Shades of Red

by T L Christianson

  “Don’t. I’ve seen this a million times before.” His voice was hard as stone. “Don’t do this to yourself.”

  I shook my head and forced a smile. “I’m fine. It’ll be fine.”

  Touching my chin, he forced me to meet his eyes. “This is a common problem, bloodlust. I’m surprised Mr. Vatia hadn’t hired someone to help you before now. He is an old one and should’ve known better.”

  “I thought it would go away on its own. He’s offered before but…” Alright, yes, I argued with Aurev about this. Yes, he offered before. But that was when I thought it was just a passing phase and nothing more.

  Karsten laughed at my stubbornness. I was glad someone found me amusing; my ex definitely did not.

  After the plane leveled out, the engine noise died down.

  Getting up, I made my way to Dr. Khatri where I squatted down beside her seat. “Do you know any of the details as to what went on at the Durango estate?”

  She patted my hand and spoke in her slight Indian accent. “Yes, I wasn’t sure if you knew all the details yet. About two weeks ago, Dr. Bennett and his fiancé…” I flinched at the word. “Were attacked in the house. He was fatally shot, and Miss Edwards accidentally turned him while healing the wound. When he awoke, he found she was sick.”

  “I suppose if she does survive this, then she’ll be brought up on charges for the change?” I asked.

  “No, because he already had clearance from GC to be turned, she won’t be charged with any crime.”

  “Hmmm.”

  She steepled her fingers. “Yes, according to Ms. Smith, the Clan has had permission to change him ever since he came to their attention twenty years ago.”

  Chronos Corp kept an eye out for potential clan members, humans with high intellect and potential. They were prepped and pampered until it was beneficial for the clan to change them. Few refused, and unfortunately for me, Owen had been one of the few, until now.

  I continued, “And Owen, has he shown any sign of the plague?”

  Dr. Khatri shook her head, “No, and not only that, but he claims he’s immune and he’s been treating her with his own blood. According to him, she’s getting better. But, that’s all I know.” We sat there contemplating the recent developments.

  Our conversation petered out, so I made my way back to my seat next to my Viking.

  After I belted myself in, he asked, “What do you make of Mr. Vatia? You seem close to him.”

  It was my turn to laugh, then frown. “My boss? Aurev? I don’t know.”

  “Yeah, he leads the largest clan on the east coast.”

  I pursed my lips, “He’s like a grandfather to me.”

  “How did you meet? You seem very entangled in the New York Clan, how did that happen?”

  “Well, before being changed, I worked for Chronos as a human. Before that, I bounced from one foster home to another.”

  His eyes looked concerned, “Do you remember your parents at all?”

  I realized that I’d been pulling on my locket in an unconscious movement.

  “No, I’ve been alone since I can remember.” Lifting the piece of jewelry off my chest, I said, “This is the only thing I have from my birth parents.” We both examined the brass pattern. “I don’t know how old it is or where it came from. It belonged to my mother, and that’s all that matters.”

  “What’s in it?”

  I unclasped the latch and opened the locket.

  “These are my kids, Rebecca and Jackson.” I felt my mouth curve into a smile, and it warmed my heart when Sten’s did the same.

  “It’s fitting that you carry their photographs in there. How old are they?”

  “Six and eight,” I told him.

  He nodded, and I clasped it closed again.

  “This is why you have so much urgency. I understand now.” A sigh escaped his lips, “This is one of the difficult things about being Moroi. I had three children of my own.”

  When he didn’t continue, I held my tongue, wondering what happened to them.

  After a brief moment, he said, “So, how did an orphan meet a powerful Moroi?”

  “I guess I took a test, I don’t remember doing so, and two Moroi showed up on my doorstep.” Motioning, I looked toward the back of the plane. “It was Dr. Peters, he’s on this team, and my friend Hazel Richards. Have you met her?”

  “No. Did you know what they were?”

  I indicated that I didn’t. “No, but I don't think it would’ve mattered. They’d plucked me out of the New York foster system and treated me like a princess. They paid for a fancy boarding school, then college–they paid for medical school... Everything.”

  “What about now? Do they still look after you?”

  I cringed. “I’ve never thought of it like that. Yeah, I live in a Chronos house.”

  “Could you leave? Are you in a contract with them?”

  I laughed, “I guess I could leave, but why would I?”

  “Yeah, as long as you’re happy. I just wondered.”

  “It’s an honor to belong to my Clan. They’re the only family I’ve ever known. Why would I be irritated by the strings attaching me to them? Aurev set up the Trenton lab for me. I’m able to do my research which helps both humans and Moroi. Owen and I created a vaccine for humans.” I told him in a tone a bit more defensive than I would’ve liked it to be.

  “I’m not judging. Not everyone in Chronos is treated how you are. You mean something to Aurev, and I haven’t quite put my finger on it.”

  I puffed out a denial.

  After a moment his mouth quirked up, and he teased, “Want to visit the mile-high club with me?” He nodded toward the bathroom.

  “You wish!” I punched his arm half-heartedly and rolled my eyes.

  He shrugged, “Your loss.”

  “Oh, do you have any blood with you? I didn’t have time to bring any from home.”

  Calling out to the steward, he asked for a couple bottles for us.

  I sighed in contentment, smiling at the plush leather seats and comfortable armrests. This was definitely a step up from flying coach.

  Drinking from the bottle, my mind went to thoughts of live drinking and humans. Being around them made me uneasy. Their fast, rhythmic hearts hypnotized me with a siren song.

  I sighed.

  “Let’s work on your thirst, so you can be around your kids.” Sten’s voice broke my reverie.

  “I thought you didn’t do lessons,” I smirked.

  “Do you do yoga?”

  I examined the muscle definition outlined by his t-shirt. “Don’t tell me you do yoga? But, yes, I do.”

  His chest shook with a silent laugh that was swallowed by the jet’s engines. He pressed his hand above my belly button, and I immediately sucked in. It was a remnant from being a more mature human woman who’d given birth, but I quickly remembered that I didn’t have that slight bit of belly I’d had before.

  His touch raised my heart-rate, and that hot liquid sensation pooled in my core.

  “I’m not joining the mile-high club with you.” I laughed, attempting to pull his hand away.

  “No, stop… take a deep breath…not in the shoulder, but in the belly.”

  I attempted the breath.

  “Okay, now count to ten on both inhale and exhale and hold it. Slow Moroi breaths.”

  Closing my eyes, I fought to keep my thoughts off his warm hand and how it brushed the top of my jeans with every breath.

  Finally, I gave up, blushing. “I can’t do this with your hand on me.”

  He winked cheekily and pulled his arm back. “Seriously, though. Breathe in.” I followed his instructions with my eyes closed. “One, two, three, four…” His smooth voice calmed me as he continued to count to ten. “Then exhale. One, two, three…”

  Following his commands, I felt myself calm. “Isn’t this a calming exercise? What’s this supposed to do?”

  “Whenever you get the thirst or that feeling of being out of control, do this breathing
exercise.” He squeezed my shoulder. “The belly, not the chest.”

  I nodded and counted in my head, taking the required breaths. When I opened my eyes, my Viking was looking at me with a strange, soft expression.

  “What?” I asked, tilting my head.

  “You’ll get this. You are going to see your kids.”

  My mouth turned up into a smile of its own. “Really?” I asked skeptically. “It’s just breathing, and I’ll be normal?”

  “Well,” he said seriously, “No, there’s more to it than that, but this is the beginning. Practice, and know when to use it. Try doing the exercises as soon as you feel your craving begin.”

  Pursing my lips, I nodded but wondered, if it were this easy, then why didn’t Aurev or Hazel or anyone at Chronos teach me this.

  Chapter Five

  Bennett Estate, Outside Durango, Colorado

  I knew the drive from Durango to the estate like the back of my own hand. The dirt roads and tall pines were the same, but subtle differences marked the way. Blackened trunks of trees stood like skeletons, where a fire had devastated part of the forest, and new houses spread out like tentacles from the mountain town.

  I sighed, thinking about the past.

  “It’s nice here–how long did you live at the estate?” Karsten leaned back in the passenger’s seat looking out the window.

  “Five years,” I told him. Usually, I was talkative, but my nerves were getting the better of me.

  After driving through the dappled sunlight, we came to a large iron fence that surrounded the property. Reaching out my open window, I entered the new code I’d been given into the keypad.

  The gates swung inward and the familiar crunching of the driveway flooded my mind with memories.

  Not all good.

  But I didn’t have a chance to examine them because a text came through on my phone.

  “Will you grab my phone from my bag?” I asked my companion. He leaned into the back seat and dug out the device, handing it to me.

  Forest texted: You good in Colorado now, I be hitting you up if anything changes.

  Clicking the screen off, I put my sunglasses back on, driving into the meadow where the large Victorian sat.

  Above us, the sun streamed down through cotton candy clouds.

  Stepping out of our rental car, we collected our luggage and made our way to the front door of the house. The wind wailed through the trees and broke the oppressive silence that surrounded us.

  I rang the doorbell.

  Sten made a circle with his hand, “Why are you making this face? Were you unhappy here?”

  “No. I loved it here. I love this house. It was built in the 1890’s during the time Nicola Tesla had built a power station in town. I used to fantasize that he’d visited the house and worked in the lab. Maybe he had, maybe he hadn’t, but I like the fact that he could have. There’s so much history here, secrets and intrigue…”

  His lips twisted, “I think you have a vivid imagination…I like the way you think. You could always ask Aurev about Tesla, maybe he knows something. There’s a lab here?”

  “Yes, a huge lab underneath the house. You’ll see, with large brick arches holding up the ceiling. It’s kind of cool.”

  “I’d like that. I like architecture.”

  “Really?” I asked, but Sten didn’t answer because footsteps echoed through the foyer toward us. I recognized them immediately as Gabriel’s. Gabriel has been our lab assistant for years.

  “Hey!” I hugged the skinny Moroi and introduced him to my colleague. “Gabe, this is Karsten.”

  They nodded at each other, “Do you need me to show you to one of the guest rooms?” The lab assistant asked.

  I smiled grimly. “No, thanks. I can do it. I’d like to examine Owen and Emilie as soon as possible.”

  Sten looked around, listening.

  “You and all the others. The others arrived about fifteen minutes ago, and I already gave them rooms. There’s only one left, will you guys be okay sharing it?”

  The Viking and I shared a look, “I don’t mind.” I told Gabe.

  After dropping our things in the one empty guest room, Karsten followed me up the narrow, winding staircase to the third floor.

  “This would’ve been servants’ quarters not too long ago,” he observed.

  I couldn’t think about his words, I was so filled with anxiety about being here.

  Then, on the landing between the two floors, I stopped walking. “This is a mistake. I shouldn’t have come.”

  Karsten took my hands into his, meeting my gaze. “I know this will be difficult, but you need to be here.”

  “No, no one needs me here.” I bit my lip and felt him rub circles on my knuckles with his thumbs. “I’ve got a lead on the Butcher. I should be going to Arkansas…”

  He squeezed my hands. “We will go there, but for now you need to be here. What are you afraid of?”

  “Owen, my kids… Emilie? I don’t know.” I trailed off.

  Spinning out of control, I shook my head. Standing in this house, smelling the smells and walking through here like a ghost, I questioned myself. I was freaking out, and it embarrassed me.

  I was logical; I was stoic.

  I was a goddamn scientist. Why couldn’t I just keep my shit together? I thought I was over this mess.

  His fingers touched the side of my face. “Sarah,” saying my name like a prayer, he looked between my eyes and my mouth. “What’s your plan? You are in control here. What do you want to do?”

  At that moment, Owen broke into our conversation with his footsteps on the landing above us.

  “Who’s there?” Owen asked cheerily before he saw me and his expression closed down.

  “Hi, Owen,” I yelled up as we trekked to the hallway above.

  “Sarah? Are you supposed to be here? The team’s already here.” Owen accused me.

  “Yeah, we came together, but I stopped so that I could grab a pastry from the bakery on main.” His hostile stare just pissed me off. “Cut the crap. You claim to have come up with some kind of cure–I should be here. This is my specialty.” I set my jaw and held my head high.

  His face stony, he led us to a bedroom door. I decided to ignore his bad attitude and asked him some questions. “Have you been taking your vitals regularly to watch for any change?”

  “Of course.”

  “Is this Emilie? Can I assess her?” I touched the door, and it creaked open. Stepping inside, a woman no bigger than a girl lay in the bed asleep. Emilie had creamy pale skin, with red lips and pink cheeks. Her platinum blonde hair splayed on the pillow.

  Am I catty for wanting my ex’s fiancé to be a toad?

  Emilie’s elegant beauty was apparent. She was light while I was dark, petite while I was tall.

  Ignoring the pain in my heart, I examined the IV drip lines that were going. “You keep her on a saline drip as well?” I turned to the door to see the two men exchanging a quiet conversation.

  I pulled on a pair of gloves and began to examine the unconscious woman. Her hands were so tiny.

  “Can you please stop.” Owen’s voice cracked like a whip.

  I tilted my head sideways and laid her hand back on the bed. She had the black sores that made OVC reminiscent of the Black Plague. The Black Plague had been bacterial, but OVC was viral.

  Standing, I pulled off the gloves and made my way to the door. “Where are the kids?”

  Owen ran his hands over his face. “They’re fine. Flor, the housekeeper, has them.”

  “Since you’ve been changed, have they been around here?”

  His lips were tight. “No. But, Flor’s brought them here to visit Em when I was out for a run.”

  “What? Why would they visit Emilie?”

  “She’s their teacher. They miss her.” Exasperation laced his words.

  “You’ve had a Moroi as their teacher? I thought you hated all us blood-suckers?” My voice, sharp like broken glass split the room. “Yet, I’ve been b
anned from their life because I was turned?”

  “Emilie is an old Moroi, she would never hurt them.”

  “What the hell Owen?” My mind raced.

  “Are you able to resist their blood now?” He asked me.

  I bit my lip, my heart feeling like a ball of lead. “No,” I whispered.

  Storming down the stairs, through the guest room, I picked up my bag and practically ran out to the car.

  “I can’t stay here,” I muttered to myself.

  Dropping the luggage beside the car, I cursed and slapped the glass with my hand.

  Footsteps thudded across the porch behind me; I knew who it was before he spoke.

  “I… I’m sorry. It’s just… So much has happened and I was caught off guard.”

  I turned toward my ex-husband who stood there, face repentant.

  Not quite sure what to say, I told him, “I tried to call.”

  “I know. I tried to call you back, I should’ve tried harder.” He sucked in a deep breath. “Please, stay. I’ve just been on edge since…” He held his hands up, “…Being turned. I… I thought Liz—Em was going to die. I… I’m a Moroi now, I can’t believe it.” He frowned and shook his head.

  “I know, about that… I mean, I thought you’d rather die than get changed.”

  His golden eyes bore into me as his words sank in. “I love Emilie. She’s unlike any Moroi I’ve ever met. If it means we get more time together, I’ll be whatever. I almost died, and she saved me. I have to save her.”

  I examined his haggard face and my residual anger melted away. This situation completely sucked, because I knew in my heart, that a part of me would always love him. A long time ago we had been happy.

  Leaning against the car, I asked, “Is she really getting better? Or could your blood just be delaying the illness?”

  He crossed the space back to the house and sat down on the wooden steps. “I think she’s getting better. Her pulse has slowed, the sores look like they’re healing. The nurse here, Agnes, says she’s been coherent.”

  “Good.” I sighed, “You need to let me examine her and you. What blood panels have you done?”