Merritt Province was much different than what Orion was used to. Orion's eyes swept across the crowded platform as he and Caramia followed the others to their next destination. He never needed to public transportation, because he always utilized private transportation methods. Being so crowded in by others was quickly making him prone to being partially claustrophobic. It was definitely something he wasn't used to.
Ruby was an incredibly gifted fae-vampire hybrid witch. Her mother was a hereditary fae witch turned vampire since her father was a vampire. Their union wasn't forced and it was accepted wholeheartedly by her family. Her grandmother predicted their match since the vampire was a family friend.
When she had suggested carving sigils in their flesh so they could shift their appearance at will, Orion remembered Ruby and the others had did just that when they passed through the wall into the alleyway during the mad escape from his townhouse. Curiosity won out and having that ability seemed too beneficial to pass up so he and Caramia allowed Ruby to carve sigils in their arms with her ornate dagger. The sigil had clotted and would heal completely to look like an intricate tattoo.
They had already tested the ability to transform their appearance before stepping off the train to search out the other train to lead them across Merritt Province. They would be in separate sleeper carriages, but their carriages flanked theirs. The journey would be longer and slower, stopping at different boroughs throughout the province. He didn't mind. He heard how the scenery was quite different from the boroughs in Europe.
"Well, Dorothy, I don't think we're in Kansas anymore," Caramia muttered to herself.
Orion raised an eyebrow at that, but he remained silent as glanced at his mate. She had transformed her eyes to sea green just like he had. Her hair was violet with magenta streaks and her skin was pale. He had decided upon bronze skin with dark facial hair and tousled locks that went to the nap of his neck.
"You haven't been in Kansas for awhile," she prattled on to his amusement.
"Ah, there it is," Donatello, the blond vampire, remarked. His name finally was revealed to him when Alessio had addressed his mate through the conversation on the train.
Orion looked ahead and saw the crimson train before him. It was quite large and spacious. He glanced over at Donatello, who smirked at his reaction.
"Wait until you see your sleeper carriage," Donatello chuckled before he followed Alessio and Ruby towards their transportation for next week.
He exchanged looks with a startled Caramia, who was staring at the luxurious train. It made sense. The train was partially a sightseeing train across the province. The quickest way across the province was a private jet and only the wealthy could afford that like him if they weren't in hiding.
"Nope, definitely not in Kansas," she muttered again to herself as they made their way towards the train.
~
*Boom!*
What was that?
*Boom!*
Em Breckenrith, known now to world as Delia, shot up in a sitting position on the sofa as the walls shook. The blankets pooled around her waist. Her eyes swiftly darted over at Quincy, who sat in the armchair adjacent from the sofa. Quincy's eyes were widen open with visible shock which morphed into fear when there was another explosion.
The sirens started to go off. Swirls of red and violet flashed around the apartment.
"Delia, c'mon!" Quincy gasped, jumping to her feet. "We have to get out of here!"
Em scrambled to her feet, following Quincy to the door. "What about Opal?"
"Trust me, she's so better off where she is right now," Quincy told her a she wrenched open the front door.
As if to confirm Quincy's statements, a figure tackled Quincy, shoving her into the wall. Em grabbed the hissing creature, trying to claw at Quincy to hold her down. She cried out as his amber eyes tinged with crimson met hers and the vampire opened his mouth to showcase his fangs before he lunged at her. He never made contact with her. Instead, she felt a whoosh of air and a blur.
Her eyes widened as she took in Lord Apollo Devereux holding up their attacker by his throat. Amethyst eyes lined with lush, full lashes assessed them in concern. She didn't miss the relief in his stunning eyes when he found no wounds upon them.
"Get to the basement," he told them.
Quincy nodded in awe. Lord Apollo glanced at Em for additional confirmation and she quickly nodded her head as well. She reached out to Quincy to tug her off the wall. Clearly satisfied with their reaction, Em watched Lord Apollo turn back to the struggling vampire in his strong grasp. He quickly whipped out a stake from one of the holsters fashioned on his belt and drove it into their attacker's chest. Blood sprayed and spewed everywhere.
Em rammed right into Quincy and she eyed her roommate still watching the impressive warrior destroy the vampire with ease before he took off on the opposite direction from them towards the screams at the end of the hall. She really couldn't fault her, but both of them needed to get themselves together. He instructed them to go to the basement so she pushed Quincy down the hallway towards the stairwell.
"I still want one of him," Quincy gasped. Her eyes darted behind them to sneak glimpses of the vampire lord in action.
Em chuckled. "Go!"
"I know the timing is so inappropriate, but..." Quincy sighed as they turned the corner. "But I could just strip off my clothes right now and let him have at it."
"How about you don't?" Em suppressed her laughter at the evident pout upon Quincy's face. "How about we make sure we make it out of this alive?"
Quincy rolled her eyes. "Ever the practical one."
There was another explosion and glass shattering. Em glanced down the hallway to see several familiar faces rushing towards her. All of them stricken with absolute fear. Behind them, a crush of vampires was flowing in from different rooms. She could see Lord Apollo fighting them off, giving everyone time to escape.
Quincy didn't need anymore prodding. She and Em joined the frantic stream of tenants making their way downstairs to the basement. As they made it to safety, she was greeted by the Crescent coven, Keira, and Vivienne. Why were pretty much all the coven members here? That certainly wasn't a coincidence.
"That was the last of them," one of them gasped.
Another coven member shook her head. "Apollo isn't here yet!"
"We need protect them!" another argued, gesturing to the tenants. "He would demand that above all else!"
Before anyone could respond, Lord Apollo dove into the open doorway, but he twisted his body through the air. His daggers zipped out effectively killing some of the vampires chasing him.
"Seal it!" his voice boomed.
Vampires were making their way inside. The coven members hastily did what he instructed. The open doorway glowed brightly before a metallic barrier pulsed with violet waves rippled down the seemingly new door.
~
Dove's eyes fluttered open. She still felt like she went through ultimate hell, but she didn't feel like she was knocking on death's door. She breathed in and out, trying to understand why she felt infinitely better.
"I should be dead," she muttered to herself.
"You almost were," a familiar voice responded, causing her body to tense up.
She knew that voice, but it couldn't be. Her eyes darted to the source of where that voice came from. A vision of Lord Dimitri Cristos sitting in a chair by her bed caused her heart to thrash within her poor chest. No, he had to be an illusion or perhaps she did die after all. Was this her punishment in death to be forever tormented by her mate that rejected her?
"You're-You're not here," she stammered out, squeezing her eyes shut.
He had departed the hotel without a single glance with the rest of his family in tow. She had watched him walk out of her life. No, he wasn't here. She would open her eyes again and he wouldn't be here. She had a beautiful dream he had come to offer his blood to save her from her doomed fate, but she knew delusions so close to death were normal.
She heard him sigh and her eyes popped open to stare at the still visible illusion sitting in that blasted chair. Was death toying with her? Would death just let her die in peace without torment?
He chuckled, shaking his head. "This must be how my son felt trying to convince his mate on her deathbed that he was indeed real."
"But you can't be here," she sobbed out as tears flowed down her cheeks. "You-You made your choice to reject me. You left me at the hotel--"
"I wanted to keep you safe. I didn't wish to entangle you in all that chaos happening in my life right now," he revealed in soft, defeated tone. He shut his eyes and groaned. "But they found out anyway and just as I feared, I put your life in absolute danger."
He left her, because he thought he was doing the right by her? He let her believe he didn't wish for her to be by his side. Anger flared within her. Did he think she couldn't handle what being placed in his path?
Obviously he didn't. He left.
"I see," she murmured, looking away from him. He saved her life, because he felt responsible for putting her life in danger.
"Do you?" he questioned. There was a darker tone in his voice. Her eyes swept to his. "Do you truly understand? My daughter changed her identity. My son and his mate were attacked. His townhouse went up in flames. You were attacked, because you were associated with me. They sent me a picture of us together with the word 'checkmate' written in blood over it. They used poisoned daggers on you. You were supposed to die."
Fury and pain burned through her. So she was just a burden to him? Why did he even bother to save her life if he didn't trust her to deal with everything being thrown at him?
"Then why didn't you let me die?" she gasped. Her eyes locked upon his. Surprise and shock blossomed in them, but she was too emotional to stop herself. "If I'm that much of a burden to you, why come to save me? Why didn't you just--"
"Burden?" he barked. He chuckled darkly, shaking his head. "No, little one, I'm the burden bringing death, danger, and pain in your life. l'm a danger to you. Can't you see that?"
His eyes were glassy, filling with unshed tears. "Hyperion and I... We tried to get to you before they did," he rasped out and she watched him fall apart before her. "There was so much blood." He hit his chest. "I-I couldn't even feel you anymore. I wanted to kill them. I did. I killed all of them for hurting you, for even laying a bloody finger on you." A crimson haze clouded his emerald eyes and it intrigued her instead of frightening her. All that fury swirling in those depths. "Nobody touches what's mine. Nobody is allowed to and you are mine."
Her heart clenched at that. He was reliving the memories. She could tell by the way his entire body shook. She knew her body was still weak, but she knew he needed her. Forcing herself off the bed, she slowly made her way over to him. His predatory eyes watched her even as she stood before him in nothing by a simple nightgown.
Her eyes gazed down into his emerald eyes hazy with crimson. Most would back away in fear, because a vampire close to blood rage was dangerous. She reached out and placed a hand on his cheek. She watched his eyes close and he pressed his cheek firmly into her hand, seeking comfort and love.
"I am yours," she whispered. His eyes popped to gaze up at her. Tears swam in her eyes. "I've always been yours. Would you finally allow yourself to be mine? Would you finally let me love you? Would you let me feel your love?"
Pain rippled through his features as he swallowed. His hands shook as they reached out and fisted in the material of her nightgown. He pulled her forward until she was seated in his lap. his arms wound around her, pressing her flush against him. His entire body shuddered against hers.
"I thought I lost you," he whispered brokenly, burying his face in her neck. "I thought I let you down."
Tears spilled down her cheeks. "I thought I lost you."
"I'm sorry," he apologized, pressing kisses against her throat. "I'm so sorry."
His apologies were scattered across her throat amongst his soft kisses. His embrace still tight around her as if he was afraid to let go.