We continue our discussion as I tell everyone, “You know I like control.”
Sam nods, “Most of us at this table do.”
Katie laughs, “Why I'm surprised you haven't killed each other.”
Vincent looks at her, “Because we can't.”
“Then you are mates. But what about Elena?” Artemis asks Vlad.
He confidently looks at Artemis, “She could never read my mind even after I made her a vampire.”
Even though I know a bit between what Vincent told me and what I have gleaned from Vlad so far, I know a bit of his history. I just want to see if he will openly tell me it or not. I ask Vlad, “Willing or unwillingly?”
Vlad looks at me as he relives it, “She'd have died. I had no choice.”
He's telling the truth as I saw it all just now, “How quickly did she accept the loss of her mortality?”
“Nearly instantly. She adapted to being turned quickly as well,” he said.
That caused a thought to rush into my mind, what if she's like me? I look at Vincent and he nods, so I continue my efforts to learn more. “She's the one the
necromancer bound correct?” I ask Vlad.
Vlad told me yes, so I ask, “Emotional, spiritual, or physical binding?”
He cocks his head as if I said the most odd yet intriguing thing. So I try to clarify my statement, “Oh there's a difference.”
Research is something I do and I tried during this haze to learn as much as I can. Knowledge is power if you know how to use it!
Artemis ponders it for a moment before saying, “I've never heard of it, but do tell.”
I take in a breath before I reply, “Obviously physical is where if one is physically injured so is the other. If one dies they both could die. Emotional is where if one is sad, the other is as well. Spiritual is similar to my understanding of the mating bond. Nothing can separate it, not even death. The souls will forever find each other. Thus strengthening and enriching each other in each lifetime.”
Vlad looks at me in amazement because I know something that he doesn't, “Eva, how do you know all of this?”
I shrug, “I just do plus researched all that I could.”
Vincent looks Vlad in the eyes as he asks, “Do you both believe me now?”
“Brother, I at first thought you'd lost your mind when you suggested that you'd found your mate and that she'd offer to release Elena in exchange for information, but not now. I understand it all,” Vlad says.
I smile because it looks like any animosity that was between them has faded, “Seeing is believing after all.”
Vincent laughs as he remembers, “The theme of our first meeting too, my love.”
I kiss his cheek before I turn back to ask Vlad, “So is this necromancer a human or vampire?”
Vlad told us that the necromancer is a vampire. I can't help but grin devilishly as I think of ways this could play out, “Oh this'll be fun then! But not as easy as if he were just a warlock. I wonder how he'll like being dominated by a woman though.”
Artemis cocks his head as he asks, “Did I miss something?”
I smile sweetly and bat my eyelashes as I say, “I can control vampires.” Sam just chuckles as Artemis's and Vlad's eyes grow very wide and Marcus raises his
eyebrows.
“And you brought her here!” Artemis yells in concern as Vincent just shrugs his shoulders.
I look Artemis in the eyes as I say, “I don't control my mates. I only intend to control others when necessary. I'd rather have a willing army beside me.”
Artemis replies, “Not in front of you?”
“No, I always fight my own battles!” I tell him.
Artemis grins, “Just like you boys.”
I shrug as Katie tells Artemis, “Yeah she and Vincent are a bit too much alike, but Eva is only an ass if you cross her while Vincent just is.”
Vincent yells, “Katie!”
Katie laughs, “Oh mess up my hair again, my bestie will just fix it!”
I laugh, “I suggest you behave, my love. I've known her longer this lifetime,” I tease Vincent before I continue, “Now back to Elena. We will free her during daylight.”
Artemis says with concern, “But our powers!”
With confident satisfaction, I grin, “It has no effect on mine, in fact, it rejuvenates them.”
Vlad chuckles, “Oh he's so fucked!”
I smile as I recite one of my favorite quotes from A.E. Houseman, “In every American there is an air of incorrigible innocence, which seems to conceal a diabolical cunning.” As my amusement grows I say, “Wait until he gets a load of me because he's not seen anything like me yet!”
Marcus can sense that I already have a plan in mind, but he asks anyway, “So the plan?”
I take in a breath before I reveal my thoughts, “I can torture him emotionally through illusions. No physical harm so Elena won't be harmed. If he still refuses, then I'll just make him. He's a vampire so I can control him. Doesn't matter if he has wards, as I'm a witch too but a much more determined one. Let me take care of the dishes as an example.” With a wave of my hand, I have them cleaning themselves.
Artemis says in amazement, “No incantations!”
I nod, “Nope I just think and it happens. At first I used spells but now I'm only limited to my imagination.”
Marcus says, “Witches must chant.”
I smile, “Yep and that wastes time, giving me the perfect opportunity to strike!”
“Can't wait!” Vlad exclaims with newfound pride.
Artemis warns, “Daylight Vlad.”
I smile, “Oh it won't be an issue.”
Artemis nods but then asks, “Why are you wanting to free Elena?”
I reply matter-of-factly, “A few reasons. Most importantly she should be in control of her own life. Next, she should be able to choose who she loves. Just because I don't get that luxury doesn't mean that I don't want it for others. Lastly, assholes that use others to fight their battles deserve to die!”
Artemis looks at me smugly, “Well I remain neutral.”
This is my chance to get him to see things how I do that there is no such thing as neutrality when it comes to matters of life and death, “But yet you're not. You see you created Vincent during the war, a time when you claimed you were neutral. You chose a side, you just might've not realized it.”
Artemis says, “I didn't, I just helped a human.”
“Humans fought the Vampire King too. Now Vincent is a vampire who fights beside me as we give birth to the New Order. So you helped which made you no longer neutral. But it's okay, nothing is black and white,” I explain.
Artemis just looks at me as Vincent smirks. Vincent says with pride, “Amazing, isn't she?”
Artemis nods to me, “You do have a point.”
I am thankful that I have gotten through to Artemis because I can't help but feel that I am going to need the assistance of all that I can. Both change and darkness are growing, and I don't like either.