Darkness Born: Paranormal Vampire Romance (Immortal Desire Series Book 1.5)

by Scarlett West

  He gripped her upper arm. “My mammu and I can’t continue to be the only ones to feed Auseklis blood. He needs his mother.”

  Someone knocked on the door. Both of them glanced toward it. Daina called to them.

  “Come in,” Reinis said.

  “Your guest from Latgale has arrived. I’ll take Auseklis.” Daina extended her arms and gathered the young, wrapping him in a blanket. His eyes softly closed.

  “Paldies, Daina.” Reinis thanked her.

  Sarma peeked back at her heartmate’s cousin, always comforted that she helped them with their precious bundle. Caring for the young was one of her coven duties. They left Daina in the nursery, then headed to the dining room where Imants waited. She wished Laima could be there to guide her and to have an ally. Laima had disappeared several days ago—the third time since Auseklis’ birth.

  She focused on Imants. Dark brown hair framed an oval face with a strong jawline. Deep, piercing, sapphire eyes stared at her, tight with worry. She would never guess by his fit build and smooth skin that he was eight hundred years old. In fact, in another time and place, she might have hit on him, thinking he was young. What a weird thought.

  Ugh. She didn’t look forward to this. There were more things to talk about since the Latgale visit, and it wasn’t a phone type of conversation. They took seats around a round wooden table with a clay vase in the middle holding dried wheat stalks with a Mēnesis moon symbol, engraved in the center. Sarma arranged them as she waited for the water to boil for coffee.

  Her stomach tightened. Silence surrounded them, but Imants sat still, hands folded on the surface of the table. She served them, then sat, inhaling the bitter scent of the drink, comforting herself with the warmth that seeped through the cup.

  “Imants—” Sarma’s lips parted.

  “Pagaidi—wait,” he said, lifting a hand. “It may be too much to ask, but please, call me father.”

  “We have yet to establish that you are my true father. And besides, even if you are, I have no recollection. We barely saw each other for the first time in almost thirty years.” Sarma’s tone cut like a knife and she bit her lip with regret. Her vampire abilities were growing because she sensed a wave of sadness within Imants that did not surface of his face.

  “I’m sorry, Imants. I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings but I’m not ready for that.” Her face reflected back in her coffee and she thought twice about how she would proceed.

  He leaned forward and interlaced his fingers. “I understand, Sarma. But you are my Sarmiņa even if it is strange to you. You are my daughter.”

  She gripped her mug. “Please, I want you to explain how you met my mother, how I was born, and what happened when you left. Is it true you imprinted Gunita?”

  He grazed his lips with his knuckles and averted her eyes. “I was in San Francisco to meet with a coven. I had some free time and odd as it sounds, I always liked to mix with humans. I found them curious. I went where others spoke my language—the Latvian Hall on Hoffman Street.

  “As you know, there’s quite a large population of Latvians in San Francisco and the surrounding area. Gunita was there, serving coffee after a theatre day. She’d acted in the play, a love story about a woman who fell in love with a man, lost him to an accident, but found love again. Gunita was…beautiful.” His voice dipped for a moment as if he spoke of someone no longer living.

  “Charming smile, eyes that dazzled like yours. I fell in love with her the minute I saw her, despite the fact that I had four children with Ako’s mother. But please remember,” he pointed upward, “I was separated from her for more than ten years before I met Gunita. That’s a fact many can attest to. But Gunita. I imprinted her the first time we were together. I can’t even blame it on being young, like humans do, or being drunk, because we can’t get drunk.”

  “Wait. How could you imprint two females?” Sarma’s stomach clenched.

  “I didn’t. I never imprinted Ako’s mother, Laura. Another fact everyone already knows, including Ako, though he’s always refused to accept it. I’m eight hundred years old. When I met Laura, I was six hundred. I’d never had a heartmate. I know I imprinted Gunita, but she never accepted me, so we were never true heartmates.

  “But let me explain. The vampire population was cut severely by wars and vampire slayers. I did my duty, like Reinis, but many of the vampire offspring were not successful. Laura fell in love with me, and at that time, I had never been paired with someone. The House of Amber, desperate for full-blood young to be born, forced ten pairs of males and females in joining ceremonies, though none of us had imprinted each other.”

  Imants paused again, his brilliant blue eyes wistful as if he regretted the actions he spoke about. “I paired with her by obligation and at that time because of the hierarchy, it was impossible to separate once joined. Laura tried to imprint me, but it never worked because I didn’t feel the same.

  “I never loved her. I paired because I had to and because I hoped that with our unions, even against our will, would bring strong children to our species. I had hoped I would fall in love with her. But I never did.” His hand curled into a fist and rose to his mouth, his eyes glossed with sadness.

  As he poured his story out, Sarma’s desire to drink coffee dropped away. Nausea wrapped its grimy fingers around her stomach. What a heavy past. Both her parents had suffered so much.

  “I caused her two hundred years of suffering. I didn’t love her the way she did me, but I deeply cared for her wellbeing. I never wanted to hurt her in any way. And let me tell you, when I fell in love with Gunita, the only way Laura knew was because of the imprint. Though we’d been separated, it hurt her more than anything to know I’d imprinted someone else.

  “But I never revealed who I fell in love with, and Gunita rejected me. I didn’t want Gunita to lose you, so I never told the coven. I stayed with her long enough to ensure you didn’t burn to death when you were born and to care for you as long as she would allow. You were a secret to everyone. Sarma—I never meant to cause—”

  Sarma covered her lips with flat fingers as if she had been the one speaking and couldn’t stand the sound of her own voice. This was worse than she thought. She needed a toilet. Now.

  “I’m sorry, Reinis. I never thought I’d see my daughter again. Never thought any of this would happen. Later, Gunita never let me see Sarma—”

  Their voices faded as she stumbled down the hall.

  “Imants, would you like to stay? We have a guest room made up for you,” Reinis asked.

  She hit the bathroom door, barely making it before vomiting. His story turned out worse than she thought. Because it was all true.

  Chapter 12

  Gunita tapped on the hotel room door where the female directed her to go. What an opulent inn Hotel Bergs turned out to be. Her heeled boots clicked across ornate, tile flooring. She passed fine leather and mahogany furniture in the lobby. Of course, vampires had money. Imants had splurged and spent thousands on her. And she’d give it all back in return for a tranquil life. Bastard.

  Yesterday, after she’d left the restaurant, the vampire explained that they had a common enemy and that if she wanted to know more, she had to come here. She had vowed never to speak with vampires again, but after the lady left her in the street with her mouth gaping, she couldn’t sleep. The whole night creaked by and she closed her eyes at five a.m. Then she overslept and missed her flight.

  Here she stood, knocking on the wooden door in this ritzy inn. She never said her name. Never told her who the enemy was either. Only instructed her to show up at this hotel at this time. The door swung open into a dark suite but no one stood in the entrance. Startled, she jumped and cold prickles rolled down her spine. What was she doing here? This lady could kill her. Maim her. Destroy her. What the hell was she thinking coming to this place?

  She stood there frozen. Staring into a pitch-black room. There was no way she would enter but she couldn’t manage to force her legs to run. No one came out. Thoug
h bad luck, she hovered in the threshold, her stomach gurgling and her hands trembling.

  Without warning, a light flicked on, making Gunita jump again. She sucked in air and grasped the doorframe.

  “Please, come in,” the female spoke and stepped forward in tall, pointy heels and a blue silk dress that matched intense azure eyes. “I am Dita.”

  Gunita examined her face. This time her golden blond hair spilled over her shoulders and those sky blue eyes shimmered at her. With smooth skin, she didn’t look a day over twenty-five though appearances deceived. Yet a heavy, dark energy surrounded Dita’s beauty in a way that Imants never displayed. Gunita cringed. What kind of vampire was she? What did she want?

  With hands clasped before her, Dita opened her mouth again. “If I wanted to hurt you, I would have already. I will not touch you. Please, welcome to my room.”

  Damn their mind reading abilities. Gunita hated that about them. Couldn’t hide a thing from them. The worst. Did Dita live here? Why did she stay in a hotel? Dita spoke Latvian with no accent so she was clearly from here. But Gunita said nothing, only stood stiff as a telephone pole, peering at this gorgeous monster who could kill her in a flash.

  “Gunita, I want you to feel at home. Have some coffee, some snacks. I have important things to explain. Things that hold great interest for you. Don’t you want to take out Imants?” Dita motioned to a table laid out with open-faced sandwiches and desert breads. In her hurry and worry to arrive, she hadn’t eaten. She glanced at the food but didn’t budge.

  Imants? How did she know Imants? And that she’d want revenge on him? Her skin crawled again but she took a step forward. Dita held her attention like she extended a chocolate bar to a child.

  “Have a seat.” Dita pointed to a black cushioned armchair, and sat across from it, sipping something in a mug.

  Gunita sighed and stepped into the room. The door slammed shut and locked behind her. She gripped her purse and cold sweat broke out over her face.

  Dita patted the chair arm. “Only for privacy. I told you, if I wanted to harm you, I would have already. Please, join me. We have much to discuss.”

  Against her better reasoning, Gunita stumbled across the plush carpet and took a seat across from Dita.

  “I told you I don’t like mysteries so the faster you explain the better.” Gunita eyed the door but sat down. Hunger won her over, and besides, Dita might have something good in store. “I don’t promise a thing.” She picked up a piece of bread and took a bite.

  “Agreed. Suspicious thing, aren’t you? You know what we’re capable of?” Dita raised her eyebrows and ran a fingernail across her own cheek. “I don’t have much time myself, but I do like my guests to feel comfortable. I know you are Sarma’s mother, and that you had a vampire, Imants as your lover. I also know that he is the father of your daughter and that you hate us vampires. Sarma is now a full-blood vampire. Am I right thus far?” She smiled and her eyes almost twinkled but her expression was too sinister and cold for a twinkle.

  Full-blood vampire? Really? Could it be that bad? Gunita gulped and almost asked how she knew all of that information, but she didn’t want to know. The less the better. “That is all true.”

  “This is how we share a common enemy. I hate my sister, Laima. She is Sarma’s mother-in-law, and she stole my heartmate—you know what that is, correct?”

  Gunita nodded in agreement. This already sounded horrible. Should she leave before she got in too deep?

  “I hate Laima, you hate Imants. Laima cares a great deal for Sarma, treats her like a daughter. If we kill Imants, we’ll solve two problems. You’ll be rid of the male who ruined your life and my sister will take a hit. Laima will hate seeing Sarma suffer. But you won’t mind too much, will you? So do you want your sweet revenge?”

  Her hand halted midair halfway to her gaping mouth “Revenge?”

  Dita’s eyes narrowed and an ominous grin spread across her perfect face. Dark lines formed around her eyes, spreading down her cheeks. What was happening to her? For her entire life, Gunita had dreamed of hunting Imants down and harming him so badly, he’d never be able to damage another female. Dita made it sound so simple. Effortless. Painless.

  But vampires never left a debt unpaid.

  “What’s in it for you, Dita? What do you want from me? Nothing can be so easy as that,” Gunita said.

  “Oh, you’ll have your part. I’ll explain everything. Are you in?”

  Chapter 13

  Reinis drummed his fingers on the tavern table and ordered another Melnais Balzams. He’d drunk way too many of these things. He hadn’t come to their only village hang out in several years, but at the moment, he couldn’t stand to see their homestead’s four walls for a minute more.

  Besides, he needed to talk to his mammu without Sarma hearing their conversation. Only thing, it seemed Laima had stood him up. He’d been sitting there twiddling his thumbs, wasting his time, for an hour. Though Sarma’s low mood had him down too, he didn’t want to leave her alone for too long. After all, Auseklis still languished.

  A few humans and vampires hung around in the dim local. He sat in the back corner where humans couldn’t overhear him. If she didn’t arrive soon, he’d be forced to leave without meeting her. He twirled the shot glass on the table and ran his fingers through his hair.

  What killed him was not being able to reach Sarma. She’d put up a wall, only letting it down long enough to scan her memory. But when he was about to uncover why the memory caused her to suffer, she slammed her mindguards up again. Nothing tore at him worse than not being about to help his heartmate and son.

  His heart ached with how much he missed her. Missed their talks, kisses, hugs. Missed their intimate lovemaking. Maybe his desires were selfish, but he longed for that deep connection they’d lost when she became a vampire. Something had cracked inside her, and failed to heal since that dark, ugly day when he almost lost her. They had drifted farther apart when Auseklis was born ill. Yet he couldn’t bring himself to share all of this with her. He didn’t want to pressure her or add any more guilt to the situation.

  He sank his forehead down on his hands. Auseklis needed her. He needed her. If only he could show her how sensuous and loving blood exchange could be—that pleasure like no other when they drank from each other while making love. Granted, others had only told him about it, but given how heightened all their senses were, he imagined it would be incredible. But she’d have none of it when he’d tried to explain before Auseklis was born. And he had no clue what the key to helping her come back to herself could be.

  The bar’s door jingled and his mother entered, pulling her shawl closer around her gaunt face. Another female in his life that struggled. Since Auseklis’ birth, she’d disappeared multiple times and didn’t seem to feed properly. She remained tight-lipped and solemn.

  “Hi, son, get me whatever you’re drinking.” Laima slid into the booth and placed her shawl next to them.

  Reinis blinked at her. Though they couldn’t get drunk like their enemy cousins, she never consumed alcohol. He ordered them the Melnais Balzams and glanced up at her, waiting for her to speak.

  “We shouldn’t talk about things here. Let’s go for a walk.” She swiveled around the room and glanced at a few other patrons.

  “Then why’d you order?”

  “It’s freezing outside and I need to warm up. Besides, I’m exhausted and the herbs in that drink perk me up.”

  He didn’t look forward to the October cold outside, but she was right. Humans shouldn’t be exposed to their world and vampires could hear every word even when whispered. What if someone overheard their conversation? They slammed back their drinks, he paid, and they headed outside.

  A blustery gust of wind hit them as he opened the door for his mother. She covered her head again and pulled her coat closer. The white slender birch tree forest around them already laid starkly beneath a gray night sky. Even with no leaves, their long trunks and swaying branches looked elegant beneath the
stars. They took a path that looped around the edge of a pond where swans swam in warm weather. With a bowed head, Laima trudged toward the water through frosty, dry grass.

  Reinis’ breath clouded in the air as he let out a heavy sigh. “Sarma is still refusing to feed Auseklis. I have no idea what I’m going to do. I can’t convince her to help him.”

  She stared down at the hardened ground with her long skirt swishing around her ankles. After hundreds of years, though modern, she still wore long skirts like the females did when she was born in the 1200s. Only in a modern style. “I don’t know how to help her or what’s bothering her. I’ve tried to talk to her but with everything going on, she hasn’t said much. And Reinis, I have something else to tell you.”

  He read her stern face. Nothing good. He brushed the comment aside like a sharp knife swinging toward his face. Laima was an elder and his mother. Two positions she balanced like walking on a tightrope. He’d get back to that comment. “The memory about Velta converting her into a vampire is part of the problem, but I don’t understand what about it troubles her. She lost her shine and hasn’t got it back. I wish I could help her.”

  They reached the water’s edge and paused. The pond hadn’t frozen over yet, but the dark waters lay still as if preparing to turn to ice. No birds floated on the surface, and white crystals gathered on all the bare plants. A single leaf dropped off a branch and swirled down.

  Laima leaned against a birch and hooked her arm around its pale, peeling trunk. “Let me try to talk to her again. She’s had so much on her mind. Maybe female to female, she’ll let me in on what happened.”

  The leaf floated onto the pond’s surface, dancing around in the breeze. “Go ahead. I have nothing to lose. So, what’s the other news?”

  She licked her lips and gazed out to the middle of the empty water. “Sarma needs to present before the elders.”

  He turned toward her squaring his shoulders. “Why? She doesn’t need that right now.”