Page 101 of Fratelli: Eternal Bloodlines

“Think about it,” Shakespeare continued. “Who has the power and cunning to do this, yet isn’t affected by any of it? Remember, Vittorio did not create Phoenix. We’ve never really understood his history.”

“Phoenix lives by a code,” Tristan countered, his tone filled with conviction. “I believe Vittorio created him. That is what we are taught.”

Shakespeare rolled his eyes. “That’s because you suck his dick with worship?—”

“He’s more disciplined than any supernatural, living or dead. What does he gain by Vittorio’s death or by the death of us all? He would never do this. He could never do it,” Tristan reasoned.

“Phoenix was created by the head of the Senate and gifted to Vittorio. He’s a magistrate. This goes to hell. The brothers all die—we and everyone created by them die. Except Phoenix. He is the one the Supreme Draca would be left to choose. To take on asa host. That is what I think,” Shakespeare said through clenched teeth.

Sonya’s gaze hardened as she pushed her calmness on them both and cut through their debate. “It doesn’t matter who’s behind this. We can’t solve that now. We need to figure out how to get past it. Look at the horizon—the morning sun will come for you. Add the energy of this barrier draining us, and you could die out here.”

The two vampires exchanged a grim look before Tristan was the first to ascend. His powerful form cut through the night as he soared up into the sky. Sonya watched him climb to impossible heights, but she felt Shakespeare’s gaze. It burned her skin, and her soul with needful desires. When she lowered her eyes to meet his, she saw the intensity there, the determination, and something else—something that made her heart melt.

If she didn’t act, he would touch her, and she knew she’d lose herself to him as he had to her. His persistence was maddening, but she couldn’t deny the bond between them.

I need you to help me;she pleaded in her silent manner.If you want me, then help me save the sisters. After that, I belong to this world. I won’t fight you. I won’t resist what you’re feeling. I’m yours. I swear it.

Shakespeare’s lips curved into a smile, as if she had just spoken sacred vows. Without a word, he ascended and joined Tristan in the sky. They soared higher and higher, their forms becoming mere silhouettes against the night, until they reached the zenith—and froze. The force field extended even beyond their reach, shimmering with a dark, impenetrable power.

The realization hit the vampires all at once—their combined strength might not be enough. The morning sun was coming.

A single tearslipped down Nzinga’s cheek, a tribute to the internal battle that raged within her. Charmaine’s probe dug deeper, and there it was—the warrior’s vulnerability—Greenlee. It was like the bond shared between mother and child. It was a love that softened Nzinga’s heart, that made her hesitate in this moment of crisis to defend herself alone.

Nzinga’s resolve finally shattered under the weight of Charmaine’s power. The last of her mental defenses crumbled, and she crumbled. The truth spilled out in a flood of images and thoughts. Charmaine saw it clearly now—a gem from her mother guardian’s crown, hidden deep within the camp. Aries, their sister had stolen it a long time ago. Liora and Kaida confronted her but Aries denied the theft. They never understood why their sister would lie or steal. It made no sense. How the hell the First People got their hands on it was a great mystery. Its magic is rooted in the lore of the Chosen but infused with ancient Egyptian sorcery. She learned more from Nzina. The gem was encased in a golden bug and its power repurposed. TheScarab of Sekhmet—a relic said to channel the destructive darkness used as a defense by the goddess herself—was the source of the barrier to all other supernatural energy. And it had awakened. It now fed off of the supernatural’s near it. With the twins and Charmaine in the camp and the vamps and her sister outside the camp, the scarab gained power—their power.

The scarab was not just a defensive measure worn by great pharaohs and queens of Africa to protect their people; it was a weapon, one that might annihilate her, Sonya and Darlene and Dolly. It must have had a chip of it removed to be put in the talisman the professor used to repel Darlene on the back of thetruck. These idiots did not know the nuclear catastrophe they could incite with it.

With a final, crushing mental push, Charmaine forced Nzinga to reveal the location of the artifact. The warrior’s eyes rolled back as the information flowed freely—an underground chamber beneath the central tent. The scarab rested on an obsidian pedestal. It glowed with the power it was gaining from the twins’ presence in the camp and called for the sun to rise.

“Thank you,” Charmaine whispered in relief. Tristano, the Vampire Priest would have perished if he were in the same room with the thing but trapped outside of it he was certain to die.

The warrior Nzinga collapsed against the tent, her breath escaped in ragged gasps, tears streaming freely now. It dawned on Charmaine that getting the information about this was far too easy.Why wasn’t the scarab guarded?Why did the First People ignore her and Nzinga slipping away from the group?All were questions when she stepped forward and was seized by a trap.

“This is insane,”Shakespeare said. He now hovered at Tristan’s left side. They looked on as a plane went through the membrane of the force field, undeterred.

“It passed through,” Tristan said. “So, this is just for us. They knew we were coming.”

Shakespeare barely listened. Mating with Sonya had him drunk and in love. Tristan knew the symptoms. It reminded him of why Lucio kept seeking to fuck and drink from both Dolly and Darlene, no matter the peril. It was certainly their curse, but it felt greater than love.

“Focus,” Tristan said.

Shakespeare's gaze lifted.

“If the plane went through it, then the car should be able to. Think about it,” Tristan said.

“How does that help us? We’ll just incinerate when we try to pass through,” mumbled Shakespeare.

“Maybe, or maybe we can use the light from Sonya to bring us in. Send the car through the barrier and have her cover us.”

Shakespeare frowned. “That’s dangerous, isn’t it? I mean, she will have to touch us both at the same time. Take on both of our pain. And she’s weak like us. Her suffering would be immense. It could… kill her.”

“She’s the Defender of Pain! You fucking moron. She’s supposed to live in hurt and die for the cause!” Tristan said, now beyond desperate to get to Charmaine. She, Liora, was his true purpose. He’d sacrifice anything and anyone to have her.

Shakespeare flew at him and seized him by the throat. Tristan did not fight back. “Don’t you ever speak about her death that way! I don’t give a fuck about any of this shit. Do you understand me? I’ll meet the sun and force you to do it too if it means she stays safe!”

Tristan threw Shakespeare off of him.

“Don’t you see what’s happening to us? We’re losing it. Neither of us can think straight. This is why the guardians sought us out. How you feel about her is how I feel about Liora, and it’s clouding our judgment. We’ll do anything to serve them. We’re servants to them now. Slaves. We’ve traded one master for another. Except this time the rewards are just a little sweeter. It’s bullshit! Don’t you see it!” Tristan shouted.

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