Fratelli: The Awakening (The Vampire Cartel #1)

59. Cane River Creole

Chapter 59

Cane River Creole

L ouisiana

April 16, 2018

(5 Days Before Death)

Dolly stretched and turned over. She sat up to see a tray of fruit and a flute of champagne with berries inside on the bed between them.

“What is this?” she asked, her hair so long and wavy it went down past her breasts.

Lucio pointed to the cooler. He tossed more grapes into his mouth. “There’s plenty.”

“You hungry?” she chuckled.

He nodded. “I can eat. I mean, I can taste the food. But it’s strange. I’m not human, I’m just drained. I caught in between.”

“Does it last for you?” she asked.

“No, not for long,” he winked. “Unless I drink some more.”

Dolly smiled and dropped back on the pillows. When she looked at him again, she caught him staring. “Why are you looking at me like that?”

“Your hair, your skin, it’s like you’re radiating. You’re so beautiful, it’s making me crazy,” he said.

She touched her hair, now even longer, and pulled it forward to look at it. She glanced in his direction and laughed. “This Rapunzel weird shit,” she said. “I’m cutting this!”

Lucio grinned and leaned in over the tray to kiss her nipple that peaked out between her tresses. She fed him kiwi and grapes and drank her champagne, now understanding why she liked it. The bubbly fizz of a taste was like the bubbly excitement she was experiencing with Lucio. “I can tell you this. I don’t like wine, but I’m appreciating Prosecco and champagne.”

“Noted, more Prosecco and champagne.”

She glanced at the front of the tent. “It’s beautiful out there. Is it night?”

“Wanna see?” Lucio asked, leaping from the bed like a child. Dolly chuckled, dragging the sheet from under the legs of the tray to cover her body. She hurried after a naked Lucio who burst from his shelter into the night, with no genuine fear. She stepped out into the darkness and was stunned by a sky full of stars. Frozen in awe, she remained still. “Oh, wow!”

Lucio came up from behind her and hugged her, his arms encircling her as they both looked up at the sky. “I have never seen this before! Ever!” she proclaimed.

“Really?” he asked. “Not even on a school field trip?”

“No. Never. I’ve never seen this many stars. It’s like… so much… I can’t explain it.”

He kissed the side of her face. “I’ll take you to Iceland to see the Northern Lights. We’ll sail the Nile, and I’ll show you the heavens over the pyramids. There is so much I can show you, Dolly.”

She turned in his arms and hugged him. “Or we can just stay here forever. Right? Just me and you. Forever.”

Lucio recalled his responsibilities. He had to tell her what awaited them in Vegas—that her prophecy was right. This would be the last moment of serenity between them for some time. But he pushed that thought away. He held her close and gazed up at the stars. He’d never felt so much happiness at once.

***

“Wake up! Now!”

Sonya bolted upright, rubbed her eyes, and looked around in the dark. Charmaine didn’t stir; she was always a heavy sleeper. Nzinga kicked the bed and startled Charmaine awake.

“Get dressed. You leave tonight,” Nzinga announced.

“What? Wait, a second…” Sonya said.

“What do you mean, leave tonight?” Charmaine asked, her voice groggy.

“We don’t have time to finish the rituals. You leave when the sun rises. Our people are en route to prepare you.”

“I said wait!” Sonya yelled. “What the hell are you doing, Nzinga? We had a deal. You said we needed seven days to prepare. What about all that melanin shit you were teaching us? It’s been three days! We aren’t ready. You even said that yesterday,” Sonya reminded her.

Nzinga paced before them. The girls looked at each other alarmed, and scared. Nzinga started to speak and then walked out of the tent. Sonya’s exhaustion and soreness from the exhausting physical tests they had been put through made her feel overwhelmed by the entire drama that these people had brought to them. Each day, the dangers became clear to her. For Sonya, it was time to get off the crazy train. She rolled her eyes at Charmaine.

“I told you this was a dumb idea. We are not the Avengers! This woman is crazy! We can’t fight vampires with sticks and kicks!” Sonya clenched her hands into fists.

“Let’s find out what’s wrong,” Charmaine called after her. Sonya didn’t listen. She stormed out into the night after Nzinga, stopping short as she saw the headlights of cars and SUVs driving up. She shielded her eyes. Since they’d absconded to the national park for their training, it had been just them and Nzinga. Charmaine emerged from the tent in time to see women of all ethnicities and ages exit their vehicles.

“What the hell has Dolly done now?” Sonya sighed.