Chapter 81 Ch. 51
Zara’s week had been painfully slow and mostly boring after the whole police investigation. Classes rolled by the same as always, and then there was the everyday training for the regional preliminaries. Yvette’s death had almost disappeared from the talk around school. Someone mentioned it once in passing and then it faded, as if it had never happened at all. The police had almost given up hope and every single person in school had been cleared of being a suspect in her death.
There had also been no other report of a serial killing. The only other thing that was now beginning to strike her as odd was Ethan always wanting to be around her, even more than he was before.
She didn't mind it at first— she liked him... a lot. And there was nothing better than being shown attention from the person you were obsessed with, but it was now beginning to seem off. He walked her to practice, waited after school, found a way to weasel his way into her hangouts with Prunella, and even when he was not explicitly around her, she could always feel him watching her from a distance. She kept telling him there was nothing to worry about since the other night, and she wasn’t a target for a serial killer either. He’d only give a small smile and change the subject.
Now the regional prelims were done, and she’d won again.
The margin wasn’t as big as the qualifiers this time, but it didn’t matter. As long as she beat Raina, it counted. First place wasn’t the point—proving Raina wrong was. And one thing she knew for certain was if she beat Raina, she was going to get first place.
The cheers had drained her. After the medals were handed out, she slipped away from the crowd, past the smell of sweat and energy drinks and the sound of her name echoing behind her. She had found a way to escape every local reporter trying to talk to her. The hallway outside the locker rooms was cool and empty. She ducked into the small bathroom by the training office and let the rush of running water fill the silence.
Leaning over the sink, she let the cold faucet run and tried to catch her breath. Her muscles were burning because the course they had run was slightly longer than usual. Her head was still ringing with the noise of the wind when she was running. The mirror reflected a flushed face and a damp strand of hair stuck to her cheek.
“Hello,” a deep voice said behind her.
Zara jerked upright and turned, but no one was there. She glanced back at the mirror and froze.
A man stood behind her reflection. He was tall, coat hanging to his knees, dark hair with several streaks of grey pulled into a bun.
She spun around. “Who the hell are you?”
He tilted his head. “The real question is who are you—and how are you immune to compulsion?”
Her heart skipped a beat. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
It was a lie. She knew exactly what he meant, but how the hell has another vampire found that out? The only person who knew that she knew was Ethan.
“Oh, really?” His eyes locked on hers in the mirror. “Tell me everything you know about our kind.”
A strange pressure pushed inside her chest, her throat tightening, mind squeezed as if someone tried to draw words out. She blinked hard and the feeling slipped away. "Why should I do that?"
The man nodded slightly, letting out a quiet sigh. “I thought Luciano was just getting weak so I thought I'd try. You really are immune.”
The name rang in her head—Luciano. She’d heard it before and just then, a memory of Prunella’s mother greeting Ethan the day they were at the police station came to mind.
Zara’s eyes widened. “You’re Ethan’s father.”
His mouth curved. “Clever girl.”
“I'm Lorenzo dear," he smiled. "And I'm sure you must understand why I have to do this."
She looked at him, confusion furrowing her brows. In one smooth motion he was suddenly behind her. His arm slid around, elbow pressing against her neck.
Zara gasped, clawing at his sleeve. “Please—”
He tightened his grip. Air caught in her throat. Her nails scraped his coat but he didn’t budge. The faucet kept running, water hissing as her vision blurred.
The door slammed open just then.
“Father, please!” came Ethan's desperate voice. He could not believe his eyes.
Zara tried to breathe, but the hold only tightened. Ethan grabbed his father’s shoulder. “Let her go!”
Lorenzo turned his head, still holding her. “I’m helping you do what you should have done long ago.”
Ethan’s breath hitched. He yanked at his father’s arm. “Stop—”
Zara’s chest burned. Ethan pulled harder, but Lorenzo’s grip held fast. She clawed at Lorenzo’s arm, but it was to no avail. He was probably a thousand times stronger than she was.
“Father, please,” Ethan said again, his voice cracking as he tried to pull Lorenzo’s arm away. His breath caught and he staggered a step as if he was losing air too.
Lorenzo kept his hold and his eyes flickered towards Ethan. Then he laughed, looking as Ethan struggled for air. “You think this is love? You let it weaken you Luciano.”
Ethan gasped and held his chest. “It’s not—” He dropped to one knee and pressed a hand to the floor, fighting for breath.
“You feel it because you care for her,” Lorenzo said. “That is what hurts you now.”
“No,” Ethan said. “It’s not that—please, let her go.”
The bathroom door opened hard and hit the wall. Dylan stepped inside and shut it with a quiet click.
“Lorenzo,” Dylan said, his eyes on his brother. “Don’t do this.”
Lorenzo didn’t turn. “Don’t tell me what to do,” he said. “Get out. What is this? A conspiracy against me from my son and brother?"
Dylan stepped closer. “You have to listen. Stop now.”
Lorenzo looked at him for a moment, his arms still locked around Zara's neck. Consciousness had begun to slowly slip away from her. “You think you can order me?”
Dylan ignored him and looked at Ethan. “Tell him the truth if you want her alive.”
Ethan shook his head fast, still gasping for air. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“I know what you found in the archives,” he said. “I know about the levitation.”
Ethan’s eyes widened. “No. Don’t say anything. He’ll do worse.”
“And she will die,” Dylan said.
Lorenzo narrowed his eyes. “What are you both hiding?” His grip on Zara eased a little so she could pull in a small breath. She used her leg to try to kick him, but he was quicker and hit her stomach.
“She is a blood catalyst,” Dylan said. “You don’t want her dead.”
Lorenzo paused for a moment, something flickering in his eyes. Then he gave a short laugh. “And why should I believe that?”
“Because you know the name I’m about to say,” Dylan said. “Amara.”
Lorenzo froze.
“Seventeen years ago,” Dylan said. “Amara disappeared. You searched for her yourself. You never found her or the child she was pregnant with.”
Lorenzo’s eyes flashed. “How do you know that name?”
“Because I read the old plans you left in the archives,” Dylan said. “And because she can’t be compelled. You just tried and she stood there. What does that tell you?”
Lorenzo looked down at Zara. His grip loosened more though his arm stayed at her throat. “Amara’s daughter,” he said.
Zara coughed, gasping for breath. Ethan seemed relieved at his father loosening his grip on Zara. He rubbed his throat that felt sore. "Zara... Are you okay?" He managed to cough out.
“And one more thing,” Dylan said. “Ethan is bonded to her. If she dies, your son dies with her.”
"Is that so?" Lorenzo asked quietly, removing his hands from Zara's neck. She heaved a sigh of relief, her vision still feeling clouded.
"Look at your son Lorenzo."
Lorenzo's eyes flickered to where Ethan's hand rubbed his neck. A visible strangulation print was there.
He swallowed hard, clearly conflicted.
Quickly, he grabbed Zara's arm. "You're going to come with me."
"No, she won't Lorenzo," Dylan said moving forward, menacingly.
"And you think I would let another clan get their hands on her? People have been quietly looking for Amara's daughter. Knowing what they would do if they connect the dots? Knowing it would possibly kill my son? If they can't get to our clan, to take over power from us... They would use Zara, heighten their abilities and kill her when they're done, killing my son alongside her."
"It's not like you're not taking her for your own selfish gain," Dylan shook his head. "You only know to be more careful now that she's bonded to your son. But you can't take her. Not when everyone is out there,” Dylan said. “If you want her out of here you’ll have to compel every guard in this building, and you can’t be everywhere at once. I won’t help you, and Ethan won’t either. He’s in love with her.”
Lorenzo gave a small nod, a faint smirk on his face. “I’ll see you very soon, Zara.”
He stepped back and walked to the door, his coat brushing the floor as he left without another word.
Zara could barely stand. Her throat ached, and her chest hurt each time she tried to breathe. She pressed a hand to the sink, her fingers shaking.
Ethan moved fast and wrapped his arms around her. “I’m sorry,” he said. “I’m so sorry. I should have stopped him sooner. I shouldn't have... Shouldn't have ever let him know there was someone I couldn't compel."
She leaned into him because her legs felt weak, but her mind was racing. Her mother. Amara. A daughter no one found. The words circled in her head and made no sense. Her mother’s name was May, not Amara. At least that was what she had always believed. Had her mother lied? Was her whole life a lie?
Her throat burned when she tried to swallow, and a dull pain ran through her stomach where Lorenzo had hit her. She tried to focus on breathing but the questions kept coming. Who was Amara? Why did they think she was her child?
“I saved you,” Dylan said quietly. He stayed near the door, his eyes still on Lorenzo’s empty place.
“You only made her more of a target,” Ethan spat. He pulled back a little but kept his hands on her shoulders. “My father will want to take her now, keep her under his control. We both know what that means."
“I bought you time,” Dylan said. "Time to do whatever it is you can to keep her away from his grip."
“We both know there's no way I can do that. You did this because you want something,” Ethan said in a rough voice. Tears were brimming at the corners of his eyes, but they didn't drop.
Dylan turned to her. “I’m not forcing you or blackmailing you, but I’m begging you, Zara, it is a matter of great importance. A life depends on it. ” he said. “I need just a vial of your blood. I’ll pay if you want me to, name your price, any price.”