sulk? The rules were created to protect all immortals. If an imbalance occurs…”
“Then what? What if it’s just the next step in our evolution, Sebastian?” Leaping to her feet excitedly she moves to him and lifts her identical hazel eyes to his.
“Enough.” He hisses and replaces the bottle in his safe. “What has gotten into you? Or rather, who? You know as well as I what happens when the rules are not obeyed. They were created to slow the population growth down. All immortals follow the same rules, Mags.”
“I know that Sebastian, but why? Because a story was written ages ago says that a herald will be born with power enough to equalize the races.” Spinning away, she paces and tosses her hair over her shoulder. “Your love for Lailah was not wrong!”
Sebastian flinches and turns away from her to walk to the window. The sun is moving over head and soon it will be lunch time. He can hear her laughter and smell the fresh lavender scent of her skin. If he closes his eyes, he can taste her still. “It was perfection, but it was a dream.” His voice lowers and he leans his forehead against the glass window pane. “Her death was my fault. I could not go to war and condemn our entire species for her.”
“Couldn’t you? Don’t you dare to think, not even for a moment that I would not have fought at your side?” she demands.
“I know you would have.” He turns to look at her, “and that is exactly why I couldn’t… I would have unleashed a monster so dark and evil that no amount of angel blood, would have satisfied me.” A red flame roars to life behind his eyes, causing her to back away from him.
“The blood lust would have overtaken me, and I would have let it,” he hisses with a smile. “I would not have stopped at just one immortal, Magdalene. I would hunt down and execute every immortal who walks this planet, so that never again would someone carry the pain that I carry.” His mouth fills with saliva at the thought of retribution.
“Lailah knew the risks too, brother. You do not carry the blame alone,” she whispers.
“Lailah,” he murmurs and the flame dims. “Yes, she did, and that’s why she made the choice to leave me. Her letter was clear. She chose her people and protected us all from a war.” Sebastian turns away and finishes his drink. “You are feeling what all of us feel at one time or another. It will pass.”
“Of course, Sebastian,” Magdalene mumbles and sits down to watch him.
“Caius must be dealt with. Call a meeting of the council. I will trace him and take him out for good this time.” Sebastian steps away but stops at her swift intake of breath.
“Is that a problem for you, Mags?” He turns to look at her clenching her fists at her side.
“Don’t be ridiculous, Bastian.” She stands up and moves down the hall to the vault to begin cleaning up. “Do you ever wonder why? Why must we constantly clean up after other’s catastrophes? I grow weary of it.” Bending over she picks up some of the books he’d thrown against a wall. She faces him holding them tightly against her chest.
Looking at his sister and seeing the mess he created around her, Sebastian feels ashamed. He drops his head and walks slowly back to her. “I’m sorry. I too wonder if the laws that so many died for, need to change, but until...” An image of her red hair and love filled, lilac eyes, flashes in his mind before he can stop it.
Magdalene feels his agony rip through her and sees the image that she has come to hate. “How long will you be haunted by those images and feelings?” she hisses.
Sebastian stops as fresh pain flows between them. “As long as I walk on this earth I imagine. The lore speaks of many things about our people, but never tells of the fated mates, nor what happens to the ones left behind. I pray you never have to feel this.”
His words deflate her rage. “I feel it through you. Forgive me, brother, I only wish to end your suffering.” She rushes into his arms and hugs him tight.
“You are right to be angry, sister.” He presses a gentle kiss to her forehead. “No more talk of the past. First, we need to capture this newborn and bring her in before she causes more damage. I will go to the bar and find out what I can. Notify me when the council is ready.”
“I have sent a cleanup crew to the club. They should have something by the time you arrive.” Magdalene watches him go and red flames flicker behind her eyes. She picks up the phone to call the council as ordered.
Chapter 13
The Lasair Mill Club is not Sebastian’s favorite place to visit. As an ancient, his need for blood has grown less over the centuries. These establishments have their place. They have helped contain the needless death of humans. Those who wish to become pets to the immortals can do so freely. Most know what they are walking in to and the ones who do not learn quickly. As long as the rules are followed, it seems to help curb the violent tendencies among the different species.
Magdalene was as good as her word. The cleanup
