“Don’t sell yourself short.” Elissa winked and Cassandra rolled her eyes at the old lack of height joke. “Times leading up to the war were not that prosperous. And now, it’s going to take decades to fully recover. In a way, I feel guilty for leaving the ranch to Emily and Brian at this point and time.”
“They’ll do fine.” Cassandra rose from behind the desk. She met her wife and placed her hands on her shoulders. “We still have that allowance from my father’s estate.”
“That will only last so long.” Elissa was thinking of their future. “As you said, money won’t be needed for food. And clothing will last. But what if things change? When I was in Greece, things were different. Only the richest owned horses. The fields were not plowed like they are now.”
Cassandra often forgot just how much her wife had witnessed over the years. “Even in the short time I’ve been alive, things have changed. The trains were just an idea. Now they are soon to expand across the country. What will be invented next? Something else that will make horses obsolete?”
“One thing is for certain.” Elissa leaned her head down. She was millimeters from her wife’s lips. “We will always have to make certain we know how Emily, Brian, Lily, Yohan and their children are doing.”
“That goes without saying.” Cassandra closed the distance between them. A low growl escaped Elissa. Less than a year and she would turn her immortal.
The closer the time came, the more difficult it was to control herself. Elissa had to end the kiss. “I’m sorry.” Azure eyes wouldn’t look into emerald ones.
“What are you sorry for?” Cassandra didn’t distance herself from her soulmate. But she didn’t bring herself any closer. She could feel the anger. The fear. The regret.
“I nearly couldn’t stop. I know I’ll make you like me soon, but it’s getting harder and harder not to stop.” Elissa still refused to look her wife in the eyes.
“Then don’t.” Elissa’s head whipped up at the simple statement. Cassandra placed a hand on her wife’s cheek. “I’m twenty-two now. My birthday is in less than eight months. Is a few months going to make that much of a difference?”
“It could.” Elissa somehow maintained her soulmate’s gaze. “We’ve spoken of this in the past. When I was turned, thirteen was considered old enough to make decisions. Now, it’s sixteen or eighteen. In a few hundred years, what age will it be?”
“I don’t care.” Cassandra knew she was sounding like a petulant child, but couldn’t help it. It wasn’t for herself she wanted it. It was so Elissa wouldn’t suffer.
Elissa felt it through their connection. “You’re doing this for me?” Emerald eyes blinked a few times before Cassandra nodded. “Sweetheart, I love you. I love you more each day. I promise you I can handle this. If only because you’ll be with me every step of the way.”
“As always. For eternity.” Neither heard the gasp at the door. They were too caught up in the moment. They were too caught up in the love for one another.
It was Elissa that sensed her daughter’s presence. She turned them so they were both looking into angry azure eyes. “That book you wrote.” A shaking finger was pointed at Cassandra. “It was because you know from experience what it’s like to be with a vampire.”
Cassandra took a step toward her daughter. Emily held up both her hands. “Don’t. I could understand not telling me when I was little. But I’m grown now. You told me you’re married. I’ve taken over the ranch. You’re ok with me having that kind of responsibility but not with knowing Elissa is a vampire? And that one day you plan to join her?”
Instead of moving closer, Cassandra moved so she was in the embrace of her wife. Elissa held her soulmate tight to her side. “How would you have reacted if we’d told you the real reason we were leaving you the ranch? Yes, we always wanted to leave it to you. But soon, I’ll have not aged. People will talk. So I need to move on. It’s not like when I was in the clan and remained hidden from mortals.”
“I would have rather the truth.” Emily crossed her arms over her chest. “So would Lily and Yohan.” The young woman was a combination of Elissa and Cassandra. Not just her blonde locks and blue eyes, it was her personality.
“Now you know.” Elissa placed herself between Cassandra and Emily. She didn’t like how her daughter was looking at her soulmate. “What are you going to do about it? Tell everyone? Have us tell?”
Emily sighed heavily. “I want you to leave. Now.” She didn’t wait for a response. She merely turned on her heels and practically ran from the house.
“Damn.” Cassandra was shaking. It was partly anger. But mostly it was fear. “I thought we had raised her better than that. I guess she’s on her own. Unless she can ever forgive us.”
Elissa stared after her daughter. What had happened to Emily? Maybe it was having everything she could ever want after having nothing. It had changed her. And not for the better. “Pack up our belongings. I want to have a chat with Emily.”
Cassandra managed to grasp Elissa’s hand before she bolted past her. “Just give her a little time. I’ll pack up our stuff. Why don’t you get the wagon we came here in?”
The vampire sighed heavily. Elissa didn’t want to give Emily time. She wanted to have her understand. Not everyone who discovered vampires were real would accept they weren’t evil. After all, she drank blood. She was pure evil.
“All right. But if I run into Emily, she and I are gonna have a serious chat.” Elissa walked at a normal pace from the study. She heard it again. Cassandra was crying. She cursed her daughter.
Elissa strained to hear. There were the ranch hands, but there was no sign of Brian or Emily. The vampire shook her head as she made her way to the old barn. It didn’t take long to hitch up a couple of horses, along with two saddle horses.
If Emily wanted to say something about them taking the horses, Elissa would track down Emily. For now, she would do as Cassandra asked. Even though she knew her wife was inside crying as she packed their meager belongings.
After loading the tact and saddles they would need, Elissa pulled the wagon to the back of the ranch. She made her way inside. She found Cassandra sitting on their bed.
Elissa didn’t hesitate in sitting next to her wife. There were only two satchels. Nearly a decade in one location and that was all they had accumulated that was worth taking with them.
“I thought there would be more.” Cassandra was grateful when Elissa wrapped her arm around her waist and pulled her tight against her. “Of course, all I really need is you. I would have liked to have my family, but…”
“We’ll stop in town.” Elissa wanted to be the one to tell Lily and Yohan the reason they were leaving. “We need to tell Lily and Yohan what has transpired. Then, we’ll pick a direction and just travel. Like we’ve always done.”
Cassandra wasn’t looking forward to telling Lily and her cousin. But it had to be done. “Sounds like a plan. I wrote a note. I don’t know if Emily will read it or burn it, but I had to attempt to tell her why.”
“To make her not hurt.” Cassandra nodded. Elissa knew her wife didn’t care about her own feelings or physical discomfort. All she wanted was to see others happy. Well, Elissa vowed to make certain her soulmate was happy. One way or another.
Chapter 51
For the first week after being told to leave, Elissa and Cassandra camped about half a mile from the farthest northern boundary of the ranch. They just couldn’t bring themselves to be too far from their daughter.
They’d left word with Lily and Yohan where they’d be for two weeks. The pair had not believed what they had been told until Elissa had allowed for her vampire side to show. It had taken them a bit to accept what they saw.
In the end, both had understood why it had been hidden. It was one thing to be two women in love and living as a married couple. It was another to be a vampire.
Cassandra shivered as she held her hands to the fire. There was a part of her that wished they would have stayed in town for a week instead of
being out in the open.
Elissa placed more firewood upon the ground next to the fire ring. Tonight, she would have to feed. It would provide her wife with fresh meat. And she could treat the hide and make something warmer for Cassandra since they would be traveling during the winter, much to both their chagrins.
The sound of crunching snow caught Elissa’s attention. Her swords were at her back as her pistol was in her hand. She gave Cassandra the other pistol before heading for the sound.
The vampire used her speed to see who was heading their way. A dark eyebrow rose when Elissa realized it was Brian. She wondered if he was riding the perimeter or if he was searching for them.
Elissa decided to leave a noticeable trail. Brian was a former scout in The Union Army. If he couldn’t follow her obvious trail, he wasn’t a very good scout.
“It’s Brian.” Elissa spoke as soon as she was within hearing distance of Cassandra. “I don’t know if he’s searching for us or merely doing a perimeter check.”
Cassandra tucked the pistol into the back of her trousers. “We’ll find out shortly.” Once again, she held her hands out to the fire. She wished it wasn’t so cold.
As if sensing her discomfort, Elissa retrieved the saddle blanket. She wrapped it around her soulmate. She also poured another cup of coffee and handed it to Cassandra.
“Thanks.” Cassandra sipped on the hot brew grateful when it slid down her throat. It seemed to warm her from the inside out.
It was another ten minutes before Brian came into view. He did a double take before riding toward their camp. “I thought you two were moving on. Emily said you had decided to travel earlier than originally planned.”
The mortal and immortal exchanged glances. Emily hadn’t informed her husband of Elissa’s true nature. Now the question did they tell Brian themselves?
Elissa wasn’t one to pull any punches. “Your wife didn’t tell you the truth.” Cassandra placed an arm on her thigh. The vampire stood next to the seated mortal. “I know you want to protect your daughter, but not after how she treated you.”
Brian glanced between the women. He knew of their bond. It was more than that as they seemed to be able to communicate without words. “What happened?”
The vampire looked Brian directly in the eyes. “You know that Cassandra and I are lovers.” Brian’s cheeks turned red and it wasn’t from the cold. He merely nodded. “There’s something else we didn’t share with you, Emily, Lily or Yohan.”
Now Brian appeared intrigued. “I’m an immortal.” Dark eyes grew wide. “As in a vampire. I’ve been in existence for a millennium now. And later this year, I’ll be siring Cassandra.”
Dark eyes blinked several times. Had he heard right? Brian stared at the…vampire. It was difficult to even think of her in those terms. Elissa appeared human.
Suddenly, Elissa had fangs and her eyes glowed red. It happened so rapidly Brian wasn’t certain if it had happened or not. “That is the true me. It takes a great deal of concentration and my connection to Cassandra to contain the animalistic side of myself.”
Brian glanced around Elissa to look at the freezing Cassandra. “And you want to become like her? Why?” He couldn’t understand, not in the least.
“Because we are soulmates. We are destined to be together for eternity.” Cassandra was staring at her wife. Elissa was her everything. And she would give up everything to be with her. Even if it was only for a short time and not eternity.
“That I can understand.” Brian looked from one woman to the other. “I’m not happy. Yes, you could have informed Emily earlier and me when I joined the family. But at the same time, this is something no one believes exists. I’m actually more upset that Emily lied to me.”
“Don’t be too harsh on her.” Cassandra rose from her seated position. It didn’t matter if she was sitting or standing. She was freezing. Her muscles were beginning to ache from sitting too long. “She is adjusting to two things. Us leaving and Elissa being an immortal. One day she’ll come around. When she does, she just has to contact either Mr. Spinster or Lily and Yohan. We’ll keep them informed of where we are when we can.”
Brian sighed heavily leaving a plume of white smoke in the air. “I’m going to talk to her. But I’ll try and not be harsh. I don’t like being lied to. Withholding the truth is nearly as bad.”
Cassandra felt the slap. “True. Withholding the truth can be just as bad, even though it’s for the best of reasons.” Emerald eyes locked with dark ones daring him to argue further.
“I best get back.” Brian looked into emerald eyes. “You might as well move on. Even with me speaking to Emily, she’s been hurt. And she won’t let go.”
“We’ll think about it. Probably tomorrow morning if we don’t hear from you or her.” Brian nodded before turning his mount so he could continue checking the fence line. Cassandra felt the arms wrap around her. “I guess that answers just how upset Emily is with us.”
“Yeah.” Elissa was disappointed in her daughter. She’d allowed so few people in her life. And now one that had meant more than the others had basically turned her back on them. She’d even lied.
“Let’s pack up. I don’t want to stay here after tonight. It’s too painful.” Cassandra returned to the campfire. She attempted to warm up before making her way to their meager belongings.
“You try and stay warm.” The sun was setting. It was getting closer to that time. “It won’t be long before I have to disappear for a few hours.”
“I know. I can feel it. Like I always do.” Cassandra’s smile was sad. It wasn’t at the thought of Elissa needing to feed once again. It was because her heart was not in anything at the moment.
“In fact, I’m going to scout for a little while. See if I can’t find a trail. Decide which way is best to head in the morning.” Elissa kissed her wife with frigid lips.
“Just stay safe.” Cassandra had already packed all but their dinnerware in the wagon. She’d need it in a couple hours and in the morning. Plus, she would need to smoke whatever it was Elissa fed on.
“You too.” Elissa was off. She made her way due north. Maybe they could head to Canada. Or maybe southwest. Cassandra would enjoy the warmer weather, especially this time of year.
The scream was only faint but Elissa felt more through her connection. The vampire found a gear even she didn’t know she possessed.
Once again, Elissa nearly was ill. An arrow was protruding from Cassandra’s stomach. Blood was seeping. It was warm and causing steam to rise from it.
Elissa scanned the area. She could see where the arrow had been shot from. Not cautious at all, the vampire was beside her wife. Their eyes locked.
“I have to pull it out.” Elissa didn’t take her eyes from Cassandra’s. “The wound is fatal.” The words hung in the air for nearly an eternity.
“You’re gonna have to do it.” Elissa nodded. This wasn’t how she had wanted to turn Cassandra. She had wanted it to be special. She had wanted it to be as they made love.
“Let me do what I have to first. Then, we’ll make you an immortal.” Elissa sensed it nearly before it was too late. She caught the arrow in her right hand. “I have to take care of this before I can safely turn you.”
“I know. Go.” Cassandra coughed. Blood was on her lower lip. It caused Elissa to growl and the animalistic side to fully emerge. The mortal watched the blur that was her soulmate until she couldn’t keep her eyes open any longer.
Elissa found the tracks in the snow. It was two men. They weren’t Native Americans. They were blasted white men. She never asked their names or what they were doing so close to the ranch property. She leapt in the air with an arrow in each hand.
Neither man had time to react as the arrows made a sickening crunching sound as they impaled each man’s skull. Elissa kept driving until each arrow was up to the feathers. “You’ll not attack any other defenseless beings you pieces of manure.”
The vampire knew it was vital she return to Cassandra. But Elissa neede
d to know if these men were sent for them or if this was a random occurrence.
Hastily, Elissa searched their saddlebags and pockets. There was a note. Henry, Jr. had promised these men a thousand dollars in gold. She shoved the note into her pocket.
The animal raged and a howl that could wake the dead was emitted from Elissa. She didn’t even bother attempting to calm herself. Cassandra was dying, if not dead already. Henry, Jr. would pay later, if only once again sending the note to Henry, Sr.
Emerald eyes were empty by the time Elissa returned to their camp. She pulled Cassandra’s lifeless body into her arms. “NOOOOOOOOO!”
It felt like her soul had been torn from Elissa’s body. Her soulmate was dead. Her mind raced. She had never heard of a mortal being turned after death. They had always been alive.
Elissa held Cassandra for only a moment or two before sinking her teeth into the tender flesh that was still warm. The blood flowed over the vampire’s tongue and down her throat.
So fresh. So young. But it was more than that. The only other time she had tasted human blood had been the Jones brothers. It had tasted tainted.
This blood tasted like it was a part of Elissa. As if she had always been meant to have this blood inside her. As she continued to suck away, her mind informed her she needed to stop. She needed to try.
With great difficulty, Elissa tore her mouth away from the flesh of her lover. She craved the blood. It was her soul she was leaving behind.
Elissa used her fangs to slit her own wrists deep enough so that there would be a slow trickle of blood. The vampire brought it to Cassandra’s lips. She knew she’d have to aim the blood into her soulmate’s mouth.
The vampire held Cassandra’s mouth open. Elissa stared into emerald eyes that remained open. She was praying to whatever god or gods or being that existed to bring her wife back to her.
Already Elissa had lost Andrea. It didn’t matter that Cassandra was Andrea reincarnated. It would be the same thing of losing the other half of her soul once again.
Bonded Souls Page 32
