Chapter 12 ∣  Parting Ways

*Crossover*

The Omen's Key

(The Blood Magic Series)

The Omen's Key can be found on the account: @DarkR0se5

-Cayden

"We should go back inside," Maverick spoke softly as his gaze strayed away from my own. I hesitated but nodded and followed behind him only to come to a halt just as he had to open the door, stepping to a side to allow me to step into the mansion first.

The sound of the door shutting behind us made me tense where I stood, and I turned back to look at him only to find that he continued his attempt to avoid making eye contact with me.

It seemed odd to me, but nothing that surprised me. After I explained what drove me to set a pureblood vampire on fire that night, his expression went completely blank. The sympathetic look in his eyes vanished and a brief glint of guilt flashed in his eyes.

I pushed the thought out of my head though, beginning my steps towards the parlor. For some reason, the sound of Maverick's footsteps behind my own didn't make me uneasy in the slightest. Instead, it seemed almost satisfying.

Though I wouldn't wish it on anyone, it felt...nice to find someone who understood what it was like to be hated by, not only those who stood beside you, but by your own father. The only other time I felt some kind of feeling to home was when I found my new family: Rayne's coven. Still, there was one thing that I couldn't understand: how could I possibly end up like him? I would never kill an innocent just because I know I can, nor would I hurt someone I love. At least not intentionally I wouldn't.

Then again, to my understanding, he never intentionally hurt those he loves either.

I wanted to know more about him, more about his life and what exactly was it that drove him to become the monster people saw us, both, as it seemed ridiculous to me that one thought of another as a monster simply because they were born unlike the known.

No one is born a monster; we are made this way.

It was almost funny. We had to apologize for becoming the thing everyone claimed we were, yet no one bothered to apologize for driving us to be that way.

Did it justify his actions?

Of course, not.

But, in my eyes, he was just as much of a victim as those he hurt.

As we met the doors to the parlor, I was forced out of my thoughts, coming to a brief halt only to realize that I had already completely forgotten what I was angry for.

It's something...

I didn't hesitate to push the doors open and step inside, though perhaps I should've knocked because it seemed as though I had interrupted a very important conversation.

Important my ass.

The voices diminished, Rayne's gaze shifting to meet my own. It was in that brief moment that the anger and feeling of betrayal returned almost as if it had never left. I had no intentions of forgiving him easily.

How do you keep secrets from someone you're supposed to be trying to gain their trust from?

Maybe he wasn't trying to gain my trust.

In all honesty, it seemed to me that the only reason he allowed me to stay in his home was because he needed something from me.

He needs me.

Even if what Maverick said about Rayne caring for me was true, Rayne's intentions were far different when we first met. He didn't know me then; therefore, there was no possible way that he took me in simply because he felt the need to help someone, like the other members of his coven.

I glanced at the empty space in which I had been sitting and I stilled. It was hard to put on a brave face, but I did it anyway. I wanted to frown at the thought of having to be so close to him, because near him was the last place I wanted to be.

There was nothing wrong with being angry. I was allowed to feel as I pleased, and my anger demanded to be felt, even if it didn't please him.

Without a second thought, I moved to sit across from those who I called family, right beside the pureblood vampire woman, Lucette. At that moment, I preferred to sit beside demons. At least alongside them, I knew better than to expect more.

My arms crossed just beneath my chest as I threw my leg over the other, nonchalantly crossing them before me. I tried to ignore Rayne, turning my head to a side to watch Maverick as he walked to the spot in which he had previously been sitting on. For a moment, he seemed uncomfortable and it only added to the tension in the room.

As hard as I tried to avoid looking at him, my eyes seemed to have a mind of their own and shifted to Rayne as a deep sigh passed his lips.

He cleared his throat, continuing the conversation he was having before I interrupted him. It didn't last very long though as he was cut off by the sound of the parlor doors being opened, Tamsin storming into the room.

Normally, I would've found amusement in the way he had been forced to continuously pause between sentences. Then again, normally, a vampire raging bitch didn't barge into the room.

Now, what's her problem?

**

-Tamsin

Anger pulsated from my body, fuming with a rage I hadn't known since my father had ripped away the child that had been growing inside of me. That, I thought I'd never been able to forgive him for, though Maverick had been the one to prove to me that I should just forgive the ones who care about me.

They didn't care.

They didn't even bother to tell me who I really am.

At the same time, I had walked through the parlor doors, what had been once an ongoing conversation, went silent. My eyes scanned the room, seeing that Cayden had decided to so bravely sit next to Lucette, stealing my spot, I narrowed my eyes.

In their eyes, I caught Locaine's along with Lucette's and Rook's. They looked at me, their confusion was better left in the dark. Who knew how many other vampires of the coven knew about me...before I even did? My parents' fears weren't warranted, as they thought I would think so little of myself being born human.

I'd rather have been that way, just to get away from all the deceit and lies this place held. The way everyone was treated, wasn't what a loving family should be. No, I wanted something different. This was growing ever so tiresome, the hurt in my heart grew when I finally locked eyes with Maverick.

His hazel blue ones appeared lost. Confused as to why I was so angry.

If he knew...and hadn't told me...

"What's going on?" Maverick asked me gently, afraid to poke the hornet's nest further. Good, he should keep his distance as of the moment, I don't trust anyone. How can you live...lying to someone for so many years? I just didn't understand the true reasons behind why my parents thought I couldn't somehow handle and manage the truth.

I closed the doors behind me, my eyes also briefly shutting as I tried to calm myself down.

Fine, if you want to sit with the vampires...

My eyes shifted to Cayden, who also appeared to be in some anger or sorrow pit of her own.

...I'll sit with the apparent humans...

I was quiet, never answering Maverick's question as I walked around to the couch that had an empty spot. Never looking at any of their faces, I sat down right where Cayden had been sitting since, she decided to take my spot. It was right next to that demon, Rayne, my eyes just looking from the uneasy faces of the ones I once called my family.

"As I have mentioned," Rayne's tone was calm as he spoke more to Rook than anyone else residing within the room, "It is your magic that created the portal, it is also your magic that will seal it. Unfortunately, your magic is also required to seal the main gates therefore you are now one of the few things I have yet to gather."

Gather?

Altering my attention between Rook and Lucette, the feeling of being watched was one I couldn't ignore forcing my gaze to meet an angered Cayden. She glared at me in what I could only assume was jealousy.

Not enjoying me sitting next to your demon? Well, neither am I with you sitting next to my friend.

A small smirk formed on my lips as I gazed away, my eyes wandering to meet Rook's bothered expression. "If I decide not to help...what will happen?" Rook questioned, one that not even I found smart to do.

The demon, Rayne, seemed slightly annoyed by Rook's choice of words but did little to show his irritation, "Hell will break loose on earth." A light chuckle emitted from the back of Rayne's throat, his attention shifting to Locaine, "The place in which you all belong is nothing like the one you took upon yourself to rule over. Vampires are far from being the most powerful demons. Truth be told, vampires were originally slaves to the kind your grandson was mated to."

Oh, isn't that just lovely?

I watched the angered expressions rise in Locaine's face, his knuckles turning white as he gripped the arm of the chair.

How is that even possible? I've never even really heard about these otherworldly demons and now apparently our species use to reside in Hell? And to top it all off...we were slaves?

"I find that a little hard to believe," Maverick was the first to speak, "I don't see how that would be possible considering our strength. Eris..." he paused for a moment, "she wasn't powerful enough to ever overthrow me...though she came very close."

"It is amazingly easy to keep your kind powerless," Rayne spoke, almost directly at Maverick, "I assume...you are the strongest among your race. That is most likely why she could not...dominate you."

"Grandpa?" Lucette asked, looking past Cayden, "Is that true?"

Locaine refused to speak, glaring at Rayne before stating, "My own father told me stories once, but I never expected them to be true. Only Erebus can confirm that now..."

So, it could be true...Locaine is old but hasn't lived nearly as long as Erebus.

"With that being said..." Rayne's voice trailed off as his attention reverted to Rook, "...deciding you will help, you are to leave with us. You will be given one of the unoccupied rooms in my home, one of your choice that is, and you will stay until I require your magic and assistance."

Rook parted his lips to speak, but before he could mutter a word, Rayne seemed to have figured out what it is that he was to ask next.

"No, you will not stay simply to remain unoccupied for a while. If it were so, I wouldn't require you to leave now. You are responsible for the escape of five other demons therefore responsible to assist in ridding of them. Aside from this, you are to practice multiple spells before it is time, I seal the gates."

This time, when the parlor doors opened, no one stopped for a moment, discussing what would happen if Rook were to leave. Rayne had made this out to sound like an ultimatum, the power he held, I could feel it brewing next to me, should Rook refuse to come and help him.

This wouldn't be our problem...if Rook had left well enough alone.

That enticing scent greeted my senses, first seeing my father walk through the doors and then Micah, his gray irises searching the room briefly before they landed on me. I still had my arms crossed in front of my chest, my nails digging into the long jacket I was wearing.

Rook stated, "Well, I guess I have no choice in this matter."

Lucette scoffed, "Well, I'm not letting you go alone. Who knows exactly what will happen...and despite the fact that they need your magic to help them...they have killed vampires before? I have my reservations about them and I'm not letting you face whatever comes their way on your own."

If people are leaving...maybe I need some space.

I need to figure out who I am...not being held down here and surround by so many lies!

"I'm leaving," I breathed out, my eyes lifting to see my father come into view, standing near Locaine as he glared at me. Who was he to start getting angry? After everything they've put me through, I'm the one who should be lashing out and wanting to break his face at the moment.

My father growled, "So, you're turning your back on your coven...for him?"

Oh, is that what he thought?

Micah stood on the other side of Rayne; the apparent lack of seating was making it uncomfortable for him to decide what to do. Either that or his already stoic expressions were making it exceedingly difficult for me to decipher exactly what was running through his head.

Maverick cleared his throat, "And why are you going with him? Someone, you hardly know?"

Like he had any say in what I did.

My father narrowed his eyes at me and stated, "I won't let you go!" He then turned his gaze to Locaine and said, "You can't let her go!"

Here everyone was, deciding what was best for me like they always have done. They didn't know me, or maybe I really didn't know myself either.

Locaine arched an eyebrow and asked, "What do you want me to do exactly?"

That's it!

"I'm not leaving for him, I'm leaving for me," I turned my attention to Rayne and asked, "Speaking of which, when are we leaving?"

Rising to his feet, he slid his hands in his pockets, his gaze reverting to mine. "I would like to waste as little time as possible. Now would be convenient."

Maverick looked at him in disbelief, "So, you're going to take them out in broad daylight? Are you insane?!"

Sighing, Rayne's attention forced to Maverick, "Unfortunately, seeing as I did receive some of my father's genes, slightly. As far as the daylight, it is not something to worry about. As necromancers, we have the ability to travel between time and space. Walking is really unnecessary."

Clapping her hands together, my attention was forced to the redhead, Ramsey, standing a couple of feet from Lucette and Rook. She took Rook's wrist and pulled him to her. Catching him off guard, he took a step towards her before forcing himself to come to a halt.

"What are you doing?" Rook asked, rather confused.

"Unless you'd like to be held by another man, I suggest you keep quiet and listen to what I have to say," Ramsey spoke firmly.

Shifting my attention to Lucette, I watched the anger wash over her. It seemed that she was bothered by Ramsey being so close to her beloved, and only bothered her further knowing she couldn't do anything about it.

Releasing a deep sigh, she turned to what seemed to be her only choice, Everette, the blonde male standing not far from herself.

My choice has been obvious, Micah approached me as I rose to my feet. The second he came within contact distance, a growl emitted from the back of my father's throat.

Ignoring his reaction, I turned my attention to Ramsey as she proceeded to explain how things would work, "Keep your full attention on me. Nothing and no one else matters. If you fail to comply, understand I am not responsible if you happen to get lost between the planes of existence."

Well, that's comforting...

Seeing as she received no feedback from Rook, she snapped her fingers, "Do you understand? Focus on me and no one else. I'm your new mate."

My eyes widened at her words, my eyes shifting to Lucette to watch her angered reaction. Even I knew that was a red flag.

Lucette growled at Ramsey. Her lack to find what was wrong with what she said only angered Lucette further. Rolling her eyes, Ramsey flicked her hair away from her shoulder, "Oh hush. He isn't my type. I much rather have one without a penis and a little more feminine-like."

A few chuckles broke the tension in the atmosphere, my own being included. At the feeling of a pair of muscular arms wrapping around my waist, my heart nearly stopped. The intoxicating scent of spearmint and tarragon numbing my senses, my eyes gazed up to meet a pair of vibrant gray orbs.

"Micah..." My voice was merely above a whisper, sounding more vulnerable than I would like.

"You're so beautiful," He mumbled, pulling me closer till my head rested on his chest.

Sighing, I felt the heat rising in my cheeks. Everything really did fall away. The emotions toward the coven and my own parents who had kept plenty of secrets from me. In this one moment, hearing the word beautiful playoff his lips made me feel overwhelmed.

I felt that Micah wasn't lying.

"T-T-Thank you," I breathed out and then mentally slapped myself. Thank you? Really? That's all I can say?

As he held me close in his arms, there really wasn't anything else I could possibly think about. Losing focus on him...that appeared impossible.

Without warning, the sudden feeling of I being drifted away from my own body created a great sense of fear. I had done as told; therefore, I wasn't sure if it was my mind playing tricks on me or it was the way this type of transportation was supposed to feel.

It seemed no more than a few seconds till I felt an absolute hold of my own mind and body, the fear that once resided within slowly diminishing. I exhaled harshly, and the only thing I could get a good hold on was seeing a large staircase.

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To Seduce a Mortal by K. A. Young and Laisha C. Gardner

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