Weddings Bells Times Four (11 page)

“It will be my pleasure to dress her before we eat and yes. I remember you showing me the drawer.” Dred glanced at him before he left. “If you need me...”

“I’ll be fine. It’s time I reconnect with my friend.” He turned and made his way down the hall out of their private wing and down the corridor to the visitor’s wing. Edward stepped into the hall and noticed Travis there leaning against the wall.

His gaze met his and he nodded to the small room to the right of him. Stepping into the room, Edward closed the door behind him. “Why didn’t you inform me of what had happened when you got here? Why did I have to hear it from my woman’s mouth while she shook in my arms, afraid.” Edward was inches from his friend’s face.

“I’ve told you from the start, Edward, that I’d have to go in deep. Do you think I like doing what I did? God, do you know how many times they tested me.” He ran his hand through his hair. “I had to even hurt my own mother, Edward. So go ahead kill me, ease the ache in My Heart, because nothing you say will take away the guilt I carry.” Not waiting for another word, Edward buried his fangs into his friend’s neck, taking his blood.

Not once did Travis yank away or ask for more. His memories and thoughts became Edwards'. The guilt he endured would have crippled a normal person, but his friend Travis held strong. Edward sealed the holes and stepped back. “Thank you and I’m sorry I doubted you. I just had to make sure. My woman has been hurt too many times.”

“There was no choice. You had to do what you did, just as I had to do what I did. Please inform Beth that I’m truly sorry for what happened that night so long ago. I’ll try and stay out of her way while I’m here.”

“No. She needs to know what you have sacrificed for us. We will see you tomorrow. Get some rest now.” He turned to leave, but Travis touched his shoulder.

“That wasn’t my brother or hers earlier trying to get in. We stopped whatever it was, but we didn’t hurt it.” Travis stiffened before screams filled the castle.

“
Edward, we need you here now!”
Dred shouted in his head as the vision of Beth buried beneath a wall of bricks made him shake.

One second he was in one side of the castle, but once he’d seen the image in Dred’s head, Edward moved through the castle at a speed that even shocked him. Stepping into the room, Dred, Rock and two of their guards were throwing stones off the pile.

“Beth walked over to grab a sandwich and the wall just seemed to fall in on her. I’ve never seen anything like it.”

“That’s what I figured. They weren’t attacking your parent’s wing, they were searching for your private grounds, setting this trap,” Travis said behind him and started helping them remove the rubble.

“Move out of the way, gentleman,” his mother said and started to weave her magic, stones lifted and dissolved, but when they got to the bottom Beth was gone.. Edward’s heart sank. Dred and rock snarled. “Where is she?”

“Quiet!” he shouted going out into the hall.
Safe
Edward sighed. “Dred, Rock let’s go. Dad…” His dad waved his hand. “Go, bring her back.”

Nodding, Edward took off running. “She’s safe, but where she is, I don’t know. I’m just following what is inside me.” Edward said to both of his men. He stopped at the entrance to the main hall. “Where?” he whispered and turned in a full circle when he felt a pull to the right, towards the rundown section of the castle.

“I thought you said this part of the castle hadn’t been updated, that it was dangerous?” Dred asked as Edward flew down the steps to the underground extension and stopped.

“It hasn’t been, but as you can see, someone or something has been working down there. It’s almost like the house…”

“You said the entity and the
Yewlocks
would come here.” their Little Witch mumbled as she rubbed her head, coming out of a room. “Damn, what the hell hit me over the head.” She moved into his arms and he could finally breathe.

“For the rest of the night you are going to stay at my side/” He kissed the top of her head. Dred and Rock surrounded them, touching and kissing her.

For five minutes they stood holding her, until she stepped back and looked down at her body. “Damn, now I need another bath.” She turned around and looked at the room. “Why do I get the feeling this is where we are supposed to be?”

“Dred, run up and inform everyone that we found her. We’ll be down this hall all to the way to the end, but make sure no one follows you when you come back. I believe this will be our private place.” He scooped her up into his arms and headed down the hall.

“If this place is in need of repairs, should we be going further into it?” she asked looking around as he carried her down the hall to the private pool.

“As you stated the
Yewlocks
and…” He stopped and stared down at her. “Let’s call this thing or whatever it is a name. It deserves more respect than calling it a thing. What do you think?” he asked her and continued till he was standing in the room at the end of the hall.

“Jeez, Edward this is amazing,” Beth said looking all around the room. Candles were lit all around the pool which was Olympic size. There was a sauna to the left, a hot tub in the far right corner, and a full bathroom on the immediate right side of them. The sides and bottom of the pool had all been done in black marble and was smooth to the touch, but still had enough grit on them that you wouldn’t fall.

“Go ahead, I know you want to get in. It’s safe. The house is slowly repairing this wing. I have a feeling this is where we’ll be living when we're at the castle.” Edward said, as he stripped out of his clothes and plunged into the water.

The water was perfect, cool but not too much. He came up to the surface to see Beth diving into the water, followed by Rock.

“I got it!” Beth yelled coming up out of the water and rubbing the water out her eyes.”Raynard, it means wise and strong,” Beth said and as soon as she finished, the room warmed.

“I think Raynard approves.” He watched as Beth swam around him. She’d turn to float on her back a few times giving them a shot of her breasts.

“Come here, Little Witch,” Edward said, reaching for, but she laughed and dove under the water away from him. She came up squealing when Dred had her over his shoulder as he came up out of the water.

“You scared me half out of my mind. Don’t do that again.” She slapped Dred’s back and he growled, bringing his hand down on her wet, naked butt. “Hush.”

Edward crawled out of the water and took Beth out of Dred’s arms as he got out of the water, followed by Rock. “You’re mom and dad would like to speak with you later.”

“I’ll check on them later, but for now we need to show our female how much she means to us. If I’m not mistaken, the master bedroom down here should be finished.” Looking down at her, she rubbed her cheek against his chest.

“I need you, all of you.” She looked at Dred and Rock. “I need my men tonight.” She reached out and touched Dred’s face and then Rock’s, before Edward walked out of the pool area and headed towards the master chamber, hoping it was complete

***

Resting her head against Edwards’s chest, Beth knew the time had come to seal her bond with Dred and Rock. After the latest attack on the castle tonight, she wanted - no needed - to be surrounded by her men. Later she’d let them know about the newest threat.

“I already know and you’re right, we will discuss this,” Edward said and stepped into an area that was beyond words. The entire whole downstairs in her house could fit into this one room.

“Wow, we could get lost in here,” she said and looked to the right where there was a small fridge, microwave, sink, cupboard and wine rack filled with bottles. In the middle of the room was a TV, couches, and chairs.

Heading towards the back, Beth knew her mouth gaping when she noticed the enormous bed, but nothing else. “Eventually we’ll add things. We’ll have to be careful that others don’t follow us down here. This part of the castle will now be ours exclusively. No one except the four of us, family and Avril, will be allowed down here.” Edward placed her onto the bed.

She shivered as Edward covered her with her favorite soft throw covered her as all three of her men climbed onto the bed around her.

“Tell us who you think attacked you tonight?” Edward asked. He scooped her up and placed her on his lap as he stretched out on the bed.

Snuggling up to him, Beth pondered the question. “I can’t recognize the who aspect of it, it’s not one person, but the energy this group used is familiar to me. Remember the attack that started all this last year?” Beth lifted her gaze to Edward, and he nodded.

“They are all dead,” he said this with confidence, but she shook her head.

“No, someone survived, Edward. Each person who wields magic has a personal signature and tonight’s signature was the same as it was a year ago. The same being that broke my arm, attacked tonight, but there was a difference. Tonight, he was much more powerful than a year ago.” She looked down at her hands and tried to think back to the attack. “It’s at least one person, maybe more, and now there is a trace of something else added to their attack. Something I haven’t come across before. God, I hate this. I’m sorry Edward. I wish I could give you more.” She sighed and rested her head against his chest.

“Shhh, rest Little Witch. It’s been a long day for you.” Edward kissed the top of her head and hugged her tight.

Both of the brothers got off the bed. “Where are you going? I thought we were, well, you know…” She reached for them, but didn’t get them quick enough.

“We’ll be back. Sleep now Beth. There is plenty of time to claim what is ours. Tonight you need to rest.” Dred leaned over the bed and kissed her, silencing her next words. “Believe me, we want nothing more than to claim you, but tonight is not the right night. I want that night to be perfect. Now rest.”

She snarled as he and Rock left. “Damn it, I’m tired of this shit. Every time I turn around, someone is screwing with my life,” Beth mumbled and went to get up, but Edward shook his head, before covering her body with his when he rolled over.

“Nope, you’re not leaving this bed. I want you to get a good night’s sleep. You’ve done enough today.” He framed her face with his hands. “I mean it, Beth, you are to sleep. We have to get everyone settled for the night and then we’ll be joining you.”

He tucked her blanket more securely around her, before leaning down, and kissing her lips softly. “Do not get off this bed,” he ordered before jumping up and leaving her.

She looked around the room and shivered. There was not one thing on the wall. The walls weren’t even walls. They were cement. At least their other wing was more updated. She knew that Raynard was busy working on the castle, but she thought that if she had some of her personal things, she would feel better. Beth weaved a pattern with her hands and her dresser and side tables from their previous wing appeared in the room where she wanted them.

Beth lay for a minute and tried to figure out what had happened. One minute her men were hot and heavy in the pool… “Men!” She whispered a few words and her favorite warm pajamas covered her as she got out of bed and started to pace.

“Damn it, nothing’s more important than our bonding,” she muttered and sat on the bed. Scanning around her, Beth still felt uncomfortable about her surroundings. “We do need a walk-in closet. What do you think, Raynard? Maybe over on that wall we could have one, with a walk down cellar or something?” The scent of apples filled the room and she smiled as a door appeared.

Getting up, Beth opened the door and laughed. All of her things, along with Edward’s, were in there. “We can’t forget, Dred and Rock.” She stepped into the room and turned to face the right wall. “Maybe another section off here for Rock and Dred?” She cocked her head to the side and watched as an entrance way appeared and she knew their clothes were now hung in there.

“Perfect.” Turning, she moved further into the closet and saw the hidden door to a set of stairs. “Thank you, but now I need to find out what my men are up to.” She laughed and ran back into the room, jumping onto the bed.

With a wave of her hand, the crystal ball her aunt had found for her at an estate sale appeared on the bed. In the old days, it was believed that witches could see into the future through such objects, and maybe some could, but most were frauds. Rubbing the globe in her hands, Beth concentrated on Edward. She knew the brothers would be with him.

At first nothing happened, but as she started to speak the spell, the globe heated and Edward’s form appeared in the globe. It was as if she had a miniature TV. Beth watched as Edward paced back and forth in his throne room. His body was stiff and she could see the vein in his neck pulsing, so she knew he was furious.

Leaning against the bed headboard, Beth concentrated on what was going on.

“Why Drake? I trusted you! You’ve been with me for over a hundred years. Haven’t I given you everything you needed?” he snapped and circled the man in question, but what happened next shocked her.

“No!” She dropped the ball, but kept her eyes on it as she worked the spell with her hands. Hoping she wouldn’t be too late to contain the chemical leak, she jumped off the bed and ran towards the doors. “Can you seal him off?” She yelled at
Yewlocks
and the entity, Raynard.

One minute Edward was preparing to strike out at Drake and in the next he was thrown back onto his ass. Something solid and clear rose up surrounding the man in a protective bubble. Even Drake himself looked shocked as he patted the clear walls.

“What is it? Did you do this, Edward?” Dred asked as he and Rock moved around the square bubble thing. He knocked on the wall and it almost sounded like someone was tapping on glass.

“Don’t touch it!”’ Beth shouted as she flew into the room. “Look at his right hand. You’ll see a small bottle attached to his pinky finger. If I’m not mistaken, that is some form of chemical and I don’t think it’s from around here.”

He stood there looking from her to Drake. “How do you know? And didn’t I tell you to stay in bed?” Edward took hold of her arm and dragged her away from the enclosure.