Chapter Twelve: Europe Bound
Leif's POV
It's my first time flying Anubis Air. Since my family was never forced to go public with their vampirism, we've never really bothered with any pretense. Dad has flown with vampires on this airline before, though, escorting a couple regents on a request. He's really close to the King of Sweden, and did him a favor of overseeing his trip to the states during a particularly turbulent time when Alexis and I were kids. Dad walked me through the process of escorting the travel coffin my soon-to-be Bonded is encased in.
Since Died-er… Eshe doesn't have to remain unaware the entire time the sun is up, I mostly hang out below, talking to her and going over our plans. The original plan was to Bond tonight after sunset, and find out if she will receive the same immunities as the rest of my family. If she does, her plan is to reach out to Quigley and see if he also gets those same securities. Not that it matters. Even though Lex is dragging her feet, I know my sister, and she'll probably be Bonded to Quigley in no time once I take the first leap.
Lex has always been unreasonably cautious. She's got this annoying habit of needing to be perfect all the time. Then again, before Eshe, I was so contrarian just for the sake of some sort of turbulence. I felt cooped up and tethered to this existence without any freedom to let truly loose. I guess that's how the vamps in the family feel most of the time- still having to appear human to everyone around them. Hiding who they truly are and capable of.
Honestly, it's a nuisance and I hate it, but when I'm with Eshe, it's easy to let it go and forget. Being with her is an adventure itself, and I don't have to hide my strength or speed around her. We've talked about adventures and travel between my college years. She even broke ground on a new estate in California so she could be near me for my undergrad at UCLA. Unlike Lex, I still have no clue what it is I plan to study as far as careers go. Honestly, I just like to learn. I want to take as many different classes as I can. Maybe I'll be able to figure it out once my thirst for knowledge is sated.
As the plane touches down, I feel a little jolt of trepidation. I'm more nervous today about my future than any time before in my life.
"Good evening, Lover."
The coffin beside me opens, and I watch as Eshe rises. Her dark hair is like a sheet of obsidian framing her cool, brown skin. Her black eyes manage to catch some of the minuscule light and shine back at me.
"Evenin', Eshe," I give her a weak smile.
"Did the flight give you trouble?" She asks me concernedly.
"No, not a bit," I assure as I stand up and unnecessarily offer her a hand to step out from her resting place. She takes my hand anyway, a smile on her dusky lips.
When we leave the plane, there's a chauffeur waiting for us to take us to the local vampire hotel. It will be my first time in one of those, too. I'm kinda surprised Eshe doesn't ask me any questions along the drive. Maybe because the driver is a Were, she doesn't want to risk them catching on to who I am, and what my presence by her side could mean. Heck, maybe the Were knows exactly who I am and thinks I'm already picking up on some kinda political advantage. The most important thing is to not let anyone know that I'm Eshe's intended Bonded until the deed is done and we have confirmation of what the union means for all of us.
As we arrive at the hotel, I see several vampires staring. I know they recognize Eshe, either as the head council member of the International Council of Supernaturals, or just because she's the most ancient, conscious thing on the planet.
Several vampires bow their heads deeply as they pass, and I don't miss them giving me a bit of extra attention. I can't tell what they're thinking, of course, that's Uncle Jason's department. Still, I can't help thinking that they're confused by me. After all, I don't smell human. If they do know who I am, then I'm sure they're even more unsure of the situation.
Check-in is a bit of a whirlwind, and soon we're up in the hotel room, waiting for our luggage to finish the journey.
"How did you enjoy flying Anubis?" Eshe asks me as she throws her handbag onto the nearby entryway table. She's reserved a suite for us, but I think she probably would have reserved the same room even if she'd come here alone.
"It was definitely different," I confess. "I mostly stayed with your coffin all day."
"You should have said something," Eshe smiles. "I was aware through most of the journey."
"Dad doesn't like us advertising our heightened senses," I explain. "He wants us to keep some element of surprise to our advantage."
Eshe smirks with a small laugh, but nods. "That tracks."
"Also," I begin hesitantly, "I had a lot to think about while we were traveling."
My future Bonded smiles knowingly. "I had felt the inkling of hesitation in you during the flight. To be perfectly forthcoming, I was actually expecting it."
"I still want to be your Bonded," I assure her. "It's just…" I sit heavily on the bed, staring at my palms as I try to say the words I've been thinking for some time, but not certain if I ever needed to say out loud.
"Not yet," she finishes for me, her inflection rich with understanding and comfort.
"Not today," I whisper. "I'm ready for it to happen while we're in Greece, but I just want one moment in my entire life where I did something truly alone. Knowing that Lex is in Spain all alone, relying just on herself made me envious. I don't need the whole month! Even a week would be enough-"
"Lover," Eshe interrupts my assurances, "you could take a century or two or three to take this final step with me. I will wait. There is no need to rush."
"I don't need that much time," I tell her confidently. "I am so ready, but I just want this one thing. This one solo adventure."
Eshe smiles and shakes her head amusedly as she picks her purse back up. Taking out the envelope she had received at the front desk, Eshe removes a card key and hands it to me. "Here. Take this and whatever of your luggage you feel you need for your adventure. I will wait for your return. Do not fear returning to me even if it is with the confession that you need more time. Take your return plane ticket as well, and if I do not see you by the last day of our hotel stay, I will remain here in Europe, and you can-"
I crush my mouth to Eshe's hurriedly, "I am not leaving Greece without you. There is no way I could. I will be back well before the end of the trip."
"Alright," she smiles in understanding, but there's this hollowness to her eyes that makes me feel that she's resolving herself to accept an extended stay on the continent.
"I love you, Eshe," I tell her. Before she can say anything back, there's a knock at our door. Our luggage has finally arrived, and I leave her standing by the bed to let the bellhop in. He quickly unloads our belongings, and I slowly shoulder my duffle. "I'll be back soon."
"Then I will see you when you return." She nods at me, watching me leave the room.
Once in the hallway, I let out a long breath. That was the hardest thing I've ever done, and considering I've been through combat and survivalist training- that's saying something.
Still, I adjust my duffle on my shoulder and head out of the hotel. Today is June 9th, and I only have until the first of July to explore, Bond and get back to the airport.
There's this weight in my chest as I exit the hotel, and I know Eshe can feel the conflicting emotions running rampant through me. I know I explained myself well enough, having taken a long time to think about this trip and what it would mean to spend it all with her. I know she understands, to some degree, but I also think that she's still making a lot of assumptions about my decision. She probably thinks I'm not ready, that I'm still too young, and that I have cold feet.
The truth is, I know from seeing my parents and Godric and Camilla, that this need to be with her that I already have is going to become all consuming. If she gains the immunities that my family shares, then there will not even be the daylight hours to traverse alone. This was the one thing that I truly felt incomplete without while reflecting on my choices these past months.
Just this once. Just these few days, I want to be completely on my own. No mom, sister, Cammie or uncle near me at school. No dad, Pam or Godric who can be at my side in a matter of moments at my call.
After some walking, I find a Stasher location and secure my duffle, only taking my phone, wallet, toothbrush set and deodorant to shove into the pockets of my cargo shorts. My goal isn't really social, so I'm not concerned about looking like a bum until I'm back with Eshe.
Putting the card key to the vampire hotel into my wallet, I look at my watch and head back out. The first thing I do is hop on the metro and find my way to the beach. By the time I arrive at the shore, the sky is just beginning to turn from black to navy. There's a streak of gray at the horizon, teasing the inbound sunrise, and I plant my butt in the sand and wait.
When dawn breaks, I let out a relieved sigh. The knot that had been in my stomach since boarding the plane to Greece finally loosens. My heart has stopped aching. I'm ready to take on the next few days wandering around Athens.
"Can I join you?"
I look up in surprise at the inquiry to see a woman with olive skin and curly brown hair that is streaked with honey toned highlights. I hadn't expected anyone to be here at six in the morning.
"I don't mind," I reply, having been taught Greek by Godric along with several other languages between him and my father. Pam keeps meaning to teach me Russian, but she's gone the most often of our family members.
"Are you from up north?" She asks.
"No. I'm from the United States," I answer.
"Your Greek is very good," she compliments me, disbelief written on her face. "Is your family Greek?" She inquires further, but looks doubtful between my pale skin, blond hair and blue eyes.
"No, but my uncle is fluent. He taught me," I reply. "What has you awake so early?"
"I always come for the summer sunrises," she explains, shifting her arm and revealing her rather impressive camera. "What brings you to Greece?"
"I'm getting married this week, and the honeymoon will be here," I decide not to risk any drama, or worse, leading this girl on.
"Married so young?" My temporary friend's jaw slackens with disbelief.
"I guess you could say it's an arranged marriage." Not that I can tell her it was arranged by fate and precognition.
"Do you like your bride-to-be?" She asks curiously.
"Very much," I assure. "She's beautiful, smart-"
"Funny?"
I think for a moment and shake my head, "Not especially funny, no. Sometimes she says something that makes me laugh, but I don't think she does it with that intention. My name is Leif, by the way."
"Sophia."
"Nice to meet you," I nod with a smile.
"Nice to meet you, Leif." Sophia pulls her camera up to her eye now that the sky has began to saturate with more gradient. "So, what is the name of your bride?"
"Diedre." Eshe is only allowed to be said by me. She even told me that Quigley never called her that before. Knowing I was the only living soul who would speak that name to her had given me butterflies ever since Prom.
"So, are you out for one last fling before you marry Diedre?" Sophia asks me.
"No," I shake my head, "just wanted a few days to create a line."
"A line?"
I nod. "I line between my single life and my married one. Like the dull strip of sunrise before the colors start to return. It seems blinding because your eyes haven't adjusted yet, and then the color surrounds you."
"You're a poet." I can hear the teasing in her tone.
"No, I just can't find the right words to describe my feelings, so I needed an analogy…Have you ever felt like that?"
"Felt like there were no words to explain myself? All the time."
Her reply makes me nod in relief.
"I hope I explained myself well to Diedre. When I told her I'd be back for our wedding, I hadn't really thought of a good analogy. I'm worried she thinks I won't come back."
"You can solve that by going back now," Sophia points out.
"Without getting what I need?"
Sophia shrugs, "Do you need it so badly that you would make her worry and wait?"
"I doubt she's worried. She knows exactly how I feel about her."
Sophia rolls her eyes. "Men."
I can't help but laugh. The sun is high enough now I don't feel compelled to stay, so I stand up and brush the sand from my shorts. "It was nice meeting you, Sophia. I hope you get some great pictures."
"Thank you, and blessings on your new marriage."
"Thank you."
I give one final wave and leave the beach to start wandering aimlessly through Athens. It doesn't take long for the sun to start beating against my face and forearms. Thankfully I can't get a sun burn, but it doesn't make the heat any more bearable.
With my day off to an unexpected start by meeting Sophia at the beach, I begin my pilgrimage to the Acropolis. Between transfers and waiting for public transport, it takes me most of the day to arrive at the ancient ruins. I visit temples and view ancient columns, all the time wondering if Eshe came here in her early years as a vampire. Did she see the Parthenon while it was a part of the world around it rather than a relic of a time that was incomprehensible to mortals? Would the world still be standing long enough for monuments of my youth to be lost to humans of the new current age, awed after while it remains in my memory as a mundane structure that is unworthy of the reverence I feel toward these ruins?
My entire day is spent wondering about these things. Lex and I have had conversations about our immortality before, both of us overwhelmed at times by it just being a fact of our existence. Still, the concept that one day I could be looking at the shell of New York City or Chicago and remember those cities and the lost buildings and monuments like Eshe possibly remembers the Temple of Athena is mind boggling.
Maybe my worries or hesitations aren't about adventure, but just the trepidation of immortality. Dad had chosen immortality with a purpose. So had my mother and Uncle Jason. Even Lex has some sort of aspirations that she feels she can follow faithfully forever. Eshe was the first time I felt a sense of direction in this over abundance of life I've been given.
Damn, I'm a real idiot, I think bemusedly. I'm just a confused kid, aren't I?
Taking out my phone, I call a number I really didn't think I'd be using at all for the next three weeks.
"Hello!? Leif, are you okay, baby?" My mother's voice comes over the phone anxiously.
"Yeah, I'm good."
"Are you Bonded?" My mom asks. "Is it making you feel overwhelmed?"
"We haven't Bonded yet," I tell her. "I decided to take a couple days to enjoy Athens first."
"What's wrong?"
"Is it okay that I feel so certain about Eshe? Like truly not insane that I feel ready for this?" I ask her, openly showing weakness, which she knows I avoid at all costs.
I hear my mom laugh gently. "Yeah, baby, it's okay. I was just as certain about your daddy. Took me a little bit longer to realize it, and I had some old stigmas to work past- but I knew."
"How did you handle it when you made really stupid choices and had to look dad in the eyes after?" I asked weakly.
Mom laughs again at my question. "When someone loves you to eternity and back, they don't say 'I told you so'. They sure think it a lot, but a partner as world-wise as your daddy, Godric or Diedre knows we're going to make mistakes, and they're our mistakes to make. Just accept your mistakes, learn, grow and move on. If you do, you'll find yourself enjoying life." My mom pauses for a moment but adds, "Sometimes I think you've always been scared to make mistakes to the point you made the obvious small ones and completely bypassed making any big ones."
"You think choosing to smoke is a small mistake?" I tease.
I can practically hear my mom roll her eyes at me. "For immortals, yes. Choosing to smoke is a relatively small mistake. It can't kill you. It's disgusting, in my opinion, but I can't hate it for the same reasons a regular mortal mother does."
"Diedre is the first thing in my life that I've had any certainty about, and it kinda scares me," I confess to her. "At first it was a relief, but then…"
"You worried you'd just depend on her to lead the way like your father and I have done for you up until now?" She guesses knowingly.
"Yeah," I confess.
"You have eternity to find your footing, Leif. I know you feel adrift, but if Diedre is your anchor, there is no shame in relying on her. Who knows? Maybe her stability, her permanence, will give you the security to finally charge ahead instead of this feeling of aimlessness."
I'm not sure how to use all the advice I've been given today. Between that stranger, Sophia, and this woman who's known me before I was even born- I'm bursting at the seams with encouragement. Despite it all, I still end the call with a "thanks, I love you," and begin wandering around Athens.
Over the course of a couple days, I manage to catch a variety of buses, ferries and trains until I think I've explored an impressive amount of the country and its collection of islands. I've swam in blue seas, stood before ancient ruins, and gazed at the seascapes over cliff edges. My stomach really hurts from all the garlic the Mediterranean cuisine utilizes, and I haven't changed my clothes in nearly three days days. Despite all that, though, I feel ready. Ready to finally make a decision that matters. Ready to finally accept a permanent facet to my future that I chose- even if it was foreseen.
I arrive at the storage locker my duffle has been stowed at, pay the fees and head back to the Athens Vampire Hotel. I get even stranger looks entering the hotel alone than I had coming here with Eshe. Probably because I've managed to get quite a tan going in four days, I probably stink from the sea being my only source of bathing, and I'm most likely leaving sand tracks with every step.
Ignoring the fact I stand out like a sore thumb, I take the elevator up to Eshe's suite and fish my card key out of my wallet. I don't get the chance to use it, though, because the door opens as I finally get the card out, and Eshe is standing in front of me with a peculiar expression.
"You came back," she whispers, and I feel my shoulders slump.
"Did you really think I wouldn't?" I'm a little disappointed she had such little hope invested in me.
"You're young," is her only explanation.
"Yeah, which means I'm more foolish, impulsive and reckless. Perfect combo for making crazy choices," I point out. "You gonna let me in?"
Eshe takes a step back from the door, letting me pass by with my duffle. I throw the bag on the ground just inside the closet.
"You mind if I grab a quick shower and brush my teeth? Sorry, I've been eating garlic," I admit. "Is that gonna be a problem for completing the Bond?"
"It's not a problem," she assures. "Please, get yourself cleaned up. We don't have to Bond tonight. You've only just returned."
I take my toothbrush set out of my shorts' pocket and head to the bathroom. While I'm brushing my teeth, I feel Eshe's eyes on me in short intervals. Once I've finished scrubbing my mouth, I point to the shower. "Wanna join me?"
Wordlessly, she comes into the bathroom, pushing the strap of her dress off her shoulder on one side, then the other. The fabric falls to the floor with a soft rustle, and just like that, she's naked and reaching for the hem of my shirt. I pull back to get the water started as Eshe begins undoing the fastenings of my shorts. I toe off my boat shoes, and am being leaned into the shower stall. The water is still cold, but her hands on me is making my skin feel hot.
The entire time after my invitation has been without another utterance. Eshe begins washing me with the complimentary soaps and shampoo, all the while my mouth can't stay away from hers. Our tongues are tangled together, and while her hands scatter soap across my body, my hands are squeezing and pulling her as close as possible.
Bubbles still cling to parts of my hair and skin when I turn off the water and lift Eshe into my arms. I carry her to the bed, her long black hair soaking the sheets and mattress as I layer myself over her.
"I love you, Eshe," I tell her, pushing her knee back slightly as I settle between her legs.
"I love you, Leif," she answers reassuringly as I join our bodies. As her arms and legs wrap about my neck and torso, I feel her fangs pierce my shoulder. She's giving me the final choice of whether I will return the bite or not. My response is immediate, my incisors distending and cutting through her own shoulder to receive the final mutual exchange of blood.
The completion of the ritual is instantaneous. I finally feel Eshe as she has felt me these past months. Her emotions are strong, but bridled- attempting to restrain their full force for my sake and comfort. I feel love and tranquility pouring into me. I've never known a love like this was possible. My world explodes, fueled by Eshe's feelings and something even deeper. It's like discovering a new reality.
"Take its blood. If any magical substance can be extracted from these new creatures, it will most likely be tied to the blood. Perhaps the fangs could hold some sort of magical component, if we can get it to unleash them. The blood will be enough for now. Enough to experiment."
Cloaked figures all around- one, two, three… thirteen in total. A coven of witches? If they're using blood, probably necromancers - -
I look down at the creature they intend to mutilate and extract magical ingredients and my head goes light; it's Alexis.
"Leif?" Eshe is shaking my shoulder.
"Alexis… Alexis is in danger," I mumble dazedly. I blink rapidly and it takes a moment for my vision to un-blur.
"Can you see?" Eshe whispers worriedly.
"It's coming back," I tell her, still feeling lightheaded. "Alexis. She's not safe. She's been taken."
"She may have been, or will be," Eshe whispers soothingly. "I will call Quigley and check."
"Will be?" I ask confusedly.
"You fell asleep after we finished the Bond," Eshe tells me. "During that time, you had a premonition. While I tried waking you, your eyes had hazed over as though you had gone blind."
"I had a premonition?" I ask, even more confused.
"Yes. I know what they look like. At least what they look like in the beginning. Over time you should be able to experience them less noticeably," Eshe explains, as she finally finds her cellphone.
I don't hear the conversation any further as I'm stunned by the turn of events. Me. The most aimless, adrift, directionless member of the family. I am a Seer.
Alexis's POV
Admittedly, I. AM. PISSED.
Three days. I got three days in Barcelona before everything went sideways. On night three of my trip, I decided, what the heck- I'm going to try some wine, hit up a club and dance with some locals. I'd been navigating the city well, having great conversations, meeting interesting people. And then, met a couple girls a little older than me that invited me out for a dance club crawl.
Next thing I know, it's morning four of my trip and I wake up shackled in silver with a needle in my arm and my blood draining into a sterile pack. I keep my eyes open only in tiny slits in case someone is nearby. It won't do for them to know I'm awake just yet, and I need as many elements of surprise as I can scrape together.
One of the girls who invited me out, Isabella I think her name was, appears and removes the needle and blood pack. I know this can't be about V. After all, she knows I'm not a vampire; she's seen me during the day.
So why the blood? I wonder worriedly. Do they know who my parents are? Who I am?
I take a centering breath, doing my best to still appear unconscious. Instead of worrying about intentions at this point, I take inventory of my body. There's a weakness in my arms and legs, possibly from blood loss since I'm not sure if the pint I watched Isabella take was the only pint I was depleted before waking. Rolling my neck a little bit in what I hope appears like a sleeper's adjustment, I shimmy my shoulders to try and take stock of how much room I have. My head immediately hits the top of something that is wooden. I'm in a barred crate with a wooden top and bottom. The bars are silver and so are the shackles. This is not a worst case situation, then, since silver does nothing to me and is a weaker metal than iron. Unlike my dad, I won't be able to tear it like paper but I can definitely bend it.
Next I try to discern what time it is. If the ones that took me know who I am, they may think I have some sort of escort within response range- meaning, I probably don't have much time past nightfall before they proceed with the end game. They'll want whatever it is they want out of me before then, and I'm not too excited to find out what extent that is.
"Now, Sotnos," Dad looked at me with a gaze I will never forget as long as I live. He looked like his heart were breaking, "I am going to hurt you. I am going to hurt Leif, too. I am so sorry, my dearest ones, but it is the only way I know to teach you. Please forgive me."
During our survival training, I really did think I hated my dad. I forgave him in the end, but until this very second I don't think that forgiveness was complete.
"There are four ways to get out of shackles," Dad explained. "If you have the right tools, the lock can be picked. If you are strong enough, you can break or tear the cuff. If not, you may be able to break the link. If the metal is too strong, then your bones are not, and you can break or dislocate your thumb to slide the cuff off." Dad proceeded to teach us how to pick several lock mechanisms that could be used along restraints. I thought that would be the end, but he also taught us how to dislocate our thumbs and slip them back into socket. He trained us not to hesitate so that the escape could be swift.
Moving carefully, I test the resistance of the silver, determining if I can break the links in a single motion. I hear the chain clink and estimate the gauge by the tone. My heart leaps at the gentle tinkling. I can break that!
Taking another inventory of the space I'm crammed in, I wonder if I can get enough momentum to break through the thick slab of wood. I'm pretty optimistic, and if I brace properly, I might be able to raise myself, break the chain links and bust the top off in the same motion.
I visualize my space, practicing in my mind over and over again how I need to move to-
The door of the room creaks sharply as it opens. "That should be enough blood," an unfamiliar woman's voice says. It's older than the girls I was with last night. "See if you can wake it and we will see about an extraction."
It? I think distastefully.
"The skin isn't smoldering," I hear the unknown voice comment in alarm. "Quick! Get stronger bindings on it now!'
Here goes nothing!
Like I'd visualized nearly a hundred times in my head already, I get my feet planted firmly against the floor of my cage and raise myself upward with as much force as I can muster. I visualize that I need to hoist Bella Sims' fat ass into the stratosphere, and I fling my arms upwards. I feel the chains snap, feel the wood shatter against my fist, and burst from my crate like a raging animal. The chains snap easily enough , leaving me just enough links to wrap across the backs of my hands.
I take out the one who's been barking orders first. They seem like they're in charge, and hopefully with this bitch out of the way, the others will be disorganized. My arm snaps back across the woman's face to disorient her. When she stumbles, I grab her by the head and chin and twist as hard as I can. Her body goes immediately boneless, and I do my best not to dwell on the sensation of what I've just done.
Quickly, I'm on top of the girl who'd been taking orders. This one is a girl from last night, Maron, I think her name was because I take her out just as quickly as the woman running the show.
Without breaking my stride, I see a set of stairs in the corner. I pause briefly to listen, but I can't risk anyone else getting organized.
Bounding up the stairs, I slam my body into the door so I burst through like a hellion. There's five people congregated on the spot- two of whom lunge at me while the other three step back and join hands.
Shit, I realize I'm dealing with witches, and if there's this many I can probably bet there's at least thirteen in total. I manage to rip the trachea out of the guy nearest me and kick the other one in the chest hard enough to send him crashing into a wall across the small house. However, when I turn on the three that have linked hands, I feel my legs get weak. For a moment I'm not sure if it's their magic or if blood loss is getting the better of me. C'mon, c'mon, I slap my thighs pleadingly trying to get whatever blood to them that I can.
Like a newborn foal, I stumble back to my feet. My family has some immunity to magic, so if I am being casted on, I can probably resist or overcome. I throw a hard punch at the witch in the middle, breaking their linked power and then grab either side of the heads of the remaining two to crash them together.
That's seven, I think tiredly. What I wouldn't give to drain one of them real quick
Resisting the call of a bloody meal, I pick up the athame sheathed in the chord of one of the witches I've dispatched and start stalking through the house. As I do, someone runs toward the front door, but I throw the athame at them from the living room and it plunges into their heart before their hand reaches the knob.
I come to the kitchen then and grab another pair of knives from the block on the counter. There's two more huddled in the corner. They don't even fight back. They just beg me, but I don't have the luxury of mercy when I have reason to believe there's three more assailants somewhere in this building.
Circling back, I make sure to throw the locks on the front door before scouring the remaining lower level. I give the kitchen door the same attention, bolting it shut so no one can escape me.
There's another flight of stairs that I cautiously ascend. At the top, the final set of three witches stand, their hands clasped together. As I approach, a torrent of flames shoots from their grasps, scorching me as I continue my assault. Once more, I take out the witch in the middle first to break the connection effectively, and instantly dispatch the last two witches.
Taking a shuddering breath, I realize that I've only assumed there would be thirteen witches in the coven. Now isn't the time to relax until I've cleared the entire house from top to bottom.
Scouting out the rest of the second floor, I see a trapdoor for an attic ladder, and also poke my head up there. Once I've assured myself that I am the only person left with their heart still beating in the building, I begin the search for a phone.
I find a cellphone on one of the witches I stabbed to death by the staircase and dial one of the numbers I have committed to memory. It rings only once before it is answered and all I can choke out is…
"Daddy?"
TBC
A/N: Please, remember to review!
-Andi