Layla felt her hand ripped off from Riven's grip. The room became blindingly bright, making it difficult for her to open her eyes. She heard yells and curses. A loud crash. It was a terrible cacophony.
Suddenly everything stilled. She opened her eyes and took in her environment. They were no longer in Riven's room. They were behind the mansion, in the groove of lush trees. How did they get there? Her eyes moved around frantically, searching for Riven amidst the crowd of shifters that were struggling to get up.
She spotted him close to the rock in the middle of the trees. There was clear confusion in his eyes as he scanned the area. He was probably wondering how they got behind the mansion when they were just in his room a few moments ago.
Layla began to walk towards him when a hand suddenly grabbed her. Her terrified eyes snapped up and she saw him, the vampire lord. Before she could struggle, he pricked her hand with his sharp claw, wanting to taste her blood and know why she smelled so good.
But as her blood came in contact with his skin, Brandon groaned in pain and dropped her arm swiftly as if he had been stung. He looked up at his claw, noticing how a single drop of her blood burned his finger. His finger sizzled hotly and he quickly wiped the blood off.
"What are you?",he whispered just as Riven appeared beside Layla. Brandon knew he was outnumbered so he took a step back, his eyes fixated on Layla.
"We shall meet again",he said coldly. "Goodbye Riven".
In a flash he was gone.
"Are you okay my love? Did he hurt you?",Riven asked as his hands move over Layla, checking for hidden injuries.
Layla raised her arm to check the place Brandon pricked her with his claw and she received another great shock. There was no wound. The place Brandon pricked her was smooth, like she had never been wounded. There was not a single drop of blood.
Her astonished eyes looked up to see Riven staring at her. Her mouth opened and closed, unable to form a word. She couldn't speak, even if she wanted to.
"Did something happen my love?",Riven asked her, noticing the surprised look on her face.
Layla shook her head, confusion clearly in her eyes. She let him place his hand around her waist and draw her close.
"Alpha",Cade appeared, stopping Riven from questioning Layla further. He was relieved to see Layla was okay in his arms.
"What the hell happened?",Riven asked as he began making his way back to the mansion with Layla beside him.
"It wasn't ordinary Alpha",Cade said. He walked briskly behind Riven and Layla while the other shifters moved aside and started walking back to the mansion.
Riven arrived in his room and gently placed Layla on the bed. He knelt and took off her shoes, massaging her toes while he talked with Cade.
"Of course it wasn't ordinary",Riven said. "Witchcraft".
"I don't think so Alpha",Cade disagreed. "Even the strongest witch can't teleport that much people out of here. It was something stronger".
"What then was it?",Riven asked. He brought a glass of juice and handed it to Layla who smiled at him before taking it.
"Sorcery",Cade said.
"Sorcery? There haven't been a Sorcerer in these islands for centuries",Riven said with a frown. "And if it's actually sorcery, it doesn't explain anything. Brandon is not a sorcerer".
"Maybe we should seek the help of the Ancient shifters",Cade suggested. "They might actually have an answer for what happened".
"Send word to Ren",Riven said and turned away from Cade. "I'll meet them at the Ancient Temple at noon tomorrow".
"Yes Alpha",Cade said and exited the room.
Riven stood by the window, a thoughtful frown on his face. The arrival of the Vampire Lord brought back a lot of terrible memories. He shut his eyes as the screams of his dead sister tore through his mind. He hadn't been able to save her, and he blamed himself for it everyday. He tried not to think of the events of the past but they played before his mind nonetheless.
He could hear the screams. The painful screams of women as they were attacked by the vampires. He saw blood, gushing out from hearts that had been ripped off from shifters. The vampires attacked them mercilessly, cutting them down and digging their fangs into the veins of innocent creatures, drawing their life force out as they drained their blood. He saw himself as he was that faithful day, centuries ago. Unable to move or fight back because of the silver in his bloodstream. And finally he saw his sister. Belinda. Looking like a battle warlock as she raced down to the battle scene in her golden lycan form, ripping off the vampires that terrorized the island. He saw himself trying to get up, unable to move because the silver he had been shot with weakened him. And before his eyes, he watched as the vampires surrounded Belinda, as they closed in on her, pummeling her with the silver weapons. Brandon appeared and with a demonic grin, he slammed his hand into Belinda's heart, ripping it out and killing her instantly.
Riven watched himself roar out in pain and rage, and his eyes turned blood red, unleashing the beast within him.
He jerked back to the present as he felt Layla's hand on his. He drew in a shuddering breathe and closed his eyes, gaining control over his body. His eyes were glowing golden pools, filled with pain, rage and anguish.
"I'm alright my love", he whispered and pulled Layla into his arms, burying his nose in her hair. He inhaled her scent, letting it calm his restless beast. Each time he thought back to the vampire responsible for his sister's death, vengeance boiled deep in him. He would avenge her death someday, and he would make Brandon pay dearly by giving him a slow torturous death.
Layla felt Riven trembling in her arms. She had no idea what memory he was reliving but it made her worry for him. With the short time she had spent with Riven, he never showed weakness. His aura was one of dominance and authority. Power reeked from him and when he entered a room, his presence was felt strongly, making everyone tense with awe and respect.
To see him trembling came as a surprise to her and she knew something terrible must have upset him. She took his hand in hers and led him to the bed. Riven followed her without saying a word, watching as she climbed on the bed and pulled him to lay beside her.
Her way of cheering him up made him smile and he pulled her closer, wrapping one hand protectively around her waist. They lay there together with no words spoken, just enjoying the other's company.
...
Brandon stepped down from his ship at the far end of the island. It was sunset already and soon night would descend on them. The ship rocked slowly in the ocean and he made his way through the water towards dry land. The entire island was Riven's territory but this particular spot had been abandoned for years. It was the place where the last war had broken out between the vampires and the shifters. The place where he killed the lycan princess, Belinda.
Not wanting to think of that incident, he pushed it out of his mind.
"Lord Brandon",Vladimir called to him from the ship's deck. He was Brandon's right hand man, the man who did all the dirty job.
"What Vladimir?",Brandon asked without turning around.
"What's the next plan?",Vladimir asked. "The strange occurrence of today..."
"I'm aware of it",Brandon said. He walked further into the deserted land where the trees were charred and blackened. The vegetation never grew after that last war. Brandon was deep in thoughts. The strange occurrence that happened today didn't surprise him. He knew the girl was special. He knew ever since he perceived a whiff of her blood. But still, there was something strange about her blood. It burned him when it made contact with his skin. Just what kind of creature was she?
He didn't know but the witch who worked with him would figure that out. His blood boiled with rage. Why did the Moon Goddess have to make her Riven's mate? Taking her would be difficult, but he enjoyed a challenge. And he couldn't wait to make Riven suffer again from the death of his mate.
"You will return to the human world Vladimir", he told the henchman. "I have a job for you".
As he spoke, a figure suddenly appeared. Brandon didn't turn around though. He knew who it was.
"I've been expecting you witch",he said.