Blood Stained Lives (The Blood Stained Saga Book 1) Read online

  Her head begins to pound, and she covers her ears to try to ease the pain of the headache that begins. For the first time since she lost her memory, images begin to rip through her mind.

  A little girl is skipping through a field of flowers on a warm, bright day. She stops to smell the flowers and enjoy the beautiful day until she hears cries coming from her village. Her mother calls out to her, but when her name is called out, the sound of a deafening roar drowns out her mother’s voice. The girl runs as fast as she can, and when the village comes into view, she starts crying uncontrollably. Most of the huts and buildings are on fire, and smoke fills the air. She sees her mother with her arms motioning for her to run to her. The girl drops her doll and runs toward her mother even though her mother's eyes become wide, and she covers her mouth in horror. This both scares and confuses the little girl, and then she trips over a stump and falls. She tries to push herself up, and as she does she looks into a water puddle. Reflected in the puddle is Aluana's face, and just behind her, a dragon opens its jaws, preparing to swallow her.

  Aluana snaps out of her dreamlike state and sits straight up, her body shaking at the very vivid and realistic vision. What does it mean, though, and was that little girl really herself as a child? She tries to shake the image of the dragon from her head, and attempts to focus on the music instead, but it has no effect whatsoever.

  “I need some fresh air,” she says while turning the radio off.

  She leaves her room, walks down the hallway, and snickers again as she hears the moans still coming from the study. Once outside, she places her hands onto the railing of the balcony, and just stares at the starless sky. Security cameras and guards are at every corner, making sure no one gets in or out. The sky is filled with smog and the lights from the city block out any view of the stars. Her thoughts then drift to the move to Macon, wondering if she'll be able see the stars there. It has been so long since she has been anywhere she can see the stars, she is not sure how she will act if she gets to see them.

  Back in the study, Tiffany slides her dress back on and unlocks the door. She turns to speak to Cyrus, not realizing that he is right behind her. He pushes her against the door, and kisses her along her neck while letting his hands wander all over her body. She quivers in ecstasy as he bites into her neck. He trails his tongue over the bite wound, licking up all the blood that comes from it, and then whispers into her ear.

  “You were right...I’m definitely relaxed now. Thank you for getting rid of my headache. So you may be up for a promotion now.”

  He opens the door and they both exit the room.

  “I will fill you in on the details later, but for now I need a word with Aluana,” Cyrus says.

  Tiffany's heart sinks at that moment because of his words. She just gave herself to him completely, but as soon as he is done with her, he wants to rush off to Aluana.

  “Why is she so fucking important? I am loyal to you and do everything that you ever ask of me, and THIS is how you repay me? You are so obsessed with her and her needs that you are blind to what is in front of you; too blind to see what you mean to me.” She pauses for a moment, and he can tell by the look on her face how hurt and upset that she is. “Yes, I did kill that guard, and frame her for it because for once I wanted you to feel like I was more important than her. That she is not so perfect and maybe you would see me in a different light, but no, YOU,” she jabs her finger into his chest, “still protect her!”

  Cyrus drags her back into the study and shuts the door, locking it behind him. Tiffany is prepared for whatever it is that he is about to do to her. She probably should have just kept quiet, but she has held her tongue for far too long.

  “You don't understand...it’s not what you think it is. The reason I treat her the way I do is not out of love for her, but out of necessity,” he says.

  Tiffany is surprised at how calmly he is talking to her and she listens closely.

  “So why is she important?”

  “I cannot say exactly. Just know that when she has served her purpose, she will be disposed of. I get just as irritated as you do by the way she mopes around, but she is essential in my plans to carry out our matriarch Demetria's will.”

  “So where do I fit in with this grand master plan?”

  He approaches her and cups her face with his hands.

  “The first moment I saw you, I thought you were the most beautiful woman I had ever seen. When I found you dying on the street after Jack the Ripper got a hold of you, I just thought your death would be such a waste. That is why I turned you. I truly wanted you for myself, and I just had to have you around me. Yes, I may get irritated with you, and I have to act like a pompous ass or no one would take me seriously, but that doesn't mean I didn't ever care. Nor does that mean that I don't love you. I just fear having someone close to me because each time I claim a bride it seems the White Wolves or some other hunter has to come along, and take my bride away from me.” Cyrus's words sound sweet like honey, but could they actually be poisonous like venom?

  She approaches and pulls him close to her, then wraps her arms around his neck as she kisses him.

  “So what if I don't give you the option of not having me?”

  He smiles and kisses back.

  “I guess I can be okay with that. We still have to act professional around everyone else, though.”

  “That is completely fine by me, as long as I know that you're mine,” she says with a smile.

  Aluana comes back inside, and heads down the hallway just as Cyrus and Tiffany leave the study. She stops to smile at them.

  “So are you two done with the study? I want to do a little bit of light reading for a while.”

  Tiffany gives her a smile big and wide.

  “Sure, we were just leaving,” Tiffany says.

  She grabs Cyrus by the arm and pulls him closer to her. So much for acting professional around others; they walk down the hallway to Cyrus's room as Aluana enters the study.

  “Hey, why does it smell like fish in here?” she yells pointedly.

  Tiffany's teeth clench together to keep from responding to her little jab. They enter Cyrus's room together and close the door behind them.

  Aluana laughs loudly while closing the door. She walks over to the computer and has a seat.

  “So let’s see what I can learn about dragons.”

  She clicks on the web browser and types in the key word search “dragon.” Many pictures show up on the list, ranging from tribal tattoo art to Hollywood blockbuster movies. Nothing that she finds comes even close to what she saw in that vision. Was it an actual memory? Could it have been a very vivid dream that she had once? She exits out and shuts the computer down due to frustration, and she returns to her room to listen to music once again.

  Back in Cyrus's room, he lies naked in bed, cuddling with Tiffany.

  “That was amazing!” Tiffany says with a satisfied grin on her face.

  “I know. You’re welcome,” he responded with a smug look on his face.

  She pops him on the chest at his arrogant comment.

  They lie there in silence for a few moments before Cyrus makes a request.

  “Can you please try to be nicer to Aluana? For me, please? And just remember that there is no need for jealousy. You are the one that has me, remember?”

  She rolls her eyes and turns over with her back facing him.

  “I guess so,” she responds.

  He rolls over on his side, and drapes his arm over her. They lie there together, and he kisses the back of her neck.

  “What's wrong?” he asks.

  “It's just going to be an adjustment, you know? I have always felt in competition with her and now that I know that there isn't one, I'm just not sure how to act with her now.” Now that she was with Cyrus, Aluana felt like the least of Tiffany’s worries. But, if Cyrus wanted to discuss her, then Tiffany wasn’t going to argue.

  “Yeah I know, but it is only until I find what I am looking for in Macon, and she s
erves her purpose.”

  He turns and rolls over to get out of bed, and gets dressed. She looks over her shoulder at him with a sad look on her face.

  “Where are you going?” she asks.

  “I need to go have a talk with Drake. I really do like your idea about the Seeker Demons and want to have him get on it right away.”

  “Can't it wait until the morning?” she asks with her lips poking out like a pouting 5 year old.

  “The sooner we find the amulet, the sooner she is out of both our lives.”

  She rolls back over with her back facing him.

  “Okay,” she pauses for a few moments.

  “I guess since you have to,” she says with a huff.

  He leans over the bed and kisses her on the cheek before he leaves.

  Half an hour later, Tiffany gets out of the bed after she is done with her pity party. She walks to her room, and over to the closet. She looks for her favorite shirt and puts it on before walking out of the bedroom.

  “He is right,” she thinks. “There really is no reason for me to act rude to her.” She walks down the hallway to Aluana's room and gently taps on the door. Aluana opens the door and rolls her eyes once she sees that it is Tiffany. Then she notices the shirt that Tiffany is wearing, and that it has the words in glitter “Real vampires don't sparkle.”

  “Nice shirt. What do you want now?” she snaps at her.

  “I want to apologize to you. I know I have been a real bitch toward you because of Cyrus. It turns out that I didn't really have any reason to be jealous at all. He wanted to be with me all this time. Can you believe that?”

  “Well, you didn't have any reason to be jealous either way, Tiffany. I have never wanted to be with him. I've never even met a man that I have been attracted to like that; at least, not that I can remember.”

  “So does that mean you're into women?” Tiffany asks.

  “Uh, no. I'm just really picky, Tiffany. I assure you, though, when we get to Macon I do plan on going out and looking though.”

  “Okay, well if you ever need me for anything, I would really like for us to try, and be friends.”

  “I'll think about it. I mean, you have really treated me badly. I do appreciate the apology though.”

  “Anytime,” Tiffany says as she turns, and walks back down the hall to Cyrus's room.

  Aluana sits on her bed after shutting the door, wondering to herself if she can believe what Tiffany said and if she should ever trust her.

  Chapter Eleven

  Namon dresses in some loose fitting clothes, ready to start training. He still hasn't met all of the pack, one on one, other than Eric, due to his mourning. Today, though, Eric is introducing him to Kieran, the combat expert of the group. Eric walks with Namon over to Kieran's trailer.

  “The reason you need combat training first is because you are capable of doing something the rest of us can't. We have to go through a slow process when we change our forms, where all you have to do is just blink, and POW--you're done. So there may be situations where you may need to assist one of us in your human form. Or there's a chance we need a scout or someone to start the fight for us while we change.”

  “I understand. I'll give it a shot, and do everything that I can.” Namon nods.

  Eric knocks on Kieran's trailer and the door opens. Kieran walks out, standing five feet six inches tall. He has a dark tan, short brown hair, a clean shaven face, slight muscular build, and green eyes. He cracks his knuckles, and has a sly grin on his face.

  “So you're going to be my punching bag for the day?” he says with a smirk.

  “I guess so,” Namon says as he cracks his knuckles in response.

  Within a blink of an eye, Kieran sweeps Namon's leg, knocking him flat on his back. Kieran offers him a hand and helps him back up. Namon starts dusting himself off.

  “Rule number one: Always be on alert. Rule number two,” he sweep kicks Namon again, and just like before, he falls to the ground.

  “Always remember rule number one,” he says while offering his hand again.

  Namon takes it again, but this time tries to pull Kieran down, but he is too smart and anticipates Namon's move. He lets Namon's momentum do all the work for him, spins him around with the fall, and puts Namon down on the ground again, this time holding him down with a knee to his throat.

  “Rule number three: Don't attempt an attack or throw unless you are sure you can pull it off.”

  He moves his knee from Namon's throat and stands, offering his hand, yet again.

  “How many rules are there?” he asks.

  “You will just have to find out, won't you?” Kieran says with a chuckle.

  Oz watches from the bedroom window at Eric's trailer, chuckling as well. Eric and Kaya sit in lounge chairs in their yard eating popcorn as they watch Namon fall over, and over again.

  “So how many more throws do you give him before he phases and bites Kieran?” Eric asks Kaya.

  “Five more,” she answers.

  “I bet only three.”

  “Loser does the dishes tonight?” she suggests.

  He cocks an eyebrow at her, “You know that is a lot of dishes, right?”

  “Yeah, you're not chicken, are you?”

  His face starts to flush a little bit at being called a chicken. He hates being called a chicken, and that resulted in many fights growing up.

  “Deal.”

  “Shake on it?” she says while extending her hand.

  He spits in his hand and then shakes hers. She slaps him on the chest, wiping his spit off her hand.

  “Ewww gross,” she says, and then hits him again.

  “You know you love me,” he says with a mouthful of popcorn.

  She rolls her eyes at him, “The verdict is still out on that one.”

  They continue to watch, and after five more throws, Namon phases. Kaya looks over at Eric and laughs.

  “Ha ha, you got to clean the dishes.”

  He crosses his arms and pouts.

  “There, there, no pouting. If you pout, I will make you wear one of Brice's shirts.”

  “Oh hell no!” he says in defiance.

  She continues to laugh at him, and they turn their attention back to Namon as he runs beneath Kieran, nipping at his heels along the way. Once he gets behind him, he leaps, hitting Kieran in the back with the full force of his head. The two of them fall to the ground with Namon phasing mid fall sitting on Kieran’s back. He spins around and grabs him by the leg, pulling it back.

  “Hey, that’s cheating!” Kieran says.

  “No, cheating would be this,” Namon says, grabbing his big toe and twisting.

  “Okay, okay, I give!” Kieran says as he starts tapping the ground.

  Namon stands and helps Kieran up, who is now the one dusting himself off. Eric walks over and pats Namon on the back.

  “So are you sure you haven't met Brice, yet? That’s his signature move--he calls it the mad toe hold,” Kieran says.

  Namon laughs.

  “He is a fast learner though, isn't he, Kieran?” Eric asks.

  “Yeah, he did all right. He still has a long way to go, though, so don't let it go to your head,” he says, pointing to Namon.

  “Tomorrow we start hand to hand combat, so you better be ready,” Kieran says.

  Namon shakes his hand, “Thanks.”

  “Now let me introduce you to the rest of the pack so you will feel more comfortable. We are going to have a cookout tonight and we can't have you being all shy on us,” Eric says with a smile.

  Namon starts to walk, but then stumbles to the ground. His stomach starts to churn and rumble. He grabs his stomach feeling a lot of pain before he falls to his knees.

  “I need my bag, please,” he says weakly.

  “Kaya! Bring his bag now!” Eric calls out.

  Kaya turns to run inside, but the door flies open and Oz comes down the steps, dragging the bag just as fast as his little legs can carry him. She runs over to him, picks both the ba
g and him up, and runs to Namon. She hands him his bag, and continues holding Oz. Namon unzips the bag and pulls out a box of snack cakes, and within moments, he has eaten the entire box.

  “You waited too long between phases before eating, son. It drains your strength each time you phase, and you're not experienced enough, yet to handle multiple phases without eating. Always be prepared,” Katrina's voice sounds in his mind.

  “You okay?” Eric asks with concern, he reaches down and helps him up.

  “Yeah, I was just careless. I have to eat a lot to keep my strength up between phasing.”

  “I think it's time you met our resident cook, then,” Eric says.

  Oz jumps down from Kaya's arms, and walks along beside Namon and Eric. Kaya picks his bag up and carries it back to their trailer.

  “So Eric, are you and Kaya married?” Namon asks.

  Eric glances over at him with a smirk on his face.

  “Why do you ask? Are you interested?”

  Namon starts to blush at the question, thinking she is beautiful, but it was more of a curiosity question than anything.

  “No, sir, I was just curious since you live together.”

  Eric laughs, “Seriously you don't have to call me sir. Eric will do just fine. To answer your question, no we are not. We have much love and respect for one another, but we have never really thought to put a title on what we have. Just never felt the need to.”

  Namon doesn't really understand, but then again the only person he has loved has been Katrina. Of course, he loved his parents, but he didn't know them to the extent that he knew Katrina. That could very well be why he doesn't understand, because that's a love shared by a parent and a child. He was home schooled, so he didn't get very much social interaction he has never even had a girlfriend.