“Blood Bound”

2011 © All Rights Reserved

Chapter 18

     After his failed conversation with Ric, Leo was not in the most formidable of moods.  He had wanted answers and he had yet to get any.  All he could think about was his Brides safety.  There were so many unanswered questions surrounding the shifters attack, the pendant that Shelby wore and the mere fact that he was just now finding out that it made the monster in him scream in frustration.

     He berated himself over and over for missing something as important as a consecration pendant.  He should have sensed it, he thought to himself as he made his way back up the stairs, heading towards his bedroom chambers.  

     He had marked her as his, taking in her very essence from the base of her neck.  The damn pendant was right there and he missed it; all because he was so enthralled with his blonde haired beauty.

     "I was so stupid," he mumbled to himself as he continued to walk down the hollow corridor towards his room.  "I should have known."  But he had been so wrapped up in attending to Shelby's re-birth that the little things he would have normally paid attention to, went to the way side.

     Lifting his hand to the knob on the door, Leo stilled when feminine words drifted on the wind to his ears.   Zoning in, it didn’t take him but a second to realize that Shelby was chanting an escape spell and since she had that damn necklace there would be nothing that he could do about it.

     Anxious, he shoved open the door with brute force, sending it flying across the room, splintering against the wall.  “Wait!” he screamed, holding out his hand to the diminishing figure of his bride. 

     At first he could only stand there, staring at the empty space where Shelby stood only seconds ago.  As the initial shock of what had just happened sank in, the anger and the fear began to grow like twining vines from his toes upward, wrapping around him; gripping him in a nightmare that he wasn’t quite sure how to escape.

     “Damn!” He shouted to the empty walls in the room.  The candles that lined the expansive space flickered with intensity.   He had no idea where his Bride had taken off to and that only added to his list of growing problems.

     Breathing heavily, he could feel his eyes sharpen into tiny slits as the beast in him began to take over.  All that he could process was the need to have his bride, his life partner by his side and she wasn’t here. 

     His eyes swept over the room as he tried to use his bonded connection to hone in on Shelby.  Sweat beaded at his brow as he forced his senses to stretch further and further in his attempts.  When the strain became to much, his knees buckled under the pressure. 

     Leaning over, his hands braced against his legs, he panted for breath.  It wasn’t supposed to be like this.  Shelby was supposed to be with him for all of eternity; not traipsing off, doing God only knew what.  Too many things could happen to a young fledging like her; even with the consecration necklace wrapped around her neck.  Bad things that he didn’t even want to imagine.  Things that could ultimately take her away from him.

     That wasn’t going to happen.  Feeling his fury mount, Leo reached for the first thing that he could get his hands on.  It was an wooden chair; one that his father had carved himself more than a century ago.  Feeling the need to destroy something; he held that chair over his head and in one swift movement, he sent it flying across the room; fracturing into hundreds of pieces. 

     A surprised feminine gasp at his door; caught his attention.

      Whirling around; his mother stood there staring at the destroyed chair.  Feeling eyes burning into her; she snapped her head in Leo’s direction.  “What is going on?” She demanded.   “What did you do?”

     Leo was too far gone to manage a tangible answer.  His eyes were glowing crimson red as desperate anger radiated from him in waves.  His burning stare penetrated his mother like molten lava.

     Un-ruffled by her son’s aggressive state, Isabella Risso, walked into the room just as pretty as she pleased.  She had lived with the most temperamental of vampires, namely his father, and this little temper tantrum that he was pulling was nothing in comparison.

     “Would you like to tell me what is going on?” She was now standing just feet in front of him looking as regal as ever with her hands fisted on her hips. 

     Watching her through a red tinted haze, Leo only grunted.  It was none of his mothers business as to what was going on.  This was between his Bride and him. 

     Isabella glanced around the room; noticing the one thing that was missing.  “This is about that pet of yours isn’t it?”  She posed the question with blatant contempt.  “Are you seriously trying to tell me that meaningless human of yours is what has you in such a state?”

     He could feel his muscles bunch and coil up tighter than a rattle snake at the way his own mother dismissed his Bride.  The very fact that she was his mother was the only thing that held him back from attacking; ripping her head clear off her shoulders.

     Quicker than a blink of an eye; he had her by the collar though and forcefully pushed her up against the stone wall.  “She is my Bride,” he breathed out through his distended fangs.  “My life partner.”  He paused to let that little bit of information sink in.  “This is the last warning that I will give to you mother, either you accept her or you can get the hell out of my life.  Do you understand me?”

     Isabella kept her mouth closed, lips flattened in a grim line.  Hell would freeze over before she ever accepted a measly turned as one of her son’s life partners.  But judging Leo’s current surly mood; she felt it wise not to say anything.  Instead, she nodded her head.  If she couldn’t talk some sense into her stubborn child; then she would find another means to get what she wanted.  Because it was a known fact that Isabella Risso always got what she wanted in the end, and this time would certainly be no different. 

     Leo let go of his mother but held no false aspirations that she would just accept Shelby on his word.  But he had more pressing matters to deal with at the moment than his meddling mother.  Like finding his Bride for instance.  And when he found her; the monster in him was determined to make his imprint on her. 

     He had tried to do this gently; giving her time to adjust to this new life but after this last stunt; all gentleness had left him.  He was ready to fully claim what was his so that she would never be able to leave him again, magical pendant or not.  It was time for their souls to join. 

     Stepping back from his mother, he flicked his hand, covering himself with the cloak of night.  Spreading out his senses for a second time, he was able to lock onto Shelby’s essence.  With a destination in mind, he smiled to himself.  “Got ya,” he whispered and with practiced ease, he flashed himself to confront his Bride.

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     “Shelby, quit being so melodramatic.  Stand up.”

     Shelby looked up at her friend from her position in the floor and rolled her eyes.  “After what I have been through, I think I deserve a little sympathy here.”

     Her friend bent down and grabbed Shelby by the arm, pulling her up.  “Alright- a moment of sympathy given.”  Her emerald green eyes flashed an even brighter shade of fuchsia when she let go of her arm.  Turning her back on her, Anissa strode over to her dresser and thumbed a tattered book.  “Now you need to get over it.” 

        Figuring the easiest way to do this was to be straight forward, she rounded on her friend and looked at her with all the seriousness in the world.

       “You’re a vampire Shelby.  So are Leo and many others that walk this earth.  There is a whole other Night World out there full of species such as Vampires, an array of Shifters, and Witches alike.  Learn to deal with it.”

     Shelby’s face was a mask of shock and disbelief.  Her mundane life had been suddenly turned upside down.  Everything that she had ever believed seemed frivolous now in the grand scheme of things and her best friend, who she had just learned less than an hour ago, was a witch has told her to deal with it.       

     “Get over it?  Deal with it?” Her tone was filled with incredulousness.  “I have to drink blood in order to survive and you want me to just deal with it?  How in the hell am I supposed to deal with something like that Anissa?  I can’t kill people like him.  I’m not that kind of monster.”   Her eyes now glowed with that trade mark red color while her emotions began to whirl around her.  She could feel the prick of her fangs prick through her gums as her friend suddenly became about ten pixels clearer.

     Anissa laughed.  She had the gall to throw her head back and laugh out loud which only infuriated Shelby.

     “What is so funny?!” She screamed; her fangs now fully distended. She wasn't finding anything at all about her situation remotely amusing.

     Covering her mouth, Anissa struggled to control herself.  “You have it all wrong my friend.  What in the devil made you think that you had to kill people?”

     Shelby stilled and then blinked, unsure if she heard her correctly.  Was there a way around this?  “I don’t have to drink blood?”

     She shook her head, “No, you will definitely require blood to survive but you don’t have to kill in order to get it.  You can go to blood banks or one of the blood bars.” She turned towards the window, gathering a far away look on her face.  “But I don’t think your Leo would go for that.  Vampires are territorial by nature and I can’t see him allowing you a Consort.  Hell, the easiest way for you to drink would probably be to take from Leo.  I imagine that’s probably the most enjoyable way too.”  She shot her friend a conspiratorial look.  “If you get what I mean.  At least, if the rumors are in fact true then you my friend,” she said pointing at her chest, “Have managed to land quite a skillful lover.”

      “Whoa there,” Shelby interrupted, holding her hand in the air.  “I don’t think you get it.  I don’t want to be a vampire.  I don’t want to drink blood and I don’t care how skillful Leo is; he is not my lover.” 

     Liar, her subconscious told her.  She had dreamed about how skillful he was and if her dreams were anything like the real thing, then those rumors were absolutely true.  It was a shame that she would never know for real though and she refused to admit any of that to her Witchy friend.  All Shelby wanted was to be normal again.

     Anissa’s brows lifted.  “Listen Shelby.  It’s time we had a coming to Jesus meeting because I can’t hold Leo off much longer and when he comes for you; you need to be ready.”

     “What?” Her mouth gaping open with surprise.

      “Listen,” Anissa stated once again.  Our world is on a collision course for disaster.  The higher ups in politics want us to reveal ourselves to humans; enslaving them in the process.  There are a large number of us that don’t want to see that happen.  We want to protect humanity.  And, then there is the prophecy,”

     “Prophecy?” Shelby sat down on the corner of the bed.  She had a feeling that whatever Anissa said next was going to have a detrimental impact on her life.

     “Yeah, prophecy.  It was written in the stars over two hundred years ago and has been a closely guarded secret within our coven.  A secret that none of my sisters have spoken of, until now.”  Anissa walked over to the side of the bed and sat down beside of Shelby.  She took her hand in hers and willed her to look at her.

     “You, Shelby are part of that prophecy, Leo and you both.  It speaks of a young child, a girl that should have passed after a tragic incident but was miraculously saved by a dark angel.  He bled his life into her; into you Shelby.  You were that girl and Leo was the angel.  It also speaks of a union of discord.  Your union Shelby; which is considered highly irregular in the Night world because of Leo’s rank and status will bring forth the Savior that our world will need in order to survive the upcoming war and preserve what is left of humanity.”

     “I think I’m going to be sick,” Shelby spoke, wrapping her arms around her stomach.  “Prophecy, war, unions-“ she stopped to take a breath.  “Do you even believe any of what you are telling me?”

     Anissa squeezed her hand.  “I do more than believe honey; I know.  I have the gift of foresight which is why I gave you the pendant for protection.  It will help you in almost any situation except when it comes to your life partner who will be here in about another sixty seconds.”

     Shelby’s’ face went stark white.  “Sixty seconds?!  Leo will be here?”

     “Yeah, and I know that all of this is confusing right now but believe in Leo, let him guide your way.  He really does care about you in a way that very few ever get to experience.  If you need me, hold the pendant in the palm of your hand and call out my name three times.  I’ll be there, I promise.” 

     Shelby started to shake her head back and forth.  “No,” she cried desperately.  “Don’t leave me alone.  Please.”

     Anissa sighed.  “My last piece of advice Shell, go with your instincts.  Let your beast go.  If you keep it bottled up then soon enough, it will completely control you.  When Leo show’s up, let your impulses guide you and I swear, you won’t be sorry.”

     A shimmer electrified the air; letting Shelby know that Leo had found her.  She didn’t know how she knew; she could just feel his presence.  Seconds later; he stood in front of her, in all his vampiric glory. 

      Tall, handsome, sexy, brooding and pissed.  He was one, extremely pissed off vampire.

     “Shelby.”  He said her name barely above a whisper but the intent in the way that he said it was more than obvious.  He held out his hand  and beckoned her with his finger tips.  “Playtime is over.”

**A/N**  Alright guys, you asked for steam…..the temperature gets turned up a notch in the next chapter.

I hope I’m not confusing you too much either, if you have any questions, feel free to ask.  I’m trying to weave several things in the plot and I can only hope that it reads smoothly.  Hope you enjoy :D

Tara