The Unholy Trinity

Patience

Zoey’s POV

Tate lunged for his parents, but I pulled him back.

While they of course looked like his parents just more transparent and ghostly didn’t mean they couldn’t be something more sinister. 

“Zoey, what are you doing?” He asked. 

“Chloey said to be careful,”

“I know, but these are my parents. They wouldn’t hurt me.”

“They’re not your parents, they’re ghosts, don’t forget that.” I reminded him. 

“Tate…” 

I could now hear the groaning coming from the two ghosts in front of us. 

“Mom…Dad,” Tate whispered. “I miss you guys.”

“Tate…what are you doing here?” Mrs. Highmore asked. 

“I’m going after the Ligneous Stake. Dad, why didn’t you ever tell me about it?”

“No time,” Mr. Highmore answered.  He turned to me. “Who is this?”

“Zoey Rosaria,”

Mr. Highmore’s eyes widened before he opened his mouth and a pained bellow escaped him. It shook the trees and hurt my ears. 

Finally the bellow stopped. I could feel so much pain and anger coming from Mr. Highmore. I didn’t understand it at first. Why did I give him such a bad reaction?

“Tate…kill her.” 

Tate stepped  in front of me protectively. “Dad, what do you mean? She’s my girlfriend, I love her.”

“Ruinous blood runs through her veins. We must end the cycle. Kill her son.” Mr. Highmore demanded. 

“No!” Tate exclaimed. “Let’s go, Zoey!”

He pulled me through the dark forest. “Where are we going?” I asked. 

“I don’t know yet, but I have to get you away from him. I don’t think that’s my father.”

“What he doesn’t usually tell you to kill your girlfriends?” I questioned. 

“He didn’t like Raina, but he didn’t want me to kill her, that’s for sure.” Tate informed me. 

We hid behind a large boulder to rest. 

“Okay, we have to find the key and get out of here,” I hissed. 

“How do we do that?”

“I have no clue, I just want to get out of here before your father convinces you to kill me because of my ruinous blood.”

“What does that even mean?” Tate groaned. 

“Come on, let’s keep going.”

We ran, looking around desperately for some kind of light. I stumbled when I heard the bellow again. This time it sounded kind of like a rally cry. There’s no way that could be good. 

“Get her!” Mr. Highmore roared. 

“Dad stop!” Tate shouted. 

Blue orbs flew around us, swooping down as though trying to attack us. I fell to the ground, unable to keep going. Tate helped me up as we were surrounded by what seemed like all the ghosts. 

I was starting to think this was looking incredibly bad for me. I couldn’t fight off all of these ghosts! Tate shot out his hand, sending purple blasts at the ghosts. It went right through them. 

“Enough Tate!” Mr. Highmore stated. “She must go…and then you may have the key you so desperately need to continue on.”

“So which will it be dear?” Mrs. Highmore asked. “Your destiny or your girlfriend?”

Joey’s POV

“Kiss me Joey.”

I was trembling. Did I actually have to go through with this? 

If it would save Marsden’s life, then yes…yes I did. 

I slowly leaned in, puckering my lips. Count Killoran’s lips were extremely cold, and yet soft. His hands grabbed my face as he controlled the kiss. He parted my lips with his tongue before swirling it around my own. He moaned in to the kiss as he pressed against me. 

I think if I wasn’t scared for my life this would be a decent enough kiss. Count Killoran finally pulled away, but only to kiss my chin down to my neck. I was frozen and unsure of what to do. I gasped as his fangs dug into my skin. 

He abruptly pulled away this time. He didn’t seem so calm, cool and collected like he usually did. He seemed overwhelmed and almost out of control. 

“I’m sorry, Joey,” He whispered. “I just…you are very dangerous, do you know that?”

“I didn’t,” I admitted. “How am I dangerous?”

“I can’t keep myself composed when I’m close to you. That kiss…it was hypnotizing. I almost took you right here. I am not usually a patient man, but I know I must be that way with you.”

“I think patience is a very attractive quality.”

Count Killoran smiled. “Then I will be as patient as I can be for you. I want to be everything you’ve ever wanted. Everything that will make you smile. I want to be your entire world.” He said eagerly. 

He was almost endearing. How did he manage that along with being horrifying? He was a complicated man that I actually found myself wanting to know more about. Not in the romantic way that he so clearly wanted of course.

Though that might be the easiest way to get him to tell me things.

“I don’t doubt that you can give me that.” I smiled. “I think you can give me everything Emile.”

“One more kiss and then you must go. You are a distraction.” He chuckled. 

This kiss was much shorter, but just as passionate and eager. 

“Thank you Emile,” I breathed. 

“Make sure you get a beautiful dress for your ceremony. I will attend it…for you.” Cound Killoran smiled. 

There was a knock on the door. Count Killoran’s face immediately became annoyed and harsh as he stepped away from me. 

“Who is it?”

“Brody,”

“Come in,” He ordered before turning to me. “You may go.”

I nodded. I left as Brody entered. He gave me a quizzical look. I ignored him and kept walking until I reached the bathroom. I tried to calm the nausea in my stomach. 

I had to tell someone about Count Killoran, but who?

Chloey’s POV

The three books I had gotten from the Atheneum were in front of me.

I had no idea where to start. Obviously I wanted to know about the blue energy, but that wasn’t exactly a priority. And to learn about the triplet witches before me would be amazing, but I could do that any time right? However, Count Killoran’s journal could give me all the information I needed. 

I had to go with that one. 

“The most dangerous man in the Witching Domain is named Emile?” Rune asked. “That’s kind of amusing.”

“Don’t let that name fool you. According to Joey, he’s still scary.”

“Well sure, but now I get why he changed his name. No one is gonna be afraid of an Emile.”

I couldn’t help but chuckle. “Yeah I guess you’re right about that. Even so, I’m still kind of scared to read this. I feel like it will be a horror story or something.”

“You are about to get into the mind of Count Killoran. Few things are scarier than that.” Rune kissed my cheek. “You got this babe.”

We settled on the bed, ready to read our books. I took a deep breath before opening the journal. It crinkled and creaked, which made sense. It was centuries old. 

I decided to just start from the beginning…

I want more. So much more. Being a warlock is wonderful, but mortals still shun us. We’re forced to hide in the shadows as though we are the inferior ones. As though we should be scared of them. I despise it. We have an infinite amount of power and yet we’re made to feel ashamed. What I want more than anything is more power. To be so powerful that mortals would be the ones to go into hiding. They would fear me beyond belief.

I shuddered, reading his words. He was so angry and bitter. Sure I understood it a little bit, but it wasn't enough for me to want to take over the whole world just so mortals would finally respect us. But things were probably worse back then.

Wait, am I actually trying to defend this maniac?

I kept reading, skimming past all the rants about mortals and their cruel ways. 

I found a way to gain more power. To change myself forever. The answer was hidden within shadow magic. I have to merge myself with another creature. The combined powers of a warlock and a vampire would completely elevate my magic and my body. I would be nearly indestructible. However the only way I can do this is with Elowen, Arwen and Gwen’s help. They are the only triplet witches ever born. They have this blue power that can do almost anything, including make me the most powerful being.

The blue energy created Count Killoran