Blame The Goth Girl Vol. 7: Greater Love Has No One Than This: To Lay Down In The Fields Of The Nephilim

By Bettina Busiello

Upon learning of Rome's true role in the society, the fall out in the supernatural world begins. Tensions grow to insurmountable levels when Sabine decides to make her play for Esben, leaving Onyx to make an impulsive choice that affects everyone around her.
Feeling Esben hasn't fulfilled his duties as Onyx's master, Rome takes over the role pushing Onyx even further away.
On the spiritual side of things, more is revealed about the Tutorea's past and why the ancient Magus coven went to great lengths to hide the truth from everyone.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Bettina Busiello
• Release date: Nov 14, 2016
• ISBN: 9781370673049

Bettina Busiello

Bettina Busiello is a dreamer by nature with an eccentric sense of humor. She spends most of her waking hours either spinning yarns, venturing online games or cuddling her cat October. She lives in Vermont where she is surrounded by enough fresh air to make her slightly high (which explains a lot).

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Blame The Goth Girl

Vol. 7

Greater Love Has No One Than This: To Lay Down In The Fields Of The Nephilim

By Bettina Busiello

Copyright © 2016 Bettina Busiello

Smashwords Edition

This e-book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This e-book may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to your favorite e-book retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

Bettina Busiello recognizes the trademarks and copyrights of all publications, music and companies mentioned within this work.

All rights reserved.

Original Cover Titling by Jacob Mathews

Cover Art by Bartolomeo Argentino

Editing by Katherine Tate

Table of Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Acknowledgements

Chapter 1

Onyx

Everything… every piece of the puzzle, every lie, every secret… swam through my head as I now realized who and what Rome really was, and what he’d been hiding from me. Every image of him playing helpless when he obviously could have stood up and helped me. Good God… the man almost let me die— twice!

As soon as the coast was clear, I ran out to the gardens, hoping for a little peace and quiet before all hell broke loose.

You can’t hide from me.

Bloody hell! Leave me alone. I stomped forward, doing my best to ignore Rome.

He moved in front of me at lightning speed. I couldn’t tell you. I couldn’t tell anyone. I’ve been living with this secret for nearly a thousand years.

I don’t even know what the fuck is going on. I stepped around him and continued walking.

He took my hand. Stop… listen to me.

"You know the first image that went through my head just now… was when you almost died at Vago’s hands."

It was a bit of a calculated risk on my part. I told you the truth— my interaction with incubi was pretty much non-existent before then.

Break out the champagne, you told the truth!

Onyx… just hear me out.

You have two minutes, I said.

Two minutes to tell you over nine hundred years’ worth of information?

One minute-fifty-five, fifty-four—

Stop.

Just get on with it, I threw my hands up.

After I was turned into a vampire. Leofric… Leo, brought me to The Council. It is customary in the case of vampires to report each individual they turn….

Yeah, yeah, go on.

"Each person who comes in their presence is given a series of tests… after which, they found me to be a natural born warlock."

"Now I have heard it all." I walked over to a stone bench as sat down.

He stood in front of me. I imagine you’ve been here long enough for them to have told you about natural born and learned warlocks.

I just stared forward at nothing in particular.

Anyway, for the next hundred years after that, I began training in secret. Since warlocks are forbidden to become vampires, they made an exception in my case because no one, not even I, knew beforehand. It also surprised them to see that I didn’t need any runic tattoos to cast spells because they took no toll on my body. I’m sure Esben Borget explained to you how that works?

I rolled my eyes and nodded.

It was also during that time they gave me the title of Coven Master: the ultimate head of everything… The Council, the covens… all of it. Finally, I was taken to the seer… as is customary with all warlocks, and she told me that outside of the castle walls, I would never be able to use my powers or even reveal myself lest I lose them entirely. She did say, however, there would be a time where I would have to reveal myself, though that time was never explained to me. I assumed, because of the other things she told me, combined with current events that, that time was now.

Let me guess… she told you that you were destined to marry the Tutorea as well?

"As well? What are you talking about?" He sat next to me on the bench and I scooted away from him.

Like you don’t know. God, you’re such a liar. You didn’t even tell me who or what I was.

You know who you are, Onyx.

Do the words ‘Goddess’ and ‘Bastet’ ring a bell?

His face went even paler than usual. So you know.

No thanks to you. I slouched.

Back to what you said before… who told you that you were destined to marry someone?

I’m probably going to get in trouble for saying this… but who the fuck cares now? Am I right? I gave a feigned attitude of excitement. Esben… the seer told Esben he was destined to marry me.

Did she now…. A shadow of uncertainty brushed over his face.

Uh oh… do I sense some competition in the air? I continued with my sarcasm.

Onyx, please. I’m sorry, but that’s not possible. I suppose I’m going to have to make another trip to the seer before the night is through.

Where is she?

Greece.

That’s weird… Esben said he recently saw her and even with a private jet, he couldn’t have gone there and made it back in the time frame he gave me.

Warlocks have the power to astral project if they choose. It’s never advised for first time visits because the seer needs to touch you. I’m afraid in my case, I need to have a little one-to-one with the old hag in person.

Isn’t that like an hour round trip for you? Or do you travel by broom now that you’ve outed yourself as a warlock. There was no way I’d let my attitude die, not after all this.

He let out a sharp sigh. Even after being here… you still haven’t changed.

"Of course not. I’m true to myself… unlike some people."

He stood up. I’ll be back shortly. If anyone asks, tell them I needed some time to myself.

Whatever. I decided to make good on my plan of getting some alone time, so I walked farther into the garden.

Chapter 2

Rome

Agatha spoke in ancient Greek as soon as she detected my presence. So you’ve returned.

"You’re damned right I have," I replied in the same language.

She looked up, her eyes white from blindness and her face wrinkled with age. I sense the time has come for your revelation, tell me… was it everything you’d hoped it to be?

"I wouldn’t know. I had to leave abruptly."

"That is no good. Why have you come to see me, child?"

"I’m afraid I’ve learned something I know impossible to be true."

"And what is that?"

"Esben Borget, the Grand Warlock. I was told that you told him he was destined to marry the ki̱demónas."

"I did."

"But that conflicts with what you told me of my fate."

"That it does." Her face remained forward, unmoved by my words.

"So which is it?"

"They are both lies and both the truth."

"Damnit, old woman!"

"Mind your tone with me lest you anger the Gods." She slammed the base of her walking stick on the ground. Up until that point, her words were slow and careful. After a moment, she calmed again. The other natural born paid me a visit around the time Esben was to see me. He asked me to… how would you say in the modern tongue? … ‘Color’ his fate with a bit of an exaggeration.

"What other natural born? There is only Esben… and of course me."

"The other The Council has kept secret— the father of the Goddess incarnate."

"You mean to tell me Onyx’s father is a warlock and a natural born one at that?"

"I do." She gave a quick nod. He is from another line of natural born warlocks.

"So what you told Esben isn’t true?"

"I did not say that."

I was losing my patience. Then I have no clue what to do next. I’ve already fulfilled the first half of my destiny. The rest of it lies with her.

"My dear boy… think. Think very hard and very carefully. How you choose to proceed can affect the outcomes of many lives, not just your own. Just know that both destinies are true… and false, depending on the outcomes of certain events."

"You are a wicked woman, Agatha."

"I have been called worse." Her grip on the staff tightened.

"What of the father of the ki̱demónas? Who is he and where do I find him? Furthermore, what fate did you tell him?"

"You know I cannot answer that. However, two of the things I’ve told him have already come to pass. If you need me to tell you what they are, then you are dumber than you look."

Her sense of humor could be crude and dry at times. Can you at least tell me who he is?

"I don’t have to. He will reveal himself in due time… much sooner than you think." She slowly stood up, balancing herself with her walking stick. Now go. I must rest.

As fast as I could, I headed back to the castle.

Chapter 3

Onyx

Onyx? I heard Esben calling my name from a distance.

I sat on the snowy ground, hidden between two shrubs of black roses. I reached out and gripped a stem, causing my hands to bleed from the copious amounts of thorns.

Onyx are you out here?

I didn’t want to be found… but I didn’t want a search party either. I’m down here.

He stepped between the bushes and looked down at me. Are you alright? You left so fast… I began to worry. He knelt down before me. I was hoping you could explain what happened back there.

I shrugged.

He looked at my hand. What did you do, silly girl? He pulled out his kerchief and held it over my injuries. Please, talk to me. He sat on the ground in front of me.

Rome… I know him.

I gathered as much… question is—how?

He was… or at least I thought he was, just a vampire who came to my aid and taught me things about who and what I am. I didn’t know he was… all this, I said waving my other hand up in the air for a beat.

I didn’t know Romoalt even existed. Like I explained to you before, we were told one day he’d come and unite the covens under one roof when it came time to reveal ourselves to the world.

And enslave it? I couldn’t help but get post-apocalyptic with the conversation.

Nothing like that… at least I hope not. There are still many supernatural creatures out there, lost, unknown to our ways… our kind. We’d also hoped to merge our plane of existence with the fae world, allowing them to come back to safety once again. If you were in the Forest of Eternal Night, I’m sure you were told the story of why they left.

Kind of. I lifted my eyes to him.

Mankind abused them, hunted them for their own devious purposes.

What’s to stop that from happening now? I asked.

Us. The coven. We hope to prove ourselves a powerful force to be reckoned with should that ever occur again. We want to live in peace and harmony with the rest of humanity… eventually, we can teach them how to be learned witches and warlocks.

You know that’s not gonna fly with some of the religious nuts out there.

I know. There are things which will just have to come in time. One thing is for sure, now that we are organized and soon to be unified with the witch coven, there’s nothing they can do to stop or harm us.

It’s a good thing you’re the good guys then, huh?

He smiled. Yes. He looked into my eyes for a moment. Come. He stood up. Let’s go back inside. There’s more celebration to be had. Where is Romoalt anyway?

I stood up and brushed the snow off my robes. He said he needed some time to himself. I couldn’t believe I was going along with yet another one of his lies.

We walked back to the grand hall just in time to see Rome addressing the crowd with a speech about fulfilling his destiny. I allowed myself to glaze over at the sound of his words. He smiled as he saw me approach.

…And to celebrate the arrival of the Tutorea.

I snapped to attention as everyone began clapping. Some of the warlocks, including Sabine, sported grim looks on their faces, but the majority of the crowd was cheering and smiling at me.

Wren spoke up. We will be having a celebration tomorrow night during solstice, to celebrate the Tutorea and her role within our community. The word has gone out, and nearly every member of the community within a thousand miles, will be in attendance. The crowd began clapping again. We will also use it as a time to celebrate the long awaited arrival of the Coven Master. The clapping and cheers became louder.

Way to steal my thunder, asshole. I gave Rome my trademark bitch face to which he countered with this trademark wicked grin. I can’t handle this. I need to go back to my room, I said in a hushed tone.

Are you sure? Esben said to me between clapping.

I nodded, and while Rome wasn’t paying attention, I slipped out of the hall and headed to the library to swipe the laptop before going to my bedroom. I opened my door to an unpleasant surprise.

Let’s not fight, Rome said, sitting in the lounge chair.

How did you even know this was my room? I asked as I slammed the door shut behind me.

I just followed the scent of your expensive perfume. A gift from Esben, I assume?

None of your business, I said as I crawled on my bed and set the laptop down in front of me. I lifted my eyes to him. Did you pay a visit to the seer?

Yes.

Did you find your answers?

More or less. He stood up and went through my dresser. I see they’re taking good care of you. He pinky-lifted a pair of my black lace panties.

I jumped up and stomped over to him, ripping them out of his hand before shoving them back in the drawer.

"Real good care of you…. He wrapped his arms around me and felt up the backside of my robes. I bet expensive lingerie suits you well. I’d like to see it sometime."

I pushed him away and walked back to my bed. First… that ship has sailed… second, you’re a dirty liar and I don’t think I’ll ever forgive you, Rome. Not this time.

That’s too bad. It seems they are celebrating the both of us tomorrow… revering us as equals but in our own right.

"We are not equals." I scowled at him.

So you think you’re better than me?

I know I am. I’m not a manipulative liar.

Touché my dear, touché. He sat back down on the lounge chair and continued to stare at me.

I tried my best to pay attention to the laptop screen… until I heard a soft knock. Come in, I said.

Esben smiled as he saw me, though it didn’t last long when he took notice of Rome. Coven Master, I had no idea you were in here.

Please, call me Rome… or perhaps in our case, uncle.

I looked up. Say what?

Yes, Esben is a descendent of my brother. I’ve kept careful watch of his family throughout the years… waiting until another natural warlock was born.

I had no idea, Esben said.

Nor would you. I expressly requested Wren and his predecessors keep it quiet. I wanted to tell you for myself when I came out… so to speak.

This just gets better and better. I stood up. I’m out.

What? Esben asked.

I’m out. This is a world full of ‘nope’ and I’m totes out. I walked over to Rome and held out my hand. Wallet—now.

He reached into the pocket of his robes and handed me his wallet with a cocked brow matching the smirk plastered on his face.

I moved back to the bed and sat down.

What are you doing? Esben asked.

Booking the first flight outta here, I said.

Why?

I looked up at Rome. Either he goes or I go.

But Onyx, we’re celebrating you… and him. I don’t understand why you two are mad at each other.

I’m not mad at her… quite the opposite.

I just want to go home. I want to see my friends and pretend like none of this ever happened. I felt the tears coming. Moreover, I felt as if I’d been played this entire time… even if Esben was an unknowing participant in Rome’s treachery.

Esben pushed the laptop aside and sat in front of me, bringing his thumb to my cheek to collect a tear.

Don’t coddle her… she doesn’t like it.

You know nothing about me, Rome. I turned and spoke to