Burned (Book1) The White Rose Vampire Series

Chapter Eight

The body of the sheriff had been taken care of, as well as, his car. I didn't ask how these things happened when Bastian handed me the phone that I had left in the forest. I didn't want to know. Instead, I laid in my bed, wishing for sleep but afraid to close my eyes because I knew nightmares would come.

Around 3 a.m. my eyelids became too heavy and I closed them, sinking into sleep. The wind touching me was the first thing I noticed. The gurgling of the water reached my ears and I knew when I opened my eyes I would find myself standing by the same creek as my last dream. Voices reached me rising over the sound of the water but my grandmother's voice in my ear caused me to straighten.

"Open your eyes, Lanie." Her soft voice whispered against my ear. "This is where it began."

When I opened my eyes, I stared across the water. The dress of the men before me consisted of dark coats and trousers that reminded me of the pictures I'd seen when studying early 1800s dress. It was odd to see distinguished gentlemen among the lower class standing beside each other near a stream as if they were part of the same society.

My heart thundered in my chest as I saw a stake shoved into the ground. A man stepped forward and I recognized him immediately. The founder of Brockhurst, Tennessee, Simon Brockhurst. His dark hair curved away from his face. His eyes were wide as an older version of himself stepped in front of him.

"You're mistaken!" Simon screamed at the man I assumed was his father. "Witches are an imagination. They aren't real!"

"She has bewitched you, son!" The man said, standing straight before nodding toward the men who immediately stepped forward and grabbed Simon by the arms, restraining him. "You may loathe me later, but I do this for the good of you."

A young woman was pulled forward. Her dark eyes pleading with Simon as she fought. Tears burned Simon's eyes as he struggled to reach her but the men held him fast.

"I love you, Elenore!" He screamed as his father spoke.

"I love you too!" She cried, tears falling down her pale face as she reached for him to no avail.

"Elenore Barber, you have been accused and found guilty of witchcraft!" the elder Brockhurst said. "Your punishment is purification by fire."

Elenore stilled as she faced him. "You think me evil, but you are the one with blood upon your hands. My legacy will live, and it will bring you to your own demise."

The elder Brockhurst grabbed her neck but Elenore stood her ground, tears still streaking her face as she stared into his eyes. "A curse upon you, sir," she said, causing him to drop his hand in fear. "My sisters and brothers may burn but they work a curse as we speak."

"What curse witch?" He asked but Elenore surprised me by smiling and giving no answer as she was tied to the stake. Simon was still struggling to reach her as the men lit the branches at her feet. As her scream rent the air, he broke free, stepping into the flames, holding onto the woman he loved. His father's scream echoed through the air as their pain became mine.  I sat up in the bed with a scream still escaping my lips and tears running down my cheeks.

**********

Bastian didn't bother to knock as he came into my room. His eyes met mine frantically searching for danger and ready to ensure my safety. Somewhere deep inside me, I knew that he had killed more than the sheriff but for some reason, I couldn't be afraid of him. I could only be drawn to him for comfort.

"Lanie," he whispered, worry coating his words. "Are you alright?"

Tears burned my eyes. "They killed them," I hiccupped, my heart breaking. "They killed my grandmother, my parents, and Elenore."

He winced, his eyes darkening even further. "So, you know about Elenore and Simon?  You know the truth behind his death."

A sob broke from my throat as my shoulders trembled. "He loved her. She loved him," I said, my voice shaking, "And his father ordered her death. He killed them by doing that."

Bastian's face darkened as he moved toward me, sitting next to me on the bed. He cupped my cheeks, capturing my tears with his thumbs. "Please don't cry, Lanie." His voice barely above a whisper, pulling me against him, giving me the comfort I craved. "You're safe. I won't let anything  or anyone hurt you."

The determination in his voice made me raise my head to stare into his eyes. "I don't know why you're helping me," I sniffed. "You barely know me."

"Your parents helped us," he said, simply but it didn't feel like he was being totally honest with me.  It felt as if his reasons to help me had more to do with me than them.

"But you...You've helped me when the others weren't there," I whispered, taking a pained breath as my eyes swept through the room finding it empty except for me and him. Jonathon and Dimitri were not there though my screams should have woken them too.

He pressed his lips together, swallowing as he dropped his hands. "I'm right across the hall," he said, shifting. "I can hear you when you cry."

My heart sank as I nodded. I don't know what I expected him to say but this was...disappointing.

I frowned as I moved away from him, "Do you know what Elenore's curse on Mr. Brockhurst was?" I asked, frowning.  A muscle jumped in his cheek.

"I do," he said, carefully, his eyes traveling to the floor. "But we decided to let you find out through your ancestors...Your dreams."

I groaned frustrated. "Why can't you tell me?"

He bit his bottom lip. "There will be some decisions you will have to make," he said, his eyes shifting around the room. "We don't want to influence them. It's best if that is decided by you and you alone.  To do that, you must discover the history of your ancestors without input from us."

I nodded as he rose. My heart leaped in my chest because he was leaving and I didn't want him to. I reached for him suddenly desperate to have him stay.

"Please don't go," I pleaded before I could stop myself.  "I-I'm afraid and I-I feel safer with you. Please."

I should have been embarrassed but I wasn't. I knew he wouldn't make fun of me. His eyes softened as he took in my face casting light on a vulnerability I didn't understand.

"Are you sure?" He asked and I scooted over on the bed, giving him space to lie beside me.

He laid down, wrapping his arm around me so that my head was against his chest. As my eyes closed, I felt him brush a strand of hair from my forehead.

"Beautiful," he whispered as if amazed just before darkness pulled me into a blessedly dreamless sleep.