Weddings Bells Times Four (18 page)

Below him Dred, snarled. “I do this, you know it.” He pushed his ass back. “Harder!”

Reaching around Dred’s body again, Edward covered his cock once more, stroking it. “I know you do, but were you watching today while introducing her or were you thinking of yourself and the pack first. Did you not see how scared she was? She reached for you and you’d stepped away to wallow in anger about her new friend.” Edward nipped his shoulder, the last words coming out in a whip of anger.

“Come, Dred,” Edward said and sank his fangs into his lover’s neck at the same time he squeezed his balls. The two of them came together in an angry mess, but ended it in a heaping pile of regret.

“God, what did I do, Edward?” Dred asked, his eyes closed as Edward rolled over onto his back when Dred released him.

“You were angry about the situation and took it out on her. We…” He looked at Rock, who handed them towels. “Have to make sure to control ourselves more. In some ways, our Little Witch is very naïve in our world. She’s kept herself away from everyone. Thinking of herself as a freak of nature and afraid that her brother would kill anyone that got close to her. We need to break her of this and slowly introduce her to others. Did you know she has not one woman to call friend?” Edward and Dred got off the bed and stripped it.

As soon as they did, new sheets covered the bed and he smiled at the
Yeehaw’s
work. The old sheets disappeared.

“You’re right. I hadn’t thought of it that way.” Dred cocked his head to the side. “Claire.”

His brother laughed and nodded. “Oh yea, Claire will draw our Little Witch out. Our little sister is a riot, she’ll be here for dinner and she wasn’t at the introduction, so that will help big time.” Rock glanced at the door to their room. “I think we just need to leave her be for now. The creature will watch over her. We need to meet with Isaac and Simon.”

Walking out of the room, he stopped and stared down at the closed door to the pool room. “We have some major kissing up to do.”

No one said a word as they climbed the stairs. Once they moved out of their personal wing, Simon was there with Isaac waiting for them. “We need to talk now.”

“I’m listening,” Edward continued down the hall towards the throne room where his Father, Grandfather, Council of Elders, Mistress Selene, the National Pack Elders and his Generals were waiting for them.

Simon grabbed his arm and stopped him. “You don’t understand. That creature that is now bonded to your woman is one of the same that was with Lucas when he disappeared.”

He stopped turned his full attention on Simon. “Are you sure?”

“I contacted two of the original council just to make sure. With Lucas’resting place moving, and now this? I just wanted you to know,” Simon said and he nodded.

“
Many of our kind are linked to others, but the one he is speaking of would be my grandfather. I think those are the right human words.”

Continuing on his way again, Edward focused on the connection to Deception. “
Is your Grandfather alive? Is he still with this Lucas?”

“
I do not feel him yet, but that is not to say he’s not alive. If this man went into some kind of hibernation, then my blood would have also.”

“
Thank you for that information. How is Beth?”
Edward needed to know she was alright.

“She wore herself out swimming and is curled up in bed sleeping right now. I will watch her.”

“
Thank you.”
Edward blocked the path as he entered the throne room. At once his generals stood and nodded to him.

“All fighting has stopped. It’s as if someone is waiting for something. I can’t explain it, but it’s as if they vanished,” his top General said.

One of the members of the Wizard’s council stood. “It is the same with our brethren. All activity has ceased.”

The man looked to Mistress Selene, who nodded. “Nothing.”

“Even our packs have quieted down. It’s as if everyone is waiting for something or someone.”

Sitting down, Edward looked up at his Grandfather. “What do you think? Is he waking?”

Drack-ula squeezed his shoulder. “We’ll have to wait and see, but at least it’s quiet for now. Maybe we should plan for both, the war that’s coming and his rising?”

With a heavy heart, Edward nodded. “Let’s begin, gentlemen and Lady.”

***

A nap always did wonders for her mood. Also, being totally exhausted helped too. Beth grinned as she moved through the maze, heading to the fountain in the middle. All was done for tonight’s dinner and Beth had two hours to wander around parts of the grounds she hadn’t explored and this had been one of the areas she had meant to come to.

Edward had promised her a while ago that he would bring her out here, but he’d always ended up being too busy, so she was here she was all by herself. Well, not all by herself. Beth looked next to her and grinned down at Deception.

“I’ve been here for almost a year and haven’t been in the maze yet. I’ve kept promising myself I’d come, but something always kept me away. Edward told me his father brought these plants and the fountain at the center from the old world. He said it was going to waste there. That no one visited it anymore.”

They came around the corner and Beth stopped, staring at the wonder around her. Dark green marble lined the next path, with rose-colored gems in the marble. “My God, it’s beautiful.” She bent down and ran her hand over the stone. “I love exploring new places. Tell me about your world, Deception.”

“We don’t really have a world. We are born wherever our parents are and we wait till we find our bonded one. As I have a bonded one, I will also cast out a spell like the one you read for others to read and hopefully some of our kind can find life.”

They walked down the stone path. “What about your female? Now that I know that you feed off of my pleasures, won’t she have to have a bonded one to survive also?”

“
My female will be bonded to one of your men. Each unattached female is now testing out your males to see if they are a match. All I have to do is wait.”

She laughed. “What happens if you get more than one female here? I have three men?”

“
I guess we would form a pride. It’s not unheard of for our kind to have more than one female. Our children might even be your child’s protector.”

“Interesting, I think we should keep that little fact about my men having a protector to ourselves till it happens. I really don’t feel like arguing again with my men and I’m sure I’d have to rearrange Dred if he kept his damn attitude up,” she grumbled and turned another corner to find another surprise that had her smiling head to toe.

“Dragons! I love dragons,” she clasped her hands together. This walk is making my day! Look at this one.” She ran her hands over the large stone-like sculpture. “God, to live in a world where there were dragons has always been one of fantasies. They are such strong and beautiful creatures, even if they are make believe.” Beth bent down to the next one and ran her fingers over the red and black stone.

“They are not myth. I know quite a few dragons. They just are not on your planet. Even though with the way they are described a few of them might have come here long ago.”

“Really? What are they like? Are they as noble as they look?” she asked, walking down the row of different dragons.

“
They are just like any other creature. There are some that think they are better than others, but you have that with all species. I’m sure you’ll meet one sooner or later.”
He followed her around another corner and she giggled.

“Gargoyles?” she asked, as she walked around the first stone like creature.

“
Yes and there are many here on Earth. They just keep to themselves. Don’t know if this is actually one though.”

She yanked her hand back. “What? You mean they really do turn to stone?” Beth peaked around the corner and saw at least six more down the path.

“
They wouldn’t hurt you if they were alive and yes, it is one of their defensive mechanisms.”

“Well that is good to know, but how can you tell if they are alive? I have a collection of gargoyles at my house. There is something always about them that drew me as with dragons, but then again, maybe it’s my writing that brings everything out.”

Walking around each of the statues, Beth tried to see if any of them moved, but nothing.

“What do you write?”
Deception asked as they stopped before the grand entrance to the center of the maze. “
I’ve seen this before,”
he said, stepping into the circle and moving around the fountain and mausoleum.

“It was on their old planet, maybe you seen it there?” She asked and stared at the words on the stone. “What does this say? The words are so beautiful the way they are engraved.” Beth reached up and traced the first word. “It’s not in any language I’ve seen.” She turned and looked at Deception who was staring at the building.

“
It was my grandfather who showed us this, he and his bonded used to visit this place all the time. My mother used to tell us about it now that I think of it. She visited her father there a number of times, but something isn’t right
.” He got up and walked around the building till he came to one of the thick columns.

“
This is different than the other ones and if you look, the back of the floor is older than the front of the building. This has been added to.”

Sitting on the edge of the fountain, Beth looked down into the water and smiled seeing the large goldfish-carp. In the corner of the fountain, Beth could see underground tunnels big enough for the fish. “Did you know there is an acre pond on the property? I haven’t seen it yet either? I’d love to get up early one morning and go fishing. We used to have fresh fish for breakfast when I was small. Dad would take Brian out before everything got all weird with him. They’d come back with a load of fish. Dad always grumbled and teased Brian that the fish just liked him better. That’s why he always caught more.” She laughed and a single tear slid down her cheek.

“I miss having my brother. Even in high, school when other kids gave me a hard time, I’d make up stories about my brother, telling them that they’d better watch themselves or he’d turn them all into toads.” She smiled and watched as Deception sat down in front of her.

“I’m sorry if I’m rambling on, but with the holidays coming up and my wedding, I guess I’m just a little lonely. On my planet, they have a saying, ‘One can be surrounded by others, but still be lonely.’ In some ways I guess that is very true.”

“Talk all you want, but I don’t think I can help you much. I have no idea how you Earth humans think.”

“You remind me of a small dragon in some ways. Can you lie to me?” Beth asked waiting.

“No and why would I? I have nothing to hide and I am not like a dragon. I’d rather be compared to what you call a gargoyle. At least they are loyal and trust worthy,”
he said, but his gaze focused on something behind her. “
Would you please come away from the fountain? The flooring on the little house is shaking a little.”

“What?” Beth jumped up and moved behind Deception.

“What’s wrong?”
Edward asked, but she could feel Dred and Rock also slip into her head.

“Are we having a earth quake by any chance? Because the little house thing out here in the maze is moving.”
She watched as the cement separated and a gush of dirt and dust shot out of the ground. “Deception, what is it?”

Noise from the entrance way drew her attention and Beth stood there with her mouth open. “Well, that answered our question. I hope you can talk with them?” Beth squeaked, staring at five gargoyles that surounded the fountain to stand next to Deception.

“We understand you fine.” One said and nodded to the dirt still coming out of the hole. “We offer you our services to protect the lady. Do you know what it is?” The creature totally disked her and spoke to Deception.

“
I’m afraid there is one drawback to this race, or at least you would see it as a drawback. They believe the woman is to be protected at all cost, but they will defer to all men always. They do not speak to woman usually, so you are very lucky you got what you did, Grandfather.”

“
We’re on our way and I swear I’m locking you up in one of the towers!”
Edward said.

“Deception, what do you mean by Grandfather? Wasn’t he with Lucas?” Beth was really starting to get a very, very bad feeling. “Why does everything happen to me? I just wanted to be normal?” She backed away slowly as something jumped out of the ground and shook.

Almost a carbon copy of Deception turned and faced them. The only difference was that he was red with brown and a little bit larger. The thing looked all around him, before turning to Deception. She knew they were speaking, but Beth heard nothing.

The gargoyles formed a complete circle around her as another being rose up out of the dirt to stand next to the creature. This being stood over seven feet tall and his fangs were almost down to his chin.

“They’re so going to kill me,” she mumbled as Edward, Dred and Rock stepped into the maze followed by Simon and Isaac and half of Edward’s guard.

The guards, Simon, Isaac, Edward and even Rock and Dred all dropped to their knees and bowed their heads to the man before them.
“You should bow. It’s Lucas.”
Edward said to her and she frowned.

“Sorry, but don’t I know a Lucas and you are doing it fine.”

She took a deep breath and pushed through the gargoyle guards, holding out her hand. “Hi, I’m Beth Roman, soon to be Vanderson. Welcome back to the living.” The man glanced down at Deception’s grandfather leaving her standing there, but not for long. Deception bumped into her and she smiled down at him, resting her hand on his head.

“I guess I shouldn’t have been so forward?” She asked.

“
He does not know your language and is learning it right now. He believes you are either very brave or stupid.”