Chapter 11

Two hundred years ago….

Before the Purge

The City of Velmont

Prancing Sole Inn....

Wrath slowly washed down the blood stains from both his hands. Images of the seven dead bodies lying in the alley flashed before his eyes. The stench of blood still lingered in his nostrils; he liked it. He exhaled deeply with his eyes closed, a small smile forming at the corners of his lips.

'Exhilarating, is it not?' He opened his eyes staring into the small inn mirror to find a calmer version of himself with a genuine smile, neatly combed long dark blond hair, crimson golden eyes and his irises as black as night.

'The smell of blood.... mmm, makes your insides tingle does it not?' His other self asked.

''Shut up!' Wrath muttered running his hand through his hair.

He pulled off his blood soaked shirt along with his dark cloak, throwing them into the corner of the room. He slouched halfway onto the tiny bed with his lower body hanging off the bed.

'You know things would be more peaceful if you just found someone?' His other self said.

'You talk too much, has anyone told you that?' Wrath muttered.

'Well, I am your alter ego who likes to express himself verbally instead of going on a murder spree. So, take your pick,' His alter ego laughed.

'You know you cannot live like this forever. At some point, you are going to snap. Oh, wait you have already done that'

'What do you want?' Wrath groaned rubbing his throbbing head. The seven human bodies he drained did nothing to quench his thirst. His throat still held that burning sensation whenever he was hungry.

'When have you ever not been hungry?' His other self asked.

'How did...'

'You of all people should know this. You see, the problem with talking to projections of yourself is, they know everything you know including the things you are trying not to know'

'And what are these things I am trying not to know?' Wrath asked with a sigh.

'The idea of there being a life without all this gore, anger and blood thirst'

'A life where I can be good and happy?' Wrath scoffed.

'Yes', His other self replied.

Wrath laughed maniacally, walking back to the mirror.

'You are a bloody moron. No wonder you are stuck in a mirror. I can never be happy, be loved or love another. I always end up destroying everything good. And honestly, it is great that....'

'Oh, you are such a terrible liar. I am you remember? You are the saddest maniac I have ever seen'

'And you are happy?' Wrath snapped.

'As a matter of fact, I am and you will too if you let me out,' His other self said with a smile.

Wrath laughed. 'And what do I become, happy, loving and what again, I finally find peace?' He said sarcastically.

'Yes, Wrath, peace...' There was a knock on the door interrupting him.

'What?' Wrath yelled.

'It is just me,' A voice responded from behind the door.

Wrath sighed looking back into the mirror to find a reflection of his original self, his alter ego gone.

'Come in!' He muttered with a sigh, slowly looking back into the mirror with a small smile, a cold dark one.

Cole stepped into the room dressed in an expensive suit and a grey coat. His blond hair was combed back revealing more of his face.

'Some bloody shit hole this is,' Cole muttered looking around the small dark room.

'What happened to you coming unnoticed?' Wrath asked with a raised brow.

'In my defence, I do not fit well in rags. I got you clothes to change in,' He threw the black bag onto the bed.

'And this,' He handed him a small black sack.

Wrath opened it to reveal a black iron mask that covered his mouth and nose when worn. Cole watched as a dark smile crawled onto Wrath's lips.

'It is to your liking I guess?' Cole said.

'It....' There was a scream from the adjacent room, interrupting him.

'Noisy here that much?' Cole said with a sigh.

'It is. Did you find him?' Wrath asked picking up the clothes from the bag.

'We did. Still with his mistress downtown. But there's one more thing....'

'What?' Wrath asked in a cold tone with his eyes turned to Cole.

'They... They have a child now!' Cole said abruptly.

Wrath clenched the coat in his grip tightly, his blood boiled from within. The screams of the woman next door were not making it any better.

'What is it?' he asked in a quiet tone.

'A girl, Elaina,' Cole told him.

'A beautiful name. She has her mother's eyes?'

'Her eyes are golden, like yours'

'Such a shame!' Wrath muttered.

Minutes later the two stepped out of the room with Cole locking the door behind them. Wrath was in a black cloak with a hood covering his head. He walked towards the door next door where the woman's screams could still be heard.

'No, that is not a good idea, Wrath,' Cole stepped in next to him saying.

Wrath knocked on the door softly, ignoring Cole's words.

'Wait, downstairs'

Cole chuckled, slightly shaking his head and walking away.

The door slowly opened to reveal a man of Wrath's height and stature. He had a disgruntled look and a foul scent of alcohol on his breath. Wrath's eyes trailed past him to the woman crouching at the corner of the room. Her face was battered her long black hair was dishevelled. In her arms was a boy about three years old sobbing quietly. The woman had her arms protectively wrapped around him with a defiant look in her eyes. She was protecting her child.

'Nothing to see here, mate. What do you want?' The man asked closing the door, preventing him from looking inside.

Wrath abruptly punched him in the face. The man fell to the ground with the door flanging wide.

'Oi, what is your problem?' The man screamed standing to his feet with blood splattering from his broken nose.

Wrath slowly stepped into the room closing the door behind him. He turned to the woman and her child, who gaped at him as if he were mad.

'What are you doing? Leave please...' Ysabeau's sat stunned wondering who this man was.

'Cover his eyes,' Wrath said to her softly.

'You dare speak to my wife....' Wrath suddenly grabbed the man by the neck, raising him from the ground. The man struggled in his grip with his hands throwing feebly punches. Wrath threw him to the ground, instantly landing a punch on his face. The man groaned in pain only to receive another punch, his blood splattering in several directions.

Wrath landed another punch in his face. After the fourth punch, the man stopped moving. As if that stopped a mad Wrath. His eyes were blank and cold as he kept punching the dead man. There was a loud crack resonating through the room as he landed the last punch.

He slowly stepped to his feet staring at the man's cracked skull and unrecognizable face.

Wrath pulled off his black gloves which were now stained with blood, throwing them to the corpse. He turned to find the woman staring up at him. Her son's face was buried in her chest away from the gory scene before them. Her olive eyes didn't waver as she looked at him. There was no fear, just pure fierceness.

Wrath slowly walked towards her kneeling at her side. He slowly placed a hand on her cheek, caressing it gently. She flinched holding his gaze, her eyes saying all the words. He could tell she was incredibly beautiful even with her face battered.

Wrath slowly placed a hand on the boy's head. He peeked from his mother's bosom, his olive eyes gazing into Wrath's golden ones.

'What is your name?' Wrath asked him with a bright smile.

The boy looked up at his mother cautiously to receive a nod.

'Edmond!' he said in a tiny voice.

'A good name for a brave man. You are safe now, Ed, alright?' He told the boy to receive a nod.

Wrath pulled a small pouch from his cloak handing it to the woman with the sound of coins clanking from within.

'Take this,' He told her.

'I cannot take your money. I already owe you a great debt I cannot pay,' she told him looking back her husband's corpse. Her eyes were filled with hate, yet a part of her squirmed with fear. Who was this mysterious man? He killed Den without buttering an eye. She hated Den for all the misery he'd caused her and her son, but she would never wish such a terrible death on anyone. Ysabeau looked at him to find him smiling at her. Her terrified

Wrath smiled as he looked at her. He could tell she was a proud woman from the way she spoke.

'What is your name?'

'Ysabeau,' She replied.

'You do not owe me anything, Ysabeau. Take this and take good care of yourself and Ed here,' He took her hand, placing the pouch in her palms.

'But I...'

'No buts, Ysabeau. If you want to repay me, leave this town the instant I am out of that door,' Ysabeau's brows furrowed up in confusion.

'Do you understand?' Wrath asked in a demanding tone. Ysabeau nodded slowly.

Wrath smiled gently patting her head. He slowly stood to his feet walking towards the small door.

'You never told me your name?' Ysabeau asked from behind with Wrath walking to a stop at the doorway.

'Wrath... Wrath Valerian, come find me when you are better,' he said over his shoulder. Wrath quickly stepped out of the room closing the door behind him.

He walked down to the entrance of the inn, ignoring the stares he received from the people within the inn. His dark demeanour was daunting and terrifying.

He stepped out of the inn to find Cole standing next to two horses. Cole pulled a new pair of black gloves from his pocket handing it to him.

'Did him good?' He asked as Wrath mounted his horse, slowly putting on his gloves.

'Better, he has no face now. Let us not waste any more time, let us go,' He galloped away on his horse with Cole behind him.

Wrath walked towards the small hill overlooking the town with Scourge behind him. He had a baby wrapped in black cloth in his arms. She was fast asleep, oblivious to the worries of the world. They walked to a stop at the edge of the hill where Draken, Cole and Miles stood.

'What do we have here?' Miles walked towards his brother, slowly taking a sleeping Elaina in his arms.

'An angel! I hear she has your eyes,' Miles smiled glancing at his brother who merely nodded.

'An angel, huh? That baby is the bloody devil,' Scourge muttered as Wrath headed away.

Miles chuckled staring at the sleeping child.

'You are going to be a terrible mother,' he told her.

'Huh, you realize that now?'

Miles's eyes trailed towards his brother as he joined Cole and Draken.

'He did it, did he not?' he asked Scourge.

'No, he killed his mistress and left him hanging upside down, before her corpse,' Scourge muttered.

Miles turned to Scourge with a frown, then quickly glanced in Wrath's direction.

'He changed his mind?' Miles muttered with a frown.

'It is the right thing to do,' He heard Cole whisper to Wrath.

A sudden dark shadow appeared behind Wrath as he watched the town. Draken stepped away from him, slowly walking towards Miles and Scourge.

'Do not tell me, he...' Draken blocked Miles's path instantly.

'It has to be done, do not stop him,' He said quietly.

Miles watched as the shadow behind Wrath stretched into a dark mist, with the stench of great evil sizzling through the air.

'So, this was his goal all along. Getting his darkness out,' Scourge muttered glancing in Cole's direction.

'I understand why he keeps him around now,' Miles mumbled.

Cole stepped back watching as the evil mist grew darker around Wrath. The sky suddenly turned starless with dark clouds overshadowing the moon. A strong wind blew through the town followed by rumbling sounds from the ground.

'He is going to kill them all,' Scourge said with horror. She was ruthless, but she sometimes sought solace in the fact that she'd never hurt anyone who did not deserve to be hurt. But seeing what Wrath was about to do now shook her to the core.

The rumbling from the earth was followed by lightning and thunder sparking throughout the town. The strong winds surrounded the town like a stagnant whirlwind, trapping everyone within the town. The townsfolk stepped out to witness what was going on. They ran into their homes as if that would protect them.

Wrath sighed, slowly opening his eyes. His golden orbs were red and his irises black. He had green veins growing from his neck to his face. He turned away from the town, his eyes suddenly meeting with Miles.

He held his brother's gaze. His mouth and nose were covered by the black iron mask he wore. From the look in his black eyes, he could tell he was smiling, Miles thought to himself.

Wrath slowly raised his right hand, his gaze holding Miles's all this while. Miles took a step forward but Draken held him back.

Wrath suddenly snapped his fingers followed by a loud blast engulfing the town in flames. The blast was followed by screams of agony.

Wrath closed his eyes ravishing in the screams and cries of the townsfolk. He let out a loud sigh of relief…..

Right now….

Wrath quietly stared at his reflection in the carriage's window. His eyes were crimson in a pool of black irises. His reflection smiled at him, that pure smile with no hidden scheme behind it.

Wrath slowly looked away, his mouth curving in a small frown.

'Are you okay?' He suddenly turned to find Eloise at his side. He was so caught up in his head he forgot she was there. Eloise's eyes went wide with surprise.

'Wrath, your eyes…' She muttered quietly.

Wrath instantly looked away, cursing himself from within for being careless.

'Wrath, are you okay?' He felt a gentle hand on his shoulder. All he sensed from her was concern… not fear.

Concern for him.

'When was the last time you fed? I can give you…'

'I am fine. Is that worry I hear in your voice?' He said in a mocking tone with his head bowed and his eyes trained on his feet.

'This is not the time to make jokes. Look at me,' She forcefully held his jaw pushing his face to face her.

He turned to her with a confused look in his eyes. His pupils were still crimson in a pool of black clouding them.

'Of course, I am worried. I can't have you walking next to me looking this murderous, can I?' She snapped.

He smiled with his chin still locked in her palm.

'This isn't funny, Wrath. When was the last time you fed and don't you lie to me,' She muttered with a stern look.

She sounded like a mother scolding her stubborn child.

Wrath chuckled staring at her in awe.

She didn't squirm in fear like the others did when he looked like this. She was only annoyed with that small pout of hers.

'Since Pride town,' he replied quietly. Eloise sighed, letting go of his chin.

'You know, self care should be your number one priority. I mean look at you, you look terrible right now,' She told him, slowly pulling the scarf around her slender neck off.

'You know, no one ever talks to me like that and lives to see the day,' he told her.

She looked at him unperturbed.

'You should know by now I am not just anyone. Besides, I speak only the truth, for a vampire, feeding should come before everything else'

As if he didn't know that. He was selfish when it came to feeding. He was a glutton and greedy. He could kill a whole town and still, his thirst will not be quenched. But strangely, these past few weeks were different. Ever since he fed from her after their journey from Pride town, he hadn't the slightest urge to taste another's blood on his tongue.

He wanted hers. Now that he thought about it, he craved it even more.

Eloise watched as veins popped around his neck growing into his face. He looked like a monster ready to jump her.

'Come here' She pushed her hair to the side of her shoulder exposing her long beautiful neck.

Wrath furrowed his brows in suspicion. This was the second time she was offering him her blood. He wondered if….

'Don't tell me you are scared of me. I don't bite, at least not at the moment' She taunted him.

Wrath slowly moved closer to her, suddenly lunging at her neck and harshly biting her. He pushed her into the small corner of the carriage, with his hand grabbing the side of her neck. Grunting like a wild animal as he hurriedly fed from her.

Eloise was taken aback for a second. She recalled his behaviour the first time he fed from her that night.

For all his elegance, he was like a greedy child when he feed. A glutton, trying to gobble down everything in the shortest possible time to ask for more. So different from Cole, she thought.

She let out a sigh, gently patting his head and wrapping her other hand around him. Holding him like a mother would hold her child.

'Take it slow tiger or else you are going to choke' She told him with a small laugh.

Wrath suddenly froze, slowly pulling back to look at her.

'Had your fill?' Eloise asked, her hand patting his cheek. He had a look in his now golden eyes that confused her.

'Are you okay….' He abruptly kissed her mouth. Grabbing her neck forcefully and taking her lips wildly. He deliberately pulled back knowing he'd broken boundaries.

'I am not sorry…' Eloise took his lips before he could finish. She didn't think, she just let her body lead her. Their second kiss, not as gentle as the first, but this was Wrath. He was not much of a gentle person.

The carriage suddenly moved to a stop hitting a bump. They broke off their kiss both staring at each other, surprised.

'Tiger… the only person who used to call me that was my mother,' Wrath said with an affectionate look in his eyes and his thumb slowly grazing her lips.

Eloise's chest heaved up and down. She still wasn't over the fact that she kissed him back.

Until now, she had no idea how bad she wanted this. She didn't move as he leaned in taking her lips again, this time, gently and slowly. Her lips graciously took his gently, with her hands roaming his chest.

'Thank you, Eloise, but you have to stop being this kind to me, or else I am going to want to fall in love with you,' He whispered on her lips, caressing her face gently.

The door to the carriage suddenly opened to reveal two royal coachmen. They suddenly bowed their heads.

'Apologies, my Lord, my Lady… but we are here,' The head coachman announced.

Wrath slowly pulled away from Eloise and stepped out of the carriage. He extended a hand towards Eloise with a smile.

Eloise slowly wrapped her scarf around her neck, straightened her gown and took his hand.

Her left heel suddenly slipped off as she stepped out of the carriage. Both coachmen rushed to help her with it.

'Let me!' Wrath said, stopping them. He slowly bent down to his knees.

He picked up her heel and looked up at her.

'May I?' She nodded with a smile, raising her gown to reveal her feet clothed in white stockings. Was Wrath always this sweet? Eloise thought. Not alway, but he was now.

The coachmen quickly looked away as he took her leg, slowly fitting her heel back on her feet.

Eloise looked up to find several people staring at them.

'Shall we?' Wrath drew her attention.

'Wait…!' Eloise muttered digging her hand in the small blue pouch she held to fetch a handkerchief. She dubbed the corners of his mouth wiping the last of her blood off.

'Thank you!' He said softly with a smile. Eloise found herself smiling too.

'Let me hold on to that for you, my Lady,' Lucy approached them taking her pouch.

'Thank you, Luce,' Eloise handed her the pouch, slowly turning back to Wrath.

She took his arm and together they walked up the stairs, towards the large Lenoire manor. Two guards followed them as they ascended the stairs.

Other elites stepping out of their carriages, stopped to look as the couple headed towards the entrance.

Annalise Vladimir was among the lot staring as the Lord and Lady headed for the manor. Loretta Vladimir stepped out of the carriage behind her sister.

'Do they not look so good together?' Annalise said with a dreamy look.

Loretta scowled looking at the two. That could have been her holding his arm right now. She loathed that red haired bitch with all her heart. But Wrath... She was still madly in love with Wrath.

'Look at you green with envy. I must say it fits you perfectly,' Annalise said to her sister. Loretta stood in a beautiful green gown with matching gloves. Her pink lips curved into a smirk as she turned to her sister.

'Hmm, I do look exquisite do I not? Flawless even, but I can not say the same for that hideous rag you are wearing. Only God knows how embarrassed I am standing with you right now,' Loretta said with a sigh.

'Loretta, do not be cruel to your sister,' their parents stepped in behind them with her mother saying.

'Oh please, she started it! Besides, you can take it, can you not, sister dearest?' Loretta held her chin with her index finger, flashing her a daunting smile.

'Of course, I can,' Annalise slowly raised her gown, suddenly stamping Loretta's right foot with her heel.

'Ouch!' Loretta hissed, flashing Annalise a glare.

'Shall I walk with you father?' Annalise asked her father sweetly.

'Come along now, love,' her father gave her his arm and together they headed towards the manor.

'Did you see that mother? Do not say I…'

'That is enough, love. Come along now. We do not want to cause a scene, do we?' Her mother took her arm slowly.

Loretta sighed putting on a gentle smile amidst the pain in her foot.

'Of course not mother,' She muttered.

'Good, let us go on then,' Her mother took her hand and together they headed into the manor.

'You know we can use the front door, like normal people,' Leonard said to his brother as they used the servant's back door into the Lenoire manor.

'I know but if any of what Stan said is true, we have been looking at this the wrong way. Go find Miles, I will find Wrath,' Thorne walked ahead, leaving Leonard behind.

"Thorne and his paranoia. But he was never wrong about the things he worried about," Leonard thought to himself.

'Excuse me sir!' A servant passed by him with a tray of glasses filled with wine.

Leonard followed him towards the music. He walked into an open foyer leading to the large garden. The garden was parked with several elites and nobles conversing, laughing and drinking wine.

The place seemed lively with all the laughter and music. Much was to be expected from a Lenoire event. The Lenoires were an elite family, from the Luna pack, the head of the pack and leader of the wolves. They were like royals, like the Valerians. They held a sports fest every year inviting only the elite of the elite.

Leonard's eyes searched the crowd for Miles only to land on Eloise.

She stood by a group of women chattering about something. She looked bored. She stood in a beautiful light blue gown with matching gloves. Her dark copper hair was tied in a loose chignon with a golden pin in her hair.

She looked utterly beautiful. He could look at her all day, he thought with a smile.

His smile slowly turned to a frown, seeing the scarf around her neck.

"Again? Wrath feed from her again," he thought.

She let him? he wondered. That lucky bastard, he'd never envied his brother this much.

He thought of heading to her side, taking her away from the boring conversation and having her all to himself.

As Leonard took his first steps down the stairs, he stopped as he saw Miles move to Eloise's side. He took her hand, taking her away from the group of women.

Leonard sighed, he wasn't the only one in love with her.

Maybe he'd come to find her another time. Since Miles was also occupied, he'd come back for him later.

He turned around only to bump into someone. He abruptly held the woman by the waist stopping her from falling.

'Pardon me, I….' Arielle Hall's brown eyes met with his olive ones leaving him speechless.

He suddenly held her away from him, stepping past her quickly.

'Am I that displeasing to look at?' Arielle asked softly from behind.

Leonard stopped in his tracks, unable to turn back. Arielle stood quietly waiting for an answer.

'I disgust you so much that, I am unworthy of a simple reply…' She muttered from behind him.

Leonard stood quietly with a sigh. Of course not, his mind screamed.

'I apologize for carelessly bumping into you then, Lord Valerian. If you would excuse me…' She slowly turned away from him.

'Arielle wait…' Leonard turned quickly to find her already facing him.

He was speechless for a second, his eyes tracing down from her curly brown hair to her brown skin. She was in a beautiful peach gown with matching gloves. Her thick lashes buttered on her big starry brown eyes, waiting for him to say something.

'Lord Valerian, you wanted to say something?' she asked waiting patiently to hear him speak.

'I…I…' Leonard rubbed his forehead nervously.

Where the hell were the words when you needed them?

He was never good with women so he avoided them. He was uptight and built up a no time to waste attitude'. He ignored any woman who did as much as even approach him. At least until Eloise and her….

'Arielle… I… you… are not displeasing to look at…not at all. You… you… you are beautiful. I just… I am a bloody idiot, that is all,' Leonard pulled off his glasses rubbing his eyes.

God, that was dreadful, he thought. He'd never struggled to say this little in his life before.

She must think him a bloody moron right now, he thought.

Arielle suddenly giggled drawing his attention.

'You look very handsome yourself, Lord…'

'Arielle, you're bleeding' Leonard said with a frown.

Arielle stood confused for a second. Leonard stepped closer towards her placing a handkerchief on her nose. Arielle looked up at him, her brown eyes meeting his worried olive ones.

'What is wrong?' He asked her.

'I… I have…'

'Let us go somewhere quieter,' He suddenly took her hand leading her away from the garden and into the manor.

Eloise let out a sigh of relief when Miles took her away from the group of chattering dowagers.

'Miles, where are we…'

They walked up to a group of three ladies including Annalise. The chestnut-haired in the middle quickly hid something behind her with Annalise and the other two laughing.

'Oh, I saw that, Freya,' Miles said to the chestnut-haired woman in the red gown.

'You saw? What? Lord Valerian?' Freya Harden stuttered while her friends giggled.

Miles chuckled noticing the small silver hip flask she held behind her.

'Eloise, let me introduce you to my favourite group, you have already met Lady Annalise,' Miles introduced.

Annalise did a little bow with a bright smile, mostly for Miles than for Eloise.

'This is Lady May Ming,' the beautiful Asian brunette smiled at her.

'And this is Lady Freya Harden,' Miles introduced the tall chestnut-haired with dark blue eyes.

Everything about her reminded her of Corentine, Eloise thought.

She thought of her friends back in the future as she did now, every now and then.

'My Lady!' Freya smiled at her, remembering her of Corentine all over again.

'And there is… where is Arielle?' Miles asked.

'She has not arrived yet. It is not like her to arrive late,' May said.

'Alright then, ladies, I will leave my precious sister in your very capable hands now,' Miles said to the three.

He kissed Eloise on the cheek before excusing himself.

'Lis, you can stop ogling now,' Freya nudged Annalise who still had his eyes glued on Miles.

'She is in love with him, you see,' May said to Eloise laughing.

'I see it clear as day. Have you tried speaking to him personally?' Eloise asked.

'Huh? Talk to him, she would choke on a book than talk to him,' Freya laughed slowly sipping from her silver hip flask.

As if suddenly noticing Eloise's presence, she smiled nervously.

'A very underrated way to solve forget your problems,' she said with a shrug.

Eloise laughed, she sounded just like Corentine.

'I understand!' She said with a chuckle.

'Besides, Lord Valerian has too many beautiful women around him to notice you' Freya said with a chuckle.

'He will one day, just wait and see' Annalise said determinedly.

'I for one can not wait to see that day' Freya said with a chortle.

'Laugh all you want, it is going to happen' Annalise said.

'Well, Loretta can not seem to keep her eyes off us,' May muttered looking towards a group of women glancing their way, including Loretta.

'Rather like you, my Lady,' Annalise muttered.

'Please call me, Eloise. Your sister doesn't seem to like me that much, does she?' Eloise muttered.

'No, she does not, probably like all those women' Freya said.

'Freya…' May nudged Freya slightly. Eloise noticed the three exchange awkward looks.

'Is there something, the three of you aren't telling me?' Eloise asked.

'It is not…'

'Don't lie to me, Annalise. That goes to you two too,' Eloise said to the two.

Annalise glanced at the five women including her sister gathered at a distance from them.

'Starting from the right is Lilith Monroe, next to her is Adina Hollis, Dana Hopkins, Kathryn Oliver and our very own Loretta Vladimir…' May told her, hesitant for a second and turning to the two for help.

'They were all at one time the Lord's mistresses,' Freya blurted.

Eloise turned to them with a raised brow.

'Loretta was the last. She always had hopes of marrying the Lord, until his marriage to you was made public,' Annalise said.

That explained why Loretta didn't like her, Eloise thought.

Her eyes settled on Wrath standing next to a tall beautiful black haired woman with olive eyes. They were speaking to a young man about twenty years old, laughing about something. There was something different in the way Wrath spoke to the boy.

The look in his eyes was the same as whenever he was with Corianne.

'Who is that?' Eloise asked glancing in the woman's direction.

'That is Ysabeau Hawthorne… the Lord's first lover,' May said reluctantly.

'They met two hundred years ago before the Purge. After the Lord saved both her and her son from the Velmont massacre. She was human before the Lord turned both her and her son, Edmond Hawthorne,' Annalise told her.

'Rumor has it they almost got married. No one knows why they did not,' Freya told her.

Eloise watched Wrath as he intently listened to something the woman said. There was a glint in his eyes she'd never seen before. He looked happy, happier than she'd ever seen him. He laughed heartily at something she said.

Eloise's heart sank as she watched the two. What was this strange pang she felt on the inside?

As if sensing her glance, Wrath looked in her direction and their eyes met. Ysabeau turned to her to meet her eyes as well.

Eloise slowly looked away turning to the three.

'So tell me about the Velmont massacre,' she said to the three who exchanged more reluctant looks.

'They call it The Night of Wails....'