Eternally Loved

Chapter 5

Rudolph's eyes widened, his jaw dropping open. "He killed your parents?! Why?!" He asked, his eyes bleeding red. "My parents were werewolves. He came for them, and he kidnapped me, making sure I wasn't one too. He...he dug into my skin with silver blades and would monitor the wounds to see how they healed. He locked me up with silver chains and observed to see if they burnt my skin. After dubbing me not a werewolf, he let me go, dropping me off on a boat heading to America, where I was eventually adopted by Tony's parents." I explained, a few tears dropping from my eyes. Rudolph gently brushed them away. "My parents were the kindest people ever. They had been werewolves for centuries and managed to gain control over themselves in their other form. To hear others speak of werewolves like that...I just..." I sighed, unable to put into words how I felt. Rudolph frowned, gently cupping my cheek with one of his hands. "I-I think I understand. I wouldn't like it if people were bad mouthing my family just because of what they are. And Pepper.... I'm so sorry about your parents." Rudolph said, his eyes filled with sadness. "It... It was a long time ago. I know they're happy where they are and that's all that matters to me now." I said, giving the vampire a grateful smile. "Very well. I should let you sleep." Rudolph said, giving me a smile. We both got up and headed towards my bedroom door. "Thank you, Rudolph." I said, leaning up and gently pressing my lips to his cheek. Feeling a blush rising, I quickly shut the door, not waiting for his reaction.

I flopped onto my bed, holding back a squeal. It didn't take me long to fall asleep.

*****

In the morning, Tony and I went to Dad's work, leaving the vampires to sleep. As Dad introduced us to Lord McAshton, a familiar red truck pulled up, causing my heart to stop. I pulled Tony behind me, before sliding behind my father. McAshton noticed my sudden silence and turned around, a look of fury crossing his face. He excused himself to talk to Rookery. Workers surrounded us, talking with Dad about his project. I kept an eye on Rookery and McAshton, watching as they went into Lord McAshton's manor. I tapped Tony on the shoulder, and we easily snuck away from our dad, following the two older men into the manor and up a marble staircase before heading into a room.

Tony and I ducked behind an overturned table before I poked my head up, watching McAshton point to a portrait of a beautiful young woman.

"Our ancestor; Elizabeth McAshton." He explained. Rookery walked up to the painting, squinting at it. I looked up, the necklace around her neck causing me to pause. "The Stone of Attamon..." I breathed out in a whisper. "My grandfather told me the legend. He said it was to die with me." McAshton said, walking up next to the hunter. "It still could." Rookery retorted.

"She saw a ship. Floundered upon the rocks, though there had been no storm. No sign of life. No crew, save one who crawled to shore injured. But he was no mortal man." McAshton spoke, terror reigning in his voice. "His name was Von. Von Sackville-Bagge. A vampire." Rookery interrupted, catching the lord's attention. "Elizabeth was taken by this Von and became one of the undead herself. Claimed that he called her his mate. She said that a vampire can only have one mate, and that nothing could break their bond. Disgusting." McAshton shuddered as he spoke. "I know about a vampire's mate. What happened to Von and Elizabeth?" Rookery sighed, seeming fed up with McAshton. "We staked them both." He replied easily.

"Warm-hearted bunch, aren't you?" Rookery snarked. "You, of all people, should understand. When they found out about the bond, they trapped Elizabeth to lure Von out." McAshton stated. Rookery turned to him, raising a brow. "Why? What does the bond have to do with that?" The hunter asked. "Well, if the vampire senses their mate is in trouble, they'll stop at nothing to save them. They tend to get reckless. It's how they killed Von, otherwise they didn't stand a chance." McAshton explained. Rookery quietly hummed, looking back at the portrait. "So, where are they buried?" He asked. "What, why?!" McAshton's voice was almost panicked. "Like I said, we want to know if she was walking around. If I was a McAshton, I wouldn't want her looking for me." Rookery chuckled lowly.

I held back a growl, lowering myself back down to hide behind the table.

*****

Tony and I were following Rookery and McAshton when my little brother bumped into the younger McAshton boys. I rolled my eyes as they all began screaming and continued on ahead.

I didn't get too far when I was suddenly pushed against a cold wall. Looking up, I found myself staring into the eyes of Alexander. Narrowing my own eyes, I roughly pushed against him, trying to get him off me. "I don't think so, Princess." He said, his voice low. "Get off me, Alex." I growled. His eyes flashed dangerously, before he backed away, shaking his head, seemingly disoriented.

Taking advantage of his confusion, I bolted away, following the older men into an old, decrepit looking mausoleum.

As I stepped inside, I noticed Tony was already there, leaning up against a railing and looking down at Rookery and McAshton. I squatted beside him, watching as Rookery handed McAshton a stake and mallet, before the hunter slid open the coffin, revealing the inside to be empty.

"She was moved." Rookery sighs. "But no one's been down here since mother died..." McAshton said, frowning. Rookery shakes his head. "No. I'm talking about centuries ago." Rookery stated. "Why?" McAshton asked, befuddled. "Would you want your mother to rest next to a bloodsucking fiend?" Rookery barked. McAshton shook his head vigorously. "No, I loved my mother! She always smelled of gardenias!" McAshton blubbered.

As they continued talking, the rail that Tony was holding onto snapped, sending him falling down and into the coffin. I had tried to make a grab at him but had missed. I cursed my luck, before Rookery started shouting at Tony and slid the lid closed.

With a snarl, I jumped over the railing and onto the floor beside the adults. McAshton gasped and Rookery's eyes narrowed. "Let him go." I growled out, my eyes flashing dangerously. "I thought I got rid of you years ago..." Rookery breathed, his eyes widening. Then, before I could move, he whipped out a gun, pointing it at me. McAshton was floundering in the corner, but we both ignored him. "Hello, Beastie." Rookery grinned. I bared my teeth at him, crouching down as I stared down the barrel of his pistol.

Bang

I dodged to the right, narrowly missing getting hit by the shining bullet.

Bang

Bang

Rapid fire. I managed to dodge them both, but suddenly felt a pain in my leg. Glancing down, I grunted as I pulled a tranquilizer dart out of my thigh. A glance up and I saw a nasty smirk on the hunter's face. One hand was stretched out towards me, the gun still pointed my way, but in his other hand, which hung down by his leg, was a tranq gun.

My eyelids drooped as the tranq took effect. I stumbled forward, and into Rookery's waiting arms. I drowsily looked up at him. "You son of a--" I never got to finish my sentence as my world got darker.