We Shall Rise (3 page)

Surprisingly, Kaden withdrew the heat immediately leaving Reysa a shivering mess from Julian’s frost. “J-Jules, ssstop the bbbblizzard,” Reysa asked as her teeth chattered. Julian was too shocked from Kaden’s unexpected capitulation to respond quickly enough. Before he could act, Kaden grabbed Reysa and held her tightly in his arms instantly warming her. She melted in his grasp partly relieved from the cold, but mostly comforted from finally being in the arms her body craved to feel.

Julian ceased the cold, but Kaden did not let go of Reysa. He couldn’t let her go. Seeing her with his brother was worse than any torture he had suffered in his life including his father’s special brand of torment.

He could not help but finally understand how much his affair with Helena hurt Julian. As much as he regretted causing that pain, he could not allow his brother to seek his revenge by taking Reysa from him. Kaden could not have Reysa, but he would not allow his brother to have her either. She would not become the pawn they used to best the other.

Kaden was unaccustomed to such feelings of jealousy and possessiveness, but his mind instinctively knew to protect what was his even if he wasn’t willing to be with her. Julian might be the better choice for her and he should graciously step aside and allow them to find happiness together, but the very thought incensed him as he tightened his hold on Reysa.

Mine
.

Logically, Kaden knew that Reysa had not shown any interest in Julian other than friendship. There was never a hint of arousal when she was with Julian. Only he evoked that reaction from her yet he still felt this intense need to keep them apart. That’s why he had to continue to work with them to find Yasmine. He could not allow them to be alone. His mind would imagine intimacies shared between them and he knew he would succumb to the evil he fought so hard to suppress. Madness would overtake him. He would kill Julian if he touched her just as Julian should have killed him for taking Helena. Julian was too moral and righteous to give Kaden the punishment he deserved. Kaden would not be so kind to his little brother.

“Ah, Kaden, thanks for warming me up, but now you’re starting to break my ribs. I need to breathe.” Reysa shoved him lightly.

Kaden loosened his grip, but did not let her go. He needed more time as he may not have another opportunity to hold her so closely. He finally felt like he was where he belonged.

“Look guys, I think we need a break,” Reysa admitted as she eased herself from Kaden’s grasp immediately missing his warmth. “We haven’t found anything yet and although I’m not giving up, I think we need to regroup and come up with new, credible leads. I’m going back home to stay. I’ve been in and out too much over the last few weeks. I need to be home. No offense to you boys, but I miss my family of Misfits. Let’s take a few days to clear our heads so we can think and come up with something that makes sense. Right now, we are no closer to finding Yasmine and I fear we are too stressed to think straight.”

“You’re right,” Julian admitted. “We need to start fresh. We’re running around in circles and that’s not helping Yasmine.”

“Well, I could use a trip to Vegas,” Kaden chimed in, surprising Reysa.

“I thought you might want to spend your time elsewhere like with your mother,” Reysa hoped Kaden would take her not so subtle hint. She needed time away from him. He was too much of a distraction. Time away was the only way to squelch this agonizing need for him.

“My mother’s in Italy with stepdaddy Lucian,” Kaden acknowledged bitterly. “I think she’s busy enough making up for lost time with him. She doesn’t need me around now. I would rather let loose in Vegas for a few days and get to know your fellow Misfits some more. I’m kind of fascinated by your collection of immortal mutts.”

“Don’t talk about them like that,” Reysa defended. “They’re my family. If you attack them, then you attack me.”

“I meant no harm. I’m just curious about them and I would like to get to know them better. It’s not like you see that kind of thing every day. I’ve been around a long time but I never saw so many other races of immortals. The little time I spent at The Lore, I didn’t pay attention to all the different species around me. I plan to make up for that now. It’s time I learn about my fellow monsters.”

“They prefer to remain hidden. They don’t have to worry about the reactions of ignorant humans nor do they have to face discrimination from other elitist immortals who assume their full blood equals superiority.”

“We full bloods are a bunch of elitist SOB’s, are we?” Kaden smiled at Reysa. Once he flashed that dimple, she forgot how mad she was at him. That quickly, her body was beckoning him once again.

“Not all of you, but too many are and I fear the consequences of such prejudice.”

“I promise to treat your fellow Misfits the same as I would treat anyone else. I don’t discriminate. I’m a universal equal opportunity jerk. I pretty much hate everyone.”

“Liar. Just keep in mind Kaden that my friends are not toys for your amusement. Some of them are considerably powerful just like you and they would not hesitate to destroy you if they felt threatened. This isn’t a game. For your own safety, you better play nice.”

“I’m always nice, sweetheart,” Kaden winked at a frustrated Reysa who could only roll her eyes.

II

“Welcome to my home, boys.” Reysa had dematerialized Kaden and Julian back to her house in the desert near her club in Vegas. Kaden still marveled at her ability to travel to any location she desired in a matter of mere minutes. Many vampires could dematerialize themselves, but to travel with others was one of Reysa’s special gifts. Overuse of her ability drained her considerably, but a drained Reysa could still defeat most beings with her blade skills.

Kaden looked at the huge three story lavender house enclosed in a lavender and white picket fence. Large bay windows adorned the front allowing plenty of natural light to brighten the house. The front yard included a basketball court and swing set. The ideal play yard for a modern family.

Parked in the driveway were a scorching red Ferrari, deep purple Hummer and three black Porsche Boxsters. This could have been a house of a very successful human family with an odd fixation on purple. There was no hint of the darkness and gothic beauty that many vampires chose.

Kaden and Julian followed Reysa inside and gaped at the opulence displayed in the home. It wasn’t the lead bit gauche. Every detail was elegantly constructed and decorated with earth tones that made this house feel welcoming. This was nothing like what Kaden had expected. Reysa somehow always managed to surprise him.

“What?” Reysa asked Kaden. He arched his eyebrow in surprise. “That baffled expression is written all over your face. Why are you so surprised? Did you assume I was poor?”

“Not poor necessarily, but not living like this. This house is amazing even though it is purple.”

“Heavenly Lilac is the shade,” Reysa corrected.

Kaden wanted to tease her about the color, but she looked so pleased that he didn’t want to disappoint her even as a joke. That was a first for him. He never cared about hurting feelings before. “It seems like a lot for one person or two.”

“Well, that’s because about five people live here regularly and hundreds visit all the time. We need this much space.”

“Five?”

“Alejandro occupies the entire basement level. My sister, Lina, has several rooms on the second floor and there are a bunch of guest rooms there as well. The third floor belongs to me, Christian, and Tatiana. It’s like a separate apartment, but there’s plenty of space for Tatiana to play and draw. She’s an artist.”

“Let’s go see your apartment.” Kaden could accept Lina living with Reysa and Alejandro, her pet cat shifter, but he was unsettled by the thought of the half-breed lycan Christian living with her. He shouldn’t have been surprised, considering they shared a child and were disgustingly close. He wanted to believe they were just friends but something about that relationship bugged him. Maybe it was the way Christian acted as if Reysa was his. That proprietary hold he had on Reysa whenever they were together. Reysa never seemed to mind either which annoyed Kaden even more. No doubt she would beat the crap out of any other man who acted like he owned her, but she allowed Christian this liberty.

Reysa walked up the winding staircase pointing out Lina’s rooms and describing all the artwork displayed. Reysa was a huge Salvador Dali fan and somehow purchased several original works and many more reproductions that mirrored originals. Each room had its own theme reflecting the cultures of the inhabitants and their friends: there was an Asian tea room, a Moroccan styled meditation room, a Latin dance room, a Venetian masquerade room filled with the city’s infamous glamorous masks and a Brazilian carnivale room that included amazing costumes and pictures of Reysa and her friends celebrating the festivities. This was clearly a house that embraced levity and peace. Misery did not belong within these hallowed walls.

They continued to Reysa’s rooms on the third floor. This apartment was filled with kid toys. It was like a slightly smaller version of Toys 'R Us. There were a combination of very girlie toys like Barbie and princess furniture but there were also cars, trucks, train sets and every other toy a boy would love.

“This is not all my fault,” Reysa grinned sheepishly a little embarrassed by the barrage of toys.

“She can’t possibly play with all these toys,” Kaden surmised. He could not fathom all of this for one child. He and Julian barely had any toys with which to play as their father never believed in play. Life was about labor and sacrifice. There was no fun or pleasure in their home.

He reached for the toy train that was so perfectly hand painted and carved with the finest of wood. Kaden always had a passion for woodwork, a passion he turned into a profession years ago, but no one in his family knew. He had earned a small fortune with his talent, as he created some of the finest handcrafted wood furniture in the country. He doubted anyone would believe him if he told them. It was easier to imagine him destroying beauty rather than creating it.

This train brought back a flood of childhood memories that Kaden could not escape. He had built his first model ship when he was twelve years old. It took him two years to get it just right. Even as a child, Kaden was a perfectionist about his work. Every piece had to be precise, perfect. There could be no flaws. This was the one thing he had to do right—the one thing he needed to be right.

He had just finished the final carvings when his father discovered it. Kaden barely had a moment to feel the satisfaction of this success before his father forced him to watch as he crushed the model under his heavy boots with that smug smirk plastered on his face enjoying his son’s misery. The temptation to cry was overwhelming, but Kaden refused to give his father the pleasure of seeing his pain reflected in a waterfall of tears. Daughton walked over to his son leaving trail of dust in his wake. He crouched down so that his cold dark forest green eyes bore directly into his son’s matching hue. He promised Kaden that day he would ensure that his worthless son live an eternal hell. Kaden might get close to happiness, but he would never fully realize it. Behind every moment of pleasure was an even greater agony waiting to unfold. Daughton kept his word throughout his life and somehow managed to keep that promise even in the wake of his death.

Kaden returned the train to the track and walked over to the curio filled with priceless porcelain dolls.
What didn’t this kid have?
he wondered. How lucky she was to have parents who indulged her with gifts. Even if it was too much, it was better than the emptiness of his childhood.

“Some of this stuff looks untouched,” Kaden observed as he looked at the wrack of video games, many of which were still in the box. “You let her play with all this stuff?”

“Heavens no. Every month we give a bunch to a local children’s hospital. As soon as we get rid of a load, another appears. Everyone spoils Tatiana. Thankfully, she has a great attitude so we don’t have to worry about her becoming a brat. I can’t stand bad kids that act like the world owes them something. Tati is nothing like that. She’s my little angel.”

“My mother used to call me that as well,” Kaden chided. “You see how I turned out.”

“In her eyes, you probably were an angel. That’s part of being a mother and loving your child unconditionally.”

Kaden wanted no part of this discussion, but Julian who had been fairly quiet took this opportunity to comment. “Mothers only see the good in their kids and turn away from the bad.”

“I don’t think that’s true,” Reysa argued. “I don’t have any misguided notions that Tati will grow up free of faults, but my love for her will never wane. I will love the good in her as well as the not so good. She’s my baby and you don’t get to pick and choose what parts to love. It’s all or nothing and for most parents, it’s all. Certainly some parents opt for nothing. That’s the case for many of my friends here including myself, but I’ve seen too many good parents to lose faith in parental love. I’ve seen it with your mother. She loves you both no matter what you guys do. Let’s be honest, neither of you make it that easy for her to love you yet she would give her life for either one of you.”

“You know nothing about my mother,” Kaden barked frustrated by the truth of Reysa’s words. He knew his mother would gladly lay down her life for him and Julian. She already sacrificed a lifetime of happiness for them without hesitance.