Death Comes to Us All (Liz Baker, Book 8)

By Christie Silvers

I hate this! How do I always get myself into these situations? Monsters coming after me left and right, but this time I've made promises I can't back out of. I'll do anything to protect my family, even if it breaks my heart and crushes my soul to keep them safe.

Heartbroken by the loss of her family, Liz Baker must settle into the agreement she made with The Master. As she wallows in sadness, self-doubt, and defeat, Liz needs to figure out how to exist without those she loves, while training to become her captor's One True Mistress in his scheme to destroy the world.

Suffering through a millennium of death, destruction, and the evolution of the human race, The Master has grown fierce about the rules set by his ancestors. He and his men are determined to end the insanity that is “modern day” and create the foretold heaven on Earth, but to do that he must find the One True Mistress. This woman will help bring an end to everything and rebuild the world in his image. After numerous failed women in his past, he knows that woman is Liz Baker. After all, she is the daughter of the only vampire with the ability to create offspring. She has to be special... right?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christie Silvers
• Release date: Mar 29, 2021
• ISBN: 9781005054151

Christie Silvers

Award-winning internationally published indie author of urban fantasy with a touch of naughtiness. Vampires, werewolves, and witches...oh my!

Book preview

Chapter 1

The house was so big I wanted to refer to it as a palace, or possibly a castle. Exterior lights shone upon the stone face in multiple areas of the building; illuminating the night sky around the area. I knew after the length of our traveling we most certainly weren’t in the United States any longer. The place reminded me of a home for royals, and considering who my companion was, it probably had a fully stocked dungeon at The Master’s disposal, like any suitable castle should. I had a feeling it wouldn’t take long for him to throw me into the imagined dungeon and confirm its existence. My attitude would need to be reigned in if I was to survive.

A barrage of people running all over the place met the hustle and bustle of our arrival. Men carried luggage, trunks, boxes, and pushed dollies loaded down with what I knew to be weapon-filled crates. There were more people running around this enormous building than had been in the old hotel back home when I traded my life for Chad and Monty’s lives.

As I stood in the rotund foyer, staring at the splendid beauty surrounding me—arches for every doorway, paintings hundreds of years old, ceilings with angels, clouds, and rainbows painted in pastels, and velvet tapestries on the windows—eyes were watching every move I made. They were regarding me as a threat, or at least trying to distinguish between friend or foe. I hoped someone in here—someone looking at me right this moment—would eventually become an ally in my attempt to kill The Master and return to my one true family. However, I knew there would be more enemies than allies in this place. All eyes on me held the potential to report back to The Master, just like he promised.

A shudder ran down my spine as the skeletal fingers of my captor caressed my lower back. What do you think, my dear? The Master swept his right hand out toward the large room with people running back and forth. So much beauty has never been compiled in a single place as is here. Bile rose into my throat as his fingers slid down to the top curve of my buttocks. The immediate urge to jerk away was followed by the growing energies inside me. My body stiffened; I clenched my fists tightly and ground them into the sides of my thighs.

Talking about me, again, sexy? Lamia swept around and planted her lips right on The Master’s mouth. I gagged a little. Clamping my eyes shut, I swallowed back the vomit on the edge of escape.

I slowly placed a hand over my mouth. I cleared my throat carefully and coughed quietly against disgracing myself by vomiting on the marble floors. Sloppy, moist slurping sounded in unison with Lamia’s telltale high-pitched moaning. She sounded like an injured animal.

I chanted to myself while taking deep, cleansing breaths.

Breath in through your nose; out through your mouth. Do not puke. Do not puke. DO NOT PUKE!

Oh, gosh. You look absolutely sick with jealousy, stupid, Lamia harassed with an eye roll while hanging onto The Master’s right arm like he was the sexiest man alive. Or at least the richest ready to supply her a black card at a moment’s notice.

I leaned forward to look around the monster between us, locked eyes with Lamia—who was sneering back with all the smugness she could muster—and said, Gross.

If she wasn’t such a heinous outright piece of demon garbage, I might have thanked her for distracting The Master enough to remove his roaming hands from my ass. But this was Lamia we were talking about. The bitch had tormented me since childhood, and we still didn’t know how she’d infiltrated my body in my youth.

Now, ladies, he chastised. That will be about enough. He pushed between us and walked ahead across the enormous foyer. Lobby? Basketball court? Whatever he called it, it was larger than the foyer at my Atlanta estate.

Even though it was the middle of the night, the room was majestically lit. A warm glow came from everywhere, yet nowhere. I couldn’t pinpoint a single light fixture in the room, although it illuminated everything. Intricate veins in shades of blues, greens, and grays made up the marble floor, sparkling with spotless cleanliness and making the room even brighter.

Better than anything you’ll ever deserve, bitch, Lamia said with a smirk.

I glared over at her. Don’t speak to me, demon whore, I spat through gritted teeth.

She flipped her hair with those stupidly manicured fingernails. I wanted to pull them off one by one with a pair of needle-nosed pliers, and then stab those same pliers into her black, dusty heart.

Coming, ladies? The Master asked. He had stopped across the room and was looking back at us. Servants scurrying left and right froze mid-step at his words. All eyes looked our direction.

Lamia glared at me and I glared right back. I hate you, I hissed just loud enough for her to hear.

The feeling is mutual, she growled, before plastering a gigantic smile on her face and prancing toward my captor. Of course, my love!

She wrapped herself around his right arm as I walked across the room to join them. The Master held out his left arm, and I obediently slipped my hand into the crook of his elbow. My powers seethed just beneath the surface. They begged to come out and force my hand from his arm, removing all contact between us, one way or another.

Hush, hush, I soothed. We aren’t ready yet. It’s not time yet.

I felt the tendrils retreat sullenly into their darkness as The Master led us to the right of a grand marble staircase, where elevator doors opened as if commanded by his very presence. He stood to the side, removed his torn and tattered top hat, placed it under his arm, and motioned for us to enter the lift. The builders didn’t leave the elevator’s design out of the matching opulence of the grand foyer.

Brightly lit and marble floored, the elevator showcased a beautifully hand-painted mural depicting a lush forest filled with creatures big and small. One particular point of interest caught my eye. Off in the distance, atop a green, rolling hill, stood a black stallion with a pale rider on his back.

Aleksy? I wondered.

"Beautiful, isn’t it?" The Master asked as he stepped inside and pressed a button on the panel.

"It is, I agreed. Who’s the artist?"

He shook his head and waved a hand as the doors closed. No one you would know.

"Yeah, dummy, Lamia smacked—when did she get gum—in her smart-ass tone. No one you would know."

I narrowed my eyes at her and willed daggers into her skull. What I wouldn’t give for something…anything…sharp and pointy right about now.

The Master turned toward Lamia. My dear, he clasped her hands in his bony fingers, I really need you to be a better version of yourself. She opened her mouth to speak, yet he continued without allowing it. I’ve brought you here because you assured me you could help my lovely Lizbeth settle into her new role by my side, and I’m not seeing how that will be feasible with the words coming out of your mouth the last few days.

It was a long three days of travel in the company of these two. If Lamia wasn’t shoving her demon tongue into his corpse mouth, then she was taking every jab at me she could find. When I ordered chicken from the private jet’s chef, then she had words about my supposed cowardice. If I needed some water to drink on the train, she had a warning about me drowning because I was too stupid not to breathe while drinking it. And on the last stretch of the trip in the limo before arriving here, she reminded me to stay in the car until it came to a complete stop. Her nonsense was never-ending.

He stared deeply into her eyes; she squirmed under his gaze. Can you do that? Can you be a better version of Lamia?

I watched from behind them, pressing my back against the mural wall. The energy surrounding me was stifling, making it hard to breathe. My skin crawled from the anxiety and my powers felt concern for me. There was no exit; I was trapped in a metal box with these two monsters and nowhere to go!

Finally, after what felt like hours, Lamia’s sleazy smile stretched across her lips and she fluttered her eyelashes. Of course, my love. Pulling her hands from his, she slid them up and around his neck while pressing her body tightly against his. Anything for you, my master. She rose up on her tiptoes and licked his lips. As in, literally! Gross!

The elevator slowed and bounced to a stop. The doors chimed and opened slowly.

"Thank goodness, I huffed, pushing past the disgusting couple before they could display anymore vomit-worthy affections" for all to see.

I stepped out onto a lovely landing with beautiful red and blue carpeting. Intricately carved and polished wood railing to my left showed that we were several floors up and looking down into an atrium of tropical plants and flowers. A wall of windows showed the darkness of night on my right. Straight ahead, about fifty feet away, stood another archway leading into a hallway.

"Move, Lamia demanded as she pushed me aside and shoved her body out onto the breezeway. She ran to the railing and squealed. Oh, my God! This is beautiful!" Her shrill voice bounced off the walls of the atrium below, tormenting me with the voices of dozens of Lamias all around me.

The Master stepped out of the elevator and stood beside me. He sighed as Lamia made a fool of herself. What do you think, dear Lizbeth? He asked quietly.

I smiled, It’s all very lovely.

It really was. Flowers of all shapes, sizes, and colors bloomed below us. Songbirds, hidden in the copious amounts of foliage, chirped their peaceful tunes.

"Hmm, he sounded, nodding his head. I’ve had people working on this for decades. He cut his eyes over to ridiculous Lamia for a second before he looked at me and added, It has been a true labor of love to create paradise here."

Like this monster knew anything about a labor of love.

I don’t know if he expected a response from me, but all he got was my gaze returning to the jungle below. I very much preferred the beauty below over the monsters surrounding me. Would this be my life now? Was I trapped in a hell of my own making?

Lamia came running back to him, all smiles and bright eyes. Is all this for me? I mean, because this is so beautiful! She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him. "Of course, it must be for me!" I stepped a little more to the right, away from the gag-worth display.

The Master lowered Lamia back down while pulling her hands from around his neck. Restraint, my dear, he chided. I completed none of this with you in mind. Now if you’ll both follow me, please.

Lamia pouted, but followed closely behind as The Master led us across the breezeway to the archway on the other side.

"Over here are the guestrooms. We stopped inside the archway. It was a hallway going both to the left and the right, both with corner turns about two hundred feet away from where I stood. There are full guest suites at both ends of this hallway. One for each of you."

Lamia gasped. You want me to stay in a guestroom?! But, I thought…

"You will need to be close, but not too close, to our dear Lizbeth if you’re going to help her acclimate. He clasped her hands and looked down into her eyes. You will do what I ask of you, correct?"

"Uh… Oh…, she stammered. Well, yes. Of course I will, she nodded quickly. You know I’ll always do whatever you desire, she bowed her head, my master." Her downfallen face brought joy to my heart, giving me something to look on the bright side about.

"Good. He patted her on the top of her head like an obedient dog before turning back to me. So, which way for you, my dear? Left or right?"

That was an excellent question. Here was the first decision he had asked me, or even allowed me to make, ever since my decision to stay with this monster in order to save the lives of my men and family.

I looked down the right, and then down the left. Nothing indicated which way would be better. Matter of fact, they were mirror opposite routes and told me nothing to answer the question of which room I’d like better. Did it even matter anymore?

I looked back up at The Master. Can I see them both and then decide?

"Excellent idea, The Master exclaimed with a clap of his hands. To the right it is, then!"

Chapter 2

But that’s not fair! Lamia stomped her foot and pouted, loudly. How can she deserve all that, and I get this? She swept her arms wide in reference to her newly appointed suite of tininess. I was elated I’d asked to see both spaces before choosing. I lucked out and she was now stuck with a much, MUCH smaller bedroom, and no view at all. Which, of course, thrilled me to no end. Then again, The Master had chosen to go right first.

I want a suite like hers, she whined before turning back to The Master to add, I deserve it! She stabbed a finger in my direction. Not her!

I raised eyebrows, I know you aren’t pointing your ridiculous talon at me. I had the exceptionally difficult-to-control desire to wag a finger and bob my head with a sarcasm-filled smirk on my face, like the women back home who enjoyed a good fight in my bar.

Her eyes narrowed, and she glared at me while stomping in my direction. The Master grabbed her by the arm before she made it and swung her entire body around to face him.

You will stop this childish squabbling! His grotesque face twisted into something even uglier. He bellowed, Do I make myself clear?

Lamia gasped and a whimper escaped as she lowered her eyes to the floor, visibly shaken. I’d never seen this side of her. Yes, Master, she whispered.

Good, he said with a shake of his head. Now, if you’ll both retire to your own rooms. He motioned for me to exit the door to Lamia’s new room. It has been a long few days of travel, and I’m sure you both need some rest. I stepped into the hallway and stood obediently waiting. I know I’m exhausted, he sighed, closing the door behind him.

Placing a hand on my shoulder, The Master looked into my eyes. Are you capable of finding your way back to your suite. His hand slipped down my arm and entwined my fingers. Or will you require assistance, my dear Lizbeth? he whispered with a low, husky tone.

I didn’t want this monster anywhere near me, or a bed, without a witness.

I bowed my head slightly. I am very capable on my own, sir.

I am positive that’s the truth, he purred, lowering his eyes to my chest.

Gross!

Goodnight, my dear. He held a hand out in the direction I was to go. He followed me all the way to the hallway bridge with the juncture to take him back to the elevator.

I stopped at the archway and turned to face him. Goodnight, sir.

He bowed deeply at the waist, sweeping his ragged top hat toward the floor beneath him before righting himself and stalking toward the elevator without another word.

I didn’t wait to see his departure; I dashed down the hallway as fast as I could. Throwing open the door to my suite, I spun around, slammed it shut, and immediately locked it. However, that wasn’t good enough in a house I knew nothing about, with people I counted on being my enemies. I shoved a nearby desk chair under the doorknob and wedged it tightly into place. They would have to bust in the door before anyone was getting in here without me knowing it. I wouldn’t be caught off guard.

I leaned over the desk, bracing myself on my hands as rapid, raspy breathing escaped my lungs. Anxiety pushed my pulse to a thundering drum in my ears. I stood there with my eyes closed, trying to calm my nerves and slow my breathing.

One… Two… Three, I counted between deep, purposeful breaths. Visions from the last time I saw Chad and Monty brought tears to my eyes, reminding me of why I was here and what I intend to accomplish in the long-run.

Death to The Master. My powers chanted in my ears.

I rose from the desk and stood upright as my breathing calmed. This was going to be a slow and possibly long battle, but I’m in it for the long haul, if that means keeping my family safe. But first, I needed to get more information.

The lights were still on in the room from us looking over the two suites, so I walked across the sitting room and looked out the floor to ceiling windows. My reflection was all that showed against the black background of night. I looked tired. Nothing was how it was supposed to be.

First off, I didn’t actually know why The Master even wanted me, other than the novelty of having a dhampiress under his control. I’d never heard of him before he came to town. And then his lackeys started tearing up my bar and attacking me. I thought back to that night and wondered how my new immortal friend was doing. She was supposed to look into The Master for me after that night, but I never had the chance to hear from her since I was snatched and woke up in a weird hospital-like establishment soon after. I made a mental note to call her once this was all over. If it ever was.

Those thoughts barreled into thoughts of Chad. I missed him so bad. I ached to know if he was okay and healing well. I knew Monty would be fine with his werewolf biology, but my Chad is human. It would take a lot longer for him to get past this, if he ever could. He was in pretty bad shape the last time I saw him. Granted, Monty was worse, but I didn’t feel as concerned about him. His issue would be more mental than physical, and for my short-tempered, passionate werewolf that would be a much bigger problem than any broken bone or laceration.

I watched as tears rolled slowly down the face in the window. She looked heartbroken and exhausted. Her eyes were sunken with dark circles. She hadn’t eaten in a while and hunger was rumbling loudly, but the thoughts of food made her sick to her stomach.

Food.

What a great excuse to roam the castle a little. Maybe I could even find a phone.

No, I said aloud. You can’t call them. I pointed at the woman in the window. "You can not put them in that situation. I shook my head. You have to protect them by any means necessary, and that means no contact. I looked my reflection in her eyes. None."

I turned and walked away from the woman staring back at me with tears in her eyes. She was just making me sadder and more desperate anyway. I had to figure out my next step in submission and cooperation in order to reach my goals, and that sad sack in the window can’t help me with that task.

Even if I was actually interested in eating, food would have to wait. It was