Love Or Revenge

13

APHRODITE POV

I don’t know what to do, I am lost for words as I look towards Cameron for an explanation. How will he explain this? I feel the tingles I had experienced when I touch neither Colton or Cameron. So does this mean it is true? But, how can I have two sets of mates? I am so confused I rubbed my temples in frustration.

“How can I have two sets of mates? This does not make any sense” I said, trying to come to a conclusion in my head.

“It’s simple Dite, they are trying to trick you! The bond they speak of never existed!” Cameron yells trying to reason with me. I start to back up from all of them. I am overwhelmed. My body feels hot to the touch, I am aching all over. My eyes switch from Draco to Lenelle to Cameron. I feel myself hyperventilating & I can not breathe, I am in a state of panic because I do not know who or what to believe. I wish my mother was here so she could make some sense about this. I have been told all my life that Draco Van Helsing was the dark one and he has been out to kill me since I was dancing in my mother's womb. Now I am being told the complete opposite. Draco is not The Dark One. Draco is not my enemy but he is my mate. Well, at least he is one of them. Lenelle is also my mate. I did feel rather attached to him when I first saw him. Maybe that is why Cameron got so angry when he saw me speaking to Lenelle? Then again it could be the possessiveness from his wolf? I am not sure because this is my first time dealing with mates and other species.

“If this is true then why do I have no memory of this? When were you considered my mates? My mother has always told me to be wary of you” I asked no one in particular.

“They erase your memories. All of your memories. Every single last one of you” Draco said calmly, sensing my distressed mood.

“This can’t be right. This can’t be happening.. I have been told all my life I should fear you and hate you! You even killed MY MOTHER! And, you hunted the other! You are lying to me right now! BOTH OF YOU!” I yelled at Draco and Lenelle. I was still backing up from them with a sob of tears rolling down my face.

“Aphrodite, baby, I swear I did not mean to kill Evelyn. I hunted your birth mother under the orders of The Dark Ones, I swear I had no idea she was carrying my future mate.” Darco exclaimed

“You are lying! I saw you with my own eyes!” I glared at him. “Or did you forget, my mother died in my arms?” I said in a cold tone. Whether he was my mate or not I could not accept him. Neither one of them because they took my family away from me. I would never be able to live with myself if I allowed myself to feel for these men.

“Aphrodite, please” Lenelle begged, I could see he was so hurt like he knew what I was thinking. I don’t know what got into me but it was like my instincts took over. I slowly walked toward Darco, making my way past Lenelle. I took my right hand to Draco face & said,

“Montre m sam ap cheche” (Show me what I seek.)

When those five words came out of my mouth, my soul felt like it was leaving my body. I gasp breathing in so much of the cool moist air. I closed my eyes for a split second to take in the air when I heard someone yelling. I heard a deep musky voice that reminded me of the rapper Pop Smoke. It was so captivating. It was like a siren’s song, pulling me in. I walked in the direction of the shouting slowly. I made sure to keep my head down so I’m not to be seen. I crept behind a pillar. I poked my head around it slightly to get a look at the scene before me. I saw Draco, Lenelle & two beautiful women. They look so much alike, they must be twins. The aura that was plaguing around them let me know they were witches too. Twins are very rare in the world of us witches so I knew they are extremely powerful. Those women must be The Dark Ones they were telling me about. I was cut out by my thoughts when I heard them continue to speak.

“She is our mate, Eve. We can not kill her. That will drive us insane or worse, KILL US!”, Draco yelled.

“Your presumption of this little girl being your mate is no business of ours, Immortal.”, the beautiful woman on the right, with long chestnut hair stated.

“My sister is right, Immortal. We want her power so she will be captured and sacrificed no matter if you do it or we get some numbskull to do it” the woman to the left said to Draco with her head held high & a glare that could burn any man alive.

“YOU WILL DO NO SUCH THING! THIS IS MADNESS!” Draco yelled. Draco took a dangerous step towards them with his eyes burning like a ring of fire. He was angry. No.. he was enraged.

“Can we come to a compromise?” Lenelle asked calmly

“And what compromise do you seek, Wolf?” the woman, I believe her name is Eve, asked.

“We can not live without our mate Goddess Eve. So why can’t you just take her powers without harming her? There are many ways to achieve this, M’lady” Lenelle said with pleading eyes. The two sisters exchanged a look.

“We will do what you wish.” the woman said

“Thank you Goddess Esme. We will forever be indebted to you.” Draco said while bowing his head and his hand to his heart.

“You both may go,” said Goddess Esme. Draco got up from his knees and made a beeline to the door. Lenelle slightly bowed before he retreated after Draco

“You know that is risky business, Wolf,” said Esme. Lenelle stopped in his tracks. He slightly turn around and said;

“We will make her whole again. She won’t fade away with us by her side”

“She’s an angelic. You know she can not live without her witch spirit nor her angel spirit.” Esme slowly walked up behind Lenelle and gently placed her hand on his shoulder. I saw her eyes soften greatly.

“My son” Esme said, turning Lenelle around to face her. Wait a minute. Did she just say SON?! My mind is completely blown right now. Lenelle is the son of a goddess. Holy s**t they never mentioned this! I was taken away from my ranting when I heard the Goddess Esme speak once again

“Son, you will get another mate. I will speak to your aunt, your Moon Goddess, to make sure of that but you know what has to happen.” she said sternly looking him deep in the eyes. Lenelle slid his face to the side of his mothers face, he took her forehead to his.

“I will not stand by while you kill my mate, mother. If you kill her then you are sentencing me to death”

“You will not die! Stop speaking such nonsense!” Esme yelled, I could tell she was getting angry

“You are my son! You are not weak! She has not even met you and yet she has some hold on your heart. Let me be clear, my son.. You will step aside and watch as I take your mate's life away. She has the power we seek and I don’t care who I have to go through to get it… and that includes you” Esme said with venom in her voice. I was so shocked by what I was hearing. I was confused & angry but also touched. Lenelle is going against his own mother to make sure I am okay. Was I wrong about them?

“You will not lay a hand on my mate!” I didn’t even notice Draco had come back into the room. He was enraged with anger. His crimson eyes were growing a bright green. I've never seen Draco eyes glow the way they are right this very moment. He looked scary but oddly handsome. I looked back at Lenelle to see what he would do next but he was only staring at his mother. I could not understand the look he was giving her.

“Now now.. It is not polite to eavesdrop on someone else’s conversation but since you have decided to butt in I will now address you. We will do what we want Immortal & you nor Lenelle can do a thing about it” Esme said. Draco began to shake with rage. His big bulging veins began to pop out his hands, neck and arms. I had an urge to run and comfort him but I knew I couldn’t. I still don’t know how looking into someone's memories works and I don’t want to alter anything just in case that is possible. Draco charged at Esme in full force. Esme pushed Lenelle out the way when Draco got too close. I was blinded for a moment by a really bright white light. I covered my eyes with my arm shielding myself from it. The light dimmed and when I looked back Draco had his sword plugged into Esme’s chest! Esme had a shocked and pained look on her face, Draco slowly pushed the sword deeper into her flesh & twisted.

“NOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!” Eve screamed with so much pain. Her scream was so high-pitched it knocked all of them back on their ass. I came back to the present gasping for air. I was back in front of Draco with my hand still on his cheek. I looked deep into his eyes. It was like I was seeing him for the very first time. I took him in completely. I traced his perfectly arched eyebrow with my index finger, he closed his eyes, seeming to enjoy my touch. He had such beautiful tan skin that reminded me of a beach on a hot summer day. His lips were so pink and plump, I trailed my finger down to his lips. His lips parts and I could have sworn I heard him gasp a bit. After all this time I have been told nothing but lies by everyone I cared for. How can I trust them? His eyes say ‘Everything I’m telling you is the truth’ but I still can’t bring myself to trust them. However, I am willing to let them earn it. I took a step away from Draco, walking towards Cameron.

“Your betrayal disgusts me over and over again. You are a terrible husband. You did NOT deserve Colton as a mate!” Cameron glares at me but then he starts grinning widely at me. He made chills go down my spine and not the good kind.

“How dare you judge me when you are about to mate with the man who murdered your mother” he said with venom. I looked him in the eyes, contemplating what to say to him. After all, he is not wrong. I want to have a bit of faith that this is all a lie. I want to believe that this is all just the story they’ve made me believe. Did they have false memories too? Could Eve have implanted the fact that I am their mate? No.. I can’t be fake. Why would she fake the death of her sister? Of Lenelle’s mother?

“I will leave with you both under a condition” I said looking Cameron dead in the eyes but speaking to Darco and Lenelle

“What is your condition?” Draco asked me

“I don’t want you to kill Cameron” I stated clearly. Silence fell over all of us. I turned to look at them both and they were staring at each other. They looked at me and said;

“NO.”

“Think about it, if we keep him alive he can tell us where The Dark One is. He can tell us so much information”

“She is right, Draco. We need to find Eve to properly protect Dite.” Lenelle said, trying to reason with Darco. I heard Draco sigh.

“Fine. Lenelle tell Paul and Thomas to round everyone up with 5 others. They will stay here to keep everyone in line while we figure everything else out. Locate Jermey & Rosie as well” Draco said to Lenelle calmly. Wait.. Did he just say Rosie? As in Cameron’s sister, Rosie?

‘What does Rosie have to do with this?” I asked, curiously

“Rosie is mated to my brother, Jermey so naturally they are on our side” Draco said not even sparing me a glance before walking off.

“Go get cleaned up. Gather your things we leave in one hour.” Lenelle stated before he too walked off from me. I sigh. This was going to be a long journey for all of us. With my head slightly bowed & my eyes focusing on the ground I made my way into the house, deep in thought.