Once Upon a Steamy Night
Chapter Twenty-nine

"Claire!"

Claire numbly relaxed in Liam's arms as she kept gasping for breath, her chest heaving from a panic attack she almost had.

"What happened?" She mumbled.

"I thought I was going to lose you."

Liam's voice sounded pained, and she pulled back to stare at him. He was the only one giving her attention while the rest were focused on something. She glanced at her father and followed his line of vision to see bodies scattered on the floor. Dead, charred, and shriveled, it was worse than her dream. "What happened?" She asked, fear creeping into her heart.

"You screamed and somehow managed to break through an ancient spell cast by Sidhee witches," her father replied dryly.

He sounded tired, almost bitter as if he regretted what she did.

Claire gasped. "You wanted me to rot in there?"

Adam shook his head. "Claire, doing something like what you did requires an extra boost of magic or an extra magical being." Claire shrugged. "I'm not a regular faerie, dad. I'm an Elementalist."

Adam nodded but said nothing. Claire had a feeling he was hiding something from her, but she was too exhausted to bother. "Dad, can we go now? I need to rest."

"You sure do, Claire," he mumbled.

But still, he made no move to leave, neither did any of them. Almost like they were frozen to the ground.

"Guys, I'm tired!" She snapped.

Adam scratched his head. "Think you can wait for a little while Davina's spell wears off. We can't move."

Claire sighed. "Maybe we'll camp here instead."

Liam agreed as he headed to the fireplace. The room was freezing, and she didn't have enough energy to keep warm.

"I still don't understand why lover boy isn't affected by magic," Ryan grumbled.

Claire froze as she exchanged glances with Aiobel and Adam.

"He has a protective charm. Suck it up, Ryan," Adam said.

Ryan kept quiet but not before blowing Claire a kiss. Claire rolled her eyes; she had no idea what Ryan wanted but she knew it wouldn't be anything good. He was mischievous.

Liam returned when he had successfully started the fire then he headed outside for a quick bladder release.

Claire followed Liam closer to the fire where the heat was warm. The sound of terrified screams lured her to bed.

***

Claire stretched lazily in the warm arms that encircled her waist and yawned before snapping her eyes open.

She stared into glowing green orbs and smiled.

"Why are your eyes glowing?" She asked in a whisper.

He shrugged. "I'm trying to look cool."

Claire chuckled and ran her hand through his hair. He leaned in for a quick kiss.

"Where are the others?" She asked.

"They went out. Your dad asked me to keep an eye on you," he replied.

Claire smiled smugly and arched her back, wrapping her ankles around his waist.

"Do we have time for a quickie?"

"I'm sure we..."

"No, you don't!" Adam's piercing voice interrupted them sharply.

"Dad!" Claire cried embarrassed.

"I'd appreciate it if you teenagers can tune it down till this mission is over," he said.

Liam shrugged. "Of course."

Adam glared at him. "Get your ass to Bourbon Street."

Claire frowned. "What's happening there?"

"We can find a lead there. That's where all the gossip happens so you both have to go as a couple on vacation or whatever that can get you a lead on the portal," Adam explained. "What about the others?" Claire inquired.

"Anede and Aiobel are in Frenchmen Street and Ryan is flirting with the waitress in Bourbon Street while Scot and myself remain in Frenchmen Street," Adam replied. Claire huffed at the fact that her tête-à-tête with Liam for them to go to a bar!

"Cheer up. We can have a quickie once we're back," Liam whispered.

Claire smirked and headed out of the witches' coven as they stepped into the cold winter night. Her teeth chattered in the cold despite her wearing the thickest hoodie she could find. Liam wrapped an arm around her, and she snuggled against him, resting her head on his chest.

They arrived at Bourbon Street where a crazy party was going.

"They sure know how to live," Liam commented.

Claire chuckled. "It's how the nightlife works here coupled with the fact that it's Christmas."

They walked towards the bartender who was engaged in a serious discussion with two men. He looked relieved and scared.

"Word on the street is a faerie came here," he was saying but stopped suddenly when he noticed her approaching Liam. On a closer look, Claire saw it was Ryan and another man. She rolled her eyes and moved to the other direction when Anede and Aiobel ran into the bar,raising suspicious glances from the occupants.

"What happened?" Claire finally asked when Scot raced in after them.

"Flash...vanish!"

Claire arched a brow at Scot. "Did you have too much to drink?"

Scot shook his head still panting. "Breeze and then puff, Adam was gone!"

Claire sighed. "Aren't you supposed to be with Adam? This is not the time to be a court jester."

"Or the Princess fool," Ryan chipped in.

"He's serious, Claire," Aiobel said.

Claire glanced at her. "What?"

"Your father was talking with Scot one moment and then the next moment, an eerie breeze and he was gone," Anede explained.

"This doesn't make any sense!" Claire exclaimed.

Some of the occupants eyed her curiously but remained quiet.

"My guess is a vampire."

Claire's head snapped up as she stared at the bartender.

"Vampires?" She scoffed.

The bartender shrugged. "They're the ones that move like the wind."

"Vampires don't exist!" Scot snapped.

"Sure, once they snap your pretty neck and drain your blood then you'd be sure," the bartender chuckled.

"Why would a vampire take my father?" Claire wondered aloud.

The bartender looked at her like she was insane.

"To feed, duh!"

Claire shook her head as she stepped out of the bar and headed to a secluded area. The rest of them followed her.

"A vampire took my dad?" Claire asked again.

Claire, come to the woods behind French Quarter.

Claire jumped. It's been so long since they used their inner voices that this had scared her.

Are you alright, dad?

Yeah, I bumped into an old friend.

Who so happens to be a vampire?

Correct. He also has information on the portal so hurry up.

"Claire?!"

Claire blinked focusing on Liam who was staring at her worriedly.

"What happened?"

"You zoned out," he replied, "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine, Liam. I spoke with my father and he's told me where he is."

"Alright, where?" Anede asked.

"The woods behind French Quarter."

The walk was short and silent as the crunching of leaves beneath their boot filled the night accompanied by the sound of night creatures. "The woods are creepy."

Claire chuckled at Scot's outburst. "Everyone thinks so too."

"Speak for yourself," Ryan scoffed.

Claire got to a clearing and saw a man tied to a tree, a stake buried in his stomach. He looked pretty young and in a lot of pain. "Nuella?"

Claire blinked when his black orbs settled on her.

"I'm sorry, who are you?" She asked.

"Nuella, I can't believe you've forgotten about me after all these years. Why do you look so young?" He asked, wincing slightly.

"Get away from my daughter!" Adam barked, stepping out from the forest with a plant.

Claire saw the hurt look cross the man's face as he glared at Adam with hatred in his eyes.

"She had a child for you," he spat.

Adam looked pleased with himself. "Yes."

"Fuck you, faerie!" The man snapped.

Claire watched as her father applied the plant on his open wound and the man groaned in pain.

"Dad, stop. You're going to kill him!" Claire exclaimed.

"Nah, he's a vampire. I'm just weakening him with vervain," Adam shrugged.

"What happened?" Anede asked.

"This vampire whisked me away and he thought he was stronger than me," Adam summarized.

"Why will a vampire hate you so much?" Scot asked curiously.

Adam shrugged. "Personal dislike?"

"Dad?" Claire prompted.

"He fucked my wife!" The vampire spat.

"Dad?!" Claire gasped.

"It was your mother, and she wasn't his wife. She was his ex-wife, he used to hurt her, so he was the one that interrupted us that night. He was the reason I didn't get to know your mother's name," Adam explained. "How did he become a vampire then?" Ryan asked.

"I killed him that night and someone was dumb enough to turn him to a vamp. He's survived since then and I'm not going to kill him. I just need information," Adam replied.

"You look just like her," the man whispered staring at Claire.

"Quit it, John. She's not going to talk me into letting you go especially not after finding out that you hurt her mom!" Adam snapped.

"So, what has he said?" Aiobel asked.

"I have gotten the map that will lead us to the portal, but he says there are a lot of tests we will pass on the way," Adam explained, producing a parchment from his backpack. "Test? What kind of test?" Claire asked.

"There are a lot of monsters on the way, the path you seek shall reveal the deepest desire of the mind. You all have to trust each other else you shall arrive with a broken spirit," the man rasped. They all exchanged looks with each other.

"Do they pay y'all to talk like we're going on a suicide mission?" Scot finally asked.

They all broke into laughter and before anyone could say another word, Adam snapped the vampire's neck removing the stake from his stomach.

"As much as I'd love to rip his heart out, I think I'll enjoy watching him live for a while," Adam mused.

"So, what's the plan?" Anede asked.

"The plan is to sleep 'cause we're exhausted, right guys?" Scot asked, yawning.

"Speak for yourself, dude," Ryan waved him off.

"Claire, think you can get a tent ready for us, so we move first thing tomorrow?" Adam asked.

"Finally!" Scot exclaimed excitedly.

Claire nodded and focused on the sound of nature. She finally summoned the energy to build up to three tents with beautiful flowers as decorations. Aiobel placed a protective spell around the tents, and she got into one, Anede followed her.

Scot dived into the second tent leaving Ryan pouting.

"Why don't I get my tent?"

"Ryan, no one stays alone," Adam said firmly.

Ryan entered the tent and Liam got into the last tent leaving Claire and Adam.

"Dad?"

"Yes, princess."

"Mom's name is Nuella and I'm a spitting image of her."

Adam sighed and smiled at her. "She's going to be so proud of you."

"What are we going to do after this mission?"

"We'll take your mother home and live happily ever after."

Claire smiled and hugged him. "Thanks, dad."

Then she left him and headed into her tent.

"Claire, the vampire spoke about trust," Liam began.

"Hush, Liam. We all trust each other so we aren't going to hurt anyone," Claire mumbled.

Liam nodded. "I know I'm just saying we have to be honest with each other."

"I'm honest with you, Liam. I might die if my mom isn't in the underworld," she replied.

"That wasn't..."

"I'm so tired, Liam. Just cuddle me while I fall asleep," she mumbled interrupting him.

Maybe... she wasn't sure, but she heard Liam mumble something about forgiveness before she drifted off to sleep.