A fierce wave of protectiveness swept over him, and Beatrice ran her hand over his jaw, soothing him as the heat rose to the surface.
“Yes,” he said hoarsely, “the family should stay together.”
“And if everyone’s in L.A., Matt can keep an eye on things if we have to leave,” Beatrice said quietly.
“Don’t forget Ernesto,” Giovanni added. “I’m sure he would be as pleased to meet your grandmother as he was to meet you, tesoro.”
“Are you kidding?” she snorted. “Grandma’s way more charming than me. Ernesto will love her.”
Caspar only nodded. “So, that’s settled then. Who wants a drink?”
Isadora chuckled and began a rapid-fire conversation with Beatrice in Spanish about the Alvarez clan while Caspar moved to the sideboard to pour drinks.
“So everyone’s moving to L.A. after all?” Ben piped up. “Sweet!”
A strange peace settled over him as he began to plan, strategizing to ensure the well-being of the four people who had become, quite unexpectedly, more important than anything else in the world.
He and Beatrice would go to China in search of her father and the manuscript, but Lorenzo was still a threat. Luckily, with the help of his contacts in Los Angeles, he would be able to ensure the best protection for Caspar, Isadora and Benjamin.
Beatrice would go with him, adding her keen intellect to his own as they worked toward solving the puzzle of Stephen De Novo, the missing manuscript, and what his son was trying to accomplish by taking them both.
Giovanni heard the phone in the back of the library start to ring. He frowned at Caspar, who went to answer it.
“Hello? Tenzin, my dear!” Caspar paused as Beatrice’s eyes swung toward his. They both rose from the couch and walked to the phone.
“They’re right here…yes, here you are.”
Giovanni picked up the phone, holding it away from his ear so Tenzin’s voice did not deafen him.
“Gio!” he heard her clearly. “Is B there?”
“Yes, did you get our e-mail?”
“E-mail? I never check that stuff.”
Giovanni frowned at Beatrice, who only shrugged.
“Gio?”
“Still here, bird girl.” Everyone was looking toward the back of the room as he spoke.
“Can you tell me why I’m getting a summons from my sire to meet him at Mount Penglai?”
Giovanni’s heart sank. It was happening much faster than he’d anticipated. He looked at Caspar and Isadora, then at Ben’s wide eyes from across the room. Finally, he looked to Beatrice, who reached out to grasp his hand. He took a deep breath.
“We’ll meet you there.”
Epilogue
From the journals of Stephen De Novo
Houston, Texas
August 20, 1996
Dear Mariposa,
I had to say goodbye to you tonight. It was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do. Harder than controlling the bloodlust that still ambushes me from time to time. Harder than escaping the madman who killed me. Harder than ignoring my mother’s pleas to stay.
I doubt you’ll ever read this, but I feel stupid writing “Dear Diary” when I’m an immortal bloodsucking predator, so I’ll address it to you. On the off chance you do read this, then you know what I’ve become.
I thought I could be part of your life, at least for a little while, but the first time you saw me, I was reminded of what a monster I am now. I tried to erase the memory from you and try again, but it was no use. Hopefully, you remember me the way I was.
I want you to remember the good things.
I am going away now. Whatever happens to me, I just hope I haven’t made you a target. That’s the other reason I’m leaving. I couldn’t stand if you got pulled into this. I want you to have a good life. I want you to grow up strong and smart. I know Grandma and Grandpa will do their best. They’re amazing. I want you to find someone to love, who loves you back. I want you to live a full life and have a big family, with lots of people who love you and challenge you and bring you as much joy as you brought me just by being your dad.
I may live a thousand years. Hopefully, I’ll do something good with that time. Whatever purpose God has in all this, I hope I find it. But no matter what else I do in the endless time that’s been given to me, you will always be my greatest accomplishment.
I love you so much,
Dad
Dublin, Ireland
March 1998
Dear Beatrice,
I finally met a vampire tonight who wasn’t out to get me. Funny, right? I’m sure I’ve met others, but this was the first one I found that gave me hope I might not have to be a lowly, manipulative bastard who only uses humans for the rest of my existence. I was doing some research at Trinity last night, and on the way back to my hotel, I sensed another vampire around me. I tensed up. You never know who you can trust.
But when I finally saw him from a distance, he just smiled. He was a doctor, and he was running a free medical clinic in the lobby of an old office building. It was just him with a bunch of poor humans, so I felt like I could relax. I don’t know why, but he saw me through the glass and motioned me over to ask if I could help.
See, when I touch people now, I can get a sense of their general health. That, and their smell makes me able to tell if they’re sick. I guess he just wanted some company…and some help. The line of people was out the door and it was almost eleven o’clock.
He didn’t ask much about me. Just if I was American and if I was visiting anyone in town. I think he could tell from talking to me that I was trying to lay low, so he didn’t pry. He asked if I needed any help. He was so nice, I was tempted to spill the whole crazy story, but something held me back. I didn’t want to get him involved. Knowing that there was someone good out there, that maybe I could eventually do something useful with this life was enough. It made me grateful to have met him.
After the clinic, he asked if he could pay me for my time. It was nice to say no and just feel good about myself for the first time in years. All the humans that I’ve fed from since I was turned, I finally felt like I gave something back without taking.
He gave me his card and told me to call him if I ever needed any help. I hope I won’t have to use it, but I took it, just in case.
Love,
Dad
Gravesend, England
January 20, 2000
Dear Beatrice,
I found a friend today.
Sounds silly, right? Like I’m the new kid at school. But in the last seven years, I’ve discovered how rare it is to find a friend you can trust. Do you have those kind of people around you? Do you have good friends? I hope so. You’re nineteen now. Maybe you have a boyfriend. You better be going to college. I wonder what you’ll study. Probably not Dante.
Do you still love Greek myths? Maybe you’ll study literature. Or archeology. I’m sure you’d be good at anything, you were always so smart. I bet you’re beautiful, too. The last time I saw you, you had that gawky, uncomfortable look that kids have when they’re teenagers, but you were only fifteen. I bet you’re beautiful now. You always looked like Mom, and she’s so lovely.
This new friend of mine is teaching me how to hide better. He’s old. Older than you can even imagine. I’m not sure they even measured time when he was human. He’s also incredibly powerful. He can control water like me, but much better. He’s a good friend, and I feel like I might finally have time to study this book and not spend all my time running around trying to hide.
Love,
Dad
Brasilia, Brazil
October 2001
Dear Beatrice,
I’m writing to you from my home. After eight years of running, I finally feel like I’ve found a new home. It’s quiet here. No one pays attention to me. With all the tourists around, I can feed without bothering anyone, and no one even remembers me.
I feel strange talking to you about feeding, even though I know you’ll probably n
ever read this. I tried feeding from animals, but after a while, it got to be too much work. I have to feed a lot more often and drink a lot more blood than if I just take a quick sip from a human.
Forgive any unfortunate juice box comparisons.
I don’t look down on people like most vampires do, but it’s the easiest way for me to survive. If it makes you feel better, I always pay them. They don’t remember where the money came from, but hopefully they just think they forgot about it in their pocket.
It’s not all bad. I’m learning so much faster now. I wish I knew a neurobiologist who could study it. It’s like my brain can absorb information and my memory—which was always good—is amazing now. I’ve become fluent in Portuguese, French, Ancient Greek, Old Arabic, Old Persian, Mandarin, and my Latin and Italian are much better, too. My recall and processing are faster; it’s easier to make connections. I’m simply smarter than I was as a human. Honestly, I can see why some vampires, after hundreds of years, do feel superior to them.
I’m much stronger. I’ve been told that if I was in better physical condition when I was turned it would be even better, but my sire was old, so that helped. But he also made a lot of ‘children,’ which depletes their strength. So unless I find a much stronger vampire who is willing to exchange blood with me, which is unlikely, I’ll always be weaker than him.
I think I’m starting to understand this book. I still can’t figure out why he wants it, though.
Love,
Dad
Brasilia, Brazil
August 2004
Dear Beatrice,
I got a letter from a contact in Rome today.
How can you ever forgive me?
This is my fault.
Please forgive me.
If I didn’t need to keep this book safe, I would walk into the sun on his sick little island right now, just to make him leave you alone.
Maybe he’s dead. I hope like hell he’s dead.
This vampire that petitioned for you in Rome…he’s frightening, Beatrice. I don’t know why he wants you, but he’s Lorenzo’s sire, and the stories I’ve heard make my blood curdle.
A fire vampire?
What does he want from you?
They all want something.
Forgive me!
I can only hope what I’ve heard is wrong. My contact said di Spada was ‘uncharacteristically impassioned’ in his claim, that he offered a lot in exchange for you. At least this makes me hopeful his intentions toward you are good. It is hard to imagine, from what I have heard, but I can hope.
Forgive me,
Dad
Athens, Greece
December, 2004
You’re in L.A.
You’re in grad school.
You’re safe.
From what I hear, you’re really safe.
I’m not sure what Giovanni Vecchio is to you, but whatever he is, he’s protecting you more than any human I’ve ever heard of.
Maybe he can be trusted. He’s powerful enough.
I don’t know if I can trust him.
But I think I can trust you.
Iraklion, Crete
February 2005
Dear Beatrice,
Please understand. Please get the message.
Please remember the game.
I want you to find me.
Please remember.
I can’t do this alone.
Dad
Shanghai, China
June 2006
Dear Beatrice,
I haven’t written in a while. I think I may understand why Lorenzo wants this. But it doesn’t make sense. Not really. There’s something I’m not seeing. For the first time since I was turned thirteen years ago, I don’t feel smart enough to handle this.
I need more information, but I don’t know who to trust. Everyone has an agenda.
Remember that.
Everyone has an agenda.
Love,
Dad
El Paso, Texas
September 2007
Why does anyone live in El Paso? It’s so hot. I don’t even sweat anymore, and it still feels hot.
I’m so tempted to go see your grandma. She’s so close.
Is she okay? I heard about Grandpa a couple of years ago. I hope she’s not lonely. She and Dad...they had that kind of love you always read about, you know?
Is that what you’ve found with this immortal?
Is it even possible?
You’re twenty-five now. I’ve missed so much of your life. Even the hints I get now, the reports and the notes, they’re not enough. I just need to be sure he can be trusted.
I have to be sure.
Love,
Dad
Brasilia, Brazil
March 2008
Dear Beatrice,
Okay, game played. Did you follow the clues? Can you find me?
Please find me.
I’ll wait for you.
I’ve found some new avenues for research. I finally understand the basics of this manuscript, but the alchemy is still beyond me. There’s just not enough research done on vampire biology. I may contact that doctor in Dublin if I can. Maybe he would be able to make better sense of this.
I just know that there’s a piece I’m missing. Something doesn’t quite fit. It seems like it should work, but if it does, then why does he want it? The more I learn, the less sense it makes.
Back to my books.
Love,
Dad
Brasilia, Brazil
August 2008
Dear Beatrice,
This is the last time I’ll write in these journals. I was stupid to depend on a game we played when you were a child. It wasn’t fair of me.
I’m leaving Brazil, but in case you ever find this place, I’ll leave my journals here. Where I am going, it’s best not to bring them anyway.
There is an elder I need to see. I don’t trust him personally, but I think I can trust him with the manuscript. I think, from what I’ve learned, he may be my best chance to keep the book safe from Lorenzo, and to help me make sense of all this.
I’m leaving tomorrow. August 8, 2008.
I’m going West to the East. You know me; I like to be in my element.
Find me, Mariposa.
Love,
Dad
The End
A first look at Book Three
in the Elemental Mysteries Series:
THE FORCE OF WIND
coming March 2012
ElementalMysteries.com
Chapter One
En route to Beijing, China
August 2010
Giovanni Vecchio eyed the impassive water vampire from across the compartment, casually draping an arm around Beatrice’s shoulders as she sat next to him on the plush couch.
“Remind me why he is here.”
She rolled her eyes and refused to answer, so Baojia spoke for himself.
“I am here because Beatrice has a very concerned grandfather who offers her the finest protection of his clan.”
“Are you sure you’re not just homesick?”
The Asian vampire’s face betrayed no emotion when he replied, “Unless we have changed course to San Francisco, I do not understand the question.”
Beatrice snorted and laid her head on Giovanni’s shoulder.
“Leave him alone, Gio.”
“I dislike having someone else on the plane.” Particularly someone who looked at Beatrice the way her grandfather’s enforcer did. Beatrice didn’t notice, but the quiet water vampire watched her every move with definite interest.
“You’re overreacting,” she murmured. “Besides, Ernesto wouldn’t send anyone with us who wasn’t on our side.”
He saw an almost imperceptible smile flicker across Baojia’s face, and there was a wry amusement in his eyes when he looked back at Giovanni.
“And it is always beneficial to have another interpreter,” Baojia said in perfect Mandarin.
When Don Ernesto Alvarez, Beatrice
’s powerful ancestor whose clan controlled Southern California, had offered to send his child with them to visit the legendary Eight Immortals of Penglai Island, Giovanni could hardly refuse.
Baojia’s prowess as a fighter was almost as legendary as Giovanni’s, despite his youth, and the offer was evidence of both how highly Ernesto viewed his granddaughter and how valuable he saw her connections in his world. Giovanni couldn’t deny the offer without alienating a powerful ally and causing a rift in Beatrice’s family.
Though she had initially been intimidated by the silent water vampire, Baojia made every effort to set Beatrice at ease in his presence. From casual observation, the vampire, who was only known by his given name, did not seem particularly intimidating, and his medium build and even features were unremarkable on the surface.
But the minute a canny opponent looked into his black eyes, Giovanni knew they would reevaluate. Baojia was one of the most lethal water vampires Giovanni had ever known, including his own sire. His mastery of his element, combined with a natural grace and training in various martial arts had quickly become legendary. He was also an exceptional swordsman.
He had monitored Beatrice for her grandfather in the years before Giovanni’s return, and he could tell Baojia’s interest in the young woman had been piqued.
This Same Earth Page 29
