Page 68 of Taken By the Vampires
“Without you near, there would be no magic. We used spells stolen from your Grimoire to redirect your power,” Ellis said.
“Our families have been using it for centuries. We were only able to do it when Ginevra used a black curse that caused a disruption, or so my grandfather told me,” Jeremiah said.
“Imagine that. A man of God using black magic,” I said. No wonder the town had festered and died. There was no life here. No spark. It had been extinguished decades ago because of misuse.
Ginevra did a horrible thing, which set about a course of events and a change of power that never should have happened. It was sad, but it was also over.
“Ella, think about what you’re doing. You could have had me! The most handsome and rich man around these parts. You’re throwing at all away,” Gary whined.
“Yeah, throwing it all away,” Dean giggled.
I winced, trying not to feel repulsed, but not being able to help it. Xander stepped up to Gary, chest to chest. Xander stood a head taller than Gary, who simply folded in on himself. The front of his pants darkened with urine. “You disrespected our mate. Apologize.”
Gary’s eyes rolled up into his head and he collapsed at Xander’s feet in a dead faint. Xander frowned and turned to me. “I didn’t even touch him.”
“Yeah. Gary is no one’s hero.”
“My son. What have you done to my son?” Ellis knelt next to Gary and tapped his shoulder. “Wake up, son. We’ll find you someone truly worthy of you.”
I rolled my eyes. “No one is worthy enough for Gary.”
“God will judge your souls. You will roast in Hell for eons for the error of your ways. I will spread the word of the horrors of your sins and pray until my dying day for the error of your ways,” Jeremiah said.
“Well, I’ve heard just about enough of this, haven’t you?”
“Amen to that,” Mom said.
There was only one thing I could do. I reached for the magic, so readily coming to my request. I felt it simmering and burning inside me, eager to be used with lightness and brilliance, the way it should always be used. “From this day forward, you will speak no more until you learn the error of your ways. Jeremiah Sinclair, Herman White and Ellis Myers, no one will hear your false words. You will be silent until the day you offer true, heartfelt apologies to every person you have wronged. I henceforth remove all wrong doings that these men have perpetrated against Conway and all who live within her region. I wash away all remnants of dark energy that control and demand and leave in its wake light and love. Let every man, woman and child receive this gift of light and move forward without control of any dark force.”
A ripple of energy came like a wave, breaking around us and sweeping through the crowd. I staggered forward a few steps as the energy passed through me like a shockwave. Clothing and hair floated as though with a gust of wind, but it was the magical power that was washing away all darkness.
Silence rang out in the foyer. People blinked, confused and sleepy, as though they were just waking up from a dream. We all were.
Jeremiah stood. His mouth worked, but no words came out. His brow scrunched and he grabbed his neck. He tried to speak again. His face went red with the effort, but he remained blessedly silent.
“You heard her. Offer your heartfelt apologies to everyone you have wronged and really mean it. You’ll probably be silent for a very, very long time,” Cassius said.
Ellis and Herman opened and close their mouths like fish. Silent. Blessedly silent. I sighed. “We’re going to have some peace, for once.”
Mom hugged me. “My beautiful daughter. You’ve done it. I always knew you were special.”
I could hardly start to hope to believe. “Is it over, Mom? Is it really finished?”
She beamed at me, her eyes lit with life and health. “It is over, Ella. Believe me, it is over.”
“We have a lot to be thankful for,” Xander said.
I looked between my men and Mom. “Mom, I’d like you to meet Xander, Cassius and Davon.”
A flush came to her cheeks as her gaze studied each of them in turn. My three men. My Vampires. My heroes. So handsome and sexy beyond belief. They’d have that effect on any red-blooded woman.
In turn, she squeezed their hands between hers, tears in her eyes. “This is a true blessing. Thank you for saving my daughter. I can never thank you enough.”
My men surrounded us. Davon slung a casual arm about my shoulder. Cassius treated Mom to a blinding, award-winning smile and Xander’s pleased look held a protective edge that made me shiver. “It is she who saved us. We will spend a lifetime being thankful to your daughter and showing her how precious she is.”
A shiver worked down my spine as erotic images flashed through my mind. I gasped and turned to see Xander’s lips twitch. He knew what he was doing. Well, two could play at that game. I broadcast several more erotic images back at him. As one, they all groaned.
“Be careful what you wish for. We plan to hold you to that,” Cassius said.
