Ever After (54 page)

“It worries me even more with his view regarding you. He said he feels you should be destroyed for getting involved with William; he thinks you have broken some rule he has about humans and vampires not being together. I can’t begin to think what insane rule that is.” Doc frowned.

The room was silent for a long time. I was getting scared now, more so than I was five minutes ago. Leo the headcheese of the most hated evil coven of vamps wanted me dead and the love of my life back in his coven. I couldn’t think of anything worse. It felt like I was in a nightmare, but sadly I was wide-awake.

“What do we do now?” I asked softly, not to anyone in particular. I just said it aloud hoping one of them had a plan or some idea of what we would do.

“We are bracing for some form of attack by the Dark coven.” Doc said he sighed deeply and rubbed the back of his neck.

“I haven’t much faith in this meeting we have planned. Leo is power hungry and insane, two very lethal combinations for a vampire to have. The Dark coven worships him and will do exactly what he tells them to do.” Doc finished speaking and looked very tired. I couldn’t imagine how much stress he had been under since this all began and I could see it in his face.

Chapter 41

Plans

Pratt too looked on edge. He and his coven in France could become victims of the Dark coven went on an attack. Leo would hunt down Pratt’s coven and kill them all if he decided he thought they needed to die. I had never seen Doc look so nervous, he was always calm and pulled together. His own brother was the source of his fear, anger and a massive threat to his coven.

“We’ve decided to leave for France if the meeting between Doc and Leo goes badly. It may be the safest thing for the coven to do so. My home is secluded and secure, even if Leo does come after us he will have a difficult time reaching us there.” I was in shock. I never imagined the coven leaving the country.

“It seems to be our only option. If we try to fight them, we will be lowering ourselves to their level. We are not killers; we live in peace as much as possible. If we start a war here with the Dark coven, it may set off a type of frenzy amongst the Dark coven. It is highly possible they, after attacking us, will randomly kill innocent humans in the area we are in.” He took a deep breath; I could see the worry in his eyes.

“It will naturally set of suspicion about us, and possibly expose us to humans. It could mean a major disaster for all of our kind. It would be like the Salem witch hunts, the country would be hunting anyone they even remotely thought was a vampire and kill them.” Doc looked at Pratt to carry on.

“Yes, Doc is right such a thing is very possible. We must all be on alert for anything unusual. Leo may not wait for his meeting with Doc to strike out at us. I do not trust his word to Doc that he will wait till the meeting and leave us alone till then.” Pratt’s eyes were like Doc’s now very dark and upset.

“Corrine, you and William must be extremely careful as you are targets for the Dark coven, unfortunately.” Doc added as he shifted uneasily. I could tell he had more on his mind. “What worries me right now is William’s condition. He is weak still and helpless. If the Dark coven attacks, he will be un able to defend himself. It is important he never be left alone, until he has recovered.”

“I agree fully.” Pratt nodded. I knew they saw how un easy I was.

“Sayann will take you to see William now. I can see you are anxious to see him Corrine.” Doc said as he got up and headed for the door as Pratt followed him.

I followed Sayann down the long hallway to William’s room. It was only a few rooms down from my own. I felt my stomach turn, fearing he might look sick or somehow not be the same. Sayann opened the door quietly. Lydia was sitting next to William’s bed reading as we entered and gave a small wave hello.

His room was, much like mine except no floral wallpaper and only one tiny window. The window was shuttered closed and had a lock on it. I knew why his window was like that; his room had to be secure open windows were not an option now. Will’s room was also next to Doc’s and across the hall from Roth’s, so they could watch over him.

Sayann stepped aside so I could go in alone.“I’ll be waiting out in the hall; you and William need some privacy. Let me know if you need anything or if William does.” I gave her a weak smile, and looked nervously at the darkened room.

“Ok, thanks.” I walked toward the massive ancient four-poster bed. Bookcases lined the walls and I saw tons of very old black and white pictures in them mixed with tons of books.

The nightstand was full of bottles and medical supplies. I stood there quietly watching him sleep. The steady beat of the heart monitor was the only sound; it was reading 44 beats per minute. I barely breathed as I watched him sleeping peacefully. His thick black hair was tousled and his eyelashes fanned out onto his pale cheeks. The tone of his skin was unusually pale. I could see that even in the dim light in the room. The lips that has kissed me so lovingly merely days ago were now parted.

His breathing was labored. Doc and Pratt had an airline attached to his nose, so I guessed he was really having trouble breathing. I covered my mouth quickly as I started to cry. It was nearly too much to see my strong gallant William so weak and vulnerable. He had been there to rescue me, and support me so many times and I felt helpless just watching him.

I prayed the blood I had given him would have just snapped him back to his old self, but it seemed he still had a long way to go. I wanted to hug him or touch him and let him know I was here but I was too afraid, so I sat down quietly. I gently put my hand over his, and was shocked to see how hot his skin was. He had to have a fever no doubt, he was on fire.

I sat for two hours watching him until Sayann came and told me Doc and Pratt needed to see him. I reluctantly followed Sayann back to my room, the visions of my William so weak and ill burned into my mind. I knew I wouldn’t be able to rest or do anything knowing he was not ok. I was happy Sayann stayed with me, she sat down and began to look through a fashion magazine.

“How bad is his fever?” I asked, almost not wanting her to answer me.

“104 last night, it’s been going between 102 and 104 all week, it’s really weird. Doc and Pratt have been trying to control it but it’s not working.”

“My God that’s high!” I gasped in shock.

“Yes it is, especially for a half blood it’s really bad. I haven’t ever seen any vampire’s half blood or not run a fever like that.” I wished she hadn’t said that, as I buried myself in the heavy blankets of my bed. The wind was howling outside my window, and I suddenly felt a chill run through me.

“I just hope Doc and Pratt can get him better, he looks so pale.”

“They will Corrine, don’t worry. Doc and Pratt are the best; they will do whatever they have to do for him.”

I knew she was right but it was hard to have faith in much of anything anymore. I would just have to try to believe they would save him, and the Dark coven wouldn’t come after us before he got better. I decided to try to sleep if it was even possible. I knew I no longer needed a lot of sleep as an official half blood, but I wanted to escape the horrible thoughts I was having.

Sayann would not leave me as Doc had told me earlier. Will and I would be in the company of a full-blooded vamp at all times for our safety. If Leo sent one of his drones to get us, we would have some protection at least. I wondered where the rest of the coven was and what they were doing down stairs, as I laid there in silence.

The next few days were stressful at the coven house to put it mildly. Doc and Pratt worked tirelessly to get William fully recovered. His fever broke two days after I myself woke up. The only problem was that he was still in a deep sleep. We all worried his lungs were permanently damaged despite all the medication he had been given. Lydia stayed by Williams’s side almost nonstop. I could see she was worried as she was not as talkative as when we first got to the coven house.

Chapter 42

The Unknown

Leo’s meeting with Doc was a disaster as we all expected it to be and it lasted only a half an hour. Doc had gone to meet Leo only taking Roth and Taylor with him; they were Will’s two biggest cousins. Pratt wanted to go, but felt an elder needed to be here at the house to watch over the rest of the coven.

The meeting was in a secluded area of the back woods not far from the house. The woods and all around it were still frozen from the ice storm. Leo refused all of Doc’s suggestions to find some peace between the two covens. Doc told us about the wild look in Leo’s eyes and how disturbed by it he was. It was impossible to talk to him Doc said, he was not willing to talk about anything. Leo demanded that Doc hand over William and me to him and the Dark coven.

Leo told him that William and I being in a relationship was detestable and could not be allowed to go on. He was going to use us as examples to other vampires. He said that humans and vamps did not belong together and would not be allowed to share lives. Leo also wanted to even the score with the followers for killing two of his own,
by taking us.

Roth told us at the meeting Leo brought one vampire with him. This one wore a cloak with a hood and Roth swore when he turned to leave he saw Todd Downs face. I nearly threw up when he said this. Todd was dead he had to be dead. Roth said he could have been wrong, but he had a gut feeling that was Todd under that hood.

Riley was quick to remind us all that Todd’s body was left in the woods that night Will found me. Roth was sure he got enough dead blood in Todd’s body to kill him. He did say though with Will freaking out he never checked him to be sure he was really gone.

Doc was to meet with Leo and the rest of the Dark coven elders once again in two days. That was the only thing Doc got him to agree to do. The breakdown of each coven was that they all contained a head elder and a group of elders, they as a unit decided the rules for the coven. Doc demanded Leo bring the elder group with him to the next meeting. Doc felt he might have a chance to come to some agreement with the elder group there and not just Leo.

The waiting began once again for the next meeting. It was mid January now and a cold rain fell and made everything seem even more depressing that it already was. A somber mood fell over the house as we all waited for the next meeting. I think we all knew, if this meeting failed it could be the beginning of a war between the two covens.

If this happened some of us might not survive, and it was possible none of us would make it. I tried not to think of that, but it was hard not to. Leo was insane and so was his coven and that made it even more dangerous for us. The nightmare was continuing.

Will was getting better finally, and that was the only positive thing going on in the house. He was still sleeping, but he was not running a fever anymore and his heart rate was back to normal. Doc and Pratt felt he was in a kind of protective sleep as his body protected itself as he healed. All I knew is I missed my best friend and my soul mate.

It was late now the night before the big meeting. The coven was quiet. Doc and Pratt had been huddled up in his study with the rest of the elders meeting about tomorrow. The house was full, as we, all were instructed to stay indoors, but everyone was keeping to themselves. I was lonely so I tip toed into Will’s room.

Lydia was down stairs talking to Emma and some of the other coven women. I never bothered her while she sat with William. It was near two in the morning now and his room was dark except for the small lamp left on by his bedside. I nearly tripped over my own feet when I saw him sitting up rubbing his eyes.

“My God William you’re awake!” I squealed. I ran to him and wrapped my arms around him.

“What?” He jumped. “And you’ve changed!” He gasped as I hugged him. “Remember you’re stronger now.” He smiled weakly as he laughed as I squeezed him.

“Oh I’m so sorry, it’s just I've missed you so much. I woke up about a week ago and was fully changed, well at least to a half blood.” I smiled and shrugged my shoulders.

“I can tell.” He smiled. “You look amazing and so healthy! I knew you could do it. I was afraid Doc and Pratt’s idea might not work.”

“It did, but you hid the fact you were sick from me and everyone. Doc and Pratt were not too happy you did that, and neither was I.” I pointed a finger at him, but was smiling too.

“Oh am I in trouble then?” He winked at me and gave me a devilish grin. “What’s my punishment if I may ask?” I knew he was feeling much better, by how he was being his old playful self. It was so good to see him acting as he use to.