Blood Mates

The Upper Hand

Rayne Harbinger gasped in pain as she looked down at the nasty cut in her side. Huffing as she paled in pain, she knew she didn’t have long before her father or brother tracked her down.

And since neither male, even related to her, barely cared about her, Rayne knew she was f****d.

Her mother had made it clear she’d do anything to make Wraith happy. Or at least happy enough not to punish her again. And while Rayne felt for her mother and situation, she had also remembered her mother’s many lessons.

And self-preservation was always yelled more than the others. Whether a warning or just a coincidence Rayne was now in a place where she had no choice. She had to think of herself. And she wasn’t ready to turn just yet. At the cusp of sixteen, Rayne felt her body wasn’t ready for it yet.

She still wanted to fill out and prepare herself mentally before shedding her human skin and taking the complete plunge into being a vampire.

Something she wanted to plan out herself with people she cared about surrounding her. Not her father grasping at straws. His main agenda? Hush up a family who would dare be happy without him somehow being involved.

Which is why he’d come into her room in the middle of the day while she was sleeping. He’d come at her with his sword and after trying to stab his own daughter in the stomach. Only missing because of his healing injury from the old man.

While healed on the outside, it was still messing him up in the inside.

And it had given Rayne the chance to run, but as her adrenaline pumped, Rayne hadn’t noticed she was injured. Until she was suddenly feeling fatigue and almost dropped on her face.

But in the middle of Devil’s Horns, the only directions she could take were back home to her family. Or to the high school where she could possibly get help. Rayne did the smart thing and went towards the high school.

And got corned by a man working for her father. “And where do you think you’re going little Harbinger?” Holding up a knife, the vampire hopeful smiled crazed, “Daddy said I can carve ya up however I want. Apparently, you pissed him off running off. Now I get to have fun.”

He charged at Rayne with his knife up high, but Rayne grabbed his wrist, twisted it in an odd angel and sent a kick to his balding head. As he laid on the ground unconscious, Rayne searched his pockets and found keys, a phone, and stole his jacket.

Shuddering in disgust as his B.O began to immediately cling to her skin, Rayne jogged out of breathe to his car. Falling against it, Rayne could barely get the keys in the door she was so fatigued. But she finally did and collapsed inside wanting to sleep.

Laying back against the seat panting as she broke out into a furious sweat, Rayne looked at her wound still slowly healing. Born of two vampires had it’s perks even when human.

Better healing, speed, and agility. But it was only a fraction of what she could have. And even though she wasn’t ready, Rayne had to admit it’d come in handy right now.  

Driving the car dangerously since she didn’t have much practice, Rayne barely made it to the school and caused four accidents on her way there. Running inside with the huge coat dwarfing her, Rayne pulled the hood over her head when she saw an adult.

But the teacher studying her nails barely paid the rushing Rayne any attention. Rayne followed Alaia’s scent from memory but when she saw she was in a classroom groaned in fear.

She couldn’t afford to wait for the class to finish. But she knew barging in would make a bigger scene. Just when Rayne was sure she’d have no choice, she smelt another scent she sort of knew.

Looking around, Rayne took off down the hall in the opposite direction and ended up in a library. She found Jasper laughing with another guy and rushed to him as she held her waist, “J-jasper?”

Jasper’s head snapped up from AJ and looked to see Rayne holding her hand to her stomach. Seeing it bloody, he and AJ both stood but he barely acknowledged his friend as he ordered, “Go and get Alaia.”

Grabbing Rayne, he pulled her to the back of the library as AJ took off for Alaia. “What the hell are you doing here?” Rayne swallowed nervously as she begged him to listen, “I had nowhere else to go. My dad’s trying to kill me!” Jasper jerked back shocked Wraith was that cold, “Damn everyday with this guy. Has he never thought about taking up golfing rather than homicide?”

Both looked as Alaia joined them and AJ dapped Jasper up before disappearing to leave his friend to his drama. Alaia hugged her friend tight and asked, “What’s happened?”

Rayne looked around unsure, “We should go, it’s not safe here.” Alaia looked at Rayne confused, “Isn’t your parents asleep? I know they don’t use jewelry like mine.” Rayne shook her head, “My dad might be groggy but he’s awake for now. My mom and brother are asleep, but my dad has the resources to hire any of these townies to kill me.”

Alaia and Jasper didn’t need to hear another word. They pulled Rayne out of the school and after getting her in the truck, she explained.

“Since your grandfather put him in his place, my dad’s been going nuts. Like he’s always not liked Eric for not being more like him, but this is something else.”

Jasper looked in the rearview at the shaking girl, “What is? What is the huge issue?” Rayne licked her chapped lips scared, “My dad prided our family on being the oldest, strongest, most elite family in our community. But your grandfather coming forward shows we’re not, not to mention the fact you AND your dad have now mated with vampires of high standing. Your names and bloodline have proceeded and started ours and he’s lost his damn mind trying to get revenge.”

Jasper looked behind them and calmly said, “We’re being followed.” Rayne started to look but Jasper hissed, “Don’t, he doesn’t know we know yet.” Rayne sat still as Alaia checked out the vehicle, “It’s Ms. Rollans car. The ninth-grade math teacher.”

Jasper noted the masculine hands on the driving wheel, “But damn sure not Ms. Rollans driving.”

As they came up to an intersection, Jasper ordered them to hold on and sped up. Flying through cars and narrowly managing to get away, the human however wasn’t so lucky and got hit from two sides.

Jasper watched in his rearview as a human rolled out of the car bleeding before taking off. They got to Fallen House and Jasper took note of the humans watching the house discreetly.

“My dad hired them after he found out Donny was alive. Trust me they’re not as fragile as they look.” Alaia commented as they soared past them. Going inside, Jasper and Alaia helped Rayne out with her side and had to wait until her family got downstairs.

When they did, they all found Alaia comforting Rayne as Jasper stood looking murderous. “You all need to hear this,” Jasper said pacing. Eric looked at the hyped-up young man and had never seen Jasper so livid. Desmond smacked his shoulder in comfort as Eric sat and faced Rayne.

“What’s going on honey? Are you okay?” Rayne shook her head, “No…my dad’s trying to kill me to make me turn.” Eric figured as much, “Why?” Rayne sniffled, “At first he wanted me to come here and make you all trust me. But I SWEAR I told him no way in hell would I do that to Alaia. So, he told me I had to turn so I could fight with them. And then he tried to kill me while I was asleep.”

Sophia covered her mouth as Haven sat beside Rayne. “Oh my god sweetie. Are you okay?” Rayne touched her bandaged waist, “I’m fine. But my dad, he brought-.”

Eric nodded, “Donny Shamus back after Alaia killed him. The thing is, how did he get Donny to drink his blood?” Rayne rolled her eyes, “My dad slipped it in his drink at a bar he found out he frequented. He was watching Alaia for weeks before he announced we were here.”

Alaia froze in horror, “But why was he watching me?” Rayne breathed out and then admitted, “My brother, Renaldo is a lot of things. And a danger to women? Kind of takes the cake.”

Rolling her eyes, Rayne admitted, “No woman, human or other would touch him with a ten-foot pole back home. He’s built up quite the reputation for being a monster.” Rayne breathed out as she whispered, “The last time my brother bedded a woman, he basically tore her to shreds. For no reason other than boredom.”

Horrified to hear this, Eric asked, “Geez. And what does that have to do with my daughter?” Rayne looked at Jasper worriedly, but he nodded, and she told Eric what was pissing him off.

“He thought Alaia would be able to take it.” Sophia’s eyes widened as Rayne explained, “He thought she was broken enough to threaten or intimidate into submission. And even though Eric had said numerous times he wouldn’t force Alaia to be with anyone, my dad thought he could. Or Renaldo could, and she’d eventually just go along with it.”

Loren’s teeth gnashed as Eric could now see why his son in law was so on edge. “So what? He was going to hold her captive until she broke. Over my dead f*****g body.”

Rayne met Eric’s eyes sadly. “He would. To keep you all from coming after her.”

Reaching for her sister in law, Haven asked confused, “But why Alaia, of all the girls he could force his son on. Why Alaia of all people?” Rayne shuddered, “Because of our grandfather. He found out about the bodies Renaldo was piling up and deduced he wouldn’t stop. Almost killed him for killing a mortal girl related to a head scientist on his payroll.”

Glancing at Eric, Rayne softly remembered, “My dad had to beg him not to kill Renaldo. But grandfather made it clear if my dad couldn’t find Renaldo someone who can keep him sane, he would kill them both.”

Eric stiffened, “So he thought my daughter would be a worthy candidate? The hell?”

Alaia looked up at her dad as she finally spoke, “He thought I’d work out because of me being “broken” whenever he saw me. He thought because of my time asleep, because of how I was acting.”

 Jasper growled in disgust, “Basically hoping she gets Stockholm syndrome from being trapped with that asshole.”

 Loren shot up, “Okay that’s it, we’re taking the fight to him!” Desmond smacked his nephew’s shoulder, “Yeah like your enthusiasm nephew, but Wraith, even injured, could probably kill us. He’s older and stronger.”

Alaia looked at the fallen sun right on the horizon, “It’s almost dark. They’ll come looking for her, and they’ll try to go through us to get what they want. And I’m not losing my family.”

Suddenly the door opened, and Daniel walked in laughing with an older man. Walking in like old chums, Jasper turned his attention to his grandfather, “Grandpa?”

Rayne stood as everyone else looked at the man she called grandpa.

Looking at the intimidating man standing beside Daniel, everyone watched as the man righted himself. “Good evening all,” He greeted as he waved Rayne over and boosted proudly, “This is my granddaughter Ray-.” Stopping from his introduction, the old man stiffened, “What happened to you?”

Rayne looked at her grandfather as he drew himself to full height. And there stood, Gregory Harbinger. Even supposedly almost a century, he was still a handsome and well-built man. And as his blue eyes turned cold, they watched as his granddaughter started the snowball down the hill.

“Dad tried to kill me. Tried to force me to turn early.” She whispered softly. Jasper raised his hand, “Also killed me and my dad.” Gregory’s eyes snapped to his and then Desmond as he told him casually, “Attacked us in our home.”

Alaia swallowed hard, “Plotted to make me be with his son against my will, going as far as to killing my mate.” Eric nodded tiredly, “And has brought back a drug addicted teenager with no impulse control to roam around the town. Bringing attention to all of us considering he’s the son of the mayor.”

Gregory looked ready to explode at this point. But Sophia sprinkled a little extra on top, “Who has already attacked his ex-girlfriend, who has lived and seems to remember exactly what happened. And we’ve seen an increase in missing teen girls in the past few weeks. Which is raising even more questions.” 

Haven hummed as she felt it necessary to add, “And both he and Renaldo have really creepy obsession with Alaia. Like stealing panties and waiting outside her door type creepy.”

 Gregory looked like an atomic bomb about to go off.

He looked at Daniel for a moment who nodded in confirmation of Wraith’s actions. Gregory’s response was a roar so loud the windows shattered. “I’m going to kill that half brained abomination with my bare hands!”

Everyone was a little shook from the aggression rolling off Gregory. But Daniel stood calm as he patted his friend’s shoulder. “Now, now. We’ve already dealt with one half of the equation. What’s the other?”

Gregory relaxed and as the windows magically fixed themselves, he nodded. “True.” Everyone looked at them confused, but Gregory raised a hand, and two vampire men came in and threw someone on the floor.

Everyone looked down at Donny tied and bound looking extremely uncomfortable. And he apparently seemed to be tripping on something awful. As his eyes rolled into the back of his head, Jasper looked up at the two old men surprised. “Oh, nothing hurting him,” Gregory assured him as if that would bother him.

Jasper snorted as he shrugged, “Pity,” Daniel laughed lightly as he said, “It seems someone wanted to shut him up until they got him somewhere. Only we got to him first.”

And as Donny laid on the ground twitching and groaning, the Knight and Wynter family got the upper hand.