Queen of My Immortal Heart

Chapter 23:Luke

Luke awoke slowly. His head was fuzzy, his thoughts unclear. What day was it? Where was he? Where was Nicole? He groaned as his mind refused to work. He tried to sit up, but the room seemed to spin and he fell back down again. He slowly became aware of his surroundings, memories slowly seeping back into his clouded mind. “Good evening, Mr. Sangre. How are you feeling?” he heard a male voice from beside him, but he couldn't place the voice just yet. Luke shook his head and groaned again, trying to clear his head once more. He looked to his left and saw a young man in a white lab coat looking down at him, a glass of water in his hand. Dr. Blood-Raine. That's who had spoken to him, he realized as the clouds in his mind slowly began to lift. He realized then that the doctor had asked him a question and was still patiently waiting for an answer. What was the question? Oh yeah, how was he feeling? He did a quick assessment of his body. Other than some stinging in his left upper thigh and the fuzziness that still lingered in his mind, he seemed alright. “I'm fine, Doc. My leg is a little tender and I can't seem to form a clear thought at the moment, but I'm fine.” Luke finally replied. “Wonderful. Your mind will clear soon; an unfortunate side effect of the morphine I'm afraid. Please, drink some water while I check your leg.” Dr. Blood-Raine said, handing him the cool glass of water and helping him to sit up so he could drink. “Thank you,” Luke said quietly and sipped at the cool water, it's presence a welcomed relief to his dry mouth and sore throat. “Hmm....everything seems to be healing nicely, Luke. It's still red and agitated from the silver, but you should be fully healed and walking again by tomorrow.” Dr. Blood-Raine said happily, lowering the cover back over Luke's leg. “That's great news, Doc.” Luke replied and handed his, now empty, glass back to him. “Yes, wonderful news at last,” he heard a familiar feminine voice say from the other side of the bed. He looked quickly to his right and, for the first time, saw that Nicole's parents were there next to their daughter, who was still unconscious. Luke swallowed hard. Why wasn't Nicole awake yet? Ara stood up and walked around to him and gave him a gentle hug. He could feel her hold back a sob and knew she was grateful to him for saving her daughter. He put his arm around her and gently hugged her back. Valtar appeared behind her as she let go of Luke and sat beside him on the bed, careful of his leg. “Glad to see you are well, son,” Valtar said quietly and firmly shook Luke's hand. “Thank you, your majesty,” Luke replied. Just then, they all turned as there was a soft knock at the door and it opened. Luke's father and King Gabriel walked into the room, Gabriel closing the door behind them. Ulrik approached the bed quietly and carefully, worry etched clearly in his face. His father was still a good looking man, by most female standards, but the years of being Alpha over the pack had certainly worn on him. “How are you, son?” his father asked, stepping up to him as Ara moved back to let him close. “Doc here says I'll be healed and walking again by tomorrow, father.” Luke replied and smiled as he watched the worry and fear visibly drain from his father's face and he breathed a sigh of relief. “That's great, son.” Ulrik said and wrapped Luke in a strong hug. He may be the Alpha and strong and cool under most situations, but Luke was his only son and was his father's apparent weak spot. “Great to see you well, Luke,” Gabriel said from the foot of the bed. It was strange to see the huge demon King leaning negligently against one of the carved angel posts on the bed. Kind of ironic in a twisted sort of way, but it didn't seem to faze him in the least. Luke bowed his head slightly as a gesture of respect. “Thank you, your highness. Your hospitality and help is greatly appreciated.” Luke said respectfully. “It's my pleasure, of course,” Gabriel replied, his voice deep and thick with his Italian accent. There was a moment of silence as everyone looked at each other, each wanting to ask the same question but afraid to be the first to ask. Luke could feel their apprehension and curiosity, sense it thick in the air. He let out a small sigh. He didn't want to tell them the horrible story of what had happened to Nicole, but knew there was no avoiding it any longer. He just prayed they would understand that he had done his best and agree with him about his wanting to marry Nicole as soon as possible. He drew in another deep breath, steeling his nerves for the hard task at hand; telling everyone about what Mortimer had done to their precious Queen. “Please, sit everyone.” Luke said quietly and waited for everyone to do as he asked. The look on Ara and Valtar's faces made him even wearier of what he had to say. They would be furious, hurt, and scared, but they deserved to know. When everyone was settled, he took another deep breath to calm his nerves again. “I know all of you want to know what happened back in Egypt. I've been putting it off to tell you when we arrived home, but as you well know, that didn't play out as planned.” Luke began. He looked to each face of the people around him. Ara was still sitting next to him on the bed, Valtar standing behind her with his hands resting lightly on her shoulders. His father female standards, but the years of being Alpha over the pack had certainly worn on him. “How are you, son?” his father asked, stepping up to him as Ara moved back to let him close. “Doc here says I'll be healed and walking again by tomorrow, father.” Luke replied and smiled as he watched the worry and fear visibly drain from his father's face and he breathed a sigh of relief. “That's great, son.” Ulrik said and wrapped Luke in a strong hug. He may be the Alpha and strong and cool under most situations, but Luke was his only son and was his father's apparent weak spot. “Great to see you well, Luke,” Gabriel said from the foot of the bed. It was strange to see the huge demon King leaning negligently against one of the carved angel posts on the bed. Kind of ironic in a twisted sort of way, but it didn't seem to faze him in the least. Luke bowed his head slightly as a gesture of respect. “Thank you, your highness. Your hospitality and help is greatly appreciated.” Luke said respectfully. “It's my pleasure, of course,” Gabriel replied, his voice deep and thick with his Italian accent. There was a moment of silence as everyone looked at each other, each wanting to ask the same question but afraid to be the first to ask. Luke could feel their apprehension and curiosity, sense it thick in the air. He let out a small sigh. He didn't want to tell them the horrible story of what had happened to Nicole, but knew there was no avoiding it any longer. He just prayed they would understand that he had done his best and agree with him about his wanting to marry Nicole as soon as possible. He drew in another deep breath, steeling his nerves for the hard task at hand; telling everyone about what Mortimer had done to their precious Queen. “Please, sit everyone.” Luke said quietly and waited for everyone to do as he asked. The look on Ara and Valtar's faces made him even wearier of what he had to say. They would be furious, hurt, and scared, but they deserved to know. When everyone was settled, he took another deep breath to calm his nerves again. “I know all of you want to know what happened back in Egypt. I've been putting it off to tell you when we arrived home, but as you well know, that didn't play out as planned.” Luke began. He looked to each face of the people around him. Ara was still sitting next to him on the bed, Valtar standing behind her with his hands resting lightly on her shoulders. His father took a seat in the chair beside him and Gabriel was still lounging against the Angel post at the foot of the bed, his arms crossed. Dr. Blood-Raine had taken the seat next to Nicole after checking her shoulder and taking her vitals again to ensure she was ok. Luke steeled himself again and took another deep breath before speaking. “When we arrived at General Malkar's camp, we were trying to formulate a plan when this young mortal girl was brought to the camp by his soldiers. They had found her for her life running through the desert. I later found out it was because your daughter had taken over control of her mind from Lucard and ordered her to run like hounds of hell were after her.” he paused as everyone chuckled momentarily, no doubt amused by Nicole's keen choice of words. When they quieted down, he continued on. This was going to be the hard part. “When she arrived, she pointed to the pyramid on Malkar's map where they had Nicole and told us how to get in. We quickly left and within twenty minutes, we arrived at the pyramid. General Cameron took his demons through the front and I took our pack around the back entrance the girl had pointed out to us.” he explained, watching the expressions of each persons' face in the room as he spoke. This is where it got bad and he knew everything was about to get pretty hard for all of them. Ara and Valtar deserved to know the truth, though. Dragging in a deep, shuddered breath, he prepared to deliver the bad news. “When we arrived at the stone door leading into the lower chamber of the pyramid, where the girl had said they were keeping Nicole, all seemed quiet at first. I could hear muffled voices, but nothing clear. As I prepared to push the panel opening the secret door, I heard Nicole scream so loud, it knocked dust from the walls and ceiling.” He stopped as his heart caught in his throat for a moment. Reliving the nightmare, in his mind, of her heart-wrenching scream and the horrible sight he had walked in on was so painful. This was going to be one of the hardest things he'd ever have to do. Ara face was even paler than normal and unshed tears glistened in her eyes. Valtar's knuckles were white as he gripped her shoulders and his neck was tense. This was not something any parent ever wanted to hear. Luke lowered his head and tried to swallow past the lump of emotion clogging his throat so he could finish. “When I opened the door, I rushed in, gun at the ready, when I saw...” Luke choked and tears fell from his eyes. He hated himself for what, he felt, he had allowed to happen to Nicole by not getting there sooner. Ara and Valtar would surely hate him too after this. Luke felt Ara's soft hands picking up and holding one of his. He looked up into her beautiful face, silent tears falling from her eyes. She had read his thoughts and knew already. She was trying to comfort him so he could finish. A quick look up at Valtar told him that he, too, had read his thoughts and was trying to register if it was really true. Luke swallowed hard and felt his father place his hand on his back for support. He needed to finish so they could come to terms with it and be at peace. He swallowed hard again and pushed on. “I saw Mortimer.....he was....raping her! The bastards had her shackled to a marble table with silver shackles and she couldn't do anything to protect herself. Mortimer was plowing into her tiny body and she was crying so hard; her blood was all over her legs and the table. I took aim and shot the evil, vile, disgusting son of a b***h right through his black heart!” “I was too late though, the damage had been done. I knew Nicole would heal in her death sleep, but it was horrible. I'm just so sorry I didn't get there sooner and protect her like I'd sworn to do.” he finished. Tears ran down his cheeks, his heart and gut were twisted with the agony and defeat he felt over those events. It would haunt him forever. Ara was sobbing quietly into the comforter, still clutching onto his hand. Valtar had walked away before he could finish the story and was leaning against the wall, his body tense. His father was with him, trying to comfort his old friend. Gabriel was looking at Nicole sadly and shaking his head at the tragedy that had befallen her. Dr. Blood-Raine had left a few moments ago to answer an urgent phone call and had missed this last part of the story. He looked back down at Nicole's mother, his heart tearing in two for the pain he had caused her by letting this happen to her daughter. “I'm sorry, your majesty.” was all he could say before his own pain clogged his throat and gripped his heart. Ara sat up slowly and moved up so she could put her arms around him. He rested his forehead on her delicate shoulder and let his pain and anguish flow unchecked. “You did the best you could, Luke, darling. The important thing is you saved Nicoleta before they could kill her. You saved my daughter's life, Luke. Three times over now. Then, on the plane, and during Lucard's attack with the Blade. You have nothing to be ashamed of. You are still protecting my child with your life and I'm eternally grateful to you.” Ara said to him softly, stoking his back as he continued to cry. She was right, of course. He had saved Nicole and protected her more than once, but he still couldn't help feeling responsible for what Mortimer had done to her. Nicole, and now her mother, had already forgiven him. However, he didn't feel like he could ever forgive himself. Ara straightened and pushed Luke back by his shoulders so she could look into his eyes. She seemed to search his very soul, her wide green eyes steady on his. Finally, she smiled and patted his cheek gently. “Marry my daughter, Luke. As soon as we can get her well and home, I want you to marry her and bind her to you. Only then, will I feel she's truly safe.” Ara said, her eyes never blinking, never wavering from his. “You have my word, you highness.” Luke said, hoping his eyes reflected how deeply he felt for Nicole and how desperate he was to carry out her orders. “Good. Thank you, Luke.” she whispered. She kissed his forehead and rose to her feet. “Thank you for finally putted us at ease by knowing all that happened to our daughter. Please get some rest now.” she said quietly, then turned to walk to her husband's side. As she approached Valtar, who still hadn't moved from his spot on the wall, his father walked towards him, emotion clear in his face as well. When he came up next to Luke, he gave him a hug and lightly patted his back. “You did well, son. I couldn't be prouder of you. Your mother would be proud too. You protected your mate the best you could and she's here safe with you. That's what we do.” his father whispered in his ear, then stood back up. “Rest now, my son. Please, rest.” Ulrik said, then turned to leave. Valtar finally turned away from the wall and hugged his wife tightly, his face wet with his own tears. He looked over to Luke and nodded at him, acknowledging that he, too, felt Luke had done his job well. He turned to leave, the strain of his emotions and the pull of his death sleep from the rising sun making him look much older then he normally did. Ara bowed her head to him, then smiled and followed her husband out the door. “Bravo, Wolf,” Gabriel said quietly, looking Luke up and down. “You did well and now their majesties can rest in peace, now that they know the whole story. You are a brave man, il mio amico. Buon giorno, il lupo.” “Dormire bene, demonio,” Luke replied. Thank God his mother had had the good sense to teach him different languages as a child, including Italian. Gabriel nodded his head slightly to Luke, then turned and left the room. Luke sank back against the pillows and let out a long sigh. That had been even harder than he had thought. Although Ara and Valtar had taken it very hard, they had not blamed him or yelled at him once. Ara had even tried to comfort him when it was all over. He was relieved that they didn't hold him responsible. He did that on his own already. He winced and hissed in a breath as a sharp pain shot down his leg from his wound. In all the turmoil of having to retell the story to their majesties, he had almost forgotten about his leg. Now, it was reminding him with a vengeance. Dr. Blood-Raine had yet to return, so he couldn't ask him for something for the pain. He just hoped when he awoke tonight, his leg would be healed and he could get up and help take care of Nicole. He turned his head to look at her and reached his right arm out to brush her hair from her face. She hadn't even stirred the whole time he'd been speaking. In a way, it was kind of a blessing in disguise. Undoubtedly, her tears and embarrassment over the whole situation would have been ever harder on her parents. As she lay beside him, resting peacefully, he admired her beauty again. His queen was a strong, confident woman. Always had been since the day he'd met her. He loved her so much. She was his soul mate, his life, his other half, his wolf's mate, his reason for living. He couldn't wait to take her home and marry and blood bond with her, linking her forever to himself and his inner wolf. He smiled and watched as her breathing slowed, then stopped as her death sleep took over. “I love you, my beautiful Nicole.” he whispered to her lifeless form. He took her left hand, momentarily admiring the way his grandmother's ring looked perfect on her delicate white hand, then linked their fingers. He fell asleep peacefully, thoughts of his future with her floating in his mind.