Devils Roses 05 - Death

head. He drops to his knees. I'm gasping in horror, she's killing him. She drops her hands after a second.
    He scrunches his face up. He looks up at the ceiling and screams. When he lowers his head his white eyes are on fire. He grabs my hand, "I'll go talk to him." He winks before I can talk him out of it.
    "What did you do?"
    She grins, "I fixed him. He was broken." She walks out of the room.
    In the silence I hear a scream and slamming. My bones are lining back up with loud snaps and grinding going on in my body.
    I cry out taking shallow breaths.
    The commotion downstairs is too much. I climb off the bed and wink into the kitchen. I look out the back window to the grass where Aleks and Sam have Dorian on the ground. Ben is in wolf form hovering over Dorian's face.
    I wink out on the lawn, "What are you doing?"
    Sam looks back at me and grins, "Defending you milady." Ben saunters to me and rubs against my hip. I rub my fingers deep onto the wolf down and notice the burning look in Aleks' eyes. He looks different and yet somehow the same.
    Dorian's pleading black eyes meet mine, "You alright?"
    I nod once.
    I know he's sorry. I can see it blanketing his face.
    "I'm sorry too." I whisper.
    Aleks climbs off of him and grabs my hand. Something is different. "You really alright?"
    "Yeah?" I furrow my brow.
    He bends and presses his warm soft lips against my cheek. My entire body shivers. I pull back, "What was that for?" My words are a breathy whisper.
    "I just remembered so many things and I'm pretty sure it's been a long time since I did that."
    His hands are warm around mine. He steps away and walks across the lawn. Dorian looks after him, "Wanker. I could have taken you if the lads hadn’t helped."
    Aleks chuckles and flashes in front of Dorian again. He bends down and punches him in the face once more, "That’s for touching my girl."
    Dorian's face breaks into a bloody grin, "You hit like a girl."
    Aleks laughs and offers him a hand. Dorian looks at his huge hand and then takes it.
    "Apologize."
    I'm lost. I shake my head, "Let's focus on getting Ari back." I walk away, "I'm not your girl." At least I don’t think I am.
    Lorri walks out the back door, "Okay, planning time. We've worked it out. We know many of the things that happened last time are going to happen again. The place should look the same. Let's do this." She frowns when she sees them all, "What are you idiots doing?"
    Sam beams, "Wrestling."
    Lorri looks less than impressed.

Chapter Fourteen

    Ophelia

    The cold of the vampire fortress feels the same as it did last time. We have killed more than we did the last time though. I gag watching Aimee take the soul of the man she's holding. She does it rough, like she used to. His black blood sprays across the pale beige wall of the hallway. She hasn’t done that since she was the old Aimee.
    Aleks is clinging to her side, like he used to.
    "Why didn’t Marcus come? I thought he wanted this too." I ask.
    Sam shakes his head, "He's holding Jon ransom and won't help us. Not until we make Hanna like she was. He wants her dead and reborn. He's been having a tough time locating her though." His grin is cheeky and accusing.
    I chuckle, "Ha. Well good luck Marcus. The blue sisters have been watching the house for me. They've been keeping her guarded and cloaked. He doesn’t stand a chance. I just can't believe he's being such a baby. He isn’t helping or anything?"
    Sam shakes his head looking around as we follow the group. "He's pissed and won't let Henry have Jon until we change her."
    "Bastard. I promised my sisters I would free them."
    He presses his lips together. I know he wishes Hanna was changed too.
    "You don’t want to even see if your mom is okay?" I ask.
    He draws his brows in, "No. I know she's fine. I know what she is." He means traitor and I hate her for it.
    We walk in silence and my stomach flips when we near the main courtyard. I remember the pain and suffering Aimee endured when we got there last time. I'm terrified but also anxious. Oliver should be waiting for us. His face flashes in my mind.
    Aimee looks back at me severely. Her beautiful pale face is covered in the splatter of the black blood she has filled the air with.
    I nod. I know she's checking to make sure I'm ready. Dorian and Lorri have gone off separately. This time I didn’t go with them though. This time I'm meeting my father in the courtyard. Lorri and Dorian have gone to kill Daniel. Daniel who has no idea they know