Preview: Crimson Red - The first season of the Colors of Moonlight series

Zacharias

The terror Joleen went through when her mother announced that she wanted to leave was violent. Zacharias, who had adjusted to the feelings of the little ones, hardly was able to avoid shuddering.

Without having a second look at her daughter, the woman got up and left the room. When the door closed behind her, the girl came to life.

»I don't want my mommy to go,« Joleen sobbed and suddenly jumped off the couch. Her unexpected agility caught them all by surprise, and neither he nor Cirrus was able to stop her. »Mommy, Mommy, Mommy, wait! « the little girl shouted and ran towards the door.

Zacharias was about to jump up to stop her, but Fayn held him back. »Allow her to say goodbye,« his cousin whispered. Zacharias nodded, although a dark hunch sneaked upon him. Much slower and calmer, they all followed the girl. She had managed to open the heavy door and burst into the entrance hall.

»Mommy! Mommy! Mommy! Please wait! Mommy!« Cries echoed through the house. Zacharias tried to understand the connection Joleen had to her mother, even though she mistreated her. When he and his family entered the entrance hall, the crack whore was already standing at the front door, and the child reached her just in time to put her small arms around her mother's waist. »Mommy, please take me home,« she begged.

Martina did not even look down at her. Instead, she tried to remove the arms from her body. »Please, mommy. Or we both can stay,« the girl whispered fervently, and Zacharias wondered if they were doing the right thing. »Let go of me,« the woman hissed. »I don't want you!« »But you're my mom,« the girl muttered in complete incomprehension. »No, not anymore,« the woman replied. »Now let go of me, brat!« She powerful hit the girl. The child's grip released from the mother, and Joleen crashed on the floor.

The woman walked up to the lying child and kicked her. Zacharias rushed forward. Before he consciously decided to do so, his hand closed around the woman's throat, pushing her up against the wall. Everything he saw lay behind a red veil. His anger made his instincts determine his actions. And he was aware that his eyes were now glowing in a deep red.

»You are no longer entitled to her,« he hissed. The woman put her hands around his hand to release his grip. Her eyes widened in terror as her feets left the floor. »If you raise your hand against our property again, we will kill you!«

The woman nodded. She understood. He threw her away in an angry tug. Her body slid above the ground until her head hit the wall. Zacharias stopped looking after her. Instead, he closed his eyes to calm down. Slowly he felt his inner rage diminish.

»Mommy? Mom, please wake up!« When the soft crying reached his ear, he opened his eyes again and searched the room to find Joleen. The girl squatted next to her mother's body with her small hands on the woman's shoulder. She shook the woman over and over again. A small pool of blood was already forming under her head. His impact had probably been stronger than he intended. »Mommy, please wake up,« Joleen whispered, looking at the blood in terror. Then she looked up to Zacharias. Unlike what he expected, he saw no anger in her look, but a flea. »Can you fix her? « Joleen asked and sobbed heavily. »You healed my knee, too.«

»I don't think that's possible, Joleen,« Zacharias explained quietly. She just cried even harder and shook her mother again. »Yes, you can. I know that,« she whispered, and the big green eyes looked at his whole family one by one. »Please,« she begged.

It took Zacharias a great effort to shake his head again. » She's still alive,« Fayn whispered. They all knew what she was suggesting. Everything in Zacharias resisted it. »Can you help her? Please,« the little one begged again, and even Nikolas' eyes slipped a little bit in compassion. Again, the child looked at her mother and cried more and more. »Mommy, you have to get up,« she begged. » You'll get better, the Sirs and the Ladies will help you, but now its time to get up!«

Zacharias heard his cousin's growl. The child's plea was successful. It touched his cousin. Nikolas went to her and knelt beside the woman. »Stand up and let them take you away,« he demanded. » I'll make her healthy again.« Joleen looked at Nikolas hesitantly, and then she immediately jumped up and gave him a big hug. Zacharias could see his cousin's body tense. He didn't like any surprising physical touches.

Nevertheless, he took it for a few seconds, which was surprising. This child seemed to have a strange effect on all of them. »Thank you, Sir,« the girl whispered and then quickly jumped aside.»Take her away. We don't know how the mother reacts when she awakes. Maybe she's thirsty,« he said and turned the mother's body.

»Come with me,« Zacharias heard his cousin say. »We'll find you a nice room to unpack your things. And later, we'll visit your mother.« Zacharias nodded contentedly and knew Fayn would take good care of the child. Nikolas brought his wrist up to his mouth and bit into it. Two rivers of blood appeared. Then he put his hand to the mother's mouth.

 A very uneasy feeling crept up on Zacharias as he watched his cousin make the little girl's mother to one of them and heard Joleen sobbing all the time in the hallways of the house.