Devils Roses 04 - Witch

nerdy. She seemed ruthless and violent.
    Lorri put a hand in the air again, stilling the frothing crowd of savages.
    “Bring a challenger. We will have a fight to the death for the right of royalty.”
    The crowd erupted. Part excitement and part argument over who was eldest.
    A man was shoved forward.
    Sam watched as Dorian’s jaw clenched seeing the man. He was tall and strong looking, but not muscular. He looked like a Euro trash vampire. They all did. Sam had no love for Vamps, other than Giselle. She looked like she was about to cry processing the statement Lorri had made, “The death?”
    Dorian took his turn at convincing her, “You have the strongest blood here Giselle. You have all of Marcus’s strength inside of you. Call to it. Ask it to assist you. That vampire cannot beat you no matter what. Marcus would have laughed at him. ”
    Giselle turned back to the front door and threw up in the bushes.
    The crowd laughed at her.
    Sam felt anger inside of himself. He was ready. He was dangerous when he was ready. He felt his fingers flex on their own. He began to think about Hanna. Her lips and eyes. His fingers running through her soft strawberry locks. The swell in her chest. The way she moaned when he licked along her throat. He had never waited for anything the way he had waited for her. He felt his energy seeping from him.
    He looked at the grin on Dorian’s face, “It almost feels like cheating having you here.”
    Sam smiled and tried to ignore the blush crossing his cheeks, “It is cheating there is no doubt.”
    He looked out at the massive group of vampires. The effect of his pheromones was hitting them. The eyes dilated first. They sniffed the air. Fangs began bursting everywhere.
    Lorri looked back sharply to Giselle, “Not you, you idiot. Keep those fangs in your mouth for the love of god.”
    Giselle covered her mouth, as a desperate look crossed her eyes.
    She took deep breaths and dropped the hand.
    The challenger frowned, “Is that a Siren?”
    Dorian laughed, “Where? Surely one of us would have eaten a Siren by now.”
    The male pointed at Giselle, “Is she a Siren and a vampire? Marcus has cursed us.”
    Sam laughed. They never would have assumed it would be him. Male Sirens with any sort of powers were never heard of.
    “Why do they think it’s me?” Giselle whispered.
    He smirked at her, “I don’t technically exist Giselle. They assume the Siren is the most beautiful girl here. If you are a Siren and the vampire queen then they will be as servants to you in every way.”
    Giselle looked lost, which wasn’t new.
    Aimee looked back, “Command them to kneel. We need to see how many will defend her, just in case.”
    Lorri looked back and nodded.
    Giselle cleared her throat again, “Uhm I would like it if you would kneel please.”
    Lorri rolled her eyes and grabbed Giselle by the crotch, “Like you have a set Giselle.”
    Giselle shouted against the assault, “KNEEL.”
    Several dropped to their knees but the others appeared to be fighting it. Their legs shook against her command. The tall Euro trash stood freely smiling.
    "Enough with the theatrics Lucifer."
    Dorian nodded at Giselle, “You ready? You have to kill him. He's a traitor to your kind. I bet he's the reason Marcus's bloodline is dead."
    Giselle looked worried, “How did he kill them?”
    Lorri sneered, “He has an army that Marcus never knew about. I guarantee it. Marcus was so obsessed with other things he missed it.”
    Dorian laughed, “Like his cock.”
    Sam glowered.
    Giselle looked around at the group of people surrounding her and shook her head, “I can’t do this.”
    Lorri gripped her arm, “Do it or die. Those are your only choices.”
    A tear dripped down Giselle’s cheek.
    Aimee stepped in and wiped the tear and smiled “You can do this. I’ve got your back.”
    Giselle looked into her eyes and nodded, “You will help me?”
    Aimee nodded, “I will not let you die.”
    Giselle took a step forward and nodded, “Okay.”
    Sam looked at Aimee in protest, but she shook her head subtly.
    Lorri growled, “Stay.”
    Sam knew who she was commanding.

Chapter Fifteen
    Ophelia

    She knelt on the couch, watching the others on the front lawn and the hundreds in the streets.
    She looked back at Jake. He was still sleeping on the couch across from her.
    She glanced at Annabelle, who hovered next to her, “Are you dead?”
    Annabelle spoke but never took her ghostly eyes from the window, “I