Chapter 11

DEMETRIUS

“Eleanor.” Rose sprinted and leapt out of the window elegantly. I followed right behind her.

At the same time that Rose ripped Eleanor out of the tree, Angus, Aleesha, and Eloise appeared in front of us, coming to a smooth stop.

They all looked the same. After five years, only Eloise’s curls had been cut shorter, winding around her pale neck. They’d been to India, Aleesha’s country of origin.

She wore a light blue sari, small black high heels, and a ton of silver jewelry.

Angus was dressed in a typical blue suit, and Eloise had opted for a pair of white jeans and a skin-tight dark blue blouse.

There was a short moment where no one spoke, and they stared at Rose and me for a split second, then their eyes darted to the five-year-old cuddled in Rose’s arms.

Aleesha’s lips peeled back over her fangs slowly, and a fierce hiss escaped from her mouth. Eloise’s eyes flashed red as she grinned widely at Eleanor, showing off her sharp fangs.

“It’s still alive,” Angus stated in a calm, empty voice. He wasn’t asking a question. His red eyes turned to me slowly.

“And it’s bigger.” Eloise licked her lips and blew a kiss to Eleanor. Rose hissed viciously, hugging Eleanor closer to her chest.

The little girl’s eyes were wide with curiosity. She had no idea who these people were, what they wanted to do with her. She wasn’t afraid, far from it.

“If that’s all you’ve got to say, you can go,” Rose growled, her eyes flashing bright blood red. I put my hand on her shoulder to steady her. She glanced up at me and pressed her lips together firmly.

Aleesha hissed. “This is our home as much as it is yours,” she spat viciously. Her jewelry jingled as her head moved.

“Peace.” Angus stood in front of his family, facing me. “Brother, we have not come home to make war, though we did expect the child to have died by now.”

He glanced at Eleanor, then at Rose. Her fierce expression scared his eyes back to me.

“Of course, we are not keeping you out,” I answered politely, stepping to the side slightly. Angus smiled and nodded.

Slowly he, Aleesha, and Eloise filed past us. Rose and I backed them up as we entered the cathedral.

Eloise moved toward the table, hoisting herself up and lying back, gazing at us. Aleesha drifted to her husband’s side, her expression guarded but her eyes burning blood red.

Rose moved toward the window and leaned against the stone walls. Eleanor squirmed in her arms slightly, so she set her on the ground.

I stood in the middle of the room facing Angus and Aleesha, watching Eleanor fidget by Rose’s side, utterly confused. Although we traveled often, we rarely received guests.

“Eleanor, this is Angus and Aleesha, your uncle and aunt, and this is Eloise, your cousin,” Rose told her daughter, pointing them out.

Eloise flashed Eleanor a wide white grin. Eleanor grinned back, and this seemed to startle Aleesha, who hissed.

Eloise cocked her head to one side, her grin fading into a friendly smile. She looked far from dangerous.

“Hello.” Eleanor’s small but clear voice carried through the cathedral. Aleesha winced at the sound.

“It speaks,” she turned and whispered something unintelligible to her husband. Rose’s eyes flashed to her face, and she hissed. Aleesha met her eyes and snarled back. Eleanor looked even more confused.

“Where’s Jude?” I asked, trying to break through the cold glares shooting across the room.

“He’s still studying in India,” Eloise replied smoothly. “Some sort of technology he’s into these days.”

I nodded at her once.

“He’ll be home once he gets his doctorate,” Angus continued. “Again.”

I smiled slightly.

“So, where are the cousins?” Eloise glanced around with a fake pout.

“Aric’s hunting. The twins are at a party!” Eleanor supplied. Happily, everyone turned to stare at her. Aleesha looked like she was ready to burst. I could practically hear her heart beating.

“Huh.” Eloise looked content as she leaned back, smiling at Eleanor. “That sounds like them.”

“Hunting what?” Aleesha asked, leaning toward Eleanor, her eyes sparkling. Eleanor stared back at her and smiled timidly.

She shrugged one shoulder. “I dunno, moose? He goes hunting a ~lot~!” She rolled her eyes, shaking her head slightly. Aleesha scowled, leaning away, angry.

“She’s like a mini Rose,” Angus mused.

“Have you seen the newspapers?” I asked Angus, tossing him the newspaper on the table.

He shook his head and flicked it open. I waited until he and Aleesha had finished reading.

“What’s up?” Eloise asked cheerfully from her perch. Aleesha tossed her the paper keeping her eyes on Rose. Rose glared back at her.

“You’ve slipped,” Angus concluded.

“Being around Eleanor makes us thirstier. We have to feed more often,” I explained, shooting a glance at the human child. She stared back at me, puzzled.

“We’re going on a sort of diet,” Rose continued and jutted her chin toward the empty bag of blood on the table.

Eloise picked it up, making a face. “I’m not drinking this bagged stuff.” She wrinkled her nose.

“Then you’re drinking animal blood. No more humans for a few years,” I replied.

Eloise met my eyes with her cold gaze and scowled. “This is crap,” she muttered darkly.

“Staying here will make you thirstier than usual,” I told Angus and Aleesha, turning back toward them. Angus pursed his lips together and nodded once.

Aleesha smiled wickedly. “There is another solution to your thirst.”

“Don’t even start,” Rose snarled, her fingers curling around Eleanor’s shoulder. Eleanor glanced up at her, then toward me, utterly bewildered.

“Rose, maybe Eleanor should work on her writing,” I breathed softly. Rose blinked at me, then nodded. She crouched down in front of Eleanor and smiled sweetly.

“Honey, why don’t you go to your room and draw?” She brushed her shoulders softly.

“But I want to stay here!” Eleanor replied, her eyes wide.

Rose nodded slowly. “I know, but this is going to get boring. We’re going to talk about adult things.”

Eleanor swayed slightly, glancing up at Eloise.

Eloise smiled sweetly. “I think you should listen to your mother,” she said in a gentle voice. “If you want to live,” she added in a whisper that Eleanor couldn’t hear.

Rose glared at Eloise as she stood up. Eleanor nodded at Eloise and grinned.

“Okay. Bye.” She started away, unzipping her jacket and pushing it off her shoulders. Rose turned back toward me, leaning against the wall and glaring at Eloise.

I barely even noticed. I saw a slight movement out of the corner of my eye, then Aleesha was darting across the room toward Eleanor. Her eyes were bright red, her fangs bared.

In a split second, she was closer to Eleanor than Rose, and there was no time for anyone to shout. Rose moved across the floor just behind Aleesha but too far behind to save Eleanor.

I stared at the fierce expression in her blazing eyes. I heard her heartbeat once.

Without thinking, I lashed out, striking Aleesha’s cheek and catching her off guard.

It didn’t stop her, but she slowed just enough to allow me to shoot past her and gather Eleanor up in my arms.

I leapt back from them, crouching on the table, pressing Eleanor against my chest and baring my fangs.

Aleesha came to an abrupt stop in front of the table, her hand against her cheek, her eyes blazing red.

Rose stopped behind her. Her eyes were clear blue, sparkling with red tears, her arms wrapped around her chest tighter. She was smiling so sweetly. I was caught up in her gaze.

I was startled when Aleesha spoke.

“Traitor!” she spat.

I glanced at her scowling. I was suddenly conscious that Eleanor was in my arms. I realized that I hadn’t held her since she was a baby.

Her body felt extremely warm. Her pounding heart seemed to thunder in my brain. Though her blood smelled so sweet, it wasn’t uncomfortable having a human child in my arms.

She stared up at me with wide green-blue eyes. Her face was unreadable, but I could tell she wasn’t scared.

“Now Aleesha, Demetrius didn’t betray anyone,” Angus assured in a calm voice.

My head flicked up to meet his gaze. He and Eloise were staring back at me. Neither had moved an inch. I turned back to Aleesha, who was glaring at me openly.

“You have it in your arms. Now is the time to kill it! Do it, Demetrius!” she hissed at me.

Behind her, Rose snorted in contempt. She moved between us, keeping her gaze on Aleesha.

“Please, Demetrius would never do that. Not to Eleanor, not to me,” she said calmly. She didn’t even have to look at me. She knew she was telling the truth.

Aleesha stared up at me fiercely, then moved her gaze down to Eleanor.

“Mark my words, child. I ~will~ kill you,” she hissed.

Eleanor’s eyes widened; her heartbeat quickened. Rose’s hand lashed out, hitting Aleesha’s cheek. She stumbled back, hissing.

“Aleesha.” Angus moved forward, putting his hand on my wife’s shoulder. “Excuse us,” he said, leading her toward the staircase.

Eloise slipped off the table and skipped past us. She winked at Eleanor just before disappearing.

“Mother,” Eleanor whimpered. I hadn’t realized she was crying. I quickly set her in Rose’s outstretched hands.

I had liked holding her in my arms, her warmth was comforting. I almost regretted handing her back.

Rose hugged her to her chest, whispering soothing words.

“I’m so sorry, honey. So, so sorry. You just must ignore her. I won’t let anything bad happen to you, Eleanor, never.”

“Promise?” Eleanor whispered against Rose’s cold skin.

“I promise,” Rose swore, moving her head up, her eyes met mine. A single tear of blood trickled down her cheek, and she smiled at me.

“Thank you,” she mouthed as she blinked at me. I nodded once and smiled back.

Eleanor sniffed and leaned away from Rose. She stared at her face, confused.

Rose quickly wiped her eyes, smearing her cheek with red blood. She wiped away Eleanor’s tears and kissed her damp, salty cheeks.

“Everything’s okay now. I’m never letting you go,” she told her, kissing her forehead. Eleanor nodded, slowly turning her small head toward me.

She stared at me, and I stared back. Then she smiled. It was a small, timid smile, but it was still somehow warming. I smiled back. I couldn’t help it.

Rose sat down in front of the fire, holding Eleanor on her lap and handing her the drawing pad. Eleanor immediately got to drawing, her tongue sticking out as she concentrated.

Rose hugged her tightly as I leaned against the table, watching them.

I listened to Angus and Aleesha downstairs, hissing and arguing. Eloise was already busy on her computer.

I cocked my head toward the window. I heard footsteps, then the window burst open, and Aric slipped into the room. His expression was guarded as he surveyed the room.

“There’s a door, you know. A very big one,” Rose told him dryly.

Aric chuckled slightly. “They’re home.”

“Downstairs,” I replied. He nodded once and glanced at Eleanor. She grinned back at him.

He smiled sweetly. “The caribou herd just entered our valley.” He cocked his head to one side, looking amused. “What happened here?”

I sighed. “Aleesha made a move for Eleanor.”

Aric arched his brows. “Where’s Jude?”

“Still in India, cousin!” Eloise appeared at the top of the staircase, grinning. Aric met her gaze and smiled.

“Eloise, you haven’t changed a bit,” he joked. She laughed freely, wrapping her arms around him and hugging him tightly.

“You’re just as funny.” She drew back, casting a glance at Eleanor, who was watching them intently.

“It’s only been five years, Eloise,” Aric reminded her, arching one brow. She grinned back at him.

“It’s felt like a century,” she insisted, batting her eyelids.

Aric looked doubtful. “Feels like days to me,” he admitted. Eloise smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes.

She’d been obsessed with Aric for years. Though they were cousins in the vampire world, it didn’t make any difference. Our genetics were nothing like humans.

It was easy to see she was annoyed with his answer. Aric never seemed to notice.

She tossed her hair and smiled brilliantly. “I cut my hair,” she told him. Aric squinted at her and smiled politely.

“I was thinking it looked curlier,” he murmured.

She grinned and took a step closer to him. Aric stared at her for a few seconds, looking slightly confused. In the end, he turned to face Eleanor.

She beamed at him, and he broke into a wide grin back at her.

“What are you working on now?” he asked her, slipping away from Eloise and peering over Rose’s shoulder to see Eleanor’s drawing.

“It’s scary, auntie!” Eleanor announced. Eloise let out an amused snort, crossing her arms over her chest. Aric arched his brows when he saw the drawing.

“Aleesha?” he glanced at Rose. She nodded once. “Don’t you think you’ve overdone the red?” he asked Eleanor. She frowned and shook her head vigorously.

“No, she had scary red eyes. I saw them,” she insisted, picking up her red crayon and scribbling over her paper. Aric leaned back, shrugging with a small smile.

“She’s a bit stubborn, isn’t she?” he joked, just low enough for her not to hear.

I smiled and approached, curious about the drawing. It wasn’t beautiful art, but the figure was recognizable.

A too-big head with a large mass of dark flowing hair, a weird blue outfit, stick arms and legs, a gigantic mouth full of sharp teeth, and two enormous bright red eyes.

“Hmm…interesting.” I drew back slowly. Rose glanced up at me. She met my gaze and smiled slightly.

“Eleanor draws what she sees,” she murmured, leaning her cheek against Eleanor’s head.

Eleanor squawked and shoved Rose’s face away, complaining that she was getting in the way of her drawing. Rose looked a bit taken aback, then settled down.

The twins got home soon after, and there was a happy reunion with Eloise. Angus and Aleesha came back up to greet Aric and the twins.

Neither Aric nor the twins showed any hostility, and they were happy to see each other. Rose left the room with Eleanor, carrying her box of human food under one arm.

I stayed in the cathedral, catching up with Angus and announcing the diet news to the twins. Both shrieked and complained before finally agreeing to feed only on animals for some time.

When the first rays of sunshine appeared, we quickly shut the curtains and went downstairs. Rose passed us on the staircase with Eleanor.

There was a weird moment when Eleanor’s eyes met Aleesha’s. I thought for a moment that Aleesha would pounce again. She didn’t, and Rose took her outside into the sunlight.

While I settled in for bed, I listened as Eloise chatted with the twins in their room, all catching up on things. Aric read in his room.

Angus and Aleesha weren’t speaking. I couldn’t hear anything but their calm breathing.

I heard them all fall asleep slowly. I stayed up waiting with my book. Eventually, Rose came back down carrying a sleeping Eleanor.

I heard her kiss her good day and tuck her into bed. Then she was in our room, getting changed and slipping into bed next to me. I put my arms around her, tightly breathing in her pure spicy scent.

“I’m worried, Demetrius,” she whispered.

“I understand. Aleesha is a big threat, and on top of that, she’s an angry threat.”

“What can we do about it?”

“I don’t know. Though I think she understands we won’t let her get away with it.”

Rose scowled. “Get away with it! We won’t let her put her hands on her! Ever!”

“I know. You’ll protect her. I believe that. I believe she’s safe here.”

“Yes. She’s safe with us.” Rose nuzzled her face into my bare chest, sighing. I kissed the top of her head softly.

“You’re an amazing mother, Rose, to all of ~our~ children.”

She peered up at me and smiled. “Oh, Demetrius, thank you,” she crawled up my chest and pressed her lips against mine, wrapping her legs tightly around my waist.

I kissed her back, crushing her against my chest.