Ascend (The Vampire Destiny Series Book #4) (24 page)

Sneering, my lips turned up in an evil smile.  “It’s too bad you chose the wrong side.”

I saw Stefan’s shoulders moving through the brush before I heard his battle cry, breaking the tense silence.  He burst through the tree line and was a streak across the clearing, grabbing Amir and holding him to the ground by his throat.  Stefan held him with an iron like grip.  It was brother against brother.  Good versus evil.

"You would betray me?  Betray my mate? And for what, Amir?  A promise of power from a liar?"  Stefan hissed angrily.  His hand tightened around Amir’s throat.

"I did what I had to do, brother.  A few will have to die for the betterment of us all,” Amir choked out.  He didn't struggle with Stefan.  He'd accepted his fate and refused to fight back.  He was going to be a coward and let Stefan kill him, leaving the guilt over his death for Stefan to carry with him for an eternity.

"What has happened to you? You stopped fighting the good in yourself and let yourself be fooled by a lunatic,” Stefan growled.  He raised Amir from the ground and with a quick movement, smashed him into the ground again, his skull cracking from the impact.  “And for what gain?  To kill innocent people?  To threaten the only thing in my existence that ever mattered to me?”

Amir coughed weakly and closed his eyes. “You do as you wish, Stefan.  I accept my fate, Stefan.  My death will not stop this.”

The heaviness from his words hung in the air, stagnant and putrid.  Stefan stiffened and blurred into action.  An arm landed near my feet, the skin slowly shrinking and turning into ash before my eyes. Then there was more tearing of flesh, the wet sound of bloodied skin and muscle separating from bone.  I stood back, paralyzed as the man I loved killed his own brother, ripping him apart piece-by-piece.

Amir didn’t beg for mercy and he never once cried out.  Only Stefan’s breathing and the sounds of death hung in the air.

Finally, when I didn’t think I could take any more, there was nothing but silence in the clearing.  Fletcher stood stoically, his thoughts filled with shock and respect for Stefan.  He admired him, unsure if he'd be able to do the same if things were reversed.  Lukas was huddled in a ball on the ground, his face twisted in agony and despair.  The man he loved had betrayed him and in turn, died before his eyes.  And Liev... he wore an expression of guilt as he met my stare.  His cowardice had caused this.  All of this bloodshed was caused by his fear and weakness.

I knew it was time to focus on Stefan.  I took a few steps closer to him.  He was a shell of himself, covered in Amir's blood.  His blue eyes were staring absently on the ground and his mind...his mind was in a disarray.  He was filled with rage, guilt, fear...and revenge.

Vengeance would do no good. Unless he fought it, its pettiness would fester inside of him.  Of course, I wasn't the one sitting with my brother's blood on my hands.  However, it added to the growing arsenal of hatred for my father.  He wouldn’t stop until he destroyed us, one way or another.

As I watched Stefan’s internal struggle, every fiber of my being wanted to console him.  I thought about the things I could say.  I could blindly assure him that it would be okay, or I could tell him he did what was necessary to protect us.  Both seemed hollow and I just couldn't bring myself to do it.  For every impulse to hug him there was this voice screaming at me that he needed time and space.  He needed to come to terms with this on his own.  He’d let me know when he was ready.

So I stood in silence.  I just watched the horizon; I watched the sun rising in the sky. I stood and I waited for Stefan.  I’d stand here for an eternity if that’s what it took to get him back to me.

The bond between us reopened, and I knew that was my cue to go to him. I took the final few steps and sat down beside him.  He turned his face to mine and his blue eyes were dead.  Lifeless.  I couldn't blame him.  He'd single handedly killed his brother.  And Amir had taken the easy way out.  He refused to fight, to beg, to ask for forgiveness for his behavior.

"Stefan?"  I whispered. Tentatively, I reached out to him, resting my hand on his arm.  The blood on his arm had turned a dark red, staining his pale, flawless skin.

"I killed the wolf," he muttered.  His head tipped back and he stared into the bright, cloudless sky.  "I killed my brother, Josephine.  I had no choice.  I had no other option."

My heart shattered into a million pieces as he begged for some sort of absolution.  I would have told him anything to lessen his pain, to ease his guilt.  "I know.  You did what you had to do, Stefan.  He was like Kian."

His head snapped back and those blue eyes gazed back into mine.  "Did I?  When did everyone change sides?  When did this become a battle to exist, to survive?"

Swallowing hard, I shook my head sadly.  "When you found me.  Everything was set into motion because of who I am and what I can do."  I looked down at my hand.  It was still gripping his arm, holding on to the one thing that still made me feel alive.  "He would have killed us, one by one.  Fletcher, Lukas...then he would have tried to kill us.  My shield isn't perfect.  Certain abilities interfere and it doesn't work.  Kian will find a way around it."

He was quiet and a still hung in the air between us.  "His blood is on my hands.  He let me murder him because he lacked the courage to end his own life.  He chose greed over honor.  He deserved to die for his crimes.  As does his accomplice."

Glancing over my shoulder at Liev, I noticed his uneasiness and eagerness to flee.  If Fletcher hadn't restrained him, he'd have bolted.  I nodded to my brother and he stepped away, letting me wrap my shield around him, keeping him securely in place.

"He was a pawn. Stefan.  Amir only used his weakness to get what he wanted…what my father wanted." I gritted my teeth and my voice sounded harsh when I spoke. "He'd been working with him all along, at least since the Council meeting.  Amir killed Lenora and Adolfo.  He would have killed us without a second thought or care.  He wasn't the same man you knew all those years ago."

His blond head bowed and he looked at the pile of ash and clothes, which was all that remained of Amir.  "You are right. I noticed the difference in him, the restlessness and deception is his eyes but I chose to overlook it.  He had turned into the thing he feared the most."

My breath caught in my throat.  "What was that?"

He raised his head and our eyes locked.  The sparkle was back, but he remained solemn.  His mouth settled into a thin line.  "He turned into our maker."

Solveig.  Amir had turned into the same power hungry vampire, hell bent on dominance at any cost.  He had learned nothing from her death.  His arrogance made him think he was invincible.

I scooted closer and pulled him to me, ignoring the blood that tainted his skin and clothes.  Burying my nose into his chest, I hugged him tightly.  It was then that I voiced his unspoken fear.  "It won't happen to you, Stefan."

He breathed deeply and his voice was barely audible.  "You sound so sure.  There are no guarantees.  Not anymore."

My embrace only grew tighter.  My arms ached from holding him so tightly, but I refused to show him any weakness.   A feeling of calm washed over me as I remembered the dream I’d shared with Garrett.  Who knew I’d be using his words of wisdom so soon.  "I am sure.  You're everything Amir could never be.  You're good, Stefan.  To your very core, you're a good man.  My uncle would have given you this advice if he was here, but since he isn’t, I’ll share it with you instead.  You need to let the guilt go…and regret nothing you do if it means you live to see another day."

His mouth brushed against my forehead and I felt relief flood his body.  His tense muscles relaxed and he melted against me.  It was time for me to take over, to handle things and let him deal with the grief and guilt that plagued his heart.

"We need to go.  Regroup and go home."  I whispered.  I gave him a final squeeze and stood, facing the group of men, each dealing with their own demons.

"I'm going to let you go, Liev.  Don't take my forgiveness as a weakness.  If you cross me or my family again, I will end you."

I drew back my shield and faced Fletcher.  "We're leaving tomorrow.  There will be a seat for you, if you decide to come with us."

He jutted his chin and his sharp eyes narrowed.  "Thank you."

"You saved Lukas' life today.  I should thank you."  I looked at him curiously.  “How did you know to follow me?”

“Call it brotherly intuition that you needed backup…and you left a note.  And about the rest…we'll agree to disagree.  You see, you gave me back something I'd lost.”  Fletcher fiddled with his jacket and shifted uncomfortably.  "You gave me back hope.  I didn't have much left until I met you."

My eyes welled with tears.  He didn't like to be touched, but I launched myself at him anyway.  I was surprised to feel his strong arms return the embrace.

“I hope you'll come with us,”  I whispered in his ear.  “I’ll be making arrangements to leave tomorrow.  Be at Garrett’s tomorrow morning if you’re interested.”

He tipped his head and offered me a wide smile, the first I’d seen from him. "Goodbye, Josie.  I'll see you soon."

Fletcher went to Liev and they headed out of the clearing together.  All that remained was Lukas, Stefan and myself.

“We need to help him, Stefan.  He’s a mess.”
My mind reached out to Stefan.  He slowly stood and walked across the clearing to his child who was slumped in the grass, still curled up into a tight ball.

“Lukas.  Come.  It is not safe not stay out here.”  Stefan commanded gently.  He knelt down on one knee beside Lukas.  “I am sorry you were pulled into this.  I did my best to keep you safe.”

Lukas struggled to sit up.  He refused to look at either of us, keeping his eyes to the ground.  He wrapped his arms around his legs and rocked back and forth.

“I’m sorry, Lukas.  Amir…” I began.

“He used me.  He fucking used me.  How do you think that makes me feel?  I was nothing to him except a bargaining chip.”  He spat bitterly. “I loved that man.  He wasn’t easy to love…but I fell for every word he said.  I must be the most gullible man alive.  He had me cock whipped.”

I had to bite the inside of my cheek to not laugh.  Even in his moment of angst, Lukas still managed to make me chuckle with his over the top antics and dramatics.

“You had no reason to believe anything different.  He had me fooled as well,” Stefan muttered.  His large hand patted Lukas on the shoulder.  “You had to watch me murder the man you love.”

Lukas smiled and he and Stefan exchanged a look.  No words were exchanged, but their silent communication brought Stefan relief.  The heavy shadows of his face lifted and he managed a small smile.

Lukas fixed his icy eyes on me.  “And you.  You are a bigger bullshitter than me.  You can ramble on when you need to.”

Shrugging, I smiled crookedly.  “It worked with Derek.  I figured it would work with Amir.”

I noticed that Lukas cringed when I said Amir’s name.  Lukas was angry and hurt, but he had lost a lover.  It would take time to heal those wounds.

Stefan’s deep voice was soft as he spoke.  “Enough of this.  We need to get back to Garrett’s house.  It is time to go home.”

***

I’d zipped up my suitcase and I gave the house a final walk through.  I didn’t know if I’d be back.  There was really no reason.  I’d come to terms with my past and had only my future to look forward to discovering with Stefan.

I slipped out onto the wrap around porch and was surprised to see Fletcher lounging in one of the Adirondack chairs.  His long legs were stretched out in front of him, a large duffel bag at his feet.

My hand flew to my chest.  If I were still human, my heart would have been racing.  “Fletcher?”

“You have room for one more?” Fletcher asked meekly.  He pulled off his Ray Bans and balanced them on his knee.

Smiling, I nodded and crossed my arms.  “Of course.  You’ve decided to come back with us then.”