Nicholae was no longer at the wheel.
Yet no one knew except the demon who was in control of the body. For so days without end, he laid dormant waiting for a chance to snatch the reigns from the idiotic vampire.
Who would have guessed of all the triggers that seeing Jeffery again would give him strength.
He should kill Osei now that he had the chance but he'd be dead before he lifted a finger.

'He is another lead we could explore.'

'Have you tried torturing him?' The demon smiled at Jeffery who was asleep.

'He's my life source, I can't risk it yet. But since you're a vampire, you could use your compulsion.' Osei offered.
But the demon in Nicholae's body had no intention of helping Osei. He did however have plans for Jeffery.

'Of course. But that'll have to be another day, we've been gone too long.'

Nicholae had done a fine job of gettingOsei's trust. Revealing his life source, poor fool had made a mistake. Once the mistress got word of this, he'd be promoted.

They left the tent with his mind working quickly. How could he communicate with the boy without the wolves hearing his conversation.

'You've suddenly gone quiet.' Osei frowned.
Nicholae couldn't let him regret letting him in on his best kept secret this far.
'Of course. First Seth, Danielle and now Jeffery. We will have important pieces to the puzzle soon.'

The demon saw the solution to his initial predicament.
Fauna stepped out of the cabin, walking intently towards him. Her steps faltered when she finally looked at him.

'My Lord. Is everything alright?' She asked with a worried expression on her face.

'Peachy. Just a slight stomach ache.'
He could get used to being called Lord.
Osei excuses himself and sought out Cayden.

'Did you handle communications with Seth?'

She nodded. 'He's going to text me his decision.'
A text? That simple. Well one thing he knew for sure was there was no way Osei would let Jeffery get a phone.
'That's not secure enough Fauna. His phone can be easily compromised. For now that will have to do.'

'What do you suggest ... my Lord?'

'You're the witch, think of something.' He replied impatiently and Fauna flinched a little.
Maybe that had been too harsh, this Nicholae fellow was a fluff. The demon groaned, he'd have to be more careful with how he handled this.

'The pain is making a little edgy. Find me a spell that would allow me to communicate in someone's dream.'
He nearly snapped his fingers when the idea sprouted in his mind.
'You can do that can't you.'

'I think there's a spell for that back in the libraries.'

'Good. That's where we're all going then. Round up the rest of the goons.'

Fauna stopped Nicholae,
'My Lord, shouldn't we stay a while? I think Valentina would want that.'

Nicholae groaned and rolled his neck of his shoulders, a knot had just formed as a result of sheer stupidity. He was the Vampire Lord, his word should be law and not second guessed by mere servants. He contemplated using compulsion on the bitch but there were too many eyes.
What would Nicholae do?

He spun with a creepy smile on his face.
'We'll get her a phone.' There, handled like a pro.

'She might want you to comfort her in person.'

'A phone and a laptop, they can video call.'

'I don't mean...' Fauna tried once more but his patience was already worn thinner than possible.

'I Don't care! We're leaving, girl.'

Fauna hurriedly bowed and left his presence. He stalked to the G wagon waiting under the trees. The demon took the opportunity to savor the body he'd possessed. Such leathal power rushing through him, the demon remembered the taste of the witches blood at the Lynch residence. He'd shared in that plunder and excitement and he wanted more of it. Again he would have to be discreet, he was an important person after all.

Ten minutes passed by and Fauna still hadn't returned with his 'family': a spoilt brat and a dumb bitch.

Nicholae slammed the door as he got out and climbed up the stairs avoiding Osei when he could.

He tried a couple doors before finding them.

'I'm not going Nicholae.'
Valentina said in a cool voice. She stood before the window with her arms crossed, beside her was Niko who just stared expressionlessly.

The effect Valentina had on him was surprisingly strong, her voice sent a dizzy spell his way nearly knocking him over. He had to catch himself.

'Are you okay? Is something wrong?' Her voice was closer now.

'I'm fine.' But as he spoke, he could feel his grip loosening and he fell back down into the abyss.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Nicholae blinked at Valentina who was now in his vision.
'I'm going with Papa!' Niko told Valentina.
'But I think you should stay here and keep Semi company.'

Valentina shook her head, 'Semi will understand. Especially if he's not feeling well.'

'Valentina, you cant just waltz back in the manor as if you hadn't been dead for over a century, people are going to ask questions.' Fauna said politely but the wisdom in her words jolted Nicholae into a sitting position.

'She's correct. I'll have to leave you behind and handle the family accordingly.' The Tchkovsky didn't know what was about to hit them.

'Cole! What happened? You passed out.'
She sat beside him cradling his head on her shoulder.
'We need to get you to a doctor!' She fussed.

'I will. Once I get back to the manor. Fauna and Niko will see that I do.'

Valentina cradled his face between her palms and examined his face.

'You better not lie to me. Or I'll break down the doors to the Manor and drag you there myself.'

Nicholae chuckled.
'And I don't doubt that you would Val.'
She searched his silver eyes, and in her searching she got lost in the depth of them. A depth that unleashed many emotions she'd longed buried under the pain.

Now more than ever she wanted her memories back. Even now there were spots in her mind that were compressed.
The love shining in the silver eyes were too genuine to plot evil or betrayal.

'I'll get our stuff in the car.' Fauna announced and she ushered a protesting Nicholae out the door with her with Rex close by.

Nicholae touched both her hands,
'Val.'

'Shut up. I'm mustering the courage to do something.'
She pulled his face to hers and kissed him.
Nicholae's hands slid across her thigh and lifted her unto him and she went to him. She cupped the back of his head to get better access into mouth that tasted like everything she wanted.

Her body sang at the touch of his hands which snuck under her shirt and now caressed her bare back.

Valentina couldn't blame her blatant desire for Nicholae on anyone or anything else when she felt this way. As if it was her instinct to need his arms around her, his lips on her and him inside her.
Her determined fingers undid the first few buttons of his tunic granting her access to explore his chest and taut abdomen.

With a moan, she moved even closer to him attempting to close a gap that barely existed.
Nicholae slowly ended their kiss and took his hands away from her skin leaving her cold and feeling abandoned.

'I don't want to take advantage of you.'

He was not making sense. She was a very willing participant so what the hell did he mean.
'You aren't taking advantage of me.'

Yet he still shook his head.
'I want more than anything to kiss every inch of your body right now and take you like a mad man. I need you more than you can imagine, I dream about pushing myself into you until you scream my name and come for me.'
Valentina swallowed. He wasn't really doing her any favors, the bastard. She was still not getting his point. He seem to want what she wanted.

'You don't remember everything Val. I don't want you to regret it when I make love to you. I want you to come to me.'

'So why don't you tell me what you did that was so sinful. Would it be better if I hear it from you?'

He shook his head once again and Valentina couldn't help but notice how much he looked like a child.

'I'm a coward.' He answered.

He was scared of being there the moment the smile in her eyes turned dark with hatred for him. And still he hoped.
He hoped that hidden somewhere in here memories, she'd find a reason to forgive him. If not forgive him, a reason to understand his actions no matter how stupid they were in hindsight.

But Valentina won't come to know this until the time was right.

'You have to get going I suppose.' Her voice was soft and she was trying to conceal her anger.

'Nicholae,' she called to him at the door.
'I don't know if this is about Niko. But you've made a beautiful boy, and I think I can forgive whatever betrayal from you because of him. Regardless of who his mother is.'

Nicholae smiled at her.
'I'll hold you to that.' He lightly joked but the smile never fully reached his eyes.
But he'd confirmed one of her suspicions though, his greatest betrayal was having Nicholae.
Unless there could be more.
A fleeting thought skirted past her mind, but she wouldn't even give life to it because it was entirely too dumb.
Nicholae couldn't have possibly killed her.

              ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Valentina went to find Semi after waving Niko and company goodbye.
Her body was burning with a slight fever and her steps were unsteady but she managed to locate the pair.
Semi was stargazing with Liza.
Valentina sat beside her and placed her head on her lap.
'May I be selfish?' She started.

'Of course, a welcome distraction from counting friggin stars.' Semi replied.

'I drank both potions.'

Semi's immediately took her face in her hands.
'What the hell Valentina! You weren't supposed to do that.'
Semi compared temperatures.
'Why would you do something this stupid!'

'Because I want to know why I should hate a vampire I want to love.' She exhaled.

Valentina's eyelids grew heavier and her body began to weigh her down.
She must be asleep since she was already dreaming. Because she saw flashes of images of a young boy with an uncanny resemblance to Osei.
That was her Aaron. Her best friend since her fourth day at North point.
She dreamed about her parents who she never saw again after they left her at North point.
She saw her life at the castle once more as she'd dreamed before.
Then she remembered the first time she saw Nicholae she couldn't quite call it love at first sight. But it had been something.

Valentina's breathing slowed drastically, her body and heart participated in a deliberate roller coaster of emotions.

Her mission was to know everything. She didn't want to wait any longer and finally after some odd years of being in the dark, she would have all her answers.