The Vampire’s Servant
Chapter 159

[Gray]

Val and I were pacing. It had to have been hours since Dillon and Jean-Claude went home. I understood that it could take a while to put together a plan and a team. That didn't mean I had the patience to wait.

Harmony and Cam were sitting on some blankets in the corner watching us. Rosario was leaning against a wall. Sean was sitting on the cot with Emmalyn, talking about witches and where science intersects magic. Preston was still trying to get his magic to work and Amelia was still talking to Finn.

Finn was asking her about what places she'd always wanted to see in the world. He was promising to take her traveling if she would stay until the curse was over. Amelia seemed pretty excited.

The door at the top of the stairs opened quietly and I heard quick, soft footsteps coming down. I could smell more wolves.

"Amelia, get up. I think the cavalry is here." I whispered.

She jumped up and moved away from the door. No sooner had she gotten a few steps away, did the door swing in and my brother stood there with a smile on his face.

"It seems they were telling the truth. My little brother got himself locked up by his mate." He chuckled.

I snorted, then rushed over and gave him a brief hug.

"You're just jealous. Lily would never think to lock you up for your own safety."

"I'm an Alpha, she knows the safest place for me is by her side and leading our pack. Seems to me that you need to teach your mate where you belong." Trent smirked.

"As touching as this reunion is, we need to get Echo in her right mind. Would someone be so kind as to open our door as well?" Talia called out.

Trent went to their door and opened it as well. Victor came out and shook his hand. Val and Harmony were by my side. We had to go find Echo, but it didn't take long.

From upstairs I heard scuffling and fighting. Echo must have come out from wherever she was and seen Trent's warriors. Victor and I rushed up the stairs followed by Val and Harmony.

When we got into the entryway, Echo was trying to fight three guys I knew to be some of the pack's top warriors. She was managing to hold her own until she saw us. She screamed 'NO' before rushing at us.

One of the warriors grabbed her around the waist and held her while she kicked and flailed. It seemed Echo couldn't focus on her fighting in the state the curse had left her in. We hurried over.

"No. Run away. It's not safe." She pled.

I took her from the warrior and she stopped squirming. Victor stood in front of Echo and wrapped his arms around both of us, sandwiching her between us. I nodded to Val, who nodded to Harmony, and they took Echo's hands.

"Shh, princess. Everything is going to be alright now. We have you now. You're not alone anymore." Victor murmured.

"That's right, angel. We're stronger and safer together. Let us stay by your side." I whispered.

"Echo Nightshade." Marius stated firmly. "You are not fit to be Master of this territory any longer. I strip you of your title."

"No! Don't give it back to Victor. It's not safe!" Echo cried.

"Don't worry, Echo. We're taking it to a Master who deserves everything that goes with this title. Come on, Marius. We'll return soon." Talia said.

Looking over, I saw Marius take Talia's hand and they disappeared. I focused on Echo. We needed to push back the effects of the curse.

"Think of Echo how she was. Think of her being herself again. Think of her before the curse got her." Val instructed.

I did. I thought of her sweet smiles, the way she worked so hard when we'd cleaned together, the innocent expression on her face while she slept, and the way she always looked so serene in her garden. Most of all, I thought of her wrapped around me in that little red dress.

All of the times we were together, stolen kisses, the way she felt in my arms in every instance that I could have her there. The playful glint in her eyes when she did something naughty. The way she loved me, and Victor.

A wind rushed around us. It mingled the scents of me, Victor, and Echo until they became one. The way we all smelled together was amazing. It was rich and textured. It smelled like home, like my true home.

I looked into Victor's eyes and he smiled. He was my friend, the only one I would share my most precious treasure with. Really, more than a friend. He was almost like another brother to me.

He squeezed us tighter, as if telling me I was just as important to him. I nuzzled Echo's hair. She whimpered and squirmed. Victor kissed the top of her head.

The wind died down. Now was the moment of truth. We'd soon find out if it worked.

Victor released us and stepped back. I released my grip around Echo's waist and she started to slip down. I swept her into my arms. Victor stepped in to examine her.

Echo was laying in my arms. Her eyes were open and moving quickly back and forth. Tears started forming.

"No one will ever forgive me for locking them up." She whispered.

"Everyone understands. It wasn't you. It was the curse, Echo. Trust me, we all had a lot of time to talk about it today." I chuckled.

She covered her face with her hands and groaned. Victor smiled and pulled her hands from her face, wrapping her arms around his neck and hauling her into his arms where he hugged her tightly and kissed her passionately. Val scowled. If he was already mad, I might as well get mine too.

When they pulled away, I stepped in next to them and drew Echo into my arms the same way Victor had and kissed her as well. Echo moaned gently as I kissed her. The real Echo had missed me. Missed us.

"Sorry to interrupt your mauling of my daughter, but I need the spell for Lila." Marius said behind me.

I hadn't realized he'd returned. Setting Echo down, I turned to him and smiled a little. He quirked his eyebrow. I guess being locked in the same basement hadn't been as much of a bonding experience as I'd thought.

"Papa. I'm so sorry. Please forgive me for locking you up like that." Echo murmured.

"Never apologize for that. You were doing what you thought was right and you taught me an important lesson about letting my guard down. Could you get me the spell?" Marius asked.

"Oh! Yes. And the things I've collected for it." Echo smiled and turned to the office.

She came back a few moments later with a little bin and handed it over. Marius looked through it. He held up a zipper bag with some fur in it.

"I convinced him to let me brush him. It was the best way to get his hair. We had some of the ingredients in the garden and woods out back. There's some stuff I couldn't find and I figured Lila might have them in her magic room or she could tell me where to go to collect them and I could get them." She said.

"It seems you weren't just walking about the property going mad while we were locked up. Very good thinking." Marius praised her.

"Fenton said he would keep me just sane enough to suffer. The part of me that wanted everyone to be safe was appeased, so I was actually quite sane until I would go down there. If I were sane, I would release everyone, so the spell clouded my mind as soon as I went near the door to the basement." Echo admitted. "Since I couldn't save everyone, I decided to work on the curse."

"So you were entirely lucid once we were all locked up?" I asked.

"More so once Marius was locked up as well. Fenton asked where everyone was, because he couldn't feel or smell anyone in the house anymore except me and him. I told him he got what he wanted and they were all gone now. He was pretty mad that I didn't seem more upset about it." She smirked.

"Lila is waiting on this. I'll let you know how it goes."

"You'll need blood from everyone who's descended from Fenton. Now would probably be the best time. I think everyone will want some space." Echo replied.

We wrangled everyone together and got the needed blood. Marius left after hugging the triplets and shaking my hand. I was shocked. I honestly didn't think he liked me.

Harmony and Cam went off for a run. Rex only wanted to be with Echo. They hadn't had a lot of time to bond. I felt a little bad about it. He acted up once and ended up being banished unless I brought him out to work off my frustrations.

I followed Victor and Echo to the office. He sat behind his desk and started looking through the papers piled up there. Echo settled onto the couch. She sighed happily.

Fenton started meowing and chattering. She just ignored him and curled up. My brother knocked on the door and stuck his head in.

"Princess. Would you please go take my mattress back to my room? I don't know that we can get it out of the cell without your ability." Victor requested. "I need to talk to Trent anyway."

"Yeah. I'm sorry, Victor." She said softly.

"Don't worry about it, Echo. Everything will be alright."

Trent caught Echo before she left the room. "You missed family dinner this week. You better be there next weekend. We're doing it late because everyone wants to meet Victor. I'm hoping all three of you can make it."

Echo looked at Victor. He smiled and nodded.

"I'll make up some blood foods for him so he can eat with everyone else." Echo answered and headed out of the office.

Trent crossed the room and shook hands with Victor. He sat in one of the chairs across from Victor and they started talking. Another knock at the door drew my attention.

I answered it to find Sean there.

"Can I talk to you in the hall?" He asked.

After letting Victor know where I'd be, I closed the door. Sean looked a little nervous. I can imagine he was still a bit skittish after being locked up.

"Rosario wants to go stay with his mother for a couple days. I was going to go with him. He said he lost the connection to the fae lands twice in two days and he wants to go renew his connection to their territory. He told me the hoodoo lady in the dream realm said the spell will take nine days, so we'll be back before it takes hold." Sean said. "It's really for that reason and not because he doesn't trust Echo anymore?" I asked.

He sighed. "We're both a little on edge. I know you guys pushed back the effects of the curse on her, but we need a little space from everyone after all that. It'll be good. I've never been to the fae lands as a fae. Rosario says I'll get strength from it and I can be inducted into the community. It'll be nice to feel like I belong somewhere again." He replied.

"Your parents will come around, Sean. They just need time and space so they can feel their feelings and understand that you're really who you're meant to be now." I told him. "You'll always have a place here. You're Echo's family and one of her best friends. She wouldn't have tried to save you if you were anything less."

Sean chuckled. "You know, I used to have the biggest crush on you. Now I see what a good boyfriend you are and it brings back those old feelings. Echo deserves you. You're a good man."

"I... umm... I don't really know what to say to that. Thanks, I guess. You're not really my type, but I'm flattered that you thought I was someone you would want to date. You're a good guy too. If I were gay, I'd probably be sad I missed out on a guy like you. Rosario is a lucky man. You're going to be a great support to the leader of the fae." I smiled.

"What about you, though? I worry about where your place is in all this with Echo and Victor. He's going to be Master of the territory again one day. She's going to be on equal footing with him. But, what are you? Where do you find your place to shine?" He asked. "I'm Victor's friend, Echo's mate, and liaison to the wolf pack. I don't need power. I just need a place to belong and I belong with them. I'll be here for a very long time. I'll watch my family care for the pack I grew up in. I'll support that growth here. You'll see. I know you'll have a long lifespan now that you're fae. We can all be friends for the rest of your life." I answered. "Don't worry about me. You'll see. Everything will work out."

"If nothing else, We'll be back after Uncle Fenton's funeral. Text me every morning. If you don't, we'll rush over to save you from the cells." Sean winked.

"I don't think she'll be doing that again, but I will check in with you so you know we're not trapped again." I laughed.

"See you later." He said and headed down the hall.

The door behind me opened and I turned to see my brother. He patted my shoulder and smiled.

"You better not let her lock you up again or I'm gonna have to tell dad. You know he'll tease you mercilessly." Trent chuckled.

"She drugged me. It's not like I had the option to fight back." I scoffed.

"Keep in contact with me. I was already starting to worry when you didn't check in this afternoon. Next time, I'll come straight over. I would have tried calling and just assumed you were busy with your mate. I had no idea the curse could get so bad." He said. "It's going to get better now that she's not the Master of the territory anymore." I replied.

"Victor's going to get the title back, right?" Trent asked.

"Yes. As soon as the curse on it is gone. We have a placeholder for the title right now, but Victor is still the Master in every other way." I promised.

"Okay. See you next weekend. May the Goddess watch over you." He said, pulling me into a hug.

I hugged him back. It wasn't the same as being hugged by Echo and Victor. I found it amusing that I'd grown so accustomed to it, that singular hugs were still odd unless they were given to me by Echo.

My brother left and I went into the office. The scent of vampire mixed with cat. I saw Victor regarding Fenton. Fenton chattered at him. Sometimes, I really wished I could understand what he was saying. "Anything interesting?" I asked.

"Only the cat making threats." Victor answered.

Fenton got real quiet and looked at him with wide eyes. Victor must have guessed correctly. He turned back to his work and I sat on the couch waiting for Echo. She didn't take much longer before she came in and curled up next to me on the couch. Suddenly, it was like the times before Victor and Echo were taken by the curse. With the exception of the cat in the corner. There was a certain level of peace that came with it. With luck, the next week and a half would be just like this.