Chapter 26

Everyone's heads turned to see a man standing at the stairs. He appeared young, early 30's. His eyes must have been black because she didn't know any color within them. Same as his hair just as dark stopping just at the top of his shoulders. He was dressed casually. Nothing was seen on his body, not a scar, tattoo, nothing. He was the man she'd seen in the photo at Emma and Mathew's house. In the picture, he was wearing sunglasses, and his hair was pulled back.

Emma was now by his side, along with two other women, one dressed in dark colors, her hair cut short of Caramel. Her eyes. Bright as gold. The other looked frail, dressed in white with hints of pastel. Long hair sweeping her shoulders, white like David's. A sad expression on her face and once in better light covered in bites.

There were also two men with them. The shorter of them could have passed as a teenager, if not covered in tattoos on his shirtless body. Grinning like a wild man. His brown hair was cut a few inches from the scalp. While Wearing knee-high shorts and colorful shoes.

The other man was his opposite, tall and blonde hair that was combed over handsomely. He looked like a lawyer and a gangster. His eyes were also dark and hiding behind glasses. His attire was a dark blue suit pants, a black button shirt with the sleeves pushed up to his elbows. The coat hanging over his shoulder. He looked far too unimpressed being there.

These were dangerous people with radiating power.

"Uncle. I'm dying here." Matthew whined.

The man threw up his hand quickly. "Mathew! I just got up! Could we discuss this AFTER I have Something myself?" he sighed. Mathew's body grew tense.

Four of them sat on the couches while the shorter of the two men went over to the bar and sat atop it, getting a better view of the entire room.

"Sal, drinks, please." Emma smiled at her to come.

Sally, or Sal for short, had been hiding under the bar the entire time of the fight. She was a single mom of one and needed this job. The money was insane and quickly deposited into her account before starting this small job. The money was great, and she didn't ask any questions. Maybe she should have. She quickly made and got other drinks and brought them out in variety. She served the mystery man first. He smiled at her as she got close.

"Sal? Why don't you have a seat here." He beamed, slapping the spot beside him, making the girl in black move to the other side by the other woman.

Angel knew having that feeling deep in her stomach that this was going to end badly. When Mathew relaxed, becoming gentle with her. He turned her to watch what was happening, snaking an arm around her waist to press her against his chest. His chin rested on her uninjured shoulder since the other was injured. Both watched as the woman hesitantly sat down.

"Tell me. Do you believe in God?" he inquired.

"I'm sorry?" she said, unsure if what he said was correct.

"God. Christ. The whole blah blah things?"

"Well, I grew up going to church. And know most of it. As for believing if it's real, I'm not sure. I'm a 'see it to believe it' type of person."

"Ok, I can stand by that. What about the supernatural?"

"Like ghosts and aliens?"

"Yeah! Something like that."

"Well, yes. I've had experiences with ghosts. I'm not sure about aliens yet." She smiled.

"Ok. What about other things? Werewolves or… vampires?"

Angel had opened her mouth to speak. but Mathew's hand went over her mouth to close it. "Ah ah ah" Mathew whispered in her ear.

Sal gave a small laugh, looking back at him. "I don't know about any of that. Those are just fictional creatures that people read about or watch on tv."

"Adorable." His hand quickly went to her face. She gasped, and her body started to shake. "Sadly, it's all true everything you can think of is real." He bit into her before she could fully wrap her head around the new information. Her body became limp, with no sound coming out of her mouth.

It had all happened so fast that Angel only could watch as she fell to the floor. The man wiped his face feeling much better and more comfortable on the couch. Watching with hunger, the women smiled softly and got more relaxed as he did after his arm lay across their laps. His right hand gripped the dark girl's right leg, squishing them together.

When his face turned back toward the room, his eyes were different with only one deep red ring unlike the boys or even Mathew's. Now watching as Emma helped George up off the floor onto a chair with an arm over his stomach. He eyed him over, then they drifted to Luke, still sitting on the floor, leaning against the small bar wall. When his dark eyes stopped on Angel, they seemed to eat her up as they moved down and up again.

"Uncle Russell, these are the Emerson children. That we were able to find." Emma said sweetly, sitting in the spot Sal was in.

He turned to her, his grin growing for her as he clapped. "Good girl. You both have proven useful doing all this on your own, although" his smile disappeared, sitting a little straighter. "It looks like you still caused a bit more problems. like getting others involved like the police, most of your men are dead and one of you dying." He exclaimed, looking back over to Mathew.

"Maybe if he stuck to the plan and got back to the boat, he wouldn't have gotten himself killed." She said, looking impressed toward him. "As for other problems, those men were expendable, and as for the police, that not our doing, she said, looking toward Angel." He patted her thigh, making her smile.

Mathew Tensed, and Angel could feel his anger in his grip tightening around her, making her cry out. Angel felt a rush of cold hit her, and in front of her was Russell. He was tall next to her, looking down at her small, frail body. "Very lovely, May I?" he asked, sticking his hand to her.

"She is, and she's all mine." He said softly.

"I don't belong to you or anyone." She bit back.

Russell laughed. "She is fire. I like it. But don't worry, son. I only wanna chat with her."

The man's ice-cold hand took her good arm, and they walked over to the couch. "Emma, if you could please," he said, making her way clearly heated to stand behind his couch. He carefully set Angel down and smiled at her. Looking at her bad arm, he took it and moved it over his lap, making tears well up in her eyes. He clicked his tongue. "Poor thing." It was funny him saying that with Sal's body had been pushed under the table. Still unable to tell if she was alive or dead. He gripped her arm, pulling her more this time, making her more completely lay across his lap. Angel didn't pull away or say anything feeling his intense aura terrified her to make her shut up and obey.

He looked at the woman sitting close to him. "My love," he handed her Angel's arm. She looked from his eyes down to Angel's arm and, lifting her perfect white hands, which had been gloved to be ungloved, touching Angel's skin delicately. A wave of warmth went from her touch up her arm to her shoulder, which popped back into place without any pain. Angel's face had remained shocked even as the woman withdrew her hands covering them. Russell gently released her arm, and Angel sat back in her spot, looking at her arm and moving it a bit, good as new.

"Who are you? What do you want?" she said instead of a 'thank you.

"My name is Russell." Gesturing to himself. "And you are Angel Emerson. Daughter of Michael and Star Emerson. As well as their sons, Luke, and George. And you already know my great-great-great Niece and Nephew." Pointing to Emma and Mathew.

"You see, I had a brother, Max, who moved out here many, many years ago, way before your parent even found each other." Her eyes looked over to Dwayne after the mention of Max, the boy's maker, who looked just as confused as she was feeling. "I'm just here for unfinished business."

Max.

Her family killed Max. They were in danger. She could now see the desperate face of a man who wanted everything.

Of course, the revenge would never sleep. And here she thought that maybe David and the Boys would let it go as she had hoped when she talked about its last night with David. With this Russell guy here, it didn't make any sense as to why now he wanted to act. Was it because the Frogs were always here? Or maybe when she helped bring back the boys it awoke that long lost bond. Fuck. Her eyes went back to Dwayne looking pained again.

"Please," she said quickly. "Can you release him?" looking to Dwayne's direction. Russell's eyes opened wide, standing slowly.

"Take those chains off NOW!" he ordered, his eyes returning to deep halo of red.

The guards looked from one another to Emma for directions, and she nodded quickly. They began by taking the chains off his legs, followed by his arms taking skin and flesh with it. Once he was able to stand, he reached up, pulling the chain from his mouth. It had gone so deep that it was to the hallows on his cheeks. He gripped the chain, letting it burn in his hand, and threw it back at Emma, making her sidestep quick.

He pushed aside the guards, glaring at the big one. Giving him an extra shove as he moved forward to Angel. She stood and smiled softly but was blocked by the two men that came with Russell making Dwayne stop in front of them.

"Move." He demanded. Each man looked at one another and smirked.

"Nicoili, Robbie, it's alright," Russell said, patting their shoulders to make them part.

"Dwayne. I've been told so much about you."

Dwayne didn't know how to react or what to say. He eyed Russell with caution, ignoring him by still making his way to Angel touching her arm and giving her apologetic eyes.

"Are you two lovers?" Russell asked, watching them closely.

"What oh no," she answered, looking up to him looking down at her." Were…friends," Angel replied.

"Friends? Vampires are not friends with humans unless they eat them or use them for other things." He laughed, looking down at her body. Angel looked away her cheeks heated.

"Max never mentioned having a brother," Dwayne said, changing the subject.

"Well, I guess that's understandable the last time we spoke. We didn't part on good terms." Russell said, his face twisted in sadness. "And I will never be able to fix that, but I have come to be there for his boys as I am your uncle by blood."

"A blood family?" Angel questioned with a whisper, and all eyes were on her, one being Russell.

"Yes." He grinned. "But stronger than that of a human bond. Ours last much longer. And now we can all be together. Where are the others?"

"They aren't here," Angel spoke up. "We came alone."

"And why would you do that?" Russell said, sounding on edge.

"Ask them." She said, looking at Emma and Mathew. "They took my brothers, and I wanted them back, so I went alone without telling them. The only people I told was my Uncle the sheriff. Dwayne followed me."

"Well, tell us then. Where are they?"

Angel's mouth was covered fast by Dwayne, and she just realized that she'd been saying everything without thinking, Russell's eyes were burning right into her.

"No," Dwayne said bluntly. It made everyone grow tense. "I don't know you and don't trust you. We're leaving. I'll talk to my brothers and see what they want to do."

Dwayne took hold of Angel's hand, but Robbie and Nicoili now reversed it by taking Dwayne's arms in their grip, and by the looks of Dwayne's shocked face, they must have been powerful because he couldn't move an inch.

"Unfortunately, I cannot wait. I have more people to take care of, than I must get back home. Work never sleeps as we do. I don't have all night to explain, And I hate waiting and asking repeatedly." He whined sounding like Emma and of Mathew. Angel looked from Russell back to Dwayne, who was shaking his head 'no.' Even to George and Luke looking at one another, then back at her waiting to hear what she'd say.

Angel was confused and conflicted if she told them where the boys were and where they would find them. Would they take them? But they're probably not there by now since it was sunless. And if she didn't tell him… she and her brothers could be done for Something about him screamed run that this was a big mistake. he wasn't the type of man to take 'no'.

"I…" maybe if she told him, he'd leave mom and dad alone.

"You had better speak." Mathew gritted out.

Russell sighed deeply.

Angel felt a sudden sensation in her fingers when she looked down. They were turning purple and moving up through her hand to her wrist. It was freezing, almost like frostbite. She kept turning her hands repeatedly, watching as it reached the elbow. She began the panic once she couldn't move her arm. That's when the pain started. A bone-chilling scream escaped her lips. It felt like her veins were exploding, and it was unbearable, making her fall to her knees. Dwayne grabbed her shoulders, looking down at her almost blackened skin as if death was invading her body. Dwayne stood looking about the room to who was doing this, his gaze stopping on Russell, who only looked on.

"Stop what you're doing!" he yelled, moving forward toward him. Only to get pulled back by Russell's men. He looked down at the smaller of the two men holding him and, with a quick move, pushed back into him, and it helped to loosen his grip and get free throwing him through the bar, wrecking it.

"Uncle, he's quite strong. He was giving us trouble earlier." Emma said, and Russell lifted his hand. He watched as Nicoili took on Dwayne, happily knocking him onto his ass with a much more advanced skill set. "You are pretty strong and fast but not good enough to me." The man spoke a thick German accent.

Luke thankfully had moved out of the way before being in the line of the destroyed bar.

already quickly at Angel's side holding her looking down as her legs turned purple, speaking softly even though his face hurt. "Just tell him where they are, Angel!" he leaned in closer. "Their killing you! Just Say Something, and it will stop."

The screaming burned her throat, and her forehead was covered in sweat. She was able to stop screaming enough to mumble words.

"We…a…house." The sheering pain lessens, making her shake in Luke's arms.

Russell grinned. "a house? So, they really don't know you're here, hmm? What is the address?"

"I… can't remember." She spoke softly, starting to feel her fingers again.

"I find that hard to believe. You seemed like a smart girl."

"I don't," she said, sitting up from Luke's arms and looking toward all the people that came with him, waiting for the pain to come back.

"We got there in the middle of the night. And left in a hurry this afternoon." Dwayne said, having been restrained by the two vampires.

"Russell was displeased. "Wait, Uncle, it's going to be alright." Emma insured, making him slowly turn to her behind him, "they will come because she Something to them all. A kind of pet or sex slave," she smirked.

Angel glared at her as she was helped off the floor by Luke.

"She right. They'll come, and you'll get what wanted." Mathew added on his other side.

"Your both right." He said, extending his hand out toward both of them, pulling them both in a hug. "Well, be a complete family."

He went back over to the couch sitting close to the two females. His hand dropped on their laps.

"Now, before we start, I like the young Emerson's should hear the truth about how this all came to be."

Each of the siblings looked to one another, then back to Russell.

"Mathew is the one who found the boys at school. With a little research and money, they could go to the same school. It didn't take long to find out where they lived."

The twins glared at Mathew, who could care less.

"Emma, my sweet," all eyes were turning to her. "If not for you, the Emersons wouldn't be here now. Giving that old woman a visit sure did the trick."

"What?" Angel said, looking confused.

"She went to her house, Max's Bride to be, and since she betrayed him. All it took was a visit from myself and Emma with the address given."

Angel didn't think as she lounged at Emma. And she didn't have time to react as Angel had her on the floor.

Someone behind them laughed and sounded like the henchman as the catfight played out.

Angel knew Emma was evil, and to hear that she had Something to do with her grandma Lucy's heart attack made her angrier. And taking it out on her pretty face was prefect.

Emma had her hand on Angels' arm to try and pull her off, but Angel held her down by her neck.

"Enough!" Russell ordered, but Angel ignored him. Someone ripped her off Emma but could still get a few kicks in.

"Enough now," Mathew whispered in her ear, making her sill and pull from him, but he wouldn't let her budge, wrapping his arm around her waist, and pressing her body against his to stop her breathing.

Emma got up from the floor, growling, as she stormed over to hit her back in the face. Mathew held her from falling sideways.

Angel could taste the copper in her mouth. She moved her hand up to wipe away anything falling. When she looked back up from her hand, Russell was nose to nose with her. She couldn't even move around by how close they sandwiched her.

"Truly a fine beauty," he inhaled deeply, closing his eyes when he did it. "The smell of sweet obsession that only very few can tame." His hand gently brushed against her cheek, a finger picking up some of the blood on her lips.

He slowly placed it in his mouth. He savored its taste like fine wine. His face twitched, his eyes opening only to look at her with new eyes. "Tell me, girl, do you believe in God?"

Angel looked at him, questioning. "I've heard enough, and where there's a God, there's also the Devil, waiting for you. For all of you." She said, looking to Emma and Mathew too.

"Why so much hate?"

"Because you want to kill my family!"

"Why, of course, I do. Max was my favorite."

"He was a monster."

"And what does that make his boys?" he interjected; her breath hitched. "Which, I hear you helped bring back to the light, and I thank you deeply." Angel straightened, turning slightly away. "doesn't that mean you befriended 'monsters.'" He grinned.

"They've changed."

"So, you're telling me they haven't killed anyone since being awake?" she didn't answer to excuse anything, because they had killed people. And Russell knew that as he smirked. "Exactly. Vampires don't change. And I know they want revenge just as much I do."

"You don't know anything about them or what they want." She said through clenched teeth.

"Fiery hardheaded beauty. I like it." He said, moving in closer but turning away, disappointed.

George and Luke started to groan in pain, catching Angel's attention. The purple was now affecting their bodies.

"Please, no!" she yelled, begging Russell to pay her no mind returning to the couch. The fair white lady took his hand, and the dark woman's eyes glowed bright yellow. She aimed for the brothers. They roared more, falling to their knees.

Angel couldn't do anything but pull against Mathew, even looking at him with pleading eyes. And he only looked at her. "Please do Something. I already said id do what you wanted." He moved from hers back up to his Uncle's.

Russell raised his hand, and the boys stopped screaming. "Hurts, doesn't it? Knowing you can't do anything. Yes YES! Give me your fiery green eyes." He said, tormenting her.

"Well, it looks like it's going to be a while," Emma said. "What should we do with them?"

"We don't need them," Russell answered. "We already know the police are coming, which means the Emerson's are on their way." He grinned. He had it all planned, and it would end one way or the other.

"Uncle, surely these two fools aren't a threat as the father is. Just wipe the memories once the family is dead and use them." Russell's mouth pulled in thought. "But she is mine."

Absolute bastard.

"I already told you I am not yours- "his hand moved over her mouth to silence her. She wanted to bite him if his hand wasn't pressing down so hard.

"Don't…kill her yet. Something about her intrigues me." Panic grew in Angel's eyes. And Emma roared.

"But Uncle! She's useless, and I want her dead!" she whined.

Russell's head fell to the back of the couch, clearly fed up. "Emma, are we afraid of lambs?" he asked.

"No, sir." She answered.

"Now do you want me to change my mind?" with a flick of his hand, a small vile was in-between his fingers.

"No, sir." She kneeled in front of him, forgetting why she was mad in the first place, her hand out to take it. But he pulled it back and bent forward face to face with her. "Are the eggs safe?"

"Yes, along with the seed."

"Good." He grinned, handing her the vile. "Gotta keep the family name going, am I right?"

"Thank you." She grinned wide, a tear in the corner of her eye. She uncapped it and placed the rim to her lips, letting every drop fall into her mouth.

Emma swayed as she stood, holding her head as she rocked. A wide, cheerful grin painted on her face. When she floated back to earth, she looked sideways at George, only a few feet away.

He was hunched over by the pain from before, turning to look up into Emma's red eyes. She took hold of him quickly with such strength, surprised when she began hugging him. "Thanks for the good time." And before anyone could do anything, she moved his head, and her face changed just before biting into him. It was so fast, and the shock had both Angel and Luke frozen, watching as the blood trailed down his chest. When Emma moved away, George's hand was now where Emma had bitten a gash there. He looked over to both of his siblings and fell backward onto the floor.

Angel screamed. Tears were streaming down. "George!" His body wasn't moving. Luke fell to his knees with tears in his eyes, crawling over to him, if not for the sudden kick by Robbie. A foot now pressing down onto his chest to keep him from moving. His crazy wide eyes were happily looking down at him wickedly.

Angel was terrified, watching as the vampire moved closer as if he would be Luke's end. It was all happening so fast that time seemed to freeze. She didn't realize Mathew had pushed the hair away from her neck before He bit down into her.

The same feeling, she had felt only a few times was different and new. There was no release of pressure or pain. There was no safe place for her mind to fall back into. Only pain. He wasn't gentle, and she could feel the skin tearing from the wounds. She couldn't scream, couldn't fight back. She only could feel the blood drain from every corner of her body. God… she felt cold like the first time, as if…

"Mathew, enough now… she's about to die," Russell said faintly. Mathew pulled out and released her, making her fall onto the floor. When she opened her eyes slowly, Mathew was knocked onto the floor by Dwayne pounding into his face. She rolled her head over, and George was still unmoving while Luke was being played with by the man now sitting cross-legged beside him, cutting him up. Nicks here and there on the skin of his body, blood running everywhere.

Emma ran up fast, yanking Dwayne off and throwing him out of the other side of the ship somewhere. Nicoili, in a flash, posed into a run and disappeared to go find him.

Emma held out her hand, helping Mathew up from the floor. And They embraced.

"Finally." She said, her face at ease, covered in blood. "Now we can be free." Mathew agreed by squeezing her tighter.

Claps from the side were heard, and they looked at their Uncle walking over to them just as happy. "Now for the fun part. Dig deep, my children."

Mathew and Emma closed their eyes and waited.

Nothing.

They both looked back at him with slight horror. "it's alright. Not all vampires are special, or sometimes they haven't quite found their power. You'll both be unstoppable like the GODS, but With more time, practice, and training once home. Now, we must get back to shore. Find the others. Take care of the Emersons and those pests-of-a-hunters." he counted, sounding annoyed.

Hunters? What hunters?

"Rose, Lily. My flowers, We must get our things, go girls," and they disappeared from him.

"And Robbie, are you done playing with your food." He asked, making him look up and stand beside Russell now. "can you go Get rid of the captain and anyone else you might find not within this room." He, too, disappeared.

Russell stretched high, his ancient bones crackling loudly. His hand dug into his pocket to pull out a phone, swiping here and there. "Well, kids, I'll be right outside. I need to make a few calls and get the plane in order. Behave now." He beamed, walking out into the night.

Everything grew still, and the room was dead quiet once those vampires had left.

A shadow moved over Angel, and she looked up slowly at Mathew bent over her. "So helpless. And yet far from it all." He picked her up, holding her bridal style, and she had no strength to fight it. "I hope you're ready for the mile-high club," he whispered into her neck, making her tense. "And when you're not completely wasted, ill taste you again." His face continued to Dig back into her skin, and all She could do was feel the fresh new tears fill her eyes.

"I should have you beg more often. Like you didn't for them." He grinned, his teeth nipping at her.

"Not… going to…. Happen," she said, barely a whisper.

"Still a fighter till the end," he giggled, pulling away. "Since we're done here, Henry, Mills, Jones, tie them up to chairs." He said, pointing to her brothers.

In saying that meant George and Luke were still alive for now.

Both boys were placed in chairs and tied up tight. They weren't putting up any fight, being half-dead themselves. Both battered and bloody or lack thereof.

Emma was licking her fingers lounging on the couch. "I don't care what Uncle says. I'm going to kill her when I get a chance, 'oh no, what an accident. She just jumped off the cliff herself.' She laughed, rehearsing the act.

"Emma, shut up, go away or something," Mathew said, annoyed.

"You are not bringing her with us." She snapped as she stood.

"Fuck off now!" he growled back but not loud enough to disturb their Uncle on the phone. Mathew moved past Emma over to the couch to lay Angel down. Emma grumbled loudly and moved away.

"Now, let's fix a few things." He grabbed Angel's face, his finger pushing open her droopy eyelids. "Let not fall asleep just yet." In saying that her eyes stayed open themselves. "You- "

"aren't you supposed to be dead?"

His voice.

Angel slowly turned her head to David standing in the room. Marko and Paul are both at his side, ready for the war ahead.

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