Illusion: Volume 3 (5 page)

I
woke up to the sound of voices. I was secured to a chair in the basement. It
was my uncle’s basement. I recognized it because I had been in it a few times
when I got out of hand and they needed to keep me secluded. They had two young
guards on me. If I wasn’t bound I would have been able to easily take them.
They were using chains on me instead of rope. They weren’t stupid, that was for
sure.

The
door opened and Damon came in. “Scram, I need a minute with her,” Damon barked
at the two younger guards. The two guards didn’t even question him. They just
hurried out and he closed the door behind them. He walked down the stairs and I
glared at him. “Don’t give me that look. I had nothing to do with any of this.
It was your precious Luca not me,” he snapped.

“You
are a part of it now that makes you just as guilty,” I said angrily.

He
rested his hands on the back of my chair and lowered his face so he was only
inches from me. “Despite what you think I loved you. I just felt inadequate
compared to Luca; that is why I cheated on you. I am not doing this because I
am trying to hurt you. I am just following orders.”

“What
is it you plan to do exactly?” I asked quietly.

He
smiled. “I get the pleasure of questioning you.”

“You
know I won’t answer your questions,” I said softly.

He
laughed like it was funny. “I am a patient man despite what you think. Now
where is Colin and the renegade’s hideout?”

“None
of your business,” I said looking him in the eyes.

He
smiled like he was amused. Suddenly he recoiled and slapped me across the face.
I cussed as the sting of his hand radiated through me. “Try again,” he ordered.

“Go
fuck yourself,” I muttered and he slapped me again this time harder. I tasted
blood in my mouth. The anger surged through me and I strained against the
chains.

“Come
on Lillian, just tell us what we want to know and we will let you go,” he said
softly.

I
laughed like he was telling a joke. “I should just go ahead and trust
everything you say right?”

His
expression darkened and he slapped me three more times. I felt the blood
starting to pour from my mouth and nose. “Come on Lillian. I don’t want to fuck
up your beautiful face. It would be such a shame,” he said amused.

“Go
to hell you bastard,” I mumbled as I tried to regain my composure.

He
was on me again beating me mercilessly. When he got tired of hitting me in the
face he went to my stomach and chest. Relief washed over me when he finally
stopped. He wiped the blood on his fists off on a towel as he watched me. “I
will give you a little while to think about what you want to tell me,” he
growled then walked out.

I
sagged in the chair. I felt hot tears roll down my cheeks. I could feel my face
swelling. I knew I had broken bones in my face and ribs. He was going to end up
killing me because I wasn’t going to speak.

Time
seemed to creep by, but after a few minutes Damon came back in. I glared at him
defiantly letting him know I wouldn’t relent. He walked behind me and leaned
over me so he could whisper in my ear. “I am going to give you a taste of what
I am going to do if you don’t speak. Your uncle has given me permission to do
whatever it takes,” he whispered as he traced his finger down my cheek.

I
pulled my face away from his touch. “Don’t touch me you bastard,” I growled.

He
tisked. “It wasn’t so long ago you were begging me to touch you,” he whispered
as he touched my hands. I screamed in agony as he yanked my finger backwards
breaking it. I felt like I was going to vomit. I pushed the feeling away and
took deep breaths. “You are so defiant. I wonder if I will have to break every
finger,” he said softly as he snapped another finger.

I
cried out and tears stung my eyes. The pain was incredible. I thought I was
going to lose it. I bit my tongue to keep from pleading and telling him what he
wanted to know. He broke a third finger and I cried sobbing. I started
breathing quickly. I was going to hyperventilate and pass out.

The
door at the top of the stairs opened and Luca rushed in followed by Kai. “What
the hell are you doing?” Luca asked horrified.

“What
I was ordered. Take it up with management if you have problem. Now get out and
let me finish my job,” Damon growled as he grabbed a fourth finger.

“Please
Luca! Don’t let him do this!” I pleaded. Damon broke my finger and I screamed in
agony and lowered my head so they couldn’t see my tears.

Damon
was suddenly knocked backwards. Kai had him pinned to the wall. Kai punched him
one good time and Damon crumbled to the floor. Luca rushed over to me and
started undoing the chains.

“I
can’t believe he did this,” Luca whispered as he supported me.

“Get
me out of here,” I begged.

“Luca
you have to let her go. She had to get away on her own. No one can see us
helping her,” Kai said firmly.

Luca
looked at me then nodded and set me on my feet. I leaned against the wall for
support. I was close to passing out. Luca walked over to a door and opened it.
It led out into the woods. “Go, and don’t come back,” he ordered.

I
stumbled toward the door. Just the few steps I took felt like they took all my
strength. I made it outside, and fell into the grass.

“Lily
you have to run, you have to go now,” Luca pleaded.

“I
can’t,” I said softly.

“How
do you expect her to run when she has been beaten almost to death,” Aubrey
growled.

Luca
stood quickly and stumbled backwards. Kai came out ready for a fight as well.
“Just take her, get her somewhere safe,” Luca pleaded.

“I
should kill every one of you,” Aubrey hissed stepping forward.

“Aubrey,
please don’t,” I begged as I reached for him.

He
came to me and easily picked me up. He looked at me then looked back at Kai and
Luca. “If anyone touches her again. They will die whether she begs me to spare
them or not,” he said softly. The world blurred and everything went black.

I
woke up with a start. “It’s ok, I am just getting your clothes off,” Aubrey
said softly.

The
pain came back full force and I cried out. Aubrey pinned me to the bed. “Look
at me Lillian,” he said firmly. I looked into his blue eyes and I relaxed a
little.

“Let’s
get this over with,” Justin said from beside me. I didn’t even hear him come in
the room. He might have been there the whole time. I was just too disoriented
to realize it.

Justin
took my hand and straightened my first finger. I screamed in agony and
struggled. It felt like they were being broken all over again. I could hear
Aubrey speaking, but I couldn’t make out the words. I was too panicked. I
couldn’t even breathe properly. I gasped and the world seemed to slow when
Aubrey sank his fangs into my neck. I could feel Justin straightening my
fingers, but I didn’t feel the pain. When Justin was done Aubrey released me
and bit his own wrist. He pressed it too my lips and his cool blood instantly
made me feel better. He pulled his wrist away when I had enough. “Rest now,” he
said softly then covered me with a blanket, and walked out. Justin followed him
out and I was alone.

My
mind was cloudy, but the thoughts of what my uncle said haunted me. “Why don’t
you ask your precious Aubrey what part he played in this whole thing? Do you
really think Cornelius did his own bidding?”

What
if Aubrey did play a part in my parent’s death? What if he was still playing a
part even now? He wouldn’t let me kill Cornelius; there had to be a reason. I
couldn’t just lay there and pretend everything was ok. I needed to talk to Colin.
Maybe Colin knew more than he was telling me.

I
sat up and groaned. My body still ached, but it was slowly healing. I was still
in my clothes. I was just missing my shoes and my coat. I got my shoes on, and
found my coat. I looked battered and beat. My clothes were dirty and bloody,
but I didn’t have anything else to wear. I walked slowly down the hall toward
the main club entrance. I was hoping Aubrey and Justin wouldn’t be around. As
soon as I walked through the door I spotted them sitting at the bar. Aubrey
immediately spotted me and his expression darkened.

I
hurried toward the exit, but he blocked me. “You are in no condition to go
out,” he said firmly.

“I’ve
been in worse conditions,” I said softly as I attempted to push past him.

He
caught my arm and forced me to remain still. I glared up at him and his
expression changed from annoyance to confusion. “When I looked at you earlier I
could see nothing but love for me; now I see nothing but hate. What has
changed?” he asked softly.

I
looked away quickly. I didn’t know what to say. I didn’t have any facts. All I
had was what everyone said. I had no real proof of anything. I was ten years
old when it happened, and I couldn’t remember anything. “I don’t know what has
changed. Please just let me go,” I said softly.

He
released me and stepped back. “You always come back to me,” he said softly then
turned and walked away.

I
was confused by his words, but I wasn’t going to question him. I walked out
into the cool air. I hurried to my car and set off for the warehouse.

 Walked
into the warehouse. Colin was in his office like he always was. He looked up a
little startled when I walked in. “Lillian are you ok?” he asked sounding
worried.

“I’m
fine. I need to know what happened the night my parents died,” I said quietly.

He
watched me for a second. “I wasn’t there. I don’t know. You were there, not
me,” he said quietly.

“I
know I was there, but I can’t remember anything. Everyone keeps saying Aubrey
was involved somehow and I don’t know how. Then I find out Cornelius is the
vampire council, and he is Aubrey’s brother. What if he was involved and I
trusted him. My own uncle was part of it. I don’t know what to do!” I said as I
paced back and forth trying to figure out what to do.

Colin
grasped my shoulders and forced me to look at him. “Lillian calm down. Have you
ever considered just asking Aubrey?”

“He
said one time that their death was his fault, but I didn’t believe him. I don’t
know what to believe anymore,” I said as tears rolled down my cheeks.

He
pulled me into a hug. “Just follow your instincts. You have done well so far.
No one could have known your uncle was involved.”

I
pulled away from him. I didn’t feel like being touched. “I should have known he
was involved. He was always so quiet about my parents. I thought it was because
he was upset that they were dead.” I paced back and forth thinking about
everything my uncle had said over the years.

“You
can’t blame yourself for this Lily. You need to focus on the task at hand. We
cannot change the past,” he said softly.

I
scowled. “What is the task? I don’t even know what it is. What are we going to
do just kill every vampire that is faithful to Cornelius? How does that solve
anything?”

“It
gives people freedom. People like Justin. Justin was a prisoner, but what you
have done gave him strength to fight back,” he said quietly.

“I
have done nothing but cause havoc and destroy my own family,” I said quietly.

“Your
family is not who you think they are. What kind of leader turns his own brother
into the vampire council? You don’t want a family like that,” he said softly.

I
looked at him, but I didn’t speak. I knew he was right. A real family didn’t do
the things my uncle had done. He nearly had Damon kill me. I had a feeling he
might have made sure I didn’t walk out of there alive. I shook my head. “I need
a shower, I need to find a hotel,” I said quietly.

“Come
stay with me. I have an extra room,” he said as he put his arm around my
shoulder and guided me out of the room.

I
let him lead me to his car. I didn’t feel like driving anyway. I just needed to
get a shower and get some sleep. I would figure out what my next move would be
when I was healed.

Colin’s
house was in the middle of downtown. It was a small apartment that was right on
the river. It was a really nice place. I didn’t take much time to admire it. I
was too tired. He showed me to my room and I started the shower. He was
supposed to be finding me some clothes that would fit me.

I
felt a little better once the hot water hit my skin. I closed my eyes and attempted
to clear my head. Everything happened so quickly and it was all so
overwhelming. Sometimes it felt like there were at least three sides, and I had
to choose, but I couldn’t. There was my uncle and the hunters; who I grew up
idolizing. Then there was Colin and the renegades; the ones who seemed like
they just wanted freedom from the anarchy of the councils. Finally there was
Aubrey; the master vampire of the city, and the man I was beginning to think I
was in love with. It seemed like he wanted to distance himself from the others.
He didn’t seem like he wanted any part of it. I shook my head in annoyance.
Thinking about everything wasn’t getting me anywhere.

I
turned the water off and stepped out of the shower. I wrapped the towel around
me and stepped out into the room. I was a little startled to see Aubrey sitting
on the bed. He was playing with the hem of the nighty Colin left me.

“Hey,”
I said softly. I wasn’t really sure what else to say to him.

“I
can help you remember,” he said without looking at me. He continued to play
with the delicate lace hem like he hadn’t even spoken.

“Remember
what?” I asked softly. I had a horrible feeling in the pit of my stomach. I had
a feeling I knew what he was talking about.

“The
night your parents died,” he said finally looking up at me.

I
rushed over to him and sat next to him. “How can you do that?” I asked hoping
he wasn’t lying.

“Well
you can see what happened through my eyes. Maybe it will stir some memories for
you,” he said softly.

“Please
show me,” I begged as I took his hand. I needed to know what part everyone
played.

He
tangled his fingers in my hair and pulled me closer to him. “I am so afraid you
will walk away from me if I show you this,” he whispered desperately.

“Please,
I have to know,” I pleaded hoping he wouldn’t change his mind.

He
closed his eyes and looked away from me for a minute. Then he nodded and leaned
into me. “I am going to bite you. Try to relax. It is the easiest way to get
you to see what I saw,” he said softly.

I
nodded nervously. I didn’t know what he was going to do. I didn’t know what to
expect. I was more afraid of finding out some horrible truth about Aubrey. I
wasn’t sure if I could handle Aubrey betraying me. He laid a gentle kiss on my
neck before he gently sank his fangs into my neck. The room started to blur but
it wasn’t like it did when he transported us. It was more like my vision was
fading out…..