Augusta Fern's Blog - Posts Tagged "ending"

I looked over my shoulder to find Estella’s face had hardened to stone, her eyes bearing into mine. I return to face Madliene, “I will kill them.” I say holding her gaze before my mind was taken by a flash of blood and tears, a pleading emotion coming from the intense image. I couldn’t escape the captivating and familiar face of a young pregnant woman being pulled into a hospital on a blood soaked gurney. I was then hit with the familiar smell of her blood, which became more than I could bear.

What followed was one of the most horrifying images I have ever been forced to endure. I was brought to my knees, but kept my grip on Romeo and Damien, and as there aren’t many times a vampire can cry, I felt the warmth flow from my cold eyes. In that moment the revelation of who this woman was, tore what little sliver of a heart I had left, or rebuilt since meeting Babet, out.

I was face to face with a young Brigitte Lancaster Beauregard, her trembling hand gripping the sticky gurney sheet, her words I cannot hear, but her emotion and fear I harbor pleading for my help. Why I was in the hospital that night, the purpose so lost and unclear to me. The next flash was the final blow, which made me call out for the Queen to stop her mind control.

“No more!” I yelled and I hear the sound of Romeo and Damien’s bodies hitting the floor followed by their combined gasps for life in their lungs. The two humans scurry away to the best of their ability. I rise to face her, Madliene sturdy as a mountain fails to budge. “Why?” I pleaded of her.

“Why indeed Cian,” she clasped her hands together in front of her, launching from the balcony, landing with a thud and began to circle me like the bloodthirsty shark she is. “Why were you there? Why were you so eager to heal a young, pregnant, Mrs. Brigitte Lancaster Beauregard? And most importantly, who would suggest such a terrible thing?”

Her overblown arrogance disgusted me and I could see Estella felt the same. I could feel the intimidation pouring from Madliene, but this time it wouldn’t work.

As I turned to face Madliene I was again, inundated with the vision of Brigitte Lancaster Beauregard’s face buried into my pulsing forearm. I feel my knees weaken yet again as my body felt heavier than it ever had. It had all come together in that moment, in Brigitte Lancaster Beauregard’s pleading eyes staring into mine and as her lips pushed harder into my arm’s cold flesh.

Those big pleading eyes began to roll into the back of her head before she released me from her grasp and fell back onto the gurney. Madliene’s voice broke through the image like a spear through the mist, “You see Cian, no matter what you do to protect her, she will eventually be one of us.” The tone of her voice went from accusing to humorous as she spoke her final words, “And you, dearest Cian have only yourself to blame.”

I hung my head, not comprehending what I had done, why I had done it, or even, why, I was there. My mind was spinning when I heard the heavily cockney voice of a tall Englishman and a face I have only seen in pictures, enter the club. I turn to see him stroll into Morte’ like the devil come courting. An arrogance about him, without question or fear of what he was interrupting and as I turned from the voice of the Englishman I noticed that the arrogance and intimidation of our Queen was diminished as if he were pulling her emotions from her.

“Not entirely yourself to blame. Cian, is it?” he said as he glided over to shake my hand, “Alistair, is my name. Though I don’t need to introduce myself to you do I, Queen Madliene?” The volume of his voice became quiet as he turned to her, taking her delicately deadly hand in his, kissing it gently, and smiling as he met her gaze. Our Queen was speechless, fear had taken over her aura and she seemed to be almost shrinking inside, our powerfully fearless mistress was becoming what resembled a shattered and naive child as if she had been caught by her father in her mother’s lingerie. We could all feel it emoting from her being.

I turn to see Estella’s stance soften, her hands relaxing from their claw like shape. Her face almost relieved to cast her eyes upon Alistair and Angelique who appeared at his side. For the first time tonight Madliene looked worried.

Through the haven doors Xavier and Keane walking almost hand in hand their bodies so close as they approached the situation, a small smirk cross Keane’s face as he and Xavier parted to reveal Babet.

Alive, unharmed on her own feet smiling when she saw and crossed the floor to me, though the closer she got to me I could smell blood on her. I took her in my arms and held her there, taking in all her senses taking me in. Her grasp on my waist as her head rested perfectly in my chest was more relief than I have ever felt from a human, even from my sister when we escaped with our lives hundreds of years ago.

I felt Babet take a deep breath as she burrowed herself deeper and deeper into me, I put my face against her glorious cherry hair and stole my own moment with the scent of her. Eventually, it was obvious that we weren't alone and the entire room was witnessing this personal experience between us, but neither of us cared, just content with the knowledge that the other was safe. For now.

I pull her from me to examine her stained dark blue shirt, “Whose blood is this?” I say to her and only her. She doesn't answer me, just shaking her head and closing her eyes before burying back into my chest.

Alistair was here no doubt to exact some sort of revenge on Madliene and considering the reaction of the proper sides, I was confident that in her absence Angelique had been successful in her mission to find some sort of origin on the soon to be dowager Queen. Even though Alistair had been able to hold Madliene, she wouldn't go down, so to speak without a fight. My thoughts were interrupted by their prolonged completion. Alistair had the ability to read one’s mind and his skills were old and tuned to perfection, “It won’t come to that, Cian….I promise,” All this he said staring into Madliene, never looking at me once, “Will it, dear?”

Madliene said nothing at first, stood as still as the ancient statue she is, Sophia a zombie by her side, Alistair continued to circle her and then pace from each group of us before standing again beside Angelique. We all kept our positions as he continued, “You see, Cian, everyone, this was our last straw; our backs are, broken. Your human…” his voice turned disgusted at the word, “…was never to be involved in our world.”

Angelique fades from Alistair’s side, appearing beside Sophia. She leads the girl away from Madliene who doesn't dare protest. Once Sophia and Angelique are out of site beyond the haven doors Alistair states, “There, that’s better. Sweet Angelique just wanted her sister back; it was all the payment she required for her information regarding this establishment and all of you. Now…”
Alistair continued, explaining that the night I was met with Brigitte Lancaster Beauregard and her unborn fetus, Madliene sent me to the hospital to investigate the found victim of a former member of our family, Razmus. His victim had been drained but not extinguished and the man was still able to communicate, so much so that he was able to identify Razmus; down to the color of his boots.

This of course made the Queen and others very nervous, being who I am I was the natural choice to determine whether or not this man should live and Razmus die or as it went, both. On my exit of the hospital is where I would encounter Babet’s mother. Upon her arrival, it is explained to me, that, not only healing her affected my memory, but Madliene had the entire accord completely wiped from my mind.

Thessaly, who was employed during the 3rd shift at the hospital, tipped the doctor of my ability to help the dying mother. During the conversation with the doctor regarding the possibility of my assistance, which I originally refused to abide. I allowed Brigitte Lancaster Beauregard to penetrate my shield and with her pleadingly beautiful eyes hooked my soul, I obliged. Thessaly, also connected to Madliene, hell, we all are, aren't we, made her aware of the situation, gaining permission to the tip off to who I was. Thessaly’s payment was her neutrality; Madliene would never again request Thessaly’s violent assistance. But why? Why? WHY!? I feel like a child.

“The reason Madliene gave such permission, knowing what she was engaging in?” Alistair stated rather loudly and boisterously before turning to face Estella, “Because of her distaste for her maker, which is how she obtained you, sweet Estella. For years Madliene has hunted those close to her maker, her attempts to hurt him and take from him what he took from her.”, Alistair began to pace yet again, “Estella, tell me, around what year did you get notification of a positive identification of your human family from Madliene?” Estella said nothing, just stared at Alistair, when she seemed to have a glimpse of that time, her brow furrowed and then her eyes slightly widened. At this, Alistair just nodded and paced once again, “That’s what I thought.”

“Was this your master plan, my dear, to obtain the human ties of your maker to form the vampire family you so desperately need.” Madliene’s face met Alistair’s, her lips parted and she spoke for the first time since his arrival. He glances around to each of us.

“Please. Alistair. Don’t.” her tone is weak like a chastised child.

He turns to face her, his fierce blue eyes penetrating her, “It’s too late my dear.”

Flannaghan enters, we are all distracted for a moment and that is all it takes for Madliene to make a move, she is like lightning snatching Babet from my arms, spinning her. Babet is attached to Madliene’s front, pulling Babet from the group, “I am going to do to her what her father did to me! And it won’t take long. Will it darling,” She is stroking Babet’s face with her bone finger, “All I have to do is stop her heart and she will be one of us. Cian, isn’t that what you want, I know it’s what he wants.” She is using my monster as defense, albeit a poor one.

Babet is not letting this small detail she has learned die, “My father is dead.”

She says her voice faltering under Madliene’s grasp.

Madliene cackles, “You’re half right.”

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