Chapter Eighty-One

***Authors Note: Forewarning, this chapter will have some references in it that are explained at the beginning of The Matriarch, so I will try to explain things in a way that you won't need to read the other book and keep it an option, although it is strongly recommended that you read at least the first five chapters of the Matriarch, before reading this chapter. During the next few chapters, the books will be crossing over, so if you'd like to get the full story from both perspectives, I'd recommend catching up on The Matriarch, before reading this chapter. Like I said: I'll try to explain everything the best way I can, but if I miss something, please let me know in the comments so that I can explain further, so you don't miss anything. Thank you! Hope you enjoy reading!***

"No, we were not lovers." Damien snapped, clearly pissed off by the very notion as his eyes flashed red, but reverted as he contained himself. "She has tried in the past, but I never entertained the idea, nor did I allow her to think she stood a chance. I made my feelings towards her known, from the beginning." He explained to me, shaking his head softly. He turned back to face the recreants and looked at Hanna. "Where will you be going now?"

"We still wish to protect you during your wedding, if you will have us. But we were planning on leaving and going to start our lives, but we wanted to thank Bastet before we did anything more. Is it safe for us to rejoin society?" Hanna asked, waving for the group to disperse. All except for Hanna and a few others left, bowing to me once more before doing so.

*'I don't know how Damien ever got used to this. To have vampires bowing to him, pledging their very lives to him. As the king, I understand why all other vampires will protect him with their lives, but I'm human. And now I have an army of recreants behind me? I will never get used to something so insane.'* I thought as I looked at the small group of recreants who remained behind.

"I changed the law, so the leaders of the continents had instructions, immediately told to cease the hunting and destruction of recreants. To be safe, why don't you stay on this continent, where Bartholomew is the leader. Until we can send you all out and work from there." Damien answered, looking down at me with a slight smile, reminding me that he could practically read my mind and knew what I was thinking. I smiled back and gave his hand a quick squeeze before I remembered the woman in the basement.

"Wait! Hanna, would you mind doing something for me?" I asked before she had the chance to turn and leave.

"Of course, anything." She nodded, her golden eyes bright as she waited for what I wanted to ask of her.

"We have a... Guest downstairs. Would you mind bringing her out here? I know as a recreant, you won't have a problem with overpowering her." I asked, feeling myself getting excited, thinking about what was going to happen next. *'Hey, if I'm going to have an army behind me, may as well put it to use.'*

"Of course, Bast. Where would that be?" Hanna asked, stepping past Damien and me, smiling at Samantha before waiting for my direction to do as I asked.

"You aren't going to ask who or why?" Sam asked, chuckling softly.

"No," Hanna responded, then explained further when she saw the incredulous looks on Sam and Bartholomew's faces. "If she's locked in the basement, she did something to cross your king or your king's bride. Regardless of who they crossed, I've pledged my life to Bast, which gives her full right to ask of me as she pleases." She explained, then looked back between Damien and me, still waiting for one of us to tell her where the basement was.

"Down that hall before you, and to the right," Damien said before looking back down at me, furrowing his brows in confusion. "May I ask what you have going on in that head of yours?"

"You can, but you'll just have to wait and see," I said with a foreboding smile, knowing the look in my eyes was nothing short of demonic amusement as I waited for Hanna to return.

"I think you have passed your villainous nature onto Bastet, more than any of us originally thought possible," Sinclair commented as he sat on the steps, bringing my attention to a huge chunk missing out of the bottom step.

"What?" I asked, pointing to the gap, but then shook my head, holding up my hands. "Nevermind, I don't want to know," I said as I heard a scream and a woman yelling. I couldn't help the snicker that came out as Hanna came back up the steps, carrying a woman by the back of the throat, bringing her to me as I'd asked.

"Samantha!" Sam gasped out as he rushed to her and moved her out of the woman's grasp before she could touch her.

"Thank you," Samantha mumbled softly, thanking Sam, watching curiously, as Hanna continued to bring the woman forward.

I had to admit the woman was fighting as hard as she could to get loose, but Hanna carried her by the back of the throat like she was weightless, not bothered by her struggle in the slightest. Hanna didn't release her until she was back on the driveway, where she tossed her down and surrounded her with the other recreants who'd remained.

"So, you're the one who tried to kill me on my wedding day?" I asked as I took Damien's hand and walked with him down to where she was trying to escape. Every time she got to the edge of the circle the recreants had made around her, they would either kick or punch her back to the center, each strike resounding like thunder, causing her to go tumbling backward. I should have felt shameful about this, but I found myself rather enjoying it. I guess I wasn't the only one, because Sam, Bartholomew, and Sinclair all joined the circle of recreants and helped them contain her, chuckling when it was their turn to force her back into the center. *'This woman is not very smart. She'll die if she keeps trying to escape, as none of them are pulling their punches to contain her.'* I thought as I continued to watch in amusement, waiting for the woman to take the hint and stop her futile escape efforts.

"Amelia, I'd suggest you stop trying to escape. They are enjoying this very much, and I can't promise how long they'll be able to keep themselves from ripping you to shreds, just for the hell of it." Damien boomed, his voice as harsh as the sound of the impact. From the glimmer of amusement in his eyes, I was surprised he hadn't joined the circle to torment her as well. I had to remind myself that in Damien's position, he didn't do these types of things, but left them to those under him to tend to, regardless of whether he wanted to do it or not.

Amelia finally stopped trying to escape, but a little too late as she was quickly becoming covered in her blood, her various wounds hemorrhaging as she couldn't get blood to heal them. "Yes. It was me." She cried out as she fell to her knees in the center of the circle, looking around at the ones surrounding her, but refusing to look at Damien and me.

"Tell me something I don't know. How about, why?" I asked, feeling my blood began to boil as I looked at the woman. She couldn't have been more than 5'2, with short platinum blonde hair and an obtuse unattractive figure. She would have been attractive if she attempted to care for herself, but even covered with blood: it was clear she hadn't practiced any personal hygiene in at least my lifetime. Her teeth were yellowed and black, her face caked with layers of dirt, matching the color of her mud-brown eyes, her fingernails long and unkempt. I understood why Damien was so offended when I thought they used to be lovers.

"My wife asked you a question, Amelia." Damien snarled after she still hadn't responded to my question after a few moments. He looked up at Hanna and gave her a quick nod.

Hanna didn't hesitate for a second as she broke formation and took Amelia by the back of the throat, then slammed her face down onto the paved driveway. I could hear the sound of her teeth breaking off from the impact, but couldn't find an ounce of empathy for the woman.

"Because I was jealous!" Amelia cried out, spitting out a mouthful of blood, still refusing to look up at Damien and me. "And she isn't your wife. I made sure of that." She added spitefully, laughing with a maniacal cackle.

I released Damien's hand to take a few steps back, feeling something unknown trying to take over. I didn't know what it was, but it was a power different than the vampiric abilities I'd been using recently. Somehow, I knew it was more powerful, but more like an innate nature forcing its way up. I don't know how I knew, but I knew it was something I already had inside of my self, something I'd never needed to use before. Not until now.

*'Babies, are you doing this to mommy? What is this?'* I thought, simultaneously trying to hold back whatever was trying to force its way forward while trying to figure out what it was. I let out a scream as I fell to my knees, unable to contain whatever it was. I could feel it taking over, like a fire in my belly, slowly making its way through me, from head to toe. It wasn't the same type of fire that Damien gave me, but one I somehow knew was dangerous.

"My love, what's wrong? Is it the babies?" Damien asked as he kneeled in front of me, shielding me from the group of onlookers we had.

"I don't think so. No, it's something else." I gasped out as I felt shutters going through my body, knowing it would only be seconds before whatever it was; came forward.

"Can I do anything to help you? What is it?" Damien asked, his eyes wide in a mixture of fear and confusion.

"Lucifer, if you wish to live, you need to move," Sinclair said as he stepped out of the circle and tried to push Damien to the side. Damien refused to move, and shoved Sinclair, putting his arms around me, still trying to figure out what was wrong.

"Bastet, I know you have no control, but aim at Amelia, the best you can. Recreants; the moment it happens, move." Sinclair commanded in an even and confident tone.

*'Does he know what's happening to me?'* I thought as I turned my attention to Sinclair, looking up into his golden eyes. His eyes were clear and fearless, telling me that I was correct. He knew what was happening to me and was keeping it to himself.

"For the love of God, man. Sinclair, you know what's happening to her. Do you care to tell the rest of us?" Sam roared as he took a hesitant step forward, then looked past me and into the house, where I'd honestly forgotten that Samantha was still here. I'd been so concentrated on Amelia and the recreants, I'd forgotten all about Samantha. "Stay back, Samantha, whatever this is, I don't think you should get too close." He said to her in a soft but intense tone.

"It's been happening since her birthday, Lucifer. I knew it would force its way forward eventually, but I didn't think it would happen this quickly. Yes, I know what's happening. Trust in me when I say, move or die, Lucifer." Sinclair snapped and looked back at the recreants, nodding to them to make sure they understood what he was saying.

"What is it?" Damien demanded, doing as Sinclair said and taking a few steps back. Everyone was watching me, their faces solemn and worried as the spasms worsed, waiting for whatever it was to begin.

"Hopefully, she's dying. The dumb slut doesn't deserve you anyway, my king." Amelia shouted, causing Damien's eyes to go red as he whipped around to look at her, snarling. Amelia didn't seem to care that she'd angered him as she began laughing softly, the sound slowly getting louder while continuing to watch me, her eyes bright as she waited for what would happen. *'She is hoping whatever this is, kills me. The dumb bitch.'*

"No, leave her," Sinclair said, putting his hands on Damien's shoulders, keeping his eyes trained on me.

The spasms ended as the sound of Amelia's cackling reached my ears, like it had flipped the last switch in the transition. I looked up at Amelia, no longer afraid of whatever it was that was forcing it's way up. It started as painful, but I found myself enjoying the dark and twisted sensation that had come over me.

A collective gasp came out as their eyes widened, looking down at my hands as I stood. I wasn't dissuaded by this, as the only thing on my mind was Amelia, and making her pay for what she'd done. To me, Damien, and our unborn children. She'd sent vampires to kill me on my wedding day! *'I don't care if she didn't know that I was pregnant, but this bitch could have killed me, and our children! What would become of Damien if he lost me, and our children, on our wedding day? Yet she has the nerve to say it was out of jealousy? Like she has any right to claim she loves him? My man, my love, my Damien, my devil.'*

"He is mine, you worthless piece of disgusting trash!" I screamed at her, throwing my hands forward, watching in utter delight as she was swallowed by flames, letting out a gut-wrenching scream of pain.

*'Wait, flames? How in the hell am I doing this?'* I thought as I looked down at my hands to find that they were, indeed, engulfed in flames.

"Oh my god, what the fuck?" I screamed as I fell backward and landed on my butt, looking at my hands as I tried to shake them, to let out the flames, but to no avail.

"Calm down, little Bastet," Sinclair said as he came closer, kneeling in front of me, but didn't come too close as he was afraid I would set him on fire as well.

"Calm down? How do I calm down, Sinclair? My hands are on fire! Why is this possible? How is it happening? And why are these things always happening to me?" I cried out, feeling my tears falling freely down my cheeks as I continued trying to douse the flame, but nothing seemed to help. The more upset I got, the bigger and harsher the blaze became.

"If you don't calm down, it won't stop." He said, keeping his voice low and even. I knew he was trying to help, but he wasn't helping in the slightest.

"Bast, breathe, it will be okay. If the flames were dangerous to you, wouldn't it hurt?" Samantha's soft voice suddenly said from behind me, bringing my attention to her instead of the group before me. I turned around to look at her, looking into her soft brown eyes as I struggled to take deep breaths, letting the lullaby of her voice lull me into a calm state. "See? Look. You're calming down, and the flames are going down." She giggled as she looked down at my hands, before returning her gaze to meet mine, smiling in encouragement.

"Your bride is an elemental, vampire king. You were not aware of this before?" Hanna mumbled, trying to keep her voice low so I wouldn't hear it, but failing as I heard her nonetheless.

"What the hell is an elemental?" I asked, looking back and forth between Damien and Hanna, who sight simultaneously.

"Can we go inside? I never wanted to know what burned flesh smelled like, and now I would very much like to do my best to forget." Samantha said, holding up her hand to gain their attention before they could begin explaining.

Sam chuckled softly, holding his hand out to Samantha, "Yes, let's go inside."

Damien finally came back to me, picking me up in his arms to carry me over the threshold, followed by Sinclair and Hanna. He didn't set me down until we were in the library, where he set me down in his lap, making space for Hanna to sit next to us, Sam and Samantha sat on the couch across from us, and Sinclair sat on the chair between the two.

"Where did Bare go?" I asked, realizing he didn't come inside with us.

"Who? Oh, Bartholomew? He's cleaning up outside with the recreants." Sam said as he stood and left the room for a few minutes, coming back with a tray, carrying multiple mugs. He handed the mugs of blood to Hanna, Sinclair, and Damien, keeping one for himself. Samantha and I thanked him as he gave us a cup of tea.

"Well, Bare is easier than saying Bartholomew, and Samantha, thank you so much for being here for me, but you dont have to stay," I said as I carefully sipped the tea.

"I want to be here if it's okay with you guys. I can't believe I didn't know about anything before, but I don't want to continue living my life in ignorance." Samantha said, cradling her tea as she looked down at her lap.

"Respectable, Samantha," Damien said after gulping his blood, before nodding and looking at Sam and Sinclair. "I know it will be more explaining on our behalf, but I like Samantha, I think she should be able to stay if she wants to. As long as she doesn't plan on taking my place in bed, that is." He added with a soft laugh, causing Samantha to furrow her brows in confusion. "Valerie," Damien said, realizing she didn't know what he was referring to.

"Oh, yeah, that sounds about right." Samantha said with a soft giggle, before holding her hand out to Hanna, "I'm Samantha."

"A pleasure, Samantha, I'm Hanna," Hanna responded politely, eying the cup in her hands before taking a hesitant sip.

"So, what's an elemental, and how am I one of them?" I asked, waiting until everyone had relaxed enough. I could tell they were all still on edge after what had happened outside, and it took them a few minutes to realize I was fine now and wouldn't set them on fire.

"An elemental is a being with the ability to control the elements. Wind, Water, Fire, and Earth. I cannot pretend to know much about them, as they hold themselves as royalty amongst everyone and thing else." Damien explained, pausing to see if Samantha or I had any questions, but we didn't, as so far, it seemed pretty straightforward.

"Recreants and vampires are arguably the second most powerful beings, and elementals regard us as nothing more than the dirt beneath their feet. That should say what they think about anything beneath us." Sam added with a scoff, rolling his eyes.

"So they are stuck up and treat everyone else like they are nothing, regardless of what they are or what status they hold? So there's no leader for them?" Samantha asked.

"Yes, but no. There is a king, Edward. He's been the ruler of elementals for close to a millennium. He built the empire that elementals now lord over the rest of us." Sinclair growled, shaking his head. "I know your next question will be how did he become the king, so allow me to explain. Among the elementals, there are three types of elementals. There are base, middle, and royal. The base elementals can only control one element. The middle can control up to three elements, but only a royal born elemental can control all four."

"I'm going to hazard a guess that only the ones sharing blood with Edward, are the royal born elementals?" Samantha asked as she took another sip of her tea, watching Sinclair with wide eyes as he explained.

"That means one of my parents would have to be an elemental, for me to have this ability? Why is it just happening now?" I asked as I set my cup down to readjust the way I was sitting in Damien's lap. The babies were kicking in excitement, making me uncomfortable.

"For elementals with only half elemental blood, if he or she is not raised learning how to use their abilities, it's locked away until they turn eighteen. I do not know much more than that, when it comes to elemental hybrids, I'm afraid." Damien explained, rubbing my belly softly while smiling.

Hanna eyed us curiously when he saw the way Damien rubbed my belly, but she said nothing about it and turned her attention back to Samantha as she began speaking again.

"I know Bast's parents are assholes, but not telling her about her abilities are just wrong." Samantha said, shaking her head. "Unless they aren't your real parents, and they didn't know." She added thoughtfully.

"That would make the most sense, seeing as the things they've done to her are unbelievable to me," Sam said, nodding his agreement. "Sinclair, what do you say we go gather some blood, find out for sure."

Sinclair smiled as he stood, looking like he wanted nothing more. "Yes, lets. Hanna, care to join?"

I watched as Sam, Sinclair, and Hanna left, looking a little too happy to go about this chore, making me wonder if the amount of blood they were going to gather would leave two more bodies for disposal. "Wait, Damien. What do you do with all of the bodies you get rid of? Like the wedding guests. That was a lot of people to disappear without a trace."

"Are you sure you want to know?" Damien asked me softly, furrowing his brows. I nodded my answer, making him sigh softly. "We staged am explosion, making it seem like they were all on a yacht partying, and the engine malfunctioned."

"How did I not know about that? It seems like something that the media would show." I gaped, watching him in surprise. *'This man does a lot of things I don't think about, I mean, Jesus!'*

"I went through some channels, had it buried." He responded with a shrug, then saw the look on Samantha's face, causing him to laugh.

Samantha didn't know what to think as even after Damien began laughing, she continued to stare at Damien, wide-eyed and horrified.

"If I die, will I at least get a proper burial?" She finally asked, trying and failing to blink away her surprise.

"You will not die, Samantha. But should you meet an unfortunate end, yes." He responded, stifling his laugh to try to appear serious.

"How do you know I won't die? I'm human, and we humans usually die first."

"I can not argue with that logic, but you have caught the eye of a recreant and a vampire. You will not be easy to kill."

"Wait... What?" I asked with a smile. *'I imagine the recreant he is referring to is Sinclair. Oh my, Sinclair has his eye on a human?'* I thought, then burst out laughing. I don't know why I found that so funny, but picturing Sinclair with a human was deserving of a hysterical reaction. *'But who is the vampire? It could only be Sam or Bare.'*

"In the interest in not affecting the way you feel about either of them, I will keep it mum who those two are," Damien said, shaking his head.

"Two immortals are interested in me?" Samantha asked incredulously, a furious blush spreading through her cheeks as she shook her head in disbelief. "Bast, how are you doing? I imagine it can't be easy to find out that you aren't what you thought you were."

"I have no choice but to keep my cool, Sammy. I don't want to chance to hurt my babies. Oh my gosh, Damien. That means our babies will be part elemental too!" I exclaimed, jumping up in surprise.

"I've never heard of a partial elemental, only a half and a full. I suppose it would explain why they're so powerful, but we cannot speculate if they'll have that power until they're born." Damien responded with a sigh, shaking his head. "My God, we are in for a ride." He gasped out, looking down at my stomach in a mixture of fear and respect.