Aaron's Revenge (16 page)

She ran to the door again just as he stood shakily to his feet. A sharp pain knifed its way through Aaron’s head. Hearing him cry out, Amira turned and watched as he clutched the kitchen table, writhing in pain, resisting the urge to vomit.

Amira rushed over, gripping his shoulders in support. “Aaron, what is it?”

“
I don’t know.” Gritting his teeth, he attempted to stand, only to fall to the floor again, screaming and gripping the side of his head.

“
Amira—the pain in my head!”

“
Aaron, help me!”

Aaron stilled, trying to listen to the voice. “Someone is trying to communicate with me.”

“
Who?”

“
I don’t know. I think it might be Dragan, but it has never hurt before.”

Another pain stabbed through his head, causing spots to float behind his eyes. Wincing, he pushed through the pain, listening.

“
Brother…chapel! I need you!”
The voice was getting weaker and farther away
. “Help me…dying…”
 

“
Dragan, I am coming for you!”

“
It’s Dragan, something is wrong…I have to get to him.”

“
But you said Daphne told us not to leave here.”

Jumping to his feet, the connection was lost and all pain ceased. Aaron swung to face Amira. His eyes blazed red, features darkened. Amira took a step back, afraid, as he stood inches from her.

“
Lose the snarkyness. If Dragan is in trouble, I am going to help him, Amira. He told me where he was.”

Gulping, she nodded her head. “I am coming with you.”

“
Absolutely not!”

“
Aaron, what if it is a trap and they are trying to separate us?”

Sensing his hesitation, she pressed her advantage. “You cannot leave me here, Aaron. You know that I will only leave to follow you.”

Aaron’s eyes roamed the tiny room of the cottage. She was right. Worrying about her would only cause him to become unfocused. “Fine, come. But you must do as I say, Amira.”

Waiting for her nod of agreement, he pulled her, none too gently, through the door and outside. He was grateful for the lack of moon and stars. They would have a better chance reaching the chapel undetected.

Pulling Amira along, he hurried to the line of trees near the lake, choosing to follow the shoreline. If he was going to battle something, let it be from the side he knew they would come from, the woods.

Running a short distance, he impatiently turned. Grabbing Amira, he lifted her up in her arms again.

“
Aaron!”

“
It is faster this way. Sorry.”

Running at full speed, weaving in and out of the trees, everything became a blur to Amira and she felt sick to her stomach. Wrapping her arm around him, she turned her face into his neck, inhaling deeply, in an attempt to quell the nausea.

 “
Amira, what is it?”

“
Nothing. I am fine, Aaron.”

Aaron did not believe her. Clutching her tighter to his chest, he bent low to avoid branches hanging down. Seeing the birch trees in the distance, he breathed a sigh of relief. Stopping, he held her for a moment before easing her down onto her feet. The second she felt the ground underneath her, she spun away from him, allowing her body to retch.

“
Amira!”

“
It’s okay, Aaron. I think the running just jostled my stomach.”

Aaron’s eyes roamed her face, which was now pale and clammy.

Hearing a moan in the distance, Aaron spun to face the chapel, listening intently.

There it was—another moan.

“
Dragan is inside, Amira. I can hear him.” Cocking his head to one side while closing his eyes, he listened painstakingly. Hearing his brother moan again, he tried to probe Dragan’s mind, but all he saw was blackness.

“
Something is terribly wrong. He is shut off from me, and I cannot communicate with him. He may be too hurt to open himself up.”

Still worried that it was a trap, Amira scanned the woods. “Do you think they would really have left him alone like this?”

Not answering, Aaron pushed her ahead of him. “Come, we have to get to him.”

Rushing to the side of the tiny chapel, Aaron pressed his back against the stone as he inched them both around to the side facing away from the manor, until they eventually reached the front. He still heard nothing from inside but Dragan moaning, and now labored breathing. Aaron wasn’t sure how he knew but felt that Dragan was near death.

Glancing at the manor with all of the windows lit up with lights, he hoped Daphne was all right and able to contain Adara.

Pulling on the brass ring on the door, he appreciated the upkeep on the building. As heavy as it was, it made no sound. Quickly easing into the vestibule, he pulled Amira in tightly to him before closing the door. Amira started to speak, but Aaron quickly placed a hand over her mouth, while shaking his head.

Soft light emanating from the candles spread out into the tiny vestibule where they hid. He still heard no other sound but those coming from Dragan. Peering into the room, his eyes efficiently scanned the area, easily catching sight of his brother. He had been shackled to the altar, lying flat on his back. Aaron had visions of when he and Dragan were turned centuries ago. At the base of the altar, he caught sight of white fur matted with blood. He could not tell if the wolf was alive or not. But, with relief, he could determine that they were definitely alone.

Leaving Amira, he rushed over to where Dragan lay. His brother looked bad. His skin had a gray pallor to it, with mottled bruising covering his body. Whoever he fought, they certainly did a number on him.

Aaron touched Dragan’s arm gently and Dragan moaned again. “Hey, brother, I am here.”

“
Aaron! I didn’t think you would make it before…”

“
You know I wouldn’t miss a good party.”

“
Amira?”

“
She is right here, with us.”

Dragan’s relief was palpable in the room.

“
Hi, baby.” Tears streamed down Amira’s face as she went to the other side of the altar, reaching for his hand, which was frighteningly cold.

“
Amira. Are you ok?”

Nodding her head, she stroked his face, pulling her hand back as he winced.

“
Amira. You know I love you with all of my heart. No matter what happens, you must remember that, okay?”

“
Shhhh, Dragan. Everything is going to be all right. We are going to get out of this together.”

Sadness flashed over Dragan’s face. Before he could speak again, a whine came from the floor as Shadow, coming to, attempted to get to his feet. From outside, yelling could be heard off in the distance.

“
Aaron, hurry, under the rug is a door. Please, get Amira inside with Shadow.”

“
I am not leaving you!”

Ignoring Amira’s protest, he begged his brother. “There is no time, Aaron. Daphne put a spell over it. They will be undetected there, just like the cottage.”

Kicking the red carpet aside, Aaron lifted the trap door, grabbing Amira before she could pull away.

Gripping the side of her face, he begged, “Please Amira, you promised if I would bring you, you would do as I say.”

“
But Aaron, he is dying. I need to stay with him.”

Refusing to look into her emerald eyes, he shook his head.

“
Dragan needs to know you are safe, as do I.”

Hearing more yelling and what sounded like a tornado outside, Amira quickly went down the ladder. Grabbing Shadow, Aaron jumped down, placing the wolf on the floor at Amira’s feet and was back upstairs with the door shut and carpet replaced before Amira could say anything more.

“
Come, there isn’t much time, Aaron.”

“
What do you mean?”

“
She bit me—all she needs to do is give me blood. I am turning again, brother. You need to kill me before Adara has time to make the transition happen.”

Aaron felt icy fingers grip his heart and squeeze until he could not breathe. Of all of his nightmares, he finally came face to face with his darkest one. He knew this was Dragan’s worst fear and his greatest wish.

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

“
No, Dragan. I will not. How can you ask such a thing of me?”

“
Aaron, brother—you must. I cannot face a life as a vampire. There is a knife in the drawer under me. You must kill me.”

Shaking his head, Aaron felt the beginning of anger rising within him.

“
I see you would pick death over me, Dragan. What about Amira? You would choose to die and leave her also? Where is your love you speak about so much? More important, where is your God, or the great being Sebastian—too busy to assist his servant?”

“
I am choosing life after death, Aaron. It is because of love that I must die. Would you have me live undead, knowing that I would not be happy? I was given a second chance; please don’t take that away from me.” Desperation tinged Dragan’s words.

Agonized, Aaron grabbed Dragan’s face with his hands as tears welled in his eyes. “And where is my chance, brother? You are all I have. You are all I ever had. I cannot let you go.”

Sadness encompassed both. “Ah, my brother. You have had more than just me and you always have. You just choose not to believe it. We have had our time together. A time that I would not change one second of but my time is complete.”

Angrily ripping the chains off, Aaron flung open the drawer, lifting the knife high before driving it through the Bible, until it stuck in the wooden pedestal. “You want death—you do it.”

Finally free, Dragan rolled off the stone, his body racked by a coughing fit as the venom seared through him. Shaking his head, gasping, he reached out to Aaron for support. “I cannot; you know I cannot.”

A gunshot rang out, causing both to jump and they could hear screeching and more shouting as it got closer to them. “She is near and will finish the transition. Daphne and the coven cannot hold her off forever. Adara will regain my soul, kill every living thing around her, including you and I, and all will be lost. She will have won. If you have any love for me at all, as my brother, you must kill me. Use it as revenge for all that Adara has done to us—to others.”

The sound of wood splitting into a million pieces reverberated throughout the chapel. Turning, Aaron watched as Adara strode into the tiny room.

“
Well, well. What do we have here? Could it be my favorite thing—an audience? What year are we on for this fantastic reunion? Three hundred? No? Oh well. Aaron, darling, you are looking well and as dashing as ever.”

Moving closer to his brother, Aaron blocked Dragan from her view. “I will not allow you to touch him again, Adara.”

Waving a hand in the air, Adara threw Aaron into the air, watching with satisfaction as he crashed into the ceiling before plummeting to the hard floor. Her face was set and determined.

Aaron felt the cloak tighten around him. He had forgotten he was still wearing it.

“
Really? You will not allow? You are in no position to grant me rights.” Reaching behind her, she pulled Chavali into the room. “I will take what is rightfully mine, Aaron. Your brother’s soul and yours—and as consolation for all of the grief that you two have brought me, I will take this girl with me as a gift from you to me. My greatest revenge will be when I find and then kill the one who you both love. Then, and only then, will all be forgiven.”

“
Take her. She means nothing to me.”

Adara’s cool eyes surveyed Chavali’s face. “Interesting. You have not told him then?”

Shaking her head as she stared at the floor, Chavali’s face burned as she covered her stomach with her hands.

Adara’s laughter rang out, causing all to stare at her. “Your child, Aaron. Your boy child lies asleep as we speak, deep inside her.”

Aaron took a step forward, only to have Dragan clutch his arm weakly. “Easy, brother.”

“
Is this true?”

Chavali raised her eyes, staring deep into the dark ones of the man she hated, embracing the condemnation she saw deep within them. “It is true, Aaron. I am pregnant with your baby.”

“
More lies, bitch. I am a vampire. I cannot have children.”

Adara was still laughing, maniacally. “This is rich. Oh, Aaron Reynell, how little you know of the secrets of this world. Chavali is not only half vampire and half human; she happens to also be my child, thus making her an offspring of a true daughter of darkness. That would make one born of her and you to be quite powerful indeed.”

Aaron could not believe what he was hearing. Locking eyes with Chavali, he could barely spit out the words. “Adara is your mother?” Smiling, Chavali nodded her head.

Aaron sensed Dragan falter behind him. Reaching out, he grabbed his brother tightly.

Dragan leaned heavily against Aaron. “You will only have one chance, brother.”

Aaron stiffened at Dragan’s words, faltering as he became unsure of his next step. Moments later, with relief, he saw Daphne come up behind Adara, undetected. Throwing a dagger, it struck Adara between the shoulders. Fury emanated from her body, as flames surrounded her while shooting fingers of flames at Daphne. Screaming in pain, Daphne stumbled backwards out of the building.

His choices dwindling, Aaron reached for the knife, yanking it from where he had driven it in moments before. Placing his arm around Dragan, he pulled him in close, wrapping the cloak around them both. Pressing his cheek against the side of Dragan’s face while hugging him tightly, tears blurred his vision as he smelled fresh blood. Out of the corner of his eye, he watched Adara complete a pentagram in Chavali’s wrist.

“
I do not have your faith, Dragan. I am not even worthy to be called your brother. I have done nothing for others, only myself. I will never be taken to the light—but I do love you and I will not have her take you.” Pulling back and locking eyes with Dragan, he drove the knife deep inside his brother’s chest. Tears now coursed down his face as he watched first shock, and then pain flash in Dragan’s eyes. Aaron’s chest constricted as the light slowly left the depths of his brother’s eyes. A scream rang out loudly, as Adara’s fury escalated, realizing what Aaron had done. “No!”