Betrayal Bites (Tales of Sydney Sedrick Book 2) (13 page)

“Yes! I said I would. Geez, what’s with everybody lately?” Brianna snapped.

“Hey, I’m sorry. I just wanted to know, that’s all. You don’t have to get all snippy with me because you’re mad at Mom.” When the truth was out in the open, she was going to be more than just a little mad at Mom.

Brianna was going to be downright livid with me for not telling her the second I found out, about me, about Grandma, Michael, and the whole vampire and werewolf thing. I’d have expected her to tell me right away if our roles were reversed. That’s what sisters who were best friends did.

She took a deep breath, blew a lock of hair out of her eye, and sighed. “You’re right. I’m sorry. It’s just I don’t get all that much free time because of school. Our parents always find things for me to do so I can’t come up here and visit. Now that I’ve actually made it up here, I have to cut my visit short and leave without Michael.”

“Don’t worry about Michael. I’m sure he’ll be busy doing his family stuff.”

“I know. Life just sucks sometimes, you know?”

My sister didn’t know the half of it—what life sucking was all about. But I was happy she considered having to take care of errands around the home front the worst of it for her. Soon, she’d be bogged down with medical school, dealing with the rigorous schedule, studying and doing her clinic portion of the program. She wouldn’t have much time for anything else, including time for her to come to Kenosha to visit. I hoped Michael didn’t pressure her too much. I was afraid my sister’s feelings for the wolf would tempt her to quit school.

“Yeah, I know it does. But at least this way you’ll be home if anything happens there. I always worry about Mom.”

“I know. Me, too.” She pouted while she looked around the store and I finished stocking. When she was done stalling, she said, “Okay, I guess I’m gonna go home.”

“Brianna, I’m sorry. It’s for the best, though.”

“I know. I feel bad not wanting to deal with her, but she makes me feel guilty. I mean she is our mom, but she’s always got something for me to do. It’s like she intentionally finds stuff to occupy my time down in Chicago. It’s weird. I’ll see you later.”

My little sister left with her tread heavier than its usual spunky bounce. My heart ached for her. I hated myself at that moment. I hated being forced into the position of the Selected and having to keep it from her. She was my sister and best friend. I knew where her boyfriend was going to be all night. He was going to be watching over a bunch of vampires. I also knew that if it were necessary, he would risk his life to save that of Blake’s, the next in line to be leader of his pack. Besides just knowing all of that, I was the one to call our mother asking her to make Brianna go home. Yep, I felt like a big giant jerk at the moment.

I assumed the heavy pain in my chest was part of being the Selected. Dealing with guilt wasn’t very pleasant. Lying to someone wasn’t a nice thing to do. I’d probably have to lie to others as well to keep them safe, but it was for their own good. The more humans that knew vampires and werewolves existed, the more dangerous and chaotic life would become. I didn’t know what I would do if Brianna hated me because of it.

Being in this position made me even angrier at my mom. It was her fault for keeping the truth from us. If she had told us right from the start, I wouldn’t have to hide Brianna in a different city while the ball occurred.

But she’d find out eventually, about everything, and she’d realize we’ve all been lying to her.

Chapter 12

Zine, the rogue, annoyed the hell out of Andras. The mangy animal and his followers couldn’t do anything right. It didn’t seem to get into their thick skulls that time was of the essence. Andras fumed. The incompetent fools had better not ruin his plans. He was the great demon, Andras. It was once again time to strike fear into those that served him. The rogues needed reminding of the punishment for what happens when they fail him. They needed to be willing to die for the cause out of fear for what he would do to them if they didn’t get him what he wanted.

“You will have the Ley-lines connected by the time we are ready for the arrival of my beloved’s brother. If you piece of shits fuck this up, you will die very painful deaths. I’ll make sure you won’t be able to change back from your wolf forms, either. There will be no healing from what I’m going to do to you if you don’t get this right.” He circled Zine as the rogue stood with his head faced to the floor. The greasy hair on top the rogue’s head was disgusting.

There were showers upstairs in the compound, but the mangy animals didn’t seem to find personal hygiene a priority. Too bad they didn’t have the ability to will themselves clean. He guessed that even if the rogues were gifted with that ability, they probably wouldn’t use it. The rogue vampires were much more conscious of their appearance. The wolves seemed to lose themselves to the wolf when they broke away from their pack, but the wolves seemed more loyal to the cause. Those vampires were shifty creatures.

All the rogues put together had done nothing but screw everything up. He was tempted to use one of rogues as an example of what would happen if they let him down again. Maybe they would have a better understanding of who they were dealing with if he made one of them skin their own kind, alive, and unable to heal themselves. Maybe their colleague’s screams of excruciating pain when he ignited every nerve in the skinned rogue’s body with lightning would spur them into more efficient service. If nothing else, it would make him feel better. He loved it when they screamed. The sound literally sang to his soul. Lately, nothing made him happier. That would soon change.

When Trevor was brought forth through the portal, they would wreak havoc on the world together. His wife, Lisa, was a useless twit. Unfortunately, she did not live up to his hopes for her true potential. Andras was sold a woman who he’d thought would make a perfect partner in creating chaos. Lisa was more interested in making children now than causing trouble. Despite his resolve to only tolerate her to ensure the creation of his kin, he loved his wife. But she was not like her brother. He and Trevor would take that vampire leader out and whoever was near. How convenient they were all getting together in one place. Even better, the Selected would be there, also. The massacre was going to be glorious. He planned on enjoying every moment. Spilling the blood of Kieran, the Elders, and the Selected would satisfy his need to exact revenge for what they have done.

The lightning demon had special plans in mind for the Selected. Andras hadn’t forgotten when she kicked him in the back and escaped without turning Lisa immortal by sharing her blood with Kieran. Vengeance fueled his blood with every breath he took. Because of the Selected, he had to pawn off two of his most prized minions of his top legion in order for the Dark Lord to agree to change her himself. The Dark Lord hadn’t been kind to his wife in the process.

She was immortal now, but she was changed. The Dark Lord made her suffer, leaving her weak-minded. No longer did Lisa find enjoyment in killing like she once did. Kieran and the Selected would pay for their misdeeds against them.

Andras owed it to his wife to make them pay for the breaking of her soul. It didn’t matter that Lisa wanted them to go off and start new lives together. There were still tasks that needed to be completed in this life before they could leave this realm forever, and he refused to budge until he felt fully satisfied that those who had wronged them felt his wrath.

Andras couldn’t decide which would make him feel better, their death, or having them wear the brand of a lightning demon for the rest of their days. That brand would make their covens shun them for fear of betrayal. Maybe he would do both.

Zine spoke, bringing him back to the task at hand. “Yes, Master. They will be ready to bring forth the demon. All will be well. I swear it!”

Sweat beaded on the rogue wolf’s brow. Werewolves were disgusting. At least the pale-faces didn’t sweat through every pore when they were scared out of their wits. He liked it when the rogues were scared. It meant they would do everything possible to make sure he got what he wanted. They knew he would kill them if they failed. Andras had killed enough of their kind for them to know his threats were genuine. Examples needed to be set on a routine basis. He rather enjoyed reminding them that their vile lives meant nothing.

“You’ve got about an hour, and then I start killing your beasts. Maybe I’ll start with your precious daughter. Will seeing the agony on her face and sear marks all over her body due of your incompetence, make you work a little faster?” Andras stood in front of the rogue. The mere height difference gave him a great intimidation factor over most of the wolves. The animals believed size did matter. Not in the Underworld, though. Some of his smallest minions were the most vicious. Anyone of them could take down a wolf with a flick of their evil little talons.

A smile crossed his lips. His minions made him happy. Their penchant to cause suffering was something he felt pride in. They were his people, and he had taught them well. The hell they were put through just to become a member of his legions proved they had enough evil inside of them to be constructive servants.

His mood darkened with thoughts of his wife. He was stuck with her. He loved her, but she was a disappointment. They were supposed to take over the earth dimension together. Now she was just an embarrassment. All he could think of was getting her back to the Underworld. Someone there would hopefully be able to reinstate her spite, her fondness for mayhem. If not, then his life would be a cruel joke. He may as well resign from his post as the leader to the legions of Hell. He couldn’t very well tote around a wife who asked him not to do his work every time revenge needed to be exacted. He would be a laughing stock. No, they would find someone to fix her, to undo the damage the Dark Lord had inflicted upon her soul.

The rogue wolf cowered down onto his knees, afraid to look him in the eyes. Good thinking on the rogue’s part. The demon could feel the lightning begging to be unleashed from his body. It wanted to burn something; it wanted to travel through flesh and make the wearer sing in pain. The lightning coursed through him, waiting like a viper ready to strike. The power was only satisfied for so long with the death of the rogues when he used them to make examples for the others. Then it was hungry again for more blood. Humans, werewolves, and vampires didn’t know what it meant to live.

He closed his eyes, letting the lightning unfurl through his body. Vibrations of electricity excited him. It wanted blood.

He wanted blood.

And they would have it.

Footsteps sounded on the cement.

“Darling, what are you up to?”

Lisa’s footfalls clip-clopped closer. He would recognize the sound of his wife’s unnecessarily high-heeled shoes anywhere. Women. They made no sense. Footwear didn’t make her more attractive. He’d been drawn to her the moment he’d laid eyes on her. There was a time when he wanted to kill her because of it. She was a liability, a weakness his enemies could hold over him. No person had been of any importance to him, until now.

“Wife.”

“Gee, honey pie, you sure know how to make a girl feel loved. I think we should go away together. Just us. We can get Trevor out of his prison and take him with us, too. I think a change of venue would be good for my whittle demon.” She patted her abdomen with a tenderness that made him uncomfortable. Just what he needed, another liability his enemies could use against him.

“Lisa. Don’t bother me right now. You know I have things to do.” He gave her a scowl to emphasize his point, but she didn’t take the hint. Lisa rarely did what she was told. Hopefully when she was fixed, once they reached the Underworld, he could have some obedience instilled in her as well.

She went over and pinched his cheek, a complete show of disrespect. He really hated when she did that. His inner demon yearned to put her over his knee and show her how to treat one of his great station. Despite his strong desire to be stern with her, she made him laugh.

Lisa knew she had weaseled her way into his heart, despite his being against it. He didn’t want to have feelings for her. Feelings were for the weak. He was a lightning demon. He didn’t have time for such foolishness. His legions in Hell needed guidance. He had to set a strong example as their liege. Lisa would have to be kept away from them. She didn’t meet his expectations in the perfect wife department, but she had somehow made him not mind her shortcomings so much.

“Don’t you want to come upstairs with me?” She lifted the low hem of her gauzy white dress, showing off those luscious, lengthy legs of hers. It didn’t help that the high-heeled shoes she wore had lacings winding up her beautifully toned calves, making his fingers curl with need to touch them, to have her legs wrapped around him when he drove into her. Maybe he didn’t mind her affection for sexy shoes after all. Lightning crackled through the air, just as it did whenever she instigated sex.

“Damn it, woman. You know I’m busy and I have a lot of work to do.” He had wolves to terrorize. Who else was there to keep them on task?

Taking Lisa up in his arms, he held her close. “You want your brother out of there, don’t you?” He softened his tone, not wanting to see her cry. He didn’t like that she had become such a liability. Lately, she cried at anything. She said it was the pregnancy, but he had suspicions the defect in her personality was permanent.

The Dark Lord was known for casting favors, but he was also known for doing so on his terms. He had played a cruel joke on him when the Dark Lord made Lisa immortal. He would have to give the Dark Lord a sacrifice for the crafty fun he played on him. Even though it affected his future with his wife, having to deal with her new, not improved, ways of seeing things, he had to admit the Dark Lord had pulled a good one. Why couldn’t he have thought of something so devious to pull on one of his own minions? He still had a lot to learn from the great Dark Lord if he were to become as powerful one day.

Lisa was his weakness, a tool to be used against him by his enemies. He also didn’t care for the fact that she knew her tears achieved much when she wanted something. At that moment, her eyes were welling up with the dreaded things.

Andras kissed her and set her down. “Yes, fine. Do what you have to do. But I think your plans for revenge are a little over-the-top, my love. Why bother with the vampires and the Selected? They mean nothing to us. We have what we want. I’m immortal now. Our child will be immortal, too. Nothing will happen to her. We’ll all be together forever.”

She smiled, her eyes expressing a warmth that occurred more often than he’d like. Pregnancy suited his dear wife well, but he needed her cold-hearted again. This lovey-dovey disposition was going to make him sick.

Andras could see he would have to have a strong hand in the rearing of their child. He didn’t want Lisa’s emotions to get in the way of bringing up a proper female lightning demon.

“I will have blood for what they did to us. Now, go upstairs. You need to rest. Our little one shouldn’t be around these vile creatures.” He gently nudged her toward the compound’s staircase leading up to the main floor.

Lisa was right. They did need to leave this dreaded place. He would not allow their yet-to-be-born daughter be exposed to the beasts that changed their allegiance as often as the weather turned in this wretched realm. No, she would be brought up properly, surrounded by her own kind. She would be taught to use her lightning and act appropriately, according to her station as his daughter.

Lisa grabbed his arm before he could go back to work making sure the rogues were keeping on task.

“Andras, I love you. Make sure nothing happens to you this night. I need you. We both need you.” She placed his hand on her gently swelling abdomen.

The electricity from Lisa’s lightning demon-soul sizzled through her hand into his arm. It was the ultimate sensation when shared between two lightning demon lovers. Lisa wasn’t as evil as he’d hoped, but she may be worth keeping around, especially if someone from the Underworld could have her previous ways reinstated.

“Yes, I’ll be fine. Now go.”

If all went well, many would soon die at his hand.