Blood Mates

Rayne Harbinger

Josette Harbinger winced as her daughter helped her put medicine on her back. A special blend made from a witch who did business with her kind. Rayne said nothing as she silently applied the slave on her mother’s injuries.

As Josette felt the medicine slowly seep in, she could feel her strength coming back as her back healed. Rayne closed the jar and started to leave, but Josette told her to stay.

Dressing in her usual custom black dress and pumps ratio, Josette looked at her daughter’s stoic face. “He didn’t mean it Rayne.” Josette reminded her daughter. Rayne said not a word as Josette went into the usual tirade, that her father hadn’t meant to punish her. That it was just the anger caused by the surprising defeat.

“I know mother.” Rayne said quietly. Josette nodded severely and righted herself to make sure she looked immaculate. And though the whip marks she’d received from her husband made it hard for her to look in control. She could still pretend she was to save face in front of her daughter.

They had come to a house in Devil’s Horn and found help in an unwilling participant. Now the horde of vampires made themselves at home had used them to heal the wounds and anger they felt.

Now they were all in the basement, bloodied and lifeless. Josette stared out the window of the bedroom she stood in. “Your father wants the Knight family to pay for what they’ve done. But with the old man near them, he knows we can’t act out right.”

Rayne watched her mother turn to her, “But Alaia won’t expect treachery from you. And with our little friend running around causing trouble. We should be able to have them right where we need them.”

Silent, Rayne didn’t even look at Josette.  She didn’t want her mom to see how much she didn’t want to betray her friend. How badly she’d rather run away from her entire family.

But there was no running from her blood. They had all the means and time to find.

Josette grabbed Rayne’s chin hard and commanded her to follow orders, “Your father expects this of you. Don’t disappoint him. Or you’ll be the one suffering from his anger.”

Paling as her mother roughly released her, Josette told Rayne to leave her. Josette stood at the window like an unbreakable statue. But Rayne left out seeing the cracks in the beautiful alabaster marble.

And she knew they ran deep because of the man she called father.