Page 49 of Blood Moon
I smiled at Cole after mentally willing the strong vamp to freeze. “You have the bond, Cole. Feel it and know it, baby,” I said to his dazed eyes. “Can you feel it?”
Cole’s emerald eyes glistened as they grew bright the minute that I willed the power of this unique bond over to him.
Now, use your mental powers and bring yourselves back to us.Aria ordered.
I did, and it was strange how I suddenly had access to that power in my mind that was nagging at me ever since Zac, Logan, and Braden joined with me the entire night before. I glanced around, willing my vampires to break free of the strange gray mist I saw cloaking over them, and restraining them.
The vampires all stood, Zane shifted, and we all looked to a fearful Enzo.
“It’s our battle, and now it’s up to your dark ass to decide whether or not we kill you here and now, or we use all your bullshit, fabricated powers to take out the fucker who wants to dominate all of us,” Cole said taking full charge of the power I mentally sent to him.
Enzo went to throw himself at Cole, and Aria and I both raised out our hands to have an orange smoke leave our fingertips and surround Enzo, entering him through his nostrils. Enzo’s eyes went as orange as the smoke, and I instantly felt the control Aria and I had over him.
“Don’t,” I held my hand out toward the wolf and my vampires who were about to use this control to kill their longstanding enemy. “We need to know more.”
“How long have you known this was a demon and not Lucifer himself who wanted this battle?” I asked as Aria wiggled her fingers in a circular motion, manipulating Enzo to sit in his chair at our mercy.
“Since your mother became my Life Blood,” he said like a robot. “It’s a war that’s been awaiting supernaturals and humans for years. I had to build an army.”
“And your army is mutant vampires that tried to kill the Banners?” I asked him.
“They were to stop the Banners from fleeing, force them to find the alpha, and allow the alpha to mate with you. I needed the blood bond in all of you to defeat the demon chief.”
“Demon chief?” Logan questioned with a laugh of disgust. “You, mother fucker, almost killed Braden, and you killed off two shifters who were close to us with your mutants. We should kill you right here and now.”
“It’s what you’ve always wanted,” Enzo said under our control. “But you need me. I am the sacrifice.”
“Best damn thing that’s come from this asshole’s mouth since the first time I heard him speak.”
“You want vengeance for what I did to your families,” Enzo answered Zac. “Your families were only going to ensure you saw this day with Elle.”
“Fuck that shit,” Braden spat. “Where’s Barnabus so we can sacrifice your crazy ass and end this once and for all.”
“The women have the power,” Enzo answered. “They have to turn me into the sacrifice.”
Aria and I exchanged confused glances. “Do you know what he’s talking about?” I asked.
“All I know is that we must put the drained Life Blood out of her misery. She calls for help.”
“My mom,” I said, running to this creeped-out version of her corpse. Her eyes pleaded with me. “How?” I looked at Aria, “What do we do?”
“We wish her death and peace when crossing over,” she answered. “She is a soul that is trapped in a corpse.”
“Why can’t we reverse her aging?” I asked, wiping tears from my eyes. What the hell. I would probably never know what went through my mom’s mind. All I ever knew her to be was a worthless drunk. She never eased me into this crazy, fucked life of fighting demons and having superpowers. She let the Banners do that and protect me for her. I could sense the sorrow in her eyes, the shame, and the guilt.
“Mom,” Aria called out. “She was under his influence this entire time. Everything was Enzo’s game. He just never acted until now. All of the things you went through and everything that guided the Banners into your life was all a big game in Enzo’s plan. Everything was fabricated.” She looked at the zombie we’d turned Enzo into, “My memories returned after I was kidnapped and brought to that school. My guys helped me learn who I was, unlock my powers, and then I saw when dad, Cole, and Val would come for me.”
“What are you talking about memories returning to you?” Logan asked.
“I woke up in that school.” she curled her lips and blasted Enzo with some form of power light ball, prompting him to groan in agony, “He kidnapped me, placed me with his supernatural, twisted twins, and really tried to fuck me up. If it weren’t for the ones who were planted in that school and given to me by fate, I would have been just as fucked as you all were when Enzo brought you here. I have all of my power, thanks to my guys, and all I needed was you.”
“Isn’t this just a sweet little family love story and reunion,” a deep, throaty voice said, and I looked to see that the most grotesque demon had manifested, and his army filled the room—all around us. I almost barfed, feeling the evil, then I saw Aria’s strength in the smile she gave him.
“I was hoping our merged powers would draw you in. Thank God you’re here.”
Oh, fuck, Aria’s working for the demon creatures. The demon smiled back while ripping Enzo’s throat out and spilling his blood down his neck, and I came to the horrifying conclusion that I had just joined forces with my daughter, who most likely had made a deal with this asshole while she was in that school. Aria looked as evil as anything I’d ever seen, and my heart shattered, seeing her transform right before my eyes. The low growl coming from my side was Zane, confirming Aria was no longer our daughter. She worked for evil, and now, she was the most powerful being alive. I felt my power drain as I watched her walk up to the demon to kiss him, and she allowed the creature to pull her into his arms. That’s when all of our saddened expressions turned deadly as we glared darkly at each other and then to Aria.
I lost my baby girl a long time ago, but to lose her again? I wanted out. Death could come for me now. I was ready. Sure, I was giving up, but hell, how much more could I take?
