Calling for a Miracle [The Order of Vampyres 2] (Siren Publishing Classic) (46 page)

“I had run from my home. I knew I would eventually be found.”

“So you did not leave the farm to follow your calling. How long after leaving did you learn of your call?”

“Just this week.”

“And has there been any other evidence that what the bishop claimed was true?”

“Yes. I had a dream.”

“About Bishop King?”

“Yes.”

“Would you mind describing the dream?”

Eleazar objected, “That is of a private matter and irrelevant.”

“Very well,” Abraham said. “Are you in accordance with God’s will, child?”

“Yes.”

“And would it satisfy you to legally wed the bishop?”

“Yes.”

“Would you be tempted to return to your husband, Silus? It is important you understand the choice you are making here. You will not be permitted to entertain more than one relationship.”

Larissa looked up at the council. Although her chin quivered and he could sense her nervousness, she spoke clearly for all of the elders to hear. “The bishop is my mate. I wish to be his
frau.
I will not return to Silus’s home or his bed. My marriage to him was over the moment I bonded with my mate.”

A wave of whispers filled the room at the same time there was a crash and Silus was suddenly rushing toward Larissa. Eleazar was there first. He stood before the smaller man, blocking Larissa. Silus seethed. “You whore! You had no right to give my property to another male!”

Many members of the council began to shout at once, many of them Silus’s elders. Silus continued to bore holes through Eleazar’s chest as if he could see Larissa behind him. In a hushed whisper Eleazar leaned close to the man and said, “Make no mistake, Silus, she is my mate and we have bonded. It was by my will, her will, and the will of God. Your claim to Larissa ends here and now. You will not lay a finger upon her ever again. Not because she is my property or because I would beat you to death, but because she would rather suffer the affection of a thousand serpents than play victim to you one more time. You will respect her choice in this matter and all matters from here on. Do not test me on this. I may have surrendered my title today, but tomorrow and every day after that I will be your bishop. Our laws are quite clear regarding mated females. You risk quite a bit if you choose not to heed my warning. And I assure you, there really is no chance of gaining favor with the council. I promise if you disobey me on this, you will never find the absolution you want, because you will be worse than dead.”

The man seethed as he listened to the bishop’s warning and those shouting around them. His jaw ticked and Eleazar waited for the man to back down. Finally, he took a step back. Silus looked to the council and hissed, “This is a mockery of justice. I will save you all time. I rescind my vows to this harlot. Draw up whatever papers you must and I shall sign them. I will send them with my prayers for the bishop. For he has welcomed a witch into this holy home and I fear you will all pay the price for her presence.” He then turned and stormed out of the hall.

* * * *

Larissa was trembling so badly she could feel her heart clattering against her ribs. Silus was gone and the council had dismissed the others, however, they still remained in the hall, discussing the display that had just taken place. She heard Eleazar make demands of the elders to draw up the proper paperwork straight away, but she eventually found it easier not to listen. She had never been the focus of so many males before. It was unsettling and she longed to return to her room.

After several more minutes she heard Eleazar excuse himself as he ushered her away from the council bench. Groups of males milled around and Eleazar expertly ushered her through the crowd, making sure no other body touched her or spoke to her. When they reached the door, he held it for her and brought her to the bench that Adriel sat upon. The woman smiled up at them with great satisfaction in her green eyes. Although it was quieter in the hall, there was still a great deal of men standing about.

“I must finish this, Adriel. Can you keep an eye on Larissa?”

“Of course.”

“Thank you.” Eleazar sat her down then lowered his body to her eye level. “Larissa, stay here with Adriel. She will take good care of you. I will be back as soon as possible and then we will retire for the evening. I know this day has been hard on you. You did wonderful in there.” He kissed her numb lips and walked back inside the hall.

“I told you he would not let you down,” the other woman said confidently as she expertly stitched a seam in the beginnings of a quilt. “Now just think, all of this can be put behind you and you can move on with happier things.”

Larissa did not reply. Was it truly over? Had Silus simply given up on her? It seemed all too easy. He was a stubborn man and did not take kindly to being told no. It was unnatural for him to simply step back from something he felt entitled to.

Adriel continued to sew as males wandered by and found their way back to their carriages. Larissa simply kept her eyes to the ground and waited for Eleazar. There was a shuffle of feet nearby and Larissa felt the hair rise on the back of her neck. She looked up and found Silus leering at her. When he saw her notice him, he arrogantly strutted over to her. Adriel’s hands stilled and she looked up to see what had captured Larissa’s attention. She hissed an oath and stuffed her work into her sewing basket then proceeded to cross her arms irritably.

“I wanted to commend you on acquiring such a fine match, dear wife. I cannot imagine the bishop being all too satisfied when he realizes the loadstone you will be around his neck. I almost pity you. To think, you found
my
demands as your husband inconvenient. Now you shall learn what it is to truly be wife to a domineering male. I imagine he will become quite enraged once he discovers your inadequacies. Try not to think of me when you are under him, praying you had not been so foolish and traded an accommodating husband for such an unbending mate.”

“That’s quite enough, Mr. Hostetler,” Adriel said smartly. “I suggest you find your carriage and be on your way.”

Silus looked to the other women and scoffed. “Are you speaking to me? I suggest you learn your place and address me only when I ask it of you and even then you will do so with the respect I deserve, female.”

Larissa watched as a fine red brow arched slowly toward Adriel’s bonnet. The woman was incredibly intimidating and Larissa feared Silus had just offended her greatly.

“I beg your pardon, but I see no man before me, but a boy, a small, lost boy. Go. Find your horse and be gone before you truly say something stupid and I am forced to teach you your place.”

He laughed, unaffected by her threat. “Who do you think you are? I see you here every day, alone, with nothing but this empty hall to keep you company. I am not sure who you belong to, or where your keeper is hiding, but I do know if you were not such a dried-up thing, in possession of not even the slightest manners, you would not be here. But here you are. Now, you may not be attractive, but I assume you are at least wise enough to know when to shut your mouth. Open it again and I will shut it for you.”

Before Silus could even turn back to Larissa, his body was propelled through the air and slammed into the opposite wall. The impact left him gasping and Larissa jumped. She looked to Adriel who still had that one sharp brow raised and watched Silus dispassionately. Larissa knew Adriel was holding him against the wall with his feet off the ground using only her mind. Without releasing him from her gaze she moved her sewing basket from her lap and gracefully stood.

Her skirts fell to cover her ankles as she slowly strolled over to him. In a soft voice Larissa found incredibly menacing, Adriel said, “You foolish man. I am well aware of my place. It appears to me that you are the one confused. Out of pity I will clarify things for you. Now, I know you are not a smart man so I will speak slowly and use small words.” Larissa’s mouth opened as Silus began to struggle to breathe much like he had in the council hall. Adriel stood a foot before him with her hands clasped loosely behind her back. “I am Adriel Schrock and, next to Bishop King, I am the oldest immortal on this farm. I took care of your great-grandfather when he was still a boy running around in his knickers. I also was there the day your great-great-grandparents perished. Elder Abraham Gerig, the third eldest immortal on this farm, is my brother-in-law. Elder Christian Schrock is my son. Bishop King is one of my dearest friends and therefore so is his mate. You however, are as inconsequential as the flies that die over the horse shit in the fields. That is your place. While the most powerful men of this Order are bound by honor to act accordingly with the laws they make, I am bound by nothing. There is no boys’ club that holds me to a code of honor. So I will grant you this one warning. You speak to me in anything less than reverence again, and I will snap your empty head from your neck.”

She turned and calmly walked back to the bench and Silus fell to the ground in an undignified heap. As Adriel picked up her sewing and began stitching as if she were never interrupted, Silus held his abused throat and gasped for air. When he saw Larissa watching him with wide eyes he sneered at her with such malice she looked away. It was not long before he was gone, just as Adriel had suggested.

Chapter 31

Jonas strained to see through the line of clothes. The sun blinded him with every snap of fabric that allowed its rays to pass as the hung clothing danced in the spring breeze. He knew he couldn’t approach the house, but if he could just see her for one brief moment, he would be satisfied. He only wanted to set eyes on his beloved wife and know that she was well. If God could offer him that, he would leave her be.

The heat of the day had left his clothing moist with sweat. He longed for a leather strap to tie back his hair. His booted feet stepped closer to the corner of the barn where the clothesline was suspended and he peered into his home. It was odd that although it was afternoon, the house was lit for evening as if a hallow of black clung to the home. Its amber windows glowed from the lanterns as darkness shrouded the home.

He heard the soft buzzing of the insects. A dog barked in the distance and children squealed and chattered from someplace hidden amongst the hills. The scent of animals was strong on such a warm day.

A figure passed by the window and he felt his heart leap. Was it his Abilene? He waited, watching the window closely, but only saw a blurred silhouette. Without realizing he moved, Jonas found himself before the front porch under the fading blue sky. He stepped closer to the porch and paused. The figure passed the window again, yet it seemed more blurred than before. He could clearly make out the items in the house that were within his view, yet when his wife passed she was no more than a smeared image.

“I must see you!” he shouted at the house and the passing smudge of a body stilled as if contemplating his demand. “Please,” he whispered.

The body moved and he straightened his shoulders. His heart raced in anticipation. Abilene. Beautiful Abilene.

He watched as the knob slowly turned and held his breath waiting for her to step out. He frowned when nothing but a black, shadowlike ghost came through the doorway. He felt the bite of tears at the backs of his eyes and deep in his throat. Tipping his head back, he cursed and roared at the heavens.

“Is it not enough you have taken her from me? Is it not enough you have had me forsake all that I love and cherish? Are you so wicked and set upon destroying me that you will not even allow me to set eyes upon my wife?”

The wind began to howl and the remnants of any warmth from the day seemed to get siphoned away from the earth in one long gust of icy air. Jonas’s skin prickled. Dreary, frostbitten squalls replaced warm, sunlit caresses. He shivered and looked to the porch.