7 | A Mother's Love

Seaside, California February 10, 2005

Laura

THE killings have been reoccurring for weeks, Markus would find a mauled werewolf of his pack out in the woods, most often the younger ones. Their throats always tore out, or their hearts. It wasn't long till Markus and his wife Aria reached out to our coven for help. Samuel and I had decided to take the mission. Being enforcers for our coven meant that we were tasked with keeping the supernatural a secret, and these killings had been getting unwanted press attention. It wasn't werewolves being murdered, but several humans had also gone missing.

Normally the females of our coven would never be enforcers. The task was daunting and dangerous. But as the future elder of our coven, like my mother before me, I decided to become one.

Samuel and Markus had known each other for years. Aria and I however had been friends long before she married Markus. We met while we were in college in New York. I was a bridesmaid at her wedding, where I had met Samuel; the rest was history.

His mother ironically was a member of our coven already, she had gone to Spain and met Samuel's father. They had Samuel there. When he was 14 they moved back to the States.

We had Lily when we were so young, I was almost 20 and Samuel was almost done with college. But somehow, we got through all the hardships.

Samuel had always carried a deep hatred towards vampires. When he was young, he and his father had an altercation with one. It almost cost them both their lives. His father ended up paralyzed because of it.

When we arrived at the Pierce's, Samuel of course had to start being a smart-ass toward the vampire Markus had brought to help.

But this one was different, had been for a long time now. Just by looking at him, his emotions, his life, played out like a tune, it was an ability I had inherited from my mother, but I couldn't see their lives, just feel their emotions from them.

"These attacks are happening right before dawn, perhaps we could set up a trap since they like leaving bodies in these woods every night now," Samuel drawled out, Anthony and William, Markus's most trusted pack members, glanced at Markus for a response.

"Scott, what do you think? Markus asked.

"The witch has a valid point. We go out tonight, and draw them out," Scott agreed. "You know the rest."

"Yes, I believe I have a few sharp stakes and a katana in the trunk of my car that will ensure a swift killing," Samuel said slyly.

"They are also good for beheading," Scott chuckled darkly.

If Scott wasn't a vampire, I'm sure he and my husband would be great friends.

"Alright then. You four go and scout the perimeter of the property, I need to discuss some things with Samuel," Markus stated as he strode over towards the table that dominated the left wall of the shed, there were papers sprawled across it. Some were photos of the recent murders; others were of the missing human locals. Anthony and William were already gone. How wonderful, a witch and a vampire working together, how rare.

"Shall we?" Scott asked, he had a stake in his hand, offering it to me. I took it.

"We can discuss it later, I'll go with Laura," Samuel interjected. Markus and Scott shot a glance at one another.

"It's fine Sam," I muttered.

"But—"

"It'll be fine," I repeated, then turned to leave with Scott.

We made our way towards the end of the property; we stopped by the edge of the woods alongside the road. I looked around quickly, sensing nothing out of the ordinary. Scott vanished out of sight for a few seconds, then reappeared.

"No one's out here, except William and Anthony running the perimeter," said Scott.

"So, what brought you here to help Markus?" I asked.

We began walking along the edge of the woods, I had given him back the stake, he could use it quicker than I could. The road was still wet from the storm.

"I've been living here for a while actually, and the fact that these murders are attracting unwanted attention, I offered my help to stop it. I think I know who is behind it."

"Who?" I asked, at last now I understood why he was helping.

"My sire, Seana," he replied, "She always talked about wanting to rid the world of the existence of werewolves, ever since they killed her adoptive parents. The Mirren pack specifically," he muttered. "Which Aria is a descendant of, she is here to kill her."

"What?" I gasped, "How do you know?"

"Back in 1994 I was in New York, Seana was trying to locate a woman named Aria Mirren. The other night I found a dead werewolf in the woods, Aria and Markus were also there. I offered my help to catch her."

Though I felt this emotion flood through him, it vanished in the same instant.

"You used to love her?" I said, he eyed me with widening eyes. "I can sense emotions."

"I see. But no, there was no love. Perhaps a slight admiration, but I was just like her. Ruthless and devoid of any humanity," Scott admitted.

"What made you change?" I asked, guilt seemed at the forefront of his mind, then something like a wave of sadness.

"Someone very close to me, but she died a long time ago," he responded somberly.

"I'm sorry for your loss, what was her name?" I murmured. He turned to me and gave me a sad smile.

"Adelaide," he replied. "She was a part of your coven."

That stopped me dead in my tracks. I haven't heard her name in years.

"Have we met before?" I gawked, trying to figure out why he seemed so familiar now.

"You helped renovate the house Adelaide and I lived in, but you and I only met briefly," Scott mused.

"Holy shit," I laughed but my tone immediately went somber. "She was a wonderful person."

"Yes she was," Scott lamented.

"Not to pry, but no one knew why she died," I wondered. "Do you know what happened to her?"

"I don't," Scott mumbled quietly. "She just vanished and never came back."

I felt myself gulp comfortably just as Scott did.

This conversation turned depressing.

As if anything could get any worse, howls erupted in the distance.

Repeatedly.

"Shit," I heard Scott hiss just as a random figure collided with him and sent them both sprawling onto the ground.

Scott threw the man off him, and before he even moved, I cast a pain infliction spell to his brain, causing him to cry out in agony.

Taking the opportunity, Scott took the stake in his hand and shoved it into the man's chest, killing him. I looked up at Scott, his expression was bleak. Remorse flooded through him; he did not enjoy killing that man.

Then I looked down at the man's body, his skin had turned grey. But as I looked at his face, something registered in my brain. He was one of the missing humans.

"She's turning them," Scott spat. "They are merely distractions to throw people off her tail. We need to get back to Aria. That's where she'll be going."

A deep sharp pain shot through my head, causing me to gasp. Something bad was happening, I looked in the direction of the house. Then pain shot through my abdomen.

Scott was at my side as I was bent down in pain, "Are you alright?" he asked, bewildered.

"No, something happened," I gasped.

Then, he seemed to know exactly what to do, because suddenly, it felt like a storm picked me up, the wind whistled by me for a few split seconds, and then we were in front of the shed. I saw Samuel slumped against the wall unconscious.

"Damn," I hissed. I turned to Scott, "Find Aria and the kids please!"

"Take this," he said giving me the stake, then vanished from sight.

I ran over to Samuel and put my fingers against his carotid artery, searching for a pulse.

"Sam!" I cried; he was completely knocked out cold. The shed was in a state of disarray, the vampires must have known we would meet tonight. I looked out towards the house, I hope he found Lily and Zachary. I knew werewolves could hold their own against vampires, but they were still mortal like us. I set the stake on the ground beside me.

Samuel began to stir, then woke up with a grunt, his hand rubbing his head, which now had a huge knot on it.

"They ambushed us," he hissed under his breath. "I bet that bloodsucker set us all up."

"It wasn't him Sam," I said, he glanced at me, his light blue eyes softening.

"I know you always see the good in people, but this is different, people are being murdered. By vampires, and now one suddenly wants to help," he groaned.

"You keep letting your hatred cloud your judgment, it could be the death of you," I remarked.

He glowered at me.

"Where's Lily?" he said, his expression becoming alert.

"I'm going to go find her. You're staying here, you can't even stand right now," I replied. "I'm surprised you're even conscious right now."

"Willpower my dear," he replied as he slumped back against the wall.

I got up off the ground and walked out, I saw a man on the ground, his head torn from his body, it was a vampire, then another, his throat was torn out, his chest completely in shreds.

Then someone grabbed my shoulder, causing me to jump, then whoever it was, went air-born with a wave of my hand. I realized it was Markus.

"Where are the kids!" I shrieked; Markus looked at me like he was completely lost. "Markus?"

"Aria is gone," he choked. "I found her lying against the house."

"What?" I cried, how was that even possible? Then that meant Scott hadn't made it in time. I stood there, completely dumbfounded. "Markus," I almost screamed, "We need to find the kids, now!"

He stood there in a daze, almost as if he didn't hear me. I heard faint screams in the distance just as pain erupted in my shoulder. I gripped it; it was not my pain.

Markus snapped out of his daze, "Come with me," was all he said, then he was running. I darted right after him. We ran for what seemed like miles, till right in front of me, only yards away in the clearing at the edge of the woods, I saw Scott bent over my daughter.

"Lily!" I screamed, running to her as fast as I could, Scott's head snapped up to look at me, his face pain-stricken.

I fell to the ground beside them and pulled Lily into my arms. The blood on her arms and shoulder soaked into my blouse, but I didn't care, my child was safe and that was all that mattered.

"I am so sorry!" I heard Zachary cry from behind Scott.

Markus stood over his son, who was shaking with grief.

He did this to my daughter? But how? Werewolves didn't begin turning till their teens unless something like grief triggered it.

Lily continued to cry silently, she was shaking, I held onto her tighter, she was only ten years old, even Zachary and they had to go through this, being traumatized by this horror.

"What happened?" I cried.

Lily was covered in so much blood, but looking at her she had no visible injuries.

"I healed her, she just needs rest," Scott lamented. "I was too late, by the time I reached them Seana had already—" he stopped.

Markus knelt beside his son and rested his hand on his son's shoulder. But Zachary brushed his father's hand away and crawled over towards Lily and me.

"I'm so sorry," Zachary repeated, his tone wracked with guilt. He was still shaking, his eyes flashing blue for a fleeting second.

Lily loosened her way from my embrace, turning towards him, "Don't be. You just thought I was her, that woman. That scary evil woman," she said, her eyes becoming completely blank.

"We have had enough for one night, I need to give my wife a proper burial, and then I will fucking kill that bitch," Markus reproached. He turned to Scott, "You will help me."

Scott gave him a nod in response.

Markus grabbed ahold of his son and pulled him away from us slowly. Zachary glanced at us sadly, then turned away in shame.

I could speak no words to that poor boy, I didn't know what I could say. But I know that I did not want my daughter to remember this. I wish I could make Zachary forget all of this. No child should ever be witness to the unspeakable things that happened tonight.

"Scott?" I asked, never leaving my gaze on Lily. "I want you to erase her memories of tonight. Please."

Lily glanced up at me, her light green eyes bloodshot from crying.

"Are you sure?" he asked.

"Yes," I said softly.

An hour later we were home. I stood in the doorway of Lily's room, watching her sound asleep, not a trace of this night evident on her. After her memory was altered, Scott had compelled her to sleep till morning. Samuel appeared next to me, the knot on his head was still beat red.

Didn't I tell him to put ice on that?

"She'll remember Laura," he whispered, glancing at our daughter. Once her magic awakens on her eighteenth birthday, any compulsion will be erased, as the magic cleanses everything.

"Not for a long time, and till then, she will have a normal childhood. She deserves that," I replied. "It is our fault that she got injured tonight, she should not have been there."

"I think it would be for the best if we no longer be enforcers for the coven," I murmured. "Tonight, completely changed everything."

"Laura, don't forget that you are the future leader of our coven," Samuel said softly and grabbed my hand, squeezing it slightly.

I turned to him, "I know, but for now, we need to protect our daughter from all of this."

Samuel nodded, then walked out into the hallway. I followed, then closed Lily's bedroom door with a click.