Illusion: Volume 3 (6 page)

I
opened my eyes and I was standing in a room. I hesitated when I saw Cornelius
standing at a desk. He was looking through paperwork. Fear gripped me and I
stepped back.

Aubrey’s
voice filled my head. “You are in a memory. He cannot see you or hurt you,” he
said softly and I immediately relaxed.

The
door not far from me opened and Aubrey came storming in. “End this war now Cornelius!”
Aubrey demanded.

His
brother looked up at him and smiled. “It has just started Aubrey. You should
start taking your responsibilities seriously.”

Aubrey
scoffed. “This is below you Cornelius. Going after Lyle is one thing, going
after his family is another.”

Cornelius
straightened. “Lyle started the war. He is going to feel the loss of war. Now
do what you were ordered or get out of my sight.”

“I
won’t do it. Find someone else. I am no longer your gullible little brother!”
Aubrey hissed and walked away.

My
vision clouded as Aubrey walked past. Suddenly I was standing in my parent’s
house. I felt my heart clench when I saw my mother carrying a bowl of popcorn
into the living room. My father and the ten year old version of myself were
already sitting on the couch.

My
mother set the bowl down and walked over to the window. “Are you sure
everything will be ok?” she asked my father. She sounded worried like she knew
something was going to happen.

“Of
course. Carl said he would have hunters watching our house. Everything will be
fine,” my father said as he put his arm around her shoulders.

My
ten year old self screamed catching my attention. I turned and Aubrey was
standing in the doorway. My father pulled a stake out of his belt as my ten
year old self ran to my mother. I felt my stomach twist. The thought that
Aubrey killed my parents had occurred to me, but I quickly pushed it away. Now
I wasn’t so sure I could push it away anymore.

Aubrey
suddenly raised his hands like he was there in peace. “I am not here to hurt
you. I came here to warn you. The vampire council is sending a marshal to kill
you and your family. You need to leave.”

My
father scoffed. “There are hunters everywhere outside. The marshal will never
get a chance.” My father sounded confident; he had no idea what was coming.

“Don’t
be a fool. Your brother is the one that told them how to find you. He doesn’t
have hunters out there. How do you think I got in?” Aubrey sounded like he was
pleading with them.

My
father looked a little unsure, but he didn’t let his guard down.

“What
if he is telling the truth Lyle?” my mother asked sounding frantic.

“He
isn’t. Leave now. We will be fine,” my father said softly.

The
sound of screaming and shattering glass caught everyone’s attention. My mother
barely had time to scream before the vampire pinning her ripped her throat out.
The younger me was knocked to the side, and knocked unconscious. That was why I
couldn’t remember anything.

My
father yelled in anger and panic. He tackled the vampire, but it was too late
for my mother. “Get my daughter out of here!” my father yelled at Aubrey.

Aubrey
hesitated then rushed over to me and picked me up. He was suddenly gone and my
vision faded again.

Suddenly
I was standing near the woods of my house. Aubrey had the young me. He laid me
on the ground, then he attempted to wake me up. I had blood coming from my head
and I didn’t look like I was breathing. Aubrey bit his wrist and pressed it to
my lips. A noise in the brush caught Aubrey’s attention. He ran leaving me
alone on the ground. Luca appeared out of the trees.

“Oh
god, Lily,” he whispered then picked me up and ran off into the woods with me.
My vision started to blur again. I wasn’t sure if it was because of the memory
fading or because I was crying.

I
opened my eyes, and I was back in my room. Aubrey released me and looked down
at me worried. My face was wet from the tears. I wasn’t sure if I was better off
seeing my parents die or worse. I didn’t remember because I never saw it in the
first place.

“I’m
sorry Lillian,” Aubrey said softly as he kissed my cheek gently.

“You
didn’t do it,” I said relieved. Not only did he not do it, but he saved my life
when he gave me his blood.

He
smiled softly. “No, I didn’t; but I should have done more. Everything happened
so fast. I should have warned your father when I first found out about
Cornelius’s plan.”

I
reached up and touched his face. He saved me. I would have died with my parents
if he hadn’t been there. Luca found me because of Aubrey. I pressed my lips to
his and kissed him gently. I was so relieved he wasn’t the one that killed my
parents.

“You
are not angry with me?” he asked between my desperate kisses.

“No,
I love you,” I said softly.

He
hesitated and looked at me like he wasn’t sure what to say. I felt like time
stood still as he watched me. I wasn’t sure if I made a mistake telling him I
loved him. The way he reacted made me think so. “You can’t love me. I am the
reason they died. I should have stopped Cornelius before things got out of
hand.”

“You
did everything you knew how to. You warned my father, and you did what he asked
by saving me,” I whispered as I pressed my body to his.

He
looked at me for a minute longer then he pressed his mouth to mine. His kiss
was hungry and needy. I tangled my fingers in his hair and closed my eyes as he
pinned me to the bed. I tore his shirt open and covered his chest with kisses. His
mouth found mine again. My fingers went to the button of his jeans. I wanted
him inside me. I was sure of how I felt now. I no longer doubted him. I was in
love with him.

I
laid on my side. Aubrey ran his fingers playfully down my arm. I loved the
feeling of euphoria he gave me when we were together. The memories he showed me
earlier were haunting me. Cornelius was the one who gave the order to murder my
parents, but who was the vampire that actually did it.

“Who
was the vampire that took your place and killed my parents?” I asked softly.

“His
name was Ricardo. He died shortly after your parents. He was not able to give
Cornelius proof that Lyle and your mother were dead. The hunters burned the
house as soon as they could.”

When
he said that I sat up and looked at him. “The hunters burned the house?” I
asked confused.

He
nodded then looked away. “Why do you think Luca was there?”

I
felt my stomach knot up. I didn’t want to believe Luca had any part of the
whole thing. I was raised to believe Luca saved me. There were so many nights I
spent crying in his arms. I felt like such and idiot now.

“Don’t
think about it anymore tonight. Let me help you forget,” he whispered as he
pulled me back down onto the bed and kissed me gently.

As
much as I wanted to sleep I couldn’t. I heard Aubrey leave not long after he thought
I was asleep. I laid in bed contemplating my next move. I wasn’t really sure
what that move would be. I knew I wanted Cornelius dead; I just wasn’t sure how
I was going to do it. Despite Cornelius trying to kill Aubrey, Aubrey refused
to kill Cornelius. That was going to be a problem for me because Aubrey wouldn’t
disclose Cornelius’s location, but I knew someone who might.

I
got out of bed and showered. Once I was dressed I walked out to the kitchen.
Colin was already up; which was a relief. I needed a ride to my car.

“I
saw Aubrey leave last night. I take it you two made up?” he asked.

I
nodded. “I need a ride to my car,” I said softly. I didn’t really feel like
explaining myself to him.

He
nodded as he walked toward the door. I was just getting ready to leave. I
followed him out to his car.

“What
are your plans for the evening?” he asked as he drove toward the warehouses.

“I
need to talk to Justin. Aubrey said he was staying with him,” I said absently.

“I
take it this has to do with Cornelius in some way?” Colin asked softly.

I
watched him for a minute wondering how much I should tell him. “Maybe, what do
you know?”

He
shrugged as he continued to keep his eyes on the road. “I don’t know where he
is if that is what you mean, and despite Justin’s hate for Cornelius I doubt he
will give you the directions to kill yourself.” Colin’s tone was clipped like
he knew what I was thinking and he disapproved.

“He
took everything from me Colin. I don’t expect you to understand,” I said
softly.

He
scoffed. “I know a lot more than you think. How do you think I ended up a
vampire? Not every vampire has the ability to turn a hunter.”

“Cornelius
turned you?” I asked startled. I remembered when Justin and I were trying to
escape Cornelius’s dungeon; we heard a vampire say he planned to change me.

“Yes,
he just didn’t realize I wouldn’t be as controllable as a standard human. I was
able to walk away,” he said quietly.

“How
did you meet him in the first place?” I asked now very interested in what he
had to say.

“You
are not the only one that has family members Cornelius murdered. I went after
him when my sister turned up dead. You were young then, so you probably don’t
remember. When I went after him I realized he was stronger than most vampires. He
thought it would be funny to turn me instead of kill me. He will do the same
thing to you if he gets the chance,” he said softly as he parked the car in
front of the warehouse.

“I
will make sure he doesn’t get the chance then,” I said as I climbed out of the
car. I would go after him like I did the death marshal. He couldn’t be that
impossible to kill. I walked directly to my car and set off for Aubrey’s club.
I needed to get Cornelius’s location then go from there.

It
was starting to get late, so traffic on the street was picking up. I parked in
my usual spot and walked down the alley toward the club. I was hoping I could
speak with Justin without Aubrey interrupting. Aubrey would do nothing but try
to stop me.

I
walked into the club and all the regulars were there. I spotted Justin sitting
at the bar drinking, and luckily he was alone. I took a seat next to him and
ordered a drink.

He
looked me up and down then looked back at his drink. “You look better than you
did,” he said softly.

“I
agree,” I said slightly amused. He helped Aubrey when I got worked over my
Damon. I still owed Damon for that. I didn’t know what I was going to do about
the people I thought were my family. Once the lie came out I felt pretty alone.

“I
take it you want something. Why else would you come talk to me?” he said dryly.

“I
need to know how to find Cornelius,” I said softly hoping no one else would
hear what I had to say.

He
laughed and shook his head. “No, hell no. You might as well let me kill you
right now.”

I
sighed. I knew he was going to be difficult. “I really need to find him,” I
said quietly.

“No,
now don’t ask me again,” he said sounding annoyed. He got up and walked away.

“Rayne,”
Nick said as he approached me from behind.

I
was a little startled to see him in the club. “What are you doing here?” I
asked as he took a seat next to me.

He
shrugged and adjusted his collar. I caught a glimpse of the bite mark on his
neck and I was guessing Victoria called him. He probably thought he was in
love. Unfortunately it was just a vampire’s charm. He would learn eventually. “I
was in the area,” he lied.

I
brushed it off and took another sip of my drink. “Ya, well nothing is going on
here. I am just hitting a bunch of dead ends,” I muttered in annoyance.

“Maybe
I can help. What are you trying to find out?” he asked as he pulled his notepad
out.

I
looked at him for a second. Maybe he could find something out. It was possible
Cornelius was on record. Nick might be able to get me an address for him. “I
need and address for a guy named Cornelius. I don’t know his last name, but he
looks extremely similar to Aubrey. He lives around here. I just need to know an
exact address.

He
nodded as he wrote. “I am going to the office now. I will run it and call you
if I come up with anything that might help,” he said as he put his note pad
away.

“Thanks,”
I said and smiled.

He
nodded. “Well I’ll see you around. I’ll call you when I find something.”

I
nodded and he walked away leaving me by myself again.

“You
will not go after Cornelius. It would be a suicide mission,” Aubrey said as he
came to stand beside me. He signaled for the bartender to get him a drink.

I
rolled my eyes. I was guessing Justin tipped him off. I should have known he
would do it. I just didn’t think he would go right to Aubrey. “He killed my
parents,” I said softly.

“No
he gave the order. Your uncle let it happen. Why aren’t you going after him?”
Aubrey asked angrily.

I
stood abruptly. He was starting to annoy me with how hard he was working to
protect Cornelius. “My uncle will pay in time and he knows that. I am not going
to wait for Cornelius to decide someone else should die.”

Aubrey
caught my arm to keep me from walking away. “Leave it alone Lily. Going after
him will only cause more hurt and pain.”

“I
don’t understand why you are protecting him, but it will eventually come down
to him or me. I suggest you make that decision quickly,” I said softly then
pulled away.

I
walked outside and immediately felt a little better. As I walked toward my car
my phone started to ring. I answered it, but I didn’t recognize the voice on
the other line.

“Is
this Rayne?” a young female voice asked.

“This
is,” I answered a little confused. She sounded like such a young girl. I really
didn’t understand why she would be calling me. There was a scuffling noise, and
the next voice I recognized.

“Now
that I have your attention we can talk,” Cornelius said amused.

I
pushed the anger away and attempted to keep my tone even. “How do you figure
you have my attention?”

He
laughed like something was extremely funny. “I don’t know. I figured having a
ten year old girl with hunter parents who are recently deceased would be
ironic.”

I
took a deep breath and tried to focus. He was trying to get to me. I had to
stay focused and not let him win. “What is it you want from me?” I asked
without betraying my tone.

“I
want you to surrender. Come to me and the girl will go free. Deny my request
and she dies,” he said amused.

“Why
would I care about some random little girl?” I asked as I hurried toward my
car.

“Because
you are your father’s daughter. There is a car waiting for you. If you want the
girl to live you will cooperate,” he said then hung up.

I
hesitated when I saw a black town car waiting for me. It was parked behind my
car. Two vampires stood outside the car. When they saw me approach they opened
one of the doors. I hesitated and looked back at the club. I wasn’t sure what I
should do. I didn’t know the girl but it was my job to protect anyone I could.
The girl was only in Cornelius’s grasp because I pissed him off. I decided to
go to him. I wanted to find him anyway. I would have rather had the element of
surprise, but this would have to do. I climbed into the car, and one of the
vampires climbed in the back with me. The other climbed in the driver’s seat
and set off.