They went to sleep not long after their talk and Ash slept on top of the covers. He watched Lola drift off into slumber and lay awake completing his choices.
His cousin had been taken and he was making moves on his girl. Though he knew what he wanted, he now began to regret the many decisions he'd made that had led him this far.
He looked at her lips slightly parted in her sleep and her eyes softly closed still, the faint freckles on her nose and her thick hair landing over her shoulder.
She was a special girl, loved by many and desired by more. Perhaps it was the curse of being the Doe or maybe it was just her heart that sparked interest once she trusted people enough to show it to them. Regardless of the reasons, Ash realized now that his fighting was futile because her heart was not his to win. He should've been grateful to have felt her love, the one she gave him when she chose to trust him. The love was addictive, at first taste he wanted more, and he wanted what his cousin had.
Perhaps what he had with her was more pure and honest, a love that couldn't break because it was built on trust and not faith.
As he watched her exist in peace for a moment, he wondered and hoped that he hadn't ruined it completely. That salvation was still an option.
The next morning came quick for Lola who had slept the whole night. She was rested and ready to continue on their journey to find Jax- Ash, however, hadn't slept much, or anything at all for that matter, and was eager to find his cousin and go back home.
They left the Inn, Ash held the door open for Lola and as they left she caught the odd change between Ash and the receptionist. The old lady wiggled her brows and winked at them but Ash growled under his breath and pressed on Lola's lower back to get her moving. Lola didn't ask about it but laughed as they got in the car, covering their heads from the drizzle on the way, and immediately drove off.
There wouldn't be another big pour until tonight which meant they had time to make it to Jax and bring him home.
They sat in a heated silence and watched the fields, streets, houses, and lakes that they passed.
The scenery became more beautiful the closer they got and it seemed the vampires had chosen a key location for their endeavors.
A bad taste landed in Lola's mouth when she saw where they had been hiding out. In plain sight under their noses with lovely views and proximity to a human town which meant an everyday buffet for them.
Once they reached close enough to the final destination Ash stopped and turned off the car.
They decided to walk the last bit and left the car on the side of the road next to some overgrown rosebushes.
Walking past the nicely trimmed hedges they realized that it wasn't a gated community as they had previously thought.
This was one house, one big house, that the vampires had taken possession of and it seemed they were taking good care of it.
There was a wall covering the villa grounds and instead of ringing a bell for them to open the gates, Ash decided not to alert them of their arrival.
They went around the back and were about to climb over when Lola stopped and held out her hand. She looked up at him, her eyes big and round with fear brimming the shadows of her eyes.
"Before we go in I want you to drink this," she said and handed him a vial of crimson liquid.
"Why, what is it?"
"It's my blood. In case anything happens in there, this will keep you and your wolf strong. I made it for Jax but I figured we can't go on a rescue mission with you dead so, drink it." She ordered.
Ash did as advised and as soon as the blood touched his tongue his eyes grew twice the size and his fingers tensed. He looked like a user to had taken a large dose of something strong and his eyes lingered on her neck with a wary expression.
Whatever Lolas' blood was made of, he understood why the vampires wanted it for themselves. He also knew that if they got their hands on her- if any creature got their hands on her- she was never going to be free again.
They continued and climbed the wall, Lola kniked her leg on the brick and then again when they landed in a rose bush.
Ash winced, apologizing in advance for the lack of surveillance he had given the place but they both knew her wounds would heal within minutes. The only worry was having bleeding wounds around bloodsucking creatures... all of them desperate for a taste of what she had running in her veins.
They walked up to the house which had several stand-alone buildings on the grounds with cars parked outside.
Ash pulled Lola to the side and her back slammed into his front- his hand came up to cover her mouth and he forced her head back against his chest.
They heard a car door open and shut and the door to one of the other properties unlocking.
He gestured for Lola to be quiet as they continued into the main house.
Once they broke in through the back door he listened in, hoping to hear Jax's voice or smell him somewhere in the house. They needed every advance they could get considering they just walked into the clan lair.
They walked further in, voices became apparent and the smell of blood was oozing down the hallway. So much so that even Lola wrinkled her nose and covered her mouth and nose.
She looked at Ash and didn't need words of confirmation to know if the blood belonged to Jax. It was clear on his face that it was Jax's blood that they smelled.
"Well well well. Our guests have arrived." They heard someone cheer but they didn't see anybody.
Out from around the corner stepped a young man, the same age as the Blackwood boys.
His hair was platinum and tied in the back in a bun. His narrow-shaped eyes were swirling with crimson shadows and gazed with amusement while his shapely lips held traces of fresh blood.
"Lola," he sang her name.
"Lucien," Lola said, her voice hitching as she spoke his name.
Ash sized him up and down and took a subtle step in front of Lola, blocking his view of her- a gesture that seemingly amused Lucien and caused the smile to widen.
"Follow me, I'll take you to your husband." He said, standing eye level with Ash but glancing behind him at Lola with a smirk.
They walked into a room that had been tiled from floor to ceiling. Hanging from the ceiling with his wrists tied and his feet bound in barbed wire was Jax.
His shirt had been removed and he had open wounds bleeding down into a pool under his feet.
"Here you go. He's all yours," Lucien said and dramatically extended his hand. His voice bounced abasing the walls and he looked with a prideful gaze at his work.
"In exchange for what?" Ash asked, his voice took on a dark tone that Lola hadn't heard before.
"Not much, you just leave me the Doe." He said.
"Not going to happen," Ash warned.
Lucien laughed. He made a turn on the floor and cleared his throat as he waved his hand in a gesture and welcomed a group of his men into the room. They came through the open doors and stood around, watching them like a prized fight.
"I have a question for you, sweetheart," Lucien said and pointed to Lola with his palms pressed together and his fingers entwined.
He stepped closer, strutting across the floor, his eyes darkened with lust the more they took in her appearance.
Jax lifted his heavy head with a choking growl when he saw Lucien nearing his wife.
Ash stepped in between but was quickly shoved back and held down by two of Lucien's men. His eyes glowed yellow and he growled but one of the vampires took out a knife and stabbed it into his side.
Ash's face turned beet red and the veins in his face throbbed.
Lucien's lips turned in a vicious grin when he saw the pain on Lola's face. Hers was the only face he looked at, the only expression he wanted to see, whatever he did to the Blackwoods was all for the reaction she would give him. In a split second, he was in front of her. He grabbed the back of her neck and twisted her around- her back pressed against him and he twirled her hair around his hand and forced her head to the side, exposing her neck.
"No!" Lola begged but her voice was drowned out when Lucien's fangs penetrated her skin and her blood was sucked from her veins.
His arm was wrapped around her waist, his hand cupping her breast and her arms were immobile as he pressed her back and sunk his fangs deeper into her flesh.
"No...no," Jax muttered under his breath as loud as he could. He pulled his arms trying to get free but to no avail.