Morvicti Blood (A Morvicti Novel Book 1) (32 page)

But how could humans protect children from the fanatical orthodoxy that burned hot in some immortals? They could not.

Every muscle in his body tensed as the image of his children’s severed heads rolled away from their tiny bodies—their chance at life gone forever—burned in the back of his brain.

He kissed their foreheads. “I will not let that happen.”

As he glanced once more at his true love’s unmoving body, her eyes no longer holding light, Octavian prayed their children had Katherine’s courage.

“I swear, my darling, I will protect our twins.” Keeping hold of their babies, he bent down and kissed her lips.

I failed you, but I won’t fail our children.

He needed the fanatics to continue believing his children were dead.

Seeing the babies were doing well and sleeping in their incubators, he went up the stairs. Getting the axe from the garage, he walked over to the assassin’s body. He had never taken a Morvicti life before.

He swung the axe high, causing the ache in his ribs to explode. He ignored the pain and brought down the blade onto the man’s neck, severing his head.

“Neither you nor your orthodox brethren will ever hurt my children.”

Heartbroken, he fell to his knees. Thinking about his two innocent babies and how much they needed him, he stood and ran back inside.

He gave each of the twins a bottle of formula and then called his younger brother.

“Am I an uncle?” Romulus asked. He was one of only a few in his family that knew about his wife and the pregnancy.

“Rom, Katherine is dead. An orthodox assassin found me.”

“What about the babies?”

“They made it. I took the bastard’s head. I don’t know what to do, Rom. I’m not thinking clearly. I lost her. She’s dead because of me.” His voice shook from the anguish he felt.

“Octavian, I’ll take care of everything. You get your children away from there, now.”

“I can’t leave her.”

“You must. And you know what you have to do for your children, brother.”

“You’re asking too much. I can’t lose them, too.”

“I can’t imagine what you’re going through, but you have to leave. Get to Kansas City. I’ll have a private jet waiting for you. We can talk about what we must do for your babies when we are face to face. Move. Now.”

Rushing back down to the chamber, Octavian grabbed his gun, the bag, the babies and their car bed. He glanced at his beloved one last time before heading to the garage. He secured the twins in the bed on the passenger seat of the vehicle he’d purchased for Katherine the day after they’d learned she was pregnant. Another family car, like his Chevy Impala that had been destroyed by her killer.

He ran back inside to get one item he could not leave without—the box with their home videos and photos.

He got behind the wheel and glanced at his two babies resting comfortably.

Romulus is right.

He hated what he must do. He needed to move, or his resolve would fail.

Finding the right human couple would not be difficult, but guarding his children from the shadows would be heartbreaking, but necessary. He would never hear them speak their first words or see them take their first steps. They would never know him. It was for the best. But even knowing how true that was, Octavian felt the gravity of the loss in his entire being.

All he could do was watch and protect them, out of sight.

Not only had he lost Katherine, but in the days ahead, his babies would leave his arms for their new family—their human family.

Austin and Angelique would be his no more.

CHAPTER 59

9:40 PM – Present Day

Octavian sat in his home office staring at his glass of wine. He looked at the clock on the mantle. Twenty minutes until Bathry was supposed to arrive with his so-called proof.

When the nobles had read the bastard’s message all hell had broken loose.

I’m innocent. Octavian Drake is guilty. I will have proof shortly. Grant me sanctuary and I will bring it to the council within the hour.

Despite David Bathry coming from such a lesser bloodline, the other nobles’ uneasiness for the situation continued to multiply. On the advice of Darius, he excused himself to allow the council members to freely discuss the text.

I am the king of the Morvicti.
He had been since Roxanna had gone below ground in 2001. When she was above, his grandmother had known and kept his secret. God, how he could use her counsel now.

I will stake Bathry, The Ripper, and anyone else who has had anything to do with the attack on the Morvicti or has tried to harm my children.

Besides his grandmother, only four others had known his secret. Now that Rom was dead, only three above ground knew of Austin and Angelique—Belisarius, Gita, and Darius, who wasn’t a Drake but had married Rom’s daughter, Ophelia.

Octavian’s duty as the head of the council demanded that he find those responsible for the murders of immortals and bring them to justice. But foremost as a father his heart compelled him to get to his children. From the shadows he had never stopped protecting his son and daughter.

Austin and Angelique reminded him of his beloved Katherine to this very day.

He held the two empty frames that his servants had retrieved from Murphy Street. No doubt that Bathry was involved in the breach, likely using The Ripper as his weapon. The picture of Austin and Angelique was gone, as was the one of Katherine. “Is that Bathry’s proof?”

He curled his hands into fists.
I’m done waiting. I need to talk to Belisarius and Darius alone.

Heading to the library and recalling all that had transpired this night, he brought out his mobile phone and dialed his cousin. Belisarius had informed him of the car chase with Austin and Angelique at White’s Row. Gita’s last message had been she expected his children to return to Dr. Wilson’s home. He had rung her several times, but there had been no answer. Not an unusual occurrence, since she always had to find a private moment to return calls. But knowing that didn’t ease his mind.

“I’m walking into your estate now,” Belisarius said. “Lady Turellek and her sisters’ bodies have been transported to their bloodline’s sanctuary.”

“Go to my office. Darius and I will meet you there shortly.” He clicked off the phone. As he got closer to the library, he could hear the nobles still discussing Bathry.

“Why should we believe a low born like David Bathry?” Lady Sevann asked.

“We should not,” Darius answered. “All our bloodlines have sworn allegiance to Octavian Drake. He is our king.”

“That is true,” Duke Marveaux said. “But if by some small chance there is some evidence that will aid us in finding The Ripper, as the leaders of each of our noble bloodlines, it is our responsibility to hear it.”

Octavian walked into the library with his head held high. “My accuser has not arrived with his alleged proof? I am not surprised. He is the evildoer; the weed in our garden.” He turned to Darius. “Duke Vale, if you would be so kind to afford me a private moment.”

“Your will is my duty, Your Majesty. Always.”

The other nobles echoed the ancient words, but Octavian knew that it was within the Imperial Morvicti Council’s power to remove him as had been done to his ancestor, Astoroth, centuries ago. Despots only ruled for a brief time. But so did the weak.

He and Darius returned to his office and found Belisarius.

“Have a seat, please.”

They did; he remained standing.

“I summoned you both here, my most trusted friends, to let you know I am abdicating the throne. I cannot live a single second without protecting my children. Our law demands I shun them. I cannot. I will not. If Bathry has any proof, I must get them away from here now. The orthodox will want my children’s heads. Belisarius, you are the next in line.”

“Don’t be rash, Octavian,” Darius said. “We don’t know Bathry has proof. It’s likely just another ploy by the bastard.”

“I am done waiting. This entire day I’ve continued serving as your king when inside I was dying. My brother is dead at the hands of The Ripper. Why he spared my son I do not know, but I will not stop until Austin and Angelique are safe.”

“Your Majesty, Bathry hasn’t even shown,” Belisarius said. “Look at the time.”

He glanced at the clock and realized the traitor’s timetable to arrive had passed.

“You can’t abdicate, Octavian,” Darius said. “Your grandmother has only been gone since 2001.”

“Monarchies can change more frequently than that.”

“Human monarchies. For you to step down so soon after your coronation would create distrust in the Morvicti crown. We need stability in our leadership. This could mean war between the bloodlines.”

“But they are my blood, Darius. I can’t leave them unprotected.”

“I agree. Belisarius and I will handle things here. Go to your children. Make sure they are safe. But you will remain our king. Not just for our people or for yourself, but for your children.”

CHAPTER 60

9:35 PM

Angelique quietly followed Austin to Dr. Wilson’s front door. They’d switched weapons before getting out of the car.

They’d tried to call the Doc several times on the way over but no one ever answered. Had the laboratory’s intruder returned?

Austin turned the handle silently. It wasn’t locked. He peered inside and motioned for her to follow. Without a sound, they stepped into the building.

She spotted two packages on the floor near the door.
Ripper packages?
Was the killer here? Had he brought Michael with him?

A door was ajar to their left.

Austin pointed to a figure at the end of the dark hallway.

She turned, realizing Gita was stretched out on the floor.

Her heart raced as Austin motioned for her to stay put and cautiously walked to the sweet woman. He checked every door he passed until he finally came to Gita. He knelt down and placed his fingers to her neck. Turning back, he shook his head.

She’s dead. Oh God, no. Where’s Dr. Wilson? Please let him be alive.

As Angelique headed down the hallway, every shadow appeared ready to jump out and grab her.

She knelt down next to Gita.

The woman’s eyes were glassy, but suddenly she saw her lips quiver. “She’s not dead,” Angelique whispered. “She just took a shallow breath.”

Once again Austin placed his fingers to her neck. “No pulse,” he said quietly.

She checked for herself. He was right. No pulse. Then she felt a single beat on the tips of her fingers. “I felt something, Austin.” She counted to sixty, but another beat never followed. “I guess I was wrong.”

Gita is dead.

“Listen.” Austin pointed to the ceiling.

She held her breath, focusing her attention on the upper floors. She heard footsteps. “Someone is in the lab.”

He nodded. “We’ll use the stairs. Stay behind me.”

She nodded.

He led the way, and she followed a few steps behind. Even though she was terrified, being with her brother gave her the courage she needed.

Light shone through the bottom of the lab’s door. They no longer heard footsteps.

Austin carefully opened the door. They walked into the lab. It looked empty.

A moan startled her. Doc was tied up on the floor, duct tape covering his mouth.

“Austin, it’s Dr. Wilson.” Instinctively, she bolted to him.

“Stop,” Austin yelled.

But it was too late. As she knelt down beside Dr. Wilson, a man leapt from behind a cabinet and grabbed her, knocking the Glock out of her hand and placing the barrel of his gun to her head.

“So we finally meet, Mr. McCord,” the intruder said, squeezing her tighter into his body. “I wish it could have been under better circumstances, but these are dangerous times as we all know.”

Austin glared, keeping the M4 assault rifle aimed at the man. “So you’re The Ripper?”

The stranger tightened his grip, hurting her ribs. It was becoming difficult to breathe. When he spoke again, his voice dripped with pure venom. “No, I am not The Ripper.”

“Am I supposed to know you?”

“No, but I know you.” The intruder’s cologne had a spicy sweet aroma that filled her nostrils, causing her stomach to lurch. “I’ve seen your image on a hundred feeds around the city.”

“You’re here because of the APW?” Austin’s eyes locked on hers. The silent message was clear:
Stay strong. Don’t give up.

“Not exactly, though I’m the one who got that issued. Nice work by me I might add.” The man laughed. “Drop the gun, Austin, or your sister dies here and now.”

“Okay,” Austin said, slightly lowering his weapon. “Now, Sis.”