The Witch's Vampire (New Adult Paranormal Romance) (Mystery Springs Series) (30 page)

She took a deep breath. She was letting herself get carried away with the surroundings, getting sucked up into the sandman’s spell. She needed to remember this was a dream. Then a thought occurred to her. “Mother?”

If she was stuck here maybe she could search for and rescue her mother. A guilty feeling crossed her mind. She promised Gio she’d wait for him before she tried to find her, but if fate offers you a cookie you take it, right? He couldn’t blame her for taking advantage of the situation.

Only how did she find her? And what would she use to protect herself when she did? Manifestation. The word echoed in her mind. She remembered what Thanatos told today.
‘In the dream realm you can manifest anything you need. All you have to do is close your eyes and visualize what you want and it should appear, unless you’ve been spelled by a weaver to keep you from using that power.’

“Okay, Thanatos,” Sophie said out loud, “let’s see how well this manifestation thing works.” She closed her eyes and wished for a sword. She felt the weight of a hilt and metal in her hands. It was heavier than she expected. “One strong enough to defend against the weavers and the gods.” She whispered and kept her eyes closed as she felt the sword change, the smell of sulfur and heat forced her to open her eyes. Her mouth flew open as she took in the sight of the silver sword on fire in her hand. It was strikingly similar to the one Christopher held her captive with. The grip wasn’t hot, but she felt the heat singe the hairs on her arm.

“Hello, Sophie.” The ninja dressed in black, the same one that saved her days ago, was standing in front of her unarmed.

“Stay back, I’m not afraid to use this.” Sophie lied. She didn’t even know how to use it let alone want to hurt someone with it. All she wanted to do was protect herself and free her mother.

“Nike sent me to help you.” The woman who looked of oriental decent smiled softly. “I am Layla. Please put out the sword before you hurt yourself.” She placed her right fist over her heart and nodded her head stiffly.

“I’d very much like to do that, but I have no idea how I lit it in the first place.” Sophie admitted.

“Use your mind. The power in the dream realm is in your mind.” Layla circled around Sophie slowly. Her logic was sound. Her subconscious was connected to the dream realm some way. She narrowed her eyes on Layla, nothing about her actions or tone of voice scared her, but she was technically the enemy which made her feel uneasy.

“How do I know if I can trust you?”

“You don’t, but sometimes you must take a leap of faith.” Layla placed her hand on Sophie’s and helped her calm her mind enough to put out the fire on the blade. “Close your eyes and tell the sword to return to normal.”

At least she was honest and she did save her once. She said Nike sent her, and Nike seemed to be the only one of the Gods that defended her. Sophie did as Layla instructed and the heat reduced. She opened one eye and saw the last of the fire extinguish itself. “Wow.”

“You do know that you don’t need weapons here. You have the power of life and death in your hands.” Layla pointed out as she admired Sophie’s free hand. “So much power in such tiny, innocuous weapons.”

“Power I’m not comfortable with. I think I’ll hold onto this weapon just in case.”

Layla shrugged, “as you wish.”

Sophie wished for a sheath and one appeared strapped to her back. She put the sword away and turned to Layla. “Are you going to help me release my mother?”

“Your mother has already passed on.”

“She wouldn’t have gone without saying goodbye.” Sophie couldn’t believe it.

“She had no choice. After you left the gods were angry and her soul was in danger so she chose to pass through her door. Even the gods can’t interfere with death.”

“But Thanatos would have told us.” Sophie didn’t understand. Surely he would’ve let her know her mother had passed.

Layla shrugged, “perhaps he doesn’t know yet. Thanatos’ reapers usually collect the souls
, and he delivers them to the afterlife. If a soul has been collected, but not delivered, it remains in purgatory or limbo. Only the reapers and death can enter purgatory without an escort.”

Sophie knew what Layla was saying was true, Thanatos told her as much earlier that day. But she couldn’t believe her mother would’ve left without saying goodbye. “And you’re sure?”

“Yes. I saw her pass through the veil.”

“So she is safe?”

Layla shrugged again. “I’ve never been to purgatory. I cannot say if she is safe or not at this point, only that she is no longer in danger in the dream realm.”

“Okay, so now what? Are you going to scare me again?”

Layla shook her head, her luxurious black hair fell loose around her face. “You’ve been spelled. I can’t wake you from a dream because you’re asleep by unnatural means. Sleep dust from the smell of it, which concerns me. How did a weaver get access to you on the human plane?”

“You don’t live in my realm?”

“Of course, only we are weaker there. Our element is this plane of existence. I can’t see how a weaver would have the strength to get near you.”

“Mariah, the witch elder, was the one that used the dust on me.”

“I don’t know any weavers named Mariah.” Layla pursed her lips as she tried to think of the weavers she did know.

“Of course you wouldn’t recognize me. I’m a hybrid witch-weaver. My father fell in love with my mother, Celeste, who was a dream weaver.” Mariah appeared out of thin air.

“Ah, Celeste. I remember a Celeste who died giving birth, but I didn’t know you were named Mariah.” Layla smiled a greeting to her fellow weaver.

“That’s because weavers are a particularly snobby group I’ve discovered. Any imperfections and you turn your back on each other.” Mariah snapped.

“We are warriors, imperfections are weaknesses we can’t afford.” Layla tried to explain as only a warrior could. Void of any emotion. She envied warriors for that ability to shut off feelings. She couldn’t do it, and she hoped that was what would make her a good healer.

“My father’s family accepted me for what I was and mother left me details to train in the art of weaving. When I finished those lessons my grandfather sought out an exiled weaver for more information.” Mariah raised her hands in the air and a whirlwind circled around her. When the wind was gone a younger version of Mariah stood in front of them. She had long, red flowing hair and green eyes. Her face held only a few wrinkles which was far different from the folded skin her human image now wore.

Layla was armed and ready to fight.

“I’m not here to fight. I came to discuss Sophie’s future, and the mistake she is making choosing to mate with a vampire.”

“It may be a mistake, but it is hers to make, don’t you think?” Layla asked, refusing to put away her weapon.

“Excuse me, still in the room.” Everyone had a bad habit of talking about her while she was right there and it irritated her.

Mariah manifested a sword of her own from the cane she carried. “I only want her to know all the facts before she makes that commitment. I thought this would be a good place to do that. Giovanni has a long, sordid past full of death and destruction.”

Sophie assumed that was true. He eluded to as much before. The man was a vampire who’d lived centuries on this earth. But just like all souls need to learn so do vampires. “We all have pasts.”

“Yes but few have had pasts like, Giovanni’s.” Mariah waved her hand to the sky and a large picture screen appeared overhead. “Here are some highlights.” Mariah’s wick
ed glare sparkled from her green eyes.

Pictures of death flashed across the screen. Gio killing people through the ages; some by hand, some by fangs, others even more brutally. Sophie recognized his father right before Giovanni snapped his neck. His head fell as he sobbed. Then she saw him in military uniform. She didn’t know if blue meant Confederate or Yankee and it didn’t matter. He killed countless men on the battle field, defending himself and his men as he forged them onward.

Sophie saw his death at Gregor’s hand and his rebirth. Three women died brutally at his hands that night. He acted like a man starved for days. Sophie’s soul wept for the lost souls, but she knew it wasn’t his fault. Their deaths were Gregor’s fault.

More deaths of criminals flashed before her eyes. Gio always felt remorse after the killings and Sophie’s heart broke for him. Tears stung her eyes. He wasn’t the monster Mariah wanted her to see. He was trying to survive. Just like we eat the meat of animals he drank blood. At least he chose to kill convicted monsters instead of innocent souls.

If Mariah’s goal was to turn her against Giovanni she failed miserably. All of that was in his past. She hoped. An inkling of doubt touched her mind and planted itself in her psyche. She’d watch him, make sure he wasn’t that man anymore. He wouldn’t do any of this in their future. She was determined to make sure he didn’t.

“That killer is the man you’re pledging your life, your soul to.” Mariah stated coldly.

Sophie shivered as the pictures continued to play out on the screen. His dark past being revealed to her slowly with the sole purpose of destroying her love for him.

“What did you do to her?” Giovanni demanded as he rushed to Sophie’s side, pushing Rafe out of his way. He was thankful her father called him here, but couldn’t understand why he’d let this happen.

He gently touched her face with shaky hands. She looked so peaceful, asleep on the couch, as though she’d just drifted off to take a nap. He shook her gently in an attempt to wake her. She was out cold. He listened for her heartbeat and breathing, sure signs she was alive. “Sophie, my sweet, please wake up.” His voice was full of emotion and turmoil. He wouldn’t lose her again.

He surveyed the room. Chelsea and Rafe stood behind him, worry written across their faces. Mariah was in a recliner and appeared to be sleeping.

“I’m not going to ask again. What. Did. You. Do. To. Her?” Each word accentuated with his own determination to keep his emotions in check. Sophie didn’t need him emotional now, she needed him strong.

“Mariah gave her a sleeping potion.” Chelsea spoke softly, regret in her words.

“We had no idea she was going to knock her out. She said she needed to talk to Sophie, to try and convince her that keeping the witch line clean was imperative.” Rafe added as he ran a hand through his black hair.

Gio narrowed his stormy eyes on him. “I thought you supported this relationship?”

“I did… do… By the Gods, Gio she deserved to know everything. I was here to make sure she did. If she still chose you afterwards I was one hundred percent behind your commitment.”

Giovanni felt rage build up inside him. The demon that partnered with his soul was scratching the surface to get free. “You think I lied to her?”

Rafe sat helplessly in the chair and placed his head in his hands. “I don’t know what to think anymore. People I’ve trusted all my life have turned out to be different than I thought. People I’ve kept at arms length turned out to be better than I ever thought possible.”

“She is in danger in the dream realm. The weavers want to control her to keep us from accepting Thanatos’ proposal. Your wife risked her very soul to get her out of that realm. Did you not listen to a word we’ve said?” Giovanni knew his anger should be directed at Mariah, but he couldn’t help it. Rafe should’ve done a better job of protecting his daughter. If any thing happened to her, there would be hell to pay.

“The council was never going to accept Thanatos’ proposal, Giovanni.”
Chelsea advised him. “Only you supported his request.”

“You don’t know that.” He snarled.

“Yes, I do. I’m a telepath.”

“It doesn’t matter now. We need to get her out of there.” He turned his attention back to his love. “I need Thanatos’ help to get in there.”