Love Bites™ (Harry Styles) [✔] Completed

Chapter Twenty-six

Callie's POV

It was very late, past midnight, as I crept round the large mansion. I tried to be quieter than a mouse, which is nearly impossible, as I bounded down the marble staircase.

There was a library, full-out restaurant type kitchen, pool table/game room, indoor pool (and outdoor), and a study. The thing that interested me most was the old, open notebook with dirty and stained pages. Some of the pages were ripped on the edges or corners.

I snuck into the study, silently closing the large wooden door behind me. There was a desktop lamp on the edge of the table. I flicked it on and pulled out the old Victorian, satan covered chair.

As I sat myself down in the old chair, my eyes scanned over the contents of the pages in front of me. Out of pure curiosity, I began to read.

"12 August, 1857

Today I lost her. My wife, my love, my everything. She was gone for good. I'd sat there helplessly as I watched it happen before my eyes. Giovani had made a bet with Hades that he could kill Callidora. As collateral, Hades insisted that someone would lose their life and their soul if things hadn't gone as planned. And so it was.

Giovani never succeeded in his plans to murder the vampire princess. Her lovers got in the way of him with their damned protectiveness of their leader. They turned him in spite of his incessant apologising. He came to me begging for forgiveness, but I could not forgive him. I disowned my oldest son today.

The worst part was that the vampires had followed him to our home. They broke into the house with their incredible strength and forced Giovani to wait outside the gates. My first instinct was to hide my younger son, Zachariah. After successfully doing so, I heard cries coming from upstairs.

I raced up the steps as fast as my mortal feet could carry me. When I reached the master bedroom I witnessed the most brutal massacre of my life. Callidora, the vampire princess, held my wife down as she ripped her apart limb by limb. Blood flew everywhere and splattered on the walls.

After witnessing such gruesome violence, I begged of the vampires to kill me as well. Instead they insisted that was enough punishment for me and left me on my knees begging for hopeless mercy. -Hugo Jezyk"

Held captive by the contents of what I'd read so far, I needed to know more. That past self was murderous, vengeful, and pure evil. How could someone possibly recover from such an incident? I don't think even therapy could conclude a way of full recovery. I flipped the page and read on.

"23 September, 1858

Finally the time has come. After the past year of mourning, I can finally be free of sorrow.

I have found a witch by the name of Gwendolina. She had promised me temporary immortality as well as my son. However, my son was cursed for betrayal and turned into a beastly creature that came alive on nights when the moon was whole. She has called him a werewolf and said that his descendants will also be given that title.

The magic will wear off as soon as I get my revenge. In other words, as soon as I kill Callidora.

But first I plan to have her fall in love. She will be so in love that when I kill her lover in front of her very eyes she will feel the pain and anguish I felt when she killed my wife, Fiona.

There are perks of my human form now. I am stronger than any mortal and have the ability to hold down any supernatural being. I am what Gwendolina calls a hunter. My life's goal is to kill Callidora and I have all the knowledge needed to do so.

Gwendolina has told me there are a select seven hunters like me. Their only difference is that they can be killed, I cannot. -Hugo Jezyk"

"Hello, darling daughter," a feminine voice calls out.

My eyes diverted from the raggedy notebook up to the most beautiful woman I'd ever seen. Her hair was long, sleek, silky, and midnight black. She had crystal blue eyes and long, dark eyelashes. Her figure was an hourglass shape and very petite.

"My, oh my. Look at you, Callidora. You look just like me except for those tiny freckles under your eyes. You are truly a beauty. Your destined lover is surely lucky to have such an exquisite young woman."

"Thank you," is all I managed to say.

"Silly me, I forgot to introduce myself. I am Selene, you may have heard about me."

"You're my mother?"

"In the flesh."

"B-but you're mortal... How is this possible?"

"You'll find out at some other point. Right now I want you to know that you mustn't mate with Zachariah. You need to get out of this house and find Harry before Apollo finds him; before the moon is high in the sky and full."

"How do I get out?"

"Think of something. You need to tell me where your father is."

"He's in Florence. What does that matter?"

"I wish to see him... But I want you along with me. So, hurry and plan. I cannot help you, for they can see through my lies. You, however, can make them believe you. Get out of here, get Harry, and find me."

"How do you know about Harry?"

"I've been watching you; I know that you love him."

"Is he my destiny like Tatia said I had?"

"I do not know, love. Just make sure you find me."

"But where will you be?"

"Listen to your heart and it will guide you to me. For now I must go and you best get back to your room before they find out about this."

"Yes, mother."