by P. A. Lupton
“I still don’t understand.” My brow furrowed with confusion. “My father said the potency of my blood was severely diluted over the generations—we can’t really be all that powerful. I mean, all I can do is sense emotion. That’s not very compelling.”
“I regret having to be the one to tell you, but your father … misled you.”
“You mean, he lied.” I stated, angrily.
“I am guessing he did it in order to protect you.” Nathan’s tone was sympathetic.
I huffed a doubtful breath. “Sure.”
He ignored that and continued. “Your empathic abilities are merely an inherent gift you possess. As I said before, it is incredibly rare. The Garner clan is exceptionally powerful. You are the only coven who inherits your Akychi bloodline from both your grandmother and your grandfathers’ lineage. In fact, because of the double heritage, you are the first generation to possess these inherent psychic gifts. Unfortunately, these additional abilities make your blood all the more desirable to the killer.” He paused to assess my reaction.
“Really?”
“Yes. Your actual powers have been bound in order to hide you from the killer and keep you safe. That is why I was looking for you. I think it was a mistake to separate your family. Apart, you are weaker. He has managed to locate three women from your family in the past month. They were more vulnerable because they were ignorant to their heritage, and deprived of their powers. Like a declawed house cat, without your powers, you are defenseless to fight this man if he attacks. Since the second murder, I have been trying to track down your remaining relatives. I feel strongly that you should reunite your coven and unbind your powers. You will fare better together than apart.”
“But if you unbind our powers, won’t he be able to find us easier?” I asked, nervously.
“Before I unbind your powers, I will train you. I can teach you how to use it when you need, and how to hide it so no one will be able to sense your capabilities.”
“Is that what you do around me? Sometimes, when you’re not aware, I’ve felt a current in the air surrounding you—kind of like electricity. And then it’s like you pull it back, and I can’t feel it anymore.”
He grinned. “Most witches are unable to hide their power, and I can usually sense them coming. That first day I met you, I could not sense you were a witch because your powers are bound. However, I did feel you probing at my emotions and I was shocked. Once I was aware that there was something...more to you, I put my guard up.”
It allayed a lot of my suspicions to look back and finally understand what was happening.
“How can we locate the rest of my family? Especially since you’ve been looking already with no luck. It could take us years to find them.”
“Once I train you to use your powers, we can locate them through a divination spell. I could not perform it myself because we need some of your blood to trace them. We can find each of them, train them, and unbind their powers. Hopefully we can stop this killer and finally reunite your coven.”
I was excited about his plan. Not just because of the powers, but because I would have something I’d been longing for my entire life—a family. “How do you unbind our powers?”
“Since your grandmother performed the bindings, we need her blood to unbind them. And then it is just the matter of a simple spell.”
“How do you plan to get my grandmother’s blood if she’s dead?”
The corner of his mouth tipped into a smug grin. “She stored vials of her blood in case she was not around to unbind your powers herself.”
I admired her foresight, but his answer left me with one very important question. “How is the killer stealing our power if it is bound? Wouldn’t he need my grandmother’s blood to unbind the spell?”
His jaw clenched and I felt the outrage billowing off him. “Because he has your grandmother’s blood too.”
“How—?” And then the answer hit me. “He killed her.”
Nathan simply nodded. “I do not know how he is locating his victims. It is not possible to sense them without their powers, and he is not able to unbind the powers until they are present. He must be unbinding their power before he kills them. But I do not want you to worry. We will find him, and I will kill this monster.”
He was so optimistic I wanted to believe it was possible. I had to admit, my reasons for wanting to agree to his plans were purely selfish. The prospect of finding my family was too great an incentive to pass up.
The second reason for wanting to agree was that I wanted to spend as much time as possible with Nathan. This was a revelation considering I now knew what he was, but strangely, it didn’t change my feelings for him one bit. In fact, they were even stronger than before.
“Okay, when do we get started?” I asked trying to hide my impatience.
He laughed. It was so light–hearted, my spirits lifted. For the first time in my life, I felt like I had truly connected with another person, as if I could share anything with Nathan.
I stood up and tentatively walked to where he sat. I placed my hands on either side of his face and looked into his eyes. “Nathan, I want you to know I am genuinely sorry for the loss of your family and friends. I wish you’d had someone who could’ve given you the help you’re offering me. I appreciate what you’re doing for me...and for my family.” I leaned down and kissed him quickly, but tenderly. “I also wanted you to know that I can sense your fear. You’re afraid I will reject you now that I know what you are.”
He closed his eyes and took a deep shuddering breath.
“Nathan, I accept you the way you are. You don’t harm people. In fact, you’ve made a career out of protecting them. You are a good man, and I am grateful for everything you’ve done for me.”
“Brianna—”
“Shhh. You have no idea how grateful I am to know the truth.”
A sudden pulse of shock coursed through him at my statement. Almost as though he didn’t believe I could accept him for what he really was.
When I was younger, I was able to project emotions onto another person. I hadn’t done it in a long time, but I wanted to try it again. Nathan had to know, without a doubt, that I accepted the man he was. His being a vampire changed nothing for me. I trusted him.
I closed my eyes and reached down to grab hold of my feelings for Nathan and I pushed it into him. He gasped in surprise. Staring at me in awe for what felt like an eternity, I felt a myriad of emotions pass through him.
“Thank you,” he whispered before taking my mouth in a passionate kiss. My heart felt like it would burst as I put my arms around his neck and returned his kiss.
Chapter 9
Shortly after our discussion, Nathan announced he was cooking us dinner.
“Where did you learn to cook?” I asked, stepping closer to have a peek. It was some kind of pasta dish, and it really looked and smelled delicious.
“I have had many years to practice.” He winked at me conspiratorially.
“You know, you’ve never actually told me how old you are, and now that I know what you are...” I looked at him hesitantly, not wanting to offend. He was smiling. “I have a feeling you’re much older than I originally suspected.”
He put his hand to his chest in mock insult. “Is it the wrinkles?”
I grinned, sheepishly. “Well, if you must know, it’s the way you talk. You always speak so formally. It’s a little weird. But don’t get me wrong—I like it.”
“Why do you want to know my age? Would it bother you to be dating someone much older than yourself?” He asked with curious amusement.
I felt heat spread through my body as I responded to his question with another. “Is that what we’re doing? Dating?”
He inched closer as his eyes locked onto mine, his expression suddenly meaningful. “I was rather under the impression that it was more than that. However, I suppose dating is a good place to start.” He leaned over, kissed me quickly, and then sighed. “As for your other question, I was born in 1880.”
“Wow!” I paused a second. “I have to say, you’re the best looking hundred-and–thirty-year-old I’ve dated.”
Nathan chuckled. “Why don’t you set the table for us—dinner is ready.”
We chatted lightly over our meal. After the enormity of everything that had been revealed, it was nice to have an easy carefree conversation about trivial things. One of the things I loved about being with Nathan was how freely we talked. We never ran out of things to say to each other.
My mood lifted. It was such a nice ordinary dinner, and afterward he helped me clean the dishes. It felt odd—the normalcy of doing dishes together, after discovering I was a witch, he was a vampire, and my family was spread out across the globe in hiding while a murderer stalked us. And yet, it felt so right being here with him doing something so mundane. It made me feel safe, at least for the moment.
After we ate, he took me on a tour to explore the house. Hoping I’d find out more about my family, I found myself drawn to a room upstairs. The room was feminine with its delicately-flowered wallpaper and white linens.
“This was your mother’s room,” Nathan explained when he saw which room I’d ended up in.
Everything looked as if it was exactly as my mother had left it. There was makeup, some perfume, a hairbrush on the dresser, and a yellow sundress strewn across the bed. I picked it up and held it to my face, amazed that after all these years it still held a bit of a scent. It smelled like lilies and spring. I realized the scent was oddly familiar, and I wondered if it was possible I’d subconsciously remembered it as her smell.
“That is her scent.” Nathan confirmed, apparently sensing my unspoken question.
Tears pricked at the back of my eyes while I looked around her room, saddened I’d never had the chance to know her. I stood there for a few minutes before Nathan moved quietly behind me. He wrapped his arms around my waist and kissed my neck—just a light brush of his lips against my nape, but goose bumps rose on my skin as a chill travelled down my spine.
“I wish—” I broke off as a tear fell onto my cheek.
“Would you like me to tell you about her?”
“Please.” It was a plea. “How well did you know my mother?”
“I knew your mother from the time she was born. She was such a happy child; always smiling. And her smiles would melt your heart. She was a free spirit even then. She loved life and lived in the moment, but it could get her into trouble sometimes.” He shook his head in reverie as an affectionate smile tugged at his lips. “I thought she would give your poor grandmother a heart attack. She was so uninhibited and eager to try everything—she had no fear. Unfortunately, she had many broken bones and injuries due to her lack of concern and tendency to throw caution to the wind.
“Your mother was the first in your family to have a gift beyond her powers.” His gaze locked with mine and he traced his finger along my jaw. “She was like you in that way, too.”
“She had a gift? What was it?” I was eager to discover any commonality.
“Your grandparents bean to notice it once she hit adolescence. She was talking to herself quite a bit. They became concerned, so they spoke to her about it one day. She told them that she was seeing the spirits of people who had recently passed away. For some reason or another, they were unable to move on, and once they discovered your mother could see them, they started speaking to her.”
“They...spoke to her?”
“She said they mostly talked simply because they were lonely, although, sometimes they would tell her things. Once, there was a story in the paper about a young girl who had gone missing. There was a search out for the girl. Your mother told your grandparents that she was dead and the man who killed her was a family friend she’d trusted.”
“How could she know that?”
“She said that one of her spirits told her the girl’s soul crossed over, and she gave them a message about who had killed her. Of course, no one wanted to risk explaining to the police, and they would never believe it anyway. They kept it to themselves, but followed the case to see what would happen. In the news about a week later, it was reported that they found her body. About a month after that, a man who was close to the family was charged with her murder.”
While he was talking about my mother, I sensed love and sadness in him. “Were you close friends?”
“It was different than friendship, deeper.”
I tensed up, a little weirded out by the thought of him dating my mom. But before I could ask him about it, he chuckled, probably sensing my reaction. “It was not like that. I loved your mother, but I was like an uncle to her. You must remember I knew her as a baby. I watched her grow up.”
“Did you know my father too?”
“No, by the time she met your father I had already left Denver. Very few people know what I am, so not aging becomes a problem. I have to move every fifteen years or so. I can eventually return to an area later, and if anyone does recognize me, I claim to be a son.
“I want to show you something else.” He grabbed my hand, suddenly eager.
“Uh oh. I get nervous now when you have something to show me.” I winked at him. He just laughed and dragged me behind him to a set of stairs. I followed him up to a locked door. “Is this the attic?”
“Yes.”
“You wanted to show me the attic?”
“Believe me, you will like it.”
I walked into the room behind him, and as soon as we breached the threshold, all of the candles on the walls ignited and the room brightened. “Holy crap! Did you do that?”
“No. It is spelled to light up when someone enters.”
“Neat trick,” I muttered, dryly.
Everything was new since I came to Denver, never before had things seemed so…alive. And as I entered the room, another new sensation rocked my body, different than anything I’d felt so far. Something inside me began to vibrate uncontrollably. It was distinct, like every vein under my skin was stretched as tight as the strings on a violin, and someone had just decided to pluck. Initially, it was a little alarming, but once I was able to acclimate to the phenomenon, I settled and had a chance to look around. That’s when I noticed the strange pictures all along the floor and walls. “What do all of these symbols mean?”
“The one on the floor is a pentagram. It represents the elements, earth, air, fire, and water. The circle enclosing it signifies the spirit surrounding and uniting them as one. As a whole, the pentagram acts as a compass when casting a circle. It is the first, and most important lesson a witch must learn when practicing magic,. The area provides a protective space for the use of magic, one without the interference of negative or evil influences.”
“It’s so strange. I can actually feel the energy in this room.”
“I know. This is a great place of power where your grandmother and her coven practiced their magic.” I explored the shelves of ribbons, stones, herbs, and... “Are these wine glasses?” I picked up a goblet that looked like large, unusual wine glasses.
“Those are called chalices. These specific chalices have been in your family for generations. During rituals and spells, they represent the element of water. The chalice is made out of silver because its metaphysical properties are known to help increase perception and intuition. You see the pentacle embossed on the chalice here?” He stroked his finger reverently along the design. “It represents the element earth.”
“It’s gorgeous.” I put the chalice back and continued my exploration.
On a clothed table that looked a little like an altar, I noticed a black-handled knife. “What’s the knife for?”
“It is an athame.” He picked it up as if it were precious. The handle was inscribed with symbols and words in a foreign language. “It represents the element of air and is used when casting a circle to call upon the elements. It can also be a formidable weapon, especially against my kind with the silver blade.”
“What do you mean ‘especially against your kind’? Silver can k
ill you?”
“As you know we are not exactly immortal, we can be killed. It is not easy to kill a vampire, but it certainly can be done. We should discuss it—you will need to know how in case the killer finds you.”
“Let me guess. Wooden stake through the heart, holy water, crosses, and garlic?” I’d seen enough vampire movies to know how to kill one.
He guffawed. “A fan of Buffy the Vampire Slayer , I see.” He hesitated, and then continued when I didn’t respond. “Wooden stakes will not kill a vampire. It will onlyslow him down until he removes it. Holy water will not kill a vampire, nor will a cross or garlic—they are utterly useless. Like I said before, sunlight will kill evil vampires practicing dark magic, and you really need not worry about the vampires who can tolerate sunlight. The most effective method of killing a vampire is with a silver dagger through the heart. The enhanced metaphysical properties in silver will poison the vampire’s blood and nullify the initial spell. The silver must enter the heart or you will merely slow him down. Fire and beheading will both also do the trick.”
“Well that’s easy enough; just put a silver knife through his heart. Not a problem.”
“Is that all?” He snorted, mockingly. “Brianna, I fear you are drastically underestimating the strength and speed a vampire possesses. Our senses are well beyond what you are capable of understanding.”
“So, show me then. Care to do a little sparring?” I wagged my eyebrows at him.
He was completely taken aback. “I will not fight you.”
“Why, are you afraid I might win?” I goaded, playfully.
“No. I was raised in a time where men never raised a hand to a woman. Ever.” He said the last emphatically, in hopes that I would drop the subject.
I guess he didn’t know me that well. “You may have grown up in the late nineteenth century, but in case you haven’t noticed, it’s the twenty-first century now.” I poked my finger into his chest, exasperated by his sexist attitude. “And, just so you know, I do have a little experience sparring. I’ve taken down men bigger than you.”
