Blood Ties (Blood Lust Sequel)--COMPLETED

Chapter Twenty-Nine: Prophecy pt.1

I didn't go to the seamstress, at least not right away. Instead, I went to find Duke. After the ass-kicking Gabriel gave him, I wanted to make sure he was okay...even if he was acting odd towards me. But no matter where I looked, I couldn't find him.

He wasn't at the clinic, the banquet hall, the laundry room, or the cave. Where the hell is he?

I wandered around the island in the bitter cold, too nervous to sit still. What if someone from the AOD did something with him?

That thought sent a mixture of anger and fear to ripple through me. But before it could fester, I shook my head. I had Influenced them not to come back with the intent to hurt any one I cared for; there's no way they could have harm him.

Unless they had to defend themselves. I thought, stopping at the square.

My breath left me in a white puff, mingling with light snow flurries floating lazily through the air. Surely Duke wouldn't pick a fight with the AOD...right? With the way he was acting lately, I couldn't be certain.

Knocking on the base of Gabriel's statue, I waited for it to slide open, both to escape the cold and to continue searching for Duke. It wasn't much warmer in the vampire's underground fortress, but I was out of the cold and snow, so that was something.

Now, if I could just find Duke--

"Oof,"

"Oh, shit."

Mine and Aiden's words erupted in tandem as we collided into each other. He caught me by the wrist in a blink to keep me from falling backwards, then pulled me close.

"I was hoping you'd fall for me." He smirked, placing his free hand at the small of my back.

"Just not literally, huh?" I quipped, arching a brow.

He shrugged, nonchalant. "Either way suits me. I'll always catch you regardless."

I smiled up at him, warmed by his sweet, goofy nature. Butterflies ballooned in my belly, making me giddy. I wanted to kiss him, taste his lips as my hands tangled in his blond hair, but there was a reason why I came down here. And that reason was slumped down in a chair at one of the round tables in the orgy room.

"Duke," I breathed his name when I spotted him behind Aiden. His head was lowered, auburn hair hiding his eyes. He had a blood bag clutched in his hands, white-knuckling it as he drained it completely dry.

Exhaling audibly, Duke flung the now empty blood bag onto the table. Without offering me a glance, his thoughts entered my head, cold and weak. Please leave, Audrey.

"Why?" I asked, stepping around Aiden. "Why are you pushing me away?"

Duke stood abruptly before I could get to his table, and took a step back. "Because there's nothing for you here," he paused to look into my eyes, fangs still extended from his feeding. "All we have to offer is blood, and pain, and death. You are better off without us." Without me, he added for only me to hear.

He turned to walk away, and I looked back at Aiden, who simply shrugged.

"Duke, wait!" I called after him.

Aiden put a hand on my shoulder to keep me from going after Duke. I glanced back at him, hurt and confused.

"Let him go." Aiden said, watching Duke's retreating back. "There's no talking sense into him."

"What's wrong with him?" I asked, turning to face Aiden. "Why is he acting so strange?"

Aiden sighed, walking over to take a seat. He motioned for me to sit with him, and when I did, he answered. "It's this stupid prophecy he's come across. He's become obsessed with preventing it."