Revelations Coming (The Dark Truth Novel Series) (12 page)

“All my life, I have been used in one way or another. This new life, one as a Mashiach...I couldn't see any other role for me other than once again being used for someone else's end game. That is why I decided that I don't want to be turned. I don't want to just be used to carry a child. I guess in a way, I don't want to be Queen, I don't want to be Mashiach, I just want to be me.”

She turned back to Drake and his fluttering heart nearly stopped dead in his chest. They were so similar, he thought as his heart constricted and he fought to not clutch his chest. He ached to let her know that he knew what she felt, that she wasn't alone.

“I guess that doesn't make any sense,” she laughed.

Drake moved so fast that he knew she didn't see him move. She gasped when he cupped her chin and tilted it up so that she looked in his eyes.

“It makes more sense than you could ever imagine,” he said his voice gravelly.

He fought the pull to lower his head and claim her lips, so instead he ran his thumb along her carotid in a feather-like sweep.

“You are the bravest female I have ever met,” he said that light amusement creeping into his tone again. His words made her eyes light up like Christmas morning.

“I am the best hunter our bloodline has Venus. Riken will not want you to remain going after these Talmidim but if you stay with me, learn what I can teach you...Riken may be satisfied that I will protect you.”

“You would do that for me?” she asked, her voice quivering slightly.

Drake swallowed hard and nodded. She truly looked at him then, the look that went soul deep between Vampyres and he froze unsure if she could sense the truth about him. He had buried his power field so deep, he couldn't even feel it any more, surely she couldn't. The moment passed quickly enough and she pulled away from his touch.

“Awesome,” she said delighted, bouncing lightly on her toes. “I can't wait to kick some ass!”
Drake chuckled at her brazen words and waved a finger at her. “I have to clear all this with Riken first,” he warned her.

She sighed, flopping back on the couch pushing her lip out in an adorable little pout that he had to laugh again at. Jeesh, he thought. He hadn't laughed so much in...he paused to think back…forever.

9

“Tell me about yourself Venus…where have you been hiding all these years?” Drake asked as he stirred the chicken in the skillet, the aroma of a mixture of onions and peppers filling his loft. He loved the fact that he was cooking for her, sustaining her body. He glanced over his shoulder at her sitting at his table. Her legs were crossed and the skirt she had on rode up high. He turned his attention back to the food and awaited her response.

“Definitely not been hiding,” she said in a sad voice. “I was born and raised in Montana. I guess I’ve been waiting…just waiting for something good to happen in my life.”

Drake felt a twinge in his chest, of longing. He felt her sadness and it was a knife in his heart. He wondered what had made her heart so heavy but didn’t want to know at the same time. He didn’t want to think about the fact that if he wouldn’t have relinquished his birthright, perhaps they would have found her much sooner. He decided to steer her clear of that line of questioning. It was an obvious sore spot and though he wanted the knowledge, he wanted her to be happy even more.

“What do you like to do for fun?” he asked looking over his shoulder again.

She had changed her position and had her legs pulled up to her chest in a ball. Yes, he was glad he changed the subject. A slow smile spread across her face.

“I love to listen to music, write poetry, dream,” she chuckled. “I miss the mountains. Whenever I had a bad day, I would escape to the mountains. Climb, walk, run through the trees. Listen to the woods talk. And the water, it was so peaceful. I would look out over the lake and not see the end of it and just feel myself melt into it.”

Venus had her eyes closed, remembering and Drake was mesmerized. Her words painted a picture and he wanted to be in that picture too. Angry chicken sizzling brought him back to reality and he poured some water into the skillet.

“I had a place like that too,” he said softly. “It’s been so long since I have felt that peace that you speak of.”

His hand was frozen on the spatula sticking out of the skillet, his eyes far away.

“Tell me about it,” Venus urged.

“It was the season after I was turned and I stumbled upon this secret place when I was chest deep in bodies. You see, there has always been fighting amongst the bloodlines Venus. Always. We know nothing else besides blood and carnage. I was so young and bloodthirsty. I was no better than a Talmidim myself, except I thirsted for the blood of my enemies. I was a killer, a heartless killer. This was wartime, a battle between the Rex Deus and the Descendants of Cain. I had killed so many that day and my soul...it needed a break I think. I felt the dark prince close by but instead of battling him, I turned like a coward and ran. I ran through the dark woods for miles until it emptied into the most beautiful field of wheat.” Drake paused for a moment to look at Venus. “The field was the color of your hair,” he murmured deep in thought. “I stayed hidden in that field for what seemed like an eternity. The blue sky turning to black and then to blue many times over and still I stayed because that was my peace.”

Venus had gotten up from the stool and stood silently at his back. She laid both hands on his back and he gasped at what that little touch did to him.

“You were not a coward to run Drake,” she said softly.

“I was. I could have destroyed him then but I lost the thirst for blood and would have died myself. I was scared of death so I ran.”

She turned Drake’s massive frame to face her and he looked at her tenderly even though it was him who was pouring his heart out. She was the first person he had told this to, the only one that he would.

“I am glad you ran that day Drake,” she said with a soft teasing smile.

“Why my Queen?” he asked huskily.

“Because if you didn’t, then you may not have been there to save me in that alley. Everything happens for a reason Drake.”

The truth of her words hit him squarely in the chest and he knew right then he was lost to her. He would still fight his calling but by God, he loved her without even embracing his birthright. He swallowed hard and nodded reverently before turning his attention back to the chicken.

“Did you know who my parents were?” Venus asked, busily inspecting her fingernails.

Drake cocked his head to the side and regarded her for a moment.

“I knew your mother. Her name was Darless. She was royal blood, a few steps down the line of course. But she was beautiful. She had nearly white blonde hair, which is fairly uncommon among the bloodline. She was well-respected for her ability to lead others in battle. She was the head of our hunting division for quite some time. When she fell in love with Ash, she fell from grace.”

“That's my father?”
Drake nodded, remembering the warrior vaguely.

“Ash was a warrior from the Descendants of Cain. I believe he too was well-respected. Second lieutenant, if my memory serves me correctly. Anyone could see how madly in love they were with each other.”
“I never knew them or have any memory of them. What happened to them Drake?”

Drake’s eyebrows drew down as he knew the information she asked for would hurt her.

“It is against the Vampyre law to mix bloodlines. What your mother and father did was treason. If they were from another other bloodline, it might have been overlooked or not punished as severely. But our two bloodlines are the fiercest of enemies. We are born and bred to hate one another. So, what they did was unforgivable. They were sentenced to death.”

Venus nodded once as the knowledge that she had suspected was true.

“I am only eighteen. So this happened very recently in Vampyre years.”
Drake nodded, knowing where this was going.

“So, Arias carried out my father’s execution and Riken my mother’s?”

“Essentially yes Venus.”

“And now here you all are, fighting over me…an abomination. I am the fruit of which was deemed unlawful but here I stand, wanted by all of you beasts,” her anger was fueling her words, the hurt over the loss of her parents and what could have been a happy life.

“Venus,” Drake started.

“It’s true Drake. I am an abomination. I am what never should have been according to your laws. I think your Vampyre prophecy is full of shit or you all have your heads so far up your asses that you can no longer see the light.”
Venus turned with a huff and marched right out of the kitchen. Drake wanted to go comfort her right away, wrap his arms around her and take away this pain and hurt. But he knew she needed time…time to sort this information out in her head.

Venus emerged just before midnight. Her hunger outweighing her anger. She ate in silence as Drake flipped through the channels on the TV. When she was finished eating, Venus glided over to the couch and sprawled out next to Drake, her head resting lightly on his hip.

“I’m sorry I blew up at you Drake,” Venus said softly. “I’m not mad at you…just the unenlightened thought process of the Vampyre nation as a whole.”
“Perhaps that is reason enough for us all to want the prophecy to be true Venus. Perhaps you are our salvation and can lead us toward enlightenment.”

Venus closed her eyes at that notion as thoughts raced in and out of her mind. When she opened them again, Drake could tell her sour mood had lightened so he took a chance to lighten it some more.

“What type of music do you like?”

“All kinds really…if I am mad, I’ll listen to hard music. Have you heard of Reester Noon?”

Drake shook his head and Venus smiled. “I don’t even know how old you are…I’m sure you don’t listen to anything I do. You are probably
very
old,” she laughed as if it were hilarious to her. “And you probably only listen to boring old classical music.”

Drake laughed too. He did listen to classical but he was varied.

“You’d be surprised my Queen,” he said in a low voice. “I will agree with you different moods call for different tastes in music. What do you listen to when you are calm or at peace?”

“Boring old classical,” Venus burst out laughing, doubling over.

Drake laughed and shook his head at her playful spirit. Everything about her was beautiful. They talked for hours that night and he learned all that he could about her in that little time.

“Tell me your story Drake…I want to know what makes you, you.” She said soberly.

He couldn’t tell her the truth. And that fact made him sad. He wanted to share everything with her…because she alone would never judge him. He knew that, he felt that in his bones. But for her safety, for her peace of mind he couldn’t tell her the truth. After a few minutes of silence, he turned his eyes to hers and smiled.

“My story is not exciting my Queen. Hundreds of years of boredom,” he laughed.

She had yet to smile, she just studied him. He’s hiding something, she thought. It was the tightness in his eyes, the rawness of his voice. Why was he lying to her? Here she was pouring her heart and soul to him, divulging things about herself that no one on this mortal plane knew. And how did he reward her…with silence. She was disappointed…a spark of a connection deeper than lust had bloomed and he had shut it off with a flick of a switch.

“Venus…one more question?” Drake asked.

Drake knew that she had seen right through his lie but he hoped she wouldn’t pry. If she did, he doubted he could keep lying to her. He wanted to get closer to her, but what good would that do? Give him more heartache when she finally chose her mate. Yes, back to his question. He waited for her to give her consent.

“Why did you pick Arias over…” Drake almost stumbled and said ‘my brother’. “Prince Riken?”

“I don’t know exactly how to explain it,” Venus said softly blowing a stray strand of hair out of her face. “Um, I could feel the call from Riken but when Arias called me my body just responded. There was no thinking about it. It felt like I was meant for him, that I was his already.”

Drake didn’t want to hear that answer but he knew he needed validation. She wasn’t meant for Riken. Riken wasn’t meant to be prince. It was his birthright. If he didn’t claim it, she would be lost to Arias and the Descendants. Could he risk all of that for his own selfishness?

Days passed and Drake still hadn’t picked up the phone to call Riken…in fact, he had turned off his phone because Corbin was calling every few hours. Drake was being hard-headed. He knew that Venus would eventually have to go back to the castle, but he wanted to have her to himself for as long as God willed it. So, instead of following his duty to his prince, Drake set on the course to fulfill his promise to the Queen. As the sun rose to illuminate his living room, he prepared his exercise room for her training. He rubbed his hands together in excitement, eager to see how far he could push her and what kind of strength of will she had. He doubted he would be disappointed. He heard a light whisper of footsteps behind him.