His Blood

Caleb was a wreck. The moment Apollo, Pandora, and himself eyed the seemingly ordinary apartment complex, his heart raced in anticipation. He was mentally preparing himself for his reunion with Persephone. The entire journey to get to this exact moment had been exhausting, but he was ready for all the miscommunication and misunderstandings to be stripped away. Persephone's words in the scroll haunted him. He needed to make this right by her, by Orion, and by Dimitri.

Unfortunately, when they stepped inside and was greeted by Derrick's sires, he was promptly told that Persephone wasn't here at the moment. She had started her new job at a coffeehouse. He wondered what disguise they had given her.

Her name was Opal Covington. Smirking at her last name, he discovered the Crescent coven was indeed quirky matchmakers. In their eyes, they were already mated. Good. He felt that way too ever since academy days and now cemented by her confessions inked in her scroll. They were meant to be together.

"Derrick wants us to take everyone and go with you..." Keira trailed off, glancing over at Apollo.

Apollo nodded. "Yes. To Shale Abbey. He'll be joining us there."

"We'll be under the Devereuxs protection," Pandora told Keira and Vivienne. "Derrick's afraid it'll be no time before they figure out this apartment complex belongs to him."

Vivienne's eyes darted back and forth between Apollo, Pandora, and Keira. She sighed before nodding her head. "If Derrick wants us to be protected, we follow his lead," she told Keira, who growled in frustration. "I know it's tough to leave it all behind again, but look what just happened to Lord Orion Cristos. Do we truly want to wait to see if we'll be attacked?"

"Of course not," Keira agreed. "It's just a lot of people are involved to move."

"The sooner we implement the evacuation process, the better we'll be." The gravity in Apollo's eyes caused everyone to pause for a moment before everyone nodded in agreement. "Tomorrow morning gather your wards to explain everything. By nightfall, I want everyone who wishes to depart to be prepared for the journey to Loren Borough."

Loren Borough? They were going across the province to a tiny rarely populated borough. It made sense. Why wouldn't the Devereuxs find a place that most would never care to travel to? It made the most sense that Shale Abbey was located in nondescript location. Most would rather occupy the metropolitan Boroughs then frolic in the country like he often preferred.

Caleb noticed Pandora perk up. A big smile crossed her face. He noticed movement at the doorway and noticed a hooded figure with silver eyes glowing.

"You made it," Keira sang out.

The figure pushed off their hood and a pleasant face came into view. "We also brought refreshments."

"We wouldn't abandon Derrick, his cause, nor his fight," another voice said as a few more figures with silver eyes showed up and entered the room. Caleb realized the Crescent coven had arrived. "His fight is our fight. His blood and lineage is a part of our coven. We never turn our backs on our kin."

One of the ladies with reddish locks eyed Pandora. "Have you heard from Aurora?" When Pandora shook her head, the lady looked a little concerned, but she shrugged after a moment. "We'd know if something was wrong. Aurora is perfectly capable of dealing with delinquents."

Caleb watched the coven embrace one another before dropping large bags on the table in the middle of Keira and Vivienne's office. The ladies quickly started opening the bags and dishing out paper plates filled with Chinese takeout. It had been a long time since he ate this stuff, but he couldn't help that his mouth was watering for it. Sometimes, he missed living away from the Ton and their tasteful recommendations. He missed takeout food -- junk food.

He had already dug into his plate when one of the Crescent members offered him a paper cup of blood. He thanked her and watched as she handed one to Apollo also. He couldn't place the subject of the conversation now, but he did notice that it was almost time for Persephone to arrive. Almost.

Two new coven members abruptly rushed inside the office. Their silver eyes filled with fear as they struggled to breathe. Deep cuts marred the skin of their arms and small abrasions dotted their cheeks. One of them had a split lip.

"Arielle?" Keira questioned.

Arielle glanced up. Her eyes quickly seeking out Pandora. "They're here. They're already here."

Caleb watched Pandora's eyes widen in shock before they quickly darted to Apollo before a loud blast overtook them. The entire apartment building shuddered. Lights flicked off then flickered on and off rapidly as if it was a blinking eye trying to focus in dim light.

Absolute chaos erupted. Screams echoed through the building and alarm sirens wailed like a babies first cry taking their first breath. Just like a child, he felt lost, wanting to react but not knowing how what do. Explosions rocked the building in succession.

Survive.

He had to survive.

~

The hostility between Helios and Aurora was intense. Derrick shook his head, watching the two of them throughout the day. When Aurora finally decided to retire for the night, Derrick watched Helios stare after Aurora as she departed without giving him a single glance.

"She's going to make this extremely difficult," Helios muttered.

Derrick swirled his blood-wine beverage around his wine glass. He eyed the liquid before he took a deep breath. "She believes she needs to forsake her needs to make up for her sister's sins."

Helios turned to him. The confusion in his amethyst eyes shimmered in the flames of fireplace. Derrick's heart clenched. Bloody hell, he missed a particular pair of stunning amethyst eyes. He took a deep swallow of his drink before he allowed his focus to settle upon Helios.

"Her sister is Estelle," he told Helios. "She is the one that selfishly dragged her coven into the wicked clutches of Magus Finneas Exodus. The coven didn't approve of Finneas. My mother was the strongest voice to oppose of the match, but instead of either choosing exile or to remain remained the coven, Estelle tricked them and Finneas bound the coven by siring them."

Helios's eyes widened in shock before he squeezed his eyes shut. "Aurora isn't like Estelle."

"No, she isn't, but she feels indebted to the coven and myself with what happened," Derrick explained. "I honestly don't see any issues. The Crescent coven is already allied with the Devereuxs by association with myself and Pandora. Hyperion and Apollo have continuously assisted Pandora, the Coven, and myself. That will never change, because we all believe in the same core beliefs. We believe in helping and assisting the ones that have been wronged by the savagery of our kind."

Helios nodded. "Devereuxs stand for justice. That is why we will be by your side when you call upon us."

Derrick smirked at that. He lifted his wine glass and Helios did so as well as a salute before they both took a deep drink. Derrick watched the concern swiftly cross Helios face. Helios grabbed Derrick forcing him to duck as a well aimed dagger flew passed them, embedding into the stone. Derrick frowned as Helios eyed the dagger and the vampire's eyes widened in shock.

"Oh, she's livid," Helios muttered, quickly shoving Derrick towards the sliding door to return to the library.

Derrick opened his mouth to question him but more daggers went flying. Helios shoved him and himself to the ground, shielding his body. In the corner of his eye, he watched a figure drop down behind them. His eyes narrowed, attempting to focus upon the figure shrouded in the darkness. His heart thudded in his chest and his senses were fired up. His soul was trembling.

No. It couldn't be, but the figure moved into the light.

For the first time, his heart sank as realization dawned upon him. His little rose wasn't a delicate flower by all means, but he never expected this dark warrior goddess glaring dangerously at him with hardened amethyst eyes. Her entire wardrobe decked out with two swords and daggers. She was a Devereux and Devereuxs were never what they seemed to be.

"Briar," Helios addresses her warily. "Now is not the time to act irrationally." Briar smirked at that, but she didn't speak instead gave her brother a look. "Remember he's an asset. He's a part of the mission."

Briar's eyes flashed as she took a step forward drawing her swords. Helios cursed as stumbled to his feet to get in front of him. Derrick watched brother and sister square off, staring each other down.

"Please don't do this," Helios begged, but the emotionless look upon her face was as disturbing as her full rage.

Then she was closing in on them, expertly dodging Helios as he tried to block her. In a blur of movement, she tripped up Helios sending him sprawling on the ground. Her eyes went to Derrick and she couldn't hide her fury and pain from him. He watched her as she came upon him like an avenging angel with tears in her eyes filling with blood fire. Helios growled, rapidly getting back to his feet as he managed to grab her before she could make contact and yanked her back.

Derrick got to his feet as he watched sister and brother fight against one another like an intricate dance of blocking and evading. Both were impressive, sleek, and lethal, but he wasn't even surprised when she bested her brother sending him once again to ground. Her sword pointed at his chest.

"Are-Are you a-against me, d-dear br-brother?" she snapped.

Helios quickly kicked out her legs. "You're not thinking correctly."

"N-Not th-thinking cor-correctly?" she hissed, glaring at Helios. Her eyes growing even redder and her own brother grew nervous. "Not thinking correctly! The bloody conniving snake is just like all of his House!"

Her outburst shocked the both of them. She hadn't stammered, but it was her statement that shocked them. He had walked out on his bloody House to do the right thing yet here she was spitting contradictions.

"I'm not like them at all," Derrick told her. His own anger rising within him. He had almost died after being blackmarked.

Amethyst eyes filled with fire snapped to his. "She was what you desired," she hissed and he frowned in confusion. She? "He told me everything and it makes perfect bloody sense." She walked towards him with deadly intent, but he no longer cared of impending doom. "Why else would you vanish after fucking me and making all your empty promises?"

Reginald.

Reginald got to her. He fucked with her mind.

Helios attempted to subdue her, but Derrick shook his head. He needed to know what happened and what he told her. He shuddered and what he could have done do to her. His mind momentarily wandered to Vivienne and the warehouse. He was a fool to think that just nectar because she was a Devereux that she'd be safe from Reginald. Nobody was safe from his House's wickedness.

"You-You left m-me to die so you-you could b-be with th-that bitch," she stammered out, shaking her head. Her entire body trembled. Tears fell down her cheeks. "If-If you wan-wanted her this en-entire time--"

"I only want you," he interrupted her.

She shook her head. "You're-You're a l-liar!"

When she came at him, he dispatched her with ease, but he knew she'd counter quickly. He was ready though and grabbed her in his arms. Capturing her mouth with his as he pinned her body against his. Allowing his gift to flare through him, her memories flowed through him and anger rose within his body.

Reginald would die.

Yes, he would die and he would enjoy murdering him.

She struggled against him. He released her mouth, but he drew her even tighter against him. Even though she fought against him, he held her firm.

"I'm sorry," he whispered into her hair. "I won't let him hurt you ever again. It was lies and I can prove it if you'd let me."

Her struggles lessened. "How-How will you-you d-do that?"

"My blood."