The Protected Luna

Greed Is Thicker Than Blood

Dimitri.

"Dimitri... Dimitri are you awake?"

Hearing Bria's weak, tired voice, my eyes slowly opened and I turned my head slightly to the left to look at her. "Yes Bria, I'm awake. Are you okay?"
She let out a groan and nodded her head. "Except for the merciless throbbing in my head and my severely wounded pride, I'm fine."
"Do you remember what happened? My mind is a little hazy."
"All I remember is coming into the cathedral and being ambushed by that bitch Presha and her vampire buddies. They drugged us with Valerian Root then we blacked out."

"That's all I remember too. How long do you suppose it's been? It's dark outside so we must've been here a while," I said.
"Who cares how long we've been here? All I care about is finding that backstabbing whore and tearing her cold, undead heart from her chest. But before I do that, I'll rip her damn fangs out!"

"Ooh baby, even when you're tied up and hungover you're still hot and sexy in my eyes," Alessandro whispered hoarsely.
"Alessandro! Amore mio, stai bene?" Bria cried out.
(My love, are you okay?)
"I'm fine sweetheart. My head is killing me though."

"Varun? Selena? Kai? Kennedy? Lucia's? Are you guys awake?" I called out, keeping my voice low.
"Dimitri?" I heard Selena whisper.
"Yes Selena, are you and Varun alright?"
"We're fine," Varun said. "Kai? Kennedy? Can you hear us?"
"Daddy? Is that you?" Kennedy whimpered.
"Yes honey it's me. Are you and Kai okay?"
"We're fine Varun," Kai responded. "But where's Kristen?"

"Mother wasn't here when Presha attacked us. I only hope she's safe wherever she is," Selena said.
"What about Lucias? Is he okay?" I inquired.
"Yes Dimitri, I'm okay," Lucias groggily responded
"I swear, I'm gonna murder those bastards," I heard Kennedy growl. "First they abduct Artemis, and now us? This is the limit!"
"Hush Kennedy. They can hear us," Kai told her.

"Wait a minute, where's Marguerite? She was with us, but she isn't here now," I said looking around for her.
"When the vampires appeared, Marguerite cloaked herself and left the cathedral. She said she'd bring help, but that was a while ago," Varun said. "I pray she made it out okay. Right now she's our only hope of getting out of here."

"Does anybody have a phone on them?" I asked.
"They took our phones away when they were tying us up," Bria replied. "So if anyone tried to call us and they don't get through they'll know something's wrong."

"No one is coming for you I'm afraid. Well, besides death that is,"

Presha suddenly appeared out of nowhere with her ever-present smirk and I felt like rushing over there and tearing her limb from limb. She was behind this, all of this. She deceived to us, she took my mate away from me!

"You! Just who the hell do you think you are?!" Bria yelled.
"I, Bria darling am the one who is going to destroy all of you. Once the prophecy has been fulfilled and my...employer gets what he wants, I will enjoy watching you suffer," Presha said coldly. "Starting with you, Dimitri."

"Where is my mate? What have you done with her?!" I growled.
"She was here with us actually. Then she decided to run away. I was furious at myself for not putting up a barrier spell. If so, the damn brat would've been lying on the altar by now," Presha scoffed. "Not to worry though, she'll be back shortly. Won't she Marcus?"

Marcus? Oh Goddess no.

The instant this thought came into my mind, the devil in disguise waltzed into the room. I felt my blood run cold at the notion that Presha allowed Marcus anywhere near Artemis. She may put up a front of bravery, but I knew deep down, Artemis was terrified of Marcus. The things he did to her when they lived together...