lands cloaked as a maiden. Upon my return, I told the council about my findings. The oracle foretold, ‘To lure the darkened shadow within one must seek purity. A powerful immortal shall rise and the path to darkness shall alter. The truly desired is not for the taking for destiny was fated long ago. The path chosen will determine whether darkness will triumph over light .”
Mercy closed the book. “The council insisted the prophecy was referring to a man named Demeetrie. He was the only sunvamp found using a tracking spell. Then once Demeetrie was hunted and staked with the hollow cross, my ancestors said peace was restored once again.”
“Who wrote that?” Devin asked.
“My ancestor Martha English, she was a witch who belonged to the counsel and was responsible for driving the hollow cross into Demeetries’ chest.”
Devins’ tone was hard, “Demeetrie De Luca, one of my ancestors?”
“Yes,” Mercy said and slid the book back under the counter.
“Where have you hidden him?” Devin stepped closer to Mercy.“I’m sorry Devin but I can’t tell you. I’m afraid of what my ancestors would do to me if I revealed the location.”
“Why stake Demeetrie with the hollow cross? Was he a threat to anyone?”
“I believe he was staked because he was too powerful. The Witchittin council and the clan created by Orion feared what that kind of power could do. They were afraid he would wipe out the entire coven of witches and vampires.”
“Mercy, you know I would never hurt you right? You tried to zap me and still I did nothing. I owe you for allowing me to walk in the moonlight. Please, I need you to trust me.”
Mercy drew in a deep breath. “Say I believe you. What then?”
“I need to find a way to stop Vanstrauss. Alivias’ life depends on it. Besides, Chace will never forgive me if something happens to her.”
“Is Chace a sunvamp too?”
“No, Chace is a vampire.”
“How can that be? You’re identical twins with the exception of your eye color.”
“I can’t get into it right now Mercy. We need to concentrate on saving Alivia.”
Mercy nodded. “Fine, let me do some research on
Vanstrauss and I’ll call you if I find something.”
“Thank you, Mercy. I guess yet once again, I will owe you.”
“Okay, get out of here now and let me work.”
Devin obeyed and left feeling hopeful.
☼
Sunlight filtered down through the trees in the woods as Alivia made her way to the cemetery. Birds were singing in the branches all around and Alivia stopped to listen. It was a beautiful day. Today, she felt warm inside. Today, she wasn’t full of sadness. She knew Chaces’ love for her was the reason she was seeing the world and all its beauty. She hugged herself and continued through the woods as she smiled.
As she passed the Tarantino ruins, she stopped suddenly.
She was not alone. The distinctive sound of twigs cracked in the woods. When she turned to see who or what was behind her, her cell phone went off and she jumped.
She pulled out the phone from her back pocket and read the text message from Chace.
meet me @ my place in an hour?
Alivia wrote, sure is everything ok?
Her phone went off again; yes, need 2 talk 2 u.
About what? Alivia wrote.
Chace wrote back, tell u when u get here…
Alivia was too preoccupied reading the text messages that she didn’t notice the husky figure sneak up behind her.
Before she realized it, someone grabbed her and covered her nose and mouth with a damp cloth. She struggled to break free but the attacker was much stronger.
Seconds later, everything faded.
☼
Hours passed and still there was no sign of Alivia.
“I should’ve stayed with her. Maybe something bad happened.”
Chace was worried.
What the hell was he thinking coming home to take a shower? He should’ve stayed outside her window in the tree, he thought. If something happened to her because of him, he would never forgive himself.
“Maybe she got held up doing something at the
Mercy closed the book. “The council insisted the prophecy was referring to a man named Demeetrie. He was the only sunvamp found using a tracking spell. Then once Demeetrie was hunted and staked with the hollow cross, my ancestors said peace was restored once again.”
“Who wrote that?” Devin asked.
“My ancestor Martha English, she was a witch who belonged to the counsel and was responsible for driving the hollow cross into Demeetries’ chest.”
Devins’ tone was hard, “Demeetrie De Luca, one of my ancestors?”
“Yes,” Mercy said and slid the book back under the counter.
“Where have you hidden him?” Devin stepped closer to Mercy.“I’m sorry Devin but I can’t tell you. I’m afraid of what my ancestors would do to me if I revealed the location.”
“Why stake Demeetrie with the hollow cross? Was he a threat to anyone?”
“I believe he was staked because he was too powerful. The Witchittin council and the clan created by Orion feared what that kind of power could do. They were afraid he would wipe out the entire coven of witches and vampires.”
“Mercy, you know I would never hurt you right? You tried to zap me and still I did nothing. I owe you for allowing me to walk in the moonlight. Please, I need you to trust me.”
Mercy drew in a deep breath. “Say I believe you. What then?”
“I need to find a way to stop Vanstrauss. Alivias’ life depends on it. Besides, Chace will never forgive me if something happens to her.”
“Is Chace a sunvamp too?”
“No, Chace is a vampire.”
“How can that be? You’re identical twins with the exception of your eye color.”
“I can’t get into it right now Mercy. We need to concentrate on saving Alivia.”
Mercy nodded. “Fine, let me do some research on
Vanstrauss and I’ll call you if I find something.”
“Thank you, Mercy. I guess yet once again, I will owe you.”
“Okay, get out of here now and let me work.”
Devin obeyed and left feeling hopeful.
☼
Sunlight filtered down through the trees in the woods as Alivia made her way to the cemetery. Birds were singing in the branches all around and Alivia stopped to listen. It was a beautiful day. Today, she felt warm inside. Today, she wasn’t full of sadness. She knew Chaces’ love for her was the reason she was seeing the world and all its beauty. She hugged herself and continued through the woods as she smiled.
As she passed the Tarantino ruins, she stopped suddenly.
She was not alone. The distinctive sound of twigs cracked in the woods. When she turned to see who or what was behind her, her cell phone went off and she jumped.
She pulled out the phone from her back pocket and read the text message from Chace.
meet me @ my place in an hour?
Alivia wrote, sure is everything ok?
Her phone went off again; yes, need 2 talk 2 u.
About what? Alivia wrote.
Chace wrote back, tell u when u get here…
Alivia was too preoccupied reading the text messages that she didn’t notice the husky figure sneak up behind her.
Before she realized it, someone grabbed her and covered her nose and mouth with a damp cloth. She struggled to break free but the attacker was much stronger.
Seconds later, everything faded.
☼
Hours passed and still there was no sign of Alivia.
“I should’ve stayed with her. Maybe something bad happened.”
Chace was worried.
What the hell was he thinking coming home to take a shower? He should’ve stayed outside her window in the tree, he thought. If something happened to her because of him, he would never forgive himself.
“Maybe she got held up doing something at the
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