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Pain filled her, drove her, and made her see far more red than she’d experienced in centuries. But what kept her going even more was that woman’s face. She knew there was a chance they would meet. A part of her wanted to. It was only fitting that she gets to see that traitorous bitch suffer for everything she’s done.
But she hadn’t expected their reunion to happen tonight. No, she hadn’t even considered Theresa Harker’s move to save the abomination she birthed. The Theresa she knew was a joke. A wisp of a girl who had the good fortune to be born to powerful parents who loved her despite being so weak.
So…ordinary. Theresa Harker was beautiful in a traditional manner. She could admit that. And the younger woman was intelligent, not on the same level as her father, but still a fine opponent for all things considered. But the sight of her shielding something that shouldn’t have been born was… unsightly.
What do they see in her? She should have been executed years ago, and now Klaus is… she finally stopped running and leaned against a tree while she transformed back into her true human form. She didn’t know if the word “true” applied anymore. She didn’t look like herself. Not to her, and certainly not to those she left behind.
Her long red hair reflected the crimes she committed for love, and she could swear it grew softer with every year. But that wasn’t the worst of it. No, the worst was how her love acted around Theresa. She could have forgiven anything else. She’d already done so a thousand times.
It was a necessary thing for their relationship. It wasn’t her love’s fault. It never was. Not really. Their love should have been as fleeting as snow. Soft and sweet… until it avalanched into something deep and mysterious. Something neither of them had planned for. She was meant to die in the arms of her beloved.
That was what she wanted. That’s what they agreed to. She had beaten the odds when her attempts to preserve her beauty attracted the most glorious creature she’d ever seen. And a day never passed that made her regret falling in love with the devil in the form of a young girl. That same girl who whispered words of love whenever they were together…But only when they were together.
A soft sigh left her lips as she chose to walk the rest of the way home. Theresa hadn’t followed. That was good. There were rules for games like this, and the younger woman understood that. It was everything else Theresa needed to understand. The cold ground felt good and damp under her bare feet, making her steps the only sound on the wind.
But that wouldn’t be the case for long. The werewolf would die and if everything went according to plan, the abomination would be taken care of shortly after. There was no reason to rush… Except I want that bitch to suffer like I do. I want her to know what it’s like to lose everything!
Death wasn’t good enough for a woman like Theresa Harker. Pain wasn’t good enough, either. But she was a master at the waiting game. She knew how to bide her time and pounce when the moment was right. Finding the abomination had been a stroke of luck, but the timing was off.
She would do better next time. The little house she was renting was a far cry from the life she used to live with her husband and children. They would surely laugh if they could see the large windows covered in rose vines that gripped stone that wouldn’t survive a determined invader or fire.
But, like many things in her life, her tastes in accommodations changed. She lived to see her beloved smile, and this was the kind of house that would provoke such a reaction. The floors were covered with white carpets, and the kitchen leaned more toward the modern style, all steel, and chrome, but there was plenty of room for guests.
Her love adored having people over. It helped her reconnect with their kind and sometimes provided a snack—one that would sadly die in their bed. But that was a small price to pay since it meant she wouldn’t be separated from her love for a few more days. Those days were beyond priceless, and she knew that once this ugly task was done, her love would doubtlessly need to be comforted.
And she would be there waiting with open arms to provide anything and everything she needs. It was practically finished. She just had to wait a few more days, barely a day until the abomination or its father would be executed, and that bitch would either be in exquisite agony or dead. Anyone who dared take her love’s attention away from her would die.
It was the same when she was human, and it was the same now. The world belonged to her and hers. She wouldn’t let anyone get in the way of that. Not even those whose connection to Theresa was so thin that they may as well not even exist. A frown tugged at her lips as her thoughts wandered back to Klaus.
Dear. Stupid. Klaus. The boy hadn’t done much to deserve his fate. In many ways, they were quite similar. Both were engaged to someone with little hope of affection, never mind love forming as long as they could produce an heir to carry on their family name. But Klaus was a product of his time.
He believed Theresa would come around and accept him if he waited long enough. She could still remember how shocked everyone was to hear that Theresa had disappeared with a mongrel so beneath her. It was a miracle the two had met. Yet the unthinkable happened, and the boy was left to look like a fool.
She couldn’t remember the last time she’d laughed so hard. In all honesty, she would have preferred if things had stayed that way. But almost twenty years later, the unthinkable happened again. Theresa Harker’s whereabouts were discovered, and an ugly little secret was uncovered.
Luckily, her love was in Canada, and she had no plans to return to her side anytime soon. Her beloved had a new toy, and her attachment was currently greater than her desire to see Theresa again. Normally, this would have hurt her, and it had when she realized her love would continue to hunt in this manner.
But she had learned to forgive her. She didn’t and wouldn’t forgive anyone else for this. That’s why Klaus died. She couldn’t help humming to herself as she stretched out on the bed, admiring how the drapes gave the room a cozy, romantic feeling. The house was the reason she chose to stay in this miserable country.
It had to be perfect for whenever her beloved came back to her. It was perfect the day she saw it, more so when she tore out Klaus’s throat and left his body where it could be found. The fool should have remembered his place and kept his mouth shut, but he believed in his station–his mother. Klaus foolishly believed that the world still respected such things. She didn’t fault him for that.
Every era has its fools, and even being born from one of the purest bloodlines didn’t prevent the occasional mistake. It was something she saw often as a child. But that wasn’t the reason she killed Klaus. He died because he forgot who he was dealing with and that her position far surpassed his.
But at least his death would serve a purpose. Theresa would lose the mongrel she slept with, and the abomination would surely meet its end shortly after. She was certain Klaus would thank her for the privilege if there was a way to communicate with him. But she’d settle for the look on Theresa’s face when her world came crashing down.
Theresa
She tucked Antione into bed, a feat she hadn’t been permitted to do since her little boy lost his fear of the dark. It was a time she missed, and a flash of shame quickly burned through her as she kissed his forehead. “I love you, Antione.”
Only the sound of his breathing answered her. She was tempted to watch over him all night. And she would have done so if the faint scent of old tobacco hadn’t made her wrinkle her nose in distaste. “It’s a bit late for socializing, isn’t it?”
“Technically, it’s early… How is he?”
Theresa stared at Antione’s sleeping face and absently pushed his bangs to the side. “He’ll be fine. My baby is strong. But Klaus’s killer has overstepped her bounds…”
She turned, leveling her gaze on the man the way a general would his troops and continued. “…my child has been threatened. I demand answers.”
The man chuckled, taking out a mahogany pipe, and tapped it against his palm as he returned her gaze. “I’ve already told you everything I can.”
“That was before my son was attacked.”
“You don’t know that she would have attacked him.”
“Do you think I’m a fool?!” Theresa rose, hands shaking as they formed into fists at her sides. The man raised both hands, pipe still held in a loose grip as he shook his head.
“I never said that, my lady. But if my master asks, then I shall only tell him the truth. Yes, the killer was making her presence known to the boy. But she didn’t have a chance to strike. You drove her away and caused the humans to panic.”
Theresa snorted. “They were already panicking. They’re not stupid. This fog is unnatural, and some are already bold enough to explore it while the weather persists. He needs to change tactics. Will you tell him I said so?”
“I could, but you know that only works so far. Even his wives can’t change his mind once he’s decided something.”
Theresa closed her eyes and forced herself to calm down. “Why are you here? Did he send you to check on me?”
The man tapped the pipe hard enough to make a loud cracking rap and scowled. “Is that what it looks like? You think I would come here just because he ordered me?”
“Isn’t that what started this?” she said, crossing her arms as he stared at her. “You followed me on his orders. I won’t deny that having you around has made things easier. But we both know where your loyalties lie.”
“That’s cold, Theresa.”
“The truth often is.” They stared at each other for a moment before the man stepped closer and looked at Antione.
“You’re right. It is. It always is… How… How are we going to fix this?”
“I don’t know. If it were anyone else, I would have handled things and gone on with my life, but…”
He nodded. “But the one responsible isn’t someone we can touch lightly.”
“Which is why your master is here, I take it? He wants to keep his word to my mother at the cost of my family?”
“Robert was the one who got himself into this mess, Theresa. The master simply took the best path that presented itself to him.”
“Do you really think that?” She turned to him, hoping for something she couldn’t name, yet knew it existed because it was for Antione’s sake. And her child’s future was the one thing she wouldn’t sacrifice… no matter how much it hurt. Her path was clear. She only had to hold on and keep Antione at home, sleepy, and safe for about a couple of days.
Antione wouldn’t forgive her, but she was certain he would understand eventually. The man sighed and put his pipe away. “I’ve been instructed to ask you to come back home.”
“I’m not abandoning my son.”
“You don’t have to. The master is willing to shelter both of you… If you come with me before the dog’s sentence is carried out.”