We decided to leave before Dalton did because we couldn't risk him suspecting that we might follow him. Plus, Gabe needed a break from putting his energy into maintaining the veil of invisibility.
Once we have driven off of the Falls' property, Gabe lifts the veil.
Vlad grits his teeth, “Fucking cars!”
I take his hand and squeeze it before letting go, “If you tell me why you hate them so much, I will port us much closer to home.”
Vincent looks at him and then at me, “Brother, just tell her.”
Vlad shakes his head, “Nothing good will come of it.”
“I don't believe that. "The universe doesn't like secrets. It conspires against to reveal the truth, to lead you to it." -Lisa Unger. Eventually, all of us will know. For us to be able to help in any way, we need to know the truth.”
Vlad sighs, “Nothing good comes from me being in an automobile.”
“Vlad, you are not cursed. Yes, accidents happen but it isn't the car's fault. Usually, it is whoever was behind the wheel. Gran told us of the "accident" that took the immortal lives of Sam's parents and his grandfather but you don't see him blaming the car.”
Vlad scoffs, “No, he just blames magic.”
Sam growls, “With good fucking reason.”
I put my hand on Sam's arm, “It was never magic because if it were I would not be here and be your mate. Love is the ultimate magic and it is what binds us. Magic didn't kill. Wicked people did who sought power beyond their station did. The lust for power is what killed not magic.”
Sam sighs, “Maybe but I still don't like it.”
“It brought your Gran back. It allows me to be your mate. It put a tracker on Dalton. Magic isn't what is evil it is who uses it for nefarious means that is truly evil.”
He looks over at me and uses his free hand to take mine and bring it to his lips, kissing the back of my hand, “I love you.”
“I love you too.”
Morgan purrs, “She's right and all of you know that. But beyond that, what you all have is sacred. It's a divine gift. Cherish it and don't let any fear or secrets threaten it.”
I pet her before I get up and move back to sit beside Vlad. Gabe takes my seat and sits Morgan on his lap. I take Vlad's hand and intertwine my fingers with his. I reach up with my other hand to caress his jaw. I gaze into his eyes, “Tell me.”
Vlad turns his face to kiss my palm before he says, “I used to travel by car since their invention. I had one of the first ones in Romania. I didn't have issues with them until Elena. She was out with a small caravan on a mission. The townspeople had been reporting all sorts of things from missing farm animals and missing children to unexplained fires. I was off investigating the fires while she and her group were searching for the lost. Their caravan was attacked by a group led by a vampire hunter. He had vampires and I think witches working with him too. They killed my whole group as they tried to protect Elena. This was when I thought that she was just a gifted human too. The hunter knew that she was mine and he tortured her. He was slicing her skin as I arrived. He wanted me and she was just a bonus. I went on a rampage and I burned them all and those that I couldn't burn, I ripped to pieces. Some got away because I had to focus on Elena. She had lost so much blood. As her heart slowed, I had no choice but to Turn her. She resented me for a long time. But had she allowed my group to fly her or she were with me instead of a damn car, then things would have been different, at least that's what I tell myself. The day she disappeared involved a fucking car too. I didn't ride with her as I did the times before because every time I was in a car with her, I kept picturing her grasping at life in my arms.”
“Is that why you freak out when you ride with me?”
Vlad nods, “Yes, but it grips me harder than it did with her though. You mean more to me than my own life and the legend that I created.”
I kiss his cheek, “I can't be killed easily or perhaps at all if I am the ultimate weapon that Levi thinks that I am. But if ever by some shear chance that I am separated from you all, I will fight heaven and hell to get back to you even if that means that I must destroy other gods to do so.”