Bitter Submission

Chapter Twenty Seven

|Twenty Seven|

|Jesse|

By the end of the night, I found myself drinking away my problems in my house. I was thinking about what Dominick was talking about once I got back from seeing Lux. He wanted the four of us to team up in order to protect ourselves against whoever was killing the incubi. However, I knew that it was bullshit. Dom didn't need protection. Bloodtrei was so cocky that he wouldn't put incubi guards, but it wasn't like Dom needed them. He wanted to get close to us for some reason and it was pissing me off.

Blair stared at me while I took a final swig of my drink. I swished the liquor in my mouth and glared at Blair. "What's your problem?"

"Nothing. I just think that you should rethink some things," Blair mumbled, "listen, there are things that you don't remember and there's a reason why. I just don't want you making the same mistakes you made in your past."

"What do you possibly mean? What do you know about my past?" I had only met Blair once I came to New York. I was living in London and I knew for a fact I never met Blair before in my life.

"I know more than you think. Roman as well," Blair replied.

"Stop acting as if you know me. You have been warning me never to get a claimed and even now, you're still telling me things I don't understand. Blair, keep pulling this shady s**t and you'll end up six feet under," I snapped, shooting from where I sat and grappling for his neck.

Roman entered the room within a moment's notice, his eyes going to me pinning Blair against the wall. "Jesse! Let go of him this instant!"

Part of me wanted to let him go. I didn't like to go against my allies, however for way too long Roman and Blair were hiding something from me. I had always thought that something was up, but it was just the New York incubi and how they acted. Roman would always be more cautious around me, but I would always think he was like that because of my father. Having said that, about a few years ago, he started acting more nervous. Especially when it came to the succubi. Coming to New York just made it even more suspicious. I never met Blair before I came to New York, yet he acted as if he was a long-time friend and he was the same way as Roman was. They were both hiding something and seeing Blair bringing up s**t I couldn't interpret was the trigger I needed to bring it up.

"Tell me why you're so nervous around me, or else I'll kill him," I snapped, knowing full well that I wouldn't, but knowing Roman he wouldn't risk it.

"Killing your brethren is committing treason. Let. Him. Go," Roman growled, his eyes turning black.  

"Tell me," I squeezed Blair's throat and Roman tensed. Roman didn't like violence whatsoever.

"You had a succubus named Seres," Blair gasped out, staring at me wide-eyed.

I narrowed my eyes. "I know. You said she died of natural causes and you said my mind blocked it off because of the shock."

"Bloodtrei forced you to kill her," Roman said from afar.

Darkness. Darkness descended through my body and suddenly I felt as if there was a sheet that was pulled over me. I wanted to say that my ears were ringing, but I couldn't tell. All I felt was darkness. I didn't know where I was or what I was doing, but suddenly everything felt so cold. So extremely cold. 

It felt as Death himself descended upon me and today was my day of judgment.

"Jesse Drake," Bloodtrei sat on his chair, behind a podium that was raised to look over whoever he was speaking to. This was one of the first times I had met this man and it was fascinating to see how he thought that he would control every incubus. At this point, I knew I was f****d. My eyes drifted over to Seres. Ah... Seres. It started out different. It wasn't supposed to be like this. 

I guess that's what everyone says. That their intentions weren't supposed to lead them down the path they took. However, in all actuality, they knew they would go down the path anyways. Because they really wanted to...

 No one was supposed to find out. Seres first started out as my claim, an unsure girl afraid of me and anything that moved. She was so jumpy. When I first laid eyes on her, I knew that I wanted her. That I needed her as mine. I didn't like that she was up for auction. I'd always thought that the auctions were completely idiotic. Succubi were not to be bought like slaves. We could just take them. We owned them. Well, at least how I used to think.

 A man named Dominick Petrove wanted her as well. I didn't want anyone to have her. So I won the auction, taking her and shielding her from everyone. That was the last time I attended an auction. I realized it wasn't for me. I wanted to dominate her, take her as my own. But I heard her story, what her succubi people went through. I felt for her. I listened.

I realized I couldn't treat her like every incubus treated their succubus. Over time, I gained respect for her.

"Yes sir," I said loud and clear, my eyes still on Seres. She was chained by the waist and wrists to a tall pole. A long white dress pooled around her. Her blonde long hair hid her face so I couldn't see her expression. It killed me. Not to see her. Why were we here? Why was she tied up? I stared at myself slowly and noticed that I was on my knees, my wrists tied behind my back.

Something was incredibly wrong.

"Jesse," Bloodtrei stared at me, his red eyes looking menacingly to everyone in this room but me. I didn't need to cower under him. I was not his to control. "Do you know why you're here? Why you're tied up like your fellow claimed over there?"

I desired to do everything in my power to hold Seres and comfort her. She hated the incubi, she hated everyone including me. I needed to earn her trust and respect her equally. It took me a while to understand her. "No, I do not."

"You're under the suspicion of falling for your claim. And you know why that's against the rules. We don't condone that kind of behavior. Here or anywhere else," Bloodtrei looked bored as if he had done this a million times.

My heart stopped and my body grew cold for a few moments. I wanted to ask him to repeat what he had said, because I felt like I wasn't understanding. I kneeled there looking at the floor and I realized that my body was shaking. I went through extreme lengths to make sure that no one found out about us. There was a rule about succubi and incubi not being able to have any romantic affairs and for anyone whoever didn't follow, their claimed would die. The incubus would never die only because of the fact that incubi were considered more important. I never challenged that rule because I never felt the need to. Until today.

"Sir, I can assure you that I have no feelings for Seres. She is strictly my claimed and nothing else," I explained, knowing I had to get us both out of this.

"Then why is one of my most trusted incubus telling me otherwise?" Bloodtrei questioned, his face contorted in anger, "I don't like whenever I'm lied to, Drake."

"I don't want to anger you, but that incubus is wrong," I challenged, knowing damn well that I kept my relationship with Seres under wraps at all times. We were extremely careful around others since I knew that it was already suspicious of how I only had one claimed.

"I'm not lying. I have no feelings for her and I'm offended that you would think so," I snapped, yanking on the chains around me.

I noticed that Seres had moved from the side of my vision. Her head was raised and she was glaring at Bloodtrei. "What's it to you? Why do you feel the need to meddle in other businesses but your own? What about that daughter of yours, huh? You let her do whatever she wants. You're just afraid that the truth will come out, you bloody bloke!" She screamed, her intense gaze unhinged.

My eyes grew wide. Did she want to get us killed? Talking to Bloodtrei like that? If there was no one but Bloodtrei in this room, I would challenge him, but there was more than just him. I would have no chance. "Seres! Quiet."

Seres turned and glared at me. Her blue eyes were set ablaze, there was nothing but anger. She nodded her head, "no they must know the truth. You all are being deceived. Bloodtrei's daughter! Tell them! He's not the ruler of this place. The incubi care not in charge. They were never meant to rule. Ask his bastard daughter! Jesse understands! He doesn't treat me like you all do."

Murmurs broke out within the room and my body tensed. This was incredibly risky. Seres not only threw herself under the bus but me as well. There would only be one way for us to get out of here, unscathed. That would be up to the other incubi if they wished to accept protests and challenge Bloodtrei.

"You are all cowards if you choose not to believe me!" Seres hollered, looking at me. "I love him with all my heart and you should all get that chance as well. We don't have to live the way we used to. We can pave the road to new beginnings."

Bloodtrei cleared his throat. "Ah, Seres. It seems you have discovered some things. Unfortunately, your curiosity will be the cause of your demise. I will take pleasure in killing you." Bloodtrei stood up and walked over to Seres. He grabbed her chin and tilted her head up to look at him. "You should've kept those findings to yourself. You would last longer."

"Kill her Bloodtrei, she knows too much," Dominick walked towards me, "Looks like I won in the end. Not only do I get to have your claim killed, but I also get to enjoy mine."

"f**k you," I snarled, "Seres will not die. She will live on."

Dom raised his head and looked at Bloodtrei. "Sir, may I have the honor killing her?"

Bloodtrei chuckled. "You are indeed an glutton for punishment. By all means, have your way with her." Bloodtrei backed and walked into his podium, watching from afar.

Dominick freed Seres and dragged her by her hair in front of me. I growled, lunging from him, even though I was trapped. Dominick yanked Seres' hair back and chuckled. "Beg for me not to hurt her!"

I stared at Seres and she looked at me, not one bit of facial expression on her face. She was angry, but she refused to give Dom the satisfaction. I was proud of her.

"We'll get out of this, I promise," I replied, trying to calm myself down. I couldn't break, not here not now.

As the memory faded and reality came back to me, pain flared throughout my head and my neck. Every one of my senses ignited and it was overwhelming to the point where I dropped to my knees. I cradled my head in my hands, screaming, not knowing what to do. All these memories were flooding into my mind all at once. Kissing her, holding her hand, laughing at the jokes she made, hugging her from behind, making love to her. Seres was my passion and I was completely in love with her. All the memories that I thought were never there came flooding back, haunting me. Taunting me. I was hooked like a little worm, ready to be devoured.

My chest constricted and my body convulsed. Hands were on me, holding me tight. I raised my head, vision blurry and hazed. Someone was in front of me, screaming something. I couldn't hear anything. No sound was heard. I was nodding to something that I didn't hear.

Calm down.

Jesse... I love you. She needs you, you need to be there for her.

My shoulders stiffened. I raised my head up at the ceiling. What was that voice? Seres? Taking a deep breath, I sat up, staring at the figure in front of me. The voice was right. I needed to calm down. Luxina needed me and here I was, breaking down. I wanted to remember though, I wanted to know why did I feel so empty inside and why did Lux make me feel so full. My mind tried remembering how did Seres die. What happened to her? Did... I hurt her? I tried so hard to remember but it was all too blurry. No recollections of what happened.

"Jesse get up," Blair said tentatively.

I looked up at him, the anger I felt towards his dissipating. "I'm sorry mate. I didn't realize. I fell in love with her."

Blair nodded, "They wiped your memory because you're an asset to them."

Roman helped me up and clapped me on the back. "Listen, we need you, especially if you want to get her."

An abrupt knock sounded at the door and immediately I was beside the door, ready to open it and pummel anyone who tried to break it down.

"Who is it?" I shouted.

"A man who will help you get Luxinia Steele back," The voice sounded extremely familiar. I threw caution to the wind out of desperation and opened the door.

There stood the man who knew Luxinia very well. The man who kissed her on the night of the ball. The man who Lux followed out on the roof. I glared at him. "Who are you? What do you want?"

"I'm Daemon. Here to help you get Lux out. Firstly, we need a plan, which is why I'm here." He walked in past me and a man behind followed him.

Roman stepped up towards Daemon and frowned. "Daemon Petrove. The one who died?"

I tensed, my eyes darting to him and the man beside him. "You're related to Dominick?"

"Only by blood. I don't accept any relation with that beast," Daemon scoffed, he took a seat and snapped his fingers to the man and woman that were with him.

"Who are they?" Blair asked, his brow raising.

"This is Haden," Daemon replied, looking at the tall tanned man. There was a woman next to him that was skinny in all places, but she was beautiful. "This is Sareia."

I took a good look at Haden and Sareia and realized there was something off about Haden. I couldn't quite place my finger on it but I knew that something wasn't right.

That name...

Suddenly, I'd shot up and grabbed Haden by the throat and slammed him into a wall. "You were the one who tortured Luxinia!"

Haden choked and stared at me wide-eyed. "It was a test. She wasn't going to die I swear."

Sareia hissed at me, trying to pull Haden back.

Daemon stood up and put a hand on my shoulder. "That was my fault. I needed to push her over the edge to test some things about her powers."

I turned to him. "Give me a good reason why I shouldn't kill you and this fellow right now."

"I can save Lux's life, I promise."

"How do you know where he lives?" Blair asked.

"Haden knows many things. He's a special snowflake, like Lux and Sareia. Let's say there's special attributes that Lux has." Daemon spoke as if this situation was completely normal. He acted as if barging in here was the most basic thing that could happen.

"This is normal. It's normal because we're trying to protect Lux. Untapped potential," Sareia explained.

I took a breath. Could she read my mind? Haden's eyes were concentrating really hard on me and it unnerved me. Haden wasn't a normal incubus and I could easily tell.

"How will we get Dom away from Lux?" I asked, knowing that if help was freely coming to me, I should take it. Never bite the hand that feeds you.

"Before we even get into that. I need you to understand that after we rescue her, you cannot be in the area. Dom doesn't like things to be taken from him. Especially Lux. She got away from once, it won't be so easy a second time. She needs to get out of the country this time," Daemon explained, his eyes focused on me.

I nodded. "I'll go to London. Luxinia will be safer there with my mother. I'll have to come back as well. Once we get her I'll bring her there, get her comfortable and then come back."

Blair nodded. "This timing has to be right. It'll be suspicious if you leave and Lux is missing."

"Dom won't be focused on him. He'll be mad at Jamie," Daemon stared at Roman, "There's also Tessa and Jamie we must get as well."

Roman took a seat on a recliner and at back. He thought about it for a moment. "We can do it during the ball Dom will have. You mentioned a distraction, correct? We use that distraction have Blair, Jesse and I get the three of them out."

"So what's the distraction?" Blair asked, his head turning to Daemon.

Haden grinned and answered for Daemon. "Mass murder. Incubi are dying that night. We'll spare potential allies, but we're going to wipe out as much as we can; given the number of hunters we have."

"You have an army?" Blair coughed, his eyes wide.

"We're training groups of succubi. We tried to recruit Lux, but ah... Haden and Sareia don't have the best skills. We'll leave that to someone else," Daemon commented, his eyes darting to Tweedledee and Tweedledum.

Roman chuckled. "So who's doing what exactly?"

"There will be a signal, that's when the three of you kick into high gear. Roman, you need to find Tessa. She'll most likely be hidden away behind the scenes and be attached to one of Dom's lackeys. Jamie, he'll be most likely far away from Tessa. Jesse, I need you to go and get him. Blair, you will collect Luxinia. I say this because if Jesse is the one that grabs her, he incriminates himself. This way Dom will hand her to Blair and he'll just slip out," Daemon explained, "We'll meet back up to a rendezvous once the mission is successful."

My mind was blown, knowing that I actually had back up in this and it sounded so easy. I could successfully save Luxinia. I was determined to make sure she wasn't treated like a slave.

She would be mine soon.