Augusta Fern's Blog - Posts Tagged "discovery"

“It’s like the single largest vampire buffet in Louisiana.” Estella joked, but I felt the tension rise and in the direction of where Sophia and I met initially. She knew what was to take place now; she was wringing her hands and breathing heavily. She knows that if any sort of battle is to take place, she will be the tool Madliene uses. I turned to look up the balcony stairs, where Madliene could be seen pompously observing the feast she had displayed. She caught my stare and nodded to me before casting her gaze to the West corridor, where an iron gate had been installed since I was last here. I nudged Estella to the west and as I thought she hadn’t known of the gate. Estella and I both looked back to the balcony and were promptly beckoned to the Queen’s side with a wave of her hand.
Reluctantly Estella and I played the part of loyal subjects and on the way up I whispered to her that the possibility of the creature being caught is already accomplished and this is the exercise to see how well the animal can behave, the gate was the dead giveaway.

“My dearest Estella and Cian! Come and treat with me, Xavier and my new friend….?” She waved her hand toward a scared young girl who fearfully told us her name was, “Beth.”

“Ah, yes, Beth! I am so enamored with you tonight my dear,” she says to the poor frightened girl, “ it’s going to be an exciting evening and I am fondly looking forward to the festivities, aren’t you, Beth?” She said sliding a bone finger under the girl’s quivering chin. Madliene is looking up at the girl like she was the Queen’s long lost Mother before jumping up at the sight of Keane’s arrival.

She ran to the edge of the staircase shot her slender arm into the air calling for him to of course join her wonderful party. He nodded to her and then looked to me tilting his head toward the West corridor; I quickly acknowledged that I was aware of the newly added gate. He made a gesture indicating he was going to take a closer look, when I raised an eye to hinder him from making such a mistake.
On the battlefield this way of communication can be extremely helpful when trying to conceal your location. Keane and I had had enough practice at this that we were basically in each other’s mind when doing so. He was finally making his way through the sea of humans, also observing that he was the only vampire male on the floor his pace quickened, almost reaching the staircase, he was grabbed by a thin flamboyant man with a black net shirt and tight leathers.

His fingerless gloves dressed the brightly painted finger nailed appendage, which was at the moment caressing Keane’s rugged face. I couldn’t help but snicker to myself a bit. But Keane is a smooth one and simply brushed the sticky black hair from the man’s face and just from the mere touch of Keane the man’s knees began to weaken. That is until Keane nailed his coffin by turning the man away from the eyes of the other patrons nuzzling into the man’s neck, sinking his teeth in to feed.

Upon the little man’s extinguishing and a snap of the fingers from the Queen; Damien was there to drag the body away before anyone was the wiser. Keane licked his fingers upon his ascent like he had just eaten a plate of fried chicken, “Mmm, smoky, a hint of cannabis I think.”

All of us, except scared little Beth, smiled at the joke. Madliene expressing the most enjoyment, laughed manically before addressing the crowd below her.
“Good Evening everyone!” she called out to the conglomerate.

“Good Evening Queen Madliene!” the roar from the humans below was deafening.

“I have a wonderful surprise for you all.” And she paused, smiling devilishly at them. “You are all going to die tonight!”

A silence fell before the people who looked around at each other for reassurance, and then the eruption of glorious adoration for the majestic being holding court high above them rang through the club. I turned to Estella simply shaking my head at the pathetic ignorance. Madliene gestured to Damien and Romeo who instantly abided her, locking the entrance door. The sounds of the locks rang clear and as adoration became panic I noticed the West corridor gate was open the space behind it black and impenetrable.

Not even the gift of vampire sight could decipher what lay behind that blackness. The house lights fell and the music beat away any sound other than blood curdling screams. From then we all stared as an unseen force tore through the crowd, splaying decapitated heads and limbs as it fed. Torn clothes flew about the club like a tornado of Goth attire while a sparkling heel caught the light as it flew up over the balcony railing forcing Estella to duck for cover.

It wasn’t ten minutes before all noise ceased. No more screams or gurgling of throats and the perpetrator of the fray was missing. I raced to the railing looking over and down, from the west corridor to the east and then to the haven doors.

“Keane, you with me?” I said as I raced down the staircase toward the broken Haven doors.

“Aye, behind you.” Keane called as I reached the last step.

“I’m coming too,” Estella called, her heels clicking down each step “Soph...” she called before looking back up to the balcony for the Queen’s permission, which was granted after a long angry look from Madliene.

Sophia followed Estella meeting Keane and I at the top of the stone staircase leading to the havens. Estella and Sophia, being the most familiar with the layout of the interior and exterior corridors broke us off, she and Keane went east along the interior and Sophia and I would go west along the exterior. As it seemed like a lost cause for Sophia and me, we returned to the area outside of Estella’s chamber. I felt a twinge of pain coming from the other side of the carved door.

“Call Estella…” I began to say before she and Keane appeared behind us.

“Don’t bother, I saw it…go inside.” Estella said as she nodded toward the door. We all stood staring at the lock as Estella produced the key, sliding the long iron trinket inside turning it to free the wood from its bonds. Estella had, while exploring the west corridor read the immediate energy of the creature, following it to her own home.
“It came through here…” her words trailing off.

“What is it Estella?” I asked.

“It’s…..one of us….” She said disgustingly.

“What do you mean, “one of…us?” Sophia inquired.

“I mean, while he ran through the corridor he was muttering to himself about a woman, maybe Madliene, maybe Babet? He kept asking, “Why?””

“What did he say exactly?”

She closed her eyes, turning her head away from a vision in her mind. Her body began to slump, one arm hanging lower than the other, her fingers forming claws, “Why did they do this? Where is she?” over and over again. We all observed as Estella’s vision faded, her posture returned and her eyes cleared. She pushed open the heavy door, swiftly walking toward her dressing screen.
“Estella, wait.” But before the words left my lips she disappeared behind it. Over the top edge we could see her push back the long tapestry hanging behind the screen. Behind the tapestry an arched stone doorway whose blackness enveloped Estella as she passed under it. Waiting we looked to one another for some sign or sound from Estella then a soft screech came from the darkness and we all started to dart through when she emerged dragging behind her, the creature.

Its body is mangled with multiple bite marks and burns. It lay on the floor at Estella’s feet in a fetal position as if it was expecting us to annihilate it, which wasn’t the case when it began to laugh. And speak.

“You won’t hurt me,” it whispered and it was apparent that at one time it was a man. His head was down but we all could hear his next words very clearly, “not your own brother.” The word echoed my ears and I felt a familiarity about him other than our encounter in the Quarter. I pondered this until my thoughts were interrupted by Sophia’s eerily sweet voice.

She crouched to meet his gaze, stared into his open eye; the other had been badly scarred and no longer opened as a result. She stared into him silently; she then picked herself up from the floor, brandishing the iron knuckles, gaining the momentum to strike him unexpectedly, “Your kind does not relate to me.” She said before spitting in his face. “Call Damien, get him out of here, his flesh disgusts me.” Sophia had never expressed such hate toward anyone or anything, unless provoked by the Queen, which since she was not in the vicinity of the Queen, is impossible.

The creature is rendered unconscious, his body slapping the stone floor and without word to any of us, Sophia turned and left Estella’s chamber. We all stood a little dumbfounded by what just occurred and before anyone could speak I made a brass suggestion.

“I think we need a trip to the swamp.” I look to Estella, her face turning sour at the thought of it.

“Cian, he’s vampire, of some kind and sure to survive a gator attack.” She stated; her tone obvious.

“Not what I meant Estella, not what I meant at all. I think it’s time Keane met Penelope.”

Estella’s reaction wasn’t an agreeable one, but she knew I was right. “Okay, but what are we going to do with this?” she said pointing to the mass of twisted flesh and bone lying unconscious on her chamber floor.

“Where does Madliene keep the not so welcome guests?” Keane said jokingly yet with great inquisition, placing this thumb and index finger around his chin.

“On the lowest level, the hall opposite the wine cellar is gated cells, we can place him there. Should we provide a meal, lest he wake? Oh that’s right, he just slaughtered an entire hall of humans, he’s good.” Estella really had a knack for speaking when she so desired.

“Do it.” I say to Estella, who doesn’t seem too happy to oblige. “We’ll meet you outside.”

http://www.amazon.com/Revelations-Cia...

She adjusts herself before beginning, “Firstly, I know everything. My mother doesn’t keep things from me like most mothers would and she said for my protection and Henri’s I had to know this and we had to devise a plan. She told me that if anything strange occurred and she went somewhere and didn’t return I was to take Henri and hide in the upstairs closet. He would have stayed quiet if I hadn’t been making faces at him to keep him entertained.” She stops and smiles at the boy, but soon resumes. Estella and I are in enraptured awe of the mature young lady.

“She said I was to wait for Cian to arrive and I would know when he does, because of his boots. Sorry, dude that is a distinct sound.” She smiles and I return the gesture. “I was supposed to come out and he would take care of things.”

I can feel Estella taking offense to Babet’s directions for Scarlet; after all she was family, not me. I look to Estella who knows at this moment to relax and listen.

“Where did your mother go?” I ask.

“She yelled from the bottom of the stairs that she would be back and to come watch Henri, when I came downstairs she was gone. I figured she was taking her drive.”

“What do you mean, her drive?”

“My mom likes to get away sometimes, she did this when Griffin was around too but she was usually only gone, maybe an hour at the most.”

Estella chimes in, “Where does she go?”

“She drives the 90; I’ve been with her once, when she and Griffin were fighting. She likes to drive really fast and listen to her music extremely loud. When she left tonight it was just before dusk, after an hour had passed and she didn’t come back, I grabbed Henri and hid.”

Estella and I take this all in and I recall Babet’s bath time activities and her drive to pick up the children from Griffin’s mother. The speed she was driving and her accuracy on the road indicated this was a habitual thing for Babet. I am proud yet slightly disappointed she felt the need to devise a plan for her children should something out of the ordinary happen. This proved to me that the young mother only trusted us at arm’s length.

Estella rises from the floor, Scarlet, Henri and I all watch as she visibly gathers herself, “I’m going to try again.”

She walks to the bottom of the stairs where Babet called to her daughter and began her trance to seek information. Her eyes go milky white and she puts her hands in front of her to feel the air and energy. She takes a deep breath and forces her gift from her body. I glance over to Scarlet who is just as enamored with Estella as she was with the teenager moments ago. Henri also watches and giggles occasionally.

“Oh baby! I got something!” Estella howls into the air. “I smell something familiar, I brought it out with me Cian, come over here.”

I walk over to where Estella is a virtual statue, “You recognize that?” She says looking to me, a glint of accomplishment in her eyes.

I take a gargantuan whiff of the air around Estella, “Aye, that is Romeo.” I turn and mimic her smile.

She looks behind her to the children and I do so as well, Scarlet is officially okay with us. She is smiling from ear to ear, “Do you know where my mom is?”
“We think we do and we are going to find out, but we have to get you both somewhere safe. If we leave you here, whoever took your mom may come back for you.” I say gingerly before asking, “Can you call Griffin’s mother, can we take you and Henri to her?”

Her face drops, “No!” It’s a response from Scarlet I don’t expect, she is adamant and I wonder why.

“Okay, can you tell me why?” I ask.

“She hates me, if you want to take Henri there, I will go with you to drop him off but I am not staying with that bitch.” Scarlet shakes her head and looks up to me and Estella, pleading in her eyes.

Estella never misses a beat, “Well, that settles that. Cian I don’t think we should separate them.”

“And where pray tell would you suggest taking them, the grandmother’s house is out, Babet’s friends Frankie and Molly that is a no go, and no need to involve them further. We cannot take them to the club…”

“I guess we are heading to your warehouse?” Estella asks cautiously and she can see I am less than fond of the idea. In fact I fucking hate it, but I of course relent.

“I suppose so, Scarlet how fast can you be ready to go?” I ask turning back to her.

The girl shoots up from the couch and opens a hall closet, on the floor behind the door are two black duffle bags, she scoops down to grab them and she then quickly shut the door, “We’re ready.”

Estella and I look at each other dumfounded at the extent Babet has gone to for her children’s safety.

I take a deep breath, “Okay, let’s go. Scarlet, where are your mom’s car keys?”

“They’re in her purse on the counter in the kitchen.” The teenager, turned temporary mother, picks up her brother as Estella fishes out Babet’s keys.

“Scarlet, you may want to visit the little girl’s room before you go, Cian doesn’t own a toilet.” Estella suggests.

The teenage girl looks over at me and I think I am about to be chastised by someone so young, but she smiles and shrugs her shoulders. She puts the bags down and places Henri on the floor. She turns on her heel and bolts upstairs. Before long she is back. “Ready.” She says confidently.

“Got the keys, let’s go.” Estella already has the front door open.

We secure Audubon, even though I want to burn this fucker to the ground. That little human bastard is going to pay, but I have to remember, he is not working on his own accord. Madliene is way past beginning to rub me the wrong way, but this has to be my straw. My back is broken and once the children are settled I am going to fucking kill that cunt.

I make a right onto Calliope and I can see in my haste I forgot to turn the overhead lights off at the warehouse, and I am not the only one who notices this.
There is a New Orleans police car in front of my haven. I attempt to park out of sight but because of the desertion of the area, on foot patrol he hears the engine of Babet’s Audi A6 and crests the corner.

Immediately he sees us and makes a bee-line for the car. I can feel Estella tensing up and becoming angry the closer Officer Dumas gets to the car. I am mirroring her emotions; this situation is going to waste more time.

“Rein it in Estella, let me handle this.” I say to her, she straightens herself as I roll the driver’s side window down to talk to the policeman. “Evening Officer.” I am so fucking charming but he’s not buying it.

“What are you folks doing out here?” His tone is arrogant and I feel Estella mounting.

I grab her hand like a husband would do and turn back to the Officer, “We were checking out the area, I heard these renovated warehouses are fantastic loft apartments. I think we made a wrong turn somewhere back there.” I chuckle, increasing the ruse of human absentmindedness.

The Officer immediately becomes friendly, so much so, he gets comfortable placing his hand on the door and I internally sigh in relief, “Oh yeah, my cousin is working on those. I heard they’re expensive though, shoo wee.”

We all laugh but he’s not finished with us. I look in the rear view; Scarlet has her own ruse cooking. The ruse of a cell phone addicted teenager, it’s not a far stretch. Henri has fortunately fallen asleep in his car seat.

“Say, you ain’t from around here are ya?” He laughs at his cleverness.

“Uh, no sir I am Scottish but my lovely wife is a local.” I draw this statement out to hopefully grab his attention, it works. I have him in my gaze, he’s putty. I place my hand on his, “Officer Dumas, you have secured this area. The lights in the warehouse are a malfunction of wiring. You may go now.”

Officer Dumas is pliable, “Yeah…you, you folks have a nice evening.” He says staggering off toward his cruiser. I turn to Estella and smile, Scarlet in my rearview is also smiling. We wait for Officer Dumas to vacate the premises, we then exit the car. I take the children’s duffle bags as Scarlet retrieves Henri from his seat, the baby still fast asleep. Estella cradles her arm around the two as we enter, quickly closing the door behind us.



http://www.amazon.com/Revelations-Cia...

Scarlet seems wonderstruck as she cranes her head taking in the high ceilings of the warehouse but she gains composure and enters the elevator with me and Estella. My haven is still illuminated and stands as I left it. I hold the gate up for us to pass through, dropping the duffle bags by it. I release the gate and fasten the latch. Scarlet is walking around my haven the same way her mother did less than two weeks ago, politely smiling at the old tattered antique couch.

I allow her to take her time before giving her the “penny” tour. She is still holding Henri as I show her the sink and shower, should she need water. I ask her respectively to stay away from the windows and to keep the lights on should Officer Dumas return. I explain the television and advise her of my box. She is less than excited about the possibility of having to hide in my resting place, but I can see her realization that the entirety of this is for her and Henri’s protection. Estella stands idle watching my interaction with the teenager and I feel a slight swell of pride come from her. I cut my eyes in her direction and smile as I explain things to Scarlet, who is taking it all in. All the while I am internally devising my plan to “handle” our most gracious “Queen”. Multitasking is a bitch sometimes.

“Can I ask you something?” Scarlet says hoisting Henri further up her tiny body.

I bend so that she is looking down at me, “Of course.” Estella is intrigued by this, Scarlet has been as vocal with her over the last two weeks about as much as she has with me, which isn’t much.

“The night our house burned down and you took us to the townhouse, why did you say I unsettled you?”

“Christ, your mother was right; you do have ears like a bat.” She smiles at this. For the moment I am at a loss for words, Estella is expectant and pleasantly surprised. “I said what I said that night because I didn’t know then, what I know now.”

“Which is what?”

“That you and your mother and brother are very special. I feel a kinship to the three of you, a feeling I haven’t felt in….” I am cut off by the sound of Keane’s voice.

“Almost two thousand years.” He says cresting the window sill that had been left open from Fallon’s entry. Keane’s boots hit the floor with persistence.

He has changed from his suit to something more suitable for battle. His olive green cargo pants are tucked into his black steel toed boots and his long sword is secured across his back, the strap crossing his massive chest causing his black t-shirt to appear fitted. Inside I smile; this is how I remember my brother, not the suit wearing vamp I met.

Scarlet is slightly startled and grips her brother a little tighter.

“It’s okay, Scarlet this is Keane. He’s an old friend; he’s here to help us get your mom back, okay?” I see her relax her grip on Henri, who coos softly.

“Aye, we’re going to find your mom lass.” Keane says to Scarlet, but he seems to linger in her face.

“Keane, what is it?” I ask, looking at Scarlet.

“She looks like…Cian, don’t you see it? She looks like Maggie, brother.” His astonishment is overwhelming.

I close in on Scarlet who is somewhat embarrassed by all the attention and of course I never saw it before, she was always secluded or I was completely vexed by her mother but as I look on, she is almost the spitting image of my younger sister.

This is a strange revelation but I can’t be too bewildered I relinquished the privilege to know anything about my sister beyond the day I became what I am. I begin to wish I had spent more time with Scarlet. Is it possible that over the centuries my sister’s bloodline trickled into Louisiana and for that matter into Babet’s?

Of course in this world, our world; possibilities are unlimited, unhindered and endless. Just as the possibility that Madliene is behind this bull-shit. I am pulled from my inner thought and refocus on the many tasks at hand. It’s not a long walk from my warehouse to Morte’, we secure the building and precious cargo inside. I am vehemently worried for the children but I have to keep my mind on Madliene and the how and why of this deranged insanity.

For now I have the how what was left was to figure out the why. Motivation can be a dangerous thing but what motive would Madliene have for taking Babet, especially knowing the human woman’s connection to Estella, her once pride and joy. But for Madliene’s children, each one has experienced being her world, her utmost priority and so many have fallen from the proverbial grace of their mother.

For the moment it is Sophia, a dangerous and calculating fighter. I should know I trained the young vampire. And then there is Angelique, Sophia’s older sister and only link to her human life, who has been rogue for the past six months. If Angelique were here we may have an advantage to disarm Sophia but that is not a blessing we possess at the moment. Then we come to Xavier.

Created the same night as Sophia but unlike Sophia was forced to endure a human upbringing of violence and hatred prior to, he begged to be one of us for years, always being denied by Madliene. The animosity against our “Queen” is vast and the majority of it resided in her own home.

We are nearly to the door of the outer corridor when Keane reminds me where he’s been for fifty years, “I called Linde while I took care of Shi. His brother, he has always wanted revenge.” Keane’s mood is hard but ready. “I’ll wait here for him. Besides, even though we are ambushing her, it’s probably best you two go in ahead so it doesn’t seem that way.” Oh Keane. How I have missed my brother’s cunning tones.

I can’t help but smile to myself.
“Aye.” I say and Estella reaches for the door.

We crest the threshold and Morte’ is eerily quiet and clean of all human remains, alive or dead. There is no music throbbing the walls, nor light sequences to mystify and enchant. With the houselights up Morte’ was simply what it is, an old run down warehouse that’s been renovated. Estella looks to me as if she is attempting to gain confidence, I don’t show it, but at this moment I feel inept.

It matters not, she takes a deep breath and before we lurch forward we hear the clicking of heels above us in the balcony, her familiar yet disturbing voice rings in my ears like cannon fire, “Cian, Estella; it’s about time.” Madliene says her hands tracing the railing in front of her.

I can’t hold my tongue, “Enough fool’s errands Madliene, where is she?!” Estella whips her head in my direction, disappointed sympathy crossing her face. But I keep my eyes on Madliene.

Who doesn’t turn her gaze from mine either, “Who? Your little playmate?”
She laughs maniacally. “You know, Cian I send you in the right direction. I have her husband eliminated and burn her dwellings. Knowing what I know about her connection to Estella I place you both in her path, offer my own home to stash her and take Estella off protection duty in my greatest hopes you would lose control and kill the little bitch. But, no. You exhibit some insane control not to, even though I remove my enchantments from you and block Estella’s gifts. You even fucked her and showed her your monster, did you not?”

She stops hoping Estella will lash out at me, but she doesn’t. I can feel Estella mounting, but not in my direction. It’s all for Madliene, who has absentmindedly fucked herself with Estella.

Just then I feel another emotion enter the club, Keane and Linde have entered. Linde is projecting some serious animosity and Keane; I can feel is excited about the possibility of battle. Madliene straightens up and her eyes burn bright hazel, “Linde! How nice to see you, I suspect you are here to avenge your brother?”

She begins to head for the staircase but Linde’s Icelandic tone halts her, “Stay where you are she-devil. When we are ready to end you, you may join us, until then…” But she cuts him off with her demonic laughter, it’s a sickening sound.

“Fine, fine. As you wish.” She smiles
waving her hand around the air above her head and behind her; three of her former, fallen children appear behind her. Adewale; a hulking African man once Madliene’s lover and right hand, he was cast aside when his affections deterred from Madliene to Charra, who is also present behind Madliene. Charra is of Spanish decent, resembling Angelique and Sophia, with her long black curly hair and olive complexion. The two of them escaping the Queen’s grasp with little Dat, who is barely visible to us over the tall balcony. A Vietnamese boy Madliene changed during her travels through the tropical climate country; Dat had also grown tired of Madliene…eventually they all do.

Estella is more familiar with the three than I am and it seems as if she wants to call out to them, to hopefully squelch this, but as we all look further it’s obvious that the trio is under Madliene’s complete control. We are waiting for the catalyst, but hear another familiar voice enter the club.

“Aw, I’m late. What did I miss?” Fallon has entered still in his suit and I thankfully see his Morningstar unsheathed from its cylindrical container. Keane slaps Fallon on the back, elated to see him.

“And this must be Fallon.” Madliene says smiling at our chestnut haired brother who bows arrogantly, typical Fallon, but he is quickly straightens when Madliene speaks on, “So all that is missing is Finn, yes?”

Our faces all drop and I feel intense hate welling in Fallon but he keeps his composure for now. Her attempt to coax a reaction out of Fallon isn’t working and I can feel her calculating something else.

“This is a lovely gathering I must say and I am honored that so many of you have arrived to do what you think you can do. Cian, I think, it would be interesting to discuss why you feel a connection to sweet innocent Babet and then...” she rolls her eyes, “…you can have your say, and so on and so forth.” She is overly self-assured and stands very still, her face becoming increasingly more and more agitated; she clears her mind to address us all. Before she does, she wants entertainment.

She beckons Adewale who falls from the balcony railing, but before his feet hit the floor Fallon is a blur and unfortunately for the giant African, meets Fallon’s Morningstar. Adewale’s head is replaced by the handle of Fallon’s club, the spiked ball firmly implanted into his chocolate shoulders. This of course sparks a reaction in Charra who is shrieking like a banshee as she flies from the balcony circling us overhead. Fallon places his boot on Adewale’s back and we all hear a sucking pulling sound as he removes the Morningstar from Adewale’s body.
Fallon’s stance takes that of a baseball player, practice swinging before steadying himself for Charra’s attack.

Linde, however beats him to the punch, javelining a spear into the Spanish beauty before disappearing. Charra’s body falls and I hear a child sobbing from high above. Dat is mourning his adopted mother, but he doesn’t react. He remains sobbing and this infuriates Madliene who rolls her eyes.

Estella sees this, expecting her to hurt the boy, and begins to position to a crouch but straightens, still keeping her feet stance for attack, Madliene begins to spin her web again, “Why do you believe you are compelled to Babet’s side Cian?”

Linde, along with Keane, who had been in the middle with me and Estella, was now unseen throughout the club.

I turn to see Romeo and Damien almost hyperventilating along the East wall, Estella looks confused until Keane and Linde flank us, “We released it.” Keane says smiling. They had released the creature from the bowels of the club and the human boys were having difficulty avoiding death, I assume. Only Sophia remained Madliene’s last advantage. Dat was useless to her; she had left him an orphan once again.

From the corner of my eye I see Sophia enter with Xavier, her face observing like a stand by pawn in a chess game. But his is filled with rage and I wonder why it seems as though he is on our side.
“Sophia my darling.” Madliene’s voice is dripping with disgusting sweetness. Sophia places herself beside Madliene, while Xavier stands idle, but the “Queen” is not ready to use the girl yet and given my relationship with Sophia I am not ready to end her. In an attempt to possibly slow me down, Madliene in her desperation compels Romeo and Damien to pointlessly attack me and Estella. I snatch the boys by their throats. We had yet to see the creature emerge. And I wonder again, what Xavier’s stance is.



http://www.amazon.com/Revelations-Cia...