Wednesday Briefs - Boys of Belsmeade 33

Well, The Boys of Belsmeade have reached the end (for now) of their story. Thanks to everyone for reading my first attempt at flash-fiction. I hope you enjoyed it. My next weekly story will be THE ADORED ONE. It's a tale of life, death, angels and one very cute demon kitten. Stay tuned!

THE BOYS OF BELSMEADE

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Chapter Thirty-Three

My father and Benita were in the dining room, when we arrived. Dad was feeding Benita apple pie and ice cream, and then licking her lips after each bite. It gave me the shivers.

"They're like teenagers," I said. "Jeez, Dad."

He cleared his throat and looked embarrassed. "Oh, uh… sorry."

I took a piece of pie from the table and sat next to him. "I suppose I'll get used to it. I take it you too are official now?"

Benita's smile was shy. "You don't mind?" she asked me.

"God no. It'll be good for the newbie to have someone to hold his hand."

Everyone laughed, and Aristes patted me on the back. "Don't forget you're only a few days older than your father now."

Dad shook his head. "That's a surreal thought. But I have to tell you, El, I'll be moving back here eventually. When I say here, I mean to Benita's villa in Tuscany."

"Sure. Rub it in," I said. "Tuscany. Must be nice."

Benita looked worried. "Of course you'd have a home there, too. You'll always be welcome, and I'll pay to move you there and—"

I put a hand up to stop her. "It's okay. I'm sure we'll visit a lot, but I have my own mate, and from the way you two are acting, I'm sure you'll enjoy the privacy."

********************

We stayed in Italy for another three days before heading back home. We had missed two weeks of school, and if I didn't get back soon, I wouldn't be able to graduate. It didn't take much persuasion to get Dad to let Aramis live with us, especially since Benita had also moved in.

We were having dinner one night when there was a knock on the door. Dad looked puzzled. "Who'd be here this time of night?"

I shrugged and went to find out. When I opened the door, my mouth dropped open in shock. My mother stood on the porch, smiling.

"Hello, darling!" she said brightly.

I was totally incapable of speech. She breezed by me and set her bag down in the foyer. I shut the door and simply stared at her.

"Who is it, El?" my father called.

Mom put her finger to her lips and walked into the dining room. I followed, and wasn't surprised by the look of absolute stupefaction on my father's face.

"Hello, John," my mother said.

I wasn't quite sure how he would react. For a few tense moments, he said nothing. Then, he burst into laughter. "What are you doing here, Karen?" he asked.

Her smile faltered. "I've come for a visit."

"Who is this, John?" Benita asked, hackles raised.

It was only then that my mother noticed the dark, gorgeous woman seated next to Dad. Mom's eyes grew wide. "I'm his wife."

My father and I spoke in unison. "Ex-wife."

Mom scowled and asked, "And who are you?"

Benita put a possessive hand on Dad's arm. I could tell she was getting really pissed at my mother trying to claim her mate. For a moment, I was afraid of what would happen, but Dad solved the problem. He took Benita's hand and pulled her down into his lap. "This is Benita. My fiancée."

"Your what?" Mom screeched.

The look of supreme satisfaction of Benita's face was priceless. She kissed my father gently and turned to my mother. "His fiancée. And I don't share well with others, so I'm afraid I'll have to ask you to leave."

"You can't make me leave. I've come to see my son."

"You've seen me," I said blandly. "Jesus, Mom. Where do you get off? You leave us, out of the blue to move in with what's-his-face, and we don't hear anything for months, and now you expect us to welcome you with open arms? Well, fuck you."

She looked as though I'd slapped her. "John! Are you going to let him get away with speaking to me like that?"

Dad smirked. "Yes. In fact, I think I'll raise his allowance." He stood up and walked around the table to confront her. "You really hurt me. You hurt our son. You've only ever thought about yourself, so I'm grateful to you for leaving when you did. Saved me a lot of trouble. The divorce was finalized months ago, so go home to your boyfriend and don't bother coming back here ever again. I'm happy now. I have an amazing woman to share the rest of my…life with, and an amazing son, who happens to have an amazing partner."

My mother looked around Dad to see Aramis seated at the table, studiously trying to ignore the family drama. She turned to me. "Partner? What are you talking about? You're only seventeen!"

I rolled my eyes. "No, I'm eighteen. Seriously, Mom. Just go. I suppose I should feel sad to say that, but I don't. Aramis and I are partners. He lives here now. Benita does too. So…sorry, but there's just no more room at the inn."

"But Mark left me!" she cried. "I have nowhere to go."

I looked at Dad, unsure what to do. He shrugged. "Well, your mother's got a spare room, right? I'm sure there are tons of things for a shallow, self-centered woman like you to do in Poughkeepsie. Enjoy the drive."

With that, he led her into the foyer, handed her her bag and practically pushed her out the door. When he came back in, we all sat down and looked at each other, still trying to process the events of the evening.

Finally, it struck me, and I started giggling. "You know what's hilarious?"

"What?" Benita asked.

I lifted my drink. "There were four bottles of synthetic blood on the table, right in front of Mom, and she never even noticed them."

We all burst out laughing and raised our bottles in a toast. Aramis leaned over and kissed me gently. "Cheers, babe."

THE END

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Wednesday Briefs - Boys of Belsmeade 32

Welcome to Wednesday Briefs! It's flash fiction, so this story will be presented in 1000(ish)-word chapters. I hope you enjoy it, and check out the many other flashers, whose links are below. You can also check out the Wednesday Briefs Blog for more info and to sign up for email notifications.

Thanks for reading!

THE BOYS OF BELSMEADE

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Chapter Thirty-Two

I clutched Aramis' hand as we walked into the drawing room. Aurelia immediately walked over to us. With a forced smile, she asked, "Could I speak to you in the study, boys?"

Aramis swallowed loudly and we followed her into the count's private office. I hoped it was sound-proofed like Aristes' study was, because I had a feeling we were going to have our asses handed to us.

Aurelia put her hands on her hips and raised an eyebrow. "Well?"

"Well what?" Aramis repeated. He evidently thought playing dumb would work.

It didn't. "I hope you're happy!" she shrieked. "Everyone in the villa heard what you two were doing. My God Aramis, I am so embarrassed. There are nearly two hundred vampires here, most of them with their mates, and yet you two were the only ones that made a spectacle out of yourselves!"

She started speaking rapid Italian to my mate, who seemed to shrink an inch with every harsh word spat at him by his mother. I couldn't let Aramis take the blame, though, so I said, "It's my fault, Aurelia. I would blame it on being a new vampire, but I won't. We should have been more… discreet."

I was glad she switched back to English, but she was still pissed. "A bull in a china shop would have been more discreet, Eliot. Now I want you two to go out there and apologize to the count. Then, I want you to go upstairs and clean up whatever… mess you made."

There was a knock on the door, and I was glad of the reprieve. When the door opened and the count came in, however, I wasn't so happy. I decided to get it over with. "Count Corleanni, I'm very sorry for what happened. It's my fault entirely, and if you'd like me to apologize to your guests then—"

He put up a hand and smiled. "Please, think nothing of it." Aramis and I glanced at each other, both wondering if he was joking. The count continued, "Though I am very old, I realize what it is like to be young and newly mated. And Eliot here is a newborn. We can hardly expect him to keep his libido in check, especially after such a traumatic week."

Aramis cleared his throat. "Uh… we need to clean up the room."

"Already done," he said. "Now join the party and please do not be embarrassed." Aurelia stood there, gaping at the count. He took her chin in his hand and said, "My dear Aurelia, you are a wonderful mother and have a beautiful family. You have a strength and courage that I so admire—we all do. Even as a human, you fought for your love, and trust me, I know standing up to my wife is a formidable task."

I made a mental note to ask what had happened between the two women, but now didn't seem the appropriate time. Aurelia smiled at the count. "Grazie, signore," she said and left the room.

The count chuckled and said, "By the way, boys. We've moved your room to the far wing. It's soundproofed."

As he turned to leave, I asked. "Another soundproofed room? What's that for?"

A devilish grin spread over his face. "It used to be the torture chamber, but don't go yet, since we're having apple pie for dessert in honor of our American guests. I hope you're hungry."

With that bizarre declaration, he walked out, leaving Aramis and I scratching our heads. I spoke first. "Do you think that torture chamber and apple pie have ever been used in the same sentence?"

"Probably not," Aramis said.

"And do Italians even have dessert?"

He licked his lips seductively. "I'm Italian, and I love dessert. Especially nice, thick milkshakes."

"Ew!" I protested. "That is so… porny. And we're in enough trouble with your mom as it is. Let's go."

"Speaking of porn, I wonder if your dad and Benita have shown their faces yet."

I punched him on the shoulder. "Will you cut that out? Blech! That's all I need to think about right now."


We left the study and walked down the hall toward the billiard room. Aramis' brothers were arguing over how to play.

"The table's broken," Nero said. "There aren't any pockets."

"Oh my God," Marco moaned. "It's billiards, you moron."

"Even billiards tables have pockets, Polo."

"Maybe it's snooker."

Epp spoke up. "And I only have three balls."

"Isn't Blake a lucky boy then," Marco said with a chuckle.

Blake laughed, but his mate rolled his eyes. "I meant pool balls, you twat."

Before the argument could progress any further, Lucia and Blanca strolled in with two young male vampires I'd not met before. All of the brothers stopped talking and turned to face the newcomers. Marco cleared his throat and extended a hand. "Marco Ambrogi," he said with a small inclination of his head.

The taller of the two shook Marco's hand. "Bennett Skelton-Twombley," he said. His posh English accent fit the name well. He motioned to his friend. "This is Houghton Hugh-Phipps."

Epp smirked. "From Clan Hyphenation."

We couldn't help but snicker. The girls weren't amused we were teasing their potential suitors. Bennett took it in stride, though. He said, "Yes, it's rather absurd. The British aristocracy do so love making things difficult for their descendants. I had a mate at school named Percival Tarquin Highclere Fotheringay-Beckhurst—"

"The sixth," Houghton finished. "Poor sod. And he had a lisp."

"Oh damn," I said. "That is very unfortunate."

"Yes," Bennett laughed. Then he spied the game table and said, "Oh, look here, Phipps! Care for a game of carombole?"

He retrieved the three balls from Epp, while Houghton took the cue sticks from Marco and Nero. The two English vampires began to play a bizarre kind of quasi-billiards that I couldn't quite wrap my head around. I tugged Aramis out of the room and we went to find the food.

To be continued...

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Don't forget to visit the other flashers!

Cia Nordwell
Jim Dunaway
Johayan
Jon Keys
Julie Lynn Hayes
Ravon Silvius

Wednesday Briefs - Boys of Belsmeade 31

Welcome to Wednesday Briefs! It's flash fiction, so this story will be presented in 1000(ish)-word chapters. I hope you enjoy it, and check out the many other flashers, whose links are below. You can also check out the Wednesday Briefs Blog for more info and to sign up for email notifications.

Thanks for reading!

THE BOYS OF BELSMEADE

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Chapter Thirty-One

We stood in the middle of the room, kissing passionately. Without looking away from my eyes, Aramis unbuckled my belt and tossed it onto the floor. The pants, which were far too big, fell down around my ankles. I tripped on them and fell onto my ass. My pride was bruised, but I quickly got to my knees and looked up at my mate.

"I want to suck you," I said quietly.

"Please, Eliot."

I quickly got his pants down around his thighs, and I whimpered when I saw the long, thick cock pointing right at me. Wrapping my fingers around him, I licked my lips and looked up at Aramis through my lashes. "You promise to fuck me after?"

His smile was sinful. "I'm going to fuck you so hard you won't be able to walk for a week. How does that sound?"

I kissed the tip of his cock and sucked gently, working my tongue into the slit. Aramis hissed in pleasure and I grinned. I reached around and stroked his ass, then got an idea. I wondered if Aramis had ever had his ass played with before. I figured he'd stop me if he didn't like it, so I went with my instinct. I pulled off his cock and sucked a finger into my mouth. Aramis' eyebrows drew down.

I slipped my hand between his legs and circled his tight opening with my finger. His legs shook and he inhaled sharply. It was amazing, exerting this much power over my mate. I wrapped one hand around his dick, stroking him, using my spit as lube while I worked the tip of my finger into him. He winced, so I withdrew my finger and rubbed his thigh. "Have you ever had anything in your ass before?"

"N-no," he breathed.

"You trust me?" I asked. He nodded, so I gently pushed my finger back into him, in and out, until I was all the way in. I began long, slow thrusts, until the worried lines on his face smoothed out and a small smile curved his lips. He was enjoying it, thank God. A drop of pre-come gathered on the tip of his cock and I licked it off. My mate swore under his breath and his ass tensed around my finger.

"Relax," I said.

"Feels weird," he said.

"Good weird?" I bent my finger forward and rubbed his prostate.

Aramis arched his back and cried out, "Holy shit, that is so fucking good weird!" He grabbed me by the shoulder and tugged. "Gotta fuck you, baby."

I slowly pulled out of his ass and he grunted from the sensation. He ripped off my shirt, then his own. Then he bent me over the bed and knelt down behind me. Even though he'd done it before, I couldn't help but gasp when his tongue breached my body. It was wild. I'd never seen him that eager before. He swirled his tongue around my hole, then pushed a finger into me. Another finger quickly followed and I yelped.

Aramis froze and asked, "Are you okay? I didn’t hurt you, did I?"

"No," I said impatiently. "Please, Air. Just fuck me already."

"Gladly, babe."

He was on his feet and sliding into me before I could blink. I wasn't quite stretched enough, and it was a little painful, but I needed my mate. I shoved a hand under myself and fisted my dick. "Fuck me. Oh shit, fuck me."

His pace picked up and he leaned over me. His chest hair rubbed against the bare skin of my back and I groaned. The groan turned into a cry of ecstasy when I felt my mate's fangs scrape my shoulder. I turned my head and offered myself, as much as I could in the position I was in.

"Mine," Aramis snarled. His fangs pierced my skin and I fought for a second before giving in to the delicious pleasure of feeding my mate. The gentle tug against my skin was in sharp contrast to the brutal thrusting of his hips and I was driven to the edge quickly.

"Coming," I breathed. "Holy fuck, Aramis. Come with me, please."

I tightened my muscles around him and reveled in the long, low moan I dragged from my mate. Hot come spilled deep inside me and I cried out as I came all over my hand and the bed I was pressed against. Aramis licked the bite on my throat and collapsed on top of me.

"I never want to move again," he mumbled.

"Me neither, but—"

His phone buzzed with a text and we both growled at being interrupted. "S'pose I should get it?"

"No." It buzzed again, so I nodded. "Yes."

He pulled out of me carefully and stood, but then put a hand on my lower back, holding me down. "Jesus Christ, you look so fucking slutty, laying there with my come dripping out of your ass."

"Slutty?" I repeated with a scowl.

Aramis raised his eyebrows. "Sexy?"

"Better. Now answer your phone while I figure out what to wear." I yanked the sheet off the bed and cleaned up with it. No way was I walking around with my mate's spunk dripping out of me. Looking around for clothes, I realized I had no choice but to pull on the too-big pants and belt them tightly. All of the buttons on my shirt were gone, but it was better than nothing, so I pulled it on and let it hang open.

He dug through his pants and pulled out his cell. "Oh shit."

My gut clenched. "Oh shit, what?"

He showed me his phone and I read the text from Epp: Nice performance. Everyone heard you. Mom's gone apeshit and says to get down here now, looking respectable if you can. We tried to distract her with a game of cribbage, but she's pretty pissed.

"Oh shit," I repeated, and followed Aramis down to meet our fate.

To be continued...

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Carol Pedroso
Cia Nordwell
Chris T. Kat
Elyzabeth VaLey
Jim Dunaway
Johayan
Jon Keys
Julie Lynn Hayes
Tali Spencer

Wednesday Briefs - Boys of Belsmeade 30

Welcome to Wednesday Briefs! It's flash fiction, so this story will be presented in 1000(ish)-word chapters. I hope you enjoy it, and check out the many other flashers, whose links are below. You can also check out the Wednesday Briefs Blog for more info and to sign up for email notifications.

Thanks for reading!

THE BOYS OF BELSMEADE

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Chapter Thirty

Betina dragged John through the forest, toward the group of waiting SUVs. She looked over her shoulder and smiled at him, her tongue sliding teasingly over her fangs.

John groaned and felt his cock getting hard. "Where are we going?"

"The count's villa. We'll have privacy there, for a while at least." Digging keys out of her pocket, she opened the doors of a large Mercedes. "Get in."

"Okay," John said nervously. This was all happening very fast. He knew that Benita was meant to be his mate, but they literally knew nothing about one another. "Can we just talk, though?"

Benita pulled onto the road and asked absently, "Talk? Why?"

He cleared his throat and answered, "I… I'm scared, Benita."

She brought the car to a screeching halt and gaped at him. "Are you scared of me?"

John put a hand to her cheek and smiled reassuringly. "Of course not. Look, I know you're my mate. I feel it with everything that I am, but this is all completely new to me. I didn't know vampires were real until two days ago when I found out my son had been turned. Then, I was kidnapped, turned into a vampire, and woke up in some demented woman's bed."

"Don't talk about her," Benita said with a growl.

"Sorry. But then the windows exploded, and I was rescued by some vast vampire army, and Eliot was there, and then you show up, and I run away with you, and… it's all extremely overwhelming. I mean, what am I going to do? I suppose I can retire. Lord knows I hate the politics of medicine, but what do I tell my friends? What do I tell Eliot's mother?"

Benita leaned over and kissed him softly. "I'm so sorry, John. I was so caught up in my own feelings that I've neglected what you've been through. We'll go to the count's villa and talk. We'll take as much time as you need, and you can ask anything you need to. The rest—us—will come in time."

He squirmed in his seat. "Not the best choice of words." Benita bit her lip and looked apologetic. John kissed her again and said, "Maybe I'll ask some questions tonight, but there are some things that just can't wait much longer."

********************

"Where do you think Dad went?" I asked Aristes.

"I suspect they went back to the count's villa," he replied with a smile.

I sighed and Aramis put an arm around me. "Hey, babe. Be happy for him."

"Happy?" I shrieked, smacking his hand away. "Aramis, do you have any idea what has happened here? Dad has a job. He has family, friends, coworkers, and let's not forget Mom, who, I'm sure, will be very interested to know why her ex-husband has suddenly become a plasma-holic!"

Marco laughed from the front seat. Aurelia put a hand to my cheek. "My dear Eliot, you must remain calm. You've been under a great deal of stress and you'll need to feed soon. I know that your world has been turned upside down, but trust me when I say everything will be all right. Yes, it will take time to work out the details, but you will have all of us to help. Benita also has many resources at her disposal, and is an extremely wealthy woman. Your father will not want for anything."

I picked at a loose thread on my pants. "Well… where does she live?"

"In Tuscany," Aristes answered. "Beautiful villa."

"Figures. I've always wanted to go to Tuscany."

"Then we'll go," Aramis said. "When school's done, we'll backpack through Tuscany."

His smile was so sweet that I couldn't resist it. I unbuckled my seatbelt and climbed onto his lap, burying my face against his chest. "I love you, Aramis," I said with a yawn.

"Love you, baby," he replied, kissing the top of my head. Then I heard his thoughts come through to me. "You'd better get some sleep now, because I plan on fucking you all night long."

Since I'd been able to project my thoughts to the count, I thought I'd try it again. I concentrated hard. "Hey, Aramis? Can you hear me?"

His arms tightened around me. "You did it! I'm proud of you."

I craned my neck up so he could kiss me. What started out gently quickly morphed into a breathy battle of tongues and lips. His cock hardened beneath me and I squeaked in surprise.

"Boys!" Aristes warned. "Behave yourselves."

Aramis tickled my ribs and I giggled, trying to smack his hands away. Aurelia sighed. "I guess I'll have to separate you. Eliot, sit over here, and I'll sit in the middle."

"But—" Aramis began, as his mother yanked me off his lap. Humiliation killed my erection, thank God. I buckled my seatbelt without complaint, but I could tell my mate was seriously pissed. He sighed loudly and dramatically at regular intervals for the rest of the drive.

When we finally arrived at the count's villa, I barely had time to hear the count say, "Your father and Benita are in the guest house and will join us later," before Aramis dragged me upstairs.

"Gee, this isn't obvious," I huffed.

Halfway down the hall, Aramis backed me up against the wall and kissed me hard. "I am so fucking horny," he whispered in my ear. "Want you now."

"Take me then," I said before fixing my mouth to his.

The noise of someone coming up the stairs jolted us apart, so we ran in to the nearest guest room and locked the door. Aramis dropped to his knees and looked up at me with a knowing smile. With excruciating slowness, he remove my belt and tossed it onto the floor. The pants, which were far too big, fell down around my ankles.

To be continued...

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Don't forget to visit the other flashers!

Carol Pedroso
Cia Nordwell
Chris T. Kat
Elyzabeth VaLey
Jim Dunaway
Julie Lynn Hayes
MA Church
Nephylim

Wednesday Briefs - Boys of Belsmeade 29

Welcome to Wednesday Briefs! It's flash fiction, so this story will be presented in 1000(ish)-word chapters. I hope you enjoy it, and check out the many other flashers, whose links are below. You can also check out the Wednesday Briefs Blog for more info and to sign up for email notifications.

Thanks for reading!

THE BOYS OF BELSMEADE

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Chapter Twenty-Nine

I stumbled backward in horror, trying to escape this nightmare. Fumaro had turned him? My father was a vampire? My brain wasn't working fast enough to process it. The count growled to show his superiority to my father. Dad shrank back.

"Calm yourself," the count told him. "Now. Do you know who you are?"

"Yes," Dad answered.

"Do you know what you are?"

"Yes, but… There's a boy."

"There's a child in the house?" Aristes asked frantically.

"No. Not here. I don't know where he is. His name is Eliot."

Aramis clutched my hand and held me back. I heard his thoughts. "We don't know how unstable he is, El."

The count hesitated. "Why do you want to see him?"

Dad looked so confused, I wanted to cry. He said, "I think he's my son."

That did it. I broke free from Aramis and stepped into the room. "Dad," I said with a wary smile. His defensive position eased a little, so I took a step closer. I heard Aramis growling behind me, but I ignored him. "Dad, it's okay."

His feet crunched on broken glass as he crossed the room toward me. When he was within arm's length, he reached out and touched my face. His fingers were colder than usual and I had a hard time trying not to flinch.

"You look like your mother," he said simply.

It was an odd way to start a conversation, but I ran with it. "So I've been told. Do you remember her?"

His eyebrows drew together. "Are we still married?"

"No."

"Good."

It broke the ice, and everyone relaxed a little. I laughed and asked, "Why is that good?"

He looked sheepish. "Well, there's another woman, but not Lena."

"Who's Lena?" I asked.

The count said, "Fumaro's only child. I believe she has been handled. Am I correct, Benita?"

"Yes. She's finished."

Dad turned toward the sound of her voice and pointed. "It's you. I remember you."

She smiled brilliantly. "You do? I thought you would have forgotten me since you were mated with Lena."

He shook his head. " I didn't feel anything for her, not even during sex. I kept picturing you in my mind."

With a fiery determination, Benita crossed the room, grabbed Dad by the wrist and dragged him outside. They disappeared into the woods and I scowled. "Where the hell are they going?"

Marco laughed nervously. "Uh, trust me. You probably don't want to dwell on what they're about to do."

The thought of my father having sex made me feel slightly sick. But at least he was safe. I couldn't say the same yet for Blake's mom. He hadn't said a word yet. Epp held him tightly, waiting for any news of Lilianna.

"Check the outbuildings," the count ordered. "And bring Fumaro."

Four guards dragged a struggling Fumaro into the room. The count's fangs descended and his long claws grew. I knew enough by then to step back. He then took his brother by the hair and said, "It is finished, Fumaro. Your clan comes to an end tonight. Your daughter has been destroyed."

It was the first time I saw Fumaro's implacable mask of indifference crack. He looked so shocked that I nearly felt sorry for him. The count showed no compassion. Without another word—without offering forgiveness—he slashed his nails across Fumaro's neck. A quick twist separated the head from the body.

The count gave the head to one of the guards and told them, "Burn it. Bury the rest for now. We'll have someone come in to clean up. Any sign of Lilianna?"

"She's here, sir!" someone called across the lawn. "Becker was hiding with her in the guest house."

One vampire carried the weakened vampire into the room and laid her on a sofa. Blake knelt on the floor next to her. "Mom? I'm here. Are you okay?"

"Blake," she said. "Thank God you're all right."

He helped her to sit and handed her a bottle of synthetic blood. "You're weak, mom. You need to drink this."

"No, I can't stand that stuff."

Blake rolled his eyes. "Too bad. Drink it."

Lilianna didn't like it, but she did as she was told. After a moment, she asked, "Where's your father?"

Two other vampires dragged Lukas Becker in and threw him at the count's feet. He didn't beg or plead, but he did try to explain. "It was Fumaro who made me destroy Galen. He would have killed me if I didn't do it."

Blake turned to his father and howled in rage. "So you killed your son to save your own neck?"

Lukas tried to answer, but Blake tackled him and held him down on the floor. Over and over again, he punched his father. Bones crunched under the blows, and blood splattered Blake's face and hair. Epp and Marco finally pulled Blake off Lukas, but the elder vampire was too weakened to move far. He got to his knees and turned to his wife.

He could barely speak through the blood and broken jaw. "Lilianna, please forgive me. I've done unspeakable things, and I deserve to die, but I can't until you forgive me. I'm begging you."

Lilianna took a deep breath and said, "I forgive you, Lukas, but only because it is not my job to judge you. I will always love the man you used to be. The centuries have turned you into a monster, so filled with hatred that you don't have a shred of humanity left in you. I don't know if you'll go to hell or some other place, but I pity you. The only comfort I take is that you will not harm our boys again."

The count nodded to two of his guards. They took Lukas outside, and a few moments later, I heard the now-familiar sound of a vampire dying. Blake went to the sofa and held his mother while she sobbed in grief.

To be continued...

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Carol Pedroso
Cia Nordwell
Chris T. Kat
Jim Dunaway
Johayan
Julie Lynn Hayes
Nephylim
Shelly Schulz
Tali Spencer

Wednesday Briefs - Boys of Belsmeade 28

Welcome to Wednesday Briefs! It's flash fiction, so this story will be presented in 1000(ish)-word chapters. I hope you enjoy it, and check out the many other flashers, whose links are below. You can also check out the Wednesday Briefs Blog for more info and to sign up for email notifications.

Thanks for reading!

THE BOYS OF BELSMEADE

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Chapter Twenty-Eight

The ride to the town near Fumaro's estate was quiet. Everyone was worrying about what might happen if we ran into more resistance than the count had anticipated. I sat in Aramis' lap, terrified that we'd get there and storm the house, only to find my father's lifeless corpse buried in the cellar.

I shivered and Aramis rubbed my back. "He'll be okay, El. Please don't worry."

"But everyone else," I said. "What if anyone of your clan dies? It's all my fault. I don't think I can cope with that."

"Eliot," Aristes said. "You cannot think like that. Just have faith."

We parked the cars about a mile from Fumaro's estate and began to walk through the woods to get to the house. I stayed with Aramis and his parents. Benita, Blake and Epp also came with us. Lucia and Blanca went with the countess, Marco, Nero and Giovanni. Beatricia had remained in the states with baby Aristes, safe with her husband and his clan.

With the count's detailed knowledge of his brother's house, staff, and habits, we were able to guess that my father would be held on the second floor, toward the back, where all the guests stayed. But first we had to clear the security. A computer genius from Zurich hacked into Fumaro's system and disabled the security cameras and motion sensors. Then, without speaking, the various clans spread out, each planning on clearing a different area of the grounds and villa. There were guards everywhere, but quickly—ruthlessly—the count's vampires went to work. A knife to the heart to disable guard was followed by a quick twist and pull.

A disembodied head rolled to a stop at my feet and my first instinct was to scream in terror. Aramis clamped his hand over my mouth. Once I got my breathing under control, I nodded to let him know I wasn't going to make any noise.

It was fairly evident that Fumaro really hadn't planned on the count attacking his house. Our vampires cut through his defenses like a hot knife through butter, and we quickly surrounded the villa. I was standing next to Benita when we carefully looked into the window of the sitting room. I was filled with relief when I saw my father alive and well, but I still couldn't believe what I was looking at.

My father sat on a leather sofa, with a young, blond vampire draped across his lap. Her hand was up under his shirt, stroking his chest. He twirled a ring of her hair around his finger and leaned down to kiss her, whispering endearments.

My attention turned back to Benita, terrified of how she would react, but she was no longer standing next to me. The count had hauled her away from the window. He restrained her, and Aristes had a hand over her mouth. She fought and kicked against her captors, but couldn't free herself. Eventually she calmed, but still looked seriously pissed. I wondered if my dad was going to go home with his nuts intact.

I went back to the window to watch. Fumaro came into the room, and the blond sat up, like a teenager getting caught with her boyfriend. As soon as the girl turned, my dad's smile dropped from his face and he shivered. Something was going on. My father was obviously faking his affection for the girl, but why?

The count was standing behind me, and I realized I had to let him know it was all an act. I took a deep breath, crossed my fingers and tapped the count on the arm. He looked down at me and I flashed my eyes into his. He nodded, so I thought to him, "It's an act. Dad's faking it. There's no way he'd act like that. He is completely awkward around women. The look on his face is the one he uses on people that are annoying him, but he has to be nice to."

He smiled proudly and sent his thoughts to me. "Well done, Eliot! Now, do you trust me?"

I nodded. "What are you up to?"

"Stand back."

I took a few steps back. A moment later, so did everyone else. There was a minute of absolute stillness, while the count stood with his head bowed. He raised his arms and rose slowly into the air. Then, he swept his hands through the air like a conductor. Every window in the villa shattered. Sharp shards of glass fell like rain all around the yard.

The count ran in through the window, so fast I couldn't see him move. He collided with Fumaro and the two of them went tumbling across the room. Fumaro roared in fury and fought hard against his brother, but he couldn't win against the count's magic. The count dragged Fumaro outside and threw him into the hands of our guards.

Once he was secure, our vampires stormed the rest of the house. Aristes stepped through the broken window to approach my father, but a sudden shriek of rage made us all wince. Benita charged into the room and slammed into the young, blond vampire. It reminded me of a daisy being hit by a train. They crashed through the wall on the other site of the room and disappeared from view. A bunch of vampires went after them. After a short struggle and a lot of really pissed screaming in Italian, Benita reemerged, blood splattered on her face.

Now that everyone was subdued, we turned to my dad. He backed into a corner with a terrified expression on his face. Aristes walked toward him, but Dad put up a hand and said, "Stop!"

Aristes smiled, but kept moving forward. "John, we're not going to hurt you."

"I said stop!" As he barked out his command, long fangs descended in his mouth.


To be continued...

Wednesday Briefs - Boys of Belsmeade 27

Welcome to Wednesday Briefs! It's flash fiction, so this story will be presented in 1000(ish)-word chapters. I hope you enjoy it, and check out the many other flashers, whose links are below. You can also check out the Wednesday Briefs Blog for more info and to sign up for email notifications.

Thanks for reading!

THE BOYS OF BELSMEADE

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Once we reached the count's villa an hour from Rome, I stared in wonder. Cars were parked everywhere, bearing number plates from all around Europe. I counted dozens of different cars before Aramis took me by the hand and led me inside, to meet the hundreds of vampires that had gathered to help rescue my dad.

I stepped inside and my mouth fell open like a dead fish. Opulent. Resplendent. So far over the top that I was afraid of falling. That was my first impression of the count's ancestral home. Gilt mirrors lined the main hall, reflecting light from chandeliers and candelabra. White marble floors gave the illusion of walking on clouds.

Then I caught sight of myself in a mirror and scowled. Black, military-issue fatigues—that had been Marco's—heavy boots, and hair that hadn't seen a brush in days certainly didn't seem an appropriate wardrobe in such a house.

Arms wrapped around me and I jumped. Aramis kissed my cheek and whispered in my ear, "I know what you're thinking, babe. And you look fine. Everyone else is wearing the same thing."

I leaned my head back against his shoulder. "But they all look great. I look like I'm playing dress-up. These pants are a foot too long and your butler had to add a notch to the belt because it wasn't tight enough to hold them up. Just answer me this. How old was Marco when he wore these?"

"I don't know. Middle school maybe?"

"That's it. I'm a shrimp and now I'm stuck like this literally forever."

Aramis' eyes flashed white as he spoke into my mind, "I love the size you are. That way, when I have you on your hands and knees, and I'm buried balls-deep inside that perfect, little ass of yours, I can still reach around to kiss you."

"You're evil," I said, as I discreetly adjusted my pants.

"Come on, the count wants to introduce you to everyone."

We went into the ballroom, which was even more decadent than the hall. I shook my head and tried to ignore the surroundings. I had more important things on my mind. Namely, the count calling me to come up in front of everyone. Remembering Aurelia's warning about doing whatever the count said, I went to stand next to him.

"This is Eliot Berenz. One of two new members of the Ambrogi Clan, and the mate of Aramis." Everyone clapped and smiled, and I was suddenly much less nervous. He continued, "Now to why I have called you all here. Eliot's father, a human named John Berenz is being held by the Viscount Fumaro Corleanni. However, my disgraced brother has also another hostage."

"Who?" someone called out.

"Lilianna Becker," he replied.

Gasps and murmurs erupted from the crowd. Another young vampire said, "But Becker is a Belanni, and in league with Fumaro. Why should we help them?"

Everyone chattered and nodded their agreement, until the count growled fiercely. "Enough! Blake Becker is now the mate of Epifanio Ambrogi. Very courageously, he came forward with information that Lukas Becker had destroyed his son, Galen, because of his homosexuality. When Lilianna Becker overheard her husband and Fumaro talking of the murder, she ran from the house—at great personal risk—and brought her evidence to me, at the Ambrogi home."

"I can't believe it," one vampire exclaimed. "How could your brother think he could get away with this?"

The count raised an eyebrow and said, "My brother is too confident and has a low opinion of humans. For that reason, he most certainly wouldn't expect me to call up every vampire in Europe to storm his villa."

I was shocked. "Everyone?"

The count smiled. "Everyone. Don’t worry, young Eliot. We will get your father back."

"Thank you. But how many vampires will be at Fumaro's house?"

Aristes said, "According to our intel, about one hundred and fifty. We have two hundred and forty-one vampires here."

I was suddenly worried again. "Are you sure we'll have enough?"

"Oh yes," Aristes said, "because we have something that Fumaro doesn't."

"What?" I asked.

A low growl came from the count. I turned to see his eyes glowing red, and his nails extending into dark claws. I'd seen the display before, but it was still awe-inspiring. What I saw next, however, stunned me to my core. The count raised his arms slowly and his whole body began to rise from the floor.

"Oh, shit!" I cried, and hurried back to Aramis' side.

He told me, "Watch this. It's so awesome what he can do."

While in mid-air, the count pointed his finger at an unlit candelabra on the mantel. All five candles lit at once. With another sweep of his hand, one of the floor-to-ceiling windows in the room exploded into millions of shards.

"Not again," the countess moaned. "Every time he has to show off, he breaks the window."

The count flew—I had no other word to describe it—to his wife and kissed her cheek. Then he turned to me and winked. "Perhaps there's a little magic in me after all."

********************

John decided to keep the status quo by apologizing to Lena and dragging her into a broom closet for a quick fuck-and-feed. As he drove his cock into her, he pictured Benita's tall, graceful form under him, her long hair wrapped around his fist while he took her from behind. It was the only way to keep his dick hard enough. Just before he came, he bit down on Lena's shoulder and drank.

"Yes! Take my blood!" Lena cried as her mate's seed pulsed into her. She mumbled, "I love you, John. I hope we have a baby soon."

That stopped John dead in his tracks. He was not about to have a baby with Lena. He already had a son. He had Eliot.


To be continued...

Wednesday Briefs - Boys of Belsmeade 26

Welcome to Wednesday Briefs! It's flash fiction, so this story will be presented in 1000(ish)-word chapters. I hope you enjoy it, and check out the many other flashers, whose links are below. You can also check out the Wednesday Briefs Blog for more info and to sign up for email notifications.

Thanks for reading!

THE BOYS OF BELSMEADE

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Chapter Twenty-Six

Of course there was a huge snow storm the night we had to fly to Italy. I clutched the armrest, eyes screwed shut, praying the small private jet would make it Rome.

Aramis poked my ribs. "You can relax, you know. Even if we did crash, you'd walk away."

"Across the fucking ocean?" I snapped. "Just shut up and let me worry."

He shrugged and closed his eyes, trying to get some rest before we landed. I couldn't sleep, so I attempted to eavesdrop on Aristes, the Count, and their guard planning on how they would breach Fumaro's defenses at his villa. Unfortunately, they were all speaking Italian so rapidly that I couldn't understand a word.

Epp sat with his arm around Blake, who stared stoically out the window into the darkness. Although he wasn't showing it, I could tell that he was anxious about his mother. I smiled sadly at Epp. He gave me a thumbs up, then spoke into my head. "Don't worry, El. We'll find them. The Count is so pissed at this point that nothing will be able to stop him."

I fixed my eyes on Epp and thought, "Is the Count really that powerful? Like magic and stuff?"

"I wouldn't say magic," the Count said with a smirk.

"Damn it," I muttered.

The Count put a hand on my shoulder. "It's okay to ask me questions, Eliot. Just not at the moment. Once we have your father safely back with us, we can sit and talk. All right?"
"Yes, sir. Thanks for all you're doing."

"The coven takes care of its own. That includes your father."

Benita sobbed quietly, and Aurelia tried to calm her. "He'll be all right, Benita. You'll wear yourself out like this. You need to be strong for John when he needs you."
"You're right," Benita said. "Right. I will fight Fumaro to the death to get my mate back."

I wished that people would stop using the word "death" in any context, but their confidence helped give me hope I'd see my father again. Aramis pulled me against him and I was finally able to sleep.

********************

John paced around the bedroom while the head of the hospital yelled at him over the phone. "What is the meaning of this, Berenz? You don't show up for your scheduled surgeries, and then call to say you're taking a sabbatical. What on God's green earth has possessed you?"

How could he ever explain something like this? He figured lying was his best option. "Yes, sir. I know I haven't given any notice, but I've had a family emergency and I had to leave town very suddenly."

It seemed to appease his boss. "Are you all right? Is Eliot okay?"

The mention of that name hit John like a brick. The image of a dark-haired, light-eyed boy flashed in his mind, and he stuttered. "Uh… Eliot's fine. Look I have to go. I'll call as soon as I can."

The door opened and Lena strutted in, wearing a miniscule black dress. Sky-high heels clicked on the floor as she hurried to her mate. "There you are! I've been looking for you everywhere."

He looked at the petite blond and raised an eyebrow. She wanted sex. Again. But he wasn't in the mood, not to mention the fact it wasn't very good with her anyway. He got off, sure, but it was automatic to him. There was something missing. He put that thought aside and replayed the phone call in his mind. The mention of the boy Eliot had rattled him.
The girl pawed at him, but he scowled and said, "Not now."

Lena took a step back, mystified as to why she was unable to seduce her mate. She pouted. "But, John, don't you want me?"

"Who the hell is Eliot?" he barked, losing all patience. She didn't answer, so he wrapped his fingers tightly around her bicep and squeezed, causing Lena to yelp. He growled quietly and let his fangs drop. "Tell me. Who is Eliot?"

"I don't know!" she lied. "You're hurting me, John."

"Get out," he commanded through clenched teeth. He thrust her away. Lena ran from the room. He sat on the bed and closed his eyes, trying desperately to remember. Images flicked through his mind as he tried to grasp the truth. He remembered seeing Eliot in a big house, not unlike the one in which he was now residing. There was a meal—a dinner, with a family. But whose family? Eliot was there. But before the dinner, in an office, he had talked to Eliot. Their conversation replayed dimly in his head.

Then the word "dad" popped in his head, and it hit him. He remembered Eliot running into his arms and calling him dad. Him! Eliot was his son! More memories came flooding back. Sitting around the table with Eliot and other vampires. A female vampire—tall, brunette, stunning…

Benita. The hallway. The kiss. He could almost feel her mouth on his, her hands on his ass. That cemented it. This little slut Lena wasn't his true mate. But how then had he come to be here? He realized he'd have to keep up with the charade until he found out what the hell was going on.

********************

Outside the plane, after we landed in Rome, I felt like a complete spectacle. Everyone in the private hangar stopped and stared at the group of beautiful—too beautiful—people stepping off the plane and into four impossibly large, black Mercedes sedans.

"I don't think we're in Kansas anymore," I mumbled as Aramis climbed in next to me. I tugged at his sleeve. "Don't we have to go through customs or something?"

He smirked. "Vampires do things differently. The count has connections up the ass."

Aurelia pulled a leather glove off her elegant hand and smacked Aramis' knee with it. "Don't be vulgar. And remember, do exactly as the count says. In Italy, his word is law."


To be continued...

Wednesday Briefs - Boys of Belsmeade 25

Welcome to Wednesday Briefs! It's flash fiction, so this story will be presented in 1000(ish)-word chapters. I hope you enjoy it, and check out the many other flashers, whose links are below. You can also check out the Wednesday Briefs Blog for more info and to sign up for email notifications.

Thanks for reading!

THE BOYS OF BELSMEADE

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Chapter Twenty-Five

"Ooh, papa, he's beautiful!" The female vampire clapped in glee and hopped in her seat. Tight, blond curls bounced wildly, giving her the appearance of a young girl, but in human years she was twenty-four.

Fumaro kissed her forehead. "Anything for my darling girl. Give me the syringe." The viscount ripped off the unconscious human's shirt. Then, with a sick smile, he plunged his daughter's blood straight into John Berenz's heart.

********************

"Italy?" I asked numbly. "Like… Italy, Italy?"

The countess rolled her eyes. "No. He's taking your father to Spain, Italy."

I had reached the end of my rapidly fraying rope. "Oh my God!" I snapped. "If another person teases me or points out my many undead short-comings one more time, I am going to completely lose my shit!"

The count growled quietly and said, "Calm yourself, young one. Now more than ever, you must control your rage."

Aurelia sat next to me and kissed me on the forehead. "Eliot, you need some rest. Aramis, take him to your room to get some sleep. That is, if you can find your bed through all of that mess."

Aramis winked at her and pulled me up from the couch. "Come on, babe," he said with a sympathetic smile.

His room was on the third floor. It was in the same dark wood style as the rest of the house, but it was definitely a teen guy's lair. Music posters, books, a computer and clothes strewn everywhere. There were even several empty synthetic blood bottles on his nightstand.

I scowled. "I can't believe your parents let you get away with this."

"Trust me. They don't. I haven't gotten an allowance in weeks. Mom keeps threatening to have this corner of the house cut off with chainsaws and rebuilt so I can start over."

I wanted to find it funny that vampires had messy bedrooms, but I was suddenly exhausted. Wading carefully through the debris that littered Aramis' floor, I found the bed, shoved the books and clothes off of it and pulled the covers back. When I saw a familiar piece of dark purple cloth sticking out from under the pillow, I looked at my mate with a raised eyebrow.

"Is that mine?" I asked. Aramis looked sheepish, but didn't answer, so I grabbed the shirt and pulled it out. "This is mine. It's the shirt I thought I lost in the locker room at school. How did you get it?"

"I sort of stole it," he admitted. "The minute I met you, your scent printed itself on my mind. I craved it like humans crave air. So I went to your school, broke into the locker room, and sniffed out your locker."

"Is it that strong?" I asked, amazed.

"God, yes!" he groaned. He wrapped his arms around me and chuckled. "And the clothes in your locker smelled so good. Human sweat can be very powerful, El. It's a concentrated form of their essence. I love your smell, and your sweat got me so hard."

Even though I was grossed out by what he was saying, I could help but be aroused. My cock stiffened, and I moaned in disappointment. "Let's get some sleep, Air. I'm worried about Dad and we should really rest."

"True. I'll even keep my boxers on tonight."

I lay down and he climbed in behind me, putting an arm around my waist and holding me close. I had no idea what the next day would bring, but I prayed to any god that may have been listening to keep my father safe.

********************

John woke to find himself in a strange bed with a strange vampire draped across his nude body. He tried to push her away, but intense hunger gripped him and the scent of her made his mouth water. Instinctually, he lifted the mass of blond curls off her shoulder and sniffed her neck.

The vamp opened her eyes and smiled. "Mm, good morning, my love."

It made no sense. John didn't recognize the young woman, let alone love her. Panic overtook him and his heart felt as if it would beat out of his chest. He tried to ask a question, but his throat burned. He hissed at the pain, and then gasped when his tooth pierced his lower lip. He attempted to sit up, but the blond held him down.

"Shh. Don't worry. It's completely normal." Somehow, her voice calmed him, but still he couldn't speak for the pain. She kissed his lips gently and said, "You must be thirsty, John."

"Thirsty," he repeated with a rough voice. "Yes."

This seemed to please the blond, and she put a leg up over his hip. When her skin brushed over his cock, his breath caught. Dozens of questions raced around his head, but they were all forgotten as the woman took his shaft in her hands and began to stroke him.

"Don't fight it," she whispered. "Claim your mate, John."

"But… who? Who are you?"

"I'm Lena, your mate. Do you not feel my blood inside you? Don't you long to taste me on your tongue?" Need pulsed through him. He pushed her down and knelt between her legs. His fingers sank inside her and she groaned. "Yes! Fuck me. Bite me. Give me your blood while you come inside me."

Her legs wrapped around his waist, drawing him closer. Without thinking, John thrust into her, bringing a delighted cry to her lips. Gripping her chin roughly, he twisted her neck to the side and sank his fangs into her pale flesh. The sweet, thick liquid sated his thirst and he groaned in relief. He lapped at the wound and closed it.

Lena twisted around and pushed John onto his back. Fast and hard, she rode his cock until she felt his body stiffen. As hot come pulsed inside her, she leaned down and bit.

Fumaro stood outside the door, listening to his only daughter take her mate. He smiled when he thought of how he would school John Berenz in the sadistic traditions of the true, ancient vampires—traditions which most modern vampire clans had shunned for so long. John would learn how to be dominant over Lena, over less powerful vampires, and most important of all, he would learn that humans were only good for one thing: to feed upon.

It was the ultimate revenge on Aramis Ambrogi's foolish young mate.

To be continued...

****************************************

Don't forget to visit the other flashers!

Avery Dawes
Carol Pedroso
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Elyzabeth VaLey
Jon Keys
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Nephylim
Shelly Schulz
Tali Spencer
Victoria Adams

Wednesday Briefs - Boys of Belsmeade 24

Welcome to Wednesday Briefs! It's flash fiction, so this story will be presented in 1000(ish)-word chapters. I hope you enjoy it, and check out the many other flashers, whose links are below. You can also check out the Wednesday Briefs Blog for more info and to sign up for email notifications.

Thanks for reading!

THE BOYS OF BELSMEADE

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Chapter Twenty-Four

John was sandwiched between two large vampires in the back seat of a sleek, black sedan. He looked out the window, watching the trees fly by as they sped down the highway. With every passing minute, his captors took him farther south, farther away from Eliot. The last he saw of his son was when a bullet struck Eliot in the chest, and he crumpled to the floor. The memory made John's stomach turn. To fight the nausea, he gripped the leather seat and exhaled slowly.

Fumaro turned in the front seat to face John. With an evil smile, he asked, "Something wrong?"

"You bastard!" John cursed through clenched teeth. "What did you do to my son?"

"It should have been fairly clear that I shot him."

"B-but he's not dead, right? He can't die, can he?"

The viscount rolled his eyes. "Of course he can die. Even vampires can't survive with no head."

John's face blanched. He couldn't focus on that right now. He had to believe that Eliot was alive, and was planning on rescuing him from the sadistic vampires that now held him captive. Yes, Eliot was smart. He and Aramis and the others would figure out how to save him. They had the count, Mr. Ambrogi, Benita…

The thought of the stunning female vampire made John shiver. Even when he was still attracted to Eliot's mother Karen, he'd never had as strong a reaction to her as he had with Benita. When the vampire shoved him against a wall and kissed him, the blood in his veins turned to fire and the need for more of this woman consumed him. She shoved her hands down the back of his jeans and squeezed his ass while he worked his lips down her slender throat. They parted before they ripped off each other's clothes and fucked right there in the hall, but it was clear to both of them that their little romp was just the beginning.

The memory stirred his blood again and he shifted uncomfortably in his seat. Fumaro chuckled. "Thinking about Benita, eh?"

John tried to ignore him, but Fumaro sent his thoughts into John's head. "She's stunning, isn't she? You should see her body: high, firm breasts, with nipples begging to be sucked." John thought of maggots, train wrecks, anything that would distract him from the vampire's lurid description, but the voice kept on. "Long legs to wrap around your waist while you thrust into her heat, over and over—"

"Stop it!" John screamed. The other vampires laughed at his torture, and they began speaking in German, which he couldn't understand. The car slowed and pulled into a driveway. The sun was setting, but John could still make out the sign.

"An Air Force base?" he asked incredulously. "Won't you be sort of conspicuous here?"

Fumaro shrugged. "Why? It's not like they don't know vampires exist."

John was stunned. "What?"

Becker scoffed. "You seriously think that the government doesn't know about us? How could we possibly conduct our business without them knowing? I pay a great deal of money to be able to keep my jet here."

"Air Force Four," Fumaro joked. "Fly wherever we want with no questions asked."

"Where are we going?" John asked. "Please tell me. What are you going to do to me?"

Fumaro smirked. "My daughter is in need of a mate."

John's mouth fell open in shock. He felt a pinch in his arm, and shook his head to fight the sedative's effect. "No," he mumbled. "I won' do it."

As he lost consciousness, John heard Fumaro make a phone call. "Hello, darling. Papa has a wonderful surprise for you."

********************

When I came to, everything was in a state of utter chaos. There were vampires everywhere, some with weapons, and many on phones. All around the room, bloody sheets and rags covered chairs and floors. I sat up and felt like someone had stabbed me through the heart.

"Holy fuck!" I hissed, and collapsed back to the floor. Aramis rushed over and knelt next to me. His shirt was a bloody mess, but he looked unharmed. I threw my arms around him and pulled him down. "You're okay. Thank God, you're okay. But… wait. Dad. My dad! Oh my God, where's my father? I've got to find him."

I hopped to my feet and gasped in pain. Aramis pushed me down into a chair. "Ssh. Stay calm, babe. We'll find him. You need to finish healing."

Benita was sitting on one of the sofas, shaking with grief. Aurelia had a consoling arm around her, but it wasn't really helping. "Gone," Benita moaned. "He's gone! I know Fumaro. He'll kill him, just because he belongs to me. After all these years, I meet my mate, and now…"

"Hush," Aristes said. "Benita, my dear. Do not worry. Fumaro would not be so stupid as to kill John."

I sobbed and held my head in my hands. Aramis said, "Dad, what can we possibly do?"

"We can use the tracking device that I had the doctor at the clinic implant behind John's ear."

"The what you what?" I cried.

Aristes looked sheepish. "Well, I may have promised the council that I would keep track of your father's whereabouts until he was fully vetted into the clan. And I figured the easiest way would be a tracking device. It didn't hurt."

"Dad!" Aristes barked. "That is so not right."

"Basta cosi!" The count yelled. "We need to find out what has happened here! Ambrogi, get your men started with the tracking device. Aramis, explain what you saw."

"Well," Aramis began, "about twenty minutes after you left, we thought we heard you all walking across the lawn. When Mom stood up to see, they shot her. Then bullets came flying from all directions. They must have known that you'd all go tearing off to find Galen's body."

"It's all my fault," Blake said miserably. "John's gonna die and it's all my fault."

"Shut up, Blake," I snapped. "Swear to God, if anyone says that one more time I'm gonna slap the fuck out of them. My father is not dead."

Go to Chapter Twenty-Five

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Avery Dawes
Caraway Carter
Cia Nordwell
Elyzabeth VaLey
Johayan
Julie Lynn Hayes
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Sarah Hayes

Wednesday Briefs - Boys of Belsmeade 23

Welcome to Wednesday Briefs! It's flash fiction, so this story will be presented in 1000(ish)-word chapters. I hope you enjoy it, and check out the many other flashers, whose links are below. You can also check out the Wednesday Briefs Blog for more info and to sign up for email notifications.

Thanks for reading!

THE BOYS OF BELSMEADE

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Chapter Twenty-Three

Fumaro raced through the woods, crossing the neutral territory and onto the Belanni estate. When he reached the house, he forced the door open and let it slam against the wall, shattering a vase that sat on the entry table.

Lilianna Becker hurried out from the living room, rage painting her face, but when she saw the vampire, she gasped. The viscount passed by without a word and kicked in the door to Becker's study. Becker shot to his feet. "Corleanni! What the hell—"

Fumaro's eyes went black and he hissed. "Listen to me!" When he had Becker's full attention he said, "Your son has joined the Ambrogi."

"Joined?"

"He has tied himself to the second youngest son."

Becker fell into his chair in utter disbelief. "Son? Do you mean that Blake is—"

Fumaro smirked. "Is getting fucked like a bitch? Yes. But that's not all. Blake has also accused you of Galen's murder."

Becker stared at his desk as his world fell out beneath him. Could it be true that his beloved Blake would betray him? "How could he know about Galen?"

The viscount slammed his fist down on the desk. The antique oak splintered under the force. "You fool! I told you then you should have been more careful! You should have planned. Galen was supposed to have run away, but yet he left his car and all his belongings? Of course people would be suspicious!"

Lukas swallowed hard. "What did the count say?"

"He is going to investigate Galen's disappearance."

"Oh my God," Lukas moaned. "And what of Ambrogi? Surely he will not accept Blake into his clan?"

"He has already done so. Your son is lost to you. Now you have nothing. One of the great families of the Belanni Clan has been reduced to dust because you could not control your own children! At least you got rid of Galen's body, so there is no evidence." The viscount towered over him and growled. "You did burn the body, didn't you?"

Lukas slouched down in his chair and screwed his eyes closed. "I could not have risked the smoke and had police show up. So… I buried him."

"Where?" Fumaro bellowed.

"Little Switzerland," Lukas said quietly. "I hoped if he was ever found, we could blame it on the Ambrogi."

"Idiot!"

Outside the door, Lilianna Becker shook with grief. For some time she'd wondered what had really happened to her eldest son. Now she knew. As quietly as she could, she went upstairs to gather what few things she could carry in her shoulder bag. Then she pulled on her coat and boots and jumped out the window. One way or another, she would save her son.

********************

The look on the count's face scared the crap out of me. Aramis held me tighter and whispered reassurances.

"Track him!" the count ordered.

"We did," one of the vampires said. He crossed the property line and went into Belanni lands. We did not dare follow until we consulted you."

"Who are the Belanni?" I asked.

Blake sank into a chair. "It's my dad's clan. Fumaro's gonna tell Dad that I accused him. Holy shit. He's going to destroy me."

Aristes shook his head. "You are part of my clan now, Blake. They will not lay a finger on you."

One of the guards came in and said, "Sir, we have captured a Belanni sneaking onto the estate. Shall we bring her to you and the count?"

"Yes," demanded Count Corleanni.

When the guards brought in the trespasser, Blake gasped. "Mom!"

Mrs. Becker looked as though she's seen a ghost. "Blake!" she cried. "You're all right. Listen. I heard them talking."

"Who?" the count asked.

Lilianna fell on her knees bowed her head. "My husband and your brother, sir. Fumaro came to the house and began shouting at Lukas. I listened while they spoke of… murdering my son!"

All of the energy left her body and she slumped forward, holding herself up with her hands. "Poor Galen," she said quietly. "Thrown into a hole in the ground like a dead animal."
The count's eyes were wide. "Buried? Lukas didn't burn the body?"

She shook her head. "No. He said it would have attracted too much attention. Instead, he buried Galen."

"Where?" Aristes asked.

"Little Switzerland. He thought that if it was discovered, he could blame the Ambrogi."

Several of the Ambrogi, including my mate, growled fiercely. Corleanni snapped his fingers and his brothers followed him out of the room. Mr. Ambrogi said, "Marco, Raniero, come with me."

"Be careful!" Aurelia cried. "Becker could have guards everywhere!"

Aristes kissed his wife. "We will bring ours. And we have the count. Nothing will get past him."

They hurried out, and we all sat around the living room in various states of anxiety. No one said anything. Ten minutes went by, and still we heard nothing. Then, twenty-five minutes after we left, we heard several vampires crossing the lawn.

"Thank God," Aurelia said, and she stood to look out the window. I heard a quiet pop, then glass breaking, and then Aramis' mother slumped onto the floor. There was a bullet hole in the middle of her chest.

"Mom!" Aramis screamed. He jumped up to help her, but another shot took him down.

"No!" I cried, but I could barely hear myself over the sound of glass shattering and bullets flying. Blake and Epp barely made it off the couch before they were hit. The countess was the next to be shot, followed by the girls and Blake's mother. Benita shoved my father onto the floor, and was then brought down by a bullet to the chest. The carnage around me rooted me to the spot. I was the only vampire left. Suddenly, the door opened and Fumaro stood there, with a gun pointed at my head.

Two guards I didn't recognize entered and he gave them instructions in Italian. One of them grabbed Mrs. Becker. I thought the other one was going to take me, but he crossed the room and lifted my father off the floor.

Dad reached out for me, "Eliot, help me!"

"No!" I begged Fumaro, "Please, don't do this. Kill me, but don't hurt him!"

A slick, evil grin spread across Fumaro's face. He said, "You are to blame for all of this, Eliot."

Another pop, and everything went black.

Go to Chapter Twenty-Four

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