Cursed

The Lillian Rayne Series

Volume 7: Cursed

Ella Price

This book is a work of fiction, and does not
represent real events. Characters, names, places, and incidents are works of
the authors imagination and do not depict any real event, or person living or
dead.

Copyright © 2014 by Ella Price

All rights reserved

No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or
distributed in any printed or electronic form.

First Edition: July 2014

Cover by AEPBOOKCOVERS.COM

I
looked from the woman claiming to be my mother, to the cloaked man. I wasn’t
sure what to do. Somehow I knew she was my mother, but that would change
everything.

“If
you are my mother, why am I just meeting you?” I asked sharply, snapping out of
my shock. She couldn’t just come her and expect me to accept the fact that she
was my birth mother.

“That
is a long story. One I am more than willing to share with you in time. Right
now it is important that you come with me,” she said softly. Her expression was
sincere, but I was cautious by nature. So many things had happened I wouldn’t
have been surprised if it was a trick.

“I
can’t come with you. I have concerns here,” I said curtly.

Her
expression darkened slightly at my rejection. “Oliver just saved your life. You
could at least show your appreciation by cooperating.”

“I
would have been fine on my own. I have been fine on my own for a while,” I
countered. I wasn’t about to let her push me around. She couldn’t just show up
and expect me to listen.

She
sighed impatiently. “Well you certainly are my daughter.”

Oliver
smiled slightly at her comment. “We need to go mistress,” he said quietly.

The
woman claiming to be my mother nodded. “Another time then Lillian. I suppose
you will eventually get curious.”

Before
I could say anything, they were both gone. Julian groaned as he started to
stir. I glanced at him. I wasn’t about to wait around until he recovered. I
turned and I ran toward the hunter’s compound.

The
sudden appearance of the woman and Oliver was bugging me. I should have asked
more questions instead of being on guard. I wasn’t sure what was going on
anymore. The only hunter I could ask that would know anything was Luca. He was
the only one that was around when I was young.

I
walked into the house, and went straight for Luca’s office. I knocked briskly,
then walked in. Luca looked up a little startled by my forceful entrance.
Aubrey was standing next to him. They were looking down at something on the
table.

“Is
something wrong Lillian?” Luca asked as he quickly covered whatever he and
Aubrey were looking at.

“What
are you doing?” I asked sounding a little more accusing then I meant to.

Luca
glanced at Aubrey. “We were looking at a treaty,” Aubrey said simply. “What
happened to your face?” he asked changing the subject as he walked over to me.
I didn’t really believe him. I watched him trying to decide what to say. He
cupped my chin, and brushed his thumb over a cut on my cheek.

I
winced and pulled away. “I ran into Julian.”

“Julian
shouldn’t be in town,” Luca said annoyed as he stood up straighter.

“He
has a reason, I am guessing,” Aubrey said as he let his hand drop to his side.

“He
says there is a bounty on my head. Do you know anything about that?” I asked
looking from Aubrey to Luca.

“No,
of course not. I will make some calls. Maybe we can find out why,” Luca said as
he walked around his desk.

“Do
you know why?” Aubrey asked as he watched me intently. He almost seemed like he
was trying to read between the lines. He was acting like he didn’t believe me.

I
looked at him trying to decide what to say. “Not completely. Luca do you know
where I was born?” I asked looking back at Luca.

He
looked at me a little confused by the sudden change of subject. “I don’t really
know. I didn’t arrive here until you were around two. Why do you ask?”

I
shook my head. He didn’t know anything, so there was no point in telling him
anything. If something was going on, I didn’t want to give too much information
away. I needed to find out everything before I said anything. “No reason. I am
going up to bed. I will see you later,” I said curtly, then walked out.

I
hurried up the stairs to my bedroom, but I had no plans on sleeping. I wasn’t
sure what I was going to do. I retrieved my father’s journal and sat on my bed.
I wasn’t entirely sure the man I called my father was even my real father.

After
over two hours of getting nowhere I tossed the journal aside. There was nothing
in the journal about me. Part of me wished I heard the woman out. I shouldn’t
have been so quick to dismiss her. I stood and walked to the window. The sun
was starting to come up. I wondered where Cornelius was. I missed him, and I
wished he would go back to being himself.

“I
can hear you at times,” Cornelius said from behind me.

I
spun around, startled by his sudden appearance. “Why do you keep doing that?” I
growled as I glared at him. I wasn’t really in the mood to deal with him right
at that moment. If he was the normal Cornelius I would have taken him to bed,
but he wasn’t.

He
shrugged. “Habit, you think about me a lot,” he said watching me cautiously.

I
rolled my eyes, and sat down on my bed. “Of course I do. I was in love with
you,” I said dryly.

“Was?”
he asked still remaining where he was with his eyes locked on me.

I
looked at him trying to decide what to say. “It is hard to love someone who doesn’t
love you back,” I said simply.

“She
died,” he said quietly. His voice was strained with hurt.

I
looked at him confused. “I died, Cornelius, but I am here now. I don’t
understand why you can’t accept that.”

“How
do I know it is really you? How do I know this is some kind of trick?” he asked
sounding fearful.

I
didn’t understand his fear, but I did understand his confusion. I was confused
myself. Everything had changed so drastically. I didn’t see the point in going
round and round with him. I couldn’t give him the answers he wanted because I
didn’t have them myself. “I don’t know. I don’t even know who I am anymore.
Maybe you are right to stay away.”

“I
am trying, but you make it impossible,” he said in barely a whisper. He
actually sounded a little angry.

“Fine,
I will attempt to stop thinking about you if it bothers you so much,” I said
darkly as I stood. I should have been tired, but I wasn’t. My mind was racing,
and I was full of energy. I didn’t feel like dealing with Cornelius. I had so
many questions and no answers. I was back to regretting not speaking to the
woman who claimed to be my mother.

“I
can leave if you like,” Cornelius offered.

I
looked at him confused. “You are the one who wants to forget me.”

He
shifted as he continued to watch me. I wanted to know what he was thinking, but
I figured he wouldn’t tell me even if I asked. “I don’t want to forget you, I
just don’t understand what is going on.”

I
rolled my eyes and sat back down on my bed. “Do you really think I do? I need
to get some sleep. You should go.”

“Of
course,” he said softly, then he was gone.

I
sighed and laid back on my bed. My life was getting to complicated and
confusing. I knew I would have to speak to the woman who I encountered earlier.
She obviously knew something. Maybe she could make what happened make sense.

After
several failed attempts at falling asleep I decided to get dressed. I needed to
go back out and see if the woman would reappear. I made sure to pack extra
weapons since Julian, and who knows who else was out there waiting for me.

I
walked downstairs hoping to avoid everyone. I didn’t want to be asked anymore
questions. I had no answers. I fought the urge to groan when I saw Aubrey,
Luca, and Kai waiting downstairs. I knew they were waiting for me because they
usually met in Luca’s office, unless they were trying to intercept me.

“Where
are you going?” Luca asked trying to sound casual.

“Out,”
I said simply. I wasn’t willing to explain myself. I had a feeling they were
hiding something from me; so I figured why not hide something from them.

“That
really isn’t the wisest idea. Julian is out there somewhere and I am sure there
are others as well,” Aubrey said softly. I knew the tone of voice he was using.
It was the one he used when he thought I was being unreasonable.

“I
agree,” Kai said backing Aubrey.

I
didn’t know why they thought I would listen. I was sure they figured since all
of them were agreeing I would listen, but I wasn’t going to. I couldn’t stay
holed up in this place because people were trying to get me. I would go insane,
and I wouldn’t find anything out doing that. “I have things to do,” I said as I
attempted to walk past them.

Aubrey
blocked me. I figured he would be the one to do it. He was always trying to
hinder me, and it was starting to get annoying. “I think for once you should
listen to us. We are not telling you this to annoy you.”

“Well
you are annoying me,” I said sharply.

“Will
you cooperate for once in your life?” Aubrey snapped impatiently.

I
was a little caught off guard by his tone, but I wasn’t going to let him tell
me what to do. “No, I said I have something to do. I will not simply stay here
and hide. I would rather take the chance of dying,” I growled as I stormed past
him.

I
was actually surprised none of them tried to stop me. I figured they would put
up more of a fight. I hesitated when Aubrey appeared in front of me. I scowled
and went to speak, but he cut me off. “Unlike Cornelius, I believe you are the
real Lillian, and I do not intend to let you die again. So if you insist on
running around when you are in danger, then I am going with you.”

I
considered fighting him, but I knew it would be pointless. He was determined to
be a pain, and there was nothing I could do to change his mind. “Fine, just
stay out of my way,” I snapped and started walking. I was going to go back to
the place I met the woman, and Oliver. I was hoping maybe they would reappear.
She said I would get curious eventually, but she failed to mention how I could
find her when I did.

Aubrey
followed me. He stayed a few steps behind me. He was either trying to give me
my space, or he was pouting. I stopped in the alley and looked around. The
crate Oliver threw Julian into was still there, crushed into a million pieces.
I looked around trying to determine if there was anything special about the
place. There didn’t seem to be.

“Is
there a reason we are just standing in an alley?” Aubrey asked dryly.

“You
are the one who wanted to come. Go away if you don’t like what I am doing,” I
said impatiently.

He
muttered something low enough so I couldn’t hear him. I was going to comment, but
a scuffling noise caught my attention. Oliver stepped out of the shadows.
Aubrey immediately moved up beside me. I put my hand on Aubrey’s arm to stop
him from advancing on Oliver. I was sure Aubrey thought Oliver was another
mercenary come to collect the bounty on my head.

Oliver’s
eyes shifted from Aubrey to me. “My mistress sent me to find out if you were
ready to talk,” he said in an eerily calm voice.

“Who
the hell is that? What is he talking about?” Aubrey asked sounding both annoyed
and worried.

“I’m
not really sure, but I am going to find out,” I said to him, then I directed my
attention to Oliver. “I am ready to talk to her,” I said calmly. I wasn’t
concerned about Oliver. Somehow I knew he wasn’t going to hurt me. I just
wanted answers, and I had a feeling the woman, Oliver called mistress, had the
answers.

“You
cannot go with him,” Aubrey hissed as he snatched my hand. It was obvious he
was worried for my safety. In a way he was right. I had no idea who Oliver, or
the woman claiming to be my mother was. I could have been walking into a trap,
but it was the only way I could find out what was going on.

“I
will be fine, Aubrey,” I said softly trying to ease his fear.

“The
vampire may come with you. I am sure my mistress will not care, as long as you
trust him,” Oliver said looking from Aubrey to me.

“I
trust him,” I said softly as I glanced at Aubrey.

Oliver
nodded. “Come with me,” he said and turned. He started walking further into the
alley.

“We
have to follow him,” I said quickly as I pulled Aubrey along with me. Aubrey
seemed hesitant, but I didn’t have time to explain. Oliver was walking quickly,
and I didn’t want to lose my chance to speak with his mistress.

Oliver
stopped in the center of the alley. There was nothing around except for a few
back entrances to shops and bars. He walked to the wall of one of the
buildings. There was no door where he was standing. Oddly enough it was the
only part of the wall that didn’t have a door. Every other wall had a door
every so many feet depending on the locations of the businesses the buildings
housed.

He
touched a brick, and muttered something. A black door appeared in front of him
and he opened the door and stepped inside. I moved forward to follow him, and
Aubrey caught me around my waist. “This is not a good idea Lillian. There is
obviously some sort of witch craft involved with these people. Who is it you
wish to speak to this bad?”

“I
don’t know her name, but she is claiming to be my mother, and she looks just
like me. Maybe she has the answers I am looking for,” I said as I looked at
him.

“Why
do you need answers so bad? Why can’t you just accept that you have been given
a second chance, and move on?” he argued.

“Move
on to what?” I asked sharply. I had nothing to move on to, and he didn’t seem
to understand that. I was back to doing what I always did, except now things
were so much more complicated.

He
watched me for a second, but didn’t speak. “Are you two coming?” Oliver asked
gruffly. He sounded like he was getting impatient with our delaying.

“Yes,”
I said softly still holding Aubrey’s gaze.

Aubrey
finally released me. “I hope you are right to trust them. Otherwise neither of
us will be walking out of there,” he said sounding a little harsh.

“I
hope I am right too,” I said simply, then I turned and walked toward the open
door. Oliver turned, and proceeded deeper into the building when he saw I was
following. Aubrey was back to following a few feet behind me.

The
hall we entered was lit by torches. Every few feet there was a torch burning
all the way down the hall. The torches appeared to be made out of gold. There
were several door, but Oliver continued to bypass them, until he stopped in
front of the door at the end of the hall. The door had inscriptions carved into
it. It was in a language I couldn’t read. I wasn’t even sure if it was a
language that was on the books. I knew there were several covens of witches
that had their own languages. I was beginning to think that was what the
writing was. The woman who claimed to be my mother was a witch, or she was
associated with them.

“This
is a bad idea,” Aubrey murmured. He was standing closer to me now.

Oliver
placed his hand flat on the door, and the door swung open almost like it was
never shut. It seemed like he just pushed it open, but I knew better. The door
had to have some kind of spell on it. Olive preceded into the room.

For
the first time I was a little hesitant. I never thought the woman was human,
but now that I knew she was some sort of witch I was slightly unsure. I didn’t
have much experience with witches. Like every living thing, some were good, and
others were bad. I was just hoping she was good. I took a deep breath and
stepped into the room.

Like
the hall, the room was lit by candles instead of electricity. I thought it was
a little odd considering we were in the middle of downtown where electricity
was readily available. I felt Aubrey move up behind me. He was closer to me now
than he had been a few minutes earlier. I could tell the place made him
nervous. It was starting to make me nervous. The room was decorated with
furniture that looked like it was made a few centuries ago. The woman I was
looking to see sat in a chair not far from us. Oliver moved to stand behind her
chair protectively. He seemed like he was completely dedicated to her.

“Lillian,
I am glad to see you have come,” she said and smiled. Her gaze shifted to
Aubrey. His smile faltered slightly. “You are Aubrey, the master vampire of
this area,” she said already knowing who he was.

“I
am. I am afraid I do not know as much about you, as you seem to know about me,”
Aubrey said a little defensively.

She
smile slightly. “I keep an eye on my daughter. I know who she associates with.”

“If
I am your daughter, then why am I just meeting you,” I cut in. I was getting
impatient. I wanted answers, and making introductions was taking too long.

“Patience,
Lillian,” she chided as she looked back at me. She looked at Aubrey again. “My
name is Victoria. My coven has been around for a long time, although we try to
keep to ourselves.”

“I
see, and you think Lillian is your daughter?” Aubrey asked skeptically.

“I
don’t think, I know,” she said sharply as she stood. She walked over to a table
with a tray on it. She poured us each a drink. No one spoke for a minute. It
seemed like there was a lot of tension in the room. “I gave Lillian to the Rayne
family when they lost their child,” she said as she walked over and offered me
and Aubrey a drink.

I
was a little startled by her admission. I was also a little angry. It wouldn’t
have been so bad if I was stolen, but she willingly gave me up. “Why didn’t you
want me?” I asked confused.

She
laughed like I said something funny. I didn’t think any of it was funny, but
she did. “Of course I wanted you, but I wanted you safe. The only way I knew
for sure you would be safe was if you were as far away from me, and this coven
as possible. We have many enemies Lillian, and they would have hurt you to get
to me.”

“So
are you evil then?” I asked hoping she wasn’t. I didn’t understand why she
would have so many enemies if she was good.

“It
has nothing to do with good or evil. It has to do with the gift we possess. Let
Aubrey bite you, I will show you why we have so many enemies,” she said simply.

I
looked at Aubrey unsure. I wasn’t entirely sure what she was planning to do. I
was a little worried. I wished she would just tell me what I needed to know
instead of making it seem like a riddle.

Aubrey
sighed. “Give me your wrist. Let’s just get this over with so we can leave,” he
said offering his hand.

I
laid my wrist in his hand. He brought my wrist to his mouth and bit me. Nothing
spectacular happened. She made it seem like something would happen, but nothing
did. Aubrey released my wrist, and I looked at her. “What is supposed to
happen?” I asked confused.

She
nodded at Oliver. Oliver moved quicker than I thought he could. He plunged a
dagger into Aubrey’s chest before I even had a chance to move.

“No!”
I screamed and lunged at Oliver. I threw my body into him knocking him to the
floor. I attempted to hit him, and he deflected my blow. He easily tossed me
off him, and got to his feet. I got to my feet ready to attack again.

“Lillian
calm down. Your friend is fine,” Victoria said firmly as she moved between
Oliver and me.

I
looked over at Aubrey. I expected him to be dead on the floor. I saw the knife
go into his chest. There was no way Oliver missed his heart, on top of that the
dagger was silver. I was surprised to see Aubrey was still standing with his
hand on the dagger. He was looking down at the dagger in his chest like he
didn’t understand what was going on. He yanked it out of his chest and cussed.
Aubrey looked at me confused. “I should be dead,” he said quietly. I was as
confused as he was.

“You
should be, but you are not because of Lillian’s blood. Now you know why it was
necessary to protect her. Lillian is immortal, and she can transfer her
immortality temporarily through her blood. That is why there is now a bounty on
her head. By her dying and coming back word has spread. We were hoping to avoid
her powers being known, but there are many that are now suspicious,” she said
simply.

“I
can’t die?” I asked confused.

“You
can die. You just won’t stay dead. Normally it only takes a day or two for you
to come back, but because you were turned into a vampire the process took
longer,” she said as she walked back to her chair, and took a seat.