The Last Vampire Hunter

Chapter 44

Anger. Lust. Desire. They all blended together as I took her mouth in mine. 

Aliana's blood results had returned. She was much more powerful than we had suspected. On the same level as a Hunter in fact. It was a miracle she hadn't escaped yet. She certainly had the Power to do it. In fact, she probably had the Power to murder most of the half-blood soldiers that guarded the castle. What she lacked was training. Knowledge. However, at the rate she learns, it would be a matter of a year or two before she had the skills to kill us all.

As I pulled back from our kiss, I locked a thin silver and gold metal collar around her neck. Nicholae had capitalized on the discovery of a special metal during the Second War by our best Alchemist.  The metal, a combination of metals, actually, trapped Magic restricting our Mage prisoners from accessing their Magic.  Their Magic was absorbed by the metal and then dissipated, rendering it as free flowing energy.  Nothing more than static in the air.  

As I pulled away I saw the confusion in her face. I can only imagine what it must feel like for her. One minute the Magic is flowing through her, the next it was cut off.  I'd seen that look in the Mage prisoners we'd clasped those collars onto.   There's had been thick, heavy and roughly made collars.  Hers was small, thin and delicate.  To anyone it could have been a choker necklace or a pet collar.  

"What?..." she whispered. Her long fingers traced over the collar. "Philip...What is this?" She looked so vulnerable. So young. Fuck. She was young. Not even seventeen yet. A child. And we were treating her like a war criminal, but it couldn't be helped. The fact is that she is dangerous and even more so because she doesn't know how dangerous she really is.

"I'm sorry, Aliana." That was all I offered. All I could say right now. With Vampire speed I dragged her to her room. The room was secure and free of weapons or escape. I threw her in and locked the door behind me. There was a small en suite bathroom with a stand in shower, toilet and sink. She could wait in her room until I calmed my anger and gathered my thoughts.

"Philip!" she screamed as she banged on the door. "Philip. What did you do to me. What is this thing around my neck?" I sighed. She was my Mate. I could never hurt her. However, maybe keeping her locked in a room until she submitted to me wouldn't be the worst thing for either of us. As my Mate, she had certain protections from the Council, but if I wasn't able to control her, the Council might take things into their own hands. I had heard the rumors of Nicholae's wife. I shuddered at the thought of Aliana spending the rest of her life near death but never experiencing the peace it would bring her.

I went downstairs to speak with Alex...and to call Nicholae.  He had been more helpful than I had anticipated.  The collar had been his idea.  

So far it was just the three of us who knew about Aliana and her blood test results, the results which showed one of the highest counts of Magic ever recorded.  She was Powerful.  Dangerously so.  I trusted Alex to keep the secret.  Nicholae was another story.  I need to keep him close.

As I came off the elevator I could hear Frannie screaming Alex's name. Great. They were like fucking rabbits.  My plan was working and my daughter was indeed keeping Alex...occupied...helping to control the Madness.  However, couldn't the two of them find something they had in common besides...another scream came from Alex's chambers. 

I moaned to myself. Speaking with Alex will have to wait. Maybe I could get one of the servants to leave a message. I needed a drink.  Bad.  I walked over to Alex's bar and grabbed a bottle of his most expensive brandy.  I poured myself a generous amount and downed it in one shot.  Yup.  Still not helping. 

I looked around. Sawyer was nowhere to be seen. Poor Blue and Orlaigh were giggling on the sofa. I rolled my eyes. I coughed loudly and then said, "Good evening, "Blue, Orlaigh." They both looked up in surprise. They must have missed the bell from the elevator as the door opened because of all the...err..noise. They immediately jumped off the sofa and bowed their heads. "Welcome, Master Philip," they said in unison.