Arctic Prison: Misfits of the Lore Series #3

ARCTIC PRISON

Misfits of the Lore

Book 3

Copyright 2012 J.E. Hopkins

Smashwords Edition

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Prologue

The prophets have spoken

The savior will come

She will rise like the phoenix from the ashes of despair and set the world ablaze

She will unite the enslaved and free them from the bonds of their confinement

The endless chain of suffering will be broken

She will restore hope

She will restore life

She will restore the will to survive

The chosen one will come

Freedom will reign and the purebloods will die

Chapter 1

Julian had always relished the cold. He was a child of ice, born with the gift of the arctic. It was his constant companion; the one thing in his life he knew would never abandon him. Yet this bitter chill was now a stranger that attacked him with a vengeance akin to a lover betrayed. This was unlike any other agony he felt before. His body ached to its core. He was paralyzed by his own gift, unable to break the ice that was freezing him to death.

He was trapped in this glacial fury. The only comfort was the familiar voices beckoning him to awaken.This voice, the most familiar of all, was that of mother. Yes, it was definitely Olivia. Her gentle, calming voice trying to reach him through this insurmountable iceberg restraining him from opening his eyes and embracing the comfort she would provide.

How he loved her voice as a child. She would sing him to sleep chasing away the nightmares that often plagued him. For so long she was his savior. The mother bear always protecting her cub. He knew as long as she was there, the darkness of his dreams would not invade the bliss of his reality.

Those days were so long ago, but the memories were still etched in his heart. For years, he had tried to ignore them, determined to hate his mother in order to please his father. He spent so many years punishing her for loving his older brother Kaden more than him—for choosing Kaden over him—but he knew the truth. He had pushed her away until all she had left was Kaden’s love. He could not blame her for the bond they shared – the bond denied him because of his own stupidity and foolish pride. If only he could have seen the truth of his father’s evil sooner.

He allowed Daughton Gaspard to manipulate him year after year convincing him of his mother’s cruelty and disdain for her second son. As Daughton often reminded him, he was the child Olivia never wanted to have. The second son that should have been the daughter she truly craved. Julian was the spare, Kaden the beloved.

Too many years wasted believing the lie and pushing away the love he desperately needed from Olivia. Now here he was stuck in an arctic abyss drowning in the cold reality of regret.

Although his relationship with Olivia had improved these last few months, it would take time to undo a century’s worth of wounds. He knew she loved him and he hoped she knew he loved her, but he needed more time to prove it. He wasn’t ready to die, yet death seemed ready to ensnare him in its clutches.

Just like that it all came back to him. The reason he was shrouded in this dreamlike state being tortured with the memories of mistakes too late to remedy. He had been shot by that demon intending to kill Kaden. That demon who was part of the Equality Liberation Movement, ELM. The group that wanted to annihilate all pureblood vampires and lycans in retaliation for what they claim were years of pureblood abuse of lesser immortals. That demon did not target them as part of ELM’s mission. No. That demon targeted Kaden because Kaden had been an ass to him. Typical. Petty revenge that left Julian with an enchanted bullet piercing his heart.

What the hell did that thing shoot him with and why did he foolishly jump in the way and take a bullet meant for his brother who probably deserved it? His brother.

Kaden was some brother. The big brother who had tormented him most of his life and had reveled in joyous contempt at Julian’s perpetual misery. Idiota! Julian cursed. He was stuck in this painful nightmare while the irascible Kaden was probably making love to his perfect mate Reysa who was way too divine for the likes of him. That boorish ass ends up with the happy ending—the mate and a child on the way. Kaden gets Julian’s dream life and he gets a slow agonizing death tormented by regrets for all the years wasted and the living he would never get to enjoy.

For a 164 year old vampire, he truly had not lived much of a life and now it was too late. Too late for love, too late for family, too late for happiness.

No. This can’t be it, Julian groaned. He may be dying, but he wasn’t going to die like this. He had to fight. He had to fight for more time. He needed more time and by the gods he would have it. The grim reaper would just have to chase him around for a while. He was not ready for death’s welcoming hand. He still had more living to do.

II

Why won’t he wake up? Olivia shouted at Amalia, the sage and alchemist charged with saving Julian.

Amalia stared intently at Olivia, her methodical mind analyzing Olivia’soutburst of emotion. Amalia viewed everything as a scientific puzzle she needed to solve. Emotions were irrelevant to her. She felt no empathy for others’ suffering. She was a clinician who sacrificed her heart for science.

Unclear, Amalia answered in her cold, uncaring voice. He should have woken up by now. This is most unexpected.

Olivia reached for her mate Lucian as he engulfed her in his arms. A shrill cry nearly ruptured everyone’s eardrums as they turned to face the diminutive raven haired siren whose eyes glimmered a frighteningly lethal red. The small creature launched herself at Amalia knocking her to the ground, her hands tightening around the sage’s throat.

You put him in this coma, Anastasia bellowed, her Russian accent even more pronounced in anger. You said it was temporary. You did this to my Julian and now I am going to put you in a permanent coma. Anastasia’s tiny, but sharp fangs grew as she prepared to rip into the sage’s throat.

Kaden reached for Anastasia, trying to pull her off the struggling sage. For a woman more than a foot shorter than Kaden and at least one hundred and fifty pounds lighter, she was almost impossible to move. Her hands gripped the sage’s throat tighter as she proceeded to pound the woman’s head into the ground.

Lucian grabbed hold of Anastasia’s other arm and with the combined strength of these two formidable vampires, they pulled Anastasia off Amalia. The three of them landed on the dresser on the opposite side of the room crushing the top as if it were made of tissue.

Lucian and Kaden kept a tight hold on Anastasia urging her to calm down, but the little siren was lost in a desire for blood and her target was Amalia.

Olivia helped the frightened sage to her feet, who coughed repeatedly trying to catch her breath. I guess she has some emotions after all, Olivia noted. Fear. Amalia was definitely afraid of Anastasia as well she should be.

Olivia did not know much about sirens. Most just thought of them as nymphomaniacs that lured men into sex and death with their voices, but they were so much more. They were warriors who craved blood. Olivia marveled at the way the sirens, led by Anastasia, helped defeat the ELM cell in Vancouver. They were not women to be trifled with for behind their beautiful faces and diminutive statures were bloodthirsty fighters who enjoyed the torture more than the kill.

Let me kill the bitch, Anastasia growled as she struggled to break free of the vampires’ hold.

You can’t kill her, Kaden warned. She may be the only person able to help Julian. Right now, we need her alive.

"Ok. I won’t kill her. I will just rip out one of her eyes. She’ll still have one left to see how to treat Julian. Da?" Anastasia asked in her native tongue.

A confused Kaden and Lucian looked at each other before Lucian responded. It would probably be best if she had both her eyes Anastasia. Two eyes are better than one and right now she needs every tool she has to help Julian.

Anastasia pondered his words before offering an alternative. She doesn’t need two legs though. Anastasia flashed her fangs at Amalia. Amalia gasped and ran out of the room.

I’m glad I woke up in time for the show, a bemused Julian commented. He had awoken to the sound of Anastasia’s shrill voice, the echoes breaking him free from his ice prison. Only a hellion like her could break an iceberg and free him from hell, at least temporarily.

Anastasia was a remarkable pain in the neck, but he loved the way she defended him. He could always count on her.

Julian had been temporarily lost in his thoughts, until Anastasia broke free of Kaden and Lucian and launched herself at him. She landed on his chest and wrapped, her arms so tightly around his neck that Julian feared strangulation would kill him before this drug had a chance. Need air, he gasped.

Anastasia released him. You sleep too long vampire. Go to sleep like that again on me and I’ll kill you, she threatened.

Charming as ever, Julian quipped. Her eyes were no longer glowing the lethal red, but were now a calm scarlet that looked at him with such adoration that his heart broke from guilt. He knew her feelings for him ran deeper than his. He didn’t want to lead her on. He had tried to be honest with her telling her of his attraction for Yasmine, but Anastasia dismissed it. She flirted with him until his hormones took control and they ended up having sex over and over again. It was wrong, he knew, but it felt so right with her. It had to stop though. It wasn’t fair to take her in his bed when he desired another. She deserved better than to be a substitute for the one he couldn’t have.

That’s why he had tried to escape this tangled web he had created. He was hoping the trip to Thailand would help him figure things out. His mind wanted the witch who rejected him while his body enjoyed the delights of this delectable siren who tempted him like no other. His heart had been a chaotic mess of uncertainty. Thailand was supposed to bring clarity, but unfortunately he ended up with a mysterious bullet in his heart and more confusion than ever couched in incredible pain.

Julian turned to face his mother who was standing next to his bedside. Her violet eyes filled with unshed tears. He reached for her and she gladly took his hand.

"Hello mio bambino."

He was far from being a child, but he still loved the endearment. Hello Madre, he smiled squeezing her hand in his. He looked around the room and saw his stepfather, Lucian. It was still weird getting used to having a stepfather, but he had to admit that Lucian was not so bad. He headed the Council of Immortals and tried to institute some fairness in that pureblood dominated Council that was anxious to destroy the lesser immortals who had foolishly waged war on them. Lucian craved peace and was determined to find a bloodless alternative to war.

Standing next to him was Kaden. If Julian had not known better, he would say his brother’s emerald eyes looked almost remorseful. Impossible. If anything, Kaden probably regretted not being the one to pull the trigger.

Julian knew he was not being fair to him. For all Kaden’s faults, he would never have done that to him.

The door opened and a vision of pure beauty walked into the room. Her hazel eyes met his immediately, her smile easing the ache gnawing at his heart. Yasmine. A vision of exquisite perfection. A Moroccan deity who possessed a quiet strength and determination that he could not help but admire. Any man would be lucky to have such a gift by his side. He wished he were so lucky, but despite numerous efforts to get Yasmine to see him as more than a friend, she turned him down repeatedly telling him she was not the one for him. She could only offer him friendship. Love was not meant for them. He tried to convince her that she was wrong, but she never wavered.

Julian, I’m so glad you are awake. Yasmine smiled brightly.

Julian smiled back, but an odd growling sound caught his attention. Anastasia. She looked ready to erupt. This was not what he needed right now. He would try to keep things relatively pleasant and hopefully this little vixen next to him would remain calm or at least free from violence.

How did you know I was awake? Did she sense it, he wondered. Maybe there was a deeper connection between them, he hoped.

Amalia saw that you had awakened right before she fled. She found me in the kitchen and told me.

No deeper connection after all. Just a scared sage who was hovering in the hallway too afraid to enter his room. He couldn’t blame her after the way Anastasia attacked. That’s why he had to keep her away from Yasmine. They were supposed to be friends, but Anastasia was looking at Yasmine as though she was a meal.

Amalia thought some fresh blood might do you some good, so I brought you a glass of A negative. I believe that’s your favorite. I also have some soup for you. Chicken noodle. It works for human illnesses; hopefully it will help you as well.

Before he could thank her properly, Anastasia jumped off the bed and stomped towards Yasmine. Julian panicked and looked to Lucian and Kaden to help thwart the impending attack.

Yasmine held her ground as she watched Anastasia approach her like a rabid cat waiting to pounce. Yasmine hated this friction that had developed between her and her tempestuous siren friend. No matter how many times Yasmine tried to reassure her that she had no interest in Julian, Anastasia had never believed her.

Anastasia stood in front of Yasmine before she reached out and snatched the tray of soup and blood from Yasmine’s hands. She walked back over to the bed, sat down and not so gently plopped the tray down on Julian’s lap causing some of the contents to scald his thighs. Fortunately, it reached no further.

The heat was a welcomed relief from the bitter cold that continued to consume him. He had never felt comfortable with extreme heat as it was so contrary to his innate gift of ice. Somehow, the cold had turned on him and his body embraced the warmth.

Eat your soup! Anastasia snarled as she shoved a spoonful of noodles in his mouth nearly causing him to choke. Before he could recover, she shoved another spoonful down his throat. "It’s one of your favorites, da?"

Great. He fought to stay alive a little longer just to choke to death on chicken noodle soup. What a sad end to an even sadder life.

Olivia sat down next to him on the bed and cautiously grabbed the soup from the fiery siren. Surprisingly, Anastasia did not fight. Her wounded eyes looked at Olivia before she nodded, stood up and walked out without giving Julian a second look.

She paused in front of the terrorized sage before walking away. A trembling Amalia walked into the room. She regained her composure now that the tiny tyrant was gone. Her mask of detached alchemist was back on display.

H-how do you feel right now? she stuttered, her voice still portraying the fear of the departed siren. I need an honest assessment so that I can properly treat you.

Julian wanted to reassure everyone that he was alright but lying would not help him, or them. If he had any chance at survival, the sage needed to know the truth. They all needed to know the truth.

He looked around the room at all those concerned faces focused on him. He was finally the center of attention and all it took was his imminent death.

He closed his eyes as he was struck with another searing stab in his chest. He could feel the tiny beads of sweat on his face as his body fought against this overwhelming intensity of the deadly magic inside him.

I feel as though I’m on borrowed time, he acknowledged. He grasped his mother’s hand stilling the slight trembling she tried to hide. He explained to them his symptoms, especially the cold icing his veins, the internal tremors that shook him to the core and the dreaded feeling that he would soon be lost to the darkness of his childhood dreams – he would be lost to death.

Is this mescah? Lucian asked Amalia. Mescah.The dreaded deadly combination of coca leaf, opium poppy, khat and mescaline. Fused by the power of a witch, mescah had become a perfect potent drug cocktail the effects of which were strong enough to destroy pureblooded vampires and lycans by inhibiting their abilities to heal themselves. Mescah nearly killed Olivia its powerful addictive force nearly driving her to madness and death. The drug still lingered in her system. Its damage could not completely be undone, but Olivia was strong enough to fight it now and with Lucian’s strength and support behind her, mescah no longer controlled her.

Mescah had been the primary chemical weapon of choice for ELM, but it was not the only one. The group had kidnapped witches and sages adept with alchemy skills to help them create new and equally destructive drugs to eliminate purebloods in this genocidal war.

Lucian’s team had discovered plots to create newer drugs. Yasmine confirmed this as she had been kidnapped by ELM for this very purpose. Her powers as a witch were immense. She could unlock the power of black magic and use those skills to help ELM create more lethal concoctions. She managed to escape their evil clutches and share valuable information with Lucian. There was no doubt, mescah was just the beginning.

Unlikely, Amalia warned. His symptoms are different. It’s as if his own natural abilities are turning on him. It’s quite fascinating from a scientific perspective.

Olivia glared at the frustrating sage. I’m not interested in science. Can you fix my son or not?

Uncertain. Statistically, the odds are not in his favor. I will have to analyze his blood and devise some chemical compounds to see if any of this will work to minimize the damage.

Olivia’s eyes flashed with rage. Lucian walked over to his mate and wrapped his arms tight around her waist trying to calm her as her body quaked. Olivia was no longer the meek child he fell in love with on the beaches of Sorrento. All the pain of her life and her survival of it transformed her into a strong, determined female who would do anything to defend those she loved. She proved that when she fought him to protect Kaden from the Council’s wrath as he was sentenced to death for murders Olivia knew her son had not committed. She wouldn’t let anyone stop her from saving Kaden, including Lucian despite her interminable love for him.

Ever since Julian was shot, she spent hours by his bedside pouring through the documents they had uncovered from the Vancouver ELM cell hoping to find some solution to save her child. Lucian marveled at her determination, but he feared the emotional overload would eventually take its toll on her. The mescah was still in her system and it might always be. Mescah feeds on emotions and heightens them to unimaginable levels. Olivia’s rage was magnifying and Lucian feared he would not be able to help her control the pain if Julian could not be saved. There had to be a solution and Amalia better find it soon. She may have feared the murderous siren, but Olivia was no friend of the sage either. Olivia still had not forgiven her for her role in helping Lucian’s father separate them for almost 175 years. Lucian had not forgiven her treachery either.

For now, they needed her as her skills in alchemy were unmatched. Lucian would have to keep the peace and keep Amalia alive although this challenge was becoming increasingly difficult with each passing moment. Lucian looked to Kaden hoping his fiery stepson could help him keep this flustered family from splintering.

Kaden’s eyes were engulfed in flames his gift of fire beginning to emerge. Lucian shook his head in frustration. He was on his own. He would have to be the calm his family needed.

For Amalia’s sake, she better started producing results and he would have to speak to her about an attitude adjustment. Although she may be sociopathic when it comes to emotions, she better learned to fake it in front of Olivia and Kaden and that volatile siren. As great as Lucian’s strength might be, not even he would be able to protect Amalia from those itching to see the end of this dispassionate sage.

Amalia, do what you can to figure this out soon. And stay away from my family for your sake. You have all my resources at your disposal. If there is anything else you need, let me know and we will provide it.

I wish I had more of Reysa’s blood to use. Reysa’s blood possessed rare healing properties that could cure immortals from most injuries. It helped save Olivia’s life from the mescah. Although it did not cure Olivia, it minimized the damage enough to allow Olivia’s innate vampire healing ability to reemerge, albeit slowly.

She doesn’t have the blood to spare. Kaden stepped forward, unable to mask the forlorn expression on his face as he looked at Julian. She would gladly give you every ounce she had to save you if she could, but she needs blood so much more now with the pregnancy. She’s too weak as the child consumes so much of her. I’m sorry…

Do you honestly think I would want you to sacrifice Reysa’s health or that of the child for me? I’m not you Kaden. I wouldn’t sacrifice others to save myself. Julian regretted the words as soon as he said them. He didn’t understand what possessed him to say it. He desperately wanted to hurt Kaden in that moment. He still did.

Julian! Olivia reprimanded.

It’s okay Mother, Kaden assured her. It’s no more than I deserve.

I didn’t mean it, Julian explained except that he really did mean it in that moment. There was a growing rage inside of him and most of it was directed at his brother.

Yes you did, Kaden acknowledged as if he could read Julian’s confused mind. It’s not exactly inaccurate. At least it used to be true, but I’m not the same person anymore. I’ve changed. I just hope one day you can see the man I’ve become and not the bastard I once was.

Well, the clock’s ticking on me and death is knocking at my door so I doubt we have enough time for me to see the new and improved Kaden and undo 164 years of memories of the old version.

Kaden glanced at his mother whose eyes were filled with tears. This wasn’t Julian. Julian did not talk this way.

Can I have a moment with Julian alone? Kaden requested. Olivia hesitated but Lucian clutched her elbow and ushered her out the room.

Amalia stood there like a frozen statue. I need blood samples.

If you don’t get out of here now, the only blood that will be spilled in this room is yours, Kaden threatened. Amalia fled once again.

Wow. You really have changed brother, Julian quipped.

I’m still a work in progress and that cold chick wears on my nerves. Kaden sat next to Julian on the bed, his green eyes focusing on his brother’s Caribbean blue. Why did you do it?

Julian knew what Kaden was asking. It was a question he had asked himself repeatedly, but the answer was always the same. There was no other option for him. His heart couldn’t let his brother die and leave a mate and child behind. Too many people would miss Kaden if he was gone and Julian’s survival would be a constant reminder that the wrong brother died. Julian could not bear to look in the eyes of all those he loved knowing that they wished he had died instead of Kaden. He would never admit that truth to his brother. He could barely admit it to himself.

I’m an idiot Julian confessed. No one ever said I was the smart one in the family.

Kaden would not allow his brother to turn this into a joke. It should have been me Jules. It should be me lying in this bed, not you.

It should have been you, Julian admitted to himself, but it could never be you. Look, there’s no point over analyzing how we ended up in this situation. I don’t know why I did it. I didn’t think about it. I hadn’t planned on getting shot. I thought I could stop the bullet before it hit me. I guess I miscalculated my own strength and now I am paying the price for my stupidity. Rather than lamenting about my plight you should be celebrating the fact that you’re alive Kaden. You have it all, and I have nothing. It’s what you always wanted big brother. Consider this my final gift to you. Merry Christmas.

Kaden jerked as if he had been slapped. Julian’s words were like a knife in his heart. How could Julian possibly think that he could rejoice at his suffering? Kaden closed his eyes realizing exactly why his brother felt this way and he had no one to blame but himself. Kaden caused too much damage to Julian for too long. Of course Julian would believe that Kaden wanted this to happen.

Kaden hoped Julian could hear and feel the truth of his words. I never wanted this. I would trade places with you if I could Jules.

Oddly, I would not, Julian conceded. Reysa and the child need you. My death is inconsequential in the whole scheme of things. Would anyone even notice after a few days?

Kaden clutched his brother’s shoulders