Dark Souls

A Storm Is Coming

Ilaria (Playlist - Mad Hatter by Melanie Martinez)



It’s been four frustrating days and my heart thief has been radio silent. It’s as if he never existed. Sienna said there haven’t been any more suspicious kills that they know of. I hadn’t felt his presence in the shadows and there were no more notes. It was messing with my head in the most insufferable way. I found myself searching for him everywhere I went. Checking over my shoulder in coffee shops. Taking solo strolls through dark forests in the hope of luring him out. Constantly staring into people’s eyes to read their minds and freaking them out in the process, just to check they were not my psychotic stalker. Knowing he could morph into absolutely anyone had me on tenterhooks. I knew I was becoming a paranoid freak. And my family were starting to pick up on my odd behaviour, hence why I was sitting opposite my Grandma Alina in her sunroom after she insisted we have an emergency therapy session.

And to top it all, Rue was more irritable than normal. I hadn’t seen Ronnie since the men’s locker room, and therefore, hadn’t fed properly for nearly a week. The blood-thirst was clouding my judgement. I couldn’t think as sharply which was impacting my logical brain. I should be relieved that the killer seemed to have lost interest in me, not annoyed.

Rain pattered against the glass roof above us and drew my attention as I bent my neck back to peer up at the darkening sky. The brewing of a storm. My favourite kind of weather. I always found peace when the skies raged.

“A storm is coming,” I muttered the first words between us in ten minutes. Grandma never spoke first in our sessions. She always waited. The woman had the patience of a saint. Sometimes, we didn’t talk at all. She just sat with me in the silence, allowing me to close my eyes and ground myself. Other times, I used our time to vent. To scream and shout about all the vile things I heard in people’s heads, how much I hated that I could never just give people the benefit of the doubt. Let them prove themselves to be genuine or worthy of my time. That mainly happened through my teenage years, when I was still learning how to control my telepathy. Those were my darkest, toughest times. I know every teenager goes through the hell of raging hormones, heightened emotions and just a sense of unfairness against the world. But when you can hear every horny thought of the teenagers around you, the sick fantasies of perverted old men, the traumas of other people’s lives, it is hard not to let it affect you. Especially when you hear people’s judgements on who they believe you to be as a person. I wanted more than anything to shut the cruelty of the world out and just hibernate until it was safe. But it would never be safe. Evil, sickness, suffering, hatred, jealousy. They would never not exist in people. So, I didn’t have a choice but to learn how to live with my curse.

“Seems so.” Grandma smiled, her green eyes soft and gentle as I moved my gaze to her pretty face. “I know you love a storm. I have to say that I prefer the first moments of silence when the storm has settled and the world seems to slowly come out of hiding again. It always feels like the storm cleanses the Earth and breathes hope back into it for a fresh start.”

“That is because you are an optimist and see the world in bright colours.”

“What colours do you see the world in?” She tilted her head and I sighed. I doubt she even realised she did it, but she had put on her therapist voice. It was softer and slower than normal, as if she was taking her time to pronounce every syllable clearly.

“Red,” I answered without thinking. “Greys, blues and blacks too. But mostly red.”

She didn’t speak to allow me the space to continue if I wanted to. A few years ago, I would have left my answer at that. I never expanded on my reasons. But I could admit that I had worked on myself a lot since then.

“That’s why I like storms. The dreary colours comfort me and, for a moment, the world feels peaceful. The thunder cancels out the noise. The lightning brightens the dark. And the rain washes away the blood.”

“Whose blood?”

“Everyone’s. No one’s.” I shrugged and glanced back out of the window as the rain started to fall harder, the sound pelting against the glass was almost deafening. The tension in my muscles eased slightly, but my fingers continued to tap against my thigh, trying to soothe the hunger. Grandma’s eyes flickered down to the repetitive motion, knowing exactly what that meant, but she didn’t dare draw attention to it.

“I haven’t fed for a while.”

“No blood bags?”

I shook my head. “You know they make me feel sick and Ronnie is away on some SIA task.”

Being a pure-blood vampire from one of the strongest bloodlines meant that blood bags never sufficed. They would do to keep me alive, but I gained no strength from them and, honestly, I wasn’t lying. Drinking from a bag turned my stomach. Rue needed a pulsing, pumping vein to thrive. My grandpapi, uncle and mum were the only other vampires in my family, but they were all hybrids or tribrids, which meant their thirst for blood was diluted by their magic and wolves. Of course, they preferred a live feed but they could survive off the blood bags with no problems.

We fell into silence for a few minutes, listening to the storm. I lifted my gaze to meet hers.

“I heard what you all said about me after dinner the other night.” Her eyebrows tensed a little but smoothed when she realised what I was referring to. “It’s okay. I get it. Grandpapi was right, I am a full-blooded Romano. That will always come with fear.”

“Ilaria,” Grandma’s voice switched back to her normal tone as she sat forward with a pained expression. “No one in this family fears you.”

“But you fear for me.” It wasn’t a question. It was a fact.

“We worry for you. It is different. We know you will always face challenges that no one else in this family will ever quite understand. Yes, your mum and grandpapi can relate to you but they also know that your vampire side is much stronger than theirs. Which is why we are all so proud of you, Ilaria. You are one of the strongest people I know. Your determination and resilience is outstanding to me.”

I smiled because I knew that was what she needed to see. “What is it about vampires that puts everyone so on edge?”

It was meant as a joke but, of course, she answered as if she was trying to help me make sense of the world.

“Vampires are the most impulsive and unpredictable of all species. And you know the history of the originals? Some believe they were blessed by the devil himself. The first vampires were never meant to coexist with other species. They were sent to the human realm to dominate. To hunt. Of course, as all species do, when the wolves, fae and witches came along and posed a threat to their existence, they adapted to survive in their environment, which meant learning to coexist and not kill every living thing within their sight. They learned control. But that doesn’t mean to say it is easy. We all know how much easier it would be to just switch off your emotions, lose your humanity and become the beast. But that is not really living. That is not feeling.”

I sighed, stretching out my fingers before digging my black painted nails into my ripped jeans once more. “Is that what great-grandfather Lucius did? Disconnected with his human side when he lost his soulmate and unborn child?”

“My guess is yes. From what I’ve heard, he was never an angel before that fateful event, but at least he loved deeply. And I don't believe anyone who is capable of loving so deeply cannot be completely evil. But yes, I think he switched off his humanity the moment Celeste died, which is why he could never show your Grandpapi any love.”

I licked my lips and clasped my hands together to stop my nails from extending at the rage just merely thinking of how much abuse my Grandpapi endured growing up caused me. “No matter what happens, I will never be like Lucius.”

Grandma smiled with so much genuine warmth it seeped into my own cold heart because I could see that she believed me one hundred percent. “I know you won’t. We all know that. Is that what has been bothering you the last few days?”

There it was. The concern I saw in my family’s eyes this week. Has it been bothering me? Maybe a little. But it had mainly just made me even more determined to prove to them all that they didn’t need to worry about me. That I could handle my darkness. My mind returned to the heart thief.

I shook my head.

“Is there something else bothering you?”

I chewed at my bottom lip, avoiding her eyes. God, she would be so upset if she found out I was covering for a serial killer. Actually no, that wasn't what this was. I won’t make any excuses for his behaviour and I am handing him over to the SIA as soon as I find his ass. This is just something I have to do alone. If I told any of my family, they would bulldoze all over this. They wouldn’t stop until they found him and would most probably rip him to pieces for daring to f**k with me.

My phone vibrated next to me on the sofa. A text from Lacey who had been in the group I’d forced myself to socialise with the other night.

Hey doll. I'm hitting up a vamp club tonight in London. Fancy it?

“No, Grandma,” I shook my head. “I just need to feed. In fact, my friend, Lacey, has just texted me inviting me to a vampire club in London. There will be willing humans to feed from there. I think I’m going to go and then crash at Grandpapi’s castle tonight.”

She nodded but I didn’t miss the uneasiness spread across her features. “Sounds like a plan. Just be careful, yeah?”

“Of course. Always am.” I smiled, jumping up from the sofa and kissing her on the cheek. “Thanks for the session. I feel loads better for it.”

“Anytime, darling.”

***

I leaned against the brickwork outside the club as I took the joint Lacey offered me. Inhaling deeply, I fought back the urge to cough from the burn filling my lungs and held it back before releasing the cloud of smoke into the night air. I didn’t make a habit of doing drugs. It was pretty pointless really as they never had the same effect on us supernaturals as they did on humans, but I was of the mind, try anything once. Well, maybe not anything. You wouldn’t find me down some alley with a meth needle hanging out my arm that’s for sure. But weed took the edge of the blood-thirst enough to keep me calm and not fall into a dangerous frenzy when feeding.

Lacey jumped from one foot to the other, rubbing her arms up and down from the freezing Autumn chill. “Why does England have to be so frickin’ cold all the time?”

I could tell her all about the flow of current easterly winds from Siberia and the impact of climate change, but I assumed her question was rhetorical, so I kept my mouth shut. Lacey was a vampire too. We’d been in the same year at the academy and taken nearly all the same classes together, but I’d never actually hung out with her alone before. She was nice enough, a little dramatic, but I didn’t mind that. She wasn’t one of those bitchy girls that smiled sweetly to your face while thinking of all the things she hated about you in her head, so that was a plus.

“Maybe you should have worn more clothes,” I offered bluntly, eyeing her tiny mini-skirt, heels and lace bralette. I wasn’t trying to be rude, she looked awesome. I was just being honest. I gave her back the joint as a peace offering.

“You sound like my mum.” She gave me the once over, judging my leather trousers and black long-sleeved bodysuit. The only bit of skin on show was my wrists and neck. But like she said. It was frickin’ cold in England. Her eyes lit up when they rested on my pointed n*****s and the outline of the silver bars that were quite visible because of said weather.

“Oh my god! You have your n*****s pierced! I want to get mine done too! Did they hurt?”

“A little. I did it myself,” I shrugged. “Who exactly are we waiting for?” I changed the subject before she said something absurd like could I flash her or pierce hers for her.

“Lacey!”

She glanced over her shoulder at the shrill, high-pitched squeal that came from the blonde bombshell strutting down the pavement in her seven-inch Gucci heels that matched her silver Gucci handbag. Oh hell no! Lia. The girl looked like a walking disco ball in the sequin dress that barely contained her huge t**s. Yeah, okay. Now who was being bitchy? The difference was, I wouldn’t be faking any smiles for her benefit.

Lia was a vampire and witch hybrid who had also been in our year at the Academy. After the mess at the Academy the last few months, we'd all graduated early so I had hoped I'd never have to see her face again. She was the biggest b***h and cared only about herself. And to top it off, I just found out a few weeks ago the extent of her bullying behaviour towards my best friend, Neve. She’d even put her in the hospital during a combat training lesson that she took way too far. Neve hadn’t told me about the snide comments or harassment she’d been receiving from Lia because she knew I’d lose my s**t. I can be a crazy b***h when I want to be, especially when it comes to those who hurt people I love. I may not be able to do any permanent damage to her because her father's strong ties with my Grandpapi kept her family in our good graces but that didn't mean I had to be nice to the girl.

Her made-up face dropped the moment her blue eyes met mine, and she visibly paled before shoving her shoulders back and plastering on a fake smile. I narrowed my eyes into a deadly glare and folded my arms over my chest as she hugged Lacey and then turned to me.

“Hey. Ilaria! Wow, I didn’t expect to see you here. How are you?”

Blank. Blank. Blank. Keep your mind blank and she can’t read my thoughts. s**t, she looks like she’s about to murder me. She must really hate me now, not that she likes anyone anyway.

A smirk lifted my lips as I read her mind before she averted her eyes away from mine.

“What makes you think I don’t like you, Lia? I mean, you'd be right. But I am interested to know what gave me away,” I said with a chilling sweetness that caused her to gulp and her eyes to widen.

“Just…just that you must have heard about what happened between me and Neve, but you probably only heard one side of the story,” she stuttered.

“And that’s the only side of the story I’m interested in.”

“Right, of course. She’s your best friend. But I did apologise to your uncle for the whole thing and I heard Neve found her mate after all that mess, so I guess everything worked out well for her.”

’No thanks to this A-hole,’ Rue snapped, pumping rage through my veins and forcing me to fight the urge to rip Lia’s tongue out just so I would never have to hear another fake ass word out of her mouth. Instead, I nodded, feeling an opportunity to rub just how well Neve was doing in her face, even if it may be a little exaggerated.

“Apologising to my uncle isn't apologising to Neve. But you are right, it more than worked out. She actually has two mates. Twin brothers. Warrior wolves who are the leaders of a King’s army. And not to mention drop dead gorgeous. They worship the ground she walks on, and she’s just left to go start her life with them in their realm. They’re probably f*****g like duracell bunnies as we speak. I mean, imagine that. Two d***s,” I looked to the heavens. “Double orgasms! Have you found your soulmate yet, Lia?”

I wished at that moment I had a camera so I could snap a picture of her face to show Neve when I next saw her. Flushed cheeks, jealous glare and mouth agape. Everyone knew Lia was obsessed with powerful men. Christ, the amount of times she has thrown herself at my brothers, any Alpha in her sight or even my uncle was embarrassing. Of course, they all had too much class to ever go there. Even Leif, who would f**k anything with a pulse, turned her down. You make an enemy of someone we love, you make an enemy of us all.

“Good for her,” she muttered, flicking her sandy blonde hair over her shoulder with sass. “No I haven't. Have you? Didn't think so.” She jeered with a vindictive smirk.

My eyes narrowed as she turned to strut off towards the entrance of the club before waiting for me to reply. But she didn't get far. I hissed through my fangs, my need for blood affecting my rational thinking and wanting to kill her before she could even flutter her lashes at the bouncers. My hand wrapped around the back of her neck and I yanked her back, causing her to lose her balance in her heels. She screeched as the hand around her neck kept her from hitting the ground but kept her at my mercy instead. She stared up at my face with fear in her eyes.

I chuckled darkly as I read her mind. "Yes. I am a psycho b***h, Lia. It would do you well to remember that next time you think about pissing me off. You want to keep your tongue tonight? Watch what you f*****g say around me."

I released her, pushing her upright as she stumbled forwards away from me. She avoided my eyes as she mumbled an apology and walked to the entrance, a blush forming on her face from the queue of clubbers who had witnessed my warning.

Lacey gave me an awkward smile. “Sorry! I had no idea you two had problems. But I kinda had to invite her. She was on the guest list and had a plus one. It would have been impossible at this last minute for me to get in without her. We aren’t all royalty.” Lacey winked, threading her arm through mine and yanking me after Lia. I had to fight the urge to shrug her off and instead just left my arm dangling. Let’s just say, I was not a touchy feely person while everyone else in the world seemed to love invading people’s personal space.

“Just keep her the hell away from me tonight. Or I don’t think it will end well…for her.”

“Gottcha. She’ll latch on to the first guy that shows her attention anyway, don’t even sweat it.”

I gave my name to the bouncer, knowing I wasn’t on the guestlist, and watched as his face transformed into disbelief. He lowered his head slightly to avoid my eyes and unclipped the red rope for me to pass as he muttered, “Princess.”

I bit my tongue at the formality, drawing blood. But as soon as I entered the chamber, the title was forgotten. The narrow hallway leading towards the main part of the club was lined with silver, adult-sized cages and inside were humans, male and female, dressed in either leathers, raunchy underwear and some even with gimp masks and collars. They were dancing seductively to the pulsing beat, arms reaching out through the bars as if they were pleading with me. It had been a while since I had been to an underground vampire club, but the last I checked, this wasn’t the norm.

“What the f**k is this?” I growled into Lacey’s ear as she shook her head. Lia turned around with a knowing smirk.

“A new system,” she answered. “If you want to feed from a human tonight, you have to pay for it. You choose one for the night. It’s way better! They have all been vetted, checked for any diseases and are willing participants. They want to be fed on and f****d by us. And they get paid pretty well for it too.”

My eyes bulged in shock, but my heart skipped a beat with excitement. That was genius and exactly what I needed tonight. I took in their outstretched arms to us realising that it wasn’t in fear to escape, it was in desperation to be chosen. It was f*****g degrading, but I wasn’t here to judge some else's kinks. “Are you sure they are willing?”

“They have all signed contracts,” the vampire behind the desk shouted over the music as the three of us stepped forwards. “They either have blood oaths in place or they have agreed to have the memory of the night erased after. Some of them just want the experience. You must sign your own contract to promise you will not kill your human, feed from anyone else’s human or keep them for longer than your stay at the club.”

“People do that?” Lacey chuckled. “Try and keep them?”

“You’d be surprised,” the woman raised her eyebrow and shoved the contracts across the desk towards us. “You are more than welcome to enjoy your evening without a human, but you are strictly prohibited to the vampire-only section. So, what is it to be ladies?”

I licked my lips as I glanced between Lacey and Lia. They were waiting for my reaction. Locking eyes with a good-looking male in one of the cages who had blonde floppy hair and dark brown eyes similar to Harry Gould, the disguise my stalker had taken on, a flutter of excitement and adrenaline powered through me. Rue was practically foaming at the mouth in anticipation for his blood.

I picked up the pen and signed my name.

“I’ll take that one.”

A/N: I hope you are all enjoying the story so far! It is a little different from my normal style, but I have had this story in my head for so long and I think it is going to end up being one of my faves! That being said, I want to do it justice and consider what is best to keep my rights to this book going forward. I am always transparent with my readers so there are no shocks if things don't go to plan. I am currently in negotiations with my editor about a non-exclusive contract but if we are not able to come to an agreement that works for us both, this story will not continue on Dreame. Of course, I will let you all know if this is the case as soon as I know, but you can join my face.b.oo.k group Aura Rose Between The Lines where I will keep my readers updated on any changes going forward and where you can continue reading. Just to say, your continued support means the world. Thank you, Aura xx