Chapter 20

Daisy sat in silence, looking out the windows into the rainy mist hanging on the trees and along the shoreline. She couldn't believe all that she had just learned, not only about her Aunt, who, as it turns out, was her mother.

To be honest, it wasn't that big of a stretch for her to think she was her mom; Clara raised her as hers. She now had a more profound understanding of why Clara never allowed her to call her mom.

The part she had trouble with was her Father's identity. An ancient master vampire. She was a vampire princess. She is sure as hell didn't feel like a princess, definitely not a vampire one.

Her father assured her that she wouldn't crave blood or other vampire particularities. The senses she has always had came from his line, and she would always have them, and they may even grow into other talents.

He did go into the sex part of things. When she bit Noah, she was supposed to take some of his blood and seal the marks with her tongue. But because she freaked out, that didn't happen, so it would have to be done again the right way.

Not only that, but Noah also has to bite her and take some of her blood into him. Somehow Raja was supposed to help with this.

Her father assured her that she would only crave Noah's blood and only in the thralls of their sexual climax. In time she would learn to control it if she wished.

It was decided that her father would be staying at the mansion with them. There was plenty of room, and they could meet his needs. That way, he would be close by should anything else change, or something new should happen.

She let out a sigh, and everyone turned to look at her. Still, she didn't remove her gaze from the window; in truth, she was much farther away in her mind than the window. She remembered a few more things that her mother let slip.

They were primarily little bits of memories, nothing special, just little things, remembering the last time she told her she loved her. When she went off to college, she said..."Your father would be so proud." At the time, it didn't mean much, but now it meant everything.

That was when she felt fur rubbing up against her and the vibration of purring. It was warm, and she leaned into it while still in thought.

She came out of her thoughts when she felt something wet and scratchy run along her face. She looked, and there on the couch sat Raja. She looked around the room, and it was empty.

She stood up and patted her leg for Raja to follow. He didn't seem to mind. She took them upstairs to his bedroom. Once inside, she turned, and there stood Noah, he held out his arms, and she went straight into them.

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Enid walked Micheal around to show him the rooms he could choose from. He chose a room that had been little used; it overlooked the garden instead of the favored ones that overlooked the lake.

"My god Enid she looks just like her except for the eyes she has my eyes. Now that I have met her in person and gotten to know just a little about her, I don't ever want to be left out again."

"There were some considerable threats to her life; she understands that you didn't stay away because you didn't love her, Micheal, just the opposite."

"Her mate is impressive as well that I am pleased about, Enid. There is still one more threat to deal with, and it isn't going to be a pretty ending. I have to find the Ghost and destroy him for good and all time."

"Is he that dangerous, Micheal?"

"Yes, Enid, he is, worse for the fact that he is totally and completely insane now."

It was then that everyone in the mansion heard the doorbell ring; it made everyone's nerves stand on end.

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Judith Lucas stood outside the locked front door to one of their summer houses. She was pissed. She had both Britney Myler and Brandy Pember with her, and here she was being treated like some stranger.

Britney and Brandy stood unimpressed at the moment.

"HOW DARE THEY TREAT ME LIKE I'M SOME COMMON STRANGER.!"

At that moment, the door swung open, and Enid was staring back at the one person she hoped never to see again. With a sigh, she had only one word come into her mind. Shit.

"YOU!! YOU'RE THE LIAR THAT TOLD ME MY SON WASN'T HERE; HOW DARE YOU TAKE SUCH LIBERTIES WITH ME. I WOULD FIRE YOU RIGHT NOW, BUT I KNOW THAT YOU AND THOSE OTHER TWO FUCKTARDS ARE THE ONLY SERVANTS HERE."

With that, she pushed past Enid and went into the house with her other two companions behind her. Right now, coming down the stairs was Micheal Deveroe; Judith didn't know what to think.

"What is he doing here?" she said with her voice full of awe.

"Mrs. Lucas, this is Micheal Deveroe, and he is a guest here at your son's request."

"Speaking of which, where is my son? He should be down here to greet his mother."

"He is at this moment upstairs comforting his mate in her grief and asked not to be disturbed."

Judith stood there for a moment, letting what Enid just told her sink in; he has a mate? How dare that little asshole do that? She had his mate right here with her. He can choose between the two, not select a backwoods nobody.

Everyone watched as Judith's face turned several different shades of red; she looked like a madwoman on the verge of losing what marbles she had left. Everyone took a couple of steps back, except for Micheal. He refused to move from his place on the stairs. As if he knew that was where she would go.

When Micheal refused to move, she started to yell for her son; no answer came. She tried to get past Micheal, this time using her Tiger to do it; he only laughed at her.

It was Enid who stepped in, Mrs. Lucas; if you are kind enough to wait here for just a little bit, we can have your chambers in the west wing ready in no time, and you can have a rest before dinner.

Judith suddenly realized that her crazy was showing. She stopped and nodded to Enid to everyone's relief. Brandy and Britney were the most relieved they had to endure the trip here with the woman.

As soon as they were away from her, they both called their families to get them out of there. Noah was taken, and his mother scared the hell out of them. There was no reason to stay.

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Noah came down the stairs shortly after his mother had left.

"Is Daisy alright?" a concerned Micheal asked.

"Yes, Micheal, she will be fine, she is still grieving, and then all this other information comes out. It is just a lot to process. She needs some rest. I have come to see what that old battle-ax is up to."

Micheal looked questioningly at Noah.

"No, Micheal, there isn't much love left in me for my selfish and vain mother. I don't think my father has much love left for her either."

Micheal put a hand on Noah's shoulder. Son, I think you should know something about your mother other than that she is insane.

Noah looked at Micheal, unsure of where this was heading.

"Your mother is insane, so is her Tiger. What worries me is that she smelled like death when she was in the room. It isn't something any of you could pick up. It is my senses as an ancient that allows me to smell and sense it."

"Why do you say this, Micheal. What is it that you know?"

"I can not be sure, but I have only smelled that smell of death once before a very long time ago; I told you about the elixir and how that the blood has to be given freely; otherwise, it turns foul."

"Well, there were some who took it anyway, and the elixir turned them into the walking dead. They would take the potion and then need more and more till finally, the elixir would drain them of all their life."

"As long as they took the Elixir, they would look normal, but when they could no longer get any within days to a week, they would turn into something that you would think of like zombies; they go insane and start to eat whatever. Flesh they can find including their own."

"I am not entirely sure, but there was a rumor that those who drank more than three doses had gone past the point of return."

"I think your mother has been taking the Elixir and that she doesn't have long to go before she becomes something else."

"It was unsure in the books that I read or the rumors what exactly happens, but it has something with the two sides of the shifter merge permanently they are insane, and the elixir has done something to their soul, I am sorry buy it was very unclear."

"I believe that what they are called in their final state would be something akin to a native American legend, The Wendigo."