The Last Keeper

by Michelle Birbeck

  “I’m dumbfounded. I never thought it would be this easy.” I was still in shock over what had been said.

  “Of course, those beliefs were before I realised there were immortal beings walking the earth,” he said, smiling.

  He was fascinated when I explained our defences to him. How we couldn’t be turned into a vampire because we were immune to their blood. How the witches’ spells couldn’t harm us. How each variation of Were was unable to shift forms when they were near us. And our biggest asset: the fact that even though vampires could read the minds of any race, they couldn’t read ours—not unless we wanted them to. It was the same with their powers, those who had them weren’t able to use them against us.

  There was a kind of switch in our minds, something only we could see and use. One flip and a vampire could read our thoughts. Another and they couldn’t. So simple, and so effective. It was there in our un-matured descendants, too, but the switch was permanently at work.

  There was nothing but understanding, and occasionally confusion on his face as I spoke.

  “Ray, I don’t think you quite understand the gravity of how life with me will affect you.”

  “Then tell me. Serenity, I understand life won’t be easy, but I want to be with you.” His eyes were alive with the conviction of his words.

  “There are only two of us left, as you know. But, I never told you why there are so few. The vampires know of our weakness, Ray. They have hunted us until there were no more to hunt. The only reason I’m still alive is because I hadn’t met you. My last brother William is only alive because he moves so often and tells no one except me where he’ll be. If they find you they . . .” As much as I wanted to tell him, I didn’t want to scare him off.

  “They’ll stop at nothing to kill me.”

  “Yes. For some reason, when the attacks started, our descendants stopped maturing. Generations came and went, and nothing. Not a single one. William was the last to reach maturity. After him there have been no more, and we don’t know why. The vampires show no mercy. They’re cruel and have no regard for life.” I searched his face as I spoke, looking for any sign of fear.

  I found none.

  “What do they want?”

  “Dominance. Over everyone.” My mind started to dwell on the problem that was our ever-dwindling numbers, and the consequences of the day we were no longer here.

  “We should head back. There’s a storm coming, and I don’t think you would enjoy being ill,” I told him, looking at the dark clouds which were closing in.

  It took me only seconds to pack everything we’d taken for the day. It was amazing how comfortable I was around him now that he knew everything. I had no issues darting after a napkin that had been caught by a sudden wind or using my strength to load up my horse without help. It was only when it came to mounting the horses that we hit a small issue.

  “Oh my! I never thought,” I whispered as Ray stood staring at Falcon. “Would you be offended if I offered to help you?”

  “Normally I’d decline your offer, but I don’t think I have much of a choice.”

  “I promise not to tell anyone if you accept my help. How’s that?”

  He laughed. “I didn’t figure you for the gossiping type.”

  It was a simple enough task to offer my hands as a step for him. He reluctantly put all of his weight on me, steadying himself on my shoulders.

  “You won’t hurt me,” I reassured him when he paused.

  “Are you sure?”

  “Completely. If you knew some of the situations I’ve been in over the years, you would know I’m very hard to kill.”

  With only a moment more of hesitation, he clambered atop Falcon. Once I was settled in Tara’s saddle, I dug my heels in and we surged into a pleasant trot.

  “I want to ask you so much,” Ray said quietly.

  “Ask, though I may not always be able to answer.”

  “When you say Weres, do you mean werewolves?”

  “In a way. The Weres are spread throughout the world, living in groups made up of the shifters, their mates, and any children they have. They don’t all shift into wolves at the full moon, though. The ones in this country change into black leopards. The ones in Russia, on the other hand, they do turn into wolves.”

  There were other types of Weres: the Congo Lions of Africa, the Great Bears of Canada, and the Panthers of Brazil. Most of them migrated occasionally, but they stayed within their respective countries, rarely coming into contact with each other. Their numbers had stayed roughly the same over the years. They weren’t a thriving species like the vampires, but they survived and were happy enough.

  “They sound like fascinating creatures.”

  “Standing at almost twice the size of their animals, they are truly beautiful, and deadly. And they can be very hostile to others, preferring the solitude of their own, opposed to the social aspects of regular society, and they’re fiercely protective.” Stunning creatures or not, I avoided them unless I had to.

  “Do they mature, like you? Or is it different for everyone?”

  “All vampires were once human, but were created by the exchange of blood. Witches are born and inherit their powers, and Weres are also born, not made. The same can be said of us. Then when our bodies and minds are ready, we mature.” It was the only way to accurately describe what we went through, a kind of growing up process. “Our bodies get stronger, faster. Our senses heighten, and our gifts make themselves known. It takes a couple of weeks, a gradual change so we can grow accustomed to what we are.”

  “So there’s no set age? It just . . . happens?”

  “Whenever we’re ready, whenever that might be. My sister matured when she was only fourteen years old, whereas I was twenty.”

  “That was my next question.” He was smiling eagerly, so excited that I was sharing this with him. “You mentioned earlier that the vampires often have gifts when they’re turned. Do you have them, as well?”

  “Yes, although ours are more defensive than aggressive. Where the vampires are telepathic, we aren’t. We can see a person’s thoughts when we enter their mind, but prefer to respect their privacy when possible, changing only what we need to. And we have our defences.”

  “They can do nothing to you?”

  “Not that we’re aware of.” It was yet another thing they absolutely despised about us. “It will be a grave day if they ever gain the ability to touch us with their powers.”

  “And what of your gifts? Do they work on everyone?”

  “They do. It’s one of the reasons we believe we are here to keep the peace. If no one could touch us, but we could affect all, then surely we were meant to do as we do.”

  “Some would say you were here to rule all.”

  “Some would, but we aren’t some.”

  “And what of your gifts? Are they the same as those of the vampires?”

  “Some are. We used to have so many gifts. There were those who could read your mind without having to enter it and those who could look at any item and tell you how it worked. An aunt of mine had great precognitive abilities, and one of my cousins could form a physical barrier around anything. Our race has seen gifts ranging from the simple ability to move things with their mind to being able to create fire in the palm of the hand.” It was a shame those times were gone.

  “What’s yours?”

  “None of consequence.”

  “I thought you said you all had gifts?”

  We did all have gifts. Mine was just . . . complicated.

  “Long ago, my sister told me that my gift was life. Being my twin, hers was the opposite: death. Nothing in our records mentions them, and I have no idea where she found the information. As far as I’m concerned, whatever gift I do have, it’s irrelevant.” Most of what she knew of our gifts was the superstition surrounding the birth of the first twins in the race.

  “Will you tell me of her? Your sister?”

  “Not today. Talking with you has left me in an exceptionally good
mood, and I’d rather leave that story for another day, if you don’t mind.”

  “Anything you wish to share, any time you wish to share it.” He smiled and reached for my hand, but quickly had to grab hold of the reins again.

  In that single gesture I learned so much about him. His hand was warm in mine, and his hold was firm. He would be with me until the end, no matter how difficult things got. Still, perhaps he hadn’t quite understood everything.

  “I’m not entirely sure you quite grasp the gravity of how difficult life can be with me,” I told him as we reached the house. “There are only two of us. The work that once took an entire race is now left to William and myself.”

  “Serenity Cardea,” he said with a sternness that shocked me. “You seem determined to drive me away, and I won’t have it. No matter how hard life will be, it is nothing compared to being able to spend it with you.”

  He continued while I stayed wide-eyed and silent. “If you will still have me, then I’d like nothing more than to call you my own. Regardless of what others may think, and regardless of how difficult the future may be.”

  He managed to dismount without any help.

  “Ray,” I whispered, afraid my voice would break.

  He’d stripped me of my words. Nothing could come close to explaining how I felt or how much I truly wanted him at that moment. So I did the only thing I could think of.

  I jumped from my horse, stood as tall as possible, and gave him a lingering kiss on his cheek.

  “I’ll always be yours,” I told him, my hands still resting on his shoulders.

  The new light in his grey eyes was enough to make me forget everything else. For once I let my mind wander into fantasies of our life together, of how we would raise our children and how I would read them our stories. For that moment, as I stared deep into those mesmerising eyes, everything was perfect.

  Then I realised I was staring and was standing barely an inch from him, surely too close.

  “Forgive me.” I stepped back quickly, ducking my head to hide my blush. “I forget myself with you. It won’t help that I have no idea what the rules of etiquette are in this time . . .”

  “Rules were made for breaking,” he said, smirking.

  He pulled me back towards him, not a breath of air between us, and placed my hands back on his shoulders. “Feel free to forget where you are with me anytime you wish.”

  “I may have to take you up on that.”

  “Ah, I did hear the horses.” Helen’s quiet voice broke our happy little moment a couple of seconds before she appeared in the doorway. “Oh! I’m sorry. I came to see if Ray was going to stay for dinner.”

  I looked up at him. “Would you?”

  “If we let my mother know, I don’t see why not.” He was flustered but smiled widely as he spoke.

  “How about I go and ask Sam to fetch her and we can all have dinner together?” Helen was looking for an excuse to leave, and her offer was the perfect one.

  “Thank you, Helen.”

  “Perhaps we should head into the house, as well?” Ray suggested, nervously shifting.

  “She knows better than to say anything. If she does, I shall bring up some very embarrassing childhood memories of her.”

  He laughed long and loud at that. It came in handy, being older than everyone else. Things like childhood stories were something I tried to remember. I never knew when I would need them, or when they could be used as playful blackmail.

  “I was wondering about something. Why do you eat if you don’t need to?” he asked as we walked hand in hand back to the house.

  “Appearances and habit. If food is scarce, then I’ll forgo eating in favour of my family. If not, or the situation demands it, then I’ll eat. It’s also nice to sit down to a meal with my family on occasion.”

  “Sam is on his way over to Mrs. Synclair’s house and Jayne is in the dining room setting the table,” Helen informed me when we walked into the house after stabling the horses.

  “Jayne?” I called. “Would you entertain Ray whilst I help your mother with dinner? He isn’t safe to be allowed anywhere near the kitchen.”

  “Can I talk to him properly now?” Jayne giggled, rocking back and forth on her heels as she spoke.

  “Yes, but don’t scare him.” She would do her best to remember any scary story she could. Though I doubted they would affect Ray, I pleaded with her not to delve too deep into the stories she knew.

  “I’ll try.”

  Reluctantly, I let Jayne drag him away.

  She was an intelligent child, and she understood when to keep quiet about what I was. It was something that was instilled into all of our children—the need to keep our secret. It was as important to us as it was to the vampires. Only our reasons were different.

  Once we were alone, Helen took one look at me and said, “It went exceptionally well.”

  She stood by the sink, leaning against the stone and wood, arms crossed and a knowing smile on her face. She’d known the answer long before I’d been willing to accept it.

  “It did.”

  “No running. No screaming. Not even the smallest trace of fear. Am I correct?”

  “Yes.”

  “You forget how well I can read people, Serenity.”

  “I know, but I still expected him to run for the hills, screaming all the way.” It surprised me how quiet my voice was when I spoke.

  “You deserve this, never forget that.”

  “I’ll try.”

  It wasn’t long before Sam returned. I heard the car coming up the street. The distinct sound of her engine telling me that it was ours.

  “Jayne, dear, that’s enough for tonight. Ray’s mother is coming for dinner,” I told her, carrying in the first of the plates.

  “Can I tell him some more later?”

  “Not tonight.”

  “Would I be correct in assuming that I cannot tell my mother?” Ray said, half asking, half stating.

  “I’m sorry. If it was safe for her to know, then I would tell her in a heartbeat. It’s best she knows as little as possible beyond the obvious.” My smile was a sad one

  “I understand. It wasn’t something that should be discussed over dinner.”

  Briefly, I kissed his cheek. “Are you ready to play human for the evening?”

  “Serenity, it is good to see you again,” Liz greeted me. “Thank you for the invitation.”

  “It’s a pleasure. I couldn’t very well steal your son for the evening and not invite you.”

  “Between you and me, you can steal him anytime.” She leaned in close as she spoke, whispering the words and casting a brief glance deeper into the house, perhaps checking to make sure Ray wasn’t about.

  “I may have to take you up on that offer.”

  Playing human was something I was good at, in more mature company at least. I struggled at making small talk with people of “my own age,” but talking with those “older” than me came more easily.

  I commented on Liz’s dress and the style of her hair. We talked for a moment about how things were in the world. Anyone looking on would have thought we were simply two humans having a quiet chat. Even Ray was surprised at how easily I managed it.

  “Serenity?” Helen called. “Dinner is ready.”

  “Shall we?”

  I led Liz to the dining room where Jayne was finishing setting the table. She was struggling to reach the glasses she wanted. I grabbed them for her and set them down.

  “Jayne, would you keep Ray and Mrs. Synclair company whilst I help your mother?” I asked her.

  “I’ll be good,” she promised. Code for I know I can’t talk to them about certain things.

  I passed Sam on my way to the kitchen. He offered to help with taking the food through, but Helen had already told him to sit down, so I did the same. He’d done enough for one day.

  “You need a towel for that,” Helen reminded me when I went to pick up the casserole dish.

  “Thank you,” I whispered.<
br />
  As good as I was at playing human in social situations, providing romance wasn’t part of the setting, I was very forgetful at home.

  I may not have had to hide from Ray anymore, but I would do everything I could to prevent his mother from being dragged into my world, as well.

  “Oh, that smells scrumptious,” Liz said when I put the casserole down on the table.

  I offered her a plate. “Helen is an excellent cook.”

  “Is that where you learned?”

  “Partly. Mostly I was taught how to cook by my mother.” The smell of freshly cooked beef wafted around the table. I hadn’t been eating much lately, only when we had company, so Helen had plenty to make a nice, thick casserole.

  No one spoke as we ate, and it wasn’t until the plates were being cleared away—Sam insisted on doing that himself—that the conversation began again.

  “My son tells me you took him riding today,” Liz said, glancing at Ray.

  “I did. He knows how to handle a horse. Did you teach him?” There was still so much I didn’t know about him, about his family.

  “No. I cannot ride to save my life. The poor things despise me. The closest I get to a horse is when it’s pulling the carriage.” She laughed, a rich sound. “Our neighbour taught him. Wonderful man. Lovely wife, too.”

  “Have you known them long?”

  “Oh yes. They moved in when Ray was only ten. Ray still couldn’t walk well at the time but insisted he could ride a horse.” There was a mischievous twinkle in her eye.

  “I would’ve liked to have seen that.”

  “There are many stories I could tell you of his exploits. However, I don’t think my son would appreciate it.”

  “Mrs. Walters, are there any stories you could tell us about Serenity?” Ray asked

  “I’m afraid you’ll have to ask her. Serenity is very good at keeping her embarrassing moments to herself.” Helen paused for a moment. “Although, perhaps you should ask her how she broke some poor man’s toe. . .”

  “Helen!” I cried.

  “I think I’d like to hear this.” A mischievous smile accompanied Ray’s words.

  “No. Absolutely not. I refuse to embarrass myself with that story.”