Thirty-Five…

 

Thirty-Five: Perfect Vengeance

Contains offensive language.

Aubrey went to the vampires’ nightclub to see Vaclav.

An entire week had passed since he left the manor. Her loneliness was like a lead weight in her heart and stomach. It was getting unbearable.

She caught Lucius just as he was leaving.

“I need to see Vaclav. Can you let me inside the lair?”

Without one word, Lucius turned and activated the door trigger.

With an unnerving rumble, the door lowered.

Aubrey thanked him and entered the room.

Vaclav slept on an altar, a table littered with half-consumed blood sat next to it.

She could tell he hadn’t shaved in a while, and his hair wasn’t slicked back as usual. Like he didn’t care anymore. Aubrey knew that feeling…

Misery loves company.

She had Jakub to blame for all of it. How she wished she would’ve taken that shard and sawed off the fucker’s head; get him off the planet.

“Vaclav?”

He stirred and rose; then walked up to Aubrey.

“What are you doing here?” he asked.

“I, uh.. just wanted to see you for a minute.”

He almost smiled. Then he asked, “I see you’re wearing the talisman. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. So when are you coming home?”

Her heart skipped a beat.

“I don’t know, Aubrey.” He looked away from her.

“Kat and Reznik miss you,” she said. “How long are you going to punish me for something that wasn’t my fault?”

“I’m not punishing you,” he insisted.

“Then why are you sleeping in the basement of the nightclub? Instead of sleeping in our bed?”

“I haven’t officially declared war yet with the Shadows. I’ve been speaking to the top Haas clan members about exactly what to do. However, Lucius has already rounded up a few rogues to help us. There’s a lot of decisions to make, and it takes time.”

“As for the reason why I’m sleeping here, it’s only because it’s easier than traveling back and forth from the manor.”

“Yeah. Sure.” She looked down at the floor.

“Look, I have two huge decisions to make. One, I have to decide whether or not to kill Shawn…”

“And I have to decide whether or not to kill Jakub… my own son.”

“This isn’t the easiest decision to make. But I feel like I’m running out of choices.” He paused. “And if I return home, I’ll be greatly distracted. I’m afraid I won’t make the right decisions. This isn’t something to fuck up.”

“Yeah. I understand,” she said.

“I’m not trying to hurt you, or punish you.”

Whatever helps you sleep at night, she thought.

Aubrey turned and headed for the door.

She stopped when she heard Vaclav’s footsteps behind her.

Suddenly his arms were around her, his body jammed against hers.

“Mmm,” he softly grunted.

His lips circulated over hers in a deep, sexy kiss.

Her heart raced. Vaclav’s effect on her body was mind-numbing and indescribable.

They parted.

Moments later Aubrey rushed out of the nightclub.

She walked up the sidewalk…

then paused to call a cab on her cell phone.

She never had a chance.

It happened very quickly. Jakub spun her around and clamped his fangs onto her neck.

He rapidly drew in her blood. Jakub was merciless, his attack ferocious like a creature from the wild.

She nearly blacked out from the agony.

“I’m sorry I had to do this,” he said with a smirk.

He let go and she fell to the ground. All of Shadowvale whirled around her, as though she were drunk.

                                                                …

Blackness claimed her.

A second later (or so it seemed) Aubrey felt weightless, as if someone was carrying her. She came to, briefly glimpsing a tunnel’s interior.

She passed out again.

A sharp, swift pain invaded her neck as the talisman necklace was ripped off.

She awakened for the last time, finding herself trapped inside a tomb.

She got up.

…and noticed Shawn standing near the entrance. His dark clothes blended with the shadows quite well.

“Hi Aubrey.”

Like a rising tide, a hot fury swelled within her.

“Damnit Shawn! Let me out of here!”

He chuckled.

“You’re nothing but a selfish, immature, spoiled brat, who can’t get over the fact I’ve fallen in love with Vaclav! He’s six times the man you’ll ever be!” she ranted.

“Where’s Vaclav now?” he retorted. “And where’s he been for the last week?”

“You’d know all about that, wouldn’t you? Since you and Jakub connived to break us up!”

Shawn smiled.

“Don’t worry Shawn,” she began with condescension. “Someday you’ll grow up, and your dick might get as big as Vaclav’s.”

“Don’t push me, Aubrey.”

Aubrey reached out and nudged him.

He threw his hands up and roared.

She backed away.

Shawn forced her against the wall.

“What will Vaclav think once he finds out you’re carrying Jakub’s son?” he asked.

“Nothing; because I’m NOT PREGNANT, you stupid fuck. I had my blood drawn today and the test was negative.”

Shawn withdrew, a shocked expression on his face.

But then he recovered.

“If at first you don’t succeed, try again.”

“What… is that supposed to mean?”

“The future of the Shadows depends upon a weapon with the same powers as Reznik. Our fledgling witch can’t compare to such powers. Any vampire over the age of 300 years qualifies as an elder, and Jakub surpasses that.”

“You will be used for breeding purposes.” He smiled. “That way the Shadows will have their weapon, while Jakub and I will have our perfect vengeance against Vaclav.”

Oh, hell no.

                                                           ****

Thanks for reading. ♦ Just in case anyone’s confused, the male offspring of an elder vampire is born with special powers that grow stronger as the child matures (that’s how it is in my story). Also, the only elder vampires in my story are Jakub and Vaclav. LOL.

Also, Pixxi asked the purpose of the talisman, because it didn’t seem to help in this chapter. To clear up any confusion, (and just a reminder) the talisman protects Aubrey from rogue vampires and the Shadows, and the reason why it didn’t hurt Jakub is because he’s a Haas Clan member. Jakub was also the one who tore the talisman from Aubrey’s neck once she was inside the tomb.

🙂