DeLeina, Maya - Veil of Seduction [Ambrose Heights Vampires 2] (Siren Publishing Classic) (60 page)

“I can’t do this, Steffan! You can’t expect me to go on without you.”

Steffan threw his head back in a deep cry, but no sound came out. His head pounded. His chest ached. He drew a deep breath in and wailed in agony.

The remaining crowd watched the emotional display play out. The crowd’s reaction varied. Some family members grieved in emotional outbursts while some mourned silently for their leader.

“Madeleine, you know you lied here,” Eilian said as Madeline and Ryan walked by. Ryan concentrated his stare on the ground.

“I spoke the truth. You don’t even know what the truth is. And that goes for all of you who doubt me. I spoke the truth about this man. Don’t you forget who in this family had enough balls to stand up and speak out against him for sake of this family!”

Sneers and comments hurled down from the crowd.

“This better be the truth, Madeleine,” a family member said.

“You will suffer the same fate if you’ve lied,” said another.

Madeline simply smiled back at the crowd and focused her gaze on Steffan and Anya.

“Good-bye, Steffan. And, Anya, come by and see me. I’ll be more than happy to find your new mate.”

* * * *

Steffan entered the living room with Eilian following closely behind.

Eilian walked across the room and took a seat on the couch next to Catrin. His face was solemn, his angst noticeable in his gait.

Steffan stood with his hands tucked deep in his pockets, ready to address his immediate family.

Anya ran to his side and clung to him. He released one hand and pulled her close to his body.

“They have selected tomorrow at midnight for my death proceedings,” Steffan spoke in a grave tone. He closed his eyes, attempting to restrain the flood of tears he desperately wanted to shed, hold back the fear and frustration he wanted to release in a scream.

“How could this be happening?” Anya looked at Steffan then addressed the family. “How is this a proper judicial system you have here? There is no testing of evidence, there is no jury, there is nothing but ‘he said she said.’ Where is the ironclad proof?”

“Anya, you’re thinking in terms of humans. Remember, vampires have extraordinary powers that, when harnessed by corruption and dishonesty, can disrupt our way of life, destroy our kind, and even wipe out the human race. This is the proper vampire justice. Alex, the photos of me, yours and Ryan’s belongings—that was the proof. Madeleine had the evidence she needed. By all accounts, the system is working, and the law passed down is just.”

“But, Steffan, tomorrow? That’s too soon! How do they expect you to get everything in order by then?” Haydn said, shaking his head.

“In exchange, they are allowing me time with Anya at our home rather than down below. Eilian had to sign a release order to administer the Submission injections to assure I don’t use my powers for any more wrongdoing. Being free to be with Anya privately more than compensates for the shortened time frame,” Steffan said as he held Anya close, his eyes welling with tears.

Anya cried and buried her head in his chest. Releasing him, she said desperately, “Let’s just leave, run away together. We can be far from here come Sunday!”

“Anya I can’t. If I don’t return on Sunday, they’ll order one of my immediate family members to take my place for helping with my escape,” Steffan replied, looking down into her tear-stained face.

Anya just cried in response.

“What can we do for you and Anya? Anything you need from us before Sunday?” Catrin asked.

Steffan nodded. “I want to know that you all believe in me. I don’t want to die knowing there’s any shred of doubt that I manipulated all of this. My heart, my love and her love for me is true. I stole her from no one.”

“We all believe you. All of us, Steffan, we know what the truth is,” Eilian said on behalf of the family.

“I also would like justice, no matter how long it takes. Keep an eye on Madeleine. Be relentless. She has proven, at least to us, that she is evil to her core. If she had the ability to deceive to this extent once, she’ll do it again. Be ready, and make her pay for what she has done.” Steffan choked back tears as he continued, “And lastly, take care of my Anya. She’ll always have my heart, but she also has my blessings to find peace and happiness for herself after I am gone. I want her to search for a new mate match. Help her. Guide her.”

“Madeline will pay. I will promise you that, Steffan,” Eilian said.

“And the entire family will take care of Anya. Brynne and I can take her in and guide her,” Rhys said as Brynne nodded in agreement. “By the way, they’re taking considerations for leader as we speak. Eilian and I are not among the choices so far. I don’t think they want anyone from our immediate family.”

“Well, they’re not thinking of Madeline, are they?” Catrin asked.

“She got some chesticles, that Madeline. She nominated herself. So her name is in there along with Alex’s and Ryan’s,” Rhys said, shaking his head. “I don’t know about you guys, but Brynne and I cannot live under Ryan or Madeline’s leadership. We’re thinking about leaving and starting a new family unit if this happens.”

“What the hell are you guys talking about? Steffan is still here and you are talking as if he is already dead! Why can’t we focus on doing something to save him?” Anya yelled at Rhys.

“We can’t do anything, Anya. I’ve run through all of the possibilities I could. Unless there is some way to show Madeline’s lies to the council before Steffan’s execution, I don’t think there’s anyway to stop this,” Eilian said. “I’m sorry.”

A timid voice resonated from the back of the room.

“Does anyone want to try talking to the Oracle? She’s here, you know.”

The entire family turned around to look at Griffin, who sat on the daybed.

“Gramps, you talking about that crazy witch of yours again? That was back in Austria, remember? We’re in Manitou Springs now.” Rhys shook his head and dismissed Griffin’s comment. “Steffan, I think we need to find out…”

Griffin interrupted, “You know she’s traveled with us since I met her in Vienna. She has lived among us since we moved. Ecuador,
Alaska, and now here, in Colorado, she’s been by our side.
I’ve held audiences with her. She doesn’t make absolute predictions. She says the future is too reliant on instinct, influence, and action that cannot be controlled. Rather, she can guide you in the direction of the future you want. Steffan, this is how I knew you would eventually find your mate. She told me so.”

“Griffin. Yes, you were always sure of my impending connection when we would speak. Why haven’t you told me about her following us? The last I heard about her was in Austria.”

“None of you ask for my opinion or assistance on anything. You assume that because of my age, I can’t relate to modern-day issues. And because I lost my mate that I’m somehow mad. Well, I haven’t gone mad. Everything is still intact,” Griffin said as he tapped his fingers against his temple.

Steffan stood in shock, assessing Griffin.

Griffin was the oldest among his family members, four hundred and twelve years old to be exact. But his body was suspended in that of a twenty-five-year-old. His features were notably softer than Steffan’s. His blue eyes sparkled against his light-brown hair. His face was round, accented with two deep dimples. He was just as tall as Steffan, but with a slim build. His smile favored one side in a boyish-like innocence.

“Griffin, I am sorry. Yes, you have a very a traditional, old-fashioned philosophy on things. Don’t get me wrong, I love that about you, but you don’t budge in accepting the fact that times have changed. Humans are very different in their ways. They think differently, act different. Life is not as simple anymore. Sometimes, it’s hard to get you to see that. I guess everyone took their lead from me and haven’t really included you. For that, I apologize, Griffin. But in the family’s defense, when we first met you, you were acting like you’d lost your mind.”

“Oh, Steffan, don’t you know that I did that so you would take me in? You remind me so much of myself when I was your age—spirited, focused, and determined. I knew you were on a path to some sort of prominence and discovery. I also knew you had a soft spot for broken hearts and lost loves. I figured that would be my way in.”

“Why me? Why this family?”

“I was desperate, lost without my mate. I heard rumors being passed around in Austria speaking of an Oracle and her power to see the future. I went in search of her. No, I was
drawn
to her. I tracked her down, living in the ice caves deep in the Alps. I asked her about the possibility of a future that would reunite me with my mate once again. She told me the future wasn’t there for that. Instead, she told me about you and your family who’d just taken up residence in the Alps. The Oracle said she held a strong connection to you and your mate. She said I should seek you out, gain acceptance as a family member, for it would hold a future that would suit me.” Griffin paused, and he looked deep into Steffan’s eyes. “Steffan, I just found my mate match weeks ago. The Oracle was right.”

“Why didn’t you tell me? We have to celebrate!”

“No. You need to see the Oracle. You and Anya together, she had a connection to the two of you before you even found each other.”

“But why? Why does she hold a strong connection to me, to us?”

“I don’t know. She told me that one day, someone in this family was going to need her help. She also said this person was the only one who could help her in return. I never knew what she meant. I thought it was mindless babble from an old lady. But, with what happened today, I think this is what she was referring to in needing help. You need to see her.”

“Where do I find her, Griffin?” Steffan asked, he’s voice shaking in anticipation.

“She lives underground in the tunnels of Manitou and Old Colorado City.”

“Tunnels? I’ve never seen tunnels on the city maps, and I hand out maps every day to tourists who come into the shop,” Anya said.

“Ma’am, you won’t find any of these tunnel systems in any history books or maps. This was a hush-hush system. Basically, the series of tunnels were built to connect brothels to legitimate business. It helped to shield the area of its obvious activities with the miners back in the day. The five-star resort nearby also took notice of the cleaver transportation, and they built their tunnels to link up to these systems as well. Some of the man-made passages connect directly into natural cave systems that lead up into the hills of Manitou.”

Griffin smiled and turned to Steffan. “My dear boy, your engineers who built Ambrose Heights here unknowingly tapped into the entire system and didn’t tell you. The Oracle passes through here all the time. I believe she’s waiting for you.”

“Griffin, how could you keep this from me?”

“As I said, no one ever asked. I figured that I would speak when the time was right. Well, that time is now.”

“So how do we enter this system down to her? I’ve been up and down our underground tunnels a hundred times and I don’t know of any other passage.”

“You must enter as if you’re going to our passages from Anya’s house. As you are going down the ladder, push against the carved earth between the fourth and third step on the ladder. This will open up another passage.”

“Jesus Christ, Griffin, remind me to yell and kiss you later. Anya, let’s go!”

Steffan and Anya hurried as they made their way to Anya’s house.

“I guess I should’ve warned them about the Oracle’s way of speaking. Oh well, they’ll figure it out,” Griffin said with a smile.

“What?” Griffin said innocently in response to the glaring stares of the family.

Chapter Twenty-Six

The air was stale and humid.

With each step they took deeper into the subterranean passageway, the air grew dense and space gave way to tight and confining paths. Anya ran her finger along the walls, feeling the inconsistent textures mildly graze her flesh. Water dripped from the ceiling, seeped from the walls, and pooled under their feet.