Timeless (Immortal Love Series) (24 page)
Read Timeless (Immortal Love Series) Online
Authors: Amy Richie
Maybe the woman I was with Nickolas was the true me. The person I would have been if nature had been allowed to take its course. A normal human. One that laughed and cried at regular intervals.
The door flew open without warning. Henri stood there, staring at me. “I remember you,” he declared.
“
Do you remember also that I once beheaded you?” My voice was its characteristic calm.
Do you remember also that I once beheaded you?” My voice was its characteristic calm.
“
Dominick claimed you as his.”
Dominick claimed you as his.”
“
What are you talking about?”
What are you talking about?”
“
She’ll kill you slowly, just to piss him off.” He grinned broadly.
She’ll kill you slowly, just to piss him off.” He grinned broadly.
“
I didn’t even see Dominick. He doesn’t even know I exist.” He grunted unattractively. “I remember you too. You baited the wolves so they would attack those people. That is what started the whole war with the wolves. I wonder if Neleh knows that.” My threat was clear.
I didn’t even see Dominick. He doesn’t even know I exist.” He grunted unattractively. “I remember you too. You baited the wolves so they would attack those people. That is what started the whole war with the wolves. I wonder if Neleh knows that.” My threat was clear.
Henri sauntered into the room until he was only inches from my face. “She is the one that ordered me to do it. Idiot.”
“
Nickolas was right about her.”
Nickolas was right about her.”
“
Yes he was. And now he’ll get to hear her rip apart his girlfriend.”
Yes he was. And now he’ll get to hear her rip apart his girlfriend.”
“
Nickolas is alive?” Hope flared its ugly head in my chest. Henri’s head jerked up, Neleh must have called him.
Nickolas is alive?” Hope flared its ugly head in my chest. Henri’s head jerked up, Neleh must have called him.
Nickolas was alive? Why would he be listening? Had they captured him?
“
Come on. It’s time.” Henri pulled me roughly to my feet, leaving hand sized bruises on my arms. I stumbled over my own feet as I hurried to catch up. “I thought you were supposed to be some super human species,” he taunted.
Come on. It’s time.” Henri pulled me roughly to my feet, leaving hand sized bruises on my arms. I stumbled over my own feet as I hurried to catch up. “I thought you were supposed to be some super human species,” he taunted.
We didn’t meet up with David until we got to the lab. When he looked at me I didn’t see fear or anxiety — just resignation. Nickolas was not there.
“
So we meet again.” Neleh was smiling. Bad sign. “It’s a shame really. Most of my guard were called away. Kiera sent for them.” She giggled and wrinkled her nose.
So we meet again.” Neleh was smiling. Bad sign. “It’s a shame really. Most of my guard were called away. Kiera sent for them.” She giggled and wrinkled her nose.
“
What does that mean?” I asked David.
What does that mean?” I asked David.
“
She sent the other guard away so Ossian could kill us without interference. Ossian is Vladimir’s guard — he doesn’t answer to Kiera.”
She sent the other guard away so Ossian could kill us without interference. Ossian is Vladimir’s guard — he doesn’t answer to Kiera.”
David was protected by Kiera’s decree that the guards protect the Letrell’s and all they created. Ossian was Neleh’s loophole. The only power she truly had.
“
That’s not true,” she snapped in my direction.
That’s not true,” she snapped in my direction.
“
It is true. You’re powerless without them,” I spoke bolder than I felt.
It is true. You’re powerless without them,” I spoke bolder than I felt.
“
Would you like me to demonstrate my power?” Her eyes grew large.
Would you like me to demonstrate my power?” Her eyes grew large.
What happened next was almost too fast for my eyes to see, but I caught the gist of it. Neleh lunged forward and thrust her small knife into my stomach, twisting to make the wound bleed more. David came forward to stop her but he was stopped by the blade on Ossian’s sword.
“
No!” I watched in horror as Ossian held David’s body off the ground with his sword. His evil smile matched Neleh’s.
No!” I watched in horror as Ossian held David’s body off the ground with his sword. His evil smile matched Neleh’s.
Acting on impulse, I dove my body forward into Ossian’s legs. He was off balanced for a fraction of a second too long. I pulled the sword free from David and in the same motion, put it into Ossian.
His hand came hard against my jaw, knocking it out of place. I skidded across the room and slammed into the wall. I looked up and he was coming at me again.
“
Stop!” The voice was loud and unfamiliar, but everything in the room became very still. A woman I didn’t recognize stood in the doorway.
Stop!” The voice was loud and unfamiliar, but everything in the room became very still. A woman I didn’t recognize stood in the doorway.
David was on the floor still with an alarming puddle of blood still growing around him. Neleh had gone very quiet and her face had lost all haughtiness. The other three guards were all standing behind the strange woman. Their bulk blocked the door so I couldn’t tell if anyone else was there.
“
What are you doing here?” Neleh demanded. I had never heard her voice sound so humble.
What are you doing here?” Neleh demanded. I had never heard her voice sound so humble.
“
I should ask you the same question.”
I should ask you the same question.”
“
What I do here is of no concern of yours.”
What I do here is of no concern of yours.”
I was having such a hard time following this strange conversation. Who was this strange woman? Was David dead?
“
David is not dead.” The beautiful stranger said directly looking at me. “And I am Kiera,” My breath stuck in my throat. Kiera. What was she doing here? “I found it strange when the guards showed up at Blakesly House.” Her eyes swung back to accuse Neleh. “What are you doing here, Neleh?”
David is not dead.” The beautiful stranger said directly looking at me. “And I am Kiera,” My breath stuck in my throat. Kiera. What was she doing here? “I found it strange when the guards showed up at Blakesly House.” Her eyes swung back to accuse Neleh. “What are you doing here, Neleh?”
“
This is not your business.”
This is not your business.”
“
David belongs to us.”
David belongs to us.”
“
Eva does not.”
Eva does not.”
“
I believe you are mistaken Neleh,” came an all too familiar voice from behind Kiera. My heart rate exploded. The small crowd in front of the door parted so someone could get through. “I have claimed this woman as mine.”
I believe you are mistaken Neleh,” came an all too familiar voice from behind Kiera. My heart rate exploded. The small crowd in front of the door parted so someone could get through. “I have claimed this woman as mine.”
“
Nickolas!”
Nickolas!”
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Time seemed to stop when he finally looked at me. The sounds of my ragged breathing echoed in my ears. I had wanted him to come, even expected him; but seeing him now confused my mind.
It had only been a week since I last saw him but the changes in him were drastic. He was still beautiful but the features were hard, defined. His mouth remained pulled tight — almost in a snarl. He held himself so stiff that I couldn’t even tell if he was breathing.
His eyes were the most changed though. My mouth fell open. The liquid brown warmth that I remembered had turned to a dull, dead color. His eyes, which were always so full of laughter, only showed anger now. And that anger went deep down.
“
Nickolas?” The sound of his low growl reached my ears after everyone else had flinched back. “You came?”
Nickolas?” The sound of his low growl reached my ears after everyone else had flinched back. “You came?”
Neleh’s laughter erupted from her lips. “Isn’t this nice?” she cooed. Nickolas’ growl was louder this time, more threatening. It reminded me too much of the wolf from my dreams. “Dominick. It has been a long time since you graced me with your presence.” her voice sing-songed through the sir but her words stuck in my thoughts.
Dominick Letrell. Kiera was here. It only made sense that she would travel with all the Letrell’s. I would finally come face to face with the man who had dominated my every thought. But what a way to meet him. Blood still seeped from the wound in my stomach and my jaw still ached from Ossian’s back hand. David was likely dying across the room and Neleh wanted me dead. My circumstances were less than ideal.
I certainly wouldn’t be able to kill him, but I welcomed the idea that I would finally meet him. I hoped that he would be the one to kill me; I couldn’t stop the thought from forming. It surprised me when I felt a touch on my arm. I was relieved that it was only David. I hadn’t even seen him move.
“
Dominick is here,” I whispered, excitement making me sound crazy.
Dominick is here,” I whispered, excitement making me sound crazy.
“
I know,” he whispered back.
I know,” he whispered back.
Neleh’s laughter again echoed throughout the room. “This is so much fun,” she squealed.
“
Will she be alright?” Nickolas demanded from David.
Will she be alright?” Nickolas demanded from David.
David pulled up my shirt front to reveal the damage caused by Neleh’s knife. “It’s not healing very quickly. She’s losing a lot of blood.”
“
Fix her.” Nickolas looked menacing, like he would rip David in half.
Fix her.” Nickolas looked menacing, like he would rip David in half.
“
I need my laser.” David himself was broken. He clutched his middle and blood was everywhere.
I need my laser.” David himself was broken. He clutched his middle and blood was everywhere.
“
I’ll get it,” I volunteered.
I’ll get it,” I volunteered.
“
You stay here.” David got painfully to his feet.
You stay here.” David got painfully to his feet.
“
David has always babied her,” Neleh accused, “made her soft. Dominick, I don’t believe she would have ever fallen for you if David had not filled her head with silly thoughts about love.” She smiled cruelly. “Eva was such a good girl, always did as she was told.”
David has always babied her,” Neleh accused, “made her soft. Dominick, I don’t believe she would have ever fallen for you if David had not filled her head with silly thoughts about love.” She smiled cruelly. “Eva was such a good girl, always did as she was told.”
“
I listened to you torture her.” Why was Nickolas answering for Dominick Letrell? “It made it easier for me to kill all those people.”
I listened to you torture her.” Why was Nickolas answering for Dominick Letrell? “It made it easier for me to kill all those people.”
Kill people? Did Nickolas just say he had killed people? No, he would never hurt anyone.
“
Oh, Dominick, you cannot possibly be trying to blame me for your murdering ways.”
Oh, Dominick, you cannot possibly be trying to blame me for your murdering ways.”
Why was Neleh calling Nickolas Dominick?
It was sickening how fast it all clicked in my head. Most of the eyes in the room turned to me, eager to see my reaction as I realized the truth. A truth that had always been there, but I refused to acknowledge.
Nickolas was Dominick Letrell.
My breath came out in a gasp as I recalled every conversation; all the clues that had been there the whole time.
“
We didn’t actually grow up together. Elizabeth and I did. But the others, we joined and formed a family later.”
We didn’t actually grow up together. Elizabeth and I did. But the others, we joined and formed a family later.”
“
I thought you and your brothers refused to lay claim on any human. Called it…barbaric. Did you not?”
I thought you and your brothers refused to lay claim on any human. Called it…barbaric. Did you not?”
“
Dominick, who are your friends?”
Dominick, who are your friends?”
“
It’s too late for that.”
It’s too late for that.”
“
The past will not be changed. I know my course and…” he hesitated, “I will follow it through.”
The past will not be changed. I know my course and…” he hesitated, “I will follow it through.”
I raised my eyes up and met the ones I sought. Was Nickolas there still? No. it had been a lie, all lies. My breathing became faster. I knew I was hyperventilating but I couldn’t stop it.
What had he become? This was all my fault. By the river, I had told him what he would become, what he had to become so I could exist. Gagging noises came from deep in my chest. I had turned Nickolas into a monster.
“
It’s strange seeing her like this,” I heard from somewhere far away.
It’s strange seeing her like this,” I heard from somewhere far away.
“
What is that?”
What is that?”
“
Her shield. I figured it was probably purely defensive.”
Her shield. I figured it was probably purely defensive.”
“
How is she able to do that?”
How is she able to do that?”
“
It’s the guard’s blood in her.”
It’s the guard’s blood in her.”
“
Which guard?”
Which guard?”
“
Ossian. We weren’t sure if the others…if the loyalties went with…”
Ossian. We weren’t sure if the others…if the loyalties went with…”
Then a new voice came through my haze. “I knew this would work,” Neleh purred.
And then I knew too. All those years ago she saw how much he loved me. She saw everything in my head and so she did all she could to turn me against him. To be able to deny him what he truly wanted. The reason he was who he was. The love we had shared.
I tasted blood on my lip before I let it go from between my teeth. Of course Neleh knew I was reading love stories. Of course Neleh knew that David was going to see Damien Letrell. And of course she knew David would betray us.
A thousand realizations hit me all at once. Nickolas, my Nickolas, was never real. Just a made up name. A low moan escaped my lips and I closed my eyes tight on my tears. That didn’t stop them though. They still seeped out and ran down my cheeks.
“
Neleh won,” I sobbed openly.
Neleh won,” I sobbed openly.
When I opened my eyes, hers were the first I saw. She just watched me with a small smirk on her face. Her smile went strangely in and out of focus. I was getting weak. My shield made me weak; the gash in my stomach didn’t help.
David came sharply into focus, making me blink. “Eva, no one is going to hurt you.”
“
Not now.” No one could possibly hurt me more than I already was. I should have just let Sols and Max kill me.
Not now.” No one could possibly hurt me more than I already was. I should have just let Sols and Max kill me.
“
Drop your shield. Pull it back.”
Drop your shield. Pull it back.”
“
I can’t.”
I can’t.”
“
You can. Just focus.”
You can. Just focus.”
I shook my head back and forth uncomprehendingly. “I can’t.”
“
Eva,” another voice boomed. It was familiar, yet a complete stranger’s. “Pull yourself together. David needs to put you back together.”
Eva,” another voice boomed. It was familiar, yet a complete stranger’s. “Pull yourself together. David needs to put you back together.”
“
Allow me?” At Dominick’s curt nod, Kiera glided through my pathetic shield. She knelt down to where I was still lying. “Child, no one will hurt you,” she said gently.
Allow me?” At Dominick’s curt nod, Kiera glided through my pathetic shield. She knelt down to where I was still lying. “Child, no one will hurt you,” she said gently.
I was mesmerized by her soft, musical voice. I didn’t feel my shield drop but I knew it must have because David was also close beside me. “We’ll have you fixed up in no time,” he whispered.
“
Your little green laser can’t fix everything David,” I croaked out. I would have been humiliated if I had been in my right mind and knew how many people were staring at me in disbelief.
Your little green laser can’t fix everything David,” I croaked out. I would have been humiliated if I had been in my right mind and knew how many people were staring at me in disbelief.
“
Eva, shh.”
Eva, shh.”
“
I can’t.” I squeezed my eyes shut, not wanting to see anything else.
I can’t.” I squeezed my eyes shut, not wanting to see anything else.
“
Everything will be ok.”
Everything will be ok.”
“
No it won’t. Can’t you see? Everything was just a set up.”
No it won’t. Can’t you see? Everything was just a set up.”
“
Eva.” He tried to lift the front of my shirt so he could heal my wound for me but I fought him off. “Don’t you want me to…?”
Eva.” He tried to lift the front of my shirt so he could heal my wound for me but I fought him off. “Don’t you want me to…?”
“
No,” I slapped his hands away, “I just want you to let me die.”
No,” I slapped his hands away, “I just want you to let me die.”
“
You’re being unreasonable.”
You’re being unreasonable.”
I knew that but I was way beyond reason. “Just leave me.”
“
And to think, all my hard work has come to this.” My eyes popped open at the sound of Neleh’s voice.
And to think, all my hard work has come to this.” My eyes popped open at the sound of Neleh’s voice.
“
You’re disappointed?” I challenged. “Why? All your plans have worked out just as you wanted them too.”
You’re disappointed?” I challenged. “Why? All your plans have worked out just as you wanted them too.”
“
My plan was for you to kill Dominick. He still breaths. And you are a bloody mess at my feet.”
My plan was for you to kill Dominick. He still breaths. And you are a bloody mess at my feet.”
I rose to my feet painfully, pushing David’s hands away. “You should have just let me die in that dumpster.”
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