"No. not today. Come on, keep going"
Felicity groaned in frustration as the car came to a juddering halt, smoke billowing from beneath the bonnet as she turned off the engine and got out of the driver's seat. The only saving grace she could think of being that she had managed to pull it up on the side of the road just as the engine had failed.
Just her luck. The only reason she'd been out of the castle today was so that she could attend a business meeting in Pisa with one of the companies that the three kings had started a venture with, under alias names of course. She'd been on her way back and, with the weather forecast predicting heavy rain, it really was just her luck that the car would choose to break down in the middle of nowhere. Volterra was still a good five miles away and, on the empty stretch of road, she knew from her experience of travelling between the two points that the nearest house was at least three miles away.
Why hadn't she chosen Aro's Audi R8? Or Caius' Bugatti Veyron? Out of all three of the kings and their vehicles of choice, against the warning of her seer's ability telling her that there was a malfunction within the engine, why had she been stubborn and insisted upon using Marcus' Bentley Continental GT V8?
With a heavy sigh, she pulled her mobile from her jacket pocket and leaned against the passenger door, turning the little device back on after shutting it off for the meeting. She chuckled slightly as the screen flashed with updates. Thirty-six messages and just short of fifty missed calls, mostly from Aro and Caius.
'Mia Cara, call one of us once you receive this message
-Aro'
'Precious, you know I do not take kindly to being ignored. Answer your cell.
-Caius'
'Apologies for Aro and Caius, little love. Call so that we know you are safe.
-Marcus'
'Rest assured, dearest, you are not too old to be placed over our knees for a spanking.
-Caius and Aro'
Her cheeks flushed in embarrassment at the combined message that Aro and Caius had sent her, feeling a heat build up within her at the thought of such things. It felt so wrong for them to even joke about such things as 'spanking' her, so why then did the very idea make her pulse quicken and her mouth run dry with desire. She gave herself a slight mental shake as she began to scroll through her contacts. She couldn't phone the three kings, knowing that they would only panic for her safety if they knew, but on the other hand she could not simply sit about and hope for the best. Finding Demetri's number, she began to type her message.
'Demetri, the Bentley broke down and I'm stranded. Could you please come to pick me up?
-Felicity'
Just as she had pressed the send button, the sound of an engine began to drift towards her ears. It was loud and startling against the tranquillity of the surroundings, but Felicity couldn't deny that it had to be the most beautiful thing she had heard all day, perhaps she could get some help before Demetri showed up?
She couldn't take her eyes away as the 250 GT SportSpyder pulled up carefully behind the Bentley, it's convertible roof pulled down to allow the drive to enjoy the remnants of the days sun and revealing the beautiful cream shading of the leather interior in contrast to the mahogany shading of the dashboard. It wasn't that Felicity had never seen a classic car before, the three kings had been collecting such vehicles for as long as she could remember and more, it was simply that she had never seen one actually being driven. The three kings may have been vampires, but they were still men and heaven forbid they allow one of their precious antique cars out on to the road.
There was something so raw about the vehicle, majestic yet untamed. Nothing like the sleek, controlled and over indulgent feel of the Bentley. Her thoughts were snapped away from the beautiful car as she turned her gaze upon its owner, watching as he stepped out from the vehicle and analysing the easy smile upon his lips. If she remembered correctly, Caius had snuck a bottle of pepper spray into her handbag that morning when he thought she wasn't looking.
"Hey, is everything ok?"
She frowned slightly, looking back at the poor Bentley as it continued to smoke from beneath the bonnet before turning back her attention to the stranger, his smile never faltering beneath her gaze of suspicion.
"Not really. I think the engine has packed in"
He gave a small nod of understanding, beginning to shrug his jacket from his shoulders. Felicity never took her eyes from him as he moved towards the smoking bonnet, using the jacket to cover his hands against the heat as he lifted it up, sending a brief look to request permission before beginning to examine the engine.
For a moment, Felicity was drawn towards the man's appearance. With his organised mess of chocolate brown hair, the emerald green eyes that drank in the sight of the cars mechanics and his slender yet well toned physique that seemed well defined by the black jeans and grey T-shirt, he looked like he could easily have just walked out of a fashion shoot. He didn't seem like the kind of guy to know anything about mechanics. She felt the suspicion in her mind increase slightly at the thought, she really didn't need some stranger trying to impress her by pulling the 'knight to the damsels rescue' trick.
"Looks like the bearings have worn thin, stopping the engine's crankshaft from turning... Not a too big of a job"
He turned back to her, laughing in amusement at her look of surprise. Clearly he knew she had expected him to know nothing about the engine. He noted the slight blush on her cheeks as she turned her eyes away in embarrassment, trying to regain her composure before offering a slight smile of her own. She was quite a beautiful woman in his opinion. Wiping his hands on his jacket to clear then free of any oil, he held the limb out in greeting.
"Sorry, my name is Julian Travelli. My family own some of the biggest car dealerships in Florence where I work as one of the mechanics. I was on my way to visit family in Volterra when I saw you'd broke down. I wouldn't be able to sleep well at night if I had simply ignored a young woman stranded in the middle of nowhere"
Taking his hand within her own, Felicity felt her heart jump slightly as he placed a gentle kiss against the knuckle, the three kings were the only ones who had ever dared to interact with her like that. She found herself smiling at the flattery, comparing him to the three kings in her mind. He was charming and handsome, of that she had no doubt but, for some reason, he just couldn't quite hit the same standards as her three kings. She felt her mind falter at a sudden realisation. Any normal woman would have been swooning over this young man, so then why could she not imagine feeling such things towards him or any other man besides the brothers.
"Looks like your situation has attracted another knight in shining armour or two"
Felicity snapped from her thoughts, noting the slight irritation in the man's voice, turning to see as Demetri came hurtling down the road in his own Jaguar XF with Felix sat in the passenger seat. She gave a small chuckle before taking a few steps towards the parked car, noticing the look in both her brother's eyes at Julian.
"Oh, they are my brothers. I messaged them before you arrived"
Julian watched as the two men stepped from the car, both much taller than the young woman and neither looking much like her. Perhaps she was an adopted child? He pulled his phone out quickly as he opened up the contacts screen.
"Well I guess you won't be needing my help now, but I was wondering if I could get your number? Just so I know that you were able to get your car fixed?"
Felicity could tell that he was just making up excuses to get her contact details, it was slightly flattering really. Part of her told her not to do it, that when she got back to the castle she would need to have some rather personal conversations with the three kings that could possibly take her status as a single woman away forever. However, another part of her told her that it would be rude to reject his simple request after he had been so kind to stop and help her. She took her phone out, ignoring the unimpressed look on both Demetri and Felix's faces. It wasn't like she had to keep in contact with the man, so what was so bad about being polite?
The drive back, for the first ten minutes, was mostly quiet. Felix had stayed behind to get the Bentley back whilst Demetri drove Felicity back to the castle. She knew that the blond vampire was probably being moody over the fact she had given her number to Julian, but she really wished he would just let it go. She was a grown woman now, not the same four year old child he had found sleeping in the courtyard.
"Demetri. You can't possibly give me the silent treatment forever"
He gave a slight huff of annoyance before giving a quick look to her. It didn't matter if she was an adult now, he still worried for her safety when she was out of the castle alone. She was still a human, and human's were weak to threats. What had possessed her to give any details of herself to that man? She was usually so smart. The three kings were going to have a fit when they found out about the break down, let alone the fact she had met someone new whilst out. Felicity simply sighed and shook her head, a gentle smile on her lips as she seemed to read his mind.
"You shouldn't worry so much, I shall speak with the brothers when we return and make sure they know that the situation was beyond anyone's control. And don't fret about that young man, I will not be contacting him or returning any of his messages after today"
He gave a sigh of relief, at least she had some sense on that issue, before giving her a smile. She had seemed preoccupied recently, like her own thoughts were knocking her feet out from beneath her.
"As long as you mean it"
"I do. I find that he is not really my type anyway... I believe that I may need to speak with the kings about such things"
Demetri nearly lost control of the car at her words, feeling his eyes go wide in shock. So she had finally figured it out? Was she finally opening her eyes to her own feelings and accepting the three kings fully into her heart. God only knew it had taken her long enough, it was as clear as day to everyone how the three brothers felt so it was lifting to know that soon they would get their wish.
Felicity chose to remain quiet after her words, her mind beginning to run fresh rings around itself as she tried to figure out how best to approach the subject. She couldn't pinpoint a clear outcome with her seer's gift, possibly because her own feelings were so scrambled, she just knew that the only way to clear her mind now was to confront the ones her heart seemed so adamant upon.
She watched, heart finding its way into her throat as the castle began to come into view, all but jumping out of the car and sprinting as fast as she could whilst maintaining her dignity, If she didn't do this now then she knew she would never do it for fear of being rejected.
Aro had never felt so elated, the young woman before him standing stock still as she followed him around the room with her eyes. The news she had brought forward seeming to ease some of the panic he and his brothers had been feeling at Felicity's failure to return any of their messages or calls, so unlike her. It had begun to grow dark when Miss Valerious had entered into the office, Caius only moment away from storming out of the room in search of the errant mate of he and his brothers, fully prepared to carry out his threat of spanking.
"The barrier within Felicity's mind has collapsed around her ignored feelings. I can't pin point when but it happened whilst she was out"
Those words had been like angel song to the three kings, Marcus using his own gift to confirm what she had said, a rare smile gracing his lips at the sight of the three golden ribbons finally connecting fully with the fair haired woman's soul. It would not be long now before they would be able to claim her completely, not long before they could look forward to a bright future with their beautiful young mate and queen.
Roxanne wished that the earth would open beneath her feet and swallow her whole. This all felt so wrong, like she had somehow destroyed her friends heart and mind by forcing the changes within. Felicity should have been allowed to figure it out by herself, be given the chance to feel her love for the three vampires blooming of its own free will, enjoy the butterflies within her stomach at the sight of them. But no, instead she had been rushed into it, left confused and troubled by it all before coming to a forced conclusion that she was in love. It was all so wrong.
Roxanne tensed slightly as Aro came closer, that overly happy smile upon his face. But it wasn't Aro that had unnerved her. She could hear footsteps from outside, slowing as they drew closer to the door. But how could she tell Aro to keep quiet when the man seemed so caught up in his own happiness, the same problem seeming to effect his brothers as they seemed to daydream about things Roxanne would rather not discover. I t probably wouldn't be wise to speak over him either, she knew this man had killed for far lesser reasons.
"Ah Miss Valerious, you have done better than I would ever have expected, your gift for manipulation so much more powerful than I had given you credit for. Never would I have dreamed Felicity's heart could be redirected so perfectly as you have done. You have kept to your side of our little deal and now I shall keep to mine. We shall arrange for your turning to be done within the month"
Roxanne's eyes, along with the eyes of the three kings snapped towards the photo frame upon Aro's desk, the one that held his most precious picture of Felicity, as it went flying across the room and against the wall. She felt her mind screaming in horror at the realisation of who could have done that, the only person within the building who possessed telekinesis.
Felicity was struggling for breath as she finally reached the door to Aro's personal study, having discovered from Jane that the three kings would be in there discussing some of the coven's business matters. She stopped for a moment, resting her hand upon the handle as she caught her breath, not wishing to seem rattled when she finally entered the room.
She frowned as she became aware of a female voice behind the door, recognising it as Roxanne's. What could possibly have drawn the girl to the three kings? No one usually dared to address the kings personally except for the higher guard and Felicity.
"The barrier within Felicity's mind has collapsed around her ignored feelings. I can't pin point when but it happened whilst she was out"
A strange knot of nausea began to form within Felicity's stomach. What barrier and ignored feelings? What on earth were they talking about?
"Ah Miss Valerious, you have done better than I would ever have expected, your gift for manipulation so much more powerful than I had given you credit for. Never would I have dreamed Felicity's heart could be redirected so perfectly as you have done. You have kept to your side of our little deal and now I shall keep to mine. We shall arrange for your turning to be done within the month"
Aro's voice drifted to her ears as Felicity felt her entire world begin to crash around her feet. Gift for manipulation? Roxanne had been manipulating her heart and mind, that was why she had begun to question her feelings for the three kings? Felicity felt anger beginning to bubble within her, the control over her secondary gift for telekinesis beginning to slip as the sound of an item shattering from within caught her attention before she swung the door open, pure anger radiating from her as she met the horrified gazes of Roxanne and the three kings.
"What gift for manipulation is this?"
The three kings were frozen in place, eyes glued upon their seething mate as her words came out through gritted teeth. Never had they seen her so enraged, not even when she had been a teenager. There were tears beginning to pool in her sapphire eyes, rolling free down the pale perfection of her cheeks as she awaited them to explain their treachery.
Marcus dared to look upon the bonds that, only moments before, had seemed to offer nothing but joy and love, feeling his very being begin to scream in sheer anguish at what he now saw.
Destroyed. Those beautiful golden bond ribbons lay in tatters, torn and ruined as the image of Felicity's soul turned its back upon them.
Hey guys, sorry this chapter took so long but I was struggling with how I wanted to do it, hopefully it turned out OK.
So, things have really hit the fan now and Felicity has learned the truth about what the brothers were doing and about Roxanne's gift. Will she be able to look past it and realise that her feelings are real for the brothers? Will she forsake her genuine friendship with Roxanne after what has happened? And, more importantly, will she be staying in contact with Julian after all?
Hope you all enjoyed the chapter, let me know what you thought and I promise to have an update up as soon as possible :)
Thanks guys and happy reading x