The Dormant: The Elemental Witches (Book Two)

Chapter 15: Escape from the Blood Bank

~Cristina~

This week had been a strange accomplishment for Patrick and me. If I didn't know what the word mother was and how you could connect with a child, these days have made me realize I was exactly that. At first, the kid had become a means to an end and now that end had evolved into something more, something dear. He was now the main end to my goals and the only creature I have been able to connect with since my mother. They were the only creatures I actually love.

I am not talking about the connection with mind-links. We vampires only get that with our companions , mine didn't use his with me. No, this connection ran deeper than that. Since making my promise to him, every glance and every move of Patrick's would give me a hint of what he was about to do before he did it. Every silence between us was full of questions I could answer without him asking, and every cold stone face masked the pain he had been feeling since he learned about his human life that night.

Patrick, these months, had become a killing machine. His appetite was insatiable, as so was the way he killed. Day by day, it passed, it seemed he was losing every bit of his humanity and innocence. For Domenico's plans, that was a requirement. For me, detrimental. I now realized I was the only anchor between him becoming a bloodlust monster just like companion and a good creature.

I couldn't let Patrick become what I hated more in my existence, not my child. I sat outside the house watching a big goon practicing some kind of hand-to-hand combat with my son. With a closed fist, the goon connected his knuckles straight into his face, making me bring my hands up to my mouth in a gasp, almost getting up to go help him.

Patrick didn't even flinch as he climbed the big goon from the front and crouched on the big vampire's shoulder, grabbing his head. He was about to kill him. I already knew. Here in Domenico's clan, everything was killed or be killed. Only the best fighters survive. He brought the head of the goon back, making a move that broke his neck. The vampire fell back, Patrick jumping from his shoulders and landing on his feet.

¨I see my father has let go of your leash.¨ Standing up, I listened to his cold demeanor towards me. ¨What are you doing here, mother?¨ He grabbed a towel wiping a streak of blood from his mouth. ¨I came to watch you practice. Makes me proud to see you have mastered combat.¨ He tossed the towel to the goon behind him. ¨I didn't kill Fabio if you are worried about that. In a few hours, he is going to be fine.¨ He stated, walking by my side, the same icy voice I had become accustomed to, dripping from his lips. Then a twitch from one side of his eyes was almost imperceptible. He was happy I came.

Patrick was my pride and glory, and if I had to tell him that every day, I would. He stopped suddenly, his hand coming to my cheek. His fist curling and his knuckles going white. ¨ It's nothing Patrick…¨ He looked at the newest mark I had gotten for not having vegan blood for Ambrosia, who visited us yesterday.

¨If it hasn't already healed, it means he did it with one of his toys. With what?¨ He let his arm fall, and we began walking slowly inside the compound.

I breathed slowly. ¨A baton.¨ Patrick turned to me, grasping my arms. ¨I don't know why you are not letting me kill him. I have become stronger and better.¨ I smiled at his beautiful face. He had grown up in a month. I couldn't see him anymore as a child of 15. Yes, he was small, and he would probably always be the same size, but mentally he was a vampire, a pure-blooded vampire. Either way, Domenico was his clan elder. Domenico, had chosen vampirism. Domenico, I didn't even know how old he was, and as older a vampire got, the stronger he was.

We got into the house and entered what we had established was our dining room. Sitting on one of the couches, Patrick snapped his finger in the air. Another vampire goon came quickly behind him with a chain; a she-wolf was being tugged behind him. The goon pressed the girl who was sobbing uncontrollably on her knees in front of him. ¨Please…¨ She hiccupped. Something inside me cracked at seeing the broken creature. ¨Shhh sweetheart, I am not going to do anything that would hurt you.¨ Patrick cooed at her, pressing his thumb on her cheek.

Patrick turned to me, blinking and still stroking the girl's cheek. ¨If we don't do anything about him soon, there will be nothing left of you left.¨ He then turned to the broken she-wolf whose sobs were calming down. She was utterly broken looking down. He motioned with his hand towards her and, in the same emotionless voice, remarked, ¨Look at this creature. Domenico has taken everything from her. Her fight, her dignity, her spirit, her pack. You are his companion. If he could do something like this to someone as innocent as...¨

Patrick stopped talking, his red eyes burning ambers. Looking straight at the girl he asked. ¨What's your name, beautiful?¨ The girl, in a sob, looking down, mumbled. ¨Lacey sir.¨ He turned back to me. ¨If he can bring a creature like Lacey to this state, what can say he can, as your companion, do much worse to you? I would kill you myself, mother, without hesitation before he turns you into this.¨ He motioned towards the she-wolf kneeling in front of him.

My eyes went big, and slowly shaking my head, I brought my hand to his. ¨You would not do anything like that. I was looking for you just for this topic. He said something big was happening tomorrow. He is right now over at Giles, so this is our chance, Patrick.¨ I whispered and snapped. ¨We will wait until the clan has to go to bed before morning. I guess we will have an hour or two before we need to find a place to hide for the day.¨ He who was stroking the she-wolf's head immediately looked at me and reclined on the couch.

I could feel his head working. ¨No, we can't, Patrick. He is way too strong for us to take him down for ourselves, we need to leave, and today is our best bet.¨ Patrick nodded, bringing the head of the girl on his knee. ¨Then so be it. I trust you, mother, and if you say it's our best bet, then it is.¨ At this point, the she-wolf closed her eyes on his knees. Her breathing began to decrease, as did her heartbeat. She was calming down.

He grabbed her head, bringing her eyes to open again, looking straight into them. ¨Lacey, I will set you free. I am going to take you to your dreams so you can see your family again.¨ Patrick slowly brought her torso up, giving her a tight hug. She closed her eyes as she began sobbing, feeling safe in his arms. Then a gasp came from her mouth, and her eyes rolled back. Patrick brought his head back; his fangs completely exposed a trickle of her blood on the side of his mouth.

She was taking her last breaths in his arms as he caressed the same cheek again. ¨Be at peace with your kind.¨ He mumbled so lowly to the corpse he was holding. Letting her go, she fell to the floor with a loud thud. Patrick stood up. ¨Then you should eat to mother. We don't know when we will have the chance to do it again.¨ I nodded slowly as he opened the door, probably going to his room.

I asked for some blood for myself and waited. I sat in that room, looking straight at the wall, trying to avert my eyes from the body slump on the floor. Waiting for my life to start again. Waiting to take Patrick away from this place, away from him. The scene with the she-wolf was disturbing even for a vampire. I wasn't sure if it was mercy or the way he did it was crueler than Domenico´s. Shaking my head, I looked at the clock on the wall. It was already three a.m.

I walked to my room, grabbing a small backpack. I put inside about five thousand dollars in change money I was able to take from Domenico's wallet yesterday, a few changes of clothes. Looking around the room and only for the fun of it as my one and only f**k you to Domenico, I put the damn iron shackles and flog into my backpack. See if he likes being without his favorite torture toys. I changed into some jeans and a black T-shirt, putting some sneakers on my feet. I was prepared as I brushed my hair into a ponytail. Tonight was the night our nightmare ended.

Knocking softly on Patrick's door. It was about sixty seconds before he exited the room. We took the stairs, so we didn't make any sound, and slowly went towards the front door. I opened it, putting my other hand squarely in it, so I wouldn't make any sound. I took a glimpse of the outside. ¨Fucking hell.¨ I hissed. Closing the door, my hands began shaking. A goon was standing outside. He was at least twice my size.

Pointing towards the entrance, I looked at Patrick. If we could use the killer instinct Domenico had imparted to him, this was the time. I opened the door quickly and sexily walked towards the big-looking vampire. ¨ Hey, sexy.¨ I gave him a look from head to toe. Finishing with a bite of my lips, slowly letting the lower one go. ¨What are you doing here?¨ I asked, smiling, my voice as sultry as I could make it. He coughed, trying not to look at me. ¨Mistress Cristina, you shouldn't be outside this late. The sun will come out soon, and the master wouldn't like you to be out.¨

I put a hand on his chest. ¨Let me worry about what the master would like.¨ I walked behind him, making him turn facing the woods. ¨You know he doesn't satisfy me. I need something more manly.¨ I continued, my hands caressing his upper arms. Patrick opened the door behind us and slowly stalked behind him. ¨Why don't you worry about what I need?¨ The goon took a deep breath, trying not to look at me, but his red eyes found mine. ¨If the master knows what you are doing, he will kill both of us.¨ ¨And who is going to tell?¨ I asked grinning as Patrick was almost on his back. ¨I won't mention anything.¨ I finished.

The goon shrugged his shoulders and tilted his head towards me. ¨ Well, I would love to hit that. Not to be disrespectful, Cristina, you sound like a fun fuck.¨ Patrick pounced on top of his shoulders and, with his nail, made a gash on the vampire's throat. The vampire grabbed his windpipe, looking wildly around. Patrick grabbed his head, twisting it left and right and cutting it with his fingernail until finally, the body dropped. Patrick landed, holding the head with the tongue out, dropping it beside him.

He wiped his hand on his jeans before grabbing my hand, and we began running. Soon entering the woods. That's when I heard it in my head. It was the first time he used our connection. I heaved as I felt him inside my brain, Domenico. ¨I know you escaped with my son, mate. Did you think you could take that amount of money from my wallet and I wouldn't notice?¨ I would need to do a process to get rid of him. The first thing was getting away from him. The second was rejecting him and getting a male vampire willing to make me his.

Even then, I would still have a shadow of Domenico inside, but it wouldn't be strong, and the pesky mate connection would be over. But for now, the mind-link was handy. At least I was aware he knew we had escaped and that he was coming. ¨We need to quicken our steps Patrick; Domenico is coming back.¨ We ran as fast as we could through the woods. But we weren't fast enough. You could already hear the vampires behind us. I needed to do something to get Patrick out, but what could I do?

We ran, entering a clearing. There the answer fell right into my lap. I was amazed and scared at the same time by this.

~ Poppy~

I was in a closet. I looked up at the two elven who were stuck in the aforementioned closet with me. The two faces were grim, but I couldn't understand what had happened. For me, I was simply closeted. It was a closet full of colorful clothes that fitted me wonderfully because they were mine, but it was still a closet. They weren't moving, so I reached for the door. ¨ Let me get you guys out.¨ My hand went up, and I turned the doorknob, the three of us falling into the darkness of what once was my room. Thalion got up, giving his hands to each of us, pulling both of us girls up. ¨Where are we, Poppy?¨ He asked, looking around at my unicorn-themed room. I gulped, feeling ashamed of the rainbow s**t around us.

¨We are in Willamette County, Oregon.¨ I put my index finger to my chin. ¨To be more exact, we are at Rose Park Cul de Sac number six, in my bedroom.¨ They both looked at me, not even smiling. ¨What? Lighten up, Elven people.¨ I shrugged my arms, walking past them as Thalion grabbed my hand. ¨Poppy you don't have any idea of the gravity of the situation we are in, do you?¨ I looked at him, my face changing in so many emotions before shaking my head. ¨Do you have a candle or a torch in here? We have to have a serious talk.¨ I pursed my lips walking to the light switch, hoping they hadn't cut the utilities. I flipped the switch, light coming from the lamp above, and thank everything above, I would probably have looked silly doing that and nothing happening. Light shone all around. ¨My parents probably paid the utilities a year in advance. Come.¨ I walked out of the room with a stride, then looked back down at myself and the elven behind me. We seemed so oddly dressed like we were at a medieval fair.

I went to the kitchen, grabbing glasses. ¨Water?¨ They both shook their heads, watching in amazement as I filled mine with water from the faucet. Then I set my elbows on the kitchen island and waited for someone to explain. ¨Aine has fallen.¨ Thalion blurted out, making Aradhel close her eyes and a single teardrop fall from one eye. ¨Is she dead?¨ I asked, clutching the glass in my hands hard.

He shook his head. ¨Not dead but lost to the realms. It happened once before, long before we were born. We call it... The story of the dark lord.¨ He grabbed one of the kitchen stalls and sat in front of me, putting his elbows on the kitchen counter, and looked squarely into my eyes. ¨It is said it was an unnatural being who wanted Aine´s pureness for himself, so he took her.¨ I opened my eyes. ¨Like taking her, do you mean kidnapped her?¨ They both nodded. ¨Her pureness wouldn't reach the other realms bringing darkness to all of them. The great night lasted for about fifty years.¨ He took a deep breath. ¨The story goes that the other gods rescued her and imprisoned him.¨

I stood up. ¨But my dad and mom are still in the realms.¨ He put a hand up before I could speak. ¨Every natural realm, even this one, would lie in darkness until she is rescued. From what Brigit told us, Aine managed to close up everything before any darkness could seep inside our realm. They are safe.¨ I took a deep breath. ¨Maybe we can enter too? Brigit said we would be needed to help rescue her.¨ He shook his head and pondered, then sighed loudly. ¨Every door created by Aine is closed.¨

¨How do you know?¨ He shrugged his shoulders. ¨It is the Goddess's magic. Not even I can understand it fully.¨ I began panicking. ¨Well, we can try...¨ I looked up at Aradhel, who hadn't said anything. ¨...I know a place where a door might be in this realm.¨ I remember the enchanted stream where I was first taken by Brigit. ¨Poppy is best if we look for help before we try any rescue missions.¨ Aradhel was surely not on my side this time as she added. I puffed, shifting my eyes between the two of them and then down. ¨We should try, Thalion, please.¨ He gave me a resigned smile. ¨The fable talks about dragon people and the feline kind Poppy. I heard you talking about your friend who is a feline. Can you take us to her?¨

I opened my mouth, closed it. I was not going to wait, so a plan started forming in my mind to go to the stream myself. Still, knowing Thalion, he wouldn't let me, so if I had to take matters into my own hands, I would have to do it alone and quietly. I would wait for them to fall asleep and then go look for the door myself. ¨I think we have to rest here tonight, and tomorrow we will go to Colorado, where she is. The thing is, I don't know where exactly.¨ I scratched my head and then looked at them. ¨I think we should change clothes to something earthlier.¨

They looked down as if I were talking crazily. Puffing, I walked to the other side of the counter, grabbing Aradhel´s hand. ¨Come I think I have some of Danielle's dresses. Thalion, I'll get you some of my dad's clothes.¨

Soon both elven were dressed as humans. Aradhel. I had put her in a short flowery dress, and Thalion was in some jeans that showed off his great ass... assets and a grey T-shirt. I had to say the elven male looked devilish handsome. ¨We just need to cut some of Thalion's hair and find some contacts for the violet eyes.¨ I just stated as I watched the two royals in their new attire. They both looked at me. ¨Violet eyes are not considered human.¨ I finished my statement by pointing at my own. ¨What color?¨ Thalion asked. I shook my head. ¨Brown, green, blue, any color really except red and violet.¨ He nodded once, closing his eyes. He opened them again. The violet had toned down into a sky blue with golden in the middle. They were still striking, but at least they looked human. ¨I want to do that. Teach me.¨ I demanded.

Thalion gave me the first smile of the night and placed my hand over my eyes. ¨The first time you change your appearance you need to think of your hand as a conduit for your magic, now think of your eyes in any color you want. ¨ I thought of my forest green eyes, the ones I had before the ascension. I felt my hand going hot, transferring the temperature to my face before cooling down immediately.

I opened my eyelids, and he gave me a boyish grin. ¨I prefer the violet color, but those are gorgeous.¨ Stating, he kissed me on the cheek and was about to give me one on my lips, but Aradhel came inside the room. ¨What about mine? How do they look?¨ ¨Aradhel those or hot pink eyes.¨ I grumbled at the elven woman, my jaw dropping at the never-seen eye color. ¨I know, they look so fashionable.¨ I shook my head. ¨Not on earth they don´t.¨ She thrusted her arms apart and motioned to her sides. ¨You are such bores.¨

She closed her eyes again, changing them into a deep grey. ¨Better?¨ I nodded, then pointed at the elven who was trying to fit his sword sheath on his impossibly tight jeans, damn that ass looked fine. ¨Now we have to cut his hair.¨ His head popped up the sword instantly forgotten, as his complexion turned whiter. ¨No one is touching my hair.¨ I clicked my tongue. ¨You need to look human.¨ I began walking slowly like a predator ready to pounce, my dagger out. Aradhel followed my lead, her dagger in her fingers, a wicked grin on her face. ¨This won't hurt big brother.¨

After a fight between him and the two of us, we finally gave him a haircut just above his neckline. It was still long but short enough to look human. We were now all over my living room. I was on the small love seat and Aradhel on the couch. Thalion was on the floor, a hand underneath his head, the muscle on his bicep bulging. I felt them breathing evenly and deeply, meaning they were asleep. It was time to get into motion.

I got up and grabbed my sneakers. Then I proceeded to tiptoe to the front door. I opened the door slowly and exited the house. Putting the sneakers on. I took a glance back. What harm will it do? I would go to the clearing, try to find the portal, and if they were right and it was sealed, then I would run back. I looked at my watch, and it was four am. It would be at least half an hour to get there.

I took a deep breath and began running. I passed the area where Charly's house was. Now only a cement slab remained. I shuddered, trying not to remember what had happened there, and passed it without taking a look at it, entering the tree line behind, then started to run. I remember this forest and everything that happened here, from Sean Stacey to finding the wolf pack. I smiled as I got near the area where Brigit had abducted me. The clearing still stood as enchanted as it once was.

Stopping, I took a deep breath. It didn't smell the same way it did though it now had a peppery vampire smell. They were far though towards the area of Camp North. I began looking around for the portal when I heard a voice behind me. ¨Do you understand what I said back at your living quarters?¨

Busted! I opened my eyes widely, putting my arms up in surrender. ¨Thalion…¨ I tried speaking, but the mad look in his eyes got me to shut up. ¨You haven't even masked your smell. Poppy.¨ I grabbed my T-shirt, smelling it. The faint sugary strawberry scent of me was there. ¨I am sorry, Thalion, I just wanted to come and see for myself.¨ He looked to his left, putting his hand up and me behind him in a protective stance. ¨What?¨ I asked. He shook his head. ¨Vampires and they are coming our way. ¨Fuck.¨ I started hearing noises. The scent was more powerful now. I got myself in a battle stance, too, taking out my dagger and flicking it towards where he was watching.

I was shocked. First, a woman came sprinting out into the clearing, looking panicked, behind her. I couldn't believe it. I gulped and blinked hard as I saw who was behind her. They stopped running, and she looked at us. Then she turned to the vampire behind her. I did the same and stared at the vampire holding her hand. No, it couldn't be. It couldn't be him. He was dead.

He was killed by… by… Dropping my knife, I put my hand on my mouth with a loud gasp when I heard her name him. ¨Patrick.¨ Thalion turned towards me and saw my face. ¨Alfirin do you know them?¨ I nodded, taking one step at a time, not believing my eyes. I put a hand up as if I touched him, he would dematerialize. This was surely a dream. ¨Patrick?¨ I whispered before my hand touched his skin. He flinched away.

The woman turned towards us, towards me. ¨You can mask him.¨ She breathed out her eyes begging with panic. ¨You are Fae, I can smell you.¨ Patrick turned to her and, with the iciest tone of voice, said. ¨I won't leave you, mother, if they take you, I will come too.¨ This was now a true turn of events.

Mother, What the hell? Who was she? Who was he? How did this happen? ¨She turned to him and grabbed both his shoulders. ¨They will follow me, and you could escape. Patrick, I will never be able to outrun Domenico. He would always hunt me down.¨ She begged, bringing him closer for a hug, then separating and looking at his red eyes. f**k, this was mental. ¨You have a chance, and my life will have had meaning if you live. There are good vampires in this world. Go to Poulette in New Orleans, my child. She would help you find your sister.¨ She rummaged through the backpack she was carrying, handing him an envelope. She turned to Thalion and, almost begging, walked toward him, making him shift into an attack mode, his hand gripping my wrist hard.

Patrick put himself between the elven prince and the vampiress. She took a sidestep and continued walking. ¨ I need you to take him away, please.¨ She begged, making Thalion shake his head. Finally, I snapped in astonishment, placing a hand on Thalion´s shoulder, and spoke for only him to hear. ¨Thalion, we need to take him. The vampire is the brother of my friend, the feline Charlotte.¨ Thalion looked at me, making a one-second decision. ¨Come.¨ He thrust his hand forward and motioned to the vampire Patrick, who for some reason didn't look like human Patrick. His eyes were red, and he looked like he had aged. He stood still behind the female.

Patrick glanced at the woman, as she sobbed red tears. She took one last look at the small vampire. ¨I love you, Remember Poulette. New Orleans. The directions are in the envelope I gave you.¨ He closed his eyes, nodding as she darted running the other way. I quickly masked my scent as Thalion put his wrist up, cutting himself with his knife. He offered a few drops of his blood to Patrick. ¨They won't be able to find you if you drink.¨ Patrick looked backward at where the woman had disappeared and then pressed his lips on Thalion's wrist, drinking some of his blood.

Immediately, the peppery scent he emitted was gone. Thalion brought his wrist up, sealing itself up in a blink, and turned to me. ¨We need to go.¨ He squeezed his eyes at me, making me know he was furious, then grabbed my wrist before the rest of the vampires appeared, and we began running back to the house.