Legacy of Secrets 01-Cursed Secrets (18 page)

Christian

I stood at the window and watched him comfort her. The jealousy bit at me from every angle. I wished desperately that she’d understand. Didn’t she know how much it hurt to treat her this way?

I paced the room, thinking of a plan. Austin will get a general idea of what she needed to learn, but no one could guarantee the outcome. It is very likely she would be sentenced to death, but it helped that she wasn’t turned. Still, there was no guarantee.

I cursed every God I could think of for stealing her away. I hated shutting myself off. Letting my true vampire out wasn’t enjoyable.
That
Christian was cold and manipulative. I wasn’t only hurting myself, but I was hurting her after I’d sworn not to.

My hatred for Josiah ran deeper than the hatred for myself. If he’d just steered clear of Ft. Collins we wouldn’t be in this mess. Her shifter gene would have stayed repressed and no one would be the wiser. His words weren’t too kind to me either. He intended to steal her away, but I refused to let her go.

I went back to the window and watched them again. He was speaking softly and I reached out to listen.

“Lia, Christian is stronger than you give him credit for. He can handle Josiah.”

“I won’t let Josiah touch him. He’s in this because of me. Now you are, too. I won’t stop until this is done. I don’t care if that means leaving with him at this point.”

“If you give into him, he
will
turn you. He’s every bit a vampire as Christian. The difference is that he hurts people. Christian isn’t that way. If he wanted to turn you he would have done so weeks ago. Let us help you. I know things seem hopeless now, but trust me when I say you have more power than anyone I’ve ever seen…that includes myself,” he picked her up and carried her inside.

“Thank you. I’m not as fragile as I look, I could have walked,” she remarked in annoyance. I smiled.

I felt guilty, but it was necessary. I had to distance myself to sever our bond. What I wouldn’t have given to visit The Fates and ask their guidance, but that was futile. They would only grant me an audience if I agreed to their terms, which were usually next to impossible.

I had to talk to her; I just wasn’t sure what to say. Probably I’d be overwhelmed by whatever she was feeling and it would be that much harder. Having Austin would provide a distraction and hopefully her feelings toward me would fade. That would be best for the situation.

A knock at the door broke through my thoughts and I lumbered over. Austin stood on the other side, looking at me expectantly. I left the door open and walked back to the bed, falling onto it with a huff.

“What are you doing?” he asked harshly.

“Lying down, what are
you
doing?” I retorted.

“No, what are you doing with
her
smartass? That girl is torn into a million pieces right now and you’re acting strange. For someone who is supposed to be a knight in shining armor, you’re acting like an ass in aluminum foil,” he stated.

“I can’t be close to her anymore, you said it yourself. You know what they will think. I can’t put that weight on her, too. Don’t you think I want to fix this? I don’t know how to be nice to her without acting how I did before.”

“Well, you might just have to figure that out. I said take things one step at a time, not take a giant leap. It’s going to be ten times harder to help her if she keeps breaking down. She would probably kill herself if anything happened to you. She’s clearly in love with you. Are you sure that you don’t love her?”

“You’re joking?”

“Do I look like I’m joking?” he planted himself in front of me and stared through me with his piercing eyes.

“Whatever I felt before doesn’t matter now. This is my way of protecting her. If anything happened it would create a completely different mess of problems we couldn’t fix. Wouldn’t you do the same?”

“No I wouldn’t, but it’s not my decision. Just don’t interfere with my training and I’ll leave your love life out of it,” he stormed out, leaving the door wide open.

I sighed and moved to shut it when I saw her trying to make it up the stairs. She was still crying and shaking. I swallowed my pride and tried help her.

“No, go back to your room. I don’t
need
you to help me. I’m not fucking useless you know,” she glowered at me.

“I know. But you still need me. Let’s get you to bed,” I said softly, but she didn’t move.

“What did I do?” tears streamed freely and my face fell. She was a mess.

“You didn’t do anything, Lia. You’re not being punished. It just has to be this way now.”

“I don’t believe you. You’re punishing me for something that’s not even happened; that may never happen. How is that fair?”

“I told you I would protect you and that’s exactly what I’m doing. I’ve never judged you. I don’t care what you are, Lia. Haven’t I said that from the beginning?”

“Yeah, among a million other things that seems extremely hypocritical right now. I will stay here tonight, but I’m going home in the morning. You don’t want me here. I apologize for being such a problem,” she brushed past me but I cut her off.

“No, you’re staying here. I can’t protect you at your house. I won’t get in your way. You probably won’t even see me. That’s my way of helping. Once it’s over, you can do as you choose,” I affirmed.

“We’ll see,” was all she said. I watched her walk into her room and silently shut the door.

Austin whistled, “Damn, she’s a viper. This might actually be fun.”

I growled and retreated to my room, slamming the door. A shudder rippled through me. I felt numb inside for the first time in decades. I couldn’t take the time to worry about how I made her feel. There was too much at stake to turn back. Whatever future she had wouldn’t include me and I had to make sure it stayed that way. No matter how much it killed me.

Lia

The dream racked my mind again. I woke up screaming; my hair wet with tears and sweat, and forgot where I was. Austin busted through the door. No doubt he could feel my terror and assumed the worst. Christian didn’t bother to check on me. My head throbbed immensely and I massaged my temples.

“What happened?” he asked groggily.

“I don’t want to talk about it,” I snapped, cradling my head in my hands.

“Would you at least like some help with the headache?” he yawned.

“That depends, what’s your definition of helping?” he chuckled.

“Here, let me,” he sat on the bed and placed his fingertips to my temples. The pain disappeared almost instantly. I sighed in relief.

“How did you do that?”

“It’s part of dealing with energy. You learn how to transfer good energy and it usually pushes away the bad. It’s temporary, of course, but maybe you can sleep now,” he shrugged.

“I’m sorry for being rude and that I woke you,” his hands were still at my temples and the warmth washed over me again. It left goose bumps on my skin, but in a good way. I couldn’t help but think he did it on purpose.

“Don’t worry about it. It’s not every day I get woken up in the middle of the night by a beautiful woman,” he winked.

I sighed, “Well you’ve successfully killed that moment.”

“That’s what I do best, darlin’. Are you going to be alright by yourself? I could camp out on the floor if you want?” I gaped at him.

“I think I’ll be fine. Thanks again. By the way, cute boxers,” I winked and tucked myself under the blanket with a smile.

I awoke again around mid morning and felt surprisingly alert. The sun was warm through my window and I decided to go for a swim. Hopefully, I could wade through the information in my head as well.

I bounded downstairs and both men looked at me expectantly. I ignored them, towel and robe in hand, and hit the dock running. I sprung from the edge, diving perfectly, and swam to the middle of the lake. The water was chilly, but warmed as the sun rose higher.

A plan formed as I glided through the water. The first thing I needed to know was what happened when a person was changed into both a vampire and a werewolf. I wanted to understand the mechanics. Then, Austin would need to tell me the most important things to learn. Avoiding Christian hurt so badly, but I just couldn’t let it go. So, flaunting my best assets would help him realize what he was missing. I smiled as I thought about his face when I wore my lace nightie.  

The last thing on my list was to talk to Josiah before everything was over. I needed to know the truth about him and my mother. If he loved her, how could he have killed her? There was simply nothing I could think of that would make me want to kill Christian, not to mention it was practically impossible anyway.

Devious ideas snaked into my head as I left the water. Removing the bikini top, I slipped on the robe and left the tie undone. Christian needed a wakeup call. Of course Austin would get a free show, but he didn’t bother me. 

I stepped into the cabin and felt the oxygen leave the room. Christian stood in the kitchen clutching a carton of milk so tightly it leaked through holes his fingers made. I took the milk, licking his fingers seductively, and placed he carton in the sink. I wiped the corner of my mouth and left to change.

Austin gaped as I walked from the kitchen and I winked. He shook his head and smiled widely. I giggled as I climbed the stairs to find the sexiest outfit possible. I sauntered back downstairs wearing a white buttoned down shirt, opened at the top, exposing a black laced push up bra and the matching boy short panties. I passed the boys in the sitting room and retrieved a glass of wine from the kitchen. I heard footsteps behind me and smiled innocently at Christian as I turned to greet him. His expression was torn between lust and anger. I ate it up.

“What are you doing?” he asked sarcastically.

“Getting some wine. Would you like some?”

“No. You know what I mean. What’s with all this?” he waved his hand over me and I played dumb.

“If you want me to stay here I am going to make myself at home. That means I act as I do in my own house. Does it bother you?”

“No,” he said through clenched teeth.

“Good, because if I have to deal with being here, you’ll just have to get used to it. Would you rather I leave?” I asked with eyebrows raised.

“No, but is this necessary? You don’t want to give Austin the wrong opinion of you.”

“If he were to come to my house it would be no different,” I stepped close enough my breasts pushed into his arm, “You remember how it was at my house? You didn’t complain then,” I whispered and brushed past him.

“Hello Austin, how are you this evening?” I asked innocently as I sat down.

“Quite entertained. I think I may like it here after all,” he beamed.  

I heard the door slam and my smile grew wider. He was kidding himself and I wouldn’t stop until it broke him. I was more dangerous than they gave me credit for.

“What are you doing, Lia?” Austin asked concerned.

“Giving him a taste of his own medicine. He acts like I don’t exist, but I won’t let him forget that I do. If he doesn’t want to play the game that’s fine, but I’m not going to pretend like just because part of me has changed everything else has to. I didn’t hate him when he told me what he was, how can he hate me for something I am or will be?”

“He doesn’t hate you. He’s just being an idiot. You doing this won’t make it easier on you. You realize that don’t you?”

“Don’t worry about me.
I’m
stronger than everyone else gives me credit for. Now can we talk about something helpful?” I leaned over to set my glass down and noticed him staring at my chest. I looked at him curiously and he looked away.

“What do you want to know?” he shifted in his seat and I smiled.

“I need to know the mechanics. How does one become a werewolf? What happens when one shifts? How long does it take? Things like that,” I grabbed a blanket from the back of the couch and snuggled into it.

“Well, shifting varies from person to person. It can be instantaneous or it can take several hours. Usually it becomes easier over time. It depends on what type of animal one shifts into.”

“There are more than just wolves?”

“There are many more than wolves. Some shifters can take the shape of any animal. Normally they have to see the animal first, but some can do it from a picture or from memory.”

“Can shifters take the place of another person?”

“No. There were some in the past, but it was considered taboo. Skinwalkers, as they were called, were the most dangerous. There was no way to know who was who and innocent people were killed. That race died off quickly.”

“Okay, so what does it take to be turned into a vampire?”

“Human or shifter?”

“I don’t know about either. Isn’t it basically the same?”

“Yes in some ways. In both cases, the subject must be bitten so the venom can transfer. However, a shifter is only susceptible right before they change, as with the hybrids I explained. If the shifter is still in human form, the venom takes no effect. The shifter gene kills the poison before it can spread. Yet if that person is bitten either during or directly before the change begins, the venom will work faster. This happens because when the shifter gene is activated, it cannot also fight off another virus. In order for a human to be changed, they have to not only be bitten, but accept the blood of the maker. After a short gestation period the new vampire will need to feed on the blood of a human to seal the change. If they don’t feed they will never be a full vampire, but they will be stuck in a sort of limbo.”