Chapter 8

Nero

That was intense, and I loved it.

I didn ' t want Genevieve to see how much damage she ' d inflicted, but damn did that ever hurt. Taking a washcloth, I drenched it with cold water and pressed it against the palm print which had already begun to blister. If she knew how to wield her power, she could have killed me. Thankfully she ' d never learn.

Even if I didn ' t need her power, having someone with so much raw energy was dangerous for sorcerers like me. As powerful as I was, I ' d admit to not being a match for her. Not until I drained her.

Leaving the bathroom with the cloth pressed firmly to my wound, I made my way downstairs. Entering the kitchen, I found her handbag and searched inside looking for her phone. Turning it on, the screen popped up for the code. Child's play. With a wave of my hand over the screen her code was inputted and the phone unlocked. There were several messages from her friend Jules, and one from a girl named Maya.

Jules: How ' s the date going?

Jules: Come on spill the tea!!!!

Maya: Jules said you went out with the guy from the club. Lucky girl. I ' d sure like to have a go with him.

Jules: Bitch. Where are you???!!!!!!

Jules: If you don ' t respond by noon, I ' m going to contact campus security.

I sighed. After scrolling through several dozen messages I felt that I had a decent handle on how she spoke with her friends and messaged them both back.

Done with the damage control and confident that would keep them satisfied, at least for the time being, I made my way out of the house and into the cemetery. It was still early, the sun still hadn ' t broken on the horizon, so I had enough time to summon a guardian for her so I could attend to matters.

Entering the mausoleum, which was situated in the center of the cemetery, I lit each of the torches at the entrance and then closed the door behind me. This tomb was the final resting place of my ancestors and of my deceased descendants. Over the years I ' d gathered their remains from their resting places all over the United Kingdom and brought them to the United States. With each set of remains that were added to the tomb, my power grew. I ' d spent centuries gathering them and still had more to go.

Most people – humans – would be appalled by my collection. They wouldn ' t see the beauty in having the bloodline together. Joined once again and forever. With them in this tomb, they were always with me, like one big family reunion. They would stay that way for as long as I was alive.

Kneeling at the altar, I picked up the ruby-encrusted dagger, I winced as I sliced the inside of my palm, dripping blood into the ceremonial bowl.

" Brother. Come forth …"

Genevieve

What in the hell happened?

I ' d sent a two-hundred-pound man flying across the room and branded him with my palm print. Just by touching him. Maybe he ' d laced my food with some sort of hallucinogen. There ' s no other explanation. I was currently on some sort of messed up mind trip and at any moment I ' d wake up and we ' d be sitting on the sofa next to each other enjoying the high.

That had to be it.

At least he let me pee before he took off on me.

But what if what I ' d done to him was real? What if I possessed some sort of power?

Grabbing the bottle of water with my unchained hand, I took a drink. There were two bottles and an assortment of fruit on the nightside table for me. At least I wouldn ' t starve to death right away.

He ' d said I was special. He told me numerous times. What if he meant it literally? Looking down at my free hand, the one that had marked him, I turned the palm over and examined it. It didn ' t look any different.

" How ' d I do it? " I muttered to myself.

I thrust my hand out in the manner I had when he ' d pounced on me.

Nothing. No surge of energy. Sweet shit all.

" Dammit. " With a groan, I slumped back against the headboard and tried to steady my frazzled nerves. I ' d almost fallen asleep when I heard heavy footsteps coming down the hallway towards the closed bedroom door.

Sitting back up, I grabbed the blanket and pulled it up so I was fully covered up to my chin and waited.

The doorknob twisted and the door opened to reveal a man about Nero ' s height, with the same dark hair and eyes. He was bare-chested wearing a pair of trousers made of some sort of beige linen. There was something off about him though.

" Who are you? "

Leaving the door open he proceeded into the room and stopped halfway between me and the door. " The name is Godwin. Pleased to meet you. "

I gulped down the urge to freak out. " Godwin. Are you able to set me free? "

" No. I cannot do that. My brother, Nero sent me. I ' m here to serve, but cannot free you. "

" Nero sent you. " I frowned. " What do you mean by to serve me? "

" He sent me here to take care of your needs and keep you company, if that ' s your desire, while he ' s gone. "

The way he was standing seemed odd. He was very rigid – mechanical even. He was just standing before me, his arms limp at his sides. Strange.

" You ' re his brother? I didn ' t realize he had a brother. "

" He did. But then I died in battle. So now he doesn ' t."

My eyes widened as I gave my head a shake. I had to be hallucinating. There ' s no way this was real.

My throat turned suddenly dry and I licked my lower lip as I eyed the man before me. " So you ' re dead? You ' re a ghost? "

He smiled. " I ' ve been resurrected for a brief time. To help you while Nero is away."

" How? "

He cocked his head to the side and frowned. " I don ' t know. Is there anything I can do for you? "

I swallowed down the fear within me. This guy might be crazy, but he might have information. I wasn ' t buying the whole resurrected zombie, ghost, or whatever the hell he was spiel though. " Why am I a prisoner? Why won ' t he let me go? "

" You want to talk. Okay. " Crossing the room, he took a seat on the overstuffed black velvet loveseat facing the bed. " He needs you. "

" Why? Why does he need me? "

" I don ' t know. "

My eyes narrowed at him, trying to get a read on this guy ' s deal. There was just something strange about him that went above and beyond his peculiar words and movements. It was like a vibe, but I just couldn ' t understand what it meant. The only thing I could read was that he wouldn ' t hurt me. Whoever or whatever he was, he was indeed here to ensure my needs were met.

" Then tell me about Nero. What does he want? What is he aiming to achieve. " Maybe if I knew his goals then I could get a fix on what he needed from me.

Godwin smiled. " I can tell you that. Got some time? "

I shook the shackle keeping me to the bed. " It seems all I have is time, Godwin."