Chapter 3 ∣  The One Who Murdered Her

-Maverick

Monster.

The word echoed off the walls of my mind, spinning around in my head at those two syllables. That seven-letter word that had become the bane of my existence, was now being spoken softly off my beloved's delicate lips. The one person who had pushed past everything that had been said about me, challenging me when no other would have dared to set foot in front of my path...

...was the only one who saw me that way now, speaking with such fear, trembling at my touch.

My eyelids lifted open, drawing the tips of my fangs away from her neck and bringing my eyes to hers. There were tears in her eyes and those that had escaped trailed down her stained cheeks. My eyes shifted back, feeling my fangs recede back to their normal length.

What am I doing?

Unconsciously unaware that I had locked her wrist into my grasp when she had tried to strike me, I let her go.

Breathing out a breath she had caught in her chest, afraid it would be the last one she ever drew, she pulled her arm close to her chest.

Oh no...

There were dark bruises, taking shape and form around her fragile wrist from where I had trapped her. I didn't even realize the strength I truly had over her and how this new form of hers, really was so easily breakable.

Human.

Eris is human.

She'll never have the strength she once had as a succubus to withstand my sudden outbursts. Nor will she be able to handle my personality...

Being a vampire and a pureblood one at that, I know I'm a dominant personality...and I've heard far too many stories of others breaking humans even if it wasn't intentional.

She'll never be able to heal on her own...she's so delicate and fragile...

I don't want to hurt her...but I can't hold myself back from that pull that keeps dragging me toward her. Eris' scent, still swirling around and capturing my senses, her eyes, faded light green almost translucent. That dark long ebony hair of hers, falling around her perfect features, her lips, quivering as they were, I just wanted to claim them once again.

I want what we had, but I don't think that will ever be the same again. She doesn't remember anything or anyone, she's terrified. I don't even think she wants to take the opportunity to understand everything.

"Eris, I-"

"Go away!" She cried out, fresh tears spilling from her eyes, "Just leave me alone! You're just--just a monster!"

That drove a stake through my heart, those words cutting me deeper than they ever had in the past.

The one difference.

Control.

The only thing I wasn't sure of, is exactly how much control I have. When Eris died, it was hard, but she wasn't physically here to tempt me like the way she was. Now with her being so close, yet so extremely far away, I really didn't know how long I could resist the urge...

The urge to make her mine once again...

...and the urge to bite her.

It's so damn frustrating, knowing that I'll never be able to fully bond with her.

I stepped back, taking my hands away from the counter and freeing her body from against myself. She looked at me with confusion but quickly moved away from me, shaking as she left the bathroom. When she wrapped her arms around herself, I saw her glance back over her shoulder, afraid I'd come after her to finish the job and kill her.

When she was out of my sight, hearing her faint heartbeat slow down as she stepped lightly down the marble staircase, I let out a heavy sigh.

"Now that," I smelt the hint of burning flesh before it disappeared and Tamsin stood next to me, "Was something else."

I arched a brow and gave her a sideways glance, "What were you doing?"

"Making sure you don't do something you'd regret for the rest of your immortal life," her dirty blonde hair was tied up high on her head and away from her face. Tamsin turned toward me and said softly, "I'm really proud of you Maverick."

"And when were you planning to step in?" I was curious as she let me get so close to Eris. Would a single moment be enough to step in?

Tamsin shrugged her shoulders, "The moment she called you a monster."

"I didn't expect that," I turned away from her, leaving the bathroom, and heading toward my own room, the one right across from where Eris would be staying.

How cruel and yet at the same time, wonderful gesture Arlynn had displayed by having Eris sleep so close to me. I wanted to feel her in my arms, the warmth that radiated from her body to encase me in its loving glow.

Tamsin followed me out onto the balcony, the moon having risen a while ago. I leaned against the railing and rubbed my temples, trying to get Eris off my mind.

"Maverick," Tamsin stated as she leaned back against the railing. "I have to tell you something."

Lifting my gaze from the railing I locked my eyes with her own blue ones, a slightly pained look on her face. She shifted her eyes uncomfortably away from mine as she said words that clutched my heart, "I saw who killed your beloved."

"Wh-what?" I asked, narrowing my eyes as she continued to speak.

"I didn't want to tell you...not with her gone as it would only cause more stress and hurt for you. I didn't want you going on another rampage of killing," she appeared ashamed for withholding this information, but I remained silent and understanding just enough not to lash out at her.

"She was gone, there was no point in telling you because it wouldn't have made a difference. We were tracking you down from the other direction, the one you were turning toward. I arrived at the clearing before everyone else crossed in at the same time. That's when he shot her. I didn't know who she was, not until after...the way you reacted..." Tamsin was uneasy, her voice shaking for a moment.

There was a wave of anger rising in me. Not because Tamsin hadn't told me, because who knows how many I would have killed in order to end that person's life. I was angry at the way Eris was reacting to me, but even that wasn't justifiable. She was scared and confused, and I didn't want to take anything out in her, she didn't deserve it.

"Who killed her?" I asked the edge in my voice evident.

Tamsin breathed in deeply before whispering out, "Rainier."

"What?!" I yelled the control I once held was lost in a moment of complete disbelief, "Rainier doesn't use guns, how-"

"The Alpha he was with," Tamsin interrupted me, "Eris was too quick and the other hunters weren't able to hit her. His blades were just out of reach. He gave him the gun, knowing his shot would be deadly."

That pissed me off more. Hendrix, the one who had been nice to Eris, had given the smoking gun to Rainier. If he hadn't, she may still be alive, the way she was...

I gripped the railing hard, my knuckles turning white, "I'm going to kill them both."

"Maverick, it won-"

"There is already a fucking war going on, barely any wolves or vampires are walking the streets without looking over their shoulders. Humans live in fear but are about the only ones going about their normal daily lives. Only the strong will survive, and we'll end up fighting packs anyways..." I wanted their blood. I wanted to watch the lights in their eyes flicker away when I end their lives.

Tamsin went silent, looking at the ground before whispering softly, "You'll have to listen to your father now. He's still trying to figure the best action to take without causing needless deaths for our species."

"I know," I glared at her, knowing she was right and that now reestablished with the coven, I would have to listen to my father's orders. I was okay with that, but the vengeance side of me that wanted payment for Eris' life, might win out if the opportunity presented itself.

"Just give her some time," Tamsin switched the subject, my thoughts going straight to Eris. "She'll come around. Once you explain-"

"No, Tamsin," I lifted my arms from the railing and glared out at the city area. Moving away from the railing I heard her sigh, but I just replied, "We'll never be the same. We'll never have what we once did."

Tamsin walked ahead of me, seeing the transparency of her skin starting as I knew she was about to connect to the shadows and resume her role in this coven. She stopped and tilted her head to the side, looking over me before she shrugged her shoulders, "Then start something new."

Before I could get another word in, she vanished, dematerializing before my eyes. I breathed in deeply and tried to control my desire to track down Rainier and Hendrix because if I ever saw them again, they wouldn't leave alive.

That's a promise I'll keep if it's the last thing I ever do.

Walking down the marble staircase and nearing the front entrance, I turned down the hallway, leading toward the kitchen. Just as I came up to the open doorway, I caught her scent once again.

This is killing me.

She's going to be the death of me.

Stepping into the kitchen, my eyes scanned the room, seeing Eris flinch when they landed on her for a moment. She was seated at the far end of the table, Lucette right beside her as my grandmother placed a bowl of pasta in front of my vixen.

Though she was human, she was still incredibly beautiful.

"Maverick?" My grandmother asked, "What happened to Eris?"

She didn't say anything.

"I hurt her," I saw the look flash across their faces, but no one moved or did anything that would have normally called for an uproar when I was a child. "I didn't mean to..."

"Mav," it was my mother's voice that drew cautiously from behind where I stood, pulling my attention away from the ones who remained in the kitchen. Her eyes sparked for a moment, motioning her head toward the front of the mansion, near the parlor double doors. I slowly followed her, away from the nagging feeling that wanted me to take Eris away from the ones who were protecting her...from I and part of me knew that it was for everyone's own good.

"Mav," my mother spoke again, ushering me into the open doors. I stopped in my tracks when I noticed who was sitting in the dark leather chairs and couches.

My grandfather was standing near the fireplace, turning his gaze on me while my father sat on one of the couches. When the doors to the parlor shut behind us, my mother stated, "We need to talk."

"It's about Eris, isn't it?" I questioned back, stepping further into the room, and taking a seat on one of the empty chairs.

"Yes," my father replied, my mother, coming to sit next to him.

"What about everyone else?" I was a little confused. If this were about having her here because she was human, it would require the whole coven's attention.

My grandfather shook his head, "This is a matter between us," he paused for a moment, looking over my parents and then back to me, "Between purebloods."

"I'm sorry..." my voice trailed off.

"Your grandfather and father are the ones who will be able to help you the most," my mother's gentle voice made me question what this was all about.

I narrowed my eyes and questioned, "How?"

"Back in the day," she started, "Their covens each possessed human slaves."

"Eris isn't a slave," that protectiveness erupted from my chest, but my mother just raised her hands to silence me.

"Your mother never said she was," my father picked up where she left off.

"What they're trying to tell you," my grandfather moved away from the fireplace to stand next to the arm of the chair I was seated in, "is that we have experience, for the most part, controlling ourselves around humans living under the same roof. That's why your father doesn't allow humans as slaves or as equals in this coven after the treaty with the hunters."

"Why?" I asked.

My mother nodded, "Temptation. It takes a lot to restrain yourself, especially with your enhanced strength, we're just concerned with Eris' new form. Your father and grandfather know a lot about this, so, they will show you and teach you so hopefully, that bruise is the only thing that will happen to her."

They knew, before I said anything.

"If I can't control myself?" My heart skipped a beat when it was mother who responded.

"She'll have to leave, for her safety and your own."

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To Seduce a Mortal by K. A. Young and Laisha C. Gardner

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