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...