'' What do you mean he is missing?''- I put down the glass with water and grabbed my head. It was still spinning from the spell. I felt like floating and I shook my head.-'' Hunting.?''
'' My uncle wasn't answering his phone.''- Mary answered and I eyed the blonde. Even so simple activity such as lifting my head was painful and I groaned.-'' When we checked his apartment, we found his phone, he had left without it.''- Charles would never go anywhere without his phone, and he had insisted for me do the same. It was important to always have a way of contact with one another. Charles had always reminded me to check my phone's battery before I go somewhere and to take my recharger. It was so weird that he would leave without his phone, I meant my love have gone even to the store with it, and the store was very close.
'' Haven't you tried to reach him in your way?''- I thanked Cora , when she gave me some potion , which would make me feel better. I wanted to sleep, and not leave the bed for days. I felt like I had survived a car accident, my whole body was aching, although I didn't have any wounds or bruises. I might had a fever too. –'' You are his maker.''- I eyed Adrian. I knew that the connection between a maker and a child for the vampires was very powerful thing. They could sense one another, no matter the distance.
'' Charles have blocked me. I have been trying for hours to reach him, but no luck.''- Adrian rubbed his eyes and I took his hand in mine.-'' I worry for him.''
'' And I can't find him either. ''- Mary sat next to me and leaned on my shoulder. Raymond caressed her hair and Mary smiled at him.
'' He has blocked me too. ''- Ray added and I tensed up, What was going around in here? I have been gone for only two days and something was up. Charles had been angry when I last saw him, but he was fine. So what had happened? Adrian answered my question, my family was safe.
'' Tell me what happened while I was gone.''- The potion was making me feel better, I wasn't so sleepy anymore. My head was still dizzy, but at least I could think clearer.
'' Well, we don't know actually.''- Adrian began.-'' Charles was very worried for you, and I understood him. When a vampire is worried, his emotions might affect his need for blood, I know that. But he… that isn't normal. He began to crave blood more and more. It got so worse that he had to take some days off.''- I covered my mouth. My love had suffered and I wasn't here to help him?-'' I had checked Charles regularly and each time he seemed worse. The blood bags had only satiated him for a while.''- I leaned my head back and closed my eyes.
'' My uncle spent days in his home, hiding and feeding.''- Mary added and I found the strength to look at her. The blonde was crying , like me, and Ray hugged her.-'' He looked ill. ''
'' Where is Roger?''- I wanted to tell my love's brother that I had done it. I was going to help him break the hunter's spell and to be free again. And if my immortal was really having problems with his blood thirst, I worried for his brother.
'' He is in our home, safe.''- Ray answered.-'' I have called him before you arrived , and he is all right.''- I was glad Roger was fine, and I hoped Cora would remove the spell soon.
'' What was that about a dead body?''- I glanced at Adrian again, and the vampire looked first the others, than me.
'' Well, when we checked Charles's place, we found lots of empty blood bags and a dead girl. Around your years, Selena. I don't know who was she, and how she got in there, but she was dead.''- My love had killed someone?! No, I refused to believe it! As a vampire he had more self-control and I found it hard to believe he would just kill someone because of the thrill. He wasn't like that.
'' No, that must be some mistake…''- The man I loved would never kill. He had feed from blood bags and sometimes I was his blood donor, or he would compel some human. But killing?!
'' It isn't. I wish it was.''- Mary took my hand in hers.-'' The girl was bitten and half of her blood is gone, Lena. My uncle did this.''
'' And I fear Charles is hunting for more blood. I have felt how strong and maddening his hunger is, and I know he will search for ways to quench it.''- Adrian said .
'' You should have seen his place, Lena.''- Mary sobbed.-'' It was so messy and so unlike him. The blood was everywhere.''- Where my love was?
My phone rang and Cora handed it to me. I had given it to her for safe keeping while I was gone. It was my mother and it was so good to hear her voice. I told her I would come as soon as I could. I called Nick next, my roommates, the boys. Everyone would get a nice and detailed story of my adventures and lots of hugs, but right now I was worried sick because of Charles. What had happened to him?
'' The girl…?''- I couldn't force the whole question. That girl had a family, friends, a life. I felt bad that hers ended like this.
'' I took care of it. I compelled her parents and told them their daughter had died from a stab wound.''- Adrian answered and I nodded, not trusting my voice. I thought my problems were solved, only to find myself in bigger ones.
'' How can we find Charles?''- I stood up, Adrian wrapped one arm around my waist to support me.
'' Well, you are his mate, Selena. Even if the two of you are not bonded anymore, there is a connection. ''- Cora told me.-'' I can do a little spell, but I will need a drop of your blood.''- I nodded.
# # #
I eyed the building before me with anger and disgust. It was a night club, one of the most popular ones. And my love apparently was here. I zipped my jacket up and sighed. It was nice to be back into my own clothes, Cora had given them to me. My head wasn't aching anymore and I felt a lot better.
'' Let's go in.''- Adrian said and I nodded. Mary and Ray were beside me.
The music was too loud, and the lights were annoying. Why my love would come here of all places? Because it meant free blood, I scolded myself silently, as I watched the dancing bodies. Great, how were we supposed to find him in here! It would take us hours! One girl grabbed Adrian's arm and attempted to lure him in, but he freed himself .
'' Now what?!''- I yelled, and Mary pulled me before some guy could bump into me.
'' If I know my child well enough, I know where he can be in here.''- Adrian took my hand in his and I followed as he led us to one staircase. Some girls bumped into me, one stepped on my foot, I felt a guy trying to hug me from behind. But Mary slapped him before I could. I was grateful that Adrian was leading me, because I wouldn't make it without him.
'' You mean he is …?''- I eyed the staircase and my world began to spin again. In some night clubs the second or the third floors were made into soundproofed rooms for lovers , seeking privacy. It hurt me to think my love was in some of these rooms and maybe cheating on me, but we had to check them. But which one, there were so many.
I saw some girls and thought I should ask them, it was a better idea than opening every door.
'' Hey, I am looking for a man.''- I yelled over the music. Those girls were clearly drunk. One of them walked to Adrian and wrapped her arms around his neck, another winked at Raymond, but Mary hissed at her.
'' Don't we all, dear!''- The rest of the cheery group laughed and I rolled my eyes.
'' Not like that! Have you seen this guy?''- I showed them a picture of Charles from my phone.
'' Yes, I had seen him.''- One red-haired said after she drank from her beer bottle.-'' Him and that woman.''
'' What woman?''- Suddenly the floor disappeared beneath my feet. My love was here with someone?! No, he would never do that to me, to us!
'' Yes, one dark-haired one. And another girl and one man. They went into that room.''- She showed the right one.-'' It must be a real party in there.''
'' Thank you.''- Adrian placed a hand on my shoulder.-'' Selena, maybe he ..''
'' I don't know.''- I walked like in a fog to the red door. What sight would I face in there? My love in the bed with another?! My heart won't bear it.
I opened the door, hoping my Charles won't be in there. Hoping he was alone.
'' Hello, little Selena!''- Isabella was the first one I saw. The dark-haired woman was sitting on the huge sofa, with one man in her arms and she had just bitten him.
'' You?!''- What my love was doing with this woman again?! That snake?! Were all of his words a lie?!
'' Lena, you have returned.''- I froze when I saw Charles. My love was wearing a pair of jeans and a white shirt, which now was stained with blood. And he was holding the wrist of one blond girl, and I had seen the bite marks .-'' And you have brought a backup.''
'' Yes.''- Why was his voice so cold, so unlike him. I had expected him to ran to me, to hug and kiss me. For me to gaze into his blue eyes and see my love reflected in his. But now his eyes were as cold as his voice.
'' I don't know what this is, Charles, but it's stopping right now.''- Adrian entered and crossed his arms.-'' You are coming with us.''
'' What?! Not even a hello, Adrian? I am deeply hurt.''- Bella licked her prey's neck and smiled.
'' This is your doing, Isabella.''- Adrian went and grabbed her hand and twisted it. The woman freed herself and punched him in the face.
'' I merely helped my prince embrace his nature. The one he had suppressed for this brat here.''- Bella eyed me with malice.-'' I found my darling starved to death and helped him deal with it. No need to thank me for saving his life. How are you, Mary?''- Isabella smiled at her old friend.-'' You betrayed me for this brat , too.''
'' I haven't. But Selena is my friend, too, and a family. ''
'' Yes, yes. Everyone loves the little Selena. The little saint.''- Bella tried to get to me, but Ray hid me behind his back.
'' We have come for Charles.''- Adrian said.-'' Come, my friend, you need help.''- He eyed his child. Charles poured himself more wine and stood up from the bed. My heart broke when I watched him walk to us.
'' But I have never felt better, Adrian. I feel free.''- My love stopped before me and his eyes were ice cold. I gulped when they pierced me. His shirt was stained with blood, but the man attracted me still. I wanted to badly to hug him.-'' You seem all right, Selena. How was the trip to the past?''
'' We can help your brother.''- I expected some reaction, a smile, a change in the eyes. Anything.
'' Good.''- Charles only drank more wine.
'' Uncle, come with us.''- Mary placed a hand on his shoulder.
'' But I am absolutely fine, dear.''- Charles backed away and poured himself more wine.-'' Do you want some? Selena?''-I shook my head.-'' Pity, the wine is fantastic.''
'' You are not fine, Charles. This isn't you.''- I crossed my arms and looked around. The empty wine bottle, the humans used for blood.
'' So you have all come to put some sense into me?!''- My love was so close to me, but I have never felt him more a stranger than now.-'' Just when I was having so much fun.''- He groaned and turned up the music , but Adrian broke the stereo system.-'' I loved that song!''
'' What has gotten into you?!''- I slapped him.-'' You have killed someone! You are here with her! Have the two of you….?''
'' No, my prince is still rejecting me, little brat. But I will have him soon.''- Isabella grinned.
'' So you have your answer, Selena. I am glad you are well, but please all of you, leave me alone to have some fun.''- Charles opened another bottle.
'' Don't you care about anything?!''- I took the bottle from his hands. My love's blue eyes pierced me again.
'' Charles, as your maker, I …''- But Isabella hit Adrian with another bottle before he could finish the sentence and order my love.
'' You didn't have to hit him so hard, Bella, you broke the bottle. And that wine was expensive, you know.''- I couldn't believe my ears, and Mary couldn't either. Adrian fell on the ground, but Ray rushed to lift him up.
'' Uncle, please.''- Mary sobbed as she tried to block the window.
'' Mary, don't make me do this.''- But his niece didn't move.-'' Fine, as your maker, I command you to move.''- Mary obeyed. I ran and grabbed his hand.-'' Let me go, Selena. ''
'' No, we need to help you. I need you.''- For a moment I thought I saw some spark in his eyes, but maybe I had imagined it.
'' And it's touching, but no. Let me go.''- Charles compelled me and he and Isabella escaped through the window.