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INDIGO (RISE OF CRIMSON) CHAPTER 28
Late afternoon the next day, Liya crawled out of her bed. She looked over to the other bed in her dorm room and it was occupied. Liya also came home. She must’ve not found herself a date for the night. She wasn’t sure if Anna had made it home or not. She last saw her with Nathan and remembered seeing him later in the evening, but not Anna. However, the way she was hanging off him made her know that they had something going. However, there were a huge amount of people there, she didn’t remember seeing Aya later either. Damon must’ve sent her home in the car like he did with her but she was so tired she didn’t hear her come in.She was still stinging from Anna’s words. It was just so unbecoming of her. Part of her was angry at her, besides being curious to the sudden change in attitude. However, she never went out with her before, except that first night she met Damon. Maybe she was like this around men. She walked to the window that looked out onto the street and park below
INDIGO (RISE OF CRIMSON) CHAPTER 29
That evening Liya finished a term paper in the library then went back to her dorm room to get some studying done. Aya was gone when she returned, most likely out with friends. She sat cross-legged in a chair at her desk and chewed the end of her pencil thinking of Damon and wondering if he was thinking of her. This was no way to get any work done, she scolded herself. She stared out the window at the fading daylight, and suddenly realized she’d spent most of the day daydreaming. However, she was thankful that she at least got one paper done. She hadn’t heard from Damon all day and let the thoughts creep into her head that she’d turned him off her the previous night. If she really thought about it, she cried, fainted and acted very needy. She blushed at the incidents. No wonder she could never get a date, some fun she was. Not only that her two friends were so much prettier and were probably better entertainment than she was. At least they knew how to treat and act around a
INDIGO (RISE OF CRIMSON) CHAPTER 30
Monday morning proved difficult to crawl out of bed at seven to meet her eight o’clock class of chemistry. There was a lump in Aya’s bed under the covers. Obviously she finally came home. Liya actually stopped to ponder why someone would take such an opportunity to get an education for granted. Sighing and shaking her head she turned away not wanting to think anymore on the subject. Aya was her friend.Liya was still very tired but was able to make her first class with a few minutes to spare. She even managed to quickly rifle through the boxes still piled on the floor in front of her closet and found a nice summery soft green blouse, white above the knee skirt adorned with small daisies, and white sandals. She quickly glanced in the mirror to fix her hair and decided to leave it down like Damon preferred.Nathan stood under a tree in the park across from her dorm building as Liya skipped down the stairs. He had dismissed Julian and took up the task of watching Liya. Jul
INDIGO (RISE OF CRIMSON) CHAPTER 31
That night, Nathan entered Damon’ room, his ritual brandy held in his hands. Damon wasn’t awake yet. The deep slumber doesn’t end until the sun fully sets. He set the glass on the bedside table and searched Damon’ closet to prepare his clothes for him. He then switched on the television so Damon could watch the evening news. Damon seemed to always want to know what was going on in the world while he was asleep. Nathan pulled the drapes back from the bed and secured them against the posts. These protected Damon from any sunlight that could escape through the heavy opaque blinds. It was just an extra precaution. Nathan then walked over to the fireplace and lit a fire to heat up the room. Though hot or cold temperatures didn’t bother Damon, he still wanted the image of warmth.When he was done he turned back toward the bed. Damon was up and already dressed, sipping his glass of brandy. He never made a sound.Nathan didn’t hear him, he never did, even with his acute hearing. “Good evening
INDIGO (RISE OF CRIMSON) CHAPTER 32
Ian had meant a lot to her. He could feel her pain, but she didn’t know what love was, he did. That is why he refused to fall into her deliberate trap. She wanted something from him. He probed her thoughts again. A small inkling of curiosity floated through to him, however, nothing about Liya. He himself was feeling badly for Ian’s fate. It was because of him that Amon took his rage out on him. Ian’s only vice was that he was curious and stumbled in on something he shouldn’t have. Damon studied Kaye’s features for a moment and refused to be lured in by her again. He couldn’t risk letting her know about Liya. Although, he could comfort her. He approached her and gathered her into his arms, “I’m sorry for your loss Kaye, but there is nothing I can do about that.”“Why Damon.” She looked up at him through watery eyes.“Because it is out of my hands.” His gaze went to the dark sky outside.Nathan found Emily’s apart
INDIGO (RISE OF CRIMSON) CHAPTER 33
Damon stood outside the club. Anger well up in him, “We shall see about that.” Smug bastard. He’d made his intentions clear to Jeff regarding Liya the moment he’d met him. He knew Jeff could not deny the attraction between him and Liya. Obviously he didn’t intimidate him enough. It was a rare occasion when Damon felt deceived and equally rare when he felt the need to kill.Inside, Aya gave Dirk a false smile. The man was a slobbering idiot. She saw Jeff whisper in Liya’s ear. She laughed and Aya saw red. It took great effort to keep her temper in check and her mouth shut. It wasn’t Liya’s fault, but Jeff was doing this purposely. She knew Dirk was Jeff’s way of keeping her occupied and away from him. Little did he know that she had a few tricks of her own.She stood up, “Jeff, would you like to dance?”Jeff gave her a surprised look.“…I’ll dance with you.” Dirk broke in.“Aya looked at him, “I’m sure you would, b
INDIGO (RISE OF CRIMSON) CHAPTER 34
When Damon and Liya approached the car, she noticed it wasn’t Nathan who held the door open for them. It was someone else. She supposed that Damon had a great many employees. She didn’t say anything as he took her hand and helped her into the car. She was really embarrassed about the episode that took place in Deter’s. Not only was she there with someone else, her friends’ behaviors were abashing. She felt so stupid.Damon slid next to her, “What is it?”She spared him a serious glance, “I’m sorry. ”One of his eyebrows raised, “What for?”She shrugged her shoulders, “Well, for one….I shouldn’t have been there with Jeff…and I lost track of time. You told me you would call me tonight. I didn’t realize it was that late.”“Aya was there too Liya. And your life isn’t on hold for me.” He knew Jeff made the loss of time deliberate.She couldn’t look at him, “You know what I mean.”H
INDIGO (RISE OF CRIMSON) CHAPTER 35
“Why did you let him take her?” Dirk slurred.Jeff sat silent for a moment, staring at the path that Damon and Liya exited. “I didn’t have a choice.”“What the hell does that mean. Half the football team is here, they would have backed you. Besides it was only one man.”Jeff looked at his buddy, “Somehow, I don’t think that would have helped.”Aya came up behind them and heard him, “What do you mean?” She was concerned for him. He looked very sullen. She had never seen him in such a state. He always projected confidence. He didn’t get to being team captain by his popularity alone. He had to prove to his team that he wasn’t afraid of much of anything. To show fear over one man wasn’t in his character. She concluded that it had to do with his fame. “I know he’s a powerful man Jeff, but that doesn’t mean he has the right to intimidate you?”Jeff looked at her, “You don’t understand.” He got up, grabbed his coat and h
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- INDIGO (RISE OF CRIMSON)
CHAPTER 95
Natalie shuddered with fear as the dark demoness stepped forward. “Aren’t you happy to see me?” Latoya asked in mock innocence.Gabriel glanced over his shoulder at Aiden and Latoya, and gently laid Natalie on the floor. He pulled his long black coat off and carefully wrapped her in it before he scooped her up.Natalie tried to ignore her throbbing body as he stood and shifted her in his arms. The pain from everything Ellish had done to her was still fresh, though not as sharp as it should have been. Her shoulder screamed when she was jostled, was the “inner” pain that hurt most. All of her blood vessels shook, and the underside of her skin trembled from the seizure-like state and the burning sensation that had coursed through her. Her mind still reeled from Ellish’ invasion, and she was so weak.Somehow what he’d done to her body paled in comparison to the rest of it. She remembered him laughing at her “primitive fears” and saying that he could do something much more terrible to her.
- INDIGO (RISE OF CRIMSON)
CHAPTER 94
He shook her violently so that her teeth clacked together. “What do you have to say to that? Do you still want to insist on your innocence? Where is that device?” He clawed at her body with his free hand.“I don’t have any ... device!” she cried. Tears Stabbed her swollen eyes and the room swam. She didn’t understand why he was doing this again.“Liar!” He threw her to the floor. Her elbows locked painfully, but she saved her face from slamming into the concrete.She tried to roll away, but he knelt down quickly and grabbed a handful of her hair in his fist. He used it to pull her head back and force her to look at him. “Where is it?”“There isn’t one! I don’t know what you’re talking about!”Cain stood behind them, his arms crossed over his chest and a sneer on his face. “Then how did he find us?”He? Could they mean…? A white hot spark of hope filmed inside her. “He’s here?” she asked, unable to stop he
- INDIGO (RISE OF CRIMSON)
CHAPTER 93
The vampire who’d spoken a moment ago asked, “How doyou know she was ever at his den? Surely Aiden is smart enough to keep her in a less incriminating place?”“Now you’re suggesting Miles lied?”Ellish asked lightly. “Or do you suggest his brother lied to him?Do you think he made up a false location, intending to go andretrieve her himself and return her for his freedom? Are youimplying he intended to let his brother die for his sins?”The vampire looked exasperated. “I don’t know whatI’m implying. I wasn’t here when you interrogated Miles.”“You’d be sorry you missed it,” Cain commented,snickering. “He screamed and begged– ”“Enough.” Ellish motioned him to silence. “Miles Informed me that the plan was Aiden’s from the beginning, as part of our little war. He and Marcus were brought into it, so to speak.”Natalie tensed at the mention of Marcus’s name,but she tried hard not to make her interest obvious. Did this h
- INDIGO (RISE OF CRIMSON)
CHAPTER 92
The room was a large one, like an open basement complete with cement floor. A glowing chandelier hung above her andin front of her sat a large wicker chair. Draped lazily in it was ayoung man who might have been sixteen. He had blonde hair, coldgreen eyes and a face made for boredom, snobbery, and cruelty. Hewas flanked by two large men. A host of others were visible outsidethe ring of light, all moving closer and gazing curiously at thenew prisoner.“Who is she?” the boy in the chair drawled. Hisvoice was bored and peevish.Cain answered from behind Natalie’s prone body,“It’s Marcus’s human, the one Gabriel’s claiming now.” He snickeredand prodded her in the side with the toe of his boot.“Interesting.” The blonde stood from the chair andwalked towards her languidly. “What’s so special about her that twomen would go to such effort?” He walked around her in anever-tightening circle and finally bent down to examine her faceclosely.
- INDIGO (RISE OF CRIMSON)
CHAPTER 91
Natalie sought a nonexistent escape and tried to figure out what she was going to do. Despite LaToya’s concern,she doubted Gabriel would return in time to save her. He’d alwayscome before, just when she had no hope left, but somehow she couldfeel that he wasn’t going to this time. And when he didn’t whatwould happen? Would they really take her to Ellish? Would he kill her? Was this really how her life was going to end, to die in a pool of blood and terror?LaToya stood over her looking thoughtful, then suggested casually, “She has enough blood on her to look like a battle, but you should rough her up a little to make it more convincing.”Cain nodded in the affirmative and grinned. “Don’tworry. I’m sure she’ll be plenty roughed up by the time we getthere.” He turned his head and called over his shoulder, “Won’t sheboys?” Two voices agreed with him from the obstructed depths of themotel room.Natalie’s stomach dropped at the sound of
- INDIGO (RISE OF CRIMSON)
CHAPTER 90
Natalie woke. She blinked in the dimness, her eyesdrawn to the open bathroom door. Light flooded out of it and gaveshape and depth to the small motel room.Gabriel was still next to her on his back, his arms under her head. His dark lashes lay on his pale cheeks and hisraven hair pooled against the crisp white pillowcase. He wascovered from the waist down in the ugly bedspread and the bathroomlight gleamed on the smooth expanse of his chest.She looked away from him to the water stainedceiling. She closed her eyes tightly to blot out the world andasked herself the requisite “what have I done?” morning-afterquestion, only she truthfully felt no regret. It was simply a gameshe played out of habit, a society imposed guilt complex thatfailed to actually make her feel guilty. No, she knew what she’ddone and she wasn’t even slightly sorry, only vaguely excited atthe warm memories.She rolled towards him and tentatively brushed hisnaked f
- INDIGO (RISE OF CRIMSON)
CHAPTER 89
After the strange silence in the warehouse, the car seemed too loud. Gabriel’s anger was palpable; the air seemed to pulse with it. Natalie didn’t know what to say to make it better.She stuttered a question, “Aiden wouldn’t really…” but couldn't bring herself to finish it. Would Aiden really kill her because his wife had been killed? As if it was all Gabriel’s fault.“No,” Gabriel said with force. “He wouldn't dare.”She nodded but found no more words for fear of enraging him more. She wasn’t afraid that he’d hurt her, or even be mean to her. In truth she wasn’t sure what she was afraid of, but she didn’t want to make him any angrier. They pulled into the motel and, after parking the car, walked around behind the building to their windowless room.Once they were inside, Gabriel shut the door and clicked all of the locks into place. He absently ran his fingers through his long,dark hair before he threw himself on
- INDIGO (RISE OF CRIMSON)
CHAPTER 88
The silence was so thick she felt she would choke on it. Her ears strained for every tiny sound: a rat scampering across the floor, the breeze whistling softly through the broken windows,the flap of a sheet of plastic that hung against the wall. Her eyes searched the gloom and she tried not to jump at every shadow.Really, she didn’t understand why Gabriel’s business couldn’t have been in a nice restaurant, or at least somewhere with electricity!She was so busy eyeing a pile of mysterious refuse that she didn’t notice Gabriel stop suddenly and ended up bumping into him. He held his body rigid, so completely still that Natalieswore his heart had even stopped beating.Her search for the gloom revealed nothing, but her clutch on his sleeve grew tighter. She opened her mouth to ask what was going on when he broke the silence with a single word,“Latoya.”The woman seemed to appear from nothing. Her dark skin gleamed in the pale light, a
- INDIGO (RISE OF CRIMSON)
CHAPTER 87
Gabriel joined her. “Here,” he said as he handed her one of the motel keys. “Go on in. I have something to attend to but then I’ll be alone.”She opened her mouth to ask him what pressing errand waited for him elsewhere, but thought better of it. She didn’t see anyone in the gloomy shadows, but how did she know that some creature of the night wasn’t camouflaged in the darkness? Ifvampires were real, then what other monsters from the nightmares of humanity were lurking and listening to them?He walked down the sidewalk and she watched him until he turned sharply, and disappeared around the far side of the building. Her curiosity piqued, she thought about following him,but resisted the urge. The memories of the vampire manor were still too fresh in her mind.The key didn’t want to fit into the scarred lock,but finally it surrendered with a groaning click, and she opened the door and was met by the smell of stale cigarette smoke. Shewished she
