Aaron's Revenge (3 page)

Dragan was not fooled by Aaron’s relaxed pose. His brother was on high alert and angry, noting that the dark eyes never left the crumbled figure.

“
Went for a walk after I left you and Amira this morning to do some thinking and found her trying to sneak up on the manor. After she attempted to put an arrow through my back, which I am grateful to say I was able to prevent, I figured it was best to bring her here until I could sort it out.”

“
I see. I am surprised that she is still alive.” Glancing at the figure again, Dragan’s brow furrowed even more, yet he kept his voice neutral. “Do you know why she was trying to kill you?”

Sighing, Aaron turned his head to finally look at his now human twin, as stabbing pain went through his heart again at the thought. “She thought I was you—even called me Dragan Reynell.”

Dragan’s eyebrows rose at hearing the old family name. “Did she? Now, that is interesting.”

“
That’s all you have?”

Dragan did not even try to pretend he didn’t know what his brother was talking about. He knew that this conversation would have to come eventually.

“
Aaron, I am sorry…”

Aaron rose angrily to his feet. “You’re sorry? You’re sorry, Dragan? It should be obvious to you now that your little stunt has put everything in jeopardy.”

Dragan jumped to his feet, his face darkened. “Did you want Amira to die, brother?”

Running his fingers through his dark hair, Aaron grimaced. “Of course not, but then I didn’t want you to die, either. The consequences, it seems, might end up being the death of us all, including Amira. You had no right to take back what was given.”

“
But my soul wasn’t given freely. Neither was yours, I might add, and I didn’t take it back. God returned it to me.” Aaron turned to his twin, hearing Dragan’s voice crack and reassured that this was just as emotional for Dragan as it was for him. “I didn’t want to come back, Aaron. I would prefer to be dead right now. That is what I was expecting when I drank from her…”

Aaron raised his hand in the air, cutting off his brother. “Well, let’s hope your God doesn’t leave you now or you may be getting your wish.”

Dragan sat again, gesturing for Aaron to the seat next to him, watching as his brother sat down reluctantly. They both needed to calm down and work this through.

“
What do you think is going to happen, and did you find out who she is yet?”

Letting his eyes settle again on his prisoner, Aaron shrugged. “Her name is Chavali. I know nothing about her except that she was sent by Adara. I knew that there would be a consequence for what has transpired—I was hoping that we would have a bit of time to adjust and get used to the new you—but it seems that might not be possible.”

Dragan stared hard at his brother. “I just arose this morning. How did they find out so fast?”

“
Actually, Adara thought you were still a vampire when she sent her. According to an oracle, who predicted the chance of your path leading to this, the intent was to kill you before the transition took place. Chavali did not know that the soul was returned until I told her. She looked surprised and even I have to admit, a bit frightened. Seems she is more afraid of Adara than you or I.” Frowning, Aaron stared off into space.

“
Say what you are thinking, Aaron.”

 “
Something is not right and I cannot quite put my finger on it. You and I both know that oracles are better than that, Dragan, and usually do not have time lapses. The misinformation he gave Adara was obviously done with purpose. Chavali thought I was still in England and you were still in vampire form. Good Lord, I haven’t been in England for over a year. Chavali is a gypsy, though, that much I was able to determine and I wouldn’t put it past her to be lying to save her own ass.”

Dragan’s face hardened just as Aaron’s had in learning of her lineage. “What did you do to her? She is down for the count, it seems. She should have awakened by now.”

“
Nothing that we haven’t done to others like us but I agree, she should have come to by now. Especially since I let her feed from me right before our little tiff.”

“
You did what?!”

“
What was I supposed to do? I could not have her feeding off the employees here at the manor. I knew she had not had blood in a while, because the bruise on her face had not healed. The way she fed from me, it was plain that she was indeed starving for blood. She must have been in a big hurry to get here and find you to forgo a feeding. We have to figure out what the reasoning is and what we really are up against.”

Aaron and Dragan locked eyes. “Are you sure she is a vampire?”

Aaron nodded. “Definitely. You should have seen the way she drank. The blood definitely gave her sustenance. Her body would have rejected it before allowing it to enter her system if she was not one. I am not sure she is that old, though. I was holding back and really did not have to use full strength on her. If I was to guess, she is only one hundred to one hundred fifty years in vamp years.”

“
Actually I am seventy-eight in vampire years and thirty in human, so depending on how you choose to do the math...”

Both brothers turned their focus to Chavali, who was now trying to rise from the floor. It was easy to discern that she was still in considerable pain. Her tiny figure remained hunched over as her hand rested on the wall. There was no sympathy from either one as they watched her.

“
I am vampire but not completely. I am still part human.”

The words were barely out of her mouth when Aaron rushed her, throwing her back against the wall. Ignoring the tears that coursed down her face again, he pressed his closer to hers.

She had an overwhelming urge to rip his heart out.

“
More lies. What are you trying to have us believe, gypsy?”

“
Why would I lie to you now, Aaron? I am dead either way. I can’t go back. Adara would kill me for failing at my mission, and you are going to kill me once you are done with me. I have no reason to lie!”

Shoving against his hard chest, she did not move him an inch. She was starting to feel overwhelmed with emotion from her human side. This was not going the way she had planned and wondered if it would be better if Aaron just killed her now. No. That was not like her. Glaring at him, she hissed. “You are wrong about me, vampire…I am neither gypsy nor adversary…”

“
You both need to stop. Aaron, bring her over here.”

Dragging her roughly towards the couch, Aaron threw her down next to his brother before bringing a chair in front of the couch so she would have to think twice if she wanted to escape. Chavali tucked her legs close to her body as she pulled down the t-shirt over her knees. She felt incredibly vulnerable being half-naked and wished she had more clothes on. The twins looked like they were getting ready to start an interrogation.

Looking from one to the other, she was struck by how much they actually looked alike. No wonder she thought Aaron was Dragan. No one would have been able to see a difference. From their mannerisms down to their physicality—in front of her were true mirror images. It was amazing and it explained why Adara wanted these souls in particular.

The Reynell brothers were true paternal twins and Chavali was sure that their connection had to be strong, even now with one human and one a vampire. Their energy was the only tangible thing that was different. Dragan had the light aura to Aaron’s dark. Here in front of her, she was actually witnessing yin and yang. She also suspected that they did not know this about themselves. A part of her felt humbled that she was given the opportunity to be in their very presence.

Inhaling deeply, she tried to calm her nerves as she felt their eyes boring into her. The silence was deafening.

“
I wasn’t quite truthful before. I did come to kill Dragan, but it was actually his human girlfriend I was sent to kill.”

Dragan’s and Aaron’s hands fisted at her words.

“
Why would Amira’s death be more important than mine?”

Gray eyes met black ones. “Because that is what she does: feeds off other’s pain. Adara also blames the human for the loss of your soul and for the simple fact she likes it when there is great suffering.”

Chavali wrapped her arms around herself as if trying to keep warm. “Adara does it well, as you both know.” Turning to Aaron, her voice went down to a whisper. “She still tells of your turning, Aaron. How your mother turned you both in to the darkness to pay for a debt and how she made you watch as she killed your brother, feeding off your fear as she did so. She enjoyed that the most, even more than stealing your souls. She gains added energy from fear and hate. She is true evil.”

For the first time, Dragan felt a twinge of compassion towards the young vampire. “What has she done to you?”

Feeling an opening again to elicit sympathy, Chavali willed her eyes to fill with tears, lifting her chin slightly in defiance. “She could do nothing to me, because I have nothing. My family was wiped out by the flu in 1918 in Ireland; I was fourteen at the time. I wandered for many years with a group of gypsies.” Sensing the brothers tensing again, she sighed, running a hand through her hair; her voice became icy as she spoke. “From my understanding, you both are more gypsy than I…”

Aaron started to reach for her again. His anger was palpable and Chavali shrank farther into the couch. A light tapping came at the door. Dragan and Aaron looked at each other, guiltily, speaking in unison.

“
Amira!”

CHAPTER FOUR

“
Shit.” Aaron groaned while rising reluctantly to go open the door. Chavali watched curiously. The energy had changed in the room, and as relieved as she was at having the focus finally taken off her, she wondered at what would cause both of the brothers to be so nervous.

Opening the door, Aaron’s eyes met emerald green and he felt himself sinking into their depths. Swallowing hard, he hoped she did not sense what he was feeling. “Hello, Amira.”

“
Aaron, is Dragan with you?”

Looking behind him at his brother, before taking in again the tall, lean woman standing in front of him, he nodded.

Frowning, she tried to push open the door more. “Well, are you going to let me in or not?”

Without saying another word, Aaron opened the door wider, gesturing for her to enter.

“
Gee, thanks. What are you two…” Amira’s voice trailed off as she took in the woman seated next to Dragan on the couch. She was beautiful and looked incredibly uncomfortable.

“
What is going on?”

Aaron watched Amira take in the visitor, and as he expected, she did not seem pleased. Unfortunately, because it was Amira, he could not tell if she was angry that a half-naked woman was next to her lover or that same half-naked woman looked roughed up. You could hear a pin drop in the silence. Standing quickly, Dragan took Amira’s hand, pulling her against his side.

“
That is what we are trying to find out.”

Amira pulled away from Dragan’s touch, walking over to the visitor staring down. Their eyes immediately locked and Amira felt a strange ripple run through her.

Aaron jumped between the two, glaring at Chavali. “Stop it!”

Chavali broke eye contact with Amira while raising a shaky hand to her forehead. She had not even realized that she was probing the woman.

Grabbing Chavali’s wrists in his large hands, Aaron hauled her to her feet.

“
Aaron, please!” Without breaking eye contact with her, Chavali felt him soften as Amira touched his arm. The vampire had affection for the human.

“
What an intriguing triangle standing before me, Reynell.” Chavali regretted the statement the second it left her mouth.

“
Dragan, take Amira back to your room. I need to take care of some business. We will speak more in the morning.”

Dragan looked at his brother, nodding as he steered Amira towards the door.

Amira’s voice went low. Something was not right with any of them. “What is he going to do to her?”

Pressing his finger to her lips, he shook his head while closing the door behind them.

The second the latch clicked shut, Aaron shook Chavali hard, almost knocking her back down onto the couch. “Don’t you ever read her again—do you understand me?”

Aaron did not step away until he saw Chavali nod in agreement. Amira was off limits. She understood completely.

Walking over to the bed, Aaron picked up the rope his brother brought. He was done for today and too tired to continue this conversation tonight. If he did not get sleep, he knew he would kill her right on the spot. Gesturing, he pointed to another door in his room.

“
Through there.”

Opening the door, Chavali was surprised to find herself in another bedroom. This room was a smaller version of her captor’s, but no less opulent. There was another small fireplace on the far wall, surrounded by several chairs and a table. The bed was piled high with pillows and a vintage coverlet. It was perfection and in any other situation, she could have stayed in there for days without tiring of the space.

“
Make yourself comfortable on the bed. We both need our rest and are going to have to finish this conversation in a couple of hours.”

Efficiently making knots in the thick rope, he bound her ankles and wrists before tying her hands to the bed. She did not put up a fight as he expected and watched his expression carefully.

She wanted to laugh, thinking how useless the ropes were on a witch. Relieved, she also realized that Aaron was considerate enough to give her room to turn, move, and possibly sleep. Another sign of compassion, which she saw as flawed weakness.

Finished securing her, Aaron covered her with the blankets before sitting down on the edge of the bed. The pulse beating quickly in her neck gave him great satisfaction, thinking that she was terrified of him. Brushing the thick curls off her face, he ran his fingers down her cheek to her neck, as her eyes widened with the touch. His face was set and angry. Sliding his hand through her thick hair, he made a fist, pulling it tightly against her scalp.