Dear Readers, As per usual, after the end of a book, I would like to thank you all for taking the time to read my twisted imaginings. Thank you for the comments and the gems, the ratings and the words of encouragement along the way. This was a particularly difficult book to write, and there were days I felt like giving up, but knowing that you liked it and wanted to keep reading about Aldric and Simone kept me going. Don't get me wrong, I loved them both, but my goodness, could those two be difficult at times. It probably doesn't help that I am anal retentive and wanted to get the historical facts "just right," even if I only wrote two sentences about a certain period in history. I swear, I fell down a historical rabbit hole every single time. And so, we've reach the end of this particular journey. Thank you for coming along. It is, and always will be, appreciated. Until next time. Much love,Celice.
Simone's POVRocks and thorns pierce through the soles of my feet as we run through the dark town. The bottom of my feet are torn to ribbons and every step is sheer agony. I want to stop, but Mommy keeps going, and no matter how much I beg and plead with her, she won’t turn back around and go home.Mommy isn’t thinking right. We should have left at daybreak when the vampires run into their hidey-holes, but she said we couldn’t because the werewolves were out, patrolling Baron’s grounds.I told her, but she wouldn’t listen to me.I hadn’t seen Mommy in days and days, and this morning she came to me and told me we were running away. “Right now, Mommy?” I asked.I was tired. The sun had just come up and Darma, my nanny, came to pull my curtains so the sunlight wouldn’t bother us.“No not now,” Mommy said. “Later.”“But we have to go now. While the vampires sleep.”“Later, Simone,” Mommy said. “After sundown.”I told her it wouldn’t work. I told her, but she thinks I’m just a silly littl
Simone's POVA knock on my door wakes me from the terrible nightmare. I’m soaked in sweat and my throat burns. I've been told I scream in my sleep, so I've always just assumed that's the cause of my nightly sore throat.It’s always the same dream. Every night without fail.When I’m awake, I can push the memories away. Pretend everything is okay and that I’m happy, but when I go to sleep, it comes back with terrifying clarity and it always takes me a few minutes to calm back down. “Lady Simone,” the slave calls on the other side of the door. “It’s getting late.”I snort loudly to myself. Lady Simone. I became ‘Lady’ after my mother walked into the ocean and left me all alone in this world, surrounded by bloodthirsty monsters. I love her, but I hate what she did to me. “Lady Simone!” the slave calls, her voice taking on an edge of panic.“Come in,” I croak and throw my legs off the bed. I yawn and stretch languidly.The room is beautiful and luxurious. I have the best of everything and
Aldric's POVI hover outside the girl’s bedroom window, delighting in the confused expression on her face. She can’t see me because I don’t want her to see me, but I won’t be able to hang out here all night watching her. Sooner or later, Baron will come looking for me.I float back to solid ground and head to the catacombs that are carved into the mountains behind Baron’s mansion. I push the heavy wrought iron gate open, and without bothering to light one of the torches, I step inside the gallery.The walls are nothing but mountain rock and the floor is compacted earth. The tomb in the middle of the catacomb belongs to our oldest ancestor, Asmodeus. No one has ever looked inside, we dare not open his tomb, but we’ve all heard him. On the last night of the Festival of Creation, we can hear him wailing from inside his sepulchre.Along the walls, each vampire in his own sarcophagus, are the rest of the originals. Twenty-one in all. I walk past them, down the first corridor to the right.
Aldric's POVThe next two days pass in a bit of a blur. Despite his aversion to religion, Baron honours the rituals and celebrations to the letter of The Book.I don’t usually come here to celebrate, but this year Baron insisted that I attend. Almost all the elders are here. The only exception is Vesper, my brother. He’s an open traitor, working with the human rebellion. Baron placed a price on his head years ago, but no one can seem to find Vesper. I know exactly where he is, but I’d rather drink battery acid than tell Baron.Every morning after the others have gone to bed for the day, I check on Simone. It’s as if some kind of invisible force pulls me to her. I can’t help myself. I have to see her, I have to make sure that she's all right.This morning, I was just in time to see Baron climb off her. She lay there for a long time afterwards. Limp like a ragdoll, her sad eyes empty, staring off into nothingness.I wanted to take her. God help me, I wanted to go into her room and take
Simone's POV Before I can even think about it, I put myself between Aldric and Baron. “Stop,” I say and put up my hands. Baron stops dead in his tracks. He gives me a confused look, maybe because I’ve never given him an order before, I don't know. “Why are you with him?” he asks in a watery voice. “You are mine.” It’s my blood doing that to him. I’ve seen it before. It changes him. Sometimes he'll be all giddy and nice, other times he'll be weepy like he is now. “I asked him to bring me up,” I reply and slowly walk towards him. “All those vampires were looking at me,” I make my voice small and try my best to sound more like the child I used to be. “I was scared.” “You should have come to me, not him,” Baron spits. "I look after you. I protect you." “You're right-” I lay my palms flat on his muscular chest -"but you were busy. You are an important man. You don’t have time for silly little girls that are afraid of silly little things like a few vampires looking at her.” I kick my f
Aldric's POV “I said no. I said no. He didn’t care. You were right.” “Okay.” I get on the bed with her and pull her into my arms. “You need to calm down for me. Breathe.” “I can’t.” Her rage is quickly giving way to panic. “What did I do?” “Nothing. He won't even remember this in the morning, but we’re going to leave. It's the only way you'll stay alive.” “He’ll come looking for me.” My brain is in overdrive, I need to get her out of here, and I need to do it safely. “No, he won’t. I’m just gonna go ahead and assume that you can handle a little pain.” "Yes," she mutters. She's starting to go limp in my arms. She's going into shock, and we're running out of time. I don't have time to be nice. “I’m really sorry about this.” I grab a handful of hair and yank it out. Simone gasps, but otherwise doesn't show any outward signs of pain. I let her go and sprinkle the clumps of hair over the bed, then I reach into my jacket and pull out a pocket knife. “Hold out your hand.” Why?” “I’
Simone's POV I wake with a violent start. I inhale sharply and bolt upright. “Good afternoon, Poppet,” an unfamiliar voice says to my left. I let out an involuntary little squeal and grab at thin air, looking for something, anything, I can use to defend myself against a possible attack. It takes me a hot minute to realise I’m no longer in Baron’s mansion. I’m lying on a soft rug in front of a warm fire. For the first time in my life, I feel…cosy. I have no other word for it. “You are safe,” the man says, his voice calm and comforting. Frowning, I turn my head to look at the speaker. A vampire with long, spider-white hair, wearing a robe made from roughly woven material sits on a couch on the other side of a coffee table. He closes the book on his lap and puts it aside, then rests his head between his thumb and forefinger and gives me a little smile. I should probably be scared, but I'm not. It's just more of the same. At least I understand them - vampires. I am kind of relieved t