Page 54 of Eternal Obsession

“He has Catherine.”

Alex cupped his mouth with a shaky palm to prevent a scream of dread.

We stared in the direction of the dead men and cringed with the realization that we were trapped for the day with the decomposing bodies.

Chapter Twenty-Five

JADEON

Hiding in that dreadful chamber was the longest either of us had ever endured such quiet suffering together.

This darkness, this new existence, felt like an abomination, a cruel mockery of all my family had ever stood against. And yet, we had become the very creature they once hunted. How were we to face the future now, carrying this curse in our blood, this waking nightmare woven into the fabric of who we were.

The work that lay ahead was a nightmare in the making . . .

To make it seem as though no darkness had befallen the castle. And the other, the monstrous task that felt like the final blow in all of this. Having to drag the deceased out into the night, as though we were the wretched criminals.

We buried the bodies as best we could—and never spoke of it after.

The following night I attempted to impart some of the information to Alex that I had gathered. Having read some of the books but mostly from what I had observed.

We spoke for what felt like forever, laying bare our grief, our fear, and the guilt that bound us to Father’s fate. Alex had seen the attack unfold—but not the moment of his death.

Alex coped better than I had thought he would, though looking back, he was still in denial.

Like I had been.

His disregard for the truth was only to be expected. To persuade Alex I escorted him to the library and sat him down. Then provided him with a collection of books befitting the finest scholars. This chamber was the best place to read, to reflect, to partake of knowledge freely. Such a treasure ought not be concealed within the cold, forsaken halls of this seldom-visited castle. The books themselves were a staggering collection.

I hoped they would prove that I was not crazy to him.

He still thought I was.

With no time to pander to his moods, I instructed him to stay home and guard the castle while I went in pursuit of Orpheus to bring back Catherine. Leaving Alex was unbearable, but I was pulled. Not finding Catherine was equally wrong. Her face haunted my every waking moment.

Hold on, I am coming for you.

Although my prayers were many, they included my hope Catherine would not be repulsed by me now. I hated the fact Orpheus had her. The thought of him touching her tortured me. I considered whether Catherine was strong enough to cope.

My rage was unbearable. On finding Orpheus, I would kill him. It was imperative I keep such feelings hidden from Alex. We lingered upon the steps of St. Michael’s Mount and embraced. I reassured him we would soon be reunited. When certain he was ready for me to leave, I ascended high into the air.

With the faint detection of Catherine’s presence, I sensed a glimmer of hope. I sent her a message out into the night. “I will not rest until you are home.”

Impossible for her to hear.

Dismayed, I glanced down. Alex headed for the servant’s quarters.

Chapter Twenty-Six

ORPHEUS

Of what do vampires dream? Of times gone by, when they once walked as humans, when they ate, drank and made love as mortals do. During such times, when enclosed within naivete, life was simplicity itself. Alex dreamed of Jadeon and Catherine as all three played within the castle walls, no cares other than that of avoiding their parents and stealing time together. The all-consuming nightmares came, too.

Alex had dismissed all the staff within the castle. Many of them had worked there for most of their lives. The task had not been easy, and despite not wanting to alarm them, he told them his father had died of an infectious disease. For their own safety, they left.

Alone and bewildered, Alex walked the corridors. He longed for Jadeon, and despite all that I had done he still pined for my company. Wandering St. Michaels’s he was lost within its vastness, trapped by what he had become. He dared not venture out, afraid of everything and nothing. He would wait. Jadeon would return soon. Then and only then would he explore the changing world that lay outside the castle.

Alex had made a room for himself after removing all evidence of the Stone Master massacre. Here he could sleep in safety, engulfed in total darkness during the daylight hours. His bed now lay in the corner of his dark domain. An ironic twist of fate that he had once been forbidden to even enter this room.