Kyla

I feel a hand land on my shoulder, jousting me from Diedrek's shoulder. Looking up I see my cousin Lucas looking at me. He has fresh tears in his eyes, reminding me of the little boy he once was. Pulling away I look up at Diedrek, I see nothing but understanding and love in his eyes. He nods his chin at Lucas, knowing just what I'm asking of him.

His arms fall to his sides, and I turn around and hold my cousin through this difficult time.

"Did my father know?" I can hear the heartache in his tone of voice.

Hearing him this way breaks mine right along with his. "No, apparently it was all part of a plan. To go back to the caves, make her big brother think she was held captive for a long time. Treated poorly, beaten, and used for the vampire's pleasure. The selling point was her tears, how she wept in his arms when she returned." I tighten my hold on Lucas, needing his strength now more than ever.

I hear Lucas scoff at my words. At my mother's actions to her own people. For what? All for the power? I don't understand, they already ruled over most people and the vampires. What did she need from her brother that was so important?

I feel Lucas pulling away from me, and I let him. I'm thinking so much I don't even realize my arms falling to my sides, until they hit my legs. That brings me out of my head. Looking at Diedrek, I see he heard my inner monologue. Stepping up to me, he takes a hold of my hand, brings it to his lips and kisses the back of my knuckles.

"Let's go see your uncle and find out what he had that his sister took." A sad smile forms on his lips.

My hand comes to his cheek, I rub the sadness away with a simple touch. "She took something from my father?" Lucas' voice breaks our little moment. Turning to face him, I nod my head and lower it to the ground.

I know it wasn't me personally, but I am a part of this woman. Her blood runs through my veins. He must be so ashamed to call me his family.

"Enough of that shit right now!" His angry words have my head shooting up to look at him.

This time when Lucas walks up to me, he's walking with purpose. "I could never, nor will I ever be ashamed of you. We are all our own person Kyla, you know that. You have nothing to do with her choices." He wraps his arms around me tightly once more. Causing one lone tear to make its way from my eye and down my cheek.

When he steps back, he wipes it away with his thumb. Giving me one of his genuine smiles, he tells me "I love you. No matter what happens you will always be more of a sister to me than just my cousin. You know that." Damn him. This time I cannot stop the tears from trekking down my face. They fall freely now, I'm feeling grateful that no matter the embarrassment my mother seems to be, he will not allow her actions to affect how he feels for me.

"Now you know of the past." The gritty voice of the blonde witch catches my attention once more.

"Would you like to know what is so special about you now?" My brows furrow with confusion at their words.

"What do you mean so special about me?" All I receive for a moment in return, is the cackle of their laughter.

The blonde one, Bunny, steps up to me with a sly smile formed on her lips.

"Close your eyes." She tells me as she holds her hand up to my face.

I will not lie her actions have me pausing in fear. "Trust me." I look deep into her blue eyes. For some reason, I feel she wouldn't hurt me. When I look into her eyes, I see something other than how she appears in front of me. Strange.

I begin to move closer to her, but a hand landing on my arm has me pausing my footsteps. Looking back, I see Diedrek looking behind me, to the witch with a look of mistrust.

"You do not have to do this." His eyes fall to me, and I see so much sadness in them.

Turning my body his way, so I'm closer to the man I love, I hold his face with my hand, "It's going to be okay. I know it is, I can feel it." I allow him to see all the things I am feeling now through my eyes.

He must believe me because he gives me a slight nod of his head. One so light, I wouldn't have seen it had I not been a vampire. Once I know I have his trust in me, I walk closer to the witch. "I'm ready."

Closing my eyes, I feel her cold hand cover my eyes. She speaks in a language I do not understand, but once she is finished, she moves her hand away. I can hear her telling me to open my eyes, but I pause for a minute. Not knowing what to expect once I open them.

When I do, I instinctively take a step back in shock. For the woman standing in front of me is no longer scary looking. She's beautiful. Her blonde hair is so long, and wavy, it reaches her butt. There isn't one blemish, mole, or wrinkle in sight.

"How," without meaning to I reach out my hand to touch her beautiful face. I don't actually touch her, I'm almost afraid that if I do, I will make the illusion disappear.

Her two sisters both step up right behind her. One has brown hair that comes to her shoulders, it shines as she moves. The other pure black hair, straight, and smooth, reaching the middle of her back. All three look to one another, and smile their full-blown, straight white teeth smiles at me.

"What do you see?" I hear Satine ask from somewhere in the distance behind me.

The heat from Diedrek's body hits my back, letting me know he moved closer to me.

"Is everything okay baby girl?" He whispers into my ear, his face buried in my hair. Out of instinct, I tilt my head to the side, giving him access to my neck.

Before I can answer either question, Bunny takes a step closer, "touch our hands." The three witches hold out their hands, ones that no longer have warts on them.

Their skin is smooth, no wrinkles present. Hesitantly, I reach out my hand, feeling it shake as I move closer. When I am an inch away, I look up with worried eyes, right into Bunny's deep blue ones. She simply smiles and nods her head in encouragement.

Placing my hand in hers, causes a bright light to fill the room. I see Diedrek place his hands in front of his eyes and can only imagine everyone else behind me is doing the same. Next, there's a gush of wind that is so powerful it sends each of us flying across the room. Luckily, I land on Diedrek, he caught me with his arms, just as Darius did with Satine.

"Everyone all right?" I hear Darius cough out in the room, as I see him stand up from his spot on the floor with Satine close to his body

. I hear Satine, Lucas and Diedrek all answer him. When I don't, I feel Diedrek move my body the way he wishes, so his face is directly in front of mine.

"Are you okay?" His tone holds worry as his hands paw at me. Trying to look for any injuries, or anything that could be wrong with me.

Laughing hysterically, he looks at me like I've gone crazy. Maybe I have? I wish to answer him, but I cannot stop the laughter that falls from my mouth. I must hold my stomach because it hurts, I'm laughing so hard.

"I'm fine...I'm..." I break off into a fit of more laughter.

"She will be fine. She's just feeling the after affects from her powers."

Looking over I see all three of the witches rising from their spots on the floor where they were thrown. The sheer power that came out of me even knocked them on their asses. When they dust themselves off, I hear everyone's shocked breath from beside me. They can see the beautiful women they truly are now as well.

"What treachery is this?" Darius pushes Satine behind me and unsheathes his sword.

My cousin Lucas takes a fighting stance beside him, as Diedrek drags me along behind him to where they stand. He stands me beside Satine as he works his way in front with them. Causing Satine and I to share a look and roll our eyes, "you would think they'd realize by now that we are not defenseless."

She whispers next to my ear. "Right?" I mumble back at her.

"No treachery. This is our true forms." The one with the black hair answers Darius's earlier question.

"We had been trapped in those hideous disguises for well over a hundred years." Bunny blows a long part of her blonde hair out from in front of her eyes.

"How were you trapped?" I ask as I work my way to stand just behind Diedrek.

If the stubborn ass would move, I would be able to see her better. "We know how evil the vampires are. Especially, the ones that are in charge. The ones who took us from our home and forced us here against our will." The one with the brown hair answers, indignation coating her words. The sister with black hair, holds her back so she doesn't come charging, as the men are ready to fight to protect us.

"What my sister is trying to say, is when your father attacked our village many years ago, our grandmother turned us into those hideous forms to save us from becoming something awful. If you know what I'm saying." At Bunny's words I feel Diedrek's shoulders relax.

His head falls, with a sigh falling from his lips. "Unfortunately, I do. All too well." His head turns slightly to the side to look at his cousin. Satine reaches for my hand and holds on tightly.

"Listen, we will tell you more about everything if you take us with you." Diedrek and Darius share a look with one another.

I know they are discussing things telepathically. "If we were to do that, our father's would know you escaped and come searching right away. We need time to get away from here, as far as we can so we can form a plan." I can see on Diedrek's face that he wishes he could, knowing the cruelty that was placed on them long ago.

"That won't be a problem. All we need is help from your mate there, and we can all get the hell out of here. For the last time." The three sisters step up closer to our group, their hands held out.

All eyes focused on me. I'm not sure what they need me to do, but I'm more than willing to help if I can. All three men turn to look at me, seeing the determination in my eyes.

"They deserve to be free as well don't you agree?" Diedrek smiles at me, as he steps aside, allowing me to hold their hands.

"Follow our lead." Bunny tells me as we form a circle. I smile knowing that I can help not only the people I love become free but help them as well.