Thunderstorm, p.9
Thunderstorm, page 9
She smiled knowingly. “I’m sure he does.”
This was all too overwhelming. I suddenly became nervous. What did she want me to do? Take over the throne right now?
“Relax,” she said. “Focus on that later. Right now, he needs your help. He won’t be able to stop the Ravens without you. Their strength is no match for yours.” She smiled before turning to leave me with my thoughts.
I held my head up high. I was about to be King. That meant I would be able to do whatever I pleased. I rubbed my chin. I started thinking of ways to change Pigalle Palace for the better, but first, we were going to have to get rid of the Ravens.
CHAPTER 14
LEGEND
MiMi entered my bedroom unannounced and she did so quietly. I was watching a little TV while sitting on my bed when the door opened. I needed to take my mind off what I saw Rain do to Ulysses. I never wanted to see that happen again. Ulysses was going to get his act together, even if that meant I had to be on his every move. MiMi walked in and up to my bed as if I invited her. I wasn’t expecting to see her because Rain made it clear that she was to stay in her own room.
“What’s up?” I asked while getting up. “Is everything okay?”
She stood right in front of me. One of her hands touched the very ends of one of my dreads. Then, without warning, she pushed me on my bed. My back hit the mattress and I stared up at her to see a smile coming to her face.
“What are you doing?” I asked.
Her hand caressed my chest, up and down before unbuttoning my shirt. She straddled my waist and slowly leaned down. She started kissing my lips seductively. She was too sexy to resist. I wrapped my left hand around her waist, and with my right hand, I placed my hand in her hair. I stroked and massaged her scalp. She stared intensely into my eyes.
She kissed my neck and licked it. I felt the tingly sensation, but I couldn’t let her have me. We had to be married first and as much as I wanted to break the rules, we had to stop. I removed my hands from her.
“What’s the matter? You don’t want me?” she questioned.
“I do want you, but not like this. . . If what you tell me is true about being my wife, then we have to wait until our wedding night to make love.”
She eased off me and nodded her head slowly, almost sadly. “When will you be ready to be married?”
I shrugged. I really didn’t know because I was still getting to know her. I wanted to take my time. I wasn’t going to make her wait forever, but I needed a little more time.
“Soon,” I said. “I mean that . . . very soon.”
“Come for a walk with me,” she stated.
“Where are we going?”
“Come on!”
She got up from the bed and reached for my hand. I got up and took her hand. MiMi smiled at me lovingly. I smiled back at her. Her beauty was intoxicating and it was tough not to give into temptation, but I remained firm.
We walked out of the bedroom and down the hall, hand in hand.
“I want to show you something,” she said.
“All right.”
She led me down the long corridor and down a set of stairs. We walked to the farthest part of the east wing in silence. The whole time, I kept wondering where we were going. On the other side of the kitchen, there was a slender door. I hadn’t noticed that door before, but there were so many doors in the palace, it would be easy to overlook this one. She opened it and it was dark inside, but I could see a spiral staircase going down. She walked down before me and I followed her reluctantly. It was so dark, but our eyes could see everything.
When we reached the bottom of the staircase, there was a set of massive stone double doors at the end of the room. Was this were the tombs were? I looked at her. She ran her hand over the side of the door that looked like a lock. It resembled the pieces I had seen around Rain’s and Essence’s necks.
“So this is where they are,” I said.
She nodded. “Yes. . .King Allemand, Queen Christione, and Princess Valerie lie behind these doors.” Tiny tears came to her eyes.
“How come you haven’t told Rain?”
“Because he already knows and he’s afraid. He found them a while ago.”
“Why would he be afraid?” I scowled.
She looked at me. “Once he and Queen Essence open this door, King Allemand and Queen Christione will rise. They are only sleeping. Purebloods can never be killed, only bound by this tomb and only awakened by their predecessor.”
I swallowed hard. “What about our mother? Will she rise too?”
Mirage shook her head sadly. “No. She was human, so her body has already turned to ashes. Rain doesn’t want to wake them without her. His memories of her are precious memories that he will forever hold on to. He’s very selfish right now. Power has gone to his head. It’s important for you all to know everything and that’s why I’m here. There will be no more secrets.”
“If Rain opens the door, what will happen once they’re awakened?”
“Once they are awakened, Ulysses will be crowned King and he will have his ancestors at his side.”
I processed what she was saying. The Purebloods would be united and Rain would no longer be King. I wondered if Rain’s own selfishness wouldn’t allow him to open up this door for that reason. He was enjoying having that power position.
“What if Rain never opens it?”
“That’s the part I’m not sure about, but the Divination was misinterpreted by the Préfet purposely. King Allemand wrote it in a way that confused them. Yes, it spoke of a Divine One and of an heir to the throne, but it also said that when it was time, King Allemand, himself, would crown the King. Rain was crowned by the Préfet, which made his days of ruling temporary. He was given the keys to guard and was given instructions. Together, he and Queen Essence will open this door. Since Ulysses is fully grown, he can now be King and the Divination will be complete.”
I let her words soak in. I wasn’t so sure that Ulysses was ready. He was still so immature.
Reading my mind, MiMi said, “With the guide of your grandfather, he will be fine.”
I hoped Rain would do what was right. I would be too afraid to go against the Divination. I thought about how the keys mysteriously disappeared from around their necks before MiMi and I came back from Antigua. Rain had no intentions of opening up this tomb. I suddenly became worried.
MiMi held my hand in hers as she said, “Don’t worry. Soon, Ulysses will know the truth and Rain will have to obey.”
Suddenly, a feeling came over me. The longer I looked into her eyes, the more aroused I grew. She was turning me on standing there. I didn’t know if it was because she was so real with me, or what, but I aggressively took her into my arms and gave her a lust-filled kiss. I moaned as she pushed her tongue inside of mine. I grabbed a fistful of her hair and groaned as I tugged on it. I practically ripped off her clothes as I pressed her up against the wall. She helped me to remove my shirt and then my pants. I stood in front of her in my boxers.
She admired the muscles in my stomach and eyed my body hungrily. She then grabbed my dreads and pulled them as I pushed her up against the wall. I tilted her head back as she arched her neck toward me. I licked my bottom lip as I felt my fangs elongate. I leaned down to kiss her neck gently, trailing her soft flesh. I felt the need to bite her. I wanted to taste her.
“Once you drink from me, we are bonded . . . soul mates,” she said, reading my thoughts.
I let my fangs penetrate her skin. I moaned as her blood slid down my throat. I felt the instant feeling of love. What I was fighting, I could no longer fight. She was mine and I was hers. I enjoyed the sensation of her. Her blood was sweet.
She moved her hands down to my boxers and placed her hands inside to feel how hard I was. She rubbed it roughly; ready to have me inside of her.
I pulled my fangs away and licked my bloodied lips, savoring the taste of her. She looked at my lips before kissing me passionately. Her tongue brushed up against mine and I sucked it. My soul was telling me this was right and she was everything she said she was. She moaned and closed her eyes and when she looked at me again, there was so much pleasure in them.
“I want you,” I said as I watched her breathe deeply.
I could feel how badly I wanted her. I let her stroke me. I wanted her to do whatever she wanted and however she wanted it. She lifted her leg to go around my waist. I lifted the other and held her up by her thighs. I was centered correctly. I placed myself inside of her with her back still resting against the wall. I thrust into her deeply.
She moaned.
I moved in and out of her as she breathed against the side of my face. With both of her hands clasping the back of my head, I moved deeper and faster until I was fucking her hard against that wall. As our bodies glided in a perfect rhythm with one another, I made her cum over and over and over again. Her moans bounced off the walls. I didn’t stop until we both had the final orgasm.
CHAPTER 15
AZURA
I dived into one of the two swimming pools that were in the Château, wearing a black bikini. I stretched my arms and legs while I swam indoors peacefully. I liked the feeling of the water as it caressed me. It made me think of the way Claude’s hands felt as he fondled me. I shook him out of my head. I was forbidden from ever seeing him again. I enjoyed my swim, freeing my mind of all the bad shit that was starting to happen. It was this pure pleasure that brought a slight smile to my face.
No matter how hard I tried to swim my thoughts away, I couldn’t get my mind off Claude. I really needed to say goodbye and at least tell him that what he had done the other night was a mistake. I needed closure. I couldn’t blame Rain for being angry with me for what I had done with Claude or for punishing Ulysses in front of all of us. It was something we all needed to be brought back to the reality that this was our new life. What we were doing was playing a dangerous game that could threaten what Rain was trying to build as the King.
When I was done swimming, I got out and took a towel to dry off. I went to my room and picked out a black dress that wrapped around my body with the back out. The dress was very skimpy, but that was the point. If I was going to be saying goodbye to Claude, then I was going to have to make it a good one. I let my hair dry in its natural waves on its own. I painted my lips with red lipstick. I put on some mascara and a little eye shadow. I finished my look with some red heels and a red clutch.
I was going to have to sneak out, especially with Rain banning me from Vaisseau. As much as I wanted to tell him what I was going to do, he wouldn’t stand for it. I was going to end this with Claude. He didn’t have anything to worry about me. I drove one of the cars to the club because I didn’t want one of the drivers to know where I was going.
I went to the Red Light District with a scattered brain. I was trying to play out what I was going to say to Claude and how I was going to leave if he attempted to kiss me. I parked the car in the busy parking lot. I walked down the alley quickly. As soon as I was at Vaisseau’s doors, the doorman recognized me and let me in without speaking. When I walked into the club, the music was pumping and everybody was dancing.
This rush of good energy hit me and it hit me hard. I was going to miss coming down here.
I didn’t see Claude right away, so I went over to the bar, aware of all the eyes on me as I ordered a drink. I thought I might as well enjoy a drink while waiting for him. The bartender gave me a wink and I slightly smiled at him. I looked around everywhere. I could see the usual vampires trying to satisfy their needs with mortals.
I took my gaze off them and continued to search for Claude.
After a while of searching with my eyes, I finished my drink. My eyes zoomed in on Claude near the VIP area. Seeing him again sent a chill down my spine.
Why did he have to be the most gorgeous and delicious-looking man I had ever seen?
I stood up and made my way to the dance floor to get to him. The vampires surrounding him backed away as if I was the goddess that Claude had been waiting for.
The moment his eyes landed on mine, I couldn’t help but bite my bottom lip. My soul purred. I didn’t want it to. Never has my soul purred like this before. Ever.
He came to me the way a man did when he saw his lover enter the room. He invaded my personal space as he always did. When he gripped my hips tightly and buried his head into the crook of my neck to inhale my scent, I tried to back away, but his dominance was high. I had never felt that way with any other vampire and Claude had a way of bringing me into his world once again. I snapped out of my thoughts when I felt his lips brush up against my neck.
“Can we go somewhere less crowded to talk, please?” I whispered.
His lips curved into a snide smirk. “Sure.” He nodded and let go of me.
I grabbed his hand and turned from the VIP before I took him upstairs. We went into a room that was unoccupied and closed the door.
“How can I help you?” he asked.
“I came here to tell you that I can no longer see you anymore. This will be your last time seeing me in Vaisseau unless you stop the Ravens from the unnecessary killings.”
“Is this some sort of an ultimatum?” he asked with his eyes widening.
“Not really . . . But, I would like to be able to see you again. The only way I can do that is if you stop being so evil.”
“I don’t do ultimatums.”
I was hoping that he would say that he was falling in love with me and that he would do whatever it took to keep seeing me. That didn’t happen. Claude was firm in what he believed.
“Well, then, you leave me no other choice. I can’t be seen around here or with you anymore. Rain is making plans as we speak to shut all of this down. I wouldn’t want to be in the middle of that. My loyalty is to my brother first and foremost.”
Claude erupted into laughter. “That’s seriously too bad.”
Feeling myself growing angrier with each second of him laughing, I turned to walk out of the room quickly, but he stood in front of the door. Suddenly, two other vampires came into the room from another door near the back of the room. They were surrounding me. I had no other way out.
“Looks like you’re not going anywhere,” he said.
His men grabbed me.
“Let me go!” I screamed, grabbing their hands, trying to scratch them.
They had me—one man on one arm and one man on the other. They were too strong to fight off. I yelled again. I didn’t have time to curse obscenities. Claude snapped my neck and the ground rose up to catch me at an alarming speed. Darkness welcomed me.
CHAPTER 16
AZURA
I felt pain. My limbs were numb and aching. I could barely move a muscle without feeling sore. I fluttered my eyelashes open to find that I was bound to a wooden chair in the center of the room. My feet were chained to the floor and my hands were tied tightly behind my back. I started trembling in fear.
Claude spoke, “Well, Ravens, what shall I do with Princess Azura?” He smiled coldly.
I looked up to see that ten other vampires, all Ravens, surrounded me. They were peering at me cautiously. I had no idea what was going on, but I needed to get out of there. What was he going to do with me? They were all whispering, looking at one another.
“I think I should kill her . . . I mean . . . it would be a perfect way to get Rain to show his face. Then, I can tell him that the Ravens aren’t going anywhere. We are only going to grow more powerful and stronger than anything he has ever seen. We will be too strong for him to stop. Soon, all of Paris will be ours. No more humans.”
“How will you feed if there are no more humans in Paris?”
“There are tons of cities throughout France, Azura. You seem like a smart girl. We will grow and grow.” Claude laughed with pure evil. “In the meantime, I have to figure out how I’m going to kill you. I really don’t want to. I really wanted you to be my lover and join us, but that would’ve never worked.”
I struggled with my hands to try to get them free, but it was no use. I wasn’t going anywhere. “Let me go, Claude. I won’t come back down here ever again and you can go on and do what it is that you do.”
“You shouldn’t have come back here tonight. I would’ve gotten the hint that you had fun while it lasted. Nevertheless, you came here and threatened me as if I was supposed to tell the Ravens to back down. We don’t back down for nobody.” Claude took a switchblade from his pocket and traced my face with it. “You’re so beautiful . . . It’s a shame that I have to cut your head off.”
I tried my best to move my face away, but I couldn’t because the chair was restricting me.
“Please, let me go!”
“Chain her to the wall,” Claude ordered.
Two men took hold of my arms and untied me from the chair. They took me over to the wall where chains were. They chained both arms up above my head and chained my feet to the wall. I swallowed hard. Suddenly, Claude slit both of my wrists. Blood oozed out. I panicked when I wasn’t healing. He must’ve given me a serum to stop me from healing. What was he trying to do? Make me bleed to death? Or was he torturing me?
I cried. He smiled at me while lifting my head to look into his eyes.
“Azura, soon, all of your precious little blood is going to leave your body and your brother will have no choice but to finally face me. Are you ready to die?”
CHAPTER 17
RAIN
I heard a soft knock on my bedroom door.
“Come in,” I said.
“Your highness, your car awaits you,” my personal butler said.
I heard him. I sat up in bed. It was time for me to make my appearance at Vaisseau. It was a dreaded visit, but it was long overdue and the only way to find out what was really going on was to go down there.
“I’ll be down in a moment. Wait for me downstairs.”
He left. I walked toward the window. I lifted the Victorian curtain enough to see that the moon was shining bright. I let out a deep sigh. Essence got out of bed.
