Chapter 19:

Vivian's POV:

"Resources tell us Dexter Ezekiel is the one responsible for the attack on the airport, it's clear their aim had been to take the seer. We've learned that Valentino has been invading several vampire nests, using fear or violence to make them ensure their assistance in the war. What we need to know are the vampires who aren't afraid of dying and hate Valentino, including the witches in my territory who dare watch my every move," Cole spoke in a professional tone that I wasn't used to as his eyes looked toward Leomaris, Nyx and Valence.

I'd taken a seat on his lap, sending a victory smirk toward an irritated Valence when Cole put his arm around my hip while distracted.

"I can take care of the vampires, Ivy will be joining me on this," Nyx raised her hand for a second to get everyone's attention. Her almond-shaped amber eyes shined with confidence but it was Nyx's words that had Leomaris tilt his head ever so slightly. It is better to bring Ivy so she doesn't run into any witches.

"Then I'll send a group of my men after the witches involved in all of this. Those experiments smell like someone overcooked magic, there's no way Valentino hasn't gotten his hands on anyone conveniently placed," Cole nodded at her in acknowledgment, the faith of her getting the job done was clear.

Well, it's a bit boring just sitting here doing nothing while everyone else gets to have fun.

"I'll gather information on the things happening in the Underground, that's easy work for a demon," I threw out, ignoring Nyx's glare to pay attention to how the hand on my hip squeezed.

Clearly, by how tight Cole's hand is, neither one of them liked the thought. But... what can they do about it? The way that he looked over at me with the narrow of his eyes only made me want to shiver in delight. This man is just delicious no matter what mood he's in.

"What about me?" Oriness spoke with a pout, standing at the dining room entrance.

Obviously, she can't come with us... right? I mean... we don't even know what Maybe I should bring her with me on a fake hunting trip.

"Not until I get you some training, an untrained half-breed will only make things worse," I watched the flinch of hurt on Oriness's face and I won't lie, it did make me feel something.

Though I just ignored it.

"Aren't you being racist? I could be good at what you do and you might not even know it," Oriness huffed with a roll of her eyes.

For some reason... a wave of anger and disgust washed through me. Be good at what I do? Does she even know my profession?

Suddenly, I found myself in front of her as everyone in the room tensed yet all I could do was hold myself back with one reminder. This is my younger sister, not just any other young woman.

"Do you even know what my part of this group is, little sister? Would you like to see it?" I asked her, putting my face closer as the next step would be up to Oriness.

Would she do it? Knowing who I am, will she still open herself up to take just a glimpse of the horrors I've felt? If Oriness can't get past this, there's no way the girl will get far in our world. Which means to keep her safe, I'll have to send her very, very far away. Even if it means she'll hate me.

"Wait, you don't have to treat her like that. There's a better way to say no than to scare her off," Valence shoved out of his seat with genuine concern for Oriness but neither of us broke eye contact. I prayed she saw two things... that I'm challenging her... and that I hope she won't do it.

Before Valence could get to us from around the dining table, Nyx stood up from her chair and put a hand just an inch away from his chest. Easily stopping him without having any physical touch.

It was the way that the scared expression in Oriness's eyes shifted within a second to a determined look that made my stomach harden. There won't be much I can do to keep her at a distance. She wants this... to be a part of the world we're in. Is it because of me? Am I to blame?

"I want to do it..." She said with just as much conviction as that stubborn spark in those shining eyes.

"Not too much, V," Nyx warned calmly behind me and I somehow managed to keep it at the forefront of my mind.

So, I thought about the night I had saved that boy and how I'd been starved for almost 10 years in that stupid dungeon Valentino used to lock me up in as a child. After being hungry... for so long... I was weak, vulnerable. Even the weakest of mortals would've been able to do anything they wanted to me.

Then one night, I'd been snatched off that cold floor and taken out of the room that was made to eat my energy. Only to be degraded for not wanting to kill an innocent child before being tossed into tossed deep into the earth.

I remembered the starved, dark feelings I'd felt during that time that now feels like as if it had lasted for a short time.

No... any more than this would be too much for her. So, I closed my eyes to signal I was ready while focusing on these emotions. The soft hand against my cheek had me relaxing... seconds before something snatched onto my mind.

No longer was I standing in the dining room of the house I've now made my home.

Strong hands grabbed at my arms as they dragged me toward the deep grave that had held me long enough to know true hunger.

Oh, how the feeling of emptiness made me feel horrid. Willing to do anything to fill it.

The images clung to my mind with an iron grip as I tried to pull myself away from this illusion. I was barely able to put myself at a distance to see the dazed look in Oriness's eyes. The past and the present were flickering in and out.

This isn't an illusion, not like what Ivy has done. It's fucking retrocognition at a high fucking level and it took everything to place a hand on the back part of Oriness's chair and my other one on the wooden arm. Which was, thankfully, empty of her fragile hand. It was all I could do to stop myself from killing her.

Instead of Oriness seeing glimpses of my memories, I was being forced to practically relive them. It seems my little sister is far more than I had given her credit for.

Suddenly, my body was pulled back against a warm chest and the flickers of the past stopped confusing themselves with the presence.

Tears formed in my eyes as I felt myself shake, turning into Cole's body to keep myself from acting on the residue feelings. This hunger... gods, what the hell is she?!

"Eat," Cole's voice was harsh as his green eyes began to glow, the gold specks seeming thicker than usual. As I opened my senses to the man before me, I allowed myself to feed off him. When Cole placed an arm over my waist, I relaxed with the knowledge of knowing he can pull me away if I eat too much.

Slowly, as the blinding hunger began to fade, I looked toward Oriness as her body shook in Nyx's arms. The young girl was crying aloud as if she had experienced everything in the vision just now.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry... I didn't mean to do it," My little sister looked up with wet cheeks, the shivers still coursing through her body.

Oriness is over here feeling emotions someone locked away her whole life shouldn't be experiencing... yet... she's sorry. I couldn't help but feel just as guilty. Maybe doing that had been a terrible idea, especially now that I'm starting to get a few ideas of who her mother might be.

"Calm down, Oriness, Vivian is fine but we need to make sure you are too," Nyx tried to talk in a soft voice and when I tried to move toward her, Cole's arms tightened around me.

Out of curiosity, I couldn't help but look up at him to see that the man seemed a bit lost in his thoughts. An expression of irritation was clear on that handsome face that was close yet too far away to kiss.

Unfortunately, now that I feel normal, there isn't time for him to be upset about something that clearly involves me. So, I stopped feeding off of the large man and gently pulled his hands off of me to get closer to Oriness.

"Relax your mind, Oriness, separate yourself from then and now... good. Now, stand up," I ordered her, nodding my head as the little halfling slowly pulled herself together. As Ori stood up on slightly shaky legs, the plan began to form.

From now on, I'll bring her out for training... I just don't know how far she thinks she's willing to go.

"Go get clothes from my closet, make sure it's dark and easy to move in. You're coming with me to the Underground," Gods, why do they keep looking at me like I'm being such a bad mother?

"Stop looking at me like I'm going to put her life on the line. The girl has to start somewhere, why not with manipulation? It's easy, besides... she started this, we'll see how far she'll go," I huffed with a roll of my eyes while folding my arms beneath my breasts.

It was Cole's own arms pulling my body back into him that made me remember he's been much more willing to hold me today. Especially in front of his own men, maybe it's because their loyalty is so strong they can't say anything.

The excitement wiped the after effects away as Oriness tried to smile before practically sprinting out of the dining room.

After tonight, I can no longer just ignore her. Especially not with how easily she'd broken down my mental defenses and the effort it took for me not to react to the strong emotions of the past.

There's something about Oriness that's keeping him so interested in her.

And I'll help her find out what it is.