Burned (Book1) The White Rose Vampire Series

Chapter Twenty-Six

The smoke was so thick it began to clog my throat, strangling me, "Bastian!" I choked out, tears burning my eyes as I reached out to shake his shoulder.

His eyes blinked open, his body turning rigid as he sat up in bed. His face paled when he noticed the smoke moving through the room. He threw off the blankets, covering him and walked to the window, pulling the curtains aside to glance over the backyard. His eyes narrowed as he gritted his teeth.

"Someone has set fire to something in the back garden," he said as he continued to narrow his eyes, staring at the burning object. Finally, his face shadowed as dark, fury moved over his features. "The church...They set up a damn stake and set it aflame."

I froze as I took in his words. Panic moved through me. "Bastian if they have done that, they are on the property!"

A growl broke from his throat as his teeth flashed, lengthening before he shook his head. "Then, they've just signed the death warrants of the ones who intruded," he said, moving from the window before grabbing my hand and pulling me with him. He handed me a robe that I pulled around me while he dressed in jeans and a t-shirt before we exited the room. Jonathon and Izzie were in the hallway, glancing around confused as Dimitri walked out of his room before banging on Bethany's door who opened it immediately to glance around the hallway with wide confused eyes.

"Where's Cally?" She asked, staring up at Dimitri her eyebrows drawing together in worry.

"I'm here," she said, coughing, struggling to take a breath as she leaned against Gilliam. Paul and Mrs. Claiborne followed behind her, peering through the smoke.

"What the hell is going on?" Gilliam asked, narrowing his eyes as his gaze touched each of us before turning back to Cally as he pulled her closer allowing her to use his chest as protection against the toxic fog moving through the manor.

"They set a stake on fire outside," Bastian said, through gritted teeth.

"More than one if the smoke has made it inside the manor," Dimitri's voice echoed through the hall shaking in rage. "They know we can't leave the girls to go after them."

"Yes, you can," Bethany said, her eyes wide. "We can't let them do this. They can set the manor on fire next and we'll be trapped inside."

"I'm not leaving you," Dimitri said, despair washing over his face before shaking his head, realizing the words he had spoken. "Any of you."

"Dimitri, you can stay here and protect the girls," Paul said, glancing around at each of us. "But I'll need Jonathon, Gilliam, and Bastian to go with me to take care of these fanatics. I don't know how many are out there and it would be too dangerous to do this on my own."

Bastian opened his mouth to protest but I put my hands out to stop him. "He's right," I said, turning to face him. "Izzie and I have come into some of our powers and Mrs. Claiborne is here. We'll be okay."

Bastian's eyes darkened taking in my expression. His face fell because he knew Paul would need help. He groaned as he pulled me into his arms. His body shook with fear. "You better be," he said, the terror on his face evident as his lips found mine before breaking away to whisper against them. "Follow Dimitri. He'll take you somewhere safe. Stay with the others."

I nodded as I turned to find Jonathon pulling Izzie into his embrace. "Stay with Lanie," he whispered as he pulled away. She nodded with tears burning her eyes as he cupped her cheek. "I told you I will protect you...We all will."

She nodded as he turned, an expression of anguish on his face as he walked away with Gilliam, Bastian and Paul following. Bastian turned back to me, his eyes shining with worry and love. "I love you, Lanie."

"I love you too," I whispered, my heart aching as my stomach twisted and my heart beat so hard against my chest it seemed as if it was trying to warn me that this may be the last time I would declare my love for him.

**********

When we were sure they exited the manor, Mrs. Claiborne stepped toward Dimitri. His eyes moved toward Bethany and Cally. "You two stay close," he said, frowning as Mrs. Claiborne pulled her daughter toward her.

Bethany grabbed Dimitri's hand, causing him to glance down at her as her blue eyes widened. "I-I'm sorry, Dimitri," she said starting to pull her hand out of his but he grasped it before she could, giving her a smile full of affection.

"If you are frightened, you can hold my hand," he said, his voice barely above a whisper.

Her lips curved upward as he led us down a corridor, to a set of stairs. At the bottom he turned right, opening a door at the end of the hall. Another set of stairs met us, descending downward.

"Dimitri?" I asked, frightened.

He glanced over his shoulder at me. "There is a tunnel that leads outside," he said, frowning, "My brothers will meet us there but, I need you and Izzie to trail behind Cally and Bethany because you both seem to have more control over your magic than they do. Use your powers to protect them. We have to go to the barn in case they set the manor on fire. It's safer there."

I nodded but as we moved through the tunnel, my stomach continued to churn. Something wasn't right but I couldn't put my finger on it. Dimitri ushered us up another set of stairs out of the tunnel directing us toward a barn, hidden by thick bushes near the forest. He was moving so quickly we were running. Izzie let out a short gasp as she tripped and I stopped to help her as everyone else moved further away but as I pulled her to her feet, her eyes widened as something cold was pressed against my temple causing me to freeze.

Izzie glanced toward the barn and opened her mouth to scream but a harsh voice slid through the air. "If you do anything, witch and that includes any freaky powers you have," he hissed, his hot, wet breath moving over my ear. "I will blow her brains out before anything you do can hurt me."

Izzie glanced at me as I silently pleaded with her to do whatever she needed to in order to get away, but she gave a shake of her head as a man came behind her and bound her hands, effectively binding her power before tying up my own. I closed my eyes as a tremble slid through me, hoping that Bastian and Jonathon could find us before we faced the flames.