A/N: thank you everyone for you reviews and PMs XD especially casstella for your insight and constant support.

Chapter 26

As One Door Closes, Another Opens

Alexander

"Uncle Billy!" young Alexander exclaimed, as he ran ahead of me to greet our guest. I held the door open before Billy made it up the front steps. Billy looked up at his nephew and gave him a wide grin.

"How's my favorite nephew?" Billy greeted him.

"I thought I was your only nephew?" my son inquired.

With a breath of a laugh Billy responded, "Then that would easily make you my favorite, wouldn't it?" When Billy reached the top steps to the front door he lifted young Alexander by his foot and raised him high. Laughter bubbled from my son and it reminded me that although he is very bright and aware, he is still a child. I'll have to remember to include more playful activities throughout their nights. "What have you been up to here at the big house?"

Still hanging upside down by his foot, my son responded, "My dad came back and he's here for good! Mom says we get to live here now, and dad is gonna let me have my own room. He's teaching us to control our powers." My son's smile was wide and all teeth, little fangs included.

"It's about time!" Billy says, "A man's gotta have his own space. Now you've got more room to run around. I'm happy for you guys." Before entering, Billy greeted me in a way that wouldn't alarm the little empathic vampire. "Hey, I hear you're here for good?"

"I am. Thanks for coming. Please come in, can I get you anything?" I asked.

"No thanks, I'm good. Raven should be here in about two hours, so let's get started. What do you want to know?"

"Come upstairs, I'll show you. I wanted to surprise Raven with a room for her personal space where she can design clothes, read, relax, whatever she wanted if she needed alone time. My sister gave me some ideas about what I'd need, but many of the details require knowledge in what Raven's tastes are. I don't know if she's changed her preference over the years. I notice her clothes are slightly different, more matured. But I don't know if she has the same aspirations as she did eight years ago." We reached the top of the staircase and Billy set his nephew down so he could go eat and watch a movie with his sister.

I expected Billy to have some questions about Stormy, and he did, but refused to voice them. "Okay," he simply said. We went to Raven's room and I turned on the light so he could see. "Wow, well Raven still likes to design clothes. She makes all of hers and Lexy's clothes because she couldn't afford it. Don't tell her I know that, by the way. But yeah, she has fun doing it anyways." I folded my arms across my chest and fumbled with my goatee in thought as he spoke. "She also has an insane collection of books at the house. Most are stored in our attic, so I can bring them by. It's all mystery, supernatural romance, and shit. She's living here too right?"

"Yes. I asked her if you'd be interested in moving in with a room of your own… would you?" I asked. I suspected he'd refuse but offered nonetheless.

"Thanks, but no thanks. Part of growing up means I've gotta stand on my own feet, stop letting my sister take care me." I nodded respectfully at his choice of reason.

"I see. Any ideas of what you're gonna do after you graduate?"

"Yeah, a few, I guess…" there was an awkward silence letting me know he didn't want to share his thoughts, so I respected that and didn't pry into his mind. I was surprised when he finally did speak up. "I'm gonna do some traveling for a bit, find myself I guess. As for career options, I don't know yet… something in software maybe, maybe a little bit more band time with Luke."

"When did you join the band?" I asked genuinely curious what made him pursue music.

"Well you know my parents were hippies back in their day, right?" I nodded. "Well Raven knows a little bit of how to play on the acoustic guitar. So she bought me one when I started college after they died. Everything burned in the fire; pictures, hippie memorabilia, clothes, books, everything. She got money from all the insurance, not that it could replace everything we lost. But she paid for me to go to college. Once I started she got me the guitar, a replica of the one my dad had. She even bought retro stickers and shit to make it look like his. So she taught me. I wasn't very talkative then so she figured I'd have to express myself somehow. It worked. I played and wrote some songs. During my freshman year I had a roommate who got kicked out and left his electric guitar. He never came back for it so I kept it and started playing.

"Then Luke came around and… do you know about Luke?" he stopped to ask. I couldn't muster up annoyance for Luke while Billy was finally opening up to me.

"Yeah, I know about him."

"Oh, yeah, well it turns out his world, or more like his kind don't participate in music. So I had a blast introducing him to the world of music and taught him how to play guitar. It was his idea to start a band and he wanted me in it. Raven said it was okay as long as I stayed in school and put my education first. Then she helped us get it started up and a few gigs at the Crypt, Hasty's Diner, during school dances at the high school and stuff. She would only let me play with him during school breaks. If he ever comes up with something new, he sends it to me, and vice versa. We would have played tonight but he said he was having girlfriend trouble over in Hipsterville. I was supposed to tell Raven that he said he'll be back Thursday if everything is as he expected and to keep her head straight, whatever that means."

"I see. I'm glad you stayed in school and had an outlet for your emotions. I'm sorry about your parents. It's still hard to believe it happened. I imagined Sara and Paul Madison to be one of those couples that grew old together. How are you handling everything now?"

"I don't think it'll ever stop hurting. I'm just dealing with it better than before I guess. Before they died I was getting into a lot of trouble in school. After they died I was ready to just quit all together. Everybody was gone except my sister. I tried to behave better for her sake more than mine because she had her kids to worry about… uh, we're kinda hitting a sore topic…" he started fussing with the back of his hair and trying to look away at everything but me.

"I'm sorry you had to shoulder all of that. You've grown up a lot over the years. And I apologize for my sister and I having to leave like we did. I know it's caused a lot of turmoil for you and Raven, as well as the twins. If you could understand this, I'd hope it'd help clarify the misunderstandings. My leaving wasn't something I wanted to do especially without giving Raven enough time to accept that I couldn't take her. I didn't know how long I had to be away for. And as for Athena…" I noticed the hike in his heart rate and the conflicting emotions rising within him.

Billy stepped back with his hands up in surrender state, "Look, Alexander, you don't need to explain it to me. You're free to come and go as you please, I seriously don't care, anymore. I promised my sister I'd be civil because you are apart of their lives, family, whatever. That's all I'm doing. I seriously don't want to go don't this road, but fuck it, whatever. I'm gonna head out now so… congratulations on the new baby, welcome back, and if you bailout and hurt my sister or her kids, I'm gonna jab something into your chest cavity and pray it hits a target. I'm outta here!" When he finished he turned and hurried down the steps. I let him go and watched as the door opened before he reached it. Raven and a girl with bright colors shrieking her dark brown hair came through. Billy grabbed the new girl by the arm, pulling her towards the door. "I'm done here, let's bounce! See ya' sis," and then the door closed behind them. Raven stared at the door, confused, before looking directly at me. I thought she would ask about why her brother rushed out, but instead with a quick lift of her brows, she shrugged her shoulders.

Raven

I can imagine why Billy-Man left the way he did. I decided not to comment and let the guys figure it out themselves. They don't need me to mediate while they work through whatever it is that needed work. I looked at Alexander and then suddenly remembered the way I left here. He's having a tough time. I shouldn't be making it harder on him.

"I'm sorry, for earlier." I apologized. Alexander's shoulders relaxed a fraction and he made his way down the staircase. I walked the rest of the way and met him at the last step. As soon as he was within reach, I raised my hands to his chest and slid them up to his shoulders. Alexander's hands went to my waist and pulled me closer before releasing one hand to clasp my chin and raise it. I closed my eyes as I felt his velvety smooth lips against mine. Our kiss was soft and sweet. He was the first to pull away. I gasped in surprise when he bent down, threw me over his shoulder and carried me through the mansion, down the steep steps to the basement. I bounced on his wide shoulder and clutched the back of his vest to steady myself. I didn't know where he planned to take me. Of course we were going in the basement, but the cellar was here too, as well as the hidden wall behind it. There was a covered couch down here and a couple of coffins. Is that my coffin over there? Hey, Alexander!

He remained silent and continued to maneuver around boxes, crates, and other object before stopping near the furnace room behind the staircase. I couldn't see what he was doing, but I heard a soft click, and the sound of stone scraping against stone. Hairs rose on the back of my neck and I wriggled to get a better look at where he was taking me or what he was doing. Stale air wisped past me and he continued to move. I watched as the space around me became darker, more narrowed. Once my eyes adjusted, I noticed steeper steps passing beneath us as he descended another secret passage that I never knew existed here. How many hidden doors does this place have? Why aren't you talking to me? Then my breath hitched when the door that we came through began to close on its own. When it shut with a soft click, I heard another door behind me open. "Alexander?" I whispered. A menacing chuckle that I didn't recognize sounded from him. "What's going on, where is this leading to?" I continued to whisper. Still he was silent. The second door passed by, and suddenly the air felt cooler. Again, I watched the stone door close on its own. When the soft click sounded, it was just before I felt a rush of wind and a sinking in my stomach to let me know I was falling.

I braced myself for the impact, but felt Alexander's hand cradle the back of my head to cushion me. Still it was enough force to have the wind knocked out of me. At the same time that I gasped, Alexander had literally ripped my uniform off of me with one swipe. I didn't have enough time to react because once my mouth opened, I could only moan in ecstasy as Alexander pinched my clit through my red silk thong and bit into the mound of my bare breast. Without hesitation, I pulled him to me and held him close as he drew from my flesh. He released his hold on my nerve bundle only to rub it with the pad of his thumb and insert two fingers into me, immediately thrusting. My knees dropped and I was ready to give in and surrender until he growled and flipped me over on the cold hard stony surface. The position I was in quickly brought up panic from my recent experience, so I tried to turn back over. Alexander hissed at me and pulled my wrist behind me and held them with one hand in a vise grip. Panic took over.

"Alexander, stop, don't," I started. But he didn't listen or could hear me through his lust. He separated my legs and drew one up to bend at the knee. Again I tried to wiggle my way out, but he must have thought I was taunting him again. "Alexander, I'm not ready, please wait, I'm not-" I was cut off by the immediate gasp that rushed from my lips once he inserted his monster deep within my pussy in a hard and rapid thrust. I clamped down on his shaft with my inner muscles and he continued in fluid motion.

With a deep groan he finally spoke, "Why do your lips deny what your body begs for? Did you think 'sorry' and a sweet kiss of innocence could make me forget the clothing you left in? Now I don't have to worry about it happening again." Then he bit into my thigh when he pulled out, drawing deep. When he released his fangs again, he continued to thrust into me. I was at a loss for words. Even though the fires he stroked within me were intensely pleasurable, tears for the fear and panic I suffered escaped and dripped onto the ground. Alexander couldn't see me and was too distracted to sense my inner turmoil. "Here I continue to be kind and explain what others can't see, only to have it thrown back at me. Maybe kindness is overrated, hm? Don't you agree my love?" I moaned and gasped with pleasure as I continued to cry and grit my teeth. Alexander released his hold on my hands and I used them to raise myself. And yet, when I bent my other knee to support me, Alexander's hands gripped my hips and pulled me backwards where his monster cock found its target in my sopping channel. He was knelt behind me so I placed my hands on his knees at my sides. Every time I tried to push away, pulling him out, he would slam me back down. At first it was a fight for wills. Alexander had the ultimate advantage. He was bigger, stronger, and I couldn't refuse to admit how amazing he was making me feel inside.

Eventually I submitted and braced myself on hands and knees, while he fucked me raw. I couldn't bite back the scream from my climax or the trembling that ran through me. Alexander grunted and turned me around to pull me onto his lap. He released my hair from its bun and raked his fingers through my hair. I felt his lips below my ear. He placed a kiss and sucked the sensitive spot. I moaned and held his head in place. He provoked shivers to travel down my spine as he whispered in my ear, "You are never inferior to me, Raven. You are my bride, my heart, and dragul mea. I love you, Raven Sterling. You don't need bloodline traits to know you are my Sterling bride. I wouldn't want you any other way. Do you understand?"

I sniffed and hugged my vampire tighter to me as I nodded into the crook of his neck. I didn't trust my voice to answer him properly. Alexander stroked my head gently before hugging my waist to continue thrusting up into me with his supernatural speed and strength. He rocked my world at least two more times before finding his own release. As he bucked and ground into me, he bit into my pulse point and drew deep. Darkness enveloped me, and I relaxed into him.

Alexander

My beautiful bride collapsed in my arms from exhaustion. I know I was rough with her, as I intended to be. It's time she learns I'm not a teenage boy anymore. I'm not the same… too much has changed me over the years. I pulled my love closer to me, cradled her head against my own. Inhaling her scent makes me harden inside her again. Needing her to wake so I could make love to her gently this time, I slice my neck with my sharp nail and lower my neck to her lips. As I hold onto her, I feel her ribs expand as she draws in the scent. Instinct guides her to feed, and she does. With each draw she takes, my cock pulses and hardens. When she moans, I'm ready to take her further. She wraps her legs around me and I lay her down on her shredded clothes. Her tiny thong and garter belt was still on her and as much as I enjoy the sight of her in lingerie, I wanted nothing between us. So I tore it from her hips and slid it off her legs.

I hissed in a sharp breath at the sensitivity of my cock as I withdrew from her heat. When it was only the head left inside of her, I pushed forward slowly. She is so soft, hot, wet, and tight. She continued to suck from me. I was ready to explode inside her when she licked her mark on me, but held on. Moving in and out of her in a rhythm of waves, I made love to the woman who's held my heart for ten years. Her breaths are shallow, but they hitch when I grind into her pleasure button. I thrust upward and kiss her wet cheeks.

I know she cried earlier for fear of her previous experience. But she needn't cry with me, needn't ever to fear me the way she did, and most importantly, she should never deny me the right to bring us both the ultimate pleasure. I am her mate, her husband, and I am hers for all eternity. The only fear of me she should bare is the moment she wrongs me. Deceit, betrayal, secrecy… they are all worthy of punishment. I would never leave her. No. I would show her there are worse ways to punish your mate. Ways that would definitely make her think twice about misbehaving again, but not this time. This time I want to love her because she was hurting.

My blood gathered low towards my 'monster'. I chuckled low as I hear her continue to name my member. Perhaps we shall make the name stick, I thought as I rose up on my forearms and spread my knees further apart. I felt Raven's silky flesh clench in rapidity as she milked my monster with her sweet, creamy essence. Reaching to my sides with both hands, I brought her legs up and over my shoulders and then settle my grip to her hips. My muscles started tensing and I knew my release drew near, but I gritted my teeth and held onto it. As I surged forward, I groaned from the newer depths of her channel opening up to me. I pushed into areas I knew made her scream louder and was rewarded when she did. She is so unbelievably beautiful when her luscious black painted lips are forming an O shape and I could barely make out her sexy fangs peeking from within, and her coal colored eyelids are half-massed. Her eyes have turned a darker shade of crimson long ago. I move in closer to her, pressing her knees to her chest and take her deeper, pushing harder, rubbing against her pulsing flesh. My ball sack drew tight and knocked against her flesh with every thrust. I couldn't hold back anymore. With a final surge I released my seed in heavy loads that seemed to have been pouring forever. My muscles twitched and I could no longer support my weight above her. I leaned to the side of her and rolled over, putting her above me.

It took several minutes for the euphoria to clear. Once it did I stared up at the ceiling and made a mental note to have some candelabras brought in. I imagined four posts to frame our coffin. I am no longer a fan of using a bed to complete the room, but I do entertain the luxury of a canopy above us. Enclosing our intimacy from the rest of the space. Would Raven enjoy decorating the room herself? Or should I surprise her with its completion? Either way, I'll need to select a larger canvas to paint a picture for the larger wall that she would adore. But of what, I didn't know yet.

Raven had begun to stir atop me and I caressed her slender back and flaring hips. She purred and I smiled. "Alexander?" she whispered. Her words were a bit slurred, so I know she was still feeling the effects of our passion.

"Dragul mea," I responded the endearment in my native tongue.

"Where are we?" she sounded weak, even though she fed.

"This is one of our hidden rooms. It's under a spell to prevent us from being sensed by anyone outside these walls… It will be our new coffin room." I told her. Hopefully she would enjoy it here.

"Mm," she responded. Well, that's not a refuse. "Alexander?" she whispered again.

"Yes," when she didn't immediately respond I added, "What is it my love?"

"I seriously, need some chocolate." Surprised, I laughed out loud.

"Then I better get you some!" I sat up and held her bridal style across my arms and stood. Then I realized I shredded our clothes in the heat of passion. With a mental shrug I left the room with my bride in my arms, sealed the doors, and used my telepathy to call Jameson. Jameson, would you mind bringing my housecoat with some pants, and Raven's wrap, please? We're in the basement.

'Need I ask, Master Alexander?' he responded.

Nope, I don't think it's necessary. I answered. When I heard him mentally chuckling, I couldn't stop the heat in my cheeks. The old man changed my diapers for cripes sake! As we await my dear friend's ever-slow strides to reach our clothing and then ever so slowly make his way to us, I decided to teach the mother of my vamplings how to quiet her emotions. She practiced and I used my empathy to test her. By the time she got the hang of it, Jameson finally arrived. We dressed as soon as he placed the pile of clothing outside the door and left. Next, we went into the nearby bathroom to freshen up properly before checking in on the children. It was about time for everyone to get to his or her coffins.

As soon as my family was settled in their respective coffins, I excused myself from my beloved's embrace to leave my list on the table near the banner of the stairs for Jameson. Just as soon as I reached the attic room, I vowed that I would make my bride's terrorist pay for whatever he did to her. he may be dead, but death is nothing to a necromancer. He will feel pain like never before. And he'll know there will be no escaping from it. With that thought in mind, I closed the lid of my coffin, pulled the lock in place, and pulled my Gothic beauty into my arms. Sleep came immediately.

EVERY READER: DON'T FORGET TO REVIEW! CHAPTER 27 COMING SOON