Kneeling on the floor with his hands resting on his thighs, Jared took a deep, steadying breath and eased into a peaceful meditation. Sweat continued to slowly make its way south over his chest. He felt each individual drop take its journey down his body to be absorbed by the waistband of his sweats. He rolled his head back and around, loosening the taut muscles in his neck before resting his chin on his chest. His shoulders relaxed next, then his upper torso. The tight pull from a scarred-over bite mark on his shoulder reminded him of his greatest loss, Giovanna.
Absently, he reached up and touched the puckered surface of the scar.
Things had been so different back then. Fresh out of college with a chip on his shoulder, Jared thought he could take on the world. Until he lost the one thing he loved more than life itself.
The sirens on the ambulance stopped as it pulled up behind the carriage. Two men climbed out of the cab and headed toward them. Jared held Giovanna’s limp form close. He kissed the top of her head, letting his tears fall on her blood-streaked cheek.
One of the paramedics touched his shoulder. “Jared, I’m sorry man, but I have to do my job here. Don’t worry. I’ll take real good care of G for you. I won’t let anything happen to her.”
Jared lifted his eyes from Giovanna’s serene face, ready to shove the man away until he realized it was his brother. “You do, Tony, and it will be the last thing you ever do.”
“Listen bro, let me and Carlos take care of her. I called Dad, and I’m sure he already notified everyone. We can’t leave her out in the open like this. You can trust me. I’ll make sure she gets where she has to go safely.”
Jared watched, heartbroken, as Tony lifted her from the carriage onto the waiting stretcher. True to his word, his brother was gentle and careful with her. When the ambulance pulled away, and he was left alone, he fell to his knees, clutching her shawl in agony.
The tension in Jared’s body slowly faded with the memory. He couldn’t believe after all of this time it still affected him so much. Thank the gods above for the people who had shown him life was still worth living.
The sun set well over an hour ago, but Jared hadn’t bothered turning on the fluorescent lights. The full moon gleamed off the polished hardwood through the floor length windows, illuminating the room.
A shadow passed across the floor in front of him. Anyone else would assume it was an owl flying past the window or a cloud obscuring the moon. Except it moved too quickly. The untrained eye would have missed it, but not Jared.
Jared listened. The weight of the silence in the room was deafening. He focused on the darkened corners of the room. There was a presence here, and it was definitely vampire. He could feel its aura. He possessed a sixth sense for them.
The creak of leather allowed him to pinpoint the location of his intruder. Jared slowly wrapped his fingers around the wooden staff resting on the floor before him and waited.
Come to Papa, asshole.
The air in the room stirred. Jared smirked as a leather duster slid into view on the floor in front of him. His attacker was trying to throw him off. Did they honestly think he would fall for such a lame trick…again? He took nothing for what it seemed when dealing with vampires. No, Jared relied on his honed senses to keep his head on his shoulders when faced with a fight.
A breeze brushed over his arms. He brought his weapon up on his left side, blocking his attacker’s strike. The wooden staffs cracked together. Jared swung around, keeping their weapons locked together until he fell into a ready stance.
The vampire backed up a step and twirled the staff at his side. He circled around slowly, just out of striking distance. Jared kept a wary eye trained on the male; the pointed end of his staff aimed at his assailant’s chest.
Before he could blink, the vamp advanced and drove him back. Jared met each advancing blow with a block. He sensed the wall at his back and launched to the side, rolling away before he was cornered. He made a full sweep of the floor with his staff, catching his opponent’s foot and knocking him onto the ground. Taking advantage of the momentary lapse, Jared grabbed the other man’s weapon, breaking his hold and pinning him to the floor.
“Yield.” Jared towered over the vampire and leaned into the staff on his attacker’s neck.
His assailant let out a raspy laugh. He grabbed Jared’s leg and pulled it out from under him. He landed on his ass. The staff clattered to the ground. The vamp spun away from him, but not before giving Jared a knock on the back of the head with his staff. Snarling, Jared retrieved his weapon and prepared for the next attack.
“I’m too easy on you, Copil.” The vampire chuckled. “If you were one of the King’s men you’d be dust by now. You fight like an infant.”
God, he hated the nickname - Copil. Zephyr had given it to him when he was a child, and unfortunately, it had stuck. It was funny. One Romanian word made him feel like the unsure gangly kid he had once been. One who couldn’t land any of his strikes correctly. He guessed his struggle to learn how to fight was why the vamp had decided to train him personally. He couldn’t think of any other reason.
“Go to hell, Z.” Jared cursed himself. He was giving Z the reaction he wanted.
Never let them know they’ve gotten to you, rule number one in his training program. Jared always had trouble hiding his frustration. He’d always been a hothead. It was one of his major flaws.
Jared twirled the staff before him trying to find an opening, but damn it if Zephyr didn’t give him a clear shot.
Zephyr’s teeth gleamed in the dimly lit gym. He raised his hand and crooked two fingers, beckoning Jared to continue. The vampire sank into a defensive stance, his staff close to his side. “Come on, Copil. At this rate, I’ll be dust in the wind before we’re through here, and you’ll be late.”
He forgot about the dreaded gala. Jared glanced at the clock and made a face. Z hated attending anything where he had to dress up. It was probably why he decided to take his irritation out on Jared.
Zephyr landed a solid blow to Jared’s gut with the blunt end of his Bo. He doubled over and gasped for air. His staff clattered to the floor. He glared at the vamp, wanting to wipe the smirk off the asshole’s face.
He was tired of being a test dummy.
Jared opened his hand, and the staff jumped off the floor into his palm. He swung around and advanced toward Zephyr, landing blow after blow. To his credit, the vamp met each hit and parried with the same intensity. Zephyr had flipped into battle mode, gone was the humor in his eyes. He spun away, but Jared was right there delivering a blow to his side. The force of it cracked the wood. Zephyr staggered.
Jared threw down his weapon and lunged for Zephyr. The two of them landed on the hard wood floor with a grunt. He pinned the vampire down and wrapped an arm around his neck.
“Impressive. I knew you had it in you, just needed a trigger.”
Jared had a few seconds to enjoy the taste of victory. “Ow!” He yanked his arm away from Zephyr’s neck. Blood dripped down his arm from a pair of puncture wounds. “You bit me. What the hell, Z?”
Zephyr rolled to his feet, laughing. “You use what you got, Copil. Someday you might remember it.”
Jared headed for the towel draped over the chair. “You friggin bit me, Z. Somehow I think biting falls outside the rules.” He wound the towel around the bite mark.
Zephyr retrieved their weapons.
“There are no rules in battle, Jared. Quit pissing and moaning. If this was real, you would’ve been dead a while ago, Copil. Be glad it was me and not someone else sneaking up on you.” Zephyr walked over to him. “Let me see it.” Jared pulled the towel off and held it up. The blood had already stopped, but Z’s fangs left a deep impression in his flesh. “Ah, it’s only a scratch; tell me that you haven’t had worse. I’ve seen the marks after you’ve donated. Thought the last female would’ve bled you dry.”
Jared yanked his arm away and shook his head. “She would have if I didn’t offer her something else instead.” He smirked
. “But seriously, keep the canines to yourself next time.” He pulled on a t-shirt, slipped his feet into a pair of Nikes, and tossed the towel in a hamper.
“Don’t worry. You’re not my type. I like a little more flesh and curves on my meal. Catch my drift? Besides,” Zephyr licked Jared’s blood from the corner of his mouth. “You’re a little too gamey for my taste.”
“Gee thanks, Z.”
“Anytime.”
Zephyr retrieved his coat and slapped a large palm on Jared’s back. “Come on, let’s get you presentable for this thing. I may be going under duress, but I need my date to at least appear half ass decent.” Zephyr shoved Jared toward the door.
“I am not your date, blood sucker. I’m doing my family a favor. Hell, I don’t even want to be there. Do you know what it’s like having all these match making mommas and blood thirsty vamps ogling you like a piece of meat?” He stopped and glanced at Zephyr.
The vampire stood at a head taller than him. His yellow eyes mirrored the amused expression playing at the corners of his mouth. Tonight he wore his black hair slicked back into a tight ponytail at the base of his skull. His goatee was neatly trimmed. Not a damned hair out of place after their fight.
“And you’re preaching to the choir, why?”
“Forget I said anything.”
Jared pivoted and walked across the lawn to the main house. Zephyr’s low rumbling laughter followed him.
Three
“WHAT DO YOU MEAN HE’S BACK?”
Absinthe crossed the room before her informant could blink. Her voice, low and lethal, belied the fury consuming her. Hand closing around his throat, she lifted him off the floor. She hissed, baring her fangs.
The human dangled, grasping at her fingers, fighting desperately to get free of her hold. Absinthe tightened her grip. His struggles slowed, and she finally let go, watching him fall into a crumpled heap at her feet.
The pathetic excuse for a human pulled to his knees and kissed the toes of her black leather boots. “Forgive me, Highness. I meant no disrespect,” he croaked.
He blathered apology after apology, slobbering over her boot until Absinthe couldn’t stand it anymore. Letting out an aggravated growl, she kicked him in the chest, sending him skidding across the stone floor.
She paced. Jared wasn’t supposed to return from New Orleans. Her First in Command, Ian, swore he would dispose of the insolent wretch. His return threw her entire plan in the fire. It was only a matter of time before everyone discovered the truth.
“Highness, please, hear me out.”
Whirling back to him, Absinthe focused on keeping her anger at bay long enough to find out what he knew. After, all bets were off. She couldn’t let him leave. He had proven a liability by whining like a bitch over a simple choking. Who was to say he wouldn’t spill who she was just as easily?
“The one you sought has most definitely returned. Last night he was in The Final Resting Place. I saw him with… oh what was his name again... -Len...-Lar…no, Lance. But after an hour, when Lance left him for more suitable company, he walked out. I lost his trail somewhere around Central Park West. I’m sorry, Highness. I truly am.”
Absinthe rolled her eyes and rubbed her temples with her fingertips. This was why she never relied on humans to work for her. They had no backbone and sniveled far too much.
However, there was no other way she could have kept track of Jared over the years. If any vampire, loyal to her or not, had come within fifty yards of the Conservator, he’d sense them. So far he didn’t know why he had the power to sense vampires. It was her job to finish things and make sure he never did.
Jared had to die. There was no other option. Her life, everything she’d wanted and worked for, depended on it.
“Absinthe.”
The deep masculine bellow coming from the hallway startled her.
Her hand shot up, silencing the human. She did not need to deal with her father at the moment. The man's timing was impeccable, as always. With a flick of her wrist, two leather-clad sentries stepped forward. Looking as if they belonged in the move The Matrix, their skin was pale, with black hair slicked back into tight ponytails at the base of their skulls. Black wraparound sunglasses hid their eyes.
Absinthe inclined her chin and spoke directly into their minds. Take the human to the antechamber. I will be along shortly. Make sure he is comfortable. The vampires smirked in understanding, flashing a bit of fang. They bowed in unison before they each roughly grabbed the human by an arm and vanished.
“Absinthe! Where in the devil are you child?”
The King entered the main sitting room from the hall. She watched him scan the antique furnishings, passing over her more than once. When he finally acknowledged her presence by the fireplace, Absinthe braced for yet another grueling encounter with her father.
“Ah, there you are daughter.”
Xavier slowed. He closed the distance, admiring his only child. Her long, blonde hair fell in waves over her shoulders, a mass of spun gold. The color of it matched her eyes. She had her mother’s rosebud colored lips, currently scowling at him. Her skin was milky perfection with high regal cheekbones and the petite nose of her heritage. Her brow rose when he took her hand and placed a gentle kiss on her fingertips. Xavier didn’t miss the curl of her lip when she pulled her hand out of his grasp.
There was once a time when she ran to him with her hopes, dreams and problems. Now he was lucky to receive a seething glare. When had things gone so wrong between them? His brow wrinkled. He thought back to the exact moment things changed.
It was roughly a century ago…
The ink had dried on a decree, stating any half-breed was to be destroyed on birth to preserve the purity of their race. His wife, Queen Allura, begged him not to press the issue. She told him that it was a foolish endeavor. It would one day be the cause of ultimate pain for all of them. Xavier waved off her concerns. The ruling remained. In hindsight, he should have listened to her. If only he had the ability of the shifters to go back in time.
The Conservators had come to him and petitioned for repeal, but Xavier could not be swayed. They told him the higher powers were not pleased, and there would be consequences. Xavier laughed at them. The gods could do their worst. This was his Kingdom. His world and the rest could be damned.
Oracles for the goddess Semiramis paid him a visit. They foretold of great horrors and pain between the human and vampire realms. Xavier scoffed and motioned for his guards. He was King, his word was law.
The high oracle stepped forward.
“For the way you’ve treated not only us, but the humans and your people as well, you will have the greatest pain visited upon you. Your kingdom shall be torn from within your house, by your own decree. You will never know a minute of peace. Your people will destroy themselves. Torment shall continue until the birth of the first son from a first son. Born both of Vampire and the gods, he will bring forth the healing of this Kingdom. So we say. So it shall be.” When she finished, the Oracles gathered together and vanished from his throne room without another word.
He sat staring at the floor in disbelief. How could his home be the cause of his downfall? The thought was preposterous. The Oracles didn’t know what they were saying. He’d never allow such a thing. In fact, he’d kill the one who tried.
The cries of a newborn infant filled the air of the palace. His gaze rose to meet the tear-filled eyes of his wife. She came to him, holding a small, wailing bundle in her arms. His heart leapt into his throat. Memories of his daughter’s birth ran through his head.
“My husband, may I present to you your grandson.” She held the bundle out to him. Tears rolled down her face.
Xavier took the child carefully and gently moved the blanket from his face. He was overwhelmed by emotion. His skin was soft and light. Tiny veins throbbed beneath the surface of his skin pounding with his little heart. His lips were pursed together. He blinked and stared at Xavier. The wave of pride fell away. Xavier recalled the wo
rds he had put into law. His blood froze. This child, this beautiful baby, was not a pure vampire. Absinthe had conceived the child with her human Conservator.
Now he understood why the Queen was in such a state. He held a child he must destroy or break his own law. How could he? He now understood what the Oracles foretold; he would be the one to destroy his home.
Letting out a sigh of remorse, Xavier stood and inclined his head toward the guard on the right of the throne. He handed the bundle to him. Clearing his throat, his voice cracked. “Take this half-breed to be destroyed. I’ll not have my home sullied with the presence of this abomination.”
Allura lunged. Her fists pounded against his chest. She screamed, pleading for the life of the child.
The guard pivoted on his heel and left to do the King’s bidding. Xavier held Allura tight against him when she tried to give chase.
“You’ll not interfere. This is the way it must be,” he whispered in her ear.
The Queen leveled a steely glare at him and pulled away. “Neither Absinthe nor I will forgive you for this.” When he reached to comfort her, she slapped his hand away and stepped off the dais. “Do not touch me. I want no part of a man who kills his progeny.”
She lifted her chin and left, walking down the hall to her daughter’s chamber. The next sound he heard was his daughter’s horrifying scream.
The King fell back onto his throne and buried his face in his hands. “The gods have mercy on all of us for what I’ve done. I have destroyed everything.”
“Father?”
Absinthe’s voice broke through the haze of memory. Xavier blinked, refocusing on her face. She inspected him with mild curiosity.
Beyond The Sun Page 2
